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September 06, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 33

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Stabroek Block agreement is one of the most lopsided - It is a deals signed in the mistake we must learn history of Guyana from- AG p. 3

Another Guyanese Police sergeant gears to pump over beaten, robbed by US$3M into massive quarry project motorcycle bandits

Vaccination now mandatory for entry to all public, private buildings

Ex T&T Minister advising Guyana defends pushing his country into ‘lopsided’ gas deal VP Jagdeo using events and issues of the past to distract Guyana 11am on Kaieteur from what is happening presently in the oil industry.@ Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Monday September 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Ex T&T Minister advising Guyana defends pushing his country into 'lopsided' gas deal

By Kiana Wilburg

T&T's former Energy Minister, Kevin Ramnarine

Following revelations two months ago by Trinidad a n d To b a g o ' s E n e r g y Minister, Stuart Young that his predecessor, Kevin Ramnarine, along with other

former government officials, left the country's gas industry mere inches away from death's door with a lopsided deal an accompanying policy, Ramnarine has come forward to set the record straight. The ex-Minister is of the firm conviction that the project, despite all criticisms, has resulted in jobs for the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and will soon lead to positive cash flow as it was executed with key Japanese firms.

The project in question relates to the building and operation of a US$900M petrochemical complex using natural gas. The deal was signed with Caribbean Gas Chemical Ltd (CGCL) and the National Gas Company (NGC) of Trinidad and Tobago.

It should be noted that CGCL is joint venture that includes Japanese companies: Mitsubishi Gas C h e m i c a l C o m p a n y, Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Young during a post-

T&T's Energy Minister, Stuart Young

Cabinet briefing in July was keen to note that the project was no ordinary one. He said it was so fraught with lopsided provisions that it decimated the country's gas sector. He said too that it left NGC handling all of the debt related to the project even though it had only a 20 percent stake in the project.

In other words, it was expected to stand the full cost of the project but not have ownership of it.

What also made matters worse, Young said, was that Ramnarine and his colleagues had pushed policies that gave the project first preference to the country's gas reserves while longstanding companies had to get at the back of the line and “suck salt”. What alarmed Young even more was that such policies were put in place when there was not a surplus of gas, but actually, a shortage.

He also noted that NGC was entrapped in a document called “The Debt Tail Buy (Continued on page 16)

Monday September 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Stabroek Block agreement is one of the most lopsided deals signed in the history of Guyana - It is a mistake we must learn from - AG Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, during a recent interview stated that the Product Sharing Agreement (PSA) that Guyana signed with American oil giant, ExxonMobil is one of the most lopsided agreements signed in the country's history.

To this end, the AG noted that the lopsided contract must be a mistake that Guyana learns from when going forward with signing future oil and gas agreements. Minister Nandlall made those statements during an interview on Globespan, titled, 'Government's Legal Achievement after One Year in Office.'

When questioned on the Exxon-Guyana agreement which has been highly criticised, the AG first upheld his position that that deal is one of the most lopsided ones ever signed in the country's history and noted that he has never retracted from that position nor does he intend to. Nandlall also expressed his dissatisfaction that one of the most important agreements in the history of Guyana was signed in secrecy by the previous government and not even the then opposition (PPP) was informed of what was being done. “No one was

consulted, I don't think the President (at the time, David Granger) knew when this agreement was signed… It's inexplicable that an agreement of that magnitude, of that type of ramification, was treated in the manner in which it was treated,” the AG added.

However, while noting that there is a lot of mystery surrounding the agreement Guyana signed with Exxon, the Minister added that on the other side of the agreement it is legal. He explained, “The company that has signed the agreement is not going to bend over backwards.

This is a company that is here for profits, it has never shown itself that it is interested in anything else and it will insist on its contractual rights.”

He noted that due to the principle of 'sanctity of contract', “we can't eat our cake and have it, we made a bad deal and we have to move on and ensure that that bad deal does not follow us and we must learn from that mistake.”

Minister Nandlall then disclosed that going forward, the Government will have to deal with the issue and ensure that future licences are more favourable to Guyana.

Moreover, according to previous reports, Vice

President, Bharrat Jagdeo, had committed to having the revised PSA template be made available in as little as six months, while adding that it will be tougher than the one negotiated with the Exxon consortium.

It was reported that Guyana's aim is to increase its oil royalties and revamp other contract terms as part of a PSA regime for future crude and gas projects now in its draft stage.

PSA's are common type of contract signed between a government and a single company or a group of companies in regard to how much of a country's resource, most commonly oil; is extracted and how much each will receive.

By signing a PSA, the government is awarding the execution of exploration and production activities to an oil c o m p a n y. I n t h e s e agreements, the oil company usually stands the financial risk of the initiative and explores, develops and then produces the oil field.

If the company is successful, the company is then allowed to use money from produced oil to recover capital and also operational expenditures, commonly called, 'cost oil' – the remaining money is called 'profit oil' and this splits between the government and the oil company.

Former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.

Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall.

Man arrested for sexually assaulting woman A Berbice man is in police custody after he sexually assaulted a woman.

Police said the incident occurred sometime between September 1 and 3, 2021.

Investigations revealed that the suspect and the victim, a 44-year-old woman, are known to each other for over 30 years.

According to the victim, she was in front of her home on the dates mentioned when the suspect approached her and started to abuse her by using a series of foul language following which he held on to her private parts.

The matter was reported to the police on Saturday and the suspect was arrested and placed into custody.

Investigations are ongoing.

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Kaieteur News

Monday September 06, 2021

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

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

EDITORIAL

Renegotiation speeches Any Guyanese who believes anything that PPP leaders tell this nation about oil and gas needs to be sent to the sick bay, permanently housed in a mental institution. The latest shiny speeches making the rounds from PPP misleaders is that there will be renegotiation of the oil contract(s). We say this: seeing is believing. When that time comes, we will believe, but not today. And when we can analyse the result of any renegotiation of our oil wealth for material changes benefiting Guyana, we will be the first to applaud, as well as the loudest and longest doing so.

Today, we are a long way from such a place. That is, where we trust PPP misleaders for doing good by Guyana, where we think that they are sincere in desiring to bring home the richness of our oil treasure to Guyana, so that all citizens of this poor, woeful nation can prosper. In other words, to live with the reality (not words, not tricky leadership promises, not more lies) of a bright prosperity that has substance and endurance.

We will share with our fellow citizens why we are so skeptical of whatever the President and Vice President skillfully come up with relative to our oil to attract the attention of Guyanese, while keeping them dangling in helplessness. It could be one more commitment not fulfilled at the highest levels. Neither leader has delivered what passes as reliable and which could be depended upon by Guyanese.

In fact, no politician, from the top men to responsible ministers to their allies (local and foreign) has treated Guyanese fairly and squarely, with full disclosures, with oil truths that can withstand any scrutiny and inquiry. No politician and no political party have dealt with the people of this country, as if they have a brain in their heads.

Meaning, we are capable of deep thinking, and can arrive at clear conclusions on where things are with this oil, and to recognise who is lying, who is stonewalling. As for we at this paper, we have been around long enough to develop a keen sixth sense for local bull droppings. This is what the latest commitment about renegotiating by Guyana’s leading oilman, the Vice President, looks like, sounds like, and smells like - bull droppings.

Still, we are going to attempt a tough thing for us, and suspend disbelief for a while. The Vice President said he is readying to renegotiate, so we give him a hearing, some space to operate.

But we must caution him and the President about this promised renegotiation of our oil and gas contract(s): HE MUST DELIVER. Not just any scraps of chicken foot and expect that Guyana should be pleased with his supposedly strenuous and principled efforts. We are far from any confidence in such conduct, where all our politicians are concerned.

Thus, the Vice President must not come back to Guyana with next-to-nothing and say how well he has done. As a couple of letter writers pointed out recently, seven of those troubling oil contracts were signed by his government and his president (Ramotar) from a prior administration. The Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, has to roll up his sleeves and get down with Exxon.

That is, eyeball to eyeball and press that our demands be met. We should not be begging Exxon for anything, most of all for what looks like charity. Guyana must be making serious demands from Exxon, and with all the authority of a full partner, not some basket case hoping for a handout.

Or something that he and Exxon’s top dogs rustle up to make Guyanese feel good about themselves. Stated differently, Vice President Jagdeo must not conspire with Exxon with this sham about renegotiation, where the objective is to pretend to be doing something with the contracts, but not doing what means the prospering for Guyanese.

Since the Vice President has opened the door on renegotiation, we will be watching his every move like a hawk. He must come clean and with many oil goodies. If not, then we will call him and this business about renegotiation for what it really is: a trick, another deception, one more insult on us all.

We cannot beat COVID-19 outside of national ethno-political reconciliation Dear Editor Vaccine-skepticism and hesitancy are not confined to Guyana—it is a global phenomenon prompted by inherent distrust of government and in the case of Black people the knowledge that in the past whereby they had been used without their knowledge as experiments for drugs. At the heart of the problem is the tension between personal liberty and collective security and between freedom and order. This is a tension, which is permanent but is exacerbated when governments move to institute overt mandates of any type. Where does government responsibility end and personal liberty begins and vice-versa?

In Guyana, this dilemma is being played out against the backdrop of a deeply divided society in which half the population does not believe the government is legitimate.

So, the anti-vaccine/ proindividual liberty sentiment is folded into the already existing anti-government feeling that is fresh on the minds of opposition

supporters. It is being played out within the context of ethnicity and power in which one ethnic group believes the government of the opposite ethnic group is using the vaccine mandates to physically harm them and to politically control them.

Human fear is translated into ethno-political fear. That is what Guyana faces.

In such circumstances, government mandates, however well intentioned, have to be an absolute last resort. And even then, opposition representatives have to be brought on board in a sincere manner. Telling people that the vaccine works, and that public health is paramount is not helping the situation. Simply put, the vaccine problem has become a political problem with ethnic overtones. The sooner the government, the opposition and Civil Society recognise that truth, the better it will be for all Guyana.

COVID is real—it is a public health crisis of astronomical proportions that if not managed properly could be harmful for all citizens regardless of

ethnicity and political affiliation. Whatever the real and perceived shortcomings of the vaccines, they are the most effective deterrents. Of course, there are other options that must be framed as alternatives. All public health options must be put before the public as solutions.

Advocating vaccine supremacy or primacy, however justified and tempting it may be, is not an effective strategy at this point.

But to treat with the problem as purely one of public health while ignoring the political undertones and overtones is equally harmful.

The two have to be taken together. Towards that end, government should not be the sole actor. As a first step, it needs to begin to engage the opposition and Civil Society as equal partners. This is critical because even if the government begins to do more education as some opposition activists are urging, it faces the real prospect of being tuned out by the target audience.

As someone who is active on the opposition side, I can

say with much confidence that it is inaccurate to say that the opposition parties are wholly behind the antivaccine unrest. Much of it is self-generated by the people.

Some of us like this writer are pro-vaccine, but we cannot ignore the concerns of our constituents. We also have a responsibility to face the dilemma.

As someone who participated in some of the demonstrations, I can say it has become more and more difficult to articulate a public health message in the face of government mandates. The people have fused their antivaccine and anti-government advocacies and, in the process, have become instinctively resistant to any message that does not recognise that outlook. Some of us would say that that was inevitable. But now is not the time to score political points.

We cannot beat COVID-19 outside of national ethnopolitical reconciliation, even if temporarily. That’s the monumental challenge facing our political elites.

Yours truly, David Hinds

Although democracy was saved last year, a number of factors pose challenges Dear Editor, As we observe the first anniversary since the democratic change in administration, we must not forget the very critical role played by the regional Caricom body in convincing the then incumbent Granger led administration to accept the outcome of a free and fair election and playing by established globally accepted electoral rules. Caricom intervened at a critical time right after the election when it appeared that the outcome was going to be rigged triggering racially inspired violence. Caricom demanded that the incumbent respect the will of the electorate and hand over power. Of course, it took sanctions from the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and an American ultimatum for Granger to step down and allow the winner Irfaan Ali to assume the reins of power.

With its action, Caricom demonstrated that it can effectively facilitate, with assistance from a powerful ally like the US and or Canada, a peaceful transition of power. Guyana and other regional countries will benefit from the presence of regional observers to ensure that the elections are credible and, furthermore, to usher in a

peaceful transition if required.

It would be recalled that Caricom was criticised for closing its eyes to fraudulent elections and an illegal government in Guyana between 1968 and 1992 and its ineffectiveness during political crises thereafter. In March 2020, after appeals from civic figures and academicians, and individuals like myself writing in the regional press, Caricom took action, demonstrating effectiveness in safeguarding the democratic rights of Guyanese, and it helped ensure a peaceful transition of power as mandated by the electorate.

This was the first time that Caricom played a very active and direct role during a regional election to ensure credibility and rule of law, an election that was all set to be rigged with compliance and conspiracy from elements in GECOM. The involvement of the Caribbean leaders in negotiations with Granger and Jagdeo, the leaders of the two contending political forces in the country, was significant in arriving at a resolution to the electoral crisis and underscores. It also relates the importance of the regional body in brokering peace in a member state. The

elongation tactics employed by the incumbent to reject the outcome of a credible election after realising it was defeated led to violence and instability.

The situation could have gotten out of hand. Caricom’s intervention nipped the violence in its bud.

Caricom sent observers to Guyana election in March 2020 and spearheaded the recounting that occurred in June and July. The observers and recount experts certified that the results were a reflection of the will of the people. The international observers declared that the election itself was free and fair.

With its success in Guyana last year, Caricom should continue to play a meaningful role in observing elections in the region and issuing a firmer voice in pronouncing on the credibility (or lack thereof) of elections. In addition, Caricom should send advance missions to countries to assess their readiness to hold elections. Had it done so between 1968 and 1992, Guyana would not have slipped into becoming a dictatorship.

Non-state actors like civic forces also played a key role last year in observing the elections as well as the count and recount of ballots, and in

pressuring the incumbent to accept the outcome of the vote. And a few of us worked behind the scenes to make sure GECOM did the right thing, never mind that politicians are ungrateful in recognising our role. Civic organisations need to strengthen their presence in the society and in holding politicians to account. Nonstate actors must play a greater role in elections and in promoting peace among politicians. Civil society must get into a position to negotiate actionable and legitimate commitments by politicians to embrace and stability.

At the same time, I note that outside intervention and civic pressure would not work unless political leaders to adhere to the democratic process and respect the wishes of voters.

Credible elections remain a significant aspect of the democratic process of Guyana. Elections convey the will of the people. Although democracy was saved last year, a number of factors, such as corruption and election irregularities continue to pose challenges and remain Achilles’ heel in consolidating democracy.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Monday September 06, 2021

Government must do what it needs to do as it protects the entire nation Dear Editor, I am quite pleased that the Government is reporting an increase in vaccinations among teachers, students and the general populace.

Our former resisters are to be complimented for a change of heart. “Fixed mindsets” about not taking the vaccinations are the enemy of progress in safety and security in our poor country.

We need more “growth mindsets” that would allow people to be reasonable and willing to respond to Government’s call for people to step up and be vaccinated.

A caring Government must think about the general good and impending doom if people chose to be reckless about their health and safety.

As schools are about to be open, I predict a season of “open, close; open, close” as the virus spreads among teachers and students, and is transmitted to others outside of schools.

When this happens, it would not be because the government has done anything wrong. The blame would go squarely on the shoulders of the 50% unvaccinated teachers, nurses and the surrogate unions of the moribund Opposition acting irresponsibly.

Unvaccinated teachers would most likely infect students and cause school closures.

Students may also infect unvaccinated teachers. So it seems, a lot depends on what the 50% of unvaccinated teachers do. This percentage is unacceptable and the ball is now in the teachers’ court. It’s just a matter of time when parents would be upset with the teachers if mindsets don’t change.

Government must do what it needs to do as it protects the entire nation.

And who vex, vex. I wish the “suing” unions well, as the Courts themselves have had to impose safety measures, and would support the Government’s actions.

For those hesitants, “My Body, My Choice,” is a slogan of proabortionists, sexual deviants, and substance abuse addicts,” who confuse licence and liberty.

To those who say you can still get the virus even though vaccinated, the best answer is from blogger “Oh Man” who said, “As with the flu, you can still get sick but your chances of being terminally ill is significantly reduced. You may be treated at a dispensary instead of an ICU.” Regardless of all the concerns people have, we are better off being vaccinated than unvaccinated. The risks are reduced.

There would always be a tiny percentage of resisters. With this group, even if God appeared to them in a burning bush and told them to take the vaccine, they would not take the vaccine. For the rest of us, let’s understand that vaccines don’t kill, vaccines save lives.

S o p e o p l e , l e t ’s p u t aside our quirks and reservations and think about the “herd immunity” of our nation. We want to normalise and open up our country fully so everyone can get back to work and earn their livelihoods.

Don’t let us be a divided nation of “the vaccinated” versus “the unvaccinated.” A hole in the boat is a hole in the whole boat, and it does not matter which side has the w h o l e . To g e t h e r w e survive, or together we perish. Let Guyana live.

Yours truly, Dr. Jerry Jailall

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Kaieteur News

Hopefully the Ministry of Education will reconsider its current strategic plan Dear Editor, The Ministry of Health should be applauded for keeping the COVID death rate low, but we must keep in mind that children like to play with each other and are higher risk takers due to their age. Our top schools continue to struggle with fixing basic infrastructural shortfalls. Broken windows, poor plumbing, lack of cleaning supplies, a shortage of textbooks and the list goes on. It is becoming more important to ensure that the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Infrastructure refocus on the basic needs of the schools. If our top schools lack such basic supplies, then there is obviously a large gap vs. our needs in how we are investing as a Nation.

Every household that has a child going to school is at

risk of COVID exposure and if the money isn’t spent to fix up the schools to ensure that measures to combat COVID are in place then of what use are the other aspects of the COVID containment strategy.

It is unfortunate that large groups of the population continue to resist being vaccinated. Some of the school going children will come from these groups and will put at risk the health and safety of others.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education must safeguard against this and having a clear policy and screening process is important to ensure COVID doesn’t enter our schools. Hopefully, the Ministry of Education will reconsider its current strategic plan and put in place a cohesive and actionable strategy to deal directly with

the Pandemic and post Pandemic safeguards for our educational system.

Many would and should prefer to see the ribbon cutting on a box of critical health and safety supplies for our schools instead of a ribbon cutting on a pipeline or road that is less urgent.

Close to 50% of our population is under 18 and although not of voting age, they do come from households filled with voters.

Votes shouldn’t be the motivation to do the correct thing. Keeping all of our citizens safe should suffice, but the reality of the situation informs us.

I have provided information to the pertinent Ministry for them to obtain free health supplies to fill the current shortages being experienced, yet the response has been less than adequate.

Some politicians have made the vaccine a political issue and this is very disappointing. Others have made money making projects more important than the safety of our children and this also is very disappointing and unfortunate.

The safety of our children must take precedence over the selfish desires of the few and as the old saying goes “actions speak louder than words”.

We must see an immediate COVID focused effort at our schools that ensures sustainable investment in the school’s infrastructure and a clear process for COVID safeguards to be implemented that will ensure the health and safety of all school going children. Rhetoric lacking action will not suffice.

Yours truly, Jamil Changlee

Each of our freedoms depends on all of us doing certain things together Dear Editor, It is extremely disappointing to observe that some people who put themselves out to want to be executives in this nation have taken the opportunity to abuse our collective liberties with their reckless statements.

Their attempt to conduct a march against the vaccination drive for COVID on Monday, September 6, 2021, is nothing else but fool-hardy and irresponsible.

If they were living in isolation away from the rest of us (the law-abiding citizens of Guyana), then we can appreciate their willingness to take unnecessary risks that can result in their accelerated personal mortality. But when they chose to take risks that expose the collective as a whole, then I have a problem with such selfishness. “My body; my rights” in this case, is nothing else but a slogan steeped in an attitude of mind that is steeped in “vain gloriousness” that seeks to compromise the society to advance one’s self interest.

This is shameful behaviour.

We need to be more patriotic and committed to

our nation as a whole rather than using every opportunity to score cheap political points which is nothing else but counter-productive and is causing us to lose access to vital human resources. All of us are at risk so please Guyanese, ignore these reckless people and mask up, and get vaccinated.

I have observed a Regional Chairman, a Parliamentarian, and a socalled Teachers Union Leader trying to steer our children away from vaccination. Are these people for real? How lower can we get with such toxic partisanship? If these people so love this nation, why did they take both of the vaccines but continue to

misguide a declining minority on it? This attitude of mind of anti-vaccination; antimasking up, anti-people, and anti-science is nothing else but self-serving. As one of the scientists stated, if you are anti-vaccination it translates to you being pro-virus, which is a dangerous position to adopt. Such thoughtlessness will directly affect the children of Guyana, especially those in school. Is this what they want for our children? Come on chaps, grow up!

So my message today is

targeted at those who are ready to join the growing majority who are helping in the process to protect the whole society by stepping forward to take the vaccine.

What is critical for us all is to recognise is that each of our freedoms does depend on all of us doing certain things together. In the case of this deadly pathogen, it means masking up and vaccinating together. This is the only way!

What the empirical evidence is also showing is (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Monday September 06, 2021

The crime situation is spiraling out of control Dear Editor It is my humble opinion that the crime situation, more especially in Georgetown, is spiraling out of control and the Guyana Police Force needs to go back to the drawing board in order to bring back law and order. The daily reports of robbery and crimes of violence bring home the reality of the grave situation and the robbery that was committed whilst a post mortem was in progress indicates the depravity and disrespect of the robbers even to the deceased.

The bicycle gangs of young men cycling around in search of prey. The motorcycle gangs also in search of victims and perhaps with better information as to their victims. The beating to death of Pandit Rishi Bharrat by a group of men drinking and hurling insults to the female members of the late Pandit’s family. Persons being awaken and robbed in their homes. The resumption of executions that had haunted us some time ago. All of these factors and more are indicative of my assertion that the police are lacking in their responsibility and duty to the citizens of Guyana. I do not buy the statistics given out by the police that there has been a decrease in crime. No,

not at all and so many crimes go unreported as the victims feel it would be a waste of time to make a report when they see and know that nothing will come out of it.

The one spark recently in the fight against this breed of criminals is the lady who after being robbed, followed the bandits in her car and rammed the car that they were in. One robber was caught, charged and remanded to prison. Hats off to this heroic lady who is deserving of a medal.

However, one should be careful when reacting to being robbed as it can result in serious injury or death.

The question to be asked is why are the police ineffective? Their duty is to serve and protect! Is that being done? I do not expect that every crime will be solved and that the police will be on the scene whilst crimes are being committed. But they must solve the crimes. They must be able to infiltrate the gangs or pay informers for information.

They must by their investigation charge and secure convictions in a large number of cases. They must not only rely on confession statements as I am and have always been suspicious of them. Too many confession statements are obtained with

the use of coercion and violence by members of the Force. I can tell you that from my experience, once a criminal has been caught fairly, either by direct or indirect evidence, and not beaten for a confession, he will respect that police officer who secured the conviction against him.

President Ali and his government must be aware that with the boom in Guyana’s economy, there will be many foreigners and tourists coming to Guyana. If they are robbed then this will tarnish the image of the country and make persons not wanting to come here.

This will affect our economy and more particularly, the travel sector, taxis, restaurants, entertainment sector, the sectors that supplies the restaurants and hotels, persons who work in all the aforementioned sectors.

Not all of us can live by working in the oil and gas sector. I note that millions have been spent by the Government to make the police more mobile and we need to see the statistics how that has helped in this battle.

I make this appeal to the Minister of Public Security and the Guyana Police Force to begin to be constructive

and do what is necessary to let our citizens and all who may come here, be safe.

My recommendations for immediate action by the Government and the Guyana Police Force — (a) Ensure that the resources to fight crime are utilised constructively. Do an audit of what is required and what is available. (b) Cultivate informers so that information can be obtained. Pay these informers well and give a bonus as per results. (c) See how best undercover persons can be used so as to infiltrate areas and gangs. This may prove difficult considering the small population of Guyana.

Approved wire-tapping of phones be done to obtain plans and information of the criminals. (d) Start or improve a Hot Line System where persons can make reports anonymously if they so wish.

The reason why this may not be currently working is that persons have to believe that whatever information is being given is confidential and cannot be traced back to them. As a result, the police will have to utilise individuals that will give confidence to the public at large and be assured that whatever information is given will be confidential. (e) The image of the Guyana Police Force needs to reflect integrity, care and competency. Persons need to believe in the integrity and ability of the police in receiving information and executing their duties. The recent and current dissension

within the top echelons of the Police Force as regards promotions does not augur well for the future. This must be fixed as quickly as possible. (f) Education and continuing education for members of the Police Force should be encouraged. I am not sure how much time off is given or if tuition and examination fees are paid by the Administration. If not, then this should be looked into and once a member passes appropriate examinations, he/she should be compensated in some form.

Promotion, increase in salary or if none of the two, be given extra points when the time for promotion comes up. (g) Forensics. I know that there has been a push in this direction and I hope that, if possible, that more can be done so that science can help in the fight against crime.

However, in order to get and keep professionals in this field, proper and competitive salaries and benefits must be paid. (h) Minister Benn seems hardworking and a nononsense person. He has to be guided by Police Commissioner and other senior officers. Let them lay out the plans, ensure that they have resources to do the job and if it fails, then there should be repercussions. (i) Crime affects us all, no matter where you live, ethnicity or job. I would like to see the Government and Opposition join in this fight and not let it be the case, that the Opposition will say at the end of the day that the Government has been

hopeless.

If recommendations have been given and disregarded by the Minister or Government, then they should be condemned.

Do not wait in the slips and pray for failure! (j) Finally. We have to pay the members of the Guyana Police Force a decent salary. I understand the dilemma of the Government that if the salary of one sector is raised then the other sectors will also clamor for the same raise. Which sector is more valuable? All are, as if one falters there will be repercussions in other sections of our society.

Money is important but if there are incentives and benefits to be gained in the long run, then that can be a motivation for integrity and professionalism. Provide housing, education with assistance in travel, school materials and other benefits for the children of the Force, duty free concessions for cars after at least ten years of service and look for other innovations so that members of the Force can add these benefits to their salary. (k) I would urge President Ali and his Cabinet to consider this suggestion.

It is that for all employees in the public sector and those corporations that serve the public, to be given annually a credit of at least $250,000 which they can use when they purchase goods on which VAT has to be paid.

This indirectly would immediately increase the purchasing power.

Yours truly, K.A. Juman-Yassin S.C, A.A.

...Each of our freedoms depends on all of us doing From page 5 that this pathogen is causing the gaps between the “HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS” to widen.

Think of it, a business owner can stay away from work for two weeks to recover from COVID but can the restaurant service attendant with minimum wages afford to do the same because he or

she does not have the vaccines and has a higher chance of not recovering from the virus?

The enemy is not you and I; it is the COVID-19 virus.

Thus, we must know this enemy and the better we are prepared to fight it; the better we can fight it collectively as a nation.

The medical experts have

stated publicly that the “Delta variant” is extremely deadly and the future variants (and yes, they are coming) are even more deadly. Can we take that risk?

The best time to have fixed this was yesterday, but the second-best time to do so is today.

Yours truly, Sasenarine Singh

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NT LUNT...B NT...BLU N U L B . .

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Monday September 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

The leader who counts in the Opposition, former President Granger, is off on an extended leave of absence. Our first concern is for his health, and that he is alright.

Nevertheless, in the spirit of BLUNTNESS that this page is dedicated to, our recommendation is that former President David Granger takes himself out of any leadership role in Guyana's politics, and look after himself and family first.

We think that he serves this country better by stepping down fully and permanently, and be content with serving as mentor and wise man to comrades and citizens.

Take a total rest, Sir! You and Guyana would both be better.

PAGE 07

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Kaieteur News

Vaccination now mandatory for all public, private buildings In the Government's updated COVID-19 E m e rg e n c y m e a s u r e s published on Saturday, vaccination is now mandatory for any person who wishes to enter a public building.

This updated regulation which took effect from Saturday and would last up to September 30, explains that it is any building “to which the public has lawful access and shall include both publicly and privately

owned buildings including all institutions of learning.”

Kaieteur News understands that this includes places such as, private hospitals, banks, stores, private schools and places of worship.

The new guidelines further stipulate that if an unvaccinated person wants to access these buildings, they are required to make an appointment or submit a negative PCR test which was taken within seven days

of the appointment.

Previously, vaccination requirement was only for those who wanted to access Ministries or any government agency.

The updated guideline also states that any employee who works in these public buildings and is unvaccinated is to submit a negative PCR test result as well.

H o w e v e r, t h e n e w guidelines do not apply to children.

Police sergeant robbed, beaten by motorcycle bandits A police sergeant was on Saturday last, robbed and beaten, by four armed motorcycle bandits while on his way to work. According to a police report, the incident occurred on the Vryheid's Lust, Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), around 07:10hrs. It was stated that the officer was walking in a northern direction out of the Vryheid's Lust Access Road to get transportation when he was confronted by four unidentifiable men.

This publication understands that the four suspects appeared from an unknown

direction, on two motorcycles. During the confrontation with the bandits, one of the suspects hit the cop to his head, while the others began to strip him of his possessions, a cell phone valued $40,000 and his gold wedding band.

The bandits then fled the scene while the sergeant made his way to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to get his injuries treated. He left after receiving medical attention.

The matter was then reported and an investigation was launched.

Monday September 06, 2021

COVID-19 claims life of Region Six resident Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported that a 62-year-old man from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) who contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID19) disease, died on Wednesday while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

As a result of this, the country's COVID19 death toll has moved to 641.

Further, in its daily COVID-19 dashboard, the Ministry recorded 215 new

infections within the last 24 hour period, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 26,510.

Presently, there are 33 patients who are admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 125 persons in institutional isolation, 2,269 in home isolation and three in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 23,543 persons who tested positive for the virus have recovered.

Monday September 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Open Letter to the Government of Norway The PPP/C government has indicated an intention to renew its forest pact which it signed with the Government of Norway. Under that agreement, which was signed in November 2009, Norway agreed to compensate Guyana with up to US$250M over a fiveyear period, for climate services resulting from avoided deforestation.

Norway was not doing Guyana any favours with this forest pact. At the time Norway signed the agreement, its international reputation as a high emission polluter was established. By signing these REDD-type agreements, Norway was offsetting its pollution by investing in reduced emissions initiatives in countries such as Guyana (2009), Brazil (2008), Indonesia (2010) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (2007).

Unlike what the PPP/C government sought to project, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Norway was therefore no unique or firstof-its kind agreement. The agreement with Guyana was part of Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative which was launched two years prior to the pact with Guyana. Nor was there anything visionary about the forest pact signed

under Jagdeo in 2009. The UNFCC had created a framework for these types of agreements.

At its Conference of Parties in 2008, forest-resourced countries were encouraged to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), on a voluntary basis.

Arising out of the MOU signed with Norway, the Jagdeo administration developed a half-baked strategy called the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). One of the earliest criticisms of the forest pact signed with Norway was the absence of a participatory focus. It was claimed that the pact was developed as an in-house document and was disconnected from any national development strategy, including Jagdeo's o w n N a t i o n a l Competitiveness Strategy.

A second criticism was that there were limited projects to utilise the funding and in fact when the MOU was signed there were no projects.

The Low Carbon Development Strategy is a basket case. It relies exclusively on Norway's payments and meeting Norway's conditions. In that regard it is entirely onesided. It is quintessentially a financial rather than an

environmental strategy.

The PPP/C is only now realising this. Embarrassed by the more impressive Green State Development Strategy, it is now seeking to 'green' the LCDS by expanding it to include wider environmental services, water resources management, climate resilience, biodiversity, renewable energy, and the marine economy. These plans reflect an acknowledgement of the deficiencies of the poorly conceptualised LCDS. The pact with Norway was more to Norway's benefit than Guyana's. The agreement gave that country a pathway to demonstrate that it was moving towards emissions neutrality, not by reducing its own emissions but by securing offsets with countries such as Guyana, Brazil and Indonesia.

Guyana has had problems with accessing the monies which were to be provided by Norway. The process is cumbersome and constitutes a violation of national sovereignty because it places too much control in the hands of the World Bank and the IDB. But perhaps the main reason why Norway should not renew the forest pact with Guyana, concerns the hydroelectric project which is to be funded from the

Bear yuh boys seh... chafe!

Dem

Burnham used to ask yuh fuh “tighten yuh belt”. Dis was he way of telling yuh fuh bear yuh chafe.

Now de Pee Pee Pee tightening up fuh try and control de COVID-19. Dem seh if yuh going in public places, including secondary schools and university, yuh gat to get vaccinated or show a negative PCR test. And dem workers too also gat to do de same.

But dis time, de guvament seh how a public place also include dem privately owned place wah people gat fuh access.

Dis means dat if yuh going in to any place wah open fuh business to de public, yuh gat fuh be vaccinated and de staff gat fuh be vaccinated or both you and de staff gat fuh show

negative PCR test.

Dem guvament workers now gat fuh wuk on rotation unless dem boss tell dem fuh wuk from home or don't wuk at all. But dem boys know some ah dem don't even wuk when dem at wuk. So dat nah gan mek a difference to some guvament workers. Is better dem bin reduce de work week to three days.

But dem boys wan know why yuh tekkin all dis trouble fuh tighten-up during wukin hours. Dem boys and gals does go and malinger with dem friend after dem knock-off from wuk.

Some does go and lime by road corner. Some does stand up by dem gate and some does go by dem bar. So dat is why dem boys seh if yuh want dese restrictions

fuh wuk better, yuh gat to also increase de curfew and let it start at 7 pm to reduce de liming time.

It mek dem boys remember de story of de boy who celebrate he 18 t h birthday last week. De parents use to tell he, he dat gat fuh reach home before midnight. He tell dem dat now he is wan adult, he no longer subject to dem curfew.

“I'm an adult now,” he say, “and you can't stop me from exiting and entering the house any time I want.”

“You're half right,” say de father, “We can't stop you from leaving the house, but we can stop you from coming back in.”

Talk half and wait fuh see who gan stop who from coming and going!

proceeds paid by Norway.

That project reeked of controversy. It collapsed just prior to the 2015 elections after the developer walked because of the political risks involved – the then main Opposition refusing to support a highly controversial project.

Amazingly, the PPP/C which returned to office in 2020 is resuscitating this project. It is almost as if the PPP/C is oblivious to the changes which have taken place in renewable energy in the five years that the PPP/C has been out of office.

Norway also has reasons not to support this project.

The Norwegians had agreed with the Government of Guyana to fund an objective study of the hydroelectric project at Amaila Falls. The study supported the project as the fastest way for Guyana to satisfy its commitment to full renewable energy use by 2025. However, Jagdeo has said that this target is not feasible. As such, the basis for the Norwegian support for the hydroelectric project no longer exists.

Guyana is no longer in the same financial position as it was when it signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Norway, which became the

basis for the development of the LCDS. Guyana is now an oil producing country. That US$250M which Norway was supposed to have provided is no longer as needed now as it was in 2009.

Norway should therefore stay clear of the PPP/C's plans to renew the MOU. It is time for Norway to seek new game and new fish.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Monday September 06, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

SOP fiasco morphs into vaccination and dismissed employees I have no objection at an absolute level of people criticising the government of the day that they do not want to see hold the reins of office.

That is their basic right.

Why should PNC and AFC parliamentarians and PNC and AFC leaders go on Facebook and praise the performance of the government when they want to displace the ruling party so they could be in office.

Opposition parties are in business to win elections.

They have to persuade people that the ruling party is not doing good. I do not think there is any country in the world when you open the newspaper or turn on the television, there are opposition parliamentarians waxing lyrical about the excellent things the government is doing.

The ruling party on the other hand, will reply. It is their job to confront the propaganda of their detractors. And so life goes.

It is a different matter altogether when you say that you won the singing contest because eight of the 12 judges voted for you, yet none of the eight could be produced to say yes. What happens then is that you are deceiving your fans. You have created space for them to cuss down the organisers wrongfully.

What the PNC and AFC, their surrogates and racist propagandists on radio and Facebook are doing for the past 19 months, is reinforcing the announcement that they won the March 2020 e l e c t i o n . Ye t e v e r y conceivable piece of paper that they need to show their

supporters as evidence, they are refusing to show.

If you are an admirer of that singer that believes eight judges voted for him, then as an ardent fan, you have to demand that your idol presents the eight judges or at least one or two or three of them.

If he cannot produce even one then, you must start thinking for yourself. There comes a time when the normal thinking human is going to come around to the conclusion that something is wrong.

Sherwood Lowe, an open supporter of the PNC, wrote that PNC supporters have come around to the acceptance that it lost the election properly. See my column of Tuesday, August 24, 2021, “African Guyanese deserve

intellectual honesty from their leaders,” for what Lowe wrote. He noted that: “The coalition must confront the reality that a majority of its supporters have accepted, at various stages since March 2020 that it lost the last election properly.”

Careful attention should be paid to the words, “AT VARIOUS STAGES.” What happened is that as the months wore on from March 2020, at different points in time, PNC and AFC supporters began to question the veracity of their leaders because the documentary proof was not forthcoming.

Three examples should be noted.

One is that even though they are shouting from Georgetown to New York that they won, they were not showing anyone their statements of poll (SOPs).

Make no mistake, had Mark Benschop seen those SOPs, every night he would have shown them to the world.

Even the most devout supporter of rigged elections, David Hinds, has not seen them even though I was told that he has asked Joseph Harmon personally for them.

The second one is the

R u s s i a n interference explanation by K h e m r a j Ramjattan and Cathy Hughes.

T h a t w a s announced on March 5 and since then, not a word was Frederick Kissoon ever said about the Russian “invaders.”

T h i r d l y , R a m j a t t a n u nforeseen disasters of that announced to his staff at a court case will be the special meeting at his rejection of trade unions by m i n i s t r y t h a t t h e incoming investing APNU+AFC lost. Then the companies which will see next day denied he said that trade unionism in this even though the 40-minute country as driven by party audio is available. I ask PNC loyalty and not workers' and AFC supporters to listen interests.

Finally, the PNC stated to it.

So, from March 2020, the that over 2,000 African bucket collapsed in the well Guyanese state employees t h u s t h e p o s i t i o n o f have been dismissed since Sherwood Lowe. The SOP August last year. The PNC circus has now morphed into produced documents last the vaccination drama and June which purported to s t o r y o f d i s m i s s e d show people outside came in employees. Mr. Harmon took to vote in the March election. his vaccine yet denounced it, It is yet to produce the list of including feelings in his the dismissed employees. It can't. It doesn't exist. Fooling supporters to reject taking it.

A deceptive game is now people is the only game in o w n . being played. The PNC t allows three PNC affiliated (The views expressed in this trade unions to take the article are those of the vaccination programme to a u t h o r a n d d o n o t court while hiding in the necessarily reflect the background. One of the opinions of this newspaper.)

Monday September 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

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Monday September 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Old planes could work way better than new ones once maintained

A photo taken of the Trislander on the day it crash-landed in the swamp.

- GCAA Director After mechanical difficulties caused a Norman Britten Trislander owned by Roraima Airways to crash land earlier this month in the Eccles, East Bank Demerara, (EBD) backlands, many have opined that perhaps, the aircraft is too old and should be scrapped.

However, in a recent interview with Kaieteur News, the Director of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Egbert Field, said that if properly maintained, old planes could work way better than newer ones.

Field explained that even though an aircraft might be manufactured in the 1980s, good maintenance and frequent replacement of old parts with new ones can extend the lifespan of the plane while adding that it can

operate smoothly for years.

He noted too that if a complete overhaul of a plane is done and a section of the airframe or engine parts have to be replaced, it must be done with the manufacturer's approval. Field continued that if the owner fails to comply with manufacturer's guidance on how to remove and replace parts then he/she can be found in breach of aviation regulations.

Norman Britten Trislanders are three-engine piston-powered civilian aircraft that were manufactured in the 1970s and the early 1980s in Great Britain. Some of these Trislanders were also built in Romania but would normally be delivered to England for certification before sale.

It is unclear as to how long Roraima Airways

owned the Trislander that crash-landed on Saturday, August 14, as well as how long it has been operating in Guyana.

Nevertheless, according to Field, aircraft operating in Guyana undergo strict inspections while adding that they are done in different phases.

“Inspections are done at scheduled time and they are done in phases”, Field said.

“There is annual inspection, daily inspections, and inspections are also done before and after every flight”, he continued.

The GCAA director further explained that after a plane has completed 50 hours of flight time, the engineers would do an inspection of every part. If there is rust on a part, then it will have to be replaced.

“Even if there is a problem with a fuel pump, that too will have to be replaced with a brand new one,” Field added.

It is also routine, according to Field, that the pilot and his crew inspect every part of an aircraft before it goes on a flight.

With regard to the annual inspection, the GCAA director said this would be a complete overhaul of the aircraft where it would be grounded for a number of days to facilitate detailed inspections and the replacement of key parts.

Field noted that despite inspections and checks are done, mechanical difficulties can still occur during a flight but will be minimal once guidelines and maintenance rules are followed.

On Saturday, August 14,

one such mechanical difficulty did occur while the Roraima Airways' Trislander was returning from a trip to Imbamadai, Region Seven.

On board were three passengers, a man, a woman and a toddler, along with its pilot, Learie Barclay and copilot, Tarick Ramnarace.

Barclay had to make a split second decision and chose to guide the aircraft into a swamp located in the Eccles backlands close to Haags Bosch Dumpsite. Those on board received minor injuries but the decision Barclay made saved their lives.

Field told Kaieteur News that the Trislander's engine had failed because of fuel starvation. What caused the fuel starvation is still being investigated.

Currently, stated Field, tests are still being conducted

Director of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Egbert Field on the aircraft as the investigations continue.

Once completed, a detailed report will be published revealing the cause of the fuel starvation.

Monday September 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

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Monday September 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Murdered Crabwood Creek Pandit laid to rest Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha delivering words of comfort to the pandit's grieving family.

Relatives and friends gathered yesterday to pay their respects at the funeral service of Rishi Bharrat called 'Haribole'

C

rabwood Creek Hindu Priest, Rishi Bharrat called 'Haribole' was laid to rest on Saturday.

His funeral service saw the attendance of the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, Regional Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain and Berbice Divisional Commander, Jairam Ramlakhan.

The Minister extended sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and on behalf of the Government of

Guyana. Also present were Second-in-Command Superintendent H. Sawh and other senior ranks of Region Six.Rish Bharrat, 60 of Lot 10 Grant 1806 Crabwood Creek was beaten to death by a group of six men last Saturday in front of his home in Crabwood Creek.

Kaieteur News reported that the men were imbibing and behaving disorderly.

In a bid to remove the men from the location, Bharrat reportedly called the police but when they did not show up, he

ventured out in an effort to speak with the men and ward them off.

The men became annoyed and armed themselves with pieces of wood and battered the man to death.

On September 3, six men appeared at the No.51 Magistrate's Court for the murder of Bharrat.Devendra Khemraj called 'Baya', Ramzan Ally called 'Jack', Javed Ghanie called 'Stempid', Anil Angersham called 'Buckman', Gregory Tejpertab called 'Greg' and Vidainand Khemraj all

appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore and were charged with the capital offence of murder.

They were not required to plead to the indictable charge and were remanded to prison until October 14, 2021 for report.

A post mortem examination that was conducted on the man who was a well known Hindu Priest and joiner, revealed that he died of a fractured skull compounded by brain haemorrhage.

The PM was conducted by Pathologist Nehaul Singh.

Man sentenced to jail Man goes berserk after in absentia captured taking illegal substance

Cops have managed to arrest a thief yesterday who had been running from serving his three-year jail sentence for stealing from a church.

The convict, Adrian Morrison, 31 was previously charged for breaking into a divine place (church) on December 25, 2020. He was granted bail but had failed to show up in court.

As a result, Morrison was sentenced in his absentia, to three years in jail on April 23

by Magistrate Bibi Zamina Alli.

Since the sentencing, police ranks have been looking for him. Yesterday, they received information that he was at Third Street Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara. They headed to the location and were able to capture him successfully.

The man smashing a windshield of a motor vehicle.

Captured Convict, Adrian Morrison

A Bartica man allegedly went berserk after he took an illegal substance.

According to a video seen by this publication, the man went into a fit of madness and started jumping on several vehicles. He even destroyed the windshield of one of the vehicles in

Bartica, Region Seven.

As the man continued to smash the vehicles, passers-by watched on while a police vehicle was seen heading at the scene.

He was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.

Investigations are ongoing.

Monday September 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Legislation underway to support “free zone” in Region 9 -Pres. Ali

President, Irfaan Ali met with members of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Saturday afternoon, where he discussed his Government's plans for Region Nine and encouraged them to form themselves into consortiums.

The Head of State, who was also in Lethem for the Regional Toshaos Meeting, said that his Government is aware of the desire to have parts of Lethem as a free zone.

“The declaration of areas as designated areas here in

Region Nine, Lethem, as a free zone—was a major issue that was raised. What I can say to you is that we are presently drafting the legislation. I received some options from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Attorney General is doing the draft legislation.”

President Ali also updated the Chamber on various plans by his Government to improve the region's infrastructure, including upgrading various health centres, schools, roads, improvement to the electricity supply, and other

major initiatives that will drive more investments and businesses in the region.

He said that once the major projects kick-off, investments could help negate the negative impact of the pandemic.

After his opening remarks, the President opened the floor for the business community to ask questions and highlight issues that affect them.

Most persons spoke of the decline in business due to the pandemic and the high cost of electricity.

The President reminded

the gathering that his Government is embarking on significant investments in electricity, including the establishment of solar farms in the region, which will reduce energy costs by more than 50% in the coming years.Further to this, President Ali encouraged the RCCI members to form consortiums and told them that the investment opportunities are greater as groups than as individuals.

He highlighted large scale farming opportunities as an example.

The group also raised

President Irfaan Ali at the head table, along with Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond during their meeting with the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Another Guyanese gears to pump over US$3M into massive quarry project

W

ith the accelerated pace of development from the oil and gas sector fuelling an increased demand for aggregates, a local businessman has kicked started plans to benefit from the lucrative opportunities that abound.

If approved, Pradeep Abdool, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Potaro Gold Mining Company (PGMC) and the owner of Winiperu Quarry, is set to invest more than US$3 million to develop a modern, large scale quarry to meet the existing and projected demand for aggregates and boulders.

While the project is expected to provide permanent employment for

50 to 66 Guyanese, it was noted that through the Project's capital investment and the initial life of five years, the estimated annual turnover would be in excess of US$2.9 million or GYD$605 million.

Kaieteur News understands that the Quarry would be located opposite Baracara Quarries, on the left bank of the Essequibo R i v e r, 8 0 k i l o m e t r e s southwest of Georgetown, with the nearest town being Bartica.

According to the project documents seen by Kaieteur News, "The proposed project area possesses an inferred resource of 10,650,500 and indicated of 7,900,000 tonnes."

Moreover, it was noted that the production objective

for the Quarry is to produce riprap and aggregate for the local market.

Based on suitability, most of the rocks will be for aggregate in the initial phase of the five-year life.

Building materials will also be produced based on mechanical properties of the rocks.

It was outlined further that the development stages of the project will consist of drilling boreholes for the geotechnical and hydrogeological investigation and environmental surveys of the Project area. The Construction Phase will include land clearing, over burden stripping and stockpiling, construction of quarry access roads, onloading facility, office and

camp facilities, and the procurement of the crushing plant.

It will also include the Operation Phase, which will see granite/gneiss excavation, ripping and blasting, riprap stockpiling, crushing aggregates, screening, on-loading, screening and barge transport.

A l r e a d y, Wi n i p e r u Quarry serves as a source of aggregates for the major Sherriff Street – Providence road bypass and infrastructure development along the East Coast Demerara to West Coast Demerara. This newspaper understands that the company is also exploring the possibility of exporting aggregates to Guyana's regional neighbours.

issues about poor infrastructural work being done in the area and suggested that a committee should be established to monitor future infrastructural works.

As a result, President Ali, on the spot, asked the group to nominate a representative and instructed the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, to form

a monitoring committee and ensure that the representative be included.

In conclusion, the RCCI members said that they were happy with the discussions with the President and thanked him for facilitating them on such short notice.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, was also at the meeting.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Monday September 06, 2021

...Ex TT Minister advising Guyana defends pushing FOR RENT Apartment for rent.Peters Hall & Albertown.Tel:6481391/698-5800.

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

PROPERTY FOR SALE 2 storey concrete house at Enmore Foulis,38M negotiable. Contact:692-7305/ +1(646)972-9267.

Lot 32 Public Road Grove/ F&L Hardware. Contact: 664-9701/642-6056.

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc.Call Nick#656-0110.

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

From page 2 Down Agreement”. This bound NGC to guarantee the payment of the loan for US$900M project, even if it fails.

Young said that Ramnarine was advised against going ahead with the project. In fact, advice was given in “red ink” by the country’s top technical officers but there was still undue pressure from Ramnarine and his colleagues. The Minister said the country’s saving grace was the refusal of the Attorney General to give the final blessings for key documents related to the project. This he said allowed for the country to have some wiggle room to renegotiate some of the lopsided provisions and save the gas industry from complete ruin.

In the interim, he said NGC will have to sustain millions of dollars in hits to its balance sheet due to certain liabilities for the project it cannot escape.

In response to questions from Kaieteur News on the foregoing, Ramnarine who has been advising Guyana on matters related to local content and its imminent gasWANTED 1 experience cook.Call:6238654.

FOR SALE 1 Jet Boat $30,000,000.

Call:695-1356/671-2486.

Fresh pluck chicken, $320 per lb retail. Tel:219-2192, 225-0480, 225-3593.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One male able bodied clerk.Call:693-8462/231-2029.

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

Bus & Taxi drivers. Tel:2253234/628-1183.

Delivery, Lorry license driver. Tel:621-9356.

Taxi driver & dispatcher at Princess taxi.Located at Ramada Princess Hotel.

Tel:616-5419,265-7075,2657076.

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

LAND FOR SALE

1 female to work/live in,must have food handlers certificate. Tel:678-2317.

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

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to-energy project, said what he and his colleagues did was above board. Below is his response in full.

The project in question (CGCL) is now a fully operational methanol plant located in La Brea in south Trinidad. Its construction started in 2015 and ended in 2020. It represented an investment of US$967 million into the Trinidad and Tobago economy which is $TT 6.6 billion. This money was raised from two of the largest banks in Japan namely the Japan Bank for International Corporation (JBIC) and BTMU. The project in question created work for hundreds of local contractors and at its peak construction employed 3000 citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. The companies involved in the project are among the largest in the world and in the Caribbean.

This includes Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Massy and the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago. The project in question was the largest public private partnership ever undertaken in the history of Trinidad and Tobago and was the largest construction project in Trinidad and Tobago in the last five years. At its completion in 2020, it was the first new petrochemical plant to be completed in Trinidad and Tobago in ten years. It is also the first major petrochemical plant to be built in Trinidad and Tobago outside of the Point Lisas industrial estate.

I give this context because navigating an investment of this magnitude to final investment decision (FID) with multiple shareholders and international banks was a complex undertaking. The investment also took place at a time when Trinidad and Tobago started to experience natural gas shortages.

Making such an investment a reality against the backdrop of a natural gas shortage was therefore no easy task. The bankers would have obviously wanted to mitigate the risk of the natural gas shortage. If Government’s want investment and job creation they must be prepared to

work with investors – especially world class investors.

The reason the NGC’s contract with CGCL was impaired is related to the significant increase in the price NGC pays for natural gas since 2019 and low prices of methanol in 2020.

The NGC buys natural gas from suppliers and sells to its customers like CGCL. When the NGC/ CGCL contract was finalized in 2015, the NGC would have based its pricing on a view of what they were paying their suppliers for natural gas, the methanol market, and future trends.

What was not foreseeable in 2015 was the significant increase in the prices the NGC pays for natural gas from its suppliers. These new contracts between NGC and two of its suppliers were negotiated in 2017 and became effective in 2019.

They distorted the natural gas market in Trinidad and Tobago.

The first manifestation of this distortion was the fallout between NGC and the Caribbean Nitrogen Company (CNC) which morphed into a public spat.

At that time, the Ministry of Energy in a press release dated January 26, 2018, admitted that “the gas supply situation and in particular, the pricing of gas has changed significantly, and the Government has been, and will be, engaging upstream gas suppliers and downstream gas purchasers to address this”.

Therefore, there were two forces at play when the NGC/ CGCL contract became effective in 2020. The first is the much higher price the NGC had to pay for natural gas as of 2019 and the second was the lower price it would realize from its sales to CGCL on account of lower methanol prices in 2020.Note that the price that NGC realizes for the natural gas it sells to CGCL is partially fixed and partially indexed to methanol prices.

This drove the impairment in keeping with IAS 37 rules.

Methanol price have now rebounded to around US$430 per tonne and at these prices the contract between the NGC and CGCL will be making money for the NGC. In such a situation with

the contract now being cash positive, the value that was impaired could be written back. The 2020 impairment was therefore based on market conditions for methanol in 2020. As I mentioned, these conditions no longer apply, and the NGC ought to be cash positive with this contract.

With regard to the Minister ’s criticism regarding approvals from the Solicitor General’s department, it should be noted that by memo dated August 26th, 2015, all the agreements that governed the project were positively vetted by the solicitor general. At the end of the day, despite all the odds, despite all the criticism, despite market conditions of 2020, there is an operational one million tonne per day methanol plant in La Brea.

What I have written here has been said to print and electronic media in Trinidad and Tobago. This is a project that involved some of the most reputable and established companies in the world and one of the Caribbean’s largest conglomerates (Massy) which is listed on the Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaican stock exchanges.

In addition, the CGCL plant will provide the basis for the future industrialization of the southwestern peninsula of Trinidad.

As for the Debt Tail buy down, this was an agreement to mitigate the risk of natural gas supply to the plant. It provided that should the “reserve to production” ratio of Trinidad and Tobago fall to one (1), the NGC would buy the remaining debt of the project. The reserve to production is currently around 8.5 at the end of 2019. The chances of the debt tail buy down ever being trigger are remote.

Furthermore, all concerns raised by the NGC in a letter dated February 2015 to the Minister of Finance were mitigated and dealt with before the project agreement was signed in April 2015 and before the realization of Final Investment Decision (FID) in September 2015. The NGC was a signatory to the Project Agreement of April 2015.

Monday September 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

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'Jinga Harry' is prime Harmon urges Govt. to revoke new COVID-19 measure on suspect in latest shootout with Customs access to public buildings Popularly known businessman and alleged s m u g g l e r, H a r r i e l a l l Motilall called 'Jinga Harry', has been identified as the prime suspect behind the recent shooting of two Enforcement officers attached to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Last Thursday night, the two Customs officers were shot to their face and abdomen during a joint antismuggling operation with members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

Reliable sources yesterday informed Kaieteur News that the businessman is yet to be arrested.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, a team of GRA's Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) officers and policemen went into the Mahaica location to intercept a boat after receiving information that it is suspected to be carrying uncustomed goods into the Mahaica River.

GRA in a statement explained that around 23:45hrs that day, its vessel came under high powered gunfire emanating from the

- says it is “wholly authoritarian”

Harrielall Motilall called “Jinga Harry”.

businessman's vessel and property.

The company had believed that the suspects involved may have been tipped off of its operation since they opened fire on the officers. According to them too, the owner of the vessel was no stranger to them or the police since he is known for his smuggling activities.

Not only is the businessman a known for his smuggling activities but he is also known for allegedly shooting at law enforcement officers.

Motilall was last year arrested for a similar incident where he was involved in a shootout with police ranks and GRA officers in the Mahaica

location. For that incident, the businessman was arrested and charged but was released on bail.

The businessmen had previously told this publication that he is not a smuggler. Last year too, he faced charges for a similar shooting incident with officer attached to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU).

In 2016, he was sentenced to four years imprisonment for shooting two GRA officers in 2014.

All these incidents allegedly involving the businessman were because of lawmen intercepting smuggling activities linked to him.

An investigation into the current incident is ongoing.

O p p o s i t i o n L e a d e r, Joseph Harmon in a release yesterday called the Government's newly updated COVID-19 measures related to accessing public buildings as “wholly authoritarian”.

Just Saturday, it was updated in the Official Gazette under the COVID19 Emergency measures that vaccination is mandatory for any person who wishes to enter a public building, privately owned building and an institution of learning.

In response to this, the Opposition leader in his statement said that it effectively mandates and imposes vaccination on every citizen. “This measure runs contrary to all the tenets of personal liberties including an individual's freedom of conscience as enshrined in Article 147 of the Constitution,” Harmon explained.

He noted also that the

Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon new requirement underlines that the government is without a plan to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and that it is implementing an “ad hoc and whimsical” guideline that is designed to advance profiteering which completely disregard the

right of the public.

In this regard, Harmon called for the government to immediately revoke this “unconstitutional measure” and engage stakeholders to chart a prudent and responsible National COVID-19 Management Plan, stating that his party is ready and willing to contribute.

The Opposition Leader further asked of the government to take note of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, who had engaged the Leader of the Opposition on the issue of the rampant spread of COVID-19 in that country, and to follow suit.

“The PPP must immediately cease and desist from the wild and reckless approach it has adopted which only benefits its acolytes and financiers and leaves the people of the nation isolated, locked out and vulnerable,” he concluded.

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Kaieteur News

Monday September 06, 2021

Monday September 06, 2021

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Kaieteur News

Mackenzie Sports Club ground open to public Lukaku marks 100th cap with 67th goal for exercising After more than two years the Mackenzie Sports Club’s main gate to the ground is now open daily for use by residents who want to exercise and keep fit.

THE MSC Executive had since last Monday made the provision for the general public to access the ground which is in good shape for those wanting to have a safe place where they can visit to exercise before going to work in the morning.

The MSC ground is opened at 4.30 in the morning and closed at 6.00pm.

Acting MSC President Mr. Norris King informed: “We know that persons are up early and would use the main roadways with the aim of keeping fit.”

It was observed this practice can pose problems because at times heavily laden logging trucks traverse through the town often using the main thoroughfares such as the Linden Highway and the Washer Pond road, which is not safe.

King opined, “It was a wonderful decision by the executives of the MSC. I think as a people we would have sat down and collectively agree. There was no one who disagreed with giving the community access to ground of the MSC, so that persons can be safer while exercising.”

King recalled: “Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown persons would sit, wakeup, go to sleep, do some basic things, eat and our

Norris King Acting MSC President energies would be building.

So it was noted we have quite a number of persons living with elevated sugar levels as persons are not that

Monday September 06, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Do you need a change of pace, Aries? If things are beginning to feel boring and you're apathetic, chances are that you do. All you have to do is figure out what to shift.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Mind your physical health today, Taurus. Don't push yourself if you're feeling tired and run down. Seriously consider taking a day off from everything to get the rest your body needs.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Something out of the ordinary may appeal to you, especially if life seems dull these days. Nothing says you can't indulge yourself as long as what you're considering isn't dangerous or something you'll regret.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Music can soothe the savage beast, Libra. If you feel rather savage yourself, turn on some music. Dance and sing aloud. You'll be amazed at how this reduces stress and increases energy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) If you feel sluggish today, Scorpio, put on some upbeat music to get you going.

Whether it's your favorite tune or the radio, it will help a great deal.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Try then try again today, Sagittarius. It can feel terrible to fail at something. Sometimes you just want to hide rather than face the possibility of humiliation.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) It's a great day to set some goals or review existing ones, Cancer. If you don't have a working list, it's time you started one. Brainstorm without censorship.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Consider talking with a good friend today. Don't let your pride get in the way of getting the support and help you need. If you've made a mistake or fear you've done something wrong, don't walk around with guilt.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Make yourself available to someone in need of a friend, Leo. Don't turn anyone away even if you're busy or under the weather.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It might be time to face a recent failure, Aquarius. No one is exempt from disappointment, of not succeeding at something.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Take care of yourself if you feel tired. There's no shame in slowing down or taking a day off if it's needed. If you can spend a day in bed, go for it. This can be more restorative than you know.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Don't delude yourself, Pisces. While it can be a real temptation to see what you want to see, there's danger in doing so. A pipe dream can only last so long. It's never permanent!

hyperactive. So we as a Club realised that we can contribute to the health and wellbeing of our society.”

Hence, the leading MSC official said, the direction taken for persons to have access to the ground to exercise.

He said persons with personal trainers are also invited to use the pavilion where they can use the pavilion steps to do strength training.

King cautioned that those who decide to make use of the ground, that they treat it as of it were theirs and they should not litter or do the things that can help to destroy the facility.

The MSC ground as an open space is available everyday from 4.30am until 6.00pm.

BBC Sport - Romelu Lukaku celebrated his 100th Belgium cap with his 67th international goal in a comfortable win over the Czech Republic in World Cup qualifying.

The Chelsea striker, 28, raced onto a Hans Vanaken through ball to score with a first-time finish from the edge of the box.

Vanaken then set up Eden Hazard to score his first international goal since November 2019.

Lukaku flicked the ball on for Alexis Saelemaekers to score Belgium’s third.

Lukaku is the sixth Belgian to win 100 caps, although he is still well behind current team-mate Jan Vertonghen’s record of 132 (and counting).

Hazard is Belgium’s second top scorer ever with

33 goals, less than half of Lukaku’s total.

Lukaku was also booked which means he will miss Wednesday’s game with Belarus in Russia - and can instead return to London now.

Belgium top Group E on 13 points from five games, six points clear of the secondplaced Czechs. Wales, on six points, have two games in hand though.

Sunday 5th September 2021 results: Belarus 2 – Wales 3 England 4 – Andorra 0 Switzerland 0 – Italy 0 Belgium 3 - Czech Rep 0 San Marino 1 – Poland 7 Iceland 2 - North Macedonia 2 Bulgaria 1 - Lithuania 0 Albania 1 – Hungary 0 Germany 6 - Armenia 0 Romania 2 – Liechtenstein 0 Kosovo 1 – Greece 1 Spain 4 – Georgia 0

Kaieteur News

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Monday September 06, 2021

TKR claim victory over Tallawahs CPL - Trinbago Knight Riders moved back into the top four of the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) table with a sevenwicket victory over the Jamaica Tallawahs.

TKR won the toss and elected to field first. This proved an inspired decision as their vaunted bowling attack ran through the Tallawahs top order. However, Carlos Brathwaite and Imad Wasim managed to rebuild the innings to give the Tallawahs a total to try and defend.

In reply TKR overcame a rain delay to win the game with ease although they had several fielding mishaps to help them on their way.

Lendl Simmons returned to form as his 70 lead the way for the Knight Riders.

With several enforced changes as a result of injuries in the camp, the Tallawahs got their innings off to a poor start with five wickets falling in the PowerPlay.

At the halfway stage of the innings, they could only muster 34 runs as the TKR bowling combinations of Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine and Khary Pierre offered no freebies.

Once Imad Wasim, making his first appearance for the Tallawahs in this Hero CPL, and Brathwaite got their eye in they were able to launch a counter-attack.

The pair put on an 83-run partnership from 64 balls to rebuild the innings and that was supplemented by some late Andre Russell sixes to give TKR a tricky total to negotiate.

TKR got their innings off to a watchful start, but Sunil Narine was dismissed just before the heavens opened leading to a rain delay.

Once play resumed TKR easily chased the 145 required as Simmons and Colin Munro put together a 102 run partnership to ensure there would be no drama in the chase.

Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 145/3 (Simmons 70, Munro 34; Imad 2/19, Pretorius 1/39) beat Jamaica Tallawahs 144/7 (Brathwaite 58, Imad 42; Hosein 2/12, Rampaul 2/26) by seven wickets.

After a rest day today, the action continues tomorrow through to Thursday at the Warner Park venue with more action.

Fixtures:

Ravi Rampaul made early inroads in the Powerplay, Sep 04, 2021 © Getty Images Tue 07 September 2021 match 19 Jamaica Tallawahs v Trinbago Knight Riders Warner Park 10:00am Tue 07 September 2021 match 20 Barbados Royals v Guyana Amazon Warriors Warner Park 07:00pm Buy Tickets

Wed 08 September 2021 match 21 St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Jamaica Tallawahs Warner Park 10:00am Behind Closed Doors Wed 08 September 2021 match 22 Guyana Amazon Warriors v Saint Lucia Kings Warner Park 07:00pm

Buy Tickets Thu 09 September 2021 match 23 Barbados Royals v Trinbago Knight Riders Warner Park 10:00am Behind Closed Doors Thu 09 September 2021 match 24 Saint Lucia Kings v Jamaica Tallawahs Warner Park 07:00pm

Kaieteur News

Monday September 06, 2021

PAGE 21

Chaos during Brazil v Argentina as health officials storm pitch to deport players Metro UK - There were incredible scenes during the Brazil v Argentina World Cup qualifier in Sao Pauo yesterday as health officials came onto the pitch five minutes into the match in order to detain four Argentina players.

The Brazilian authorities say that Argentina’s four Premier League-based players – Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso, Emiliano Martinez and Emi Buendia – have breached quarantine rules and should have quarantined on arrival into Brazil.

They also claim that the Argentinians did not declare that the four men had been in the UK in the last 14 days, which would have meant they had to quarantine for 14 days, giving false

information to avoid that.

Argentina, though, believe that they have been in the CONMEBOL bubble, which means they did not have to comply to those rules.

The situation was known before the match, with Brazil’s health authority Anvisa releasing a statement, but why they chose until five minutes into the match to act is not at all clear.

Anvisa’s statement read: ‘Anvisa considers the situation a serious health risk and so has asked local health authorities to determine the immediate quarantine of the players, who are stopped from participating in any activity and should be prevented from remaining on Brazilian soil.’

Martinez, Lo Celso and

Brazilian players were confused as to what the outcome would be (Picture: Getty Images) Romero were all in the starting XI for Argentina in Sao Paulo after CONMEBOL and FIFA had spoken to Brazilian health authorities and it was believed that all was well for them to play.

Travel within South America for elite sports people is permitted, but Brazilian authorities did not want those travelling from the UK to be involved.

After a feisty first five minutes, with some tackles

flying between the old rivals, the game came to a halt as a number of officials congregated on the side of the pitch.

They then entered the field and the Argentine players were waved off the pitch after a small scuffle, while the Brazilians stayed on the field and chatted.

The majority of the Argentina squad returned to the dressing room pretty quickly, with the rest following.

Argentina’s players never returned to the pitch and the match was officially called off, with the Brazilian players remaining on the field and had an unusual training session.

CONMEBOL tweeted: ‘By decision of the match referee, the match organized

by FIFA between Brazil and Argentina for the World Cup Qualifiers is suspended.’

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said: ‘It makes me very sad. I’m not looking for

any culprits. Whether or not something happened, it was not the time to make that intervention.

‘It should have been a party for everyone, to enjoy the best players in the world.

I would like the people of Argentina to understand that as a coach I have to defend my players.

‘At no time were we notified that they could not play the match. We wanted to play the game, the players from Brazil too.’

Roston Chase’s 51* helps St Lucia Kings complete double drubbing of St Kitts & Nevis Patriots Fabian Allen hit three sixes in a 32-ball 34, Sep 04, 2021 © CPL T20 via Getty Images

ESPNcricinfo - The same two teams played at the same venue for a second day running, and St Lucia Kings got the better of St Kitts & Nevis Patriots once again, but this time on an entirely different sort of pitch. Having ended Patriots’ fivematch winning streak by powering their way to 224 on Saturday, Kings completed the double with a far scrappier performance in a lowscoring game, with Roston Chase sealing the deal with his third straight half-century of the season yesterday.

They got home with six wickets in hand and 26 balls remaining, but the match was closer than the scorecard indicated, with missed chances costing Patriots the possibility of a tense finish.

The pitch used yesterday offered help for the spinners as well as disconcerting bounce when the fast bowlers hit the shorter lengths, and Kings’ well-balanced attack kept Patriots to 118 after the home team opted to bowl.

Left-arm spinners Jeavor Royal and Samit Patel returned combined figures of 5 for 35 in eight overs, and Wahab Riaz conceded just 17 in his four overs while getting the prize

early scalp of Chris Gayle with a lifting, seaming delivery in the corridor.

Patriots could have ended up with far less, but Fabian Allen dragged them into three figures with an uncharacteristic knock. He came in at 59 for 5 in the 10th over, and was on 6 off 19 balls - with Patriots eight down - when he hit his first boundary. By then, though, he seemed to have the measure of conditions, and he hit 28 off his next 12 balls - with his flat-bat hitting of short-of-length balls over the covers a particular highlight before falling in the 19th over.

Without a significant total to defend, Gayle was aggressive with his captaincy, packing the infield even after the powerplay, and stationing a slip for most of Kings’ innings. He started with Allen’s leftarm spin and bowled him out in one spell, and was rewarded with two wickets - Andre Fletcher out first ball to a contentious lbw call, and Faf du Plessis caught at mid-on. Allen could have had a third with the last ball of his spell too, but his drifting arm ball sneaked between Chase’s bat and pad and bounced over the stumps.

The next two overs produced

three chances but just the one wicket, as both Naseem Shah and Paul van Meekeren got the short ball to rear awkwardly. Keron Cottoy was put down by Fawad Ahmed at fine leg, but he fell next ball, slicing a catch to backward point. Then both Chase and Samit were early on the pull, only for Colin Archibald to put the former down at mid-off and for van Meekeren to lose the ball in the sun off his own bowling and let off the latter.

Kings could have been five down at the end of the ninth over. Instead, they were just three down with 55 needed from 66. Chase took over thereafter, lofting Fawad and Archibald for exquisite sixes over extra-cover to rush towards his fifty, eventually bringing it up off just 36 balls.

Samit fell with 19 left to get, but that was no ray of hope for Patriots, as Tim David came out and smacked two sixes in just seven balls to end the game in a hurry.

Scores: St Lucia Kings 121 for 4 (Chase 51*, Allen 2-30) beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 118 (Allen 34, Thomas 28, Royal 3-20, Samit 2-15, Williams 2-32) by six wickets.

Kaieteur News

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Monday September 06, 2021

England openers set up thrilling finish to fourth Test against India AFP - Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed held firm yesterday to give England hope of a record-breaking win in the fourth Test against India at the Oval.

England were 77-0 at the close of the fourth day, needing a further 291 runs to reach a daunting target of 368 after India had piled up 466 in their second innings, with Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur sharing a stand of exactly 100.

But England left-hander Rory Burns was 31 not out on his Surrey home ground and fellow opener Hameed unbeaten on 43 to set up a tantalising finish with this five-match series already intriguingly poised at 1-1.

India were unable to breakthrough after they had again left out star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, a bowler with 413 Test wickets to his credit but yet to feature this series, on an Oval pitch renowned for taking turn late in the game.

Even so, the odds were still in India’s favour.

The most England have made more to win in the

fourth innings of a Test is 362-9, requiring 359, against Australia at Headingley in 2019.

But Ben Stokes, whose unbeaten cen tu r y s aw England to that thrilling onewicket win two years ago, is not playing in this series while the all-rounder takes a mental health break from all cricket.

No team have made more to win in the fourth innings of a Test at the Oval than England’s 263-9 against Australia back in 1902.

When India captain Virat Kohli was out for 44 before lunch his side were 312-6, a healthy but not unassailable lead of 213 runs.

Pant (50) and Thakur (60), however, shared a partnership of 100 in just 155 balls.

For Thakur, fit following a hamstring injury that had kept him out since the drawn first Test in Nottingham, it was his second fifty of the match following his 57 in India’s first-innings 191.

Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah piled on the runs on a sunny afternoon in an

innings that saw England spend over 11, energysapping, hours in the field.

Thakur was especially severe on a tiring pace attack with left-hander Pant, who’d so often given his wicket away this series, sensibly playing himself in before going for his shots.

Even James Anderson, Te s t c r i c k e t ’s m o s t successful fast bowler, was made to look every one of his 39 years when Thakur hoisted him through deep midwicket, with the ball no longer deviating in the air or off the pitch.

Such was Thakur ’s command, he drove an Ollie Robinson slower ball high over long-on for six.

England’s plight in the field was summed up when, with India 376-6, Pant was sent back by Thakur after going for a needlessly risky single on 37 only for Moeen to miss with a shy at the stumps from midwicket with Hameed, who fumbled the return, also failing to run him out.

- Run-spree’ Thakur’s third fifty in

Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns punch gloves after an unbeaten 77-run stand on day four, Sep 04, 2021 © AFP/Getty Images four Tests came in just 65 balls, including five fours.

England captain Joe Root eventually ended the stand when Thakur edged the occasional off-spinner to Craig Overton at slip.

M e a n w h i l e , wicketkeeper Pant’s 106ball innings, which included four fours, ended when he gave a return catch to frontline off-spinner Moeen from a hard-hit drive.

Yadav, however, hit two sixes before he was last man out for 25. Despite the runspree Chris Woakes, playing his first Test in over a year, took an economical 3-83 in

32 overs to go with the paceman’s 4-55 in India’s first innings.

The Warwickshire allrounder also made 50 in England’s first-innings 290.

India resumed Sunday on 270-3, a lead of 171 runs.

Rohit Sharma had led the way with 127, his first overseas Test century, after being missed twice in the slips and with Cheteshwar Pujara (61) he frustrated England during a secondwicket partnership of 153.

But Woakes reduced India to 296-5 with a burst of 2-0 in nine balls as he had both Ravindra Jadeja (17)

and the struggling Ajinkya Rahane (0) lbw.

Kohli was in fine touch until caught at slip off Moeen — his 21st successive Test innings without a hundred.

India head coach Ravi Shastri was unable to watch yesterday’s proceedings at the Oval, having been forced to remain in the team hotel after testing positive for Covid-19 late Saturday.

Scores: England 290 and 77 for 0 (Hameed 43*, Burns 31*) need 291 more runs to beat India 191 and 466 (Rohit 127, Pujara 61, Thakur 60, Pant 50, Woakes 3-83).

Verstappen’s like royalty as Dutch king watches home win

Z

A N D V O O R T, Netherlands (AP) — Wearing the Dutch national flag like a cape, Max Verstappen felt like royalty as he stood atop the podium at his home race.

He treated his fans — including King WillemAlexander — to a superb win at the Netherlands Grand Prix yesterday to wrestle back the lead from Lewis Hamilton, who finished second ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas.

“Incredible feeling, of course, to win in front of the fans, because the king was watching with the royal family,” Verstappen said.

“Just an amazing day.”

After 13 races of a thrilling Formula One title fight, the Red Bull driver is three points ahead of Hamilton, who seeks a record eighth F1 title to move one ahead of Michael Schumacher and stand alone among F1 greats.

Verstappen is chasing his first F1 crown and will take some stopping, considering he leads Hamilton 7-4 for wins and 7-3 in pole positions.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.

(AP Photo/ Peter Dejong)

The only thing missing from Verstappen’s 17th career win was a bonus point for fastest lap, which went to Hamilton.

Verstappen’s winning margin of 21 seconds over Hamilton was exaggerated because the British driver had to pit again to wrestle back that point from Bottas.

A rare blip by Mercedes saw Bottas told to abort his bid for fastest lap, but it was too late and forced Hamilton to retrieve it.

After the race, a jubilant Verstappen grabbed a Dutch flag and lifted it high toward his adoring supporters as

they celebrated together.

“The expectations were high and it’s never easy to fulfil that,” Verstappen said.

“But I’m so happy to win here and to take the lead as well in the championship.

It’s just an amazing day with the whole crowd.”

Verstappen’s devoted home fans turned the stands by the seaside town into an orange sea of bodies. Orange flares were lit, and feet were stamped as Verstappen turned to the crowd with a clenched fist after a clinical drive.

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly placed fourth ahead of

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Alpine driver Fernando Alonso.

Verstappen started from pole position for the sixth time in the past seven races, courtesy of a brilliant qualifying session.

Hamilton and Bottas were just behind, but Verstappen zoomed clear of them on the speedy 4.3kilometer (2.7-mile) Zandvoort with its highbanking corners.

“The start was very important, I think we did that well,” he said. “Mercedes tried to make it difficult for us, but we countered them all the time really well.”

Team principal Christian Horner called Verstappen’s drive “epic” and hugged team engineers and mechanics in the paddock.

With Red Bull having more pace, Mercedes exerted pressure with strategy.

Hamilton changed tires on Lap 21, with Red Bull covering that move by bringing Verstappen in straight away. He came out about 2 seconds ahead of Hamilton, leaving Bottas in the lead.

“It’s going to be critical to catch and pass (Bottas),” the Red Bull team told Verstappen on the radio.

They roared when Verstappen overtook Bottas on Lap 31, with Hamilton passing Bottas to move 1.5 seconds behind Verstappen at the halfway point.

Mercedes brought Hamilton in for a second tire change on Lap 40 in a bid to undercut Red Bull. It didn’t work, as Red Bull’s slick stop one lap later put Ve r s t a p p e n 3 s e c o n d s ahead.

“Doesn’t seem to be an advantage, (Red Bull) called our bluff,” a frustrated Hamilton said. “They’re just so fast.”

Hamilton disagreed with a team order on Lap 55 to preserve the tires rather than risk damaging them by chasing too hard.

“What, and don’t race?” asked Hamilton, who got the go-ahead to continue.

But he couldn’t get close enough to attack Verstappen, who coasted home to rapturous celebrations from his Orange Army.

He will look to carry his momentum into the Italian

GP at Monza next weekend, where Hamilton again seeks a record-extending 100th win after being thwarted for three races since winning the British GP. The seven-time F1 champion was in a gracious mood.

“What a race, what a crowd. It’s been an amazing weekend,” said Hamilton, who was applauded having been jeered by Vertappen’s fans in previous races. “Max did an incredible job so a huge congratulations to him.

I gave it absolutely everything.”

He leaves the Zandvoort track with fond memories.

“The last lap was one of the best parts of the race for me,” Hamilton added. “This is now one of my favorite tracks.”

Even better than Silverstone?

“I mean, the British one is naturally my favorite,” Hamilton said. “Where I think this track is probably better than Silverstone is that at Silverstone the grandstands are so far away.

You need binoculars, but here they are right on the track.”

Kaieteur News

Monday September 06, 2021

PAGE 23

Karishma Ramharack takes career-best 3-8 as Windies Women square series against South Africa

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portsMax - A career-best b o w l i n g performance from Karishma Ramharack led West Indies Women to a magnificent victory over South Africa Women on Saturday.

The 26-year-old offspinner came into the attack in the 15th over in her first match of the series. She took a wicket with her third ball and returned the superb figures of 3-0-8-3 to receive the CG Insurance Player-ofthe-Match award.

This limited the Proteas to a mere 80-9 off their 20 overs and West Indies then strolled to 81-5 off 11.5 overs to level the series 1-1.

Ramharack was supported by some

Karishma Ramharack is congratulated by teammates during the action.

excellent fielding when Chadean Nation ran around to her right at long-on, dived full length and held onto a

catch to dismiss Chole Tyron. Two overs later Kyshona Knight snapped up a sharp chance to remove

Olympic medalists Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Hansle Parchment were impressive at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Poland.

Fraser-Pryce wins in 10.81, Parchment victorious in Poland

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portsMax Olympic medalists Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Hansle Parchment were impressive winners at the Continental Tour Gold meeting at the Stadion Slaski in Chorzow, Poland yesterday.

Fraser-Pryce, the Olympic 100m silver medalist, who was running her first race since her lifetime best 10.60 in Lausanne, Switzerland on August 26, sped to a meet record 10.81 to win by daylight over Swiss athlete Mujinga Kambundji who stopped the clock at 11.08.

Great Britain’s Daryll Neita (11.15) was further back in third. Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye ran 11.19 for fourth.

Parchment, the Olympic champion, recovered from an average start to overhaul

Devon Allen and win in 13.26. Allen clipped the last hurdle but managed to finish second in 13.37 while Damion Thomas was third in 13.50.

The women’s sprint hurdles event was won by Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan in 12.64 ahead of Olympic bronze medalist Megan Tapper who clocked 12.75.

T h e U S A’s C h r i s t i n a Clemons was third in 12.92.

Jaheel Hyde ended up on the podium after finished third in the 400m hurdles in 48.89. Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos was an easy winner in 4 8 . 5 0 o v e r T u r k e y ’s Yasmani Copello, who ran 48.80.

Candace McLeod, a finalist over 400m in Tokyo finished third in the 400m.

Among the leaders up to 300m, the Jamaican faded to third clocking 51.88. The

Polish pair of Natalia Kaczmarec and Anna Keilbasinska took the top two places in 50.70 and 51.19, respectively.

Meanwhile, Anderson Peters threw 83.61m for a second-place finish in the m e n ’s j a v e l i n t h r o w.

However, he was no match for Germany’s Johannes Vetter, who flung the spear 89.60m for victory.

Fedrick Dacres took third place in the men’s discus. He threw a best mark of 64.91m that was bettered

by Lithuania’s Andrius Gudzious (65.89m) and Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh (66.65m) Andre Degrasse was an easy winner in the 200m in 20.21. His compatriot Jerome Blake took second place in 20.32. Olympic relay gold medalist Filippo Tortu was third in 20.40.

Trisha Chetty and Ramharack got her third when she clean-bowled Ayabonga Khaka in the 19th

over.

Earlier in the innings, Britney Cooper again demonstrated her immense skills in the outfield with a stunning running and diving catch at mid-on to pick up the key wicket Lizelle Lee for nine off Aliyah Alleyne, who ended with 2-16.

It proved to be a very important wicket moment in the match as Lee fell for single digits for the first time in the series. In the previous knocks, Lee made a run-a-ball 30 and 75 off 52 balls to be named CG Insurance Player-of-theSeries.

In reply, West Indies easily reached the target closing out the match at 81-5 off 11.5 overs to win with 49 balls to spare.

Deandra Dottin again led the charge with a purposeful knock of 31off 21 balls.

She hit three fours through the on-side and a massive straight six from a flighted delivery from leftarm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba.

Left-hander Kycia Knight also played well – with 26 off 27 balls – which included four flowing boundaries, as she added 53 for the second wicket with Dottin.

The two teams will now switch to the CG Insurance One-Day International Series. The opening match will be at the Coolidge Cricket Ground tomorrow.

First ball in the day/night match is 2:45pm (1:45pm Jamaica Time).