Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Saturday September 12, 2020

New date set for Lowenfield case as DPP a no-show T

he matter against t h e C h i e f E l e c t i o n s Officer(CEO), Keith Lowenfield was postponed until October 9, 2020, after a representative from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), failed to appear in court yesterday. Lowenfield and one of his attorneys, Senior Counsel, Neil Boston appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty for the continuation of the criminal charges that were filed against him. The charges allege fraud, misconduct in public office, and breach of public's trust. The criminal charges were filed against Lowenfield on June 30, 2020, by People's Progressive Party (PPP) member, Desmond Morian, and The New Movement Party (TNM) executive, Dr. Daniel Josh Kanhai.

The first charge alleged that Lowenfield, between the 5th day of March and 23rd day of June, 2020, at Georgetown, conspired with person(s) unknown to commit the common law offence of fraud, to wit, by representing to the Guyana Elections Commission that tables attached to his Election Report dated 23rd June, 2020, accurately reflected the true results of the said election, in order to materially alter the results of the said election, with intent to defraud, knowing the said tabulation to be false. The second charge stated that between the 5th day of March and 23rd day of June, 2020, while performing his duty as the Chief Elections Officer of The Guyana Elections Commission, without lawful excuse or justification, willfully misconducted himself at Georgetown, by ascertaining results of the 2nd March, 2020 General and Regional Elections for Guyana

knowing the said results to be false, the said willful misconduct amounting to a breach of the public's trust in the Office of the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission. The third charge alleges that Lowenfield accepted falsified figures from the District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, knowing that the said figures do not match the results from the National Recount. The particulars of that charge allege that Lowenfield, between the 5th day of March and 23rd day of June, 2020, at Georgetown, conspired with person(s) unknown to commit common law fraud, to wit, by representing to the Guyana Elections Commission, that tables attached to his Election Report dated 14th day of March, 2020 accurately reflected the true results of the said election, in order to materially alter the results of

the said election, with intent to defraud, knowing the said tabulation to be false. Lowenfield is currently out on a total of $450,000, bail for the criminal charges. A c c o r d i n g t o information, yesterday was set for the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C, to make a decision on the way forward for the charges. However, after the DPP failed to make an appearance the matter was adjourned and the trial is expected to commence on October 26, 2020. While speaking to reporters yesterday, attorney Boston said three statements were presented to the court by attorney-at-law Glenn Hanoman who is representing one of the complainants. He added that Hanoman asked for one month to file additional statements and the Magistrate set October 9, 2020, as the final date for the prosecution to disclose all statements in the matter. Boston also stated that the prosecution does not have evidence to support the charges that were filed against his client and as such

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield (right), and Senior Counsel, Neil Boston, leaving court he will be seeking a dismissal. On the previous hearing of the matter, a representative from the D P P ' s o ff i c e , Ta r i q u e Mohamed, informed the court that the DPP has intervened in the matter and

that on the next hearing a decision would be made on the way forward. As such, the matter was adjourned awaiting the decision of the DPP. Last month, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) (continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Saturday September 12, 2020

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Justice will be swift for slain West Coast Berbice teens, Prittipaul Hargobin- Pres. Ali President Ali with the relatives of Pritipaul Hargobin

President Ali meets with relatives of Haresh Singh

P

resident Ali yesterday met with the families of the slain West Coast Berbice teens Isaiah and Joel

Henry and Haresh Singh along with the family of Prittipaul Hargobin to personally assure them of Government's firm support

President Ali meets with Joel Henry's mother

in bringing the killers to justice. He assured the relatives that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that the

perpetrators responsible for the heinous crimes made to answer for their crimes. "On behalf of the people of Guyana and my own

“It wasn't me in the Roger Khan sex video� - woman claims

T

he close female associate of Shaheed Roger Khan fingered in the recent release of his sex video has reportedly denied any involvement in the cybercrime. Her denial comes just one day after popular businessman, Azruddin Mohammed was arrested, questioned and later released on bail for his alleged involvement in the incident. According to reports, the woman told police in her official statement that she shared a relationship with Khan prior to his incarceration. However, she has had no contact with him sexually since his return to Guyana in September last. The woman denied any involvement in the release of the video. It was only last week that Khan had filed an official police report with the Cybercrimes Unit after the short video of him went viral on social media. The investigation was then passed over to the Criminal Investigations Department. In his statement to police, Khan said that on August 31, the female associate (name given) along with two other friends came over to his home and later that evening, he and the woman engaged in sexual intercourse. During intercourse, Khan said the woman held a phone but he paid no mind to it and continued with his activity. He told police that the

Shaheed Roger Khan very next day 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 named, Khan said she informed him that the businessman had taken possession of her phone and found the video.

Azruddin Mohamed

She reportedly told Khan that she received a beating and the video was then released to a number of her friends and close associates. In her report to police, the woman denied Khan's account. Khan had told Kaieteur News that the leaked video may have been in connection with a two-year long land

dispute involving him and the businessman. Kaieteur News reached out to Mohammed for a comment on the allegations. He referred this publication to his attorney who told Kaieteur News that her client denies the claims. The investigation continues.

behalf and that of my family and Government, I want to again express my condolences to you and your family,� President Ali said. He also pledged to work tirelessly to ensure that the resolution of the investigation is given the

h i g h e s t p r i o r i t y. H e reiterated, "I will work day and night to get to the bottom of what happened to those teens." President Ali also used the opportunity to urge all residents and community (continued on page 16)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday September 12, 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 .

Leadership within the current crisis

The past week has been the most taxing, the most straining on the beautiful but tenuous fabric of this society. Buffeted by the post electoral madness, the burgeoning existential threat of COVID-19, and the slowdown in the economy, beginning last weekend this country had a stark demonstration on how deeply the racial animus still smoulders, ready to explode. To be clear, social upheaval in the wake of brutality is a natural and sometimes necessary reaction. The triggering incident, the murder and mutilation of teenage cousins, Joel and Isaiah Henry, is one that should have been met with outrage. And that outrage should have been met with responsible, strong, competent leadership. However, when Leader of the Peoples National Congress David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, visited the grieving families, what should have been commiseration with their loss and a basic pledge for support towards ensuring justice, was burdened with disgustingly partisan politicking. Granger spoke curiously of the need to establish what sounded like private village militia, while Harmon of course supported that call, referring to Granger in the present tense as “President” and speaking about the “illegal” PPP government. There is no direct link that can be made between the comments by Granger and Harmon and the escalation that followed but it is not lost on even the average observer that a government contingent that subsequently went up to the area was treated with intense hostility from the protestors. What was attempted by the two top men in the opposition was a dangerous rhetoric of a parallel government and a parallel citizenship and a parallel state security apparatus, after a contentious electoral process in which they spent five months seeking to delegitimize a clear loss as an incumbent government. For his part, President Irfaan Ali, after an arguably slow initial response at reaching out to the families, one no doubt complicated by the Granger-Harmon visit, has caught up and visited not only the families of the Henry boys, who have welcomed the visit, but also the family of murdered teen, Haresh Singh, who was also brutally cut down even as the West Coast flared in the wake of the deaths of Joel and Isaiah. The President has over the past two days demonstrated the sort of leadership that is required of him on this issue, including addressing frontally the use of social media to spread the rhetoric of racial division and hatred. It cannot escape him that he is not only the primary power in a polity that has been based on division for the past 70 years, but he is part of a political machinery that has been an active participant in perpetuating that division in concert with the machinery now led by Granger. In the upcoming weeks, President Alis integrity and commitment toward bridging the divide will be tested and whether he fails or succeeds in that test will be the defining point of his leadership. That said, he has stepped up so far and should be commended for it. That said, the leadership that has stood out in the midst of this crisis is that of PNC Chairwoman, Ms. Volda Lawrence. It should be established before anything else that Lawrence credentials as a PNC stalwart and someone who has remained in staunch opposition to the PPP cannot be questioned. Still, in contrast to the combative and deceptive bait and switch attempted by her fellow party leaders, Lawrence in her response to this explosive crisis has been both strong and conciliatory. She has visited the families, offered them tangible help, called for justice for the boys, without once politicizing the issues. Lawrence not only joined peaceful protests along the coast and in Georgetown but called directly for an end to violent upheavals and the targeting of innocent people. And, as quickly as they flared up, all the protests stopped, violent or otherwise. Even in the wake of this, there was no capitulation on her part on the critical issues. In her statement acknowledging the response to her call to end the violence, Lawrence pressed on:

I did not accuse the protestors of the killing of Haresh Singh DEAR EDITOR, I acknowledge the views as expressed in Freddie Kissoon’s column, carried in yesterday’s (11 September 2020) Kaieteur Newspaper, under the headline “Volda Lawrence has shown phenomenal courage and leadership”.(https:// www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2020/09/11/volda-lawrence-hasshown-phenomenal-courage-and-leadership/) As I express my appreciation for Freddie’s kind words, I wish to correct the following statement he made: “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.” I wish to correct the aforementioned statement because, I never accused the protestors of killing Haresh Singh. I firmly condemned such actions i.e. the killing of Haresh Singh (and Joel

and Isaiah Henry) but I never laid blame on an individual or group of individuals for his death. The public and myself included, remain unaware of who are the suspected perpetrator(s) responsible for Haresh’s death and as such it would be irresponsible for any accusations to be made, until the Guyana Police Force reports on the findings of its investigation. At all times, we must act responsibly, as we utilize our various platforms, to share our views, opinions and messages. We should not underestimate the weight our words carry and how they may affect the people who read them. As such I am hereby requesting that the previously mentioned statement be corrected. Thank you. Yours truly, Mrs. Volda Lawrence, Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform

FOCUS ON OIL $ INSTEAD OF ETHNIC RAGE DEAR EDITOR, Instead of focusing their attention on how to increase oil revenues to enrich the country, regrettably, people are engaging in ethnic rage, fighting each other over virtually nothing – I mean coconuts and husks and territorial space to grow weed which lands people in jail and attract the attention of US anti-drug agency. While they are fighting over nothing, outsiders are running away with the oil $, over US$1.25 billion this year and billions more come next year. Guyana gets less than 10 percent of revenues (when expenses are deducted) and the foreigners more than 90% for themselves and shareholders. Guyanese are the owners of the oil and they get virtually nothing for it. Political leaders from the preceding government signed away the nation’s inheritance. And now people want President Irfaan Ali to magically clean up the mess left behind by failed politicians. If our share of oil increases, say to 20% of revenues or more, we don’t have to worry about picking dried coconuts, partaking in revenge killings, planting ganja, engaging in choke and rob and kick down robberies, blocking roads to hustle illegal tolls, and sowing social discord. With that kind of oil revenues expected from next year, every Guyanese could get large cash grants with a lot remaining for national development. Guyana’s development will take off like a jet engine. We will become a Hong Kong or a Singapore or Taiwan by the end of the decade. People must not listen to

discredited politicians who governed terribly for five years after being given a one in a lifetime opportunity to administer a good government. That same set of crooked politicians is ‘encouraging’ supporters to engage in an orgy of ethnic violence and robbing people to sow discord so as to direct attention away from their terrible governance and electoral fraud. All politicians and the population at large need to get their act together and focus on the big prize, the oil $. Opposition politicians must stop politicizing violence and using supporters for race baiting to shore up individual or party base of support. Credit goes to Volda Lawrence for appealing to Africans to stop the violence against Indians. On the murder of the two Henry boys, it was clearly it was not race or politics related. The father of one of the boy’s asked PNC supporters not to engage in any revenge acts because it was not race related. He said he had excellent relations with Indians in the neighbourhoods and that they were helpful to him. It appeared that the killings were not praedial larceny related. Sources say regular farmers had nothing to do with the killing. The people held for questioning could not have done those killings. Anyone who studies criminology would recognize right away that the manner in which the Henry boys were killed and the revenge killing of Haresh Singh had some deep link with organized crime. There were signs about the bodies that gave hints about the nature of the crime.

“Considering all that has transpired, I call on the Government and the Guyana Police Force to act with urgency to bring the perpetrators for these gruesome murders to justice. The families of the victims need closure, their communities need closure, I need closure and Guyana needs to heal. The people will not accept any outcome that is void of justice and we, the people, wish to make this very pellucid. Therefore the opportunity to deliver justice should not be squandered, to protect and/or hide wicked people from the full brunt of the law.” What is important in all this is that Lawrence has demon-

The police and national security officials should have picked up the signs very early if they knew much about patterns of crime. In sociology, there is subfield called Criminology where one is taught to look for signs of anything unusual about a murder. Crime scenes and bodies are littered with evidence. Forensic experts and criminologists could right away form tentative conclusions about a crime. (I am not a criminologist although I took courses in the subject when I did a PhD in Sociology). As soon as I saw pictures of the gruesome killings, I looked at the cut marks and I knew right away they were not ordinary killings of farmers protecting their property. There was something deep about the cuts and the killings. A message was being sent as is normal in these kinds of killings. I told friends that much when we discussed the brutality of the chopping, ghastly appearance of the bodies. The killers were sending a message. The chopping of the Indian kid was somewhat of ‘a revenge’ but it also had another message and it was carried to deflect the motif behind the Henry killings. A criminologist would have known. How could the police (detectives, investigators, intelligence gathering) and security officials not known early about the nature of the killings? They should have had intelligence from people on the ground Investigators must look at all angles. The truth would come out soon. When protests began very early by political entrepreneurs, why weren’t police,

para-military and GDF mobilized very early and posted on locations? Didn’t the authorities expect political opportunists to exploit the situation to create mayhem? Any sociologist or political scientist or national security expert would have predicted violence and revenge killings. Why weren’t deterrent actions taken? Heavily armed forces should have patrolled the area from day one to rein in the race baiters. The authorities should have made an example of those engaged in criminal acts and race violence. On the violence, Ruel Johnson is right in stating that beating, robbing, and killing Indians, damaging their properties, and molesting (raping) Indian girls are not acts of liberating Africans. Those who engaged in and promoted such acts must be condemned and brought to justice. Evidence is available on videos. Examples must be made of them including politicians to prevent the country from descending into a crescendo of communal violence and inferno. The police and Home Affairs need to step up their investigative and intelligence agencies to detect crimes and to take deterrent actions. Security agencies need to work closely with experts at the Sociology Department at UG or consult security experts from the diaspora. During the 1970s and early 1980s, UG had an excellent Sociology Department with criminologists. It should be rehabilitated. The police, criminologists, and national security experts have their work cut out. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

strated this leadership at a time when she is not in possession of formal power. Unlike Irfaan Ali, she is not the President of the country, and it is no secret that, while still nominally holding the position of Chairwoman of the PNC, Lawrence has been marginalized from actual power in the party by the faction led by Harmon and Granger. Yet, she has jumped into the fray with dignity and strength and an integrity that has distinguished her in this crisis. Whatever one thinks of her conduct in that tortuous five months that followed March 2, her taking of the reins and defusing of the current situation needs to be acknowledged and applauded.

Saturday September 12, 2020

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Kaieteur News

A CALL FOR PEACE AMIDST THE PIECES DEAR EDITOR, It is plain to see One Nation, One People, One Destiny may never be a reality. Based on the current mayhem and civil unrest in Guyana, following the senseless killings of Isaiah and Joel Henry, and Haresh Singh, the words of a well-known song titled: FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH by American singer, song-writer, Bruce Springsteen, immediately springs to mind. There’s somethin’ happenin’ here But what it is ain’t exactly clearThere’s a man with a gun over there A-tellin’ me I got to bewareI think it’s time we stop Children, what’s that sound? Everybody look what’s going down There is absolutely no need for an analysis of the situation, in fact it is too late for anything except a clarion call requesting that the citizens of Guyana undergo thorough self-examination and soul searching, using mirrors as accessories of prime importance.

Until such an act is completed, any hope for an alleviation of the situation would be totally pointless, if not ridiculously absurd. No one is exempt from the exercise— youth leaders, political heads, spiritual leaders, teachers, clergy, police, justice system, etc. It is blatantly apparent that the ongoing disturbance in various parts of the country did not suddenly flare up, but instead loomed on the horizon, patiently waiting for any cue. Arguably, the teenagers did not deserve to die in the brutal manner in which they did, or to have their bodies mutilated. Notwithstanding, they have paid the ultimate price, internecine though it has been, for the deep seated hatred, and ethnic rift that has proliferated over the years. I have previously raised the question(s), albeit valiantly suffered the consequences for so doing, but will raise it yet again—What example are we showing the young? What will we bequeath to the succeeding generations?

If the recent killings of the two teenagers in Cotton Tree could be classified as not being racially motivated, it nevertheless acted as a carburant for several issues, chief among them being race, inadequate leadership, absence of conflict resolution skills on the part of the Police Force and many more issues. The racial divide cannot be allowed to continue unchecked, as it does not augur progress. The time has come for Guyana to face her main demon, as it has once again returned, seemingly never ever fully extinguished. Remediation and rectification must start immediately. There is no need for any finger pointing, blame going, or flame throwing. We have all contributed in one way or another to the present demise facing the country during this pandemic era. The killings have opened previous wounds; wounds that Guyana must ensure are well examined and effectively sutured to avert any likely reopening in the future. Conversely the country

has not fully recovered from the brouhaha, carryings-on and eventual outcome of the recent election. Nevertheless, I am operating from an angle of heightened optimism that the country can emerge from this current shadow that hangs menacingly over the citizens, and progress into the illumination of betterment for all. Another stanza in the song by Bruce Springsteen says thus: What a field day for the heat A thousand people in the street Singing songs and carrying signs Mostly say hooray for our side So let us change the beat, unblock the streets, give the protests a rest and be our collective best. Put Race in its place and unite in the Fight, to ensure that peace is enjoyed by all Guyanese. On Colour or Creed we must no longer feed.One People, One nation, One Destiny must become the true and living reality. Yvonne Sam

A capability problem and lack of consequences DEAR EDITOR, I found the article, “Condemned to be emergency room cases’’ (KN Sept 10th) spot on. It’s correctly stated that our leaders keep getting bamboozled, in relation to why we keep getting exploited. Before actually addressing the issue of the “Inferiority Complex”, I would state that maybe a personality attribute that the likes of Exxon tap into, is the possibility that the people they deal with at the negotiating table have pleasing, non forceful and non combative qualities. Look away, look in the opposite direction, let’s not rattle the kettle- sort of thing. If that is so, this trait is good within our country, in some aspects, but not sit-

ting across the bargaining table from multinationals. Secondly, in past and present times, most of our top officials have never really been verbally pressed, on certain matters and forced to directly answer questions regarding their own bad decisions or actions. Worse yet, Guyana really hasn’t held officials, top-bottom accountable. As long as we keep giving the inept and crooked a pass, for whatever reason, with absolutely no consequences, the same conduct will continue. It will be an endless revolving door, of bad results. But the answer to the inferiority complex question is: yes, in a way. Additionally, are most of our leaders really capable? and have that enduring business savvy, spe-

cifically when it comes to dealing with highly skilled, selectively chosen foreign negotiators?. Not much. Countless international degrees, and life abroad, is a side issue. That makes little difference t o t h e m . U n f o r t u n a t e l y, these attributes will get the likes of Exxon to prevail over us, though I am also certain some officials also have their own hidden agenda!!! The last factor to consider is our individuals that go up against the foreign negotiators. There is no advantage to having anyone over the age of 65 years negotiating for us, except if they are truly subject matter experts. Even if they are, our negotiators must also have a well oiled young generation support team, conducting research/

collecting information, etc; that know how to use Google, and stay up late to the early hours of the morning. I doubt if we have this structure in place.While the relatively young and disciplined foreign negotiators are still up at 3a.m in the morning of the meeting, (and days before) brainstorming and going through their notes for discussion, with their research staff, our negotiators will probably go to bed at 10p.m the prior night, after a dip in the hotel swimming pool and a scrumptious meal. A sure opening for a disastrous contract. We have to prepare ourselves for this bumpy road. Buckle Up Guyana. Yours Truly, Chi Kansi

Cotton Tree – sounds like the weeping willow DEAR EDITOR, I believe that the bullet dodged this past week will return in some form, at some time, to remind Guyanese of what went down and not to get too full of themselves or too complacent. The bottomline lesson is, don’t take anything or anyone at face value. A revisit of the crime scene, many crimes, at the now myth-shrouded Cotton Tree tells a curious tale that ranges from the criminal to the political to the diabolical. Guyana traversed the scorched earth that is its racial wretchedness that bounded from the politically motivated to the politically orchestrated to the politically

indefensible, then to that of political insipidity and, last, to political retreat. In the midst of the machinations of more sophisticated city brethren, there was a slew of conspiracy theories, which will outlast all participants, observers, commentators, and outsiders. And to top all of this off, there came late word of ritualistic murders and other whispers that bring great dread, especially the one about obeah. What was really at work here that wounded and battered so many, that cost so much, that embittered so much and leaves such a terrible legacy for the future, and that has revealed so much, yet

so little? Editor, I do not know where to begin. But I know this, much damage was inflicted on the peoples that had cause to pass through the areas during those times, and to encounter the protesters in one violent traumatic form or the other. Much damage has been inflicted upon all Guyana, who had to watch or read, and to absorb the socalled mysteries (no great mysteries by themselves) and to parse through and make sense of the shifting tableaus - all savaging - that set back this country’s interest, if it had any, in genuine reconciliation by a decade at least. If it was a ploy at grab-

bing or sharing power, by other means, then it has fallen far short and way flat, and leaves the foulest taste. To what lengths? If it was a crude political taunt, then who could be so beastly to start with two young men made into unwilling sacrificial victims to satiate our extreme wickedness and the evil lusts that leave all gasping for breaths not coming easily? This was not political opera; it is the dark political underworld that is beyond the contemplation of most clean thinking Guyanese, who flinch from going where the dots connect and to the roads where they (Continued on page 6)

Congratulations to Volda Lawrence

DEAR EDITOR, I was reading Kaieteur News yesterday and when I got to page 10, I was captivated by Freddie Kissoon’s remarks about Volda Lawrence. Regardless of what you think of Lawrence’s remarks as a minister of the past government, she excelled with

high marks for her stance against racial violence and I highly endorse Kissoon’s comments and want to congratulate her for her bravery for deciding to swim in this troubled tide.Well done Ms. Volda Lawrence. We need more voices like yours on both sides of the isle. Harold Beharry

Some worrisome aspects of the President’s proposal

DEAR EDITOR, This letter, in no way seeks to question the good intentions of the President, when he announced that his Government will be seeking the help of UK experts to help solve the heinous murder of the young men in West Coast Berbice, that occurred in the Cotton 3 - No.4 areas. There are some worrisome aspects of this proposal. First, it displays a lack of confidence in our Guyanese law enforcement and crimecracking personnel, fifty-four years after becoming independent and fifty years after being a Republic. We have available competent Police Officers, present and some retired, who given a free-hand and none interference, are capable of doing a good job.This expression of ‘no confidence’ in our Police Force is not good at a time when there is an environment of distrust in sections of our security forces and sections of the judiciary. Such an initiative reminds us of the time when efforts were made to impose a foreign Police Officer in a command position of the Police Force. What I would like to hear from the President, is a sincere undertaking that no one in the administration would be allowed in any way to interfere with the investigations. We’ve had experience, in an earlier era when citizens

lost confidence in certain sections of the Police Force to act professionally. Second, if the request of overseas help is granted, how long will it take for the personnel and their accoutrements to arrive in Guyana? Further, I know of instances where overseas experts experienced difficulty even understanding our local dialect. Next, has the murder scene and contiguous areas been completely sealed off? Necessary, whether true or false, there is the perception that this may be a race – politically inspired hate crime. I have lived through the worse days of the 60s and urge if we really want peace, let the good, competent and professional Police Officers be allowed to complete their investigations without anyone compromising the evidence and scientific data. In an earlier letter, I reminded Guyanese that peaceful protest is lawful and has been part of democracies everywhere.Finally, may I remind the powers that be, how in-appropriate it is, if not foolish, to have our Army used to deal with peaceful protest. Our military can better serve this nation if their energies are utilized to protect our east, west, north and south borders, with COVID-19, not being the only threat to our sovereignty and integrity. Hamilton Green

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Kaieteur News

THE ENTIRE NATION IS HURTING; NOT JUST A SINGLE RACE!

DEAR EDITOR, The senseless, nonsensical and preposterous quagmire that is embroiling in the ancient county of Berbice that popularized Guyana for its hospitality, is entangling the rest of the shocked and dazed Guyanese and obfuscating the work of the new government that has inherited all of the obscured quandaries from a Machiavellian APNU+AFC Party, a party that declared war on its country and is focused on setting fire among the people so that their lives become a living hell. The Police’s predicament is further compounded and becomes acutely problematic not only with the complicated approach adopted by the PNC Party but also, the revengeful attitude of the supporters of that party who are determined to criminalized each passing opportunity and the challenging events as a result from the spin-off effects. But, regardless of the differences or indifferences in opinions, the limitations of manpower and equipment, the awkwardness of the controversial situation and the deadly consequences, the GPF and the GDF must be commended for handling most of the explosive issues that bombarded in an uncontrolled environment, ignited by ethnic intonations from racial politicians who visited with their devilish agendas. Let’s look at some of the daring and transparent statements that were boastfully made by the vengeful opposition party members and are so glaringly obvious with their destructive meanings and devious motives. Volda Lawrence, denied a seat in Parliament by her party, is calling on “her people” only, “her kind” whom she had promised jobs, only; do the rest of Guyana matters and do they see her biasness? Or, in other words, no other race belongs to her Party, except “her people”? Her party chose not to let her be a representative in the National Assembly but yet

she wants to enforce a leadership by being in confrontation with that same party. Past caretaker President, Mr. David Granger, threatened the nation when he went to visit Berbice and applauded the people for breaking the law, saying, “We are not going to put up with this nonsense.” Here is the true personality of a “sanctimonious gangster” who was asked to “stand up and take your licks like a man” by his CARICOM counterpart and was before, a representative of the law. Mr. Granger further encouraged the people to take the law into their own hands when he advised them to “take any reasonable measure to defend ourselves.” No wonder the gross perpetual behaviour from the misguided followers who continue to unleash a reign of terror on the innocent victims. The US Secretary of State had to warn him to “step aside” and allow democracy to prevail. Mr. Joseph Harmon, Leader of the Opposition Party, he was insanely all over the globe except in a right, legal frame of mind when he alluded, “We stand in solidarity with the people who are peacefully protesting this injustice. What we do not agree with is people injuring people and so on. We do not agree with that. We do not agree that there should be any Black and Indian fighting and all of that. We believe that this, here, is a fight for justice.” Here is a classic case of a forked tongue, in one breath blowing cold and another breath blowing hot! In his deliberations, he is vehemently advocating the violent continuation and destructive derailments, while, at the same time placating the denunciation of the physical abuses. What a hypocritical masochist! All three opposition members are sending convoluted messages that can only characterize racial and violent undertones. Wake up ERC and GHRA. On the flip side of the

coin, attorney-at-law, Horosho Edmondson, he was forced to flee in order to save his life and said, “They started shouting ‘kill him, kill him, he is PPP.” This remark is a clear indication as to the objective of the protesters. They are far from being peaceful and their motive is definitely politically bias. Is this how the APNU+AFC Party wants to demand “justice?” How far-fetched did the advice and visits by the opposition leaders extend? In contrast to the past president and the opposition leader, the honourable President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, had this to say, “We cannot and would not tolerate this type of brutality in our communities and country. I can understand the pain of the families and community and my prayers and thoughts are with you. I ask you to act lawful and responsible in demonstrating your anger and hurt. As President, I can understand the emotions but I ask that the police be given an opportunity to do their job,” the President said. Here is a president who is very emphatic in his empathy, does not condone any form of criminal behaviour, believes in peaceful protest and at the same time wants the police to be allowed to do their work. Isn’t this justice and didn’t the police immediately made various arrests and confirmed that there is no political motive behind the slain Henry cousins? Are the confirmed racial and political consequential killings by the APNU+AFC Party followers justified? Are the lootings, the stealing, the burning and the injuries justified? Has there been any retaliation from the Indian community? Who has exhibited more tolerance in this trying and tested time? Don’t all lives matter? Is this what Harmon meant by looking “eyeball to eyeball” meaning “an eye for an eye?” Who now should aggrandize the pleading call for justice? All of Guyana is hurting, not a single one race! Respectfully, Jai Lall

Saturday September 12, 2020

The government has a responsibility to protect all citizens at all times DEAR EDITOR, The government, any government, has a responsibility to protect all citizens at all times. The beatings and damages to property perpetuated during the so called protests are unacceptable. Persons who committed these acts must be brought to justice along with those who publicly applauded the protesters’ actions at any point. The failure of successive PPP governments to balance the police and army to reflect the composition of Guyana plays a role in police response to not just these protests, but many other injustices such as the recent delay in announcing the election results. Fraud is fraud and when taking place in full view of the world what else does the police need to take immediate action? There are many good officers in the

police force and army but there is a desperate need to improve the professional standards and working environments of the police force especially. Given some of the recent ministerial and senior appointments nothing is going to change. We will just hear a lot of speeches and glib excuses. Even if some senior persons are interested in positive changes, they lack the courage to remove incompetence to effect these changes. The appointments are simply to reward loyalists and not to improve the operations of government and delivery of service to the people. Remember this gross incompetence did not start with the previous coalition administration. The previous coalition administration simply excelled in incompetence and nepotism.

I ask the current administration to do something tangible for all the persons who were beaten, robbed and property destroyed recently. You must compensate them from the public coffers for all individual losses and abuse. This may also serve as a physiological deterrent to those who committed the acts. Finally, why is Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo and some of the other staff at GECOM including the PR officer still on the job collecting taxpayers’ dollars after the nightmare this country went through during the recent elections? When is the government going to act and remove these persons? Anything else is a disgrace and insult to all decent minded electors. Sincerely, Harrish Singh

An Open Letter to Mr. Gladson Henry DEAR MR HENRY, I wish to express deepest appreciation for your sentiments as stated through the media in recent days. For all my conscious years, like so many of us, I have seen and described myself as being a Christian. More so, in recent times I have had to lament in my mature years “being Christian is hard work”.The gruesome events surrounding the tragic deaths of Joel and Isaiah have brought so many of us to deep despair and anger at this abomination in our dear motherland, Guyana.

I have seen via the media, a Father who had just witnessed a post mortem of the mutilated remains of his child yet finding space in his most wounded soul to tell us about his continuing love for all his neighbours. Your acclamation that the teachings you had received is your unfailing guide, is very profound. You have brought home to me, and no doubt many others, that there is yet a higher level to our previously held values of loving our neighbours as ourselves, though very hard at times.

A most important lesson for us is that our Guyana can produce human beings that are capable of so much love, compared to the evil doers who snuffed out the lives of Joel and Isaiah. I pray that someday we can embrace with a joint prayer for Joel and Isaiah; that their lives and violent passing may bring our people and country to a better place with more love and understanding.Thank you for shining the light in our darkness. May you and your family be always blessed. A Brother

Cotton Tree – sounds like the weeping... From page 4 lead in this country. Who is really whom? And what was actually what? It is doubtful that authentic and reliable answers to those questions and the significances of them will ever be part of the public record of us Guyanese. Thus, we are left to do what we have become extremely proficient at doing in this society, which is to imagine the worst, and conclude still worst about our politics,

its sleazy players, and the outrageous practices in which they engage. I wish it weren’t so at any level, but though not the daily norm, there is always probing for opportunity to unveil something that astounds and leaves terribly disgusted with the way we are and must be. PNC Chairwoman, Ms. Volda Lawrence, came out a tad late (but she did, to her credit) and said this has to stop, and it is not who we are, nor who we want to be. I hesitate, but bow before the weight of her appeal, discarding my initial reaction towards questioning, as to authenticity and credibility. In the same spirit, I heard the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Joseph Harmon, step forward to say that his group is not about the two major races engaging in the kind of conflict (largely onesided, to be true) that had unfolded. I must yield to the maturity of the moment, despite my misgivings. For if I don’t, then what

do we have, what is left? Similarly, I wish that President Ali, had displayed the astuteness to outthink and outflank his adversaries and made a move at the earliest on Monday towards the grieving Cotton Tree families, and then to the wider community. After all, he is the leader of this land, and no place at no time should be off-limits to him. That he did not, I regret, which is as sharp as I will be today. Undoubtedly, there are many pieces to be picked up from the ‘carnage’ (to use the word in motion at the moment) from this latest descent into Guyana’s self-created hell. We have learned a few things, but the most consequential are still incomprehensible and out of reach. We must get by with what we have towards better. All is well that ends well. Something tells me that well is not the most appropriate word at this time. Sincerely, GHK Lall

Saturday September 12, 2020

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$100 million for SBDF Ali vows crackdown of to assist prospective race hate on social media small business owners

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h e S m a l l B u s i n e s s Development Fund (SBDF) has been allocated $100 million in the National Budget of 2020 to provide prospective small business owners with loans and grants. This was announced by Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, who was tasked with presenting the national budget to the National Assembly on Wednesday. The SBDF is designed to assist small business owners with loans and grants to develop their businesses and sees a maximum of $200,000 being granted per business/person. The fund is expected to promote innovativeness and entrepreneurship in Guyana as well as equip citizens with means to contribute to a growing economy. During the budget presentation, Edghill stated that the government is assessing the practicality of expanding the grant program to accommodate a higher allocation than the current $200,000 limitation. The Fund would have last seen an allocation in December 2018. This was

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill due to Guyana's political situation, as the noconfidence motion was passed halting all Parliamentary proceedings. At the presentation of the National Budget for 2019, former Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin had announced a $100 million allocation to the SBDF. He stated that the allocation was aimed at improving access to training and financing for micro and small businesses in the country and it would also serve as a revolving loan fund to address the needs of businesses that cannot meet the requirements of the

traditional banking system. At the National Budget presentation for 2020 Minister Edghill also disclosed a $212M allocation to the Small Business Bureau's measures in support of private sector development, especially small businesses. Under this allocation, monies will be taken to equip and operationalize the business incubators at Lethem and Belvedere. Gaskin had previously told the National Assembly that the agenda of the SBB for 2019 would include the continuation of its “lead role” in the business incubator program and he further announced a $40 million allocation for providing furniture and equipment for two incubators that were supposed to become operational last year. In this year's budget presentation, other measures to boost private sector development were announced by Minister Edghill. He stated that, “Other measures include an allocation of $10M to the Sustainable Livelihood and (continued on page 14)

Man beaten to death by Bath Settlement protestors died from blunt trauma to the head

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rettipaul Hargobin who was beaten to d e a t h b y protestors on the Bath Settlement Public Road on Wednesday died from blunt trauma to the head and brain haemorrhage compounded by compression injuries to his neck. The post mortem was done yesterday by Dr. Nehaul Singh at the Memorial Garden Funeral Home and Crematorium. Four persons are in police custody and are being questioned. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had said that the firearm reportedly used by Hargobin has been located and lodged. Hargobin lost his life after he ended up in a confrontation with several protestors on the Bath Settlement Public Road; he reportedly fired shots at the crowd and they reacted by beating him. Police who were nearby said they noticed the commotion and went over to his assistance,

Prettipaul Hargobin by then he was already unconscious and battered on the public 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 added that 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. President Irfaan Ali paid a visit to the family of Hargobin yesterday and expressed his condolences and assured that justice will be served.

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resident Irfaan Ali, just over a month in office, has vowed a crackdown on race hate rhetoric on social media. Making it clear that he will not accept the promotion of such rhetoric, he said in a statement yesterday that he remains unequivocally committed to governing the country and its people, regardless of political affiliation or ethnic origin. “It deeply grieves me, therefore,” President Ali said, “when I see almost every day on social media, the degree of race baiting, racial hate and racial hostility which pervades the social media platforms. I want you to know that it is my determination to do everything within my power and to use all the laws at my disposal, to put an end to this behaviour, which can only result in dividing our country and our people.” In recent weeks and months, there has been an increasing number of complaints filed to the Ethnic Relations

President Irfaan Ali Commission (ERC) with persons also noting a significant number of bullying cases. “The use of social media,” the President stated, “for the promotion of racial hate for political purpose is wholly unacceptable to me as your President and as a person, and my government will not tolerate it. I have spoken with my Attorney General and I have

directed him to ensure that the full force of our laws is employed and is applied to those who pursue this criminal behaviour.” Ali, whose first month has been troubled with v i o l e n t We s t B e r b i c e protests this past week following the murder of two teenage cousins, Isaiah and Joel Henry, reminded those persons guilty of this abuse of social media, that freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution as a fundamental right and freedom, does not relate nor extend to hate speeches or other expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against any person or class of persons. “I further remind,” The President stated, “that such conduct, publications and utterances constitute grievous criminal offences under the Racial Hostilities, Cybercrime and other similar penal legislation and the state will not hesitate to resort to these provisions in our laws in appropriate circumstances.”

ERC distances itself from Roshan Khan statement

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he Ethnic R e l a t i o n s Commission (ERC) has distanced itself from a statement made by one of its commissioners, Roshan Khan via social media. In a Facebook post, the commissioner said, “Indians in Berbice need to create their watch and protection groups. Equipped with batons and sticks for selfdefense only. Be firm and clever but never be the aggressor. Protect minorities in your communities.” Khan's address was made following a mass protest in Region Five where persons were demanding justice for two teen cousins, Joel and Isaiah Henry, who were brutally murdered. In a press release on their Facebook page, the entity said, “The Ethnic Relations Commission wishes to disassociate itself from social media posts made by ERC Commissioner Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan Sr.” They further added the views of Khan does not coincide with the ERC's mandate to promote “harmony and good relations”.

ERC Commissioner, Roshan Khan Kaieteur News understands that this is not the first time the Commission would have distanced itself from statements made by the Commissioner. The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in June had sent out a statement following statements Khan made at a press conference held on Monday, June 8th, at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, where he addressed matters about the recount of ballots and

final tabulation of the votes following the March 2 elections. The ERC had said, “The Commission would like to categorically state, that the views expressed by Commissioner Khan at that forum, were solely his, and not that of the ERC. Even as the Commission awaits the official declaration of the results by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) – citizens are urged to exude patience, calm, and respect for each other.” The ERC would have been granted observer statuses for several of its commissioners, Khan included. They have since maintained that the views expressed in Khan's posts are not expected of an ERC commissioner and they contradict the roles and functions of the Commission. Citizens have since been calling for his removal from the Commission and their wishes were accompanied by opposition leader Joseph Harmon who referred to Khan's statement as divisive and racial.

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Saturday September 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

Mingo, Lawrence slapped with another electoral fraud charge

Region Four Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont Mingo

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egion Four Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont Mingo and former Health Minister and PNC/R Chairperson, Ms. Volda Lawrence, were yesterday slapped with another joint electoral fraud charge. Mingo and Lawrence both made their second appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty with their attorneys, Nigel Hughes and Darren Wade. They were not required to plead to the charge of conspiracy to commit fraud. The charge stated that Mingo, having been procured by Lawrence on or about March 5, 2020, at the Command Centre for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on High and Hadfield Streets, uttered to the Chief Elections O ff i c e r ( C E O ) , K e i t h Lowenfield, the election results for Region Four, knowing it to be forged, with intent to defraud the people of Guyana. After the charge was read, Magistrate McGusty released Mingo and Lawrence on self bail and the matter was adjourned to November 16, 2020. While speaking to reporters outside of the court compound, Lawrence said that the prosecution asked for more time to gather their evidence. As such her attorney used that opportunity and asked the court for a lengthy period so that the case can be dealt with when it is called again.

Former Health Minister and PNC/R Chairperson, Volda Lawrence

On September 1, 2020, Mingo made his first court appearance, where he was slapped with multiple electoral fraud charges and was released on $600,000, bail. He was arraigned before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts. Mingo was slapped with four charges alleging that he misconducted himself in public office by failing to disclose the number of votes that were counted during the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections. He was not required to plead to the indictable offence which stated that on March 5, 2020, and March 13, 2020, at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, while being a Public Officer, that is to say the RO of Region Four for the March 2, 2020, Regional and General Elections, he declared a result without ascertaining the total number of votes which resulted in him willingly misconducting himself without any reasonable excuse or justification. Hughes had told reporters that the State was represented by Tarique Mohamed, a prosecutor from the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), who made objections to bail being granted to Mingo on the gravity of the offences and based on the comments that were made by the Head of the Organisation of America States (OAS) Observer Mission, Bruce

Golding, on the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections. Hughes added that they then inquired into the status of the investigation and the court was informed that 21 more witnesses are remaining to be interviewed. The lawyer then used that opportunity to make a bail application for his client and it was granted in the sum of $150,000 each for the four charges – a total of $600,000. Also, Mingo was required to lodge his passport and ordered to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters in Georgetown every Friday until the completion of the trial. The matter was adjourned to September 25, 2020, and on that date Mingo is expected to make his second court appearance. On August 25, 2020, Mingo was arrested by police at his Calcutta, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara home. This was after a probe was launched to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the formal reports that were made alleging criminal activities by Mingo and other GECOM officials as it relates to the March 2 elections and the events that followed. Lawrence made her first appearance on August 24, 2020, and she was yesterday released on $100,000 bail for a joint private criminal charge which alleges the forging of a document that was used for a fraudulent election declaration on March 5, 2020.

Saturday September 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

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The case will not be easy to solve

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he police may have to try a different angle in their quest to solve the mystery of the deaths of the teenage cousins from # 3 Village, West Coast Berbice. Four of the seven suspects held have been released on bail and it is not clear what leads the police have obtained thus far. The case was never going to be an easy one to solve. And it was made more difficult by the search party which found the bodies, and which would have trampled all over the area where the boys were found, thus compromising the crime scene. The protests also would have denied the police access to persons from the boys' home village who could have provided information which may have helped in solving the crime. The protests, which hindered access to witnesses, would have given sufficient time and cover to discard any incriminating evidence. By the time the police would have had access to the bodies and the crime scene, dozens of persons would have been in contact with or in close proximity to them. Combing the bodies for fibers then would have made little sense since too many persons would have been near to the remains of the teenage boys. The situation was not helped when political instigators told the protesters that they were doing the right thing and that they should organize for self-defense. This led to an escalation of tensions and further compounded the difficulties faced by the investigators. The police now have to

pursue human intelligence. And this means that they have to question more persons in order to retrace the whereabouts and movement of the boys just prior to their deaths. There are some issues which the police need to resolve. The first is the actual time of death. The investigative sleuths need to pin this down so as to narrow the focus of the investigation. Persons are normally not in the backlands after sunset and therefore if the boys met their deaths there, it would likely have had to take place before sunset. The second issue to be resolved would be the movements of the boys. Initial reports suggested that the boys had left to go into the backdam to pick coconuts. But there has been another report by a relative which indicates that one of them was taking the other to the former's workplace to see if work was available. This is a very strange contradiction between the two main narratives. Persons however would have seen the young men. In small communities everybody knows each other. Therefore, as the police speak to more persons, they may be able to trace exactly where the boys were headed and at what time. To reconstruct the boys' movements and their ultimate deaths, human intelligence is critical. This is why it is important that the police should be able to have better access to potential witnesses from the area. The police also should start looking at different

scenarios rather than the ones which have been painted thus far. The villagers should help the police rather than obstruct them in this task. The President has signalled that he is going to seek assistance from the British and from the Regional Security Services. The former is most likely to provide forensic assistance and investigative oversight. Some political antagonists have called for an independent investigation – a wholly unnecessary call which has cast unwarranted aspersions on the investigators. The case will have to be solved by those who are familiar with the terrain - the local crime investigators. However, because this has been so politicized, 'ethnicized' and criminalized, international assistance will allow for greater trustworthiness. The role of the Regional Security Services (RSS) is a little more perplexing. As far as this writer is aware, the RSS is not involved in criminal investigations or in providing forensic services; it acts as a Regional Defence Force. Neither the PNC nor the PPP/C when in government sought to join the RSS. The President may need to ascertain whether those who advised him to seek the services of the RSS have a clue about that body. An international Commission of Inquiry into the deaths of the young men and the subsequent disturbances should be welcomed. Apart from the deaths of the young men, there was arson, robbing and

Dem

Follow which leader? boys seh...

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em boys always seh de Pee N Cee and de Pee Pee Pee are two peas of de same pod. Right now dem trying fuh outdo each other when it comes to leadership. Dem boys know dat we gat wan elected Pee Pee Pee President. But dem boys also believe that de power behind de throne is the local Vladimir Putin. Is de same thing in de Pee N Cee. Dem gat wan Leader of de Party and dem got wan

Leader of the Opposition. De Pee N Cee bin used to like to sing de song, “Follow de Leader, Leader, Leader. Follow de Leader.� But dem boys trying hard fuh determine who following who. It mo look like de Rig-adier following Lil Jo, rather dan de other way around. Wa n b i g w o m a n , however, look like she gan tek over de leadership of de party when de next Congress come around. Dem boys feel dat dem trying fuh diss this woman. D e m l e ff s h e o u t o f parliament. But she nah lose she seat with de people. And

is wan big seat. Dem boys hear some people seh how is nah fair how dem treat de big woman. Dem boys wan know how you could tek a man who only become a member of de Executive fuh a few weeks and put he to head de party in parliament, while de woman, wah did give he and Basil de Wille a good cut tail, get bypass. Dat nah mek sense! Dat is nat a case of following de leader. Dat is a case of de horse following he tail. Talk half and wait fuh see who really following who!

beating of persons and destruction of property. Race relations disintegrated because of the incident. An international commission of inquiry would allow for an impartial investigation into the deaths and disturbances. The Commission of Inquiry can make important recommendations as to how to avoid a reoccurrence. It

can also heal the divisions which resulted from the deaths and destruction. The first order of business, however, is to find the culprit or culprits who murdered these boys. However, certain crimes take long to solve. People therefore have to be patient. They must not expect miracles from the investigators and they must

be willing to assist the police in solving the terrible crime against two young men. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

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Saturday September 12, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

David Granger: The ID kills the EGO and craves basic instincts I

am saying it again – the election crisis has been a priceless gem for the historian. So many times I have repeated that comment. If we didn't have the five months saga, we would never have seen how certain Freudian minds educated in the fine arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, art of poetry, returned to what Sigmund Freud so beautifully described in his research. T h e r a w, u n t a m e d , uncivilized instincts defied

the crusading, mollifying effects of the EGO and ran wildly to the point where the human entered its precivilized state. The possession of education failed to imprison the ID and Guyana almost died. The names are unbelievable. Who would have thought that after seventy years, Eusi Kwayana would have returned to Sydney King? David Hinds' pulpit reminded me of the Rwandan tragedy. Barrington Braithwaite

writing in the Chronicle under the title, “Talking Culture” was defending violently rigged election and was billions of miles away from anything to do with culture. Who would have taught, some of the aristocrats from middle class society would run down the road shouting, “we ain't coming out of government.” The election was saved by the international society then the Freudian mind tossed aside the EGO, sought comfort in the ID, and

a double murder in the backdams of Region 5 allowed the ID to go on a violent journey of bestial instincts. At this point no one knows who killed the two cousins. The theories are cascading like fountain water, the most popular of which was gang culture. But there are politicians who believe if they do not have power, then Guyana must not survive. People like David Granger, Joe Harmon, Sherod Duncan of the AFC saw the Region 5 double homicide as an opportunity to return to March 4 when Clairmont Mingo took Guyana back to Belfield where Forbes Burnham plotted every rigged election after 1973. The story of David Granger is the story of the 1960s which ended in 1964 when the Americans intervened to remove Cheddi Jagan as Premier. Granger was new to politics in 2010. I will always quote Clarissa Riehl when I analyze the sudden entry of Granger into the PNC's hierarchy. She told me at the South Road entrance of the High Court that she never heard about him in the PNC. Granger of course contradicted that. Speaking to a PNC diaspora gathering in the US, he told his audience he has always been a PNCite. He cited decades of support for the PNC. Riehl was right and wrong. She didn't know him around the

PNC so she was right. But she was wrong because she confused the ideological with the physical. Granger was very much a PNC when his hero Forbes Burnham was rigging national elections. As a top army leader under

Frederick Kissoon Burnham's presidency, he looked up to Burnham as a god. The question remains – did he know about the plot to kill Walter Rodney? If you were a PNCite in the sixties and you became president sixty years after, then the sixties would take its rightful Freudian place in your mind. It was no accident, that when he became president, he devoted his private home to house four foundations in Burnham's name. Granger has always been an ardent fan of Hamilton Green. So he rewound the tape to sixty years ago to pay homage to Green. He requested the Hamilton Green Pension Bill. His party passed it in the House. It gave Green a whopping pension

retroactive to his first day as prime minister in 1985. I remember as president before he moved out of his private house in D'Urban Backlands, he gave an interview with the Chronicle which published his matutinal habits. He said each morning he would listen to Bach and Chopin. So the guy that went up to Region 5 to do what he saw his heroes doing in the sixties, actually listens to classical music. This is where Granger and I have something in common. I do happen to like classical music. But I believe my love for classical music and my education at three universities have left indelible insignias on my mind, heart and soul. Those insignias prevent me from egging on people to do racial things. My education has taught me that the only race worth criticizing is the human race because the Homo sapiens creature is a flawed thing. My education taught me to stay away from the ignorance of race incitement, race consciousness and race hate. In Region 5, preaching hate for narrow power gains should not be made to succeed. But then again if Beethoven and education can't civilize us, then we are doomed. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Total COVID-19 deaths now at 52 - Ministry had failed to include one death in earlier report

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he total number of COVID-19 deaths is now at 52, according to the Ministry of Health. The Ministry yesterday stated that they had failed to include one death in their database, a person that would have succumbed since early August. In a press release, they stated, “Our list did not include a COVID-related death reported early August. We have therefore adjusted our master sheet and it now reflects the total of 49 up to the end of September 10. With the three deaths we reported on September 10,

the number of COVID-19 deaths is now 52.” Along with that, 13 new COVID-19 cases were recorded from a total of 133 tests conducted. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 1763. According to the Ministry's daily dashboard, 13 persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). There are 508 persons in approved home isolation, 46 persons in institutional isolation, and 92 persons in institutional quarantine.

The total number of persons tested for the novel Coronavirus to date is 10,592. Of all confirmed cases 867 are male and 896 are female. As for the regional distribution of confirmed cases Region One has 243 cases, Region Two 23 cases, Region Three 123 cases, Region Four 678 cases, Region Five 12 cases, Region Six 26 cases, Region Seven 243 cases, Region Eight 26 cases, Region Nine 307 cases, and Region Ten 82 cases. Additionally, a total of 1,144 persons have recovered.

Saturday September 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Saturday September 12, 2020

$790M to make Ocean View Hospital operable - Minister Edghill T

h e n e w administration will have to expend a further $790 million on the Ocean View Infectious Diseases Hospital to make it operable. That large sum comes after the previous A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition government spent whopping $1.6 billion to rehabilitate the old facility now dubbed a “shell”. During his budget speech, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill told the National Assembly that the facility at Liliendaal was “beautifully painted” but lacking the integral amenities needed for an Infectious Diseases Sanatorium equipped to tackle the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). “A series of problems exist at the facility, including some as basic as sewerage, water supply and electricity,” the Minister explained.

The Ocean View Infectious Diseases Hospital

It is due to these deficiencies and the “poor planning” that went into the conceptualisation of the facility that Government is forced to fish out $790 million in addition to the $1.6 billion already spent to operationalize it. Then Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence, at the commissioning ceremony had told the press that the cost of equipping the facility

would be “three times” the construction cost – an estimated $4.8 billion. “The redeeming feature will be that the facility would be able to cater for 200 patients,” Edghill said. He explained that the new government is attempting to have the deficiencies corrected so that construction could be quickly concluded, to an appropriate standard, whilst

equipping the facility with the intention of having it staffed and commissioned by the end of the month. The contentious deal has faced harsh scrutiny from many as it was one shrouded in secrecy, say except for the construction cost that varied since the initial announcement that it was set at $750 million. Overtime, the deficiencies in the deal

began to unravel, starting with questions as to why APNU+AFC chose to rehabilitate a building they did not own. It was only recently that the supposed owner of the hotel, Jacob Rambarran demanded that the PPP/C government pay him some $52 million in rental fees owed by the APNU+AFC or he would resume control of the property. The new

administration, however, made no move on this, with the Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo stating that he would have a long wait before any monies are paid. Although APNU+AFC moved to acquire the property, that deal was hampered by the protracted elections and the new administration is yet to say whether they would be continuing along this route.

Saturday September 12, 2020

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Saturday September 12, 2020

COVID-19, protracted elections resulted in a 4.9% decline in non-oil economy - Minister Edghill

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ue to the severe impact of COVID-19 on health, social life and businesses – and further dampened by the protracted March 2020, General and Regional Elections – Guyana's non-oil economy for the first half of the year has declined by 4.9%. These and other projections were shared by Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, who on Wednesday presented the government's emergency $330B budget for the year. Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing During his presentation of the budget, Minister Edghill shared that in the 2020 half-year, the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries contracted by 4.1% as a result of lower production in the other crops, livestock, forestry and fishing sectors. He indicated that while some of these industries are expected to perform better in the second half, as a whole, the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries are projected to decline by between 0.1% and 2.3% in 2020. He turned to the sugar industry, which expanded by 10.4% at the half-year, and projected that this is expected to grow by between 10% and 15.4%. The minister added, “Expansion is also expected in rice growing, with forecasts for second crop production anticipated to result in growth of between 2 and 3.5%.” Meanwhile, the livestock industry, which contracted by 2.3% at the half-year, is expected to rebound in the second half to realise growth of between 0% and 2.4% in 2020. Similarly, the other crops, forestry, and fishing industries are expected to see improvements in the second half of the year: other crops is forecasted to contract by between 1% and 3%, better than the decline of 4.7% at the half-year; forestry is projected to contract by between 11.8% and 15%, an improvement over the halfyear contraction of 20.8%; and, fishing is projected to contract by between 3.5% and 10% , above the contraction of 12.1% at the end of June.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill Mining With regards to the gold mining industry, which expanded by 2.1% at the half-year, also experienced some setbacks, particularly with two large-scale companies, who together reported a 36% decline in production, when compared with the same period in 2019. Edghill highlighted that while large-scale production is expected to continue to dwindle in the second half, the output of small and medium scale miners, in response to higher prices, is expected to bolster production, pushing growth to fall between -2% and 0.7%. He went on to say that the bauxite industry continues to face reduced global demand for its output, which, in addition to the stoppage of mining by one company, resulted in a contraction of 42.3% at the half-year. This industry, Edghill said, is expected to contract by between 40 and 51% in 2020. “Similarly, the other mining industries also saw a significant contraction at the half-year, by 56% , as a result of lower demand,” the minister said. He pointed out, however, that the resumption of construction activities is expected to see improved output in the second half, resulting in a less severe contraction of between 20% and 30% in these industries. Manufacturing Edghill indicated that the manufacturing industries contracted by 0.2% at the half-year, despite expansions

in sugar and rice manufacturing, by 14.2% and 7.2% respectively. This was due to a significant contraction, he pointed out, of 5.7% in the other manufacturing industries. Edghill explained that, “While the output of these industries is expected to improve in the second half amidst growing demand, other manufacturing is still expected to contract by between 1% and 5% in 2020. Overall, the performance of the manufacturing industry in 2020 is projected to fall between a contraction of 1.4% and an expansion of 1.9%.” Construction At the half-year, the construction industry contracted by 5.6%, despite the emergency measures gazetted in April which were expected to result in a more severe decline. The minister went on to say that while the formal easing of restrictions on construction activities in the second half, and the resumption of public sector construction should not result in a significant decline in the industry, it is still expected to contract by between 4% and 7% in 2020. Services Guyana's service industries, which are expected to be worst hit by the emergency measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, contracted by 3.8% at the half-year Edghill said. During this presentation he related that “Wholesale and retail trade and repairs contracted by 14.7%, transport and storage by 25%, accommodation and food services by 32.9%, professional, scientific and technical services by 20.7%, administrative and support services by 5.3%, arts, entertainment and recreation by 45.8%, and other services by 51.2%.” He noted that while the conclusion of the General and Regional Elections has led to improved consumer sentiment and an expectation of improved performance in some of the service industries, the unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to dampen any recovery. As such, service industries are forecasted to contract by between 0.7% and 3.5%, in 2020.

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Saturday September 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

Justice will be swift for slain West Coast Berbice... From page 3 members present to work with the members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)

Legal Notice

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2020-HC-DEM-CIV -FD486 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION F AMIL Y DIVISION PETITION NO.: FD- 486 BETWEEN:LOUISON (DAWN ANDREA) nee BISHOP Petitioner-andLOUISON (ROGER JULIAN) Respondent TO: ROGER JULIAN LOUISON(LastKnownAddress) Lot 171 One Mile, Wismar,Linden, Guyana.TAKE NOTICE that on the 4th day of August; 2020 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by DAWN ANDREA LOUISON nee BISHOP,the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made onthe 28th day of August, 2020, the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the World Wide Web. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available atthe Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at.Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice . TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Friday the 30 th day of October, 2020 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Simone Morris- Ramlall in Court

to restore peace and stability. "Safety and security in all of the communities remain a top priority. As you can see, there is more visibility on the ground, more resources on the ground," the Head of State

Legal Notice Room (6) of the High Court at Georgetown. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answet”=ami-/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays a}ld 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 31 ST day of August, 2020

noted. The President urged the residents to cooperate with the police, who are working to not only conduct their investigations, but to also bring peace to the communities along the WCB corridor. This, he stressed, can be achieved through cooperation and the sharing of critical information, which can assist investigators.“No forms of criminality will be tolerated,” he added “We cannot tolerate lawlessness and criminality. We have to fix what went wrong and move forward.” The aggrieved relatives all expressed their hope that justice will be served swiftly and that all leads will be pursued. They expressed too, their appreciation for the President's visit and his commitment to ensuring that all steps are taken towards achieving justice for the boys. (Office of the President)

Saturday September 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

Guyanese should free themselves from the ‘race trap’ to benefit from oil - Sir Ronald Sanders

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ir Ronald Sanders is urging that the Guyanese people rid themselves of the trapping division of ‘race’ to ensure they are not robbed of the high quality of life oil and gas production offers. He said too that Guyana must not be a problem for the region, but a solution to its challenges. The diplomat, in a recent op-ed published by Caribbean News Global, noted that violence like that which has taken Guyana in the past week has oftentimes led to refugees, migration and instability in the region. In this regard, he stated “Neither the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nor the nations of the Americas would sit-by and watch Guyana descend into civil strife and violence now. Such a development would have consequences for them, and they will undoubtedly act if circumstances demand it.” Guyana has been rocked by several killings in the past week, leaving racial tensions high and the President looking to the international community for assistance. Sanders said that justice for the persons killed is necessary, but that it must not be based on lawless actions as expressed by some who sought to hijack the protests,

destroying property and attacking fellow Guyanese. He commended Chair of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence on her impassioned call for peace, in which she, among other PNCR leaders, stated “I am calling on every single member of the People’s National Congress Reform, irrespective of your status, I am saying that we cannot continue. This carnage must stop.” He also commended Gladstone Henry, father of one of the murdered boys, as a remarkable Guyanese, for speaking against violence and urging people not to fight against each other. The diplomat referred to an observation he said was made by author, Joshua Hyles in his book ‘Guiana and the Shadows of Empire: “Country studies of Guyana point out that the country’s disparate ethnic groups have come to resemble one another culturally and physically more than those of their (racial) countries of origin”. Sanders believes this is true for the Guyanese descended from Indians and Africans, and that they would acknowledge Guyana as their “visceral homeland”. “The challenges of language of tribe, of cast, of culture set aside Guyanese, except Amerindians, from the

distant lands of their ancestors.” Sanders stated. “Guyanese – of all races – have resided together for almost two centuries. In doing so, a Guyanese civilization has been woven from strands that originated in other lands – in India, Africa, Europe, China and in Guyana itself. What has been created is a unique blend that is Guyanese.” He said that it was the British colonizers who realized that the descendants of India and Africa would be a formidable force, and pit them against each other to keep them subdued. He noted that the strategy is being preserved by “self-serving politicians” who would benefit from keeping the people divided. While he acknowledged the President’s decision to seek after an International Commission of Inquiry, the diplomat said that Guyana should consider how the issue of racial strife which has been exploited for so long, can be addressed internally, and seek to establish a “One Guyana Commission” to further oneness in Guyana’s society. “The work of the Commission,” Sanders stated, “should be countrywide, listening to the free contention of all voices, concerning ways in which every Guyanese can

honour the strands of their ancestral heritage while celebrating their uniquely

blended Guyanese civilization, with equal opportunities for all.”

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Sir Ronald Sanders

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Saturday September 12, 2020

Saturday September 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

Man forced to forfeit almost $6.3M in foreign currency seized at backtrack area

A

Guyanese man has lost more than $6M that was seized from him earlier this year at a Berbice backtrack route. According to the Attorney General Chambers, the money Euros 24,530 ($6.3M) was seized from Michael Bagot, who was intercepted at a Springlands, Berbice crossing from Suriname on March 12th. The money was found stashed in cans of paint. “The Springlands, Berbice crossing is not the official designated immigration point of entry between Guyana and Suriname,” the AG Chambers disclosed. “Bagot was arrested by police for failure to present himself to the Immigration authorities and failure to declare foreign currency over the prescribed limit set out by the Foreign Exchange (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Chapter 86:01, Laws of Guyana.” According to the AG Chambers, after Bagot's arrest, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) approached the Supreme Court for an interim order to detain the sum of €24, 530.00 in accordance with Section 37 (2) of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act Chapter

10:11, Laws of Guyana. “The learned Chief Justice, Madame Roxane George, SC,” the release stated, “granted the detention order for the police to lawfully detain the currency on the 17th March, 2020, and the Order was further extended on the 12th June, 2020 for three months pending the hearing and determination of the Fixed Date Application.” It was disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, through the Chambers of the Attorney General, commenced legal proceedings for the civil forfeiture of the sum. “Written submissions were made,” the release noted, “before the Honourable Madame Justice Jo- Ann Barlow. The Court eventually found that based on the manner of concealment of the monies in paint cans, it could be inferred that the monies came from unspecified criminal conduct. Further, Mr. Bagot failed to provide information disclosing the source of the said concealed sum.” In addition, the AG Chambers said yesterday, the Court noted that Bagot, had on previous occasions, exited the jurisdiction from the designated immigration point; however, when he re-

New date set for Lowenfield case as DPP a no-show From page 2 announced that the DPP had decided to take over the criminal charges that were filed against Lowenfield; Returning Officer of Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, and former Health Minister and Chairperson of the People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), Volda Lawrence, in relation to the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections and the events that followed. According to the police, a comprehensive investigation into the allegations would be conducted by the GPF. The release highlighted that, “The DPP indicated that in exercise of powers vested in her under Article 187 of the Constitution, she will take over the private criminal charges currently pending in the Magistrates' Courts in relation to the March 2, 2020 General and

Regional Elections and the aftermath.” That decision was made almost two weeks after one of Lowenfield's lawyer, Nigel Hughes, made an application to the DPP asking her to review and take over the prosecution of the private criminal charges that were filed against his client. According to the release, on August 21, 2020, the GPF received formal reports which alleged criminal conduct by Lowenfield, Mingo and others in relation to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and the aftermath. The release had stated that as a result of the formal reports being made, legal advice was obtained from the DPP who advised the GPF to launch an investigation into the allegations in accordance to its mandate.

entered Guyana, it was through the 'backtrack' route. “In light of the foregoing,” the release said, “the Court ruled that the sum, of €24, 530.00 would be forfeited to the State. There was no order as to costs.

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Saturday September 12, 2020

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Azarenka and Osaka have unfinished business at U.S. Open final NEW YORK (Reuters) Victoria Azarenka and Naomi Osaka were set for a title clash two weeks back before the Japanese withdrew due to injury but the former world number ones will have another chance to establish supremacy during today’s U.S. Open women’s singles final. A left hamstring injury forced the 22-year-old Osaka to pull out from the final of the Western & Southern Open, which was played at the Grand Slam venue at Flushing Meadows this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.“Very excited about that (final). I’m as excited as I was last time,” Azarenka told reporters after taking down Serena Williams in Thursday’s semi-final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. “I’m sure this time we’re

going to get to play and it’s going to be a great match. I think it’s going to be an amazing final, I hope it will be. I’ll have fun.” There has been no lack of fun for Azarenka at this year’s U.S. Open even without the presence of fans as she has smiled and bobbed her head along to music during changeovers while maintaining a high intensity on the court. On the other hand Osaka, who has a 2-1 lead over Azarenka in completed matches, has displayed lasersharp focus, perpetuated by her activism for the Black Lives Matter protests. During the last two weeks, she has walked out on court for each of her matches wearing a different facemask carrying the name of a Black

American to highlight racial injustice in the United States. “I do think it’s a very big motivating factor for me just to try to, like, get the names out to as many people as I can,” she said after Thursday’s win. “So I’m not sure if that’s giving me extra power. Definitely I want more people to talk about it.” Azarenka and Osaka are unbeaten since the resumption of tennis after a lengthy shutdown due to COVID-19 but that run will end for one of them today. Both players have repeatedly spoken about approaching games with a new mindset at this year’s U.S. Open and Osaka was expecting a tough final. “She seems really confident now. She’s moving well,” the Japanese said of her op-

ponent, who picked up her first win of the year at the Western & Southern Open. Azarenka, who is nine years older than Osaka, won her two Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013 - the same years she

finished runner-up at the U.S. Open to Williams. The Japanese, who moved to the U.S. as a threeyear-old, has also won the same number of major titles the first at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and a second con-

secutive Grand Slam in Melbourne the following year.“She’s a very, very powerful player. She’s a great champion,” Azarenka said of Osaka. “She’s won two already. Aren’t we both looking for a third one?”

Kansas City Chiefs 34-20 Houston Texans: Fans ... From page 25 mayor Quinton Lucas tweeted: “We’re a good city of good people. I heard boos too. But we also have hundreds of thousands more around here who respect the message the players are sharing.”The NFL has softened its stance on players protesting against inequality after drawing scrutiny for its opposition to Colin Kaepernick’s decision to take a knee while representing the San Francisco 49ers

in 2016. This season end zones across the league will bear the words “End Racism” and “It Takes All of Us”, while players will be allowed to wear helmet stickers featuring the names of victims of racism.The Chiefs Super Bowl winners in February - are one of six teams who are allowing fans into their stadium at the start of the new season and star man Mahomes delivered for those present on opening night.He threw three

touchdowns and notched 211 passing yards from 24 completions as his side comfortably started the defence of their title.Texans’ running back David Johnson opened the scoring but Mahomes threw touchdown passes to Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins before half-time.Rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire added another touchdown before Mahomes found receiver Tyreek Hill to secure the win in the fourth quarter.

Softball fraternity among those that ... Saturday September 12, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Stress could have you feeling uncommunicative today. You probably aren't going to want to talk to anyone, even your dearest friend, Aries. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Finances should be going well, Taurus, but your financial affairs aren't something you want to talk about to anyone now. Perhaps you want to make a decision that's yours and not influenced by others. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're likely to be in a solitary mood today, Gemini, and probably want to spend the evening reading or working on a project of your own. However, it isn't likely to work out that way. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today you might have a strange feeling that something is wrong, perhaps in the neighborhood or with a friend or relative. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) An organization with which you're affiliated may be having financial problems, and this fact could come out today. It might be a shock to you and everyone else involved. VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) Some unexpected changes that have been kept under wraps at the workplace could come out soon. They may involve reorganization or a change of ownership.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Some disconcerting revelations about your past or the past of someone close to you could come out today. This might be a bit of a shock, Libra, but it's a positive development, nonetheless. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Something you might have wanted to keep between you and a few trusted friends could inadvertently be revealed, perhaps to the wrong people. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Demands placed on you by work colleagues could have you stressed, Sagittarius. You might feel that your coworkers are taking unfair advantage of you. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Stress and job frustration might have you thinking about breaking free, walking out the door, and going somewhere else AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A close friend or loved one might drop out of sight today. You may panic when he or she doesn't return your phone calls. Don't jump to conclusions. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A household member might toy with the idea of moving out or going away for a while, Pisces. This could stress you out, but don't make yourself crazy. Don't try to talk him or her out of it. Listen sympathetically and let your relative get it out .

From page 27 as an excellent ambassador of the sport and jovial person. Journalist John Ramsingh said Haslim always wanted to see the development of cricket and was willing to render assistance when called upon. Haslim played hardball cricket for the Georgetown Cricket Club and also represented MYO and Ogle Cricket

Club. Haslim started his softball career for Park Rangers before representing Mike’s Pharmacy under the Guyana Softball Cricket Association. He would have featured in the Guyana Softball league nation-wide GT&T ten-ten tournament and also turned out for Demerara Inter-county softball team.

Haslim was from Industry, ECD. He was 41 and left to mourn his wife Sunita Haslim, brother Wasim, a former GCC player, Sister Tasleema Haslim-Stanley along with his parents.Tasleema-Stanley, in her remarks, declared that the family ‘is very saddened’ of her brother’s death but took the opportunity to express gratitude for all the support showed during this time. Following a ceremony and balât al-Janâzah (Islamic funeral prayer) at the Ogle Jamaat, players formed a bat arch as the remains of Haslim was taken to the Ogle cemetery.

Guyanese Warriors... From page 27 spinner Guyanese Ashmead Nedd seemed unlucky not to have played in more matches. Trinibago Knight Riders went one better than Guyana’s 11 consecutive victories last year and won the tournament with their 12th successive win by beating the St Lucia Zouks in the final on Thursday at was the Brian Lara Academy to clinch Championship honours. Trinidad Knight Riders have won the title four times, defending Champions Barbados Tridents, who failed to make the playoffs this season, has won twice and so has the Jamaican Tallawahs. All of these teams have won their titles under the leadership of Caribbean captains. With the Warriors title drought continuing for another year some changes could be made for next tournament, including that of the manager Omar Khan who has been with the franchise since it’s inauguration in 2013. (Sean Devers)

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Saturday September 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

Michael Holding criticises England for no longer taking a knee

PA Sports - Michael Holding has criticised England’s decision to stop taking a knee before matches and for making “lame” excuses in defending the stance. The former West Indies pace bowler called for an end to institutional racism in July after describing the problems he had encountered in Australia and England during his playing career. Holding spoke about the need to bring about meaningful change in society in the wake of the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minnesota in May. England and West Indies cricketers, along with officials and backroom staff, took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement at the start of each of July’s three Tests between the sides. The practice was repeated during England’s ODI series against Ireland but not in subsequent series against Pakistan and Australia.

“I’m a little bit disappointed that since the England-Ireland series, when they did take a knee, I haven’t seen any of the teams take a knee,” Holding said on his YouTube channel. “Now that the West Indies team has gone home, that doesn’t mean that you still shouldn’t be respecting the message and exactly what it stands for.“If you go back to when taking a knee started and what it stood for, or stands for, it goes back to Colin Kaepernick in America, who took a knee because he wanted to bring attention to the racism and police brutality against people of colour in that country.“Yes, it is more acute in the United States than in most other places but people around the entire world took on the mantle of spreading the word and getting this message out that it is time for equality and time for equal justice, and all that. “It was no longer just a

black-versus-white thing; it was a matter of humanity coming together and saying ‘listen, we need everyone to be treated equally’.” Holding accused the England and Wales Cricket Board and Australia captain Aaron Finch of making “lame” statements for ending the practice at a time when many other sports teams remain committed to it. Finch said before the current white-ball series that – after raising the matter with England skipper Eoin Morgan – his team would not take the knee in a show of solidarity, saying that “the education around it is more important than the protest”. But Holding said: “So for Pakistan and England not to then take that signal – because you are not doing anything other than going down on one knee – you are not chanting anything, you are not saying anything, all you are doing is making a signal

‘Adopt A Girl’ program providing fuel for young athletes dreams

SportsMax - Visionary founder, Sherneil Charlery, is at the heart of a fledgling initiative that it is hoped will blossom to produce top-class female athletes for the tiny island of St Lucia in the next few years. More importantly, however, ‘Supporting Girls in Sports’ has targeted bringing hope and knowledge to underprivileged young girls, hoping to find a way to rise out of poverty through sports.If Charlery could choose just one Jamaican athlete to help with the organisation’s ‘Adopt A Girl’ initiative, she admits it would be difficult. Jamaica is renowned through the Caribbean and the perhaps the world for producing top-class athletes.In the end, she settled on Shelly-Ann FraserPryce and Khadija Shaw. “Our current group of girls is involved in football and track and field. I would choose Fraser-Pryce and Shaw, not only because they play the same sports as our girls, but because they share the same stories. Like them, our girls come from single-parent homes or are raised in violent

communities,” Charely explained.“Seeing people who were able to succeed, despite the obstacles they faced, would inspire our girls to continue giving out their best.” The ‘Adopt A Girl’ initiative aims to assist underprivileged female athletes (11- 14 years old) who are unable to afford their sporting expenses, such as club fees, equipment, and uniform. Additionally, the girls are paired with an advisor (an older member of the organisation) who will mentor and help them balance school, sports, and their personal lives. It’s easy for an up and coming athlete to spot an internationally acclaimed Jamaican athlete to identify with. The list is long and varied. Take Elaine Thompson-Herah for instance. When asked what motivates her, she told Dalton Myers on the August 31st’s episode of the Drive Phase, “I remember when I

was growing up, I was looking at Veronica CampbellBrown, Merlene Ottey and they motivated me to work hard and reach where I’m at,” she said. The young girls can also look for inspiration further home. A recent SportsMax.tv article In Honour of Levern Spencer spoke about the accomplishments of the great St Lucian athlete. The article pointed to Spencer as a role model and pointed out that she was the best St. Lucia has ever produced, adding that “the next generation of St Lucian athletes have a marker to chase.”The ‘Supporting Girls in Sports’ organisation wishes to expand the initiative to other Caribbean islands in the next five years, but in the meantime, their ‘Adopt A Girl’ program, which has helped seven girls to date, is already ensuring St. Lucia has a brighter future in athletics.

‘Supporting Girls in Sports’ has targeted bringing hope to underprivileged young girls through sports. St Lucian Lavern Spencer (pictured) is one role model athlete for the girls tapping into the program.

England and West Indies players took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement earlier this summer (Michael Steele/NMC Pool) to keep the awareness going. “Neither team did it and the ECB came out with a pretty lame statement, as far as I am concerned.” The ECB responded to Holding’s comments, saying: “Many of cricket’s teams, both domestic and international, took the knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement for their opening games, with the men’s Test team continuing throughout the entire series with the West Indies. “Our response to the Black Lives Matter debate, has been to view the issue

alongside the whole inclusion and diversity space, to ensure that long-term and sustainable change happens for all communities who are not treated equally. We remain committed to this philosophy. “Our refreshed inclusion and diversity strategy, published at the start of the West Indies series, commits to several comprehensive initiatives that focus on eliminating discrimination from all areas of cricket.“England’s men’s and women’s players all remain committed to using their reach and influence to keep promot-

ing inclusion and diversity in perpetuity, for the betterment of cricket and sport. “We understand the importance of symbolism and its power to keep an issue high on the agenda, our goal is to ensure we deliver both reach and change. “The ECB’s work is ongoing in this space, alongside all of our partners across the game. We will continue to update, share our progress and be accountable for driving critical change for all those who do not currently feel as if cricket is a game for them.”

Letter to the Sports Editor Final call for peace DEAR SPORTS EDITOR, We have said much in the past few days but the Lusignan Golf Club like other decent minded citizens calls for the restoration of peace in Guyana. The tragic loss of our young people is quite unaffordable. Our country is divided through violence influenced by anger. As a small nation it is disastrous for us to traverse on this negative path. This road will inevitably lead our country to destruction.The Lusignan Club, which is the only Golf club in Guyana, is blessed with membership and staff from all strata of society. Our principle position is to strengthen the

social fabric through golfing. The club’s membership strongly condemns violence in every regard. We believe all resources should be harnessed to confront and overcome this great challenge. Lusignan Golf Club has always been friends of the private sector and the wider society. Golfing at Lusignan has been supported by all sections of our society and we emulate our sponsors by transcending barriers.It is with this sacred intention that we appeal for calm and peace and for us to re establish our motto of ‘One People One Nation and One Destiny’. Lusignan Golf Club.

Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi, Shakib Al Hasan, Munaf Patel among international players in LPL auction ESPNcricinfo - Chris Gayle, Daren Sammy, Darren Bravo, Shahid Afridi, Shakib Al Hasan, Ravi Bopara, Colin Munro, Vernon Philander and Munaf Patel are some of the international players to go under the hammer for the Lanka Premier League auction, which will be held on October 1. In all, the five franchises will have a choice of around 150 players to bid for. Each franchise can buy up to six international players. That means the LPL is likely to 30 international cricketers and 65 local cricketers, with each squad having 19 members. As per the current schedule, the tournament will be held from November 14 and December 6. It will feature 23 matches, to be

played in Dambulla, Pallekele and Hambantota, while the launch will take place in Hambantota. However, government approval for a shorter quarantine period for players, officials and broadcast staff is yet to be secured; it is this hurdle that had forced the postponement of the LPL, originally slated to begin in late August. The SLC officials have asked that the quarantine period for those arriving in the country for this tournament be reduced to seven days, from the present 14-day period. There is no known community spread of Covid-19 in Sri Lanka at present, but quarantine protocols have been incredibly strict in order to prevent the spread of the virus from infected new arrivals.

Saturday September 12, 2020

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Alia Atkinson hopes to roar for new club in International Swimming League SportsMax - Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson believes joining the London Roar for the 2020 season of the International Swimming League (ISL) will allow her to focus on her strengths. The 31-year-old Atkinson was among 17 new additions to the 2019 finalists, who will be seeking to go one better this year. Swimming for Team Iron that finished fifth in the team standings last season, the team called upon Atkinson to swim strokes, which did not allow her to be at her best for the club. However, she did perform well in her preferred breaststroke events winning the 50m breaststroke in Lewisville and the 50m and 100m breaststroke events in Budapest and London. She is hopeful that this season London Roar will position her to compete in the discipline where she is strongest.“I am excited to be a part of London Roar. I think this time will be a little different,” she told Sportsmax.TV this week. “There was a lot of demand on the last team in respect to me going outside the

breaststroke events so I think this time I will be able to focus more on my specialities and hopefully we will be able to make it to the finals.” That said, she was quick to point out that there is no ill will towards Team Iron, for whom she debuted in the ISL. “Last year was still a fantastic experience and I wish the best for all the teams, especially with the COVID situation going on, but this time I am staying closer to the green and gold,” she said in reference to the London Roar’s team colours.The London Roar reached the Las Vegas final last season and finished

second behind Energy Standard. It returns a lot of key players in season two, including team captain Adam Peaty and big point scorers Cate Campbell and Emma McKeon. The club is composed primarily of the best British and Australian swimmers, including some of the best swimmers based in the two countries, such as Andreas Vazaios and Anna Hopkin. The Roar lost key pieces in Canadians Yuri Kisil and Finlay Knox to the Toronto Titans as well as Mireia Belmonte, who has jumped ship to Team Iron. This year, the competition

Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson

Australia ease to victory over England in first ODI Josh Hazlewood starred for Australia. (Getty Images)

MANCHESTER (Reuters) - A century stand between Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell and four wickets for spinner Adam Zampa helped Australia down world champions England by 19 runs in the opening clash of the three-match ODI series at Old Trafford yesterday. Australia recovered from a shaky start to score 294 for nine in their 50 overs and while Sam Billings struck an impressive century, the hosts were always behind the game. England put the visitors in and had them reeling on 123 for five but Marsh (73) Maxwell (77) helped Australia rebuild on their way to a formidable total. After slumping to 57-4 in reply and falling way behind the required run rate it looked bleak for England but Jonny Bairstow and Billings shared a century stand for the fifth wicket to edge Eoin Morgan’s side back into

contention.Bairstow was caught slogging off spinner Adam Zampa and when Moeen Ali became Josh Hazelwood’s third wicket soon after Australia could breathe a little easier. An inspired Zampa picked up his fourth wicket when Chris Woakes was caught by Maxwell but Billings refused to give up on what would have been the highest ODI run chase at Old Trafford. England required 66 from the last six overs but Australia, beaten comfortably by England in the World Cup semi-final last year, locked up a morale-boosting victory having lost the T20 series 2-1. Billings was out on the last ball of the innings for 118 as England finished on 275-9. Scores: Australia 294 for 9 (Maxwell 77, Marsh 73, Wood 3-54) beat England 275 for 9 (Billings 118, Bairstow 84, Hazlewood 326) by 19 runs

is expected to be even fiercer with the addition of two new teams - Toronto Titans and

Tokyo Frog Kings. The organisers have also brought in new rules for the league

that is set to get underway on October 16 in Bucharest, Hungary.

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Saturday September 12, 2020

Kaieteur News

Ice-cool Roglic strengthens Tour lead, exhausted Bernal fades PUY MARY, France (Reuters) - Primoz Roglic tightened his grip on the Tour de France overall lead as he dropped defending champion Egan Bernal in the final ascent of a gruelling 13th stage in the Massif Central yesterday. Colombian Dani Martinez prevailed from the breakaway at the end of a punishing 191.5-km trek from ChatelGuyon before the big guns battled it out in the finale of the short, yet brutal climb up to the Puy de Mary, where the average gradient rose above 11%. Ineos-Grenadiers Colombian leader Bernal, who fares better on longer ascents, could not sustain the pace when Tadej Pogacar accelerated, with fellow Slovenian Roglic the only rider able to follow. The duo crossed the line 38 seconds ahead of a grimacing Bernal, who slipped to third in the general classification, 59 seconds off the pace. The 21-year-old Pogacar, the most aggressive of the main contenders who was already the best man in the Pyrenees last weekend, is now second, 44 seconds behind Roglic. “The Tour is not finished

yet, there is still a lot of things that can happen, a lot of riders are still in the mix,” said Roglic. Eight riders are still within two minutes but Roglic has been the most impressive, never losing his cool despite Pogacar ’s repeated onslaughts. “I don’t want to bother looking at names and comparing myself with others. I’ll continue to focus on myself,” said Vuelta champion Roglic. FRENCH HOPES END Bernal saw Roglic and Pogacar fade in the distance as his face turned into a mask of pain in the last two kilometres of the ascent to the Puy Mary. The Colombian collapsed on his bike after the finish, mumbling: “I looked at my numbers, they’re good, the others are just better.” Bernal will now have to throw everything in the biggest battle of this year’s Tour, the 17th stage, which finishes in Meribel 2,304 metres above sea level atop the Col de la Loze, an unforgiving 21.5-km climb at an average gradient of 7.8%. Friday’s stage signalled the end of French hopes as Romain Bardet, who started

the day in fourth place overall 30 seconds off the pace, ended up 2:30 behind Roglic after the 2016 runner-up took a heavy tumble earlier. The AG2R-La Mondiale rider crashed on a descent and quickly got back on his bike, but had to sit down again because of a bout of dizziness. Guillaume Martin, third overall at the start, cracked in the penultimate climb and crossed the line 2:46 after Roglic. Bardet and Martin are now just outside the top 10, 3:00 and 3:14 behind Roglic, re-

spectively. Martinez, who featured among the dark horses before the start in Nice after winning the Criterium du Dauphine but lost all hopes in the first week, outsprinted Lennard Kamna for the stage win. Kamna’s Bora-Hansgrohe team mate and fellow German Maximilian Schachmann took third place.

Team Jumbo-Visma rider Primoz Roglic of Slovenia, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, celebrates on the podium. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Pool)

EF Pro Cycling rider Daniel Felipe Martinez of Colombia sprints to win the stage ahead of BORA-Hansgrobe rider Lennard Kaemna of Germany. (REUTERS/Stuart Franklin)

Kansas City Chiefs 34-20 Houston Texans:

Fans boo ‘moment of unity’ as Mahomes shines again

Alex Okafor took a knee during the national anthem and when the season started Patrick Mahomes (right) was once again key for the Chiefs. BBC Sport - Houston Texans’ defensive end JJ Watt was left confused by boos from fans during a pre-game ‘moment of unity’ as protests against racism took place on the opening night of the NFL season.Pockets of the crowd at the Kansas City Chiefs’ stadium booed as players linked arms shortly before the game started.Chiefs’ Alex Okafor took a knee during the na-

tional anthem while Houston’s players stayed in the changing room.When play began, quarter-back Patrick Mahomes inspired Kansas to a 34-20 win. Months of protests have taken place across the United States following the death of George Floyd after he was arrested by police in Minneapolis in May.Fewer than a quarter of the stadium’s seats

were in use because of Covid19 restrictions in the first NFL fixture since the outbreak of the virus but the audible boos were described as “unfortunate” by Watt. “I don’t fully understand that,” he said. “There was no flag involved. There was nothing involved other than two teams coming together to show unity.”Kansas City (Continued on page 21)

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Saturday September 12, 2020

Guyanese Warriors arrives home today on Charter flight

Shimron Hetmyer (CPL)

A

ccording to manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team, Trinidadian Omar Khan, the Guyanese players in the team which participated in the 2020 CPL T/20 tournament were expected to arrive in Guyana yesterday at 11:30 hours on a chartered flight from Trinidad. The Guyana franchise, led by Australian offspinning all-rounder Chris Green, lost five of their eleven matches including the semi-final, when they were bowled out for 55 (the tournament’s second lowest total) by the St Lucia Zouks. Last year the Warriors played unbeaten for 11 matches before losing to Barbados in the final. This was the Warriors’ seventh semi-final appearance in eight tournaments since 2013. The South America franchise, have reached the final five times but have never won the tournament. This was one of the Warriors worst tournaments, which was played without spectators because of the covid-19 restrictions in the twin-Island Republic. In a sub-standard tournament in which only one century was scored, the event was marred by poor batsmanship, a lack of proper shot selection and the inability to adjust and adapt to the batting on pitches which were difficult for stroke play. West Indies left-handed Shimron Hetmyer started with two half-centuries including a glorious 71 but suffered a runs-drought until the final preliminary game when he got his third Fifty. He was then bowled for a first-ball duck in the semifinal which St Lucia easily

Kevin Sinclair (CPL) won by 10 wickets. Such was the low standard of the batting that Hetmyer’s 267 runs from 11 innings, was the most by a Warriors batsman, while Nicholas Pooran who scored a century and a fifty, failed to reach 275 runs and was inconsistent. Both Hetmyer and Pooran failed to fire in the crucial knockout match in the semi-final, while out of form Jamaican Brandon King was the only other batsman to reach a fifty for the Warriors. Sherfane Rutherford never got going; Anthony

Players form a bat arch as a tribute to the late Haslim.

Softball fraternity among those that bid farewell to Haslim

Omar Khan Bramble only played one match, while Chandrapaul Hemraj was inconsistent at the top of the order. While Leg-spinner Imran Tanvir had the most wickets, off-spinner Kevin Sinclair had a wonderful debut season and had the best economy rate among all the bowlers with five wickets in his five matches while conceding just 68 runs. Guyanese fast bowling all-rounders Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd had lukewarm seasons, while West Indies U-19 left-arm (Continued on page 21)

M

embers of the local softball fraternity were among those that bid farewell to former player Khalid ‘Bilal’ Haslim. Haslim passed away on September 4 at Dr. Balwant Singh’s hospital due to a cardiac arrest and was laid to rest on Thursday last at the Ogle Cemetery, East Coast Demerara. Members of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc., Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) as well and players from several teams including Regal Masters and Open, Wellman Masters, Park Rangers, Fisherman, Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) and Ogle CC gathered to pay their final respect at MYO, Woolford Avenue and Ogle Jamaat. President of the GSCL Inc Ian John, in his remark extended condolences to the family on

behalf of the organisation and the entire softball fraternity. John said that the sport of softball has lost a great talent. He informed that Haslim played for city side Regal in several competitions and performed consistently well. John added that Haslim was set to travel with Regal to participate in the annual Florida Cup last March but due to the ongoing COVID-19, the three-day softball tournament was cancelled. John stated that Haslim was a true lover of the sport and had assisted with the staging of several tournaments including the Prime Minister’s T20 Cup, and noted that his services will surely be missed. Anil Beharry of the GFSCA said they are saddened at his passing and extended condolences to the family. He recalled Haslim (Continued on page 21)

Naomi Osaka of Japan hits the ball against Jennifer Brady of the US in the women’s singles semifinal at the 2020 US Open. (Robert Deutsch-USA Today Sports)

Azarenka and Osaka have unfinished business at U.S. Open final Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits a forehand against Serena Williams of the US in the women’s singles semifinal at the 2020 US Open. (Danielle Parhizkaran-USA Today Sports)

t r o Sp Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh revived Australia’s innings. (Getty Images)

Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi, Shakib Al Hasan, Munaf Patel among international players In LPL auction Chris Gayle celebrates his hundred during CPL 2019 © CPL T20 via Getty Images

Australia ease to victory over England in first ODI Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8452, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.