K
Traffic flowing NEWS as Joint Services takes control of Region 5 AIETEUR
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Friday Edition September 11, 2020 -Vol. 22 No. 35
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gas deals while Guyana hides behind contract sanctity
Two charged in death of Man stripped, car East Berbice carpenter burnt in protest that sparked protests attack at Mahaicony Supenaam woman Four arrested for beating death of man killed by ex-lover after at Bath Settlement late night phone call Gruesome murder of Berbice teens... Second set of robbers Four persons help victim recover stolen released from passport from protesters police custody Businessman arrested Housewife’s in relation to leaked Roger Khan’s sex video body found ERC thrashed for inadequate floating response to racial tensions over recent Berbice killings in creek
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Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
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Traffic flowing as Joint Services takes control of Region 5 T
here was a smooth flow of traffic yesterday on the West Coast Berbice as the Joint Services took control of things. Regional Commander, Edmond Cooper, confirmed that all areas that had blockades were cleared and traffic flowed smoothly. According to reports coming out of Region Five, members of the Guyana Defence Force working together with the Guyana Police Force were on the ground removing burnt debris from the roads. Several persons said they were breathing a sigh of relief as the traffic began to move freely. Hundreds of persons were stuck in the long lines for days as protests intensified over the past few days. Persons who were stuck at different locations and needed transportation were made aware of an advisory indicating meeting points where they would be picked up and transported to a safe point so that they could make their way home safely. Person reported that soldiers escorted their vehicles to the bridge and ensured that they passed safely and freely. Persons from several villages including Number 3, Number 4, Number 5, Belladrum, Hopetown, Burma, Cottage Mahaicony, Seafield and Lovely Lass, Bath Villages turned out in
numbers to protest the grisly slaying of teen cousins, Isaiah Henry and Joel Henry. The butchered bodies of the teens were found in the Cotton Tree backdam and their death has caused widespread anger and frustration to overflow. What began as a protest for justice for the teens turned into absolute horror, as persons began burning the roads and erecting blockades, forcing drivers and passengers to be stuck in lines. On the second and third day of the protest actions, dozens of reports of attacks and robberies were made. Many persons took to social media and posted pictures of injuries people sustained at the hands of criminal elements and the damage they suffered. Vehicles were burnt, persons were stripped of their clothing, beaten and robbed of their cash, valuables and belongings. A third teen was murdered in the Number 3 backdam and a man was beaten to death by protestors at Bath Settlement. Several leaders from the Government and the opposition visited Region 5 during the protests. Although many of the leaders asked for peace to reign and for persons to desist from the violence, protestors still c o n t i n u e d . However, yesterday, PNCR
The Bath Settlement are, Region 5, after it was cleared
New Amsterdam, Region 6 Chairman Volda Lawrence in a video that went viral and gained to support of many including from the government’s side, she called on the protestors to “stop the carnage”. Lawrence said that, “as a leader, we have to call a spade a spade and, as I speak, I am calling on President Irfaan Ali to call on his people too.
I am calling on my people to end this carnage, to end the way in which they are grieving and I am asking him to do likewise. As our people pull back so he must call on his people too to pull back”. It was her loud and resounding call for peace to reign that may have played a critical role in stopping the violent protests from carrying on. In her short
video, Lawrence called on “every single PNCR member irrespective of your status” to “stop the carnage”. She went on to say that, “we all would have our likes and dislikes but we certainly can display our grief in a better manner. We certainly can empathise in a different w a y ” . Up to late last night, there were no reports of protestors
on the roads and the roads remained clear with heavy joint service presence. Meanwhile, over in Region 6, Commander Linden Isles reported that the roads were clear with no blockades and that police ranks were placed at the points where there were fires on the roadway to monitor the area and ensure peace is kept within the areas.
Second set of robbers help victims recover stolen passport from protesters A man, his brother and his wife, were on Tuesday last assisted in recovering a stolen passport and key documents from protesters. He was assisted by a second group of men who attempted to rob them. Fortunately, luck was with them. The incident happened during intense protests at Hopetown, West Berbice, Region Five. The three victims had left their home in Skeldon, Region Six, at around 04:00hrs that morning, in their car, to head for Georgetown in relation to an embassy appointment. However, along the way, they fell prey to violent attacks from protesters, among whom were criminals, which have greatly marred the actions. The protestors had initially been demanding justice for the heinous killing of teenaged cousins, Joel and Isaiah Henry, at Cotton Tree Backdam, West Coast Berbice
(WCB). The family said that they were aware of the ongoing protests but had trusted the announcements by police that the road was cleared for traffic. They claimed that they were able to drive all the way to Cotton Tree without being stopped or delayed by any roadblocks. The trio said that there was a group of protesters at Cotton Tree but police had things under control and they were able to pass safely. Nevertheless, this was about to change drastically as they arrived at Forth Wellington. The man’s wife described that as they entered the village at around 12:13hrs, they were greeted by total chaos. Protesters there, she said, had attacked a truck with cargo paddy and set it on fire. The woman told this newspaper that officers who were trying to take control of the unrest, were assisting
The dents on the victims’ car, which came under attack at Hopetown. commuters and they were able to enter Hopetown. At Hopetown, however, said the woman, the situation was even more chaotic and ranks directed their vehicle along with others to take a back street route to evade possible attacks. The family said while navigating their way through that back street, they noticed a man on a bicycle circling their vehicle. As the
other cars went ahead, the man on the bicycle signaled about 15 others who within minutes stormed onto the street and encircled their car. The woman recalled that one of them threw his bicycle behind the car to prevent them from reversing. Trapped, she said, the angry group began banging on the car with their hands and sticks. “They started shouting at us and making racial comments, they told
us that we Indians were responsible for the death of the two boys and threatened to take revenge by killing us,” said the woman. The woman’s husband, who was driving, detailed that they tried pleading with the group, which included women as well to let them pass. These pleas went unanswered, the man said. Instead, the mob demanded that they exit the car. At first they resisted, said the man, but the protesters threatened to douse the car with gas and burn them and the car together. By this time, he recalled that his wife was crying and his brother were all traumatized. Left with no other options, the man along with his wife and brother exited the car. The group then proceeded to relieve their victims of a backpack containing the woman’s clothing. They also stole US$500 and $200,000 in local cash, a cell phone, (Continued on page 27)
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Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Tel:624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Exxon on its Deathbed, Jagdeo Gives it Saline The news reports from one internationally reputable media organization after another keeps coming and confirming the same message. It is that ExxonMobil is on its deathbed and in the throes of financial death rattles. This is encouraging news on which Guyanese leaders should capitalize to get a more equitable deal for this country, and its peoples, so that they do not have to go and steal. They do not have to line up for bottom feeder jobs. Nor do they have to be forced to borrow or beg to get by from day to day. But, from the corner of our eye, we detected a Guyanese rushing to the rescue of the grievously wounded oil giant. To our great astonishment, it is none other than the former president of the Republic, now its all-powerful Vice President, Bharat Jagdeo. He is busily engaged in his new starring roles, which are as rescuer of Exxon and then protector of this same once-great corporation that has laid waste to Guyana’s hospitality, goodwill, and hopes. While Exxon is struggling with existential throes on its deathbed, Vice President Bharat Jagdeo is the one coming forward round the clock, like Florence Nightingale, with bags of saline in hand. He is the only Third World leader, who is so concerned and heartbroken to even raise a finger of assistance. But there he is weighed down by his transparent bags of lifegiving saline in what is now a bewildering commitment to giving ExxonMobil a free pass when it is due none, deserves none. Not after how its leaders have treated us Guyanese, with their subtle insults, their tone deafness, and their dismissive and scornful reactions to our appeals for a more equitable, a fairer, share of our oil wealth. No! The company has to have all that it can rake in, while Guyanese are left to get by, however, they can manage. When his struggling fellow countrymen and women desperately need economic oxygen, the Vice President is all on hands and knees in anxious vigil at Exxon’s bedside. We are asking ourselves what is he going to do next? Pray and burst into copious tears for this selfish and predatory company? What is going on here? What is it that Guyanese should know, but don’t, about this example of extreme attentiveness by its own Vice President for this rapacious foreign company, while they themselves are hungry and broke, despite having all of this oil wealth right beneath their feet? Perhaps, Guyanese need to acquaint themselves a shade more thoroughly with what transpired relative to the Kaieteur and Canje oil blocks. To cut a real fine point on this, several questions are best put on the table to determine what reaction they will get. The first question is who has ownership of those two rich oil blocks? The second is why is this a mystery to Guyanese, and not made clearer, after all the commitments at transparency and accountability by the previous government and this current one? Then, there is the pivotal third inquiry: which foreign company has the knowhow and an interest to operate the two blocks? At the local level, we certainly do not have the skills and expertise to make these blocks, long shrouded in secrecy, come to life and be moneymakers for the welfare of citizens of this country. But whatever it is that we lack, ExxonMobil have by the bucketful, and they charge an arm and a leg for such skills and the required technology. It is interesting that a bill of US$100M is floating around and waiting to claim ownership, as well as payment for services rendered. The fact that all of this is occurring outside the mainstream does not induce any degree of confidence in those Guyanese who care and wonder what is going on with these two blocks. We make no association, arrive at no conclusions. All we are doing is presenting the facts of a real sickening financial story, while seeking any guidance we can get as to where things stand with those blocks. From the inception, our oil business has been plagued with mystery and uncertainty. The latest being the tenderness manifested by the Vice President for Exxon.
Nothing will ever justify these killings and protest actions DEAR MR. EDITOR, Words spoken by my political icon, Nelson Mandela, should sink deep in the minds of politicians. He said, “Our world is not divided by race, colour, gender or religion. Our world is divided into wise people and fools. And fools divide themselves by race colour, gender, or religion”. Those words are abundantly clear in the context of the escalating situation that the nation found itself in at this critical juncture. While politicians have a
duty to support and help their constituents, this must be done in a manner that is consistent with the law. Rhetoric would not help an already volatile situation, it would instead add more fuel to the fire. We all have a duty and responsibility to each other and we must act in a manner that defuses a hostile situation and bring some sort of calmness where the “lives of all matter”. I am not a fan of Miss Volda Lawrence, but she has said the right words in this very toxic situation. It
definitely shows that Lawrence finds solace in her heart to mention those comforting words. I now have a different opinion of her and I must congratulate her and wish her well. I am positive that the perpetrators of those heinous crimes will be brought to justice and those who have instigated and those who have committed those numerous violations will hang their head in shame. History will not judge them graciously. Nelson Mandela continued, “If you wanted to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes
your partner”. In his long walk to freedom, he confronts his challenges with dignity and pride. I am confident we will pull through that being better to each other. My condolences go out to the families and friends and the entire farming and business community of Region Five for the loss of invaluable lives and loved ones, damage to property, assaults and battery which occurred over this dark week in our history. I agree nothing will ever justify these killings and protest actions. Yours truly, Nazar Mohamed Businessman
Dr. Vincent Adams - how much more is needed? DEAR EDITOR, I have heard it said that Dr. Vincent Adams, Head of the EPA (now on forced sabbatical) is a political appointee and that he is not the best qualified for the post he held at the EPA. I am hoping that what follows puts to rest any and all issues about both his suitability for the EPA job and those concerns about the alleged political nature of this Guyanese’s appointment. It is said that Dr. Adams presence at the EPA as its head is a political appointment. I present the following facts and leave the rest to Guyanese to decide how they wish to proceed on this issue of Dr. Adams being a political appointee. I think they speak for themselves. The position of head of t h e E PA w a s p u b l i c l y advertised. Dr. Vincent Adams applied for consideration. He was shortlisted, invited to, and attended, two rounds of interviews with the Board of Directors of Guyana’s EPA. After this process, Dr. Adams was offered the
job. The only thing I will say is that if Dr. Adams is a political appointee, then all of us are, too. In the matter of whether he was/is the best qualified and most experienced for a senior role, like the one in which he served, the following is tendered for Dr. Vincent Adams re his credentials: Ph.D. Environmental Engineering (University of Tennessee) M.Sc. Petroleum and Geological Engineering (University of Missouri) M.Sc. Hydro Geology (Ohio University) Interestingly, Vincent Adams was among the first batch of engineering graduates from the University of Guyana. I understand that that batch was specifically earmarked for development of the then Guyana Wa t e r Authority. Regarding his experience, Dr. Adams has worked 30 years in his diverse fields of training and expertise. He was responsible for overseeing and managing tens of billions of US dollars annually in the discharge of his
responsibilities at the US Department of Energy. In the final eleven years of his working at the US DOE, he was an integral part of the Senior Executive Core, which was the highest-ranking executive group having hands-on responsibility for running the day to day operations. He has represented the United States at international forums and chaired two major international conferences on Environmental Science and Engineering. One was in Germany, the other in Kazakhstan. It goes without saying that one has got to know their onions, be recognized and respected by their peers, and be able to hold their own in any company to operate at that rarefied level. Fools and incompetents, as well as frauds, are not suffered gladly. Moreover, Dr. Adams served as chair of the US chapter of the Air and Wa s t e Management Association, which is the largest and oldest E n v i r o n m e n t a l Professional Association in
the world. Repeat: in the world. Further, Dr. Adams also worked as a Senior Petroleum Reservoir Engineer with AMOCO in Texas. It is particularly noteworthy that this outstanding Guyanese did pioneering work in Oil and Gas Enhancement Recovery, which is still widely used in the industry. I t h i n k D r. Vi n c e n t Adams qualifications and track record speak loudly and volumes in both respects, as to what he brings and leaves on the table. To s a y h e i s n o t a supremely qualified environmentalist is an injustice or that he is not the most experienced. I would hope that it is not lost on my fellow Guyanese that this son of soil is almost equally wellgrounded and at home in either the environmental field or that of petroleum engineering. He may be the best thing around that we have. There is nothing more for me to say or write. Sincerely, GHK Lall
Harmon and the PNC must be held accountable DEAR EDITOR, In his article of Thursday 10th September, 2020, Freddie Kissoon l i s t e d a l l t h e violence that resulted in the aftermath of PNC election losses in the past, so I need not repeat. This is the way they operate. Within an hour of the discovery of the bodies of these two young men, the PNC activists were in the area stirring up racial trouble and they were immediately on social media.
I was so surprised at how quickly they mobilised, that for a moment I wondered if this was a set up. Harmon’s concubine, Nicole Telford, who was one of the ghost workers at the Office of the President under the APNU/AFC government, was very active on FB, pushing the racist agenda and even calling on other PNC areas to join in. Check their social media feeds. I have screen shots in case they take down
their racial incitement. This will be the modus operandi of the PNC under Harmon. Volda and all the rest can cry crocodile tears now but it may be too late. She has no standing, a n y w a y. H a r m o n i s t h e head honcho. When the horror of these murders emerged, my reaction was that those who did this are monsters. They are not animals as animals do not behave like this. They are monsters. With a monster’s mindset,
the nationality of the boys would not have mattered. No one who can do something so horrific can be human. They have neither heart nor soul. I salute the father of one of the deceased boys who spoke out about the racist link. He is a true patriot and I extend heartfelt condolences to the family. Be strong. The nation, minus Joe Harmon, mourns with you. Regards, Reds Campbell
Friday September 11, 2020
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Kaieteur News
The Role of the GDF is to Support the GPF on Internal Affairs, not the Lead in Anyway DEAR EDITOR, There is a reason why the military in any country is treated, even in the law, as separate from civilians. I saw the acting Chief-of-Staff participating in two events this week which I considered to be unnecessarily exposing the GDF. One, was as a part of a panel for a Press Conference on the protest, and making a presentation too, I think; and the second was his comment while on a visit to protest areas in West Coast Berbice on Thursday 9 September, along with the acting Commissioner of Police and others. The acting Chief-of-Staff in his comment stated that the Guyana Defence Force will do
its best to ensure that there is law and order in the country. I wish to remind the Chief-of Staff, that the role of the Guyana Defence Force is to support the Guyana Police Force on internal matters, such as unrest, but not in anyway, to take the lead, except in special cases, of which the current situation is not. In cases such as civil unrest, etc. where the GDF has reasons to be involved, as in this case, as a part of a Joint Services assignment, the army ought to be the silent supporter. The lead role, even as spokespersons in cases such as these, is for the Minister of Public Security, as the
policymaker and the Commissioner of Police who has operational and other direct responsibility to maintain law and order, relative to internal affairs. As well as the Minister of Legal Affairs, whose role is essentially to explain the law relative to policy, etc. in cases such as these, and in a balance way, as the chief legal officer for the entire country and representing every citizen and more so as Attorney General. As I am on this, I read somewhere, it was mentioned that the army will play a greater role in development, but even in that case, the army must be strategically involved. The army, is, the
ARMY! Our Guyana Defence Force, I must say, is still one of the most respected and trusted institutions in our country; keeping it that way would require the army, sticking to the principles and values upon which the military is built. The general perception of members of the GDF, is, that, you see them around and know that they are there, but somehow, they are still not there, and that’s professionalism! Yours faithfully, Citizen Audreyanna Thomas Masters of Jurisprudence, Rule of Law for Development Rule of Law Advisor/ Advocate
It is time for each of us to examine our own role in the development of recent events DEAR EDITOR, The Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP) is calling on every Guyanese citizen to take responsibility for the terrible state of affairs that led to the savage killings of Isaiah and Joel Henry and Haresh Singh. In the words of Martin Carter, “all are involved, all are consumed”. Instead of pointing the finger, surely it is time for each of us to examine our own role in the development of these events. These innocent teenagers, our children, have
paid the deadly price for the systemic racism and the promotion of ethnic division that has been allowed to fester for years. Left unresolved, it has finally consumed us, leading to the current mayhem that such senseless hatred and bigotry inevitably produces. The youth of Guyana are telling us they are sick and tired of this relentless race hatred and want to move on, but there are too many fossilized elements amongst us who are determined to cling
to it, no matter how senseless and how tragic the cost. When will we realize that like it or not, we are in this together, our histories inexorably linked. Maybe this is the moment, a moment when the innocent blood of both African and Indian teenagers has been shed in such a brutal manner. One would think so, however sadly, even after these barbaric killings, many from both sides continue with their hatred, perpetuating the same old tired lies and myths about
Red Thread Speak Out DEAR EDITOR, Red Thread extends condolences to the families and loved ones of Josh Henry, Isaiah Henry, Haresh Singh, Prettipaul Hargobin, and joins those calling for an end to violence in our beloved Guyana. We are organising a virtual speak out, Moving Forward Better, to bring Guyanese together to reflect on what living together
means and requires, the need to listen, hear and empathise with each other. To disagree without insult and slander, viciousness and bitterness. To care for each other and to demonstrate that in our words and actions. The virtual speak out will take place on Friday September 11, from 6-7:30 p.m. It will be streamed live on our Facebook Page
h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / RedThreadWomenGuyana Please join us. Sincerely, Karen de Souza, Joy Marcus, Halima Khan, Susan Collymore, Vanessa Ross, Wintress White, Sherlina Nageer, Alissa Trotz, Nesha Haniff
each other. Although we must all share in the responsibility for this sordid state of affairs, the misleaders and rank political opportunists in our midst must accept an even larger portion of the blame. Those fake leaders who say one thing to our face and do another thing behind our backs. They have demonstrated that they will do anything to get their hands on the new found oil wealth, including fanning the flames of racial tension and opening our beloved country to the horrors of a race war. Theirs (Continued on page 6)
The relevant authorities must ensure the law is enforced and things return to normalcy DEAR EDITOR, The Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Sabha Region 3 condemns the heinous and horrific killing of the Henry Boys and Haresh Singh. We extend deepest condolences to the respective families and relatives. We also pray for the safety and wellbeing of the hundreds of innocent citizens whose lives have become endangered as a result of the unrest currently occurring in the villages of the deceased. We plea with all to allow the police to carry out their investigations and bring all those responsible for these killings to justice. While we all have a right to peaceful
protest, the current unrest and behaviour of the protestors—beating, chopping of innocent citizens; damage to both public and private properties cannot in any way be justified as peaceful protest. It is downright illegal conduct. As such, we call on the relevant authorities to ensure the law is enforced and the society is brought back swiftly to normalcy. We must be reminded that all of this is happening when we are struggling to curtail the rapid spread of the Coronavirus. Sincerely, Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Region 3
Admirable and commendable DEAR EDITOR, Volda Lawrence was gutsy and showed leadership qualities in calling for protesters to stop the
mayhem and let peace and calm return to villages and communities. Admirable and commendable. Shamshun Mohamed
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Friday September 11, 2020
Kaieteur News
President urged to hold political criminals accountable DEAR EDITOR, President Irfaan Ali may wish to learn from the mistakes of previous administrations of the People’s Progressive Party and hold accountable persons who have recently engaged in political crimes and previously advocated violence as an instrument of politics in Guyana. Our history has been tarnished by these perpetrators, who have thus far been allowed to run free and hold Guyana ransom. Ethnic discrimination in our politics goes back to the fifties and sixties, when the colonial administration of the time sought to divide the national political force that the People’s Progressive Party had become. During that era, Forbes Burnham and Dr. Jagan acted in concert
under the People’s Progressive Party, with Dr. Jagan as the party leader, and Burnham as the party chairman. The split was engineered in part because of what the British considered Dr. Jagan’s ultra-left socialist ideas which forced the plantocracy to improve the conditions of sugar workers, not in keeping with the direction of the global politics of the day. (It should be observed that the sugar industry was premised on the idea of slavery/depressed wages, meaning that efforts to pay workers their fair wages was then, and will now, likely jeopardize the viability of sugar as a major crop. Financial payoff of sugar workers, allotment of 5-10 acres of land, along with government support to develop and maintain these
lands for agricultural purposes in the near to medium term could be an alternative consideration. Other considerations include alternatives to the loss of sugar as a major foreign currency earner.) Unfortunately, Burnham took the bait, and began a programme of ridicule and ethnic character defamation of Dr. Jagan and Indians on no basis other than that they had ‘straight hair’. One of the major initial incidents of political violence was the recurring threats, and ultimate bombing of the Son Chapman ferry which served as a major transport facility to Linden. This triggered one of the first major spates of violence against Indians, as many at the time bought into the idea that the PPP was behind this attack. Looking back at this
TREMENDOUS BOOST FOR SPORTS IN REGION 2 DEAR EDITOR, It is certainly great news following the passage of the Budget of the Government’s commitment towards the development of sports particularly in the rural regions. This is a massive turnaround especially for the people of Region 2; and as a sports advocate and coach, I am extremely delighted that a modern multi-purpose facility will be built in Essequibo. It is for too long that the Region would have suffered from the lack of requisite facilities and as a result our athletes were deprived from unleashing their true potential. There was always the collective cry for the dawn of real opportunities, though it appeared to have been done in the wilderness; therefore,
our budding sportsmen must now feel that the time has come for their victory. I envisage that this investment will bear enormous benefits not only for our athletes but also in the promotion of sports and cultural tourism. In this regard, I am suggesting that the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground be transformed into such a facility given its size and location; as well as being situated in the Township. The Essequibo Cricket Board’s Hostel is stationed just next to the ground and therefore will appreciably compliment the cricketers utilizing the facility once this is conceptualized. Sports must now take a quantum leap in Region 2 with the right administrators and technical staff pursuing a
common vision. At present, sports is dormant due to underdeveloped grounds, defunct clubs, committees, associations and even boards, lack of leadership, few qualified coaches within the various disciplines and sports officers that were previously employed by the Ministry that sought to promote collaboration between the Region and the clubs. The Region also suffered badly from being duly represented at the national level, hence there would have been the thought of being discriminated given that there was undisputable evidence of stellar performances by our athletes, yet they had to settle for disappointment. I am convinced as a former (Continued on page 14)
incident, it doesn’t require much consideration to realize that there was no one within the PPP’s leadership at the time, certainly not Dr. Jagan himself, Ashton Chase, or Sydney King who would have contemplated such an act, much less carried it out. Dr. Jagan himself worked tirelessly to unite Guyana at the time, including Burnham as the PPP party chairman, and all the rest of the PPP executive at the time were all concerned with securing better welfare and working conditions for Guyanese through the legislature. Closer inspection of the demise of the ferry would realize that the principal beneficiaries of this heinous act were none other than Burnham and the People’s National Congress, this being to strengthen his political base and provide a platform for victimization of Indians Guyanese, which has lasted to this day. It is without any doubt also that they might have received some help. Fast-forwarding to 1992 when the PNC’s dictatorship finally came to an internationally supervised end, President Cheddi Jagan and the PPP at the time never sought to hold accountable those responsible for previous fraudulent elections and political violence, so that these individuals were left to operate freely, continuing in their failed ideas of perpetuating ethnic insecurities and divisiveness. The PPP’s reign from 1992 to 2015 was littered with charges of rigged elections. But contextually and culturally, even if elections had been indeed rigged, the PNC from 1968 to 1992 set the stage for rigged elections and rigging elections to become part of our culture and a matter of standard national practice.
(This is not to say Guyanese have any more tolerance for rigged elections going forward, because after more than 50 years, it is my opinion that we think that rigged elections are criminal, a crime against the state, and not to be tolerated.) Finally feeling the heat of their previous folly after they lost the elections in 2001, notable leaders, embarked on a criminal campaign of inciting violence as a means of ‘deposing’ the government of the day, and to strengthen their negotiating position for ‘shared governance’. Being around twenty-one years of age at the time, President Ali might find some of these memories close to heart. The government of the day did not address the criminal actions of these PNC leaders directly, which they should have, but instead sought to address the result, this being combating the violence spawned by Alexander and company. This led to scores of deaths, hundreds, of young Guyanese who became inspired by these PNC leaders. Vincent Alexander at the time observed that their deaths, the violence, was for ‘the greater good’. (See Stabroek News, August 14, 2002.) The undeniable fact (of which there is copious public documentation) is that the PNC leadership at the time was accountable for much if not all of the violence and consequent deaths of the hundreds of Guyanese youths, the perpetrators of which they promised to bring to justice during their recent failed government, but never did. And never will. Not directly addressing the source of criminality and violence in 2020 and previously also will again leave these individuals free to continue dispensing their
trade as none other than the criminals they are. The President is encouraged to carefully consider his options, because Guyana has been systematically held to ransom by the PNC leadership, with our culture, our welfare, our livelihood, our economy, bearing the brunt of their failed ideas on politics and government. What remains of APNU (at least two parties have disassociated themselves since the March 2020 elections) indicated that they will boycott the 2020 Budget Presentation. Perusing the contents of the 2020 Budget, it is obvious they wanted to spare themselves the political embarrassment of the utter folly of their five years of government, as much if not all of their policy implementations on vat and taxation, if not outright harassment of some sections of the productive sector, have been reversed. Guyanese have to level with themselves that the performance of the PNC since March 02, 2020 has stripped itself of all claims of credibility as a political party fit to be entrusted with the government of our nation. They are unlikely to win another election in our generation, if they last that long. Guyanese in general are also encouraged to resist being drawn into wellcoordinated ethnic violence, since they ultimately become fugitives from the law. The President is once again encouraged to seriously consider the consequences of not addressing the source of political crimes that have so bewildered us as a nation, which will exact tremendous social and economic costs, should they remain unaddressed. Yours Faithfully, Craig Sylvester
...It is time for each of us to From page 5 would be a pyrrhic victory. There will be no winners if we continue along this path. For too long, we have allowed the political elites to use ethnic insecurities to mask the real issue -the silent class struggle. The truth is, that no matter which party is in power, the rich 1% of all ethnicities get richer, while the poor 99% of all ethnicities get poorer. Surely the oppressed and exploited of all ethnicities, having witnessed this “divide and rule” strategy for decades, are finally ready to say enough is enough. What’s more, while we fight each other, foreign corporations plunder our resources at a hideous rate. African or Indian faces in
high places does not translate into empowerment for all African or Indian people. It has simply meant that a small clique of political and business elites have enriched themselves, while the majority of people of all ethnicities remain impoverished and disempowered. This demands radical change. Our liberation will only come about when the oppressed and exploited Indigenous, African and Indian Guyanese finally refuse to be taken for a ride by those who do not have our interests at heart. We must be our own liberators. We must move ourselves from unconsciousness to consciousness, we must
organize and unite like never before to take back our wealth, power and human dignity. No one gives you these rights – you have to demand them and take them. Only then can we finally claim what is currently a hollow cry, One People, One Nation, One Destiny. We demand swift and decisive justice and the maximum penalty for the killers of Isaiah, Joel and Haresh as a first step toward restoring peace. However, there can be no real and lasting peace in this land until there is racial and economic justice for all. Gerald A. Perreira Chairperson, Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)
Friday September 11, 2020
PAGE 07
Kaieteur News
Two charged in death of East Berbice carpenter that sparked protests A
ppearing at the New Amsterdam Magistrate Court yesterday before Magistrate Renita Singh were two suspects who were arrested in connection with the murder of No.1 Village carpenter, Orlando Jonas. Kris Nandlall, 27, of Chesney Village and Samson Gangapershad, 24, of Tain Vi l l a g e , m a d e t h e i r appearance and was slapped with the joint charge of murder committed on Jonas on the 5th September, 2020 on the Chesney/Albion
Killed: Orlando Jonas
Public Road. They were not required to plea and were remanded to prison until the 29th September for a report. The accused were represented by attorney-atlaw Moti Singh in collaboration with attorneysat-law Donovan Rangiah and Sanjeev Datadin. The magistrate ordered that the accused be medically examined. The murder, which was caught on security cameras video, showed Jonas and his friend Mahendra Ramnarine riding their bicycles on the Albion Public Road while the two suspects seemed to be engaged in a conversation on the other side of the road. Within seconds, Jonas and Ramnarine made a uturn on the public road and rode up to the suspects and a verbal engagement appeared to have taken place. Jonas, in the video, slapped one of the suspects (in the white shirt) while the other suspect appeared to have slashed Jonas and Ramnarine to their face. An altercation ensued
Injured: Mahendra Ramnarine
where it is believed that Jonas received the stab. Shortly after, the two suspects walked over to the nearby Albion Police Station where they made a report of an attempted robbery and that they defended themselves. Jonas had collapsed on the public road after attempting to ride off on his bike. The incident reportedly occurred just around 19:00 hrs Saturday and police ranks at the Albion Police Station, located a building away, only arrived at the scene at 19:30 hrs. Protests action broke out at No.1 Village earlier in the
Charged: Samson Gangapershad
Charged: Kris Nandlall
week with relatives, friends and villagers erecting blockades and burning debris across the public road, sending traffic into a halt.
They said Jonas was innocent and they wanted justice for his death. Meanwhile, Commander of Region 6, Linden Isles,
confirmed that charges are also likely to be laid against the duo for the wounding of Ramnarine. Jonas was a father of one.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 08
Friday September 11, 2020
T&T constantly improves gas deals while Guyana hides behind contract sanctity Trinidad and Tobago Energy Minister, Franklin K h a n o n We d n e s d a y announced a license extension agreement between the Government and several oil and gas companies for four production licenses that the companies have ventures in. This represents just one of a series of actions taken by the twin-island nation to secure more value for its people, as its negotiations over the years have ensured
an increasing share of the revenue from the exploitation of its petroleum resource for the people of T&T. Meanwhile, Guyana refuses to challenge oil major ExxonMobil to secure more value for the people, leaving the country stuck with a lopsided deal constituted by provisions embedded over 20 years ago. Though the deal was renewed in 2016, improvements were
negligible. T h e T & T ’s E n e rg y Minister stated that the agreement is the outcome of continuing negotiations on gas related issues, noting that the first phase completed late 2018 resulted in a 10-year extension of one of BP’s TT’s licenses with a benefit to the state of 1.0B for settlement of legacy issues. Khan’s ministry noted that under this new agreement, the four licensesTeak, Samaan, Poui and East
Mayaro, have been extended each for a period of 10 years; and that further discussions are scheduled between the parties “to bring the licences up to date with the modern exploration and production licences”. The Ministry expects the state to benefit from incremental value of about US$250M by 2024 under the agreements. The talks are conducted by the Government’s ‘Empowered Negotiating Team’ led by
Khan himself. Included are Minister of National Security, Stuart Young; a technical team from the E n e r g y M i n i s t r y, U S a t t o r n e y s , a n d representatives of Poten & Partners UK Ltd as technical advisors. The T&T Government said that the action it has taken has been mutually beneficial to itself and the upstream producers. “Government policies have also enabled the country to derive a greater share of revenue from the monetization of the country’s hydrocarbon resources. These outcomes are testimony to the effectiveness of the G o v e r n m e n t ’s e n e r g y policies and the positive collaboration with upstream stakeholders,” the Energy Ministry stated. T&T Prime Minister, Keith Rowley, has stewarded negotiations with petroleum companies for years and has insisted that if situations change, agreements must adjust to reflect those changes. He had visited Guyana in 2018, and gave Guyana advice on the prospect of renegotiation. T&T has since then, renegotiated several deals to get more for the people. He had said that it was necessary to build a platform of mutual respect “and an ability to sit in the same room as equals with these sophisticated multinational companies”. Guyana’s government has run from talk of renegotiation of the controversial Stabroek Block deal, despite local and international commentators, as well as local newspapers
T&T Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Franklin Khan noting many provisions in the contract, which are lopsided and unfair. G l o b a l Wi t n e s s , a watchdog body, found that the deal is so unfair that Guyana will lose about US$55B over its lifetime, compared to a fair deal. At the current juncture, ExxonMobil is financially weakened, and experts have advised that the best time to seek renegotiation is now, as the company needs Guyana more than Guyana needs it. Both the APNU+AFC and PPP/C Governments have insisted that contract sanctity should be respected. Rowley had noted, h o w e v e r, t h a t t h o u g h contract sanctity must be respected, contracts are not set in stone. He has told oil companies that the government has a role in ensuring that the people get “more than crumbs that fall off the table.” This has been the guiding philosophy of the T&T government’s management of the sector.
‘Rambo’ crushed to death in mining pit A pork-knocker was on Wednesday last crushed to death by rocks while working with colleagues in a mining pit at White Water, Konawaruk Backdam, Region Eight. Dead is Donston John called ‘Rambo’, 59, of St. Francis Mission, Mahaicony River, Region Five. According to police reports, Donston along with three other pork-knockers had begun working with a three-inch water pump and detectors in a pit situated at the edge of a hill. However, during the course of the day, several big rocks fell from the top of the hill. His colleagues managed to escape but Donston was not fast enough and was crushed and pinned by the falling rocks. After the accident, Donston co-workers returned with spades and began digging for hours to find him. At around 22:00hrs that evening, the men were able to retrieve Donston’s crushed body. Police were later summoned to the scene and the porkknocker’s body was transported to the Mahdia Regional Hospital where it was examined by a doctor and placed in the hospital’s mortuary.
Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
PAGE 09
Race-hate has not yet been established as a motive in the killings of the Henry teens
Y
esterday, in part, I addressed the contention that the murder of the Henry brothers was a case of racehate. I argued that the evidence was not there, as yet, to establish a motive of racism. I noted those who are claiming a motive of racism, base their position in an invalid argument. Their reasoning is as follows: 1) Two African youths from an African area are found dead in an East Indian village; 2) Therefore, it means that they were killed by either a person or persons of East Indian descent; 3) And therefore their deaths were acts of racism. I will now show how the original argument is invalid. We know that 1 is factual. But the fact that 1 is factual does not imply 2. In other words, the fact that the bodies were found in an Indian village does not automatically mean that they were killed by an Indian person. It is like saying that because a dead body was found in Georgetown that the murderer has to be from Georgetown. You can’t assume that fact without additional evidence. There may be reason to believe that, but it is an invalid argument. But assuming that 2 is true – that is assuming that the persons or persons who did the killings were indeed from the Indian village and were Indian – it again does not automatically follow that the motive was race-hate. More evidence is needed to validate this contention. The evidence, therefore, is not yet there to arrive at the
conclusion that this was a race-hate crime. But the political instigators who went to No.3 village have made it their duty to subtly suggest such a link. Invoking the right to self-defense implies that an entire group is being attacked and must defend themselves. Telling persons who are blocking the public road that they are doing the right thing condones actions which impede the free movement of others. And this has led to the escalation of the violence, including savage attacks on innocent persons, the destruction of property and now the death of one person. So let me repeat why I felt the argument of racism is not yet valid. It does not follow that because bodies of the African teenagers were found dead in an Indian area, that they were killed by either a person or persons of Indian descent. But even assuming that they were, it does not automatically follow that racism was the motive for the killings. One lawyer had suggested that race hate could be inferred from the gruesome nature of the injuries. But as I pointed out, the sort of barbarism which was meted out to these youngsters is not unique to race-hate crimes. It could well be that it will be eventually established that the motive for the deaths is racism. But until the evidence is produced, there can be a theory or a suspicion to this effect but no definitive conclusion.Not only is it
unfortunate what was done to these young men but also what has happened in West Berbice since then. Persons were not being attacked on Sunday night. But following a visit to the area by political instigators, the protests turned ugly and persons began being attacked, vehicles damaged, arson has been committed and two persons are now dead. The protests have been criminalized. And sadly, extreme forms of violence are being used. Persons are trapped in villages and cannot get to their homes or destinations and they are at the mercy of marauding youngsters who are robbing and beating them.This has happened before. During the protests at Bath during the elections, persons were robbed en route to their homes and destination. It is happening again. One of the lessons of the past is that the local security forces cannot guarantee a safe corridor. The security forces have always found it difficult to establish a safe corridor. In fact, there are reports of persons who were robbed in the presence of the very security forces. And therefore the best thing for persons to do is to not try to undertake any travel which is not essential. This will make it easier for the police to help those trapped by the protests make their way home. However, there are persons who are still attempting to get pass the protests. This will make the work of the police difficult. These protests will eventually end. Life will return to normalcy. At the
Dem boys seh...
Cricket done faster dan some men
Yesterday was the final of the CPL. Dem boys bin hoping dat de Guyana Amazon Warriors would ah mek de final. But dem fold up easy in de semi-finals. Dem boys know a man who been preparing fuh watch de semi-final match between de Warriors and de Zouks. De man cut up about 2lbs of plantains and start to fry dem so he could snack during the match. De match done and de plantains still frying. Another man bin sitting in he couch waiting fuh de match fuh start. He wife call he and tell he to go to the supermarket and pick up some onions and potatoes. When de man come back de wife ask he weh de onions and potatoes deh. He tun to she and seh, “It gat to be the
thermometer wha dem testing yuh temperature with before yuh go in de supermarket.” She ask he wah he mean. De man answer: “Dem does put a temperature gun to your head fuh measure yuh temperature before you go in de place.” “Wah dah gat fuh do with you not buying de onions and potatoes?” de wife asked. De man answer, “Dem putting de machine to yuh head and like it causing yuh fuh lose yuh memory!” “How you know dat?” asked the wife. Well, he said, “I leff fuh buy onions and potatoes and I come back with two cases of beer.” Talk half and if you want see de man, go around by de Accident Ward!
end of it, a Commission of Inquiry should be launched. It will only be then that the full extent and gravity of the atrocities committed are going to be made known. And, hopefully those
who committed murder will be brought to justice. And those who fanned the flames of the unrest and instigated violence, are going to be publicly exposed and face the lawful consequences.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 10
Friday September 11, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Volda Lawrence has shown phenomenal courage and leadership
I
n times of crises, volcanoes, tsunamis, warfare, some politicians rise to the occasion and show immense courage against the tide of pessimism. The name Dominic Gaskin comes to mind. Before the election rigging by the PNC, WPA and AFC, I did not see Minister Gaskin and politician Gaskin in a positive way. He was a
lackluster Business Minister unable to fully comprehend the developmental quagmires of a post-colonial political economy like Guyana. This lacuna undermined his competence. As an AFC politician, Gaskin belonged to a highly stratified political party where class differentiation pervaded every aspect of its structure. The AFC was a throwback to Sir John Carter’s NDP of the fifties
and sixties where colour and class were the main criteria for elevation in its hierarchy. I regret dearly I supported the AFC and it is one of the torments I will have to live with for the rest of my life. The only comfort is that I am conscious that the AFC and its remnants are now dead meat. Deep in my soul, I believe that my daily critical columns for five years in the Kaieteur News when the
APNU+AFC ruled from 2015 to 2020 including my contributions to the noconfidence debate and the five-month rigging saga helped in a little way to cause people not to vote for it, thus I contributed to the death of the AFC. I am glad, elated and overjoyed, I helped to weaken and eventually killed off this monster. During the early days of the Mingo/Lowenfield election insanity, Gaskin put on display his huge courage by fulfilling his obligation to history and Guyana. He told his country that as a leader in his party that contested the election, he knew his party had lost. The name Dominic Gaskin is now part of Guyana’s current history and he has my respect. It is for this reason, I have consistently called upon Dr. Vincent Adams to either admit to this nation that the AFC was part of a rigging process after the tabulation showed the APNU+AFC lost or tell the Guyanese people if he believes the election was tampered with. But he has to do like Gaskin and put his obligation in front of the eyes of this country. We come now to Volda Lawrence. Whatever mistakes Ms. Lawrence made during the past two years while in government and whatever distempering deportment she manifested during the five-month election drama, she came
good at a time when every Guyanese needed her. She went to Region Five and spoke to the violent demonstrators. Her words were patriotic, nationalistic, politically correct and spiritually comforting. She pleaded with them not to do what they have been doing because such insensitivities and cruelties are not in the DNA of African people. She took a stance against violence. She was anguished at the act of the demonstrators and protesters killing a 17-year-old boy. She referred to him as a child. She openly exclaimed that protesters cannot kill a child like that. She asked that the blocking of the roadways be called off. Why Ms. Lawrence’s pioneering spirit is so admirable? Context is everything. She knew she had to set herself apart from the marauding cabal in the PNC hierarchy led by David Granger and Joe Harmon. She knew these two men were sending African people to the chasm. But wait a minute. Ms. Lawrence is a woman. This is where the gender instincts come into play. She knows how a mother feels about the loss of a child. Women make children; men don’t. Men’s role last for five minutes. They cannot psychologically feel and will never feel for a life the way women do.
Frederick Kissoon I know Ms. Lawrence was one of the hardliners during the election saga. I know she was against Granger accepting the demand from US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, to recognize the election defeat after Pompeo telephoned Granger on Friday, July 31. But Granger was just as hardliner as Lawrence. Don’t let people fool you. Don’t blame Lawrence alone for the vehement insistence that the APNU+AFC must not concede. There were others like her, just like her. The list includes Cathy Hughes and Raphael Trotman. Ms. Lawrence has shown a larger heart, a warm soul, and a caring mind than any of the fascists in the APNU+AFC war-room now that Guyana is in the throes of post-election violence. I end by asking you, ‘how you feel about her?’ I will tell you about my feelings. Unless, she does something terrible in the future, she will have my admiration. I support her for leader of the PNC. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Friday September 11, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
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Friday September 11, 2020
Guyana, Brazil to meet today Supenaam woman killed on Region 9 testing samples by ex-lover after late night phone call
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, is expected to engage with officials from Brazil about testing COVID19 samples that are being taken in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). This was disclosed in an interview Wednesday, with Kaieteur News, where the Minister sought to explain several key areas regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and stringent efforts the Ministry of Health will be undertaking. Minister Anthony stated that even though a significant quantity of the backlog has been cleared, bringing test samples out of Region Nine to take to the National Reference Lab has proven to be very difficult. Due to this, there is a delay in providing the residents of that area with their results in a timely fashion. He added that the state of Roraima in Brazil is very close to Region Nine and it was found that they have a lab that can do Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. In light of this, the Minister has scheduled a meeting with regional
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony officials of Region Nine and officials from the state of Roraima. The meeting, that will be held today, will aim to fervently discuss the initiative and following the meeting, a decision to be made. If the initiative is agreed upon, this will see test samples from Region Nine being sent to Roraima, and given the state’s close proximity to Guyana, test results are expected to arrive sooner and there will be fewer backlogs. In addition to that, Minister Anthony addressed the samples that were sent to the Caribbean Public Health
Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago for t e s t i n g . I n i t i a l l y, 5 0 0 samples were sent to clear a backlog of 1900 COVID-19 test samples. The Minister said that out of the 500 samples that were sent, 450 were returned while a small fraction had remained. An additional 138 samples were sent following the return of the 450 samples from the first batch and they are expected to return by today, according to the Minister. A total of 638 samples have been sent to the CARPHA lab in Trinidad thus far and Dr. Anthony assured that his Ministry is vigorously working to further decrease backlogs. The Ministry would have also trained 30 new technicians to carry out testing and it was also announced that 16 new ventilators were received along with 40,000 new test kits.There is only one PCR testing machine in Guyana, working overtime with another ordered. I t i s t a k i n g approximately 1 to 2 weeks for test results to be returned.
The suspect, Namdram Persaud A twenty-four years old woman from Supenaam, Essequibo Coast, was brutally stabbed to dead Wednesday night by her exboyfriend. The woman, who was identified as Lunisa Peters, sustained multiple stab wounds to her head, and other parts of her body. Based on information reaching Kaieteur Radio, the now dead girl and the suspect, who has been identified as Namdram Persaud, once lived together at Golden Fleece, on the Essequibo Coast. When the relationship came to an end, Peters moved back to her aunt at Supenaam.
Dead: Lunisa Peters Sometime around 23:30 hrs. on Wednesday, Peter’s ex-boyfriend visited her at her aunt’s Supenaam home. He was invited in, and the couple sat together on a chair. Things took a deadly turn when the young woman received a phone call, apparently from a male friend. Upon hearing a male’s voice over the phone, the exboyfriend, who was fueled by rage and jealousy, grabbed Peters by her hair and dragged her to the kitchen, where he grabbed a knife. He then took her to the bathroom where he dealt her several stabs to her head, and about her body.
The aunt of the now dead girl heard the commotion and raised an alarm, after which the suspect ran out of the house. When the police arrived at the scene and examined the body, it was observed that the young woman had several stab wounds about the head and body. A knife and a rolling pin with suspected bloodstains were also observed at the scene. The young woman was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by a doctor. The suspect was later arrested and remains in police custody assisting with the investigations.
Four arrested for beating man to death at Bath Settlement Four persons have been arrested in connection with the beating to death of Prettipaul Hargobin by protestors at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, on Wednesday. According to Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, the firearm reportedly used by Hargobin has since been located and lodged and police are checking to see whether he was a licensed firearm holder. Hargobin lost his life after he ended up in a confrontation with several protestors on the Bath Settlement Public Road. The nation was shocked after police said he came out of his vehicle and reportedly fired shots at the crowd. They reacted by attacking him. Police, who were nearby, noticed the commotion and went over to his assistance. By then, he was already unconscious on the public
Died: Prettipaul Hargobin road. H i s s i s t e r, R o n i t a Hargobin, told reporters that her brother was angry at someone who was on a motorcycle that “did something” to him and so he “went out to look for the person”. She stated that she was in the car with him when he
drove out on the Bath Public Road but at some point, ended up in a conflict with protestors as he was manoeuvring his way through the crowd. She added that during the fight with the protestors, she was hit in the head and her brother who was still in an angry state turned the vehicle around and left her in the crowd. She said he returned to the crowd at some point and shortly after, she heard gunshots and thereafter saw people beating her brother. She is not sure if her brother shot at the crowd, but she heard gunshots. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Fort Wellington Hospital. Kaieteur News understands that residents from Bath Village had begun to protest in response to the death of teenager Haresh Singh who was brutally murdered in the Number 3 backdam on Wednesday.
Friday September 11, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 13
Man stripped, car burnt in protest attack at Mahaicony A pensioner, on Wednesday last, was stripped of his clothes, robbed, beaten and forced to watch his car go up in flames during a violent attack by protesters at Mahaicony, Region Five. Jerome Basdeo, 65, of L a i n g Av e n u e , We s t Ruimveldt, came under attack just before noon while stuck at one of the road blocks set by the protesters from Mahaicony. This attack was just one of many which have occurred over the last few days during intense protest action along the Berbice and East Coast areas, demanding justice for brutally murdered teens, Joel and Isaiah Henry. Basdeo told this newspaper that he left his home early that morning to assist his 55-year-old friend, a Jamaican citizen of Afrodescent who was left stranded in Guyana because of the Coronavirus pandemic. According to Basdeo, the friend had asked him for a drop to Mahaicony. He explained that the man had bought some gifts for his grandchildren who live in that region and wanted to deliver them before returning to Jamaica. However, their trip turned into a nightmare, he said, as they entered the Mahaicony area. He claimed that as they were almost nearing their destination, they were confronted by an angry crowd. Within minutes protesters surrounded his Spacio car, PPP 1776, and punctured all four of the tyres.They began pelting at the car and forcefully removed him and his friend from the car. Basdeo said that the violent group accused him of playing a role in the death of the teens. There were racial
slurs. He was punched multiple times about his body. They took away his pouch containing $15,000 in cash. The protesters continued their violence, he added, by stripping him of his shirt, pants and sneakers leaving him dressed only with boxers and brief. Basdeo said that his Jamaican friend tried to intervene but the protesters slapped the man to the face, robbed him of his wallet and told him to “shut up”. Scared for his life, Basdeo said that his friend remained quiet. The pensioner continued that the protesters shifted their attention back to him and took off his 15 pennyweight gold chain. A number of them, Basdeo detailed, then doused his car with a flammable substance and set it alight with all the gifts his friend had intended to deliver to his grandchildren. Basdeo recalled that the protesters even took his NIS card, ID card, car documents, driver’s licensce and his old age pension book from the pouch and threw them into the fire as well. The violent crowd then started beating him again. Basdeo claimed that they “lashed him” repeatedly with cutlasses, cuffed and gun butted him while his friend stood begging the protesters to leave him alone. Somehow, Basdeo said, he managed to free himself and ran but the protesters pursued pelting chops behind him. One of the chop caught him on his forearm but instead of slowing down, Basdeo said he continued running. His friend ran along with him too and they both escaped the violent attack. Basdeo told Kaieteur News that he and his friend
The injuries to the pensioner ran for some distance until a few villagers from Mahaicony rescued them. The residents gave Basdeo $500, a pair of pants and shirt but no shoes. They then assisted in flogging down a truck to transport the men to the Mahaica Police Station. At the station, Basdeo said, the ranks were a bit reluctant to take his report. Nevertheless, he said, the police took his statement, gave him a form and instructed him to head to a hospital for a medical immediately. Injured and bleeding, Basdeo said it took a while to convince minibus operators to transport him and his friend to Georgetown for only $500. At almost 14:00hrs, he said, a driver stopped and took them to the city. In Georgetown, Basdeo made contact with his daughter and was rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). There it was discovered that Basdeo had developed complications with his heart due to a heart surgery he had done only last month. As a result, he was
Housewife’s body found floating in creek
A
housewife’s body was on Wednesday last, discovered floating in Bun Sugar Creek, North West District, Region One. The body identified to be that of Melinda Henry, 29, was discovered by her father-in-law and brother-inlaw. According to police reports, on Tuesday evening, Henry was imbibing alcohol with her husband, 59, a mechanic at their camp. Sometime later, he
reportedly left the woman and went to visit her father some distance away. The man told investigators that when he returned his wife was nowhere to be seen. He claimed that he had informed the woman’s father and they began searching for her until 23:00hrs that night. The following day, however, the woman’s body was located floating in the creek by the mechanic’s brother and father.
That discovery was made while the mechanic was on his way to the Baramita Police Station to file a missing person report. Police accompanied him back to the scene where the body was retrieved. It was observed by the ranks that there were notable bruises on the body’s upper right thigh. H e n r y ’s b o d y w a s further examined by a medic and transported to the Port K a i t u m a ’s H o s p i t a l Mortuary.
transferred to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital where he was treated and sent home at around mid-night. Apart from Basdeo’s
horrifying story, he is now faced with refunding some $1,500,000 which he had received as payments for the car, which the protesters had
destroyed with fire. Basdeo claimed that he had sold the car and the client was scheduled to uplift it yesterday.
PAGE 14
Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
One more death; 47 new COVID-19 cases
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Guyana’s latest COVID 19 fatality is a 65 -year-old man from Demerara/Mahaica (Region 4) who died while receiving care at a medical facility. The news comes even as the Ministry of Health (MOH) recorded 47 new cases. According to the Ministry of Health’s daily dashboard, the new positive results bring the total number of cases in Guyana to 1,750. The regional breakdown of the cases states that three were recorded in Region One; 17 in Region Three; 22 in
Region Four; two in Region Eight; and three in Region Nine. A total of 597 persons are in institutional isolation, 77 suspected cases in institutional quarantine while 1,088 persons have recovered. The numbers also include 49 deaths with 14 persons in the Intensive Care Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The Ministry reported that 10,459 persons have so far been tested for COVID-19 since March 11. In the meantime, the
Ministry expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and promised to make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this “difficult” time to render any assistance needed. Officials of the Ministry have contacted relatives and persons to facilitate contacttracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the man. The Ministry is also appealing to the general public to respect the confidentiality of the deceased and his family and to allow them to mourn their tragic loss in peace.
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The COVID-19 dashboard reflects one death; 47 new COVID-19 cases
...TREMENDOUS BOOST FOR SPORTS From page 6 cricketer that Dinesh Joseph was one of the finest opening batsman in the country during his time, yet he was never considered even after being among an elite few to have scored an inter-county century. And what about Clain Williams who was denied selection after being among the leading run-scorer at the under-19 cricket trials yet he was not even considered for the reserve team that participated in the regional
tournament at that time. Williams, now a United States of America citizen went on to represent that country at the senior level. These are only some of the inequities that have stifled our growth and development. The appointment of the Honourable Charles Ramson Jr. as Minister of Sport given his passion, devoutness, youth and practical experience, I believe will enhance the Region’s drive for inclusivity, equitable
distribution of resources including our athletes being exposed internationally and given an opportunity to secure scholarships. I therefore appeal to the people of Region 2 to embrace the exciting changes and support the policy mechanisms, which seeks to positively impact and change the lives of our sportsmen as well as the image and prosperity of the Region. Yours faithfully, Elroy Stephney
Friday September 11, 2020
Kaieteur News
Harmon to Pres. Ali - What rape?
PAGE 15
Businessman arrested in relation to Roger Khan’s sex video
President Irfaan Ali
Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon O p p o s i t i o n L e a d e r, Joseph Harmon, has called out President Irfaan Ali for alleging that persons were raped during the West Coast Berbice protests that raged on after the brutal slaying of Isaiah and Joel Henry. President Ali in his statement had noted, “…It is criminality, it has nothing to do with standing up for justice. Raping people’s children, robbing people, trampling upon other rights, beating people, damaging property of innocent people, has nothing to do with justice.” Harmon in a statement branded Ali’s allegations as
“irresponsible and false” and asked that he reviewed the competence of his speech writers. Harmon said: “There are no known police reports of rape at the recent protest actions, yet Mr. Ali in his statement among other charges said ‘raping p e o p l e ’s c h i l d r e n h a s nothing to do with justice’.” “What rape, Mr. Ali?” Harmon asked, adding, “This is a figment of your speech writer ’s imagination.” “You may be entitled to your own opinion,” he said “but not to your own facts. You’re baselessly branding
protestors as rapists. It is disrespectful, contemptuous, and expression of disdain for those Guyanese who are enraged at the heinous killing of Isaiah and Joel Henry, and most recently Haresh Singh…” The Opposition leader said t h a t t h e P r e s i d e n t ’s allegation of rape is “patently and wholly false” and only serves as a weapon of fear and is also used to incite the public towards hostility. While the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has received reports of robberies, murders and other attacks, there have been no reports of such.
Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan A popular businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, was arrested on Monday and later released on bail as investigators commenced their probe into a sex tape of Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan that was leaked and went viral on social media over a week ago. Khan had told investigators that on August 31, a close female associate and two other friends came over to his home and later
Bailed: Azruddin Mohamed
that evening, they had sex. During intercourse, Khan said the woman held a phone but he paid no mind to it. The very next day, he said, he received a telephone call informing him that a sex video of him is being circulated on social media. Upon making contact with the woman, Khan said she informed him that the businessman took possession of her phone and found the video.
She reportedly told Khan that she received a beating and the video was released. Permission was never given for the video to be released. Khan had told Kaieteur News that the matter stemmed from a two-year property dispute between him and the businessman. He also expressed high confidence in law enforcement to handle the case professionally.
PAGE 16
Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
ERC thrashed for inadequate response to racial tensions over recent killings With $220M handed to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) just days ago, many have expressed the view that its response to violent expressions of anger over the killings of two teenagers and the aftermath at West Coast Berbice (WCB), is inadequate. Days after the killings of Joel and Isaiah Henry, there have been riots leading to death and destruction of property. On Wednesday, there were two more deaths. Haresh Singh, 17, was beaten to death, and found in the No. From left: Chair, Reverend Dr. John Smith; Deputy Chair, Major General (ret’d), Norman McLean; Sister Rajkumarie Singh; Neaz Subhan; Norris Witter 3 Village backdam. Then, Prettipaul Hargobin, 34, was killed during a confrontation with protestors at Bath settlement. All the ERC had to show for it was a statement of condolence, made four days ago. In that statement, the Commission said that it “is pleading with Guyanese, especially those residing in the West Coast Berbice and nearby communities to remain calm and allow the police to do their work.” The statement called for all to allow the law to take its course, and for leaders to From left: Haji Roshan Khan; Ruth Howard; Ashton Simon; Barrington Braithwaite maintain responsible behaviour. the de-escalation of tensions any unwanted developments trending among young users. r a c i a l s t r i f e , d e s p i t e enough. It went on to state: “The and the mending of fractured resulting from the tragic Notable mention was A p e t i t i o n i s a l s o receiving $220M, has been ERC remains committed relations among citizens. occurrences a few days ago.” circulating calling for the mostly silent while people made of one Commissioner, entirely, which it is fully The ERC reiterates that Roshan Khan, who had been Discontentment with the same thing. The main bled in the streets. empowered to do, to taking investigations by the police singular statement became sentiment is that the ERC, as This newspaper reached p o s t i n g p r o f u s e l y o n whatever course of action it must first take precedence widespread on social media, t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t out to the ERC’s Public F a c e b o o k , c a l l i n g o n deems necessary to assist in before the ERC acts to defuse with ‘#DefundTheERC’ interlocutor in issues of Relations Officer, Shivanand members of one ethnic group Nandalall, on Wednesday to to form defense squads, and enquire about what the blaming the unrest solely on Commission has planned, the leaders of one political and whether it has been party. He also claimed that the meeting to formulate a murders were meant to deresponse. He instructed Kaieteur stabilise the government. After the uproar on social News to forward questions via email, which it did, media and Kaieteur News’ asking the ERC to respond to questions were submitted, (Continued on page 17) criticisms that it is not doing
Chair of the PNCR, Volda Lawrence meeting with relatives of the Henrys yesterday in Georgetown.
Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
PAGE 17
CJIA to acquire sanitisation towers within weeks - discussions underway for on-site PCR testing
T
he Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is set to increase its capabilities to combat COVID-19 with the acquisition of sanitisation tunnels. This was revealed by Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill during an interview with DPI. “These [tunnels] are specially set. You pass through it, it tests your temperature and it sanitises your entire body,” Minister Edghill explained. Championing the major upgrade that is expected within a few weeks, Minister Edghill said the tunnels will eliminate the need for airport staff to individually sanitise passengers since the process will be automated and seamless. Reflecting on the experience at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) where members of Parliament are individually sanitised to enter the dome, the Minister remarked once funding is available, ACCC will model after CJIA with its own sanitisation tower. On the subject of COVID19 testing at the airport, Minister Edghill stated that talks are underway with an operator from the private
sector to have arriving passengers tested. According to Minister Edghill: “The private sector operator has indicated that they have their equipment already in the country and it’s a matter of working out the modalities. It is going to take about three or four hours to get the test done at the airport, brought to the lab, tested and the result…I guess would be transmitted back to the airport electronically.” Minister Edghill noted there are ongoing discussions on a guideline that will dictate the maximum number of arriving passengers that can be in a specified waiting area pending the COVID-19 results from the PCR tests. Acknowledging that the Coronavirus will be around for an indefinite time, the Minister held that the Government is committed to ensuring the airport is prepared to facilitate its operations during the resumption of commercial flights. The country’s two main international airports continue to allow limited repatriation, cargo, emergency and other flights which are approved by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
ERC thrashed for ... From page 16 that Commissioner’s tone c h a n g e d o n We d n e s d a y evening, to one of peace and love, calling on the political leaders to meet. He went on to post what he labeled as an apology for calling on one ethnic group to form defensive squads. He deleted one of the posts as well.Another Commissioner, Deodat Persaud, took to Facebook to respond to claims that he is not doing enough. Noting calls to defund the ERC, Persaud said that he has submitted a series of suggestions to the Commission for action. He noted that the final decision has to be made by the collective. His suggestions include a televised call from all Commissioners for a cessation of violence, calls to leaders to cease harmful public utterances, a declaration of a day of mourning, a Commission visit to the family, and an appeal to the families of victims to publicly call for peace.Last night, the Commission released a second
statement which called on the Joint Services to ensure the East Coast and West Berbice corridor are sanitized, blockades removed, and law and order restored. It congratulated the Joint Services for their hard work to restore order, and commended President Irfaan Ali, PNCR Chair Volda Lawrence, and the father of Isaiah Henry for their public appeals against violence.The ERC was established to promote ethnic harmony and security in Guyana. Its functions, according to its website, include eliminating all forms of ethnic discrimination, discouraging persons, entities and parties from engaging in discriminatory practices, encouraging respect for religious and cultural d i v e r s i t y, i n v e s t i g a t i n g complaints of racial discrimination, and promoting arbitration, as well as other forms of dispute resolution mechanisms to secure ethnic harmony and peace. Up to press time, the ERC did not formally respond to this newspaper’s questions.
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill
A typical sanitisation tunnel
Kaieteur News
PAGE 18
Friday September 11, 2020
Special Berbice Supplement Due to the unrest in Region 5 earlier in the week, our Kaieteur News daily print editions of Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 10 could not reach Berbice
residents. As such, the Publisher has decided to produce this supplement featuring critical stories that would have been carried on those two days.
Guyana rapidly approving US$ billions in oil developments By Kemol King Despite its underprepared capacity to efficiently scrutinize costs claimed by oil companies, Guyana has started to rapidly approve field development plans (FDPs) submitted by ExxonMobil which sum up to billions of United States dollars. No cost audits have been contemplated on the two field developments the country has already approved. Yet, Guyana is on track to greenlight a third development, the Payara project, very soon as ExxonMobil has been pressuring the government and threatening to take its investment dollars elsewhere. The Guyanese public has been made aware that ExxonMobil intends to have Guyana repay every cent it claims it spent to explore and develop the Stabroek Block, with the money gained from the sale of Guyana’s crude. With Guyana’s lack of capacity, if the costs claimed by the company are overstated, Exxon and its partners could walk away with free cash which belongs to the people, but are allowed to slip away by hurrying the political leadership. PRE-CONTRACT COSTS Pre-contract cost includes contract costs, exploration costs, operating costs, service costs, and general and administrative costs and annual overhead charge as those terms are defined in the 1999 Petroleum agreement. ExxonMobil intends to recover hundreds of millions of US dollars in pre-contract costs. So far, the Stabroek Block agreement notes that ExxonMobil intends to recover US$460M in precontract costs for operations during the period 1999-2015. The audit of these costs started in late 2019 by a British firm government hired, called IHS Markit, since Guyana just doesn’t have the know-how to get it done. Guyana is in the ninth month of the new year, and the audit still isn’t completed, according to Vice
- while still auditing US$ millions in pre-contract costs at a sloth’s pace The Liza Phase One development alone is set to cost US$3.5B
President Bharrat Jagdeo. Attorney-at-Law and Accountant, Christopher Ram, had said in 2018 that Exxon’s claim of US$460M is overstated by at least US$92M. He had challenged the former APNU+AFC Government to justify the figure it agreed to pay. His calculation found that all figures supplied by the companies, even when one allows for all expenses and expenditures, amount to a far cry from the US$460,237,918 that Exxon and its partners, Hess and CNOOC Nexen, are claiming. He had said that it is overstated by “at least” US$92M, because not all expenditure is recoverable as pre-contract costs. Ram had posited that Guyana may very well incur more pre-contract costs. He reminded that the US$460M only accounts for 1999 to 2015. He noted, however, that the contract was revised and signed in late 2016. Ram said that there could be more costs from January 2016 to October 2016 as the agreement stipulates “such cost as incurred under the 1999 Petroleum agreement between January 1, 2016 and effective date [date of contract signing] which shall be provided to the Minister on or before October 3, 2016 and such number agreed on or before April 30, 2017.” International lawyer,
Melinda Janki, had said, “The costs for the whole of 2016 were about US$583M and if you apportion it to October, you get roughly US$400M. Again, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman has agreed for Guyana to pay this. As at October 7, 2016, Government’s attempt to sell our oil costs us US$960M.” MORE EXPLORATION COSTS ExxonMobil did not stop exploring after the contract was signed. After all, it announced its 18th discovery y e s t e r d a y. A l l o f t h e exploration work and other costs incurred over the years from the contract signing date in 2016 to its ongoing drilling operations, which led to those 18 discoveries, have to be recovered. There’s no telling just how much Exxon will demand, in this regard. In 2018, Exxon’s then Head of Government and Public Affairs, Kimberly Brasington, had given an idea of how the previously claimed costs were arrived at. Brasington said that approximately $230M was spent drilling the Liza One well and early drilling costs for the follow-on wells. She said that this included mobilizing and demobilizing the drilling rig, helicopters and supply vessels in addition to drilling the well. The ExxonMobil official said that approximately $140M was spent shooting
the company’s 20,000km seismic campaign over the Stabroek Block. She said that this was ExxonMobil’s largest proprietary seismic campaign. “It was required because no 3D data existed for the block. The seismic data is what helped us figure out where to drill the wells,” Brasington stated. Furthermore, the official had said that approximately $65M was spent over many years utilizing Geology and Geo-science experts and engineering teams to identify the potential prospects that the company and its partners wanted to drill and then to design the concept for safe and successful drilling. Brasington said that just about $25M spent on other costs and overheads, including block rental fees and training payments. Exxon claims it spent all of that to drill one well, perform a seismic campaign on the entire Stabroek Block, hire technical experts to identify potential prospects, a n d c h a n g e . Wi t h 1 8 discoveries on its belt in that b l o c k , t h e c o m p a n y ’s demands are expected to meet hundreds of millions of US dollars, if not, billions. BILLIONS IN DEVELOPMENTAL COSTS Every discovery can be developed for the oil to be produced and sold. Much of the costs will go to buying
a floating vessel to be stationed at the field, and its accompanying development infrastructure. The initial cost estimates for Liza Phases One and Two – both already approved – total about US$9.7B. It became concerning when ExxonMobil revised the cost estimates for the Liza Phase One project on multiple occasions. The cost was drastically revised by nearly US$1B over the years. During Hess’ fourth quarter earnings call for 2019, Chief Executive Officer John Hess had specifically stated, “…Liza Phase One was budgeted at US$4.4 billion gross, including the purchase of the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel (Liza Destiny)… We now expect the gross cost for the development to be approximately US$3.5 billion or 21% below the sanctioned estimate.” The initial estimate was published by ExxonMobil in 2017, and revised a first time in 2018 by US$700M. Hess’ announcement is the second revision, taking the cost down by $200M more. That’s a total reduction of US$900M. Speaking at a press conference earlier this year, Jagdeo said as Opposition Leader, “If you could make such a [nearly] US$1B error, that is worrying, without oversight from the
government.” Presently, no firm has been hired to audit the billions of dollar in costs that Exxon intends to claim for the Stabroek Block project. But Liza-1 is already on stream, and is set to pump an estimated 450M barrels. The Liza Phase Two project is estimated to cost US$6B, and that will have to be audited too. It is slated to come on stream in 2022, and will pump an estimated 600M barrels. Canadian-based e n g i n e e r, D a r s h a n a n d Khusial, had noted that there are worrying cost anomalies which exist between the Liza Phases One and Two cost estimates, which must be explained before the Government approves any other project. The former APNU+AFC Government approved the Liza Phase One project in June 2017, despite there being hundreds of millions of dollars in pre-contract costs to audit. Then, it approved Liza Phase Two in April 2019, just two years after the first. Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, said during a Monday press conference that the government intends to aggressively pursue costs, as it does not agree that some of the expenditures made out to be cost recoverable, should be so. Yet, the new PPP/C administration appears ready to further the APNU+AFC’s trend by approving Payara soon, and adding billions in unaudited costs for a government that is unprepared to provide ample scrutiny. Rystad Energy, an energy research and business i n t e l l i g e n c e c o m p a n y, projects that ExxonMobil will be able to place one Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel offshore Guyana, every year for the next 10 years. The Norwegian firm projected that, to do so, ExxonMobil would be expending around US$50B in projects over the period. These projects, however, would be subject to government approvals.
Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
PAGE 19
Berbice protests…
Two houses flattened by fire T
wo homes were late last evening gutted by fire at two separate points in Berbice as the protest actions over the brutal slaying of West Coast Berbice teens Isaiah and Joel Henry rages on. The first fire occurred at No. 22 Village West Coast Berbice, a short distance away from the blockages in Hopetown Village. According to
information received, the fire started at around 20:42hrs, but fortunately no one was at the threebedroom single flat home at the time as the owner, John Hiralal, was away spending time with his family on the East Bank of Demerara. According to Sharon Hiralal, the man's sister, speaking to Kaieteur News said that she saw the fire and alerted her brother who
resides nearby. Fire tenders were quickly summoned to the scene but the house burnt quickly and nothing was saved. Protestors had attacked the neighbour's home one day before. She indicated that when the protest commenced, she started making video recordings but when the protestors noticed this, she became the target of verbal abuse and
threats. “My simple message to all,” said Ms. Hiralal, the Headmistress at No. 8 Secondary, “is that this senseless act will not cause anyone in our family to hate an entire race of people. People make individual choices and the hands that set the fire are the hands responsible and answerable.”
Meanwhile, at Savannah Park, New Amsterdam fire ravaged another home. While details remain sketchy, the fire was said to have occurred at around 21:00hrs as other fires were being lit around the community by protestors. Like the first fire, nothing was saved and the house was completely destroyed. Investigations are ongoing.
Relatives, friends of murdered Corentyne carpenter - file on case sent block road and burn debris in protest to DPP for advice R
elatives and friends of Orlando Jones, the carpenter killed on Saturday night, yesterday took to the Number 1 Village, Corentyne, Berbice public road early yesterday morning to set fires and erect blockades, having traffic come to a complete halt and forcing hundreds of persons who were heading to work to turn back. Jonas was stabbed to death on the Albion Public Road Saturday night after an altercation with two men who are now in custody, while his friend who was with him at the time, Mahendra Ramnarine, was also slashed along his cheek but survived. Yesterday, dozens of sugar workers were stuck and forced to walk from the western side of the blockade to have an estate lorry pick them up on the eastern side. Workers attached to the various business places in New Amsterdam, nurses heading to work, bank employees were among the many forced to turn back home or walk across the blockade. Selected persons who appeared to be acquainted with the protestors could pass while the others were not. The villagers also placed tables and benches across the road,
DEAD: Orlando Jonas
Mahendra Ramnarine with injuries to his mouth imbibed in alcohol and cooked food while others threw kerosene and set the debris on fire while the Commander of Region Six and other senior officers watched on without intervening or stopping them. When Kaieteur News arrived at the location, persons were reluctant to speak but a relative of Jonas told
this publication that they were protesting for justice to be served because he was “innocently killed”. “We are out here because we need justice for Orlando Jonas, that is my nephew”, he said. When told that the two persons who have been arrested for the murder are likely to be charged soon, the he responded saying that, “We are not satisfied because the system is a vampire and dem use that assertion that dem in power.” He was asked when the assertion was made but he responded, “Girly, yesterday dem
seh da and a fellow that pass here yesterday seh it”. He was asked further what justice he and the family are seeking although the suspects are in custody, but he could not say. Meanwhile, a woman who was eight months pregnant and was heading to the high-risk clinic at the New Amsterdam Hospital with her husband could not pass the blockade. She stated that she travelled from Skeldon from as early as 6:00 am yesterday to reach to her clinic early but was instead stuck in traffic. The road was blocked until after noon when Guyana Defence Force ranks arrived and an excavator was provided to the police to clear the road. Only then was the traffic allowed to pass freely while the protestors remained on the roadways. There was a picketing exercise at Number 53 Village (Union) yesterday morning as well but that did not last long. Kaieteur News has since been informed by police sources that one of the suspects in custody confessed to stabbing Jonas and discarding of the knife in the nearby trench. The second suspect said he threw his bicycle at Jonas and
Ramnarine but they both stated that the now deceased and his friend were the ones that approached them and attempted to rob them. Ramnarine had however said that he and Jonas were riding past when the two men taunted them, causing them to turn back and confront them. Surveillance seen by this publication showed Jonas and Ramnarine passing on their bicycles while the two suspects were on the other side of the road talking. Seconds later, Jonas and his friend turned around their bicycles and rode up to the two suspects. Jonas was seen pointing his fingers at one of the men while Ramnarine appeared to be exchanging words; it was then that Jonas got off his bicycle and rushed towards the men, an altercation ensued, and arms were flung in the video at each other. Both suspects then walked over to the Albion Police Station and Jonas stumbled on his bicycle and Ramnarine rode off. Jonas afterwards collapsed on the road with his bicycle and was later picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 20
Friday September 11, 2020
“No Justice! No Peace!” Cuffy Square protestors demand justice for slain West Coast Berbice cousins
W
ith bent knees and pumped right fists, hundreds of protestors gathered yesterday at Square of the Revolution dubbed “Cuffy Square” imploring for justice over the brutal killings of West Coast Berbice teens Isaiah and Joel Henry. The mutilated body of the teens were discovered on Sunday afternoon with the images spelling
out the horrific death they met. Their deaths sparked a national outcry with the demand being “justice”. Yesterday, protestors stood around the recently painted “Black Lives Matter” mural, the majority adorned in black sporting placards that said “Justice for the Henry boys”. “Their lives are worth more than coconuts” and “Mothers are
crying for their black sons” were just among the other slogans carried on the placards held by the persons who stood in the blazing sun calling for justice to be swift. One mother moved to tears over the gruesome treatment that the Henry boys faced at the time of their demise and said that she too has a son and noted that no human deserves such treatment. One young man, Ray, when
asked why he decided to show his support said: “I went inside and looked at my chest and said yo, this could happen to me and I don't want to grow up in this world where stuff like this happens.” Another young man, Christopher said: “We are out here to let persons know, let the system know that we are not going to tolerate being murdered, we are not going to tolerate being
Peaceful protestors gathered at Square of the Revolution calling for justice for murdered Henry boys
taken advantaged of and we are definitely not going to settle for injustice.” The protest was also attended by officials from the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition members but the majority included young Guyanese from all walks of life, standing in solidarity to condemn the brutal slaying.
Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
PAGE 21
Guyana to get more crumbs as ExxonMobil makes 18th discovery in Stabroek Block U
S multi-national, ExxonMobil, announced yesterday that it made its 18th discovery offshore Guyana at the Redtail-1 well in the Stabroek Block. The exploration and production giant said this will add to the previously announced estimated recoverable resource of more than eight billion oilequivalent barrels. The company noted that Redtail-1 encountered approximately 232 feet (70 meters) of highquality oil bearing sandstone and was drilled in 6,164 feet (1,878 meters) of water. The well is located approximately 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) northwest of the Yellowtail discovery. In addition to the Redtail1 discovery, Exxon said that drilling at Yellowtail-2 encountered 69 feet (21 meters) of net pay in newly identified, high quality oil bearing reservoirs among the o r i g i n a l Ye l l o w t a i l - 1 discovery intervals. It said that this resource is currently being evaluated for development in conjunction with nearby discoveries, all of which are tied to a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that sees it walking away with the lion's share of the oil profits. In July 2019, Kaieteur News had done an extensive review of 130 PSAs to better understand the extent to which the GuyanaExxonMobil deal is fraught with unfair provisions. For example, according to the PSA, the government is paying the contractor's income tax out of the country's share of the profits. However, none of the 130 PSAs examined by this news agency shows such an arrangement. Further, Guyana's PSA is the only one out of 130 PSAs which has no ring-fencing provisions to prevent costs of unsuccessful wells being carried over to that of successful wells. There is also no sliding scale for royalty to increase as production improves. And that is not all. Guyana's PSA is the only one out of 130 that allows insurance premiums to be fully recovered as well as interest on loans and financing costs that are incurred by the contractors. The 130 PSAs examined are part of a register on www.resourcecontracts.org. (https://resourcecontracts.org
/search?q=Production+Shari ng+Agreement+) That website offers over 620 PSAs from around the world for perusal. Below are other anomalies that were found when Guyana's PSA was compared to others. Stabilisation Clause
In the PSA between Mauritania and Kosmos Energy, it specifically states that the contract is governed by the laws and regulations of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, supplemented by the general principles of the laws of international commerce. It notes that the contractor shall be subject, at all times, to the laws and regulations in force in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The foregoing is in stark contrast to what is obtained in Guyana's PSA with ExxonMobil. In that arrangement, Guyana has accepted that changes to its laws in the future cannot affect the ExxonMobil PSA. If it does, the government would have to compensate the Stabroek Block operators for any loss incurred. Decommissioning Decommissioning refers to the safe removal of all the pipelines and other oil production equipment once the oil project comes to an end or is nearing its end. In Liberia, if the government decides not to accept all or part of the assets involved in the oil projects, it may, no later than 90 days following the date specified in the agreement, require the contractor, in accordance with good international petroleum industry practice, to perform abandonment operations and to remove at the cost of the contractor, the facilities relating to the surrendered area. The contractor can recover some of these costs but not years before it is time for decommissioning. In Guyana's case, however, the costs will not be borne by the operator. According to Section 20.1(d)(gg) and Accounting Procedure Section 3.1 of the Guyana-ExxonMobil deal, the American oil king can tabulate a budget for abandonment, and recover a portion of that budget in the form of oil, years before it is time for decommissioning. It is able as well to recover the
full costs of abandonment too. Ring-Fencing
In Uganda's PSA with Tullow, it explicitly states that for purposes of cost recovery, ring-fencing around each contract area shall apply. In the event that a licensee has more than one contract area, the calculations shall be done on a contract by contract basis. There shall be no consolidation. Guyana's PSA with Exxon and all other offshore operators speaks nothing of this. Tullow is also an operator in Guyana's waters. Audit Rights According to a PSA between Iraq and Western Zagros Resources Ltd, the Government reserves the right to an independent audit at the contractor's expense, of its accounts and records, which must be kept within that territory. The Government can also do its own annual audit. The agreement specifically states that the contractor must fully and expeditiously cooperate with the government in this regard.
The contractor is also expected to use its best endeavours to ensure its affiliates comply with auditing requirements while taking care of all costs. This, however, is not obtained in Guyana. The Government accepted terms, which see the country standing the costs of all audits. It can do audits via the revenue authority or an independent firm of its choice. Importantly, it cannot go after records held outside of Guyana, which would support its audit as well. Payments According to the PSA between Mongolia and DWM Petroleum AG, the contractor is required to pay signature and production bonuses based on certain circumstances. They are: 1) The sum of US$ 500,000 as a Production Bonus if average daily quantity of Contract Crude Oil for any Calendar Month is equal or less than 5,000 barrels 2) The sum of US$600,000 as a Production Bonus if average daily quantity of Contract Crude Oil for any Calendar Month equals to or exceeds 5001 barrels but is less than 10,000
barrels. 3) The sum of US$ 700,000 as a Production Bonus if average daily quantity of Contract Crude Oil for any Calendar Month equals to or exceeds 10,001 barrels but is less than 15,000 barrels. 4) The sum of US$ 800,000 as a Production Bonus if average daily quantity of Contract Crude Oil for any Calendar Month equals to or exceeds 15,001 barrels but is less than 20,000 barrels. 5) The sum of US$1M as a Production Bonus after average daily quantity of Contract Crude Oil for any Calendar Month exceeds 20,001 Barrels.Guyana's contract with Exxon speaks nothing of a production bonus, much less one that is subjected to a sliding scale. Measurement of Petroleum
In a PSA Kenya has with Camac Energy Ltd, it speaks to the measurement of petroleum. It clearly notes that the volume and quality of petroleum produced and saved from the contract area shall be measured by methods and appliances
customarily used in good international petroleum industry practice and approved by the Minister. It goes on to state that the Minister may inspect the appliances used for measuring the volume and determining the quality of petroleum and may appoint an inspector to supervise the measurement of volume and determination of quality. Further to this, it was noted that where the method of measurement or appliances used therefore, have caused an overstatement or understatement of a share of the production, the error shall be presumed to have existed since the date of the last calibration of the measurement devices, unless the contrary is shown, and an appropriate adjustment shall be made for the period of error. The Minister and the Contractor are also allowed in the PSA to determine the measurement point at which production shall be measured and the respective shares of Petroleum allocated. Kaieteur News was unable once again to make any comparison since in the Guyana-Exxon PSA; such a provision does not exist.
Gruesome murder of Berbice teens…
No evidence of killing being Crime “politically motivated” - Chief
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even persons in total have now been arrested as investigators swiftly progress their probe into the brutal slayings of West Coast Berbice teens and cousins, Isaiah and Joel Henry. The two new suspects
- 7 in custody were said to be coconut vendors. Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent, Wendell Blanhum, during a virtual
Slain teens: Isaiah and Joel Henry
joint press briefing with the Police Commissioner, Nigel Hoppie, and Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Godfrey Bess, yesterday disclosed that evidence will soon be dispatched to the Forensic Lab for testing. “We have recovered some evidence from the crime scene and we are in the process of packaging them and we will be submitting those evidence to the Guyana Forensic Laboratory at the earliest opportunity,” he told the press. While it is integral to revisit the crime scene where the mutilated bodies of the teens were found, Blanhum noted that the continued protest action by furious West Coast Berbice residents are hampering that task. Nevertheless, he assured that a “comprehensive”
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum investigation is being conducted, adding that investigators from the Major Crimes Unit are on the ground working assiduously to bring the killers to justice. Teams from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) along (continued on page 22)
Kaieteur News
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Friday September 11, 2020
More reports of attacks as Berbice protest intensifies
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s protest action into the barbaric killing of two teenage cousins, Isaiah Henry, 16, and Joel Henry, 19, from Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice intensified yesterday, there were more reports of vicious physical attacks, robberies and damage to vehicles and properties. This was a continuation of protest action that started Sunday after the boys' mutilated bodies were found in a backdam. In Region Six, while the roads were cleared by police on Tuesday after protesters burnt debris and blocked the road at Number One Village and at least nine locations in New Amsterdam, the homes of several persons were stoned at Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, East Canje, a barbershop was burnt in Region Five, a home was burnt to the ground, and several persons of East Indian descent reported racially motivated physical assaults. The assaults, this publication was told, occurred while persons were still in vehicles or were making their way by foot out of the crowd. In a video seen by this
publication, a bus driver was brutally punched to the face by a rogue protester while he was sitting in the driver seat of his bus. Police ranks, who were on the other side of the road, appeared to not see the attack. Those who captured footage were clearly alarmed. A bus driver by the name of Dhaniram Persaud posted pictures of his bus with all the windows shattered and compartments ransacked. He said that a baby was on board the bus. The attack from the protesters, according to the man, forced his passengers, who merely wanted to get home, to exit the vehicle and walk to their respective destinations. Another woman, Anjanie Bacchus, posted pictures showing injuries her uncle sustained after he was beaten and robbed by protesters at Cottage, Mahaicony. She stated that his bus was also set on fire during the violent protest. Meanwhile, Bobby Ramroop, who was also caught in a traffic jam as a result of the protest action, had his vehicle damaged by protesters who hurled objects and bottles at it. As a
consequence, Ramroop suffered injuries about his shoulder, neck and chest area. A relative disclosed that Ramroop was stuck in Bushlot since Monday after he came out of the backdam but the Hopetown Public Road was blocked and he was forced to turn back. He, however, decided to take a chance to head home after he heard that soldiers would be escorting traffic through the blockades. "After he joined the line and the soldiers were in front when he reach Hopetown, these guys were like off the road but like hiding under a tree and they just pelt the car," the relative said. The car windscreen was damaged and Ramroop suffered injuries before he eventually made it home to Bath Settlement, this publication was told. Up to last evening, protesters were said to be on the roads at Number Three Village, Number 26 Village, Cotton Tree; Cottage, Mahaicony; Hopetown and Number Five Village. The roads were also blocked at several locations. When contacted, Berbice C o m m a n d e r, E d m o n d Cooper, said he was not aware
No evidence of killing being “politically... From page 21 with members of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) were dispatched to the area with the aim of quelling the unrest. While public outrage mounted as the days go by, theories of why the teens were killed float around with the central being that the crime was politically motivated. But the Crime Chief when asked whether this was a possible motive ruled it out. “There is no absolutely no evidence whatsoever to support that contention…” He declined to reveal what the other possible motives are. “At this point in time, we would not disclose anything pertaining to motive to the public. We have a very tense
situation and I will want to appeal to members of the public to allow the investigators to conduct the investigation,” Blanhum disclosed. A murder weapon is yet to be recovered. In addition, police are also on the hunt for three other suspects. The Major Crimes Unit took over the case on Sunday last after the bodies of the boys were found butchered in the Cotton Tree backdam. Police had stated that bloodstains found on the rice land located in close proximity to the land the teens' bodies were found on, had led to the arrest of the rice farmer. It was during his time in police custody, that one of the farmer's sons and his handyman were also picked up and taken in
custody. Members of the Major Crimes Unit arrived in Berbice earlier yesterday but were met by protesters who blocked the roads and refused to let them pass. It wasn't until former President, David Granger, arrived that the unit managed to pass. It was late Sunday afternoon that the bodies of the boys were found, with their throats slashed, in the backdam. The t-shirt of one of the boys was pulled over his face, while the other was lying face down. Their bodies bore visible marks of violence including chop wounds across their heads and faces. The post mortems are slated to be conducted on the teens' bodies sometime today.
of any blockades other than at Bath Settlement. However multiple persons claimed they were caught in traffic jams at Hopetown, Cottage, Mahaicony and Number Five. Other stories of attacks included that of Rajendra Dasrat of Golden Fleece, West Coast Berbice, who was chopped on his hand and was beaten on his back after he was pulled from his employer's vehicle which was later set alight. "He and another worker were going to the rice field and they pull he out and beat he because they said he's Indian and they left the other guy that is black. He say they go fuh chop he in his face and he bar with he
hand so come he hand get bad chop and he back," a relative disclosed. Meanwhile, over in Region Six, the home of the NDC Chairman of the Number 38/Ordinance/Fort Lands Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Roy Jaffarally, came under attack Tuesday night by what is believed to be rogue elements among those protesting for justice for the murdered cousins. Jaffarally said he was in his living room with his wife and children, ages 10 and 4, when they heard loud smashing noises on the roof top of their house. "We are so shaken, my girls are terrified, the impact of the stones on our roof was
so loud," he said. Subsequent checks were made on the home and vehicles that were parked in the yard and, according to Jafarrally, there were several dents found. There were huge bricks found in the yard and a bottle of engine oil. "I don't know if they were trying to burn my house," said Jaffarally, who is also the chef and owner of Grill Master Berbice and has been actively involved in assisting the needy in his community. According to the man, he has since taken security measures to secure his home to keep his family safe. At least two other persons reported that their homes were stoned too.
Bath Settlement man beaten to death after shooting at protesters
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s c h a o s continued to rip through West Coast Berbice yesterday yet another life was senselessly lost. Dead is 34-year-old Prettipaul Hargobin called Roy of Block BI Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice. According to reports, the incident occurred around 15:45hrs on the Bath Settlement public road. A police report revealed that Harripaul was driving his motor vehicle on the public road of Bath Settlement when he reportedly exited his vehicle with a shotgun and discharged one round into the air. Seconds after, Harripaul reportedly fired three more shots but this time in the direction of protesters who were converged on the roadway. As a result, the crowd rushed towards him and pummelled him to the ground where they subsequently beat him to death, according to police. Police ranks, who were said to be some distance a w a y, o b s e r v e d t h e commotion and rushed over to the scene. There they discovered the battered and bloodied Harripaul lying on the ground with several injuries about his body. He was rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. No one has been arrested. Meanwhile, the grieving
Beaten to death: Prettipaul Hargobin sister of the dead man, Ronita Hargobin, told reporters that her brother was angry at someone who was on a motorcycle that “did something” to him and so he “went out to look for the person”. She stated that she was in the car with him when he drove out on the Bath Public road but at some point, ended up in a conflict with protesters as he was manoeuvring his way through the crowd. She added that during the fight with the protesters she was hit in the head and her brother who was still in an
angry state turned the vehicle around and left her in the crowd. She said he returned to the crowd at some point and shortly after she heard gunshots and thereafter saw people beating her brother. She added that she is not sure if her brother shot at the crowd, but she heard gunshots. Residents from Bath Village, this publication learnt, had started to protest yesterday in response to the death of teenager, Haresh Singh, who was brutally murdered in the Number Three backdam hours earlier.
Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
PAGE 23
West Coast Berbice protests turn violent; drivers, passengers robbed, - Joint Services urge residents to remain beaten and stripped calm or face escalation in response The blockage of No.1 Road, Corentyne
Allen Wilson who was brutally beaten and chopped as he tried to make his way on foot through the protestors
W
hat started out as a protest for justice to be served for 16-year-old Isaiah Henry and 18-year-old Joel Henry, the cousins whose butchered bodies were found in the Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice backdam, turned out to be absolute chaos and horror for drivers, passengers and people living in Region 5 yesterday. Roads throughout Bellevue, Number 40 Village, Number 28 Village, Number 30 Village, Hopetown, Burma, Number 3, 4 and 5 Villages were blocked since Sunday night and hundreds of persons who were either heading to Region 6 or heading to Georgetown were stuck in traffic. However, despite heavy police presence, people who were stuck in the lines waiting for the road to clear became victims of robbery and racially fuelled attacks. Several reports reaching Kaieteur News have since revealed the extent of the attacks as many are now suffering from injuries about their bodies including chop wounds. There were also multiple reports and pictures that surfaced showing car windscreens smashed in, vehicles hijacked, and paddy trucks set alight. This publication was told that people were attacked physically and verbally with racial remarks thrown at them, including several who were stripped of their
"Kunkie" of E.C.D. resting in a hammock with a sling supporting his neck after being stripped of his clothing, robbed and beaten
clothing, beaten and robbed before being set free. According to a 30-yearold truck driver from Bushlot Village, West Coast Berbice, he was stuck in traffic with his truck on Sunday while his uncle who was driving a Toyota Voxy was also in the line. He stated that his uncle was pulled out from his car at Belladrum Village and beaten. He disclosed that his uncle’s car was then taken away from him and until now, they do not know where the vehicle is. The truck driver stated that up to late yesterday afternoon, they received reports that a car was burning in the Number 28 backdam, but they could not go since the situation was hostile and the roads were still blocked with debris and fires. He added too that while the Guyana Defence Force soldiers arrived to assist the police, “they were driving fast and clearing the road but no soldier or police stayed behind to ensure everyone pass so when they drive up ahead, the people start blocking back the road and people were trapped in between again.” He stated that the roads had blockades at Burma, Eldorado, Belladrum, Paradise, Seafield, Litchfield, Kingly, R o s s Vi l l a g e , Number 30 Village, Number 28 Village, Lovely Lass Village, Number 22 Village, Hopetown and Numbers 5, 3
Bus on fire
and 4 Villages. Meanwhile, three persons who were attacked in the vicinity of the Burma blockade had to be rescued by a public spirited citizen and given shelter and clothing. A woman who wanted her identity sealed stated that an old man who was heading home from work with his bag was stripped of this clothing and beaten about his body and head. His bag and wallet with money were stolen the woman said, adding that “this man was rescued naked because they stripped all of his clothes, robbed him and beat him so bad and then they told him to walk, so our lives don’t matter anymore.” The woman stated that shortly after another man had to be rescued, after he was beaten about his head with a hammer and gashed on his arms with cutlass, with blood all over his face and body when he was rescued. Another man who was in a bus with other passengers was said to be returning to Berbice from an interior location and he had with him a large sum of cash, all of which was stolen. One driver told this publication that the protestors smashed the windows of vehicles that were parked since Sunday night and pulled out occupants from the cars and buses. They then proceeded to beat the passengers and the
Truck driver chopped drivers and take whatever they could from them. In addition to the string of attacks on people, at least three paddy transport trucks were set on fire. One of the owners told this publication that she only bought her truck last year at a cost of $5.5 million and was paying monthly instalments for it, but all of her hard-earned money and investment went up in flames yesterday. Her truck was set on fire leaving just the burnt out shell; the driver and porter had to be rescued. According to the truck driver, he had a cutlass to his neck and a hammer placed on his head and was directed to park the truck across the roadway and hand over the keys. He stated that he complied, “until I turn the truck and jump out the truck, they demanded for the keys. They told me because I am a black man, they na gon do me nothing but this is a coolie truck. They lit the truck first, out it and break it up and burst the fuel tank so the fuel can drain out and then light it back.” He said he was given money by the persons who rescued him so that he could catch public transportation and return home to Region 6. “I felt bad that I was attacked by my own,” he said, “They are depriving me of my money; we all are doing this thing wrong. I tried to run from these people, but it
didn’t work. Cars were destroyed, Indians’ car. I slept at the people that rescued us and they gave us passage, I saw police and I ask that they give us a lift at Cotton Tree, and I went and made a report about the truck burning.” Meanwhile, the other two trucks that were burnt, were set alight in the presence of GDF and GPF ranks who did not attempt to stop the protestors from setting it on fire. During a live video streamed on Facebook, a resident was seen trying to extinguish the blaze. The trucks were transporting paddy and according to an eyewitness, the truck drivers were told to empty the paddy on the roadway before they set the truck on fire. Protestors were seen bagging the paddy on the roadway for themselves. The driver of a Bakewell truck was also attacked. He said in a Facebook post, “I can understand that justice is needed, but ain’t there another way to get it done. [D]o we really need to be this stupid, the truck that brings the bread to the Berbician, one of the best breads that the whole country is familiar with, y’all going to damage and destroy the property? [A]nd call that seeking justice. The same bread that everyone buys to eat, the truck that delivers the bread, we will damage the truck. Is this justice? Is this wise
Pastor Premraj Parshotam who was pulled out of his vehicle, beaten and robbed by protestors on the W.C.B.
to do? Come on people, we are better than this.” Police in a joint statement with the Guyana Defence Force yesterday said that they continue to view with serious concern on the ongoing “illegal protest action” being carried out by residents. They made it clear that the protests are illegal and represent a threat to the public safety of Guyanese traversing the roadways and “the robbing of citizens and damaging public property will not result in a solution to the problem but rather cause unnecessary and unwanted tension and anger. This will most certainly distract attention from a proper and professional investigation intended to bring those responsible for these heinous crimes to justice.” They also noted that the gatherings are in breach of the COVID-19 guidelines and as such are reminded that should the situation persist further, “the GPF will have no alternative but to escalate its response to have the roadways cleared and ensure the return of law and o r d e r i n t h e a ff e c t e d communities”. They are calling on residents to remain calm as the investigations intensify into the deaths of the two boys.
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Friday September 11, 2020
Govt. presents $330B 'people centered' emergency budget · $34B for Public Works · $51B for Health · $52B for Education · $38B for National Security
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inister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, yesterday presented a $330B emergency budget for the fiscal year of 2020. Edghill made his presentation at the second sitting of the 12th Parliament at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Liliendaal—an event that saw no attendance from the opposition. This budget represents an increase of $29 million or 10 percent of the 2019 budget. According to Edghill “this Budget embodies a nononsense, no frills, no fluff, people-centered, pro-poor, results-oriented approach to launch this nation back on its positive development trajectory.” During his presentation, the Public Works Minister highlighted that there were two main overriding priorities in budget 2020 with a focus, in the last quarter, on bringing under control the spread of COVID-19 and opening up the economy. “This Budget has been prepared in record time,” Edghill said. “On August 10th the Budget circular was issued… and within 21 days we had concluded virtual budget hearings with all agencies and regions, and p r e p a r e d t h e recommendations for the budgets of constitutional agencies… This cycle was completed in a record 22 days. Today (yesterday), eight days later, we have before this honourable house a motion of the estimates and expenditure for the fiscal year 2020.” Under normal circumstances, the annual budget preparation process takes over 150 days, hence, Edghill labeled this achievement a significant one. The Minister related that when the People's Progressive Party regime assumed government from the previous A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) regime, it inherited concerning findings. Edghill listed these
A few other sectors to be boosted by the new budget
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, during his presentation of the 2020 budget as a bloat of employment in the public sector which drove up operational costs; “unauthorized invasion” and “regular withdrawals” from the Consolidate Funds and widespread squander-mania, with the most recent example being the barely operable $1.6B COVID-19 hospital at Liliendaal. Notwithstanding these financial impediments and constraints, the longawaited budget was presented with sweeping financial measures and relief across all agencies. $51B allocated for health sector As an immediate measure, this budget will provide for the purchase of adequate drugs and medical supplies, tests kits and antiretrovirals for HIV patients. It will also serve to engage the fixing of the diagnostic imaging capacity of many of hospitals; fix many of the infrastructural defects at facilities across the country, and facilitate swift works to improve the quality of health care provided to citizens. To this end, government has allocated $51.7B or 15.7 percent of the total budget for the health sector for 2020. Of this amount, $14.3B is budgeted for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies. Corrective action to facilitate the procurement of emergency supplies of drugs and
medical supplies, to the tune of $3.2B, is underway and a full review of quantification and procurement practices is being currently undertaken, as there is a lack of evidence of any purchased drugs and medical supplies since 2017. Of this $51B, $2.6B has been allocated to boost the Health Ministry's COVID19 response. This includes $790M to operationalize the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to cater for 200 patients. The estimated $1.6B infectious disease hospital is currently housing a number of maternity COVID-19 positive cases, isolation and non-critical patients. Furthermore, $1.8M has been allocated for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for central government employees. $52B allocated for education sector Minister Edghill explained that given the new dynamics of learning from home, the monies will support the procurement and distribution of learning materials. As such, the government has budgeted $52B or 15.8 percent of the total budget for the development of the education sector in Guyana. Of this amount, over $1.7B is allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of schools across the country.
Government is also focused on more innovative ways of learning and as such has budgeted over $300M to cater for an expansion of the Guyana Learning Channel and the establishment of the radio station specially dedicated to education delivery. The nursery students will be given individual home-based packages containing print material, manipulative and other appropriate resources. The primary and secondary students will each receive work books and core text books in Math, English, Social Studies and Science which they will use during this time and beyond. Towards the eventual reopening of schools, the Minister explained that funds have been made available for “sinks with running water, proper ventilation, working toilets, the delivery of masks to our teachers, students and ancillary staff and adequate signage to promote safe behaviour in all learning institutions and in all schools.” In the area of higher learning, the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) will benefit from allocations “to facilitate learning continuity in hinterland centres of teacher From page 3 education and to facilitate the virtual teacher education programme”. For the University of Guyana (UG), government will be dispensing $3B in support. Of this “$221.3 million is allocated to
complete and advance several roll-over projects across both campuses including the new sewer system, the human resources and bursary building, the pump house, teaching learning centre and electrical upgrade projects,” Minister Edghill explained. $34B for public works and infrastructure Edghill announced that the government intends to invest $34.4B in his Ministry for 2020. According to him, because the projects left behind by his government in 2015 were not fully implemented, the PPP/C regime is now forced to direct its energies towards seeing them come to fruition. These include energy e x p a n s i o n a n d diversification; the Amalia Falls Hydropower Project; the CJIA expansion project; the resurfacing of the East Coast Demerara (ECD) railway embankment; remodelling of the LindenLethem road project; redesign of the Ogle to Diamond bypass road and a new Demerara Harbour Bridge. The expansion of the Hinterland Electrification Programme (HEP) remains a top priority. Some 25,000 households in Amerindian, hinterland, and deep riverain communities can expect an upgrade and replacement of their solar panels. Additionally, $400.6M has been allocated for expanded electrification of
Amerindian and hinterland communities. $38B invested for National Security Some $38B is being allocated to propel the agenda of protecting the safety and well-being of citizens. These agendas include $1B invested for training, rehabilitation and construction of new police stations, $428.1M for the procurement 50 vehicles and $63M to procure two water tenders for firefighters in Linden and Bartica. “Government will also focus on expanding the use of ICT in the fight against crime, providing better remuneration and conditions for the officers in our security forces and ensuring greater accountability by the Police Force for solving crime,” the Minister said. It was highlighted that over the past five years there has been no rehabilitation of the country's prison system. However, in the 2020 Budget, the Minister pointed out that the government will “seek to reform the prison system, to improve conditions and ensure compulsory training and educational opportunities for prisoners, security and safety prison officers.” Meanwhile, the facility at Mahdia will benefit from an upgrade, in addition to receiving additional vehicles, tools and equipment to aid in firefighting.
Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
PAGE 25
I am not a racist; put an end to the violence “I will not hate, I am not racist,” were the words of Gladson Henry, father of m u r d e r e d We s t C o a s t Berbice teen, Isaiah Henry, as he appealed to protesters to put an end to their violent streak and continue their demonstrations in a peaceful manner. Tensions have escalated over the past few days on the West Coast of Berbice after the mutilated bodies of Isaiah and his older cousin, Joel, were found Sunday last dumped in clumps of bushes near a coconut estate at the Cotton Tree Backdam, West Coast Berbice. Several theories have since surfaced of the real motive for the gruesome double murder. Some have speculated that the killings were racially or politically motivated but there have been no evidence to support either. The increased attacks on random individuals by protesters have been condemned by Gladson Henry who made it clear that he will not condone any immoral act. “I am not supporting unmoral protesting because I went out in Number Five and I will tell you straight… if you want to protest, which is our right, let we do it peacefully and doing it peacefully that…we as a nation cannot be fighting against one another,” he said. The senior Henry said
- says father of murdered teen, Isaiah Henry
Protest action at Number One Road, Corentyne, Berbice
Isaiah and Joel Henry that the family is only seeking justice, adding that “the person who committed the act should pay for the crime.”
“I still love my Indian brothers and sisters,” he said, noting that his son was never a racist and even with everything that has
happened, he still holds no ill will to any race. “I wanna say…I am not a racial person. I born in Number Three, the community I live in, and I live among Indian people, we eat together, we sleep together, we live together…the majority of my friends that I move with is Indian friends, we live like brothers, big men, and because of how I was moving, they give me a nickname, and that nickname is 'geerah' and the meaning of 'geerah' is that they come up with is because
'geerah' have to go in the dhall.” AUTOPSY REPORT Meanwhile, the autopsy conducted yesterday on the bodies of the cousins by Pathologist Nehaul Singh, revealed that they were chopped repeatedly until they died. He concluded that they died from haemorrhage and shock due to multiple incised wounds. Joel received 18 wounds to the body, including many defensive wounds along with
seven to eight chops to the head. He also bit his tongue. Isaiah, on the other hand, also sustained several chops to the head. The pathologist also noted that both spines of the boys were severed, with a senior police source explaining that this was the result of chop wounds to the back of their neck which almost left the boys' heads separated from their bodies. Police have since arrested a total of seven persons as investigations continue.
Worker takes driver's seat of pick-up to save boss from violent protesters
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n what is being called a heroic act, a worker on Monday last took over the driver's seat of a Toyota pick-up in his quest to save his rice farmer boss from scores of violent protesters at Number Four Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB). The protesters had blocked roads and resorted to violence as a way of demanding justice for two teenage boys, Isaiah and Joel Henry, whose butchered bodies were found dumped in clumps of bushes near a coconut estate at Cotton Tree Backdam. The rice farmer, who hails from Friendship, EastBerbice Corentyne, almost fell prey to violent attacks which have so far left two dead and many others injured. The rice farmer, who
requested anonymity, told Kaieteur News that he, in the company of workers, had left his home around 05:00hrs on Monday in his pick-up, in search of a combine machine at Bath Settlement. The man said that around 07:00hrs they arrived at the first road block set up by the protesters. He claimed that the first crowd was not that large and police were able to assist them in passing through. Nevertheless, they ended up being stranded for hours as tensions started to escalate. At around 16:30hrs, the rice farmer said he made a decision to turn around his pick-up and head back home. However, at Number Four Village, he said, his vehicle came under attack. The rice farmer said that at least 60 protesters circled
his pick-up and started to utter racial remarks. The protesters, he said, then turned their attention to one of his employees of Afro-descent who was sitting next to him in the front passenger seat. The man told this newspaper that the protesters started to accuse his employee of being used by him to pass the road block. They reportedly began cursing the worker and told him that he is allowing himself to be bossed around by his employer as a slave. The man revealed too that the angry mob tried to convince his employee to hand him over to them. “The people tell he you should have been his boss not him bossing you, come out de vehicle leh we deal with he; leh we teach he a lesson,” said the rice farmer.
A scene from the ongoing Berbice protest
The man claimed that he was in a state of shock and disbelief and became so nervous that he could not move a muscle or do anything. The protesters, he said, began pelting rock and other objects at the vehicle and tried to haul the employee out of his vehicle.
Instead of allowing him to be pulled out, the rice farmer said that the worker freed himself from their grips. Instead, the employee reportedly pulled his boss out of the driver's seat and took control of the vehicle which he drove through the crowd thus saving his boss
and co-workers from what could have been a brutal attack from the violent protesters. The rice farmer said that he is counting his lucky stars and will forever be indebted to his employee for taking such a bold step to protect him from danger.
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Friday September 11, 2020
Labour Minister puts Exxon, Tullow on notice over unequal pay, treatment of Guyanese workers - intends to visit offshore operations
M
inister of Labour Joseph Hamilton recently informed Kaieteur Radio that he has put oil companies ExxonMobil and Tullow Oil on notice, after receiving worrying reports of unequal pay between Guyanese workers and expatriates. He also noted his intention to very soon go on visits offshore, and to train
labour officers, as well as occupational health and safety officers, to conduct requisite inspections. The production sharing agreement signed between government and Exxon states that Guyana must give the company seven days notice before visiting its offshore operations. The Minister made an appearance on Kaieteur Radio's Petroleum 101, where he discussed the
rights of the workers in the context of the petroleum and mining sectors. “Information has come to me, and has come to the party,” he stated, “even before we got into government about instances in the oil and gas industry where you have unequal payment for the same job.” The Minister expressed bewilderment that a Guyanese ba k e r, f o r
Man says co-workers were part of violent protest that beat and chopped him
instance, should be paid five or 10 times less than someone from Trinidad or elsewhere, when they use the same flour and water. In his meetings with the oil companies, he was keen to note that the reports of unequal pay revolve around their sub-contractors and not these two companies themselves. In this regard, Hamilton noted that it was necessary to let these two companies know of his expectations, as it is in engagements with them that the sub-contractors are brought into the local sector. “I have put that before Exxon,” the Minister explained, “and I said to them, 'you have a responsibility to speak to your subcontractors and the people you contract to execute jobs in this space' because from the Guyanese people's standpoint, the only name that comes to their mind when we discuss oil and gas is Exxon.” He said that the companies gave
commitments that they would look into the issue. On the other hand, the Ministry's officers will have to be trained for the specificities of scrutinizing offshore operations, as they would have to determine the veracity of complaints made by employees, Hamilton told Kaieteur Radio.In addition, Hamilton said that Guyanese should be given the first opportunity to be employed once they have the skills. “I said to the oil and gas industry companies I have engaged that you have a responsibility to create all the necessary conditions to ensure Guyanese are equipped with the necessary skills to function effectively and efficiently in the oil and gas industry.” From a business standpoint, he is of the view that it would be better for oil companies to have local workers, as it is more expensive to have expats who they would likely have to house. Reports of unequal
Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton pay have plagued the industry for some time now. An oil service company operating aboard the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel appeared to be using the job descriptions for some of its employees to pay foreign workers more than local workers for the same job, according to a report by Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin last year. Appearing on Kaieteur Radio's Guyana's Oil & You in October, he had said that the company would label the local employee with a different job title as the foreign employee, but that the work is the same. “In fact, it's one person working one shift and the other person working the other shift,” he had said.
Grandson of suspect in Berbice teens' murder, killed in backdam- motorcycle burnt
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Injured: Rajendra Basrat called “Danny”
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s the West Coast Berbice protests rage on, stories are emerging of innocent persons being attacked as they go about their daily routine. One such story is that of Rajendra Basrat called “Danny” who was reportedly beaten and chopped by an angry mob of protesters, some of whom he recognized as his own co-workers. The man's boss, Rohan (only name given), told Kaieteur News that Danny and another worker were headed to Tiger Ranch and
passed where a protest was being held on Tuesday. According to Rohan, the men were warned not to head in that area in light of the reports that vehicles were being destroyed and persons were being attacked. Nevertheless, the men proceeded on their journey, not heeding the warning. As they proceeded on the Burma Road, a mob of protesters began throwing rocks at their vehicle causing them to stop. It was then that Danny was dragged out of the vehicle, surrounded, beaten and then chopped about his
body by the mob. “He barely bar with he hand or else they woulda chop he on he neck…he get up and run and they run behind he and fire lash,” Rohan said. Danny was later rescued by security ranks attached to the Sherriff Security company and taken to hospital where he reportedly received 48 stitches about his body. Further, Rohan said that his other employee fearing for his life, abandoned the vehicle and escaped. The vehicle was later found torched.
m i d s t investigations into the grisly killing of two teenagers from Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice and violent protests that erupted over the killing over the past few days, another teenager was yesterday brutally slain in the Number Two Village backdam. Dead is 17-year-old Haresh Singh of Number Tw o Vi l l a g e . H i s unconscious body with chop wounds and other marks of violence was found in the Number Three Village backdam. His motorcycle was found burnt nearby. According to information released by police, the teen left home on his motorcycle to attend to his farm in the village. Sometime after, his relatives noticed smoke coming from the backdam area. Upon checking, they found Singh lying unconscious and bleeding from his nose. He was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital
Dead: Haresh Singh where he succumbed. Kaieteur News was later told that the teen is the relative of three of the suspects currently in police custody for the double murder of teenage boys Isaiah Henry and Joel Henry. Singh's sister, Amrita Singh, said that there are reports that some men from Number Five Village had beaten and chopped her
brother in the backdam. According to the woman, her brother had ventured to the backdam on his motorcycle to take water for some labourers. “Like around 12:00 he had to go down to the backdam to carry down water and shortly after we get message that somebody beat he...he head knock and he was bleeding from he ears and nose,” the sister said. At the New Amsterdam Hospital where Singh was taken, his uncle told reporters that he got the message around 11:00hrs that Singh was beaten in the backdam. A relative stated that prior to Singh's death, his home was stoned by protesters who had issued threats after finding out that his grandfather and two other relatives were arrested for the Henry boys' murder. Up to press time, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that no-one has been arrested in connection with the vicious crime. Investigations are ongoing into the matter.
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Friday September 11, 2020
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Four persons released from police custody F Gruesome murder of Berbice teens...
our persons who were arrested in connection with the slaying of two West Coast Berbice teenagers have been released on station bail. This is according to C r i m e C h i e f We n d e l l Blanhum. He stated that the 72-hours to hold the suspects in custody expired yesterday and as such the men were placed on bail. They are required to report to the police today as the investigations continue. Isaiah Henry, 16, and Joel Henry, 18, were ruthlessly killed with their butchered bodies found in the Cotton Tree backdam, West Coast Berbice Sunday. The images shocked Guyana with days of protests that turned violent and included robberies, beatings and destruction of properties. A 5 7 - y e a r- o l d r i c e farmer, his son, a handyman and another were arrested initially. Shortly after, three
between, forced to spend nights hiding out by residents. It was reported that the two teens had left home on Saturday to pick coconuts in the Cotton Tree backdam but they never returned. That said night, their parents and relatives made a
Dead: Joel Henry
Dead:Isaiah Henry
others were arrested. Their bodies were found with chop wounds to the head and face, a slashed neck and other marks of violence, telling a tale of the brutality in the acts.A post mortem examination conducted by government pathologist, Nehaul Singh, revealed they died from multiple chop wounds to the body including the head and back. Protests had erupted over the past few days to call for justice to be served.
Relatives, friends and villagers who knew the boys called for a proper investigation to be done and the perpetrators who executed the horrific acts be made to face the full p e n a l t i e s o f t h e l a w. However, those protests escalated into riots and violence. Several villages in Region 5 descended into a state of total chaos. Travellers to and from Region Six were left stuck in
Second set of robbers help victims... From page 3 along with a passport and other key documents. A tool kit with tools and a pair of sneakers were removed from the car trunk as well.In the process, the family was dealt several blows to the body and abdomen before they were allowed to go. The man said as he exited the ‘back street’ and were about to continue their journey on the Hopetown Public Road, they were stopped again by another group of protesters who were in a truck branded with a Guyana Power and Light(GPL) logo.These guys, the man said, attempted to rob them also. “I stepped out of the car and told them man that we were just robbed of everything: our documents,
passports, money please let us go,” said the man. “To his surprise, one of the protesters inquired of the location where they were robbed. I told him that the robbery was committed by a group of individuals in a back street.” The family said that the protester told them that he had organized the protest and could assist them in getting back their passport and documents only.They agreed and according to them, the protester along with another hopped into their car and directed back to the street where they had been robbed. The protesters stepped out, recovered the documents and passport before reentering the car to accompany the family out of the street again. The victims continued
that the second group of protesters even escorted them to a nearby fire station with their GPL truck and instructed them to wait on an army truck, which will further escort them safely to Georgetown.The woman recounted that the army truck did come but protest action intensified and instead of heading to Georgetown, they were escorted back to the Weldaad Police Station and told to remain until the unrest was under control.There the victims reported the robbery to police ranks who took their statements.After hours of waiting at the station, they were escorted by soldiers to Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and further escorted by a relative from Non Pariel to Georgetown at around 01:00hrs the following day.
report that they were missing and a search was launched. Searches were conducted on Sunday morning and a bag was found with picked coconuts on a rice field but the whereabouts of the teens were unknown. Later on Sunday, the search party found the grisly
remains of the boys. It was only yesterday that vehicles were allowed to pass, escorted by armed members of the country’s security forces.The smoking debris on the roadways told a stark tale of the chaotic scenes of the last four days. The probe continues.
Speeding pickup driver remanded for killing pedal cyclist
The aftermath of the accident
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our days after a pedal cyclist was killed by a speeding Toyota Tacoma pick-up, the driver was on Monday remanded to prison for causing death by dangerous driving. The defendant, Kareem Akidu Isiah McFee, a Trinidadian-national of Oronoque Street, Queenstown, was arraigned before Magistrate Malissa Mittleholzer in the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts, East Coast Demerara, where the charge was read to him.He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on September 3, 2020, at Rupert Craig H i g h w a y, E a s t C o a s t Demerara, he drove motor vehicle GTT 8153, in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the
death of Navindra Doray, 42, of Block F, North Sophia, Georgetown. After the charge was read to the defendant, Magistrate Mittleholzer remanded him to prison and the matter was adjourned to September 28, 2020. According to a police report, the fatal accident occurred around 13:15hrs in the vicinity of Yokohama Trading Incorporated and Rubis Gas Station. Kaieteur News understands that the defendant was allegedly speeding along the highway towards the direction of G e o rg e t o w n w h e n h e decided to overtake a car on the western-side of the southern carriageway. As result, he slammed into the cyclist from behind who was also riding along the same side of the road.
The impact flung the cyclist some distance away and the driver of the pick-up lost control. The vehicle then crashed into the wall of Yokohama Trading, damaging two cars on showcase at the dealership. It toppled a few times before coming to a halt next to where the pedal cyclist had landed.Persons close by along with those who had stopped to render assistance summoned an ambulance, which arrived shortly after. Paramedics pronounced the cyclist dead while the driver and other occupants of the pick-up were rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). While the defendant was taken to a private hospital, the body of deceased was taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour.
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Friday September 11, 2020
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...World Athletics publishes Annual Report
Friday September 11, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your health should be in top shape today, Aries. You're likely to feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually strong and ready to tap into your inner power.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Artistic talents are greatly increased by fresh, deeply felt inspiration. Today you may spend much of your time giving material form to your ideas.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You're good at dealing with others, but today you should be especially so. Your intuition is strong and you're likely to instinctively understand others' thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Artistic talents are greatly increased by fresh, deeply felt inspiration. Today you may spend much of your time giving material form to your ideas.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You generally are good at sizing up other people and sensing their thoughts and feelings, but today that talent is greatly enhanced by increased intuition. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Communication with close friends and a romantic partner should be especially beneficial today, since you're feeling more in touch with those close to you. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Recent successes could lead to new aspirations to increase your socioeconomic standing. You should be feeling especially determined and confident about your future. Your plans have worked out well. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Normally you tend to view things on a logical, intellectual level, Virgo, but today the strength of your intuition could surprise you. Your communications could be subtler than words.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) During this time, you'll feel especially intuitive, optimistic, and spiritually on a roll. You could feel artistically inspired, and channel some of your newfound awareness into recently started projects. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Online group activities that you attend today are likely to be spiritually oriented, such as group meditations. You could communicate with new friends from faraway places who share your interests. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Some vivid and wonderful dreams might provide inspiration for future creative projects. You're feeling cheerful and optimistic now, and your enthusiasm is likely to continue. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Some vivid and wonderful dreams might provide inspiration for future creative projects. You're feeling cheerful and optimistic now, and your enthusiasm is likely to continue.
From page 29 will be a time to build our sport and our reputation as the No.1 Olympic sport from the ground up. “The appointment of our new CEO, Jon Ridgeon, in 2019 has seen a renewed and successful drive on the revenue front and a robust approach to reviewing processes and priorities across the business to ensure the organisation lives within its means and is able to cut costs to meet the changing environment we all find ourselves in. Driving unnecessary costs out of the business by working smarter and committing revenue only when it is necessary is already paying dividends and will continue to do so over the coming years,” adds Coe. “It seems somewhat surreal to be sitting in the world we find ourselves in today and writing a report on last year. A year when we hadn’t yet heard of Covid-19 or witnessed the devastating impact it would have on all our lives, and of course our sport. “ We h a v e h a d t o postpone many of our main Wo r l d A t h l e t i c s S e r i e s events in 2020, pushing them out to 2021 and 2022. Our season of Diamond League, Continental Tour, World Challenge one-day meetings and our road race season have all been massively disrupted. The impact of postponing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has also impacted our events with our World Athletics Championships Oregon21 now moving to 2022. But in March we became determined to use this time to create a late season of one-day meetings to enable athletes to continue training and have some competition experience in 2020 and we are grateful for all the support, innovation and hard work of those meeting organisers, our athletes, Member Federations, Council, Executive Board and our HQ team. I am confident that together, guided by our new four-year strategic plan, we will grow the sport we all love and cherish, even in these particularly trying times.”
Navid Afkari: Bach ‘extremely concerned’ at Iran wrestler death sentence BBCsport - International Olympics Committee president Thomas Bach is “extremely concerned” about the death sentence passed down on an Iranian champion wrestler who took part in protests two years ago. Navid Afkari, 27, was handed two death sentences over the murder of a security guard during protests in Shiraz. But there are concerns his confession was extracted under torture. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump urged Iran not to execute Akfari. Bach said: “We have to respect the sovereignty and the judicial system of sovereign countries. But on the other hand, Navid Afkari is an athlete and therefore we feel close to him. “This is why the IOC together with United World Wrestling [amateur wrestling’s international governing body] were and are extremely concerned about this case.” Bach said Iran’s wrestling federation and the country’s Olympic committee were also “doing their utmost to facilitate a solution” of Afkari’s case. Afkari’s brothers Vahid and Habib were sentenced to 54 and 27 years in prison in the same case, according to
human rights activists in Iran. A number of international wrestling figures and activists have also called for the brothers’ release, and a petition calling for Afkari’s life to be spared has been signed more than 10,000 times. The World Players Association which represents athletes across sport globally - has called on the head of the Iranian judiciary to grant an immediate stay of execution to Afkari. An Iranian state television-linked news agency confirmed Thursday that Navid Afkari had been sentenced to death. In 2018, protesters in cities across Iran took to the streets over economic hardship and political repression. Further demonstrations took place late last year in protest against fuel price rises. More than 7,000 people, including children as young as 10, were arrested in the crackdown that followed the 2019 unrest, according to Amnesty International. Hundreds of protesters were killed, while those who survived were physically and sexually abused, a report released last week found.
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Tour de France 2020: Sunweb’s Marc Hirschi wins his first Tour stage
Marc Hirschi joined Sunweb in 2019 @Getty Images BBCsport - Switzerland’s Marc Hirschi produced a superb solo break to record his first professional win on stage 12 of the Tour de France. Hirschi, 22, went clear with 28km remaining of the 218km ride from Chauvigny to Sarran. The Sunweb rider had led for more than 80km of Sunday’s ninth stage before finishing third. Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic retained his overall lead on a quiet day in the general classification race. He finished safely in the main bunch two minutes and 30 seconds behind Hirschi, alongside the defending champion Egan Bernal, to maintain his 21-second advantage over the Colombian. Hirschi, who is participating in his first Grand Tour, also finished on the podium on stage two, when he was second. But his acceleration away from Movistar’s Marc Soler, on the final climb of the day up the Suc au May, paved the way for his maiden win at the Tour. “It’s unbelievable. Two times, I’ve been really close. I never thought I could win today,” Hirschi said. “I went full gas in the last few hundred metres. I can’t describe my feelings. I’m lost for words. I had in my mind the picture of the last two times when I lost. To get my first professional victory at the Tour de France could not be any better. “In the Pyrenees, I got the confidence for trying to win today, otherwise I would have never attacked solo in that
climb. “What I did last week gave me this extra power.” Meanwhile, Sam Bennett retained the green jersey and has a 66-point lead over seven-time winner Peter Sagan as the race heads back into the mountains. Today’s 13th stage sees the riders face seven categorised climbs on the 191.5km route from Chatel-Guyon to Puy Mary. Stage 12 result: 1. Marc Hirschi (Swi/Sunweb) 5hrs 08mins 49secs, 2. Pierre Rolland (Fra/B&B HotelsVital Concept) +47secs, 3. Soren Kragh Andersen (Den/ Sunweb) +52secs, 4. Quentin Pacher (Fra/B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) Same time, 5. Jesus Herrada (Spa/Cofidis), 6. Maximilian Schachmann (Ger/ Bora-Hansgrohe), 7. Hugo Houle (Can/Astana), 8. Sebastien Reichenbach (Swi/ Groupama-FDJ), 9.Kenny Elissonde (Fra/TrekSegafredo) +56secs, 10. Nicolas Roche (Ire/Sunweb) Same time. General classification after stage 12: 1. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Jumbo-Visma) 51hrs 26mins 43secs, 2. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos Grenadiers) +21secs, 3. Guillaume Martin (Fra/Cofidis) +28secs, 4. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R-La Mondiale) +30secs, 5. Nairo Quintana (Col/Arkea-Samsic) +32secs, 6. Rigoberto Uran (Col/EF Pro Cycling) Same time, 7. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/ UAE-Team Emirates) +44secs, 8. Adam Yates (GB/ Mitchelton-Scott) +1mins 02secs, 9. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col/Astana) +1mins 15secs, 10. Mikel Landa (Spa/Bahrain McLaren) +1mins 42secs
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Perfect TKR Power To Title CPL - Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo ensured Trinbago Knight Riders completed the first perfect season in franchise T20 history with an unbroken partnership of 138 off 88 balls, the highest of Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020 and the highest ever in a final. The St Lucia Zouks put up what seemed a competitive total, but ultimately a loss of 7/39 off the last 32 balls of their innings cost them dearly against this history-making Knight Riders squad. Rakheem Cornwall swept Akeal Hosein for four but was lucky to edge over DJ Bravo at slip. Knight Riders captain Kieron Pollard gave the second over to Ali Khan, and Ali responded by flattening Cornwall’s middle stump. Andre Fletcher clipped fine for four, the Zouks thus closing the second over at 16/ 1. Mark Deyal slog-swept Hosein for two fours, and Fletcher was aggressive against Sikandar Raza, taking him over cover and long-on for Hero Maximums then cutting for four. Khary Pierre went for just five, but Fletcher twice smoked Ali through cover for four and the Zouks motored to 60/1 off the
Powerplay. Deyal lofted Pierre over cover for four and launched Pollard for six, but struggled to combat Fawad Ahmed’s googly and edged to DJ Bravo at slip. Hosein returned with a tight over, and at halfway the Knight Riders had slowed the Zouks to 79/ 2. Roston Chase clipped through midwicket for four early in Fawad’s second over, which went for 10, but Fletcher’s assault ended as he aimed Pollard down the ground but found only Darren Bravo at long-off. Najibullah Zadran slashed his first ball for four, and the over went for seven to leave the Zouks in need of a partnership at 79/3 off 12 overs. While Chase slog-swept the last ball of Pierre’s over for a Hero Maximum, he and Mohammad Nabi fell within four balls, the former chipping a Pollard cutter to deep-mid on and the latter clubbing Fawad to long-off. Zouks captain Daren Sammy smashed his second ball for a Hero Maximum, and after 15 overs the Zouks were 123/5. Despite a Najibullah four, Ali’s return over went for just six, and Sammy should have fallen to Hosein but Ali badly
misjudged the catch. Najibullah flicked Hosein for a delightful Hero Maximum over cover, but Hosein recovered to dismiss Sammy LBW. After 17 overs, the Zouks were 138/6. DJ Bravo was unable to bowl, and so Pollard had to step up at the death and did so admirably, picking up two wickets with his off-cutter. First Javelle Glenn looped to backward point, then Najibullah failed to clear Raza at deep backward square off another cutter. Kesrick Williams was run out, Ali Khan bowled Zahir Khan with a perfect yorker, and the Knight Riders had bowled the Zouks out for a decent rather than dominant total. Simmons pulled Scott Kuggeleijn for four first ball of the chase, becoming Hero CPL’s all-time leading runscorer in doing so. Webster swept Nabi for four but then top-edged off Chase, Williams taking a fine catch. After three overs, the Knight Riders were 14/1. Tim Seifert got off the mark with a four off Kuggeleijn, but fell edging behind next ball. Darren Bravo too got off the mark with a boundary, a glorious lofted Hero Maximum over long-on off Chase, and Simmons took
...FIFA President and former US AG From page 31 confederations, this year’s FIFA Compliance Summit is the third edition of the event and will see participants take part in a range of working sessions and panel discussions designed to share knowledge and best practice, as well as emerging trends, in the field of compliance. Separated into two parts including opening and closing sessions, which will be streamed live on FIFA.com, and dedicated virtual workshops for FIFA member associations and the confederations, this year’s summit will also see several leading voices from football and other sectors join the discussion. Alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who will open the summit, former US Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch has been confirmed as a keynote speaker on Monday, 12 October. The first-ever FIFA Compliance Handbook will also be presented. This new handbook is aimed at providing confederations and member associations with a practical, interactive
Loretta E. Lynch
Gianni Infantino
and simple document that outlines the basic principles and benefits of implementing compliance systems in sport federations. It consists of scalable building blocks that stakeholders can use to develop a compliance programme that better meets their organisational needs. Speaking ahead of the 3rd FIFA Compliance Summit, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said: “Underlining FIFA’s commitment to strengthening good governance and compliance in football, the FIFA Compliance Summit plays a key role in engaging FIFA member associations and
confederations, helping to share knowledge between practitioners and experts as well as discuss emerging trends and the challenges that football is currently facing. “With football continuing to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in many parts of the world, we are delighted to be able to host this year ’s FIFA Compliance Summit in a virtual format for the very first time, as well as announce several worldleading experts who will share their knowledge and experience throughout the summit.”
Historic victory sealed CPL via Getty Images. fours straight, fine down the leg side and backward of point off Williams’ first over to close the Powerplay with the Knight Riders 40/2. Chase and Nabi put the pressure on, going for just five between them, and Simmons and Bravo both struggled against Zahir. When Simmons did take on the big shot though he nailed it over the fence, and at halfway the Knight Riders were 59/2 and needed 96 more to win. Sammy brought himself on and bowled five good deliveries, but Bravo smashed the sixth for a Hero Maximum, and Simmons pulled Williams for a six then cut him for four, becoming Hero CPL 2020’s leading runscorer and bringing up his 50 off just 31 balls. Bravo though continued to struggle against Chase, who closed out a superb spell. After 13 overs, Bravo was just 23 off 32 balls, and the Knight Riders needed almost
10 an over, but he eased both of those equations somewhat with two Hero Maximums off Glenn. Williams’s third over went for nine thanks to two wides and a loose short ball, and the Knight Riders entered the last five overs needing 45 with eight wickets still in hand. Kuggeleijn managed to go for just four off the 16th despite starting with a wide, but Simmons targeted Zahir, taking him for four off the first and six off the second. Bravo added two big Hero Maximums, the second bringing up his 50 off 45 balls. Suddenly, the Knight Riders needed just 18. Simmons was not going to hang around now, walloping Kuggeleijn for a Hero Maximum over midwicket then clubbing him over cover and slicing him through third man for two fours. The winning runs came off an inside edge, but there was now no denying the Knight Riders’ domination of
Hero CPL 2020. All season, the Knight Riders had absorbed the loss of key personnel - Colin Munro fractured his hand, Ali Khan missed games, Narine had kidney stones removed and was unable to play the final with a knee injury. But perhaps the 12th and final win is the greatest measure of how great a squad Pollard and Brendon McCullum have built - victory was achieved two wickets down, with 11 balls to spare, without DJ Bravo bowling or Pollard batting. The Knight Riders had come together in the bubble, and emerged from it to achieve something truly monumental. Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 157/2 (Simmons 84*, DM Bravo 58*; Chase 1/13, Kuggeleijn 1/30) beat St Lucia Zouks 154 all out (Fletcher 39, Deyal 29, Najibullah 24, Chase 22; Pollard 4/30, Fawad 2/22, Ali Khan 2/25, Hosein 1/26) by 8 wickets.
World Athletics publishes Annual Report As part of the 2019 Constitution; World Athletics stated that it would produce publicly available financial statements as part of its ongoing efforts to deliver greater transparency. The financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2019 were filed in line with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and approved by an auditing firm. The 2019 consolidated financial accounts mark the end of our four-year funding cycle with cash reserves of
US$34.3m at 31 December 2019. Significant investment in reforms, governance and integrity drove increased expenditure over the last four years as Council and World Athletics chose to maintain spend in competitions and increase development grants, through the Athletics Olympic Dividend, to Member Federations. A root-and-branch review of all HQ expenditure during 2018 and 2019 led to HQ staff freezes and excess costs cut from across the organisation. The benefits of many of these decisions will be seen from 2020 onwards. New commercial
partnerships with QNB (2018), The Wanda Sport Group (2019) and a renegotiation of the Dentsu partnership have gone some way to filling the revenue gap left by partners exiting the sport following the high profile revelations associated with the previous administration. “These 2019 consolidated financial accounts come at the end of a tough and turbulent four years for our sport,” says World Athletics President Sebastian Coe in his opening message in the report. “But if the last four years have been a time for change, the next four years (Continued on page 27)
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Kaieteur News
Friday September 11, 2020
Zouks were 20 runs short but pushed Raptors force Game 7, beat Celtics in 2-OT thriller TKR all the way - Darren Sammy
Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) makes a three pointer against Boston Celtics center Daniel Theis (27) in the second overtime period in game six of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports OG Anunoby nailed a goahead 3-pointer with 57.5 seconds left in double overtime as the Toronto Raptors held on to beat the Boston Celtics 125-122 Wednesday night to force Game 7 in their Eastern Conference semifinal series near Orlando. Norman Powell completed a three-point play for a fourpoint lead with 38.8 ticks remaining and added two more from the line in the final five seconds as Toronto held off a late Boston push. Six Raptors scored in double figures, led by Kyle Lowry with 33 points. Powell had 23 and Fred VanVleet 21. Jaylen Brown had 31 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Celtics, and Marcus Smart had 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in his second career triple-double.
Jayson Tatum (29 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists) fell an assist short of his first tripledouble. Kemba Walker scored just five points on 2-of-11 shooting. Game 7 will take place Friday night. The winner will advance to face the Miami Heat in the conference finals. Tatum hit a 3-pointer to get Boston within one with 6.2 seconds left in the second overtime. After Powell’s two free throws, Smart missed a chance at a game-tying triple with 1.5 seconds to go. The Raptors led 106-104 in the first overtime before Lowry fouled Brown with 18.9 seconds remaining. Brown made both free throws, and Powell missed a 3-pointer with a second left as the game continued. Down by seven early in the fourth quarter, the Celtics
rode a 12-4 spurt to an 89-88 lead. Lowry answered with a pair from deep, and the Raptors led 94-89 with 6:20 remaining. A Daniel Theis bucket and subsequent dunk tied the game at 98 with 2 minutes left. The score held until overtime, with Walker and Pascal Siakam missing chances at game-winners in the final 4 seconds of regulation. VanVleet nailed three free throws and a pair of 3-pointers unanswered as the Raptors surged ahead 6762 with 6:58 left in the third quarter. Toronto hadn’t led since 11:01 of the first prior to the stretch. The Raptors ended the third up 81-77. The Celtics rode a 7-0 run early in the second quarter to the game’s first double-digit lead, 36-25. Boston entered the half up 52-48. (Field Level Media)
NBA draft could be delayed again The 2020 NBA Draft could be moved back a month under a proposal agreed to by the NBA and National Basketball Players Association, according to multiple reports Wednesday. The draft is set to be held Oct. 16, but Nov. 18 is the new possible date, and it will be discussed in meetings with league owners and general managers on Thursday and Friday, ESPN reported. By delaying the draft, the NBA and the players union would have additional time to amend certain aspects of the
collective bargaining agreement and settle upon a 2020-21 salary cap and luxury tax, ESPN reported. Moving draft day also would shift the opening of free agency, currently set for Oct. 18, and push back the start of the 2020-21 season, though ESPN said a memo detailing the draft proposal does not address free agency. The draft originally was scheduled for June 25 but was pushed to October because of the coronavirus pandemic. Once the NBA playoffs conclude in the
bubble near Orlando, teams can get to work scouting draft prospects. Instead of holding a combine at one site, the NBA is expected to stage smaller regional combines that would be shared virtually. Next season tentatively was scheduled to begin Dec. 1, but that will be moved if NBA owners approve new dates for the draft and the start of free agency. The league’s hope is to play a full season of 82 games, with at least some fans in arenas. (Field Level Media)
Sportsmax - St Lucia Zouks Captain Darren Sammy said his team fell several runs short of what was required to achieve victory against the Trinbago Knight Riders in yesterday’s final of the 2020 Hero CPL. The Zouks, first-time finalists posted a competitive score of 154 off 19.1 overs, thanks to Andre Fletcher’s top score of 39 and scores of 29 from Mark Deyal, 24 from Roston Chase, and 24 from Najibullah Zadran. However, the total was not nearly enough as TKR smashed their way to victory with 11 balls to spare. Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo posted an unbroken thirdwicket partnership of 138 to lead their side to their fourth CPL title. Sammy, in his post-match comments, lamented that the Zouks did not get more runs after being in a strong position of 77 for 2 in the ninth over of their innings. “We thought we were about 15-20 runs short from the start we had. Plus, we didn’t complete our batting innings and when you play against a side like TKR you have to make sure you at least make full use of your overs. But we still felt we had enough when we put them under pressure in the first six overs,” he said. “But these guys, Bravo and Simmons, have played so much together; they absorbed the pressure and put it back on us.”
St Lucia Zouks Captain Darren Sammy Despite the outcome, Sammy said the Zouks fought bravely and put in a solid shift against the now four-time champions. “I think we really pushed TKR in all three games we played against them in the tournament and I’m really proud of that,” he said. “The message from the last few days is we never quit. The whole nation was behind us. We’re very disappointed but we have shown that if we play a brand of cricket, we’ll get results. I think we’ve put our hands up this tournament.” The former West Indies captain said, however, that there were other positives to take from the final. “Of course
when you lose a final you think about things you could have done differently. Maybe I should have been more sure about the decision I wanted to take towards the end. But we’ve been resilient, we showed commitment and we played a brand of cricket that shows you don’t need superstars. For eight years we have been trying to get to the final and we got here,” he said. “Congratulations to Kieron Pollard and his team and I really want to thank CPL to have cricket in this time. We created an opportunity in the Caribbean for people to smile. And thanks to my team for the way they have turned up.”
Pavic, Soares claim U.S. Open men’s doubles crown New York (Reuters) Croatia’s Mate Pavic and Brazil’s Bruno Soares captured the U.S. Open men’s doubles crown with a 7-5 6-3 win over eighth seeds Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Nikola Mektic of Croatia yesterday. In their first Grand Slam men’s doubles final as a team, Pavic did damage with his powerful serve while Soares did well to force their opponents into difficult shots and they sealed the win when Mektic sent a backhand volley into the net. “That’s what we practise for and that’s what we were trying to do during those five months off, working for this moment,” Soares, who won the Australian Open and U.S. Open men’s doubles titles in 2016 with Jamie Murray, said during the trophy presentation.A key moment in the match came with Mektic serving at 5-6 15-40 in the first
Men’s doubles winners M. Pavic (CRO) and B. Soares (BRA) on day eleven of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports set when Koolhof missed a forehand volley that would have forced a tiebreak. Pavic and Soares went on to grab the next three points to close out the set. The CroatianBrazilian duo’s road to the final was far from routine as they rallied from a break down in the third set of their firstround clash and then in the
second round had to stand tall as their opponents tried to serve for the match. “We got through tough moments throughout the week,” said Pavic, who won the 2018 Australian Open men’s doubles title with Oliver Marach. “Very happy to be here lifting the title, great tournament.”
Friday September 11, 2020
Kaieteur News
Sports associations calls for nationwide unity Yesterday, a joint release from various sport bodies was circulated to the media urging Guyanese to unite to cease and desist from ‘senseless killings’ that has occurred recently. The message, which was signed by eleven (11) sports organisations, read, “We, the National sports Federations/Associations of Guyana, call on the nation to unite and condemn the senseless killings that have taken place on the West Coast of Berbice. We are deeply troubled by the gruesome and violent nature of these murders and wish to extend our condolences to the families and love ones of the deceased.” “We call on the Law Enforcement authorities to conduct a thorough and swift investigation into these killings and to hold accountable those responsible. We also call on all Guyanese, regardless of ethnicity, religious or political affiliation, to exercise restraint by not indulging in any form of
insightful, violent or retaliatory behavior. While we are all still hurting from these events, the time to stop this senseless violence is now.” It was signed by Aubrey Hutson: President Athletic Association of Guyana, Gokran Ramdhani: President of Guyana Badminton Association, Michael Singh: President of Guyana Basketball Federation, Steve Ninvalle: President of Guyana Boxing Association, Wayne Forde:
President of Guyana Football Federation, Aleem H us s ain: P res ident of Guyana Golf Association, Philip Fernandes: President of Guyana Hockey Board, Gavin Singh: President of Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation, David Fernandes: President of Guyana Squash Association, Samuel Barakat: President o f G u y a n a Te n n i s Association, Godfrey Munroe: President of G u y a n a Ta b l e Te n n i s Association.
FIFA President and former US AG, Loretta E. Lynch, to open 3rd FIFA Compliance Summit In line with its continued commitment to promoting good governance and c o m p l i a n c e i n confederations, member associations and across f o o t b a l l , F I FA t o d a y announced the agenda and keynote speakers who will participate in the third e d i t i o n o f t h e F I FA
Compliance Summit, which will take place this year in a virtual format from 12 to 16 October. Bringing together governance and compliance experts and practitioners from across football, including FIFA member associations and the (Continued on page 29)
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Perfect TKR Power To Title
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Darren Bravo and Lendl Simmons added an unbeaten 138 for the third wicket ©Getty Images
Kieron Pollard with the CPL 2020 trophy after leading Trinbago Knight Riders to 12 wins in 12 matches ©Getty Images Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.