Some Guyanese K NEWS oil workers earn less than school cleaners - GAWU AIETEUR
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Tuesday Edition September 07, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 34
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
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Govt. requests US$1.8M IDB loan to build strategy for economic transformation with oil wealth p. 3
Govt. still to finalise Int’l Law Firm to revamp - AG Guyana’s oil framework p. 3
Cases of dengue, malaria surge in Cuyuni as area remains flooded for over a month
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Guyanese p. Labourer arrested shot dead, 8 after he confessed wife injured to chopping 13p. in Venezuela father to death
The protest continues for change to the Exxon contract.
Exxon wants 5 acres riverside facility on WBD to expand operations p. 13
The leaders are proud of themselves for getting US$2M for gas flaring from Exxon while Guyana has to spend US$4M to remove 3 shipwrecks in Exxon’s way. Collecting US$2M in one hand and giving out US$4M with the other hand. Way to do business Guyana! Now they are begging the IDB for US$1.8M to train staff to manage the oil sector. Good business eh! @ 11am on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday September 07, 2021
Exxon wants 5 acres riverside facility on WBD to expand operations E
sso Exploration and Guyana L i m i t e d (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—is currently looking for proposals for the provision of a 'Quayside and Laydown Area' on the We s t e r n B a n k o f t h e Demerara River to support its expanding operations. As such, it has since issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking detailed operational and technical information from suppliers for meeting EEPGL's bid selection requirements for the facility. According to the company, it plans to put in place an enabling agreement for the use of such a facility. Among the requirements listed by EEPGL is the ability to accommodate large barges that “must have offloading equipment available (i.e. excavators, cranes, etc.), (and) must have an established dredged channel to the river's main shipping channel.” As it relates to the land requirements, the company said the facility must have developed Laydown area in close proximity to quays (a stone or metal platform lying alongside or projecting into water for loading and unloading ships) and must have storage area for materials and equipment with a minimum of five acres or 20,300 m2.
Quayside: The Port of Cromarty Firth facility in the UK
Other requirements, as requested by EEPGL, include a fully finished surface, equipped with drainage systems to avoid flooding, in addition to ancillary requirements such as appropriate fencing, lighting, and security cameras. Taking into account Local Content requirements, the company in its RFI said during the bid process, prospective EEPGL contractors are responsible for providing a local content plan. Earlier in the year the company had invited
proposals for a new local shore base to support its operations locally, “in light of its accelerating operations.” The stipulated criteria as
p u b l i c i s e d b y ExxonMobil at the time, called for potential contractors to have “documented proof of lease/land ownership;
berthage capacity and capability to support a range of vessels; dedicated area for storage and staging of materials and equipment; dedicated area for
fabrication; dedicated office and warehouse space; dedicated material/cargo handling and equipment.” This is in addition to personnel, plans, and procedures required to support and operate the s h o r e b a s e . Included in ExxonMobil's demand for another shore base operator are “stipulated birthing requirements of up to 100 metres load out berth with a minimum draft of six metres, and must be able to support 80 tonnes per square inch.” Also requested are detailed specifications for a 110m wide x 140m deep fabrication pad with direct access to quayside, perimeter security and ancillary equipment, including cranes capable of hoisting up to 400 tonnes. Guyana currently hosts one shore-base operations, the Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYBSI), which serves as ExxonMobil's sole Guyanese Tier 1 Contractor.
Some Guyanese oil workers earn less than school cleaners - GAWU
D
espite recent pronouncement s by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), that locals represent some 53 percent of its workforce, at least one domestic union has since raised concerns about the treatment meted out to some of these very workers. In a public missive issued yesterday by the Oil and Gas branch of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), it was highlighted that in some cases employees who are highly skilled and recipients of specialised training are paid at the national minimum wage of $255 per hour. Contrastingly and “to i l l u s t r a t e t h e preposterousness, a school cleaner presently receives around $403 per hour,” the union highlighted. To this end, the union body emphasised that while “a great deal of attention is paid to Guyanese participation in the sector, and the statistics may appear impressive on the surface, the reality is that oil sector
GAWU claims local oil labour force is being exploited to enrich foreign owners
workers are confronted by exploitative practices and, at times, demeaning relations.” Clearly, the union said, “the situation is far from ideal and reminds us of what prevailed when the plantocracy ruled the sugar industry. Like then, the workers of the oil sector are seen as commodities while their owners extract profits and super-profits from their sweat.” As such, GAWU went on to note that while the (local) workers' labour is exploited, the owners are accumulating
wealth which generations of their families may not be able to expend, while locals are underpaid and undervalued. The union noted too that to augment their salaries, workers are paid allowances which can be capriciously altered at the whim and fancy of the employer. The employees, it added, must be subservient if they wish to receive some level of earnings. According to GAWU, “paying employees at the lowest possible level is, in
our view, a deliberate ploy” since it reduces the employer's National Insurance Scheme's contribution. The union also alleges that “the pay arrangement is apparently devised and is managed by a firm that has interests of a now-silent critic of the sector.” As such, GAWU said that it stands ready and willing to work with the oil sector workers to speak on their behalf and to bring about a better day for workers.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 07, 2021
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Govt. requests US$1.8 million IDB loan to build strategy for economic transformation with oil wealth T
he PPP/C Government has approached the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for a loan totalling US$1,817,764 to support the development, and implementation of a Medium-Term Development Strategy which will leverage on the country's emerging oil and gas revenues. The strategy would be used to grow investment, increase employment and strengthen the economic resilience of the country. According to the loan documents seen by Kaieteur News, the funding would be spent on five components. Component I is called: Strengthening the technical capacity of the government to lead economic transformation in Guyana. It is expected to include a forum for infrastructure opportunities, targeted investor workshops to assist in structuring specific Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, public consultation, and awareness building through strategic
communications to investors, stakeholders and the general public. The government is proposing to use US$882,000 from the loan for this activity. As for Component II, this is titled: The Economic Diversification and Mid-Term Development Strategy. This component will support several activities, such as the engagement of a strategic advisor on economic development, consultations with stakeholders to identify and select on potential, technical exchanges with countries that have successfully developed using growth pole strategies, provide consultancies to support the review of existing development strategies, facilitate consultations and provide insight into success stories on economic diversification. It was noted in the project document that US$279,000 has been budgeted for this purpose. With respect to Component III, this is expected to focus on creating
investment opportunities for the private sector, and will support the engagement of a strategic advisor for public-private partnerships to develop a PPP framework for Guyana, including proposed legal and regulatory recommendations. It was noted that US$369,000 has been budgeted for this activity.
The fourth component will see expenditure on awareness and diffusion, and will include a forum for infrastructure opportunities, targeted investor workshops to assist in structuring specific PPP projects identified under Component three, and ensure public consultation and awareness building through strategic communications to investors. This is expected to cost
US$170,000. Component Five caters for financing any contingencies that need to be tackled during project execution. Over US$117,000 was budgeted for this purpose. As regards execution, it was stated that the Ministry of Finance will oversee all the coordination activities with the relevant stakeholders. To justify the money being requested, it was noted in the document that the Stabroek Block oil discoveries have led to an increase in foreign companies setting up operations in Guyana, and out-competing local businesses, in particular Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs). The IDB said there are already initiatives in progress to provide training and to build the capacity of SMEs in Guyana, and to integrate them into the upstream part of the oil value chain. However, to facilitate a broader range of investment, and a more diversified, sustainable economy
beyond oil and gas, in the long term, the IDB stressed that a more strategic approach to private sector development is required hence, the strategy that is going to be developed and implemented. It noted that the Guyana government has been carrying out actions to support economic diversification and productivity, as well as value added and export readiness. It said too, that the government has started to take actions for building capacity at several levels to prepare for the expected impacts of the oil production, including managing of public spending by creating a long-term strategy and building administrative capacity. With the ongoing work of the government as a strong premise, the IDB is therefore of the view that the loan, which is still being reviewed for approval, will ultimately support Guyana in creating an effective strategy for economic transformation with its oil wealth.
Govt. still to finalise Int'l Law Firm to revamp Guyana's oil framework - AG T
he Guyana Government is yet to finalise and select a law firm or conglomerate company that would be working across state agencies to revamp Guyana's existing legal architecture, in order to create the requisite environment to regulate the country's emerging oil and gas sector. This is according to the country's Chief Legal Officer, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall. He gave his view recently during an online discussion reflecting on the administration's past year in office with regards to the Legal Affairs Ministry. According to Minister Nandlall, the quantum of oil and gas that has been discovered offshore Guyana, presents a new challenge for the country in that, managing such an industry requires a special assortment of skills, expertise and specialty training. To this end, according to Nandlall, the administration
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall
decided to seek international assistance and went out to tender on the international market for “that type of law firm or conglomerate company that offers that kind of service in a highly specialised way.” A company is yet to be finalised, Minister Nandlall disclosed as he divulged that submissions of interest have been expressed by
companies across the world. The Attorney General noted that once such a company is secured, they would be working across the agencies with a view to revamping the legal framework within which they operate. He cited as example the need for environmental, refining and smelting laws, among others. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in March last, publicly made a request for a consultant for the development of the legal and regulatory frameworks for the country's Oil and Gas Sector. That project to be completed in 24 months, was supposed to have commenced in July last. The project, according to the request for expression of interest by the Ministry, is being financed through a loan from the World Bank. According to the request, the objective of the assignment is for the consultant to provide legislative drafting services, inclusive of on-the-jobtraining, in relation to the
development of the legal and regulatory framework for the oil and gas sector, to MNR
and the Petroleum Commission (PC)—the sector Regulator—once
established. According to the scope of (continued on page 16)
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Kaieteur News
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
Citizens taking a stand Two citizens recently travelled a road that Guyanese are not known for taking. It makes for inspiring reading, but there is danger. And as much as the two examples of citizens acting courageously under fire may be found to be warming, even thrilling, we urge the most careful consideration of what they did, and how much more all of us can do in the other challenges that come in Guyanese life. The first citizen, a woman no less, refused to be intimidated and cower in fear. In fact, she did not hesitate and did not retreat, but took the fight to some bandits who had just waylaid her and relieved her of possessions. In a rare instance of a Guyanese doing the dangerous, this woman going about her law-abiding business took the law to another step, and made a provision in the law work for her. In the absence of a law enforcement presence, she resorted to the law of self-defense. Now some may quibble about her not being in imminent danger, and that the threat was distancing from her, but that is not our thrust today. When the adrenalin is flowing at overwhelming proportions, there is no telling what most of us, or any of us, would do in the heat of the moment. Instead of seeking safety in flight, she took the offensive. As said, this is not recommended, as it has elements of serious peril, and not only for those immediately involved. So, there is need for the greatest thinking, at lightning speed in most circumstances, when confronted with such harrowing situations. For our part, we urge discretion, and this is, as even as we take our hats off to a brave Guyanese woman. Our fear is that, as crime spirals more and more into everyday life, frustrated Guyanese could decide to take matters into their hands, and represent themselves, whatever the cost turns out to be. This was what a watchman did at a chicken farm plagued by thefts on the East Bank Demerara, which is our second example of uncharacteristic valour by a fellow Guyanese. He did not take things sitting down, which would have been understandable, given that it was dark, an isolated area, there were more than one bandit, and as it turned out all armed, in the space he oversaw. The watchman went to the source of the concern, and from there things deteriorated into what had to be a furious and violent struggle with several determined, if not desperate, bandits. In the face of an unknown degree of danger, but which was no doubt great, the watchman stood his ground and felled the invaders of his territory. From what can be gleaned from the reports, it became a matter of life and death, and in the closest of quarters. The watchman survived to share the details with the Guyana Police Force, where he is being questioned. We think that he was lucky, just like that female driver, and this is when consideration is given to the number of attackers, how they were armed, and what their clearly criminal objectives were. There is a reason why we editorialise today using the admittedly stirring examples of this Guyanese woman and this Guyanese watchman. Whatever their business, they were going about it, with the best of intentions for themselves and their loved ones. It goes without saying that both of them were courageous. One was so beyond the call of duty, while the woman was courageous in the face of the outrageous, but both were under the severest of tests and duress. We can learn from them, we must, if only to walk with dignity, to live this life as it should be. Here we are in Guyana, as 750,000 and some citizens, standing on the bottom rung of untold, never before, promise and richness, but we say nothing as we are being robbed of present and future. Our governments and leaders are robbing us and our children and our neighbours, and we are too weak to fight, too fearful to speak, too ashamed to separate from corrupt leaders. Why are we so cowardly? Why do we continue to delight in this way?
Tuesday September 07, 2021
Where are the good men and women in Guyana? Dear Editor, I am enraged over the beating to death of Pandit Rishi Bharrat, in front of his home in Crabwood Creek. It is very hard to accept that one of our citizens could lose his life in front of his home, in front of his family, in front of his neighbours. Where was the police? Where were his neighbours? How could the neighbours allow something like this to happen in their community? Where was the proprietor for the shop where these men, who allegedly murdered the Pandit, were imbibing? Where was Guyana? Or has this become Guyana? This incident is extremely disturbing at many levels. As citizens of Guyana, as neighbours, as communities, as leaders, discipline services, religious leaders, young people, public
sector, private sector; the time has come for us to do some serious reflection about what it really means, to be first of all, a human being, and secondly, to be a Guyanese. The proprietor of the establishment where these men were imbibing, has a responsibility by law, to ensure that patrons are not a nuisance to neighbours. Another disturbing development in this story is the alleged verbal abuse of the late Pandit’s daughters. I view this alleged verbal abuse, in the light of the Guyana Police Force’s report that rape is on the increase. My question to the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commissioner of Police is what is the plan to protect our women, girls, young men, and children from sexual threats of sexual abuse? This story
makes me sad, so very sad Editor. How could members of a community do nothing while one of their religious leaders gets beaten to death? This is not a mere question of justice for the late Pandit and his family, the impact of this act will be wide ranging - a wife has lost her husband, children have lost their father; and for those who have committed the crime, wives may now lose their husbands to prisons, children may have to grow up without their fathers playing a role and contributing to their lives because they are in prison; and I can go on about the economic, social, psychological and other impacts this one act could have on the families involved, as well as the wider community. We cannot develop a
society without common values, common principles, and common interest; fundamental to which is, respect for each other and love for our fellow citizens. Albert Einstein said that ‘the world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything’. Edmund Burke similarly stated, ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil, is that good men do nothing’. My question is, where are the good men and women in Guyana? If we still have any, please step to the forward! I am stepping forward. Editor, and by you publishing this letter, you and your newspapers are stepping forward. Yours faithfully, Citizen Audreyanna Thomas
Amerindian pride is a community responsibility Dear Editor, I wish to bring to focus our national theme for this year’s Amerindian heritage month: ‘Preserving our traditional Integrity, Celebrating our Cultural Identity.’ There is an increasing perception that the Amerindian is slowly losing pride in his own culture. There is a semblance of truth in this, but those of us who take genuine pride identifying as the First People of this Land are in the great majority. Society is so structured that minorities will experience some form of alienation living in towns and villages that are more developed than their home villages. That is only natural. The resultant format of split loyalty, however, is
seen in early assimilation of subjects into a more dominant culture, thus giving rise to a loss of pride of their origin, loss of interest in where they truly belong; taking pride in a culture which is not theirs. That would be a crude way of explaining the cultural phenomenon, but that is, although unfortunate, only natural. Missionaries in the colonial past were perhaps more concerned with the spiritual aspects of the tribes rather than helping with practical aspects like agriculture, machinery, woodcraft, balata craft, cookery and so forth. Without the wherewithal to eke out a better way of life, too, could have been a grave concern for us the
Amerindians and that served to hurt our pride, living in a state of abject poverty with poor levels of education. And whose pride could not go unhurt? For certain, tribal language was the least encouraged and least preserved, except for some tribes these days. Amerindians then found themselves between accepting a foreign language and being ridiculed, for the use of their language. The impression was their language was inferior, and that caused the cultural dilemma. However, the use of our Amerindian languages must be encouraged and preserved at all costs. To make my final point, Editor, a comment is critical to give clarity to the
subject at hand. Amerindians, as far as tradition goes, are accountable for each other. Properly understood, community implies more than just living together in a geographical location. It means that there be some real sharing of life together, namely that we work together, that we celebrate our rites together, that we celebrate some of our everyday joys, fears, and feasts together; that we are responsible to each other and open to each other as regards mutual correction and challenge. So, all these things together, and more, in essence, mean in some form or the other we are mutually accountable to each other. I mean, if anyone began to do things that went against (Continued on page 5)
Ambassador Lynch - truly a woman for all seasons Dear Editor, Reference is made to the article titled, “US investors continue to complain about business climate here Ambassador Lynch” (SN September 3). Once again, I doff my hat and gesture everso-slightly with my gloves to the American Ambassador. I regret that I am unwilling to curtsy as deeply as worshipful Guyanese. I recognise Her Excellency for being a woman for all seasons. During a tempestuous 19month interlude, she was the Field Marshal of the diplomatic corps. Also, during that time, she functioned as midwife and nanny to troublesome Guyanese politicians (especially the now opposition) and hold them in check. It was not a case for her of ‘boys will be boys.’ Take that nonsense somewhere else. Behave yourself. She got a military
man to yield. She inspired a dyed in the wool disciple of Patrice Lumumba to see the virtues of capitalism, and along the way eat out of her hand, kiss her feet, and promise what she and her State Department masters had to have. In an astounding reversal of roles, red (Marxists) got enlightenment on green (dollar), and green (Granger) saw red (losing). Both situations only held, because the then president refused fully to see things the American way. For his troubles he got overrun by newfound American inspiration of ‘free and fair’ and the freshly minted farce of democracy, which Guyana has never known and is still to know. Belatedly understanding comes that if he had kowtowed (like the Vice President fell over himself to do), it would have been hands-off and some smooth
Campbell Soup concoction of ‘the Guyanese people have to decide their own destiny.’ To partisan Guyanese, I urge recollection of the handiwork of The Great White Father, and how those decimated wretches ended up on reservations: promise many moons, deliver Winchesters. I know how Americans think, appreciate how they operate, lived with their subtleties, a combination of science and art, Machiavellian cunning, too. In this, Ambassador Lynch has proven to be a Marian Anderson of a performer (if she will pardon my presumptuousness and disregard for colour barriers). Yes, I can be that heretical, in which vein I continue. But her work is now only beginning. For now, she resorts to her primary role, which is not diplomatic political matching with rowdy natives, but standing as an
unblinking sentinel for American interests. Should anyone forget, I give them Calvin Coolidge: the business of America is business. Our own dear President Ali can learn from the wisdom of ‘Silent Cal.’ That is, speak sparingly, but speak profoundly. So here is Ambassador Lynch complaining about American business interests suffering. Having done splendidly in carrying the White man’s burden (enlightened the natives) and done the White man’s duty (read the riot act to the resistant), Ambassador Lynch now rises again to represent the White man’s interest. I did say it is business, did I not? And also that she is that rarest of rare figures: a woman for all seasons. Peerless patriot, too. Sincerely, GHK Lall
Tuesday September 07, 2021
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Kaieteur News
14 questions for Minister Edghill on the CJIA Dear Editor, I read with amusement and concern on the new development surrounding the CJIA Modernisation Project, where there has been an award of a $400M contract between the Ministry of Public Works and Total Solutions, published in the Guyana Chronicle on September 2, 2021. This, I find interesting and troubling! There are many questions to be asked, which I will do publicly and hope the Ministry of Public Works provides the appropriate responses in the public. Editor, the CJIA Modernisation Project has been plaguing our nation close to a decade now (20112021). Guyanese should be concerned, since taxpayers are the ones to repay the loan. The following must be put into perspective, so that your readers will have an appreciation of this missive. On November 11, 2011, the People’s Progressive Party Civic Government, through the Ministry of Public Works entered into contract with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for a total sum of US$138M, funded by EXIM Bank of China, with an additional sum of US$12M, funded by the Government of Guyana. Let me hasten to say that though the contract was signed in 2011, actual works commenced on January 16, 2013, some 15 months between signing and
commencement of works. Also, the supervising Consultants, MMM group Limited in association with CEMCO commenced supervisory work on July 1, 2014, some 18 months after, which meant that China Harbour Engineering Company was executing activities on the project without supervision. When the APNU+AFC Coalition took office in May 2015, there were major financial issues and challenges on the project. Records revealed that 35 percent of the monies were expended on the project, which the contractor had claims of over US$44M. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government discovered the following were not conducted: No feasibility studies, no soil investigations, absence of sites survey and preliminary reports or detailed studies, all linking to the project. Only two elements were agreed to, the contract sum and scope of works. Editor, was the PPP/ C Government serious about this project and value taxpayers’ dollars? I do not think so! This project should not have been with the people of Guyana some 10 years after and yet to see a final product; if they had done what was expected from the initial stage of the project. Guyanese today would have been enjoying the ambience of this modern facility. Editor, I now turn my attention to the recent
...Amerindian pride is a From page 4 village by-laws, for example, the community would go against him, or her, and challenge that person to straighten himself out. The community is the people and they determine what is tradition in terms of what is culturally accepted as the norm, in terms of ceremonial outfit, type of beverages, land use, etc. It goes without saying that cultural preferences, therefore, must, for all intents and purposes continue to be determined by the collective, the people at large; not by an individual, or a group of individuals. In the end we will
all be the happier of whom we are and celebrate our Amerindian identity with pride. Happy heritage to all my Amerindian sisters and brothers. God bless us the Amerindians of Guyana. God bless Guyana. Yours faithfully, Joseph Atkinson
signing of the $400M contract between the Ministry of Public Works and Total Solutions for the acquisition of two additional boarding bridges for the project. Something seems off with this arrangement, since the CJIA Modernisation project has an existing contract with China Harbour Engineering Company, whose responsibility is to procure and install ALL facets and fixtures for this project. How come Total Solutions fall into this arrangement? I guess the Minister of Public Works can explain. The people of Guyana must be reminded of an article captioned “Nothing being left to chance” – Edghill, following visit to CJIA project, carried in Guyana Times dated January 10, 2021. In the article at paragraph five (5), Mr. Edghill is on record, “we should have the preliminary drawings for additional works that they have to do by another two weeks, so that we can be able to confirm that by the end of March all the designs for additional works, will be done we’ll be into construction.”
Further Editor, in an online article carried by News Room on January 9, 2021, captioned, “Edghill tells CHEC: ‘Stick to outstanding works deadline on CJIA.’” It was further reported in the article, “in December, Government brokered an agreement with CHEC for the company to undertake $1.8 billion in works on CJIA at no additional costs to taxpayers.” The article reminded us of the additional works to be undertaken by the CHEC. They are: 1. An extension of the airport’s boarding corridor to accommodate two more passenger boarding bridges, providing the airport with a total of six boarding bridges capable of servicing aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Dreamliner, the Airbus and similar trans-Atlantic aircraft. 2. An extension to the Terminal Building to provide accommodation for additional commercial space such as food courts and duty-free shops. The Terminal Building will feature a modern airport façade covering the full length of the Departure Terminal. I do recall on many
Conservation International erred in returning Exxon’s money Dear Editor, I read with astonishment and disbelief that Conservation International (CI) Guyana had returned a US$10 million grant to ExxonMobil. Conservation International claim for the return was because of ExxonMobil environmental record. So, CI was not aware of that prior to accepting the grant? ExxonMobil has that bad environmental record for ages. What world is the leadership in CI living in? I believe that CI, like the
rest of Guyana, suffers from mediocrity and incompetence. They likely propagated this by hiring someone with similar traits who just could not even get the project moving. The return of funds is one thing. The copout excuse is backward. ExxonMobil should take them to task for this. Imagine the amount of good that money could have done to implement strategies to help correct the destruction to the environment. Sincerely, Harrish Singh
occasions, my colleague and former Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. David Patterson, MP, provided extensive clarity on this project, with much emphasis on the “high contentions,” surrounding the number of boarding bridges for the new Terminal Building. He reported to the people of Guyana that the “contract did not speak specifically to eight boarding bridges, however, it was the Coalition’s decision to have a completed Terminal Building with four boarding bridges, since the contract had provisions for two.” I browsed the website of the Ministry of Public Works and have not seen any advertisement regarding the procurement of the boarding bridges, for which the contract has been awarded and signed for $400M. Additionally, a visit was made to the website of the National Procurement and Tender Board, where I perused tenders evaluated on the following dates: August 24, 2021, August 26, 2021, August 31, 2021 and September 2, 2021, again I have not seen any information on “Total Solutions,” or this project was evaluated at that
level, but there is an awarded. This is quiet troubling and Guyanese must be provided with information surrounding the awarding of this contract. If I missed sighting the information, then Mr. Edghill should provide guidance where I can locate the information. It is prudent to remind Guyanese that Cabinet meets weekly to debate, discuss and give its ‘No Objections’ to projects, travels and matters of national importance; thereafter, provides a “post cabinet” press conference, to advise the public on projects approved, inter alia. The Government has deliberately not hosted regular Post Cabinet Press Conferences, to keep the public engaged. Therefore, since the PPP/ C likes to boast of being “transparent and accountable,” I challenge Mr. Edghill to provide answers publicly to the following questions: 1. Can the public be advised if Total Solutions is a Local Company? If not, when the Company was formed and registered in Guyana and who are the principals? 2. How long the (Continued on page 6)
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Tuesday September 07, 2021
Mandates and coercion are 100% Entrepreneurship as a second, adjacent illegal, including for vaccines career can be beneficial Dear Editor, My fellow Guyanese, I regret all the betrayal and misrepresentations that we have faced over the past three decades; I regret because most of them still remain untold stories. It is my belief that men and women in Leadership positions must be honourable in the execution of their duties, so that those they serve can walk with dignity. Regrettably, that is not to be between Government and citizens. I do not find excellent and honourable men. Nothing has occupied my thoughts more than the pandemic, and the more I look at it against the backdrop of fear-mongers like Dr. Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates and our own government, the more my fear that something is fundamentally wrong with modern capitalism is justified. Let us remember that the pandemic was predicted by both Gates and Fauci. Fauci went so far as to predict that it will happen during Trump’s term in office. For the first four months, the virus was only known to be a novel coronavirus, so the race for a vaccine started. Then came the fearmongering with critical support from the American and British mainstream media. Sales of untested vaccines worth trillions are the ultimate goal, so fear is used in this mass baptism to convert the global population to guinea pigs.
The image of the WHO Representative in Guyana, appearing on National television to announce that there will be thousands of death in Guyana by May of 2020 can never be forgotten; this was followed one week later by an announcement by the head of the WHO that there will be millions of death in Africa in the African winter. I bring you to this point because MANDATES and COERCIVE POWER are 100 percent illegal. In 1947, two years after the end of World War II, 23 German doctors were taken before a Military tribunal in Germany. The doctors were tried for “crimes against humanity”. In November of 1947, the Judges and all protagonists of the practice of human experimentations concluded and decided upon a set of Ethical/Moral Principles that has governed medical science for the past 74 years. These 10 Ethical/ Moral Principles as is set out below, is known as the Nuremberg code. (1) The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. (2) The experiment should be of such, as to yield fruitful results for the good of society. (3) The experiment should be so design and based on the results of animal experimentation and a full knowledge of the history of the natural disease or other problems under study that the anticipated results will
justify the performance of the experiment. (4) The experiment should be so conducted as to avoid all unnecessary physical and mental suffering and injuries. (5) No experiment should be conducted, where there is prior reason to believe that death or disabling injuries will occur. (6) The degree of risks to be taken should never exceed that determined by the humanitarian importance of the problem to be solve by the experiment. (7)Proper preparation must be made, and adequate facilities provided to protect the experimental subject in every way. (8) The experiment should be conducted only by scientifically qualified persons. (9) During the course of the experiment the human subject should be at liberty to bring the experiment to an end if he/she has reached the physical or mental limit. (10) During the course of the experiment the scientist in charge must be prepared to terminate the experiment at any stage if he has probable cause based on his professional experience and judgment. It was concluded by all involved in this matter at the time, that to go beyond these 10 principles, would lead into a field, that would be beyond their normal sphere of comprehension. No government or company has the right to mandate a vaccine that did not meet the requirements of the Nuremberg code. Let Freedom Reign. Ray Daggers
...14 questions for Minister Edghill From page 5 Company has been operating in the Construction Industry? 3. Provide a list detailing works done in the last 10 years by Total Solutions. 4. Was there a public tender for the Works? If yes, when and where was the advertisement (s) made? 5. What has caused the sudden change from China Harbour Engineering Company doing ALL additional works without Costs by Taxpayers, as previously reported? 6. Was the $400M catered for in budget 2021? 7. Where will these boarding bridges be procured? 8. Is this arrangement a breach of Contract between the Ministry of Public Works acting on behalf of the Government of Guyana and China Harbour Engineering Company, since the initial arrangements according to
contract allows or caters for ALL fixtures and Facets for the project to be procured from China? 9. Is there an amendment to the contract regarding eight above? If so, when was this done, and can the revised contract be made public? 10. What percentage of works on the project has been completed to date and the total sums paid as at August 31, 2021? 11. What is the balance on the project as at August 31, 2021? 12. When is the project likely to see its final completion? 13. Kindly provide a status update on the Contractor’s performance and the $14B bonds as retention? 14. What mechanisms are in placed to ensure that Guyanese taxpayers do not lose anything by China Harbour Engineering Company, if they are to walk
away? In concluding, I wish to iterate my concerns regarding this new development by the Ministry of Public Works and by extension the PPP/C and Total Solutions. It is clear that since August 2, 2020, regular updates on the project are not provided to the public, but to read that the Government has reneged on its initial position, as reported in December 2020, that is, “CHEC Company to undertake $1.8 billion in works on CJIA at no additional costs to taxpayers.” I can only conclude that this project before coming to a full completion will be riddled with corruption and deceptions. Should Guyanese trust the PPP/C regime? Like ALL Guyanese, I look forward to reading Mr. Edghill’s responses to the fourteen (14) questions posited. Ms. Annette Ferguson, Member of Parliament – APNU+AFC
Dear Editor, My penchant for examining the condition of mankind has recently led me to consider what the ideal state of man should be. While not being an objective of economics, the subject covers ideas where man maximises his welfare/ satisfaction, or achieves his full potential. Translated, this means that he accomplishes all that his abilities will allow him. Textbook discussions seem to limit this simply to ensuring that man can, and is able to satisfy his material needs and wants. It is however proposed here that the ideal state of man should be referenced, where he overcomes the obstacles set before him by society to establish a successful household, achieves financial independence, and lastly, where he realises intellectual freedom, embracing the ideals/laws of life, and is unconstrained by preconceived ideas of society/culture which condition/enslave his mind to living his life in some predestined role. Ultimately, that he controls and decides
his destiny. Financial independence is often tied to educational achievement. Its achievement is however made exceptionally more difficult in the absence of reading and computational skills, since these are essential tools for self-learning which facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and the mathematics required acquiring a more financially rewarding job or starting and running a successful business. This is important because establishing a business is the surest path to becoming financially independent in the absence of a tertiary education. Significant here also, is that initial failures in business ventures are a part of identifying the right business opportunity for each person. It is important not to be discouraged by initial failures. The perfect match will only be found with continued effort. Societies have for the most part seemed to have conditioned the majority of their members to becoming workers with the idea that they will be financially comfortable when they retire. In many developing and
advanced economies, this has proven to be the greatest falsehood on record. The recommendation here is that today’s workers and young people condition themselves to establishing businesses between the ages of 35 to 50 to secure their financial future. Those without a tertiary education may need to do this sooner. This should be considered on a case-bycase basis. Because the establishment of a successful business as a second career hinges on learning how to manage a successful business, and establishing the necessary contacts and potential customer base, to guarantee a successful revenue stream with a new business. One last observation: young people should shun subcultures which promote unsavoury, anti-social behaviours. Being the ‘baddest’ is a most unproductive social label. This is because when two ‘bad’ men meet, one usually winds up deceased while the other is incarcerated. Negotiation without recourse to physical interaction is a more productive mechanism for managing differences. Regards, Craig Sylvester
PPP Leadership behaves similar to Ramjattan Dear Editor, Reference is made to Freddie’s “Ramjattan: The fault ... is Indian competitors” (Sep. 2) wherein he excoriated Khemraj for seeing “every high-profile Indian in the AFC as a competitor for leadership and took action to weaken their role and influence”. Isn’t the same also true of an Indian leader of the PPP where “the politics of stench and destruction” has also been playing out long before the AFC was born, consuming good people? So many have become victims in the PPP through undemocratic, selfish leadership post-Jagan, because the leader has lived in morbid fear of others who he sees as a threat. If one is critical of and/or not supportive of the leader, then he is a threat to be eliminated. It is either his way or the highway. The potential threats were shown the door. Rising or ambitious Indians were/are guillotined. Ramjattan, himself, was expelled from the PPP for allegedly taking party information to the US Ambassador although it was never proven; ironically, the PPP has been very tight with the US Embassy over the last couple years, securing the March 2020 electoral victory. Other AFC big wigs like Moses Nagamootoo, Rajendra Bissessar, Gerhard Ramsaroop, Sasenarine Singh, among others, and
ANUG Presidential candidate, Ralph Ramkarran, were all alienated/excommunicated from the PPP by Jagdeo because of the threat they posed to his leadership and dominance of the party. The leader’s behaviour is ‘Putinesque’ (removal of all potential internal opponents and surrounded by sycophants or loyalists and handpicked comrades to support his position and candidates. Any sign of criticising the leader is dealt with swiftly. Could it be that Ramjattan learned from the PPP’s leadership style post-Jagan? Ramjattan has been in the leadership of the AFC since it was birthed in 2005. Political leaders in our country are authoritarian, because they fear rejection by the voters of their leadership or their selection (nominee) for an office. Like the AFC and PNC, when it comes to nominating a presidential candidate or selecting a leader, it turns out Ramjattan does not behave any differently from the leader of the PPP. Freddie reminds us of how the process was manipulated in the selection of AFC leaders and presidential candidate and the inner conflict with the party. The same characterises the PPP and PNC. The three parties are not democratic. They involve ordinary voters in an indirect way in their affairs, manipulating the system to validate their preferences. They have used an
undemocratic delegate process for choosing their executive, and leader; the delegate process is stacked with the de facto leader’s loyalists. And then the central body manipulates the process for selection of the presidential nominee. The leader decides on MPs, ministers, and other elected officeholders. As the AFC did in its congress, in the PPP, delegates were also stacked in the last two-party congresses for a certain result and the process will be the same in the coming one to exclude the senior members of the party. Selection of delegates was manipulated as was the choice for members of the Central Committee and Ex Co and ultimately the selection of the party’s nominee for President. This was played out in the 2019 selection of the nominee which saw a more qualified candidate being rejected. Central Committee members were threatened of loss of perks and positions if they didn’t vote for the GS favoured candidate. What takes place in the AFC also occurs in the PPP. Ramjattan behaves hardly differently from the leadership of the PPP. And if one were to examine the PNC, the same would be found to be true where potential leaders who pose a threat to the incumbent would be marginalised and excommunicated. Yours truly, Budhram Singh
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N B T . U . L . L T B . . N . U N U T L N B . U T . . L N N U T B . U . N L U BL BLUNT. B . . T . T T N N U . U L . . L B . T B . . . . N . T U T N N T U N U L L U B . L B . . . . B . T . . T . N N T U N L LU U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B . T L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B . T . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . . LU ...BLUN B T . . . N T U N L U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T . U B . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T BB T...BLU U N L U B . L . . B . T . . N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . . N . B . T . . N T U N N N U L U U B L . BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Tuesday September 07, 2021
Kaieteur News
The Guyana Police Force says 'serious crime' is down. If crime is down, then why are we up against the wall, with our pockets riffled and bags emptied, and bodies brutalised? Noticeably, the police public relations machinery puts Commander McBean to share the good news with Guyanese, something most likely massaged by the machinery's clever members. Is he being setup, as a trusted face, to take the fall? Citizens have already come to the realisation that those numbers simply do not add up.
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Tuesday September 07, 2021
Fixed date hearing set for Guyanese shot dead, wife tomorrow in vaccination injured in neighbouring Venezuela policy matter
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omorrow the matter involving the first Vice Chairman of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), and Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, will come up for a fixed date hearing in the Demerara High Court. Last week, the GPSU and two other unions – the G u y a n a Tr a d e s U n i o n Congress (GTUC) and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) – joined forces to take the government to court over the vaccination policy. According to the court document that was filed in the High Court by attorney-atlaw Darren Wade, the unions are seeking several orders, declaration and injunctions. The AG was listed as the only respondent in the matter. A c c o r d i n g t o information received, the matter will come up for hearing tomorrow (September 8, 2021) at 11:00hrs before Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln. It was reported that the court action was filed as a result of the new COVID-19 policy, “no vaccine, no entry, ” which resulted in unvaccinated workers, who fail to provide a weekly negative PCR test, being denied entry into their places of work. Firstly, the unions are
asking the Court to declare that the health emergency that was declared by President David Granger exceeded his authority when he issued the first COVID-19 emergency measure back in March 2020. Following the Presidential declaration by the former President, President Irfaan Ali, after being sworn in, in August of last year, not only continued the said declaration but enhanced it. However, it is being contended in the court document that the President, along with his Minister of Health, did not contact/consult with the Central Board of Health for advice and recommendations as is required by the Constitution. As such, the document stated that the Presidential declaration amounts to an unconstitutional delegation of the President's powers and infringes on the Constitution. It is also being contended that there was an improper delegation of powers. The lawyer wants the Court to declare that the emergency measures issued are invalid, and the Gazetted orders quashed since it is believed t h a t t h e y w e r e unconstitutional in the first place. Moreover, the court is being asked to grant an interim injunction prohibiting the State of Guyana, its agents and authorised entities from
Attorney-at-law, Darren Wade implementing Section 17 of the Covid-19 Emergency Measures until the determination of the application to the Court. Section 17 of the Emergency Measures outlines the requirement that a person must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed access to a government ministry or agency, or they should make an appointment. Also, the unions want the Court to grant an order prohibiting the implementation of the vaccination requirement, and are further asking the court to order that the state bears the cost of the COVID-19 testing regimen for employees of the state who are required to take the COVID-19 tests as a condition of their employment.
The place located in San Jose de Cacahual where the shooting took place (Photo courtesy of Nueva Prenza Digital)
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Guyanese m a n identified as Rishad Rahim was yesterday shot dead and his wife critically injured in neighbouring Venezuela. According to information reaching this media entity, the man and his wife were attacked by four men around 03:00hrs. The Guyanese couple resided in a place called San Jose de Cacahual, Barrio April 11, San Felix, Venezuela. Kaieteur News learnt that they had stepped out of their house to head to a gas station to full their van with gasoline. As they were getting ready to enter their van, two of the gunmen reportedly entered the back of the vehicle unknown to them and hid. As they were about to drive off another
Upon realising that he was about to be attacked, a Venezuelan journalist related, Rahim attempted to flee but the gunmen Killed, opened fire. One of the Rishad bullets reportedly struck Rahim Rahim to his neck and killed him instantly while his wife was injured. His vehicle crashed into a house a few metres away from theirs. The journalist revealed that the Venezuelan authorities believe that the men who killed Rahim belong to a gang of bandits called the '12 Disciples.' The gang, according to reports, has been assaulting and robbing residents in the area recently and the detectives there believe that their intentions yesterday morning was to rob and strip the young Guyanese couple of their two approached them, cash and belongings. according to reports.
Tuesday September 07, 2021
Kaieteur News
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The vaccinated should demand their right to a safe environment A
minority is holding this country to ransom. The unvaccinated are jeopardising the health and well-being of vaccinated citizens. The unvaccinated represent a minority. So far, some 318,569 persons have received first doses of the vaccine. Some of these may be children – the Ministry of Health continues with its confounded, confused and cryptic manner of presenting data. H o w e v e r, 3 1 8 , 5 6 9 persons represent more than 40 percent of the country's population. If you add to this, the under-18 population, which amounts to approximately 280,000 persons, the approximate vaccine resistors, at best, constitute 20 percent of the population. This 20 percent must not jeopardise the health of the rest of the population. If they do not wish to be vaccinated, then they should comply with the regulations concerning being tested. A nation cannot be held to ransom by a minority. This minority has been claiming a right not to be vaccinated. The Court will soon pronounce on whether such a right exists. No one, however, has yet come forward and pointed out such a right. Another of the criticisms of the COVID-19
Dem
boys seh...
D
e mining town, wah named after Burnham, lockdown yesterday… in protest over vaccine coercion. Dem boys seh dat is nice. It set a good example fuh Regions Four and Three where de virus raging. De Linden lockdown should continue for another four weeks. It gan mek a big dent in de risk of contracting COVID deh because people staying in dem home and nah going out. So leh de lockdown continue. More lockdowns needed fuh keep people in dem house and
regulations is that the regulations are draconian, that is, the measures are too harsh. Those making this contention should explain how it is that they were not vocal about this when the APNU+AFC published far more stringent measures under the same regulations. In April 2020, when the pandemic was in its early stages, the APNU+AFC instituted some of the draconian public health measures known to the Commonwealth Caribbean. The measures limited persons to their homes and yards except for essential workers and persons seeking essential services during non-curfew hours. The curfew was from 6:00pm to 6:00am. There were no cries then about rights. Except for funerals and weddings, all religious places of worship were required to remain closed. Where was the chorus, which is now protesting about their rights? Public transport vehicles were required to operate at half-load. Where were the protests then about rights? The airports were closed except for outgoing and emergency flights. Where were the protests then about government clamping citizens' rights to free movement? On April 29, the government took possession of private property in order
to establish what it called a sanatorium. No one protested the deprivation of private property. Among the draconian measures published on March 16, 2020, the Minister of Health was authorised to restrain, segregate and isolate persons suffering from the COVID-19 disease. No one protested about violations of his or her human rights. The same Regulations allowed the authorities to destroy the personal effects, goods and buildings, which were believed to be exposed to infections. No one questioned whether this was a case of overkill. The measures allowed for the restriction of movement of persons and public and private conveyances within and to and from the infected area. This was Medieval Age legislation and no one protested as is being done now. And guess how many confirmed cases Guyana had at the time. Only five! Yet the authorities were then prepared to take the firmest action including restricting your freedom of movement. One woman appeared on social media in tears and on the point of an emotional breakdown. She was under institutional quarantined and she had been there with her child for more than one month. And she could not
Lockdown, lockout and lockjaw bring de virus under control! But while some pun lockdown others pun lockout. Dem still gat people at some wuk place wah nah wan tek vaccine nor pay fuh dem PCR test fuh prove dem negative. Some ah dem want dem employer fuh pay. But dat is like yuh report sick and need a medical and de boss gat fuh pay fuh mek sure you did really sick. Some people also getting lockout from conducting normal business because dem nah gat dem Blue Book. And dem vex. But de guvament ensuring equality – what good fuh guvament
workers and places also good for private workers and private places. But while some people gat lockdown and lockout, others gat lockjaw. It remind dem boys of de story of de man wah walk in de doctor's office He tell de doctor, "Doc my wife has got lockjaw real bad. Hell she's got it so bad she can't even talk. Do you have anything you can give me for it?" De doctor respond to he and seh, "I'll give you 20 bucks for it, so I can take it home to my wife!" Talk half and deh pun de lookout!
leave. As at yesterday, Guyana had recorded more than 26,000 cases. There are presently 2,347 active cases – the highest number of active cases ever, surpassing the 2,101 recorded on May 21 this year. As at yesterday, there were 38 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, the highest number ever. The ICU is going to be soon overwhelmed unless there is a decline in severe cases. It is in this dire scenario that the government has opted to impose stricter regulations in order to create a safe health environment.
Yet, these new measures are attracting further claims of authoritarian conduct. We l l , t h e r e i s a n alternative. And that alternative would be to lockdown the most critical Regions – Regions Three and Four – which are accounting for more than 70 percent of recent confirmed cases. But such a measure will present severe hardships for poor people, especially workers who do not enjoy a fixed income. The data is clear that unvaccinated people are more affected in terms of hospitalisation and deaths.
The Minister of Health has said that almost 99 percent of those who are hospitalised are unvaccinated. In terms of ICU admissions, one source has revealed that in July 54 out of the 56 persons admitted to the ICU were unvaccinated; in August 87 of the 92 ICU patients were unvaccinated. What more needs to be said? The vaccinated must be protected from the unvaccinated – the minority. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Tuesday September 07, 2021
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
The Dominic Gaskin story: A curious inexplicability I
am not a user of social media but I have been told by countless persons that there were bestial denunciations of people who spoke out against the March 2020 rigging on social media with each chastisement accompanied by ethnic swearing of the most evil kinds. The mainstream media carried letters that were full of condemnations of those that said that the PPP/C won. But social media posting were ugly and uncivilised in their presentations. Four CARICOM personalities – O w e n A r t h u r, B r u c e Golding, Mia Mottley and Ralph Gonsalves were
vilified in the most scandalous ways. Serving diplomats in Guyana at the time were abused in ways never before seen in the CARICOM region. See my column of Friday June 26, 2020, “Never in Guyana's history has a diplomat been so personally insulted by a politician.” Some of us, like this columnist, became an obsession by those whose minds were so grotesque that only one word best describes these people who wanted to saddle this country with permanent power. That word is evil. For the five months that Guyana and the world witnessed the miasmic minds on social media that
were cussing down patriotic Guyanese, there was an enigma that has not been analysed by any scholar so far. On July 17, 2020, while the assault on electoral democracy was still taking place, Mr. Dominic Gaskin, the son-in-law of David Granger and at the time a member of the AFC's leadership, issued a statement whose potency equaled any other condemnation of election rigging. What remains strange up to this day is that given the stridency of his rejection of election rigging, there was no attack from letters to the newspapers, within the
leadership of the PNC and AFC and from the poisoned minds who travel on social m e d i a . M r. G a s k i n ' s statement is two and a half pages; space constraints will not allow for even half of his emanation to be reproduced here. Here are some selected quotes. 1 -“The transparent recount process provides an accurate reflection of what is in those boxes, and also shows a glaring discrepancy between the votes in Region 4 boxes and the votes declared by Mr. Clairmont Mingo whose clumsy attempt to fraudulently alter the results in favour of the incumbent coalition.” 2 - “If it appears that the entire world is lined up against the APNU+AFC coalition, it is because the entire world, except the coalition and its supporters, knows that Mr. Mingo's numbers were not the right numbers.” 3- “It is the failure of the incumbent to acknowledge Mingo's unscrupulous act that has us where we are today.” 4 -“The votes in those ballot boxes, all of which have been deemed legally valid, show that the majority of Guyanese prefer a PPP/C government to an APNU+AFC government.” These are stronger
pronouncements than any of the four C A R I C O M Frederick Kissoon personalities named above had made. Yet M a r k B e n s c h o p a n d attacks on him. There will be a certain Rickford Burke on a radio kind of deference among programme with me said dark-skinned Guyanese for scandalous things about people like Gaskin. One of these people to the point the most interesting missing where I objected to Benschop's derogation of links in contemporary Mr. Golding using decibels Guyanese history that not one Guyanese has touched that were excessive. on was the way Forbes None of the PNC leaders, none of the AFC leaders has B u r n h a m s a w t h e made to date a critical Portuguese duo of Miles response to Mr. Gaskin. Fitzpatrick and David Freddie Kissoon is an DeCaires, co-founder of the o b s e s s i o n f o r M a r k Stabroek News. Burnham would hurt Benschop to the point that Indians and Africans who when he asked Adam Harris said and wrote the same about something I wrote, critical things about him and Harris politely said that he h i s g o v e r n ment that hasn't read any columns of Fitzpatrick and DeCaires mine since April 2020. published. But Burnham The racist surrogates have uttered no one word never ever penned or spoke a against the judgment of line of insult against these two Gaskin. Scholars need to men. Why? I think you know probe this curiosity. Here are why. It is the same with some brief notes. One is Gaskin 50 years later. He was inferiority complex. Mr. not to be touched. But Indians Gaskin is half White. He was like Vishnu Bisram, Freddie born in Europe and belongs Kissoon, Ryhaan Shah and to the light-complexion Ravi Dev, we are Indians of middle class. Of course, this course; an inferior species so is not a critique of Mr. why show his deference. We Gaskin's class position. Just are easy targets for abuse. (The views expressed in to repeat, it is a this article are those of the political/psychological reason why his brave and a u t h o r a n d d o n o t moral stance against election necessarily reflect the rigging did not result in nasty opinions of this newspaper.)
Six more persons succumb to COVID-19
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he Ministry of Health yesterday reported that six more persons, who contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, have died. As a result of this, the country's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 647. According to the Ministry, the latest fatalities are that of two women, a 56year-old from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a
75-year-old from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and four men, an 83-year-old and 62-year-old both from Region Four, a 61-year-old from Region Seven and a 79year-old from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). The Ministry noted that all six persons died on Sunday while receiving care at a medical facility. Further, the Health Ministry via its COVID-19
dashboard reported that within a 24-hour period, 101 new infections were recorded. This has brought the total number of confirmed cases to 26,611. Presently, there are 38 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 128 in institutional isolation, 2,219 in home isolation and three in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 23,579 persons who tested positive have recovered.
Tuesday September 07, 2021
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Tuesday September 07, 2021
Cases of dengue, malaria surge in Cuyuni as area remains flooded for over a month By Shervin Belgrave
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s several mining communities located along the Cuyuni River, Region Seven, remain severely flooded; there has been an unprecedented increase in cases of malaria and dengue. This state of affairs was recently brought to the attention of this publication by miners working in the affected areas. Kaieteur News had visited the area along with the Region Seven Chairman, Kenneth Williams, and the US Embassy's Civil Affairs Team to learn of health concerns that the miners are facing. T he areas visited were Warudi, Wyamu, Quartzstone, Aurora, Two Points, Devil's Hole and Duquarie. As a reporter from this newspaper chatted with the miners, it became clear that the reoccurring health complaints in these areas were malaria and dengue. There were even complaints of typhoid, but according to the miners, recently they have been heavily plagued with dengue and malaria. A t Warudi, as the boat approached the landing, it could be observed that a number of the shops and houses were flooded; some of buildings were almost covered. Mary, a resident of Warudi, who is lucky enough to be on dry land, said that she was flooded too but the waters receded a bit and her premises was left as a little island. Asked about the health problems or illnesses that miners of Warudi are facing, Mary responded “Nothing else but malaria.” The woman said malaria is common in mining areas but recently in Warudi there seems to be an increase in cases of Vivax (a
type of malaria). In fact, she said, her sister took ill a few days earlier. According to Mary, she had taken her sister to Bartica to get her tested and the malaria results returned positive. Normally, according to Mary, most persons would contract malaria at mining camps located miles away from the landing. H owever, recently, shop owners living at the landing with their family are becoming infected which in her view is not normal. When Kaieteur News arrived at the other areas along the way, the miners working in those areas also complained of a malaria and dengue increase. Like Warudi, the other mining communities that this newspaper visited were all flooded. At Quartzstone, one miner
Mode of transport from one building to the next at the Two Points backdam
The flooded Quartzstone Landing
related that his wife had taken ill with fever and headache. He suspected that she was infected with malaria since other persons who were diagnosed with the disease had similar symptoms.
Warudi resident, Mary, speaking with members of the US Civil Affairs team
“Everybody tekkin down with malaria so I tell she to ketch a boat and go to Bartica to take a test,” he said. According to miner, his wife was reluctant to travel alone
because of the rapids along the Cuyuni River and she decided to wait until he had completed his shift rotation to accompany her. While he waited to complete the rotation, his wife used homemade herbal medicine to treat herself. After Quartzstone, the next location visited was Aurora. Welcoming this media house there was a miner called “Bunchie.” He requested mosquito nets to protect his colleagues, his family and himself from the malaria mosquitoes. “Some people went down here the other day and they promise us the mosquito nets but they have not returned. We would be grateful for some nets and repellents to protect us from malaria,” Bunchie said. A little further along the Cuyuni River at Two Points Backdam, the miners and shopkeepers there related stories of persons who had to be rushed for medical attention because they were very ill with suspected malaria and typhoid. Kaieteur News continued its journey and at another location there were some Brazilian
miners. One of the members of the US Civil Affairs Team had asked them about the health concerns they were facing. A female shopkeeper responded, “share dengue, share dengue!” At the end of the journey, a medic with the US team, Roberto-Ruiz Acevedo, told Kaieteur News that the reported increase in malaria and dengue cases in the area could be linked to the flood situation that has been affecting the Cuyuni District for over a month now. “It would make sense that it is on the water and a lot of sitting water especially due to the recent flooding, so you are going to run into different variations of malaria and dengue,” related Acevedo. During the visit the miners detailed that they have been under water since the beginning of August. Many of them said that it is first time that they have experienced a flooding situation of this nature. Not only are they forced to live with the floodwaters but they are unable to work since the mining pits are flooded.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 07, 2021
Labourer arrested after he confessed to chopping father to death
The labourer in handcuffs after he confessed to killing his father at a farm.
R
esidents of Troolie Island located in the Essequibo River last evening handed over a 26year-old labourer to police after he reportedly confessed to them that he had murdered his father at a farm. Detectives, after scouring the farm, were able to locate the father's remains. The father, who has been identified only as 59-yearold Antonio, and his son, the labourer, are both from Onderneeming Housing Scheme located on the Essequibo Coast. Kaieteur News understands that about a week ago they were employed by a resident of Troolie Island to work on her farm. That resident related to this newspaper that Antonio and his son would work all day until 16:00hrs. However, yesterday the son came out of the farm alone around 15:00hrs. He reportedly told his employer that he was feeling unwell and wanted to go home. According to reports, she had asked him about the whereabouts of his father and he had told her that “he was in the backdam (at the farm).” The employer, this publication was told, was of the view that the son was
“acting kind of strange” so she instructed him to wait on his father so that they could leave together. About 20 minutes later his father still had not returned from the farm so two of the employer's relatives decided to look for him. However, when they got to the farm he was nowhere to be found. They reportedly searched some more and called out for Antonio but got no response. The relatives became suspicious after they located Antonio's cellphone, his pants and tools nearby. When they returned, they notified the residents of Troolie Island and Wakenaam that Antonio was missing. The residents then made a decision to detain the son and questioned him about the whereabouts of his father. According to the employer, the labourer buckled and confessed to chopping his father to death following an argument they had while at the farm. The Troolie Island residents then notified police and ranks arrived a short while later. They handed over the labourer to the lawmen and detectives started to search for his missing father, whose remains they subsequently found.
PAGE 13
Protest against COVID-19 vaccination policy…
Businesses in Region 10 close doors in solidarity T
he Upper-Demerara Berbice Region (Region 10) was in full lockdown mode yesterday in protest against the mandatory vaccination policy being enforced by the government. Over 90 percent of the businesses on both the Mackenzie and Wismar shores were closed and public transportation services did not operate, except for a few taxis. Water-taxi operators also halted their operation for the day. In fact schools that were slated to be reopened yesterday remained closed. While some parents opted to keep their children home, there were others who were unable to send their children to school because of the lack of public transportation. Some owners of transportation services opted to participate in a motorcade as part of the protest. This was characterised by drivers driving their vehicles through the streets of Linden honking their horns. They then assembled at the Bayroc Ground to further express their concerns about the mandatory vaccination policy, which they said directly affects them as the Gazetted order mandates that all public transportation operators must possess a COVID-19 vaccination card. Only the commercial banks and some government agencies were opened to the public. This was also the case in outlying communities such as Ituni and Kwakwani. The protest was organised by the elected leaders of Region 10 – Members of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira and Devin Sears, Mayor of Linden – Waneka Arrindell and Regional
Lockdown in Linden yesterday. Chairman – Deron Adams. While Linden remained quiet for most of the day, some men who were not identified up to press time, decided to set alight articles in front of the residence of MP Figueira's mother. The fire was subsequently put out by members of the Fire Service and the access road that was blocked, was cleared by police ranks. Those who performed the act made good their escape. Kaieteur News understands that the men had t-shirts over their faces. In a statement, Figueira said he believes the act was carried out by rogue elements at the behest of a particular organisation. “They have used their coward elements to block the road directly in front of one of our leaders' parents' business premises to give an impression of disorder in our peaceful
protest and at the said time, to send a message directly to our leadership. We in Region 10 strongly resent this type of politics that brings leaders' family members and their businesses into their plot to get to our leadership. We will not be deterred, discouraged or persuaded from representing our people due to these reckless and dangerous shenanigans. The people of Region 10 remain resolve in defense of their civil liberties and human rights.” Yesterday too, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, rolled out the adolescent's vaccination programme in Linden which targets students ages 12 to 17. The event was rolled out at the Mackenzie High School and saw scores of children, accompanied by their parents taking the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Bel Air Village woman wins Digicel's final 'Summa Rush' SUV
T
he third and final winner of a Toyota Rush SUV in the Digicel 'Summa Rush' promotion is Devi Itwara of Bel Air Village, East Coast Demerara. In this
photo Itwara is being interviewed by DJ Akelo during the promotion exercise at the MovieTowne tarmac last Saturday. Previous winners of Toyota Rush vehicles are Mahendra Somar of
Coldingen, East Coast Demerara and Mahase Budram of Wakenaam. Several other persons who participated in the promotion were winners of $100,000 cash prizes.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 14
Tuesday September 07, 2021
US team to hold medical outreach in “geographically challenging” Region Seven
A
fter holding a successful, large-scale medical outreach in Region One last month, the United States Embassy Civil Affairs Team wants to repeat that experience. This time however, the American team is planning to hold the outreach in Region Seven. On Thursday last, the team's Leader, Greg Talbert; its medic, Roberto RuizAcevedo; and its Coordinator, Luis Nerys; visited some of the mining areas along the Cuyuni River. The purpose of their visit was to conduct an assessment of the area in order to identify a feasible location where they can host another medical outreach. Accompanying the team on their visit was the Chairman of Region Seven, Kenneth Williams, who related that his district is a very “geographically challenging” one. During their trip, the team experienced firsthand how geographically challenging the area is. They braved the “scary rapids” and waterfalls along the Cuyuni River from Bartica to Duquarie under the scorching sun. They even hiked through the muddied and rough
The team members chatting with Dr. Jayrdin
The team's medic, Roberto-Ruiz Acevedo, handing over the quantity of antibiotic to Dr. Jillian Jayrdin at the Bartica District Hospital terrain of the mining areas they visited along the way but despite the challenges, the US team is confident that a medical outreach in Region Seven will be a success. On Friday after completing the trip, the team's leader, Talbert, facilitated a brief interview with this newspaper detailing the plans for the
medical outreach. He related that the recent visit was helpful to his team. “On this trip we were collaborating with Chairman Williams…we are really looking for a location that will be feasible for a largescale medical outreach,” Talbert told Kaieteur News. He continued, “We just did a medical outreach in
The US team speaking with the miners at Aurora
Region One; we saw over 2,500 patients there and we are looking to replicate the success here, so the Chairman recommended that we take a trip down the Cuyuni River.” Talbert said that during the trip his team checked out some of the mining communities to identify some medical services that the miners might need. “So for this trip we went to Wa r u d i , Q u a r t z s t o n e , Wyamu, Aurora, Devil's Hole and Ducquarie, and on the trip we have been able to interact with some locals and kind of find out what their medical needs were and assess the situation to see how logistically it would work for us to bring a team from Georgetown here,” Talbert said. According to the team's medic, Acevedo, there is “much need” for medical service to the areas his team visited. “It is definitely evident that medical service to that area is much
needed given the difficulty to actually get around and the financial hardship that they are facing given the floods and the lack of actually being able to produce anything and work….so that makes it harder to get around as far as transportation goes,” he told this newspaper. The medic also revealed that most of the health problems faced by the miners seem to be very repetitive. He highlighted mosquito borne illnesses such as malaria and dengue, skin irritations due to bacteria and fungi from the water they use. As it relates to when the team would return to hold the medical outreach in the Region Seven district, its leader, Talbert, said that it would most likely take place early next year. In terms of where in Region Seven it will be held, the team leader told Kaieteur News that a decision would be made after conducting a second assessment visit to
Region Seven early in October. They are expected to head to middle Mazaruni to visit Issano Isseneru and other mining communities located in that district. “The chairman (Williams) had also recommended that we take a trip down the Mazaruni River. We are trying to compare the Cuyuni and Mazaruni River to see which would be more feasible, to see where the largest amount of people could gather to benefit from the medical services,” Talbert said. The US Embassy's Civil Affairs Team during the recent visit also met with Regional Health Officer of the district, Edward Sagala, and some of the staff working at the Bartica District Hospital. They donated a quantity of antibiotics to the hospital and were also able to obtain information that proved to be crucial to their assessment of Region Seven.
The US team along with the Region Seven Chairman, Kenneth Williams, listening to some of the medical concerns from local miners in the Quartzstone Backdam, Cuyuni River.
Tuesday September 07, 2021
Kaieteur News
PAGE 15
Alleged Ponzi schemers slapped with 38 more charges
A
lleged Ponzi s c h e m e operators, Yuri Garcia-Dominguez, and his wife, Ateeka Ishmael, were yesterday slapped with 38 charges of conspiracy to defraud, when they appeared in court. The matter was called in the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court before Magistrate, Rochelle Liverpool. The couple denied the charges after they were read to them and Magistrate Liverpool placed them on self-bail. The matter was adjourned to October 26, 2021. Last month, Ishmael appeared before a City Magistrate and was charged for allegedly falsifying a positive COVID-19 test result. She had made her appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly, in the company of her lawyer, Darren Wade. She was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony. Ishmael denied the charge, which alleges that on July 27, 2021, she conspired with her husband and others to forge a COVID-19 test
result to show that she was positive. She was placed on $200,000 bail and is expected to make her next court appearance on Friday September 10, 2021. Kaieteur News had reported that the couple was slated to appear in the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court to answer 60 additional fraud charges. However, when the matter was called, the couple's lawyer, Dexter Todd, presented to the Magistrate two medical certificates, on their behalf, purporting that they both tested positive for COVID-19. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) however, was not buying any of it and suspected that the medical certificates were fake. An investigation was then launched to determine the authenticity of the documents. In a subsequent release on the matter, the police stated that, “The investigation has confirmed that the medical documents tendered were falsified.” Ishmael was later arrested and charged for the offence, but no charge was brought against her husband or anyone else.
Garcia-Dominguez was granted citizenship in June 2020. He and his wife are officials of Accelerated Capital Firm Inc. (ACF), a company that lured thousands of Guyanese to invest their money by promising them a 40 percent profit on their investment. The couple is accused of bilking thousands of Guyanese out of millions of dollars and is currently before three different courts facing 80 plus fraud charges and two charges under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act. They were released on $30M bail after spending over a month in prison on remand. The charges were brought against the couple by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and represented the first time that SOCU had instituted charges under the AML/CFT Act. The AML/CFT Act, Chapter 10:11, prohibits businesses from operating as financial institutions without the necessary registration for regulation and supervision by the Regulatory Authorities, the Financial
Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Guyana Securities Council. Moreover, in June 2021, two agents/marketers for Garcia-Dominguez were slapped with money laundering charges. Aubrey Norton and Martina Seepersaud of Lot 242 Track 'A' Coldigen, East Coast Demerara, were slapped with two charges under the Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act. They too were charged by SOCU. The duo was not required to plead to the charges that were read to them and were placed on $200,000 bail each.
Alleged Ponzi scheme operators, Yuri Garcia-Dominguez and Ateeka Ishmael
PAGE 16 WANTED
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VEHICLES FOR SALE Tractor Massey Ferguson 165-$1.7M,Massey Ferguson 135-$1.1M,Ford Ranger pick up $1.3M,Ford F150 pick up $1.3M. 6825230/615-4414.
FOR RENT 2,3 & 1 bedroom for rent @ Vreed-en-hoop, Providence,Diamond & Herstelling. Contact:6826263/643-3170. Apartment for rent.Peters Hall & Albertown.Tel:6481391/698-5800. Fabrication Tel:690-5427.
workshop.
One female accounts clerk,knowledge in POS system would be an asset.For more info.Contact:227-3580. NB:Proof of vaccination card or a negative PCR test will be required before entering premises. Bus & Taxi drivers. Tel:2253234/628-1183. Live in general domestic $30,000 weekly experienced waitress 19-25yrs from around Ogle $20,000 wkly.610-3974. Cleaner needed for Central Georgetown area. Please call 600-7433.
CAR RENTAL Aidan's Car Rental.Tel:2253234/628-1183.
Housekeeper.Call: 624-5734.
2 storey concrete house at Enmore Foulis,38M negotiable. Contact:692-7305/ +1(646)972-9267.
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.
Lot 32 Public Road Grove/ F&L Hardware. Contact: 664-9701/642-6056. Robb,Charlotte,Norton Street,Kitty, Sheriff, Ogle, Betterhope,Enterprise & Diamond.Contact: Ray's Realty 627-9685.
VACANCY One salesman,5 subject cxc. Experience in writing bills,stocktaking & cashing. Keyfood Trading,Mc Doom village. In all departments: Prep, Meat, Service, Kitchen. Apply: Bettencourt's Diner. Call for information:231-1368/ 223-1938. Porter log truck driver, Eccles Industrial Site E.B.D. Call:609-7675/674-1705.
WANTED 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.
Male seeks common law wife,ages 18-38. Light housework,salary $80,000monthly. Call:6039085. Delivery, Lorry license driver. Tel:621-9356. Able body porters needed.Apply@Why Pay More Trading,7 Public RD Houston E.B.D with application.
LAND FOR SALE Roadside land for sale @ GoodHopeMahaica 500ftx42ft. Call:691-8420. Prime Residential Lots, West Coast Berbice,ideal for a gated community. Tel:6512444/626-3454.
For Carpenters & Painters. Apply at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda. Vacancy for night helper (Cleaner). Call:637-6700. Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 25-50, Car/ Van licence. Call 642-9823. Maid to cook and clean for East Bank.Call:615-9132. Domestic Housekeeper. Job located in Georgetown. Attractive salary. Call:609-2995.
Taxi driver & dispatcher at Princess taxi.Located at Ramada Princess Hotel. Tel:616-5419,265-7075,2657076.
AM/PM Shift cashiers. Math & Eng required. Send apllication to 173 Sheriff St, Campbellville,Georgetown.
Experienced general domestic to work in G. Town,must know to press. Call:615-3379 for more info.
Poultry/Livestock Farmers. Live in accomodations, contact 609-2995. Send application to 173 Sheriff St, Campbellville, Georgetown.
One male able bodied clerk.Call:693-8462/231-2029.
Parika Public Road measuring 46' X 500'Contact#6500402/652-0251.
Males to work in the interior, ages 18-30. Call:687-7638/ 674-1767.
Carmichael st, Queenstown, La Penitence, Kuru Kuru Soesdyke. Contact: Ray's Realty 627-9685.
2 truck driver for interior, must have knowledge about Foden Trucks $200,000 monthly.Call:642-2359.
“I had nothing to do with the shootout” - ‘Jinga Harry’ Popular businessman, Harrielall Motilall called ‘Jinga Harry,’ yesterday told Kaieteur News that he had nothing to do with last Thursday’s shootout that left two Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) officers injured. On Thursday, the Customs officers were shot to their faces and abdomen during an anti-smuggling operation the Guyana Police Force (GPF) carried out at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara. The officers came under gunfire as they tried to intercept a boat they suspected was transporting smuggled goods. Police sources had told Kaieteur News that ‘Jinga Harry’ is a prime suspect in the matter. However, Motilall insisted yesterday that he was at home hosting a number of festivals
Harrielall Motilall called ‘Jinga Harry’ over the last few days and therefore was not the one who had shot at the officers. In fact, he is also accusing the Force of wrongfully breaking into his property on Thursday. “Thursday I was home, it
had a number of guests and the police came and breakdown my gate, damage my property and they ain’t find nothing here. I was not arrested either,” Motilall told Kaieteur News. “Everything happen here they always blame me. Like GRA have something against me,” he added. The businessman said that if the cops would like to see him, he is willing to meet with them since he did nothing wrong and is therefore not afraid. He claimed that he had called the Vigilance Police Station to find out if they needed him there but they not answer him in the affirmative. “I have even tried calling the Crime Chief to find out what is going on but so far he has not answered my calls,” Motilall related.
Abdool-Richards: Six Delta variant cases unvaccinated
PROPERTY FOR SALE
SERVICES
Tuesday September 07, 2021
Kaieteur News
NEWSDAY - Principal Medical Officer Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards said all six identified delta variant cases in Trinidad and Tobago were all quarantined on arrival, according to the national health protocols for unvaccinated people entering the country. Abdool-Richards was speaking at the Ministry of Health’s press conference yesterday. She said, the delta variant cases were contained as they were all quarantined on arrival. On Sunday, the Ministry of Health confirmed the sixth delta variant case in Trinidad and Tobago. In its update, it said the patient has been isolated and all contacts were immediately quarantined and swabbed. It said the covid19 results for all contacts with the patient were negative. There is no evidence of community spread of the delta variant at this time. Abdool-Richards said all have passed through the parallel healthcare system. Some have been discharged
and the others are doing well. Professor of molecular genetics and virology at UWI Christine Carrington said according to national health protocols, because the unvaccinated are quarantined on arrival, the virus is less likely to spread. She said while a vaccinated person may be infected, it is unlikely. “The aim is to reduce the chance (and) we are doing everything we can to reduce the chance of community spread.” Epidemiologist Dr Avery Hinds said although people from TT are travelling in greater numbers, a negative PCR covid19 test is still a requirement to help mitigate the spread of the virus and the introduction of variants into the community. He said in addition to that requirement, mandatory mask wearing on planes further reduces droplets from spreading the virus while on board. But he added, “We do still want to point out that with
increased holiday travel…we do expect increased numbers of cases.” Hinds also said even without getting to the stage of herd immunity, it is still important to be vaccinated to reduce the risk of severe illness. “In fact, it becomes even more important (to be vaccinated), because there is still the possibility of the virus spreading.” Hinds said herd immunity occurs in a population when an illness is not transmitted from one person to another. He also addressed the “vaccine safe zone” concept. On Friday, the Prime Minister said in four weeks, the government aims to reopen certain businesses for those who are vaccinated. Hinds said the safe zone concept creates “artificial pockets of herd immunity,” which can help reduce the risk of spreading the virus. He said although it won’t eliminate the risk altogether, from an epidemiological perspective, it is an idea that is supported.
...Govt. still to finalise Int'l Law Firm From page 3 work identified for the successful consultant, is the undertaking of a “comprehensive review of Guyana's existing legal and regulatory framework…such review to include and maximise upon existing institutional, legislative and regulatory analysis and revision documentation. Additionally, the consultant is expected to support the MNR in detailing the legislative and regulatory instruments required to update and establish Guyana's governance, management and
oversight of the upstream, mid and downstream oil and gas sector, so as to establish a modern and competitive framework. This is in addition to the development of a prioritised legislative agenda and implementation action plan. The consultant will also be expected to support the Attorney General's Chambers in the review assessment, and drafting necessary to ensure that the legislative and regulatory instrument are finalised in good order for presentation to the Na-
tional Assembly, and for passage into law. Additionally, the consultant will be required to provide “ad hoc legal advice on matters arising from the MNR's governance, and management of the petroleum sector as requested by the Client.” While there has been no clear indication on the part of the Ministry as to the cost of the consultancy, the funds would be utilised from a US$20M loan that had been secured from the World Bank.
Tuesday September 07, 2021
Kaieteur News
Unvaccinated teachers, parents locked out of E’bo schools - GTU threatens to act
The situation at the C.V. Nunes Primary School yesterday The first day of school was off to a bumpy start for a number of unvaccinated parents and teachers who were locked out of schools within Region Two. The lockout follows a recent amendment to Section 17 of the COVID-19 regulations, which stipulates in part that persons without proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test result will not be granted access to any public buildings. Reports reaching this publication confirmed that unvaccinated parents and teachers were denied access to schools across the region yesterday morning. When Kaieteur News visited the C.V. Nunes Primary School yesterday, parents, teachers and even pupils were seen locked outside of the school compound. This publication was able to confirm that this situation was the same at schools at Charity, Riverstown and the Pomeroon. A parent who was locked out of the C.V. Nunes Primary School told Kaieteur News that she opted not to be vaccinated, as she is presently suffering from an underlying illness. That
parent, who identified herself as Samantha Peters, said, “when I arrived at C.V. Nunes, a set of teachers and even Grade One children were locked out of the school.” Peters went on to say, “my daughter is a premature baby, we’re in the sun right now, is 9:38 (am), and we were here since 8… I don’t believe that it is right to get force to take the vaccine. I believe who ain’t want it, ain’t supposed to take it and is unfair because I want to know what grade my child is in and what class she is in and I can’t go in because they telling me I ain’t reach the requirements.” Teachers who spoke to Kaieteur News said that this move is illogical as even vaccinated persons can be carriers of COVID-19. One teacher, who opted to remain anonymous, argued, “Just because you have a vaccination card, doesn’t mean you don’t have COVID19. You can be vaccinated and still spread COVID-19 to other people, so I don’t see the sense why only unvaccinated people have to produce a PCR test.” That teacher went on to say, “If a
vaccinated teacher walks into a school with COVID-19, chances are that that same teacher can also infect an entire school, just like an unvaccinated teacher.” Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers Union, Ms. Coretta McDonald, said that the union is urging vaccinated teachers to stand with their unvaccinated colleagues. McDonald said that based on information she received, some unvaccinated teachers were granted access to their respective schools, with the help of their colleagues. When asked what course of action the union is prepared to take, should the issue persist, McDonald said, “at the moment GTU will encourage its members to turn up for school, so that nobody can say you did not show up for your work. I’m not sure what we can approach the Ministry with, because of the new Gazette Orders that was put out… We’re looking on to see what will happen on Wednesday, and if the issue persists, we may possibly have a withdrawal from the system, until the matter can be addressed.”
Teachers locked out of the Riverstown Primary School yesterday
PAGE 17
Kaieteur News
PAGE 18
Tuesday September 07, 2021
GNBS seizes unapproved dial scales from city markets
L
ast Friday, a team of Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Inspectors, accompanied by Ranks of the Guyana Police force (GPF), engaged in a market surveillance exercise to seize and remove defective and unapproved devices in use. According to a GNBS release, this exercise was conducted at the Stabroek and Bourda Markets “where there seems to be the pervasive use of the unapproved dial scales.” As a result, 50 dial scales, which were not approved for commercial trade, were seized and removed from vendors. For quite a while, the GNBS has been advising vendors and shopkeepers to desist from using the
Some of the dial scales that were seized domestic dial scales, which were not designed for the rigours of commercial use. These scales, according to the GNBS, easily become
inaccurate and result in vendors selling shortweighed goods to consumers. As such, the GNBS has encouraged vendors and
shopkeepers to only use the recommended metric devices, which include the metric red equal arm scales and masses, metric platform
scales, approved dial scales a n d e l e ctronic scales. Approved scales, the Standards body noted, can be purchased from hardware stores in the city and from business locations across the country. “Vendors, shopkeepers and other users of weighing and measuring devices in trade who have not yet submitted their devices for stamping for the second half of the year, are encouraged to do so before the end of September 2021,” the GNBS added. Meanwhile, the GNBS continues to urge consumers to avoid making purchases from vendors and shopkeepers selling with the unapproved devices even as this sensitisation effort continues. Last Friday's exercise was conducted directly in
Mr. Lloyd David, Head of GNBS' Corporate Communications response to the widespread use of the unapproved scales observed by the GNBS in many markets and other retail outlets. To maintain accuracy of measurements in commerce, the GNBS plans to expand its surveillance campaign for the rest of the year to seize and remove unverified and unapproved devices in use.
Ministry reports high turnout as schools reopen
A
s schools r e o p e n e d yesterday for
face-to-face teaching, the Ministry of Education reported that its preliminary
data suggest that there was a high turnout at schools. Based on data received from
51 percent of the nursery and primary schools across Guyana, 70 percent of nursery pupils attended school along with 95 percent of teachers being present. At the primary level, 92 percent of teachers were in attendance with 65 percent of their pupils present. This is according to a Ministry release which stated, “It must be noted that some schools have chosen to teach specific grades on different days to avoid crowded classrooms and to maintain social distancing.” As such, it added that the attendance data does not reflect the entire school population but rather those students who were scheduled to attend school yesterday. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, said that there is no right or wrong decision that parents can make regarding sending their children to school during this particular time. Parents, the Minister informed, were given the opportunity to decide how they wanted to have their children engaged – whether to send them to school or to keep them at home – and this, she said, will be supported by the Ministry. Further, the Education Minister said that she is very pleased to see that the diagnostic assessment began across the country as the results will inform how and what teachers will teach in
the coming weeks. During the first half of this academic year, students are expected to be taught the topics they missed last year before they move onto another grade. Teachers yesterday, were enthused to be back in school and ready to start teaching, according to the Ministry's release. However, this was not
the case for 10 schools that were unable to open today because some of the teachers tested positive for COVID19. “The Ministry of Education wishes for a smooth recovery process for those teachers, and will remain versatile and responsive to meet the needs of our students and teachers in this constantly evolving situation,” the release added.
Students of Calcutta Primary School getting ready to begin their day at school.
Tuesday September 07, 2021
PAGE 19
Kaieteur News
GFF President Forde launches Bartica Football Association ATC
GFF President Wayne Forde (center), BFA President Alden Marslow (right) and Regional Chairman Kenneth Williams in an intense discussion. (Franklin Wilson photo)
Tuesday September 07, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) It's important to take a hard look at yourself and know where you're going, Aries. A little self-analysis never hurt anyone, especially when you feel like you aren't getting anywhere. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Taurus, you tend to run away from confrontation, but today you might not be able to avoid it. Your partner or a family member may be putting pressure on you. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may feel a little weary today. It's a good time to take stock of your life. You may have gotten some news about someone that has caused you some pain. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You have the gift of being able to get your great ideas across to others. In your family, you may be the one who teaches your children about life and its responsibilities.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Libra, life around you today almost seems like a (bad) dream. It's almost as if people are talking, but nothing intelligible is coming out of their mouths. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You can't spend all your time running from one activity to the next, Scorpio. You need to take a break from time to time. You have all the energy you need, but you should think about relaxing yourself as a whole. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today's planetary configuration has you wondering about an aspect of your life that causes you a good deal of hardship, Sagittarius. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may have been a little difficult to be around lately. You like to treat yourself to a little moodiness from time to time, but the people around you might appreciate a little cooperation.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) There may be tension in the air as you go about your day. The leftover fatigue from the past few days is starting to wear on you.Take advantage of the situation to clear the air with your friend.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Let your sensual, nurturing instincts shine through, Aquarius. Rely on your sixth sense. If things start to get rough, remember that you have the ability to keep your cool.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You don't live your life by society's rules. Your freedom is what is most important to you. But despite your independence, there are days when you have the sudden, sinking feeling that you could wind up alone in this world.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A solid grounding is apt to be extremely important to you today, Pisces. Hearts may be broken or won, depending on how well you play your cards. Keep in mind that the slow and steady contender is most likely going to win this race.
By Franklin Wilson Heavy rain and lightening was not enough to deter the dozens of youths who came out on Saturday afternoon last at the Bartica Community Centre for the official launch of the Bartica Football Association (BFA), Academy Training Centre (ATC). Sharing the historic occasion was Regional Chairman Kenneth Williams along with BFA President Alden Marslow, Secretary Arita Embleton, who is also Deputy Mayor of the Municipality, among other officials. Forde, in thanking the BFA for the hard work put into making the event possible, reminded that the ATC programmes across the nine (9) Regional Member Associations (RMA) is being funded under the Federation’s prestigious Member Association Financial Assistance Programme (MFAP) which delivers to every category of membership of the GFF all the required financial resources and capacity building resources to the membership. “The BFA is receiving all the requisite support that they need to promote and grow the game within the community.” Forde told the youths that there was a time when Bartica commanded a good position within the competitive football ranks in Guyana including producing some of the best players that the nation has seen; one such name is the late Neil Hernandez. “The academy training centre is going to provide many of you that are here today and some that will join, the opportunity to discover your God given talent. Many of you would be the pride of this association because in a couple of months we will be launching the inter academy tournament. So some of you, who work hard, who have the disciplined, show the dedication and the commitment to football, would be making that final team to represent your region. I would be coming out to those games and I expect to see the best performance from the players that will represent this region.” Forde, a product of Bartica also told the players that they are having the opportunity of a life time as never before there was a structured youth programme across the length and breadth of Guyana. “I want to wish each and every one of the players in front of me, both boys and girls, success in your
development trajectory and I expect to see as many of you as possible here today in the final teams at the U11, 13, 15, 17, 20, senior male and female as you compete in the inter association tournaments. Bartica can produce really good teams and can produce really good results that can be a source of pride for this entire community.” Williams in his remarks to the excited youths said that the RDC is extremely happy to partner with the BFA and the GFF to prepare the way for the youths to excel and go places through the sport. He told the youths that every time they enter the field they should recognise that they have an opportunity that many do not have. “I am pleading with you to take the opportunities given to you, do not take it for granted. As you go
forward in this life, opportunities will come and they will go and you have to value those opportunities because that will take you further in life. If you start to value the small things, when the large things appear, you will recognise them as you would have already had the habits of valuing things.” BFA President expressed thanks to the GFF, RDC and Township for the support in making the start of the programme possible. Sessions are expected to held at the same venue on Monday’s, Wednesday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s to arrive at the elite players who will be the center of attraction at the ATC. The inclement weather did not allow any on field session but the youths are eager to get started and were expected to do so, yesterday.
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Tuesday September 07, 2021
Timehri Panthers edge home team Rising Stars on PKs in exciting U-17 friendly
GFF President Wayne Forde hands over the trophy to Timehri Panthers Captain, Junior Alistair in the presence of his equally proud teammates and other officials. (Franklin Wilson photo) As part of activities to launch their Academy Training Centre (ATC) Saturday last, the Bartica Football Association (BFA) organised an Under-17 match between their own Rising Stars and East Bank Football Association’s, Timehri Panthers.
A heavy downpour including lightening had looked like it would have put on a damper on the game on Saturday night last but the recently done ground drained quickly which allowed for the match to play about 45 minutes after the scheduled start at 19:00hrs.
Players from both teams were excited for the opportunity to get in some competitive time since the covid-19 pandemic has placed a huge dent in on field activity in the past 19months or so. The rivalry was end to end as both teams created
Action in the Timehri Panthers (blue) vs Bartica Rising Stars U17 match at the Bartica Community Centre ground. (Franklin Wilson photo) chances but neither being able to gain the upper hand in the attacking third during the intense 90 minutes of play. With a trophy up for grabs donated by the Bartica Stelling Crew, the teams
agreed to go straight to kicks from the penalty mark in order to decide the winner. The visiting Timehri Panthers prevailed 5-3 and were presented with the trophy by GFF President
Wayne Forde accompanied by Regional Chairman, Kenneth Williams, BFA President, Alden Marslow and Bartica Stelling Crew representative, Rondel Calender.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 07, 2021
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What will the selectors come up with? - T20 World Cup squad to be picked on Thursday By Sean Devers The Cricket West Indies (CWI) selectors, led by former West Indies offspinner Roger Harper will sit on Thursday to name the West Indies Squad to defend their T20 title at the 2021 World Cup in the UAE. The defending Champions will face-off with England on October 23 in the opening game before battling South Africa on October 26. West Indies won the title in 2012 and 2016 and are in the group with Australia, England and South Africa. It is understood that the official squad is 15 players and seven staff. However, a party of 30 (including reserve players and staff) would be allowed but CWI would have to cover all cost of extra members of the party. After T20 International series against South Africa, Australia and Pakistan, the Regional Selectors picked an 18-man squad which comprised; Kieron Pollard, Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetymer, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Fidel Edwards, Dwayne B r a v o , O b e d M c C o y, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jnr, Kevin Sinclair, Sheldon Cotterell, Akeil Hosein and Andre Fletcher. Of these players, Pollard,
Shimron Hetymer
Romario Shepherd
Chanderpaul Hemraj
Sherfane Rutherford
Russell, Bravo, Pooran, Hetymer, Allen, Lewis and Hosien seem automatic selections, while performances in the ongoing CPL from players outside the provisional 18-man should be taken into account. Barbadian all-rounder Roston Chase, Guyanese left-handers Sherfane Rutherford and Chanderpaul Hemraj, Trinidadian pacer Ravi Rampaul, Guyanese fast bowling all-rounder Romario Shepherd and Antiguan Wicket-keeper/ Batsman Devon Thomas would have done enough during the first half of the CPL to stake a claim for a spot in the World Cup squad. In six matches in the CPL Chase is the leading runscorer with 248 runs at an average of 80.33 and a strike rate of 157.51. He has also been very effective with offspin bowling. Lewis, who will play in the IPL as a replacement player before the World Cup,
is second in the runs aggregate with 236 runs, while Rutherford has three fifties in 201 runs and is the only other batsman with 200 runs. Opener Hemraj is fourth among the run-scorers with 178 runs and is the one of two batsmen and the only West Indian with a century in the ninth edition of the CPL so far. In addition to scouring the most runs with boundaries; 19 fours and 10 sixes. Thomas, who could bat in the middle order or ‘open’, is sixth in the runs aggregate and fifth among West Indians with 161 runs. Ramphal is the leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets from 23.2 overs and a best of 4-29 and an economy rate of 7.15, while Shepherd is second on wicket-takers list with 11 scalps at an economy rate of 6.20 despite missing two games for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. But who would they
replace in the provisional squad is the big question? Another big question is if Sunil Narine, the best West Indian spinner, would make himself available to play in an ICC tournament and run the risk of being banned from all forms of cricket (including the IPL) if he is called for a ‘suspect’ action. Chris Gayle is another West Indian icon who could miss out due to the possibility of him failing to produce runs consistently at the World Cup due to age and declining technique, especially against quick short pitched bowling. However, the selectors might be tempted to give the Jamaican who turns 42 on September 21, a farewell Wo r l d C u p d u e t o tremendous service to West Indies, not only in T20 cricket where he has dominated like no other in the World, but in all formats. From the provisional squad I would replace
Edwards, who has just three wickets at an economy rate of 11.06 in the CPL, with Ramphal and Barbados Royals Captain Holder, who has only managed three wickets at an economy rate 10.01 and scored 51 runs at an Average of 8.83 from six matches, with Shepherd. Despite scoring 60 in his last innings, Simmons has looked lethargic and has managed just 46 runs from his other five innings at an average of 19.03 at a strike rate 110.53 and I would replace him with Hemraj. Gayle, who is the only player to score more than 14,000 T20 runs and has a highest T20 score of 175 for RCB in the IPL, has just 71 runs from four games with a top score of 42 and a strike rate of 109.23 and I would replace him with Rutherford. In six innings Fletcher has scored 145 runs including an unbeaten 81 and I would replace him with Thomas as back up Keeper to
Pooran. Thomas could also be a reserve batsman in the middle order or opening the batting while he can also bowl medium pacer and when not behind the stumps, is a brilliant fielder. In addition to scoring the most runs so far, off-spinner Chase has six wickets from 20 overs at an economy rate 6.04 and I would replace offspinner Kevin Sinclair who was on the bench for the first four games that the Warriors played, with Chase, who like Hemraj could provide spin options. Although his standard is far from what he set in the recent T20 International series and has struggled for control in this CPL, a legspinner could be an asset in the UAE and I would include Hayden Walsh Jnr, who is among the best fielders in world, in the World Cup squad. I would take the ‘Universe Boss’ to the World Cup as a batting mentor. My World Cup squad: Evin Lewis, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicolas Pooran (V/Capt), Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Kieron Pollard (Capt), Fabian Allen, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Ravi Rampaul, Akeil Hosien, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Jnr., Devon Thomas, Oshane Thomas, Obed McCoy.
India take series lead after thumping England by 157 run
A
FP - India beat England by 157 runs to win the fourth Test at the Oval yesterday and take a 21 lead in the five-match series. The hosts, set 368 to win, were dismissed for 210 after tea on the last day as India triumphed in a match taking place just over fifty years on from their first Test — and series — win in England at the Oval in 1971. England were relatively wellplaced at 141-2 after lunch before left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah both struck twice in a spectacular collapse that saw the hosts lose four wickets for six runs in 36 balls. Recalled paceman Umesh Yadav, who took 3-60, cleaned up the tail and ended the match when James Anderson was caught behind. Earlier in the match, opener Rohit Sharma made 127 — after being missed twice in the slips —
for his first Test hundred outside of India as the tourists piled up 466 in their second innings, having conceded a first-innings lead of 99. India all-rounder Shardul Thakur, recalled after suffering a hamstring injury in the drawn first Test at Trent Bridge, hit halfcenturies in both innings and the paceman also captured the key wicket of England captain Joe Root yesterday. India captain Virat Kohli hailed his team’s final-day exploits. “I’m really proud of the character the team has shown, especially this morning,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s definitely among the top three bowling performances I have witnessed as India captain.” Root credited India’s bowlers for the skilful use of reverse swing but rued his team’s inability to make their first-innings lead of 99 runs. “They got the ball to reverse
James Anderson reviews in vain as India clinch victory Sep 05, 2021 © Getty Images and made good use of that. It was a brilliant spell of bowling from Bumrah and that really was the turning point,” Root said. The series concludes with the fifth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, starting on Friday.
Brief scores: India 1st Innings 191 (S Thakur 57, V Kohli 50; C Woakes 4-55, O Robinson 3-38); England 1st innings 290 (O Pope 81, C Woakes 50; U Yadav 3-76). India 2nd Innings 466 (R Sharma 127, C Pujara 61, S Thakur
60, R Pant 50; C Woakes 3-83); England 2nd Innings (H Hameed 63, R Burns 50; U Yadav 3-60). Result: India won by 157 runs. Series: India lead five-match series 2-1.
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Tuesday September 07, 2021
RHTYSC cricket teams continues to assist families with homes as assistance pours in - KSM Investment, Bakewell and BM Soat latest sponsors on board
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he efforts of the cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club MS to assist the less fortunate and fire disaster victims continue to bear fruits. The teams which includes the Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour under 21 and first division along with the Bakewell under 17 and under second division teams are spearheading efforts to assist four families to obtain their own homes. Construction of a new 20 by 24 home for the family of Chunilall Sonaroo has already started with support from the Florida - Guyana Hope, Crabwood Relief, Regal Stationery, KSM Inc and Navin and Sons Construction. The Sonaroo home is expected to be completed by early next month and several donors including Bakewell and individuals have also contributed clothing, medical supplies and food items to the family who had approached the club for assistance. Sonaroo’s wife is currently bed ridden and suffers from type-two diabetes, while his fourteen years old daughter is a diabetes patient and has to take insulin twice per day.
Bakewell General Manager Rajendra Ganga hands over contribution to RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster. The home that they are currently staying in is on the verge of falling down and in desperation, they had visited the club office to seek assistance. Last Wednesday, another family visited the office seeking assistance and the teams readily agreed to assist. Fire totally destroyed the home of Rajkumar Hamenauth and his family of eight. Mr Mahadeo Panchu of KSM investment and a
group of friends handed over a financial donation of one hundred thousand dollars the next day after been informed of the family situation by the club. The donation was done in memory of late Asst Police Commissioner Winston Colbert. The group also donated a similar amount to the Sonaroo family, while KSM Investment would be providing close to fifteen hundred concrete blocks towards the construction of
Shoba Gaymes hands over financial donation to the Hamenauth family in memory of late Asst Commissioner of Police Winston Colbert. the home. Bakewell also contributed funds for both families while RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster held a successful meeting with Managing Director of B. M Soat Rameez Mohammed at the latter Croal Street Office in Georgetown. Mr Mohammed committed his company to rebuilding a home for the Hamenauth family in the village of Toopoo. He is expected to visit the site
shortly. The club and its cricket teams are also constructing a home at the cost of just under two million dollars for its Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu, while it is also working along with the Berbice Cricket Board to provide a home for the BCB Office Assistant on the East Bank of Demerara. Foster stated that the club was delighted to make a difference in the lives of the families and would continue
to do in the future. He noted that special arrangements have been put into place for the sponsors and the different families to look after the funds for the homes with the club been involved just as an observer. Foster expressed thanked all the sponsors for coming on board the project and to the members of the RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour and Bakewell cricket teams for their hard work and dedication.
Gilbert return to the helm of the Guyana Football Coaches Association
President Sampson Gilbert (seated right) surrounded by members of the Guyana Football Coaches Association following last Sunday’s AGM.
Sampson Gilbert was given another two-year term as President of the Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA) when that body held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), N a t i o n a l Tr a i n i n g C e n t r e , Providence, East Bank Demerara on Sunday last. The full executive reads: Sampson Gilbert-President, Cortis Joseph-Vice President, Dillion Roberts-Secretary, Mariska Williams-Treasurer, Troy WrightAssistant Secretary/Treasurer with three of the four Committee Members being Jersild Wright, Walter Scott and Errol Dainty. The fourth Committee Member will be appointed from Region 9 when the Association convenes its next General Council meeting. In
his acceptance remarks, President Gilbert reiterated his commitment to the development of Coaches through education and exposure. He charged his new executive to commit to leadership and make every sacrifice to demand the respect of the football fraternity. President Gilbert also spoke of the Federation’s support for its Regional Member Associations and Affiliates including the GFCA whilst encouraging his colleagues to continue the quest to preserve and strengthen this relationship/partnership by being i n v o l v e d i n Te c h n i c a l Development. He challenged his colleagues to continue embracing the role of the Coaches Association with integrity and commitment.
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Tuesday September 07, 2021
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Bilal XI overcome Fisherman Masters to win Khalid Haslim Memorial softball final Secretary of the GAPLF, Roger Rogers (2nd left) presents the official competition jersey to DoS Steve Ninvalle in the presence of Andrew Austin (left) and Mark Seymour.
CEO of Mike’s Pharmacy Lakeram Singh (R) presents the winning trophy to the family of the late Khalid Haslim, from left Wasim Haslim, Mohamed Haslim, Khadeeja Haslim and Sunita Haslim. At extreme right is proprietor of Trophy Stall Ramesh Sunich.
B
ilal XI registered a 51-run victory over Fisherman Masters to win the Khalid Haslim memorial softball tournament which was contested on Sunday. Bilal XI took fist strike and lost openers Waslim Haslim (01) and Patrick Rooplall (05) cheaply before Chien Gittens and Eric Thomas steadied the innings with level-headed batting at t h e M u s l i m Yo u t h Organisation ground. Gittens struck six fours and three sixes in a top score of 59 not out while Thomas slammed two fours and four sixes in an unbeaten 43 as Bilal XI made 123-2 off their allotted 10 overs. Danny Thomas and Pooran Singh took one wicket each. Fisherman Masters were pegged back early in the chase by some steady bowling from David
Harper and Patrick Rooplall as they lost their top four batsmen cheaply. They never recovered and were restricted for 72-6. Troy Ramsaywack made 22 with two fours and one six while Dennis Mangru scored 16. Harper captured 2-4 and Rooplall 2-10. Gittens was named man-of-the-match. Bilal XI defeated Rockaway by 74 runs in their semi final encounter. Led by a fine 124 from Wasim Haslim, Bilal XI posted a challenging 184-3 in 15 overs, batting first. Suresh Ramdin contributed 30. Rockaway responded with 110-7. Mohamed Rafeek scored 70 while Harper, Rooplall and Gittens picked up two wickets each. Fisherman Masters beat Wellman by five wickets in their semi final fixture. Wellman took first strike and managed 143-4 in 15 overs.
Greg De Franca stroked 49 while Rawl Reid made 25, Lloyd Ruplall 23 not out and Wayne Jones 17. Zameer Hassan claimed 2-18. Fisherman Masters replied with 144-5 in 14.4 overs. Dennis Mangru scored 52 while Ramo Malone made 35 and Bobby Chan 18. Imtiaz Mohamed captured 333. The tournament was sponsored by Trophy Stall, Mike’s Pharmacy and Regal Stationery and Computer Centre. Khalid Haslim was a softball cricketer who represented GCC, Regal, Wellman and MYO. He also played for Demerara at inter county softball. His parents, Mohamed Haslim and Khadeeja Haslim have expressed gratitude to the sponsors, teams and supporters as well as the covid 19 task force and MYO. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Mohamed Rafeek
Wasim Haslim made a century in the semi finals
GAPLF engages DoS Ninvalle
Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle (right) during his meeting with executive members of the GAPLF.
S
ecretary of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) Roger Rogers led a three-member delegation to visit Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle on Thursday last at his Middle Street Office. Accompanying Rogers were Vice President Andrew Austin and Organising Secretary/Public Relations Officer, Mark Seymour. T h e F e d e r a t i o n ’s delegation briefed Ninvalle on their recent successful sojourn at the 18th Annual NAPF/FESUPO PanAmerican Regional Powerlifting Championships which were held in Orlando, Florida. Guyana copped a total of eight (8) medals, 6 gold and 2 silver. Federation plans for the immediate and near future were also shared with Ninvalle who congratulated the Federation on behalf of Minister of Sport Charles R a m s o n J r. a n d t h e Government of Guyana. “I would like to compliment the GAPLF on your recent successes for this nation. Despite the
challenges we are facing as a result of covid-19, you and your athletes have excelled and made yourselves and this nation proud. Your athletes did not only medal, but they broke records too, apart from achieving personal bests which is remarkable. You have certainly displayed real discipline and commitment and for that I commend you.” Ninvalle assured the Federation of the NSC’s continued support for the sport. “You have already felt the real support of the Ministry as we backed you and your athletes on your recent assignment. We will continue to be on the platform with you to ensure that you build on these successes and our athletes grow from strength to strength. We would also like to support your plans for the sport and work along with you to execute those plans successfully.” Rogers commenting expressed the GAPLF’s gratitude on behalf of President Gordon Spencer
who was unavoidably absent. He said the meeting was extremely successful and thanked Ninvalle and Minister Ramson for their support. “The GAPLF was pleased to be able to share its strategic outlook with Mr. Ninvalle and were we even more elated that our outlook accords with the direction of the NSC and by extension the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport. The GAPLF intends to make the best of this engagement and will work assiduously to strengthen the partnership for the benefit of the sport. We would also like to assure the NSC, Ministry and affiliates of the Federation that we are committed towards working to make powerlifting stronger and more successful for the benefit of all inclusive of our athletes and fans.” Rogers also took the opportunity to present Ninvalle with one of the official jerseys of the 18th Annual NAPF/FESUPO Pan-American Regional P o w e r l i f t i n g Championships.