Kaieteur News

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When will the CJIA spending stop?

AIETEUR NEWS

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Wednesday Edition September 15, 2021 - Vol. 16 No.26

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

$23.3M tender out to fix roof

Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 82,012

Govt. seeks Int'l consultants to review Exxon's studies for Full Court upholds Payara Project decision to allow scrutiny of monies requested by The protest continues for change to all contracts.

constitutional agencies Haiti Chief Prosecutor calls for PM to be charged in President's killing

Oil experts to join Region to craft energy transition policy Man dies after pick-up topples in Buck Hall

Guyana still negotiating sales agreement to buy its own Natural Gas …as company insists on finalised deal before going ahead with US$900M project Hear how you can make some real money in the oil sector.

Tune into Kaieteur Radio (99.1/99.5FM) @11:00hrs to find out!

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday September 15, 2021

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

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

EDITORIAL

Political sensitivities Guyanese politicians, from juniors at the bottom to hopefuls in the middle to tone deaf and shortsighted leaders at the top, have to work on a few things. They have many other things, on which they are in need of urgent assistance, but we suggest starting with those singled out today. Since male and female practitioners of the so-called noble art of politics lag so far behind in the areas selected, they should start with selfimprovement now.

Guyanese politicians, at every level, flinch too quickly.

They bruise too easily, with the whole world seeing them in their uncomfortable, vulnerable moments. They make themselves look naked, despite the loud arrogance, the puffed chest swaggering. They are bloated as cowards, and we know what we are talking about, and why we say so.

Prick them with the tiniest pin, and they deflate like an overblown balloon. Pull one thread in their ministerial or leadership clothing and they stand naked. In other words, take a stand against them on anything that has one speck of truth in it, which exposes their deceptions, and they collapse and run hollering for momma and the shelter of propagandists, social media comrades and protectors, who all stand ready to do dirty jobs for them. Local politicians in power don’t hesitate to marshal the apparatus of the bullying, coercive state, through security forces, legal machinery, and media that the people pay for, to beat up on honest, patriotic citizens flexing their constitutional right to free speech.

We do not even have to accuse them of vulgar, corrupt, or weak behaviour, and they fall apart, but they make sure to lash out loudly and dangerously, just like cattle on the way to the slaughterhouse. Guyanese political players have no backbone, no courage, to stand up and face the honest heats of principled patriots. They are more at home with the fawning falsehoods and defenses of loyalists. We are sorry to disappoint all of them: we cannot be like that, and we have no intention of being like those, who have already willingly surrendered their consciences, any claims to independent thinking, and any readiness to face facts and the people.

Principled politicians should face citizens with questions/concerns and offer one of two things: mistake made, and these are the facts. Alternatively, the mistake is on accusers, who must correct themselves. We have been calling for a frank and fearless culture, an open one, with oil and gas reports, and what we (and the nation) get for our interest and trouble is deafening silence in public; and more sinister moves behind the scenes to silence those who dare to stand up and speak out against leaders hiding from any kind of probing light. What could be more blindingly transparent than that the political leaders of this country, both in the previous coalition APNU+AFC and the current PPP/C government, have all been most non-transparent with the oil and other mineral wealth of this nation? What could be more revealingly transparent that they have been only about the darkness of the thickest, molasses-like secrecies?

When we speak of that, their noses run, and their eyes overflow with tears. Our leaders sweat buckets and their sweat have a certain pungent odour about it: it says that they are concealing something, they are hiding many things, and that they are frightened. They want us to close our eyes, and lock our minds to their cover-ups, but we cannot. Even as we hold our noses from the stench of their serial political and leadership vulgarities (government and opposition – none innocent), we still get the nastiness of them on our clothes and shoe bottom.

That is, because political wrongdoing is abundant in the air, no matter how they try, it can’t be denied. Because so many of our political participants are so rotted to the bone, they ooze, and when they ooze, even the blind can tell.

Remember what we said earlier: they flinch too quickly, railup too much, and bruise too easily. We will tell our fellow Guyanese why. It is because they have so much that is sick about them, and from deep down within them. Better to be honest and humble, than sensitive and scampish.

Leaders, government, opposition, and citizens all have responsibilities Dear Editor, A strange and worrisome situation experienced in much of human history is where citizens elect or identify leaders by a variety of means - men and women who will determine their destiny. Leaders styled Monarchs, Presidents or Prime Ministers who they assume are intelligent, meaning that these leaders are capable of setting aside personal interest for the general good of the nation state.

In Guyana, we have been suffocating during and after Emancipation, before and after Independence because successive Governments used praises and clichés without having the intellectual strength to make a reality of these ideas.

Earlier generations have suffered from the ravishes of ApanJaat. Alien forms of Communism, Socialism, Leninism, Marxism, etc. We have had the manipulation of elections – “awe pun top,” – “operation, fight back,” political parties with less than fifty percent support conducted the business of the State, as though they represent one hundred percent of the people.

Political parties trumpeting “Cheated but not defeated,”

and “Stay away from Parliament.”

At one time, there was a glimmer of hope when the nation learnt of critical support (PNC/PPP agreement) in an effort to disengage ourselves from the oil-grip of the fearful domination and economic pressure from the mighty conglomerates. An earlier generation was hopeful when all of our political leaders embraced the idea of non-Alignment, so all Guyanese could benefit from the bounty of massive natural resources bestowed on our 83,000 square miles by the Creator. Hopeful that generations of Guyanese, the descendants of slaves and indentured immigrants could maximise a country blessed with no serious natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods.

E d i t o r, h o p i n g a n d praying that our young people everywhere will rise up and realise the aspirations of our ancestors and their own dreams to be prosperous and peaceful Guyana. They must tell our leaders on both sides of the political divide that they have no patience, no stomach for them behaving like spoilt brats.

First, to use the phrase of a revered elder back in 1953,

“this confounded nonsense must stop,” of not engaging the Opposition, because they allegedly have not gone on bended knees to say that they now recognise them as being the Government. In life, a story has two or more sides.

In a country, you must have a government, whether elected by ballots or bullets, coups or uprisings; whether elected by fair or foul means, whether you like it or not. I recall the well-known Statement “Treason never prospers. For when it does, who dare call it treason?”

On the other hand, this Government, whether installed or else, is the Government – you must have a government. All parliamentarians are being paid, the Office of the Opposition is being funded by the Government, and debates take place in the House, and government, as I said earlier, must stop behaving like immature, insensitive people.

Additionally, there is no constitutional or legal validity for the Government’s refusal to consult the Opposition. This confounded nonsense must stop. Our young people everywhere must analyse and recognise that, unless they understand, they are all

sinking in a swirling sea of stupidity they will not inherit the bounty of the Creator, I referred to earlier.

Today, the ugly spectre of racial discrimination is on the horizon. Today, evidence of us being recolonised is there for all to see. The above is ominous and frightening, coupled with oil and COVID-19. Our youth need to be involved in helping to salvage the situation and set the ship-of-state on an even keel. Oil threatening the economic lifeblood of Guyana and COVID-19 the health lifeblood of our nation state. Enough has been said in the case of oil and gas.

Some editorials have done us great service by referring to our many steps of stupidity in our dealing with oil and gas. On COVID-19, the ministry responsible must step forward and openly engage those groups and persons who are vaccine hesitant.

Today, I learnt there were seven deaths of persons, who did not take the vaccine. To the vaccine hesitant community, I say science is not in your corner and there are many soothsayers beating war-drums. COVID19 is real. I have friends who have succumbed. I say to my (Continued on page 6)

AG Nandlall: seven different attempts made to serve legal proceedings documents on Ms. Ferguson, all unsuccessfully Dear Editor, My attention was drawn to a letter to the editor, published in the Kaieteur N e w s o n t h e 11 t h o f September, 2021, by Ms. Annette Ferguson, MP, bearing the bold caption “I am available for the serving of any court documents.”

Upon a careful reading, I interpret this missive to be a public advisory by Ms. Ferguson to the ‘’Officers of the Courts, including Chief Justice, Hon. Roxane George–Wiltshire, CCH, and other Judges of the High Court’’ (sic) informing them that certain legal proceedings filed by yours truly have not been served upon her, coupled with an expressed apprehension “…and trust that there is no surreptitious motive to indicate that I cannot be located or I have avoided services.” (sic) I can only hope that those to whom the advisory was directed take

due notice.

Speaking for myself, contrary to her professed belief, I am unaware of Ms. Ferguson’s whereabouts or current address. The truth is after I gave full instructions to my Attorneys-at-Law on the legal proceedings against Ms. Ferguson; I did not engage them on the issue until my attention was drawn to Ms. Ferguson’s letter.

Only then I learnt that seven different attempts to serve the legal proceedings on Ms. Ferguson by Marshals of the High Court proved futile, inclusive at an address published on the Original List of Electors (OLE), as well as, on her Parliamentary documents – 19 North Road, Bourda, Georgetown. I am informed that at that address, a female advised the Marshals on more than one occasion that no one by the name of Annette Ferguson lives there.

I am further informed

that attempts were also made to effect service at a dwelling located in West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, another alleged residence of Ms. Ferguson.

Attempts were also made to effect service at a premises located at EE Eccles, East Bank Demerara, where the Marshals were informed Ms. Ferguson resides. However, attempts to serve her at that address also proved fruitless.

I am informed by my Attorneys-at-Law and do verily believe that the most recent attempt to serve Ms Ferguson was Friday, 10th day of September at approximately 10:00 hours.

It is indeed more than passing strange that her letter appeared in the newspaper the very next day.

Ms. Ferguson expressed the rhetorical lamentation that I have failed to serve her with the legal proceedings on the many days that she attended parliament. Not surprisingly, Ms. Ferguson is

obviously unaware of the provisions of Article 172 (4) of the Constitution of Guyana.

It provides thus: “172 (4) No process issued by any court in the exercise of its civil jurisdiction shall be served or executed within the precincts of the Assembly while the Assembly is sitting or through the Speaker, the Clerk, or any officer of the Assembly.”

Needless to say, my Attorneys-at-Law will continue to use the legal avenues available to lawfully effect service of the documents upon Ms. Ferguson. Alternatively, Ms. Ferguson can end her anguish by uplifting a copy of the said proceedings from the Registry of the High Court, Georgetown, at any time during the working hours of the Registry.

Yours faithfully, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, MP

Wednesday September 15, 2021

Certain rights are limitable because they conflict with the constitutional right to life itself Dear Editor, I decided to write this just moments after a discussion with someone who has strongly held reasons as to why she would not have a COVID-19 vaccine. I do not agree with those reasons, and all, but one, of those reasons have either been debunked by facts and statistics, or simply make no sense when and well known. The one sensible reason most cited today is the inalienable right to decide what goes into one’s own body.

Most human beings live in societies, which are governed by norms or in most instances worldwide by enacted laws. Indeed, there are a few persons who live in some of the most remote parts of our country whose practical day-to-day lives are governed by their own norms.

Persons living in societies, (and the hermit doesn’t), have to consider the rights of others for peaceful coexistence. The Constitution of Guyana is the Supreme Law so for any law to be valid in Guyana, it must not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution. The same applies in Canada and the USA. The UK has no written Constitution, so it is parliament that guides the Supreme Court as to what the Supreme Law of the Kingdom is. Vaccine mandates are a reality of today. Such mandates now exist in countries that represent the bastions of democracy whose leaders will certainly not support Guyanese, who protest that their civil liberties are being trampled upon by vaccination mandates.

However, what about the Constitution, our Bill of Rights that guarantees every Guyanese the right to life, liberty of the person, enjoyment of private property and freedom of

conscience and expression and of travel? Our Constitution guarantees many other rights and freedoms than just those listed here.

In reality, none of the individual rights and freedoms entrenched by our Constitution and in the UK traceable to Magna Carta are absolute. Whilst in the UK an action might be not unlawful if parliament has not enacted any law about it, in Guyana we must look to what the Constitution has to say about such action. In both instances where there is conflict, a clear authority prevails, and in Guyana, that authority is the Constitution.

If individual rights and freedoms were not both inalienable and sensibly restricted at the same time, someone could in the midst of the current pandemic lawfully decide to exercise the right to enjoy his own property by throwing a big party at his home and spending tens of thousands in the process. The invitees in exercising their freedom of conscience can decide that the vaccines on offer are unsafe and, combined with their right to decide what goes into their bodies, attend unvaccinated.

After circulating unmasked amongst a crowd of closely packed unmasked people exercising their freedom of expression by speaking and sometimes singing loudly above the music, some invitees may next morning exercise their freedom to travel by commercial aircraft to another country – quite possibly carrying to their destination the COVID-19 virus contracted at the party.

It has been proven statistically that large gatherings attended by unconcerned persons are often COVID-19 spreader events.

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Kaieteur News

Each of those rights and freedoms cited in that hypothetical “curfew party” scenario is limitable because they conflict with the inalienable constitutional right to life itself. It is the reason why someone whose conscience tells him to kill another will have his inalienable right to liberty taken away – whilst the person whose conscience tells her not to take any vaccine must consider whether her job potentially exposes the lives of others, who may not agree with her conscience.

In all established societies, it is the responsibility of government to step in where anyone’s right to life is even threatened. This came sharply into focus post 9/11 with the advent of the lengthy and inconvenient security checks all international airline passengers must bear today.

Similar is the current reaction worldwide to the real deadly and transmissible COVID-19 virus. It is the reason why we must have hygiene protocols, encourage vaccination and embrace selected vaccination mandates, since the rights of those who do not want to vaccinate, or cannot be vaccinated, must be considered and allowances made for them to exercise their inalienable individual rights and freedoms alongside those who are vaccinated.

With the overwhelming majority of COVID-19 deaths worldwide being of unvaccinated people, and where in Guyana, according to our Ministry of Health, only two fully vaccinated persons, with underlying conditions, have succumbed to the virus, the right to life of the society as a whole must be paramount and given effect accordingly.

Yours faithfully Ronald Bostwick

While the war goes on at City Hall, citizens stand as collateral damage Dear Editor, Following the court ruling on the Town Clerk (TC) appointment issue, ‘critical support’ was offered. But should this be when the court’s ruling did not impose any limitations or conditions to the functions and functioning of the TC?

The judge must be commended for the strong decision taken in this matter; with the hope, some normalcy can return to City Hall. This it seems might not be. The injunction sought was denied, but impositions by the Council continue, which will ultimately prove disruptive to

the smooth functioning of the office of the TC and, by extension, the affairs of the city.

Is this a war of attrition, it has to be wondered? In the meantime, citizens continue to be collateral damage.

Sincerely Shamshun Mohamed

Govt. feeds inefficiencies and corruptions in a backward public service with cronies and friends Dear Editor, Successive governments’ leaderships in Guyana have not been interested in creating a modern society.

They are simply interested in the money and a jetset lifestyle that they can live as a result. This is why companies, not just foreign, but local as well find it extremely difficult to do business in Guyana. This is because party hacks or friends and cronies are hired, who have no idea or interest in developing Guyana. The recent letter relating to GOInvest is testimony to this.

The fact that Demerara Distillers Ltd., has to publicly make a statement about the supply of molasses from GuySuCo is evidence of this mediocrity and incompetence.

One of the definitions of madness is attempting to do the exact same thing again and again and expect a different result. The entire public service is backward in the delivery of service. Some of those are also not only backward, but partisan and make every effort to undermine the government’s programmes. The current government is at a disadvantage in this regard.

Yet for some reason that can only be attributed to madness, leaders continue to retain retired public servants who have failed, in senior positions or on state boards.

They continue to promote those in the ministries/ organisations, who were part of the backwardness for years. This act alone

continues to propagate the backwardness and incompetence. This is unacceptable to the citizens of Guyana.

The current government has acted like the previous.

Got into office. Fired incompetent political appointees, which is correct.

But then it proceeded to quickly appoint its own incompetent political cronies and incompetent friends.

Case in point is the GUYOIL travesty. The GuySuCo window dressing. The GOInvest drama unfolding. The backward claim by the EPA that an environmental study is not required for the new Demerara River Bridge. It appears that the qualification for employment is to be a (Continued on page 6)

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Wednesday September 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

The Coalition has no viable issue to prioritise, so it comes up with vaccination resistance Dear Editor, It is clear that the Opposition is not interested in ‘inclusive governance’ but ‘absolute governance.’ This is not about accepting the legitimacy of the PPP/C Government, this is about the PPP/C accepting the Coalition’s spurious claims that the PPP/C not only attempted to ‘rig’ the 2020 Elections, but actually rigged it.

Is the PPP/C Government at fault for rejecting such a

factitious claim? Is it not the Opposition, which is actually rejecting Article 13? We must recall that although the PNC rigged all the Elections from 1968 onwards until 1985, the PPP in Opposition lead by Dr. Jagan lent ‘critical support’ not only when our national sovereignty was threatened

by Venezuela, but it was an intent to support all positive initiatives by the PNC in favour of progress of Guyana. But sadly, the PNC not only rejected Dr. Jagan’s

proposals but labelled him an ‘opportunist.’ Imagine the rightful President being called an ‘opportunist’ by a rigger and a dictator. We must never lose sight of the fact that the growth of our economy, the eradication of poverty, and the health and well-being of our people has always taken precedent over selfishness and greed for power.

The Coalition attempted for five long months to rig the 2020 Elections, in full view of the world, and until now has

been trying to hoodwink its supporters that they were ‘cheated not defeated’, and they must take to the streets outside of parliament to reinforce such claims. That is all the Coalition wants – power. At any and all costeven the lives of Guyanese do not matter!

We now have a deadly pandemic, which is slowly decimating our population and yet the Opposition and its agents have failed to meaningfully support the Government in its vaccination drive.

Would the PPP/C have done this? I say NEVER! The Guyana Teachers’ Union, the GTU, is in the forefront protesting the Government’s vaccination drive, when it should give effect to its motto of ‘Moulding Our Nation’ and support the Government.

This is a great shame. In this month, to date, 62 persons have died, including a mother and her daughter just one week apart. These were reported as being unvaccinated. I am sure that many of these anti-vaxxers are already vaccinated. Those Coalition officials who went

to the protest in Brooklyn are all vaccinated!

I was utterly disappointed when I saw some of the posts from persons who are teachers, and they are peddling false and dangerous claims backed by videos.

These teachers need to educate the people, who look up to them for accurate information. In the past five months, YouTube has removed more than 30,000 misleading COVID-19 vaccination videos, and in the past year, more than 800,000 videos have been removed for COVID-19 misinformation.

They contradicted the vaccine information from the World Health Organization.

These include false claims that the vaccines kill people, cause infertility, and conspiracy theories. Many included false claims on nonexistent ‘cures.’ This would have included the Coalition’s MP Jermaine Figueira’s ‘cure’ of jumbie umbrella and bush tea. Are our people aware of these falsehoods? Have our teachers tried to educate our students and parents about the misinformation on social media? NO, some of these

teachers have been busy on social media sharing these videos to the same students and their parents.

There must be a distinction between issues of bad governance and holding a government accountable, and those, which are of paramount national interest.

However, it is a crying shame that the Opposition in Guyana is using the COVID19 vaccination to further its political agenda for want of real issues, when it should be truly supporting the vaccination drive. President Ali and his Government have been fulfilling their responsibilities under the Constitution and it is time that the Coalition does the same. If the Coalition chooses to be out of the decisionmaking processes of the State, then clearly the President and his Government are not at fault.

The integrity of the Opposition is being tested. I conclude with this, ‘There is no better test of a man’s integrity than his behaviour when he is wrong.’

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

...Govt. feeds inefficiencies and From page 5 crony, be part of a failed organisation for years, be a slick talker, be a clueless yes-man or yeswoman, a political grasshopper, or be of questionable integrity. So, the sloth in government continues. Never mind all the

public relations hype about all the projects.

Every single step in government takes forever to be executed because of inefficiency, ineffectiveness and incompetence.

Sincerely, Harrish Singh

...Leaders, government, opposition, and citizens all have responsibilities From page 4 friends, respect your rights, but concomitantly, you must also respect your responsibilities, in a matter that is a global intensity and has already consumed many lives.

Every story has two or more sides. Let us talk in a civilised manner. Last Thursday, the family of a wellknown businessman and personal friend of mine called to seek my advice, after noting that the conditions at the Liliendaal COVID-19 facility were horrible, and asked my views as to what they should do. I am told that the nurses and medical personnel are now suffering from what is called “Burn Out.” Guyanese cannot afford a health calamity.

I ask my friends not to curse me but, sometimes, they need to take measures in defiance of Governments mis-

handling of the situation, so that we can live to fight another day. Let us be brave. Let us be true to credible scientific evidence.

In this situation, it is unacceptable that the Government should display signs of arrogance and feel that they can disregard the feelings and opinions of sections of our society. It is a government that must be magnanimous; it is a government that should be gracious. To those in the anti-vax line up, I say this: there are several fundamental and serious issues that we should link arms to protest.

Issues that should prevent the marginalisation of sections of our society, issues that are widening the gap between the haves and the haves-not.

Last week, I spoke to a young father who came out from prison, and I was trying

to guide him to a good life and preach to him about the value of good morals. After listening, he said “Uncle Hammy, the only thing I can do now, is steal and work drugs. If this Government is really interested in the ‘One Guyana,’ they must divest themselves of this ideology and philosophy, which determines that Burnham never did anything that is good and proper, and spend some of that oil revenue to re-introduce National Service.

Thank God, we still have a few men who made National Service a useful institution to save many lives and are still available, if requested. A good Government cannot by dictum curse people. I conclude with the words of a song written

by Billy Pilgrim, “Let us cooperate for Guyana.”

Yours faithfully, Hamilton Green

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Wednesday September 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

Canje Block campaign to emit hundreds of tons of poisonous gases (KN September 12).

This oil has made us into monsters.

We are killing our seas. We are destroying our environment. We are poisoning our atmosphere.

The PPP/C Government is business as usual. Guyana's EPA is going about its own business: clueless, spineless, useless.

A real farce of an organisation.

What is this oil doing to us, but making monsters of us?

What will become of us, when the oil is gone and Guyanese (other than the super-elites) have nothing to show for it?

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Wednesday September 15, 2021

Guyana still negotiating sales agreement to buy its own Natural Gas …as company insists on finalised deal before going ahead with US$900M project The Guyana Government is forging ahead with a proposed gas-to-shore energy project, but among the requirements needed by ExxonMobil Guyana before it proceeds with its end of the commitments to the project, are a few critical documents that need to be finalised.

This includes a Gas Sales Agreement, despite the fact that Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, has, on more than one occasion, made several pronouncements on the matter ranging from the gas being provided free of cost, to

the fact, that Guyana would not pay above market rates.

Nonetheless, the agreement is among the prerequisites listed by ExxonMobil before going ahead with the project.

According to a 2018 Secret Cabinet Paper seen by this publication, the considerations on the part of the government that need to be communicated to ExxonMobil before it makes a Final Investment Decision, is the site location.

This is in addition to submitting a 'Draft Gas Sales

Agreement.'

Accompanying this, ExxonMobil noted that government would also have to consider with expediency, the signatories to that agreement, the ownership of the power plant, the purchaser of gas at the power plant, consensus on how government intends to handle participation in the gas sales, and the handling of third party rights. None of these has been concluded to date.

Despite this, government has indicated that the t

ermination point for the proposed gas pipeline will be the Wales Development Zone (WDZ) on the West Bank of Demerara, having landed onshore at Crane, West Coast Demerara.

It was during a scoping meeting that was held by ExxonMobil Guyana in July last, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where it was disclosed that ExxonMobil would be selling the Natural gas liquids to third parties and the portion that remains, being dry gas, would be sold to Guyana for its electricity needs.

Confirming this at the U m a n a Ya n a w a s ExxonMobil Guyana's Production Manager, Mike Ryan.

During that engagement with citizens and members of the media on the project, Ryan was asked to say if Natural gas liquids would be sold to Guyana.

He did not give a direct

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

answer, but confirmed that the gas would be sold to third parties, while adding, that ExxonMobil would not know the final destination of the g a s a f t e r t h a t .

It should be noted that ExxonMobil, in collaboration with the government, is moving ahead with this project at a time when the world is moving away from fossil-fuels based

p r o j e c t s . I n M a y, f o r example, this newspaper had reported on the United Nations' (UN) call for a shift in the policy of countries worldwide, to move away from supporting fossil fuel projects through financing, such as subsidies towards renewable energy, and the promotion of the transfer of technology to developing countries.

Wednesday September 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

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The honeymoon will soon end Electric bikes have arrived. They are being sold in Guyana and used on its roads.

These bikes present no threat on our roadways because they do not travel at a fast rate. In fact, if someone is being towed on one of these bikes, a pedestrian can outpace it.

The brands, which are flooding the local market, have the appearance of a motorcycle but operate on electricity. However, Guyana has had dual-use bicycles for more than 10 years. This latter cycle use normal bicycle pedals, but there is the option of switching over to battery power, which some riders do when riding against the wind.

No one protested over the non-regulation of these battery-powered bicycles. In addition, the reason for this was that they never posed the same threat to the commercial interests of motorcycle dealers as the present e-bikes.

The present e-bikes (which have the appearance of a mini motorcycle rather than a bicycle) do not pose any safety problems to motor vehicles. Electric bikes are permitted and can use the road lanes set aside for bicycles and motorcycles.

But because we have penchant in Guyana for permitting businesses alongside public roads and because the customers of these businesses like to park within the bicycle lanes, cyclists often have to straddle both the cycle lane and those which are used by motor cars

and vans. But this problem is being exaggerated to make it appear that the electric bikes are making our roads less safe.

The electric bikes, however, do not move themselves on the road. They have to be steered and that is done by the person driving them. So if there is any blame to be cast for unsafe use of electric bikes, it has to be placed at the feet or hands of those using them.

There is no traffic safety problem with these bikes.

But one can understand why some persons are going to get upset with these bikes.

For one, their local consumption is reducing the sale of petrol-powered motorcycles. The cost of the electric bikes is competitive compared to motorcycles and many persons find them handy for travelling short distances.

Many persons are opting for the electric bikes, which can be had for sums between $100,000 and $150,000. This is far cheaper than comparable petrol-fired motorcycles. The e-bikes are affordable for the average person, who may not be able to afford a comparable motorcycle. And this is increasing the demand for them much to the consternation of some.

It is therefore understandable that sections of the business community, facing this new and unexpected competition, are going to be worried about the loss of sales. But electric bikes are not going to put any dealership out of business

because the bikes are not suitable – at least not the ones on sale in Guyana – for long distances and are not known for speed.

The electric bikes have cheaper running costs. The cost of electricity is cheaper than the cost of gasoline and because it is not motorised you are not required to take out a motor vehicle licence or apply for a certificate of fitness from the police.

Under our laws, these bikes are not considered as motorised and as such, the police cannot stop and ask for documents. The riders do not have to be licenced to use them. Those policemen therefore who love to carry out random stops on motorcyclists are likely therefore to be very upset because of the number of persons whom they cannot harass and who are using electric bikes. These seedy ranks are therefore among those who will be opposed to the use of electric bikes.

But they do not have to worry for long. The government is likely to move in the direction of passing legislation to licence these bikes. There are forces, which are likely to influence the government to bring electric bikes under some form of regulation.

The stage is being set for forcing the government to bring these electric bikes under greater purview of the Road Traffic Act. As more electric bikes flood the market, the government's commitment to working class interests – these bikes are a blessing for poor people

Every man boys seh... know bout Pfizer Dem

De Bajan lady seh how she hear how some men claiming dem nah know bout Pfizer vaccine.

But seh she hear how dem know bout Pfizer good! And she said this out of de blue.

Dat is why dem boys feel dat dem men who against de vaccine should change dem position.

Dem should rise to de occasion and lead de way in reducing vaccine hesitancy. Is not a hard decision fuh mek.

Dem boys know, nuff

ah dem men wah complaining how de vaccine gat things inside wah nah good fuh dem, never complain bout de blue pill.

Dem never ask wah de blue pill contain. Dem does use it even though it gat risks.

Some ah dem does even use it without de knowledge and permission of dem doctor.

It mek dem boys remember de story of a man who went to de docta fuh de blue pill. He tell de docta

how he want a double dose.

De doctor tell he dat is dangerous and ask he why he want a double dose. De man explain how he gat two girlfriends who coming to visit he over the weekend, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.

De doctor reluctantly give he de double dose.

On de Monday, de man visit de doctor looking halfdead. De doctor ask he wat happen. He say, “No one showed up.”

Talk half and nah claim yuh nah know bout Pfizer.

– is going to be tested. The police and the business class will love nothing better than to be able to regulate these bikes.

The honeymoon which electric bikes enjoy are about

to end. Despite electric bikes being emissions free, the government is expected – as it so often does – to bow to the powerful business lobby and to require licencing, registration of electric bikes

and certification of their road worthiness and riders.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Wednesday September 15, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

This month marks the one-year anniversary of hypocrisy and tragedy When I was a little boy, I would overhear my mother in her chats with relatives saying that she doesn't know how barefaced liars are not afraid that when they lie God will strike them down. Walter Rodney made a similar echo at a public meeting about local power dictators.

I am wondering the same thing. I will come to what I am wondering about what my mom and Rodney said below, but first the background. In September last year, two youths were murdered in Cotton Tree Village in Region Five. It must be noted that at the time, the election

propaganda by the PNC and AFC was still alive even though the world had recognised a legitimate winner and Dr. Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President.

David Granger and Joe Harmon travelled to Region Five and based on inflammatory words used, there was an orchestration of violence against Indian people reminiscent of the years of violence that Indian Guyanese endured because the opposition lost power.

The years are 1992, 1997, 2001. The election lost by the PNC in 2001 constituted the most terrible invocation of

memories of Wismar in Mackenzie in 1964, an event that had silhouettes of antiIndian genocide.

An organised political plot resulted in a Camp Street jailbreak shortly after the 2001 national election. It occurred on Mash Day, 2002.

The escaped prisoners made Buxton their logistical sanctuary and a regime of systematic violence was unleashed on Indian Guyanese in Georgetown and selected parts of Region Four that lasted until 2006.

Indians were gunned down mercilessly at random by these gunmen whose

ideological indoctrination was provided for by Ronald Waddell., then common-law wife Bonita Bone-Harris, long time associate of Walter Rodney.

Surely, Walter must have turned in his grave.

For the details about everything about the Buxton mayhem, please research my columns in the Kaieteur News and the Chronicle at the time. In years to come, I will offer more details than what are contained in those columns.

So I wonder if the LGBT group SASOD, those women organisations and civil society actors like the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and Transparency InternationalGuyana Incorporated (TIGI) do not feel that God will strike them down when they write their hypocritical hyperboles about people's rights.

They uttered not a word on the violence the Indian folks faced in September last year. And they uttered not a word months before when the most disgraceful attempts to rig a national election in the 21st century anywhere in the world occurred. The saddest moment on that

mayhem last year was the attack on a 16year-old girl, her grandmother and their driver.

Frederick Kissoon The terror she endured was described Rodney's African Guyanese in a letter in the newspapers of September 12, associates in and out of 2020. That letter is not for the Guyana, etc, issued even one faint-hearted. It tears you up word of condemnation on when you read it but it does what Granger and Harmon more than that. It torments said to a volatile gathering in your soul when you think that Region Five that sparked off no women group responded wide spread attacks on w i t h s y m p a t h e t i c Indians.

This is what I wrote in my outpourings.

Why? See my column of piece for last Friday, “I don't Monday September 21, want any AFC leader, who 2020, “Helpless 16-year-old w e r e m i n i s t e r s i n girl, her grandmother and 3 government, to even look in LGBT victims.” I took the my direction, much less say position in that article to hello to me.” I am applying which I remain unapologetic that identical line now to that the hypocritical women those women groups, the groups in Guyana were silent GHRA, TIGI, the editor of because that girl and her “In the Diaspora,” Dr. Alissa grandmother were Indians. I Trotz, and others. Please will apologise on this page never speak to me.

I make one exception – for mistakes and confusion of facts, but I will never Alfred Bhulai of TIGI. I apologise for what I believe believe Mr. Bhulai is a nice in. That was never me. That gentleman but is in the wrong isn't me. That will never be company.

(The views expressed in me.

Not one women's group, this article are those of the the GHRA, TIGI, the weekly a u t h o r a n d d o n o t “In the Diaspora” column in necessarily reflect the Stabroek News, Walter opinions of this newspaper.)

Wednesday September 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Wednesday September 15, 2021

Mercy Hospital obtains ISO certification

T

he St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital has joined a small group of local agencies to be certified in accordance to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).

Mercy is the newest addition to the approximately eight local companies to achieve this feat.

During a press briefing held yesterday at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital compound, officials attached to the health facility announced that it acquired the IOS 9001:2015, the international standard for a quality management system. The certificate was acquired through Global Compliance Service (GCS), the only accredited international ISO certification body in Guyana.

The ISO certification comes at a time when St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital is celebrating its 76th year of existence.

According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the institution, Enock Gaskin, the ISO certification is in keeping with its mandate of assuring quality medical care is available to the Guyanese public.

He noted that “For many persons, the question being asked is, what does the ISO certification contribute to medical care, and why embrace it? For the St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, the answer is simple. Our desire to guarantee consistent outcomes requires that all our

processes and procedure are documented. With documentation that is subject to independent audits, clients can be assured that the care provided to them conforms to the best standard of the industry.”

The CEO noted too, that the hospital's ISO compliance is coming at a time when Guyana is gearing up to cater for a thriving oil industry, as well as dealing with the effects of a global pandemic.

I n o f f e r i n g congratulations to the management and staff of the hospital for their achievement, CEO of GCS, Candelle Bostwick, said that with the advancement of Guyana's oil and gas sector and international investors swarming the country's shores, the St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital is now fully accredited to provide the level or standard of health care services those investors are accustomed to.

She said “This standard is one that is based on providing accurate, reliable and consistent quality of service to the customers….In this case, the St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, the scope includes the delivery of patient care services, and all of the service provided by this health care institution.”

Bostwick continued, “What the certification means to St. Joseph's Mercy (Continued on page 23)

Man dies after pick-up topples in Buck Hall A man who has since been identified as Damion Culpepper, died after he lost control of a Toyota Hilux pick-up, which toppled along the 49KM Buck Hall Road in Region Three on Monday night.

Investigators reported that the driver and six persons including Culpepper, a 3year-old and a woman identified as 'Big Aunty' and her daughter Zannie were inside the vehicle, when the accident occurred sometime between 20:30hrs. and 21:00hrs. on Monday.

The vehicle, which was being driven by Zulficar Boodhoo, a 24-year-old who resides at Good Hope, Essequibo Coast, was heading into the interior at about 50 to 60 miles per hour.

Investigators said the driver claimed that, whilst ascending a hill, he dropped into a huge hole and lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle toppled once.

Meanwhile, the investigators report did not state if the driver or the other passengers were injured, but noted that Culpepper was subsequently taken to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has since dispatched a party of policemen to the scene to continue investigations.

Kaieteur News made several attempts yesterday to contact the relatives of the deceased. However, those efforts have been futile.

The management and staff of the St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital at the press conference to mark the ISO Certification

Wednesday September 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

Wednesday September 15, 2021

PAGE 21

AG says public health prevails over individual rights In light of the statements that persons have been making contending that the government is infringing on their individual rights, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, last week

relation to COVID-19 public health measures which are being taken under the public health ordinance or legislation are valid. The fundamental rights of an individual must bend and bow to the importance of

and freedom of others are respected.” He further noted that the public health of the citizens of a society are of paramount importance and must prevail over individual rights.

According to the

rule says that you must produce a vaccine card and you don't have the vaccine card, well, too bad,” the AG added.

M o r e o v e r, M i n i s t e r Nandlall further noted that vaccines are not a new

The Public Health Ordinance the AG was referring to. during his weekly programme titled 'Issues in the news” explained that public health and public good prevails over individual rights.

In fact, the AG stated, “In

public health and the public good.”

The Minister explained, “Individual rights and freedom are not absolute, but must be curtailed, so that the public good and the rights

Minister, every individual has the freedom to move as is wished, but noted that if that individual wishes to enter a particular building, they must observe the rules governing entry of that building. “If the

Driver released on $40,000 bail after crushing head of drunken man lying on the roadway Jaleel Henry, a 22-yearold driver of the motorcar that was involved in a fatal accident last Saturday night at the Farm New Housing Scheme Public Road, East Bank Demerara, that claimed the life of 23-yearold pedestrian, Ishwar Mohan, of Lot 163, Second Street, Success, East Coast Demerara, was charged with failure to stop after an accident, and failure to render assistance. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released on $20,000 bail each.

Kaieteur News had reported that Henry was travelling north along the western side of the said road at a fast rate of speed and ran over an intoxicated Mohan, who was lying on the western side of the road. As a result, Mohan was dragged some distance; Henry failed to stop, but instead went to the Providence Police Station and reported the matter.

Mohan was picked up in an unconscious condition by the police and publicspirited citizens and taken to

the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.

The post mortem examination revealed the cause of death to be multiple crush injuries.

Subsequently, the body was later handed over to relatives for cremation.

A breathalyzer test was conducted on Henry, and no trace of alcohol was detected in his breath.

Henry is slated to return to court on September 27, 2021.

Full Court upholds decision to allow...

From page 3 affected by the amendments.

He, therefore, sought a declaration that the inclusion of the constitutional agencies as Budget Agencies under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act Cap 73:02 is inconsistent with the independence assured to the constitutional agencies in the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

According to Mahipaul, the expenditure of each of the constitutional agencies ought to be financed as a direct charge on the Consolidated Fund, determined as a lump sum, by way of an annual subvention and is disbursable out of the said fund, without an Appropriation Act.

He noted that such expenditure cannot, therefore, form part of the estimates to be included in any Appropriation Bill and or Act, as it would be unconstitutional.

In a document to support his application, Mahipaul had explained that the National Assembly passed the Fiscal Management and A c c o u n t a b i l i t y (Amendment) Act, which was assented to by former President, David Granger, on August 5, 2015, which outlined a procedure for the request of constitutional agencies for funding, to be considered directly by and only by the National Assembly instead of the Executive micro-managing the activities of those agencies.According to the applicant, the FMAA

established for the first time, a legislative foundation for the independence of the constitutional agencies of Guyana, and give them complete control of their finances.

He said that the National Assembly then passed Constitutional Amendment Act, No. 1 of 2016, which was assented to by Granger on the January 11, 2016, in which the Parliament Office was added as an entity listed among the constitutional agencies.Mahipaul noted, however, that the National Assembly recently passed the Fiscal Management and Accountability Amendment Bill of 2021 assented to on February 9, which repealed Section 80B (1) to (4) of the FMAA, which were previously amended in 2015.

measure and that there have been mandatory vaccines in the Caribbean and in the Commonwealth since 1974.

He added that, in any event, the rights that people are invoking, including the rights

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

guaranteed by the constitution, are subject to restrictions.

According to the AG, the rights arguments that people have been advancing have been rejected by courts that have adjudicated in those cases, and that the argument does not hold any ground, since the vaccination

requirements are also backed by law.

“Someone had challenged the COVID-19 measures in 2020 and the court had rejected the challenge and said that the COVID-19 measures are for the public good and are therefore valid and enforceable,” the Minister said.

Five more die of COVID-19; 67 deaths in first two weeks of September Five more persons have died from COVID-19, taking Guyana's death toll to 692 since March 2020. According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), this figure takes the death toll for this month, so far, to 67.

The latest fatalities according to the MoH are: a 64-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) both died on September 13; a 72-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man of Region Three who died on September 1 and 3 respectively; and an 85-year-old woman of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who died on September 6. According to the MoH, the patients were all receiving care at medical facilities. Of the five deaths, the Ministry of Health reported that only the man from Region Four was partially vaccinated. The others were unvaccinated, adding to the number of unvaccinated people succumbing to the dreaded virus.

Meanwhile, the MoH reported that

another 135 people were infected with the novel coronavirus over a 24-hour period, taking the overall number of infected persons to 28,234 since March 2020.

These new infections were recorded in Region One, which had four cases; Region Two, which had two cases; Region Three, which had 15 cases; Region Four, which had 65 cases; Region Five, which had eight cases; Region Six, which had 12 cases; Region Seven, which had 14 cases; Region Eight, which has one case; Region Nine, which had four cases; and Region 10, which had 10 cases.

Additionally, there are now 31 patients receiving critical care in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU); 149 people are in institutional isolation, 2,841 people are in home isolation, and 20 are in institutional quarantine. A total of 24,521 people have recovered to date, after they tested positive for COVID-19.

PAGE 22

Wednesday September 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

Guyanese graduate engineers begin overseas training for third oil vessel The Guyanese graduate engineers in The Netherlands for training

VEHICLES FOR SALE

TO LET

Tractor Massey Ferguson 165-$1.7M,Massey Ferguson 135-$1.1M, Ford Ranger pick up $900,000, Ford F150 pick up $1.1M. 682-5230/615-4414.

Rooms to let in Albertown.

Call:225-3234/628-1183.

VACANCY WANTED CAR RENTAL Aidan's Car Rental. Call:6281183.

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

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

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

One female accounts clerk,knowledge in POS system would be an asset.For more info.Contact:227-3580.

NB:Proof of vaccination card or a negative PCR test will be required before entering premises.

2 truck driver for interior, must have knowledge about Foden Trucks $200,000 monthly.Call:642-2359.

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

Appliance repairs/service for Refrigerator,Washing Machine, Stove, Treadmill, Dryer, Pressure pump, Oven, Deep Fryer.Call:694-9733.

Laboureres to work at Ice House, $3500 per day.

Tel:223-7165.

Appliance/equipment repairs and service to Bakery, Restaurant,Hospital equipment, Remote gate, Backwash & filtration system.

Call:694-9733.

Salon assistant,female age 24-40, no experience required however would be a plus 500-6008 between Wed-Sat 9AM-4PM. 16-18 yrs old youths to train for metal & enginering. Living quarters will be provided.

Tel:227-1813/672-1703.

Ultraviolet Driving School covid-19,September $8,500 for 5 sessions for beginners course and refreshers course.Whatsapp:602-2583.

FOR SALE

Domestic,Operator,MechanicDoosan.Tel:223-5273/74.

One live in Nanny to take care of kids and home. Must be fully vaccinated. Contact:682-8251.

One heavy duty diesel mechanic to work in the interior.

Meals and accomodation provided.

Contact:680-2702.

Mini Bus and Taxi Drivers.

Call:225-3234/628-1183.

Cook/Baker,Pitmen & Welder/Serviceman for interior location.Applicants must be experienced. Call: 231-2250.

Caribbean Cinemas Providence seeks Managers, Customer Service, Cashiers.

Great benefits, flexible h o u r s . E m a i l : hrmanagerguyana@gmail. com , 645-0944.

Vacancy for 1 professional and experience hairdresser located on East Bank Demerara Grove Market Street. Call:652-5800.

For persons to assemble bicycles.Apply at Alabama Trading ,65 Robb St Bourda.

For experience Sales Clerk.

Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda.

For Carpenters and Masons.

Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda.

Wanted land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie or anywhere on the West Coast.

Tel:673-7087.

One male night security guard.Tel:226-0772/225-9304.

For porters.Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda.

Experience Carpenters and Mason.Contact: RJD Construction 614-7669/628-5738.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 25-50, Car/ Van licence. Call 642-9823.

Sale! One Yacht merchandiser 140 single engine, works with gasoline. Price $3,000,000.Contact:676-6288.

For a packaging machine operator. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda.

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank.Call:615-9132.

VACANCY

FOR RENT Fabrication workshop.Tel: 690-5427.

Cook/Baker,Pitmen & Porter for interior location. Applicants must be experienced.

Call: 231-2250.

Labourer carpenter & mason.Contact:602-9469/ 657-5800/666-2887.

LAND FOR SALE Versailles 61x123=7503sq ft, 18m not negotiable.No agents please. Tel: 600 6617.

Seven graduate engineers from SBM Offshore’s Graduate Engineering Programme have arrived in The Netherlands to begin training in preparation to work on the Prosperity Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), which is under construction in Singapore.

According to a media release yesterday, they will spend the next six months in The Netherlands working alongside the project team on the development plans for the Prosperity FPSO, to gain meaningful exposure and experiences throughout the vessel’s lifecycle.

The graduate engineers are Malik Lewis, Raymond Luckhoo, Kishaun Lall, Paula Ceres, Daniel Troyer, Tanisha

Selby and Andy Sattan. They were all recruited from the University of Guyana (UG) earlier this year. Their journey began on July 26, when they travelled to Suriname, where they were placed in quarantine for two weeks, in keeping with COVID-19 protocols.

After their period of quarantine, they departed Suriname on August 9 for The Netherlands.

Following this aspect of the training, they will then move on to Singapore for another six months, where they will be receiving hands-on training and will be engrossed in the practical aspects of engineering on the Prosperity FPSO. They will then return to Guyana to complete their training and await placement on the Prosperity FPSO, when

it begins operation at the Payara field.

It was noted in the release that SBM Offshore’s Graduate Engineering programme is a model project that seeks to train, prepare and empower young Guyanese for promising careers in the country’s oil and gas sector. Kaieteur News understands it is geared towards building and developing key competencies needed in the local petroleum industry.

The company’s Human Resource Manager, Onecia Johnson, stated, “SBM Offshore takes its commitment to local content very seriously and is leaving no stone unturned in the engagement and upliftment of Guyana and Guyanese in the oil and gas sector.”

Ms. Francesca Vieira marks 50 years in the education sector Ms. Francesca Stephanie Vieira is observing 50 years serving the education sector. Ms Vieira hails from the Moruca Sub-region, Region One, where she attended and obtained her primary and post-primary education from the Santa Rosa Primary school. She joined the teaching profession at the said school in September 1971.

The teacher upgraded her qualifications, gained entry into the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) in 1977, and later graduated as a trained Grade One Class 1 Assistant Mistress in 1979.

It was her ultimate desire to return to serve at Santa Rosa Primary School, but she was appointed at Montrose Primary School, East Coast Demerara, owing to some health issues.

Ms. Vieira served at Montrose Primary for ten years. She thereafter obtained a Bachelor’s of Education Degree from the University of Guyana and became the first female from Moruca to obtain a University Degree in 1987.

In 1989, the teacher was next seconded to the Department of Education, Region Four to function as the acting District Education Supervisor (DES). Having performed the duties of DES exceedingly well, Ms. Vieira was then appointed to the said substantive position in 1992.

Ms. Vieira later returned to the University of Guyana and obtained additional qualifications in the form of a Diploma in Public Administration in 1993. As a result, she was appointed as a District Education Officer (DEO) in 1998.

Recognising the glowing qualities possessed by Ms. Vieira, the Ministry of Education (MoE) had appointed her to act as the Regional Education Officer for Region 4 at varying periods from 1997 to 2004.

Ms. Francesca Vieira In November 2004, she was appointed as the first female Secretary of the Teaching Service Commission, where she served until retiring in March 2011. Ms. Vieira was then rehired as the Technical Officer/Facilitator to the Chief Education Officer in February 2012, where she still functions in that capacity.

To date, Ms. Vieira has served Guyana as a public servant/educator for 50 years. Her legacy can be viewed as that of an esteemed educator, who has made significant contributions toward the development of the education sector of Guyana. On many occasions, she has been commended for her dedicated and unselfish service as a teacher/educator and public servant.

Many persons could also attest that she is a strong passionate advocate for the educational development of hinterland and riverine communities, for which she must be applauded.

(A Ministry of Education’s Public Relations Department Feature)

Wednesday September 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

$27M estimated to reconstruct Yarakita Police Station During the opening of tenders yesterday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), four contractors vied for the contract for the reconstruction of the Yarakita Police Station located in Region One. The Ministry of Home Affairs Reconstruction of Yarakita Police Station.

procuring entity is the Ministry of Home Affairs. The cost for the reconstruction of the police station, according to the engineer's estimate is pegged at some $27,228,537.

Also during the opening of tenders, bids were submitted Ministry of Education Design and Supervision of a New General Secondary School at Parcel 106 Pln. Prospect, East Bank Demerara.

for the construction of the Attwa Ranger Station and Ambulance Rock Outpost located in Kanuku Mountains, Region Nine.

Below are the companies and their bids: Supply and Delivery of Field Materials.

Ministry of Public Works Consultancy Services for preparing detailed Designs for Upgrading the Morawhanna, Kumaka, Port Kaituma Goods Wharf.

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Design and supervision of the construction of Port Kaituma Registration Office at Port Kaituma, Region One.

Protected Area Commission Construction of the Attwa Ranger Station and Ambulance Rock Outpost in Kanuku Mountains.

Consultancy Services for preparing detailed Designs for upgrading the Kingston Goods Wharf.

Office of the Prime Minister Procurement of Server for the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Audit Office of Guyana Construction of Fire Escape staircase.

Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Consultancy for Pre-investment Studies and Design for Waste Management Facilities.

Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports Procurement of 24 concrete poles.

Development of Waste Management Plans for Regions.

National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Supply of Steel sheets for NDIA.

Mercy Hospital obtains...

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Procurement of Intelligence Cell Equipment and Trailer for wooden vessels.

Ministry of Natural Resources Consulting Services for the Support and Training on Petroleum Sector Oversight and for Technical, Financial and Commercial Regulatory Functions- Commencement of Procurement Activities-Submission REOI's.

Ministry of Health Supply and Delivery of Medical Supplies for Ophthalmology Hospital.

Hinterland Electrification Co. Inc. Construction of Foundation Plints for Vacuum Circuit Breakers at Lethem Power Company.

From page 11 Hospital and its Mercy Resident Care Service is that, customers can now expect or continue to expect improved quality in delivery of their services, and that they have a system to ensure that the customers' requirements are met.”

The GCS' CEO noted too that the team at the Hospital worked diligently over the past two years to ensure continuous quality service and care to patients, as mandated in their Hospital mission statement.

“The St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital has invested heavily to meet the demands of the industry by pursuing ISO9001:2015 certification, among other initiatives. The company continues to develop its range of products and services to meet the

continued needs of patients accessing quality care at the institution. The Quality Department continues to pursue a policy to consistently meet and exceed the expectations of our customers. Ensuring that all staff are informed and trained on the Quality Management System is our highest priority, so that it can be implemented.”

Meanwhile, Carlton Joao, Chairman of the St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, relished the fact that the hospital would have received standardisation, and made note of the fact that a cultural change was necessary in acquiring such.

In addition to the ISO certification, the hospital boasts of 100% COVID-19 vaccination among staff members.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Wednesday September 15, 2021

Man remanded for killing his father R

emanded on Monday for the brutal murder of his father at a farm located on Tr o o l i e I s l a n d i n t h e E s s e q u i b o R i v e r, w a s Rockey Miguel, 26.

Miguel, a resident of Sand Pit located on the Essequibo Coast in the R e g i o n Tw o D i s t r i c t , appeared at the Leonora Magistrate's Court before

Magistrate Ali-Seepaul.

The defendant is accused o f k i l l i n g h i s f a t h e r, Archaelus Anthony Miguel some time before 15:00hrs. on Monday September 6, 2021, by chopping him 24 times.

The defendant was not required to plead to the indictable charge and is expected to return to court on November 24, 2021.

Miguel and his dad, Archaelus, were employed by a woman to work on her farm located on Troolie Island. According to Miguel's mother, it was the first time the two would be working together away from home.

They left for Troolie Island on Sunday August 29, but one-week later tragedy struck. Their employer had

Haiti Chief Prosecutor calls for PM to be charged in President's killing Chief Public Prosecutor Bed-Ford Claude

HAVANA - (Reuters) - Haiti's chief public prosecutor has asked the judge overseeing the investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moise to charge Prime Minister Ariel Henry as a suspect and ordered migration services not to let him leave the country.

In a letter to Judge Garry Orelien, prosecutor Bed-Ford Claude said phone r e c o r d s s h o w e d https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ haitian-prosecutors-seek-interview-pmover-presidential-killing-2021-09-11 Henry twice communicated with a key suspect in Moise's killing on the night of the crime on July 7. That suspect, a former justice ministry official whom Henry has publicly defended, is now on the run.

Henry should be "forbidden from leaving the national territory by air, sea or road due to serious presumption relative to the assassination of the president," Claude wrote in a letter to the country's Migration Services.

Chenald Augustin, who works in the prime minister's communications office, said it did not have an immediate comment.

The premier last week dismissed the charges against him as politicking.

Moise was shot dead https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ haitian-president-shot-dead-homeovernight-pm-2021-07-07 when assassins stormed his private residence in the hills above Port-au-Prince, plunging the impoverished Caribbean country deeper into turmoil and a political vacuum.

The 53-year old former provincial businessman had been governing by decree for more than a year after Haiti failed to hold legislative and municipal elections amid a political gridlock and had faced

told Kaieteur News that on Monday September 6, Miguel came out of the farm alone around 15:00hrs.

It was unusual, the woman said, for Miguel to come out of the farm without his father and at that hour.

She related that normally they would come out together around 16:00hrs.

The woman said that her relatives had decided to question the reason behind him leaving the farm so early and without his father.

His response to them was, he was feeling unwell and wanted to go home.

His employer reportedly noted that he was acting very strange as well; and that she had reportedly instructed him to wait on his father, so that they could leave together.

It turned out later that afternoon that the wait for his father to arrive would be in vain. After hours passed and his father did not come out of the farm, the residents and Miguel's employer grew suspicious and they decided to go searching for him. They could not find him, and when they called out for him, there was no answer. Their suspicions that something had gone wrong grew, when they located the man's cellphone, his tools, and pants still in the camp.

The search party reportedly returned and decided to interrogate Miguel about the whereabouts of his dad.

Kaieteur News learnt that it was during this interrogation that Miguel confessed to the residents that he had murdered his dad following an argument they had at the

Chopped to death, Archaelus Anthony Miguel farm.

They detained him and notified Police. Ranks from Parika arrived some time later, took him into their custody, and decided to visit the farm in the hope of locating the missing father's body.

It was close to 23:00hrs. that evening they finally found Anthony's body covered under some leaves.

When questioned by the cops, eyewitnesses recalled that Miguel told the cops that he killed his father because “he was troubling him and didn't like anyone bossing him around.”

Miguel's mother told Kaieteur News that she was left in a state of shock, and said that the last time she communicated with her husband was two days prior to his death.

He had reportedly told her that everything was going alright between him and his son at the farm.

“He said that Rockey (Miguel) was going ok and

Remanded for murdering his father, Rockey Miguel working and the only problem he had with Rockey is that he was digging the drains big and small,” she relayed. She opined that her husband might have been “telling her son how to do the work correctly and he got annoyed.”

She said her husband was the disciplinarian of the family and would oftentimes scold the boys when they were doing wrong.

Major worry over family clusters

Prime Minister Ariel

many calls to step down.

Decades of political instability as well as natural catastrophes have plagued Haiti's development. Its aid-dependent economy is the poorest in the Americas, more than a third of Haitians face acute food insecurity https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ha itis-hunger-crisis-bites-deeper-afterdevastating-quake-2021-08-30, and gangs https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ha iti-gang-leader-launches-revolutionviolence-escalates-2021-06-24 have turned swathes of the capital into no go areas.

Daily Nation - Ravaged by community spread due to the prevalence of the Delta variant of COVID-19, Barbados is now battling more than 80 family clusters.

That revelation came from Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley during a press conference Monday, as she went over what she considered some worrying numbers which showed how Barbadian communities were being impacted by the viral illness.

In addition to the 84 families, she said more than 200 people under the age of 18 had been infected with COVID-19 since September 1. She added that only on Sunday, 30 per cent of the new cases were also in that age group, and 25 per cent the day before.

Minister of Health Jeffrey Bostic, who also took part in the press conference, said

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley their focus was on the clusters, which had led to the increase in cases.

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Wednesday September 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

Broadcaster Maxwell Thom dies from COVID-19 Broadcaster and owner of 93.1FM, Maxwell Thom, yesterday died in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

This publication confirmed Thom's passing with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the station and business that Thom owned also posted a statement and announced the businessman's demise.

Initial reports had indicated that the broadcaster had died from COVID-19, and other reports later surfaced indicating that Thom was still alive, but in a critical state.

However, the Ministry of Health later confirmed Thom's death.

Kaieteur News understands that Thom tested positive for COVID-19 sometime last week. His condition later worsened and he was taken to the COVID-19 Hospital, located in Liliendaal, Greater

Dead, Maxwell Thom Georgetown - where he later succumbed.

Thom was popularly known for his morning show on 93.1FM, which played a selection of gospel songs. KN regrets the passing of a fellow media professional.

The impact COVID-19 has had on the private sector The President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Timothy Tucker, told Kaieteur News that GCCI's membership in its entirety was impacted.

As it relates to the new COVID-19 vaccine restrictions, Tucker noted that from the feedback received thus far, there has been no severe impact on businesses operating in the private sector, mainly businesses located in the city area; and since there is a

65.7% vaccination rate of adult citizens businesses continue to operate, as usual.

However, the GCCI did notice that 95% of the Chamber members were negatively impacted in the initial stages of the lockdown at the start of the pandemic back in 2020. The GCCI's members had then seen a 75% reduction in sales, since they were only allowed to operate at a capacity of up to 40% - 60%.

Businesses are also struggling to come to terms

with the implementation of the new COVID-19 vaccination policy, but as a result of having embraced technology with the use of online transactions, delivery services, online banking and mobile money services, they have managed to minimise the extent of the impact.

Businesses can now operate without much face-to-face contact, and have utilised social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram to market their products and conduct transactions.

Wednesday September 15, 2021

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Kaieteur News

Wiese, Deyal put St Lucia Kings into second straight CAF president urges ‘open once he was done, he had game, no one besides Narine out the game. minded’ debate on World CPL final The Kings opted to bat allowed just 12 runs in his had managed to reach 30.

ESPNcricinfo - St Lucia after winning the toss and got allotted four overs.

Four other batters fell Cup every two years Kings booked their place in off to a pulsating start despite The last four overs, between scores of 25 and 29, the CPL final, knocking out defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders in a pulsating contest by 21 runs.

Mark Deyal led the charge for the Kings in a highscoring contest. He smashed six sixes en route a 44-ball 78 as his side amassed 205 in the first innings. The Knight Riders, despite a shaky start, never quite let the run rate get out of hand until very late in the piece, with contributions right through the batting order keeping them in the hunt.

It looked like a game set perfectly for Kieron Pollard to finish off, but once David Wiese - who took a fivewicket haul - got rid of him, things began to get out of hand, and the Kings closed

losing Cornwall for a duck and finding Fletcher out of form.

The man on the attack was Deyal, whose glorious timing and stunning ball-striking flayed the Knight Riders bowling attack to all parts of the ground. So complete was his dominance over the contest that by the end of the Powerplay, the Kings had rocketed to 73 - Deyal was responsible for 60 of them.

The Knight Riders came back strongly through the middle overs once Fletcher and Deyal were removed, thanks largely to another wondrously wily four over spell from Sunil Narine, who put the brakes on the Kings immediately. While he had ball in hand, the Kings boundaries dried right up, and

though, all hell broke loose with Wiese and Tim David at the crease, as monstrous power hitting combined with some fairly shoddy Knight Riders bowling. A staggering 70 runs came off the final four overs, undoing the good work that had followed previously, and setting the Knight Riders an improbable 206 for victory.

The Knight Riders’ response was hampered by an absence of the kind of role Deyal had played through the early overs, with no batter able to hang around to thread the innings together. Sunil Narine’s breezy cameo up top set up a platform, but it was notable the Kings kept chipping away with regular wickets; by the end of the

Wednesday September 15, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may be the partypooper today unless you do something to remedy your serious tone, Aries.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You're the missing piece of the puzzle today, Taurus. As a result, people will look to you for answers. The good news is that you'll have them at the ready. Trust yourself.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may run into trouble if you penetrate too deeply today, Gemini. Keep things light and energetic if you can. Ironically, the harder you push to get something done, the more roadblocks you're apt to encounter.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Give your adventuresome, world-traveling spirit room to soar, Cancer. This is a good time to embrace and express your dreams.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Stop planning and start doing. There may be pressure to leave your normal routine and do something on a whim, Leo. Although this may not be your usual way to do things, it certainly isn't a reason not to.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) The answer for you today is "yes." Explore, reach out, and expand your mind to the far corners of your world and beyond, Virgo. There's no need to be tied down to reality. Don't restrict yourself to linear thinking.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you should take action in areas where you usually keep quiet, Libra. The more you explore your mind, the safer you'll feel in your external reality.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There's a light, uplifting flavor to the day, Scorpio, which you should latch onto and take charge of.

You'll find that there's a rather dreamy yet expansive quality to this energy that encourages you to soar higher and achieve more.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Try not to take things too seriously today. Realize that the best plans are sometimes the ones that were never made in the first place.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) This is a tremendous day for you, Capricorn. You may find that dreams really can come true. Make sure you stay abreast of communication and periodicals.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Don't get discouraged if it seems like everyone but you is getting a piece of the pie.

Your time will come, but it probably won't be today.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Make some room for long communications with good friends, Pisces. This is an important day to get the word out to people you love.

Keep things light and energetic, which you do well anyway.

and they all succumbed playing their shots, the longevity Deyal, Wiese and David had managed at the crease was proving the difference between the two sides.

Under pressure, the experienced Wiese made an equally telling contribution with ball in hand, forcing Pollard to top edge through to Ramdin just as he appeared to be hitting his groove. He would follow up with another couple of wickets in his final over to make it a five-fer, before the Kings ran through the Knight Riders’ lower order to end their dreams of retaining the title.

Scores: St Lucia Kings 205 for 4 (Deyal 78, David 38*, Wiese 34*) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 184 (Narine 30, Ramdin 29, Pollard 26, Wiese 5-39) by 21 runs.

(Reuters) Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe says discussions around hosting the World Cup every two years should continue “in an open minded manner”, providing a potential boost to FIFA’s controversial plans.

Motsepe is viewed as a staunch ally of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CAF provides a sizeable voting bloc within the organisation, with 54 of its 211 members.

“CAF is of the view that at this stage, what is most important is for the discussions and deliberations to continue taking place in an open minded manner and with the objective of doing what is in the best interest of all Member Associations, the Confederations, football players and other stakeholders worldwide,” Motsepe said in a statement yesterday.

“CAF is deeply

committed to the development, growth and success of football in Africa and the rest of the world. We believe that the long-term growth and success of FIFA, the Member Associations and all Confederations are inextricably intertwined.”

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has welcomed FIFA’s feasibility study for the plans, while the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) said it was potentially open to the idea, provided it creates a more balanced structure for the game globally.

But the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has criticised the proposal, saying it was “highly unviable” and would overwhelm the football calendar.

European soccer ’s governing body UEFA also rejected the idea, warning that its members could boycott the World Cup if the plans go ahead.

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday September 15, 2021

Kohli backed to continue as India captain in all three formats

A

India’s Virat Kohli.

(AFP/Jewel SAMAD)

FP - Virat Kohli will continue to captain India in all three formats, a top national cricket board official said yesterday, after speculation that the batting great could be replaced as skipper for limited-overs games.

Kohli’s recent sketchy form with the bat has led to reports that changes could be made after the T20 World

Cup, which begins next month in the United Arab Emirates.

But Kohli received a vote of confidence from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah.

“There is no such proposal (to replace Kohli) and the team is led by Virat and we are backing him,” said Shah.

“We are sensitive to the

fact that such a proposal is not in the interest of Indian team when it will take part in a World Cup,” Shah told website Cricbuzz.

Indian media have reported that opening batsman Rohit Sharma could take over as Twenty20 and 50-over captain and that the change had been discussed by the BCCI. “As long as a team is performing, the question of change in captaincy doesn’t arise,” Shah was reported as saying by the Indian Express newspaper.

Kohli led India to a landmark Test series win in Australia in January and they

were leading 2-1 in England when the fifth and final Test was controversially cancelled last week because of a coronavirus outbreak in the tourists’ camp.

India have not lost a Twenty20 series under Kohli, but they have failed to win either the 50-over Champions Trophy, World Cup or T20 World Cup since he became white ball captain in 2017.

Shah also confirmed that India have offered to play two extra T20 matches in England next July in place of the cancelled Test.

The England board suffered huge financial

losses from the refusal of Indian players to take part because of coronavirus fears.

“Instead of three T20Is, we will play five T20Is. Alternately, we will be willing to play a one-off Test as well. It is up to them to choose either of the offers,” said Shah.

India pulled out of the final Test at Old Trafford last week after head coach Ravi Shastri and other support staff contracted the virus and had to be isolated.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said Monday that India are willing to reschedule the final Test as part of next year’s series.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday September 15, 2021

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National Youth & Junior Championship

Athletics Guyana exploring option of vaccinated fans

By Calvin Chapman he 2021 National Youth and Junior Track & Field Championships is scheduled to run off next weekend (September 24 & 25) at the National Track & Field Center (NTFC) on the West Coast of Demerara and Aubrey Hutson; the head of Athletics Guyana (AG) that is the governing body of the sport in Guyana has revealed to Kaieteur Sport that his executive committee is exploring the possibility of vaccinated fans being present for the two-day event.

In the invited comment, Hutson noted that this week he is scheduled to have a meeting with the National Covid-19 task force in a bid to get the necessary approval to have vaccinated fans at the NTFC for the junior track and field action.

If granted approval, the recently reelected administrator noted it will possibly increase the marketability of the event which will augur well to offset fixed costs of running off the meet which amounts to almost $1million.

Athletics Guyana, formerly the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), was the first local sport

T

Athletics Guyana seeking permission for vaccinated fans at National Youth Championships. association that returned to competition when local health authorities gave the green-light last year September and to date, they have had an impressive eight meets since, all within Covid-19 guidelines.

The National Youth & Junior Championship will give the local up and coming athletes some much

needed competition with their last event being in May 2019. More importantly, the next weekend’s meet will serve as a qualifier for the 2021 South America under-23 Championships that is scheduled for Ecuador next month.

The South America under-23 championships was scheduled to be hosted in Guyana but Athletics

Guyana had to gave up the hosting rights as revealed in a previous article carried in Kaieteur News on 2021/09/08.

Ultimately, the South America under-23 Championships will be the last qualifying meet for the first Junior Panam games that will be hosted in Cali, Colombia this November.

Currently, Stefan Roach of Mercury Fast Laners Track Club is the only athlete to qualify for the S.A. Under-23 Championships after winning the male’s triple jump with a distance of 15.47m when AG held their trials for the competition behind closed doors at the NTFC during the first weekend of this month.

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday September 15, 2021

Lewis blitz helps Patriots storm past Warriors into CPL final as Warriors stumble again Patriots battle St Lucia Kings in today’s final ESPNcricinfo - Coming off an unbeaten century in his last innings, Evin Lewis continued his sizzling hot form by scorching Guyana Amazon Warriors’ bowling unit during his unbeaten 77 off 39 balls as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots breezed past a target of 179 with 13 balls to spare in a seven-wicket win in the second CPL semifinal. A first-time champion is guaranteed to be crowned today as Patriots will take on St Lucia Kings in the final, who finished as runner-up last year when they were still known as Zouks.

D w a y n e B r a v o ’s decision to bowl was justified by a superb collective bowling effort. At the halfway stage of the innings, Warriors were in an excellent position at 88 for 2, with Nicholas Pooran having plundered 18 in the final over before the mid-innings

drinks break off Chris Gayle’s part-time spin.

But two balls after play resumed, the first of many dominos fell as Pooran pulled Dominic Drakes to Lewis for 26 off 14 on the leg-side boundary. Wickets continued to tumble regularly thereafter as Warriors’ best partnership in the end wound up being the 33-run opening stand between Brandon King and Chandrapaul Hemraj.

Warriors’ struggles were best exemplified by Shoaib Malik, whose horror season came to a merciful end when he charged against Jon-Russ Jaggesar and was stumped for 6 off 10. The Pakistan overseas pro ended with 67 runs in 10 innings at an average of 7.44 and zero wickets with the ball.

Warriors looked like they may struggle to bat out their overs at one stage, slipping

to 131 for 8 with 21 balls left before Shimron Hetmyer hit out with a series of sixes in his unbeaten 45 off 20 balls.

Despite the late rally, Patriots’ start to the chase laid bare how poorly the Warriors top order had performed.

After a sedate start in the first three overs against offspinner Kevin Sinclair in which Gayle crawled to 1 off 8 balls, Odean Smith was brought into the attack and bowled one of the fastest overs of the tournament, clocking over 150kmph at one stage. But the balls disappeared even faster to the boundary as Gayle smashed him for four fours and a six during a 23-run over. Imran Tahir took similar punishment in the next over from Gayle and by the end of the powerplay, Patriots had raced to 68 without loss.

Gayle fell in the eighth over to Sinclair for 42, mistiming a drive to long-on.

But Lewis exacted revenge on the offspinner by smoking a pair of straight drives for six and then a four over extra cover to bring up a 24-ball half-century in the 10th over as Patriots continued to stampede toward the target.

Smith struck twice in the space of three balls in the 16th over to break an 88-run stand between Lewis and Bravo, bowling the latter for 34, before Fabian Allen flicked a short ball straight to Hetmyer behind square on the ring for a duck. But that just made the final margin look slightly more competitive in the end than it was for much of the match.

Lewis clinched victory slapping Hemraj over wide long-on for his third four to go along with eight sixes.

Scores: St Kitts and

Evin Lewis scores another half-century © CPL T20/Getty Images

Nevis Patriots 181 for 3 (Lewis 77*, Gayle 42) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors

178 for 9 (Hetmyer 45*, Jaggesar 2-19, Fawad 2-22) by seven wickets.

Wednesday September 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Twelve youths benefit from RHTYSC Namilco First division teams Basil Butcher Trust Fund Cycle project - Dave West Indian, PPDI supports venture One of the youth cricketers receive a cycle from Dave Narine.

Dave Narine poses with seven of the youths after the presentation of the cycles.

Twelve more youths over the last few days benefitted from the hard work of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Namilco Thunderbolt Under21 and first division teams. Each of the youngsters received a cycle under the Basil Butcher Memorial Trust Fund with the support of Dave West Indian Imports of Liberty Avenue, New York and Power Producers and Distributors Inc OF Water Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

Seven of the youths received their bicycles on Sunday last at a simple presentation ceremony held in the compound of the St Francis Church of Port Mourant. Four cricketers hailed from the RHTYSC, Port Mourant and Whim CC along with two members of the St Francis Roman Catholic Church benefitted along with a single parent mother of three children.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the club under the Trust Fund has

Algerian Nourine gets 10-year ban for withdrawing from Olympics to avoid Israeli (Reuters) - Algerian Fethi Nourine and his coach have been suspended for 10 years by the International Judo Federation (IJF) for withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics after the draw set him on course for a bout against an Israeli.

The 30-year-old was d u e t o f a c e S u d a n ’s Mohamed Abdalrasool for his first bout in the men’s 73kg class and a victory would have paired him with Israel’s Tohar Butbul in the next round.

Nourine said his political support for the Palestinian cause made it impossible for him to compete against Butbul.

The Algerian Olympic Committee withdrew the accreditation for both Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef and sent them home from the Tokyo Games.

The IJF, which had

temporarily suspended Nourine and Benikhlef, said the pair used the Games “as a platform for protest and promotion of political and religious propaganda”, which breached its code of ethics and the Olympic Charter.

They are banned from all IJF events and activities through to July 23, 2031, though they can appeal their bans to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the statement said.

The incident was not the first time that Nourine had withdrawn from competition to avoid facing an Israeli opponent. He pulled out of the 2019 world championships in Tokyo for the same reason.

Tensions in the IsraeliPalestinian conflict flared again this year as confrontations in contested Jerusalem triggered crossborder clashes.

assisted over fifty youths with cycles in 2021 across the country. He disclosed that youths in Linden, East Coast Demerara, West Demerara, East Bank Demerara, Essequibo and Georgetown have benefitted and another twenty more are expected to receive cycles from the Namilco Thunderbolt teams before the end of the year.

The main objective of the programme is to assist youths to attend school and cricket practice at little cost to their parents. Foster urged the parents of the cricketers to make sure that the cycles are taken care of and most importantly to be used for the intended purpose. He

warned that the cycles must not be used to purchase items such as cigarettes and liquor as this would defeat the Club Say No Project. Thanks were extended to the management and staff of Dave West Indian Imports and PPDI for their support.

Dave Narine, who was present at the ceremony, congratulated the club for reaching out to those in need and stated that he was delighted to assist as he fully understand the importance of education in the development of a child and the role it plays in ensuring success in the long run. He committed himself to reaching out in the future and urged the youths to focus on

their education and to reject the usage of illegal drugs.

The single parent of three children expressed thanks to the teams and Narine for the donation of her cycles as it would assist her small business of selling homemade products.

She stated that she normally walks around her home village to sell her products and the cycles would assist her to reach more persons. Cricketer Romario Butcher of the RHTYSC, MS stated that the cycle would be of great benefit to him as he normally has to use two hundred dollars on a daily basis to get to practice as he lives two miles away from Rose Hall

in Fyrish.

Basil Butcher was the fourth test cricketer to play for the West Indies from the county of Berbice. The batting maestro played forty four test matches for the West Indies, scoring 3104 runs at an average of 43.11 with seven centuries and sixteen half century. After his retirement in 1968, Butcher played a great part in the development of the game in his adopted home of Linden and also served Guyana and West indies as a selector. He invested heavily into the development of youth cricketers in Berbice under a special fund that was operated under the RHTYSC Say Yes to Sports project.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday September 15, 2021

CJ Ujah: British Olympic 4x100m relay silver medallist’s ‘B’ sample positive BBC Sport - British sprinter CJ Ujah’s ‘B’ sample has tested positive, confirming the result of his initial test from the Tokyo Olympics.

Ujah, 27, was part of the British men’s 4x100m relay team which won silver at the rearranged 2020 Olympics.

They will now almost certainly lose those medals.

Ujah was provisionally suspended when a test taken at the Games - his ‘A’ sample - tested positive for banned substances Ostarine and S23.

Athletes have the right to request that a back-up sample, taken at the same time as the A-sample, be tested to confirm the initial result.

Ostarine is listed as an anabolic agent - banned at all times - in the World AntiDoping Agency’s (Wada) list of prohibited substances.

The UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) website said it has “similar effects to

testosterone”.

S23 is a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (Sarm), which, according to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) has “similar anabolic properties to anabolic steroids”.

The case has now been referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport AntiDoping Division, which will rule on whether the British relay team - also including Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake - should be disqualified.

Olympic and World Athletics’ rules state “where the athlete who has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation competed as a member of a relay team, the relay team shall be automatically disqualified from the event in question... including the forfeiture of all titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money”.

Wednesday September 15, 2021

Kaieteur News

GBI through Altitude Sports Drink onboard Wong’s Junior Pan Am Games journey

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Young players from the West Demerara Football Association at one of the ATC sessions.

West Demerara Football Association/ATC taking shape GBI’s Marketing Manager Raymond Govinda hands over the sponsorship cheque to Miguel Wong.

National Table Tennis player Miguel Wong’s hopes of getting to the Junior Pan American Games slated for Cali, Colombia in November this year was given a much needed boost after he received backing from Guyana Beverages Inc. (GBI) through their ‘Altitude’ Sports Drink brand.

The company which has been a long time supporter of Table Tennis in Guyana and sports in general expressed their delight in giving Wong its support, financially.

Marketing Manager of the company, Raymond Govinda said, “We are happy

to support Miguel and his journey to Cali, GBI has always been a proud supporter of sports in Guyana dating back to when the company first came to Guyana, and we will continue to show our support.”

He noted, “Miguel is an excellent young athlete and we always want to see our athletes, especially the younger ones perform well and we have full confidence that he will make us and Guyana proud.”

Wong, who has plans of travelling to the US or Germany in a few weeks time for a High Performance

camp in preparation for the Junior Pan Am Games, not only secured GBI’s financial support but also a deal with the ‘Altitude’ brand which will see him being refreshed and rehydrated throughout his training.

At the handing over on Monday last at Wong’s home club, the Titans Table Tennis Club, Wong expressed gratitude for the support. The Cali sojourn will be from November 25 – December 4.

The Junior Pan American Games will be the first of its kind and it’s a multi-sports event for athletes aged 17 to 22 in the Americas, organised by Panam Sports.

Ramnauth delighted with performance in OSCL tourney

F

ormer Guyana youth player Devon Ramnauth has expressed delight with his performance in the 2021 Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) 20over Regular Season competition. The righthanded Essequibian chalked up 270 runs from 10 matches representing Essequibo Coast Cricket Club.

His team reached the playoffs but was eliminated last Saturday against a starstudded Mercenary team while Essequibo Coast was also knocked-out in the consolation segment against Malvern All-Stars.

Ramnauth, who formed the Devon Ramnauth Region Two Cricket League last year, stated that he would have loved to see his team progress to the semi-final or

Devon Ramnauth even win the consolation, but still mentioned that they showed good promise of dominating in the future.

Ramnauth hit a highest score of 62 but said his comeback is very much satisfactory especially with his consistency. “It is about representing Essequibo Coast in Canada; I was extremely proud to be among my Essequibains

playing the game we very much love; I am happy with my performance coming out second on the batting chart, too,” the Canada-based Guyanese Ramnauth related.

Amit Arjun, who played for Three Counties, emerged as the leading batsman with 302 runs from 10 matches as well. Skipper of Essequibo Coast Kenny Ramsawak came in second on the list for Essequibo Coast with 111 runs from ten outings while Ravendra Madholall, who also represented Essequibo Coast Cricket Club at number 3 with runs finishing with 110 from five matches, inclusive of an unbeaten 92.

Ramnauth has been selected in an OSCL‘s allstars team. The recognition of outstanding performances will be held on October 3 in Scarborough, Toronto.

The West Demerara Football Association (WDFA), Academy Training Centre (ATC) programme is up and running with Youth Development Officer (YDO) Travis Bess spearheading scouting the best talent at the

Under-11, 13, 15, 17 and 20 levels.

Sessions are taking place at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, Leonora, West Coast Demerara and commenced on Saturday August 28th, last.

Sri Lanka paceman Malinga retires from all cricket COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who captained Sri Lanka to its 2014 T20 World Cup victory, retired from playing cricket yesterday.

“Hanging up my T20 shoes and retiring from all forms of cricket!” he wrote on Twitter. “... looking forward to sharing my experience with young cricketers in the years to come.” The announcement by 38-year-old Malinga came days after he missed out on being picked for a sixth T20 World Cup, though he had not played for his country in 18 months.

Malinga had long retired from test

cricket, and quit one-day internationals in 2019.

He retires with the most wickets in T20s, 107 from 84 matches, though that will be surpassed soon by Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh, who was one wicket behind.

The shaggy-haired Malinga helped Sri Lanka reach the T20 World Cup finals in 2009 and 2012, but the highlight was winning in 2014, beating India in the final in Dhaka. He was made captain midway through the event.

He also was a major contributor to Sri Lanka reaching the Cricket World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011.