Kaieteur News

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Canje and Kaieteur Thursday Edition NEWS Oil Blocks given out under suspicious circumstances AIETEUR

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September 17, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 37

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday 137,546

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

- Awards amount to daylight robbery - Dr. Jan Mangal

The nation must know who are the real owners of the Canje and Kaieteur Oil Blocks W

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo

Former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud

Size of the Stabroek Block (Exxon) is 6.6 Million acres

STABROEK BLOCK

EUR T E I KA OCK BL

Former President, Donald Ramotar

Kaieteur and Canje Blocks is 4.8 Million acres NJE CA CK BLO

e welcome United States Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, to Guyana. We thank him for his role in ensuring that the democratic will of the people was respected in relation to the elections of 2nd March, 2020.

America stands for democracy and America stood by Guyana during the attempt to steal the elections and revert Guyana to a state of political dictatorship. For this, we are grateful!

America also stands for transparency and accountability in government.

American companies should not be doing business in a country where deals are being kept secret. American companies should not be involved in investing in oil blocks, the owners of which are concealed from the public.

We are concerned about reports that an American company ExxonMobil has bought-in to oil blocks owned by persons, the bona fides of whom are not known but who are believed to be part of secret arrangements involving local politicians.

The public knows that ExxonMobil is the owner of the Stabroek Block consisting of 6.6 million acres. But there is haziness over the awardees of the Canje and Kaieteur blocks, which, combined, consist of 4.8 million acres, ExxonMobil had bought-in to portions of these blocks.

Global Witness reported that it had interviewed the former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud, under whose tenure the Canje and Kaieteur blocks were given out. He is reported to have told them that he “did not know who the beneficial owners are” and that it was not necessary for him, as a minister, to know. He did, however, say he knew some of the people who had signed documents for the companies.

The Guyanese public is entitled to know the owners of the Canje and Stabroek blocks. A feature of democratic governance is transparency, something that is sadly lacking in Guyana.

As we welcome Mike Pompeo to Guyana, a country which is being touted as a potential investment hotspot in the western hemisphere, we remind him of the need to impress upon Guyana's leaders, the need for transparency when dealing with the country's resources.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Thursday September 17, 2020

Pandemic threatens to wipe out gains of last decade - World Bank Group W

ASHINGTO N ( Wo r l d Bank) – The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds.

Investments in human capital—the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate over their lives—are key to unlocking a child's potential and to improving economic growth in every country.

The World Bank Group's 2020 Human Capital Index

includes health and education data for 174 countries – covering 98 percent of the world's population – up to March 2020, providing a prepandemic baseline on the health and education of children. The analysis shows that pre-pandemic, most

countries had made steady progress in building human capital of children, with the biggest strides made in lowincome countries. Despite this progress, and even before the effects of the pandemic, a child born in a typical country could expect to achieve just 56 percent of

th eir p o ten tial h u man capital, relative to a benchmark of complete education and full health.

"The pandemic puts at risk the decade's progress in building human capital, including the improvements in health, survival rates, school enrollment, and reduced stunting. The economic impact of the pandemic has been particularly deep for women and for the most disadvantaged

wider gap in many countries and regions.

Moreover, the pandemic is exacerbating risks of gender-based violence, child marriage and adolescent pregnancy, all of which further reduce opportunities for learning and empowerment for women and girls.

Today, hardwon human capital gains in many countries are at risk. But countries can do more than just

families, leaving many vulnerable to food insecurity and poverty," said World Bank Group President, David Malpass. “Protecting and investing in people is vital as countries work to lay the foundation for sustainable, inclusive recoveries and future growth."

Due to the pandemic's impact, most children – more than one billion – have been out of school and could lose out, on average, half a year of schooling, adjusted for learning, translating into considerable monetary losses.

Data also shows significant disruptions to essential health services for women and children, with many children missing out on crucial vaccinations.

The 2020 Human Capital Index also presents a decadelong view of the evolution of human capital outcomes from 2010 through 2020, finding improvements across all regions, where data are available, and across all income levels. These were largely due to improvements in health, reflected in better child and adult survival rates and reduced stunting, as well as an increase in school enrollment. This progress is now at risk due to the global pandemic.

The analysis finds that human capital outcomes for girls are on average higher than for boys. However, this has not translated into comparable opportunities to use human capital in the labour market: on average, employment rates are 20 percentage points lower for women than for men, with a

work to recover the lost progress. To protect and extend earlier human capital gains, countries need to expand health service coverage and quality among marginalized communities, boost learning outcomes together with school enrollments, and support vulnerable families with social protection measures adapted to the scale of the COVID-19 crisis.

The World Bank Group is working closely with governments to develop long-term solutions to protect and invest in people during and after the pandemic: In Ethiopia, Haiti and Mongolia, the Bank has been supporting the acquisition of vital medical equipment.

In Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, and Nepal, the Bank is supporting the development of school safety and hygiene protocols while working w i t h Wa t e r S u p p l y, Sanitation, and Hygiene teams to provide basic sanitization and hygiene supplies.

In Jordan and Turkey, through recently approved new operations, the Bank is supporting the development of TV and digital content for blended teaching and learning for the new academic year, as well as psycho-social counselling and remedial courses.

In the Sahel region, the Bank is backing the Sahel Wo m e n ' s E c o n o m i c Empowerment and the Demographic Dividend (SWEDD) project aimed at creating a favourable environment for women and girls' empowerment through (continued on page 14)

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2020

PAGE 03

Canje and Kaieteur Oil Blocks given out under suspicious circumstances - Awards amount to daylight robbery - Dr. Jan Mangal

By Kemol King

C

ontroversy continues to surround the suspicious giveaway of the Kaieteur and Canje blocks by the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C)'s Donald Ramotar administration just before the 2015 General and Regional Elections and ExxonMobil's announcement of its first oil discovery in the Stabroek Block.

It has been over a year since former government officials, including former President Ramotar and former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud, were questioned by Kaieteur News about their involvement in the signing away of the oil blocks to companies who appeared not to have the sufficient track records or wherewithal to conduct deepwater drilling activity in those blocks.

As if they recognised they were in over their heads, those companies sold stakes in the two blocks to oil major, ExxonMobil. This raised even more red flags about the situation, as ExxonMobil – now the operator – appears to

Size of the Stabroek Block (Exxon) is 6.6 Million acres

KAIETEUR BLOCK

STABROEK BLOCK

Kaieteur and Canje Blocks is 4.8 Million acres

CANJE BLOCK

have disregarded a policy which required it to conduct its due diligence before assuming control of the licences.

BACKGROUND The Canje and Kaieteur blocks were signed away on March 4 and April 28

respectively, according to Global Witness (GW). The Kaieteur Block stakes were split 50/50 between a company called Ratio Energy, then represented by an Israeli-based lawyer named Richard Roberts, and Ratio Guyana, owned by the Israeli company, Ratio Petroleum which has some

natural gas drilling experience, Global Witness said. The anti-corruption watchdog said that Ratio Energy was sold in February 2017 to Cataleya, a company run by two miners, the Canadian Mike Cawood and the Guyanese Ryan Pereira.

It noted Pereira's earlier involvement in the Kaieteur

Former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud licence as the Guyanese representative for Ratio Energy in April of that year, when the company received the block.

The NGO said that Exxon bought 50 percent of the Kaieteur Block in March 2017, paying US$455,000 to Ratio Guyana. GW said that Ratio Petroleum reported that Exxon also paid US$350,000 to Ratio's joint venture partner on the block.

Since Ratio Energy was bought over, GW believes

Former President, Donald Ramotar that the money went to Cataleya which notably, bought over Ratio Energy just a few weeks before Exxon's purchase.

In its report 'Signed Away', the watchdog said that the deal between Exxon and Ratio was in the works since July 2016, shortly after the lopsided Stabroek Block production sharing agreement (PSA) was finalised by disgraced former Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman.

When GW sought (continued on page 17)

Region Four has highest number of COVID-19 deaths - Ministry

R

egion Four not only has the highest number of COVID -19 cases, it has also recorded the most fatalities —34 deaths from a total of 733 confirmed cases.

According to a breakdown of the COVID 19 deaths by Region, the second highest fatality for COVID-19 was recorded in Region One which has nine deaths--- the most recent occurring on September 15 last. Region Seven follows with eight deaths; Region Nine has four; Region Six has three, while Regions Three, Five and Ten have recorded one each.

The Ministry noted, however, that Regions Two and Eight have seen no deaths resulting from the disease, so far.

The information comes even as the Ministry's COVID-19 dashboard confirmed an additional death bringing the total number to 59. However, a report of another death has

pushed the number to 60.

According to reports, the latest fatalities are that of two females ages 63 and 80 both of Barima/Waini, Region One. The women, this publication understands, died while receiving care. It was revealed that samples were collected from the patients at the time of admission, which subsequently revealed that they were COVID-19 positive.

The Ministry of Health has expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and has promised to make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time to render any assistance needed.

Further, officials of the Ministry have contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the now-dead persons.

Meanwhile, the dashboard confirmed that 26

other persons were tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the overall number of persons who tested to 1,984. Of the new cases, Region Two has two, Region Four has 15, Region Three has five, Region Six has two, Region Seven has one and Region Eight has two.

Further, the information on the dashboard confirmed that the total includes 16 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit and 607 persons in isolation while 84 suspected cases are in institutional quarantine.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Ministry said 1,302 persons have so far recovered from the disease.

At the interim, the Ministry continues to caution all citizens to observe the protocols of the C O V I D - 1 9 e m e rg e n c y measures (No. 9) which are in effect until September 30, 2020.

This order emphasizes the need for correct and

consistent use of a facemask when leaving home, the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others and the need for good hand-hygiene to help

reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional

information, they can contact the COVID-19 hotline: 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit the Ministry's website: www.health.gov.gy.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2020

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

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

EDITORIAL

Social media race hate President Irfaan Ali has come out swinging from the hips and with a glint in his eye. This was forcefully conveyed by the caption: “Pres. Ali vows crackdown of race hate on social media” (KN September 12). We hope that this is one vow that the president will fulfill faithfully, while leaving no stone unturned to introduce meaningful change.

This is a laudable commitment from the new leader, and one that has much significance for Guyana. For Guyanese use of social media, to a searing degree, has deteriorated to the septic tanks. It is like two warring neighbours separated by an electronic fence, who seize every opportunity to hurl what is insulting, that which damages not just the immediate neighbour targeted, but the whole community, and which sets the stage for later fateful eruption. What has occurred on social media between Guyana’s racial camps has gone on for too long and holds untold potential to flare into things more dangerous and, ultimately, most destructive.

The big question that comes to mind is: Why not before? It is to the discredit of the previous coalition government that it allowed local social media to become such a vulgar and venomous presence, saturated with much vileness and racial vindictiveness. From our perspective, this cyber outlet should have and could have been overseen better. That was a no-brainer, other than for possible technology challenges.

It should have started, quite reasonably, with firm and insistent calls from leaders of both sides of the political divide to cease and desist from that which demeans and devastates, which incurs deeper and greater rages, and which leaves this society tarnished and tattered still further.

That could not have been too difficult for leaders to do consistently, to even ‘out’ a few of their own who crossed dangerous lines, if only to set precedent and example. The sole objective was that others would toe the line of civility and represent race and party in a wholesome manner. But no leader, other for a few lukewarm and haphazard calls, more for the record than anything else, stepped forward and asked supporters to do the right thing. That is, take the high ground, the ground that none travels in this country.

But now, here is the new president, who has vowed to do something, to bring about real change. We are with him and behind him on this one but only if he is serious and genuinely committed to clean house, and to foster some much-needed sanity into our conversations, if they can so be termed. We will support him every step of the way.

Because if we don’t, then we are contributing to the hostile and aggressive environment that now exists. It is a terribly scorched earth permitted to run wild and the rights and sensitivities of others trampled upon with disdain.

We were wounded and hurting since December 2019, with sharp climaxing post March 2, immeasurable damage has been done, damage of the worst racial kind. It is the kind that seeks any opening for vicious expression. Now that the president, as officially supported by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), has sworn to do something, we watch and wait for results.

Citizens, commentators, and contributors all have an obligation to be mature and responsible. In practical terms, to work hard to purge from our sight, our hearts, our soul those poisons that imperil. We must hold ourselves accountable and our peers, too, regardless of affiliation. For, most unfortunately, cyber channels in this country simply convey what coalesces within and with almost criminal conviction.

Many do so when they weaponize social media to demonize perceived enemies, real, manufactured, or imagined. There must be strong standards that come from forceful efforts at cyber sanitizing. Social media presences can be assertive without being combative; frank without deteriorating to flagrant racist follies.

The government should give the ERC the tool and resources it needs. Equip and empower it with laws and the financial and Human Resources strengths that would make it to do a better job of policing the local cyber state. As we have heard, seen, or read, it can be the darkest and most destructive of states. May successes follow in this endeavour.

Stephen Campbell is an historic figure about whom much more needs to be known Dear Editor, Listening to the Voice of Guyana recently, I was reminded that September is heritage month for Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples. I heard on one programme a very informative and enlightening paper read by Professor George Mentore on the metaphysics of the Wai Wai as revealed by their craft. Most exciting to me were the references in other programmes to the late Stephen Campbell and the expressed intention of the speakers to bring him back to life by making his works known. I was a contemporary of Stephen Campbell, though younger, and can bear witness to his importance for the benefit of

present-day readers. Stephen Campbell had been a teacher in the primary school system before he became an elected member of the Legislative Council for the National Labor Front in 1957.

Mr. Campbell was, in fact, an historic figure. My information is subject to correction, but so far as I know, he was the first Indigenous figure since 1812 to make his presence felt at the colony’s law-making body under its old name in the capital.

The first was Chief Mahanarva who travelled to the capital to demand the performance of a contract between him and a previous administration, which had engaged his services for

payment. Webber, in his Centenary History of British Guiana tells how Governor Bentick tried to avoid payment by arguing that because of the circumstances, it needed the authority of the British Government.

Chief Mahanarva responded that if he, as a chief, entered into an agreement with someone, his obligation would be binding on his son after him. This story is rich enough to be expanded for today’s generation.

My other interest in Stephen Campbell is that, as a teacher who was also editor of the PNC’s New Nation at that time, I asked Mr. Campbell for an interview which he

readily granted, and which was published in two parts in that paper.

The interview was held at the Georgetown home of his daughter, Mrs. Stephanie Correia and her husband, a classified public servant. In that interview, Mr. Campbell described himself as a Spanish Arawak.

Stephen Campbell was to make more history after that interview. He was the first elected representative of the Indigenous people to attend a constitutional conference in England held to negotiate Guyana’s Independence.

There is much more about Stephen Campbell that needs to be known.

Yours truly, Eusi Kwayana

We should all be asking questions about the Mike Pompeo visit Dear Editor, Sigh. I am keenly aware that in the toxic, divided and violent atmosphere that is contemporary Guyana, lots of claims are being made, both at home and in the diaspora.

People are asked what they said for the last six months as a way of deciding whether they should speak now (let me suggest that this is a standard that we should have been applying for the last three decades, truth be told). The insults are personal and vitriolic. Ad hominem attacks – off the cuff, usually unresearched, it is much easier and more fun that way, I suppose – are the new order

of the Guyanese day.

I would not normally respond as there are way too few hours in the day, but I only write now because on the eve of a visit to Guyana by the US Secretary of State, I do care about the distraction that attacking the messenger creates, when it takes our attention away from the questions all Caribbean citizens should all be asking right now, and because this has implications not just for Guyana but for Latin America and the Caribbean. Let me just offer two thoughts. For all those waxing lyrical about what was said or not said over the last six months, (1) similar

questions could be asked of all these voices over the past three decades, but I would rather say more power that you speak now and may you continue to speak in a consistent, principled manner while modelling the kind of tone and engagement you would like to see among future generation of Guyanese, without fear or favour (2) the position of many of us on the Guyanese elections, including Karen de Souza, is on public record for all to see, in letters we were involved in mobilising a wide crosssection of signatures for, and which appeared in local newspapers for all to read

(titled “In Support of a transparent recount of ballots” and “We demand our fundamental rights to free and fair elections be immediately restored”). And I stand by what we signed then.

In the face of the visit to Guyana by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (about which all should be asking questions), on the eve of his own country’s elections (about which all Guyanese should also ask questions in the name of democracy), this is what we need to pay most careful attention to right now.

Yours truly, Alissa Trotz

The PNCR should welcome Pompeo’s visit to Guyana Dear Editor The maneuvers of the PNCR party over the postNCM period (December 18, 2018 to August 2, 2020), and in particular the five months following the holding of the National and Regional Elections, has sharpened the exponential rise of conspiracy theories in some quarters.

These theories find expression in the assumed motives ascribed to the United States’ Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo’s twoday visit to Guyana, September 17-18, 2020.

One such theory is that the United States is planning an “October Surprise,” that is, an invasion of Venezuela to happen before the US Presidential election in November 2020. According to this theory, Mr. Pompeo’s visit is to layout the groundwork, including staging operations, and to persuade the Guyana

government to allow the country to become a launching pad.

This theory has no foundation, and it illustrates our Guyanese penchant for unleashing speculation and political platitudes. Why would President Donald Trump want to invade Venezuela in order to secure a Presidential electoral victory, and at such an exceptionally phenomenal price? To crush a huge nation and create massive human misery, property destruction and anarchy? The world would never tolerate such debased action. Remember China and Russia would not stand by idly to allow such an invasion to happen.

Trump knows that he could not order the invasion of Venezuela. He also knows that he has to obtain congressional approval first should he ever think about that. Trump sees himself as

an historical figure of some significance and would spurn at the notion of going down in history as a colossal disgrace. And Mr. Pompeo will not want to be associated with such a sinister project as he (Mr. Pompeo) wants to keep his reputation untarnished as a brilliant statesman even if for one reason, that is, for a possible Presidential run in 2024.

The press release of September 15, 2020 from the US State Department indicates that Mr. Pompeo’s visit will highlight the US commitment to “defend democracy, combat COVID-19 pandemic, while revitalizing our economies, and strengthen security against regional threats.” In Guyana, Secretary Pompeo will highlight “opportunities for more responsible and transparent private sector investment” and adherence to democratic norms and

principles. Mr. Pompeo knows that both Guyana and Suriname were recently governed by ex-military men, who have been known to be democracy busters.

Suriname’s previous President Desi Boutsere was convicted of murder perpetrated as part of his campaign to liquidate his political opponents.

Granger’s reluctance to give up power after his party lost the March 2 elections has caused great concern in the US, and other countries. This helps to explain why Mr. Pompeo will emphasize a strengthening of democracy, transparency and accountability.

Another popular theory is that the US wants to obtain Guyana’s permission to use its medium wave radio broadcasting frequencies to beam Voice of America (VoA) programs from Guyana to (Continued on page 6)

Thursday September 17, 2020

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Kaieteur News

In support of Pompeo’s visit Dear Editor, Response is made to editorial “Significance of US Secretary of State’s Visit” (KN Sep 16) which asserts that Venezuela is the focus on the visit. The Guyana Foreign Minister disagrees stating “Venezuela is not on the agenda”. There is a motif for and an agenda, to celebrate the triumph of democracy and the defeat of rigging.

Geopolitics is always on America’s agenda.

But even if Venezuela is the focus of the visit, what is the problem? US restored democracy in Guyana. Had it not been for US assistance in 1992, Guyana would have remained a dictatorship till

this day. And had it not been US intervention on March 3 through August 1, 2020 Guyana would have become a dictatorship and there might have been a civil war or we would still be determining who won the elections.

Venezuelans are facing serious economic issues as a result of the country’s left wing politics similar to the problems Guyana experienced during the 1970s to 1992 when it toyed with socialist policies. Uncle Sam came down hard on the Burnham and Hoyte dictatorships similar to Maduro’s, triggering economic collapse and forcing political reforms. The

US simply wishes to spread democracy in Venezuela similar to what it did in Suriname and Guyana in the 1990s and again in 2020.

We should be honoured with his presence of Secretary Pompeo.

Guyanese Americans are pleased that the President is coming to their former homeland. They advise a cementing of ties as have I; I penned such a report from a survey two years ago.

A handful of us lobbied US government for assistance to help restore democracy in Guyana in 1992 and for APNU+AFC to respect the will of the voters in 2020.

Almost every supporter of PPP in USA and those I spoke

with in Guyana are in favour of closer relations with America and are pleased that Secretary Pompeo is coming to Guyana. They feel the PPP led government should attempt to forge some sort of practical security cooperation arrangements with America including in the greater Caribbean region; supporters of APNU are not very enthused about the visit, feeling it would help to consolidate relations between the PPP and US administrations.

Suddenly, there are many US Foreign Policy experts among Guyanese including those who never studied foreign policy. I believe

The Amanza Walton-Desir case reflects the petty, politicized nature of our politics Dear Editor, While our National Assembly is debating the 2020 budget, the issue of the employment of Ms. Amanza Walton-Desir seems to be centre stage as if it is an element of the budget. In my humble opinion, the WaltonDesir matter reflects the petty, politicized, immature and archaic nature of our politics, governance and public administration. Worse than that is the fact that our politicians do no acknowledge the problem and seem prepared to wallow in it to gain cheap political points rather than advance the Nation‘s institutional development.

We are in our seventh post-election period, since our touted “return to

democracy”, yet we have the recurrence of the same problems. Witch hunting, one such problem, is alleged by the party in opposition, particularly with regime change in 1992, 2015 and now in 2020.

Why haven’t we, over the years, sought to define and enshrine which are political offices that should be vacated once there is regime change?

This is the norm in most democracies.

Why haven’t we ensured that all of the jobs in the public sector, which are not defined as political appointments, have unequivocal selection criteria and processes? That is cardinal in any meritocracy.

Why do we refer to termination of contracts as

dismissals? In employment law, a dismissal is punitive action which is intended to redress wrong doing or breach of contract.

Dismissal is not the mere termination of one‘s engagement in keeping with predetermined terms and conditions of the contract, it has negative material consequences.

Why in a country whose constitution guarantees the “just conditions of work” and the facilitation of “engagement of citizens in activities designed to achieve their sustainable livelihoods,” do we maintain provisions in our employment contracts that provide for arbitrary termination rather than termination with cause?

Applying all of the above

to the Walton-Desir case, she would be protected from dismissal under the guise of the invocation of a clause of her contract; or if there are allegations leveled against her, she would be given a hearing and her employment determined based on the outcome of the hearing. If per chance her job classified her as a political appointee, she would have been obligated to vacate the position.

If we are serious about democracy and good governance, as touted, we have no option but to follow the best practices outlined herein rather than to continue down the road of incivility and political bullyism, in the conduct of public affairs.

Yours truly, Vincent Alexander

Venezuela will be discussed in bilateral talks but not in terms of military action. Rather it will come up in terms of human rights and Guyana may be praised for humanitarian response to the Venezuelans crisis.

US Foreign Policy is a course taught in American Politics that is a mandatory sub-field (for PhD students) in Political Science. I taught the topic in American Government courses for over two decades. The US Secretary of State conducts foreign policy on behalf of the President who is Chief Diplomat. The Secretary is the counter equivalent of Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister. The Secretary carries out the policies of the US government. He travels regularly all over the globe on behalf of the President promoting US interests and helping to secure international peace and security.

His visit to Guyana and hours before to Suriname is a reward for staying the democratic course. The top U.S. diplomat’s trip to Guyana and Suriname comes as he and his Department helped broker the change in administration on August 2 and earlier in Suriname. A small group of us appealed to Washington’s intervention in Guyana to rescue the people from the Burnham/Hoyte dictatorship and then the rigged vote of 2020. Those of us who studied US foreign policy or international relations (like Baytoram Ramharack, Vassan Ramracha, Randy Persaud, Khalil Gibran) know that without US assistance, democracy would

not have been be restored to Guyana. That is why our small group made that call since 1977 when we launched our Guyana pro-democracy movement in America, perhaps the only group that consistently called for closer relations between our two countries. It was Jimmy Carter, Congress and Bush administration that restored democracy to the homeland.

One must not forget that the US provided sanctuary to Guyanese from the 1960s onwards especially during the 28 years dictatorship; there are more Guyanese and their descendants in America than in Guyana. Also, the US provided over a billion dollars in foreign assistance between 1965 and 1992, almost all of it was ‘bilaway’ and hundreds of millions are thereafter. The US restored democracy in Guyana in 1992 and 2020? The US fed starving Guyanese under PL 480 programme that shipped flour to Guyana that was banned by Burnham.

Tens of thousands of Guyanese obtained a tertiary education and employment in America sending over US$400 M annually in remittances from 1980s to now. From the US, there were tens of millions of visits to Guyana over the last years pumping billions of US dollars in the economy.

Some talk of sovereignty.

(Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2020

Pompeo’s visit is more Sasenarine Singh analytics capacity, about Exxon and the US other qualifications make him economy than Venezuela suitable for position of GUYSUCO CEO Dear Editor It is my belief the reason such a high official as the Secretary of the United States, Mike Pompeo, to visit Guyana is about our oil and Exxon Mobile stand on the lopsided contract signed by the previous Government of Guyana.

The US Secretary of State is second in command after the President and for such a high official of the greatest country on earth to visit a small struggling country like Guyana has to be more than a simple matter as border dispute, and more about Exxon and the economy of the United States. Below are excerpts garnered online: “Exxon Mobil (XOM) is getting booted from the Dow Jones Industrial Average while oil prices remain low.

Take a look at Exxon earnings and the XOM stock chart. On July 31, Exxon reported Q2 loss of 70 cents, after excluding an inventory valuation gain from rising commodity prices. Analysts expected a loss of 63 cents.

Revenue fell nearly 53% to $32.6 billion, also missing Wall Street views. Production fell 7% to 3.6 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.”

Gillian Rich (8/25/2020) “That’s because the overall financial and economic system is flashing between recession red

signals and yellow warning signs as it works through the coronavirus crisis, which choked the longest economic expansion on record. States nationwide enacted stay-at-home orders forcing businesses, restaurants, offices and retailers to close, eroding consumption and putting what’s perhaps 1 in 4 U.S. workers on unemployment benefits.”From ‘The US economy is on the verge of a recession’ by Sarah Foster (8/ 12/2020) Samantha Azzarello, global market strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management: “It’s a domino effect: The longer this goes on, the cracks get a bit bigger. The policy response to COVID-19 is what caused the actual recession. It was a policy choice to shut down the economy. We’re getting hit all at once now.”

The US Secretary of State visit is of importance to the US and Guyana will be put between a rock and a hard place. Oil don’t spoil, but If we are to have any semblance of a better deal on the extraction of our oil by Exxon Mobile, our leaders while insisting on a better deal s h o u l d see caution as better than rash courage.

Yours truly, Gloria Holder

Dear Editor, I write to offer my congratulations to my friend Mr. Sasenarine Singh on his high-level appointment as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO).

This is a strategic and unique appointment in that the selection of Mr. Sasenarine Singh for this post is one of the most critical for President Irfaan Ali’s Administration.

Many of his friends and I, including Dr. Asquith Rose are very elated about his appointment.

We all know that GuySuCo is one of the important pillars in the welfare of the Guyanese people. Over the years, the sugar industry has been vital to Guyana’s

development; however, unfortunately, GUYSUCO has been plagued with several problems thus causing it to be unprofitable. When this industry was nationalized in the 1970s, sugar was still King Sugar, not only in Guyana but throughout the world. But, as time went by, the price of raw sugar has consistently declined with the current market price well below Guyana’s current production cost. GuySuCo, with its current configuration was for the most part leaderless and the previous administration misguided treatment of this industry can only be considered heartless.

This brings me to the appointment of Mr. Sasenarine Singh. For more than a decade, Sase has been in the forefront

with strategies and plans as to how the correct the ills of the industry and eventually make it more viable. He has prepared a series of papers to not only make GUYSUCO become successful, but also to ensure the role of all the players (Government/ management/workers/ customers/vendors and the community are taken seriously.

I have known Sase for a very long time and without hesitation, I can say that his decision to return to Guyana to serve the people after more than 20 years abroad was judicious. Not to mention that he had left an executive position in the United States to do so.

I am proud to say that he is highly qualified to lead GUYSUCO. His analytical,

management and organization skills, coupled with his qualifications, experience and training along with his ability to collaborate with others and to communicate effectively as well as his passion and sincerity to serve Guyana has made suitable for the position. He is humble and his honest personality and his willingness to take advice are some of qualities that have qualified him for this position.

I have full confidence that Sase will do all he can to make GuySuCo profitable and all Guyanese proud. Good luck to you my dear friend and may God grant you the strength, wisdom and fortitude to accomplish the task that is bequeath to you.

Yours truly, Charles Sugrim

...The PNCR should welcome Pompeo’s visit to Guyana From page 4 Venezuela. Such a request for permission was made in early 2020 to the Granger administration which it rejected. The reason for rejection is not known.

However, the establishment of VoA is a plausible theory, and might be on the table for discussion.

While the majority of Guyanese are happy with Mr. Pompeo’s visit, the PNCR does not seem to be enthusiastic.

They remember how he forced them out of office, and slapped many of them with sanctions for undermining democracy. One would therefore expect a cold response from the PNCR to the visit. This was the man who ‘robbed’ the PNCR cabal of their lavish lifestyle, opulence, and exalted power status.

What Pompeo did (force Granger to step down), no other leader had been able to accomplish. Many observers believe that had it not been for Mr. Pompeo’s direct intervention, Granger and his PNCR cohorts would have succeeded with their electoral coup; remained in power; and there was nothing much (other than protests) that the PPPC and other political parties could have done to express their anger and disenchantment.

Conspiracy theories were not so prevalent when the same PNCR cabal welcomed a 25-member US Congressional delegation and military personnel on August 23, 2018. They were on a fourcountry official visit to Guyana, Suriname, Honduras, and Brazil. Joseph Harmon said that the visit was a

“testimony of growing confidence in Guyana on the international scene, as well as, strengthening of US/ Guyana relations.”

The Stabroek News reported that both the Government and the US Embassy were tight lipped on the visit.

The popular theory then was that the US was concerned about the influx of Venezuelans into Guyana and its implications for security.

It was not after the conclusion of that visit were Guyanese informed by David Granger and Representative Peters (CA) about the purpose of the delegation.

Rep Peters said that they focused principally on climate change, immigration and national defence.

David Granger said that they also discussed the energy sector as well as assured the delegation that Guyana is a “stable country”

and that “the three branches of government function separately” and that the “executive does not interfere in the judiciary and autonomous commissions.”

Mr. Pompeo would have soon discovered that those were just nice words and phrases but were far removed from reality.

The first Guyana government official that the US Congressional delegation met was the then Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman.

Why? Was it to thank him for offering Exxon a super sweetheart contract deal? For what other reason(s) did they meet Trotman? While they also met with President David Granger, they never met with the Leader of the Opposition. What theory was applied there?

Wo u l d n ’t have normal protocol allowed for the delegation to meet with Mr.

Bharrat Jagdeo? This failure to include the Leader of the Opposition was even more perplexing when Joseph Harmon stated that it was a “familiarization” visit.

The PNCR continually proclaims that they observe the rule of law and adhere to the Constitution but everyone knows otherwise.

The recent five-month post election saga alone offered deep insights into their political posturing. They have been exposed for their Constitution-busting by several local and international organizations as well as governments.

Should they believe now in the defence of democracy, as Granger had articulated to the Congressional delegation, then they will have nothing to fear from Mr. Pompeo’s visit and should therefore welcome it.

Yours truly, Tara Singh

...In support of Pompeo’s visit From page 5 They don’t understand the meaning of the term. For weak countries like Guyana and others in Caribbean, sovereignty has meaning only in terms of numbers at international organizations.

Legal sovereignty is meaningless in the world of political realism.

A small country like Guyana can’t defend its sovereignty; only the elephants are truly sovereign.

Today, there is shared sovereignty because of globalized issues and common interests.

Discussion with the Secretary of State and his team should address mutual

interests pertaining to national security: military assistance to counter border threats and oil exploration; cooperation against drug trafficking, human trafficking, and money laundering; trade expansion; increased cultural and educational exchanges; base presence in Guyana; widening sanctions (and visa cancellation) against riggers to include those who were involved in race violence in West Berbice; greater support for democracy; forensic assistance to investigate the three killings in Cotton Tree; grants for economic recovery; combating high tech crimes including cyber security; modernizing Guyana’s

security forces and their collaboration with USA; diaspora linkage in America; sharing of appropriate technology to combat cross border crime; establishing DEA office in Guyana; joint US-Guyana defense patrol on the border and on the coast.

Professor Alissa Trotz (KN Sep 15) and opponents of the Secretary’s visit got it wrong.

T h e S e c r e t a r y ’s presence will help to deepen relations with America including protection of our fragile democracy and combating international crimes.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2020

PAGE 07

Forestry Commission gets support to help stem spread of COVID-19 I

n an effort to curtail the spread of COVID-19 and to promote safe work practices in the Forestry Sector in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, several preventive equipment and supplies were yesterday donated to the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).

The donation was made by the British High Commissioner (ag) to Guyana, Ray Davidson, on behalf of UK-Aid and the Forest and Land Governance Technical Assistance Project (EFITAP). The Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, M.P., received the

donation on behalf of the GFC and expressed his appreciation for the timely and kind contribution.

The Minister noted that as Guyana is faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a continued rise, mostly attributed to the increased testing capacity and the willingness of persons to be tested. Minister Bharrat said that as the Forest workers are still engaged in work activities, they remain exposed to some extent and the donation will immensely contribute to their safety and prevent the spread of the virus.

Maintaining the United Kingdom's commitment to

Guyana, Davidson said that the UK remains committed to supporting Guyana's Vo l u n t a r y P a r t n e r s h i p A g r e e m e n t ' s implementation and this donation forms part of such support. He expressed his pleasure in being able to allow the GFC to continue its extraordinary work and encouraged the full use of the items donated.

As part of the EFITAP project, a total of £20,864 (approx. G$ 4.3 million) was contributed towards purchasing items to support the fight against the COVID19 pandemic. To date, a number of supplies was purchased which includes:

DemBank's Chief named Chairman of GuySuCo's Board - Anthony Vieira is Vice-Chair

G

overnment has appointed the B o a r d o f Directors of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), which will be chaired by Pravinchandra Dave.

With almost two decades of experience in the local banking system, Dave is expected to bring a wealth of knowledge to the sugar industry as plans move ahead to reopen three of four shuttered estates.

Dave currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Demerara Bank Limited, a government statement revealed yesterday.

Meanwhile, Anthony Vieira has been appointed Vice-Chairman of the Board.

Vieira, whose family was involved in the sugar

Chairman: Pravinchandra Dave industry, was highly critical of GuySuCo. “Mr. Vieira also brings much knowledge and experience to the sugar industry. He had served as the Director of Field

Vice Chairman: Anthony Vieira Operations at GuySuCo in 2016,” the statement added.

The Board also includes: Ramesh Persaud, Tarachand Balgobin, Ray Hanoman, Shamira Evans, Shaleeza (continued on page 12)

Minister Vickram Bharrat accepts the COVID-19 donation from British High Commissioner (ag), Ray Davidson two laptop computers, as well as connectivity devices for field stations (headphones and web cameras); masks, hand sanitizers, infrared thermometers, a mist blower machine to sanitize the offices and COVID-19 awareness material (posters, doorknob hangers and stickers).

A d d i t i o n a l l y, o n c e purchases are completed, the items will total 1,300 masks (reusable), four laptops, 25 headsets and webcams, 1,300 hand sanitizers in various sizes, 30 wall mounted dispensers, 30 infrared thermometers, 1,900 information pieces which includes door hangers, posters and stickers

and two mist blowers for sanitizing the offices.

The Natural Resources Minister expressed his appreciation to EFITAP and UK-Aid for the donation on behalf of staff and management of the GFC and encouraged close partnership between the Ministry of Natural Resources and the agencies.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Thursday September 17, 2020

Berbice protests stalled investigation - body left at funeral into doctor's death - Police home for weeks T

he body of a prominent Guyanese doctor was held up in a funeral home for more than three weeks now after the investigations into his death was stalled by the recent Berbice protests. The Berbice protests were geared at demanding justice for murdered teens, Joel and Isaiah Henry.

The late doctor, Michael George, 31, of La Jalousie, We s t C o a s t D e m e r a r a (WCD) had died on August 23, during his pre-birthday hang out with friends at a canal located at Parika Back, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Kaieteur News had reported that his friends had told investigators that around 16:00hrs that day, George had reportedly taken off his clothes, walked into the water and disappeared.

The friends further told police that they went in search of George immediately. They said that some 10 minutes later, they were able to pull a motionless George from the water.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was also conducted on the doctor to revive him but that proved

The location where George reportedly drowned

DEAD: Dr. Michael George futile. Crime scene investigators had also reported that George's body bore no marks of violence.

Nevertheless, his family members suspected otherwise and told investigators that George had told them that whenever

he is at the waterside, he never goes into the water because he could not swim.

An autopsy was conducted on the man's body, which revealed that he died of drowning and this was compounded by blunt trauma to the head.

George's wife related to this publication that she was told by a medical professional that the blunt trauma sustained by her late husband was from a hit to the side of his head.

This discovery from the post mortem has caused some persons to suspect that the doctor's death was as a result of foul play. It was noted by family members that statements given to police by George's friends is not consistent with the autopsy report.

They contended that the friends claimed that he took of his clothes, walked into the water and went under without resurfacing.

However, they said that the blunt trauma to the head is more consistent with that

of a plunge or fall.

Moreover, the family members said that they had visited the waterside where George had drowned and found that there were no rocks or other solid objects to indicate that he might have hit his head in a plunge or fall. The relatives said as well that the place is a “forested and backdam like area with lots of farmlands located some distance away from residents.”

In order to bring clarity, closure and satisfaction to relatives of the late doctor, ranks had filed a report, which was sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

T h e D P P, t h i s publication was informed, instructed that a thorough investigation be launched into the circumstances surrounding the doctor's drowning. The case was then handed over to the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) at the Criminal Investigations (continued on page 17)

Speaker's second ruling on question about Pompeo's visit “unfair and biased” - Harmon

United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo

Q

uestions put forward by the Parliamentary Opposition regarding the visit of United States (US) Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, were on Wednesday shot down for a second time by Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir.

His actions did not bode well with Opposition leader, Joseph Harmon who deemed them “unfair and biased.”

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon

“ We c o n s i d e r t h e Speaker's ruling to be quite unfair, unreasonable, unjust, and we find that it reeks of biasness,” Harmon said in a live interview shortly after the ruling.

The Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), had filed an “oral question with notice” demanding answers on Pompeo's impending visit to Guyana during the period

September 17 to 18, 2020.

Those questions, submitted by Member of Parliament (MP), Amaza Walton-Desir, were not allowed, prompting the Opposition to file them again. This time, MP Christopher Jones submitted the questions.

In proffering an explanation why he denied the question for a second time, the Speaker told the (continued on page 17)

Thursday September 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

More women are now infected than men

F

ourteen staff members of the N a t i o n a l Assembly have tested positive for COVID-19. Two inmates of the Lusignan Prison have also tested positive. A staff member of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. also got a positive COVID-19 test result. A member of staff of a hirepurchase chain of stores also tested positive a few weeks ago.

Institutional spread of the virus is now occurring.

Once the virus gets into the workplaces and other institutions, the situation will become uncontrollable.

Workplace spread is usually rapid and will lead to an uncontrollable situation.

This is why the public has to demand that the Irfaan Ali administration shut the country down for at least two weeks to bring about some easing of the spread of the virus. Unless this is done, increased testing will only end up confirming the exponential spread of the disease. It will not help in any other way.

Ye s t e r d a y, G u y a n a recorded its 59th victim of the virus. It was an elderly patient from Region One. It is not known as yet whether the health facilities in that Region has been boosted with ventilators and isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients. But persons are dying in that Region, as they are in other regions.

The government will face resistance to any attempt to close down non-

Dem

boys seh...

D

em boys can’t stomach fuh listen to de Budget debates. Dem boys nah know how some people could be so barefaced as to want to tek up dem seats wah dem get after dem fail to steal de elections.

Dem boys seh dat some ah dem wah was part of de stealing and others wah bin complicit by their silence, should not be sitting in de National Assembly.

De Assembly is supposed to be a symbol of democracy. But some of dem in deh were complicit in

essential businesses at this time. But lives have to be accorded greater priority over money and the government cannot allow the business community to force it not to close the country down at this time.

The number of confirmed cases remains high relative to the tests which are being conducted.

And this suggests strongly that community spread is now widespread. Also, when the pandemic first started, the Ministry of Public Health was lecturing men about their habits, pointing out that far more men than women were becoming infected.

This column had indicated that the then officials were misguided because the data did not suggest infections were being biased in favour of men.

The numbers now indicate that more women are now infected than men.

And of recent days, women have been dying because of complications of the virus.

Given that many households consists of non-working women, the increase in female infections may be pointing to the fact that household infections are increasing.

Dr. Frank Anthony needs an epidemiologist to help him make sense of the numbers. There are overseas-based Guyanese who can be of assistance to him. He should be careful about relying on some of those persons whom the PPP/C has put in his Ministry to assist him.

Decisions have to be made based on evidence.

The evidence right now is that the case load is much too high and that the vulnerable needs to be protected. This is no laughing matter. Regardless of if the government decides on a lockdown, the fact remains that there is a need to protect those who are mostly likely to die from the infection.

The most vulnerable persons are those over 45 years of age, persons living in care homes and persons with underlying conditions.

The government has an obligation to protect these persons. And the only way it can do this is to ensure that these persons are not exposed. This means that they should be encouraged and supported to stay at home.

Instead of the $25,000 grant being shared out per household, it is now best that it be given to those vulnerable persons who are certified to remain in their homes.

Right now most of the economy is open. It is only entertainment places that are not open. Some of course are breaking the rules and opening but the majority cannot open. Almost all the businesses had begun to open even before the former government began its sixphase reopening. And this was because they could no longer afford to stay close.

So those affected would most likely have already been open and earning some

Find-fault debate rigging. And other who by their silence were complicit, do not belong in any representative body.

Dat is why dem boys does feel like vomiting whenever dem listen to some of dem parliamentarians talk. Dem boys seh is sheer hypocrisy yuh hearing. So dem boys protecting them ears.

Right now de debate is about finding fault. Each side finding fault with one another. All day is sheer criticism yuh hearing.

Dat is another reason why dem boys nah wan

listen to no Budget debate.

Nobody nah agreeing to nuttin.

Right now all we seeing is picture of dem better off children sitting in front of dem TV or dem computer or even dem tablet learning dem lessons.

But what about dem poor pickney wah parents nah gat electricty in dem house or nah gat computer or tablet?

Dem getting leff behind and Aunty Priya nah considering wah gan happen to these poor souls.

Talk half and nah find fault with yuh better half.

money.

It is best therefore to use the money, which has been set aside for household relief to protect the vulnerable segments of the population.

With institutional spread now taking root, the business community should ask the vulnerable members of their workforce to either work from home or to be

furloughed. Pensioners should be paid the $25,000 cash grant on condition that they isolate at home.

In this way, a strategy can be developed to help protect those who are most likely to die from any infection.

Eighty percent of those infected are going to live.

Therefore, once we can identify the vulnerable 20

percent, they can be supported in order to save their lives and reduce the runaway death rate.

(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

Thursday September 17, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Barbados proves that PNC leaders are frauds I

t was Raphael Trotman, during the five-month election rigging saga that made condescending remarks about the small populations of small Caricom islands.

Trotman is too ignorant to understand the historical sociology and culture of the West Indian islands.

These countries are led by politicians who are essentially committed to the future of their islands. They believe in democratic norms.

There were four national elections in CARICOM countries in recent weeks and none went down the chasm of nihilistic

depravities as Guyana did – St. Kitts, Suriname, Trinidad and Jamaica. There were no accusations of rigged elections. There were no attempts at power grabbing.

While Trotman was laughing at the small populations in the islands, he was involved in rigging Guyana's election which none of the leaders in those CARICOM nations would ever contemplate.

None of the leaders in these small territories that Trotman was ignorantly insulting would ever tell the world that half of 65 is 34 and that there is no legal avenue in a country to upturn

the decision of the Chief Elections Officer.

For a minister of government to say things like that proves he is scientifically and morally unfit to be a minister in a country's government.

History has been good to Guyana, Trotman and his colleagues in the AFC like Cathy Hughes, Khemraj Ramjattan, Dr. Vincent Adams and David Patterson are gone from power; never to return. But something happened in Barbados this week that we need to throw in the faces of people like Trotman and the entire PNC leadership.

Little Barbados with its small square miles and small populations have leaders who are more committed to the freedom of Barbadians than people like Trotman and his PNC and AFC acolytes.

Barbados has now made 14 grams of marijuana legal.

The Mottley government came into power three years after the APNU+AFC won the May 2015 elections.

The APNU+AFC spent five years in office yet never amended the law to make it legal to possess even one gram of ganja. In fact, during the reign of the APNU+AFC, persons went to jail for possession of a smoking utensil.

People like Trotman and his acolytes in the PNC and AFC inserted into their manifesto a promise to amend the law during the 2015 election battle. They never did after spending five years in power. These are the same people who went to Region Five and proclaimed their concern for the future of Black Guyanese.

Many of those young men who were on a rampage in Region Five last week after being incited to violence by PNC and AFC leaders are going to jail if they smoke a gram of ganja.

Many of these poor souls do not know that once they enter a guilty plea, the magistrate has no jurisdiction to free them.

In legalizing up to 14

grams of ganja, it is interesting to read the reason the Barbadian government gave. The statement said that charging and jailing people for very small amounts is a waste of the courts and police's time, and conviction has severe implications for

Frederick Kissoon employment prospects and visa applications. Almost 100 percent of the people jailed in Guyana for small amounts of the drug are Africans. Almost 99 percent of them are below age 30.

With the announcement of the amendment in Barbados, Guyanese academics must continue to analyze why the APNU+AFC lost the 2020 election fight. It was not only the 2011 and 2015 voters that turned away from the AFC in 2020, but African Guyanese showed immense and bitter chagrin with the PNC. See my columns of Friday, September 4, 2020, “Untergang: Granger in a

crowd” and September 3, 2020, “Untergang: Rupert Roopnaraine in a cartoon” in which I described the reaction of African voters to how the PNC and WPA performed from 2015 onwards.

It is on issues like the betrayal of the ganja amendment legislation that contributed to the 2020 defeat of the PNC. The PNC leaders do not have the analytical capacity to understand the frustrations of the African Guyanese people that cost them the election. I do not have the percentage for the Rastafari community in Guyana but it is possible that over 2,000 of them chose not to vote because of the failed ganja amendment.

The crucial mistake the PNC leaders made is that they calculated that African Guyanese would turn out in record numbers to put them back in office.

But these were ignorant people who couldn't see that African Guyanese felt betrayed.

A substantial quantity of public servants probably did not vote because of the refusal to up the retirement age. African Guyanese need to chase the PNC out of Guyana.

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

Thursday September 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Remdesivir being acquired at reduced cost to treat COVID-19 - Health Minister

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

M

inister of H e a l t h , D r.

F r a n k Anthony, has announced that government will be able to acquire Remdesivir at a reduced cost. The drug is one that has been approved to treat COVID-19.

The announcement to procure the drug comes even as plans are in train to purchase the drug to treat critically ill patients with sums allocated for drug purchases in the 2020 Budget.

Remdesivir is an anti-viral drug administered by Intravenous (IV) Therapy to COVID-19 patients suffering from severe symptoms. It is known as a nucleoside analogue, which means that it mimics a component of

viral Ribonucleic acid (RNA) that the virus needs to replicate itself.

“Remdesivir is a very costly drug that is used in the US for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. We have been able to acquire this medicine out of India and the company that is manufacturing this particular drug was licensed by GILEAD to be able to produce this generic version,” Minister Anthony said.

Early international clinical trial results for the drug indicated a quicker recovery period, from 15 days to 11 days. This has earned the drug an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration in the US, allowing it to be used more widely outside of clinical trials.

The Minister explained that the drug is being made available to Guyana at a cheaper cost and has already been used to treat hospitalised and critically ill COVID-19 patients. Guyana had initially received 240 doses of the drug.

Minister Anthony also alluded to the fact that the drug was never listed on the Ministry's inventory as it was not available for purchase on the international market.

The Minister added that the goal is to ensure that adequate doses are available as it can significantly reduce COVID-19 deaths.

Thursday September 17, 2020

Some of the protesting workers

Inefficient functioning of Uitvlugt factory leads to workers downing tools - GAWU

A

number of workers at the Uitvlugt factory yesterday downed their working equipment due to growing frustrations about the factory's inefficient functioning. This was announced by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) in a press release.

The workers, according to the release, are represented by both the GAWU and the National Association for Agricultural Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE). It was revealed that for several weeks the workers have been actively airing their concerns to the estate's senior management, however, no intervention occurred.

GAWU stated that the workers lamented that mudcaked cane was being delivered to the factory which is a major inconvenience for them. In past times, a washing system would have been implemented to remove the significant amount of mud from the cane but even this became ineffective, according to GAWU. The union also highlighted other issues

occurring at the factory which includes several severe defects. The workers, it was noted, would have given a warning earlier this year about no spare parts being procured by the Uitvlugt factory and that worn out components were being lubricated and later reinstalled – all during the mid-year-out-of-crop period. Following this warning, the matter was addressed to several senior managers but again nothing was done.

GAWU further stated, “The lethargic attitude of some managers is very upsetting to the workers.

They pointed out that some difficulties experienced last Saturday evening (September 12) were not resolved until the next morning. They shared that though they sought the assistance of a senior factory personnel, that individual, who resides in the estate compound, only showed up the next morning. That individual's inaction allowed the issue to persist for several hours to the detriment of the estate.”

GAWU claimed too that the Uitvlugt factory has lost 168 hours of work due to

breakdown, which is more than a week's operations. The factory is said to be in its fifth week of operation currently.

GAWU said that it has, for some time now, been highlighting the declining performance of the industry's factories though there were concerted attempts, in recent times, to boost the Guyana Sugar Corporation's factory operations department.

“It was felt that at least some improvement would have been seen by those who were held out as being most capable, this alas was not the case. And, it is the industry and by extension the workers who continue to suffer,” GAWU added.

Arising from the workers protest yesterday, a meeting is scheduled between representatives from GAWU and NAACIE and the estate's management to iron out the difficulties which contributed to the protest

action. “We are assured that the Corporation has taken the workers concerns seriously and will seek to get to the bottom of the issues.

We believe it is through the collaborative efforts of the workers and their o rg a n i s a t i o n s a n d t h e management that solutions can be found and progress can be had,” GAWU noted.

R e c o g n i z i n g government's efforts to appoint a new Board and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), GAWU underscored that the Board “which will include a representative from our Union, has its work cut out for it as it seeks to solve many of the problems which plague the industry.”

As it congratulated the recent appointments, GAWU said that it is hopeful that “we can soon engage the new CEO on several matters of concern to the Union and workers.”

DemBank's Chief named...

From page 7 Shaw, Paul Cheong (ExOfficio), Mohamed Rafeek, and Desmond Sears.

A Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union

(GAWU) representative is still to be named.

The Board is expected to serve for a period of one year, effective from September 3, 2020, to September 2, 2021.

It was announced on Tuesday that financial analyst, Sasenarine Singh, would be the Chief Executive Officer (ag). The country would be looking keenly at the affairs of GuySuCo with four of the seven estates closed in the last five years by the coalition government, Guyana has been sliding lower and lower with 7,000 workers losing their jobs.

The current Irfaan Ali-led administration had vowed to reopen the closed sugar estates - Skeldon, Rose Hall and Enmore.

They said that although it is losing money, the industry's contributions in terms of jobs, and other contributions is too big to ignore.

Thursday September 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Overturned truck causes major traffic jam on East Bank corridor I

t was madness y e s t e r d a y, a f t e r hundreds of commuters were left stranded for hours in a major traffic jam along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

The traffic jam was caused by an overturned truck on the Diamond Public Road.

According to police, the truck, overladen with a cargo of wood, overturned at around 10:30hrs in the vicinity of the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

The truck was reportedly heading towards Georgetown when the incident occurred. Police said that the driver had sustained minor injuries and

left to receive medical attention. Nevertheless, the overturned truck had blocked the entire western carriageway and caused a major traffic build up which stretched miles.

Traffic ranks were forced to use a lane from the eastern carriageway to facilitate traffic flow towards the city.

The traffic jam lasted for almost six hours leaving many trapped. Some missed meetings, other missed appointments, while others were unable to turn up for work on time.

A number of Kaieteur News staffers were also trapped in the traffic jam.

One staffer said that he left

his home in Diamond close to 11:00hrs heading for Georgetown to tie up some business but was unable to do so. Realizing the predicament, the staffer said

that he decided to return home. However, this was not without its challenges since it took about four hours to navigate his return.

Another staffer said he

The overturned truck along the Diamond, East Bank Demerara Public Road

left his house at around 12:00hrs and because of the traffic jam, he arrived at work at around 16:00hrs.

Even a prominent businessman was caught in the madness and was forced to use zoom to meet with his staff for a 15:00hrs meeting.

After “crawling” in the traffic, the man said that he realized that it made no sense for him to continue, so he decided to park his car at a location along the East Bank

in order to host his meeting via zoom.

The fallout from the traffic jam was a reoccurring tale told by many frustrated persons, several of whom stressed the need for alternative routes to avoid such a dilemma.

Police late yesterday afternoon were finally able to remove the truck and its cargo from the roadway and traffic was restored to normalcy.

Lusignan prisoners refuse meals; pelt officers over COVID-19 cases

I

nmates at the Lusignan Prison situated on the East Coast of Demerara, refused their meals and pelted officers, hours after learning that there were positive COVID-19 cases among them.

According to the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), a number of measures have been implemented to allay the fears of the prisoners, including the eventual establishment of another quarantine facility and testing of all the prisoners and staffers.

It was disclosed Tuesday that two prisoners tested positive.

However, sources told Kaieteur News that the number is about 10.

“The news of Coronavirus in the Lusignan Prison did create some amount of disturbance among the prisoners. They protested by refusing meals this morning, vociferously expressing their concern about the presence of the coronavirus in the prison, and by hurling bricks and other objects at members of the Joint Services,” a GPS statement revealed yesterday.

Prisoners also aggressively spoke about the need for speedier trials, and reduction and granting of bail for some categories of prisoners with minor offences.

“The Officer-in-Charge of the facility, Senior (continued on page 16)

…positive cases may be around 10 - sources say

The Lusignan Prison

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday September 17, 2020

Five remanded for beating death of Bath Settlement man during protests

F

ive persons, including a teenager, were yesterday remanded to prison for the murder of 34year-old Prettipaul Hargobin called 'Roy' of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.

Appearing before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Fort Wellington Magistrate Court were Devan Karran called 'Rickey', 22, a labourer of Bath Settlement; Ricardo Shiwlall called 'Rico', 27, a truck driver of Lot 155 No 10 Village, West Coast Berbice; Jagdat Khaloo called 'One Eye', 60, a labourer of Lot 18

Bath Settlement West Coast Berbice and Satahul Shivchand called 'Cheto' or 'Jetto', 40, a labourer of Lot 225 Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice. Charged separately was a 17-yearold.

They were all charged with the capital offence of murder committed on Hargobin on the September 9, 2020.

They were not required to plea to the indictable charge and were remanded to prison. The matter was postponed to the September 23, 2020.

M eanwhile, Marlon Dharamdai called 'Bully' and

The accused men in court yesterday h i s 3 9 - y e a r- o l d w i f e , Herawattie Dharamdai, were charged for possession of a firearm without the relevant licence. The wife was placed on $75,000 bail and will return to court on October 7, 2020.

In addition, Harilall

Motilall called 'Fowl Cock', 45, a labourer of Block D (1) Bath Settlement West Coast Berbice who was arrested on the September 10, 2020 was also charged in connection with the case.

He too appeared before Magistrate Singh and was charged with malicious damage to the property of Hargobin contrary to Section 160 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01.

The accused appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate's Court and the charge was read to him.

He was not required to plea. He was placed on $300,000 bail and the matter was postponed to October 2, 2020 for a report.

Hargobin was beaten to death by protesters on the Bath Settlement Public Road. Initial reports stated Hargobin had a confrontation with the

Killed: Prettipaul Hargobin

protesters and had discharged several rounds from a firearm.

In retaliation, the protesters proceeded to beat him unconscious.

Hargobin, according to reports, succumbed within

minutes.

A post mortem revealed that he died from brain haemorrhage and blunt trauma to the head, c o m p o u n d e d b y compression injuries to the neck.

Pandemic threatens to wipe...

From page 2 programmes to keep girls in school, and to expand economic opportunities and access to quality reproductive health services.

The Bank is also helping India immediately scale-up cash transfers and food benefits, using a set of preexisting national platforms and programmes, to provide social protection for essential workers involved in COVID-19 relief efforts; and benefit vulnerable groups, particularly migrants and informal workers, who face high risks of exclusion.

Ambitious, evidence-

driven policy measures in health, education, and social protection can recover lost ground and pave the way for today's children to surpass the human capital achievements and quality of life of the generations that preceded them.

Fully realizing the creative promise embodied in each child has never been more important.

The World Bank Group, one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic

response.

We are supporting public healt h i n t e r v e n t i o n s , working to ensure the flow of critical supplies and equipment, and helping the private sector continue to operate and sustain jobs. “We will be deploying up to $160 billion in financial support over 15 months to help more than 100 countries protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery.

This includes $50 billion of new IDA resources through grants and highly concessional loans� the World Bank Group added.

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2020

14 Parliament Staffers Test Positive for COVID-19 - Labour Ministry records one positive case

M

anzoor Nadir, Speaker of the National Assembly, yesterday announced that 14 parliament employees have tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

The Speaker made the disclosure at the beginning of yesterday's sitting of Parliament.

Nadir too had tested positive for the virus, which was confirmed on September 8 and due to this, he was forced to attend parliament virtually as a safety protocol.

After the Speaker tested positive, it was stated that over 100 parliament employees had COVID-19 tests conducted and 14 of them came back positive.

Nadir assured that the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, is working assiduously to ensure the health of parliamentary staff is prioritized. “Of the 14 persons who are positive, [the Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs] is currently making arrangements to ensure that we can look after the good health of our parliamentary staff,” Nadir said.

Nadir and Isaacs were the first in parliament to have tests conducted after A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For

Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament (MP), Christopher Jones, who had tested positive for the virus but attended the September 1 swearing-in ceremony of parliamentarians.

Additionally, Minister of L a b o u r, J o s e p h H a m i l t o n , yesterday announced that one of the Labour Ministry's employees tested positive for COVID-19. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Health. The staffer is from the Ministry's Co-operatives Department.

In a press release, the Minister stated that a list of names and contact information for all staff of the department was submitted to the Surveillance Unit of the Health Ministry and all members of staff of the Department will be in quarantine for seven days, which began yesterday.

Hamilton did assure that all COVID-19 protocols are currently being enforced and will be “closely monitored” to ensure there is full compliance in keeping with the Health Ministry and International Labour Organization requirements to prevent further spread of the disease. He also stated that the entire Department will be sanitized shortly.

PAGE 15

Body found on crashed plane identified...

Injured pilot is known drug trafficker in Brazil

P

olice have been able to identify the body found among the wreckage of the crashed twin engine beechcraft with a cargo of 390 kilograms at Nine Miles Issano, Middle Mazaruni, Region Seven.

The man is said to be that of a 49-year-old Brazilian national.

Investigators have also been successful in obtaining information that the injured pilot, 38, of Boa Vista Estado Roraima, Brazil is a known drug trafficker in his country.

According to sources involved with the investigation, the pilot had been charged in Brazil for the illegal trafficking of drugs.

It was also disclosed to this newspaper that this recent The three detained foreign nationals (Man to extreme right has been identified as the known drug trafficker in Brazil development was gained with assistance from International Police (Interpol) and law sustained a fractured arm and Brazil. enforcement authorities in Brazil.

According to information multiple bruises to the face was Kaieteur News was told as well obtained by this newspaper, the found by joint services ranks. He that it is officially confirmed that crashed beechcraft, bearing was in the company of another pilot both the crashed beechcraft and the registration number PT-CFG, was of Venezuela and a Brazilian 206 Cessna airplane found at the registered in Manaus, Brazil. internet technician. The men were Nine Miles Airstrip are registered in (continued on page 17) On Sunday last, the pilot who

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2020

COVID-19 positive man placed in institutional isolation after refusing to stay home

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After failing to adhere to health officials' advice to initiate a period of strict home isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, a Linden man is now in mandatory institutional care.

This is according to recently appointed Region 10 Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr. Gregory Harris.

In a statement issued by the Region's Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC), Dr. Harris said that a decision was made to have the man, along with his wife, isolated at the Wismar Hospital after it was confirmed that he breached isolation regulations.

It was revealed too that the

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man, who is an employee of the Region's Department of Education, will be supported with food items compliments of his employer.

Dr. Harris said the man was placed in institutional care after he disregarded several warnings to remain at home. He was seen in the market and several other public places, said the RHO. “We cannot allow persons who are not adhering to set out guidelines to put the health and wellbeing of others at risk.

Therefore, I have instructed the Regional COVID-19 Coordinator, Dr. Michael Marks, to have the man and his wife transferred to the isolation centre as he has breached home isolation. I am adamant that he will continue leaving his home despite all warnings to him,” he added.

According to Dr. Marks, anyone found breaching regulations and guidelines in the Region will be dealt with accordingly as the interest and safety of residents must remain the priority of the regional health officials.

“Anyone who refuses to adhere to home isolation regulations and is found breaching these guide-

lines will be immediately transferred to institutional isolation…if they cannot adhere to the regulations that we have set out then we will place them at the Wismar Hospital so that they can be monitored around the clock. This is to ensure that they are not a threat to themselves and anyone else,” Dr. Marks added.

Meanwhile, the statement also noted that a total of 85 COVID-19 cases were recorded by the RHEC between the period April 18 and September 14, 2020.

According to Dr. Harris, in his new role as RHO, he will endeavour to ensure that the public, and more importantly residents of Region 10, are kept informed of the COVID-19 related situation within the region. As such, moves have been made, he said, to sensitize them as it relates to the distribution of cases. This, he hopes, will better inform on how the disease has been progressing within the region.

Of the 85 cases, Dr. Harris said that 54 were recorded in Riverview which, as a result, has been named the Region's hot spot. He said too that the next highest number, seven, was re-

corded in the Wismar Housing Scheme. The RHO, however, noted that all the other communities that have recorded cases had no more than four cases each. He said that Goshen recorded four cases, while the communities of Wisroc and Fallmouth had three each.

Amelia's Ward, Christianburg, Mabura, and Half Mile, each recorded two cases, the RHO added.Among the other communities that have recorded cases are: Lower Kara Kara, West Watooka, Republic Avenue, One Mile and Coomacka Mines.

“This gives residents an insight as to how the cases have been recorded and which communities within the region have recorded cases. We are hoping that residents will take more precautions as despite our numbers, we have been able to maintain what we dub as relatively small numbers. It is our hope that the successes that we have achieved thus far will continue as residents continue to adhere to PAHO and Ministry of Health-related guidelines, thus ensuring that all remain safe,” Dr. Harris said.

Lusignan prisoners refuse meals...

From page 13 Superintendent (ag), Deoraj Gyandat, supported by members of the Prison Directorate, other senior staff of the GPS, Senior Superintendent Khali Parsaram, Regional Commander (4C), as well as other senior and junior ranks of the Joint services were able to calm the prisoners and reassured them that steps were being taken to appease their situation at the location,” the GPS statement added.

It was explained that the agitated prisoners were assured that in partnership with the Ministry of Health, testing will be done starting with persons who have been iden-

tified as contact persons to those who tested positive.

“Testing has commenced.

Systematically, the rest of the prison population, including staff will be tested. The Ministry of Health has also come on board to aid with the daily sanitization of the facility, which will be done using chemicals prescribed by the Ministry of Health. This sanitization, which has commenced, will be done thrice daily. Another quarantine facility has been established so that persons who test positive for the coronavirus can be separated and treated away from the rest of the prison population.”

The Ministry of Health has also deployed a team of doctors and nurses to complement the medical team of the GPS. They are also going to facilitate further training of prison personnel so that greater efficiency can be achieved with the daily sanitization exercises.

“The Guyana Prison Service wishes to thank the prisoners for their cooperation, and the Service will continue to work with other agencies, especially the Judiciary, to address the overcrowding situation.”

Since a major fire left several dead at the Camp Street Prison, Lusignan has become a key facility.

Thursday September 17, 2020

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Canje and Kaieteur Oil Blocks given... Man’s decomposed From page 3 explanations from the owners of Cataleya with questions about their histories in oil and their obtainment of the Kaieteur Block, Cataleya and Cawood appeared to skirt questions, insisting that they acted in compliance with the law. Pereira did not respond.

Roberts, who represented Ratio Energy before it was bought over, did not take kindly to GW requesting a comment. He said that the “assumptions” in its report were “unfounded” and that his law firm plays by the rules.

The other shareholder in the block, Ratio Guyana, and its owner Ratio Petroleum, said that the Ratio group has been active in the industry for decades and touted assets in several countries in Asia, Europe and South America. The statement also pointed to its position on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and its “excellent reputation and corporate ethics”.

As for the Canje Block, it was signed away to a company called Mid Atlantic, said to be run, at the time, by Guyanese businessman, Edris Dookie who went on to become the sole shareholder of the company in 2016.

Later on, JHI Associates acquired a stake in the Canje Block. JHI's website lists a Canadian, John Cullen, as the CEO and Director. GW said that Cullen founded the company. It also noted that public documents from JHI do not list its shareholders. However, GW did state that Dookie and Cullen “have a history together of holding Guyanese

oil licences, but not a history of finding any oil in the country.”

JHI said that it purchased seismic data packages on the basin after it acquired its share of the Canje Block, though 35 percent of the licence was sold to Exxon less than a year after Canje was awarded, GW said.

The anti-corruption watchdog is unaware how much Exxon paid for the share. It said that no such information is available.

As with the Kaieteur Block, GW wrote to Mid Atlantic, JHI, Dookie and Cullen about their history in oil and their obtainment of the Canje Block. They coordinated responses that pointed to their “transparent” operations which they said was played by the rules, when acquiring the block.

gence before acquiring interests in the blocks, and insisted that Exxon should have known who owned Kaieteur and Canje to ensure compliance with Guyana and US anti-corruption legislation.

In its report, the NGO stated, “Exxon's Anti-Corruption Legal Compliance Guide states that the company should undertake careful due diligence when acquiring certain licences.”

When it reached out to the oil major for a comment, Exxon did not respond directly to the specific issues noted but rejected the “accusations” made

by GW as unfounded and baseless. Also, as it tends to do in such situations, the oil major said that it is committed to the highest standards of business, and that it plays by the rules wherever it operates.

CORRUPTION RED FLAGS & EXXONMOBIL

ROBERT PERSAUD AND DONALD RAMOTAR

GW said that the awards exhibit red flags, when it considers the way ExxonMobil went about acquiring the stakes. It said that the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) published in a guide for identifying potential corruption in extractive licences, that such would include unqualified companies obtaining licences and quickly selling them to third parties without doing substantial work themselves. In this regard, Ratio Petroleum had said that no seismic work was done in Kaieteur before Exxon bought its share.

GW wondered whether Exxon did sufficient due dili-

Persaud and Ramotar were two former officials who took the spotlight when this issue emerged in 2019. Persaud, as Minister, was legally responsible for the awards. Though it was Ramotar who signed the deals, he insisted that he did so based on Persaud's advice.

Persaud told GW that the awards were made based on “briefing reports” prepared by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC)'s lawyers, but that he did not remember the lawyers' names and could not provide the documents, since he was not in government at the time of the 2019 interview. Notably, Persaud is quoted as saying that though he knew some of the persons who signed documents for the companies, such as Dookie, he did not know who the beneficial owners are, though it was necessary for him as a Minister to know. He is also reported as saying he cannot provide the reports, which informed the decision.

Global Witness said the information it has published on the owners and directors of the companies named in its report, is publicly available. The anti-corruption watchdog is of the view that Persaud will have had access to more de-

Berbice protests stalled...

From page 8 Department (CID) headquarters at Eve Leary, Georgetown.

As a result, George's body was withheld from burial for more than three weeks for further examination by experts.

They claimed that police had told them that nothing was done with regards to the investigations because of the Berbice protests.

“They told us that that the investigators are busy solving the murder of the teens who were murdered at Cotton Tree backdam, West Coast

Berbice (WCB) due to the intense protests,” said the family members.

Kaieteur News contacted the relevant authorities for confirmation and was told by police sources that the investigation was indeed stalled because of the recent Berbice protests.

However, family members revealed yesterday that they were informed by police authorities yesterday that George's body will most likely be released for burial today.

Injured pilot is known drug...

From page 15 found with the 206 Cessna aircraft at the Nine Miles Airstrip.

According to investigators, the men had told them that they were travelling to Suriname when they developed some mechanical issues and were forced to crash land.

Investigators had since questioned this theory, noting that there was no visible damage on the Cessna aircraft to support the men's claim of crash landing.

However, the men also re-

vealed to them that there was another aircraft flying along with them that had crashed in the jungle. That airplane was the crashed beechcraft, which was found with the cocaine and body on Monday at around 12:05hrs.

Noting that the two of the foreign nationals were without injuries and perfectly fine, investigators now believe that the injured and known drug trafficker might have been the pilot of the crashed beechcraft.

tailed ownership information, as the law required the applicants to list the beneficial owners.

“It would be extraordinary,” GW said, “if the reports upon which Persaud made his Kaieteur and Canje awards did not include this critical information.

In a published letter following Kaieteur News' expose last year, Ramotar insisted that the awards, which he said dated back to applications made for the Kaieteur and Canje blocks in 2012 and 2013 respectively, were transparent and above board.

He said that GGMC processed and approved the applications in accordance with the law around late 2013, and that all fees were received by the regulator. He said that the delays in the signing of the agreements were owed to the Venezuelan navy's seizure of Anadarko's contracted seismic vessel offshore Guyana in late 2013.

Ramotar, he claimed, did not know Guyana had oil when he signed away the Canje and Kaieteur blocks.

Yet, an advertisement appearing in the newspapers on May 8, 2015, published by the party, had specifically headlined “…U.S. OIL GIANT EXXON STRIKES OIL IN GUYANA…” There is a photo of Ramotar in the ad, smiling and shaking hands with staff onboard a drill ship, Deepwater Champion, as it conducted hydrocarbon exploration in the Stabroek Block.

Ramotar claimed that there was no confirmed commercial discovery in the area at the time of approval of the licences, though the advert was published days after he approved the Kaieteur licence.

In May 2019, the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) announced that it would investigate the awards.

It said that it had first decided to do so after former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal, said that the awards amount to daylight robbery. Nearly a year and a half later, SARA has nothing to show for it.

body found in house at 71 Village The partly decomposed body of a 45-year-old man was yesterday discovered in the home he was caretaking at Number 71 Village. The body has since been identified as Ramesh Dhanraj.

According to a villager, the man was not seen for a few days but an unbearable stench was coming from the house and the door was left partially ajar.

It wasn’t until a relative went to check on the man that his decomposed body was found on the floor in his bedroom.

Kaieteur News understands that the man would consume alcohol on a regular

Dead: Ramesh Dhanraj basis and was suffering from hypertension. No marks of violence were found on his body.

Venezuela president behind crimes against humanity: UN probe AFP - Venezuela’s president and top ministers are responsible for probable crimes against humanity including extrajudicial killings and the systematic use of torture, UN investigators said yesterday.

In their first report, the team tasked with probing a slew of alleged violations said they had found evidence that state actors, including President Nicolas Maduro, were behind serious crimes.

The International FactFinding Mission, created by the UN Human Rights Council a year ago, “found reasonable grounds to believe that Venezuelan authorities and security forces have since 2014 planned and executed serious human rights violations,” mission chairperson Marta Valinas said.

Some of those violations, “including arbitrary killings and the systematic use of torture, amount to crimes against humanity,” said Valinas, whose three-person team was unable to enter Venezuela but relied on remote interviews with victims,

witnesses and others, as well as analysis of legal files.

“Far from being isolated acts, these crimes were coordinated and committed pursuant to state policies, with the knowledge or direct support of commanding officers and senior government officials.”

The 411-page report identified the Venezuelan officials deemed responsible, citing “reasonable grounds to believe that both the President and the Ministers of People’s Power for Interior Relations, Justice and Peace, and for Defence, ordered or contributed to the commission of the crimes documented.”

World powers accuse Maduro of violently cracking down on dissent over Venezuela’s economic collapse and on opponents in a political stand-off.

Investigator Francisco Cox told reporters the team had found evidence the president had on some occasions personally informed the national intelligence service (SEBIN) who to place under surveillance and detain.

Speaker's second ruling on question about...

From page 8 House on Wednesday that while the questions were important, they were not “urgent”.

He said, “Two days ago, MP Walton-Desir submitted questions without notice, yesterday I ruled and it was re-submitted by MP Jones, again today. Under Standing Order 18, it requires that questions without notice have urgency and importance. I maintained that the questions submitted do not qualify as urgent.”

As such, he did not allow

the question.

According to Harmon, the secrecy regarding the Secretary of State's visit spells bad for Guyana.

The questions, that were submitted, he explained, sought to inquire whether the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd, would provide the House with his agenda on matters for discussion for the visit; whether Minister Todd would identify Guyana's key interest and non-negotiable policies as they relate to Venezuela and lastly, whether the People's Progressive Party

Civic (PPP/C) administration can guarantee the people of Guyana that our national interest will not be compromised.

Those questions, Harmon added, were “urgent and important enough” for the Speaker to ask the Minister to relate to the House what will be discussed.

Harmon asked, “What is it that you are talking about?

What is so difficult? What is there to hide about an important visit like this? Now what can be more urgent than this?”

He continued, “We have a visit of the highest ranking member of the US government ever to visit Guyana. Today is the 16, tomorrow is the 17.

How much more urgent can this be, we ask? The Speaker in his wisdom decided that this is not urgent enough for the people of Guyana. This is bad for Guyana.”

The people of Guyana, the Opposition leader noted, will not accept this kind of behaviour.

“We require to know the matters which will be discussed,” he added.

PAGE 18

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Kaieteur News

Nadal makes fast start in Rome, Tsitsipas out

Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his second round match against Spain’s Pablo Carreno-Busta. (Pool via Reuters/Riccardo Antimiani)

Thursday September 17, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you could feel a rush of sensual passion and desire, Aries. You may want to get together with a love partner in the evening, but not be able to do it right now.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Some problems might arise with equipment that you use at home or with the structure of the house, Taurus. Appliances might go on the blink or the plumbing or electricity could require repairs.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Some disturbing news could come today, Gemini. This isn't likely to concern you directly. It's apt to be something about the world situation that might eventually reflect indirectly on you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A friend may be going through some pretty big changes, Libra, and come to you for a sympathetic ear.

The problem is that you might be a little stressed yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Too many demands placed on you by others could have you feeling used, abused, and stressed, Scorpio. You might come close to losing your temper. That isn't necessary.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you might have thoughts of expanding your horizons, perhaps on a monumental level, Sagittarius. You might consider traveling or even moving to a distant place.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) A rise in your income could lead to a transformation in your values, particularly where business is concerned.

You could be opening up to the vast potential for prosperity that exists now.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today you may receive some information about how to increase your income in a short period of time. This information may or may not be valid. Be cautious.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Stress, strain, and a little conflict within a business, romantic, or creative partnership could have you toying with the idea of ending it. Don't do anything rash right now.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Relations with partners of all kinds - business, romantic, creative - might be somewhat strained today. You and the other parties involved may have been under a lot of stress.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today, Virgo, you might feel a little insecure about your state of physical fitness. You could decide to make up for any lack of exercise over the past few weeks. This is fine, but take it slowly.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Stress due to overwork might be causing your energy to flag somewhat today. You might even feel a little under the weather.

This is a great day to stay home and recover.

ROME (Reuters) - Ninetimes champion Rafa Nadal showed little signs of rust when he played his first match in 200 days as he beat fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1 6-1 in the Italian Open in Rome yesterday.

Nadal, who received a bye into the second round, has not played a tournament since winning his 85th singles title in Acapulco, having skipped the Western & Southern Open and the U.S. Open in New York due to COVID-19 concerns.

The match was also Nadal’s first on clay in 465 days after his French Open triumph last year and the 34year-old Spaniard sent an ominous message to the field as he dominated the U.S. Open semi-finalist from start at an empty Foro Italico.

“It’s good to be back on the Tour but obviously the

feeling is not the best playing without crowds,” Nadal said.

“At least there’s one positive thing, the sport is back.

Nadal broke in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead and did not look back, winning the last 10 points in the opening set to put down a marker for Carreno Busta who struggled with the pace of the ball on clay after two hardcourt tournaments.

The second set was more of the same as a visibly jumpy Nadal could not wait to get going between games and the world number two wrapped up the match in 73 minutes with 20 winners while Carreno Busta made 28 unforced errors. “I played a good match, maybe he was a little bit tired from New York (where) he played an amazing tournament,” Nadal added.

“It’s a perfect start for me, I played solid, some good

shots with the forehand and backhand.”

Italian wildcard Jannik Sinner pulled off a stunning upset in the second round when he beat third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-7(9) 6-2 to take revenge on the Greek who beat him in straight sets at the same stage last year.

Sinner, 19, led 6-1 5-2 before Tsitsipas mounted a comeback and saved match points in the tiebreak, but Sinner clinched the decider as Tsitsipas racked up 58 unforced errors in the contest.

Sinner will next face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who eased past Yoshihito Nishioka 6-1 6-0.

Earlier, top seed Novak Djokovic returned to winning ways after his U.S. Open default, beating Italian wildcard Salvatore Caruso 63 6-2.

PAGE 24

US Golfers contribute to growth of game in Guyana The Guyana Golf Association announced yesterday that hundreds golf clubs and other equipment were part of a contribution made towards the development of the sport in Guyana by Bob Maibusch, owner of Pine Grove Springs Golf Course in New Hampshire, USA. Mr. Maibusch was contacted by the President of the Association Aleem Hussain and he readily agreed to assist with the growth of the game especially in light of the recent attention being given by women and children since the opening of the Nexgen Golf Academy and Driving Range on Woolford Avenue in the heart of Georgetown in June 2020.

Bob and his daughter are heavily involved in the teaching, design and operations of Golf courses around the United States and instantly agreed to partner with the Guyana Golf Association, in his words “for the love of the game.”

The equipment was collected and shipped through the sterling efforts of Aleena and Bill Knight in New York and should arrive in Guyana by the end of this month.

The energetic couple took hours out of their busy schedule to make several trips to New Hampshire, and several days to pack and ship the golf clubs and supplies.

Mr. Hussain said that the equipment was much needed and would supplement the previous sets contributed by Danny Ramnarain and Anwar ‘Buddy’ Shaffie (on behalf of several Guyanese golfers), Colin Ming, and the Shafura Hussain Foundation over the past few months.

“With the help of so many people, we are now in a strong position to provide equipment, balls and training for hundreds of students and newcomers to the sport,” said Hussain.

The Nexgen Golf Academy in partnership with the Scouts Association of Guyana and the Guyana Teachers Union has seen over 300 new persons participate in the sport in less than two months.

As discussed with Minister Charles Ramson, golf is one of the sports that allows for social distancing, creates a fun outdoor activity for children in these trying times and

Bob Maibusch owner of the Pine Grove Springs Country Club.

(Colin Leadbeater/Sentinel Staff) helps to build a sense of character for persons not interested in team sports.

The Golf Association plans on expanding the game into as many regions as possible and is asking that schools, organizations and persons from various regions contact them to see how a programme can be started in their area now that equipment is available.

The Academy and Driving Range on Woolford Avenue is open from 8 am to 6 pm every day and can accommodate up to 20 persons per hour (complying with social distancing requirements).

For more information on how you can learn the game or sharpen your skills, simply stop by, call 645-0944 or contact them on Facebook.

‘Grateful’ Warner has left hospital - will continue COVID recovery out of limelight SportsMax - Former CONCACAF president Jack Warner has left the hospital and now in quarantine as he continues to recover from infection with the coronavirus.

The 77-year-old former football official turned politician, confirmed in a statement that he had been released from the Couva Hospital on Sunday.

Warner was rushed to the hospital two weeks ago, after testing positive for the disease and experiencing some of the symptoms. Warner, who had a tough time battling the disease, reflected that he would not have inflicted it on his worst

Thursday September 17, 2020

Kaieteur News

enemy.

“This was not a good road trip and I will be following the medical guidelines to the dot and to the tittle not simply because it is my social and legal responsibility to do so but because the discomfort, the isolation, and the pain that one goes through is not an experience that anyone will w i s h f o r a n o t h e r, ” t h e release read.

The former FIFA vice president said that he intended to spend his recovery out of the limelight and that he was thankful to God. “During my period of recovery, I will remain in the shadows away from

media contact and this is not because of any disrespect to this profession to which I have grown to love but rather to allow me to recover undisturbed; I would truly wish that my request for silence during this period is respected,” he said.

“Let me, first of all, thank God for this second chance and for His mercy in allowing me to unite with my family and also once again to thank my family and friends for being my source of comfort and strength along this journey and for their prayers for healing which ascended to the throne of grace and my behalf.”

Guyana’s Singh, Bajan Crawford dominate horseracing headlines in Canada FORT ERIE, Canada, CMC – Guyana’s Sunny Singh extended his rich vein of form with a triple while leading rider Juan Crawford logged a double, as they dominated Tuesday’s nine-race card at Fort Erie.

Singh won race two with outsider It’s nice to be nice, followed up with victory in race seven aboard 10-3 choice Gold Venture before also taking race eight with favourite Twirling Wind.

Crawford, meanwhile, enjoyed back-to-back wins on the day’s card, winning race five with favourite Who’s Got It and race six with another favourite Successful Saint.

Barbadian Crawford tops the standings with 37 wins with a month left in the season, eight clear of Jamaican Kirk Johnson with Singh some way down the charts on just 13 wins.

His lowly place in the standings was in no way indicative of his form on Tuesday as he once again outshone his Caribbean rivals in the jockey colony.

In his first outing on the programme, Singh combined with five-year-old mare It’s nice to be nice to edge Rebel Lioness, ridden by Barbadian Christopher Husbands, and get the better of the threeyear-old and upward fillies and mares over seven furlongs.

Guyana’s Sunny Singh.

Orphan Queen, with Johnson aboard, posted the early fractions with Written stalking from second but Singh brought It’s nice to be nice with a strong late run to collar the leaders in the final yards.

Singh was then forced to wait until late on the card before he could reach the winner’s circle again, this time powering the three-year-old chestnut gelding Gold Venture to a 9-¾ length thrashing of the three-yearolds and upward in a 6-½ furlong trip.

Sunka Wakan, ridden by Johnson, dominated the early going but once Singh put Gold Venture to the front at the top of the stretch, the race

was over as a serious contest.

And he then capped off a successful day by making all the running with the bay filly Twirling Wind to beat the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by 1-¾ lengths in a five furlong sprint.

For his part, Crawford reach the winner’s enclosure first with Who’s Got it, steering the seven-year-old gelding to a half-length win over the three-year-olds and upward going 6-½ furlongs.

His second win was also a narrow score by a neck, getting the four-year-old bay gelding Successful Saint up late to edge the three-yearolds and upward, going a mile and 70 yards.

Jumper Tajay Gayle third at Switzerland meet Jamaica Observer - World Champion Tajay Gayle finished third in the men’s long jump at the Gala dei Castelli in Bellinzona in Switzerland Tuesday with 7.99m (0.2m/s), his first competition outside of Jamaica in a novel coronavirus-affected track and field season.

Gayle, the national record holder, fouled three of his six attempts, including the last two in the competition that was won by Finland’s Kristian Pulli with 8.08m (0.6m/s) in the last round coming from fourth place.

Ruswahl Samaai of South Africa, who led after the first-three rounds then fouled his next three, finished second with 8.04m (0.0m/s), while Simon Ehammer of Switzerland was fourth, also with 7.99m (0.4m/s).

Gayle led after the first round with his opening 7.93m (-0.1m/s) and repeated the mark in the second round when Samaai took over then fouled on his third attempt.

The Jamaican, who has a season’s best 8.23m done in July at Jamaica College, then jumped 7.99m before fouling his last two jumps.

This was his fourth outing of the season and first since August 29 when he jumped 8.04m at a Velocity Fest meet at the National Stadium.

Tajay Gayle ouled three of his six attempts (Photo: Dwayne Richards)

Thursday September 17, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey star in thrilling win for tourists BBC Sport - Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey’s record-breaking 212-run partnership steered Australia to a thrilling one-day series victory over England at Emirates Old Trafford.

Chasing 303, Maxwell hit a blistering 108 from 90 balls and Carey a more measured 106 as a belligerent partnership rescued Australia from 73-5.

Maxwell fell with 15 balls remaining and Carey holed out at the end of the 49th over to leave Australia needing 10 runs from the final six balls.

Ho w e v e r, M i t c h e l l Starc pummelled the first ball from Adil Rashid for six, and a swept boundary ensured Australia snuck over the line with two balls remaining.

The defeat ends E n g l a n d ’s five-year unbeaten run in home ODI series, as well as being their first series loss of the summer.

Jonny Bairstow had earlier made 112 to help England recover from losing two wickets to the first two deliveries of the innings and post 302-7.

England could have dismissed Carey for nine had Jofra Archer not overstepped when the Australian wicketkeeper was caught at third man off a ballooning top edge.

Carey went on to make England pay - hitting his first ODI century, with he and Maxwell surpassing Brad Haddin and Mike

Jonny Bairstow and Sam Billings combined for a crucial partnership, England v Australia, 3rd ODI, Emirates Old Trafford, September 16, 2020 ©Getty Images H u s s e y ’s s t a n d o f 1 6 5 against West Indies in 2006 t o c o m p i l e A u s t r a l i a ’s highest sixth-wicket partnership in ODIs. This was the end of a long summer for England, but it is a welcome win for Australia, who were whitewashed on their limitedovers tour of England in 2018.

Maxwell & Carey light up Old Trafford When a furious Marnus Labuschagne was run out at 73-5, Australia looked to be out of the contest, but

Maxwell picked the perfect moment to play the definitive innings for his country that he has long threatened.

Maxwell, who is known as The Big Show, divides opinion in Australia but there are few players as watchable as he is when he is on song.

A half-century came up from 48 balls; the next over, Rashid was smashed so hard and so high over the short leg-side boundary the ball rattled off the glass

of Old Trafford’s enormous Point building.

Carey was the less flashy part of the partnership. He used an angled bat to guide the ball around the field, bringing up his fifth ODI halfcentury with a fine clip through mid-wicket off Woakes.

The two ran superbly well, putting the England fielders under pressure, and the pace bowlers seemed to lose their lines, with eight wides not helping their cause.

Australia were 222-5 with 10 overs remaining but both players hit out, Maxwell reaching just his second ODI hundred with another leg-side six, before Carey flashed a single off Woakes to reach three figures for the first time.

Memories of their second ODI collapse may have lingered when Maxwell and Carey fell with the finish line in sight, but this time Australia claimed the win and, with it, the series.

Australia end England’s home run The world champions will be left to rue missed chances.

As well as Archer’s no ball, England were not up to their usual standard in the field, with two dropped

catches and several scruffy dives allowing Maxwell and Carey to rotate the strike.

England had this game in their grasp.

Woakes continued an excellent allround performance by having opposition captain Aaron Finch trapped lbw and seeing Marcus Stoinis slap a slower ball to Eoin Morgan at midwicket inside the first 10 overs.

When Joe Root chipped in with his part-time off-spin to bowl a beleaguered David Warner and have Mitchell Marsh caught behind, everything was going right for the hosts.

But with Root bowling an over or two more than necessary, and Maxwell dismantling Rashid with the short boundaries, England allowed the pair to get their eye in.

Bairstow rescues England with bat England found themselves 0-2 after just two balls in a disastrous start on a fresh pitch.

Jason Roy sliced Mitchell Starc’s first ball to Glenn Maxwell at backward point before Joe Root was lbw to a pacey inswinger, but Bairstow marshalled a fine recovery.

Supported first by Eoin Morgan and then Sam Billings, Bairstow found the

aggression that worked so well in the World Cup. He was strong on the pull shot against the pace bowlers and, as the pitch slowed, he adapted well, taking singles where they were available.

He brought up his 10th ODI century with a towering six off Cummins before Billings joined in the attack, lofting Starc into the Old Trafford car park as he reached his half-century.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa once again impressed for Australia, forcing errors out of Morgan and Jos Buttler as they were caught at mid-off and cover respectively, before Billings top-edged a reverse sweep to end a 114run stand.

When Bairstow was bowled by a Cummins’ slower ball, England’s tail could have subsided, but Woakes was at his best.

His half-century came up from just 38 balls and included an astonishing reverse scoop off Josh Hazlewood.

It was a good total on a decent pitch, but Maxwell and Carey’s brilliance left England just short.

Scores: Australia 305 for 7 (Maxwell 108, Carey 106) beat England 302 for 7 (Bairstow 112, Billings 57, Woakes 52*) by three wickets.

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Kaieteur News

Tour de France stage 17: Miguel Angel Lopez wins, Primoz Roglic stretches lead BBC Sport - Miguel Angel Lopez won stage 17 of the Tour de France as Primoz Roglic extended his lead in the race.

Astana’s Lopez pulled clear of the other general classification contenders on the final climb of the day, beating Roglic into second by 15 seconds.

The stage victory took Lopez into third overall, while Roglic moved almost a minute clear as his fellow Slovenian Tadej Pogacar came home third.

Rigoberto Uran, who went into the stage in third, was almost two minutes back.

Wednesday’s stage had begun without defending champion Egan Bernal, with the Ineos Grenadiers rider announcing his withdrawal after struggling through stages 15 and 16.

H o w e v e r, his compatriot Lopez produced a superb ride to accelerate away from Sepp Kuss on the Col de la Loze, which is the third-highest finish l o c a t i o n o f a To u r d e France stage.

The Colombian, who is riding in his first Tour de France, is now one minute 26

seconds down on Roglic in the race for the yellow jersey.

“I’m very emotional because of the work done at home with my family, my wife, my son. I dedicate this victory to them,” Lopez said.

“We were confident. I was on my terrain. At 2,000m of altitude, I feel like at home.”

Richard Carapaz had looked as though he may cling on for Ineos’ first stage win at the Tour after being part of a five-man break that went clear as the peloton splintered on the Col de la Madeleine.

But the Giro d’Italia champion was reeled in with under 3km left on the final climb after going solo with 9km remaining.

Roglic and Pogacar’s battle for yellow While Lopez was riding to his first Tour stage win, all eyes were on the race behind as Roglic and Pogacar went toe-to-toe on sections of the climb that reared up to a gradient of 24%.

And while Pogacar ended the day leading the King of the Mountains

competition, he could not match his fellow Slovenian when it mattered.

Roglic eased his way back to the wheel of JumboVi s m a t e a m - m a t e K u s s before distancing the UAE Team Emirates rider in the final 2km.

“I don’t think the job is done,” said Roglic. “There are still some hard stages to come and Tadej Pogacar is a great climber.

I felt really good on the climb, but you can’t compare these last four to five kilometres to anything else.

“I’m glad this stage is behind us. I was happy with the position I was in before the stage, and now I’m even happier.”

Britain’s Adam Yates was dropped about 4km from the summit but remains in fifth place overall behind Australia’s Richie Porte in fourth.

“Tough day, but I hung in there as long as I could so we can be happy with that,” said the Mitchelton-Scott rider.

“We’ve got a big stage tomorrow, a lot of altitude metres, and then all we’ve got after that is the time trial, one day all by myself, so we’ll

keep going. Hopefully tomorrow I’ve got good legs and we’ll keep trying.”

Stage 18 today sees the riders tackle another 4,000m of climbing on the 168km mountain stage from Meribel to La Roche-surForon.

General classification after stage 17 1. Primoz Roglic (Slo/ J u m b o - Vi s m a ) 74hrs 56mins 04secs 2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/ U A E Te a m E m i r a t e s ) +57secs 3. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col/Astana) +1mins 26secs 4. Richie Porte (Aus/TrekSegafredo) +3mins 05secs 5. Adam Ya t e s ( G B / Mitchelton-Scott) +3mins 14secs 6. Rigoberto Uran (Col/ EF Pro Cycling) +3mins 24secs 7. Mikel Landa (Spa/ Bahrain McLaren) +3mins 27secs 8. Enric Mas (Spa/ Movistar) +4mins 18secs 9. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/ J u m b o - Vi s m a ) + 7 m i n s 23secs 10. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +9mins 31secs

Thursday September 17, 2020

Ex-head of world athletics Diack given jail sentence for corruption PARIS (Reuters) - Lamine Diack, once one of the most powerful people in athletics, was convicted in France yesterday of running a clique that covered up Russian doping in return for bribes worth millions of dollars and sentenced to spend at least two years in jail.

The 87-year-old former head of world athletics’ governing body was found guilty of taking kickbacks from athletes in return for concealing positive drug tests, which enabled them to continue competing, including at the 2012 London Olympics.

The court had heard how Diack solicited bribes totalling 3.45 million euros ($4.1 million) and paid off other officials at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to aid with the cover up.

He was also guilty of accepting Russian money to help finance Macky Sall’s 2012 presidential campaign in Senegal, Diack’s home country, the court ruled.

The former long-jumper’s actions had “undermined the values of athletics and the fight against doping”, the presiding judge said.

The court handed Diack a four-year prison sentence, two years of which are suspended and a fine of 500,000 euros. It also ordered him to pay 5 million euros in damages to World Athletics (formerly IAAF) together with his son and co-accused, Papa Massata Diack.

Lamine Diack’s lawyers said he was a scapegoat “sacrificed in the name of political correctness”, adding they would appeal the judgment which was unfair and inhumane.

He will remain under house arrest pending the appeal, which could last months.

WIDENING GRAFT PROBE Diack led the IAAF from 1999 to 2015. In his testimony,

he acknowledged slowing the handling of Russian doping cases between 2011-2013 to save a sponsorship deal with a Russian bank and avoid public scandal. But he denied the corruption allegations.

At the heart of the corruption scam alongside Diack was his son, Papa Massata.

Papa Massata, who fled France to Senegal after the French investigation began and was tried in absentia, was sentenced to five years in jail and hit with a 1 million euro fine.

Papa Massata’s lawyers in Senegal said he was denied a fair trial and would appeal.

At the outset of the trial, his Senegal-based lawyers asked that it be postponed on the grounds that COVID-19 restrictions meant they could not travel, yet the request was refused by the French judges.

French Investigators say Papa Massata is at the centre of years-long corruption probe that now spans Europe, Asia and the Americas, and includes the awarding of the 2020 Olympic Games to Tokyo and the 2016 Games to Rio de Janeiro.

In 2017, Papa Massata branded the accusation that he was part of a large corruption racket as “the biggest lie in the history of world sport.”

Four other defendants were charged in the case: Habib Cisse, Diack’s former lawyer at the IAAF; Gabriel Dollé, who oversaw doping tests at the IAAF; former head of Russian athletics Valentin Balakhnichev, and former Russian athletics’ head coach Alexei Melnikov.

All four were found guilty of corruption offences.

Balakhnichev, who also did not attend the hearing, told Reuters he too would appeal.

“I don’t live in France,” he said. “We have our own laws in Russia that protect Russian citizens.” ($1 = 0.8425 euros)

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2020

PAGE 27

Recruitment drive put on by GFF for new referees The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) launched a nationwide Referee Recruitment Campaign under the theme #GetInvolved on Tuesday last. The initiative, which seeks to expand the existing pool of male and female match officials, was unveiled via a virtual platform on which saw the GFF boss; Wayne Forde, Technical Director Ian Greenwood and Head of Referees Dion Inniss speaking.

In his remarks, Inniss explained, “The reasons why we’re recruiting are simple.

We need to grow. We have our referees that have dedicated their time and energies over the years to ensure that the game is officiated properly, however, there must be a time when we need new blood, new younger, more energetic legs into the referees programme and there is no better time to do that than now.

We’re going to be

investing quite a bit of energy, time and resources into training young men and women from throughout Guyana and we want those persons to give at least 15 years of service, not only to Guyana, but who knows maybe the Caribbean or even a FIFA World Cup match. So Get Involved!”

Meanwhile, GFF Head; Forde highlighted that, ”One of the key areas of emphasis over the past five to six years a t F I FA h a s b e e n participation. While there are particular areas of football development that receives tremendous funding and technical development, F I FA h a s s t r o n g l y emphasised the need for wide and broad participation. We want to see as many human beings on this planet being involved in football in some way, and the ‘Get Involved’ campaign allows us to broaden the amount of participants that we have in the officiating end of the game.”

Greenwood noted that, ”The Get Involved campaign is vitally important for the continued development of football in Guyana. Over the past few years we’ve seen some tremendous success with our junior national teams and our senior national teams, both male and female. But to have continued success we have to ensure the environment our players are operating in is one of a professional standard. So we’re working with all our competitionsUnder-13, 15, 17, male and female.

We need to ensure that the environment has topclass referees at every single age group. This campaign to recruit more referees is a fantastic part of our development process. I must stress we really want to focus on female referees as well.

As we’ve seen in the football world at the moment, Wo m e n ’s f o o t b a l l i s something that is top of the agenda for FIFA.”

Halep through in Rome despite sluggish start, Pliskova, Azarenka advance (Reuters) op seed Simona Halep overcame a couple of hiccups in her first match at the Italian Open in Rome to beat wildcard Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-4 and move into the third round yesterday.

The 28-year-old Wimbledon champion has only lost twice this year but found herself a break down in both sets before she recovered to seal her first victory since winning the Prague Open a month ago.

Wo r l d n u m b e r t w o Halep, who had skipped the U.S. Open due to COVID-19 concerns and opted to stay in Europe and practice on the claycourts ahead of the French Open, looked sluggish at the Foro Italico with 14 winners offset by 15 unforced errors.

“I was a little bit tight at the beginning, it was tough to get a rhythm in the whole match,” Halep told reporters.

“It’s always tough in the first match of the tournament and she played really well. I felt like I played very well when needed.”

Halep had received a bye into the second round but was far from her best on serve and was broken five times in the match.

However, Paolini was also let down by seven

T

Romania’s Simona Halep in action during her second round match against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. (Pool via REUTERS/Clive Brunskill) double faults in the match and Halep capitalised on her second serve, winning 15 of 17 points to take the opening set.

She switched gears late in the second to take the game away from the Italian, who was playing a top-10 player for only the second time in her career, as Halep finished the match after converting her eighth break point.

Second seed Karolina Pliskova started her title defence with a 6-3 6-3 win over Barbora Strycova, converting four break points and smashing 26 winners past her Czech compatriot.

Meanwhile, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka beat American Venus Williams 76(7) 6-2 to set up a secondround clash with third seed Sofia Kenin.

After winning the Western & Southern Open last month and losing the U.S. Open final in New York over the weekend, Azarenka had no problems switching from hardcourt to clay in just four days.

“Different surface was definitely challenging but I feel like I adapted very well,” Azarenka said. “I felt that this was a great match for me to figure it out, the first match on clay.

GFF’s President Wayne Forde gives featured remarks at the Launch Of #GetInvolved Referee Recruitment Campaign.

‘No disrespect intended’ - Australia coach Langer admits team could have discussed kneeling, insists BLM not forgotten SportsMax - Australia coach Justin Langer has admitted the team could have discussed continuing a show of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, during the ongoing tour of England, but insists there was no disrespect or disregard meant.

Legendary West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding was recently critical of both teams, as he pointed out that they had ditched the symbolic taking a knee gesture during the ongoing series. England and the West Indies showed support for the movement before all three Tests at the start of the season, and the practice continued for the one-day series against Ireland. It has not been seen for the visits of Pakistan and Australia.

While insisting that the team had not forgotten the issue, Langer pointed out that Australia had simply been focused on the series and unusual circumstances, but that in retrospect there could have been more

Australia coach Justin Langer

discussions surrounding the issue.

“When Mikey says what he says, it’s certainly worth listening to. In terms of taking a knee, to be completely honest, we could have talked more about it perhaps leading up to the first game,” Langer said.

“There was so much going on leading up to us getting here, maybe we should have talked more about it,” he added.

“What we do talk about within the team was that we want to have a response that

is sustained and powerful and that it can go not just in one action but a sustained period. Not just throughout this series and the summer but throughout time.

“I just hope if it looked like there was a lack of respect, it wasn’t the intention of our team. We were very aware of it.”

England pace bowler Jofra Archer had issued a much sharper response, insisting that England had not forgotten the issue and that Holding should have “done his research”.

Spo

rt

Bill Knight with the golf equipment that will be shipped to Guyana.

Ex-head of world athletics Diack given jail sentence for corruption

US Golfers contribute to growth of game in Guyana Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey dug in for Australia.

(Getty Images)

Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey star in thrilling win for tourists

Former President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Lamine Diack, wearing face mask, arrives with his lawyer Simon Ndiaye for the verdict in his trial at the Paris courthouse.

(Reuters/Charles Platiau)

‘Grateful’ Warner has left hospital - will continue COVID recovery out of limelight

Former CONCACAF president Jack Warner

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