Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR

Coalition’s giveaway of prime ECD lands…

Tuesday Edition

Third developer returns five acres to Government

September 29, 2020 - Vol. 13 No.39

NEWS

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 119,552

Guyana should look to Mexico for crucial lessons on regulating oil sector - North American nation did “severe reforms”to avoid conflict of interest, p.

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ensure highest levels of transparency and accountability - IDB report Five regions have p. new chairpersons…

Woman takes Panel for election 7 helm on E’bo Coast; COI could be drawn former army captain p. from CARICOM, OAS, 8 to lead Region Four - Pres.

Eight process suspended as two Commonwealth Irfaan Ali - Region Councillors test positive for COVID-19 Driver caught Winston Brassington after slamming fails to establish into 6-year-old, case of libel against speeding away Kaieteur News - Lawyer p.

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xon is a freeloader!

ExExxon is saddling the Guyanese people with hundreds of millions of US dollars in PRE-CONTRACT COSTS. Even before, Guyana earned a single dollar from the company’s operations, it was billed US$460 for pre-contract costs up to 2015 and another US$500M for the period between 2015 and 2017, making a grand total of US$960M. To add insult to injury, no Guyanese can verify what Exxon is doing a hundred plus miles off our coast. Yet, Exxon has billed us, and we have agreed to pay, almost a billion US dollars for things which we cannot verify. Why would our government agree to pay such costs?

Having given away the Canje and Kaieteur Oil Blocks in a secret deal to mysterious friends, it as if we are now paying Exxon, through these exorbitant pre-contract costs, to take the blocks off of our hands.

Exxon is ruthlessly taking advantage of Guyana’s lack of experience in the oil industry. And they are doing this with the connivance of our political leaders.

If we continue this way, the oil may not mean prosperity but tragedy.

Foreign investigators Gruesome murder arrive in Guyana of Berbice teens… to assist with case p.

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Who really owns the Kaieteur and Canje Oil Blocks, do the leaders of this land care to tell the nation?

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 29, 2020

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Guyana should look to Mexico for crucial lessons on regulating oil sector - North American nation did “severe reforms” to avoid conflict of interest, ensure highest levels of transparency and accountability – IDB report

By Kiana Wilburg

W

hile Guyana is considered to be in a most privileged position given the quality of its reserves, securing the most value from that resource would not be possible without effective regulation.

In recognition of this reality, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in a special report called, “Traversing a Slippery Slope: Guyana's Oil O p p o r t u n i t y, ” i t w a s recommended that this South American nation take note of the many ways Mexico was able to transform its oil industry into one that is effectively regulated for the benefit of

its people.

The IDB document noted that Mexico's oil industry was closed to foreign investment for almost eight years and only saw the sole participation of its National Oil Company, Pemex.

Things changed in 2013, where it was agreed that the sector would open up and allow for foreign interests but not until Mexico implemented a sector-wide reform.

After severe legal changes, the IDB noted that Mexico established three entities for the sole purpose of regulating operations in the industry. The National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH as per its acronym in Spanish), was established as an independent regulatory

agency responsible for the regulation of oil and gas exploration and production activities, as well as for the acreage bidding process; the

petrochemicals; and the Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment (ASEA as per its Spanish acronym) was developed and tasked

Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE as per its Spanish acronym) was set up to regulate mid- and downstream operations and issue permits for the storage, transportation and distribution of oil, gas, oil p r o d u c t s a n d

with the responsibility of ensuring health, safety and environmental standards and regulations in the oil and gas sector, including upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.

With this in mind, the IDB report said that Guyana

should consider Mexico's best practices regarding its regulatory framework.

The financial institution was keen to note that as part of the energy reform, Mexico strengthened the CNH and the CRE and created the ASEA with well de?ned, independent mandates and proper separation of spheres of in?uence to avoid con?icts of interest.

The IDB also sought to highlight that Mexico made numerous efforts to ensure that it had a licensing framework that promotes high levels of transparency and accountability.

The Bank said that these best practices among others which have been established in successful petroleum-

producing countries undoubtedly represent the international 'gold standard' in the sector.

As an emerging country, it stressed that Guyana can bene?t from the experiences of such countries in developing best practices for managing petroleum resources and creating good governance model frameworks.

While such practices may work well for established, well-resourced producers, the IDB cautioned that care must be taken to ensure the suitability of these practices for Guyana as an emerging producer with limited experience in regulating and administrating these types of activities.

Home isolation contributing to increase in COVID-19 cases

By Sueann Wickham

F

ormer Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, is of the firm belief that persons with COVID-19 being isolated within their homes are a major contributing factor to the surge in cases. This was stated by the former Minister in a telephone interview with Kaieteur News yesterday.

Lawrence explained that many of the persons in home isolation live in homes that are not conducive to the standard requirements needed for home isolation.

“Most of them don't have self-contained rooms and other things so they are forced

- Volda Lawrence to interact with their household,” Lawrence said.

She highlighted that adherence to social distancing guidelines is somewhat of a challenge in Guyana presently, as many persons would still visit those in isolation.

She emphasized the need for these persons in home isolation to be kept in institutional isolation, as it can decrease the amount of contact they would have with other people and thus curb further spread of the virus.

Lawrence named a few facilities like the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, the West

Demerara Regional Hospital that can be used for isolation of COVID-19 patients and quarantining those who would have had the closest contact with these patients.

“We have a situation where when persons test positive for the virus, the persons they came in closest contact with would have already come into contact with other people. If the persons that had the closest contact are kept in quarantine, by the time they get their results, they would have avoided spreading it to other people,” the former Minister advised.

The Minister had

previously shared the same sentiments in an interview on Capitol News, where she said, “It is my belief that having 500 and something persons who are at home – on home isolation are adding to the numbers and surges that we see in the COVID-19 cases in Guyana.”

During the interview, she also responded to claims of her administration building a COVID-19 hospital that was referred to as a “shell” by the current Minister of Health,

Dr. Frank Anthony. Lawrence stated that the hospital was constructed using money from an emergency fund. She added that the Hospital was built with the intent of housing COVID-19 patients and quarantining those who might be at risk. Now that the new administration has taken over, Lawrence called for them to “get on with it”, referring to housing more patients and quarantining persons awaiting their results.

Lawrence stated that her

administration was notified about the pandemic by the Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) in January before it came to Guyana.

She noted that her Ministry had put together a team of the necessary personnel to combat the virus if people did get infected.

This team comprised of personnel with disease control background, epidemiologists, and others.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 29, 2020

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

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

EDITORIAL

Great words Mr. President, now deliver, please The caption should captivate every angry, disgusted Guyanese: “President announces terms and conditions review of existing civil works contracts -contractors, supervisors, project units to be held accountable for poor performance, substandard works” (KN September 26). Now the president must step up and make good, through what could be a new day for Guyanese wishing for more from their tax money spent on numerous public projects.

Undoubtedly, his words are stirring, and the objectives embraceable, since they are so relevant and mean so much to regular citizens, who are held to ransom, time and again, when these projects fail. The list is long and tiring, but we name a few: roads breaking down; sea defences collapsing; schools built shabbily; inferior materials; repeated delays; and expensive cost overruns. Winning contractors, by and large, have not performed well or delivered work of a consistently high quality. It does not matter if they are local or foreign; it is the same depressing story.

Supervising engineers sign off on the ramshackle and inexplicable. Project unit personnel effectively sleep on the job or are conspicuously missing in action, but they certify what falls apart more often than not. All the players, to a large degree, have put heads together to operate in cahoots to cheat the system and the Guyanese taxpayers footing the bill and carrying the debt load. It has been a long and mutually rewarding relationship with everybody having a grand time, and only taxpaying citizens getting shafted and always coming up short.

After all, they have to navigate the roads, send their children to possibly dangerous schools, or live in low-lying areas for which a lot of money was spent to make new and deliver a modern and better quality of service and life.

Because of all of this, the words and postures of President Ali have to give hope, even if there is only partial improvement through limited delivery. The scope and scale of what the president has said are far reaching and have some reality checks that must be put on the table for consideration. Those reality checks are drawn from the wells of real life and could prove to be material obstacles that inhibit the noble words and intentions of the president.

One example that immediately comes to mind goes like this. Big contractors win awards from procurement boards for big public projects involving hundreds of millions, sometimes billions of Guyana dollars. These same contractors are part of the savvy and versatile Guyanese engineering and construction scenes. They know how things work, who play along, and how to make the underlying project papers present what they wish to share. Many things can be obscured, or made to look aboveboard, when they are far from such.

Further, and more to the point, many, if not all, of the major contractors, have a good appreciation for how things operate in Guyana at the political and bureaucratic levels. They are significant donors to political coffers and were generous with their funds in the just concluded elections. These contractors are powers in their own right and have earned the right to access to the halls of power all the way to the top. They can influence things and outcomes; they can make stubborn and uncooperative people move in the bureaucratic realm, and should that fail, then their political reach enables them to get matters corrected and overlooked to their liking with no penalties imposed and the usual project merry go round continuing.

It is on this that we trust that the president’s public words and postures will have real meaning, through inflexible application at the individual level, when matters done wrong are escalated for political intervention. That will negate all that President Ali shared.

It is that we must get value for the money spent.

Documents must be retained, readily available, and handed over upon the asking, as well as posted publicly for scrutiny.

Participants must be held accountable through processes that are transparent. These projects are neither cheap nor free for taxpaying Guyanese, they accumulate annually.

Guyanese pay heavily and are due higher standards. Those who do not deliver must perform or pay steep prices. The president must be true to his words.

GWI is being unfair to pensioners with change of billing Dear Editor I would like to bring to the attention of our present Government the following.

I am a pensioner who lives in the outskirt area of New Amsterdam, Berbice and for many years have been paying a fixed charge of $1,450 + 500 for the rental of the meter amounting to $1,950.00 per month for the usage of water from GWI. Because it was a fixed charge to be prepaid, no

one came to read the meter that was installed when the house was built, but the dates of the month to be prepaid always appear on the bill, for example 7/1// 2020 to 7/31/2020 was paid on 08/12/2020.

I received no bill for August 2020; however around September 24, a bill was hand delivered to me for a total sum of $12,434.00. I went into GWI office in New Amsterdam to query the

exorbitant amount on the bill and was told GWI has the right to make changes from fixed to regular charges of $112 per M3 and was given a bill with a meter reading from 7/1 to 7/ 27 of 41M3 + 500 rental for 8/1 to 8/31/2020. When asked how can GWI know the meter reading of July, when it was a fixed charge to be prepaid.

I was told GWI in Georgetown keeps a record of the amount of water used by

pre-payers.

Then from 7/27 to 9/9/ 2020, another charge was made for 74M3 gallons of water + 500 rental amounting to $8,788 bringing the total from July 1 to September 9, 2020 to $12,434.

This is very unfair to pensioners and I am appealing the help of those in authority to look into the matter to alleviate this heavy burden on pensioners.

Yours truly, Gloria Holder

The new government must take the decision to privatize GuySuCo Dear Sir, After working for 38 years in GuySuCo, in both field and factory and now retired, it pains me to see the state of the estates that were closed down by the previous government. It grieves me to see the condition of the field cultivation where drainage and irrigation canals are completely blocked by vegetation that one can walk across without going down, field machinery and equipment were allowed to rot and the cane beds covered with weeds and bushes that they look like jungle.

It is criminal what the previous administration has done to GuySuCo, especially the closed estates. Who give Granger, Nagamootoo, Ramjattan and their government the power to

close down and destroy GuySuCo without the permission of the people and put 7000 workers and their families on the breadline, when even their own commission of enquiry did not recommend closure, but privatization? How can these people be so callous to destroy the lives of thousands of Guyanese, while they enjoy the good life? If they had follow the recommendation of their own Commission of Inquiry and privatised the company, today GuySuCo would have been a thriving, vibrant and profitable industry and the workers and their families enjoying a higher standard of living. Of course, they had to privatise while the company was a going concern and all the factories were grinding.

A word of caution to the

new government: while it is commendable that there are plans to reopen Skeldon, Rose Hall and the East Demerara Estates, there are a few things that you need to look at: 1) The amount of money you will need to expend to get all three estates viable again.

I saw in the budget $3 billion allocated. That’s chicken feed.

It will take a huge amount to bring back those three estates.

2) The quality of personnel from top to bottom to manage those estates. We all know over the years the cry about low level of wages and salaries in Guysuco and if you do not pay competitive wages and salaries, you will not attract the brightest and the best and you will have to settle for the mediocre which will not be good for the

company. The young people must not see Guysuco as a stop gap to greater heights, but a company where they will work until they reach pension age. In other words, they must see a future in Guysuco.

3) Finally, the government must ensure that corruption and fraud are weeded out in GuySuCo. That has been a bugbear since nationalisation in 1976. Those of us who worked there can attest to the pervasive corruption and fraud that has been one of many reasons GuySuCo has not been profitable over the years. And that is why, as soon as those three estates are up and running, government should take a decision to privatise the entire industry.

Yours faithfully, Imtiaz Baccus

Is the current administration better than its predecessor on integrity and accountability?

Dear Editor, The country is deeply troubled by the giveaway of US$55 billions on only the Stabroek Block. We were led to believe that approval of Payara would have a compensating effect of the money lost. Instead, we stand to lose tens of billions more from these other blocks. There are some half a dozen oil blocks, so count how much money the country is losing – hundreds of billions in American dollars.

You can be sure that a few crooked politicians are getting a portion of that loot no matter which side is in government and in opposition. The people won’t get much, just a few scraps of maybe a hundred million a year while the crooks run all the way to the bank with their billions.

All three political sides are guilty of giving away our

oil resources. Each side has a small bunch working in tandem with the oil companies to rape oil resources. No one was investigated from 2015 when the oil blocks were given away just before the regime demitted office.

And no one would be investigated now for signing lopsided contracts under the preceding regime. And no one would be held accountable for the Payara Review. But KN that exposed fraud was sued in court and has to pay big money for telling the truth about who is stealing from this country.

We all are wondering who is the US $7 billion man and that is for only one oil block.

More billionaires would be created for other blocks.

Payara would have its own billionaire.

On the Payara Block, during the election campaign,

a commitment was made to renegotiate the contract before approval is granted.

We are told the review would be made public before approval but we were fooled.

Now, we are told that the Payara development is signed and that some time in the future, we would see the review and that the agreement would also be made public.

Don’t count on that! Is that any different from under PNC? Transparency doesn’t work that way.

You make the review public for scrutiny and then consult the population for approval, and if the public does not like it you return to renegotiation table for the right amount that would go the people. Other than racism, is the current administration better than its predecessor on integrity and accountability?

The magnitude of the current give away is

unbelievable. Just for this block relating to Payara, we would have lost tens of billions in American dollars.

With one signature of the pen, the current administration would have done more financial harm to the country than what the PNC did for the 26 years of its dictatorship combined with last five years of abuses.

The current deal exceeds 26 years of our earnings under PNC. Was a deal cut for free and fair elections in exchange for raping the country’s oil resources?

Even if a deal were made for free and fair election and a democratic change in administration, at a minimum the government should have cornered Exxon to demand that Payara compensate for losses in revenues under the Stabroek block.

Yours truly, Haresh Singh Kumar

Tuesday September 29, 2020

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Kaieteur News

‘Regime change by force’ in Venezuela would be a disaster Dear Editor, Guyana’s territorial/ maritime integrity and sovereignty have definitely been enhanced by the Guyana/USA agreements on narcotics interdiction, on satellite surveillance of our Exclusive Economic Zone, and on expanded trade and investment.

In committing to a new mutually beneficial relationship, both Guyana and the USA will have to be balanced and fair about each other ’s concerns and interests. President Irfaan Ali has confirmed in no uncertain words that his government supports democracy

everywhere, including in Venezuela.

We Guyanese have to take a careful look so that Guyana will only support a democratic change that brings a better outcome for all the Venezuelan people.

‘Regime changes by force’ in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria have resulted in political, economic, social and cultural regression, maybe for decades. The ongoing conflicts have spilled over into neighbouring countries namely Chad, Lebanon, Niger, Pakistan, Sudan and Turkey who now face major security and financial challenges such as

A Thousand Months to Live Dear Editor.

They say that from when we born we got a thousand months to live.

For people of my age and around we gat a hundred left - maybe.

And even though I’m not a citizen, and no longer live in motherland and it’s of no personal benefit to me, It irks me about the acrimonies I hear around money left upon the table.

Fifty five billion gets thrown around as if it were calculated using gospel.

The fact is no one really knows the price of oil, next year or the next.

Educated guess no doubt, but still numbers in the air.

Nine months since the oil been flowing but at half the volume they projected selling at fraction of de price expected.

Sometimes not even covering de cost.

The oil business is a behemoth that sometimes falls upon its face.

Numbers based on good times can often bite you in the rear.

Covid 19, wild fires in the

west, hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, climate change and global warming, attributed to burning fossil fuels are impacting how much they are used.

With so much oil, in billions of BOE even if you got eight or even thirty, remember Venezuela has three hundred, and have been producing for a century: there’s is no guarantee in oil’s bounty.

They say that oil don’t spoil.

Note also, you cannot drink am.

No meck your face so long about the mistakes already made.

Resolve to avoid them in de future and to wisely use what you have already earned from your station at the table.

Every month that’s wasted now is one month less to enjoy.

“One, one dutty does build dam.”

When you teck dutty to build dam what you leave behind is trench.

Walk good and travel safe pon dam top and ketch plenty fish from trench.

Yours truly, Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh

terrorism, ethnic conflicts and the maintenance of huge refugee camps.

All of Venezuela’s neighbours, including Guyana, do not want a similar disaster that would spill over into their countries.

‘Regime changes by force’ have also been very costly for the people of the USA. An unbelievable four thousand billion United States tax dollars (US$4 Trillion) have financed those wars. This burden has negatively affected support for the American health care and social security programs.

Venezuela has had a long political, economic, social and cultural relationship with the USA. Venezuelans love American food, sports, music, and movies. Throughout the country, there are hundreds and hundreds of Americanbrand fast food restaurants.

Baseball and basketball are their main sports.

From 1980 to 1998, in spite of that relationship with the USA, Venezuela became infected with the oil ‘Dutch

Disease’, and was one of the worst economic failures in Latin America, even though it possessed one of the largest oil reserves in the world. The order of the day was grinding poverty for the majority of Venezuelans and corruption everywhere.

The main beneficiaries were the rich and the upper middle class people who were mainly of European heritage.

Their leaders denied that there was rampant discrimination against Venezuelans of Mixed, African and Indigenous descent. They claimed that every Venezuelan was a “mestizo”, yet they highlighted European standards of beauty.

But after 1998 until 2013, there was significant change when President Hugo Chavez won many free, fair and transparent elections based on the unprecedented participation of millions of workers, farmers and the poor who were mainly of Mixed, African and Indigenous heritage, and who had

One-lane access bridge in Good Hope is in a deplorable state Dear Editor, Please grant me a space in your newspaper to highlight a deplorable situation. Good Hope, East Coast Demerara.

This village of over 2000 residents has only a one-lane access bridge for over 15 years, and this has caused traffic chaos during peak hours.

The current bridge and access road are in such

deplorable state, so many potholes that are making the traffic situation even worse, and there is no walkway for pedestrians and cyclists.

Editor, in the short term, we are pleading for some urgent help from the Ministry of Public infrastructure to help maintain and patch these holes around the bridge.

Yours truly, N. Bacchus.

previously been excluded and marginalized. Hugo Chavez was the first Venezuelan President who proudly talked about his African, European and Indigenous heritage.

Those elections were validated by international observers including former US President Jimmy Carter who publicly stated that Venezuela had then one of the best electoral systems in the world. President Chavez used increased oil revenues, which were earned from the high world prices in the early 2000s, to raise the living standards of the majority of Venezuelans.

The government financed homes, schools, free laptops for every primary student, new universities with open free admission, public health clinics, hospitals and clean water services. Data from internationally reputable agencies verified the successful reductions in poverty rates, unemployment, infant mortality and inequality.

Most importantly, Chavez had the support of the majority of military officers who were from poor urban and farming families. The military was directly integrated on the ground with workers, farmers and the poor through their involvement in Ministries, state agencies and civil society organizations.

The officers played a critical role in returning Chavez to power after the USA-backed opposition coup in 2002, and in overcoming the devastating oil strike in 2003.

Despite the economic mismanagement and corruption of the Maduro

government, most of the Mixed, African and Indigenous workers, farmers and the poor continue to reluctantly support the Chavistas because they fear that a return to power of the opposition, led by the rich and upper middle class, would mean for them exclusion, dispossession, marginalization and racism.

A Bloomberg News article reported that a Caracas bus driver advised that the antigovernment demonstrations are about “rich people trying to get back lost economic perks and the slums won’t join them.”

Likewise, the military continue to reject the opposition’s many attempts to turn them against Maduro because they do not support a return to the pre-Chavez status quo.

The Venezuelan army, navy and militia are wellsupplied with guns, tanks, special amphibious vehicles, fighter jets, warships and two reconnaissance satellites from Russia and China, with whom Venezuela now has very close political and economic relations.

Consequently, ‘regime change by force’ in Venezuela will not be quick and easy and will most likely result in disaster for Venezuelans and for the peoples of our region because the country is deeply polarized, based on race and class.

So the key question is, if not ‘regime change by force’ then what? Guyana should continue to support the Lima Group of countries who are calling for non-intervention, (Continued on page 17)

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 29, 2020

I write in support of the Guyana Bar Association Dear Editor, I was utterly shocked when I read the profound statement released by the Guyana Bar Association. I commend these young professionals for their bold, courageous and informed position, which was so wellarticulated.

It is after reading the statement of the Bar Association that I was made aware that jury trials were scheduled to be resumed in Guyana. This has to be the first territory in the Commonwealth Caribbean to contemplate such a frightening, irresponsible and reckless course of action in the face of a rampant, uncontrolled pandemic particularly in Region 4. This is a grave tragedy.

History has taught us that with great power comes even greater responsibility for those who hold the reins of power and who hold the fate and well-being of segments of society within their control.

The Head of the Judiciary has to be aware of the enormous power that resides with them in summoning members of society to command them to be present at Court to serve as jurors at this specific juncture.

To elect to exercise that authority upon civil society who are already overburdened with the events of the last six months, electoral, COVID and financial depression, is disgraceful and indicates that our welfare is

certainly not a paramount consideration.

On Friday September 25, 2020, a jury trial was convened at the High Court, Demerara. The Attorneys-atlaw conveyed their unease at being physically present in the courtroom to conduct the trial and the Defence Attorney pointed out the fact to the Court that a police officer attached to the Court had tested positive for the dreaded COVID-19 virus.

This fact was not disclosed by the Judiciary to the participants, police officers, jurors, court staff or attorneys prior to the hearing.

Further, not a single step was taken by this Institution to contact trace, quarantine, isolate and identify the members of staff working at the High Court who may have had contact with the COVID patient.

This demonstrates the failure by the Judiciary to expeditiously adopt the basic operating procedure to protect the safety and wellbeing of the Court staff when there is a positive diagnosis.

The Judiciary has an obligation to inform the public of the testing regime it has in place for prospective jurors, the arrangements and modalities for transportation of the jurors to and from their homes, This lack of response and callous disregard for the safety and lives of the staff of the Court is consistent with

Dispute over non-payment of salary increases to employees who earn a commission Dear Editor, I regret to confirm a dispute between the Clerical & Commercial Workers’ Union (CCWU) and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL). The matter at hand is the nonpayment of salary increases to DDL’s employees who are paid a commission. Their pay is usually made up of the basic minimum wage plus the established commission.

However, the pay increases recently offered by DDL to the staff excluded those employees who are earning a commission. It is not unusual for the basic pay of this category of workers to be adjusted when the Company’s minimum wage is adjusted. This is consistent with the terms of the Collective Labour Agreement.

The CCWU is questioning the rationale for excluding the affected workers from the

basic pay increases.

In the avoidance and settlement of disputes, an agreement which was signed on the 4th December, 1970 by representatives of the CCWU and DDL, Clause 16 states: “This Agreement may by mutual consent of both the Company and the Union be amended from time to time”.

No amendment has been made to justify the exclusion of commission employees from basic salary increases.

I look forward to those aspects of the Ministry of Labour recommendations, which relate to industrial relations and in particular to the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Yours truly, Sherwood Clarke General President CLERICAL AND COMMERCIALWORKERS’ UNION

its ill-conceived and knee jerk decision to resume jury trials.

The Judiciary has failed to take even the most basic steps to ensure the safety of the court staff and Guyanese citizens by closing the court upon receiving news that a staffer has tested positive, as most local institutions have been doing. Yet they are forging ahead with the catastrophic resumption of jury trials. Jury trials, which will involve 12 members of the public seated in a courtroom, fearful that the person next to them may be COVID positive and asymptomatic.

Relatives and acquaintances of mine have served on juries in Georgetown. From their laments to me, it is clear that the facilities in a courtroom are unacceptable for the conducting of a jury trial and pose a threat to all present at this time.

The Judiciary ought not to seek refuge in hand sanitizer, washing of hands and social distancing as their criteria for the resumption of a jury trial. They seem content

that they have done their part by so doing in ensuring the safety of the jurors. This is ludicrous and extremely disappointing.

The public expects to hear statements from the Head of the Judiciary in the manner issued by the Guyana Bar Association and Chief Justice Ivor Archie of Trinidad and Tobago, and not the reverse.

It is a dire shame that the Judiciary has failed to adopt a responsible approach in view of the severe spike in COVID-19 cases. Perhaps they should take a page out of Archie CJ’s book.

Chief Justice Archie stated: “By compelling people to physically attend upon you in a place in person, you assume a moral and legal responsibility to take all reasonable steps to safeguard their health and safety and to mitigate foreseeable risk.”

It is important to note that this statement was not even made in contemplation of the resumption of a jury trial. This arose when he gently

chastised Justice Frank Seepersad for his decision to conduct an in-person hearing in the face of this pandemic.

The Judiciary of Guyana should not permit in-person hearings in any matters at this time. The matters can quite properly be conducted remotely.

As the Guyana Bar Association quite accurately stated, the right to a hearing is not absolute and must be balanced against considerations such as public health.

The authors of this unthinking decision to resume jury trials have clearly turned a deaf ear to the caution of a risk of contagion by jurors, court staff, police officers and all present from asymptomatic carriers of the virus and to the escalation of cases within the country.

The same applies to inperson hearings at the Court which should ALL be conducted remotely in the interest of the safety of all having regard to the surge in cases.

Chief Justice Archie also

said: “Judiciaries across the entire world are contending with the restriction of inperson hearings…It may make the difference between life and death for us judges, our devoted staff, stakeholders, litigants and every member of their households.”

Some of us are yet to grasp the meaning and implication of these statements. Clearly, the Bar Association has and I commend them.

Post-mortem expressions of sympathy by the Judiciary to bereaved relatives or monetary awards to them through legal proceedings will be no meaningful consolation.

We are sitting on a powder keg. My fervent hope and prayer is that good sense will prevail and there will be a prudent rescission of the illadvised proposal to resume jury trials and a cessation of all in-person hearings of matters.

Yours truly, Stephanie Isaacs

Minister Juan Edghill’s use of ‘moral’ and ‘ethical’ might not apply to his colleagues in Parliament Dear Editor, I refer to the article titled, “$329B Appropriation Bill unanimou s l y a p p r o v e d ” (SN September 26). I share some thoughts.

I am impressed by unanimous approval, which makes me question what all the “hullabaloo” was about.

We h a v e neither time nor capacity for theater; not while citizens deal daily with hard reality. Just get on with it.

I was also impressed (and amused) that the Hon. Minister of Public Works found occasion to speak of the “moral and ethical” as imperative for his parliamentary listeners, all leaders in the National Assembly.

As I interpret those two related words “moral” and “ethical”, they are about what is right and wrong by any measurement, the higher and tougher the b e t t e r. T h i n g s a r e a s simple as that, and which meanings, I believe are not alien to Minister Juan Edghill. By articulating most unambiguously position and expectation, those two words and linking them to leaders, I think that the Minister did an inestimable public work for this nation. I will not, however, take the same

position with regard to the great majority of his parliamentary audience, be they comrades or competitors.

I appreciate that his lordship has no control, other than suasion, over political adversaries across the aisle; I hope for stirring to better.

But I am wont to believe that the good bishop has some congregation to preach to and appeal to in those from his own group.

He should know that his helmsmen have little to recommend them on the “moral and ethical” expressways over which he labors. The record certifies that they have travelled at express speeds in the opposite direction, through exhibiting palpable immoral and unethical bents.

Moral and ethical, so well proclaimed by the man of the cloth, is not exemplified with halftruths, halfway efforts, and “half assed” practices in the national house of the people’s business. His newer colleagues already have converted it into a bawdy house for the titillation of themselves and their swallowing, swooning audience.

I suggest the Minister conducts tutorials with his

own flock first. I give him two recent examples on which he can pontificate about the “moral and ethical.”

There was a naturally resourceful member, who took to the parliamentary p u l p i t t o m a ke an utter prankster of himself, when he spoke of a $48B deficit at the Gold Board.

I give extra credit in recognition of a manufacturer, who exceedingly early abandoned the moral and ethical so beautifully waxed about by the man of scripture.

His colleague profaned those words by his patented falsehood, since no such thing existed in possibly any place in this country. But lies sell, and the more flagrant, the more buyers there are.

Those pursuing truths are left to manage the damage done. I suggest that the Bishop conducts a prayer vigil for his people on what is moral and ethical. They need the guidance.

Then, there was the works junior, out to make his bones in true mafia fashion, who was saddled with the duty to mow down somebody. He spoke from the heart of a $4B deficit inherited.

He is young in the game, so forgiveness follows. I ask the bishop to pray for him, since he knows not what he does.

A stripling practitioner, so enamored of his elevation and zealous about proving his worth that he neglected the first part of the story. That is, there was a more than $12B deficit in 2015 that his people left behind, and which they left honest people to clean up and fix. “My caution: deo, dat is not done in dah house.”

I trust that Bishop Edghill now has a fuller measure of the wilderness he inhabits. He has much work on his hands, many false prophets nearby.

I think the good Bishop means well, but I urge wisdom: the brightly spiritual has zero reception and application in the diabolical regions of the political. He has his work cut out for him on two counts.

First, to persuade his colleagues on engaging in behaviours and standards moral and ethical. And second, to defend himself at the Pearly Gates, when asked about the company he kept.

Yours truly, GHK Lall

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

Panel for election COI could be drawn from CARICOM, OAS, Commonwealth T

he panel for the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the protracted March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections may very well emerge from those organisations who championed democracy during the five-month impasse. Same was revealed

by President Irfaan Ali during an interview with Jamaica's CEEN TV – 'The Conversation.'

President Ali reiterated his commitment to ensure that a COI is conducted into what occurred both during and after the election to ensure that the authors are held accountable for the role they played.

“You have to be held accountable for your actions, and your actions caused

- President Ali

President Irfaan Ali

tremendous harm to the people of Guyana and to our country,” President Ali said.

Responding to questions regarding who would fill the panel, President Ali stated

that the region has always been Guyana's first call.

“Definitely, I think the region would have to play a part, but we have also gotten requests from many of the

international organisations – OAS, Commonwealth and so on. These are all organisations that played a key role, fighting for Guyana's democracy. So between the OAS, Commonwealth and CARICOM, I think we will have a great opportunity to determine a good panel to look at the COI,” President Ali noted.

During his inauguration speech, President Ali had made it clear that the painful events of the last five months are etched into the minds of Guyanese all across the world, “as vigorous attempts were made to destroy our democratic credentials, and

deny the will of the electorate.”

“Therefore, a review of events – related to the electoral process over the last five months – will begin shortly in order to determine, forensically, exactly what transpired, and to hold accountable any person who sought to pervert and corrupt the system.”

Guyana's 2020 election process only came to an end on August 2, bringing to finality, the five month-long process dubbed “the mother of all elections”.

Though the voting process which ended on March 2, a timely conclusion to the election was marred by

a series of events – the fraudulent acts of Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, and the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, and a string of court litigations brought by members of the then A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition were all aimed at granting a false victory to that party. Already, the CEO is facing three private criminal charges related to the fraudulent declaration of results.

At the conclusion of the national recount, however, the will of the people was reflected revealing a win for the PPP/C. It was owing to these events that President Ali vowed to ensure it never reoccurs.

Coalition's giveaway of prime E.C.D. lands…

Third developer returns five acres to Govt.

C orum Group Inc, the developer with plans to construct a Holiday Inn Hotel at Ogle East Coast Demerara has relinquished the five acres of prime lands allocated to it in what is being dubbed 'a mad rush' deal by the previous A P N U + A F C administration.

The company is now the third developer that has opted to return lands to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) to allow for a cleaner and transparent process after it was discovered that the previous regime, through former Finance Minister Winston Jordan, vested the lands without due process.

These are prime lands that are located near a major planned highway that would link the East Coast and East Bank transportation network. The almost 1,000 acres of prime lands opened

by NICIL for commercial development are said to be worth billions of dollars.

Managing Director of Corum Group Inc, Clairmont Cummings, in a statement yesterday explained that back in 2017, the company had submitted an expression of interest (EOI) to NICIL for the lease

One of the Vesting Orders (details blanked out) seen by Kaieteur News of lands to develop a global chain branded hotel in Guyana.

Then later, in 2018, after high level meetings which included market visits by senior directors at Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), Corum signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IHG for the development of

Holiday Inn Guyana.

A c c o r d i n g t o Cummings, the deal was tabled in 2020 with approval coming from NICIL to lease the five acres of lands located at Ogle Plantations.

“Corum Group Inc. wishes to voluntarily revert lands to NICIL, without prejudice to support the Government of Guyana in its

mandate,” the statement said. “Notwithstanding, we at Corum look forward to working with NICIL and the

Government of Guyana through its recently announced Request for Proposals (RFP) to build an

international hotel in Guyana at the appropriate time.” Back in June, (continued on page 14)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Five regions have new chairpersons…

Woman takes helm on E'bo Coast; former army captain to lead Region Four - Region Eight process suspended as two Councillors test positive for COVID-19

N

ine of the 10 administrative regions of Guyana have elected chairpersons with a number of notable changes.

A number of faces have remained with a woman now in charge of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in Region Two (Essequibo Coast). Regions Two, Four, Seven and 10 are the regions with new chairpersons.

However, elections for a Chair for Region Eight was not possible as two councillors reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently in quarantine.

Returning for Region One is Brentnol Ashley. He has been around for three elections now for the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Region Two will boast the one administrative district that will have a woman as Chair. She has been identified as Vilma Audrey Da Silva.

In Region Three, Ayube Inshan will replace the longserving Julius Faerber.

Former army captain, Daniel Seeram, a candidate for the Coalition, will chair the RDC in Region Four.

Taking back Region Five is Vickchand Ramphal.

Region One: Brentnol Ashley In Region Six, businessman David Armogan has retained his seat as the Chair. That East Berbice district is a critical one for the PPP/C. Region Seven has a new Chair. He has been identified as Kenneth Williams.

Bryan Allicock who is familiar with that border area of Region Nine has been given the nod to return.

Region 10's new Chair is none other than Deron Adams, who was one of the frontline faces for the Coalition campaign in Region 10.

Region Two: Vilma Audrey Da Silva

Region Six: David Armogan

Region Four: Daniel Seeram

Region Five: Vickchand Ramphal

Region Seven: Kenneth Williams

Region Nine: Bryan Allicock

Region 10: Deron Adams

Driver caught after slamming into 6-year-old, speeding away

AFC General Secretary, David Patterson, resigns

P

F

ormer Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, has resigned from the position of General Secretary of the Alliance For Change (AFC).

According to a letter that Patterson wrote to AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, his resignation takes “immediate effect”.

“It has been an honour and privilege to have served in this capacity,” Patterson wrote in the missive dated September 28, 2020.

He went on to note that he will remain a member of the AFC while maintaining his membership in full. He also assured that he will continue to participate in party activities.

However, such participation will be executed under a different capacity, Patterson noted.

Region Three: Ayube Inshan

David Patterson

olice have apprehended a driver who fled the scene Sunday last, after slamming his car into a sixyear-boy on the Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara Public Road.

The child is currently hospitalized at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in a stable condition.

According to police reports, the child was struck

down around 17:30hrs while trying to cross the road.

Investigators were told that the driver was heading in an easterly direction when the accident occurred.

The man, who hails from La Bonne Intention, claimed that as he was about to pass a shop when he noticed the child running from a northerly direction into the path of his car. He told police ranks that he applied brakes but could not avoid the

collision. The impact flung the child on to the road causing him to sustain multiple injuries.

Eyewitnesses said that the man did not assist but instead fled the scene. It was public-spirited citizens who picked up the injured child and rushed him to the hospital.

Police later received information about the driver and he was arrested shortly after.

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

The private sector and the govt. need to come up with a plan Y

esterday's COVID-19 dashboard was not interesting, not by what is revealed but by what was hidden. Of the total of 247 tests which were reported on, there were zero positive cases in Region Four.

This statistics does not confirm to the pattern of cases over the past few weeks. It could very well mean that none of those 247 tests was related to Region Four. In fact, six of the 10 Regions did not report any increases in cases yesterday.

The only regions in which there were increases were Regions One, Two, Five and Eight, with the latter having eight positive cases, the most for yesterday.

We can therefore look forward to a massive spike in reported cases in Region Four tomorrow. Hopefully, tomorrow's dashboard would include more of the results of the tests done in that region.

There is clearly a need for more information to be provided. First, the public would feel more assured if instead of the total cases, they could be provided with the total active cases as per region as well.

The government is attempting to shift the narrative from the total confirmed cases towards looking at the total recovered cases. It is arguing that the recovery rate is high. That makes no sense at all. There is a standard formula for

Dem

boys seh...

D

em Boys nah like involve lil children in Dem Boys Seh. But deh gat some presumptuous children who smelling them own sweat and peeing froth so much so dat dem feel dem can dabble in big man business.

This lil child decide that he gan attack dem boys just because dem boys talk how is only dem 'big school' making fuss over dem exam results. Dem boys know nuff of dem 'small school' children nah mek all de noise wah de 'big school' children mek.

recoveries, one which has been downgraded by the World Health Organization.

Once you are tested and you have no symptoms for 13 days after testing positive, you are considered recovered. Also, seven days after infection, it is being said that persons can no longer transmit the virus, so it could well be that this will help reduce the number of persons in isolation.

The former Minister of Health, under the APNU+AFC regime, is reported to have indicated her disagreement with home isolation. However, it is impossible for the government to impose institutional isolation to all cases. This could have happened because when there was low testing, there were only a maximum, at one stage, of 50-60 persons in institutional isolation which was then mandatory.

But when you are dealing with 1,000 plus cases, it is impossible and makes no sense either to institutionalize everyone.

Almost all the countries in which there are large outbreaks of the coronavirus have home isolation.

The government's a rg u m e n t o f i n c r e a s e recovery rate needs to factor in deaths. When someone dies, it means they have not recovered and if one examines deaths as per cases, it is evident that Guyana is in a serious crisis.

Like Guyana, Jamaica is

experiencing a massive spike in cases. It has so far registered 6,170 cases, twice as high as the number of cases in Guyana. Yesterday, it recorded more than 150 new cases. But it only has 93 deaths, while Guyana is nearing 80 deaths with less than 3,000 cases.

Suriname has 4,883 cases with 102 deaths which when we calculate the deaths per cases, it is still lower than Guyana's. Trinidad has 4,386 cases, which is almost double what Guyana has but it has six less deaths. So while we can argue that all of these Caribbean countries are experiencing a massive spike in cases and deaths, Guyana's death rate is higher.

The government has boxed itself into a position where it is now most unlikely it will shut the e c o n o m y d o w n .

Notwithstanding, it has to do something about the number of cases in Region Four and it has to do something for the vulnerable in all Regions.

The government should meet the private sector and come up with a plan. The private sector has an interest in this matter. If persons test positive in their companies, it will hurt the company more than it stands to gain by keeping business open.

A plan is needed for Region Four and that plan must try to look once again at ways of reducing deaths, undertaking mass testing and putting in place social

When Lil Boys pee froth dem does feel dem is big man!

And is because dem 'big school' feel dat how dem supposed to do, dem nah do.

But how dem know how dem supposed to do. Dem feel dem supposed to do good because dem get high marks in de SBA. H o w e v e r, d e C X C 'moderate' say de SBA scores and some marks come down and some marks go up.

So dem boys seh before lil boy talk tuh much, he should wait on the spreadsheet wah gat de SBA scores. And he should hope is nat Mingo prepare dat spreadsheet.

Dem boys know dat

every year, dem does gat case where people does get absent pon de grade. But when dem appeal, de records does put it right. Dat is not nothing new.

What is also not new is having ungraded. Dem CXC explain dat when all de requirements of de SBA nah meet, den you can have ungraded until dem schools send in wah dem supposed to send in.

Talk half and remember dem days when if you gat long hair in school, dem teacher use to cut it themselves!

restrictions to reduce the number of persons who congregate or work at one place at the same time.

You cannot test your way out this pandemic. There is only one proven way to stop this virus and that is through social restrictions.

Guyana cannot afford to pay the sort of price, which cities such as New York paid to bring the pandemic under control. But it does appear as if no one has pointed that out, as yet, to the government.

A vaccine is not likely to be available in Guyana until

next March. Until then, people should say their prayers and hope for the best.

(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

Tuesday September 29, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

In the diaspora, in the circus, in the gutter I

n the Stabroek News, there is a weekly column captioned “In the Diaspora” in which guest writers from outside of Guyana, living in the diaspora, pen the columns that are featured. “In the Diaspora” for Monday (yesterday), September 28, went into the circus then into the gutter.

The title of the piece is, “Warning Signs: Mike Pompeo goes to Guyana.” It is jointly written by Ryan Jacobson of the University of Chicago and Matthew Quest of University of Arkansas.

If there is a warning sign of Pompeo going to Guyana, there is also a warning sign that Jacobson and Quest are bringing the circus to Guyana. It is the first time the diaspora circus will come

here. In my lifetime living in Guyana, the circus came from Russia, Mexico, and Colombia.

To see how frightening this warning sign is about the circus coming, we have to quote from these two clowns.

They write, “As critical observers, we ask: What is being subverted in the region, national sovereignty or workers' selfemancipation.”

What is critical about what Jacobson and Quest are observing? Far from being critical, Jacobson and Quest are opportunistic. Here is why.

For five months, the integrity of one of the most essential pillars of regional sovereignty, CARICOM, was being undermined by five months of systematic

rigging of Guyana's national elections. Concerned about the destabilizing impact on the CARICOM region, five CARICOM prime ministers travelled to Guyana to preserve Caribbean regional wholesomeness.

And where were Jacobson and Quest during these five months, from March to July? It had to be Timbuktu because Jacobson and Quest were silent either refusing to see how destructive to Caribbean integration election rigging can be in Guyana or maybe were silent because they probably had a choice in the election outcome.

Let's quote again from the circus, “As the newly elected Guyana President Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C Government held court with Pompeo, adorning the

capital city of Georgetown with US flags and billboards, the working people of Guyana were already dealing with the deadly realities and effects of racial violence, following the horrific killings of Isaiah Henry, Joel Henry, Haresh Singh, Prettipaul Hargobin and the protests that stoked fears of widespread civil conflict.”

This is either dishonest scholarship or poor academic research that borders on incompetence.

The working people were divided by politicians in Guyana who refused to accept the rule of law and the results of free and fair elections.

In their quest to destabilize the wining party, opposition leaders incited villages using the tragedy of two young men whose deaths the police were investigating and there was no evidence of the homicides being a hate crime.

The fears of widespread civil conflict in the early weeks of September were generated by opportunistic politicians whose frenetic obsession with power could have caused a Venezuelan invasion because there is no better time to invade a country as when its population is at war with itself.

These sociological realities, Jacobson and Quest

ignored but have the asinine temerity to tell Guyanese readers about a warning sign of Pompeo coming here.

The dangerous warning sign resided in what two opposition leaders - former President, David Granger, and his right-hand man, Joe Harmon, did in certain villages in western Berbice. These fears had

Frederick Kissoon t h e i rg e n e s i s i n t h e rigging of the March 2020 elections for five months.

Instead of joining with the Vice Chancellor of UWI, the OAS, CARICOM, the C o m m o n w e a l t h Secretariat, the EU, the US, Canada, former Liberian President, Ellen Sirleaf, of the Elders; a body of former Prime Ministers and Presidents that monitor human rights violation around the world founded

by Nelson Mandela and

other international actors to condemn the internecine election fraud in Guyana, Jacobson and Quest were not to be seen and heard. Of course, they were teaching in Timbuktu when Guyana was going through this horrible period.

Let's offer one final quote from these two fellows and this is where we move from the circus to the gutter, “The people of Guyana…deserve a direct democracy where the majority can oppose the minority that rules above society….”

So Jacobson and Quest know there is a concept and process that goes under the name of direct democracy. From five months, direct democracy was under the threat of decapitation. The Chief Elections Officer declared six different results on six different occasions.

And while the world frowned on this satanic descent into election rigging, Jacobson and Quest were happy teaching their students in Timbuktu. Now they write to tell Guyanese about a warning sign in relation to Pompeo coming here. Stay in Timbuktu, gentlemen!

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

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Dealing with the pandemic‌

Learning materials handed over to several hinterland communities L

ast weekend, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, visited Baramita, Matthew's Ridge, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Moruca in Region One (Barima-Waini).

In a release, the Ministry revealed that the visits were part of an awareness campaign to familiarize stakeholders with the new methods of dispensing education amid the COVID19 pandemic.

Public schools remain closed with some students accessing teachers via online classes.

However, thousands of

students, especially in the hinterlands have no internet access.

The idea was to have a hybrid system in place, using a mix on internet and learning materials.

Accompanied by the Ministry's Chief Planning Officer (CPO), Nicola Johnson, and Sarah Browne, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Manickchand also visited Imbaimadai, Kamarang, Paruima, Kaikan and Bartica in Region Seven, Cuyuni- Mazaruni.

According to the Ministry in its statement, during discussions with

Minister Priya Manickchand hands over the learning materials to a regional representative

residents, parents, students and other community members, the Education Minister explained what the Ministry is currently doing to ensure learning continues and keeping children engaged during this time.

She told the residents that because the Coronavirus pandemic has affected the education sector, learning has to be done differently since schools are not yet cleared for physical reopening.

It was in this context that the Education Minister explained that in addition to online teaching, the Learning Channel will be used for delivering daily lessons to students across all levels and grades.

In addition, residents were encouraged to tune in to their community radio stations for the Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) programme and also the broadcast to schools.

Noting the peculiar situation that is confronting the nation, Minister Manickchand said that a blended approach to learning has been adopted by the MoE and therefore communities that have challenges with internet connectivity and non-access to the Guyana Learning Channel will be engaged differently.

It is towards this end that

the Education Minister assured that all of the nation's children will be meaningfully engaged irrespective of where they are located.

During the visits, she distributed worksheets and other printed learning resources for students in the two regions.

The other hinterland regions are currently receiving their batch.

Residents also shared concerns and suggestions with the Minister who assured them that these will be addressed. She said that there is no better situation than teachers and students having face-to-face interaction but this is not possible at this time.

Notwithstanding that, Minister Manickchand said that the focus of her Ministry is to ensure that there is minimal learning loss to

Minister Manickchand interacting with some of the beneficiaries

students and no effort will be overlooked by her Ministry to ensure that this is realised.

The hinterland students now have worksheets for the next month and additional materials are currently being prepared to ensure students both in the hinterland and

other communities are continuously engaged until schools reopen.

The worksheets cover work the students would have been doing had there been in the classroom and are for the nursery, primary and secondary levels.

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Nineteen libelsuits filed against KNews…

Winston Brassington fails to establish case of libel against Kaieteur News - Defence lawyer A

ttorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes, has said that the libel suit brought against Kaieteur News by former Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, has not been established.

The lawyer made this conclusion in court yesterday following an intense cross-examination of Brassington who brought some 19 lawsuits against the Kaieteur News, a widely read Guyanese publication, over allegations of defamation.

Several of the claims were brought against the newspaper and its former Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris, over contents of the satirical “Dem Boys She” column, of which Brassington said caused his integrity and character to be called into question.

Among the claims, Brassington had accused Kaieteur News of calling him dishonest, guilty of criminal activity such as fraud and corrupt practices in the conduct of his work in a number of projects including the controversial Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

The plaintiff claimed that as a result, he and family suffered greatly – his children would come from school and complain that they are being teased about the remarks published in the newspaper.

During a virtual hearing of one of the matter before High Court Justice, Fidela Corbin-Lincoln, yesterday, Hughes took Brassington to task over those claims. The former NICIL Head was confronted with the particulars of his evidencein-chief, which was previously provided to the Court.

This time, the question of libel surrounded a satirical piece, which Brassington said was written following his birthday celebration.

Among other things, the plaintiff took offense to the words “Brazzy get he budday and invite a bunch a thieves”.

In response to queries from Hughes, who is representing Kaieteur News in the matter, the former NICIL head, confirmed that

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall

Defence lawyer: Nigel Hughes

he had a birthday celebration and invited a number of officials from the former People Progressive Party /Civic (PPP/C) Government.

He listed Former President Donald Ramotar and former Minister of Finance, Ashni Singh, amongst those who he could recall were present at his birthday dinner.

The witness however could not say that the words were directly libelous to him.

“It doesn't say that you are a thief, does it?” Hughes posited.

“No sir, it doesn't,” Brassingtion responded under oath. The witness was also asked what he understood by the term “budday,” to which he responded, “I think it meant my birthday.”

Also confronted with another portion of the article which read “but Brazzy can't tun back de clack,” the witness told the Court that he interpreted it in a literal sense. ”What do you understand that to mean sir?” asked Hughes. “I take it literally to mean that I can't turn back the clock,” Brassington replied.

“And do you find anything specifically offensive in that statement?

Do you agree that it is a statement of fact?” Hughes retorted.

“Yes I agree,” replied Brassington.

Brassington's lawyer, Timothy Jonas, made several objections to the line of questioning as it related to

the specifics of his client's birthday celebration. Jonas noted that Hughes' questions as it relates who were his client's guests bore no relevance to the case.

The lawyer's objections were noted by Justice Corbin-Lincoln. The Judge nonetheless overruled some of objections and allowed the questions.

Justice Corbin-Lincoln upheld Jonas' objection to a point raised by the defence over the question of charges brought against Ashni Singh; one of the invitees at the birthday celebration.

Justice Corbin-Lincoln pointed out to Hughes that the issue of Singh being charged cannot be used to justify the statements given that it could not be proven as a fact. She reminded the attorney that even if he were to plead justification based on qualified privilege (immunity protection from the penalty of a lawsuit, usually a lawsuit for defamation) this must be done based on truthful statements.

The Judge therefore instructed the lawyer to move on from the line of questioning.

As such, Hughes turned the witness's attention to the reference of the “pumpkin jumpsuit” in the satirical

Former NICIL Head, Winston Brassington

Attorney-at-law: Timothy Jonas

piece. The question was specific to a line of the article, which read “Dem boys praying and hoping that Brazzy end up in a pumpkin jumpsuit.”

The former NICIL Head had taken offence to the words pumpkin jumpsuit as having a negative connotation (meaning that there were hopes that he would end up in jail) but he fumbled to explain why he interpreted the phrase to mean he should be jailed.

“In your evidence, you referenced the use of innuendos specifically the words 'pumpkin jumpsuit'…what do you understand by those words

and where in Guyana can you find a pumpkin jumpsuit?” asked the lawyer.

“I have gone looking for them [the pumpkin jumpsuit] sir…but I am sure I can find them in the newspapers…media,” Brassington responded.

Further pressed on the meaning of the term, Brassington told the court “when you watch the movie Bad Boys, there are many examples of them, there.”

Under further crossexamination, Hughes suggested to Brassingtion “The Kaieteur News as far you understand has a national circulation and took (continued on page 17)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Man confesses to killing miner following card game row

A

Gruesome murder of Berbice teens…

Foreign investigators arrive in Guyana to assist with case

MURDERED: Haresh Singh

Mining operations in the Big Creek Backdam suspect, 25, has reportedly confessed to killing a miner on Saturday last at Big Creek Backdam, North West District (NWD), Region One, following a row over a card game.

According police reports the miner, Kevin Baynes, 34, of Ann's Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was slain some time after 18:30hrs.

B a s e d o n t h e investigations carried out by ranks, Baynes and his alleged killer were playing a game of cards at the location when an argument erupted between them.

Sources from the Big Creek area told this newspaper that the row was over a sum of cash, which the suspect did not want to pay

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Baynes. As a result, Baynes got angry and reached into a bag he was carrying, pulled out a knife, placed it in his waist and relieved the suspect of his cell phone.

The alleged murderer demanded that the cell phone be returned to him but Baynes refused and left.

However sometime later, according to investigators, the suspect, along with a 16year-old accomplice, approached Baynes and unleashed an attack.

A police source told Kaieteur News that the accomplice assisted in pulling Baynes into a bushy area where his alleged killer proceeded to stab him several times to the face and body. Baynes collapsed and fell to ground and the suspect

and his accomplice fled the scene.

The police were notified hours later of the incident and the whereabouts of the suspects. Commander of Region One, Jairam Ramlakhan, said, “had it not been for this cooperation from the public, his ranks might have been unable to trap Baynes' alleged killer.”

He told Kaieteur News that even before heading to the scene, his ranks swooped down on a location in the nearby village of Matthew's Ridge and nabbed the fugitives.

Ramlakhan said that the suspects had already bought plane tickets and were only waiting for an aircraft to take them to Georgetown the following day.

A

team consisting o f f i v e investigators from the Regional Security System (RSS) arrived yesterday to assist the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in finding the killers of brutally murdered Berbice teens, Haresh Singh, 17; Joel Henry, 19, and Isaiah Henry, 16.

Joel and Isaiah's mutilated bodies were found on September 6, in clumps of bushes near to a coconut estate located at Cotton Tree

MURDERED: Joel and Isaiah Henry B a c k d a m , We s t C o a s t Berbice, Region Five.

Protests marred by violence had erupted over the news of their gruesome murder and days later Singh's body was found, lying in a patch of grass and bleeding from the nose at the Number Three Village Backdam. Singh was later pronounced dead at a hospital and was identified as the grandson of one of the suspects, a rice farmer, who was in police custody at the time.

In a press statement issued by GPF's Public Relations Officer (PRO), Assistant Commissioner, Royston Andries-Junor, it was revealed that the foreign team is here following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Government of Guyana and the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS).

The statement detailed as (continued on page 18)

Third developer returns five...

From page 7 Kaieteur News had reported that Jordan, the then Minister of Finance, had approved the sale of 130 acres of prime East Coast lands to a list of developers – all on the same day – June 11, 2020.

Images of the vesting orders signed by Jordan were posted to social media and listed Bosai Minerals Group (Guyana) Incorporated (General Manager, Eric Yu); Premier Sales Incorporated; American Marine and Services Incorporated; Trinuyana Investments Incorporated (Director, John Aboud); Cardiology Services Incorporated; Supergraphics Enterprise (Owner, Eton Cordis); Navigant Builders (Owner, Danny Sawh); Caribbean Marketing Enterprise Incorporated (Director, Mike Elliot); GUYOIL (CEO, Renatta Exeter), and Earl's Court Incorporated as the companies that cashed in on the deal.

Although the lands were vested to the companies, no payment was made to the government, giving a clear indication that the State lands were merely given away.

Former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan Navigant Builders Inc, a subsidiary of Windsor Estates and Cardiology Services Incorporated are the other two companies that initially relinquished their lands.

C a r d i o l o g i s t , D r.

Mahendra Carpen, Managing Director of Cardiology Services Inc, had secured the lands for the construction of a state-of-the-art private hospital.

It was reported that back in 2017, the company contacted NICIL by way of an EoI to lease lands in Ogle. It was said

that the agreement was penned in February 2020 – mere days before the March 2020 Elections.

According to information received, payments for the lands were not completed; however the lands were still transferred to the company.

Then Opposition People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), as well as public accountability advocates, had argued at the time that the Coalition government, being in caretaker mode, could not be involved in such deals.

Not to mention, the country was embroiled in the widely publicized electoral impasse.

Navigant Builders Incorporated then followed suit, relinquishing some 30 acres of land to allow for a more transparent reissuing of lands. Back in February of this year, NICIL and Navigant Builders Inc. officials turned the sod for the expansive Windsor Estate East Coast Project at Ogle.

The company had revealed that due to the political uncertainty at the time, the project was suspended and it made no attempts to initiate any transfer of lands or advance the project.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 29, 2020

PAGE 15

Use Heart to Beat Cardiovascular Disease {

World Heart Day 2020 Message from the Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony

T

oday, September 29, 2020, the Ministry of Health and indeed all of Guyana is joining the international community to observe World Heart Day, under the theme, “Use Heart to Beat Cardiovascular Disease�.

World Heart Day brings attention to the toll that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) take on individuals and, by extension, families and communities. World Heart Day is also aimed at encouraging healthy habits and lifestyles in order to reduce the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.

CVDs are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions. CVDs, in particular heart attack and stroke, are by far the leading causes of death in the world and is responsible for 31 percent of all global deaths.

According to the World

{

Health Organisation (WHO), CVDs are the number one cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year.

WHO also reports that four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age.

Here in Guyana, our statistics reflects the worldwide trend. Over the past five years, heart diseases have been the number one cause of all deaths in Guyana.

A significant percent of the population has been diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are caused by unhealthy lifestyles, such as unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol drinking, insufficient physical activity and smoking. These unhealthy practices contribute to other diseases, such as diabetes,

treatments for CVDs are available at our medical facilities, and develop a national programme to provide support for healthy lifestyles.

While Government will continue to implement laws and policies, and health care workers will assess our risks and provide guidance and treatment accordingly, it is

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony respiratory illnesses, renal disease and several types of cancer.

As Minister of Health, we recognise that measures need to be implemented to further promote healthy lifestyle and good diet, while at the same time discouraging unhealthy ones.

Hence, over the next five years, the Ministry of Health plans to adopt a strategy that will ensure multi-drug therapy and standardized

important to note that each of us has a role to play in reducing sickness due to cardiovascular diseases.

The private and public sectors, as well as nongovernmental organisations, can provide education and offer support by implementing wellness initiatives, which can benefit employees.

By taking individual action through our collective efforts, we will stay one-step ahead in protecting our health and that of our family and friends.

We must focus on eating healthy foods, making physical activity and exercise a daily habit, and avoiding tobacco and (continued on page 16)

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday September 29, 2020

Creating More and Better Jobs, the Challenge of the Hour in Latin America and the Caribbean

By Carlos Felipe Jaramillo (World Bank Regional Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean) Latin America and the Caribbean is the region most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the world, with a health impact as strong as that of advanced countries, but without comparable means to mitigate the effect on economic activity and employment. It is a complex, painful scenario in which millions of people suffer daily the difficulties facing the region and their devastating consequences on the world of work.

Informal workers have been the most affected: if quarantines keep them from going out, they cannot earn income for their families, and because they are not covered by unemployment insurance and other social programmes, it is difficult to help them.

Formal employment has resisted better so far, but these jobs will likely be heavily affected in the coming months as companies' liquidity problems become solvency problems and many will be forced to close.

We cannot overcome these difficulties by returning to the past, however. The World Bank report launched this month, Going Viral: COVID-19 and the Accelerated Transformation of Jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean, demonstrates that in the region, employment in the industrial sector stagnated at levels below those of advanced economies and emerging economies of East Asia.

It also shows that most employment is concentrated in the service sector, which is typically more informal and has higher self-employment rates. The technological revolution has accentuated these trends. With respect to the pandemic, the need to adopt digital platforms that reduce social interaction is widening the gap between those who can telework and those who cannot.

The creation of more and better jobs is vital for the region. It is crucial to invest in creating the human capital necessary for the jobs of the future, which will be less routine and simple. Education and vocational training programmes create opportunities and should be within everyone's reach. The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean should work to in-

Carlos Felipe Jaramillo crease the market value of education if they strive to keep up with the most advanced economies. Additionally, they should promote training and labour re-entry programmes for adults.

In addition to supporting the health response, social containment and economic recovery in 17 countries of the region during the COVID-19 emergency, the World Bank approved several programmes to create human capital this year, including in Peru, Honduras and El Salvador.

Boosting productivity is equally important. The productivity index for the region's agricultural sector is an average of 20 per cent lower than that of the United States.

It is 40 per cent lower in industry and 25 per cent lower in services.

Improving efficiency in these three areas will require incorporating technology; stimulating innovation, competition and quality; eliminating market distortions that impede the growth of the most productive firms; removing trade barriers; and advancing international agreements that

facilitate exchange. The region's potential is enormous but will only materialize if we apply the appropriate policies.

The report also underscores the need to rethink labour regulations in a way that promotes job creation and the formalization of employment. It is necessary to expand employment, but in a way in which social protection benefits reach larger segments of the population.

Governments can also improve the business climate to attract investment and develop communications, transport and logistics infrastructure to drive business growth.

The World Bank will help implement these muchneeded changes.

Additionally, the jobs of the future may be conditioned by technological advances associated with the so-called fourth industrial revolution.

We still do not know how innovations such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and 3D printing will impact the labour market. Historically, despite potential initial fears, new technologies have supported increased job creation, higher productivity and improved quality of life.

The region has the opportunity to be at the forefront of this revolution and to reap its benefits.

One of Latin America's greatest challenges – perhaps the biggest – is to create new sources of employment in the current environment of sectoral changes and technological development.

The enormous economic and social costs of the pandemic have accelerated the transformation of the labour market and have made addressing this challenge even more urgent. But the path to inclusion through employment is inescapable if we want more equitable societies. That will be the measure of success.

Use Heart to Beat Cardiovascular Disease From page 15 alcohol use.

We are currently battling the COVID-19 pandemic and, while we might not know what course the pandemic will take us in the coming months, we do know that persons living with pre-existing medical conditions, such as heart diseases, are more at risk if they become infected.

Do not let COVID-19 stop you from your daily health routines.

As we observe World Heart Day, I encourage you to make simple changes, and keep at them consistently.

And while you do so, be sure to encourage your friends and family to join you so that they can also adopt healthy lifestyle choices.

Tuesday September 29, 2020

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

CXC Establishes Independent Review Team Amid Exam Concerns The Gleaner - Chairman of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, has indicated that an independent review team will shortly begin work on addressing concerns raised about the administration of regional exams and the grades issued to students.

A report will be produced for discussion with relevant stakeholders.

Hundreds of students have decried what they deemed ‘unacceptable’ results in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

READ: CXC unmoved by

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles flood of criticisms about alleged flawed test results They have raised concerns about anomalies with some grades issued by CXC.

Preliminary CSEC and CAPE results were released last week.

Beckles, in a statement yesterday, stated that CXC registrar, Dr Wayne Wesley, and his team met with regional Ministers of Education in order to discuss the concerns and identify the underlying causes with a view to moving forward and providing clarity.

“It is understood that while there might be policy and technical issues to be addressed immediately, the maintenance of public trust going forward is paramount.

There will be ongoing dialogue with regional Ministries of Education based upon the official

...Winston Brassington fails to establish From page 13 the government to task on several issues …some of those issues were in relation to national transactions by the government?”

To which Brassington responded in the affirmative, agreeing with the suggestion that the newspaper was carrying out its national function to investigate those transactions.

The witness also agreed with the suggestion that he played a major part in the transactions given his posi-

tion of prominence on a number of State controlled boards including NICIL, Atlantic Hotels Incorporated (AHI) and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Company.

Meanwhile, towards the end of the proceeding, the defence lawyer indicated that he will no longer be calling upon representatives of the newspaper, Glenn Lall, the Publisher, and Harris, the former Chief Editor, who were also present in Court, to lead a defence.

“So, you have no wit-

nesses to call; are you saying then that there is no case to answer?” queried the judge.

“Yes your honour, I am saying that the libel brought against the defendants (Kaieteur News) has not been established,” he said.

The Judge therefore instructed the attorneys to file their final submissions in the next two weeks.

Justice Corbin- Lincoln is expected to preside over three more trials in relation to the 19 libel claims, this week.

...‘Regime change by force’ in From page 5 a peaceful negotiated solution and a short-term Interim Government to implement free, fair and transparent elections. .

The main call for ‘regime change by force’ is coming from the Venezuelan political opposition who has ignored the advice of numerous USA governments that, if they want to win democratic elections, then they have to change and become united and inclusive.

As President Irfaan Ali stated, Guyana stands unequivocally for transparent, free and fair elections in Venezuela.

Guyana should avoid identifying with any politician or party. Both the Chavistas and the opposition are equally responsible for ensuring that the Venezuelan Elections Commission is professional and nonpartisan with fair and equal representation of all political forces. There must be a broad and non-partisan participation of international and national observers.

To meet the interests of all Venezuelans, before the election every political party in Venezuela should sign an agreement that, regardless of who wins the government, they will implement inclusive and anti-racist policies, adhere to the rule of law, respect the right of every Venezuelan to vote for any party of their choice, and practice non-aggression policies towards their neighbours.

In the end, Guyana’s primary concern and interest has to be the defense of our Essequibo. We will never compromise our principles and we will always affirm that the Paris Arbitral Award of 1899 on the border between Guyana and Venezuela is “complete, perfect and final”.

The USA-backed main opposition leaders Maria Machado, Leopoldo Lopez and Juan Guaido (who is recognized by the OAS as the President of Venezuela) are very aggressive about the Essequibo. In November 2013, they led a team of opposition members of the

Venezuelan National Assembly to cross the Cuyuni River and enter Eteringbang in Guyana’s territory, without permission from Guyanese authorities, to “claim sovereignty over the Essequibo”.

With the support of the USA and Lima Group, Guyana’s key consideration in supporting democratic change in Venezuela must be to obtain a signed commitment from the opposition that they will practice non-aggression against Guyana.

But if the USA has not been successful in convincing the opposition to become united and inclusive, then how can we be sure that, if the opposition is elected, they will not take aggressive actions against Guyana? The next letter will explore Guyana/ Venezuela relations, which have been sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes ugly.

Yours truly, Geoffrey Da Silva Former Ambassador to Venezuela

gathering of data relevant to all ventilated concerns,” he said. Beckles said every formally reported case will be reviewed and where remedies are required, they will be applied.

He stated the management at CXC has been

impressive in the delivery of the July 2020 regional examinations within the context of the COVID-19 logistics nightmare, and crippling global doubt about revised examinations systems and procedures.

Nonetheless, he said it

was anticipated that given these specific challenges a period of review and possible revisions would follow, consistent with the regulations of the council.

It was, therefore, agreed that an independent review team will be established.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Sleepy Sanitary Pads Congratulates Adequate chicken available - Poultry its Third $100,000 Winner! for Christmas season Producers

S

leepy's All-Natural Sanitary Pads is excited to congratulate Ms. Shavaani Sookraj of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara for being the third $100,000 Winner in the 'Sleepy Monthly Promotion'.

The third drawing was done live on September 26, 2020 at 13:00 hours, via the Sleepy South America Facebook Page. Ms. Sookraj won with a total of 67,438 shares on Facebook. She was very excited for her prize money which she said is going towards her house.

The other four top contestants did not leave empty handed. They were each given hampers

consisting of various Sleepy products. With three more months of this special promotion left, we urge all women to participate for their chance to win!

Made from super absorbent materials that lock in fluid and keep you dry, Sleepy Sanitary Pads feminine care products are unique and comfortable.

They are made from materials such as cotton and bamboo fibers, free from dye and lotion, thus ensuring no rashes or irritations.

Sleepy Sanitary Pads are available in normal (regular), long and overnight for your unique body type. They are also available in thick and ultra-thin and various pack

A Sleepy Sanitary Pads representative presents Ms. Sookraj with her cheque

sizes.

Here's how to enter for your chance to win: 1. Take a creative photo of yourself with your favourite Sleepy Sanitary Pads pack.

2. Submit that Photo to our Sleepy South America Facebook Page via Inbox, along with Your Name and Contact Number.

3. Your photo will then be uploaded to our Facebook page, where you and your friends can Share.

4. A Winner will be selected from the Top Five (5) Photos with the most Shares via a Live Drawing.

5. Promotion lasts from 15th July, 2020 – 31st December, 2020.

assure

GPPA says there will an adequate supply of chicken for the Christmas season

T

he Guyana P o u l t r y Producers A s s o c i a t i o n ( G P PA ) yesterday assured that there will be adequate supplies of chicken for the Christmas season.

The body, in an update yesterday, disclosed that over the last few years, the production and supply of locally produced chicken was quite stable. However in March 2020, the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic began to significantly affect the industry.

“There was a severe reduction in the consumption

of poultry as the closure of restaurants, bars and fast food businesses, reduced operating hours for convenience, and a nightly curfew all became mandatory. The reduced income of consumers and subsequent reduced spending, resulted in farmers losing money and the poultry industry having to make substantial cuts in production.”

GPPA said that with the marketplace settling into a new normal, the industry has made its own adjustments, including the increased importation of hatching eggs.

“This has already resulted in an increased supply of broiler meat. The GPPA would like to assure the public that there will be adequate supplies of chicken available locally for the Christmas Season at reasonable prices.”

The GPPA said too that it would like to express its thanks to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), and the Ministries of Business and Agriculture for the support it has received over these difficult times for the local agriculture sector.

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday September 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

David Armogan back as Region Six Chairman; Zamal Hussain - Vickchand Ramphal and Rion Peters to head Region Five is Vice-Chairman David Armogan of Coburg Street, New Amsterdam was yesterday re-elected Chairman of the Region Six Administration, while Zamal Hussain was nominated and elected the new Vice-Chairman. Serving previously in the ViceChairman position was Dennis Deoroop, however, he has accepted a position at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Also 20 Councillors were yesterday sworn in for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and 10 for the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC).

At a simple swearing in ceremony held at the Japanese Hall of the St. Francis Community Developers in Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, delivered the charge.

Also in attendance was government Member of Parliament (MP) and Director General of Regional Health Services (Guyana), Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo; Opposition MP, Dineshwar Jaipersaud, and Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six, Narendra Persaud.

Elected to serve as Councillors for the PPP/C are: Erwin Abdulla, Doreen

New Vice Chairman, Zamal Hussain, taking the oath of office.

Anamanpadoo, Permaul Armogan, Gloria Beharry, Sheriann Beharry, Carlus Causeway, Latisha Corneleus, Dennis Deoroop, Zamal Hussain, Pradeep Ketwaroo, Wajid Khan, Vincent Loncke, Shenelly Matheson Jafarally, Kristina Muthusammy, Eshwar Narinesammy, Lloyd Peneux, Thakur Persaud, Suraj Sahadeo, Shubhan Ali and Haseef Yusuf.

Elected to serve for the APNU+AFC are: Deonarine

Basdeo, Bridget Chichester, Camille Cox, Alicia Dey, Melisa Fraser, Vera France, Leon Hunt, Collin Moore, Shurla Scott and Shawn Smith.

PPP/C Councillor, Sheriann Beharry, was nominated by Gloria Beharry to head the Health Committee and Moore from the APNU+AFC was nominated

by Scott. The majority (20 from PPP) voted in favour of Sheriann Beharry while the minority (10 APNU) voted for

Re-elected Chairman, David Armogan, taking the oath of office.

Moore. Sheriann Beharry was moreover elected. Also PPP/ C’s Yusuf was nominated and elected to head the Education Committee with the same voting process that occurred for Sheriann Beharry’s election. Fraser from APNU was nominated by Scott and will serve as a member on that Committee.

Hussain, who was nominated and elected to head the Local Government Committee, will also head the Works Committee while the Drainage and Irrigation Committee will be headed by Armogan. PPP/C’s Loncke was nominated and elected to head the Regional Tender Board; Sheriann Beharry was nominated and elected to head the National Events Committee, while Narinesammy was nominated and elected to head the Youth Committee. The Agriculture

Minister, in delivering the charge, congratulated all the Councillors and urged them to work together in the interest of the people of Region Six. “I hope that each and every Councillor is prepared to serve and serve to the best of their ability. They will serve the people of Region Six and put aside political affiliation, race, religion and ensure that we serve for the entire Region Six without fear and favour,” he said.

He reminded those who took the oath that “the election campaigning is over” and as such the task ahead is to “build and re-build the country”. In this regard, he said that when decisions are made, they must be made in the interest of Region Six. “The RDC is the local government organ in the region and is a supreme body

Region Five Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal (right), and Vice Chairman, Rion Peters.

that executes plans and programmes of the government in all facets of life in Region Six, so health, education, agriculture, public works and administration, those five broad categories, cover the entire affairs in Region Six. Over the years when I was a member of the RDC, we have had heated arguments but we have argued, disagreed and agreed on issues and that is the way I hope that both sides will work together in the interest of the people of this Region,” the Minister added.

Meanwhile, over in Region Five Vickchand Ramphal and Rion Peters were both nominated and reelected as the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively.

Eighteen Councillors will form the RDC in that Region. The ceremony there was attended

by Minister within the Ministry of Local Government, Anand Persaud, and it was chaired by Genevieve Blackman, Clerk to the Regional Democratic Council and the REO. Ramphal and Emerson Benjamin were nominated for the Regional Chairman seat with 10 voting for Ramphal and eight for Benjamin.

Peters and Carol Nurse were nominated for the seat of Vice Chairman with 10 voting for Peters and eight voting in favour of Nurse.

...Foreign investigators arrive From page 14 well that the decision to request help from CARICOM IMPACS was made by his Excellency President Irfaan Ali. Kaieteur News had reported that the official request was made after a team of 75 ranks, which included members of Major Crimes Investigations Unit (MICU), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), turned up empty handed following an eight-hour long search for evidence in the Cotton Three backlands.

Police had also arrested five suspects and then released them on station bail after the legal 72 hours for holding them had expired.

A sixth person was subsequently arrested but since then the Force has been silent on

the progress of the probe.

Nevertheless, GPF stated in the press release that the Acting Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie, has welcomed the five-member foreign team to Guyana and has promised to make all the necessary resources available to facilitate their work.

The team is led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police and comprises officials from countries within the Regional Investigative Management Systems (RIMS).

Upon their arrival to the Eve Leary Police Headquarters, the foreign investigators met with Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, and ranks from both the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the MCIU.

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Tuesday September 29, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Heat take down Celtics, move on to NBA Finals

Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo (13) holds up the Eastern Conference Championship trophy after defeating the Boston Celtics in game six of the Conference finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at Advent Health Arena. (Kim Klement-USA Today Sports)

Tuesday September 29, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) It's possible that a big change is in store for you in the near future. It may be that you've come to realize that your current home and neighborhood are no longer a good fit.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You will probably encounter a bit of opposition along with today's planetary energies, Libra. Even those who are usually right behind you will seem uncooperative.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Don't plunge headfirst into work mode, Taurus. The cleaning and tidying up can surely wait for another day. Today's energies indicate that talking with friends and family should be your main priority.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your thoughts today are likely to turn to setting goals for the future, particularly concerning your career.

While you've made a lot of progress in recent months, you'd like to see even more forward movement.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) It's likely that your thoughts are completely turned to work.

Much as you should devote your time off to family, you can't help the way you're wired CANCER(June21–July22) This is a good day for financial matters, Cancer. With your credit cards maxed out, you may be thinking that your bank account isn't as healthy as it could be. But today you're likely to receive some news that indicates otherwise.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You could be feeling quite lazy today, Leo, and you definitely deserve to feel this way!

You deserve some time off after all of the activities of the past week. Give yourself the gift of a true day off.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You think of yourself as a practical person, Virgo, but today your thoughts may turn to the mystical and spiritual.

Your intuition is strong now, letting you tune in to the feelings of your loved ones.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today's planetary energies are stimulating your ambition, Sagittarius. Issues connected with your professional life may be very much on your mind.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You've been so busy these past few weeks that you may have inadvertently neglected the special person in your life.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It's possible that a big change is in store for you in the near future, Aquarius. It may be that you've come to realize that your current home and neighborhood are no longer a good fit.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Perhaps you spent quite a bit of money lately and you're holding your breath waiting for the bills to roll in. Some quick reckoning of receipts today likely yields some wonderful news.

Bam Adebayo had a career-high 32 points and 14 rebounds, Tyler Herro came alive with 11 points in the fourth quarter and the Miami Heat booked their trip to the NBA Finals with a 125-113 Game 6 win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday night near Orlando.

Jimmy Butler added 22 points, Herro had 19 and Andre Iguodala scored a season-high 15 as the Heat advanced to the Finals for the first time since 2014. Duncan Robinson also scored 15 and Goran Dragic 13.

Jaylen Brown had 26 points, Jayson Tatum 24 with a career-high 11 assists and Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker 20 apiece for the

Celtics, who couldn’t come all the way back from a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.

Miami moves on to face the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Finals on Wednesday.

The Heat erased a sixpoint deficit in the fourth when Herro nailed a 3-pointer and added another bucket to knot the score at 96 with 7:40 remaining. Miami pulled ahead 104-102 with 5:31 left as Daniel Theis fouled out for Boston, Adebayo hitting 1 of 2 at the line.

That free throw kicked off a 13-0 run to put the game away for the Heat. Herro gave Miami the game’s first double-digit lead at 112-102

with 3:31 to go, and the score was 116-102 before the Celtics snapped a nearly 4-minute scoring drought. Boston got no closer than 10 down the stretch.

A 7-0 Celtics spurt late in the third quarter knotted the score at 86. Dragic’s basket with 26 seconds left helped Miami lead 88-86 entering the fourth.

Tatum had 12 points in the second quarter after a scoreless first in which the Celtics trailed by as much as nine. His layup with 1:56 left gave Boston a 56-55 edge, but the Heat went back ahead on an Adebayo layup with 42.6 seconds remaining and led 6260 at the break.

(Field Level Media)

Record-chasing Nadal eases into French Open second round PARIS (Reuters) Claycourt master Rafael Nadal started his quest for a record-extending 13th French Open title with a straightforward 6-4 6-4 6-2 first-round win against Belarusian Egor Gerasimov yesterday.

The Spaniard, looking to equal Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, is used to slow starts at Roland Garros and this year’s debut was no different.

On the revamped court Philippe Chatrier, whose roof stayed open throughout, Nadal converted all of his five break points to set up a meeting with American Mackenzie McDonald.

The second seed, who had complained about the new balls being too heavy, did not appear too bothered in front of some 200 fans, wrapping up the match with a service winner.

“I want to play matches with a positive attitude. It’s a different Roland Garros with challenging weather conditions,” said Nadal.

With his topspin having less of a devastating effect on the heavier clay, Nadal had to adapt and play more aggressively than usual, taking the ball earlier to unsettle his opponent — a tactic that worked perfectly.

He broke in the fifth game as he bagged the opening set in solid fashion, and he stole his opponent’s serve again in the third game of the second.

With a mountain to climb after falling two sets behind and as blue skies ate away the dark clouds, Gerasimov broke for 2-0 in the third set.

Nadal quickly regained control, however, and levelled for 2-2, with Gerasimov twisting his ankle on the last point of the fourth game.

The physiotherapist

taped the Belarusian’s ankle and play resumed after a short interruption with Nadal breaking again for 3-2.

Gerasimov’s challenge was fading as Nadal piled on the pressure to seal a routine win, moving a step closer to a potential semi-final with last year’s runner-up Dominic Thiem.

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Tuesday September 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

Glowing tributes paid as hundreds attend funeral of former cyclist Wilbert Benjamin Hundreds, including numerous former and present cyclists, motorbike riders, family, friends and wellwishers joined the funeral proceedings of the late national cycling champion Wilbert (“Willy”, “Benjie”) Benjamin. The late National Champion, entrepreneur and Philanthropist was laid to rest on Sunday in his home of Fyrish, Corentyne, Berbice.

It was a very emotionally filled atmosphere as dozens gave tributes of the life and legacy of the Country Boy who progressed to become a Champion.

Even as Benjamin was laid to rest, the sports and cycling fraternity are still grappling with the sudden demise of the 49 year old, who, died a few weeks shy of his 50th birthday. Benjamin, who hails from Fyrish and lived in Canada, was a member of the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) until his demise.

The funeral procession moved off from the Persaud Funeral Parlour around 11:00am where Benjamin

Brother and riding partner Gary and members of the FACC and other cyclists along with Bike Riders led the procession to his home and place of business at Courtland, Corentyne.

There a ceremony was held led by his wife and five daughters and many wellwishers.

It then passed by his parents’ home and then taken to the Fyrish Basketball Court where a stirring Funeral Service was held. The officiating Priest was Reverend Ingrid Peters.

The Eulogy was given by his sister and former Cyclist Cindy Benjamin-Loncke. The FACC and The Guyana Cycling Federation were among those giving tributes.

Benjamin was described as the best father and family man in the world, as loving kind hearted, selfless, caring, and giving among other things. He was hailed as an entrepreneur, a philanthropist among other adjectives for his benevolent ways.

He began his cycling

career at school, after dominating to win three consecutive School championships.

He represented Guyana at both the senior and junior level on a number of occasions.

After migrating he continued riding and set up businesses in both Guyana and Canada. In Guyana he owned the Benjamin Sports Store, Fitness Center and Car Wash at Courtland, Corentyne, Berbice. He also owned the Benjamin Sports Store in Canada and had his own brand of sportswear and equipment. He was still an active rider both in Guyana and Canada when he died and would return home on a regular basis to take care of his business, compete and do benevolent work.

Benjamin died at the Georgetown Public Hospital almost one month after he was involved in an accident on the morning of Friday 14th on the Hampshire Public Road.

He was out training when a motor car drove out in front

Persons gathered for the funeral service for the late Wilbert Benjamin who was laid to rest Sunday. of him causing a collision between him and the motorcycle.

He fell unconscious and was taken to the Anamayah Memorial Hospital and underwent a number of CT scans which seemed not to detect underlying injuries to his head that would contribute to his eventual demise after he began to complain of constant headaches.

His condition deteriorated and he was

Serena Williams wins opener in Paris PARIS (AP) — Serena Williams went from a 72minute struggle of a first set that required a tiebreaker to resolve in her first-round match at the French Open to a lopsided second set in which she did not drop a game.

“I just need to play with more confidence,” Williams said, by way of explanation for how her 7-6 (2), 6-0 victory over 102nd-ranked Kristie Ahn unfolded yesterday, “like I’m Serena.”

Well, yes, she was more herself for the latter half of the contest, which by the end really wasn’t much of a contest.

And this is how Ahn described the sensation of being across the net from that version of Williams, the one where she is at her very best.

“It feels like you’re trying to push a runaway train in the opposite direction,” Ahn said.

“It’s very difficult to try and stop, to stop her momentum when she’s going, when she’s feeling it.”

Imagine Ahn’s (bad) luck of the draw: She is the first player to face Williams in the first round at two consecutive Grand Slam tournaments, having also lost their matchup at the U.S. Open.

“I mean, I laughed,” Ahn said. “I mean, what are the odds?”

They were followed onto

Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka celebrates winning his first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Court Philippe Chartier by 12time French Open champion Rafael Nadal.

The man Nadal beat in the last two finals, Dominic Thiem, won his first match since winning the U.S. Open, advancing to the second round with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory over 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic.

This, too, was a recent

rematch from New York.

Thiem will next face American qualifier Jack Sock, who beat Reilly Opelka 6-4, 64, 6-3 and was one of six men from the U.S. to get to the second round; only one did a year ago in Paris.

Among the key results on Day 2 of a chilly, pandemicpostponed French Open were losses by 2019 runner-

up Marketa Vondrousova, who was beaten 6-1, 6-2 by Polish teengarr Iga Swiatek; 2017 U.S. Open finalist and 2018 French Open semifinalist Madison Keys; and men’s seeds No. 14 Fabio Fognini and No. 19 Felix Auger-Aliassime who was ousted by Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.

Williams now gets another rematch, facing Tsvetana Pironkova, the player the 39-year-old American beat in the quarterfinals in New York earlier this month.

“It’s always exciting to face her,” Pironkova said.

Williams has won three of her professional-era record 23 Grand Slam singles titles in Paris; add one more and she’ll equal Margaret Court’s all-era mark.

She keeps coming close: Williams has made it to the final at four of the past eight major tournaments, losing each time. At the U.S. Open, she exited in the semifinals against Victoria Azarenka, slowed a bit down the stretch after hurting her left Achilles tendon.

Williams wore a strip of black athletic tape on the lower portion of that leg Monday. Asked after the match what she’s done to take care of herself, she replied: “A ton of prayer.”

taken to the Anamayah Memorial Hospital (AMH) where another scan was done and it was then his family were told that he had suffered a broken skull, there was bleeding internally and a swelling which was pressing against his brain.

He was eventually switched to the Georgetown

Hospital for further emergency treatment where he succumbed.

He leaves to mourn his wife and five daughters along with his elderly father and mother along with eight siblings, four brothers and four sisters, numerous relatives and friends.

(Samuel Whyte)

...Dynamic Dottin plans on From page 21 return with the ball taking two wickets in the third T20I against England in Derby. It was the first time she bowled at this level since February 2019. She also scored a sizzling 63 – to follow up 69 and 38 in the other two matches at the Incaro County Ground in Derby. In so doing she has scored more than 40 percent of the team’s three totals. The 29-year-old was back in action last night as West Indies Women faced England in the fourth contest of the five-match rubber.

Bolstered by a strong support system led by Merissa Aguilleira, Dottin credits the outstanding former West Indies captain and current teammates for

getting her through her time away from the game.

Dottin said: “There were times where I thought that was it… the pain actually gave me strength in terms of fighting and getting back out there… to play cricket for West Indies. In that down period I was talking to Merissa a lot. She been telling me to don’t give up and keep praying and a couple players had messaged me wishing a speedy recovery.”

One of the top five women with the most T20I career runs, Dottin admitted that is was a good feeling and she’s looking forward to getting to the top spot in the near future. ”Of course I plan to be at the top, to be the Number one.”

Deandra Dottin plans on topping the rankings. (CWI)

Tuesday September 29, 2020

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Navdeep Saini, Ab de Villiers, Amy Jones’ 50 drives Virat Kohli clinch Super Over win England to convincing 44-run for Royal Challengers Bangalore victory over West Indies ESPNcricinfo - A day after IPL 2020 delivered an incredible thriller with the highest ever successful chase, the Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bangalore went one better, with the highest ever tied score in an IPL game. Mumbai were behind all through their chase of 202, needing 90 off the last five overs. They were still behind when Kieron Pollard reiterated his T20 G.O.A.T. status by smacking around Adam Zampa and Yuzvendra Chahal for an imagination-defying 49 runs in two overs during his unbeaten 60 off 24 balls. They were still behind when Ishan Kishan - back in the XI due to a Saurabh Tiwary niggle was out for 99 to make it five needed off the last ball.

Pollard hit a four, of course he did, to bring the match to a Super Over.

As comebacks go, there was still one left in the match though, and Navdeep Saini delivered a standout Super Over to keep Pollard, Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma to just 7 for 1. Jasprit Bumrah, who had gone for 42 runs in four wicketless overs during regular play, then turned up with some excellent Super Over bowling of his own, though his gamble to bounce AB de Villiers with fine leg up went for a top-edged four.

With scores level, Virat Kohli used his wrists to put the final ball away and ensure Mumbai’s story of comebacks ended on the last ball of the Super Over. Ten days into the IPL, the Royal Challengers have two wins in three games - a start they haven’t been used to of late.

Before Mumbai mounted their incredible fight back, the Royal Challengers seemed to be coasting to victory, powered to 201 for 3 on the back of half-centuries from openers Aaron Finch (52 off

Ishan Kishan and Kieron Pollard tap gloves during an aggressive partnership, Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2020, Dubai, September 28, 2020 © BCCI 35) and Devdutt Padikkal (54 off 40), both of which were overshadowed by a barnstorming de Villiers 55 not out off 24. For almost three quarters of the chase after that, a revamped bowling attack stuck to its plans as Mumbai struggled.

Pollard’s arrival and Kishan’s fine knock unravelled those plans, but not to the finish.

The Super Over Saini bowled a terrific over. He was going for the yorkers, and nailed a couple but the ones he didn’t ended up as low full tosses that weren’t easy to hit either.

Hardik Pandya couldn’t time it, and even Pollard was beaten once before whipping another low full toss to deep midwicket. Only three balls were scored off from the bat, with one bye on the final ball, and Bumrah faced up to de Villiers once again to defend

a low total. He almost did it, and de Villiers was even given out caught behind off a thirdball bouncer that was overturned on review, but with fine leg up, Bumrah’s gamble of bluffing de Villiers with another short one didn’t work. De Villiers wasn’t fully in control of his pull shot but he got enough on it to roll into the boundary. Bumrah went back to fuller lengths - a perfect yorker and a low full toss - for the last two balls, but with just two to get, he couldn’t stop de Villiers and Kohli.

Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 201 for 3 (de Villiers 55*, Padikkal 54, Boult 2-34) tied with Mumbai Indians 201 for 5 (Kishan 99, Pollard 60*, Udana 2-45).

Super over Royal Challengers Bangalore 11 for 0 beat Mumbai Indians 7 for 1.

Dynamic Dottin plans on topping the rankings CWI - Ruthless, Powerful, Explosive – that’s Deandra Dottin – one of the most dynamic players on the international women’s cricket stage. The stronglybuilt allrounder was not a born cricketer – she participated successfully in football and athletics first – particularly the javelin event where she held several records for her native Barbados.

Fast forward a few years and her switch to cricket, Dottin became an international superstar – with the world-record T20 International century against South Africa in May, 2010.

Just a few months ago the tag of “world-class” was solidified when she was drafted by the London Spirit to participate in the now delayed Hundred Franchise Tournament, despite not picking up a bat for close to a year.

Dottin suffered a careerthreatening injury early last year which required reconstructive surgery to her right shoulder. This caused her to miss three international series against England, Australia and India.

She recovered well and was able to play in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia earlier this year but did not bowl.

She’s now back bowling, and last Saturday made a (Continued on page 20)

ESPNcricinfo - A quickfire half-century from Amy Jones drove England within one victory of a 5-0 series sweep in the penultimate T20I against West Indies.

Jones struck 55 off 37 balls to drag England from 45 for 3 to 166 for 6 in the fourth fixture in Derby, their highest score of the series so far, as Heather Knight’s 42 and Katherine Brunt’s unbeaten 25 helped to set West Indies an imposing target.

Another disciplined performance from England’s bowlers compounded West Indies’ struggles to find depth in their batting, with Brunt and Sarah Glenn claiming two wickets each as the tourists fell well short at 122 for 9 from their 20 overs, Chedean Nation top-scoring for them with just 30.

Windies of Change With the series already lost, West Indies rang in the changes, bringing in Aaliyah Alleyne, Karishma Ramharack and Shabika Gajnabi for Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry and Shakera Selman as captain Stafanie Taylor explained before the match: “There’s no point having young players here and not showcasing them.”

Alleyne and Ramharack are both 25 but had played just 12 T20Is between them going into the match, while the 20-year-old Gajnabi had played the last of her five T20Is against India nearly a year ago.

Alleyne played the first two matches of this series - although she didn’t bowl in the second and conceded 25 runs from two wicketless overs in the first.

Her return to the fold looked inspired when she struck with her sixth ball, the 12th of the match, to r e m o v e D a n n i Wy a t t , whose attempted cut sent an edge through to wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbell.

The resulting duck continued a lean series for England opener Wyatt with scores of 17, 14 and 11 from the first three matches. Alleyne then lured Nat Sciver, star of the third match with 82, into an edge behind and England were 22 for 2.

R a m h arack snared a wicket with her first ball of the series, trapping Tammy Beaumont lbw as she tried to sweep and removing another dangerous England batsman for 27. Gajnabi’s only over went for 17 as Heather Knight

Chedean Nation, player portrait ©Philip Spooner let fly, thrashing a six and picking off two beautifully timed fours to give England a timely boost.

Ramharack came in for similar punishment soon after, also going for 17 off an over as Amy Jones joined in on the act with a sublime reverseswept four followed immediately by the most nonchalant six over long-off as she and Knight brough up their 50-partnership off just 30 balls.

Jones steps up Knight looked to be in fine touch as she raced to 42 from 30 deliveries and, more importantly joined Jones in lifting England out of trouble.

But when she edged Shamilia Connell to Campbelle for a caught behind and then Sophia Dunkley - playing her first T20I in 18 months after replacing Fran Wilson - fell to a sharp caught-andbowled by Hayley Matthews moments later without scoring, England were 112 for 5 and in need of revival again.

Jones filled the role to perfection, making West Indies pay after she had struck a Taylor delivery straight to midwicket where Lee-Ann Kirby shelled the chance with England 48 for 2 and Jones on just two at the time. Jones smashed Connell

for another glorious six over cow corner to bring up England’s 100 and raced to her own 50 off just 30 balls.

She was joined by Brunt, who produced an excellent cameo of 25 not out from 17 balls, although Jones was run out after Brunt was caught ball-watching and missed her calls for a single as Ramharack fired the ball in at the non-striker’s end and Jones was caught in noman’s land.

It was another step in Jones’ establishment in the middle order, after she was moved down from opener late in England’s T20 World Cup campaign, producing some handy innings in the 20s without being required to do much more. And while she had a fraught evening behind the stumps, dropping two simple skied catches, she could be proud of her contribution with the bat.

No reply from West Indies Set their highest chase of the series, West Indies’ reliance on Deandra Dottin and Taylor brought them undone when both fell cheaply. Dottin, who had registered two half-centuries and again top-scored for her side with 38 in the second match, managed just four before she was brilliantly bowled by Brunt in the first over of this encounter.

Looking to pull, the ball skidded on and decimated the stumps.

Taylor reached 13 before she was bowled by Glenn and, while Nation contributed a much-needed 30 from 25 balls before she was run out

by Sciver to top-score for West Indies it wasn’t nearly enough and the tourists were left with a familiar problem of lacking a really big score from the top order and lacking the depth to make up for it when they didn’t.

Scores: England 166 for 6 (Jones 55, Knight 42) beat West Indies 122 for 9 (Nation 30, Glenn 2-15, Brunt 2-21) by 44 runs.

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Tuesday September 29, 2020

Kaieteur News

NFL roundup: Bears go to 3-0 as Falcons fold again Nick Foles came off the bench and tossed three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to rally the Chicago Bears, who sent the host Atlanta Falcons to another stunning, secondhalf collapse on Sunday.

Foles replaced an ineffective Mitchell Trubisky and completed the rally with a go-ahead, 28-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Miller with 1:53 left. Bears safety Tashaun Gipson intercepted Matt Ryan on the Falcons’ next drive to seal the victory.

Chicago (3-0) remained unbeaten after three weeks for the first time since 2013. Off to its worst start since 2007, Atlanta (0-3) led 26-10 entering the fourth quarter one week after blowing a 19point halftime lead against the Dallas Cowboys.

Foles finished 16-of-29 passing for 188 yards with the three scores and one interception. Allen Robinson had 10 receptions for 123 yards for Chicago, which lost running back Tarik Cohen to a knee injury.

Matt Ryan completed 19 of 38 passes for 238 yards with one touchdown and the late interception, and Calvin Ridley had five receptions for 110 yards for Atlanta.

Seahawks 38, Cowboys 31 Russell Wilson threw five touchdown passes for the

second consecutive week, including a go-ahead 29yarder to DK Metcalf with 1:47 remaining, as Seattle edged visiting Dallas.

Ryan Neal intercepted a Dak Prescott pass in the end zone with six seconds remaining to clinch the victory for Seattle (3-0). The Cowboys fell to 1-2.

Wilson completed 27 of 40 passes for 315 yards, setting a pair of early season passing marks in the process. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw at least four touchdown passes in each of his team’s first three games, and his 14 touchdown passes are the most by any player through Week 3 in NFL history.

Three of his touchdowns went to Tyler Lockett, who had nine receptions for 100 yards. Metcalf caught four passes for 110 yards, and Chris Carson rushed for a game-high 64 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Bills 35, Rams 32 Josh Allen threw four touchdown passes, including a scoring strike to Tyler Kroft with 15 seconds remaining, as Buffalo (3-0) remained undefeated by thwarting Los Angeles’ comeback attempt in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Rams (2-1) overcame a 25-point, third-quarter deficit and took a late 32-28 lead before Allen drove the

Bills 75 yards in the final four minutes for the game-winner.

After the Bills’ offense was kept in check for much of the second half, Allen still was able to rally his team to cap a day when he was 24 of 33 for 311 yards with one interception.

Los Angeles appeared set to match the third-largest comeback in NFL history and the longest in franchise history when they scored 29 unanswered points, all in the second half. Their four consecutive TD drives came on a 1-yard run from quarterback Jared Goff, two Goff TD passes and a 1-yard, go-ahead score on the ground

by Darrell Henderson Jr. Goff completed 23 of 32 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns. Henderson rushed for 114 yards.

Steelers 28, Texans 21 James Conner rushed for 109 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter as host Pittsburgh pounded out a win over Houston.

Conner plowed in for a 12-yard touchdown with 6:24 remaining to cap a 12play, 79-yard drive that chewed 7:03 off the clock and provided the Steelers (3-0) a 26-21 lead. Ben Roethlisberger completed a two-point conversion pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster that extended the lead to seven.

Pittsburg Steelers running back James Conner (30) rushes the ball past Houston Texas strong safety Justin Reid (20) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports) Pittsburgh rushed for 169 yards and ran 76 plays compared to just 47 for the Texans (0-3). Houston had little success running the football, totaling 29 yards on 15 attempts.

Patriots 36, Raiders 20 Rex Burkhead scored a career-high three touchdowns and Sony Michel rushed for 117 yards on nine carries to lead New England over Las Vegas in Foxborough, Mass.

Burkhead ran for two

scores and also caught a TD pass for the Patriots (2-1), who rushed for a season-best 250 yards. Cam Newton passed for 162 yards, w i t h o n e touchdown and one interception, Nick Folk added three field goals and the Patriots defeated the Raiders for the sixth straight time.

Derek Carr was 24 of 32 passing for 261 yards and two touchdowns for Las Vegas (21). Hunter Renfrow and Foster Moreau caught

touchdowns, and Josh Jacobs totaled 83 yards (71 rushing, 12 receiving) for the Raiders.

In other results: Titans 31, Vikings 30 Browns 34, Washington 20 49ers 36, Giants 9 Bengals 23, Eagles 23 Colts 36, Jets 7 Buccaneers 28, Broncos 10 Panthers 21, Chargers 16 Lions 26, Cardinals 23 (Field Level Media)

Masi: Hamilton F1 Russian GP penalty points “inappropriate” Autosport - FIA race director Michael Masi says that the Russian GP stewards decided that the original Formula 1 penalty points awarded to Lewis Hamilton was “inappropriate” after a post-race review.

Hamilton was awarded two five-second time penalties for conducting two practice starts outside the designated zone beyond the pit exit, and both came with an extra penalty point for his licence.

That put him on 10 penalty points for the ongoing 12 month period, with two more incurred before the Turkish GP automatically triggering a race ban.

However after the race the stewards spoke to Hamilton and the Mercedes team, and elected to rescind the original points penalties levied.

Instead, the FIA fined the team €25,000 on the basis that the driver had been told he could use that location for starts.

“The stewards after the race heard from the team, and the driver of car 44,” said Masi.

“Lewis and Mercedes

FIA race director Michael Masi feels that Lewis Hamilton’s Russian GP penalty points “inappropriate”. spoke to the stewards, at which point it was actually a team instruction to Lewis where he could perform the practice starts.

“On that basis the stewards have just now rescinded the penalty points on both those decisions, because they thought it was inappropriate - and as a result, have fined the team €25,000 for that instruction.

“Effectively, yes, it was him driving the car.

“However, a contributing factor was that his team instructed him to do so at that point, and therefore, they saw fit to revise their decision accordingly.”

Masi explained that the drivers understood where the practice start zone was, and was detailed in the event notes distributed before the

grand prix weekend.

“The practice start location is obviously very circuit specific, and detailed in the event notes.

“So at every other event Lewis along with all the other drivers has complied with the requirements of where they perform a practice start in accordance with the race director instructions.

“I would say that the

reason why we determine where the practice start location is for the safety of all drivers. Everybody is aware of what is actually happening.

So we determine its location for a deliberate reason.

“Generally, we actually don’t paint a box, we just specify the location and have done even before my time, from my understanding. It’s very much a circuit specific

element of where it is. I think today was just a simple error from that perspective.”

After Hamilton’s suggestion that the FIA were “trying to stop me”, Masi said he was always available to talk to the six-time champion to air any grievances.

“From my perspective it’s very simple that if Lewis wants to raise something, as I have said to him before, and said to all the drivers, numerous times the door is always open, and I’m more than happy to discuss anything.

“But I think from an FIA perspective, we are there as a sporting regulator, to administer the regulations.

“We have the stewards as an independent judiciary to adjudicate those, and therefore there was an infringement and it doesn’t matter if it was Lewis Hamilton or any other one of the 19 drivers.

“If a breach has occurred of the regulations, they will consider it on its merits, adjudicate it equitably and fairly in the circumstances taking all the key elements into account.”

Kaieteur News

Tuesday September 29, 2020

PAGE 27

Cricket teams in massive public beach cleanup in Rose Hall Town-Donates to orphanages

RHTYSC MS 30TH Anniversary Celebrations 1990-2020

T

he ten cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club MS on Sunday last joined hands with the Mayor and Council of Rose Hall to host a successful clean up of Guyana smallest township public beach. Over eighty members of the ten cricket teams turned up for the two hours project and were led by RHTYSC Vice President Mark Papannah and Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu.

Mayor of Rose Hall To w n , C h a t t e r g o o n Ramnauth and Councilor Gaitree Sheonarain led a large delegation of Town Councilors employees in support of the campaign.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster in brief remarks to launch the project, stated that the public beach was a popular relaxation spot for residents but sadly a lot of waste was left behind over the years by residents and as such was an eye sore to visitors. The club undertook the clean-up project in response to overseas based resident Nazimool Fudadin, father of West Indies Test player Assad Fudadin, who challenged the club to restore the beauty of the beach.

Fudadin co-sponsored the event to provide snacks, refreshments bottled water and lunch to the volunteers, while support was also received from Dr Mel Singh, CIDI, Busta, DDL, Poonai Pharmacy, The Baby Store and Shane General Store.

The project was done following the strict Covid 19

The group of volunteers pose after the clean-up campaign with some of the garbage collected. guidelines with all volunteers wearing face masks, santizing their hands regularly while gloves were also provided.

Over Sixty large bags of garbage were removed and later transported to the township dumping site.

Mayor Ramnauth expressed gratitude to the club for hosting the much needed campaign and offered congratulations on the 30th anniversary. Foster pledged that the RHTYSC was always willing to work along with the council in developing the township and recalled that among the community projects undertaken over the last thirty years were the transformation of the Area H Ground, construction of a Children Playfield, restoration of the Lower Corentyne Secondary School, small street bridges,

dustbins, street signs, all weather court, township monument and charity kitchen among others.

The long serving club executive also announced that the club would undertake the clean-up of the beach on a regular basis as part of its environmental programme.

Meanwhile, the Rose Hall Town Metro Female cricket team on Friday last handed over a quantity of female footwear to the Canaan Children Home and Camal Children Home of Albion as part of their contribution to the club anniversary celebrations.

Abgaile Kishun and RHTYSC executive Robby Kissoonlall handed over the footwear on behalf of the team, The Rose Hall Town Female team, which is the only of its kind in Guyana and has to date produced four

Club members made donations of footwear to the Canaan Children Home.

West Indies Players and dozens for Guyana and Berbice at all levels.

The ten cricket teams of

the club are Poonai Pharmacy under 12 and under 13, Farfan and Mendes under 15, Bakewell under 17

and Second Division, Pepsi under 19 and Intermediate, Metro Females, NAMILCO Under 21 and First Division.

Khalifa Hale gives updates on Haledino Sports Initiative

I

n a release to the media, Cadet Officer Khalifa Hale, who is the founder of the Haledino Sports Initiative, which is about large scale job creation to benefit investors through franchise sports, gave an update on the progress being made with his proposal.

According to the release, a total of six businesses and over a dozen business persons have expressed their intention to own their own franchise in the various disciplines which will lead to over 330 jobs being virtually created.

Cadet Officer Khalifa Hale

The disciplines that investors have shown most interest in are cricket,

football, basketball and volleyball.

It is important to note,

that athletes and potential athletes should follow these updates closely as the number of potential jobs created increases, they should start preparing themselves both mentally and physically for employment in which every discipline to be ready to compete as competitions will be fierce and this will be the platform for athletes and potential athletes talent to be exported.

Athletes will be required to be registered under the v a r i o u s as s ociations /federation before being contracted

under any franchise which will have rules, since a high level of discipline is required for all sports.

The correspondence also indicated that parents should also follow the developments since there will be an opportunity soon for young athletes to earn regularly.

Hale wrote that potential investors should be reminded that this initiative offers government incentives, such as tax waivers, concessions, lease of land for the sport development among others to reduce the operating

expense.

The West Indies sports complex, Dyna’s Embroidery, I Aniroud Stationeries and Office Supply, Phillip Boxes, S&N Laundry Room as well as a host of citizens have endorsed or supported this initiative.

While it is clear that sports is not about to commence anytime soon this initiative can be the beginning of its return.

For more information contact 665-4828 or 6107886 or email Klalifahale1988@gmail.co m.

Navdeep Saini, Ab de Villiers, Virat Kohli clinch Super Over win t r o for Royal Challengers Bangalore Sp Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers celebrate the win as Jasprit Bumrah looks on. (BCCI)

Amy Jones lines up a reverse sweep.

(Getty Images)

Amy Jones’ 50 drives England to convincing 44-run victory over West Indies

The casket bearing the remains of the late cyclist Wilbert Benjamin (inset) during the service Sunday.

Serena Williams wins opener in Paris Serena Williams of the U.S. plays a shot against Kristie Ahn of the U.S. in a near-empty center court Philippe Chatrier in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Sept.

28, 2020. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Glowing tributes paid as hundreds attend funeral of former cyclist Wilbert Benjamin 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.