Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_11_02_2022

FRIDAY 11th February, 2022

No.106631

$1.1B approved for medicines, oxygen, PPEs for ‘COVID-19 hospital’ 08 PAGE

Landmark $552B budget passed PAGE

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Knowledge-based, technology-driven structure on the cards for GDF 02 PAGE

Curfew 03 Guyana takes nine CXC Duo sentenced to life 10 could be awards for outstanding imprisonment for 2016 lifted today performances 09 Black Bush triple murder PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Knowledge-based, technology-driven structure on the cards for GDF

–– President Ali says, urges soldiers to understand their roles in building ‘One Guyana’

President Dr. Irfaan Ali; Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Godfrey Bess with officers who gathered at the National Cultural Centre for the GDF’s annual officers’ conference, on Thursday (Office of the President photo) PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that the transformation of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) requires a “nimble” structure that is knowledge-based and technology-driven.

This, he said, would be incorporated into the government’s development plan, which is already geared at transforming Guyana.

“If you look at the UAE and how they’re developing their defence strategy with the use of technology against different threats; whether it is anti-terrorism measures, whether it’s dealing with drug trafficking.

“How do we build the technology? What are the gaps in doing so? What is the strategy in developing a knowledge-based approach to defence? How can we further improve our image?

How do we further enhance participation at every level that we operate?” President Ali asked hypothetically during his address at the GDF’s annual officers’ conference at the National Cultural Centre, on Thursday.

He expressed confidence that the GDF possesses the talent amongst its ranks to craft and apply the requisite strategic approach.

He urged the army to apply a strategic approach in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities with regards to national defence, national security and national prosperity.

He said: “How do we ensure we do an analysis in building this ‘One Guyana’ to identify the tools, resources and strategies that are required; identifying the gaps, prioritising the gaps and then moving towards implementation of a phased plan to fill these gaps?”

To this end, Dr. Ali advised that it is imperative that

the force is prepared to deal with the social, economic and political transformation that will take place locally.

He pointed to several key areas that will require strategic thinking in crafting the country’s defence strategy, including the threat of climate change, food security, response to natural disasters, as well as analysing the global power shuffle.

SCENARIO MODELING The Head of State urged the ranks to also recognise the importance of scenario modeling.

“We have a case at the International Court of Justice; you should be looking at scenarios, looking at models and developing a strategic approach to deal with all these scenarios,” the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces said.

He emphasised too that the GDF also needs to safeguard its work and to develop manuals that can frame future discussions.

“So we have to look at our operational manuals, our community support manuals. We are now engaging communities more. Are we developing a manual that future leaders coming up in the force can just pick up and understand the approaches we were taking?

Why we were taking it? [And about] the strategy behind that approach, so we don’t keep reinventing the wheel.

Everything we do, we must leave a manual behind,” Dr. Ali reasoned.

The importance of understanding national development priorities and how they correlate with the force’s roles was also underscored. see page 4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Landmark $552 Billion budget passed

AFTER a thorough fivehour budget presentation, more than 40 hours of policy debate, and in excess of 40 hours of scrutiny from the political opposition, the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon approved the landmark $552 Billion budget to drive Guyana’s social and economic transformation forward.

Following the wrap-up of the consideration, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, Dr Ashni Singh, reported to the National Assembly that the estimates were thoroughly considered in the Committee of Supply.

He also moved for an amendment to Guyana’s tax laws allowing for many of the measures provided for in the Appropriation Bill (2022), commonly referred as Budget 2022, to take effect.

Budget 2022 was pre-

sented under the theme, “Steadfast Against All Challenges, Resolution in Building Our One Guyana.”

A statement from the Finance Ministry on Thursday said: “Budget 2022 is 44.3 percent larger than Budget 2021 and will include the first withdrawals (in the amount of $126.7 billion) to be made in keeping with the new and strengthened legislative framework governing the 2021 Natural Resources Fund (NRF) Act. This amount from the NRF will be transferred to the Consolidated Fund. Importantly, Budget 2022 is being financed without the introduction of any new taxes and without excessive borrowing.”

The statement noted key measures which emerged from the budget which outlines the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government’s policies and programmes to thrust Guyanese

forward into greater social development, and the country forward as a burgeoning petroleum-producing state climbing to prominence in the international system.

“Key measures in Budget 2022 include a strong focus on Local Content and Job Creation, especially in keeping with the December 2021 Local Content Act passed in the National Assembly, support for renewal of the industrial and commercial transport fleet, Removal of 14 % VAT from cranes, safety equipment and oil spill response equipment, Removal of 2 percent withholding tax on resident contractors to reverse the punitive measures implemented by the previous administration, Easing the Cost of Living through the extension of the application of the freight cost adjustment for the calculation of import taxes, a further excise tax rate reduction on gasoline and diesel from 20 percent

to 10 percent, Support for the vulnerable through the introduction of a Dialysis Support Programme to finance treatment for dialysis patients, an increase in the monthly Public Assistance payment from $12,000 to $14,000, an increase in Old Age Pension from $25,000 to $28,000, increasing disposable income through a $25,000 ‘Because We Care’ cash grant for each child attending both private and public school and an increase in the monthly income tax threshold from $65,000 to $75,000,” the Finance Ministry statement read.

Budget 2022 is the first budget that will benefit from financing from the proceeds of Guyana’s new and emerging oil and gas sector, following the historic passage of the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) Act, which addressed the most “offensive deficiencies” of the predecessor Act.

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Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, Dr Ashni Singh Pursuant to the provisions set out in the new NRF Act, Budget 2022 projects a withdrawal from the NRF and transfer to the Consolidated Fund of $126.7 billion.

The people-centred budget, which has no new taxes, places heavy emphasis on ensuring that people have access to the highest standards of social services, including health care, water and sanitation, and that basic protection and support are offered to the most vulnerable in Guyana’s society,

particularly the elderly and the young.

On this note, in addition to a wide range of public investment projects and initiatives which will stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and thereby generate incomes, Budget 2022 proposes specific measures aimed at providing support to both businesses and households, with the same objectives of job creation and income generation and, ultimately, improving well-being.

Curfew could be lifted today –– but President reinforces importance of care, caution among locals

GUYANESE could see the current nationwide curfew being lifted as early as today, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who has already commenced talks about this move with Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who is Head of the National COVID-19 Task Force.

Delivering remarks at the launch of the 2022 Explore Guyana Magazine, on Thursday, the President said: “We cannot continue with the prolonged curfew.”

Guyana currently has a national curfew that runs from 00:00 hours to 04:00 hours daily, which forms part of a menu of measures implemented to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

“About 1:00 am this

morning, I had a conversation with the Prime Minister and I asked him to review with the stakeholder group our present curfew with an aim of removing the curfew as early as tomorrow,” President Ali said.

Dr. Ali noted that there needs to be an evolution in dealing with the pandemic, and pointed out that the curfew might not be as useful, given that some studies have cited lockdown as having little effect in helping to fight the spread of the virus.

“What is needed in this stage of dealing with the pandemic, is ensuring all the agencies have sanitation devices and ensuring we continue to educate on the vaccination programmes, and ensuring that the guide-

lines and protocols are observed. But for sure we can’t continue with the prolonged curfew,” Dr. Ali said.

He reiterated: “It is my hope and intention that curfew be removed, once the necessary steps are followed, as early as tomorrow.”

The President said that this country, like many countries the world over, is recovering from a very difficult two-year period.

The tourism sector in, particular, had been hard-hit because of extreme lockdowns and travel restrictions that were implemented by most countries in early 2020.

President Ali commented that through collaboration between stakeholders, the country has been able to

Officers enforcing the curfew weather the storm.

“We have to celebrate, in some sense, our multi-stakeholder ap-

proach to resolving the shock or ensuring the entire shock was not passed over by creating that bal-

ance, and I think we have done exceedingly well in creating that balance,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

$27.8B security budget approved –– $1B for construction, rehabilitation of police stations

THE safety and security of Guyanese remain on front burner for the government’s aggressive development agenda.

This was evidenced by the $1 billion provision for the construction and rehabilitation of several police

stations countrywide. Those funds form part of the $27.8 billion earmarked for the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Defending the budgetary allocation for the security sector was Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, who listed the stations that would

benefit from the $1 billion allocation.

Accordingly, Mabaruma will benefit from a $21 million upgrade; Ruimveldt, $32 million; Providence, $36 million; Yarakita, $20.6 million; Charity, $2.7 million; Imbaimadai, $13 million; Kamarang, $14.8 million and Kato $8.8 million.

In addition, works on the stations at Whim, Albion and Parika are almost completed.

Regarding new projects for 2022, Minister Benn said $405 million is earmarked for the construction of the

The Guyana Police Force had benefitted from 50 pickups last year Brickdam Police Station, which was destroyed by fire last year. He said a design for a multi-storey building has been selected.

“We have had three conceptual designs of which we have adopted one. We intend to

get along with our engineering group which has been enhanced by the employment of our own.

We intend to work with some consultants in respect of the structural design, foundation design and issues relating to the reticulation in the building

for fire, water and electricity,” Minister Benn said.

The minister also gave insight on several other projects that will commence this year to enhance see page 11

Knowledge-based, technology-driven ...

From page 2 The President used the oil and gas emergency response as an example.

He said: “There will be a gas pipeline that is coming into Guyana; you look around the world, and you see how gas pipelines can become an instrument of threat to destabilise regions and countries. So we have to have our own strategy, dealing with the protection of these assets, the management of these assets.

“How would you respond if there is an unforeseen challenge out there? We can’t wait in the unlikely event that something happens, and then we are hustling for a response. We have to have a strategic approach to all of these things now.”

This response, he added, must also extend beyond oil and gas to also include the infrastructure transformation, among other aspects of national development.

“These are things that at your level become essential.

At your level, you are not just managers, you’re strategic thinkers, and strategic thinkers must have a holistic approach in problem-solving—you can’t be compartmentalised. That holistic approach can only come through teamwork and partnerships through greater and enhanced team orientation,” Dr. Ali said.

The President expressed hope that at the end of the conference, ranks will have a full understanding of the examples illustrated. He said that he would also like to see an outcome document on how the GDF sees itself in defining its roles and responsibility in building ‘One Guyana’.

The two-day event is being held under the theme “Enhancing National Security and development through Capacity Building, Empowering Troops and Strengthening Community Relations.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Multimillion-dollar oil and gas facility to open at Land of Canaan –– set to create over 100 jobs within five years

WITH work in Guyana’s oil and gas sector progressing rapidly, a major energy technology company, Baker Hughes, is positioning itself to benefit from the opportunities that will be created with the planned opening of its multimillion-dollar oil and gas facility at Land of Canaan.

T h e n e w l o c a l s uper-centre facility for oilfield services and equipment, which will open its doors on Monday, will support regional customers and bolster Baker Hughes’ localisation efforts within South America.

The massive eight-acre multimodal facility was built together with Baker Hughes’ existing warehouse and liquid mud and fluids plant, to provide full support to customers in Guyana and Suriname.

The super centre represents a multimillion-dollar investment from Baker Hughes over 15 years and includes a workshop, warehouse, and laydown storage yard including maintenance facilities and

equipment.

Baker Hughes is an international company that designs, manufactures, and services transformative technologies for the energy industry.

The company also offers oilfield services, oilfield equipment, turbomachinery and process solutions for onshore and offshore productions, among other types of operations and digital solutions.

It is regarded as one of the world’s leading energy technology companies with operations in more than 120 countries with around 67,000 employees.

Locally, through its new facility, the company is expected to create over 100 jobs within the next five years.

It was reported recently that even as Guyana continues to contend with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other external shocks, there has been a notable increase in the number of opportunities for Guyanese, with the latest symbol of this being the approval of 48 private

projects which, collectively, have the capacity to create over 2,300 jobs.

Based on information shared with this publication, of the 48 projects which were approved last year, 17 are in the services sector, 17 in the manufacturing sector, five in agriculture, four in mining, three in forestry, two in tourism, two in Information and Communications Technology and one in the energy sector.

Those project proposals signal the growing interest and confidence in the local economy, from both Guyanese and foreigners. Noteworthy amidst this advancement, is the fact that 33 of the approved projects are from locals.

Speaking during an interview with Globespan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Go-Invest, Dr.

Peter Ramsaroop, had said that 65 per cent of the private investments made in 2021 were from locals.

Dr. Ramsaroop said that, even as the economy continues to grow, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, and, by extension, the government, are committed to having Guyanese benefit from the investment opportunities that are available locally.

“So, when people think the foreigners are coming

in and benefitting, I can say that 65 per cent of my signatures on investment opportunities this year [2021], through the Senior Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, have been local businesses,” Dr. Ramsaroop said.

He added: “We’ve got another 10-20 per cent from CARICOM, which we are proud of, too, and then the rest come from the rest of the world. But it will change over time.”

But even with this being the case, the CEO had assured foreigners that Guyana is also opened to them.

Their participation in local development was also visible in 2021, with some nine Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects being recorded up to December, while there were three proposals from Guyanese in the diaspora, and six joint ventures.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

A New Era of Prosperity

NO one in their right mind can ignore the fact that there is today a much higher level of economic and social prosperity in Guyana.

This is manifested in a variety of ways such as rising income levels and improved access to goods and services.

More people are today the owners of their own homes and vehicles which is one, although not the only, indicator of prosperity. There are the other qualitative indicators as well such the number of Guyanese who have access to university and tertiary education, better access to healthcare, freedom of speech and by no means least, the right to freely elect a government.

The fact that Guyana is now an oil economy has certainly created new opportunities for the prosperity index of the country to go up. The PPP/C Government is now in a position to do more of the things it wanted to do but was constrained by way of limited financial resources. This 2022 Budget is intended to do exactly that, namely to enhance the social and physical infrastructure of the country to allow for a better quality of life.

We are still lagging behind several countries in the region in terms of per capita income and several other indicators including longevity rates and access to basic services such as quality of healthcare and education.

But that gap is now closing, thanks to the people-oriented policies and programmes of the PPP/C administration since it took power in October 1992. The country took a while to recover from the 28 years of economic devastation under PNC authoritarian rule but that trend of economic and social decline has now been reversed and the country is now fully on the road to economic recovery.

There are some who try to compare Guyana with the United States in terms of living standards and quality of life. And while such comparisons as to quality of life do contain a lot of subjectivity, it is also unfair to compare Guyana with the more developed countries for several reasons. Among these are the colonial and neo-colonial status of countries such as Guyana which stunted their growth potential for several decades and in the case of Guyana an undemocratic and authoritarian regime which was foisted on

the backs of the Guyanese by foreign vested interests and which perpetuated its life in government for nearly three decades by way of rigged elections.

All of that is now water under the bridge and there is today a restoration of hope and optimism that the dark days of undemocratic rule are behind us and a new era of prosperity is about to dawn. The mood of the country has changed especially after the unsuccessful attempt by the APNU+AFC to subvert the democratic will of the Guyanese people at the March 2020 polls. That day will be remembered with shame as the Granger administration attempted to repeat what the PNC under Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte did to the electorate -trampled on their democratic rights and reduce a once proud country to pariah status.

This 2022 Budget seeks in fundamental ways to correct some of the past injustices inflicted on the psyche of the nation by way of democratic renewal and consolidating the economic and social gains made by the PPP/C administration over the years.

The APNU+AFC apparently has no credible answer to the developments cur-

rently underway other than by theatrics and resorting to what it knows best -- putting an ethnic spin to convey the false impression that the developments are skewed in favour of one particular ethnic group.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

One only has to look at the distribution of house lots, employment practices in the public service, scholarships and access to social services to establish the fact that the PPP/C administration is colour-blind when it comes to being even-handed in its dealings with the Guyanese people.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has repeatedly said that he intends to be a President for all Guyanese, regardless of ethnicity or political affiliation. His ‘One Guyana’ initiative is intended to weave the diverse ethnic and cultural strands into a united and harmonious Guyana family. This is indeed an act of political nobility which can only enrich the lives of all Guyanese.

The time is now for us to leave the past behind and begin a new era of national unity and shared prosperity along the visionary thinking of President Ali.

We must not get involved in USA-China rivalry Dear Editor, I CANNOT decipher the intent or objective of the interview of Vice-President Jagdeo by a female reporter of Vice Media.

From what is released, the focus is on China – with an assertion that the government favours investment from Chinese (state and or private) companies. Several issues were raised focusing on relations with a globally assertive China. The VP wisely stated that Guyana is not interested in getting caught up in the US-China cold-war type battle for world domination. I endorse that position. I will like to examine the implication of Guyana’s very close relations with China.

Growing Chinese influence in Guyana, Latin America, and the Caribbean has not gone unnoticed by the US. Once a peripheral presence in Guyana and the greater Latin/ Caribbean region, China has a dominant presence in several countries and probably dominate construction projects in Guyana as well as in so many other countries. This would be of concern to the USA that is watching on with eagle eyes as Chinese companies bid for projects and offer large amounts of loans and as China snubs its fingers at America. This is one of the reasons why Secretary Mike Pompeo made a special

visit to Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil in September 2020. The rivalry between the world’s two largest economies will only continue to escalate in the region and Guyana has to be tactical and strategic in its foreign policy. Our government must remain vigilant and carefully navigate US-China tensions on trade and investment and foreign borrowing and alignment with a power that serves political survival, national development goals, and long-term strategic interests.

As someone with a doctorate in International Politics and who studied US foreign policy, it is not wise for Guyana to irritate its giant partner on the North. Early Guyanese politicians didn’t understand the consequences of being perceived as anti-American and paid a price. Jagdeo is smarter. Since independence in 1966, we have been tied at the navel with USA. The Guyanese diaspora in America has grown from a few hundred in the early 1960s to larger than the population in Guyana and hundreds of thousands more reside in Canada and the Caribbean basin region that ally with the USA. Almost every Guyanese desires a visa or wants to immigrate to USA. Only a handful of Guyanese reside in or visit China whose border is not open to Guyanese. And the diaspora in the US and other countries have a preference

for closer ties with USA, a bastion of democracy.

Guyana ran into very serious trouble as a result of its favoured relations with the Soviet Union between 1953 and 1992, and we are yet to recover from that cold war era issues.

This time, there is a new cold war type rivalry between the US and China. Guyana, the ruling party, would be wise, not to get caught up in that conflict or else it would be to our detriment. The party is reminded of what happened in 1953, 1964, 1992, 2015, and 2020. And Guyanese political leaders routinely visited the USA going back last 40 years to seek support from Washington and the large diaspora.

I encourage the government to seek greater investment from North America, Europe, and India and other like-minded democratic countries. The reality is most investors coming to Guyana are mostly Chinese with few takers from among the others. Investors from other countries must be encouraged.

As Jagdeo said, and is the case with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean with a few exceptions, Guyana does not desire to choose between the US and China when it comes to trade and investment. As he stated in press conferences, Guyana welcomes American and Canadian investors.

The VP knows that Guyana’s geo-strategic interests are tied with USA. And thus, where practical, preference must be given to neighbours from the north as opposed to those in the Far East. Guyanese remember all too well it was the US, Canada, and European countries that ensured democracy prevailed in the 2020 elections.

Economically and politically, it behooves Guyana to work with the US and democratic countries in areas of shared interests through a practical and proactive strategy. It is best that we never get smack into USA vs China trade or foreign relations squabble. Little Guyana will get trampled by giants. Guyana’s economy is susceptible to trade and geo-strategic wars between other countries.

By heeding the lessons of the last seventy years, the current government can better position itself to succeed over the next three years of its term and beyond. Tensions between the US and China will remain in the foreseeable future.

Guyana will not be able to completely insulate itself from that rivalry. But the more we do business with America, the more our democracy will be protected.

Yours sincerely, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Future petroleum contracts to address concerns of civil society

Dear Editor,

THERE has been a continual flow of opinions during the past two years urging the PPP/C government to re-negotiate the Exxon and Partners’ Profit-Sharing Agreement (PSA) of 2016.

This stream was a trickle during the PNCR-led Government, but these opinions have currently evolved into a gush. What the critics are also implying is that the PPP/C should clean up the horrible mess in the Exxon contract that was created by the PNCR-led Coalition. They believe that should re-negotiation happen it could result in superior conditions (both financial and other wise) for Guyana.

Not only the critics, but every Guyanese, including the government, would have been happy to carve out a better deal, but re-negotiation is fraught with many formidable challenges that would be difficult to navigate.

The circumstances under which the Exxon contract was negotiated are filled with anomalies. It was reported, for example, that the address provided on the contract was that of a well-known lawyer. It was also reported by Global Witness that the marriage celebration of the Minister of Natural Resources was funded by Exxon. In addition, Minister Raphael Trotman has blamed the Geology and Mines Commission for the deficiencies in the contract. More astonishing is the claim of the minister that he was instructed to sign the contract but has failed to provide the instructor’s name or his/her official title. If the instructor was not the President, who was it?

When these glaring aberrations are taken

together, along with the reluctance of the PNCR-led Coalition to have made the contract public, credibility in the contracting process plummeted and suspicion multiplied. As a pretext, Guyanese were told that disclosure of the contract was a matter of national security (presumably Venezuela might expand its claim to Guyana’s territorial waters given its oil discoveries!). It was not until the US$18 million signing bonus was exposed by social critic Chris Ram and subsequent pressures from the PPP/C opposition and civil society groups that the PSA was made available to the public after being kept in secrecy for over one year. The deviance continued. The PNCR-led coalition’s Minister of Finance had denied receiving the signing bonus. It was also revealed that the sum of US$18 million was not paid into the Consolidated Fund, as required

by FM&AA. The many dark spots in the Exxon contact have led to much uneasiness, apprehension, and speculation. Critics feel that enough and careful thought were not injected into the negotiation process. The Guyana team under the Minister of Natural Resources was overwhelmed by the Exxon negotiators who succeeded in delivering a lop-sided contract.

It is for this and other reasons that critics have been pressing hard for the re-negotiation of the Stabroek Block Exxon contract. They want to re-negotiate, among other things, an increase in the size of the signing bonus, an increase in the proportion of profit oil, strengthening the EIS (including insurance coverage and safety measures), removal of the generous tax concessions, and introducing ring fencing.

To justify their position, critics point to Suriname which gets 6.25 per cent as royalty compared with two per cent for Guyana.

They also indicate that Guyana gets 14.5 per cent profit oil, while Suriname gets 35.84 per cent. Suriname got US$100 million signing bonus for Block 58, while Guyana got only US$18 million. In Suriname, the oil company pays 36 per cent income tax compared with zero for Guyana. Under EIS, they want better control of flaring and want Exxon to provide insurance to cover oil spills and other potential environmental disasters. Guyana pays Exxon Income tax while Suriname makes the oil company pay 36 per cent income tax. Ring fencing was not included in the 2016 PSA contract.

Simply stated, ring fencing is the procedure that allows companies to recover development costs only within a defined geographic ring, and not outside of it. Where there is no ring fencing, a company can utilise the profits from operation A to conduct exploration elsewhere and thus reducing the size of the profits at operation A. While acknowledging that the Exxon contract was lop-sided, the PPP/C Government is constrained in what it could do to mitigate the situation. The repercussions of any contract re-negotiation could be detrimental to the country’s credibility as a haven for investment. The Attorney-General, Mr. Anil Nandlall, refers to the “inviolability” of international contracts and further concedes that any attempt at re-negotiation would undermine investors’ confidence, especially at a time when the country needs their capital

and technology to fund the country’s massive development projects. Then, there is the “stability” clause in the contract that makes re-negotiation almost impossible. Chris Ram notes: “What Trotman has done is that he has crippled succeeding Parliaments and generations by a stability clause which will take expensive and heavyweight legal action to unshackle.”

The PPP/C Government, however, has pledged to negotiate better terms and conditions for the future PSAs. And in respect to the 2016 PSA, the government has been exploring avenues through administrative action (such as imposing a fee for flaring at a cost of US$45 per tonne of carbon emitted until emission could reach zero) to enhance benefits, as well as to use other legal means to add to existing benefits. For example, through Local Content legislation all foreign investors must form joint partnerships with Guyanese so that the latter owns 51 per cent of the shares and employs 75 Guyanese as managerial staff.

Judging from the public pronouncements, combined with the reasons cited before, re-negotiation is not likely to happen. What is perplexing is that opposition MP Mr. David Patterson has conveniently jumped onto the re-negotiation band wagon.

For five years his PNCR-led Government never considered re-negotiation. Is he trying to bait the PPP/C into a tricky situation? Why isn’t local content policy cast at the centre of the political radar?

Yours sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

Vice Media photoshopped smiles onto the faces of dead victims

Dear Editor,

OUR country, almost overnight, as a result of the Exxon oil and gas find, is transitioning from a poor developing nation to one of the world’s richest per capita and a major oil producing country.

There is another “curse” which poses an even greater challenge other than the infamous “resource curse” to a newly oil and gas rich country like ours, it’s the “attention curse”.

Guyana, again, almost overnight, has become the beneficiary and the victim of world attention. Our newly found wealth brings with it, not only new investor attention, but also significantly increased media attention. Media, for instance, like the Vice Media Group, to whom Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, recently, in my view, mistakenly, granted an interview.

The Vice Media Group is not a mainstream media company. It is, however, a major international digital media organisation with a substantial audience of young adults who prefer to get their news from online social media like the Vice Media

Group, who have little or no respect for the traditional ethics of mainstream professional journalism but who flourish from sensational and questionable reporting.

Media and Business Analyst at the Poynter Institute, renowned for its dedication to the ethics of professional journalism and its International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), described Vice News reporting as “raw and tasteless sometimes’ and more personal essays than balanced journalism”.

It’s instructive that a major investor in Vice Media is the radical rightwing Rupert Murdoch owned 21st Century Fox, whose commentators continue to embrace the lie that Donald Trump was not defeated in the US election.

To understand the kind of reporting indulged in by the Vice Media Group, the Group, for instance, when reporting the Khmer Rouge Genocide, was forced to admit to having photoshopped images of the victims of the Khmer Rouge, photoshopping smiles onto the faces of the dead victims.

As for those who own and operate the Vice Media Group, according to Wikipe-

dia, in December 2017, “The New York Times reported that there have been four settlements involving allegations of sexual harassment or defamation against Vice employees. In addition, over twenty other women stated that they had experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct….at the company”.

Clearly, the Vice Media Group journalist had an agenda, embroil Guyana’s Vice-President in accusations of corruption with a personal accusation against him.

The tactic is common. Throw enough mud at the target and some of it will stick.

“What about within your government, do you accept bribes,” the reporter asked.

The VP responds, “No, I don’t”. That should have been the end of the matter. But, no, the journalist rudely pursues the question disclosing an alleged source of information (something a professional journalist would never do), asking

again, “do you need middlemen like Su in order to take money so you can keep your hands free”? At that point, the Vice-President should have shown the journalist the door.

We can expect these media to continue to rush to make news from our country. Vice-President Jagdeo was a convenient target.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

$1.1B approved for medicines, oxygen, PPEs for ‘COVID-19 hospital’

THE sum of $1.1 billion will be expended to procure medicine, oxygen and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Infectious Diseases Hospital, commonly referred to as the COVID-19 hospital, at Liliendaal Greater Georgetown.

The sum was catered for under the Ministry of Health’s drugs and medical supplies programme, which was allocated some $4.1 billion.

During the consideration of the budget estimates on Thursday, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, said that the sums allocated for the COVID-19 hospital will

not only cater for oxygen, but also other medications being used to treat patients, including Remdesivir and Baricitinib.

Minister Anthony told the House that the ministry intends to procure other medications once they become available.

“Our intention is to procure Paxlovid once it becomes available on the market, but unfortunately the supply is quite limited and a lot of that is being used in the United States and some of the European countries, so access to it is quite limited,” he said.

Minister Anthony further stated that the government is trying to source the Merck

drug “Molnupiravir.”

“We have made some headways with that and recently, a local company has registered Molnupiravir in Guyana and hopefully they will be able to supply that particular drug,” the minister added.

Resources have been set aside under another programme to purchase vaccines for children aged five to 11 years, once they become available, Minister Anthony announced.

Additionally, the sum of $776 million was set aside for the National Public Reference Laboratory. A large amount of that sum will be used to purchase reagents

needed for PCR testing.

Some $523 million will also go towards the health emergency operating centre, which is the coordinating unit for the COVID response.

Meanwhile, an allocation of $931 million was made for National AIDS Programme.

This will cater for the procurement of a new algorithm for patients.

“We will be switching some of the older ARVs that we were using and we have a new algorithm that we will be using for our patients; this involves new drugs and they are a little bit more costly,” he said.

The sum of $328 million was approved for the

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony (Elvin Croker photo)

The Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal

development of a malaria lab and a number of other malaria related programmes, while $208 million was allocated for tuberculosis (TB) and $173 for the elimination of Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy.

Some $65 million will also be spent on filaria and leishmaniasis drugs; $30 million for medicines for dengue; and $16 million for veterinary public health.

This year, the sums allocated for drugs and medical supplies under disease control of the ministry saw an increase from $3.8 billion

last year to $4.1 billion this year. An additional sum was allocated to this programme through a supplementary budget.

Opposition Parliamentarian, Dr. Karen Cummings questioned whether the sum allocated this year will be adequate to provide the relevant drugs needed to treat persons.

In response, Minister Anthony said the sums are adequate, noting that provisions are made under other programmes to procure reagents which can be considered medical supplies. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Guyana takes nine CXC awards for outstanding performances

By Tamica Garnett

GUYANA has retained the title as one of the most decorated countries at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Regional Awards Ceremony, after winning six prizes at the 2021 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) awards and three prizes at the 2021 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) awards.

The awards won by Guyana included Most Outstanding CAPE student and Most Outstanding CSEC Student, which were won, respectively,

by Queen’s College students Samuel Haynes and Zaynab Shaffie.

Haynes copped the award after having attained nine grade ones at the 2021 CAPE, while Shaffie attained 18 Grade Ones and two Grade Two at the 2021 CSEC exams.

Also for yet another year, Guyana won the awards for both CSEC and CAPE School of the Year. This award went to

Queen’s College.

The other Guyanese CAPE Awardees were St Stanislaus College’s Abdul Subhan,who won the 2021 Most Outstanding Performance in History, and Bishops’ High School’s Crystal Benjamin, who was third place in the 2021 Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) CAPE Accounting Award.

For CSEC, QC students Roshni Samaroo, Sarena Razak and Riley Nurse won the 2021 Most Outstanding Performance in Humanities Student, Most Outstanding Performance in Technical Vocational Education and ACCA CSEC Accounting Awards.

Another student, 17-year-old Naresh Jagnanan of the Essequibo Islands Secondary School, won the Most Outstanding Performance in Business, a first for the school.

Saalih Rahim of the I.S.A Islamic School also won one of the 2021 ACCA CSEC Accounting Awards.

Chief Education Officer Dr Marcel Hutson (right) MoE Permanent Secretary, Alfred King (left) and Principal of QC (centre) with some of the awardees (from left) QC students Roshni Samaroo, Sarena Razak, Samuel Haynes and Naresh Jagnanan of the Essequibo Islands Secondary School (Delano Williams photo) The official ceremony for the event was held in the British Virgin Islands, however, respective countries attended the event virtually, with the Guyanese awards presentation being hosted at the See page 10

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Duo sentenced to life imprisonment for 2016 Black Bush triple murder

By Clestine Juan

SIX years after the murders of two men and a teenage boy at Black Bush Polder, the two accused men were, on Thursday, sentenced for the gruesome crimes after a 12-member jury returned guilty verdicts against them.

The sentences were handed down immediately by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Berbice High Court.

The two men, Tameshwar Jagmohan, called “Guana”,

and Jairam Chetram called “Ryan”, will likely spend the rest of the natural lives as guests of the State.

Jagmohan was handed three death sentences. Meanwhile, Chetram, who pulled the trigger, was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole after he pleaded guilty to three counts of murder in January. He received three life sentences.

The victims were 37-year-old Pawan Chandradeo known as “Suresh” and “Jug Up”; his son

CONVICTED: Tameshwar Jagmohan

CONVICTED: Jairam Chetram

16-year-old, Jaikarran Chandradeo known as “Kevin”; and Chandradeo’s brotherin-law, 35-year-old Naresh Rooplall known as “Teeka Bai” and “Mice”.

The incident occurred on July 21, 2016 at Mibicuri Creek Savannah, Black Bush Polder, Berbice.

“I innocent over this murder charge, and I already tell the police the truth about who shoot them man and kill them. It is not easy for me to face three murder charges; this is an unfair trial,” Jagmohan told the Court following the jury’s verdict.

Jagmohan’s lawyer, Surihya Sabsook, during a plea in mitigation, told the Court that Jagmohan was “led astray”, and asked for the Court’s mercy in sentencing since he was not the prime offender.

During his address to the court, an unfazed Chetram said: “The act that I carry out, I carry out off meh own.”

State prosecutor, Abigail Gibbs, for her part, told the Court that the crime “was a gruesome and inhumane murder of three See page 13

Guyana takes nine CXC awards ...

From page 9 Conference room of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), on Thursday.

Delivering remarks during the ceremony, CXC Registrar Dr Wayne Wesley commended the awardees for showing an exceptional level of determination and creativity to not only excel in their various areas, but also to do so at a trying time given the situations brought upon the world by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“These students would have been demonstrating resilience, tenacity and will power to succeed against all odds. The COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption that it has caused has not prevented them from giving their best. We are proud that we are in a position to honour the hard work and dedication of these students,” Dr. Wesley remarked.

He added: “Awardees, you have started a journey of preservation and excellence, therefore, go with our blessing [s], knowing the levels you have achieved, the determination you have demonstrated and commitment you have shown have laid the foundation for a bright future.”

Dr Wesley also spoke of CXC’s five-year strategic plan, which the institution is looking to utilise to improve practices and holistically transform the Region’s education system, with emphasis on an e-transformation framework.

Aside from Guyana, students from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada also copped awards this year.

Dominicans, Jason Joseph and Tana Valmond also copped awards for the most outstanding performances by a male and by a female student at the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) examinations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Man nabbed with ‘ganja’ in ‘Pringles’ tins

TWENTY-FOUR-YEAROLD Jamal Millington was detained, on Tuesday, after he was caught with a quantity of marijuana concealed in ‘Pringles’ potato chips tins, according

to a Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) statement.

Millington, a resident of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, was found with the narcotics by CANU agents at

Former prison escapee pleads not guilty to murder THIRTY-YEAR-OLD Pascal Smith, also known as ‘Pop-Skull’, on Thursday, entered a not guilty plea for his alleged role in the murder of John Houston on Alexander Street, Georgetown in May 2017.

Smith, who had attempted to escape the Lusignan prison in 2017, was arraigned before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Demerara High Court.

The State, represented by prosecutor Seeta Bishundial, called its first witness, Boodhoo Persaud, on Thursday. The matter will come up again in the court on February 15.

Smith was represented by attorney-at-law Siand Dhurjon.

Reports indicate that on the day in question in May 2017 when the alleged incident occurred, Smith and the now-deceased man had a confrontation on Alexander ACCUSED: Pascal Smith, known Street. The man, Houston, as ‘Pop-Skull’ was injured severely and subsequently died.

Smith was later arrested and charged following a police investigation.

To evade prosecution, Smith had joined 12 others in a daring escape of the holding area of the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Smith was later recaptured in Barr Street, Kitty where he attempted to evade police by jumping into a pit latrine, causing an officer to leap after him. He was sentenced to one year in prison for the escape.

$27.8B security budget ...

From page 4 the work of the Guyana Police Force.

“For regional command operating stations, we will be doing at Anna Regina, Leonora, Fort Wellington, the central police station and Wismar for $150 million. We will be operating the TSU operational area for $40 million, there will be the construction of a floating ramp for the marine police at Ruimveldt for $12 million. We intend to reconstruct the CID building for $28 million,” Minister Benn related.

He added: “We will also be doing new living quarters at Eve Leary for $25 million, the special constabulary headquarters will be re-done for 20 million, there will be rehabilitation at Baramita for $20 million, Charity for $36 million, Rose Hall for $20 million, the Brickdam Barracks will be rehabilitated for $20 million, Tuschen for $19 million, Dem Amstel will be rehabilitated.”

In total, the GPF’s budgetary allocation for 2022 is $17.5 billion. Further, the Guyana Fire Service was allocated $2.7 billion, Guyana Prison Service was allocated $5.2 billion and the General Register Office and the Customs Anti-Narcotics at $219 million and $524 million respectively. (DPI)

the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle.

The man, who was expected to board a flight, was escorted to CANU’s headquarters in the city, where the find was weighed at 56.3 grammes.

He is likely to appear before a city magistrate on Friday where he would be charged with a drug related offence.

Jamal Millington and the alleged find

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Eureka establishes mobile COVID-19 testing unit

IN an effort to satisfy the increasing demand for COVID-19 testing, Eureka Medical Laboratories Incorporated (EML) has established a ‘drive-thru’ testing site next door to its head office in Georgetown.

This new testing facility, named the Dr. Collin Boyle Mobile Unit after the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Andrew Boyle’s late brother, is intended to provide convenient and speedy service, particularly to per-

The vehicle that would be used to conduct drive-thru testing for COVID-19

sons with their own mode of transportation.

The tests would be conducted beyond the usual business hours, from 18:00 hours – 22:00 hours, in a hassle-free manner.

Speaking at the launch of the site on Wednesday, Boyle explained that samples will be taken at the mobile unit using a self-swabbing method.

However, assistance will be given where necessary.

Additionally, he said motorcyclists and even pedestrians could also utilise this mobile testing unit.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Narine Singh, who was impressed by Eureka’s new initiative, said it will greatly im-

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Narine Singh and Chief Executive Officer of Eureka Medical Laboratories Incorporated (EML), Andrew Boyle cut the ceremonial ribbon to mark the opening of the company’s new ‘drive-thru’ COVID-19 testing site prove the efficiency of the in Guyana to com- lab, with results being ofservice offered to persons. mence PCR testing for fered in a timely manner.

He also called for more COVID-19, particularly Boyle thanked of its kind to be estab- at the Ogle and Timehri Vice-President, Dr. Bharat lished in other parts of airports.

Jagdeo, for assisting in Guyana, noting that such The Dr. Collin Boyle the realisation of the new facilities would help to re- Mobile Testing Unit will initiative. duce physical contact and supplement and increase He also expressed the spread of the virus. efficiency of both antigen gratitude to all the emThe CMO also re- and PCR testing services ployees of the facility for called Eureka labs being being offered at the main their support.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Duo sentenced to life imprisonment for 2016 Black ...

From page 10

innocent people”. She called for the maximum penalty against the offenders.

According to Gibbs, such crimes are too prevalent in society and a strong message has to be sent to like-minded offenders that such offences will not be tolerated.

During the sentencing hearing, a probation report on Chetram was read by a probation officer. He was described as a “quiet” and “loving” person by his relatives.

Indrowattie Rooplall, the wife and mother of the late Pawan and Jaikarran Chandradeo, and sister of Naresh Rooplall, was also interviewed for the report.

The grieving mother in the report said that no one should ever lose their child in such a heinous crime. She said the wounds are still fresh and that she was unable to work for months, choosing to remain at home to cope with the massive loss.

She described seeing her son at the hospital: “it was as if he was pleading for his life but his killers hadn’t any mercy.”

She also recalled her husband as a loving father to his children, and committed to his family’s well-being.

Indrowattie said that her family was familiar with the family of Chetram since her late reputed husband was employed at the rice farm owned by Chetram’s father.

She reported that the father of her children had stopped working at that farm due to a misunderstanding.

“It was very hard losing her common-law partner, her son and brother at once for reasons she cannot comprehend. It is heart-wrenching,” the probation officer’s report read.

Indrowattie also recounted that her reputed husband, brother, and son went to the back lands of Black Bush Polder to catch fish. The woman told the Court that after her brother’s death, she was left to care for his sixyear-old daughter.

Indrowattie sometimes suffers from nervous breakdowns due to the trauma of loss and would have to be hospitalised, she told the court.

While chronicling the ripple effect the crime had on her family, Indrowattie said that her surviving son was forced to “drop out” of school to help her support the family. They are both employed as security guards.

While reflecting on the factual circumstances of the

case, Justice Kissoon said, “This is a horrific and brutal crime of immeasurable cruelty.”

He also said that the men showed callous disregard for human life and the circumstances of this case are exceptionally serious and demand a rigid punishment.

After considering the havoc, damage and destruction which arose due to the consequences of the crime, the Judge ordered that Jagmohan be taken to a lawful place to suffer death in a manner authorised by law.

Meanwhile, Chetram’s father, Carlton Chetram also known as “Lieman”, and his employee, Rakesh Karamchand also known as “Go to Front” had pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter earlier this month and are expected to be sentenced on February 17.

This newspaper previously reported that on the day in question, the three victims had gone on a fishing trip in the Black Bush Polder back lands in an area called ‘Cookrite Savannah’, some three miles from Mibicuri, where they were allegedly gunned down by the quartet.

The deceased men, each with a single gunshot wound, were found lying in a rice field belonging to Sudama Jagmohan, who made the gruesome discovery.

The body of the teen boy was found next to his father’s. He had a gaping hole to the back of his head and a ‘salt bag’ with fish and a fishing net strung around his neck.

Rooplall’s body had a hole in the neck and the fishing net was strung over his shoulder, while the older Chandradeo had his fishing net in his hand.

The Court had heard that the now-deceased men, while on their fishing trip, had stumbled upon “Lieman” and others who were allegedly stealing diesel fuel in the said field.

It was reported that Chetram, who was armed with his father’s firearm, fired two shots in the air causing the two men and teenage boy to run towards the dam.

Chetram then shot the victims to their heads at close proximity.

When arrested, Chetram told police that he killed the men to get rid of the evidence.

“Meh na been want leff no evidence so I shoot them,” Chetram is quoted as saying in his caution statement to the police.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Minister Dharamlall apologises for comments caused by provocation from Coalition MPs LOCAL Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, has apologised for unparliamentary remarks he made on Wednesday night, pointing out that he was provoked by incessant insults from Opposition Members of Parliament.

The minister, in a statement, also described a statement issued by the Alliance For Change (AFC) on the matter as untruthful.

“I read with astonishment, the total fabrication by the AFC of a situation in today’s (Wednesday) sitting of the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly of Guyana.

“Their media release is totally untruthful but as is their wont, they created a brouhaha to extricate themselves from the public exposure of their monumental embarrassment caused by

their corrupt, discriminatory and vindictive conduct during their time in office as government.

“On many occasions, the MPs on the government side have been ridiculed with some of the most uncouth and slanderous things about their bodies, their spouses, their children, their sexuality and even their dead relatives.

“Some of the chief culprits in the heckling crowd of APNU+AFC include MPs Sherod Duncan, Coretta Mc Donald and Natasha Singh-Lewis,” he said.

The minister also clarified that his unintentional comment was aimed at the verbal excesses of MP Sherod Duncan.

“In hindsight, I should not have responded to the continued insults on me, my family and deceased sister, (yes they insulted my sister who died 11 years

ago) by members of the APNU+AFC. To those offended by my comment I am truly sorry. That is the truth,” he said.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, was forced to suspend Mr Duncan after he repeatedly failed to adhere to orders on Wednesday.

Duncan walked into the Committee of Supply during the consideration of the budget estimates of Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica) and began lambasting government parliamentarians.

He was heard repeating the word “nasty” and even accused the Speaker of being prejudicial.

Calls by the Speaker for him to be seated went unheeded. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, then moved a motion that Duncan be suspended for

Berbice chamber welcomes BBCI’s reduction of freight charges THE Berbice Chamber of Commerce & Development Association (BCCDA), on Thursday, expressed its gratitude to the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI), a corporate member of the BCCDA, for its timely deLocal Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall the next four sittings. Votes were cast in this regard.

Wednesday’s outburst follows similar behaviour and defiance recently by opposition Parliamentarians in the House.

In a previous sitting in December, when Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, opened the debate on the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), he was swarmed by whistle-blowing opposition members.

After they failed to prevent Minister Singh from speaking, opposition parliamentarian, Annette Ferguson, attempted to cart off the Mace, to no avail.

The move was la belled “treacherous” by the Speaker.

The Berbice River Bridge cision to reduce freight costs for sand trucks using the Berbice River Bridge.

In a press release on Thursday, the BCCDA said that the reduction would go a far way in assisting persons and businesses in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), since the price of construction materials is high.

The BCCDA said it is particularly supportive of this decision since it has always recommended similar steps to aid in the development of Berbice.

This measure is in keeping with the Government of Guyana’s vision and the BCCDA’s recommendations to develop rural communities into industrial hubs and create jobs, thus impacting all sectors within Guyana’s economy.

The new freight charges are $2,000 for medium trucks (single axle) and $4,000 for large trucks (double axles).

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, February 11, 2022

Charting a Sustainable Energy Future

15

- Slated for February 15 - 18, 2022

the environment, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

We anticipate that the constructive discussions coming out of the conference will help shape policies and projects that would ultimately result in the wealth of future generations.

Participating companies at the conference and ‘expo’ will share industry trends, and announce future projects. These presentations will highlight upcoming business and investPresident President of Suriname, President of Ghana, ment opportunities that will Prime Minister of Barbados, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali Chandrikapersad Santokhi Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo provide valuable networking Mia Mottley What this conference is all senior executives, CEOs, and At the conference, participattry players and national and the industry, and thought lead- opportunities for delegates. about, and how it ties into procurement personnel from ing companies will seize the regional policymakers to not ers from around the world to There will also be a tradeshow government’s policy for the energy companies, govern- opportunity to share industry only leverage investment and gather in one place to discuss element that will run alongside energy sector? ment officials and other key trends, and announce future business opportunities, but to the way forward in charting a the event that will attract local, THE International Energy stakeholders. projects. These presentations make this relevant to a clearly sustainable energy future, not regional, and international Conference and Exhibition The boom in Guyana’s oil will highlight upcoming busideveloped policy and regula- just for Guyana, but for the exhibitors.

The conference and ‘expo’ Guyana (IECEG 2022) is industry has created a unique ness and investment opportory context. Given Guyana’s wider region. has received commitments of anticipated to be the premier opportunity for the country’s tunities. recent developments in the At the conference, we hope annual meeting of local, re- economic and social developWho are the participants energy sector, it is important for to get diverse opinions on key participation from both oilgional and international en- ment. Due to the developments and where are they drawn us, as a nation, to invite poli- topics such as local content de- and-gas industry TURN TO PAGE 16 ergy experts in Guyana. It is in the energy sector, the coun- from? cymakers, major players from velopment, skills development, intended to be a staple in the try is poised to become one of This conference and ‘expo’ Guyana’s Calendar of Events, the fastest-growing economies will be a unique forum that and is anticipated to attract in the world in this decade. will bring together both indus-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

GUYANA has an abundance of natural resource capacity which positions the country to tap into more renewable sources of energy, like from water or the sun, to meet its growing electricity demand.

The demand for electricity in Guyana is expected to triple by 2026 as the country develops its productive sectors such as manufacturing. This increased demand for electricity, however, will not be satisfied by the use of non-renewable energy sources.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, at the launch of Guyana’s updated Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) last year, said that Guyana will meet the increased energy demand by integrating new renewable energy sources.

“Cheaper electricity will be supplied, and that supply can increase, five-fold, with emissions staying essentially flat,” the Head-of-State explained.

Emissions are harmful gases released when non-renewable energy sources like diesel are burnt to produce energy.

Each year, millions are spent to import diesel to produce electricity at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL)’s power plants that supply electricity to the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS), Guyana’s main power grid.

Diesel is made from refined crude oil. Though this crude oil is now being produced offshore Guyana, the president also said that Guyana is keen on exploiting the natural gas produced offshore, alongside the oil.

Natural gas is believed to be “cleaner” than oil.

The use of natural gas, which will be produced at the forthcoming gas-to- energy project at Wales, on the West Bank of Demerara in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), is expected to complement the power that will be supplied through the renewable energy projects. More than $20 billion has been allocated to kick-start this project in 2022,

Moco facility will comprise an upgraded installed capacity of 700 kilowatts (KW).

These smaller projects in Region Nine are being pursued with assistance from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

But, even with these projects, Guyana’s ‘green’ energy potential has not yet been exhausted, as some 30,000 households in hinterland and riverine communities across Guyana are expected to benefit from solar power through the government’s electrification programme.

As per the project proposal, each household is expected to have its own solar panel, an inverter, and basic fittings.

This means that each household would be able to generate electricity on a self-dependent basis. The line-of-credit for this project was already been signed between Guyana and India.

Meanwhile, $1.1 billion has also been budgeted for solar farm interventions in 2022.

More than oil: Guyana tapping into massive renewable energy potential

The much-anticipated Amaila Falls Project is not the only hydropower project in the works and it should be completed by 2024.

The long-awaited and highly-anticipated renewable energy project is the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s Amaila Falls hydropower project.

This project was first identified in 1976 by the Canadian company, Monenco, during an extensive survey of hydroelectric power potential in Guyana. In 2009, this project was launched as part of Guyana’s efforts to pursue a more low-carbon future. Funds had been earmarked for this project, but it was subsequently voted down in the National Assembly.

REVIVED Since assuming office in 2020, President Ali has assured the nation that this project, which is expected to drastically reduce the cost of electricity, will be revived.

In November 2021, China Railway Group Limited, a company that was initially selected to construct the massive Amaila Falls Hydropower Project in 2012, was once again granted approval to construct this massive renewable energy project.

And, the company will undertake all the building and operational costs, with the government only purchasing

produced power to resell to consumers across Guyana. This project should be completed by 2025.

But the much-anticipated Amaila Falls Project is not the only hydropower project in the works, though, as two small hydropower plants are slated for construction at Kumu and

Moco Moco, both of which communities are located in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

The proposed 1.5-megawatt (MW) hydropower plant at the Kumu River is expected to last 30 years, once a rigid maintenance programme is employed, while the Moco

These include the completion of the 1.5 MW solar farm at Bartica, the 0.75 MW one at Wakenaam and the 1.0 MW one at Lethem. Tenders for a 0.6 MW solar farm at Leguan and a 0.65 MW one at Mahdia will also be pursued.

With these renewable energy projects and more, President Ali said that the government anticipates that Guyana will eventually be able to phase out the use of about 70 per cent of non-renewable fossil fuels by 2027.

During a recent interview, Guyana’s Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo posited that these renewable energy projects will help Guyana maintain a low-carbon status amid its oil production pursuits. In fact, he explained that these pursuits do not run counter to Guyana’s low-carbon development goals, since the country is showing the world that it can strike a balance in its energy development.

Charting a Sustainable Energy...

FROM PAGE 15

representatives and governments in the region. On the government and policy side, highlevel participants will represent the Government of Guyana, along with confirmed commitments for participation from other countries in the Guyana basin, most notably neighbouring Suriname.

Who are the main speakers?

The IECEG 2022 is set to see several high-profile speakers that include heads of government from across the Caribbean, as well as policymakers and government officials: *His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana *His Excellency Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of Suriname *The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, QC, MP, Prime Minis-

ter of Barbados *His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana *The Honourable Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice- President, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana *The Honourable Vickram Bharrat, Minister of Natural Resources, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana *Dr. Jennifer Wilcox, acting Assistant Secretary in the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, the United States Department of Energy *Mr. Darren Woods, Chairman, ExxonMobil *Dr. Daniel Yergin, VicePresident, IHS Markit *Mr. Bob Dudley, Chair, Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, former Group Chief Executive BP *The Honourable Brigadier

(Ret’d) Mark Anthony Phillips, Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana *Dr. John Murton, UK COP 26 Envoy There will be a number of other speakers included, all of whom can be found on our website @ www.guyanaenergy.gy Is the conference a one-off event, if not, how often it will be held?

The International Energy Conference and Expo Guyana is set to be an annual event, since Guyana’s energy sector is in its genesis. The idea is to gain influence and ideas from countries and individuals who have been in the industry, and are experienced in the energy sector.

What the conference seeks to achieve?

At the conference, there will be vibrant discussions on local content and capacity building, which is

integral to Guyana’s sustainable success in the energy sector.

The importance of building a robust safety culture will also be covered, and is crucial to the development of the energy sector in any nation. There are many inherent risks in the energy sector, but, through a deep understanding of the risks, there are pathways to safe and efficient operations. What is necessary to build a sustainable energy sector that also incorporate renewable energy technology and energy efficiency measures will also be covered.

There are many more topical sessions that are part of the agenda of this conference that are sure to give participants food for thought, and greater insight into what is required to chart a sustainable energy future for Guyana, and, by extension, the region.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, February 11, 2022

17

Energy costs to be reduced significantly by 2025

By Jared Liddell

WITH government continuing to invest significantly in the energy sector through massive projects like the gas-to-energy one and the highly-anticipated Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), Guyanese could be benefitting from a significant reduction in energy cost by 2025.

In the 2022 budget, the government has allocated an incredible $29.4B to the energy sector. This allocation has been touted as one of the first steps to rapidly accelerate Guyana’s transition to cleaner sources of energy, while boosting its capacity to meet the growing demand for affordable and stable electricity over the

next five years.

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips had previously told the media that the government is committed to providing affordable, stable and reliable energy, and that Guyana’s policy to develop a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy is outlined in the country’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which mandates maintaining low deforestation rates and the sustainable use of resources over generations.

Additionally, he said that the government is committed to exploring all possibilities for the use of natural gas for electricity production.

The Prime Minister said, too, that Latin America and the Caribbean can ensure energy

access and inclusiveness as an integral part of recovery measures, through improved data collection and knowledge sharing, support for investment promotion, access to grant funding and concessional financing, and the sharing of policies and programmes, among other initiatives.

In just this year’s budget, a hefty sum has been allocated to run several projects that bring the government one step closer to its goal. Included in the 2022 budget is the allocation of $20.8 billion for the gas-to-energy project.

In September 2021, following a public expression of interest, the government issued an advertisement for the pre-qualification of firms interested in the transformational gas-to-energy project, in recognition of the potential of natural gas as a transition fuel.

The project, which is expected to allow the government to phase out the use of expensive and carbon-intensive heavy fuel oil, encompasses the establishment of a power plant to generate 300 megawatts (MWs) of power, as well as a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant, and will cover domestic demand, and enable the government to reduce costs, substantially, below the

current levels.

The project also includes the construction of a 225km 12” pipeline to transport the guaranteed minimum of 50 mmcfd of natural gas from offshore Guyana to the Wales Development Authority.

ALREADY COMPLETED Several portions of the ongoing geotechnical and geophysical works for both offshore and onshore operations have already been completed, and by the second quarter of 2022, an environmental and social impact assessment is expected to be completed as well.

Construction on the power plant and NGL is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2022, with an estimated completion timeline of the fourth quarter of 2024.

Additionally, significant finance from the budget will be going towards several additional projects which are expected to improve citizens’ access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy.

For 2022, $1.6 billion has been budgeted for the construction of a parallel transmission line linking the Kingston and the new Sophia substations, as well as the upgrading of the existing L5 transmission line. This project is intended

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips to reduce transmission losses, and maintain desired system voltage levels.

Additionally, $1.1 billion of the sector’s budget is earmarked for solar farm interventions in 2022. These include the completion of the 1.5MW solar farm at Bartica, the 0.75MW one at Wakenaam, and the 1.0 MW one at Lethem. It is also the government’s intention to tender for a 0.6 MW solar farm at Leguan, and another 0.65 MW one at Mahdia later this year.

Several hinterland areas can expect to benefit significantly from the 2022 budget, as over $450 million has been budgeted for the expansion

and upgrading of the hinterland electrification and power generation capacity, through the purchase of generators and the expansion of distribution lines.

Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), in particular, is set to see increased energy production.

Also, over $170 million has been budgeted for the completion of the 150KW hydropower scheme at Kato, and 30,000 photovoltaic home systems for hinterland and riverine areas.

The government has contended that this solar mini-grid and off-grid solutions are the country’s most viable options to ensure unserved and underserved hinterland regions are energised.

Meanwhile, the government, throughout 2022, will be distributing and installing, for free, over 22,000 LED bulbs and over 12,000 LED tubes at homes, business places and government buildings at Bartica, Linden, Leguan, and Wakenaam.

The initiative, which is anticipated to remove over 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from the environment, is part of the government’s plans to reduce the country’s carbon footprint.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Energy diversification is key to national development

EVEN with rapidly growing oil revenues, the development of Guyana’s non-oil sectors remain key for sustainable growth; critical to the latter is the pursuit of value-added production, and for this to be feasible, there needs to be a notable reduction in the cost of electricity.

For instance, in the area of agriculture, Guyana’s bountiful supply of fruits and vegetables can be processed, packaged and exported for additional income, but because of the high costs of production, the country ends up importing the very products it can very well produce.

An even more specific example would be the fact that although Guyana is a producer of high quality plantains, the costs to produce plantain chip, plantain porridge and other plantain supplies are not feasible.

Such realities have led to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) crafting a strategy to implement a comprehensive energy mix driven by hydro, wind, solar and natural gas produced by the oil production activities off-shore Guyana. This has been deemed a cornerstone for massive developments.

Combined, these efforts are expected to transform the country energy consumption to 75 per cent renewable by 2030.

It was only on Thursday that the National Assembly approved a $20.8 billion allocation to kickstart the iconic $900 million gas-to-energy project that has been earmarked for the Wales Development Zone, which once accommodated a thriving sugar estate. This facility, along with three others, were prematurely closed by the then A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government in 2017.

The area is now expected to house a plant, which will convert natural gas into elec-

tricity that would then be fed into the national power grid.

During the presentation of the country’s first “oil budget” of $552.9 billion, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, explained that the gas-to-energy project would be able to generate 300 megawatts of power. “The project also entails the construction of a 225 km 12” pipeline to transport the guaranteed minimum of 50 million standard cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of natural gas from offshore Guyana to the Wales Development Authority,” Minister Singh informed the National Assembly.

The project is set to come on stream by 2024.

As it relates to solar, this year’s budget also contains a provision of $1.4 billion for the establishment of 33 megawatts (MWs) solar farms for Berbice, Essequibo and Linden.

According to the updated Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS 2030), the Government of Guyana has already secured US$75 million in funding to establish solar farms in eight grids.

This is expected to produce some 27.8 megawatts-peak

(MWp) of solar power to the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS).

The farms are expected to be up and running by 2023, paving the way for solar-generated power to replace 30 per cent of the electricity being supplied to areas along the Essequibo coast, Linden, Bartica, Lethem, Mabaruma, Mahdia, Leguan and Wakenaam.

These will be supplemented by the Hinterland Electrification Project which seeks to supply power to an estimated 30,000 households in several hinterland communities across the country. This is being funded by a US$7.2 million line of credit from the Government of India via the India Export/ Import Bank. The installation of these 150-watt systems is expected to be completed in 2022.

Additionally, the PPP/C Government also intends to utilise one of Guyana’s most abundant resources to produce electricity – water.

NO OBJECTION The government has already granted its “no-objection” for the Office of the Prime Minister to engage the China Railway Group Limited to construct the Amaila Falls Hydropower Station (AFHP)

based on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model.

Previous reports suggest that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) is expected to cost just under US$1 billion, and once operational, will have the capacity to generate 165 megawatts of stable and reliable electricity for 11 solid months of the year, with the 12th month during the dry season earmarked for scheduled maintenance.

Currently, GPL sells electricity to the nation at about US$0.33 per kWh, and this is expected to be reduced by 25 per cent within the first year of the operations of the Amaila Falls project, and by 50 per cent within five years; and by the end of 20 years by as much as 80 per cent. The government, in its invitation for bids, had said that it expects the country’s power demands to be met by 2026.

The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, the pinnacle of government’s heavily-touted energy mix, was first identified in 1976 by a Canadian company named “Monenco” during an extensive survey of hydroelectric power potential in Guyana. And since then, various studies have justified and strongly supported the

construction of the AFHP, which, like the Wales Sugar Estate, was also scrapped by the former administration.

IN THE WORKS Nonetheless, with the return of the PPP/C Government, a second major hydropower project is in the works. “It is anticipated that Guyana will build two hydropower plants over the next 20 years: Amaila Falls and another which is still to be identified,” LCDS 2030 specified.

The document further stated that of the 33 potential sites, many were assessed in the 70s and 80s, when environmental and social standards were lower. In light of this, those assessments will have to be updated in keeping with the environmental and other commitments of today. It is anticipated that once the assessments are finalised, the new site will be identified at least by 2025.

Once up and running, the second hydropower plant is expected to provide some 370 megawatts of electric capacity by 2035 and a further 150 megawatts of capacity by 2040. In the meantime, Amaila Falls will be the focus of the hydropower programme.

The average lifespan of a hydropower system, accord-

ing to the LCDS, is 100 years.

Over this period, replacement of the mechanical and electrical parts would be required, but those account for less than 30 per cent of the initial cost.

“Within the renewable energy resources available in Guyana, hydro will be important to provide firm capacity and short-term energy storage to compensate daily and weekly fluctuations from solar and wind,” the document noted.

In addition to the two giant plants, Guyana will also be implementing a number of small hydropower projects. To this end, efforts are already underway to implement three such plants: a 150-kilowatt initiative in Kato, the rehabilitation of Moco-Moco hydropower site, which would increase the capacity up to 0.7 megawatts, and a new 1.5-megawatt hydropower plant in Kumu.

“The Moco-Moco and Kumu hydropower projects will provide energy to [the] Lethem grid. It is expected those two projects, in combination with an ongoing solar PV project, will provide the Lethem grid with 100 per cent renewable energy in 2023,” LCDS 2030 predicts.

The document noted too that through other small hydropower projects established to support regional grids and hinterland villages, Guyana has the potential to produce 8.5 gigawatts (GW) of hydropower on 33 hydropower plants, including storage capacity and run-of-river.

The establishment of several windmills is also projected for the coming years.

Once Guyana is able to cut its power generation costs, the cost of value-added production would be drastically lowered, thereby accelerating the growth of several non-oil sectors, especially as it relates to agriculture and the agro-processing industry.

Lower electricity charges are also likely to attract investors and inspire investment growth.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Dating in Guyana is an extreme sport - sometimes!

By Naomi Parris

IT’S Valentine’s weekend, cupid is flying high and many love birds are planning, or have already planned special surprises, gifts and even dates for their significant others.

In keeping with the festival of love, we decided to ‘play fass’ and ask a few persons to share their fondest and most cringe-worthy dating experiences.

Here are some testimonies that were dropped in our bag.

‘Three is a crowd’ - Brian, East Coast Demerara Why do some women bring their friends on dates?

I had several experiences

where I asked a girl out and she asked me if she could bring a friend.

The worst of all was when I asked this girl on a date—I really liked her—and she brought her friend along.

At first, I didn’t mind because the girl I was interested in had shared with me that she had bad past experiences where she felt unsafe on dates.

My date’s friend, however, was not the inconspicuous ‘third wheel’. She ordered the most expensive dish on the menu and then instructed me that if I wanted to date her friend, I would have to treat both of them!

I was so upset with the situation that I didn’t bother

Enjoying a bottle of Moët for date night

ordering anything for myself.

When the bill finally came, I barely had enough money to pay. Never again!

‘A birthday dinner to remember’ - Tamica, West Coast Demerara My best dating experience was for one of my birthday celebrations. I’m big on birthdays, but I prefer simple but special ways of celebrating.

During the year in question, my birthday was fast approaching and I was dealing with a lot of things personally. I really wanted to go out to dinner and have a nice time with great company.

My date was someone who had repeatedly asked me out but our conflicting sched-

ules made it difficult. For my birthday, we made plans but we both tested positive for COVID-19 and had to respectively quarantine.

When we re-tested and were eventually negative, he promised he would make up for the time we lost on my birthday. He did!

We went to the Royal Teppanyaki Restaurant at the Ramada Hotel, Providence. I love seafood, but we also had steak, and topped it off with a bottle of champagne.

Since it was my birthday, we were treated to complimentary chocolate cake with flare candles.

Of course, he had to sing ‘Happy Birthday’. All in TURN TO PAGE 23

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, February 11, 2022

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Miss Mash Queen pageant set for February 20

Pageant administrator, Pamela Dillon SIMPLI Royal’s Miss Mash Queen ‘National Pride’ costume competition, which was initially set for February 13, has been postponed to February 20, the very night as the Miss Mash Queen 2022 coronation ceremony where a new queen will be crowned.

‘National Pride’ will see six

Contestant No. 1, Shenica Manawarkan

participants strutting in ceremonial dress and their versions of national costumes created by local designers, who will put their creativity and patriotism on full display.

This competition is one of several categories that the young contenders are competing for in their quest for the crown.

On February 15, the young ladies will take part in “Le We Talk” a virtual personality interview. The Coronation Night competition includes the opening introduction, talent, swimsuit, and evening gown segments which eventually lead into the top three finalists taking on the ‘question and answer’ segment.

The delegates will also participate in a “Last Lap”, motorcade around the capital city on February 19.

The Buzz caught up with

Contestant No. 2, Tamasha Oxford

some of the young pageant stars earlier this week, as they shared their excitement on being part of the pageant experience.

“There are many advantages of being in a pageant such as building your self-confidence, meeting a lot of interesting persons, and exploring the world.

Those are some of the reasons I decided to take part in this pageant.

It’s been challenging but it’s something nice for young women to explore and I’m really looking forward to boosting my self-confidence more,” Jowanna Barkoy, 20, told The Buzz.

This will be the first pageant walk for the aspiring entrepreneur who currently works as a Customer Service Representative at ITEL Guyana. She hopes that her unique personality will give her an edge in the competition.

Contestant No. 3, Zariah McCalmon

Unlike Barkoy, this will be the second pageant for Zariah McCalmon, 20, who walked the stage of the Miss Linden Emancipation in 2017, where she finished as second runner up.

Given her performance in that pageant, she was encouraged to enter this one.

“A lot of persons reached out to me and said to do it since I had the pageant experience from before—so, I said ‘why not!’ I’m really looking forward to bringing my originality and being ‘extra’. I get 100 per cent on everything that I do, so I look forward to this,” a confident McCalmon shared.

The other contenders in the pageant are Shenica Manawarkan, 23; Tamasha Oxford, 19; and Eschalla Massiah, 21.

The Miss Mash Queen Pageant was founded by pageant

Contestant No. 4, Akeila Handy

house, Simpli Royal, headed

by Guyana’s “mother of pageantry” Pamela Dillon. Dillon’s brainchild is praised for being a home-grown pageant that represents Guyana’s ‘Mashramani’ festival.

“I get excited about hosting this event annually,” Dillon shared in an interview with The Buzz. “Mashramani is the one all-inclusive festival that brings Guyanese together, and must be celebrated and commemorated.”

Ms Pam, as she is more widely referred, hosted the first edition of the pageant in 1998.

The most recent pageant queen was Aquaila Rupan in 2017.

The organisation took a break after 2017.

“We needed to go back to the drawing board to reconceptualise the production, so we took a sabbatical… but then [there

Contestant No. 5, Jowanna Barkoy

was] COVID-19 and we held off for two more years in an effort to understand what we were dealing with,” Dillon explained.

With things beginning to return to some amount of normalcy in Guyana and around the world as we learn to live with the virus, Dillon believed it was time to move forward with the pageant.

In October 2021, a call for contestants was published with an orientation process extending from last December to early January 2022.

“We were looking for young ladies to represent [the pageant] who liked to challenge themselves, who had a talent in the performing arts, who was (sic) between 18 to 26 [years] and had an outgoing personality,” Dillon further explained.

Contestant No. 6, Eschalla Massiah

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Wineperu: A quiet haven with a nostalgic people En route to Wineperu

By Naomi Parris GRACED by the passing Essequibo River away from the hassle of urban life, the village of Wineperu in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) is a place of peace and tranquillity.

This week, my adventures took me to this place of peace and I’m even

more happy to bring our readers along for the journey.

Wineperu is located some 52 miles or so southwest of Georgetown, and is easily accessible by boat from the Parika Stelling. We took another route, however, which lead us through an uncommon track from Rockstone, a small town

The small pontoon crossing the Essequibo River

just outside of Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

We moved down the reddish track for what seemed like two hours until we arrived at a small village called ‘Anairka’—our stop here was brief.

Along our way, there was nothing but towering trees leading the way for-

ward. My colleagues said they spotted an anaconda. I can’t confirm this, and that’s a good thing. I was much too engrossed in the sway of the trees that sheltered us from the blazing midday sun.

At the end of the track, we found ourselves at the Essequibo River. We quickly boarded a ‘pontoon’ to the next village destination located across Guyana’s biggest river.

The pontoon ride between the river’s banks was short. We arrived at ‘Sher-

Soaking my feet in Wineperu Creek

ima’ along the Essequibo River. After yet another journey by car which was shorter this time, we landed at our final destination of the day, Wineperu.

The residents greeted us warmly and were eager to share stories. I met one of the village elders, Erllanaibie, 77, who shared wisdom of life in the small riverine village.

We heard there was a time when the village had much more life and colour, however, as time passed, much of its vibrant essence

faded.

For the residents, Wineperu is still a beautiful place. I agree and I’m left wondering how much more grand it was before.

Reminiscing, one resident said that almost every month there was an exciting activity to look forward to.

Nonetheless, there’s still a joy felt in Wineperu.

The Wineperu Creek was our final stop of the day. Of course, before bidding farewell, I dipped my feet in the soothing mineral-rich waters.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, February 11, 2022

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Comedian, Bob Saget, died after accidental head injury, family says

(BBC) - The US actor and comedian Bob Saget died after suffering an accidental blow to the head, his family has revealed.

A statement said that the Full House star had “accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep”.

They added that authorities had concluded that drugs and alcohol were not involved in his death.

Saget, 65, was found dead in his hotel room at the Ritz Carlton in Orlando, Florida last month.

“In the weeks since

Bob’s passing, we have been overwhelmed with the incredible outpouring of love from Bob’s fans, which has been a great comfort to us and for which we are eternally grateful,” the family statement read.

“Now that we have the final conclusions from the authorities’ investigation, we felt it only proper that the fans hear those conclusions directly from us.”

Saget had been married to Kelly Rizzo Saget since 2018 and had three daughters from a previous marriage.

He was found unre-

sponsive by hotel staff in his bed on the evening of January 9 and was later pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Authorities said at the time that they were not treating the Philadelphia native’s death as suspicious.

His funeral, which was attended by a host of famous faces, was held last month in California.

A veteran stand-up comedian, Saget had just started a new tour across the US, performing the day before his death in the city of Jacksonville, Florida.

Although idolised by

many comedians for his profane and often cutting act, he was best known in the US for his role in the heart-warming sitcom, Full House, where he starred alongside the actors John Stamos and fellow comic Dave Coulier.

In more recent years he found fame among younger generations as the narrator of the hit show How I Met Your Mother and for his guest stints as a highly fictionalised version of himself in the TV series, Entourage.

His death attracted tributes from a host of Hollywood stars.

Saget first performed his cutting comic act over 40 years ago and was a popular figure in US comedy circles (Photo from BBC, credited to GETTY Images)

Dating in Guyana is an extreme sport...

FROM PAGE 20 all, the food and restaurant atmosphere were lovely, the customer service was exceptional, and having his company made the night exquisite.

Tequila shots at the hotel’s poolside? Why not!

‘Chocolates and Roses’ Cassie, Georgetown This guy had a girlfriend and asked me to be his Valentine.

First of all, I was unaware he had a girlfriend. To my knowledge, he bought choco-

late for me and not his actual girlfriend.

It turns out that the girl had a problem with me the whole time and I didn’t even know who she was. Added to that, she is about three years younger than me.

I was shocked to know that she and her friends wanted to fight me. Seriously?

I want to also talk about another guy. He gave me a rose, but he never actually gave it to me. He threw it on the table.

‘Will you be my Valen-

tine?’ - Jasmine, East Coast Demerara This is still a developing story! My boyfriend surprised me while I was at work. I’m generally not a big fan of Valentine’s Day so I was not expecting anything spectacular. My boyfriend knows this.

During the day, my boyfriend called and asked me to step outside my office building. I obliged. To my surprise, there he was sitting in his car with the strangest, but warm smile on his face.

I get emotional when I

think back on it. This man came to my job with a bouquet of flowers and a card, asking me to be his Valentine.

I stood there smiling in shock and awe. I still don’t know what he has planned for us over the weekend but

I’m excited and can’t wait to see what he does. Like I said from the start, this is a developing story.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Ambrose in Guyana for BCB fast-bowling clinic … pays courtesy visit to President Ali, meets government ministers

LEGENDARY West Indian fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose had a packed day of activities prior to today’s start of the three-day Fast-bowlers Clinic which he will administer at the

ickanand, Christopher Ogle, Arvin Jaikaran, Trisha Hardat, Darshanie Subramanie, Natran Gill, Shamar Joseph, Gevon Schultz, Isia Anderson, Joel Davis, Collis Hardcourt, Nicholas Ishar, Arif Khan, Shiv Harripersaud, Dave Pretipaul, Khemraj Tika, Sohail Hardwar, Christopher Deeroop, Arif Esau, Manoo Inasi, Nareem Khan, Shamal Angel, Quincy AlPresident of Guyana Irfaan Ali (second from left) met Sir Curtly Ambrose (second from right) Thursday morning at State House. Also in the photo are BCB president Hilbert Foster (left) and Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

Albion Community Centre Cricket ground from this morning.

Sir Curtly, who is one of the greatest fast bowlers of all-time, first paid a courtesy visit to President Irfaan Ali at State House. The Head of State, who is a big cricket fan, spent some time with the Antiguan-born bowler discussing the game and sharing ideas.

President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Hilbert Foster, accompanied the former fast bowler with two young Berbice cricketers.

They presented him with an artwork (handed over by Sir Curtly) and with a coaching manual.

The President lauded the BCB and promised to assist the board with a needed piece of equipment.

Sir Curtly also met with Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, who is the Patron of BCB. Later in the day, he again met with Minister Bharrat; Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall; Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha; and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall.

The trip is being facilitated by the BCB with sponsorship coming from Dr Frank Denbow, who was impressed with West Indies U19 fast bowler Isai Thorne and wanted to see

him and others develop.

PACKED FIELD BCB has increased the number of participants from 36 to 44 from Berbice, while they have also extended an offer to six fast bowlers from Georgetown.

Ace DCC fast bowler Qumar Torrington and five other players were expected to travel up to the Ancient County this morning for the event.

The Berbicians selected are Thorne, Daniel Viv-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

CWI welcomes Seagram’s Royal Stag as official team sponsor

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) today announced a partnership with Seagram’s Royal Stag as the West Indies Men’s official team sponsor for their ongoing tour to India. The Seagram’s Royal Stag brand will appear on the front of the West Indies

playing shirts for the six matches of the tour – three One-Day Internationals (ODIS) and three T20 Internationals (T20Is).

The new agreement sees CWI extending its commercial partnerships into the world’s largest cricket market in India with the West

Indies team being one of the most recognisable global sporting teams. The West Indies teams and players continue to be a fans’ favourite around the world with nearly half a billion people a year watching West Indies home matches.

Dominic Warne, CWI’s

Commercial Director said: “We are really pleased to announce this new partnership with Royal Stag and our West Indies Men’s team.

Fans in India and around the world have always had a great love and following for the West Indies teams and players. In a busy year of intense cricket with India due to tour the Caribbean later in 2022, we’re excited about this association with an action-packed ODI and T20I Series ahead of us.”

Speaking on the sponsorship, Kartik Mohindra, CMO, Pernod Ricard India, said: “For a whole generation of cricket fans, West Indies embodied the perfect blend of unmatched talent, positive attitude and unparalleled flair. In the last decade, the team has rediscovered that unique spirit and has players who have helped the Caribbean win two T20 World Cups. Royal Stag has over the years celebrated all these qualities, which make this association even more special.

What's more, several players in this squad are adored in India because of their remarkable game-changing

performances in T20 cricket.

Royal Stag has been synonymous with the excitement and pulsating action of limited overs cricket for almost two decades now. By becoming the official sponsor of the West Indies for the ongoing series, we continue our association with the magic of the sport.”

The West Indies are in the sub-continent for three ODIs and three T20Is. The three ODIs form part of the

ICC ODI Super League with top seven teams automatically qualifying for the 2023 ICC World Cup. The series started on Sunday, February 6 and will run until Sunday, February 20.

The ODIs are being played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad while the T20Is will be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where West Indies won their second T20 World Cup title in 2016.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday February 11, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Evin Lewis-322 runs (9 matches) (2) Rohit Sharma-519 runs (15 matches) Today’s Quiz: (1) Which WI bowler has taken most wickets against IND in T20 Internationals to date?

(2) Which IND bowler has claimed most T20 Int’l wickets against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Smith silver lining in an otherwise dismal second ODI

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Odean Smith woke up on Wednesday morning wondering when his big chance would come. Little would he have imagined the speed at which his moment would come. A niggle that flared up overnight meant Kieron Pollard had to pull out of the match. In came Smith, and he made quite a splash in his maiden outing in India.

He grabbed the wickets of Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli to leave India tottering at 43 for 3 in the 12th over.

The Kohli wicket was particularly sweet because he had disdainfully slapped him to the cover boundary only two balls earlier.

Smith corrected his length immediately by bowling full.

Kohli threw his hands at the delivery, driving away from the body, only to get a big nick through to Shai Hope. It was a start he may have not imagined a few hours earlier.

This up-turn in Smith's career has come a few months after he missed the T20 World Cup bus on fitness grounds. An underwhelming show from the West Indies there coincided with Smith receiving necessary fitness clearances.

With Andre Russell no longer a certainty - because of his T20 commitments Smith was handed a cap at the first available opportunity against Ireland at home. In what turned out to be a wakeup call for the side, Smith finished with three wickets and 84 runs off just 47 balls across three ODIs. He has a bristling run-up, a skiddy action, and the ability to bowl in the late 130s.

He has modelled his game on Russell. With the bat, he is a big-hitter lower down the order in T20 cricket, where much of his success has come so far. At CPL 2021, he was the second-highest wicket-taker. Life has been in fast-forward mode since.

"It's about consistency and fitness," he said about his top priorities at present.

"International cricket is not easy. In T20s, you bowl just four overs. To bowl 10 overs here, you must be fit, especially against an Indian team with top batters in the world."

Smith finished with figures of 7-0-29-2. These went a long way in West Indies restricting India to 237 for 9. This wasn't by any means going to be match-winning, and West Indies had a real opportunity if they applied

themselves well. All they needed to tell themselves was: occupy the crease and 50 overs. If they did that, they would have given themselves the best chance to level the series. They didn't.

Odean Smith has denied suggestions his dropping during the recent T20I series against England was a result of being "victimised".

Smith was left out of the team for the third T20I in Barbados, with his replacement, Rovman Powell, going on to score a century.

West Indies coach Phil Simmons rubbished the claim at the time and CWI put out a statement rejecting the idea of "discord" between captain, Kieron Pollard, and any members of the squad.

Smith, who returned to the XI for the fifth match, which West Indies won to seal the series 3-2, has now backed that stance when questioned after the second ODI against India.

"There was never an issue around 'victimisation'," Smith said. "The media are going to say what they have to say, but the mood hasn't changed from what it was. So we're all good."

"We just didn't spend enough time at the wicket,"

Smith rued. "The wicket was difficult to bat on and as you saw in the Indian innings, two guys stayed out there, batted and got runs.

We didn't apply ourselves in terms of batting time. That was the reason we fell short."

Despite the top order crumbling, West Indies may have yet taken the game close. When Smith joined Akeal Hosein, they needed 78 off 67 balls. But they had just three wickets left. This was going to be the stand that did it for them.

But one ball in and Smith saw Hosein fall. Now, he had no option but to go for broke. And he muscled Shardul Thakur for back-to-back sixes.

The first was a flat-batted pull over deep midwicket.

The second had some wristy magic to it. He somehow managed to flick a perfectly acceptable length delivery on the stumps over long-on. The ball was nowhere near full or driving length for him to get underneath it. But he still managed to use his strong

Odean Smith launches it high vs India, 2nd ODI, Ahmedabad, February 9, 2022 (BCCI)

forearms and bottom-handed power to clear the ropes.

He would go on to whack one more powerful pull off Mohammed Siraj, beating deep midwicket despite him being no more than a few yards away from the ball.

He eventually holed out to Kohli at deep midwicket for 24 after being denied free swing of the arms by Washington Sundar to close out an excellent 45th over. By then, West Indies were nine down

and all but out.

"Going forward, I have a lot of work to do on my batting," he said. "Everything comes with time. This is just my fifth game; I have a lot of time to continue learning. Having played T20 cricket for a while and moving from bowling four overs to 10 overs in a fastpaced game is not easy, but I am willing to learn and see how far it goes."

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Eagles reach 181-5 in response to 339 … Volcanoes’ last pair produces a record 124-run partnership

WINDWARD Islands Volcanoes are in a commanding position after day two of their Four-Day match against Guyana Harpy Eagles at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad.

Scores Volcanoes 339 all out from 106.2 overs (Preston McSween 86, Alick Athanaze 68, Devon Smith 52; Gudakesh Motie 4-62, Keemo Paul 3-83, Veerasammy Permaul 3-88) v Eagles 181-5 (Vishaul Singh 40*, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 30,

Vishaul Singh is steady on 40 not out

Leon Johnson 28, Anthony

Bramble 26; Shermon Lewis 3-47, McSween 2-44) Eagles reached stumps 181-5 compliments of an unbroken 40-run stand between Keemo Paul (20*) and Vishaul Singh (40*) but still trail by 158 runs.

Singh has faced 93 balls and struck four fours in his resolute knock while Paul has been more enterprising in his 26 balls, hitting two fours and one six.

Resuming at 277-9, McSween on 47 and Lewis

Preston McSween scored 86 and took 2-44

resolute on 12, both play-

ers known more for their exploits with the ball, took Volcanoes out of a position of bother when the ninth wicket fell at 215 in the 73rd over.

McSween smashed nine fours and two maximums in his 86 - his maiden first-class half-century – while Lewis made 36 from 111 balls.

It took a pearl from Gudakesh Motie to nip the outside edge of McSween and end the Volcanoes’ innings at 339 from 106.2 overs.

Motie ended with 4-62 from 26.2 overs while Keemo Paul and Veerasammy Permaul had a wicket each.

Buoyed by the superb stand, McSween, now with the ball, created more headache for Eagles when his first delivery to Chandrapaul Hemraj (5) had him caught at second slip.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Shimron Hetmyer brought some calm to the proceedings with a 48-run stand for the second wicket.

Both looked set for a significant score until Hetmyer

was undone by a brilliant catch at mid-wicket by Ryan John for 24 (3x4) from 37 balls.

Five runs later, Chanderpaul drove at a wide delivery and edged to second slip for 30 (6x4) from 58 balls.

The experienced pair of Leon Johnson and Vishaul Singh took the score from 63-3 to 95-4 compliments of smart and compact batting which took Eagles to tea at 77-3.

In the post-tea session, Johnson played across the line and it was McSween again, as he bowled the Eagles captain for 28 (5x4) from 37 balls.

Anthony Bramble and Singh looked to steady the ship and Bramble, in particular, was aggressive but he lived a chanced life on his way to 26 (3x4; 1x6) from 38 balls until he was struck in front by Lewis.

At 141-5, it brought together Paul and Singh who took the Eagles to safety.

The action continues today from 10:00hts.

Odyssey Sightseeing Tours golf tournament set for tomorrow

Odyssey representative, Veneta Fraser, hands over the sponsorship cheque to LGC's Maxim Mangra alongside Anasha Ally and Patrick Prashad

THE Odyssey Sightseeing Tours will sponsor tomorrow's three-flight 18-hole golf tournament at the ninehole Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) on the East Coast of Demerara.

Participants will battle in the nine-and-under handicap category, the 10-18 handicap division and the 19-36 handicap flight from 12.30hrs via a shotgun start.

The best net score will win the top prize. There are also prizes for the second- and third-place overall finishers and the best net in each flight, best overall gross, nearest to the pin and longest drive.

At the official launch of the tournament yesterday in Georgetown, Public Relations Officer of the LGC, Anasha Ally, thanked the sponsor and expressed her hope for a good turnout and a successful tournament.

It was also announced that registration would close at midday today. Interested players can contact the Lusignan Golf Club on 220-5660.

All participants are also advised to contact the club’s manager on the day of the tournament to collect their scorecards, pay their tournament fees and proceed to their allocated tee boxes to begin play.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

Figueira hails Ninvalle as ‘right man’ for Director of Sport Opposition Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira on Tuesday evening hailed Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, as the right man for the job.

“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the Director of Sport, the long-awaited position; I think the best man has gotten the position,” Figueira told the House.

Figueira, who shadows the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, made the comments during his interrogation of the expenditure and figures allocated in the Ministry’s $3.2B budget for sports.

Ninvalle, a former Member of Parliament in a previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, was at the time present in the National Assembly to answer and give clarity on matters about the National Sports Commission.

Ninvalle replaced former Director, now Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones, as the country’s Director of Sport in May 2021.

Chairman of the NSC,

the Commission are properly discharged and objectives achieved.”

According to the May 20 Official Gazette, Muhammad will chair the commission, which also includes Guyana Lawn Tennis Association president, Cristy Campbell; Guyana Cricket Board president, Bissoondyal Singh; Guyana Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle

Kashif Muhammad, said the National Award-winning sports administrator’s distinguished background helped to influence the Commission’s decision in naming him to lead the important body that’s responsible for the development of sports in Guyana.

The country’s National Sports Commission Act outlines the Director of Sport as being the “Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, and subject to any general or specific directions of the Commission, to be responsible to the Commission for ensuring that the functions of

Opposition Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira

Hockey Board president, Phillip Fernandes; chartered accountant, Chetram Ramdihal and Dellon Davidson.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 11, 2022

President of Guyana Irfaan Ali (second from left) met Sir Curtly Ambrose (second from right) Thursday morning at State House. Also in the photo are BCB president Hilbert Foster (left) and Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

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Ambrose in Guyana for BCB fast-bowling clinic

… pays courtesy visit to President Ali, meets government ministers

Eagles reach 181-5 Figueira hails Ninvalle as ‘right man’ for in response to 339 … Volcanoes’ last pair produces a record 124-run partnership

Director of Sport

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Vishaul Singh is steady on 40 not out

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle

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Opposition Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2022