Kaieteur News

Local Content Policy K NEWS being crafted to include ...since Guyana cannot develop with Diaspora size of current population - Pres Ali

Saturday Edition

AIETEUR

September 25, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 36

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $80

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Online readership yesterday, 86,769

Minister Bharrat says Govt. committed to net zero emissions by 2050 p.3

- but racing ahead with ExxonMobil's The protest continues “carbon bomb” projects

for change Cop robbed at Neighbour saves to the Exxon knifepoint of p. children from fire while $12,000 phone,28 contract. mother visited school police uniform p.

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GDF rank under close arrest for beating girlfriend with rolling pin p.

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Govt. spending more Fisherman remanded p. than US$5000 to 12 p. 25 for killing at treat each COVID-19 patient - Health Minister Vreed-en-Hoop stelling

Govt. hauls in delinquent oil companies for violating ...ordered to abide by Guyana workers' rights Labour Laws, Constitution p.2

Donald Ramotar and Robert Persaud Gave away Oil Blocks and on Kaieteur Robert is back in control of our resources @11:00hrs Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Saturday September 25, 2021

Govt. hauls in delinquent oil companies for violating workers' rights ...ordered to abide by Guyana Labour Laws, Constitution

M

inister of L a b o u r , J o s e p h Hamilton, recently hauled in oil companies and ordered in no uncertain terms, that they abide by the Guyana Constitution and the country's Labour Laws.

This course of action by the administration, comes on the heels of formal complaints lodged by the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union (GAWU) Oil and Gas Branch, which had complained to the Minister in September last, that “firms operating in the sector through varying measures were seeking to dissuade their workers from becoming unionised.”

The GAWU Oil and Gas

Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton, hauls in delinquent oil companies Branch had contended that the policies of firms were, “from our perspective, an attempt to undermine workers' rights, perpetuate exploitative practices, and seek to underpay and overwork them.”

According to the Union, “It was disturbing for GAWU that though workers have won the right to belong to Unions, local and foreign firms alike were seeking every conceivable means to attack that right. We held the restriction of workers freedom to association was part of a wider policy to trample on workers' rights generally towards engaging them in oppressive conditions in attempt to enrich the owners.”

The union, as such, contends that the denial of workers freedom of association was a blatant violation of Guyanese constitutional right to belong to trade unions.

“It contravened the Trade Union Recognition Act. And it was a clear departure from the spirit and intent of ILO Convention 87. It represented, in our view, a highly detestable act and one which GAWU was deeply bothered about.”

Kaieteur News

understands that the Ministry of Labour recently informed GAWU that the (delinquent) companies will r e m o v e t h e o ff e n s i v e elements from its paraphernalia. In its statement to the press it was noted that the Union has informed the workers of this victory and are heartened that workers' rights were safeguarded.

According to GAWU, “We see the outcome as a dent in the armory of the oilocracy and firms are not as invincible as they may wish to believe.”

Only recently, the union had cause to lament the working conditions being experienced by some Guyanese employed in the industry and it was highlighted that in some cases that employees who are highly skilled and recipients of specialised training are paid at the national minimum wage of $255 per hour.

Contrastingly and “to i l l u s t r a t e t h e preposterousness, a school cleaner presently receives around $403 per hour,” the union highlighted.

To this end, the union body emphasised that while (continued on page 8)

Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Minister Bharrat says Govt. committed to net zero emissions by 2050 - But racing ahead with ExxonMobil's “carbon bomb” projects

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n his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, reiterated the government's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. This ambitious but necessary goal was pledged by world leaders, including Guyana, as part of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

“We meet at a critical time when the need to ensure access to affordable and clean energy for all cannot be understated.

The transition to clean energy is a critical component to ensure the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and reducing global emissions, which are required under the Paris Agreement on climate change… We are also fully supporting the commitment of net zero emissions by 2050,” Bharrat explained in his address to the United Nations.

But even as the Natural Resources Minister, and by extension the Government, touts their fidelity to net zero e m i s s i o n s , t h e administration continues to give its blessings to ExxonMobil and its consortium of oil companies to steam ahead with “carbon bomb” projects.

In the offshore concession that keeps on giving - the Stabroek Block Exxon has been flaring gas above pilot levels onboard the Liza Destiny operations for some 20 months. In this period and according to figures supplied by the Environmental Protection A g e n c y ( E PA ) , i t i s estimated that Exxon has already flared some 14 billion standard cubic feet of Natural Gas. In simpler terms, the amount of gas flared by Exxon is equivalent to the removal of over 1.6 million acres of forest, identical to the size of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and a small fraction of Region Three (Essequibo IslandWest Demerara).

Liza Two and Payara Exxon's second and third development projects that are already in the pipeline -

will also be carbon bombs in Guyana.

Importantly, President of the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Carroll Muffett, had highlighted that more than 90 million tonnes of greenhouse gases will be emitted directly from those three projects alone.

To p u t t h i s i n t o perspective Muffett had said, it is tantamount to burning more than 260,000 hectares of Guyana's forests or practically removing close to 80% of Iwokrama, which comprises 371,000 hectares of forest.

Muffett had stated, “In the Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) Guyana submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Government of Guyana estimated that Guyana's forests store up to 350 tonnes of carbon per hectare.

Assuming the government's estimate is accurate, then, the direct emissions from the operation of those three wells alone would be equivalent to burning 260,000 hectares of Guyana's forests.”

He had added, that it is

important to recognise that the direct emissions from operating the wells will be dwarfed by the carbon dioxide emitted when the oil and gas they produce is burned. Muffett was keen to point out that those e m i s s i o n s w i l l a ff e c t Guyana, its people, and the planet.

The CIEL President said too, that one ought to bear in mind as well, that the case filed by the two Guyanese has not taken into consideration, the emissions released from flaring due to the Liza Destiny's gas compressor being plagued by faults.

Thus far, ExxonMobil has flared more than 14 billion cubic feet of gas since starting operations at the Liza Destiny vessel in 2019.

Furthermore, Muffett said the constitutional case which was filed by Quadad de Freitas, a 21-year old Indigenous tourist guide from the Rupununi Region, and Dr. Troy Thomas, a university lecturer and former president of the anticorruption organisation Transparency Institute Guyana, is critical as it is supported by a strong constitutional provision,

CIEL President, Carroll Muffett which vests an explicit responsibility in the State to ensure current and future generations can enjoy a healthy environment.

Also striking about the case, the CIEL President articulated, is the fact that it

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat

contains exhibits in the form of government documents, and quotes from officials such as Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, which all acknowledge the clear and present danger that is climate change.

Ultimately, the case, which is the first of its kind in the Caribbean, finds itself as part of a rising tide of action by citizens who are going to courts to accelerate action in response to the climate crisis, Muffett had stated.

GDF rank under close arrest for beating girlfriend with rolling pin

A

corporal, 26, of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was arrested on Thursday for allegedly beating his 23-year-old girlfriend with a rolling pin.

Kaieteur News understands that the couple got into an argument around 21:31hrs. on Wednesday at the corporal's home located at Tuschen on the East Bank of Essequibo (EBE), Region Three.

During the argument, the rank began to beat the woman, cuffing and kicking her

several times about her body.

The woman reportedly tried to defend herself with a rolling pin but the corporal relieved her of it. He then used the rolling pin to further assault the woman by lashing her to the forehead.

That same evening before heading to the hospital, his girlfriend headed to the Leonora Police Station where she lodged a report against the GDF rank.

Police arrested him the following day (Thursday) and placed him under close arrest.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

A certified conversation stopper The foreigners who come here to exploit our riches have shown that they can be every bit as smart as Guyanese political leaders, with a practice that they now adopt. What they were slow in picking up early, comes in a rush later, with no looking back after appreciating Guyana’s dark waters. It is stock in trade answer, one-size-fits-all response, drop-dead terminal, where all roads taken in this country lead: it is named CONFIDENTIAL. Politicians, from leaders to ministers in government to opposition members, all have prized secrets to be protected, to public servants with much to hide, to private and civil sector actors, it is the same dreary concealing story: CONFIDENTIAL. Ask a routine question that has no teeth, a fluffball one, like the friendly media brownnosers practice, and both politicians and public servants gush over about this much money being spent, that billion-dollar project and the other ones in the works, and something becomes immediately apparent. There is no stopping them from talking like a duck with diarrhea, since they all recognise an opportunity to aim high, and deliver self-serving propaganda. They have at their fingertips all kinds of numbers, any manner of big visions, on the issues and projects, which their dirty, grubby paws have not fastened upon, as yet. This is how they are with information, meaning, before the dirty, self-helping action begins to take place. The foreigners, no slouches themselves in the concealment department, quickly learn how business is done in Guyana, and what they can get away with, compliments of crooked politicians and their supporting cast of crooked handpicked cabal of rogues and scamps.

Thus, the foreigners come and adapt accordingly. They learn swiftly about the broad benefits of bringing up the protection of CONFIDENTIALITY. The Zijin Mining Group arrives in Guyana and plays the CONFIDENTIAL card. No time, no answer, no detail, no can do. Not even on basics, such as production targets, company prospects, leadership sentiment. It is a guaranteed showstopper. Zijin did it, Exxon gets Guyanese leaders to do it, the locals do. It is: CONFIDENTIAL, buddy; nothing doing.

CONFIDENTIAL bring all the probing, worrying questions to an abrupt stop. It is a long road, with many detours to divert those pressing for clarity, any degree of truth.

The first one goes like this: UNAVAILABLE. Since, the senior officers are always unavailable to furnish any muchneeded details, that is as good as neutralising all such alarming inquiries with a bolded big font stamp marked CONFIDENTIAL. There is no telling where these inquiries could lead, and before it is known, the horse is out the barn, the media has a field day, citizens are in an uproar, and leaders mortified. It is much better to let the proven wisdom of CONFIDENTIAL halt everything and all comers in their tracks.

This is why Guyana’s highest officeholder, its Head of State, a leader now recognised as an expert in delivering verbal balloons with little things and simple things gets all choked-up and tongue-tied when appealed to, or confronted with, issues that call for a straight answer. This is why Guyana’s clever Vice President, a former head of state himself of rather mean standing, also develops a powerful case of acute laryngitis, when gently pressed for the facts on oil or gold or governance. The man loses his voice, and those who question him wonder how they could have lost him, such a clean pair of heels he displays. It is the spectacle of this country’s top leaders, one elected by the people, who refuse to share or report any material information to the people. In a word, everything that matters is CONFIDENTIAL. But there is still one more twist to the Guyana CONFIDENTIAL soap opera. Because powerful politicians always have needy and greedy people serving at their beck and call, and dependent upon their whims and favours, they don’t have to do the dirty confidential deed.

They pass the order: go out there and don’t say a single word. Talk up a storm, but do not say a word that could return and haunt, or expose either ourselves or our friends.

CONFIDENTIAL, it is. It gets the job done a certain way. Any questions?

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

Euthanise Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) and replace it with a diversity implementation commission DEAR EDITOR, I have noticed an article, “ERC produces evidence of work done, but Speaker disappointed by lateness.”

Yippee, now President Ali has a blueprint for “One Guyana” thanks to the hard work of the ERC, which has received over a billion dollars since its inception!

The ERC must be the poster child for a failed Guyana constitutional commission. You can’t do any worse.

This year they received $221 million to do what?

What can they show for it?

Guyana is most divided as ever. Would it not have been better to pave the 20 streets in my Whim Village who voted overwhelmingly for the PPP/C? That would have been money well spent, and you would have something to show for it.

The failure of this Commission is not just the Chairman; it is a collective failure of the whole group.

None of these people should be in any future Commission, including the two members writing letters to the editor pretending as if they were the conscience of the group before this Commission expired.

I would say the new Government messed up

when one of its first acts was to approve money for this totally useless outfit.

Somebody, please put a sign on the door that says, “Dead, do not resuscitate.”

I will not forgive this Government if it allows this Commission to continue. To this group, St. Peter at the pearly gates would say, “skip purgatory, go straight to hell.” Speaker Nadir said, “Had I been a sitting elected member and I don’t see a report for the year prior, I would have been objecting to the budget for the next year.”

What Guyana needs is to replace the ERC with a “One G u y a n a Diversity/Affirmative Action Implementation Commission.”

The PNC should have no problem with that. Such a Commission must set specific annual targets and initiatives for ongoing diversification of state agencies, including the police, military, teaching, nursing, educational opportunities, etc.

What is their record?

Apart from awarding themselves six figure Christmas bonuses and other perks, in things that matter, the ERC has been missing in action. ERC

fiddled while West Berbice burned. For an organisation that should model diversity, the Secretariat staff is 75 percent of one ethnicity.

ERC was silent when Ms. Volda Lawrence uttered the worst statements anyone can make and which I think was the lowest point of the PNC’s reign - the “New Declaration of Sophia” – “The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I could give work to is PNC. And, right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC.” I may have missed it but do not recall the ERC denouncing this. And how about GECOM refusing to give details about their hiring practices and the ERC did nothing? During the five months of attempted PNC rigging, ERC was silent.

The Chair must explain why just after the first fraudulent election results were announced and we were dealing with the rigging in court, that the Ministry of the Presidency released several pictures of the Chair ushering in Mr. Granger to the Chair’s birthday party at the Ramada. What message was being sent?

ERC Commissioner

Khan said, “I would like a serious government audit” and if possible, a direct audit from the Auditor General’s Office…In its current state, I am of the opinion, like most Guyanese, that the ERC has been a total letdown to the Guyanese nation and is not deserving of the funds they receive. In my opinion, they have accomplished very little. I believe what was done was insignificant and extremely limited to what could have been achieved.”

Blogger, ‘Letel Prek,’ said total bogus nonsense.

The ERC is a hypocritical group of individuals who have selectively decided which cases of ethnic discrimination lack merit or are meritorious based on political clouds and party affiliation. Hope the door don’t hit them on their way out.” Jaikarran Singh said, “Stop fooling Guyanese with rubbish just living off taxpayers who is suffering.”

“Rasta Man” said, “Definitely there is urgent need for an entirely new nonpolitical ERC with a chairman who is bold and impartial, outspoken, courageous, and fully conscious of his portfolio.”

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

Secret governance in an intensifying secret society DEAR EDITOR, Confirmation comes daily that the PPP/C expands secret governance in this country, which assumes the features of a secret society. It is where confidentiality is the standard use for everything, with nothing meaningful allowed to seep into the public domain; the same public, which has a right to know. The Vice President surrounds himself with followers, who would make secret societies like ISIS, Masons, and the Illuminati proud.Today, there is huge interest about massive fuel smuggling, with the public cheated by PPP loyalists and made to pay by cunning government leaders for the crimes of others. Yet, the GEA locks down information that the public needs to know. Who is involved? How much is the ‘leakage?’ How vast is the network and to where does it tier? Somebody from my church was made to pay for

his honesty and industry.

Lavoy Taljit disappeared; was made to for several long years now.

But, the GEA still settles for confidentiality. And these are the men that speak of integrity! Let discoveries be publicised; it is the people’s business, their debt, their right.A similar form of smuggling was/is alleged involving gold. But the smartest thing that Guyana’s largest political leader, and a ranking acolyte, could share is: confidential. People in the know, who were talking about the spectre of blacklisting, suddenly pretend at the dumbness of not knowing anything.

Except that they paint it with the eye shadow of ‘confidentiality.’

What kind of men are these?

As an aside, a Guyanese told me that PNC people are not being fired because they are black, but because they are leaking.

What is there to leak,

when everything is aboveboard? Also, should this be the national standard, then there would be no public servant around, since this has been the modus vivendi from the Burnham era.

If it could have happened then, and was welcomed by the PPP/C, what is wrong with it now, that intensifies the spreading fear that loose lips sink ships. If the ship is made of steely honesty, then talk as much as it pleases, because there is nothing to hide. Fuel smuggling and gold smuggling should

never rise to the level of national security secrets that have to be hidden away.Talk about the haste to hide, and there is the VP hiding in plain sight. Ask the master manipulator of messages any pointed question on oil, and he goes into hiding.

At least, he is slick enough to leave claims of confidentiality to lesser fry, who have to justify their existence daily.

Confidentiality ensures continuity in office for them. They get to live a longer (Continued on page 5)

Words must be transformed into cogent action DEAR EDITOR, The speaking blitz embarked upon by the Head of State on his sojourn to the land of opportunity, shows him to be in great form and stride.

It is hoped on return words would be transformed into cogent action. A good start to this would be the holding of a media briefing for pertinent information, questions, clarifications and explanations could be ventilated.

Sincerely Shamshun Mohamed

Saturday September 25, 2021

Agriculture Ministry must be commended for its efforts thus far DEAR EDITOR, Permit me a few lines to pen my opinion on the work of the Ministry of Agriculture thus far. Since August of 2020, the Ministry, under the stewardship of the Honourable, Zulfikar Mustapha, has seen a turnaround. There has been a remarkable transformation in terms of policies, execution and the overall management of the sector.

Minister Mustapha, a man known for being proactive since he served as Regional Chairman of Region Six, has in just over a year implemented the right managerial policies that have trickled down and impacted the lives of farmers across the country.

Because of his grassroot background and no-nonsense approach to tackling the inherited issues faced in the sector, Minister Mustapha must be commended for the positive direction the minis-

try is now headed in.

The overall vision of President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, for the agriculture sector is clear.

Guyana must be able to take its rightful place in the region when it comes to agriculture. Our food systems must be transformed to satisfy the regional demand for healthy food. Guyana has the land and other resources to do this and it is clear that the President and the Minister are working to ensure this is achieved.

The fact that the government was able to regain its leading role in CARICOM as it pertains to agriculture in less than a year in office clearly demonstrates that our regional leaders and policymakers are confident that Guyana has what it takes to lead the efforts to propel agriculture production, development and sustainability in

the hemisphere.

Our leaders have stressed the importance of having a thriving agriculture sector.

Being able to feed the citizens with wholesome food is of extreme importance. Our world is changing it is clear that our President and Agriculture Minister understand that.

In conclusion, I would like to once again commend the President and the Minister for the advances made thus far.

The task has not been easy, but the commitment of these gentlemen to ensuring our farmers have access to exceptional facilities and services, and that the best quality of food is available to our citizens lets me know that the sector is in the right hands.

Kudos!

Continue to serve with humility and dedication.

Yours sincerely, Ralph Fraser

Solar free-market possibilities are too numerous to mention DEAR EDITOR, Opinions about solar power have surfaced lately and though many writers have contributed considerably, I believe that the key ideas have barely had any time under the sun.

Persons keeping up with developments in the solar energy space may know that we are right now going through a paradigm shift in terms of the way we view the electrical grid - the new grid looks more like the Internet.

We may tend to think of the Internet by now, as a kind of stream, ‘piped’ to users from a central ’source.’

There is no such source.

Briefly put, people create networks for themselves.

These networks appear as organically, as rapidly and as pervasively as human settlements do. ISP’s eventually appear when users of these networks start to demand more bandwidth or as networks grow and become complicated.

Editor, Australia has embraced the battery network.

Homes and businesses in South Australia together pro-

duce so much electricity from rooftop solar, that they are considered one of the largest generators on Australia’s world-renowned interconnected grid!

Thanks to batteries, solar is now a baseline power source.

Senate Bill 99: The Community Energy and Resiliency Act of 2021, authored by Senator Bill Dodd of California, was heard on the senate floor and has passed through the first house of the legislature.

The idea behind this Act is that local government, with the assistance of the energy commission and the experts they qualify would conduct community-based participa-

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Kaieteur News

tory processes to identify threats and opportunities in energy resiliency.

These processes would elicit a set of projects that are specific enough to receive support when infrastructure funding starts coming.

Editor, solar free-market possibilities are too numerous to mention. First-movers in Guyana already know that self-generating is not selfish and the old adage, ‘the more the merrier’ rings true, as it does for the Internet.

Do we want a cheaper, more resilient supply of electricity in Guyana?

Perhaps it is time to take rooftop solar more seriously.

S i n c e r e l y , Emille Giddings

Secret governance in an intensifying secret ...

From page 4 bureaucratic life, and come up with more lies for coming days.

Thus, the confidentiality record gets played over and over, and to which Guyanese better get accustomed to what is a hit song, so popular is it in political and executive circles.

To President Ali, I say: this is not transparency, sir; this is a secrecy society.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Being vaccinated is still our only safeguard, still our only hope!

DEAR EDITOR, From indisputable evidence that is available to us, it has been proven that persons who are vaccinated stand a far higher chance of being protected against the deadly coronavirus disease.

Reports from all across the world have highlighted this fact. It is therefore advised that we get ourselves vaccinated at the earliest opportunity. Those who are opposed to the vaccination programme then need to rethink their position and come onboard with the health ministry and become immunized, while at the same time encourage others to do the same.

I am talking about encouraging persons to become fully vaccinated, when I say this I am not referring to taking the first dose only, but to get immunised with the full dose of the vaccines available. The point I am making

is vaccines help save lives, or at the least gives one the immunity to withstand the disease should they become stricken with the disease. Get yourself immunised should be the call to all across our country.

On that note I am asking that those responsible remove politics and religious fanaticism from the pandemic and get on board.

The coronavirus disease is not a political issue, neither is it a religious issue, it is a health issue, which means that it needs to stay in that domain.

Health issues have to be scientifically addressed or dealt with in a health context.

When you analyse the present situation in our country, you see a new precedent developing, that is, persons who are affected by the disease are claiming that they have been vaccinated and yet have come down with the dis-

ease. However, careful examination shows that these people have either had preexisting conditions or at the first signs of the virus would have rushed to get themselves immunised.

This in itself is dangerous, because it means that you have been a carrier all along and have intermingled with others of the same household and even other persons along the way. You certainly might have passed on the dreaded disease to others, which makes the pandemic even a greater threat to others. This puts a strain on the health sector while at the same time increases fear among the population.

My people please get yourselves immunised today, do not wait until it is too late, let us help stop the spread of this deadly disease.

Respectfully Submitted, Neil Adams

BRING MORE ICE!

DEAR EDITOR, Globally, we live in grim times: the pandemic, climate change, ecological disasters, rising geopolitical tension, economic meltdowns, poverty, wars, drugs, violent crime, etc. Still, I hope that there is time (and space) for some weekend levity.

Say what you will about former President Forbes Burnham, he had a sense of humour. Burnham once told my father a joke.

It went like this. In the colonial era (or was it shortly after Independence?) there was a Chief Justice (C.J.) who liked his ‘sauce.’ Purely as a descriptive label, he was ‘high coloured.’

Once, the C.J. was travelling to Berbice to try cases.

As befitting his high office, he and his entourage had an entire carriage on the train to themselves.

At their service, was an Indian gentleman from ‘the country.’ Let’s call him Singh.

In the carriage, Singh functioned as a butler of sorts. As the train rolled along, the C.J.

and his party imbibed. Liquor flowed like water. From time to time, the C.J. would say to Singh, “Bring more ice!” After several trips to bring ice to the now inebriated C.J., Singh said to him, “Sah, we running out of ice.” The C.J. became angry and snapped, “I said bring more ice!” Singh complied. After a few more trips, the C.J again said to Singh, “Bring more ice!”

Singh paused briefly, looked

at the C.J., raised his voice and said, “SAH! IF AH BRING MO ICE, THE DEAD GWINE SPOIL!” The colour drained from the C.J.’s face and he stopped drinking immediately.One of the morals of this story is that rural folk should not be underestimated. They may not speak the Queen’s English but they are very resourceful.

Yours faithfully, Sieyf Shahabuddeen

Christopher Ram clarifies DEAR EDITOR, I note with surprise your article in yesterday’s Kaieteur News captioned “Guyana risks losing oil revenues in NY Bank without legislation in force — Ram”. It is a reprise of a column I wrote in the Stabroek News of July 31 of this year.

In that column I set out three possibilities arising from the non-operationalising of the Natural Resources Fund Act passed by the previous Administration in the post-No Confidence Motion Parlia-

ment.

What makes your article all the more surprising is that it correctly identified those possibilities, none of which remotely suggests any loss of the money held in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as proceeds of royalties and Guyana’s share of profit oil.

While Kaieteur News is responsible for its own journalism, such journalism must itself be responsible.

Thank you for publishing this clarification.

Christopher Ram

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Kaieteur News

A transparent and effective investigation is needed DEAR EDITOR, I join with all those who have gone before me to express sympathy with the widow and offspring of the late Mr. Orin Boston, age 29, described as a businessman of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast. I also join with those like Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, former Coalition Minister; Mr. Roy Brummell, creative writer; and others who have demanded a transparent and effective investigation of the crime that has put an end to the young man’s life.

The AFC leader’s remarks and those of the family’s lawyer, Mr. Hughes, are instruc-

tive and leave little room for doubt. Mr. Ramjattan had held the police portfolio and knows what he is talking about.

For my part, I ask readers not to forget that, without investigation, something called “the police” had assured the public that Mr. Boston had been in a confrontation with the offending intruder.

It was left to the widow, in her sorrow, to point out that her husband had been shot in his bed.

It is interesting that up to the seventh day after the kickdown-the-door shooting by the police, the only new in-

formation given to the public is that the fatal incident included an “alleged” confrontation.

The political executive responsible for how state power is used has been reported as saying only that the investigation of the incident must be thorough.

Let us make sure, in the interest of justice, that this incident, unlike some wellknown incidents of the past, still unfinished, is not considered without reference to the relevant issue of redress or compensation.

Yours respectfully, Eusi Kwayana

How do you see Guyana Mr. President?

DEAR EDITOR, If I had to pen a letter to President Ali, then it would go like this. Dear President Ali, as you know Guyana stands at the precipice of becoming a country that we could only have dreamed of 50 years ago.

While there are those who think of this moment as a breakthrough of prosperity and a life of wealth for all, some see the future as grim.

Yet, there are other people who may prefer to leave it in the hands of God. My question to you is this: How do you see Guyana? Do you envision a Guyana where some relish in prosperity while the others suffer and their children left in perpetual debt?

Do you see a Guyana with justice for some and “just this” for others?

Do you plan and dream of a Guyana where only those with whom you share an af-

finity will prosper and thrive?

While I can venture into the world of sortilege to recognise your answer, I am no soothsayer.

I will rather live in the present and to let the future reveal than to wander in a dream state.

President Ali, I don’t know if the Quran has an equivalent verse as one found in the Bible.

The verse goes like this: where there is no vision, the people perish, but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

If there is an equivalent Sura, I would be interested in reading it.

My interpretation of this proverb is that a wise leader is one who recognises and follows the law, so do the people. And when woven together, therein, a sense of justice prevails.

President Ali, this I believe to be true. A just leader

would neither sit at the helm nor stand by and say nothing to those who are charged with executing the law choosing instead to execute its citizens.

I believe that a wise leader should ensure that the economy functions to encapsulate everyone.

I believe that a fair leader upholds public servants as much as sugar workers; nationals are uplifted as much as multinationals; contracts for cronies are counter balanced with standards, sans thumbs on the scales.

I will pray for you to be blessed, and, among other things, for you to remember the system. Remember daily, dear President, that thesis and antithesis creates the narrative. Remember that the leader sets the space for the narrative to be written, and all of us must coexist in this space.

As I close this letter, I am reminded that we all will not live forever.

This is no secret. However, what remains will be the story created for historians. President Ali, how do you want historians to read your narrative?

What stories do we want our grandchildren to tell their grandchildren about GT? Will it be one where you looked at the tyranny that trampled on your citizens, and you said nothing?

Will it be one where only those whom you aligned prospered, and you said nothing?

Will it be a record of war, which warped Guyana into a state of chaos, on your watch?

Only you know the answers to those questions.

Only you know if you see yourself as a transformative leader, a servant leader, or an effete leader.

You may see yourself as different; I see you making a difference. Only you know your narrative. Only you can tell your story.

Sincerely, Les Archer

Saturday September 25, 2021

APNUites practice the very things they condemned in opposition DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to Freddie’s column, “The Dominic Gaskin story: A curious inexplicability” (Sept. 7) wherein he explained why Mr. Gaskin is treated with deference and Indians like Vishnu Bisram, Freddie Kissoon himself, Ryhaan Shah and Ravi Dev are seen as inferior species and not treated with deference by the Creole (mulatto) elite and even darkskinned people. “Indian intellectuals are easy target for abuse” because of their ethnicity and colour.

As Freddie rightly stated, it is the psychology of the mind that people are enamoured by, attracted to, and respect light complexioned or Mixed-White race people (and of course Whites) who are viewed since early colonial time as superior beings. People are conditioned into that mode of thinking. It is so all over the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, India, North America. It is observed even at the village

level in India.

It should be noted that while Indian intellectuals, including Freddie, have been abused on social media by the privileged Creole class and those who lost political privileges from March 2020; they are admired and revered by the Indian community.

Freddie and a few other Indians are viewed as heroes for combating electoral fraud and for defending the Indian community against derision and an onslaught of physical and verbal attacks. Freddie and other regular Indian letter writers write things that are factual that others lack courage to say. By the way, the Creole or mulatto class not only has disdain for Indian intellectuals or intelligentsia, they also despise the Indian political leadership and others acquired status through hard work like newspaper publisher, Glenn Lall. The Creole elite also detest Indians who are opposed to the PPP. I note that several Indian intellectuals and activists like

Freddie, and including this writer, Ravi Dev, Baytoram Ramharack, etc. have engaged African intellectuals and activists to address the ethnic and political problems of the country. While Indians showed reverence and respect for them, they don’t reciprocate in kind. When in government, they return to Burnhamite ways.

While they would agree to power sharing and good governance when out of power, once in government, APNU (including WPAites) supported intellectuals forget those ideas. While in opposition, they fought against election rigging, when in government, they shamelessly closed their eyes to rigging.

In government, they embraced, practised, and supported the very things they condemned when they were in the opposition. And they ignored those of us who consistently championed equitable government.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Let the chips fall where they may DEAR EDITOR, Although I have an abiding interest in law enforcement, I was tempted not to get involved in the confabulation related to the killing by the police of Orin Boston at Dartmouth, Essequibo. However, an article on the front page of the Stabroek News, September 21, 2021 under the caption, “Police SOPs to be reviewed - Benn says during visit to Orin Boston’s family,” titillated me to join in the conversation.

The article did not mention which SOPs will be reviewed. Let me be pellucid.

There is no written SOP in place for the Police SWAT Squad. However, I wish to refer to a SOP, which is extremely relevant to the investigation of the killing of Orin Boston. It should be the guiding principles for the investigators. It is a necessary guide to be used to decide whether or not the fatal shooting of Orin Boston by the police was justified.

The SOP is entitled, “When you may fire” and it relates to the use of firearms by members of the Guyana Police Force.

It was first published in the Police Force Orders 33/69 and then enshrined in the Police Standing Orders No 18 paragraph 31. The Force saw it necessary to republish this extremely important Police Force Orders on numerous occasions. Here it is: (1) When you are attacked and you apprehend serious danger to your person and that you are unable

to defend yourself by any other means, (2) When the property you are ordered to defend is attacked and you are unable to safeguard it by any other means, (3) When an attack is made to rescue persons in lawful custody, (4) When anyone is found committing or about to commit a felony, burglary, store breaking, house breaking, and does not desist after warning and cannot be deterred or arrested by any other means, (5) To prevent a Police Station or Police Outpost from being over-run, (6) When so ordered by a superior in rank.

These guiding principles have remained pristine for over 52 years.

It is apposite for me to mention that a Police Standing Orders Review Team commissioned by Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, DSS, DSM and led by the astute Paul Slowe, which included myself, and other senior retired police officers looked at international best practices, reviewed the Police Standing Order in question and submitted it to the Police for possible implementation. Unfortunately, the police did not adopt it. Instead, for our excellent review we were rewarded with a phantom charge.

I understand that the Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the killing of Orin Boston. I hope that among other things they will be guided by “When you may fire.”

On the other side of the coin I have not heard any-

thing from the Police Complaints Authority in relation to the supervision of the investigation. Perhaps, the Authority is quietly investigating. Section 14 (1) of the Police Complaints Authority Act, Chapter 17:02 empowered the Authority thus, “The Authority shall supervise the investigation of every complaint or information of the nature referred to in Section12.” Section 12 states, “This part shall apply in relation to any complaint or information that any member of the Force has unlawfully caused the death of any person or has committed any offence referred to in Section 48, 49, or 50, Section 55 read with Section 56, or Section 57 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act or such other offence as may be specified by the Minister by order.”

I am confident that the Authority will conduct an impartial investigation like it did a few years ago after the unlawful killing of Lallbachan whilst in custody at Suddie Police Station lockup, Essequibo Coast.

In its report, the Authority hammered policemen and women involved from top to bottom and slammed senior officers who attempted to cover up the various elements of the crime and serious breaches of discipline that flowed.

Wow! Let the chips fall where they may. Let the blow blow, blow.

Yours respectfully, Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

T N U L B . . .

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

There are many issues in society that compete for the attention of a government. However, what must be foremost in the mind of any solid government are its sources of revenue and its debt level.

These are important since much like a business, they help to guide the decisions that are made in order to ensure that the nation thrives.

With the colossal debt being racked up in anticipation of increased oil production, it is high time that the leaders of this nation pay close attention to their financial decisions so that Guyana is not left in an eternal debt trap.

PAGE 07

Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Persons with heart disease Guyana committed to more susceptible to sustainable and equitable COVID-19: Cardiologist

T

hough it is established that heart disease is the leading cause of death in Guyana, it should be known too, that persons who suffer from this illness are at a higher risk of experiencing a more severe form of the COVID-19 disease.

This is according to Head of Medical Services and Cardiology at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Dr. Mahendra Carpen.

Dr. Carpen was at the time speaking with media operatives at the hospital's Resources Centre about the disease and the impact the virus can have on persons who suffer from the disease.

Noting that this cause is a primary problem in the country, he shared that there are several factors that contribute to it, some of which he said, “we can change and some we can't.”

Some of these factors he noted include high level of diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol problems just to

Head of Medical Services and Cardiology at the GPHC, Dr. Mahendra Carpen name a few. Another factor is poor diet.

“And then of course our primary healthcare system needs a lot of improvement,” he mentioned while adding, “In Guyana, unfortunately the culture is, you don't see a doctor until you get sick, and by that time, some damage would have already done.”

Dr. Carpen said based on his observation of the data emanating for the COVID19 ICU every day, it is evident that persons with heart disease are at risk given.

When asked what heart disease patients can do to safeguard themselves against the pandemic, the Head Cardiologist said, persons must be more vigilant by means of not getting exposed to the virus, as well as control their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and do regular checkups.

Another defence he mentioned that could protect them is the “vaccination programme.”

“It doesn't matter which vaccine you are talking about. All of the vaccines that have reached phase three of clinical trials, and have been approved for human consumption, have shown a remarkable safety profile, and a remarkable efficacy profile,” the doctor assured persons.

transformation of its food system - Pres. Ali

P

resident, Irfaan Ali, told the United Nations Food Systems Summit (FSS) on Thursday afternoon that Guyana is committed to ensuring there is sustainable and equitable transformation to its food production system.

The President, through a video-recorded message to the Summit, said that Guyana's transformation efforts are rooted in the country's commitment to the 2030 Agenda.

“We are also wedded to the goals of ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for everyone, the reduction of on-farm and post-harvest waste and loss and the implementation of a circular food economy.”

The President said the country is also focused on de-risking the agriculture sector, implementing the use

President Irfaan Ali

of innovative technologies, developing climate-smart practices, and increasing investments in disaster preparedness and response.

In addition, President Ali said that his Government is also promoting greater food security by investing in research and development, specifically in the development of climateresilient crops and varieties.

Efforts are also in place to diversify agricultural production and catalyse agro-processing, while investments will be made to agricultural-supportive infrastructures such as drainage and irrigation, farm-to-market roads and packaging facilities.

President Ali also noted that Guyana would seek to consolidate its National School Feeding Programme with nourishing meals.

“We are strengthening the linkages and synergies between consumers and food

producers, so as to deliver safe, healthy and nutritious school meals.

This will also help provide small farmers with a guaranteed market for a portion of their produce.

The President also highlighted the connection between climate change and food security and pointed to the need for finances for mitigation and adaptation purposes.

He said that ensuring the viability of the food system is central to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“As part of our efforts to a c c e l e r a t e t h e implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in the Decade of Action for delivery of the SDGs, this year's focus on food will play no small part in the global recovery efforts.”

The President further explained that the reversal of development gains, the frequency of extreme weather and economic contraction are some of the daunting challenges confronting both the developed and developing countries and that the only difference lies in the nations' capabilities to respond to the challenges.

“This Summit can help narrow these gaps. It also presents an opportunity to contribute to efforts to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, address the climate crisis, and promote resilient and sustainable futures. By focusing on solutions and transformative actions, we are collectively laying a good foundation to sustain momentum on food security.”

Govt. hauls in delinquent oil companies for...

From page 2 “a great deal of attention is paid to Guyanese participation in the sector, and the statistics may appear impressive on the surface, the reality is that oil sector workers are confronted by exploitative practices and, at times, demeaning relations.”

The union reiterated in its public missive yesterday that it “remains available to

all workers who continue to confront exploitative practices and unlawful measures.

Indeed, we stand in solidarity with the workers who seemingly are seen as a commodity which is cheaply available and easily replaceable rather than human beings whose efforts realise billions in profits for the owners and their hangers-on.”

Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

The West Indies Squad T

he West Indies team selected for the T20 Cricket World Cup is being severely criticised. This is not the first time that this has happened but it is hard to recall so much criticism levelled on any other team, which the selectors had picked at any time in the history of West Indies cricket.

The Chairman of the selectors, Roger Harper, is one of the most knowledgeable persons in the game and is tactically sound when it comes to red ball cricket. When he was made Vice Captain of the West Indies senior team, the then captain, Richie Richardson, had praised Harper's tactical knowledge of the game.

The squad selected for such an intense tournament requires two qualities: form and balance. In addition, the squad should be judged in terms of the form of the players and the balance of the team.

In cricket, it is said that form is temporary but class is permanent. A player may go through bad patches but once the class is there the form will come back.

When selectors have to pick a touring team, they often have to strike a balance between the 'form' player and the 'class' player.

The player who has form is likely to sustain that form for a few series but the out of touch class player does not always regain form quickly.

This is why even the classiest of players are

Dem

boys seh...

D

eh gat a story in de news bout a man who drop dead after downing a 1.5 litre bottle soda in 10 minutes.

Dem boys had to laugh when dem read dat because dem boys seh dat is joke.

Dem boys remember when cockeye Madee, drink two bottles soda, a beer and down 10 tennis rolls in two minutes at ImPac shop on Camp Street.

Guyana used to and still gat some men who could down food. But Madee couldn't eat with a man who dem used to call Bertie

sometimes dropped when they have an extended run of bad form.

The former West Indies captain, Alvin Kallicharran, once had the distinction of never being dropped from a team. When he did, it was for good and this all resulted from a bad patch of form, believed to have been associated with shoulder problems.

Kallicharran was one of the greats of the game.

Lawrence Row rated him along with Viv Richards and Gary Sobers as among the greatest players of the game.

Richards himself said Kallicharran was a complete batsman.

However, Kallicharran had a dip of form and then got injured in a regional tournament, and he was dropped from the team. He was a class player and his form deserted him for a couple of series and he was dropped.

Selectors tend to persist with the class players because they know that eventually the class will prevail over form. The West Indies persisted with Carl Hooper despite him underperforming early in his career. The class was there and it was only a matter of time before it was translated into form.

But the selectors would know also from experience that form does not return overnight. Therefore, an out of form player in the justconcluded Caribbean Premier League is not likely to return to form in time for

the World T20 tournament.

The out of form players, Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons, should not have been selected. There is not enough time for them to return to form before and during the tournament.

A team also needs balance. The selectors appeared to want to strike this balance but the selection of Gayle distorts the balance of the team. If Gayle plays, he should play for his explosive opening batting.

But the team already has three openers in Lewis, Simmons and Fletcher.

Gayle therefore would be playing to anchor the middle order but he is not suited to this role and his task is made more difficult by his recent poor form.

Shimron Hetmyer is likely to come at number three. But who will follow at four? The selectors appear to have opted for Royston Chase who is a bowling allrounder but who was explosive in his batting during the CPL. His selection creates some problems of balance in the team because there is Fabian Allen and Hayden Walsh who are batting and bowling all-rounders respectively and excellent “finishers' – a department in which the team is packed with the likes of Allen, Russell, Pooran and Pollard.

Oshane Thomas has been selected for the cutting edge he brings to the pace bowling department. The selectors got it right with him.

Romario Shepherd is not a

Some people does it just fuh styles Sammon. He used to live pun D'Urban Street and anything yuh put in front ah he, de man used to clean it up, belch and ask if yuh nah gat more.

When de man guh to dem Indian wedding house, he alone does eat out one ah dem big pot wah dem cook rice in. And he used to seh dat is he fuss lash.

So don't fuh one minute think Neil Off-de-Mark is wan 'eat' man. He like food but he stomach can't tek off de quantity wah some ah dem old timers use to eat.

Deh gat some people just eat fuh glutton sake. Dem does see food and whether

dem belly full or nat dem gan eat it.

It make dem boys remember de story bout de man wah go in wan old lady house and see some peanuts in a bowl. While he talking to de old lady, he start to eat de peanuts till he realise dat he eat out de entire bowl ah nuts.

He start feel guilty and apologise to de old lady fuh eating out all de nuts.

De old lady tun to he and say, “Don't worry about it. I just like to suck de chocolate off dem.”

Talk half and nah play glutton!

cutting-edge pacer and while Odeen Smith is quick, he is not the same type of tearaway bowler as Thomas.

So long as Fidel Edwards was not being selected, the selectors had to go for another pacer to bowl at the death with Dwayne Bravo.

And the best of the death

bowlers during the CPL was Ravi Rampaul.

If there are any problems with this team, it has to do with its balance. The opening slot is going to be a problem. And just where Chris Gayle will bat and what role Chase will play, will have to be answered

when the tournament bowls off.

(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

Saturday September 25, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Recording history: Dr. Tarron Khemraj adds his two cents M

y interest is in the various disciplines that make up knowledge centered on history. From 14 years old I loved reading history. It was therefore not accidental that my entry into university was to study history.

There is a different feeling a historian has about his/her country than any other profession. There is always the temptation of the history student to put down what he/she sees so it can become history. Someone like the surgeon, accountant, economist, banker, etc., is not driven by that relentless urge.

When I received an email last week about my columns

from US-based Guyanese economist, Dr. Tarron Khemraj, and what he went on to state, I replied asking permission to quote.

I know the young social scientists and historians of Guyana should know these things and these things should be part of the recording of Guyanese history.

On reading what Dr. Khemraj wrote about Khemraj Ramjattan my mind flashed back to my conversation on the lawns of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre one night with young politician, Kian Jabour from the political party, ANUG. This is the third occasion I am making reference to the

event. I told young Jabour that because of my age, I would know negative and uninspiring things about prominent people who this society thinks highly of.

W h e n I r e a d D r.

Khemraj's email, I know there were things to be published. I never joined a political party so I could never have been a threat to any leader. I am essentially an anarchist in the philosophical sense so I could never be a successful organisational animal.

I long suspected that Ramjattan was not comfortable with his high profile Indian colleagues in the AFC's leadership, especially Gerhard Ramsaroop. I was an

outsider contributing to the dialectics, which had nothing to do with party politics but everything to do with love of country. I chose to help the AFC over the PNC and WPA for one fundamental reason; it was more multi-racial.

After the moral collapse of the AFC when it went into government and its support for electoral criminality, I thought I would do a column on Ramjattan's insecurity because I saw it.

He was always in confrontation with top Indian names in the AFC but got along excellently with his African colleagues including Raphael Trotman with whom he had tempestuous quarrels in 2011.

Trotman was one half of the leaders of the AFC and not seen as a competitor to Ramjattan. The Indian leaders in the AFC were.

After doing an interview with Rajendra Bissessar, in which he intoned that Ramjattan wanted to chop down every high profile Indian personality in the AFC (see my column of August 26), I decided to analyse Ramjattan's relation with these Indian figures (see my column of September 2).

Here is what Dr. Khemraj

wrote, “It is true that Khemraj feared Indian competition in the Frederick Kissoon AFC. There was very unfair and unfortunate s tate power. treatment of Gerhard.

Researchers then need to He also had a bitter falling focus on the changing nature out with Sase.

It is true that Khemraj of Guyanese politics since protected his turf. In 2010 2011.

The configurations, Khemraj and his very wealthy cousin (Dr. Somar) permutations and variable from New Jersey interviewed have changed. Guyanese me in a hotel suite in politics have become more Orlando. They wanted to d a n g e r o u s a n d m o r e make sure I would not unpredictable because the c h a l l e n g e K h e m r a j . mainstream players – PNC C h a l l e n g i n g a n d and PPP – have been sharing undermining Khemraj was space with other political the last thing I had in mind. parties whose capacity to During the interview, they shape events have led to asked several times what I more deleterious effects.

The AFC and WPA have wanted. I thought it was a crazy question because the played no small part in AFC would not win the taking us to the uncertain stage we are at. It is for this election.”

I write these things reason I took trenchant because there are gaps that umbrage at the implausible must be filled. We have seen analysis of Drs. Alissa Trotz a constant outpouring of and Arif Bulkan who wrote a condemnations of the PPP long letter during the and the PNC the past 70 election fiasco blaming the PPP and PNC for where we years.

The paradigm we used to are today. Nothing was said study Guyanese politics and about the AFC and WPA that have been using has to be were in government for five replaced. It has become years.

(The views expressed in outdated because of dialectical currents that took this article are those of the us to 2011 when the PPP lost a u t h o r a n d d o n o t a majority and in 2015 when necessarily reflect the the AFC and WPA acquired opinions of this newspaper.)

Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Saturday September 25, 2021

Govt. spends more than US$5000 to treat each COVID-19 patient M

inister of Public Health, D r. F r a n k Anthony, on Monday night revealed that it costs the State more than US$5,000 to treat each COVID-19 patient who is hospitalised. The Health Minister made that disclosure during an interview with Globespan.

According to the Health Minister, on average, the bill would be US$5,000 to treat one COVID-19 patient. He explained that one reason the cost to treat a patient would go up is due to getting oxygen to the patients.

“Some of the persons would require 15 litres of oxygen per minute, in other cases they require 30 litres of oxygen per minute and we have to buy the oxygen,” Dr. Anthony added.

He further stated that the government had installed a huge tank at the Ocean View Hospital, which is being filled with oxygen every 24 hours. However, he stated that the refilling of the tanks with oxygen could change depending on the patient load for that day. The Minister noted that the aforementioned also occurs at the regional hospitals.

At the time of the interview, the Minister stated that apart from the large number of patients at the Ocean View COVID-19 Hospital; 12 patients are at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, 12 in Mahaicony, five in New Amsterdam, three in Wismar and two each in Skeldon, Bartica and Mahdia.

The Minister explained

- Health Minister t hat there are trained doctors at each COVID-19 facility to care for patients and that all the requisite equipment are in place at the facilities.

Dr. Anthony stated that, unfortunately there are still a large number of persons who are not heeding the Ministry's advice and stated that that can lead to more cases being recorded. The Health Minister further related, “And this is avoidable, because if people take the vaccine we will see less hospitalisation.”

The Minister was keen to note that the Government is not forcing anyone to take the vaccine and highlighted

t hat individuals have the choice to take the vaccine.

He said however that those unvaccinated are subject to restrictions if they fail to provide a negative PCR test.

Earlier this month, the Government's updated COVID-19 Emergency measures revealed that vaccination is mandatory for any person who wishes to enter a public building. The regulation, which took effect from Saturday September 4, 2021, is expected to last up to September 30, 2021.

Moreover, the Health Minister was asked about persons who are afraid to be vaccinated due to myths that

have been circulating.

Minister Anthony debunked four of those myths and added, “A lot of things are being peddled and the scientific community has answered them, and if you don't wanna listen to me that is fine; go to the Unites States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention website or go to the Unites States National Institute of Health website and you will find this information.”

Dr. Anthony believes that once persons start vetting information that they receive on the vaccine there will be a better reception in persons being vaccinated.

Kaieteur News had reported that within the first 10 days of September 2021 over 2,000 COVID cases were recorded. Dr. Anthony

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony in a COVID-19 update had mentioned that the rise in cases and hospitalisation countrywide was due to the surge in the Delta variant.

This variant which was first detected in India, came about from a mutation of the S A R S - C o V- 2 v i r u s (Coronavirus) which is

Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Saturday September 25, 2021

Minister Edghill confident Man accused of setting wife oil revenues will supplement afire recharged with murder rebuilding nation R

D

espite the major oil deal that Guyana signed onto with American oil giant, ExxonMobil being heavily criticised for its lopsided provisions, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, is still hopeful that Guyana's oil revenues will be enough to supplement the nation's developmental projects.

During an interview on Globespan, the Minister disclosed several major infrastructural projects for Guyana.

As such, he was asked where the capital would come from to fund these projects.

Minister Edghill in his response stated, “We are aggressively out there, my colleague, Minister of Finance, Ashni Singh, and his team, are aggressively out there looking at all options and I am sure, I am sure somewhere along the line with the monies generated from our oil wealth, some of it will have to be used for Guyana's i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l development and the

modernising of this country to take us to the next level.”

He also stated that the Government is already engaging a number of governments, agencies, and investors.

The Minister further explained that Guyana's oil wealth must be used in a way to further develop the agriculture and tourism sector.

“Eco-tourism is a large job creator; agriculture is a large job creator. Oil and gas is a wealth creator, it is not a job creator and we have to ensure that our people get jobs,” Minister Edghill further stated.

As investors eye Guyana's new found wealth, this publication had reported earlier this week that according to Chatham House, a non-governmental organisation, it is quite reasonable and even considered normal practice in the petroleum industry, for countries to engage oil companies in the review and removal of terms contained in deals which may leave the country in a disadvantageous position. In fact, the UK based

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill transparency watchdog, said the refusal to do so can have a destabilising effect on countries.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, had committed to having the revised Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) template being one tougher than the one negotiated with Exxon.

According to the Vice President, Guyana's aim is to increase its oil royalties and revamp other contract terms as part of a PSA regime for future crude and gas projects now in its draft stage.

echarged on Thursday with the murder of his wife was, Ganeshwar Sheocharran, of Lot 27 Miss Phoebe, Port Mourant, Berbice.

Sheocharran also known as “Ganesh,” is accused of setting his wife, Sandramma Raju, 29, afire on Monday September 13.

He was previously charged on September 17 with attempted murder while Raju was still battling for her life in the hospital. However, on Saturday September 18, Charged with the murder Raju succumbed to her of his wife, Ganeshwar injuries while receiving Dead, Sandramma Raju Sheocharran treatment.

As a result, a decision was taken to drop the Sheocharran had allegedly on Saturday September 18. attempted murder charge set Raju afire on Monday Her husband had against Sheocharran and September 13, following an managed to flee all the way recharge him with murder. argument they had. He had to the United States of The new charge was read to fled soon after to escape America (USA), but was him on Thursday at the police. eventually nabbed on Georgetown Magistrates' Raju's parents were September 15 by American Courts by Chief Magistrate, notified about the incident authorities at the John F. Ann McLennan. around 12:30hrs. that day by Kennedy (JFK) International He was not required to Raju's nephew and had Airport and sent back to plead to the indictable charge rushed to her home where Guyana. and was remanded to prison they found her badly burnt.

His capture was made until October 14, 2021. His She was taken to hospital possible after Guyanese next court appearance will where she was placed in the police relayed intelligence to b e a t t h e W h i m ' s Burn Care Unit (ICU). its American counterpart that Magistrate's Court.

Doctors battled there to save a wanted suspect was According to reports, her life but they lost the fight heading there.

Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

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$867M in contracts inked for infrastructure upgrades in Parfaite Harmonie

H

undreds of low-income households in La Parfaite Harmonie, Region Three, are expected to benefit from infrastructure upgrades following the inking of $867.2 million in contracts by the Ministry of Housing and Water, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

The contracts were signed in the presence of Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Collin Croal; Permanent Secretary, Mr. Andre Ally; Chief Executive Officer of CH&PA, Mr. Sherwyn Greaves; and Director of Projects at CH&PA, Mr. Omar Narine, in the agency's Boardroom on Friday.

The Department of Public Information noted that 9.14 kilometers of roads will be upgraded, 49 reinforced concrete culverts constructed, 34 kilometers of earthen drains cleaned, and two meters of reinforced concrete drains and 0.5 meters in concrete sidewalks constructed.

In his charge to the contractors, the Minister urged that the works be executed to meet quality standards and in a time efficient manner.

“These works being carried out are critical to the development of these communities, the government's housing trajectory, as well as, the welfare of our citizens in Guyana,” the Minister stated.

The Minister also encouraged the contractors to use the project as a means to foster economic

activities in the communities as well.

“Wherever you can utilise the labour from within the communities, please do so. This will go a long way towards

improving the lives of our citizens, who are often in this case, in the low-income bracket and vulnerable,” the Minister stated.

He further noted that the roads in the area have been in a

deplorable state for some time and garnered many complaints from residents. As such, the upgrades will tremendously ease the burden of residents.

Permanent Secretary, Mr.

Andre Ally, added that the Ministry in its bid for quality assurance would have a team from the Projects Department on the ground actively monitoring the level of the (continued on page 25)

Saturday September 25, 2021

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Saturday September 25, 2021

25 influential women leaders up for awards this year

T

wenty-five of G u y a n a ' s influential women leaders will be honoured this year after an exhaustive nomination and evaluation process.

These 25 awardees are women who have caught the attention and admiration of their peers, neighbours and community leaders, who then nominated them to be considered for the distinguished award.

The 25 Influential Women Leaders Awards (25IWLA) were inaugurated in 2019 by the dynamic team of female leaders and entrepreneurs in their own right, Michelle A. Nicholas of The NICO Consulting, Inc. and Lyndell DanzieBlack of CERULEAN Incorporated.

The unique award turns the spotlight on women – with 25 awardees being

honoured for their passion and commitment to uplifting the business sector, their communities and society.

This year's recipients range from community leaders and CEOs to small business entrepreneurs and nonprofit social advocates, all of whom will be recognised for moving their companies and communities forward.

They are Abeena Gomes, A n j u Vi v e k a n a n d a r a j , Candace Forde, Deepa Sukha, Elizabeth Cox, Elsie A. Harry, Gabriella Xavier, Hazel Vanessa Munroe, Jamicia McCalman, Joyce Whyte-Chin, Karen Williams, Kimberly Manbodh, Marilyn Greene, Marva Langevine, Omattie Madray, Pamela Vaughn, Patricee Douglas, Renatha Exeter, Sancha Halley, Sonya Forrester, Stephanie Simon, Theresa Jn-Jules-

Wilson, Valini Leitch, Va n e s s a G l a s g o w a n d Waneka Arrindell.

While more than 350 people attended the inaugural gala in 2019, this year's event will take the

form of a smaller, vaccinated-only in-person gala on Saturday October 23rd at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre and an expansive presentation on live television and on social

media platforms.

A d d i n g h i s congratulations, Lloyd Bart, CEO of Symmetry Brokerage and Logistics, the event's Presenting Sponsor, shared the thought

that “for far too long, women have been putting in the work to help shape our economic landscape, they are the backbone of our homes, our families, our (continued on page 31)

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Kaieteur News

Ministers commit to improved infrastructural works for Naamryck - contract signed for the construction of $47M landing facility

R

esidents from Naamryck, a community in the Parika Backdam area in Region Three, will soon benefit from a number of infrastructural upgrades.

This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar.

The Ministers were at the time meeting with farmers and residents in the area after requests were made for them to visit the community and listen to some of the issues residents were facing.

During the meeting, farmers appealed to the Ministers for them to assist with having the C-line drain cleared and for upgrades to the road in the area.

One farmer told the ministers that there was an urgent need for the drain to be cleared.

“The trench block up right now, the C-line. When they weed the trench, its only four feet in width clean so the water cannot recede properly. We need the trench to clean urgently,” the farmer explained.

Minister Mustapha while responding to the issues raised, told farmers that the government has been working to ensure it fulfills every promise made to citizens during the election period. He also told farmers that a machine would be sent to execute the needed works on the drains in the area. “ We a r e w o r k i n g aggressively to achieve all of the promises made in our manifesto. You can see that progress has been made. So I want to make a commitment, the drain that you want cleaned, we'll do it. A machine will be sent in two days to start those works and within a week or two, those works should be completed.

The ministry has been maintaining the dams. We have a dam maintenance programme that was put in place since we took office.

Other large projects, we'll have to put them in our 2022 budget,” Minister Mustapha explained.

As it relates to the government's ongoing floodrelief distribution exercise,

Minister Mustapha told farmers that Region Three would soon benefit from the grant.

“We've already started in some Regions. Those Regions that we've started in, we are now mapping up. This weekend we hope to complete Regions Six and Five. Region Ten is complete and on the Coast of Region Two. When we are finished there, the ministry will commence that exercise in this Region. The names have already been captured,” Minister Mustapha explained.

Minister Mustapha also told farmers that officers from the various agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture would be coming to distribute seeds and assist with training in the proper use of chemicals management. He cautioned farmers to ensure they use the required protective gear when handling chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides.

While responding to questions about promised road works in the area, Minister Indar told residents that a contract was awarded and works are scheduled to commence soon. He also told residents that funds would be made available in the 2022 budget for other works that were requested.

The minister also informed residents that a contract was signed for the construction of a landing facility and that works on that facility are scheduled to commence within the coming days.

“In the 2022 budget, there will be sums put aside to deal with this road. It might not be the entire two miles but some amount of work will be done on the road. I want to tell you, before I came here today; a contract was signed by our Ministry to do the landing facility that the President had promised you. That has been awarded for $47 million and those works should commence within a week.

Also, farmers who have lands in the areas from Naamless to Bendorf, another contract was awarded for works on that road too,” Minister Indar explained.

Minister Indar further noted the process of getting funds for capital projects after residents enquired about the time taken to commence the works.

“The process for getting (continued on page 27)

Some of the residents who attended the meeting this week

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Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

Neighbour saves children from fire while mother visited school

The home of Orlene Holder that was destroyed by fire

A

single mother and her five children are now homeless after a fire completely destroyed their one-bedroom concrete home they lived in at Blue Berry Hill, Wismar, Linden. The mother, Orlene Holder, was not at home at the time but her five children, the oldest being age 10, were in the house when the incident occurred around 11:45 hrs. on Thursday.

During that time, Holder said she left the home to render some assistance to the teachers at a nearby school, since they were moving into another building.

She related that the school was less than five minutes away from her home. “The house was not locked, they could have opened the door and come out at any time,” she told Kaieteur News.

This newspaper understands that a neighbour saw smoke emanating from the house and heard the children screaming.

According to the police, she

hurried to the children's aid and removed them before the entire house went up in flames.

“The only thing they were able to save was the clothes on the line,” the distraught Holder said. She estimates her losses at $5M. She said the house was given to her by her father, who resides overseas. "It is really sad, after years of moving from place to place, I finally got somewhere to call home and it hurts, it is not even three years now I am living here,” the 35-year-old single mother said.

While Holder and her father's ex-wife had a dispute over the property, she said she cannot determine for sure if it was arson or if the fire started from an electrical origin, since the home, along with the neighbour's, was without electricity for a few days.

The police report however suggested that arson is the cause of the fire.

Holder and her five children are now seeking refuge at her sister's home.

Kaieteur News

Saturday September 25, 2021

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Woman who allegedly Fisherman remanded for killing wounded abusive at Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling lover, placed on bail

F

Charged, Shari Alph

T

hirty-eight-yearold Shari Alph, of East Ruimveldt Squatting Area, Georgetown, was yesterday placed on $50,000 bail for allegedly wounding her abusive lover during a fight.

The woman appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Magistrate, Annette Singh.

She denied the charge, which alleges that on September 19, 2021, she unlawfully and maliciously wounded Anthony Roach of East Ruimveldt Squatting Area.

In her address to the court, the defendant explained that on the day in question, Roach was assaulting her, as such; she grabbed the first thing her hand reached and hit him.

The court also heard that

Roach is in the habit of assaulting her.

The defendant then made a request to have a medical examination done since she was also assaulted

by Roach and the appeal was granted by Magistrate Singh.

M oreover, P olice Prosecutor, Christopher Morris, made no objection to bail being granted to the defendant but requested that she be placed on a keep the peace bond.

The prosecutor also informed the court that following the alleged wounding, Roach was hospitalised for four days.

Prosecutor Morris then stated that if Roach has any belongings at the defendant's house, he must go through the police to recover same.

ather of two, Alistar Persaud, who was arrested for the alleged killing of Sigmol Gouveia at the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling last Saturday, was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged for the man's death.

Persaud, a fisherman of Lot 25 De Willem, West Coast Demerara, yesterday made his first court appearance at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate's Court before Magistrate, Faith McGusty, where the capital charge of murder was read to him.

The 25-year-old accused was not required to plead to the charge, which states that on September 18 last, at the Vreed-en Hoop Stelling, Region Three, he murdered 26-year-old Gouveia, formerly of Block 'A' Sophia, Georgetown.

Magistrate McGusty after remanding Persaud adjourned the matter to October 12, 2021, for report.

It was reported that Gouveia on the night of the incident was in the company of his brother, Neville Gouveia, a security guard attached to the Stelling, when they were attacked by the accused.

According to police reports, about 23:10hrs. that night while the brothers were at the Stelling's boathouse, a boat arrived with three unknown men inside. There, the accused exited while the remaining two men stayed on board and headed back out to the Demerara River.

A short while after a verbal confrontation ensued between Gouveia and Persaud after he was told that he could not use the area for passage. He was further advised by one of the

red injulapsed e h ol et her s had c bbed w a are ther e sta The eia bro ey wer v th Gou after

brothers to call the persons in the boat to pick him up from the Stelling, since he was not given permission to pass.

Persaud reportedly made the call, but then another argument escalated between him and the brothers during which he stabbed Gouveia about his

body. Upon seeing this, the security guard rushed to his brother's defence but was also stabbed in the process.

Gouveia died while receiving treatment at the West Demerara Hospital while his brother was admitted in a critical condition.

Man arrested for threatening to kill Rose Hall Mayor

Mayor of Rose Hall Town, Dave Budhu

A 55-year-old man was arrested after he reportedly threatened to kill the Mayor of Rose Hall, Dave Budhu, on Wednesday at Republic Arch Road, Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice.

Police stated that the Mayor was in the company of Town Clerk, Natasha Griffith, and other staff members offloading tools from a truck, when the suspect approached him on a bicycle and started to abuse him.

He further threatened to kill him while brandishing a knife that he drew from his pants' waist. Budhu, who became fearful for his life, ran to safety in the market and summoned the police. The suspect was subsequently arrested and escorted to the Albion Police Station, where an investigation was launched.

$867M in contracts inked for infrastructure upgrades...

From page 16 works. He also said the Ministry would be maintaining an open line with the contractors, where they can report any issues encountered along the project timeline.

Meanwhile, the Director of

Projects explained that the infrastructure upgrades fall under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP), which is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank.

Six plantations under the La Parfaite Harmonie cluster are slated to benefit, namely: Schoonord, La Parfaite Harmonie, Westminister, Onderneeming, Rect-Door-Zee and Lust-En-Rust. La Parfaite Harmonie is listed as site two under

the programme and follows the $1.5 billion infrastructure upgrades carried out in Sophia, Georgetown.

In August, the Ministry also signed $163 million in contracts for Home Improvement Subsidies and Core Home

Support in La Parfaite Harmonie under AHUAP. All of these interventions are expected to significantly uplift these communities and provide more wholesome housing solutions for low-income residents.

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Saturday September 25, 2021

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Saturday September 25, 2021

PAGE 27

Local content remains a top priority for Govt.

- Structured policy to ensure Guyanese reap the greatest benefits - Acting President

A

cting President, Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips, on Thursday said that Guyana must leverage its growth in the oil and gas sector in a manner that is beneficial to its people.

On this note, he underscored the importance of a good Local Content Policy and a strong Natural Resources Act. “We recognise the need for legislation, through a Natural Resources Act that will ensure the accountable and transparent management of our oil and gas revenues.

Additionally, a solid Local Content Policy will further ensure that our citizens and local businesses are front of the line in reaping the greatest benefits.”

The Acting Head of State made these remarks, as the chief guest at the launching of ChampionX Guyana Incorporated, an oil and gas associate company.

He added that the Government is working assiduously to ensure that Guyana does not repeat the mistakes of other oilproducing nations and fall victim to the Dutch disease.

The Senior Government Official also said that the administration has already created a local content panel, aimed at engaging with

development… to that effect; we are already working with the University of Guyana in exploring various possibilities to increase science and engineering talents, [and] upgrade lab facilities, etcetera.”

Acting President, Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips

stakeholders to develop a proper policy and that the presence of ChampionX in Guyana, will see Guyanese benefitting from advanced skills training in a highdemand industry.

“Guyana is on the brink of transformative development and it will take every effort and all of our resources to effectively manage this development so that the country can thrive for generations to come.”

CEO of ChampionX, S i v a s a n k a r a n S o m a s u n d a r a m , acknowledged Guyana's

economy as one of the fastest growing around the world and said that the company is committed to the long-term development of the country in a safe and sustainable way.

He said that ChampionX has already begun to partner with the University of Guyana to develop human capacity and that the company is committed to respecting all the laws of the country.

“We are committed to stimulating Guyana's industrial, human and t e c h n o l o g i c a l

Ministers commit to...

From page 23 funds for capital projects takes a little while. I know when you ask for big projects you would want to see instant gratification.

If we don't follow the necessary procedures there will be all sorts of accusations. There are laws that we have to follow especially when spending money on these large capital projects,” Minister Indar

explained.

He also appealed to the farmers to be responsible when using the roads. He added that it would become a “perennial problem if we fix it, it will become a problem again if farmers continue to use certain machinery on the road. We have to make sure when we put something in, we care it.”

Residents also requested more police presence in the

area, sighting the increase in crime, especially over the weekends.

They also disclosed that establishments that sell alcohol are not adhering to the guidelines set by the National COVID-19 Taskforce as it relates to the national curfew.

The Ministers committed to raising the issues with the Minister of Home Affairs.

ChampionX is headquartered in Texas, USA. The company has over 6,000 employees and specialises in chemical technologies, artificial lift technologies, drilling technologies, automation,

and optimisation.

Also present at the launching in McDoom, East Bank Demerara, was Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, the Honourable Dr. Ashni Singh.

Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 28

Five unvaccinated Cop robbed at knifepoint of $12,000 phone, police uniform persons die of COVID-19

Y

esterday, the Ministry of Health reported that five more persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease have died.

As a result of this, the country's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 749.

The Ministry reported that the latest fatalities are that five unvaccinated persons who died over a two-day period (September 23 to 24), while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

The fatalities are that of a 70-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and that of four women, a 44-year-old and a

The bandit perpetrating the robbery in front of the security guard and another onlooker

A

knife-wielding bandit dressed in a white jersey and a pair of short blue jeans, was caught on camera yesterday wrestling a cop, 38, to the ground and robbing him of his haversack, which contained his cellphone valued at $12,000 and his police uniform, in front of Muneshwars on Water Street, Georgetown.

The robbery took place around 06:45hrs. While the policeman was walking towards the bus park. The bandit armed with a large knife, was seen running behind the man and grabbing his haversack. He cornered the cop close to one of the stalls located in front of Muneshwars, but was met with resistance from the lawman.

The bandit began assaulting the man and

55-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and a 51-year-old and a 59-year-old from Region Four.

Meanwhile, in its daily COVID-19 dashboard, the Ministry recorded 252 new infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 30,696.

Presently, there are 33 patients at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 183 in institutional isolation, 3,592 in home isolation and four in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 26,139 persons who tested positive for the virus have recovered.

Bandit cutting the straps of the man's haversack with his knife

dealing him several blows to his face with the knife as he kept pulling the haversack.

The brief scuffle continued until the bandit wrestled the cop to the ground. He then used the knife to cut the straps of the haversack and

pulled it off from his victim before making good his escape.

It could be seen from the footage obtained that the robbery took place in front of a security guard who was in the company of another man.

Recent death of cane harvester - GuySuCo occurred on private farm clarifies

I

nsisting that it exercises strict health and safety policies to protect all of its workers at all of its estates, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in a release yesterday made it clear that the recent death of a cane harvester did not occur at any of its managed estates.

C o n s e q u e n t l y, t h e Corporation is calling on various sections of the media to retract misleading information that stated the accident occurred in the Corporation's managed Uitvlugt Estate's backdam.

According to the

Corporation, the accident occurred on a private cane farm at Zeeburg backdam, West Coast Demerara, which is managed by a private cane farmer.

On September 22, last, Deochand Lallchand of Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara, the cane harvester, died as a result of an accident that occurred at the Zeeburg backdam.

GuySuCo noted in its release that private cane farmers cultivate more than 40 percent of the cane supplied to the Uitvlugt Estate factory.

While it continues to

share its best practices on the Occupational, Health and Safety Standards with the private cane farmers, GuySuCo made it clear that the farmers are responsible for the daily management of their operations.

Saddened by the unfortunate incident, GuySuCo, which is Guyana's largest sugar cane cultivator and sugar producer, added, “the Management and Staff of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) wishes to extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of Deochand Lallchand.”

Food vendor robbed during home invasion

A

4 2 - y e a r- o l d food vendor of Wisroc Housing Scheme was robbed last night. According to police reports, the victim who resides alone was in her home cooking, while her front patio door was left partially open.

She subsequently observed a man with a red handkerchief tied around his face coming through her

door, armed with a small silver handgun. He then demanded from her money and gold.

She told him she did not have any money after which he threatened to shoot her.

The suspect then called his accomplice and said, “Ensure you look out carefully out there.”

Following this, he placed the victim on her bedroom

floor and began to ransack her house.

During his search, he got hold of the woman's purse and removed $65,000 in cash before walking briskly through the back door of the victim's house and making good his escape into the dark area.

The victim reported the matter to the Wisroc Police Outpost and investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News WANTED

WANTED

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Goodluck Electrical/Solar: Residential and commercial wiring,generator installation,AC installing etc.Tel:660-5796/673-8606.

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

Appliance/equipment repairs and service to Bakery, Restaurant,Hospital equipment, Remote gate, Backwash & filtration system. Call:6949733.

FOR SALE Foreign use outboard Motors Yamaha 40HP, 50HP, 25HP,200HP.Selling cheap, 668-2541.

Sailor,Cook,Operator,12" dredge.Call:675-0587/2260772.

Person to pluck chicken in GT $3000 per day.Call:6750587.

1 male off assistant. Computer literate,must know to do NIS & payroll. Driving would be an asset. Call:6750587.

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

Tel:673-7087.

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

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

Seamstres,Tailor wanted.

Tell:691-1918 whatsapp.

2 truck drivers to work in interior,must have knowledge about Foden trucks. $200,000 montly. Call:6422359.

Fitter/Machinist,Welder Fabricator, Mechanic, Apprentice. Apply in person at: Technical Services, Industrial Site Eccles.

Cook to work in interior.

Call:698-4064.

TRUCK DRIVERS TO WORK WITHIN THE INTERIOR. MUST KNOW TO OPERATE BEDFORD TM TRUCKS. CONTACT 2235273,223-5274.

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

TO LET One bedroom apartment with bath & living room.

Cummings Lodge E.C.D. Call:222-0401 or 673-2467 whatsapp 516-805-2048.

WANTED Cook to work at Palm Spring Hotel,Bartica.Call:455-2111/ 611-6306.

Truck Drivers,tutor for 10 yrs old.Contact:223-5273/74.

Experience waitress and counter attendant 18-25 yrs(Sec Education) & 1 live in domestic.Tel:610-3974.

Poultry/Livestock Farmers.Live in accommodations (single person). Canal No.1 West Bank Demerara.

Call:609-2995.

Drivers license(with Motor Lorry).Tel:227-5286-9,6214992.email:survival. humanresources@gmail.com.

Security officers Male & Female 18+ Lamaha St,between Waterloo & Parade. Call:2234172.

One experienced counter clerk between ages 30-40 at Sheriff St location.Call:6234242 or 666-3146.

One night watchman Lilliendal area from 5PM5AM between 30-60 age.

Call:623-4242 or 666-3146.

Experienced Canter Driver/ Expeditor $25,000 weekly.

Call:675-0587/223-1229.

Female counter clerk, Secondary education. Call:2260772.

Sawman,Pitman,Jetman,Cooks to work in the interior.Contact :223-5273/223-5274 Diesel Mechanic to work in the interior. Call:223-5273/ 223-5274.

Excavator operators to work in the interior. Contact:2235273/223-5274.

1 cook to work in interior.

Puppyslow Landen Mazaroni. Tel:662-7718/6770869.

Labourers to work on cash crop farm,Salary $4,500$6000 per day. Tel:695-6139/ 638-7420.

VACANCY Counter staff, Cashiers, Kitchen Assistants. Tel:6799449.

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

Merchandiser,Factory Worker,Porters.Call:2277714/640-0673 or email info@vgiworld.com.

Hotel Attendant & Receptionist. Call:231-0951/6400673oremail: info@ vgiworld .com.

One person to cook and perform general domestic duties in Bel Air. Contact: 227-0373/ 223-9888.

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

Driver & Porter to travel in and out of the interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call:231-2250.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 25-45, Car/ Van licence. Call 642-9823.

One clerk for Eccles office , grade 1 or 2 in Maths & English knowledge of Quickbooks. Call: 642-9823 oremail:techserigy @yahoo.com.

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

Farm workers in Timehri E.B.D,living accommodation provided.Tel:661-1585/6172032.

Sales girls to work at Dian's Deli food outlet.Call:6217862.

Vacancy for: 1.Skilled Mason 2.Skilled Carpenter. Contact:602-9467,657-5800,6662857.

Vacancy exist for maintenance workers and labourers.

Contact:621-6969/ 615-7784.

Persons to assemble bicycle.

Apply at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.

Trained grade 1 & 2 teachers needed. Payment will commence with experience and will be in 6 digit, 623-1615.

Carpenters & Painters.Apply at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.

Saturday September 25, 2021 WANTED LEGAL NOTICE

Defend, Answer and/or VACANCY Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and LEGAL NOTICE may make any Order it considers appropriate, including 2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-787 granting the Divorce. The IN THE HIGH COURT OF Registry of the Family DiviTHE SUPREME COURT OF sion of the High Court is loJUDICATURE FAMILY, cated at the Law Courts DIVORCE AND MATRIMO[Georgetown, NIAL JURISDICTION 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays FAMILY DIVISION to Thursdays and 8:00am to PETITION NO. FD- 787 2:30pm on Fridays except on BETWEEN:-(ROBERTS) public holidays and on such CARMEL HOPHINEE ANN other days as the Registry is nee LANFERMAN Peticlosed. Dated the 6thday of tioner/ Applicant -andSeptember, 2021.

(ROBERTS) TYRONE Respondent TO: TYRONE ROBERTS (Last Known Address) Lot 2 Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo Guyana TAKE NOTICE that on the 16" day of June, 2021 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by CARMEL HOPHINEE ANN ROBERTS nee LANFERMAN, the Petitioner/Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 28" 2021-H C-DEM-CIV-FDday of July, 2021, the 944 Petitioner/Applicant was IN THE HIGH COURT OF directed to effect service of THE SUPREME COURT OF her Petition on you by JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIpublication of this Notice in VORCE AND MATRIMOtwo (2) consecutive NIAL JURISDICTION FAMSaturday issues of the ILY DIVISION Kaieteur News Newspapers, BETWEEN:- PETITION a daily Newspaper printed, NO. FD- 944 (SEALY) published and circulated in CARMETA nee STURGE and around Guyana and on -and- Petitioner/Applithe Worldwide Web cant (Online).

(SEALY) MA URI CE AND FURTHER TAKE Respondent TO: NOTICE that if you desire MAURICE SEALY (Last you may appear or attend in Known Address) Den person or by your duly au- Amstel, West Coast thorized agent or Attorney- Demerara TAKE NOTICE at-Law at the Registry of the that on the 15 day of July, Family Division of the High 2021 a Petition for Divorce Court at Georgetown, was filed against you by Demerara where you will be CARMETA SEALY nee issued with a certified copy STURGE, the Petitioner/ of the Petition together with Applicant in the Family Direlated documents. vision of the High Court in AND FURTHER TAKE Georgetown, Demerara.

NOTICE that if you desire to AND FURTHER TAKE NODefend this Divorce, then TICE that as part of an Orupon receipt of the certified der made on the 13 day of copy of the Petition, you September, 2021, the Petimust file an tioner/Applicant was diAcknowledgement of Ser- rected to effect service of her vice, Notice of Intention to Petition on you by publicaDefend (Forms are available tion of this Notice in two (2) at the Registry), Answer and/ consecutive or Cross Petition in the RegSaturday issues of the istry of the Family Division Kaieteur News Newspapers, of the High Court at a daily Newspaper printed, Georgetown, Demerara published and circulated in within 35 (thirty -five) days and around Guyana and on from the date of the second AND the Worldwide FURTHERWeb. TAKE and final publication of this NOTICE that if you desire Notice. you may appear or attend in TAKE NOTICE that the person or by your duly divorce is fixed for Directions authorized agent or Hearing on Tuesday the 16" Attorney-at-Law at the day of November, 2021 at Registry of the Family 10:00 am before the Division of the High Court Honourable Madam Justice at Georgetown, Demerara Sandra Kurtzious where you will be issued Zoom Meeting ID: 648 772 with a certified copy of the 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf Petition together with of the High Court at related documents.

Georgetown. IN DEFAULT of AND FURTHER TAKE your filing an NOTICE that if you desire to Acknowledgement of SerDefend this Divorce, then vice/Notice of Intention to

LEGAL NOTICE upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/ or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty- five) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice . TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Thursday the 28" day of October, 2021 at 9:31 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge in the Directions Hearing Room via Zoom Meeting ID: 845 1426 6584 and Password: 786 445 of the High Court at Georgetown. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts (Georgetown, Demerara). The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 14th day of September, 2021.

2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-732 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCEAND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Petition No. FD732 BETWEEN:MACAKADIA ISLA SEALEY nee NEDD Petitioner -and-MAURICE HUBERT SEALEY Respondent TO: MAURICE HUBERT SEALEY (Last Known Address) Lot 2613 Tuschen New Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, Guyana. TAKE NOTICE that on the 2" day of June, 2021 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by MACAKADIA ISLA SEALEY nee NEDD the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an

Saturday September 25, 2021 LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

Order made on the 16 day of July, 2021, the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the worldwide web (online).

2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-704 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-704 BETWEEN:(WILLIAMS) SHELDA TIFANY AN ASHA nee DOWNES Petitioner -V-(WILLIAMS) MARVIN OTHNEIL Respondent TO: MARVIN OTHNEIL WILLIAMS Last Known Address Block 43 ‘B’ Wismar, Linden.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 27 day of May, 2021 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by SHELDATIFANYANASHA WILLIAMS nee DOWNES the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHERTAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 16" day of August, 2021, the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a newspaper printed, published and circulated in Guyana and or the worldwide web.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Thursday the 9" day_ of December,_ 2021 at 11:00 am before the Honourable Madam Chief Justice Roxane George via Zoom Meeting. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/ Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara].

The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE’ that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-atLaw at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/ or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty-five) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday_the_ 8"”day_ of_November, 2021_ at9:00_am_before_the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious at the High Court at Georgetown via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 772 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 13th day of September, 2021.

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Bitcoin plummets after China intensifies cryptocurrency crackdown CNN - Chinese government agencies including the country’s securities regulator and the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said in a statement on Friday that all cryptocurrency-related business activities are illegal and vowed to clamp down on illicit activities involving digital currencies.

The agencies said that overseas crypto exchanges would be blocked from providing services to Chinese residents through the internet.

Bitcoin (XBT) fell about 5% on the news. Ethereum, another leading cryptocurrency, was down 9%.The agencies said that China would develop “new systems” to counter risks posed by cryptocurrencies.

China will gradually start shutting down crypto mining operations, and no new mining projects will be permitted, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a separate statement.

The announcements are the latest in a series of tough measures from China on cryptocurrencies.

In May, Chinese Vice Pre-

mier Liu He told a group of finance officials that the government would “clamp down on bitcoin mining and trading activity” as part of its goal to achieve financial stability.

And finance and banking watchdogs said that financial institutions and payment companies should not participate in any transactions related to cryptocurrency, nor should they provide crypto-

related services to their clients.The measures aren’t just about curtailing financial risk. The computers needed for bitcoin mining eat up a ton of computing power and electricity, raising concerns about the cost to the environment.

China was on track to generate more than 130 million metric tons of carbon emissions by 2024, according to a Nature Communications

study. That’s more than the total annual carbon emissions output from the Czech Republic and Qatar in 2016.

That kind of output is also disastrous for China’s ambitious climate plans. President Xi Jinping has vowed to make his country carbon neutral by 2060, and the country is already struggling to contain carbon emissions from other industries.

25 influential women leaders up for awards this year From page 18 communities. Symmetry is proud to be part of a network ensuring that an environment is fostered to recognise the achievements and contributions of women across the Region.” Joining in congratulating the deserving 2021 recipients, Nadine Moore, Training Coordinator/Diversity and Inclusion Representative at SBM Offshore – which is a VIP sponsor – said, “SBM Offshore recognises the significant role that these awardees have played in creating and fostering an enabling environment for women and girls to be empowered. They have demonstrated through their work, leadership, social conscience and women's empowerment causes that women can and do make a difference. Their collective actions have conLEGAL NOTICE Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 18th day of August, 2021.

tributed to creating a better society, and it is only fitting that these efforts are recognised. As an equal opportunity employer, SBM Offshore is extremely proud to be associated with this event and extends best wishes to the nominees." As the only forum for showcasing the immense contributions of women to our society, 25IWLA aims to recognise women leaders who have achieved successes in a wide range of fields, redress the underrepresentation of

women and transform how women leaders are viewed in Guyana by highlighting their value, achievements and contributions. 25 Influential Women Leaders is the only award of its kind in Guyana to focus on women from a variety of sectors, rather than in a single industry, making the award a unique and important milestone in the recognition of women as leaders.

Additional sponsorship support from companies recognising the contributions of these outstanding women leaders was received from key

returning sponsor, Exxon Mobil Guyana, and media sponsor, the Small Business Bureau, while several other entities are finalising their input to contribute to this premier event.For more information about event attendance via social media and event sponsorship, visit the 25 Influential Women Leaders Award Facebook page @ 2 5 I n f l u e n t i alwomenleadersaward, call 592-661-4838/592-674-0469 / 592-647-8100, or email 25influentialwome n@gmail.com.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday September 25, 2021

Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 33

Local Content Policy being crafted to ...since Guyana cannot develop with include Diaspora size of current population - Pres Ali P

resident, Irfaan Ali, along with Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, yesterday took time out of their participation at the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) underway in New York, USA, to host a press engagement at the Hilton International Hotel.

At the event, President Ali disclosed that his delegation would be using the day (yesterday) to focus on interactions particularly with the Diaspora and espoused that Guyana as a country cannot be developed with the relatively small size of its population.

As such, he indicated that the administration in crafting its proposed 'Local Content Policy' is including measures to ensure that the members of the Guyanese Diaspora are included in Guyana's overall development as an Oil and Gas producer.

He said during his delegation's several meetings with leaders and large institutions “the power of the Diaspora” was given due recognition while adding that the “growth of Guyana will require a larger population.”

According to the President, the first source of growth for the Guyana population is the Diaspora and as such, the Local Content Policy is being crafted to “capture your

on 'Labour and Migration' in Guyana which was hosted by the American Chambers of Commerce in Guyana (AmCham).

During that occasion, Persaud had underscored that

Head of State, President Irfaan Ali, addressing the media in NY, on the sidelines of the 76th UNGA energy, your ability to participate in” the growth of the economy.

He said the Guyana delegation at the UNGA was able to present the country as a strong emerging market not only for oil and gas but with regard to the many other existing opportunities available not just in oil and gas but in other areas such as agro processing and food production.

“There is a natural traffic that is coming to Guyana as a result of oil and gas,” President Ali said, as he outlined that this in itself has allowed for the opportunities in other sectors to be exposed … people are also seeing other opportunities that exist in the country.”

Signaling his administration's intent to

continue to engage overseas, he said “We recognise the importance of the Diaspora,” and announced plans for future outreaches to the Guyanese Diaspora in cities such as New York, Atlanta, and other US states.

The Diaspora, he said “is very interlinked in the development taking place in Guyana.” Only recently Guyana's Foreign Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Robert Persaud, had espoused that the Diaspora cannot be excluded from any development plans for the country, with regards to its emerging Oil and Gas sector.

This, Persaud opined, is given the enormous potential that exists in the Diaspora and not domiciled in-country.

He was at the time engaged in a panel discussion

Exxon looks to replicate Guyana successes in Suriname …secures rig for seismic surveys adjoining Stabroek Block

E

xxonMobil Corporation is looking to replicate its successes in Guyana with some 23 discoveries accounting for excess of nine billion barrels of oil equivalent in the Stabroek Block in neighbouring Suriname.

The oil giant has since secured the services of Norwegian offshore firm, PGS, to provide a 3D survey offshore Suriname.

According to reports yesterday by Offshore Engineering, PGS' 104.2 meters long Ramform Tethys seismic vessel, is scheduled to start the seismic data acquisition later this

year and it is planned to complete the exercise in the first quarter of 2022. The vessel is currently docked in Bridgetown, Barbados.

It was noted that explorers in Suriname, including ExxonMobil itself, have been hoping to replicate Exxon's Guyana successes.

PGS' President and Chief Executive Officer, Rune Olav Pedersen, in announcing the contract with the US Oil major, said, "We are very pleased with this contract award by ExxonMobil.

We are increasingly familiar with Caribbean waters and have proven the

productivity advantage of our Ramform Titan-class acquisition platform and superior data quality provided by our multisensor GeoStreamer technology in this prolific exploration area.”

Suriname has been dubbed the next offshore oil hot spot, following ExxonMobil's discovery of more than 9 billion barrels of oil equivalent in nearby Guyana.

ExxonMobil, as a partner in Petronas-operated Block 52, offshore Suriname, in December 2020 made its first discovery in the country with the Sloanea-1 exploration well.

several countries across the world have turned to their respective Diaspora populations, not only for political purposes but also for economical development.

As such, he announced

that Guyana is currently pursuing a 'Migration Policy' for the country that would guide the inflows of the domestic labour market and deal with inherent issues of citizenship.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday September 25, 2021

Saturday September 25, 2021

AIBA agrees Board of Directors election timeline, Athlete Elections, key reform progress Meeting online, the AIBA Board of Directors agreed the outline timeline for elections, made steps towards the election of athlete representatives and approved further measures aimed at delivering AIBA’s reforms in good governance, financial and sporting integrity. On 12 December, AIBA will host a Congress as the first step in holding elections for the Board of Directors. Based on advice from the team of independent governance experts led by Professor Dr Ulrich Haas, AIBA aims to adopt enhanced eligibility criteria and verification mechanisms in December, prior to elections that would then take place in 2022.

“Boxers and those who support them deserve to be absolutely sure that their leadership is the right leadership and to exercise their democratic rights effectively,” said

AIBA President Umar Kremlev. “The adoption of even stricter regulations will ensure these elections are carried out to a level of good governance that I believe will serve as an example for others.”Based on decisions made on Tuesday, AIBA athlete representative elections will be held firstly at the forthcoming AIBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Belgrade.

Further elections will be held at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, with a date and host expected to be confirmed soon. It was confirmed, meanwhile, that AIBA’s commitment to gender equality will be extended to include equal prize money for men and women at the World Championship level.

Financial integrity was also on the agenda, with the

engagement of an auditor for the financial year 2020-21.

The Board of Directors also considered current protocols to the refereeing and judging selection process for the forthcoming World Championships, including the principles used by the IOC’s Boxing Task Force such as background checks and detailed selection criteria.

“Providing a fair chance and a fair fight for boxers is at the very heart of AIBA and I am very proud of the changes we are making to deliver those vital promises,” continued President Kremlev. “We look forward to welcoming the best boxers in the world to Belgrade in just a few weeks’ time. And we’re confident it will prove to be an opportunity for both the athletes and for AIBA to show how well they can perform,” he informed.

Saturday September 25, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) The day ahead should be excellent, Aries. You tend to work with an energy unparalleled by the other signs, and today you reap some rewards for your diligence.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You've been lucky for the last two months, there's no doubt about it. Lately it seems like your luck is changing. It's hard to pinpoint, but something isn't quite right in your daily life.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This is going to be a good time to get a global view of things, Gemini. Take full advantage of the current planetary aspects by reading some books on spirituality or travel.

CANCER(June21–July22) It's true that having to earn a living isn't always the most agreeable thing in life, Cancer.

However, we all know that it's necessary. Have you thought about adding more balance to your life?

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you've had some problems in your sentimental life during the last few months, Leo, they're probably behind you now. It's a sure bet that you've learned something.

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Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may meet some new people in the next few days, Libra. Someone in your professional life may help you launch some unusual experiments that have never been done before.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) t seems as though you're trying to live down some criticism, Scorpio. For weeks you've taken special care to look over your work to catch any mistakes. Perhaps the number of errors you found surprised you.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Smile, Sagittarius, because the forecast is bright today.

You'll be in a curious mood, just right for new encounters. Perhaps this will add a little spice and enjoyment to your love life.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) The Rolling Stones said it best, "I can't get no satisfaction," and that's how you've been feeling lately, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You're often preoccupied by other people's lives. Your devotion to others will be appreciated today, Aquarius.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) If you aren't the most self-assured pers on in the world,

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may have some trouble

Virgo, take a look around and see all that you've done. True, you still have many unattained dreams, but look at how many you've already realized.

to let the world carry on without your

getting out of bed today due to a desire help for a while. Pisces, you can yield to that lazy urge today, for the aspects are likely to assist you in fulfilling your

goals.

Thompson-Herah denies reports she is leaving MVP SportsMax - Elaine Thompson-Herah has poured cold water on reports that she is leaving MVP Track Club.

She has described those reports as rumours and said she is on a well-deserved break following her recordbreaking season during which she became the first woman to successfully defend 100 and 200m titles at the same Olympic Games.

Reports emerged on Thursday that following her outstanding season, Thompson-Herah had taken a decision to leave MVP and going forward will be coached by her husband, Derron Herah.

Late Thursday, the 2021 Diamond League 100m champion appeared on the Brother from Another show on NBC Sports, denouncing the re-

ports.

“I am the fastest woman alive so they are going to create some sort of news to distract the world so it’s rumours of course. I have seen articles in the media that I have died before, more than once.

There are always rumours in the media, they are always targeting me, I don’t know why,” she told hosts, Michael Smith and Michael Holley.

“It’s probably because I didn’t show up at practice.

I am still on my rest period, so maybe they are just speculating why I am not at practice, but I just came back from the international circuit and we normally get like a month’s rest and I am in my second week.”

Thompson-Herah set a new Olympic record of 10.61 while defending her Olympic

100m title and 21.53 to win back-to-back titles in the 200m.

She won a third gold on Jamaica’s 4x100 relay team.

After the Olympics, she ran the fastest series of times in history – 10.54, 10.64, 10.72 and 10.65 – to close out the season as the only woman to run four wind-legal times faster than 10.70.

‘It’s a major concern’ - WI...

From page 40 concern, the rotation of the strike, it’s something we’ve been talking about since the start of the camp but it was highlighted much more against South Africa,” Walsh told members of the media.

“In terms of just hitting the fielders and not being able to find gaps, not being able to play with soft hands and we have identified that,” he added.

“It has been an ongoing discussion before the series and it was one area I was disappointed in that we did not try to show that (strike rotation) because leading up to the series we had been practicing it, but match-day when we get out in the middle it wasn’t done. We just kept picking out the fielders. It’s the sort of the thing you have to do in 50 over games if you want to really compete and it has to be addressed.”

Bravo stars as Super Kings beat Kohli’s ...

From page 38 way after Kohli was removed

by Bravo in the 14th over, with Padikkal - who struck three sixes - falling straight after Shardul Thakur got rid of AB de Villiers in the South Africa legend’s 150th match for just 12.

GAIKWAD IN GREAT NICK Gaikwad made a brilliant unbeaten 88 in CSK’s victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians and the opener maintained his form five days later.

The 24-year-old and Du Plessis got the Super Kings ahead of the rate in a great start to the run chase, the South Africa batsman clearing the ropes twice and Gaikwad hitting one six.

Both batsman fell in consecutive overs, but CSK kept wickets in hand and stayed ahead of the rate, with Raina and Dhoni finished off the job.Scores: Chennai Super Kings 157 for 4 (Gaikwad 38, Rayudu 32, Harshal 2-25) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 156 for 6 (Padikkal 70, Kohli 53, Bravo 3-24, Thakur 2-29) by six wickets.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 36

Usyk at heaviest weight ahead of Joshua clash

LONDON, (Reuters) Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk weighed in at the heaviest of his career ahead of his heavyweight world title clash against IBF, WBA and WBO champion Anthony Joshua yesterday.

Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion who has only had two heavyweight bouts, tipped the scales at 15st 11lbs while Joshua weighed in at 17st 2lbs.

Joshua had been

expected to come in at his lowest weight to help counter the speed of Usyk but, while he was slightly lighter than for his previous fight, the Briton was heavier than for his rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. “I don’t really watch my weight. I don’t know why there is a big thing about weight. Maybe because we are heavyweights so people look at us at our heaviest,” Joshua told Sky Sports.

“As long as you are

loose, nimble. Loose and heavy, relaxed shots. I should be good. I was heavier and doing it so now that I’m lighter I should be able to do it with more ease.”

Undefeated Usyk, 34, weighed four pounds more than in his last fight against Britain’s Derek Chisora.

To d a y ’s e a g e r l y anticipated clash takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur soccer stadium in north London with a crowd of around 60,000 expected.

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk during the weigh-in as promoter Eddie Hearn looks on. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)

Saturday September 25, 2021

‘High-octane Windies squad built for excitement’ - but may not necessarily win World Cup Deryck Murray not sure the West Indies will win the T20 World Cup.

SportsMax - Former wicketkeeper batsman, Deryck Murray, believes the Windies World Cup squad has been picked for maximum fireworks even if they do not go on to win the tournament.

The selection of the final team for the upcoming tournament has caused a torrent of discontent around the Caribbean, with strong opinions regarding which players should have be included or left out making the rounds.

Despite agreeing that leaving Holder out of the

squad was a mistake, he believes the majority of the team was determined over the last three months and has been selected along the lines of a certain philosophy.

“You saw the team in various matches around and the Caribbean and you could see the pattern of players.

So, it was obvious that what the team has agreed to is what I call a very highoctane policy,” Murray told the Mason and Guest radio programme. “ We s t I n d i e s a r e undoubtedly going to be the

best team to watch, I’m not sure if they’ll be the best team to support, but every moment of every game they play is going to be exciting,” he added.

“Every player is put in there to play a little cameo of some sort, batting bowling or whatever and it is going to be thrilling, people or going to be on the edge of their seats.

To me what they’ve decided is these players are going to give us winner take all.”

The West Indies have been placed in a difficult group alongside Australia, England and South Africa.

Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 37

Letter to the Sports Editor

Affiance, Zorg WI Selectors need to resign en-bloc record victories

DEAR EDITOR, I was most elated when there was a much-needed change in the personnel with the responsibility on managing West Indies cricket. I was just as elated when the bold move was made to sack the selection panel headed by a Barbadian gentleman who most times seemed preoccupied with ensuring that his countrymen dominated West Indies selection despite repeated failures.

I was convinced when Hunte and company had ascended to the leadership, prior to the previous administration, that they were more interested in getting Windward and Leeward Island cricketers into the West Indies team rather than the general development of West Indies cricket. Time proved me to be right and in 2021 they are still producing below average batsmen; having been brought up on featherbeds, to make runs for WI selection.

It was therefore a breath of fresh air when Mr. Roger Harper was appointed to head the selection panel and like most West Indians, we expected a transparent process with merited selection based on a selection policy. It is disappointing to say the least that based on their performance there is either no selection policy or they are selective in implementing whatever policy there is to suit certain players.

If one is to use the utterances of the chief selector, passing a fitness test is a prerequisite for selection, and I will assume performance will naturally be the other. But on the last two occasions, particularly in the selection of the 2021T20 World Cup team, neither of these two policies were implemented in a transparent manner.

While I am in total agreement of the need for fitness to be a criteria along with other cricket requirements to be selected on the West Indies team, it was a reasonable expectation of all sensible individuals, irrespective from which ever country you come from, that the “fitness policy” would have been applicable to all the players without exception.

Hence when Hetmyer

and Chase among others were deemed unfit I had no problem if in fact they did not meet the fitness levels, but it is totally ridiculous to grant exemptions to others to facilitate their selection, knowing fully-well that those denied selection were fitter than those exempted.

Cornwall and Gabriel readily comes to mind with the latter confirming this fact within the first two hours of a match.

It was quite clear then, that this selection panel had serious credibility issues and the aloofness and arrogance displayed while justifying these glaring irregularities was distasteful and objectionable. And true to form they escalated their disrespect with the recent selection of their “pensioner team” to represent West Indies at the 2021 T20 World Cup. There was consternation from almost every quarter in the West Indies regarding this team selection, except for a certain gentleman in Barbados who was a dismal failure as a cricketer and was challenged to understand his identity. It will not be illogical if one was to conclude that these gentlemen are either caught in a time warp or have total disrespect for the intelligence of the West Indies cricketing public.

The selection of Chris Gayle who scored 165 runs at an average of 18.33 with a highest score of 42 ahead of Sherfane Rutherford who scored 262 runs at an average of 37.42 including three half centuries is ludicrous. And to add insult to injury, Rutherford’s fielding and movement in the field was 80 percent better than Chris Gayle. It must be concluded that the “new non selection justification” of fitness is really an attempt to insult the intelligence of the West Indian public.

The same can be said of the 36-year-old overweight and obviously unfit Ravi Rampaul with 19 wickets at an average of 7.97 and scoring 6 runs, being selected ahead of Romario Shepherd, with 18 wickets at 7.70 and scoring 108 runs averaging 21.08 with the bat and a highest score of 72 not out. Even the President of the Trinidad and Tobago cricket Board shared that view not to mention heads of

governments and former West Indian greats.

And what about the nonsensical “X Factor” justification of selecting Oshane Thomas who his captain could not risk playing because of his erratic bowling and indication of brainless bowling when hit for a boundary or two.

Thomas who got 6 wickets at an average of 7.39 was selected ahead of the fastest bowler and a real “X Factor” in CPL 202, Odean Smith, who bagged 18 wickets at an average of 7.58 and scored 126 runs with a batting average of 18.0. Rampaul’s fielding and batting is ninety nine percent below that of both Shepherd and Smith.

And I dare say, that if DM Bravo whose CPL 2021 average of 16.33, scoring 98 runs with a top score of 25 is the best reserve player we have in the West Indies, something is seriously wrong with the thought process of these selectors or it is another revelation of the competence of these gentlemen.

Let me hasten to point out that Rampaul was selected based on his performance at CPL 2021, but this criterion was obviously not used for the selection of other members of the team because there is no way Gayle, Thomas and DM Bravo should be in the team ahead Ruherford, Shepherd and Smith. And let me hasten to add the highest level of disrespect to the number one allrounder in the world Jason Holder being relegated to the status of reserve.

I do not want to suggest that these selectors are either mentally challenged or are making selection decisions based on instructions from senior management of the WICB or for some other unknown reason, but what me, and ninety percent of the West Indian public know, is that their selection of this “pensioners” West Indies team for the 2021 T20 World cup does not reflect favourably on their ability to be fair, logical and objective in the discharge of their responsibilities.And it is not being smart for a selector to drop a 24-year-old cricketer for being unfit and then in the same breath exempt two (2) older players from the same level of fitness requirement and select them on the same team. And how

fit is DJ Bravo when he did not bowl in a few matches prior to the finals and which we all see and know was due t o i n j u r y w o r r y. W h a t confounded nonsense is that? You are either fit or you are not fit. It does not matter if you have one million runs.

It is a farce that is repugnant and unacceptable.

And since the chief selector, who apparently has a penchant for justifying non selection based on some “fitness” policy apparently only applicable to some players, then it is necessary that the “so called” policy is communicated. If not, save the explanations because it certainly does not endear you to the public to whom your explanations are targeted and only serves to infuriate cricket loving citizens across the region.

It is not difficult to conclude that the performance of this selection panel makes the former panel that they replaced look like experts; and trust me, they were not considered highly by any means.

Be assured that the young cricketers and the We s t I n d i e s a n d t h e cricketing public do not think highly of you based on your tendency to be consistently inconsistent and I will support any young cricketer one hundred percent if they should seek to ply their trade on the T20 circuit worldwide.

By your actions, you are more of a hinderance and demotivator than an asset or positive influence to young a s p i r i n g We s t I n d i a n cricketers. I do no know if you gentlemen are comfortable to leave such a legacy when you make your exit, which most prefer to be sooner rather than later.

You will do West Indies cricket a great service by excusing yourself from the selection panel of West Indies cricket. Not only will you be respected for being honest in demonstrating what we all must conclude, that is you are unfit to hold the position, but you will spare us the disgust and aggravation which is currently overwhelming and which we can do without during this Covid 19 pandemic.You should do the honourable thing and resign En-bloc.

Yours truly, Eric Whaul.

A ff i a n c e a n d Z o rg registered victories when the Team Daniels 7-a-side Ta p e b a l l c o m p e t i t i o n continued on Sunday last at Zorg, Essequibo Coast.

Affiance, led by former national under 19 player Latchman Rohit, secured their place in the semi finals following their victory over Jaguars. Rohit struck an unbeaten 44 with sixes as Affiance successfully chased 53 to win the contest with two overs to spare.

Earlier, Chaitram Seurattan made 17 for Jaguars while off spinner Amit Singh had 2-7.

Zorg beat Golden Fleece by 22 runs in their encounter.

Batting first, Zorg managed 45-5. Adrian Arthur made 12 not out as Shivnarine Narine took 2-10. Golden Fleece made 23 in reply. Vijay Mohan scored 15 while Marlon McFarlen claimed 211.

Z o rg a l s o d e f e a t e d Hustlers in another fixutre.

Huslters were bowled out for four with pacer Marlon McFarlen picking up 3-1 and Sachin Dadoolall 1-2. J. Ramlachan struck the third ball of Zorg’s innings for six to seal the win.

In another fixture, the all age Females batted first and posted 94-3 off their allotted seven overs. Annalisa D’Augiar scored 35 not out while Nikesha Narine scored 32 not out. Bowling for the U15 Males, Angel Pearson claimed 2-15. U15 Males responded with 96-2. Ravin Fredericks struck 51 not out and Avinash Seurattan made 36. =The competition will conclude tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Zorg councilor on the AnnandaleRiverstown N.D.C, Mellissa Mohammed commended Team Daniels for their efforts in helping to develop sports in the area.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday September 25, 2021

17 West Indian coaches Bravo stars as Super participate in induction Kings beat Kohli’s RCB to for CWI Level 3 reclaim top spot in the IPL High-Performance certification ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has commenced its first ever locally planned and delivered High-Performance Coach Development Programme. This initiative is part of CWI’s “Cricket First” strategic plan to invest in building coaching depth and quality across the region, considering the vital role coaches play in developing cricketers’ skills across all age groups and abilities.

The High-Performance (Level 3) programme has been designed by CWI Coach Development Manager, Chris Brabazon, in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI). It provides a number of the region’s best coaches with opportunities to further learn and develop contemporary coaching philosophies and techniques that will allow them to thrive in the high-performance environment of the West Indies Cricket Pathway.

The rigorous, holistic accreditation, which started with an online induction on Sunday, September 19, will see 17 participants from across the region take part in a 12-month programme via a blended learning approach.

Among the coaches who are pursuing this highest level of accreditation are former West Indies batting great Shivnarine Chanderpaul; f o r m e r We s t I n d i e s international players: Rayad Emrit, Nikita Miller, Ryan Austin, and Garey Mathurin;

as well as Test batsman and current Guyana Jaguars player Vishaul Singh.

The course will consist of online discussions, tutorials, and ongoing mentoring as well as a faceto-face residential component to be held in Antigua in October, 2021. In addition to the technical basics of elite cricket, topics will include Programme Management, Sports Psychology, Leadership, Communication as well as Visual Technology and Data Analysis.

Delivery of the course will be by CWI HighP e r f o r m a n c e s t a ff , i n conjunction with UWI representatives, to provide participants with unprecedented access to best practice case studies and frameworks from the elite levels of West Indies cricket and beyond.

C W I ’s C o a c h Development Manager, Chris Brabazon, highlighted how the programme will significantly enhance highperformance cricket across the region.

He said: “This programme will provide a huge boost to the upper echelons of our West Indies Cricket Pathway.

By the end of our 12month journey with these participants, we will have significantly added to our stable of local highperformance coaches.

This group will understand how the role of a

high-performance coach continues to evolve and how they can best manage themselves and their resources to create the best high-performance environments possible for their players in their current role whilst inspiring them to strive for the next step in their own coaching journey.”

In a brief address to the participants, CWI President Ricky Skerritt expressed his delight that the plan for selfsufficiency in modern coaching development was close to being fulfilled at CWI. He said that 29 certified Level 2 coaches had applied for the 17 available spaces, which have just been filled. “Coaches must compete for places just like c r i c k e t e r s d o .

Competitiveness and education are two key components for achieving excellence in coaching,” Skerritt said.

President Skerritt informed participants that, just in the past two years, 497 new coaching certificates had already been delivered across eight Caribbean countries – 81 at Level 2, 116 at Level 1, and 300 at the Foundation Level. 16 CWI Coach Developers have also been trained to deliver Level 1 Courses locally.

Skerritt added: “For our young West Indian cricketers to achieve their very best outcomes, all that we do to assist and support them must also be of the highest possible quality”.

Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli began strongly for Royal Challengers Bangalore Sep 23, 2021 © BCCI

SportsMax – Dwayne Bravo and Ruturaj Gaikwad starred as Chennai Super Kings returned to the top of the Indian Premier League with a six-wicket defeat of Royal Challengers Bangalore.

RCB slumped to a ninewicket loss at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders after they were bowled out for only 92 on Monday in their first game since the tournament resumed.

They looked set to post an imposing total at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday after Devdutt Padikkal (70 off 50 balls) and

captain Virat Kohli (53 from 41) put on 111 for the first wicket, but could only finish with 156-6.

Bravo (3-24) and Shardul Thakur (2-29) put the brakes on as Kohli’s third-placed side lost their way after the start had been delayed due to a sandstorm.An opening stand of 71 from 8.2 overs between the in-form Gaikwad (38 off 26) and Faf du Plessis (31 from 26) set CSK on their way to a seventh win in nine matches.

Ambati Rayudu (32) and Moeen Ali (23) also chipped in before vastly experienced duo Suresh Raina and MS

Dhoni got the Super Kings home with 11 balls to spare, moving them above Delhi Capitals on net run-rate.

OPENERS LAY RCB FOUNDATIONS The dangerous Padikkal and Kohli got RCB off to a great start after they were put in by MS Dhoni, taking 55 off the powerplay.

Padikkal was the first to raise his bat, bringing up his sixth IPL half-century by dispatching Deepak Chahar for four, and Kohli struck Ravindra Jadeja to the boundary to reach his fifty soon after.RCB lost their (Continued on page 35)

Vipers, Dee’s Angels, Sandpit Females triumph Team Daniels development round robin Tapeball competition which is being organised by level 2 cricket coach Anthony Adams and level 1 cricket coach Debra Daniels continued on Sunday last at Zorg, Essequibo Coast.

In the U13 category, Dee’s Angels defeated the South under 13 boys by 48 runs. Batting first, Dee’s Angels scored 68 for 5 with Devine Ross scoring 19 not out and Nickesha Narine scoring 17. Bowling for South under 13, nine years old Angel Pearson took 2-10, Ravid Fredericks 1-14 and Otis Roberts jr 1-9. South Under 13 were bowled for 21, in reply.

In another fixture, Sandpit Females batted first and posted 92 for 2 off their allotted 10 overs. Simoen

Edwards struck eight sixes in a top score of 56 while Adina Smith made 17 and Carrina Smith 13.

Bowling for Fempower, Shellon Fiedtkou took 2-30.

Fempower scored 85-4 in reply. Former Essequibo U19 player Desmona Hill, making a return to competitive cricket after 10 years, top scored with 29 and Miranda Persaud got 27.

Bowling for Sandpit, Ashana Domingo claimed 2 for 9 and Carrina Smith 2 for15.

In the male 7- a-side round robin played on the same day, Vipers led by Trevor Benn, dominated after being offered the chance to play all their preliminary matches. They defeated, Warriors by 24 runs in their opening encounter. Batting first, Vipers scored 86 for 1. David

Williams made 52 with seven sixes while Mark Jeffers contributed 13 not out. The wicket to fall was Anthony Adams run out for 19.

In reply, Warriors made 62-2. Brian Mangal made 37 and Gavin Sharma got 22.

In their second encounter, Vipers scored 113 for 2 off their six overs.

Anthony Adams made 39, David Williams 29, Mark Jeffers 22 not out, Uriah Stoll 18 not out. Bowling for Hurry Up Norman Fredricks took 1 for 22. Hurry Up responded with 78. Nathan Persaud scored 42 and Chandie Jairam 30 not out.

In another fixture, Vipes made 58 off their reduced quota of 10 overs with Anthony Adams scoring 41.

Jaguars in reply got to 25 for 1.

Saturday September 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 39 Young Warriors celebrate their victory.

Young Warriors are CPSCL Grand champions Y

oung Warriors are the 2021 Canada Premier Softball Cricket League (CPSCL) Grand champions after clinching an enthralling six-wicket win over Toronto Knight Riders on Saturday.

Playing at Andrew McCandless Park in Brampton, Knight Riders posted a respectable 198-5 from the allocation of 20overs, while Young Warriors scored 199-4, in reply with ten balls remaining.

Experienced opening batsman Abinash Ramnarayan led the way with an unbeaten 63. He received useful support from the consistent Randy Roopnarine who made 58 before he was run out.

Ramnarayan struck three fours and four sixes, while Roopnarine slammed eight sixes and a four. In the process, Young Warriors lifted their third trophy for t h i s y e a r ’s s e a s o n triumphing at the 10-10 competition and also the 100-ball tournament.

For the final, Ramnarayan and Roopnarine got assistance from Rofel Boodhu and Nishal Singh with 26 and 20 r e s p e c t i v e l y. S e n i o r

campaigner Azeez Baksh picked up two wickets for 32 runs from four overs delivering for the Riders.

Earlier, Toronto Knight Riders were invited to bat.

Their innings started off precariously losing the first wicket at 10-1 but Canadab a s e d G u y a n e s e Vi j a j Prashad and Baksh stabilised things quickly with a solid 107-run second-wicket stand. Prashad, a stalwart in softball cricket, hit 62. His innings was characterised with two fours and seven sixes while Baksh scored 37.

Later down the innings, the momentum continued as hard-hitting middle-order batsman and Berbician Rawl Scott blasted seven sixes to make an unbeaten 54.

Lindon Persaud also chipped in with 22. There was one wicket each for Satrohan Doodnauth, Joshua Singh, Reshand Badshaw and Nishal Singh.

At the post-match presentation, Ramnarayan was named the Most Valuable Player and he took home a trophy. The winning team carted off a trophy and $1,000, while the runners-up claimed a trophy as well with $500. The prizes were donated by AP Staffing.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 40

Saturday September 25, 2021

Youth cricketers pose with their copy of the coaching manual after the launching.

History created as Berbice Cricket Board launches youth coaching manual - Red Letter Day in Berbice Cricket says Foster ‘We have achieved so much over the last three and half years. Our hard work has transformed Berbice cricket to its highest level and I would like to express thanks to all the cricket officials at both the club and board level for your hard work and dedication.

Today would always be remembered as a red letter day in the history of our cricket as we become the only cricket board in the history of Guyana and perhaps the Caribbean to publish its own coaching manual. Each one of us in this room should be proud of the hard work we do but we must always strive to achieve even more as the future of Berbice Cricket is in our hands.” Those were the words of Berbice Cricket Board President Hilbert Foster at a simple launching ceremony of the board’s coaching manual at the board’s head office in New Amsterdam.

The launching was

historic as it is the first time in the history of Guyana’s cricket that a county board has published its own coaching manual as part of a developmental programme.

Foster stated that when he was elected in February 2018, he inherited a broken system with no tournament, n o f i n a n c e , n o developmental project and he committed to leading a cricketing revolution to return Berbice cricket to its glory days.

With the BCB unable to host face to face coaching because of the ongoing covid 19 pandemic, it was decided to publish a coaching manual that would allow youths to work on their game in the comfort of home.

A special working committee headed by Julian Moore and Winston Smith was established to work on the manual.

Other coaches who worked on the document were Leslie Solomon, Balram Samaroo and Travis

BCB President Hilbert Foster poses with the coached who worked on the manual.

Hardcourt.

BCB Asst Secretary Ameer Rahaman served as the Editor along with Foster, while Brandon Corlette provided the photos.

The manual focused on coaching for batting, fast bowling, spin bowling, wicket keeping, ground fielding, catching, running between the wicket and physical fitness among others.

It also includes fielding positions and umpiring

signals. Special articles are also in the manual on attributes of a good batsman, mental approach to batting, mental approach to the game, importance of discipline, benefits of physical preparation and importance of physical fitness. Sponsorship for the historic manual was provided by long time BCB sponsors Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, Dr Puran Singh and Brian Ramphal.

‘It’s a major concern’ - WI Women’s team coach Walsh insists better strike rotation a priority SportsMax - West Indies Women’s coach Courtney Walsh admits the team’s inability to properly rotate the strike was a disappointment during the recent series against South Africa, as it had been a key area of focus ahead of the games.The regional team just managed to avoid being on the

wrong end of a sweep, after winning the final game of the series in a super over.

The 4-1 scoreline was, however, an accurate reflection of the fact that the West Indies Women had struggled to keep pace with the South Africans for the great majority of the One Day Internationals.

One of those key areas was

putting runs on the board, with the Windies Women on many occasions looking bogged down by South Africa’s bowling, before being dismissed after ill-advised shots. On four occasions the team struggled to get to one 150, a target that seemed an easy reach for South Africa. “It’s a (Continued on page 35)

Julian Moore, who coedited the manual, stated that he was very proud to be associated with the publication as it would play a major role in the development of new talent from the county. Moore, Solomon and Smith all hailed the visionary leadership of Foster, who not only came up with the proposal but worked hard to make it a reality. Solomon noted that the BCB President

was very vocal that the legacy of Berbice cricket must be protected at all cost and that new talent must be discovered to carry on the tradition.

Foster also unveiled s everal developmental programmes for Berbice cricket including a coaching video, cricket gears for youths, cricket academies and an indoor cricket facility which would be constructed with overseas assistance.

West Indies Women’s coach Courtney Walsh will hope for better strike rotation.

Saturday September 25, 2021

Jalade Trim (no86) at an event in Russia with the Guyana Flag.

Georgetown -: The management of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) regrets to learn, via the media, of the sincere frustrations felt by Jalade Trim’s mother in sourcing relevant match footage of her daughter. To put the record straight, the GFF can, in no way, be charged with impeding Jalade’s opportunities with any professional club or otherwise. On the contrary, the GFF has been working, over the last few weeks, to assist Jalade and her mother in tracing any available footage. It goes without saying that the GFF actively promotes and invests in the careers of all of its youth national players, and in no way acts to impede them. It is malicious and wholly inaccurate to suggest otherwise.

To clarify one of the unsubstantiated allegations in the one-sided Stabroek News story by Mr. Duncan Saul, the GFF has no remit or current capacity to collect and catalogue individual player footage, no broadcast rights for tournaments organised

by Concacaf, nor any

capacity or media rights to build a library of such material.

After receiving an informal request from Jalade’s mother, we have continued to work with Concacaf to locate any relevant footage from its archive. The only available recordings of Jalade are during an 2018 U15 Concacaf match against the Bahamas, which is publicly and freely available on the Concacaf website here, and a promotional video filmed during her trip to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, which was facilitated by the GFF. The former video link was shared with all players involved shortly after the match in question, and the latter video has no scouting value.

In 2020, the GFF acquired state-of-the-art match recording technology that is in the process of being tested at the GFF National Training Centre. This tool will be used to capture footage from regional youth tournaments in the future, once the appropriate rights and conditions are secured by the GFF. This will make it easier for the GFF to provide

Kaieteur News

PAGE 41

GFF issues statement on allegations in a news story on Jalade Trim’s footage

footage to players and parents, as required.

We look forward to continue working with the Trim family to help develop the career of one of our most promising young players, building on the many years of support the GFF has provided through regional and national opportunities.

We wish her all the best in her future interactions with any professional club and stand ready to engage our network and resources to support this process.

In light of this matter, we would further encourage players and their families to consider collecting and organising their own highlights reels to ensure they have footage on hand to share with interested parties when opportunities arise.

The GFF will continue to do what it can to support any footage requests by liaising with rights owners such as Concacaf. However, it is important for players and parents to understand that such requests are carried out according to Concacaf’s capacity to do so, and at its discretion and good will.

We would also urge all players and families to

ensure that any expression of interest from, or on behalf of, professional clubs or talent scouts are genuine and legitimate. The GFF stands ready to assist in any such investigation. It is worth remembering that all professional scouts and clubs routinely have access to scouting software, such as WyScout or InStat, which provides access to a global database of match and player footage.

Finally, as an organisation that cares deeply about the welfare of our players, it is deeply regrettable that Mr. Saul would exploit the good faith of a 16-year-old player and her mother to publish such an unsubstantiated story.

It beggars belief that Stabroek News elected to run this nonurgent story without waiting for a comment from the GFF, especially given the potentially damaging nature of certain claims which required substantiation. This one-sided story has been shared widely on social media, which has unfairly blemished the reputation of the GFF and encouraged members of the public to express strong negative

sentiments towards the current administration.

As a result, this matter is being looked into urgently by our legal team and an official complaint is being lodged with the Guyana Press Association. We trust that the management of Stabroek News will take appropriate disciplinary action to ensure that basic reporting standards are upheld in any future articles

by Mr. Saul.

We would kindly ask all our partners in the media to be patient while waiting to receive any comment on stories they are working on, as the GFF is committed to provided full and transparent details related to any media query. However, this can sometimes take longer than we would all like, given the limited capacity and busy schedule of our organisation.

While we understand the nature of the news cycle, this may mean that a response is not possible on the same day as the request is received. In any case, other than in very extreme or urgent circumstances, we would argue that the basic principles of good reporting demand the right to reply

Wayne Forde within the body of any initial news story. We are sure that more professionally-minded members of the media will agree that it is both lazy, bad and unethical journalism to hide behind the line, “Efforts to contact X proved futile”, merely to avoid the professional responsibility of sharing both sides of a story, conducting some basic research, and checking the veracity of any allegations.

In the age of fake news and vested media interests, the public and football community deserves better.

17 West Indian coaches participate in induction for CWI Level 3 High-Performance certification

Elaine Thompson-Herah has denied reports she is leaving MVP.

Thompson-Herah denies reports she t r is leaving MVP o Sp Bravo stars as Super Kings beat Kohli’s RCB to reclaim top spot in the IPL

Shiv Chanderpaul, Nikita Miller, Rayad Emrit for first CWI High-Performance Coach Development Programme.

Josh Hazlewood and Dwayne Bravo high five after the latter snags Virat Kohli. (BCCI)

GFF issues statement on allegations in a news story on Jalade Trim’s footage Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.