Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 23-06-2022

THURSDAY 23rd JUNE, 2022

No. 106762

$30,000 education grant distribution to commence late July

SEE PAGE

Solar power for 27,000 homes

- through Norway-funded projects

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SEE PAGE

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Guyana’s Samuel Haynes to attend UN education meeting in Paris SEE PAGE

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Education Minister Priya Manickchand, technical officers of the Education Ministry and teachers pose with award recipients following the Regional Awards Ceremony hosted by the Education Department (Georgetown) at the National Cultural Centre on Wednesday. (Delano Williams photo)

‘A DAMP SQUIB,’ AG says of VICE Media report SEE PAGE

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Georgetown Prison inmate wins essay competition SEE PAGE

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Awardee Samuel Haynes

Realtors’ Association launched; regulatory legislation coming 5

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

27,000 homes to benefit from Norway-funded solar power projects

GUYANA and the Kingdom of Norway will enter into a landmark forest partnership for financing this country’s largest ever solar power projects, a statement from Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) said yesterday.

The support from Norway comes as Guyana continues to boast low deforestation levels, the statement read.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who also has responsibility for electrification, is quoted in the release outlining the country’s suc-

cess since 2009 in producing one of the world’s first low carbon development strategies.

“We set out to show that it is possible to maintain forests while also creating prosperity and opportunities for our people to thrive.

“Norway has been a steadfast partner in our work to find international solutions that support this objective. The world needs far more collaborations like ours – so I hope that today’s announcement will motivate others to recognise that progress is possible,” PM Phillips said in the

A total of eight photovoltaic solar projects will be distributed across three areas in Guyana, benefitting around 70.000 people. Photo: Department of Public Information, Government of Guyana.

statement.

“The agreement signed today, June 22 on World Rainforest Day, between Guyana, Norway and the Inter-American Development Bank is a major step for Guyana’s green energy transition,” the NICFI said.

“Guyana will use funds received for its low deforestation rates to finance eight large-scale solar energy projects. In total, the projects will provide 27,000 households with cheap, clean energy – benefitting approximately 70,000 people,” the statement said further.

Dubbed the “Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Program (GUYSOL)” the NICFI statement said eight utility-scale, photovoltaic solar projects, totalling 33 Megawatt peak (MWp) with associated 34 Megawatt hour (MWh) energy storage systems will be distributed across three areas in Guyana.

“For years, the South American country has been

one of the world’s leading countries on rainforest protection.

“While tropical deforestation rates remain high in some countries, Guyana – whose forest is about the size of England and Scotland combined – has successfully kept its forest cover of 85% and with only 0.05% deforestation,” the Norway-supported initiative said.

Providing remarks on the partnership, Norway’s Climate and Environment Minister, Espen Barth Eide praised Guyana’s “continued leadership to protect the country’s vital rainforests, and welcome its decision to use some of the payments for maintaining a low deforestation to scale up solar energy generation.”

Guyana has benefitted, according to NICFI, from a total of approximately US$220 million as results-based payments from Norway.

“These funds have been invested in the coun-

‘A DAMP SQUIB’

Kaieteur Falls, Region 8 (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Photo: NICFI

try’s low carbon development, financing renewable energy, flood protection, green job creation, as well

as land titling and development funds for indigenous peoples,” NICFI said.

... ‘Don’t jump to conclusions,’ AG says on VICE Media report

By Clestine Juan DESPITE United Statesbased VICE Media failing to link Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo to corruption allegations, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, S.C. said on Tuesday that the interview is being used as a political tool by the parliamentary opposition to spread misinformation.

During his recent ‘Issues in the News’ programme streamed on Facebook, AG Nandlall chided the innuendos and gossip emanating from a report by VICE Media’s current affairs arm, VICE News, and the opposition following the release of a controversial video report called, “Guyana For Sale.”

“This entire attempt to create a scandal out of this story is simply a damp squib.

It’s nothing more than that.

And who keeps stirring the pot? Who’s trying to blow it out of proportion? The usual suspects,” the Attorney General said.

Since the publication of the report, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has called for

the Vice- President to demit office. AG Nandlall regards this position as both empty and meritless.

“So, this guy wants Mr Jagdeo to be fired simply because someone has made an allegation... he wants Mr Jagdeo to be dismissed even before the inquiry starts. “… He has assumed the existence of guilt long before the inquiry has commenced, and that is the type of thought process that affects Mr Norton in almost every endeavour.

There is no clarity of thought and there is no logic and reasoning process,” Nandlall said.

The Attorney General opined that persons should be a little more “mature” and cautious before “jumping to conclusions.”

“But it all has to do with this bunch of politicians [who] really have nothing going for them for the longest while. So, this new story has presented them with an oasis in the desert. That’s what’s happening here,” he added.

Noting that the political opposition has been “milking” the interview and portraying a false narrative to fit their own

intentions, AG Nandlall also questioned why VICE Media used only soundbites of the Vice-President’s comments made during the engagement in his home.

In the interest of transparency, Nandlall challenged VICE Media to air the full interview conducted without the Vice-President’s knowledge.

“In fact, I think that Mr Jagdeo did very well, especially not knowing that he was being recorded,” Nandlall said.

“Remember,” he continued, “it’s only about two minutes on that tape of what transpired in that conversation in Mr Jagdeo house.”

To the AG’s knowledge, the VICE News team spent over 20 minutes at the VP’s home, but only two minutes of that interview was included in the final product of a mere 15 minutes.

“What they were able to extract, obviously, would have been the high point of the alleged controversy. In other words, what you heard there is the ‘creme de la creme’ of what was said.

AG Nandlall bemoaned

that despite VICE News extracting what they felt was the worst possible thing that could have been said, there was nothing of substance.

PRE-DETERMINED AGENDA Against this backdrop, Nandall said that the VICE News team came to Guyana with a view to doing a story on corruption in government with their own “pre-determined agenda.”

“They seem to have led Su to believe that they are business people and they want to invest in Guyana. And Su may have disclosed to them that he has some association with the Vice- President,” Nandlall detailed on his programme.

Nandlall said he is uncertain what Su told the news team, but it is apparent that the journalists, under false pretence, posed as members of the Chinese business community to entrap the VicePresident.

He also said it is likely that the international media house intended to show there was corruption between Guyana and China.

“They want to make that

Attorney General Anil Nandlall during his weekly Facebook programme ‘Issues in the News,’ on Tuesday

connection and they set out even from the inception to pursue that objective. And they seem to also be influenced negatively by the fact that it’s wrong for the government of Guyana to be trading with China,” the Minister of Legal Affairs said.

He affirmed that Guyana as a sovereign nation enjoys good bipartisan and trade relations with many countries in the world.

“We have great trade relations with our counterparts in the Caribbean…We don’t want to have favourite relations; we treat countries depending upon the investment opportunities and how Guyanese and Guyana will benefit from those opportunities. That is how we assess our relations with our developmental partners,” Nandlall stated.

The AG said that the Dr Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government is strong in its position that whatever opportunities are offered by different countries, Guyanese and Guyana will benefit.

The Attorney General contended that Dr Jagdeo in his most “unguarded moment” clearly said to the undercover news team that he doesn’t get involved in the details of business arrangements.

To this end, Nandlall said that the VP, upon learning about the covert operations of the news team, plans to take legal action.

The Attorney General said the PPP/C is committed to the development of Guyana, especially when it comes to helping citizens, local or abroad.

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GNNL’s former General Manager dies N A N D K U M A R Puran, former General Manager of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), passed away on Tuesday in Florida, United States of America (USA).

Puran, born October 23, 1949, lived in Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Lesbeholdel, Berbice; and Herstelling, East Bank Dem-

erara (EBD).

Puran, born to Pooran Rambarran and Ponia Ragubir, was married to Jean Puran. He was the father of three children, and the grandfather of four.

In 2014, Puran retired from his post at the GNNL and migrated to the US with his wife.

During his time in Guyana, he was a former employee of Guyana National Industrial

Company Inc., formerly known as Sprostons Ltd.; an internal auditor at the University of Guyana, and General Manager of Sterling Products.

Puran’s last surviving brother, Kenneth, told the Guyana Chronicle that he and his other seven siblings, including four sisters, looked to the now-late Puran as a father figure.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

Schoolchildren to receive $30,000 cash grant in late July

GUYANESE students will start receiving the $30,000 cash grant at the end of July, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand announced.

Speaking at the Georgetown Department of Education Regional Awards Ceremony for the Academic year 2020-2021, on Wednesday, the minister said, “We are giving from the government level, the most support par-

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

ents and students have ever seen in this country…the last week of July, every single student…in this country, nursery primary and secondary will receive $30,000 as an assistance to getting themselves outfitted.”

The minister also announced that assistance will be given in the form of text books to every pupil in primary school as was done for children in Grades Five and Six. Additionally, every student from Grade Seven to 13 will have all Mathematics, English and Literature textbooks required, while efforts will be made over the next two years for all secondary school students to have all the textbooks needed.

“These are small interventions, but you know what they mean,” Minister Manickchand told the gathering.

Last year, the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant, and the School Uniform and Supplies grant, saw every learner in both public and private

schools receiving a total of $19,000 each.

Though it was first intended to benefit public school children only, government later extended the initiative to private school students.

This year the cash grant has increased from $19,000 to $25,0000 dollars, while the school uniform and supplies grant has increased from $4,000 to $5,000, bringing the total sum to $30,000.

“Those changes ought to see significant output, better output and less coming out of the pockets of families,” Minister Manickchand said.

The government in its manifesto had promised that by 2025, each child will receive $50,000.

“If we are going to do this together, the ministry, the government, parents, school teachers and students, then surely we should be able to see better results,” the education minister said. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

Realtors’ Association launched; regulatory legislation coming

By Shamar Meusa

THE Realtor Association of Guyana was on Wednesday evening launched to bring together major players in the country’s real estate industry.

Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Susan Rodrigues, joined the industry’s stakeholders last evening for the launch ceremony at Roraima Duke Lodge, Kingston.

President of the newly launched association, Chief Samsair, who is also Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Century 21 Guyana, stated that the real estate industry is one of the largest business sectors in the country as he recognised that there was minimal structure or regulation in place.

As such, Samsair added that the network of industry professionals aims to protect the integrity of the industry and further enable a sense of professionalism and accountability across the real estate landscape.

T h e a s s o c i a t i o n ’s board members include Komal Ramnauth, CEO of KOJAC realty; Stefan John of Keller Williams Realty; Steven Persaud of One Stop Realty Investment; and Sharia Bacchus of Casa Nuvo Investments.

Other board members include directors of Century 21 Guyana, Arrowhead Realty, Demerara Realty, and more.

To this end, Samsair said the Realtor Association has identified four governing committees as pillars for its function-

Attorney General Anil Nandlall (at right) and President of the Realtor Association of Guyana, Chief Samsair (at left) as they unveiled the logo for the newly launched association (Adrian Narine photo)

ing. “Each committee will provide guidance and monitor the progress of all activities within the scope of their activities,” he said.

The education and training committee, he continued, is currently working on preparing a course to prepare individuals who want to become real estate agents.

Samsair said capacitybuilding plans include courses for persons who are interested in continuing education. He said Guyana’s Education Ministry has been engaged to accredit the course.

The legislation committee of the association, on the other hand, will be focused on advocating for new types of legislation that will enhance the protection of buyers, sellers, and real estate agents. The other two committees are the membership committee, and the finance and budget planning committee.

The event’s featured speaker, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, S.C., congratulated the association on its launch.

The AG noted that it is now important to ensure that all the players in the industry are part of the association.

Against this backdrop, the Attorney General stated that it is no secret that Guyana is the fastestgrowing economy in the world. Guyanese have the opportunity to realize the potential that the country possesses, he stressed.

To this end, he stated that the real estate industry has the potential in Guyana to grow to an exponential proportion and create hundreds of jobs.

“The real estate industry is integrally involved in billions of dollars in transaction cash and kind in relation to real estate, [and] immovable property… That, by itself, creates the need for heavy regulation of this industry,” the Attorney General said.

As a result, AG Nandlall emphasized that the government will play

only a regulatory role, as he added that they will only pass a law that will establish a structure to regulate the players in the industry.

This, he expressed, may include certifying these players, qualifying them, and licensing them. A regime of rules for the sector will also be provided.

Nandlall added, “It, necessarily, will also embrace some type of regulation in relation to charges that are to be applied. The sector is in its embryonic stages in Guyana and I have no doubt once it is brought under the formal structure it will begin to grow.”

Furthermore, the Attorney General stated that this will see the growth of linkages as exist in more advanced economies. He noted that these linkages

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may include with finance companies, brokerage firms, and insurance agencies, among others.

This is just the beginning, the Legal Affairs Minister stressed, as he iterated that the government will offer the encouragement that is needed, and will do all that it can to ensure that the association gets the necessary impetus to move the industry forward.

In addition to this, Mr Nandlall affirmed the government’s position that it has no other interest but to ensure that certain protections are in place and enforced, to ensure that realtors operate within a regulatory framework that protects clients and realtors and further makes Guyana compliant with international obligations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

Taking Development to the People PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, during a recent visit to Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), told residents that his administration is committed to a process of inclusive governance, one in which all Guyanese are not only active participants of governance but also beneficiaries in a fair and equitable manner from the country’s wealth.

Speaking to residents of the community, President Ali highlighted several initiatives which will benefit the region including establishment of a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centre.

The hinterland communities of Guyana had been neglected both under the colonial government and the

PNC administrations, and Region Seven was no exception. This was particularly so in the areas of education and healthcare delivery. It was not until the PPP/C came to office in October 1992 that real efforts were made to upgrade the health and educational infrastructure of the region.

There was no discrete secondary school in the entire region and students who did exceptionally well at the then common entrance examinations were sent to Georgetown to access secondary education. The Bartica Secondary School was established in 1970 but the quality of secondary education was highly deficient.

It was not until the PPP/C administration took office that a new secondary school with residential facilities was

established in Kamarang, Region Seven to cater for students in the deep riverine areas. The Bartica Secondary School has now been upgraded to offer a wider range of course offerings.

The construction of a TVET institution will be a great boost to the region in terms of skills development.

According to President Ali, his administration is seeking to transform that region into a focal point for vocational training, with the establishment of a TVET institution.

These, along with other interventions, will result in an enhanced learning environment for learners. It will also result in the creation of a solid platform for the growth and development of citizens of the region.

Region Seven in general,

and Bartica in particular, is now becoming a leading tourist destination. According to President Ali, “the tourism potential of the region is enormous but for that potential to be realized, we have to do a few things. We have to ensure that people are trained... [and] we have to have the transformative infrastructure that will bring people to the region.”

The PPP/C’s approach to development, both in the regions and the country as a whole, has been holistic and comprehensive, involving all aspects of development including education, health, housing, infrastructural development and the development of human capital. In this regard, President Ali assured residents of Region Seven that there will be

further upgrades of the road infrastructure and the construction of a municipal airport to support development in the hinterland region.

President Ali also announced that 120 acres of land have been cleared to develop some 500 homes for residents. The project, according to the President, will not only deliver housing but create tremendous opportunities in the value chain which will impact positively on hardware resources, skilled labour, transportation services and more.

Agriculture development and food security are also priorities. The Agriculture Ministry has been tasked to pay an early visit to the town to have an assessment done on expanding the school shade house program.

All of the above policy interventions, initiated by President Ali and the PPP/C administration, have one thing in common: to lay the foundation for the ‘One Guyana’ vision as articulated by President Ali, one in which every Guyanese, regardless of race, religion, political affiliation or geographic location will benefit from the growth and prosperity which the country can offer.

President Ali remains confident that the future of this country, and generations to come, will see “true prosperity and true happiness”. This optimism is shared by the vast majority of Guyanese who are prepared not only to embrace that vision but to work towards its realisation.

Without hydropower, Guyana lacks a reliable power grid

Dear Editor,

THE Amaila Falls Hydro Project (AFHP) has become a political football. There are ‘gurus,’ “experts,” pressure groups, consultants, laymen and an assortment of others on the playing field.

While kicking the football, they pontificate on the costs; the environmental effects; the need for more studies; dry river – no power; discrediting the consultants; sowing distrust; doubting every word that comes out the mouths of the proponents (essentially, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo), and so on.

Kicking the football around is more important than scoring a goal for the Guyanese public.

Countries that are signatories to The Paris Agreement, to reduce carbon emissions by 45 per cent by 2030

and reach net zero by 2050, are scrambling to secure power sources to satisfy this agreement and grow their economies.

Guyana is blessed with several clean, sustainable and renewable power sources. The Guyana Government has selected a matrix of solar, wind, gas and hydropower to grow the country’s economy and significantly lower power costs to consumers.

Each of the selected power sources has certain advantages and disadvantages. The energy and climate benefits from each source has to be examined for economic viability, and environmental and social effects. The key is to select a matrix that one or more of the power sources offset the disadvantages of one.

Solar and wind are intermittent power sources and the current costs for energy

storage from these two sources are exorbitant. Neither of these power sources is reliable to guarantee base-power demands.

Gas, recently discovered offshore in Guyana, is neither clean nor renewable, but can serve as a transitional power source. Hydropower is the world’s largest source of clean, renewable and sustainable energy.

The Paris Agreement and the war in Ukraine are impetus for new hydropower projects and increasing capacity on existing dams worldwide. China has been building thousands of new, mostly massive (e.g., Three Gorges), hydroelectric dams to fuel its growth.

Similarly, countries in Asia, Africa and the Pacific are following suit. This article focuses on hydropower from the Amaila Falls to separate fact from fiction

and to address some of the key technical concerns on the necessity for this energy source for Guyana.

Guyana is endowed with hydropower potential to meet all of its current and anticipated needs. The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) shows a list with over 300, yes over 300, studies on hydropower potential since 1946.

This writer had the opportunity to work on one such study: the feasibility studies for power generation from the Tiboku Falls in the Mazaruni River, conducted

by Shawinigan Engineering Company Limited.

Hydropower is the only power source currently available to produce power on demand. In fact, several hydropower facilities in the world are dedicated to producing peak power.

One such facility for which the writer developed

a daily operating profile to meet peak power demand and minimize downstream environmental negative impacts in California, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Nebraska, is the Glen Canyon Dam (total capacity 1,320 Megawatts (MW)) in the Colorado River within Grand Canyon National Park.

By 2025, the total electric power demand in Guyana is estimated at 450 MW. The AFHP is designed to produce 165 MW. AFHP can be operated to address shortfalls in power generation from solar and wind, as a backup, and as an on-demand power-generation facility.

AFHP is a low carbon, low cost, renewable energy source. The reservoir created is a water- storage facility that can be used for agriculture, industries and recreation.

Using a Build Own Oper-

Continued on page 7

ate Transfer (BOOT) model, estimated construction cost of the AFHP is US$700 million and the estimated Guyana Government electric energy purchase cost is 7.7 cents per kilowatt (kW). The large estimated price tag, which is paid by the contractor in the BOOT model, has been a source of misinformation and disinformation.

Whether the construction cost rises to US$1 billion or drops to US$0.5 billion is the responsibility of the BOOT contractor, not the people of Guyana. It is quite likely that the actual cost of construction will be higher than US$700 million because the actual costs for all civil engineering projects, whether it is a house or a hydropower dam, usually vary from estimated costs.

A large portion of the costs in any civil engineering construction is subjected to

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

OP-ED

FOOD prices have continued on an upward trajectory over the past two years.

In March 2022, the global monthly Food Price Index of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recorded its highest value. The FAO Food Price Index tracks monthly changes in commonly traded international food commodities – cereals (including rice), vegetable oils, sugar, meat, and dairy products.

The slight decline in vegetable oil and maize prices that was recorded in April 2022 is of little comfort, particularly to low-income families and rural communities that are finding it hard to cope with the challenges of global food security.

Farmers, fishers, foresters, and herders in rural areas and farming communities, rely on food production for their livelihoods we, in turn, rely on them for our food.

Countries are struggling to cope with the continuing crises of food and fuel price increases, fertilizer shortages,

Food security: Coping in difficult times and their impacts on economic growth and social well-being.

Ongoing logistical hurdles, increasing transportation costs, and disruptions of supply chains are also driving high international market prices. In addition, food price volatility has worsened due to the war in Ukraine and is unleashing a wave of food insecurity globally.

Already a grave cause of concern, approximately 155 million persons were considered food insecure in 2020. The continuing impact of COVID-19 in 2021, added another six million persons to this number. Meanwhile, as the global situation becomes direr, the most tragic extremes of food insecurity are on the rise.

The recent FAO – WFP report - Hunger Hotspots (early warnings on acute food insecurity) issued for June to September 2022, stated that approximately 750,000 persons are facing starvation and death, especially in Ethiopia, Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, and Afghanistan. This is an

increase over previous years and reflects the exacerbated effect on food security of war, conflict, disasters, and climate change.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, 20 million farmers and fisherfolk are working continuously to feed one billion people, despite challenges.

All countries in the region are facing varying impacts of food price volatility and are experiencing changes in their food security. One country, Haiti is considered to be under extreme threat of food insecurity and three others are on the early warning list (Honduras, Venezuela, and Colombia).

The FAO is working with the Member States to analyze and share coping mechanisms that are being implemented by the countries to confront the challenges of rising food prices. This is helping to foster resilience in national food security programmes and promote regional collaborations, both of which are vital to safeguard food security and protect the development gains of nations.

An initiative of many governments has been to expand social protection coverage for the increasing numbers of vulnerable households. Another widely adopted approach is the implementation of price control mechanisms including temporary tariff reductions to help lessen the volatility of imported food prices, establishing subsidies, freezing the price of basic foods, and providing food baskets and cash grants.

Public Awareness campaigns have also been launched in some countries, to promote increased consumption of locally produced food products where there is a reduced availability of imported foods (this also helps to stimulate local production by farmers).

Many Member States are adopting a variety of strategies to offset the increases in production costs due to rising prices of agricultural-input supplies. There are several examples of national programmes that issued input supplies such as seeds and

seedlings, agrochemicals, and feeds; or reduce tariffs on imported input supplies.

The distribution of fertilizer, which accounts for 15 to 30 percent of production costs to farmers is also a common strategy that is being employed.

Cash grants to farmers and fisherfolk are another action being used to offset rising operation costs.

It is extremely important to note that there this is a complex and constantly evolving situation, there is no standard approach that can or should be taken by every country to manage food security. The extent to which the above-mentioned measures can be employed is highly dependent on the unique situation of the individual countries.

Fiscal flexibility, socio-economical imperatives, development trajectory, and other factors, all play an equally important role in the national decisions about the most effective approach. Continuous analysis of national, sub-national, regional and global data

Dr Gillian Smith

is vital to good decision-making on addressing food security challenges.

At the same time, countries must continue to develop and employ their longer-term strategies for food security, even as they implement shorter-term measures. We must keep our efforts on the longer-term vision of a food system that affords a safe, affordable, and healthy diet for ALL and embraces better livelihoods for producers.

Working with state agencies, producers’ organizations and other stakeholders, FAO will continue to support the efforts of the countries of the region, including Guyana to address the current challenges and stay the course of their food security agenda.

VICE News is about vice and not virtue

- the truth will eventually prevail Dear Editor, VICE Media has reduced a two-hour-long video interview with Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo to 16 minutes and in the process has painted a false narrative that “Guyana is for Sale”.

The programme was aired on Showtime TV on Sunday, June 19, 2022. Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali has slammed the

distorted presentation, and apart from saying that there was no evidence of bribery, he challenged VICE to air the full two-hour interview.

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Guo Haiyan quickly condemned the VICE News feature on alleged corruption between the Guyana Government and Chinese businesspeople, noting that the report was purely malicious, and

From page 6

its own set of environmental issues.

Thus, the decision on the source or sources of renewable, sustainable energy is complex. Nevertheless, a decision has to be made in the best interest of the country’s sustainable, resilient development with environmental stewardship and efficient resource management.

The Guyana Government’s current matrix of clean power sources is a step in the right direction.

Without hydropower, Guyana cannot have a reliable electric power grid.

Without hydropower...

the vagaries of nature (rainfall, floods, earthquakes, etc.), market fluctuations for labour, materials and equipment, social, health and political unrest (e.g., strikes, pandemic, war).

The Guyana Government needs to ensure that the BOOT contractor has solid financial instruments; technical capacity and capability; enforceable contract terms and must provide quality, incorruptible project management to oversee the project.

There are several social and environmental concerns with hydropower; however, these are not unique to hydropower. Each energy option, including solar and wind, has

Sincerely, Dr Muniram Budhu Professor Emeritus

intended to smear the image of Chinese companies in Guyana, and Guyana-Chinese relations.

She notes that Guyana-China relations are based on laws and best international practices.

“This so-called journalist; the undercover journalist, came with a predetermined agenda, and I think the purpose is clear: To smear the Chinese companies here, and to attack the GuyanaChina cooperation; it’s quite clear its content was edited with malicious purpose,” the Chinese diplomat told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Monday, June 20, 2022.

A perspective on VICE News is important to understand its preoccupation with the idea that China “is being involved in underhand dealings in countries around the world”. Foreign reporters come to developing countries like Guyana with a stereotype “to portray their leaders as corrupt”.

VICE is reeling from its precipitous drop in the media market; its ratings and credibility have slumped dramatically.

In May 2019, Disney had to wipe out US$35.3 million in its VICE investment, and later that year, HBO pulled the plug on its (VICE’s) seven-year programme, VICE News Tonight. In 2020 and 2021, VICE News laid off hundreds of its staff. VICE is struggling to raise liquidity (in the millions) to pay off investors.

It is public knowledge that

one of the Vice-President’s roles is to facilitate investments for the country; nothing is wrong with this. He would, therefore, meet with potential investors, and advise them of investment possibilities, and on regulatory mechanisms.

Diplomats also seek investments for nationals of their countries. The US Ambassador, the Canadian High Commissioner, and the British High Commissioner, for example, have all been trying to facilitate investments in Guyana for their respective countries.

In the Guyana environment, a few people would falsely pose as liaison between potential investors and government officials.

Only recently, a man was charged for pretending to be a facilitator of a deal.

Referring to such travesty, Dr. Jagdeo categorically stated: “It has become almost like an industry, where people claim they are representing companies, and I don’t know what they are representing to these people. So, if anyone is stupid enough to lose your money by thinking you will get any preferences, because someone arranged a meeting with some policymaker, it’s your loss.”

Guyanese academic and a former Head of the Public Service, Dr. Nanda Gopaul asserts in relation to Dr. Jagdeo: “I can attest nothing but hard work, integrity, and impatience for

procrastination. At the spur of the moment, he would intervene to bring an issue to head or finality, once it was brought to his attention that there were delays on any issue of importance to national development.”

Dr. Gopaul cited the example of the Park View Hotel that was constructed because of Dr. Jagdeo’s intervention.

Here are some falsehoods flowing from the VICE report.

Falsehood 1: In the first VICE interview, Mr. Su Zhi Rong (who claims friendship with Dr. Jagdeo) stated that the VP does not take bribes from anyone: “his hands are clean”.

Vice-President Dr. Jagdeo has made it clear to the imposter investor, “Mr Chan” that he “would not get involved in any financial dealings.”

In a follow-up interview, however, Mr. Su Zhi Rong has apparently left the door open for a bribery allegation. Why? He is purportedly under pressure from certain Opposition sources to implicate the Vice-President.

Falsehood 2: VICE is concerned with global issues, and is worried about China’s implicit threat to replace the United States as the dominant power in the world. To restore its ratings and advertisers’ confidence, VICE seeks to engage in controversial and sensational news.

Falsehood 3: The claim that Mr. Su has oil blocks is false.

CNOOC has shares in Exxon oil blocks.

Falsehood 4: The claim that the Chinese “bribed” the PPP/C government with US$1.5 billion in loans is again false.

Falsehood 5: The Amaila Falls project contract was not awarded, as claimed by VICE reporter Ms. Isobel Yeung; the Chinese company withdrew its offer. The PPP/C government has to re-tender the contract.

Falsehood 6: Nowhere was any evidence produced in both interviews that the VP took bribes, as alleged.

Falsehood 7: Ms. Yeung reports that the Vice-President will change the Guyana Constitution to facilitate contractors. This is ridiculous; the VP has no such power.

Dr. Jagdeo plans to sue him (Mr. Su) for slander. It is also conceivable that Mr. Su could be implicated in extortion.

This hatchet job was a calculated attempt between VICE News and certain Opposition forces to malign the integrity of the Vice-President, a man of action, and a man who is loved by most Guyanese. Even if they develop better plots, they will fail. The truth will always prevail.

As the name indicates, VICE News is about vice and not virtue.

Yours respectfully, Dr Tara Singh

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

Guyana’s Samuel Haynes to attend UN education meeting in Paris

By Tamica Garnett

THE 2021 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) top performer and former Queen’s College student, Samuel Haynes, will be representing Guyana next week at the United Nations’ Transforming Education Pre-Summit in Paris, France.

The pre-Summit will be held from June 28 to June 30.

The full Summit will be held in September in New York City, U.S. Haynes will be one of two persons representing Guyana at the meeting, according to Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, during her address at a public event. The meeting focuses on the future of education worldwide.

The other participant, whose name was not provided, is described as a young teacher from Mahaicony Creek.

Speaking with the media corps on Wednesday, Haynes expressed joy at the honour of representing Guyana on the international stage.

“I feel very thrilled that I was selected to attend [and] to represent Guyana,” the young scholar said, adding: “I am extremely grateful to the Government of Guyana for selecting me, so that I can go out there and really show

Education Minister Priya Manickchand (DPI photo)

the world what we have to offer in terms of education.

“As a [recent] past student, I can offer a lot of advice on some of the things that can be done to improve education around the world so that our future generations can be different,” Haynes explained.

Asked about his potential talking points, Haynes said: “One of the main things I was thinking about is that our children really need to understand the vitality of education… we need to truly ensure children are educated on the importance of education, so that they are motivated to give of their best.”

Haynes was Guyana’s top student at the 2021 CAPE sitting where he passed nine units with Grade Ones.

For his performance in 2021, Haynes received an award at the ceremony yesterday under the “Special Recognition CAPE 2021” category.

Next week’s pre-Summit is a prelude to the official UN Transforming Education Summit. The United Nations Secretary-General is convening the Transforming Education Summit (TES) during the 77th UN General Assembly.

The pre-Summit will likely set the agenda for

the full Summit, and will allow feedback from children, young people, students, parents, and teachers on their vision for transforming education.

This is the first time the UN Secretary General is convening a Summit to discuss transforming education in the world.

“We’ve already done a series of consultations on how we believe we can transform education in Guyana,” Minister Manickchand said, noting further that the inclusion of children and young people in the country’s delegation to the pre-Summit was especially encouraged.

2021 CAPE top performer, Samuel Haynes with his awards (Delano Williams photo)

Recognising that education is a human right and a foundation for peace, tolerance, other human rights and sustainable development, the UN Secretary-General announced in his report to the UN General Assembly on ‘Our Common Agenda’ his intention to convene a Transforming Education Summit (TES) in September 2022 The Minister explained that the Summit in September is being held to discuss

how the world wants to re-imagine education. “[From] COVID, and even before COVID, we needed to make some changes and transform some things from the traditional means of learning and teaching.

“So, COVID gave the impetus to have a deeper, more profound examination not by individual countries but by the whole world,” the Education Minister continued.

Death row inmate pleads not guilty to 2008 murder of soldier

A MIXED 12-member jury was, on Wednesday, empanelled before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Demerara High Court for the trial of death row inmate, Mark Royden Williams, called ‘Smallie’, who is accused of killing a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldier in 2008.

Williams, formerly of Friendship, East Coast Demerara, denied murdering Ivor Williams, 24, on January 23, 2008, at Buxton, ECD. The state is being represented by prosecutor Taneisha Saygon and Muntaz Ali, while attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes, is on record for the accused.

The trial is expected to commence on June 27.

In 2020, Williams’ co-accused, Sherwin Nero, called ‘Pattacake’ opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, when he was arraigned for murder. Nero was sentenced to time served

Mark Royden Williams called ‘Smallie’

since he had already spent 154 months on remand.

Meanwhile, in 2019, Nero and Williams were freed of the 2007 murder of Kumar “Mango Man” Singh after a 12-member jury found them not guilty of committing the crime.

In February 2017, Williams was sentenced to death

when a jury found him guilty of eight counts of murder in relation to the 2008 Bartica massacre in which a dozen persons, including three police officers, were shot dead. He has since appealed the conviction.

Several months later, in July 2017, he escaped from the Georgetown Prison during a riot; it is believed that he was the mastermind. However, he was nabbed on October 9, 2017, at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice, while travelling in a public minibus.

In 2013, Williams was acquitted after a 12-member jury found him not guilty of the charges against him in relation to the 2008 Lusignan massacre, which claimed the lives of 11 persons, including five children.

The matter was appealed all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which in 2018, affirmed the acquittal of Williams.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

Review of consolidated financials of EEPGL, Hess and CNOOC: FY 2020 and FY 2021 [Part 1]

THE analysis contained herein reveals that under the current fiscal regime within the framework of the PSA, Guyana’s total share of profit oil and royalty for the financial year (FY) 2020 amounted to $25.5 billion which increased to $79 billion in FY 2021 – while the oil companies net take in profit oil for FY 2020 amounted to $22 billion, which increased to $68.1 billion FY 2021.

It is worthwhile to note that Guyana’s share in profit and royalty is greater than the net profit of the oil companies.

To this end, the oil companies share of profit oil for FY 2021 amounted to $68 billion or US$325 million, while Guyana’s total [actual] share in royalty and profit oil stood at $85.3 billion/ US$408 million, representing $17 billion/US$81 million or 25 per cent more than the oil companies.

The depreciation and financing expenses attributed to the decommissioning (provision) liability represents less than one percent of gross revenue – thus having almost zero impact on profit oil.

Similarly, financing cost represents less than one percent of gross revenue due to the low level of debt employed in the financing structure of the oil companies.

Overall, the analysis disproves the following contrary views of other analysts and political commentators where: i) ExxonMobil or the oil companies walk away with more profit oil than Guyana is far from the truth.

Guyana’s net take in royalty and profit oil is actually greater than the oil companies’ share of profit oil; ii) The decommissioning provision is a balance sheet item which affects both the fixed asset and liability side, and has a minimal to virtually zero impact on the profit oil.

In other words, the full sum of decommissioning provision which is approximately US$357 million up to FY 2021 is not a deductible from profit oil as has been incorrectly reported and misconstrued by a certain section of the media and other analysts; iii) Finally, the oil

companies employed a low level of debt in their financing structure thus reducing the financing cost for total debt which in turn has minimal to virtually zero impact on profit oil.

BACKGROUND ExxonMobil and its consortium partners, Hess and CNOOC recently filed their audited financial statements for FY 2021 with the Deeds Registrar.

This was followed by a few commentators and analysts alike commenting on the company’s declared profit for its Guyana operations where the company reported that it made a profit of G$132 billion for 2021 while the consortium together made a profit of G$314.5 billion for 2021.

The company reported that it made a profit for the first time since 1999. Further, Tom Sanzillo in a recent report published by the IEEFA and carried in certain section of the local media, argued that ExxonMobil’s current and future debt will ultimately be borne by Guyana.

This argument was subsequently debunked by SPHEREX analytics, the Vice President, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and ExxonMobil. In view of the foregoing, this paper presents an analysis of the consolidated financials of ExxonMobil’s subsidiary and its consortium partners, Hess and CNOOC. REVENUE The consolidated financial statements for ExxonMobil Guyana, Hess and CNOOC for the period ended December 2021 revealed total revenue of $545 billion up from $176 billion recorded in the previous year or by $369 billion representing an increase of 210 per cent.

EXPENDITURE Total operating expenditure increased from $166 billion in FY 2020 to $230 billion in FY 2021, representing a 38 per cent increase.

Notably, total operating expenditure represented 94 per cent of revenue in FY 2020 and decreased to 42 per cent of revenue in FY 2021.

Financing cost increased from $521 million in FY 2020 to $822 million in FY

2021 or by 57 per cent, representing 0.15 per cent of gross revenue.

PROFIT OIL AND COST RECOVERY The consolidated statement of comprehensive income / loss recorded for FY 2021 recorded a profit of $314 billion representing an increase of $305 billion when compared to FY 2020 position or an increase of 3,158 per cent.

It should be noted, however, that the oil companies did not collectively walk away with G$314 billion or US$1.5 billion in profit as is being misconstrued by some commentators and local journalists / media houses.

In accordance with the fiscal provisions in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), cost recovery which includes recovery of the initial capital expenditure (CAPEX) (pre-exploration, exploration and development costs), and operating expenditure (OPEX) is capped at 75 per cent of revenue.

Hence, with the application of this formula profit oil for FY 2020 was $44 billion which increased to $136.3 billion in FY 2021 TURN TO PAGE 11

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Suriname to receive floodrelief supplies from Guyana

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

Suriname’s Ambassador to Guyana, Liselle Blankendal and CDC’s Director-General (ag), Major Loring Benons

G U YA N A’ S e a s t e r n neighbour, Suriname, is set to receive a large quantity of food supplies aimed at providing relief to the many flood-affected residents there.

This support is being donated by the Government of Guyana through

the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). The supplies which will be delivered this week, comprises essential food items.

During a simple handing over ceremony on Wednesday, Suriname’s Ambassador to Guyana, Liselle Blankendal expressed

gratitude to Guyana for the donation. The ceremony was also attended by CDC’s Director-General (ag), Major Loring Benons.

The floods in Suriname began in March of this year and has affected mainly the eastern parts of the country.

FROM PAGE 9 or by 210 per cent. As such, Guyana’s share of profit oil amounted to $22 billion in FY 2020 and $68 billion in FY2021.

GUYANA’S NET TAKE: ROYALTY AND PROFIT OIL Guyana’s total share of profit oil and royalty for FY 2020 amounted to $25.5 billion which increased to $79 billion in FY 2021 – while the oil companies net take in profit oil for FY 2020 amounted to $22 billion which increased to $68.1 billion FY 2021.

This means that Guyana’s share in profit and royalty is greater than the net profit of the oil companies. Further to note, royalty is paid to Guyana in cash while profit oil is paid in raw crude which means Guyana is responsible for the marketing and sales

of its share of crude. Consequently, Guyana’s share in profit oil is in actuality greater than the oil companies.

There is likely to be a marginal disparity in the exchange rate applied by the oil companies versus Guyana’s share of profit oil and royalty which would account for the higher difference accrued to Guyana albeit to a lesser extent (prevailing average market rate is $215 whereas Bank of Guyana average rate is $209.2, approximately $6 lower than the market average).

To that end, the table below illustrates a comparison of Guyana’s actual profit oil paid into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) versus the profit as reported in the financial statements.

As shown in the table (a) above, Guyana’s total share

in royalty and profit oil according to the in the financial statements would work have worked to $25.5 billion.

The actual profit oil and royalty for the said period as reported in the NRF, however, stood at $41.3 billion in FY 2020 representing a favorable variance of $15.8 billion or 88 per cent while for FY 2021 Guyana’s total share stood at $85.3 billion as reported in the NRF, representing $17.1 billion or 25 per cent more than what is reported in the financial statements of the oil companies.

Moreover, the oil companies share of profit oil for FY 2021 amounted to $68 billion while Guyana’s total [actual] share in royalty and profit oil stood at $85.3 billion – that is, $17 billion or 25 per cent more than the oil companies.

Review of consolidated...

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CARPHA: Results-based approach producing results for CARICOM EMPLOYEES of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) have participated in a training workshop aimed at increasing the agency’s capacity to deliver results and to be able to assess the impact of its work.

The Strategic Planning, Results Based Management (RBM) and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Workshop forms part of a series of activities being undertaken by Le Groupe-Conseil Baastel.

Baastel was award-

each contribute to the importance of this process.”

Head of Vector Borne Diseases, Dr Horace Cox, expressed that he is optimistic that the agency would have even greater impact moving forward and felt that the workshop was beneficial because it “teaches how we can use the data of today to guide the design and implementation of the interventions of tomorrow.”

Dr Rian Extavour, Programme Manager of the Caribbean Regulatory System, said: “Many as-

by CARICOM Heads of Government to adopt the RBM approach and institutionalise RBM in their operations. With activities such as these workshops, CARPHA is well on its way to fulfilling this mandate.

Dr. Mark Sami, Director of Corporate Services elaborated that “RBM will ensure that organisational efficiency is enhanced because all departments whether corporate or technical will direct their energies towards the achievement of set objectives, thus en-

ed the consultancy to Institutionalise Results Based Management at the agency, in September 2021. This consultancy will also facilitate the development of CARPHA’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director of CARPHA stated: “While the agency already operates within a results-oriented reality, it welcomed the opportunity for the employees to collectively, take an in-depth view of the strategic planning process.”

She added that the exercise would help to clearly show what CARPHA has achieved and what the agency hopes to achieve in the future.

She highlighted: “[The training would] help us deepen our understanding of these processes and how we can

pects of the session made me more aware of how we can be even more creative to find other opportunities to strengthen what we do.”

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, with the support of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), developed and implemented the CARICOM Results-Based Management (RBM) System based on the Community Strategic Plan 2015-2019.

The CARICOM RBM System was developed to serve as a mechanism to engender a more resultsoriented culture within the region. It was executed to improve implementation rates, increase accountability, transparency and improve governance of the Community.

All regional institutions, including CARPHA were then mandated

suring unity in purpose.”

Funding for this activity is being provided by the European Union (EU) through the 11th European Development Fund (11th EDF) Programme of Support for Health Security Strengthening for Prevention and Control of Outbreaks of Communicable Diseases in the Caribbean, for which CARPHA is the Executing Agency.

The Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) has supported CARPHA’s access to these resources.

This project, which is valued at €8,000,000.00 and has a duration of four years, will enhance the institutional capacity of CARPHA to effectively support the Caribbean in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.

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US$10M in financing to fuel youth participation, sustainable development

- in Commonwealth Small Island Developing States

By Rabindra Rooplall in Kigali, Rwanda THE Commonwealth Secretariat’s ground-breaking collaboration with Cambridge University has unlocked more than US$10 million in private financing for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), despite the project only being halfway through its research phase.

This is according to Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral Baroness Patricia Scotland on Wednesday, during a Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda.

At the meeting, attended by Guyana’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd, Ms. Scotland said that sixty per cent of the Commonwealth’s 2.5 billion population is under the age of 30.

According to the Secretariat, the Commonwealth Charter vividly outlines the importance of placing young people at the heart of decisions affecting their future, including those related to climate change and sustainable development.

The Cambridge collaboration brings young people together with political leaders and world-leading experts to generate and stress-test new policy ideas ahead of implementation.

As part of the project, teams generate funding templates for SIDS to attract new investment in projects designed to promote youth participation and sustainable development.

Of the recently secured US$10 million, US$5 million will be provided by Simplilearn across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to provide 10,000 young people with digital training.

The remaining investment will come from GOQii, as part of their effort to promote healthy lifestyles among young people. Pop India will also invest in youth connectivity and jobs in the Caribbean region.

GOQii is an Indian fitness technology company headquartered in California

that offers a wearable fitness band with a mobile‘app’, and personalised remote coaching.

This investment represents a near 50-fold return on investment for the collaboration, which has more than a year remaining until the research is complete.

In its own investment announcement, GOQii thanked Secretary-General Scotland, and praised the Cambridge collaboration “for attracting sustainable development in Small Island Developing States, which will underpin our efforts”.

According to the Secretary-General: “Attracting finance for Small Island Developing States to engage young people in shaping their sustainable futures is a major challenge. I am delighted that our collaboration with Cambridge University is already bearing fruit, and unlocking finance for the states which most need it. We will look to take this work from strength to strength.”

Meanwhile, during the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States, leaders also celebrated the introduction of the Resilience Sustainability Trust (RST), which has been called the International Monetary Fund’s most innovative instrument yet.

The RST is the first IMF instrument to include vulnerability as a criterion for access to concessional financing, meaning that unlike other concessional windows, the RST will not exclude small states.

According to Travis Mitchell, Adviser and Head, Economic Policy and Small States at the Commonwealth Secretariat, the instrument will carry a 10.5 year grace period, and a maturity profile of 20 years, making it the longest duration financing mechanism in the IMF toolkit.

Some 32 of the world’s 42 small states are Commonwealth members. The Commonwealth Secretariat has championed small and vulnerable states since the 1980s, and campaigns internationally for special attention to the unique development challenges they face.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd at the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda

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Sod turned for US$300M Vreed-en-Hoop shore-base facility

THE sod was turned o n Tu e s d a y f o r t h e US$300 Million Vreeden-Hoop shore-base facility which is expected to play a major role in transforming Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) into a major player in Guyana’s oil-and-gas sector.

Officials and commu-

nity members on Tuesday afternoon gathered for the historic turning of the sod at the site for the intended project at Vreed-en-Hoop, on the West Coast Demerara.

A consortium of businesses, now known as NRG Holdings, had signed the US$300 million contract in April to construct the facility.

The consortium includes gold miner Andron Alphonso of ZRN Investment Inc.; Azruddin Mohamed of HADI’S World Incorporated; and Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer of National Hardware Guyana Limited.

The Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Inc. (VEHSI) is a joint venture between NRG Holdings Inc.,

At Tuesday’s sod-turning ceremony are, from left: ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge; Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat; and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, along with other VEHSI officials

which is a one-hundredper-cent Guyanese-owned consortium, and Jan De Nul, an international maritime infrastructure company.

According to DeygooBoyer, who serves as Di-

rector of NRG Holdings, the group is proud to have been able to witness the historic sod turning, and to bring some portion of the oil-and-gas sector and its opportunities to Region Three.

He said that the event, which marks the commencement of the construction of the shore-base facility, is the culmination of lots of hard work by the consortium.

TURN TO PAGE 18

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

- Minister Mustapha tells Region Seven farmers - commits to supplying tillers, other inputs for farmers to improve their cultivation MINISTER of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, has affirmed that the government has no political agenda when it comes to the agriculture sector, since all farmers are key to promoting food security.

The minister made those remarks during a meeting with farmers from riverine communities in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

The meeting which was held at the Bartica Community Centre Ground on Wednesday, came as a follow-up meeting to one held recently by President Dr. Irfaan Ali. During the engagement, farmers told Minister Mustapha that they were grateful for all that the government was doing to drive agricultural development in the country but needed better farmto-market access roads, agricultural inputs such as fertilisers and seeds, farming tools, and the need for better drainage of their farmlands.

Over the past year, farmers, in several communities in the region, have been left to count their losses due to extensive flooding, which is a direct result of the impacts of climate change.

Extended rainy periods and overflowing river-

banks continue to affect many farmers, often resulting in them suffering severe losses due to flooding.

Apart from issues with flooding, farmers present also told the minister that, in order for them to operate, they would need assistance with farm implements such as tillers as well as agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, and Acoushi ants bait.

Minister Mustapha, while responding to issues raised, said that the issues faced in the region, moreso the issue of flooding, were mostly due to heavy rains and overtopping of the river into the farmlands. However, he said that a team from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) would visit the affected areas to see what could be done to minimise the flooding.

Additionally, he told farmers that a team from the ministry, comprising officers from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), will return to the area within a week to conduct an assessment. He also said that the ministry will make some of the requested farming tools available.

“Through the Ministry of Agriculture, two tillers will be made available for the region so that the farmers can benefit. A management committee will be put in place to monitor the use of the tillers.

“We’ll also make about five bongo pumps and a motorised fogging machine available for farmers in the region. For those farmers who reported flooding, a team from the NDIA will come back and look at the entire drainage system to see what can be done. Maybe we can do some empoldering. In terms of chemicals and seeds, we’ll see how best we can assist,” Minister Mustapha said.

He also told farmers that there was demand for root crops in several CARICOM states and that the government, through the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC), was willing to assist with securing markets for those crops.

“This is an area where we can do a lot of root crops - things like cassava and sweet potatoes.

We can work along with you to develop a processing facility here. During a recent visit to Barbados with His Excellency, there were interests made in accessing cassava flour. We are the only country in the

A swine farmer raising an issue during the recent meeting spearheaded by Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

Caribbean that can supply them with cassava flour.

“There is a ready market there. We can provide cassava mills and help the farmers. The ministry has made similar interventions in Region Nine where about 50 cassava mills were donated to vil-

lages to produce cassava flour. We can also help you to package it to make it more attractive and find markets for you,” Minister Mustapha said.

He said, too, that the ministry, through NAREI, will also work with farmers to develop shade

houses to minimise the effects of climate change on their cultivation in addition to improved extension services which will see farmers benefitting from monthly engagements with extension staff attached to the ministry.

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Sod turned for US$300M Vreed-en-Hoop...

FROM PAGE 16 In brief remarks at the event, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar said that the reported 43 acres facility that will be used for oil-and-gas operations, among other things, will bring significant benefits

to the region.

“It will make this region a hub, just as Region Four is. I believe that it will also drive huge economic spin-offs into different industries,” he said.

He said that while there is not an inch of

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

The businessmen of NRG Holdings Inc., Azruddin Mohammed (first left); Andron Alphonso (third left), and Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer (first right) and other officials after the sod was turned

shore space remaining in the East Bank area, it is only natural for businesses to seek out shore space in Region Three.

This, he said, will add to the current drive of development taking place in the region, among them infrastructural development projects such as new roads, massive highways, and even the Wales gasto-energy project.

Noting that the construction of the shorebase facility is a special project that will also create jobs, Minister Indar urged those businesses involved in it to ensure that persons from the surrounding communities are dutifully employed during the execution phase.

Also making remarks at the event was Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, who commended the move by the consortium to invest in Region Three, and to form a joint ventureship, a call which the government had made previously.

“I think they must be commended for taking this initiative and answering the call of our government to form consortiums and form joint ventures so that Guyanese can invest in the oil and gas sector,” Minister Bharrat said.

As such, he highlight-

ed that the oil-and-gas industry is a capital-intensive one that requires a lot of start-up capital to be able to invest in the sector.

He said that while access to capital is one of the main challenges for the local private sector, one sure way of overcoming this is by forming partnerships.

“This is what is happening today with these three Guyanese young entrepreneurs who are taking this bold initiative to form this consortium, and to partner with the international company, which, obviously, has the expertise and the knowledge to go about constructing the facility, and to ensure that Guyanese, too, benefit from the oiland-gas sector,” Minister Indar said.

Meanwhile, President of Exxon Mobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, who shared similar sentiments as the minister, noted that it is a key milestone for the development of the administrative region. He further noted that it is important to Exxon Mobil, Hess, and CNOOC that the development of the natural resources of Guyana is enjoyed by the people of the country.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

Georgetown Prison inmate wins essay competition commended the participants and said that the Prison Service will not relent in its commitment to providing a habitable and conducive

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot (left) and Surendra Sukhdeo

SURENDRA Sukhdeo, who has been incarcerated at the Camp Street Prison for the last five years, was, on Wednesday, named the winner of the inter-prison essay competition for his piece which focused on, “A person who inspired me.”

According to a press release from the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), the competition which was organised by the Prisons’ Welfare and Corrections Department, saw the submission of 25 essays from four other prison locations.

Second place went to Davernand Dhandari of the New Amsterdam Prison; Gomeshwar Perez of the Timehri Prison was third; Tamira Melville of the New Amsterdam Prison was fourth and Kenneth Griffith of the Camp Street Prison copped the fifth position.

The release added that

during the prize-giving ceremony which was held in the Camp Street Prison compound, Sukhdeo disclosed that the achievement was due to the support and encouragement he received from other inmates.

Meanwhile, Officer-inCharge of Prisons’ Welfare and Corrections, Marielle Bristol-Grant said the competition is a rehabilitative project which is aimed at increasing the reading proficiency of inmates, while also improving their literacy levels in general and facilitating their transition into formal education.

According to the release, she also said that the competition was aimed at facilitating the rehabilitation and reintegration of violent offenders into society and also preventing recidivism.

Additionally, Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot in his comments

Computer technician found guilty of raping girl A MIXED jury on Wednesday found 35-yearold computer technician, Feroz Shakeer, guilty of raping a 13-year-old girl.

Shakeer was on trial before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in the Sexual Offences Court of the Demerara High Court for engaging in sexual activity with the teenager on December 3, 2015. He had denied committing the crime.

The jury, after deliberating for more than two hours, returned with the guilty verdict.

The convicted man will be sentenced on July 15, following presentation of his probation report.

He was represented by attorneys-at-law George Thomas and Madan Kissoon, while prosecutor Cicelia Corbin presented the state’s case.

According to the case facts, in 2015, Shakeer operated a taxi. On the day in question, instead of dropping the victim and her cousin at their requested destination, he drove to a remote location in Diamond, East Bank Demerara, and raped the victim.

The child subsequently confided in her relatives, and the matter was reported to the police. Shakeer was later arrested and charged.

environment for learning.

He also stated that the infrastructural improvements will only seek to complement the mandate to

rehabilitate.

Elliot further stated that discussions are being conducted with several stakeholders in relation

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to post-release support for inmates to further support the fresh start initiative launched earlier this year, the release added.

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Unchanged West Indies squad for Second test

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) Men’s Selection Panel has named an unchanged squad for the second Padma Bridge – Dream Fulfilled - Friendship Test match against Bangladesh.

The match will be played at the Daren Sammy Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, from June 24-28. West Indies have a 1-0 lead in the Padma Bridge – Dream Fulfilled – Friendship Test Series, presented by Walton.

They won the first

match by seven wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday.

Kemar Roach was named the Playerof-the-Match in the opening contest. He had match figures of 7-74 – including the match-winning 5-53 in the second innings.

This took him to 249 wickets in his career, joint sixth alongside the legendary Michael Holding, on the West Indies all-time list of wicket-takers.

He is also the leading West Indies bowler at

eighth position in the latest ICC Test Match bowling rankings.

Lead Selector, the Most Honourable Dr Desmond Haynes said: “It was a very good victory in Antigua.

The team played really well and must be feeling really confident heading into Saint Lucia for the second match. We have a group of players who are very disciplined and are giving 100 percent. Great credit to our bowlers who worked really hard in the first Test match.

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We can’t take Bangladesh lightly, they also bowled really well and were quite disciplined.

I know we will try our utmost to win the second match.”

Haynes added: “Kemar is a legend.

He has done really well for West Indies.

He made a great start to his career, then had some injuries, then he worked his way back and is our leading bowler. He’s among the best in the world. I am very pleased with his performances, not just on the field, but

the way he had been guiding the younger players and the way he has been interacting with the other members of the team.”

FU LL SQU AD: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Jermaine B l a c k w o o d ( Vi c e Captain), Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Devon Thomas.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday June 23, 2022) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Kemar Roach (2) Tamin Iqbal Today’s Quiz: (1) Who were the captains involved in the first ever WI/BANG Test?

(2) What is the highest Test score by a BANG player against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

30

Roach rises into top 10 test bowling rankings CMC – KEMAR Roach’s Player-of-the-Match performance in the recently concluded first Test against Bangladesh has seen him move into the top 10 of the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings for the first time in more than two years.

The updated rankings released on Wednesday show the West Indies fast bowler jumping four spots from 12th to eighth, just one position from his career-best seventh rank which he attained in December 2014.

The 33-year-old Barbadian has maintained his position as the top-ranked West Indies Test bowler.

Roach, who passed a fitness assessment to become a last-minute addition to the squad for the Test in Antigua, which formed part of the ICC World Test Championship series, ended with match figures of 7 for 74, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings.

He now has 249 wickets in his career, which puts him joint sixth alongside the legendary Michael Holding on the West Indies all-time list of highest wicket-takers.

The other big West Indies climbers in the Test Bowling Rankings were Kyle Mayers who moved up five places to 40th and Alzarri Joseph who is nine placers higher at 48th.

Meantime, Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite inched up one place to 28th in the Test Batting Rankings after scoring 94 in the first innings – the largest total by any batsman in the Test. He remains the highest-ranked West Indies Test batsman.

Among the other movers were Jermaine Blackwood (up six places to 33rd) and John Campbell (up 11 places to 81st)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

CWI, CPL launch THE 6IXTY CMC – A “revolutionary” fast-paced format of cricket is to be launched in the region in August, organisers Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) announced Wednesday.

THE 6IXTY, which is being referred to as Cricket’s Power Game, will see men’s and women’s teams compete in a 60-ball tournament with new rules that include each batting team having just six wickets, teams losing a fielder if they bowl too slowly, and fans voting for the timing of a “Mystery Free Hit” where a batter cannot be dismissed by the bowler.

“This is a hugely exciting moment for both CPL and Cricket West Indies as we create a tournament that will see cricket fans brought closer to the

game,” said CPL CEO, Pete Russell.

“There will be worldclass men’s and women’s cricketers taking part in a fantastic event for the Caribbean and this combined with cutting-edge innovations, signals a great moment for all fans of West Indian cricket.”

In THE 6IXTY, there will be 30 balls bowled from one end before the action switches to the other end for the final 30 balls; the 30 balls will be delivered as 5 separate overs, with no bowler being able to bowl more than 2 overs for the innings; and if teams do not bowl their overs within the allotted time a member of their team is removed from the field for the final six balls.

Additionally, each batting team will have two PowerPlay overs and can

unlock a third by hitting two sixes in the first 12 balls. That extra PowerPlay over can be taken at any time between the third and ninth over.

CWI President Ricky Skerritt said he was excited about “the innovation, excitement, and entertainment that it is going to bring to the fans”.

The first edition of THE 6IXTY will take place August 24-28 at Warner Park in St. Kitts and Nevis, with games being played back to back.

There will be six men’s teams and three women’s teams.

The organisers said future expansion plans include the potential of multiple events at different locations around the Caribbean and beyond.

SKYEXCH is the title sponsor for the first year of the tournament.

GYMMAF protesting Trevlon Clarke’s defeat; says fighter was poked in the eyes - Bobb, Ramsey fighting today

By Rawle Toney in Monterrey, Mexico (Compliments of: Team Mohamed’s, GYMMA & National Sports Commission) THE Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GYMMAF) has protested Trevlon Clarke’s thirdround TKO defeat to Uruguay’s Cristian Sanchez yesterday at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation’s (IMMAF) Pan American Championships, in Monterrey, Mexico.

According to the GYMMAF, Clarke was poked in the eyes during the second round, which is dubbed an illegal move.

After the fight, Clarke was escorted to a nearby hospital in Monterrey for

treatment to the left eye.

Dr Sawan Jagnarain, who is heading the Guyanese delegation, reported that Clarke was treated and up the time of this report, was listed as ‘clinically stable’.

Fighting at the Gimnasio Nuevo Leo Independence in the Capital of Nuevo León, Clarke, after exciting in the first two rounds, had his fight stopped in the final round against Sanchez in the Men’s Welterweight Division.

Clarke at time of his TKO defeat, was leading on judges’ scorecards.

The Guyanese had earlier hurt his opponent using his boxing skills, but the Uruguayan was showing flashes of his superiority on the ground.

Both Clarke and San-

Trevlon Clarke at the hospital in Monterrey, Mexico, receiving treatment to his left eye.

chez were cut over their eyes at the end of the second round and had to be treated by ringside cut men.

In the final stanza, Clarke had started to fade midway through the bout while Sanchez kept his relentless attack.

Sanchez would eventually get Clarke on the ground and earned a ‘ground and pound’ TKO win over the Guyanese.

Meanwhile, Guyana will have at least two bronze medals at the Championship, since the other fighters, Shenese Bobb and Carl Ramsey will fight in the semi-finals of their respective category.

Bobb, first female to represent Guyana at an IMMAF competition, will compete in the women’s lightweight division.

The women’s lightweight division only has three entries, but though certain of ending the competition with a medal, Bobb remains optimistic of finishing on top of the podium.

Ramsey is making his MMA debut and will match skills in the men’s Heavyweight category.

This marks Guyana’s second time competing at an IMMAF event, with the country first featuring in the World Championships in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.

Mohamed’s Enterprise and KFC Guyana are the two major sponsors for the team, while exclusive coverage in Chronicle Sports and on NCN Sports was made possible

by Team Mohamed’s, the National Sports Commission and the GYMMAF.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

CWI Professional Cricketers Draft 2022-2023…

Guyana Harpy eagles select Singh, Adams

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) hosted the Professional Cricketers Draft for 2022-2023 on Friday, which took place over two rounds via a video call with representatives from all six Territorial Board Franchises.

Each team had 13 retained players and then drafted two players to complete their 15-member squads for the forthcoming 2022-23 season to compete in the CG United Super50 Cup and the West Indies Championship.

Tw o k e y p i c k s s a w all-rounder Justin Greaves and wicket-keeper Tevyn Walcott being chosen by the Windward Islands Volcanoes. Both have played firstclass cricket for the Barbados Pride.

Greaves was also a member of the Emerging Players team which won the CG United Super50 Cup back in 2019.

The other franchises all picked players from their home territories.

Barbados Pride selected off-spinner Chaim Holder and batter Zachary McCaskie; Guyana Harpy Eagles chose experienced left-handed batter Vishaul Sigh and all-rounder Antony Adams; Trinidad & Tobago Red Force selected batter Jyd Goolie and all-rounder Tion Webster; Jamaica Scorpions picked right-arm pacer Gordon Bryan and newcomer Khari Campbell, a left-arm fast-medium bowler; while

Cup triumphs in 1975 and 1979. The Barbados Pride were crowned champions of the 2021-22 West Indies Championship, when they won in Trinidad earlier this month, to retain the Headley/ Weekes Trophy named in honour of West Indies legends George Headley and Sir Everton Weekes.

Vishal Singh

the Leeward Islands Hurricanes added all-rounder Karima Gore and uncapped keeper Daren Benta.

Greaves made his international debut for the West Indies against Ireland in the CG United ODI Series at Sabina Park, Jamaica in January. He has so far played 29 first-class matches and 29 List A matches with a highest score of 114. Gore previously played for the United States of America at the international level. The 23-year-old has played 16 ODIs and eight T20Is but is yet to make his first-class debut.

The six franchises will now continue their preparations for the upcoming season and Regional Tournaments. The CG United Super50 Cup is planned to return in November where defending champions the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force will attempt to retain their title and the Sir Clive Lloyd Trophy, named in honour of the great captain who led West Indies to the World

FULL SQUADS: Barbados Pride: Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Dominic Drakes, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Akeem Jordan, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Ramon Simmonds, Shamar Springer, Jomel Warrican. 2022 Draft Picks: Chaim Holder, Zachary McCaskie Guyana Harpy Eagles: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Tevin Imlach, Akshaya Persaud, Nial Smith, Demetri Cameron, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Leon Johnson, Ronsford Beaton. 2022 Draft Picks: Vishaul Singh, Antony Adams Jamaica Scorpions: Brad Barnes, Carlos Brown, John Campbell, Akim Fraser, Nicholson Gordon, Leroy Lugg, Kirk McKenzie, Jamie Merchant, Marquino Mindley, Paul Palmer Jr, Javor Royal, Aldaine Thomas, Alwyn Williams. 2022 Draft Picks: Gordon Bryan, Khari Campbell Leeward Islands Hurri-

canes: Rahkeem Cornwall, Devon Thomas, Colin Archibald, Keacy Carty, Jeremiah Louis, Jahmar Hamilton, Kieran Powell, Terrence Warde, Sheeno Berridge, Daniel Doram, Ross Powell, Kofi James, Damion Williams. 2022 Draft Picks: Karima Gore, Daren Benta Trinidad & Tobago Red

Force: Darren Bravo, Imran Khan, Jason Mohammed, Uthman Mohammed, Khary Pierre, Shannon Gabriel, Terrance Hinds, Jeremy Solozano, Isaiah Rajah, Anderson Phillip, Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Keegan Simmons. 2022 Draft Picks: Jyd Goolie, Tion Webster Windward Islands Volcanoes: Sunil Ambris, Alick

Athanaze, Keron Cottoy, Darel Cyrus, Kenneth Dember, Larry Edward, Kavem Hodge, Johann Jeremiah, Shermon Lewis, Daurius Martin, Preston McSween, Nicklaus Redhead, Jerlani Robinson. 2022 Draft Picks: Justin Greaves, Tevyn Walcott.

Barcelona star encourages Guyanese footballers to believe in their dreams AS part of a growing partnership between the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Denmark Football Union (DBU) with support from UEFA Assist, Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite was unveiled as the goodwill ambassador at the Marriott Hotel on Wednesday.

According to Braithwaite, whose father, Keith Braithwaite is Guyanese, it is important that young persons whether it be in the field of football or general life be focused on their

goals.

“I have seen in life, we try to protect the people we love by telling them not to follow their dreams because we are afraid to see them getting hurt, but, by doing so, we are actually crushing a lot of dreams.

We should push, especially the youths to follow their dreams and work because we don’t know who we are talking to, they maybe the next big thing”, the 31-year-old stated.

GFF President Wayne Forde echoed similar sentiments as he underscored

that players should not believe their dreams are impossible, and he also hopes Braithwaite gets to reconnect with this Guyanese family on the visit.

Over the next few days, Braithwaite who currently plays as a forward for Barcelona and Denmark, is expected to meet the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, participate in a friendly futsal match and also visit his family in Charlestown.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 23, 2022

Unchanged West Indies squad for Second test See story on page 29

Kemar Roach celebrates a wicket © Randy Brooks/AFP via Getty Images

GYMMAF protesting Trevlon Clarke’s defeat; says fighter was poked in the eyes

Barcelona star encourages Guyanese footballers to believe in their dreams

See story on page 30

See story on page 31 A dejected Trevlon Clarke stands with his coach, Sensei Troy Bobb, while Uruguay’s Cristian Sanchez is being announced the winner of their Men’s Welterweight Division, at the IMMAF Pan Am Championships in Monterrey, Mexico (Rawle Toney photo)

Guyana Football Federation President, Wayne Forde, hands over a ceremonial Golden Jaguars jersey to Denmark and Barcelona forward, Martin Braithwaite

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THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022