Kaieteur News

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Local content is NEWS not a substitute for a fair deal - Dr. Jan Mangal AIETEUR

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

Friday Edition September 18, 2020 -Vol. 22 No. 36

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Kaieteur and Canje block owners set the stage for secrecy before selling majority shares to Exxon

Who really owns the Kaieteur and Canje oil blocks?

Mr Mike Pompeo...

You defended democracy, will you promote transparency?

For the second day running, we welcome US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and urge him to ensure that US investments are not commingled with dubious and secretive deals.

We are concerned that the lack of information on the bona fides of the ownership of the Canje and Stabroek blocks can deter US investment in Guyana’s oil and gas sector or can encourage illegitimate deals which can tarnish US reputation in the Region.

It is for this reason that we emphasize that the US has an interest in demanding that a transparent regime be established to facilitate US and other investments in Guyana.

The revelation of those who are the principal beneficiaries of the Kaieteur and Canje blocks would lend to the sort of transparency necessary to create an enabling environment for investment If there is one lasting benefit that can emerge from Mr. Pompeo’s visit, it would be to advocate for the disclosure of the identities of those behind the lucrative Canje and Kaieteur blocks.

Do the leaders of this land care to tell the nation?

Kaieteur News

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Friday September 18, 2020

ExxonMobil already looking at Yellow-tail discovery to support fourth oil ship -to produce 220,000 barrels of light, sweet crude-Hess CEO

By Kiana Wilburg onfident that they will get the G o v e r n m e n t ’s approval for Payara, its third oil project in the Stabroek Block in a matter of weeks, it appears that ExxonMobil and its other partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC/NEXEN, already have their eyes set on which discovery will be next in its production sequence.

During his latest participation in a fireside chat at the J.P. Morgan U.S. All Stars Conference, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Hess Corporation, John Hess, noted that the partners are relatively optimistic that the Yellow-tail discovery will support its fourth

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drillship and produce at a capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day, the same as Payara.

T h e Ye l l o w - t a i l discovery was made in April last year by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

It was dubbed one of the largest discoveries in the world for 2019.

It encountered approximately 292 feet (89 metres) of high-quality oilbearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled to a depth of 18,445 feet (5,622 metres) in 6,046 feet (1,843 metres) of water.

Subsequent appraisal drilling further proved that the resource is indeed an

CEO of Hess Corporation, John Hess enormous one. According to Westwood Global Energy, it is believed to hold more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent resources.

Hess acknowledged during the virtual conference that Guyana will be a huge part of the company’s success while noting that the Yellow-tail and the recent Red-tail discoveries have marked a total of 18 finds in the Stabroek Block.

Also, the discoveries to date now total more than eight billion oil equivalent resources.

The CEO said that the company sees more potential in the block for multi-billion barrel resources too. “…We are still in the early innings for Guyana. It continues to get bigger and better.”

In providing an overview of the Guyana operations, he reminded that Liza Phase One, which is already producing oil, is expected to

reach its peak production of 120,000 barrels of oil by month-end.

As for Liza Phase Two, Hess said that the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPDO) Vessel is on stream for its 2022 target.

It is expected to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day. As for the works on the Payara vessel, Hess said that this has been suspended pending government approval.

He is nonetheless optimistic that “technical

issues” plaguing that process will be addressed and the partners will get the government’s blessing by month-end.

For future operations, the Chief Executive Officer said that the partners are looking at developing Yellow-tail as it is a large resource which consists of lighter crude. “…

We are doing the predevelopment work now to make that the fourth ship…”

Urau-1, the 16th discovery at the offshore deep-water Stabroek block,

is likely to be developed to support a fifth drillship while the Turbot , ExxonMobil’s fifth oil discovery, is earmarked to support a sixth ship.

The potential, he said, also exists to develop Hammerhead, a heavy oil discovery, for a seventh ship. “…So there is the potential for seven ships but right now we are talking about five to bring on board, which will give you 750,000 barrels of oil by 2026,” the CEO concluded.

Friday September 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Local content is not a substitute for a fair deal -Dr. Jan Mangal

By Kemol King e t r o l e u m consultant, Dr. Jan Mangal, is of the view that while local content is important and necessary, the Irfaan Ali administration cannot expect it to be a substitute for a fair Stabroek block deal with ExxonMobil.

Mangal said that the money locals will get from local content is peanuts compared to the US$55B the country can get back if it renegotiates the controversial production sharing agreement (PSA).

The former Presidential Advisor on petroleum appeared on last Tuesday’s edition of Kaieteur Radio’s Petroleum 101 during which he discussed issues of governance in Guyana’s petroleum sector.

When it comes to governance, Dr. Mangal is yet to be convinced that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government is demonstrating prudence.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, has repeatedly refused calls for the renegotiation of the deal, widely condemned as lopsided and unfair by local and international commentators.

It was Global Witness that put out a scathing report, which noted that Guyana is set to lose about US$55B over the life of the agreement due to its value-leaking provisions.

Dr. Jagdeo agrees that the

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deal is bad, but insists that there are other ways to claw back value.

He has touted local content as one of these.

Mangal said that local content is a red herring for the government’s refusal to get a better deal.

“Countries don’t make their money from local content.”

He said: “If that was the case, we should just give away all the oil; say “Exxon, we don’t need royalty… [or profit share]… We’ll take zero percent.””

“But countries don’t do that because the value for a country is in the production sharing contract, is in the royalty, is in the production sharing, and is in tax.

That’s where countries make billions and billions, and that’s where we’re losing US$55B.” In this regard, Guyana’s royalty is a paltry two percent that is all the way at the lower end of the spectrum of royalties examined by Kaieteur News for a series of oil producing countries. As for taxes, ExxonMobil and its partners are paying none.

What is the result of such an agreement? Guyana is set to get 14.5 percent of the revenue from the sale of its crude, while its neighbour to the east, Suriname is set to rake in nearly three times that share, 36 percent.

Mangal said that the reason the PPP/C is pushing

for local content is that local businessmen, who are largely supporters of the party, will “make a killing” when this issue is championed, even if Guyana gets peanuts from the oil deal.

In its six weeks of being in government, the administration has already appointed an advisory panel on local content which has gotten mixed reviews from Dr. Mangal.

One appointee, Trinidadian local content expert, Anthony Paul, had worked on earlier drafts of Guyana’s local content policy, before the former D a v i d G r a n g e r administration replaced him with an ExxonMobil affiliate, Dr. Michael Warner.

Mangal commended Paul’s reappointment as the only good placement on the panel.

“He is an actual expert in that,” Mangal said. “He goes around the world.

He is well respected by governments.”

However, Mangal had less kind words for former Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, whom Mangal had fiercely criticised for positions he took on the Stabroek block deal under the former government’s tenure.

Dr. Jan Mangal noted concerns that Greenidge may be a mouthpiece for ExxonMobil.

He suspects the former Minister was placed on the advisory panel to rein in Paul, who has demonstrated his ability to ensure maximum local participation in the sector.

A s f o r K e v i n Ramnarine’s appointment, Mangal said: “He doesn’t add any value.

He has been knocking around Guyana for years looking to get involved.”

Mangal said that the former Energy Minister of Trinidad & Tobago has no demonstrated track record in local content, nor could he boast the same respect as Paul, in this regard.

Gov’t discovers $742M of expired drugs in warehouses -60% of MMU at Diamond had items unfit for human use

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

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hortly after the P e o p l e ’ s Progressive Party/ C i v i c ( P P P / C ) administration assumed office in August, it had discovered some $742M worth in expired drugs stored within medical warehouses under the Ministry of Health.

This, and other

concerning details, were shared by Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, during his budget debate presentation to the National Assembly yesterday.

It was during that presentation that the Health Minister indicated that over 1.6M items would have expired in the first eight

months of the year, with some $200M scheduled to come to the end of their shelf life by December of this year.

As if this was not a l a r m i n g e n o u g h , D r.

Anthony said that it will take another $3M to dispense of the expired and unwanted medical supplies—a task to be conducted by the Materials Management Unit (MMU).

If fully calculated, it would mean that close to $1B in drugs were wasted on expired medicine and supplies.

“Imagine my utter disbelief,” the Health Minister said, “when a quick survey was done with the Materials Management Unit (MMU) that on the 5th of August there were 206 items of medicine and medical supply that were out of

stock.”

He added that there were 156 medical items with zero stock level.

The Minister said to the Speaker of the House, Members of Parliament (MPs) and listeners that it would have meant: “That the APNU+AFC government did not buy medicines for the people with high blood pressure in this country; it meant that the APNU+AFC did not buy medicines for patients who had heart problems in this country; it meant that the APNU+AFC government did not buy medicines for the diabetic patients; they did not buy medicines for the HIV patients. They did not buy medicines for TB patients; and no medicines for Malaria patients.”

Also reported were

shortages of antibiotics in the system, as well as supplies such as x-ray films, bandages, oxygen nebulizers, thermometers, insulin syringes, all of which will now have to be procured on an emergency basis, the Minister told the House.

He further disclosed that the MMU medical warehouse at Diamond was filled to the brim, with no space for the equipment to move around to do efficient stock taking and picking of the medicines and supplies because of expired, obsolete and unusable items taking up the space.

“At the middle of August, about 60% of the space warehouse was taken up by expired medicines or medical supplies, or items deemed unfit for human use,” he said.

“Mr. Speaker, the story of stock-outs of medicine shortages of, of the expiration of medicine and medical supplies, of bond rentals tell a story of not just incompetence, not just of recklessness; it is a tale of heartlessness, indifference.

It is a story that constitutes misconduct in public office,” the Health Minister argued yesterday.

To immediately rescue this situation, the government has allocated $3.2B to make the emergency purchase of drugs of medical supplies, the tenders of which opened y e s t e r d a y. To f u r t h e r stabilize the situation, the government has put into the budget some $14B which would ensure that there is an adequate stock of medicine and medical supplies.

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Ethnic Relations Commissioner Haji Khan ERC member, Haji Dr. Roshan Khan, created some ripples recently. It was when he stepped up and handed down a personal declaration of what should pertain in the face of uncalled for and unpardonable violence directed at civilians for purposes ostensibly just, but characterized by the criminal and more.

Specifically, Haji Khan had this to offer to the Indian community: “Indians in Berbice need to create their watch and protection groups. Equipped with batons and sticks for self-defense only. Be firm and clever but never be the aggressor. Protect minorities in your communities.”

On the face of it, what Haji Khan put on the table, though of commonsense, ended up being denounced as otherwise. It was now a semi tsunami that brought sharp reaction from a couple of corners. In a terse Facebook release, the watchdog ERC had this to say: “The Ethnic Relations Commission wishes to disassociate itself from social media posts made by ERC Commissioner Haji Dr. Roshan Khan” and that what he said does not “promote harmony and good relations” (ERC distances itself from Roshan Khan statement, KN September 12). Interestingly, in that same article, Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, referred to Haji Khan’s statement as “divisive and racial.”

Let us examine man and statement more carefully, in a more reasoned manner. We think that what Dr. Khan put out was what he felt should be embraced by the unattached and uninvolved in any developments that make those persons into targets of convenience and opportunity.

In other words, if there is no senseless attacking, then there would be no need for alerting and defending. We believe that where we interpreted the ERC member was going, is either taking reasonable measures at selfprotection, or the vulnerable communities resigning themselves to being passive sitting ducks, unable to resort to a basic that is due all human beings.

From the vantage point of those long viewed as easy targets and ready victims, we believe that what the controversial commissioner said was both reasonable and practical. It seems to possess some merit. Again, it is either that or readily permit others to take advantage of what they view as frailty and weakness. To put in a different nutshell, there is an entitlement to self-defense, which is an accepted means of taking care of one’s person, precious family, and property. This is a right which, when reasonably exercised, belongs to all persons, regardless of creed or color or whatever else could be thrown into the mix.

What could be wrong with such a position? Who could have a problem with any such advocacy, particularly when such expectations, such rights, are harbored by those who rise up with cries for justice and vent rage by attacking the accidental and defenseless? Or those who convince themselves that they are victims of injustice, whether the source is political, judicial, or governmental? The right to protest is now accepted as an almost universal given. And by the same token, there is an identical right to safety and freedom from intimidation or terrorization from any quarter, notwithstanding the causes being espoused.

In the absence of any official line or buffer of protection, then self-defense becomes the be all and end all of survival. This is not to be taken lightly, as it is an intrinsic right held dear by most men, up to and including some confirmed pacifists.

There is nothing that Commissioner Khan said, which encouraged going on the offensive to seek out potential attackers via preemptive forays and assaults. In other words, he did not recommend any of that at any time. Sometimes, self-defense actions are compelled, literally, on the very doorstep. Perils could come in swarms, from the open, under cover of dark, or in one guise after another, which must be repelled with reasonable force is what we interpreted Commissioner Khan as saying.

On the other hand, and in the steaming racial cauldron that is Guyana, Haji Khan is no longer an ordinary citizen, but a member of the sensitively placed ERC. His attachment to that body trumped all other considerations, no matter how prudent, how pragmatic.

Perhaps, it would have been better if he had stayed silent, all racial and local things considered.

Friday September 18, 2020

Guyana should build on the visit by the US Secretary of State Dear Editor, The visit by US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is a welcome event, and should be utilized as a basis for further strengthening of bilateral relations between Guyana and the United States of America. Indeed, the intervention of Secretary of State Pompeo himself was instrumental in overcoming the trenchant obstacles we faced at our recent national elections. A few recent opinions on this visit have cast it in a less amenable light.

This is good, because it exposes some misgivings which we as a nation need to seriously rationalize and consider as our future unfolds before us.

There are a host of reasons for strengthening ties with America, principal among these being that it represents a bulwark of democracy and commitment to the freedoms espoused under the United Nations.

There are benefits from increased trade and investment, which comes with it the realization of more and better permanent jobs which facilitate skills transfer to the local population. We should realize sooner than later that Guyana’s own

reclassification as an oilproducing nation will ultimately force much needed change and advances, as we will continue to receive investor interest from nearly all corners of the world with our democracy secured.

For those thirty years and over, we should recognize that we are now living in our future, a future blessed with abundant oil and other resources, a future characterized by positive global investor interest and the real potential for heightened and continuous foreign direct investments, a future characterized by rapidly expanding job opportunities, a future where our democracy will be on a surer footing.

But America as a world power is not without its enemies, and it has undoubtedly made some mistakes in other regions of the world. In some instances, its interventions have been for the benefit and security of itself as a nation, and in this regard, few can fault its efforts to protect its future as a nation. Other interventions have been to stop wars, and to protect the citizens of some countries from their governments.

It is a fact that rivalry between capitalism and socialism/communism remains alive and well. And this is as it should be, because we as a nation have had our personal experience of being governed under the hooliganism that is communist/socialist ideology, and it is not something that we should remain silent about in other countries. It is a known fact that Russia, and China in particular, and other communist countries, continue to wage war against their people, have stripped them of their right to select their own government, stripped them of their freedoms. This is not something that we should sweep under our national mat and pretend it is not happening, because communism is a deadly antisocial disease which must be stopped, and stopping it begins with acknowledging it.

Other non-communist countries which engage in abuses against their citizens have had occasion to have disputes with America. The fact is, while the United States of America is not the paragon of virtue, and it yet has numerous issues with its

government, even democracy, human rights and pervasive prejudice within its justice system, it has stood head and shoulders as a world leader in the advancement of the freedoms guaranteed by the United Nations to the peoples of the world, and has borne the brunt of the human and financial cost of securing better welfare and better livelihoods for the citizens of those countries who have been systematically abused by their governments.

We ourselves have endured some sorry experiences of trade and investment relations with Russia and China. China itself has been a notorious trade cheat, this stemming principally from many of its companies being backed by the government of China itself. The consequence of trading with China has not been one of fair trade, but one where China’s trading partners have opened themselves to economic plunder, as it is virtually impossible for even the best companies in these nations to compete with the financial and technological wherewithal of the (Continued on page 6)

Pompeo’s visit to Guyana is for the sole purpose of enlisting support against Venezuela Dear Editor, Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP) opposes US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo’s visit to Guyana at this time because we believe that the primary purpose of his visit is to persuade the PPP regime to allow Guyana to be used as a base to attack our western neighbour, Venezuela.

Already the US has enlisted the help of Brazil and Colombia, two members of the rogue Lima Group, to encircle Venezuela. Guyana, which unfortunately joined the infamous Lima Group under the APNU+AFC government, is now being asked to assist in completing the encirclement.

The Lima Group was established by the US with the help of Canada. Its sole purpose is to enlist the support of Caribbean, Central and South American countries for the US Empire’s regime change agenda in Venezuela. CARICOM and a number of progressive Central and South American governments rejected this call outright, stating that they would play no role in the illegal destabilization of a neighbouring sovereign

nation-state.

APNU+AFC made a big mistake when they broke ranks with CARICOM, and along with only two other Caribbean nations, Haiti and St. Lucia, shamelessly supported and encouraged the US Empire’s nefarious plans for Venezuela. The US agenda can only bring chaos, disaster and immense suffering to the people of Venezuela and the entire region, just as US wars to effect regime change in other parts of the world have done.

The lack of principle and vulgar opportunism of the APNU+AFC regime in this instance is an embarrassment to our country. Their excuse for joining the Lima Group was that in return for joining this imperial crusade against Venezuela and the Bolivarian Revolution, they would get US support on the Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy. It is particularly tragic that the leading partner in APNU, the PNCR, would join such an overtly racist formation as the Lima Group, given that the PNCR enjoys the support of AfricanGuyanese because it claims to represent the interests of Africans and promises to

oppose systemic racism and African marginalization.

Fellow members of the Lima Group, the governments of both Brazil and Colombia, are currently involved in what is being termed a “Soft Genocide”, employing paramilitary death squads to murder prominent African rights activists. Extra-judicial killings of Africans in both countries have reached alarming rates. According to African Globe and African Rights activists in Brazil, an African-Brazilian is killed every 23 minutes.

In contrast, and despite the imperialist orchestrated destabilization campaign they are facing, the Bolivarian revolution continues its dramatic movement of Indigenous and African Venezuelans from the margins to the centre, from a life of brutal poverty and despair, to one of opportunity and hope.

African-Venezuelans insist that they are fighting a war against White-Castilian supremacy.

In light of his government’s crass compromise of Guyana’s sovereignty and betrayal of CARICOM, former Minister

of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman’s warning to the PPP Government that, “we must be careful that in the height of the pomp, no pun intended, and ceremony, we do not lose our dignity and self-respect and trade our sovereignty, statehood and hallowed stance of the right to self-determination and non-interference, in the affairs of other states by agreeing to some unhelpful and unholy agenda that is meant to boost electoral prospects elsewhere” is both dishonest and opportunistic.

The hypocrisy is dumbfounding.

We demand that the PPP Government reject any proposal from Mike Pompeo which would trample on Guyana and Venezuela’s sovereignty and God-given right to self-determination.

We must not be drawn any further into the Empire’s dirty game or what radical theologian, Rosemary Radford-Ruether identified as White Supremacy’s three Ds - deceit, destruction and domination.

Yours truly, Gerald A. Perreira Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)

Friday September 18, 2020

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Kaieteur News

The pronouncements made by the opposition leader shows he does not intend to cooperate with the government Dear Editor As a patriot and lover of Guyana; the country of my birth, the country of great potential, great expectations, the country most prosperous in resources in the Caribbean and South America, the matter that pains my heart most as I write and reflect is the unnecessary extremism in racial hostility that the recent election of March 2nd, 2020 brought.

Guyana is on the throes of greatness and we the citizens of Guyana must grow and mature to protect that greatness.

The recent election of March 2nd, 2020 was the worst experience of my life since pre-independence and post-independence that I am aware of; Guyanese are fragmented.

We have seen where the Opposition is still saying to their supporters that they have an illegal government when the entire world, which includes, the United Nations, The United States of America, the European Union, the Caribbean, and Pacific Nations, the Mandela’s Elders Group of South Africa and South American

governments, and CARICOM which was touted as the most legitimate interlocutor and then demonized.

This kind of untruth coming from certain personalities of political power does not augur well for peace. It fires hate and discrimination in the hearts of the supporters of these politicians.

The undersigned, as a Guyanese, truly believes in national cohesion and human coexistence in which resources, benefits, and facilities are shared. Where people can live their lives in dignity, love, and even have interracial marriages, built in harmonious families. Every citizen must have their right to survive in dignity according to their talents, skills, and abilities.

How can we heal? We heal and show love by embracing, eating, and praying together.

We heal by caring and sharing. We heal by offering protection to others, especially the minority in a community. We heal when we realize we carry the spirit of the one God in us and that we truly comprise of one human family under God.

Sadly, in my opinion, the pronouncements made by the opposition leader shows he does not intend to cooperate with the government. Once he does that, his supporters will follow the leaders’ style.

The President and the Leader of the Opposition need to cut tracts of peace, consideration, and positive thoughts.

Without consideration and positive thoughts for our citizens and country, Guyana will forever be on a steer of mayhem, hate, and destruction particularly every five years at election time.

I had recommended to the Chairman and Ethnic Relations Commission, the honorable Reverend General, Bishop Dr. John Oswald Smith to broker a meeting between the President and the Opposition leader, or the Vice President and the Opposition leader, to create the atmosphere for talks for positivity for our humanity.

I recall a number of years ago when Mr. Robert Corbin invited me to witness and share in his inauguration as leader of the People’s Progressive Party.

I was always a regular

invitee and if I may say, he was a man I looked up to and believed he could have created great progress and change in Guyana if he could have won the general elections then. We still have mutual respects.

At the event, he called for a National Truth and Reconciliation Committee and conference where we as a people can open our chest and accept mutual wrongs and responsibilities, shed a tear, hug, kiss, and make-up to build a strong and prosperous Guyana.

With the above said, I truly believe the problems we have that make us look bad in the world scene can be easily overcome and Guyana can be on the high road of success.

We have to learn to trust, have faith, and accept the fact that we have nowhere else to go but Guyana.

Yes, friends! Fellow Guyanese, our country bequeath in love by God as a favor and virtue, with wealth, and sunshine galore.

Together, let us as one people hold our hands and walk through the troubled waters.

Yours truly, Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan

Let us use the Pompeo visit to see efforts on all sides for a united, peaceful and torture-free Guyana Dear Editor, The essence of democracy, the hallmark of decency, the question of justice and fair play are elements that should identify a truly free and fair media in what we know to be an authentic democracy.

As such, I hope and pray that your newspaper will have no difficulty publishing this letter of mine.

Yesterday’s front page article in the Chronicle noted, ‘A champion of Democracy arrives.’

It is of course, the right of everyone to designate who is a champion of what, and there is no need to comment further.

However, my concern is a consistent propaganda policy

by sections of our media to denigrate the APNU/AFC Coalition, saying it sought to derail democracy.

I have noted before that the coalition political directorate simply followed rules of legal and constitutional opportunities available to every citizen. If the coalition truly wanted to “derail” democracy, there is no way that President Ali could have been sworn in as President on August 2, 2020.

Whatever may be the real story, a large number of

citizens truly believe the advent of the dead and others not qualified, voting on Election Day, still question the authenticity and validity of the declared results and the question yet to be answered is what is a valid vote? That is a matter that will hopefully soon be dealt with by our judiciary. I recall after President Ali was sworn in, I offered my congratulations and best wishes for him and his colleagues, hoping that the fine words used at his inauguration will soon be

made into a reality.

The headlines story of today’s Chronicle was well written and mostly factual. It was tarnished by what appears to be an obsession to use every opportunity to tarnish the image of the coalition partners. I say to the author of the article, congratulations on your research. Why did you, as we say, have to ‘go overboard’ with your lofty headline?

One must perforce, have due respect and regard for the (Continued on page 6)

NIS CONTRIBUTION Dear Editor, Please facilitate me to use your medium to make a few queries to NIS. Why is it that the spectacle allowance remains at $10,000 (per 2 years) and lens repair’s is $2000 per lens? Over the years the prices for basic spectacles have skyrocketed ($40,000 to $50,000) so let’s not get started on the cost for spectacles with transition, Crizal or other lens. Whilst I know a spectacle allowance is just that, an allowance, NIS really needs to review that aged old $10,000 to something a little more substantive to maybe a percentage of the cost of spectacles these days (30 or 35 percent) Why is it that only a widow can benefit from survivor’s benefits in the event her spouse dies? This is the 21st century, where both men and women are fighting for equal rights, and in most cases they emerge successful.

Women, apart from motherly and widely duties, have taken up the mantle of being a financial provider in homes.

Some men have even reversed their roles with women, opting to stay at home and take care of the kids whilst the women work. If NIS checks their records, they can see women makes up a huge percentage of contributors.

As it is right now, a woman can access survivor’s benefit from NIS if her husband dies, even if she is healthy enough to work and is not disable but a man cannot have access to such

if his wife dies unless he is proven disable. Why the double standard?

I’m a working woman who takes care of my husband who is unemployed because we both made a decision that his small salary couldn’t take care of us so we decided for me to have a better paying job and him to take care of the home and kids. I make my contributions every single month so that I can benefit in my old age. I want to be assured that with all my contributions that I made, my husband can benefit from them in the event I die before him. If a healthy widow can access survivor’s benefit why can’t a healthy widower?

I understand that there are some really outdated rules and regulations when it comes to benefits at NIS and staff has to follow such, however I beseech with those in authority especially the Minister of Social Services and the management of NIS to review and make some changes to these regulations.

NIS over the years has been complaining that workers are working under the books and not been making payments. There is a reason for that: the benefits are too little. Come on NIS. sweeten the pot a little.

Please Honorable Minister, please look into these 2 matters especially the survivors benefits as I don’t want my husband to suffer in the event I die before him. All my contributions over the year will be useless?

Yours truly A contributor (Name and contact provided)

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Kaieteur News

Friday September 18, 2020

We have to be balanced and fair about the concerns of the US Dear Editor, It is in Guyana’s best interests to expand and deepen our relationship with the USA so that we can become better friends and allies. After the end of World War II in 1945, Guyana and the USA developed close economic, political, cultural and social ties. For over 70 years, we have loved American music, movies, literature and food. We are not anti-American, but we know that there are two Americas; the one of the rich one percent, and the other one that most of us identify with exemplified by Abraham Lincoln, Paul Robeson, Martin Luther King Jr., Harry Belafonte, the Kennedys and Barack and Michelle Obama.

Since the 1970s, our relationship has deepened with the residence in the USA of a dynamic diaspora of over 200,000 Guyanese. That bond was solidified when 25 Guyanese Americans perished in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Many times in our history, we Guyanese have underestimated or misunderstood the power and influence of the USA in our country and the Caribbean region. We have had to learn hard lessons that the actions of the USA could have great long-term positive or negative impacts on Guyana, while any Guyanese actions have had

little impact on the USA. The late Pierre Trudeau, the great Prime Minister of Canada, noted that being the USA’s neighbour “is like sleeping with an elephant that is friendly and even-tempered, but one is affected by every twitch and grunt.” Another great Prime Minister of Canada, the late Lester Pearson, advised that “to live alongside this great country (USA) is like living with your spouse. At times, it is difficult to live with them. At all times, it is impossible to live without them.”

The USA’s political power and influence in Guyana was sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes ugly.

During the Cold War, the US was instrumental in the removal of Cheddi Jagan’s government in 1964, and they supported rigged elections from 1966 to 1992. At the end of the Cold War, the US ensured the return of democracy in 1992 with the election of President Cheddi Jagan, and from 2005 to 2006 they rejected undemocratic attempts to remove President Jagdeo. In 2006, the USA encouraged the creation of a third party, the Alliance for Change (AFC), which made significant electoral gains in the 2006 and 2011 national elections. In the 2015 national elections, the USA ensured the peaceful transition of government to the APNU/ AFC Coalition. Now in 2020,

the USA prevented the imposition of a “dressed up” dictatorship on the Guyanese nation and ensured the election victory of the PPP/C. Unfortunately, at times, some of our Guyanese leaders have publicly challenged or embarrassed the USA. In a similar manner, through the 1990s and early 2000s, the Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia leftist administrations publicly and sometimes harshly criticized the USA who was the main customer that purchased their products.

These challenges were not made when these countries were successfully diversifying to find new customers.

Actually, these three South American countries became more dependent on the US market for their exports of oil and other natural resources.

We have to follow the principle that one has to first give respect to get respect.

This is not about accepting any kinds of demands. It is about making Guyana a better place for our working people, farmers, the poor and the marginalized.

First of all, we have to understand the new trends in US foreign policy. Regardless of who is the President, we must recognize that the US has issues that are not unjustified. Since the end of the Cold War, the US has continued to finance a disproportionate share of military and security costs for

NATO and NORAD. In effect, the US believes that they are subsidizing the welfare systems in Canada and Europe. The US is also concerned that its financing of the UN, WHO and WTO is based on unequal contributions while other member states expect equal influence.

To promote its national interests, the US is now engaging with different countries on an issue-byissue basis. They want a new model of global engagement.

They are not primarily concerned with appeals to historic partnerships. They feel that many US communities have been victims of globalization.

Guyanese must have cool heads and avoid ‘feral blasts’ to defend our national dignity and patrimony. We cannot be hardheaded and naïve because our actions could hurt our nation much more than they could hurt the US. Our response should be focusedon what is actually occurring regionally and globally. We must negotiate differences over issues, principles and values, and not be distracted by personalities.

Nobody’s interests are

furthered when differences are obscured.

We have to be balanced and fair about the concerns of the US. Then, we have to persuade the US to understand the legitimate Guyanese interests and aspirations that differ from theirs.

The USA is our major trading partner. It is the most attractive market in the world.

The hard truth is that Guyana’s future prosperity is closely linked to the health of the relationship with and the growth of the USA economy.

The Guyana-USA partnership should focus on issues, principles and values of mutual interest such as defending democracy; fighting terrorism; expanding trade and tourism; making Guyana and CARICOM more competitive and fair investment destinations; harmonizing regulations to reduce business transactional costs; identifying key economic sectors for US businesses, such as minerals and ICT; providing equal opportunities for US businesses to fairly compete with businesses from China, Russia and India; a dispute settlement system; minimizing

corruption; ensuring all foreign companies, including US businesses, adhere to the rule of law; decreasing poverty; creating jobs in Research and Development and in senior management and engineering.

Canada is an example for Guyana to consider when developing a relationship for close economic cooperation and development with the USA. They are the closest allies. No other country can get between Canada and the USA. They have not allowed any differences and tensions to change their ‘best friend’ relationship. They have close military and intelligence relations.

Yet, they have differed on the Vietnam War, Cuba, Iraq, the war on terrorism, missile defense, trade subsidies (soft wood, aluminum and steel), and trade with China and climate change. They also have maritime and land disputes, including in the Artic. But in the end, they have always made mutually beneficial tradeoffs.

Yours truly, Geoffrey Da Silva Former Minister, Chief Executive Officer and Ambassador

...Let us use the Pompeo visit to From page 5 Secretary of State of the most powerful nation on earth today, but the Chronicle, which we know speaks for the PPP administration, seem to have forgotten the ‘Feral Blast’, given by PPP’s Priya Manickchand, when at an official function at the US Ambassador’s residence, she delivered what Guyana regarded as a fine busing, accusing the United States of being complicit with the then APNU/AFC grouping, But I suppose in life, there is nothing constant and as a young political activist in the 50s and 60s, I quickly learnt that what is democracy yesterday, may not be democracy today. All of Guyana, and I must emphasize, all political groupings must be wary when we deliver encomiums lavishly. Forgetting this fact,

that when the interest of powerful nations collides with those of small nation states, the latter never end up with glory and honour.

It is unnecessary to remind readers that a few centuries ago, that “manifest destiny” led to genocidal wars against the Native American peoples. There was Mexico, Vietnam and of course the ‘Cold War’, which for forty years saw the super-powers in ideological war, while the smaller nations looked on helplessly.

We must remember this old African proverb “when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”

Make no mistake, we are like the green grass – no pun intended. In the United States, ask the AfroAmericans and liberal WhiteAmericans, Martin Luther King, Jnr., Rosa Parks, and the

likes of George Floyd if the US has fulfilled the real objectives based on the statement that all men are created equal. Equality is the lynch-pin of democracy.

Let me make it clear, I am among the Guyanese, who admire the courage and progress of the American people, and as such, welcome the Secretary of State, hoping that the message he would leave with this Administration is the old wisdom that we can only succeed if we are united, and any message which stokes the flames of division, disunity, or forms of apartheid must be rejected and considered unhelpful. Let us use this visit to see efforts on all sides for a united, peaceful and torture-free Guyana.

Yours truly, Hamilton Green

...Guyana should build on the From page 4 Government of China. A quick survey of our economic landscape would attest to the destructive impact of trading with China.

This said, Guyanese should be keen to examine our relations with these countries, as the possibility of predatory political ties may be developed and become part of the

d e s t r uctive forces which have previously brought Guyana to its knees.

A quick review of some credible reports on China would reveal that China is using its diplomacy as a Trojan horse to systematic economic domination of its trading partners, ultimately rising to challenge the bulwark of its political antithesis, the United States of

America, and other Democratic nations.

We should therefore look positively on the visit by Mr. Mike Pompeo and actively work with the instruments of government of the United States of America in strengthening all aspects of our bilateral relations. In this we will find much benefit.

Yours truly, Craig Sylvester.

Friday September 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 7

PAGE 08

Kaieteur News

Friday September 18, 2020

Aliah Mohamed is School of Mom allegedly covers up rape, the Nations top performer impregnation of teen daughter -Child Care launches probe for Arts and Humanities Aliah Mohamed wrote The School her Cambridge Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level of the Nations Examinations this year Arts and where she obtained 4 Bs. Humanities T h e 1 7 - y e a r- o l d , a top performer, student of the School of the Aliah Mohamed Nations Sixth Form College received her 4 Bs in Law, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology.

Her grades made her the top performer for the Arts and Humanities stream.

T

he Child Care and Protection Agency ( C PA ) i s n o w investigating an alleged attempt of an East Coast Demerara mother to cover-up how her daughter, 14, became pregnant.

It is alleged that a close relative raped and impregnated the teen.

This was confirmed by Director of the CPA, Ann Greene, who said that the teen is now seven months pregnant. She has been placed in protective custody.

According to the CPA, a forensic interview was also conducted yesterday and the police are expected to join in the investigations.

A relative gave details of the shocking story. The relative claimed that sometime last year following the teen’s 13th birthday, a male relative allegedly started to sexually molest her.

It appeared that the mother learnt of the incidences but did not report the matter.The teen had confided to the relative that the man would come into her

room every night when she was sleeping and inappropriately touch her private parts.

Any attempt to cry for help was met with threats that he would harm her and eventually the teen gave up and allowed the man to carry out his acts. Neighbours would report seeing the man in sex acts with the teen in the yard but when they confronted the mother, they claimed they were verbally abused. It was also stated that the mother, a vendor who drinks heavily, would not take care of the teen.

It was reported that the mother would hamper persons from communicating

with the teen and kept her isolated. The relative stated that the teen does not attend school and would often be left in the care of her alleged molester.

After the teen’s growing belly started to become noticeable, concerned residents and the relative started to enquire about the teenager’s pregnancy.

The mother denied her daughter was pregnant.

Kaieteur News understands that the man packed all of his belongings in his Canter truck and disappeared.

It was reported that a concerned relative rescued her and reported the matter to the CPA.

Kaieteur News

Friday September 18, 2020

PAGE 09

No photo opportunity with Pompeo for the APNU+AFC The Opposition APNU+AFC could not have expected to be involved in the visit of American Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, to Guyana. The APNU+AFC should consider themselves unwelcome when it comes to Mr. Pompeo.

The APNU+AFC disgraced itself in the eyes of the world. What it attempted to do was to turn this country into a pariah state. It forced an unnecessary five-month impasse in the country at the time when the people were dealing with the effects of a pandemic.

The US Secretary of State would not wish to be seen in the company of some of those from the APNU+AFC who were complicit in undermining democracy. US officials do not associate with electoral brigands and that is why there was never going to be any possibility of the APNU+AFC being involved in talks or any ceremony during the visit of the US Secretary of State.

T h e C o a l i t i o n ’s – whatever is left of it – primary interest in the Pompeo visit is to try to score political capital by accusing the United States of using Guyana to launch an attack on Venezuela. The only interest that the APNU+AFC has in this visit is to try to make the US and the PPP/C look as if there are in some deal against Venezuela.

Pompeo’s visit, however, now appears to being primarily about democracy, security and investment. This is why the US Secretary of State is making these whistle-stop

visits to Guyana, Suriname and Colombia. It is about US strategic interests in the Region, including encouraging greater US investment in Guyana.

It may also be the first and last time that we see the US Secretary of State in these parts. Whatever the outcome of the US elections, there is no guarantee that Pompeo will return as Secretary of State from next January. And it is for this reason that the government should ensure that he is garlanded with Guyana’s highest national award, the Order of Excellence.

Make no mistake about it. Were it not for Pompeo, this terrible burden which hung on the shoulders of every Guyanese for five months would not have been lifted. The PNC/R was prepared to defy the rest of the international community but their backers knew that they could not defy the United States. And it was the stance taken by Pompeo which in the final analysis ensured that the election crisis was ended.

When Pompeo called on David Granger to step aside, he knew then that his options were limited. He had to have known then that there was little chance of him returning as President.

Were it not for the United States Guyana would have had a protracted electoral crisis. The rest of the international community would have derecognized the Granger regime but they would never have been able to force it to step aside. Only the powerful United States could do that.It is therefore to be expected that the APNU+AFC would harbour

a great deal of bitterness towards Pompeo. And that may explain all the drama about asking the government to reveal what the US Secretary of State was coming to discuss.

When certain Heads of States came to Guyana during the APNU+AFC rule, no one asked what they were coming about. Those are not things which are usually made public before. There is a certain dynamic to talks and issues arising which may not have been initially contemplated.

No one asked a certain leader of the APNU+AFC about his trips to Suriname.

When it comes to diplomacy these issues are usually not disclosed prior. But at the end, questions may be posed and there is a procedure for doing so in parliament. But certainly, asking such questions cannot be a matter of urgent and immediate concern as to force the suspension of the Standing Orders.

If there is any reversal of official policy concerning Venezuela or the United States, it will be obvious from other things, such as Guyana’s voting record in regional organizations. But to demand to be told about the matters to be discussed is unusual and presumptuous.

The Opposition will eventually get the answers to their questions. And they will find that what they were hoping for will not be there.

They will find few grounds upon which to attack the US Secretary of State or the Guyana government.

Of greater concern should be the status of those persons within the Coalition whose visas were revoked.

Dem boys seh...

Another Mingo playing BINGO with de police wuk Dem boys bin had enough hearing de name MINGO. Was five whole months all dem boys bin hearing was Mingo! Mingo! Mingo!

Mingo! So dem boys put dah name at de back of dem mind. Low and behold, early yesterday morning, before de cock crow, dem boys get a phone call and de name Mingo come up.

De Waterfall paper is considered an essential service. Dem does print de paper in de night and it nah done print till early in de morning.

De other morning, one of de press worker bin going home from wuk on he motorbike when a policeman named Mingo stop he on the East Bank. De policeman tell he how he disturbing de curfew.

De pressman try fuh explain how he just dun print de newspaper and going home. De policeman wah named Mingo nah wan hear dat.

He tell de pressman how de boss man of de

Waterfall paper gat enough money fuh buy bed fuh give them at de Waterfall paper fuh sleep.

He also threaten fuh detain de motorbike and he ask fuh wan towel.

Dem boys wan he fuh know dat if he wan towel, he can come down to de Waterfall paper and put in he request. Dem boys gan put he pun de front page of de newspaper.

Dem boys mek frontpage in other newspaper and social media. Wan man get judgment fuh $18 m against de former Editor and de boss man. When de boss man hear dat, he seh it gat to be a case of mistaken identity. He seh he nah gat oil block fuh be able to afford dah judgment. But it nah matter, he seh he gan appeal de decision because he believe in fair comment.

Talk half and careful when yuh riding pass Providence. Yuh might bumb into de policeman wah named Mingo.

They can be sure that the US is not likely ever to restore those visas since that country does not wish to entertain those whom they have classified as

undermining democracy.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Friday September 18, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Zone of peace, zone of Mia Mottley, zone of the dangerous mind There is a letter in yesterday’s Stabroek News that all young scholars need to study and importantly contextualize the timing of its appearance. You will not understand the dangerous minds that penned it without contextualizing its timing.

Signed by 75 signatories,

m o s t l y b y w o m e n ’s organizations and individuals, it calls on Guyana to let the Caribbean remain a zone of peace in light of the visit today by Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. Characterized by publicity-seeking instincts, an anti-PPP Freudian mind-

set and invisible Freudian racism in the context of Guyana’s recent election trauma, the signatories are obsessed with the implications, ramifications and consequences of the oneday visit and want Guyana to ensure that whatever is signed between Pompeo and

President Irfaan Ali, the Caribbean remains a zone of peace.

The timing of the letter this is crucial to understanding the Freudian underpinnings of the signatories. Dr. Ali assumed the presidency on August 2 after a five-month saga to stop the results from being tampered with in order to declare a fraudulent PNC victory. The Stabroek News’ letter was published one month and two weeks after that horrible ordeal that catapulted Guyana in the eyes of the world.

The five-month ordeal did not miss any of the powerful and influential media houses in the world.

In fact, few Guyanese may know, if any, that Le Monde of France did a piece on Guyana during the crisis.

See the article, “Guyana Turns its Back on its past.”

One wonders if the clowns that put their names to that letter yesterday are familiar with how they have turned their backs not only on Guyana’s past but have endangered the Caribbean as a zone of peace by their sickening silence of five months of naked manipulation of a country’s election results never seen before in the democratic world. I will come back to the Freudian reasons for this sickening silence which had to do with their choice as to who they wanted to rule Guyana even if it meant creating tsunamic instabilities in the Caribbean.

Where were these clowns that wrote that letter when in response to the Caribbean being endangered by the horror show of rigged

election from March 4 in Guyana Barbadian Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, said, “CARICOM must count for something” in denunciation of the election fraud? Five CARICOM PMs came to Guyana to facilitate the legal counting of the ballots because they knew the consequences for the stability of the region of rigged elections in Guyana.

But it wasn’t only serving PMs of CARICOM who showed concern; two former heads also denounced the danger to the Caribbean as a society of enduring democracy – Bruce Golding of Jamaica and Owen Arthur of Barbados.

It is pathetic nonsense and asinine thinking to warn Guyanese about the consequences of Pompeo’s visit and the danger it poses to the Caribbean being a zone of peace when the consequences of rigged elections would have created massive instabilities in Guyana that would have impacted severely on the CARICOM region. None of the 75 signatories to that misguided, hypocritical letter penned one line of mental consternation about what was taking place during those five months here. One of the lethal moments in that drama was when the Chief Elections Officer declared the results and annulled 115,000 valid votes which came from districts in Guyana that supported the opposition, PPP. So, we have to answer the questions, why were these signatories reticent during the five months. I will offer one example so readers can get into the minds of those

Frederick Kissoon signatories. Eusi Kwayana during the five-month horror show kept writing to insist he did not have the facts to arrive at conclusions about the rigging. But in the same breath, he regurgitated facts that were convenient to him.

Kwayana had made a choice about who he wanted to see rule Guyana after the March election.

Look at the signatories of those letters and you will see the Freudian mind-set I alluded to above. Race and anti-PPPism determined why many of the signatories among the 75 names under that hypocritical letter yesterday in the Stabroek News were silent between March 4 and August 2. For them, the election was not about Guyana and the stability of the Caribbean. It was about your ethnic group and which party embodies your ethnic consciousness.

Just examine some of the signatories and when you see their names then you know they saw the election as a zero sum battle between the Indianized PPP and Africanized PNC. Someone long ago stupidly said that silence is golden. In the case of those signatories, their silence was sick and demeaning.

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

Friday September 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday September 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Friday September 18, 2020

Kaieteur News ordered to pay Winston Brassington $18M for libel - appeal to be filed

I

n five separate judgment awards against Kaieteur News and its former E d i t o r- i n - C h i e f , A d a m Harris, Justice Fidela-Corbin on Wednesday ordered that approximately $18M be paid to former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, for libel.

The awards came from a plethora of claims filed by Brassington for publications in the popular Dem Boys Seh column of the Kaieteur News, which he said damaged his character.

According to court documents, the plaintiff (Brassington) claimed that the defendants (Kaieteur News and one of its principals, former Editor-in –Chief, Adam Harris, printed and published verbatim, the words “dat fat crook Brazzy” in the column of the newspaper of national circulation.

He claimed that the

Former NICIL Head, Winston Brassington newspaper and its editor meant and were understood to mean that he as NICIL’s head was “dishonest, and had been guilty of criminal activity and was habitually guilty of criminal activity and had engaged in criminal fraud and corrupt practices” in the conduct of his work in a number of projects including the award of a road construction contract for US$18M for the first phase of the Amaila Falls Hydro

Project to Synergy.

As a result, Brassington noted that the Kaieteur News insinuated that he must be held accountable and jailed for his alleged fraudulent actions.

The former NICIL head noted that the information severely impacted his character and integrity given that it was published in a newspaper which was widely read and circulated throughout Guyana and online where it is read worldwide, more particularly by the Guyanese diaspora in Europe, North America and the Caribbean.

According to the judgment, while Brassington did not provide any evidence of significant damage being done to his reputation and standing or that he was shunned or suffered a loss of prestige among his business and accounting circles, the evidence is that he was made the subject of ridicule and suspicion as a result of this and other publications.

Former Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris He gave evidence with respect to what his children reported to him was allegedly being said by their school mates and teachers and that he was subject to questions from persons known to him about the said articles.

In defence, Kaieteur News and its principals admitted to the publication of the column but denies that the words were of or pertaining to or were written and published falsely and maliciously or were libelous of and concerning

Brassington.

The newspaper through its lawyers contended that the words were justified, fair comment on a matter of public interest and, alternatively, that the words were published on an occasion of qualified privilege.

However in handing down her judgment, the Judge pointed out that Kaieteur News neither apologised nor issued a retraction.

Instead, she said the evidence shows that the newspapers repeated the libel and/or the substance of the libel in other publications.

In her judgment, the Judge noted the evidence that his family suffered gravely – that he submitted that he was the subject of ridicule and suspicion as a result of the publications, and that his friends would telephone him about the publications.

Having weighed all the aggravating and mitigating factors, and having regard to the purpose of an award of damages, the Judge ordered

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall that the newspaper and its former Editor-in-Chief jointly and severally pay Brassington damages in the sum of $18M. The judgment awards were handed down separately with orders for Kaieteur News and its former Editor-in-Chief to jointly and severally pay Brassington costs in the sum of $220,000.

Attorney-at-Law Timothy Jonas appeared for Brassington, while attorneyat-Law Shaunella Glen represented Kaieteur News and Adam Harris.

Kaieteur News

Friday September 18, 2020

PAGE 15

Head of Lands Commission Murder accused charged for - asked to prepare status killing inmate during brawl sent on leave report of all matters Head of the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC), Trevor Benn, will from today, proceed on his 42 days annualized vacation leave.

Benn was asked to prepare a document of all matters pending or in progress for President Irfaan Ali. In the letter that was penned by the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President, Abena Moore, it was further requested that the GLSC commissioner prepare a handover/ takeover statement to be given to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) acting, Enriqe Monize.

Notably, shortly after the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic had assumed office in

August, President Ali had stripped the Commissioner of critical powers vested to him.

This move, Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, has said, was intended to prevent the Commission from further sanctioning the renting and granting of leases, licence and permission of occupancy of all government lands.

Following the publication of the Official Gazette limiting the powers of the commissioner, AG Nandlall had announced that the government will be conducting a review of all the leases, licences and permissions to occupy Public Lands granted by the Commission following the December 2, 2018 No

Confidence Vote.

The AG argued that the APNU+AFC Government was reduced to a caretaker status following vote and hence was not authorized to issue documents related to land distribution.

Sent on 42 days of annual leave, Commissioner Trevor Benn

Letter dispatched to GSLC Head, informing him of his annual vacation leave

Truck driver had no idea he ran over Parika man A motor lorry on Wednesday ran over a man and killed him on the Parika Access Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Dead is Sheik Bacchus also known as Babbo, 43, of Salem, Parika.

According to police reports, the fatal accident occurred at around 13:30hrs.

Investigators were told that motor lorry, GYY 7021, had just finish off-loading sand at a location when its driver decided to drive off.

The lorry reportedly hit Bacchus who was walking along the northern side of the road and heading east. Bacchus fell onto the

parapet but the driver who reportedly did not see the man, continued driving.

The truck’s rear left wheel ran over Bacchus.

As the driver was exiting the street, someone notified him that he had just ran over a pedestrian.

Police were told that the driver returned to the scene and picked up Bacchus who was in an unconscious state, and rushed him to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

The driver has since been taken into police custody to assist with investigations.

Murder accused, Shawn Jordan called ‘Shawn’ or ‘Five minutes’ was yesterday charged for allegedly killing his inmate during a fight last April.

The 22-year-old defendant, who was on remand for murder on another matter, appeared via live video conferencing before Magistrate Malissa Mittleholzer in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court when the indictable charge was read to him.

Jordan was not required to plead to the charge which stated that on April 21, 2020, at Lusignan Prison Holding Bay, East Coast Demerara, he killed Jason Dundas, a 31-yearold shopkeeper of Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.

According to reports, Dundas was killed during a prison brawl.

Dundas was attacked by two other inmates at around 7pm in the holding bay of the prison. Reports suggest that he was chopped to the face, reportedly with an improvised weapon.

Kaieteur News was informed that Dundas was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was

Killed: Jason Dundas [Photo Credit: Newsroom] pronounced dead on arrival.

The deceased was on remand since August 7, 2019 for trafficking 43 kilograms of cannabis.

Jordan was remanded and the matter was adjourned to October 19, 2020.

$300M set aside for major road upgrades Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, says funds have been allotted for major upgrades to several roads along the East Bank Demerara (EBD) corridor, West Bank Demerara (WBD), and East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Some $150Million has been allotted to upgrade four kilometres of access roads and bridges to industrial and commercial areas in the Prospect, Perseverance, Little and Great Diamond areas along the EBD. This will give developers access to begin work on approximately 500 house lots at Prospect and Perseverance, and another 300 house lots in Little and Great Diamond, while creating jobs in the sector.

Another $150Million has been

-East and West Bank Demerara, East Bank Essequibo areas to benefit

earmarked to upgrade three kilometres of roads to asphaltic concrete at Herstelling and Eccles, EBD; at La Parfaite Harmonie, WBD and Zeelugt, EBE. “This will bring great relief to more than 800 people or 200 existing house lot beneficiaries,” Minister Rodrigues said.

Both projects are expected to be implemented under the Ministry’s housing improvement programme for 2020.

Minister Rodrigues also recommitted to the delivery of 50,000 house lots under the PPP/C Administration within the next five years and gave the assurance that better housing solutions and a fair and transparent allocation process will be realised.

PAGE 16

Friday September 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

Alleged smuggler, ‘Jinga Harry’, charged for discharging loaded firearm at Customs Officer

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Alleged smuggler, Harrielall Motilall called “Jinga Harry”, was yesterday charged for having in his possession components of a firearm when he is not a licensed firearm holder.

He is also accused of discharging a loaded firearm.

The 60-year-old businessman of Lot 11-12 Helena#1, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, made his appearance before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

Motilall denied the charge which stated that on November 18, 2019, at Unity Foreshore, Mahaica, he discharged a loaded firearm with intent to maim disable, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm to Kim Calistro.

He also denied the charge which alleged that he had in his possession components of a firearm when he is not a licensed firearm holder.

The defendant was granted bail in the total sum of $400,000, and Magistrate Azore adjourned the matter to October 16, 2020.

The case was then transferred to the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court for report.

According to the police, Jinga was arrested on September 15, 2020.

Last year, an officer of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) was shot in a stakeout at Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara.

It was a joint operation involving the enforcement arm of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), CANU ranks and the police.

The authorities were acting on intelligence that a smuggling operation was supposed to take place.

After an exchange of gunshots, GRA seized a boat and engine. The boat was carrying a large quantity of smuggled beers, high-end liquor and chicken.

The items were believed smuggled from neighbouring

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On bail: Harrielall Motilall called “Jinga Harry” Suriname. The joint team believed that someone was shot.

The authorities immediately launched an operation.

There were raids to the Mahaica River-side home of Motilall.

Thirteen engines and a small vessel were seized. Also taken away were Ipads, cash and documents.

Motilall, who has been targeted by GRA for alleged smuggling over the years, was defiant.

He is no stranger to law enforcement- he was sentenced in absentia to four years imprisonment in 2016, for shooting at two GRA officers in 2014.

On the night of July 16, 2014, the officers had intercepted a convoy of minibuses loaded with illegally imported chicken at Dundee, Mahaicony.

It is alleged that Motilall and others, using an AK-47 and other small arms, opened fire on the Customs Officers, injuring one of them.

GRA officers were conducting a surveillance exercise and intercepted three minibuses containing 150 boxes of chicken, for which no Customs papers could be

produced.

The officers had taken possession of the keys for the vehicles, and the cell phones of the occupants were seized, when Motilall and three accomplices pulled up in a grey Toyota Allion.

The men exited and opened fire in the direction of the GRA officials, who were forced to retreat and take cover.

This allowed the men who were detained with the smuggled chicken to escape in several waiting motor vehicles.

The vehicle used by the GRA officials to conduct the exercise was badly riddled with bullets.

One of the GRA officers was wounded in his stomach.

Motilall was subsequently arrested and was positively identified by the GRA officials.

However, Motilall was not present for the four court hearings. He was eventually sentenced in absentia to four years imprisonment in May, 2016.

The Magistrate had ordered that he must spend the first two years of his fouryear sentence in prison while the other two years were suspended.

...Inmates sentenced From page 13 on April 29, 2020, in the cane fields aback of Beterverwagting, Sideline Dam, East Coast Demerara, without any incident even though the fugitive was armed with a cutlass.

Padmore was recaptured on May 5th, 2020, in a house at La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara, while Dhanraj was held by police on

May 16, 2020, at the Parika Bus Park, where he was seen in a car.However, Perez 26, of Mabaruma, North West District, who was on remand for murder, is still at large.

Padmore was serving a three-year sentence for trafficking narcotics; Bisnauth, was on remand for two counts of robbery and armed robbery and Dhanraj, on remand for murder.

Friday September 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Friday September 18, 2020

Court asked to nullify declaration of Irfaan Ali as president - in second elections petition filed to challenge 2020 polls Another election petition has been filed to challenge the outcome of March 2nd, 2020 polls.

The petition which comes weeks after the filing of the first challenge, pointed to anomalies and voters’ impersonation, as part of the issues highlighted in the regional and general elections and which resulted in a fraudulent conclusion of the national polls.

According to document, the petitioners in this case are Monica Thomas and Bernnan Joette Natasha Nurse are accusing the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) of failing to execute several of its constitutional and statutory duties.

Among other things, the two persons accuse GECOM of failing to discharge its constitutional and statutory duty by failing to complete the house-to-house registration and verifying the Official List of Electors (OLE) is comprised only those entries that satisfy the criteria and/or requirements for inclusion in the List of Electors for the respective divisional lists at the time of their certification.

The petitioners are contending, too, that there were instances where Oath of Identity, which is required by statute for electors voting without identification cards or other acceptable forms of identification, were missing.

For the reasons and upon the grounds set out, Thomas and Nurse believe that the elections were unlawfully conducted and the elections (if lawfully conducted) were affected or might have been affected by unlawful acts or omissions.

In light of the alleged “glaring inconsistencies, irregularities, and the absence of statutory documents the petitioners are asking for an order to declare the elections null and void as it violates the

Constitution, the Representative of the People Act and Order 60.

As such, they are asking the Court to nullify the declaration of President Dr. Irfaan Ali as the winner of the elections.

The request follows a challenge by the A Partnership For National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) elections petition. The applicants asked the court to determine several questions, including whether Section 22 of the Elections Law Amendment Act (ELAA) is unconstitutional in that it violates the separation of powers and impermissibly usurps the legislative powers of Parliament.

In that petition, the party is contending inter alia that the (recount) regime which was created under Order 60 of 2020 pursuant to Section 22 of the ELAA and Article 162 of the Constitution is ultra vires and inconsistent with Article 161 A of the Constitution.

Further, the petition noted Recital 8 of Order No. 60 provides that GECOM, in exercise of the authority vested in it under Article 162 of the Constitution and pursuant to Section 22 of the ELAA 2000, seeks to remove difficulties connected with the process of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03, in implementing its decisions related to the recount of all ballots cast at the said elections. Order 60 of 2020, according to the applicants, “negates the process of the reconciliation of the ballots issued with the ballots cast, destroyed, spoiled, stamped, and as deemed necessary, their counterfoils/stubs; authenticity of the ballots and the number of voters listed and crossed out as having voted; the number of votes cast without ID cards; the number of proxies”.

Coronavirus cases top 30 million worldwide PARIS, France - (AFP) — The number of coronavirus cases registered worldwide topped 30 million yesterday, according to an AFP tally based on official sources.

The grim landmark came as the World Health Organization warned of “alarming rates of transmission” of COVID-19 across Europe.

The coronavirus death toll is now at 943,086 since it

surfaced in China late last year and the number of cases has ballooned to 30,000,062, according to figures available at 19:45 GMT (2:45 pm).

The United States has the highest national figures with 6,650,570 cases and 197,364 deaths, followed by India at 5,118,253 infections and 83,198 fatalities and Brazil with 4,419,083 cases and 134,106 deaths.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives in Guyana

The arrival of United States (US) Secretary of State, Mr. Michael Pompeo on these shores yesterday marks an historic development in the relationship between Guyana and the United States.

Pompeo was greeted by US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd upon arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The Secretary of State was then given an official welcome by Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and First Lady, Arya Ali, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall and other government officials at State House, Georgetown.

Pompeo is currently on a South American tour aimed at highlighting the US’s commitment to safeguarding democracy, combating the COVID-19 pandemic, revitalising economies and strengthening security against regional threats.

His tour of the region runs from September 17-20 with stops in Brazil and Colombia

next.

He is expected to sign a key maritime agreement

today to reportedly boost security especially for Guyana.

Friday September 18, 2020

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Kaieteur, Canje block owners set the stage for secrecy before selling majority shares to ExxonMobil Transparency is important to Guyana, but the companies that sold the Kaieteur and Canje blocks to ExxonMobil made sure to hamper full disclosure of information before they conducted those transactions.

They decided to register their businesses in countries notorious for being secretive tax havens, requiring no disclosure of vital financial information.

The Kaieteur block was split 50/50 by Ratio Energy and Ratio Guyana (owned by the Israeli company, Ratio Petroleum) on April 28th, 2015, when it was awarded by the Donald Ramotar administration.

The ownership remained that way until stakes were sold to ExxonMobil in March, 2017.

Global Witness said that Exxon bought 50 percent of the block from the Ratio group. Because Ratio Energy was sold a month earlier to a company named Cataleya, GW believes the money went to Cataleya, a company run by two miners, Canadian Mike Cawood and the Guyanese, Ryan Pereira.

Some countries, like the United Kingdom, require financial disclosures. So if a company is registered there, it will be required to report the financial details if it makes a purchase.

Both Ratio Energy and Ratio Guyana were registered in Gibraltar, a British overseas territory known as a tax haven, at the time of the sale to ExxonMobil. So they were not required to make disclosures which would tell Guyana, among other things,

how much money passed hands in the transaction, and who benefitted. The only information publicly available is that which Ratio Petroleum chose to make public.

It was later announced in April 2018 that Hess acquired a 15 percent stake in the Kaieteur block from ExxonMobil.

As of today, the Kaieteur block is split between four companies: ExxonMobil (35 percent), Ratio Guyana (25 percent), Cataleya (25 percent) and Hess (15 percent).

The Canje Block was awarded to Mid Atlantic on March 4th, 2015. The application for the block was made in March 2013. The company was incorporated in Guyana in April of 2013, which means Mid Atlantic made an application for a block when it was not even formed.

JHI Associates registered in Guyana on May 4, 2015 and farmed into the block just over a week later, on May 15.

JHI’s website was created after it bought into the block, on June 10, 2015 and bears limited information on the company and its purported employees. JHI’s website says it is run by the Canadian, John Cullen.

Public documents, however, do not list the company’s shareholders.

According to documents held by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Secretariat, JHI was only incorporated on June 17, 2015, in the British Virgin Islands. BVI is a tax haven, like Gibraltar.

The Canje block is the only asset owned by these

two companies.

Additionally, JHI and Mid-Atlantic, which participated in Guyana’s EITI reporting process, failed to submit their audited financial statements for review.

JHI also failed to submit information on its beneficial owners. An EITI report lists Dookie as the beneficial owner of Mid-Atlantic.

Less than a year after the Canje award in 2015, a 35 percent stake was sold to ExxonMobil. There is no public information about how much was paid. Total

announced it farmed into 35 percent of the block in February, 2018.

Currently, four companies have stakes in the Canje block: ExxonMobil (35 percent), Total (35 percent), JHI Associates (17.5 percent) and Mid Atlantic (12.5 percent).

When it comes to secrecy, one should look no further than the company to which stakes in both these blocks were sold to. ExxonMobil has had its own involvement in controversial secrecy in Guyana.

Apart from the suspicious

awards of the Canje and Kaieteur blocks, the oil company’s kinship with secrecy had placed Guyana in a scandal over the US$18M signing bonus it gave to the Guyana government for the Stabroek block deal.

The government had hid the bonus from the Guyanese public for more than a year after it was awarded. . This could have been avoided if ExxonMobil was required in the US, at the time, to make timely disclosures of payments to governments.

A section of the US Dodd

Frank Act had required companies to declare their payments to governments, but oil companies like ExxonMobil fiercely advocated against the implementation of the provision.

ExxonMobil, however, made the disclosure in Europe through its Luxembourg subsidiary, where it is required by an EU directive.

But, Global Witness said that the payment was published in Luxembourg 18 months after the Stabroek block agreement was signed.

Guyana extended 70th birthday greetings to India’s PM, Narendra Modi No need for panic says the ODM President Irfaan Ali, on behalf of the people of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, yesterday extended congratulations and best wishes to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

“Excellency, since assuming office you have led India to unparalleled prosperity.

India continues to shine as it assumes its rightful place among great nations of the world,” President Ali said.

President Ali said that he looks forward to actively working with Prime Minister Modi for the furtherance of the common objectives of the two countries.

“Please accept, Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration and

best wishes for your continued good health and well-being,” President Ali stated.

Guyana and India have

cultivated excellent and mutually beneficial relations ever since the two countries established diplomatic ties on May 26, 1966.

ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – Coordinator with the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) here, Fitzroy Pascal has assured Dominicans that there is no need for panic following reports of emissions being observed in the Soufriere area in the south of the island on Wednesday.

He made a statement following a visit to the area.

“A visit to the area earlier today showed nothing unusual, so there is no cause for panic at this point.

The ODM took photos of the area which were provided to the Seismic Research Centre.”

He said that based on

the information supplied by the ODM, the SRC team decided that the recent activity is likely the result of a landslide in the area He added that this was followed by the resettlement of a near surface hydrothermal activity, with associated “strong steam degassing” “There have been no associated volcanic earthquakes recorded in the area by the SRC network on the island.

The SRC therefore believes that a change in volcanic activity has not contributed to this event. It is possible that the area will still be unstable and additional landslides may occur.”

According to Pascal, the ODM and the SRC are

both continuing to monitor the area that will be limited to public a c c e s s . Besides rivers, Dominica has no shortage of mountains.

There are at least 26 mountains, nine of which are dormant volcanoes and the highest being almost 5000 feet. Dominica has the highest concentration of dormant volcanoes in the world.

Dominica is essentially made up of volcanic rocks and geothermal activity are associated with the Plat Pays volcanic complex.

The largest area is located on the margin of the Soufrière depression in the Sulphur Springs National Park region.

Friday September 18, 2020

Cop attacker who allegedly killed GECOM pensioner charged An Arakaka, Region One man accused of wounding a taxi driver and brutally stabbing a police officer during his arrest was yesterday charged with the murder of a pensioner.

The murder reportedly took place on the Train Line, Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD), Region One. The alleged murderer, Samuel Allen also known as Sammy, 27, was charged via Zoom by Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Port Kaituma Police Station.

Allen was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that on September 5th, 2020 he attacked, stabbed and killed Earl Peters, 75, of Fitzburg at t h e Tr a i n L i n e , P o r t Kaituma.

He was remanded to prison and the matter adjourned until October, 13, 2020.According reports, the pensioner, Earl Peters, a security guard attached to the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) office, was found lying on the Train Line soaked in blood and barely conscious.

He was discovered by a

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Kaieteur News

Remanded: Samuel Allen businessman who heard his cries.

He subsequently died while receiving treatment at the Port Kaituma District Hospital but not before giving details to investigators of his attacker.

While police were looking for Allen, he allegedly launched an attack and stabbed a taxi driver, Troy Roberts, to the neck.

Allen had reportedly joined Roberts’ car along with a 26-year-old gold miner at a location within the community.

Police had said that while journeying along Airstrip Road, Allen allegedly

stabbed his victim to the neck.

The victim stopped the car and ran for his life. Allen, however, moved over to the driving seat and sped off but crashed soon after. He escaped leaving the injured gold miner behind.

Both a wounded Roberts and the injured gold miner, labeled as an accomplice, were later air-lifted to Georgetown for medical attention.

Allen was days later located by police ranks hiding out in a two-storey house right in Port Kaituma.

During his arrest, he attacked and stabbed Lance Corporal Bertland Scotland to the left hand, left eye, left hip, lower abdomen and left buttocks.

Background search also revealed that Allen was no stranger to the law. He’s also accused of assaulting a police constable in August at Arakaka, Region One. He was locked up for five years on remand for the murder of Brazilian miner at Five Miles Kaituma and was only acquitted of the charge by a High Court jury in November of 2019.

Marcel Hutson returns as Chief Education Officer

D

r. Marcel R a y m o n d Hutson has been re-appointed as the Chief Education Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Education.

The disclosure was announced by officials of the Ministry yesterday. It was also announced that Hutson has taken up office since yesterday morning.

Hutson was first appointed as the acting Chief Education Officer at the Ministry in August 2016, filling the position of Olato Sam, whose contract was denied renewal by the former coalition government.

In May 2017, the coalition government officially confirmed Hutson as the Ministry’s CEO. Upon his official appointment, Hutson had expressed that it brought legitimacy to the office he was occupying.

“Sometimes when you have an office, but you are not confirmed; sometimes you tend to be wavering because you do not want to pretend to be what you are not. The fact of the matter is

confirmation brings legitimacy to the office, and therefore, I could be more confident and certain with what I am doing as Chief Education Officer,” Hutson

Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson had said.

It was reported that Hutson was dismissed from his position last December.

However, the Ministry sought to clarify that he was sent on pre-retirement leave.

The MoE stated that Hutson was approaching his statutory retirement age and he was expected to retire on September 1, this year. The

Ministry highlighted that by that time Hutson would have attained the requisite statutory age of retirement that is under Public Service Rules.

The CEO had 230 days of annualized leave.

Hutson has a Trained Class 1 Grade 1 Teacher’s Certificate, a Bachelor of Social Science Degree in Sociology, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education Administration, and a Master’s in Education Management, Planning, and Supervision.

The education chief also holds a certificate in the Management and Delivery of Education in Guyana via the Ministry of Education’s first Teacher Cadet Scheme, a Certificate in Reforming School Supervision for Quality Improvement (IIEP) through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and C u l t u r a l O rg a n i s a t i o n (UNESCO) and a Certificate of Training in Project Management through the Government of Guyana and Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Friday September 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Friday September 18, 2020

Friday September 18, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Tour de France: Primoz Roglic keeps lead as Michal Kwiatkowski wins stage 18

Michal Kwiatkowski (right) had never won an individual Grand Tour stage before.

Friday September 18, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You could be quite busy today as friends from far away call for long-overdue conversations, Aries. You'll probably spend as much time as you can catching up on the latest news, but don't go overboard.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Some fascinating news could come from a friend who's presently out of town This might be personal, but it more likely involves new discoveries in a field that interests you both.

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Don't be afraid to let all your friends know that you need to find some specific facts.

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Equipment may have gone haywire, or miscommunications could have led to snarls. Perhaps you need to call in a consultant.

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BBCsport - Michal Kwiatkowski led a superb Ineos Grenadiers one-two on stage 18 to help salvage their Tour de France as Primoz Roglic took a step closer to the title.

Poland’s Kwiatkowski and team-mate Richard Carapaz crossed the line arm-in-arm after riding away from the rest of the field on a tough mountain stage.

Roglic and his Jumbo-Visma team held off any attacks as he maintained his 57-second lead with three stages to go. Britain’s Adam Yates slipped from fifth to seventh overall. Former world champion Kwiatkowski’s first ever individual Grand Tour stage victory capped a strong showing by Ineos since defending champion Egan Bernal dropped out of contention, before abandoning after stage 16.

The British team have been active in the breakaways, with Carapaz coming close on both stage 16 and 17, before Kwiatkowski secured their first win of the 2020 Tour. “That was some day - I can’t describe how grateful I am to the whole team and Richard. I will never forget that,” said Kwiatkowski. “I’ve had some nice moments in cycling but that was something new. I had goosebumps for the final kilometres because I knew we were going to make it. It was incredible.”

England, West Indies...

From page 20 her players were also keen to expand on the form they had begun to unearth at the tournament.

“We’ve got a real opportunity to show what we can do in these five games,” Knight said. “I think so many people are happy to have sport and cricket back on telly and hopefully they’ll tune in.

“We’re looking to really push forward now as a side.

We started to see a bit of a shift towards the back end of the World Cup in terms of how we want to play as a team. Obviously the weather cut that short a little bit and we weren’t able to really see where we could go but we’ve had a lot of planning time leading into the back end of the summer.

“We’ve had a chance to sit down as senior players and coaches and work out where we want to go as a side and try and really push the limit of how good we can be.

That’s been quite exciting and hopefully we can show that in the five games.”

...Fed Cup to be re-named From page 23 Davis Cup but we’ve gone from 16 to 116 nations. “We have equal prize money to the Davis Cup and this sends out an important and strong message of equality.”

The Billie Jean Cup, sponsored by BNP Paribas, is the first major global team competition to be named after a woman and next year’s Finals in Hungary will boast $12 million in prize money, equivalent to the revamped Davis Cup. ITF President David Haggerty paid tribute to King’s fight for gender equality in sport and society.

“From playing the first Fed Cup as a member of the victorious U.S. team in 1963, founding the WTA and becoming its first president, to being the first female athlete awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, Billie Jean King has never stopped breaking new ground,” Haggerty said.

“Today she adds another

‘first’ to that list. The new name is a fitting tribute to everything she has achieved.”

King was part of the team that won the inaugural competition, then known as the Federation Cup, in London in 1963. She won it seven times as a player and four as captain and was appointed its first Global Ambassador last year.

“There is nothing quite like the feeling of representing your country and being part of a team, which is why this competition is so special and important to me,” she said. “Our job is to share this vision with future generations of young girls, because if you can see it, you can be it.”

France, Russia, Hungary, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, the United States, Spain, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland will contest nest year’s inaugural Billy Jean King Cup Finals.

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Friday September 18, 2020

England, West Indies Women will support Black Lives Matter during T20I series ESPNcricinfo - England and West Indies Women plan to honour the Black Lives Matter movement when they begin their long-awaited T20I series next week. Heather Knight, the England captain, has been in contact with her West Indies counterpart, Stafanie Taylor, and the pair plan to further discuss how best to mark the movement during the five-game contest starting on Monday.

The teams also will also wear the Black Lives Matter logo on their shirts, just as the England and West Indies men’s teams did during their Test series in July. Both teams

and their support staff also took a knee before play throughout that series, as did England and Ireland during their three ODIs. But England, Pakistan and Australia opted not to perform the gesture in their subsequent series, drawing criticism in recent days from former West Indies great turned commentator Michael Holding.

“We’ve had a chat as players and we definitely want to do something to honour the movement and give our support to it and keep the conversation happening,” Knight said.

“We haven’t had a chance to catch up yet, it’s quite hard because we’re in two separate bubbles in one big bubble so I’ll speak to Stafanie over the next few days to work out exactly what that looks like for both teams.

But us as players, we want to do something and we’re working to support it.”

With India and South Africa cancelling planned tours in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic, Knight admitted there were times when the prospect of there being no international women’s cricket during the English summer had crossed players’ minds.

In May, Clare Connor, the ECB’s managing director of women’s cricket, said she

would be “devastated” if there were no international women’s fixtures on English soil this summer.

With England’s men having crammed all 18 of their scheduled international fixtures into a truncated summer, Knight said she would have felt “jealous” if the women had not been able to play and she praised the efforts of the ECB and CWI to arrange the tour, something she believed would not have happened just a few years ago.

“I think the way the ECB have been, we knew that they were going to do everything in their power to try and get some cricket on,” Knight said.

“They’ve done exactly what

they would have done for the guys, which is real progress.

I don’t think that would have happened sort of three or four years ago. So I think we knew that there was a good possibility that we’re playing and that was great that is locked in.”

With the England men’s season concluding at the end of their ODI series against Australia on Wednesday, the women have the international stage all to themselves. The matches will be broadcast on Sky and the third game - on Saturday, September 26 - will be shown live on the BBC, the first time an international women’s fixture has been on free-to-air TV in the UK since the 1993 World Cup final.

That presents an opportunity that is not lost on Knight or her squad, to rebuild some of the momentum of the T20 Women’s World Cup, which culminated more than 86,000 fans watching Australia defeat India in the final at the MCG in March, shortly before the pandemic closed down international sport and prompted many countries around the world to go into lockdown.

Joking that the “weather owes us one” after their T20 World Cup semi-final against India was washed out, allowing India to progress on the strength of finishing top of their group, Knight said (Continued on page 19)

Friday September 18, 2020

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“Never got money given by the GoG for World title” - Vivian Harris - now owns Restaurant in Florida

By Sean Devers One of six boxers to win world titles for Guyana including the two females, Shondell Alfred and Gwendoline O’Neil, 42 yearold Vivian ‘Vicious’ Harris now resides in the sunshine state of Florida, USA where he owns a restaurant. Harris migrated to the USA in 1993.

Harris, one of two brothers (the other, Wayne Harris) to challenge for World titles, grew-up in National Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown and is the son of Boxing Promoter, Herman Harris.

Inspired by the late Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis, who won Guyana’s first World title in 2001 and Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite who won World titles before him, Harris would beat Cuban Diobel Hurtado by TKO on October 19, 2002 to capture the WBA Junior Welterweight title in Houston Texas He went on the defend that title three times in the next two years with the last fight resulting in a loss to Columbian, Carlos Maussa.

Gary Sinclair who defeated Cassius Baloyai in South Africa in July 2006 is the last Guyanese male to win a World title.

Harris made his Pro debut November 4, 1997 when he knocked out Levi Long in the first minute of first round and retired on July 21 2018 after defeating De Marcus Corley at the fexExForum, Memphis Tennessee, USA and his Pro record reads: 48 fights 33 wins, 12 losses 2 draws 1 no contest 19 KOs. As an Amateur, Harris

won the Metro Championships in 1995 before winning New York Golden Gloves in 1997 and had 45 wins and five loses with 32 of his victories coming by way of Knock-outs.

Born June 17, 1978, Harris, one of 10 siblings, including four sisters, attended South School before passing his common Entrance Exams to go to St Mary’s High school before moving to Lodge Community High. Harris explained how he became a boxer.

“When I was in South School my brothers were boxing so I used to take their boxing gloves to school but then I started playing soccer (football) at Lodge Community High. So soccer was my first sport before a Coach invited me to Gym and that’s how I became a boxer, Harris remembered.

“I remember when I was training in the Gym and looking good and one of the Coaches asked ‘who was this kid’ and I told him my name.

He said Oh you are from the Harris family. At that time my dad was a boxing promoter and my brother (Wayne) was a National champion.

He first joined the Gym at the National Sports Hall (now renamed the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall) and Cliff Anderson was his first Coach. He moved to Kanchie’s Gym in Albouystown (Six Heads Gym) before going to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Gym where he did most of his training.

“I watch a lot of sports and I respect everybody’s ability to do what they like but I don’t

have a favorite sportsman.

My favorite boxer is my brother Wayne and myself. I also admired Tito Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. I tried to take little things from them and put into my fighting when I was a professional boxer, said Harris who informed that he loves spending time with his beautiful wife who he has been with for 22 years (married for 12years) and his three kids aged 22, 17 and 10.

While he has a house and business in Florida where he lives with his wife and kids, Harris said his eldest son from a previous relationship, resides in New York with his mother. Harris stated that because he loved boxing and was happy doing it, he never had any challenges in the fistic sport and is thinking of opening a Gym. “I believe that for a boxer to move to the international level and win a world title they have to leave Guyana and come to the US where they can train in a professional system.

There is a lot of corruption in the sport in Guyana because the people (officials) there only think of themselves and about money.

There is nothing wrong thinking about money for yourself but you must have a plan to make things happen, put things together and make the right choices so you can get success out of it, but they are not thinking about that.

Most of the Administrators, Managers and Promoters are not Professional in Guyana and I have no respect for them…I am sorry to say that,” lamented Harris. He further stated that one of main the difference with boxers now

Indian High Commissioner Dr. K. J. Srinivasa urges E’bo Eagles CC to focus on Education Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J Srinivasa told members of the recently formed Essequibo Eagles Cricket Club (ECCC) to focus on their education as part of their allround development.

Dr. Srinivasa paid a visit to the club which is based at the Imam Bacchus Cricket ground Affiance, Essequibo Coast, on Sunday last. He told the youths that while they are looking to pursue a career in cricket, it is vital for them to have a back-up plan.

“Sometimes during the selection process things go haywire and players miss out on opportunities, so it is important for you to have

something else to rely on,” he was quoted as saying.

He also encouraged the members to remain disciplined and strive to become good ambassadors of the sport while pledging assistance.

Following a cultural presentation which was done by members of the club, the diplomat was accompanied by the manager of the club Rakesh Ramballi to various parts of the Coast. Rakesh Ramballi expressed delight to host Dr. Srinivasa and said the youths were inspired by his remarks.

The ECCC, which is an arm of the Mahadeo Foundation in collaboration with the Ramballi Family, was formed in December

2019 and has 31 members.

The Mahadeo Foundation which is based at Turkeyen, is a non-governmental organisation that renders assistance to young athletes and the needy across Guyana. Chairman of the Club Harrischan Ramballi told Kaieteur Sport that they decided to form the club in order to keep the youths meaningfully occupied and to give them the necessary exposure which can help in their development.

He informed that they would take part in cricket competitions and matches in and out of Essequibo while former Essequibo batsman Dinesh Joseph would conduct training sessions.

and in his days is that they had more opportunities to train in the US in a professional environment when was a youngster.

“If the young ones don’t get out of Guyana, I am sorry to say, nothing is going to happen for them because there is little respect for each other in Guyana. It’s important to get to the Olympics, it gives you recognition, it gives you sponsorship and it gives you the right promoter. You get a lot of backings to take you to a different level when you come back from the Olympics and that’s good.

Going to the Olympics gives you more leverage to get a contract faster. But once you can fight, you fight and it does not make a big difference if you go to the Olympics or not” continued Harris, who said he has stopped following boxing in Guyana.

Harris said winning a World title was a dream come true and informed that it was for his dad.

“My brother fought Reggie Johnson for the World title and he did not become champion of the world and I wanted to it for my dad since that was his dream promoting fights. That was a great accomplishment for me and my entire family. My dad was a boxing promoter and could

say he had world Champion son.

I was proud to bring a world title for my Country since, before 2001; Guyana never had a world title so when we started becoming Champions of the world I wanted to be a part of it.

When Six Heads and Big Truck won world tittles I knew that I had to win one too. It was for my country, family and my dad and it was good for my career too,” disclosed Harris.

The talented pugilist has not returned to his homeland since October 2002 when he won the World title.

“When I became World Champion I came back home for the celebrations but have not gone back since then because they (boxing officials) robbed me of my money that the Government give me. A lot of things they did to me, like I said they don’t care about nobody.

They did not give me all the money that the Government give to me. The Government give me $5 million dollars and they only give me US$5,000 and after that I figured that Guyana was not somewhere I wanted to be. Yeah I will go back but I am not thinking of that right now. My focus is in America right now with my wife and my kids” said Harris.

The former World

Champion feels that if they did this to him they will do it to a lot of other fighters. “Look what they did to (Clive) Atwell when he went to Mexico.

Everybody that is in this boxing business in Guyana needs to stop robbing the Guyanese fighters. That’s why people don’t want to be a part of their nonsense and it’s hard to come back and do business in Guyana because they are only looking for today and care not about tomorrow” Harris informed.

Harris thanked God, his wife, the promoters who got him the World Championship fight, his dad his brothers and sisters and his trainers. His advice to young boxers is pick the right trainers, watch lots of fights, always stay in the Gym, stay in condition, eat the right things, stay away from alcohol and drugs and stay focused.

“I want to thank my fans in Guyana, my fans around the World who supported me. I want to tell the kids of my country that anyone can make it in this world it’s just putting God first.

If I can do it anyone who works hard enough in any sports can be successful at internationally and they are prepared to make the sacrifices to stay fit and improve their physical and mental skills” Harris concluded.

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Friday September 18, 2020

The odds may not be in CSK’s favour, but MS Dhoni never cared for them anyway ESPNcricinfo - MS Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings’ Dad’s Army: here we go again. Probably for one final time before this group is disbanded ahead of the scheduled mega auction in 2021.

Super Kings were once pilloried for packing their squad with players above 30 - and some even above 35 but they proved that experience matters even in T20 cricket by marking their return from a two-year suspension in 2018 with their third title. In 2019, Shane Watson - bloodied knee and all - took Super Kings to within two runs of their fourth title.

The Covid-19 pandemic has struck the world since, Dhoni has retired from international cricket, and the Super Kings’ slow-moving legs may have gotten even slower.

Their most experienced player Suresh Raina and another IPL stalwart Harbhajan Singh have both pulled out of the tournament, citing personal reasons.

Their first-choice seamer Deepak Chahar has recovered from coronavirus and has rejoined the Super Kings camp, but Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Maharashtra and India A batsman who had been talked up as Raina’s replacement at No.3, is yet to clear the two mandatory Covid-19 tests.

Super Kings’ designated death bowler Dwayne Bravo is coming into the IPL, having not bowled in the CPL final because of a knee complaint while Dhoni himself hasn’t played competitive cricket since that World Cup 2019 semi-final against New Zealand.

There are more questions facing the team management ahead of their IPL 2020 campaign. Can Ambati Rayudu do the job at No. 3?

Can they leave out IPL 2019’s highest wicket-taker Imran Tahir in favour of a two-in-one player like Mitchell Santner and also play Piyush Chawla in the XI? Is there room for Sam Curran or Josh Hazlewood? Can Karn Sharma or the uncapped R Sai Kishore help plug the Singh-sized hole?

Can Chahar still be effective after recovering from injury and then Covid19? If the UAE pitches aren’t as slow and spin-friendly as expected, can this attack adapt on the fly once again like they did in Pune in 2018?

Can the older players hang onto their catches and not

give up too many runs on the field?

Dhoni is no stranger to chaos, but this one seems to be of the highest order. Super Kings, however, haven’t (yet) called for replacements for Raina or Singh. They just don’t like making changes and prefer continuity - even off the field. When their home games were moved out of Chepauk to Pune because of the Cauvery river water dispute in 2018, it is believed that their team bus in Chennai and their usual bus driver were also shifted to Pune.

Now, though, solutions might be a little more complicated. Perhaps the most important problem is the No. 4 slot - and the answer might be for Dhoni to push himself up the order and take charge of the innings after Watson, Faf du Plessis, and Rayudu. During Super Kings’ title win in 2018, he largely batted at No.5 or No.6, but now with Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav also rusty and nowhere near their best form, the onus might be on Dhoni to bat at No.4 even though he’s a notoriously-slow starter, particularly against spin. In 86 T20s at No.4, Dhoni has struck at 142.87 and his strike rate at No.5 (142.02) is similar after 97 T20s in that position.

Are those hands still fast?

Is that troublesome back holding up well? In the March camp earlier this year in Chennai, Dhoni tested them out by keeping at the nets something that was rare even at the India nets - and also launched five leg-side sixes off five balls. It was a throwback to the days at the Chepauk nets when he would treat Muttiah Muralitharan and R Ashwin with similar disdain. In IPL 2018, some of that big-hitting was on display when Dhoni went after an attempted wide yorker from Mohammed Siraj and scythed it flat over point for six in Bengaluru. Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming called it “one of the top-three shots” he had ever seen. However, it remains to be seen if Dhoni can reprise that power-hitting after a prolonged, pandemicinduced break.

Batting brawn aside, Dhoni’s strength is his leadership and Super Kings will bank on his brains and instinct to mask the absence of their other key players. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Michael Hussey, Super Kings’ batting coach, explained how Dhoni brings the best out of his

team-mates in the IPL. “I think he has a fair understanding of how a winning team works and how to put together a winning team,” Hussey had said.

“Even if you have had a number of innings when you haven’t performed, he would still keep picking you and showing that faith in you.

That gives you enormous faith in yourself… You believe that you want to go out there and play for him.”

Take Chahar’s example.

He’s a player who has thrived under Dhoni’s captaincy at Super Kings and is now a world-record holder. At Rising Pune Supergiant, Fleming had initially identified Chahar as a batting allrounder after he had struck the ball cleanly at practice.

However, injuries meant Chahar could play only five matches across two seasons in 2016 and 2017.

Dhoni, though, brought him into the Super Kings setup in 2018 and used him as a swing bowler in the Powerplay. In 2019, Chahar doubled up as their death bowler when Bravo was injured. In 2018 in Pune, Dhoni had also used Chahar as a pinch-hitter at No.6 to surprise Kings XI Punjab.

In the same season in the qualifier against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Dhoni didn’t use his premier offspinner Singh at all, despite the presence of three left-handers in the opposition’s top five. Super Kings still came away with a two-wicket victory and made the final. Some of Dhoni’s decisions defy data and popular opinion, but they bring results for Super Kings.

It was Dhoni who plumped for experience when Super Kings put their squad together for their comeback in 2018. That experience enabled them to beat the odds in 2018 and almost repeat the feat in 2019.

After that crazy final in 2019, Fleming admitted that Super Kings would have to “recreate” their ageing side at some point. Dhoni will turn 40 next year, but N Srinivasan, the vice-chairman and managing director of India Cements, owners of the Super Kings franchise, has reiterated that he will be retained by them ahead of the big auction planned for 2021.

So, IPL 2020 could well be Dhoni’s last ride with Super Kings’ Dad’s Army. The build-up has been bumpy, but if Dhoni shakes off the rust swiftly, things could end smoothly, just like 2018.

Kaieteur News

Friday September 18, 2020

PAGE 27

We’re lucky to have Osaka as a leader, says King London (Reuters) - Women’s tennis is very fortunate to have U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka as its new figurehead, according to one of the sport’s greatest trailblazers Billie Jean King.

Not only did the 22-year-old Japanese player win a second title at Flushing Meadows last week, she also became a champion for equality, taking a lead in highlighting racial injustice.

The 76-year-old King likens Osaka’s offcourt stance to that of the Original Nine, a group of players led by King who fought tirelessly to start a professional women’s tennis tour, which in turn led to the creation of the WTA in 1973.

“She is already huge on and off the court.

She is very humble and really looks at you when you talk to her and takes in the information and comes up with an authentic response,” King said of Osaka, whose mother is Japanese and father Haitian.

“In many ways Naomi is a product of the Original Nine. Think about that, she is what we fought for. That if you’re good enough you will have a place to compete, wherever you are from. “Naomi is a product of our wishes and dreams.”

Osaka instigated a one-day shutdown of the Western and Southern Open the week before the U.S. Open, pulling out of her semifinal in protest at the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Before each of her seven matches at the U.S. Open she wore face masks printed with the names of Black Americans who have suffered racial injustice in the U.S. Already a sporting icon, Osaka’s fight for equality has focussed even more attention on her, but King believes she can shoulder the responsibility of being a voice for tennis.

“She seems to be able to compartmentalise things and she cares deeply about what is happening around her and that will keep her focussed,” King told Reuters ahead of an ITF announcement that the Fed Cup was being re-named the Billie Jean King Cup in honour of her achievements on and off court.

Giro Rosa leader Van Vleuten involved in heavy crash in final moments of stage 7. Getty Images

Giro Rosa:

Race leader Annemiek van Vleuten taken to hospital after stage seven crash Naomi Osaka “She is fantastic for the sport. But don’t forget Serena (Williams) and Venus also spoke out and continue to speak out for women of colour and Venus fought for equal prize money. “People forget because they go on to the new one. But Naomi is really special and I really think she will be an amazing leader through the years because she cares.

“We are very fortunate to have her in our sport.”

King has long wanted the WTA and men’s ATP Tour to combine to create one body, and has watched recent developments in which world number one Novak Djokovic has formed a breakaway players’ union with interest. She believes the sport’s various organisations should unite.

“I’ve always been a team’s person,” King said. “I think together we are stronger. My wish will always be that we are one association. I’m not sure about the Djokovic split. I’m not sure it’s going to happen. But I just hope the ATP and WTA get together. It would be great. This could drive it, I don’t know.”

Fed Cup to be re-named Billie Jean King Cup London (Reuters) Almost 60 years after Billie Jean King helped the United States win the inaugural Fed Cup, the team event is being re-named in honour of the greatest trailblazer in women’s tennis.

The competition, revamped this year to feature a 12-nation finals week to rival the men’s Davis Cup, would from 2021 be known as the Billie Jean King Cup, the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Te n n i s Federation (ITF) said in a statement.

T h i s y e a r ’s f i n a l s , scheduled for Budapest in April, were postponed for a year because of the

coronavirus pandemic.

King, a 12-times Grand Slam singles champion and the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association, said she was “humbled” to have the competition named after her. “ Ve r y p r o u d , v e r y humbled,” the 76-year-old

told Reuters by telephone. “I keep thinking it’s a dream.

And then I start thinking about what an opportunity this is to help the game grow globally. “(The Federation Cup) was 63 years behind the (Continued on page 19)

BBCsport - Giro Rosa leader Annemiek van Vleuten was taken to hospital after crashing in the finale of stage seven. The world champion, 37, fell in the last 500m alongside Mitchelton-Scott team-mate Amanda Spratt of Australia and Dutch compatriot Marianne Vos. All three riders finished the stage but Van Vleuten and Spratt went to hospital to have their injuries examined. The stage was won

by Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky, with Britain’s Lizzie Deignan second and Kasia Niewiadoma in third.

Two-time winner Van Vleuten leads

Poland’s Niewiadoma by one minute 48 seconds overall, with Anna van der Breggen five seconds further back. But Van Vleuten’s participation in the final two stages is now in doubt, with the world champion only able to have one hand on the handlebars over the line after appearing to injure her left wrist in the crash.

Van Vleuten is also hoping to defend her world title at next week’s Road World Championships in Imola. Friday’s (today) stage eight of the Giro Rosa is a hilly 91.5km course from Castelnuovo della Daunia to San Marco la Catola.

Indian High Commissioner Dr. K. J. Srinivasa (8th left) with members of the Essequibo Eagles CC at Imam Bacchus ground on Sunday last.

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Indian High Commissioner Dr. K. J. Srinivasa urges E’bo Eagles CC to focus on Education Stafanie Taylor © ICC

Harris (right) stopped Hurtado to capture WBA 140-pound title.

“Never got money given by Vivian the GoG for World title” Harris England, - now owns Restaurant in Florida West Indies Women will support Black Lives Matter during T20I series

England Women’s captain Heather Knight returned to individual training in June Getty Images

Danny “Bhoy” O’Connor, 23-2 (7), of Framington, MASS, was upset by former WBA light welterweight champion “Vicious” Vivian Harris, 31-9-2 (19).

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