Guyana Chronicle International Edtion E-Paper 10-05-2018

WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 5, 2018

NO.0012

‘Mischief afoot’ –– GECOM chair laments ploys to derail LGEs 03 …sees machinations, designs to stymie work of commission PAGE

Cash Jet pilot convicted for cocaine smuggling

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Jordan woos Middle East investors 04 PAGE

–– requests write off of 1970s loan –– looks for closer partnership with Islamic Development Bank

Well-drilling commences 02 water discovered at first site PAGE

The Brazilian Army, on Wednesday October 2, 2018 tested the proposed site for drilling of the artesian well in Karaudanawa, South Rupununi. In this image, water can be seen gushing from the site. (Ministry of the Presidency photo.)

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

Well drilling commences, water discovered at first site

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HE well drilling exercise in the South Rupununi, Upper Takutu - Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), which will see eight artesian wells being drilled in eight communities, has officially commenced and authorities are reporting the discovery of water at the first site in Karaudanawa.

Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, who was in the Region earlier this week, said personnel from the Brazilian Army’s 6th

Battalion Engineering Corps conducted a test at Karaudanawa on Wednesday, October 3, 2018. The test, he said, showed a presence of water and drilling has since commenced at that location.

Artesian wells will be drilled in the villages of Aishalton, Chukrikednau, Shea, Maruranawa, Awaruwaunau, Karaudanawa, Achiwib and Bashraidrun and will have a depth of approximately 80 metres or 250 feet deep. It is the intention of the Brazilian team to have the wells handed over to the

Guyanese authorities on November 28, 2018.

The project follows President David Granger’s State visit to Brazil in December 2017, where the Complementary Agreement to the Basic Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Federative Republic of Brazil for the Implementation of the Project Technologies to Reduce the Effects of the Drought in Region Nine was inked.

(Ministry of the Presidency)

UK envoys working on strategy to strengthen relations in Caribbean

British High Commissioner to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Mr. Tim Stew; British High Commissioner to Guyana, H.E. Mr. Greg Quinn; Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl B. Greenidge; British High Commissioner to Barbados, H.E. Mrs. Janet Douglas; and Foreign Service Officer, Ms. Neishanta Benn

BRITISH High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, accompanied by his counterparts to Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago respectively, Her Excellency Mrs. Janet Douglas and His Excellency Mr. Tim Stew, on Thursday called on Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge.

In a release, the ministry said the envoys are part of a team working on a regional strategy to increase focus on the Caribbean and to strengthen its relations with the United Kingdom. They discussed concerns related to the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), disaster response and Brexit, among others. Moreover, the hgh commissioner assured Minister Greenidge that plans were in place to protect UK-Caribbean Forum

(CARIFORUM) relations as Brexit proceeded.

High Commissioner Douglas informed the foreign minister that close attention was being given to disaster management; in that regard, a coordination cell has been formed alongside the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which is headquartered in Barbados, to execute unified responses to disasters. High Commissioner Douglas is concurrently accredited Non-Resident High Commissioner to Dominica, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and St. Kitts and Nevis.

British High Commissioner to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Mr. Tim Stew; British High Commissioner to Guyana, H.E. Mr. Greg Quinn; British High Commissioner to Barbados, H.E. Mrs. Janet Douglas; and Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl B. Greenidge

‘Mischief afoot’

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

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–– GECOM chair laments deliberate ploys to stymie work of commission

By Lisa Hamilton “THESE are troubling times for elections in Guyana,” Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), (ret'd) Justice James Patterson said on Friday as he lamented the court actions being taken by the opposition, which if succeed can delay the holding of the polls.

President David Granger has already stated that LGEs will not be postponed.

Patterson was at the time addressing the media at a press conference hosted at the Commission’s headquarters, Kingston, where he stated that even at the last laps towards Local Government Election (LGE), several intentional blockages are being placed on the path.

“The Commission has been experiencing, at every turn, designs and machinations to stymie the operations coming into force [for the coming election]. Mischief

is afoot internal as well as external. I find that very troubling,” Patterson said.

While the chairman opted not to speak on the external efforts to stall the forthcoming elections, internally he said that neither commissioners nor staff is excluded from the lot. He stated further that often times private discussions at meetings are disseminated almost immediately afterwards to outside persons.

The Chairman also addressed the issue of racism.

He said that money remains the “source of all evil” as Guyana’s pending oil wealth from its developing petroleum sector has given way to greed and to bad judgement. “It is even more sad to see that the default position of our politicians seems to be to play the racial card. It seems too, that integrity has been put in a blind trust. It seems to be our politicians have retreated into ethno-political camps

and that has got to stop if this country is to move forward,” Patterson said. He is still confident that the best days of Guyana are ahead and reminded the public that LGEs are critical to local democracy. “I feel sad to have to report to you that that since my regime here it seems to be that integrity has been put in a blind trust. Fortunately, I have a cadre of operatives who don’t yield to that sort of description and they, as the saying goes, ‘hold my hand’,” Patterson said.

He warned: “So, anybody who wants to destabilise its work is tampering with democracy.”

Currently before the High Court is a challenge

by GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shadick against activation of seven new local government areas and the restructuring of 14 others.

Also at the High Court is an appeal by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) executive secretary, Zulfikar

Cash Jet pilot convicted for cocaine smuggling

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UYANESE pilot Khamraj Lall has been convicted for smuggling hundreds of kilos of cocaine in his private plane to South America and for his involvement in money laundering over a number of years.

Lall, 51, of Ringwood, smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from New Jersey and New York to Guyana on his privately-owned jet and then laundered the proceeds, U.S. Attorney, Craig Carpenito announced.

Lall, who owned a private jet charter business called Exec Jet Club in Gainesville, Florida, used the proceeds of his cocaine empire to purchase jet planes, houses, and cars, Carpenito said. He also paid more than two million in cash to a Florida contractor to build an airplane hangar in Guyana. Lall made, or had others make, nearly 1,300 cash deposits totaling about $7.5 million into more than 20 different bank accounts, much of it in $20 bills. All the deposits were for less than $10,000 so Lall would avoid

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) (ret'd) Justice James Patterson (Delano Williams photo)

Mustapha on the basis that Patterson’s appointment was “unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.” Although he noted that persons who

detection by authorities and circumvent bank reporting laws, Carpenito said.

In November 2014, Lall was flying one of his jets from the United States to Guyana and stopped in Puerto Rico to refuel. An outbound search of the plane discovered $470,000 in cash stuffed into a suitcase hidden in the plane’s tail and another $150,000 in cash hidden under a seat, authorities said.

Lall was convicted of conspiracy to distribute

cocaine, money laundering, structuring monetary instruments, and conspiracy to commit money laundering and structuring. The cocaine distribution charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. The money laundering charges each carry a potential penalty of 20 years in prison. (reproduced from Patch.com)

12, 2018 has been set as the date for LGE and the Commission is currently working to ensure all criteria are in place for a smooth electoral process.

GMC to showcase Guyana’s products at Caribbean Agri Expo

T Guyanese pilot Khamraj Lall

are aggrieved should have access to the court, the GECOM Chairman also warned against the use of the legal system as a “tool of destruction.” November

HE Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) will exhibit Guyana’s products at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture which will be held in Bridgetown, Barbados.

In a recent press briefing, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Nigel Cumberbatch, noted that this will be something big for Guyana as it pertains to the progress that the country has made in the agro-processing industry.

“I think that will be one of the highlights for us because, when you look around the Region and see what agro-processing is done and more often than not, we think that we are really far behind, but we are not in some cases and its good for us to be able to showcase it so persons could see it,” Cumberbatch stated.

The event will be held

under the theme, “Caribbean week of agriculture 2018: Strengthening agriculture for a healthier future in the Region.”

The Caribbean Week of Agriculture, which will run during the period October 8 to October 12, is an activity coordinated by the Alliance.

The Alliance is made up of The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO); the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA); and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The event offers a forum for ministers of agriculture, Caribbean organisations, planners and other major agricultural stakeholders in the public and private sectors of the Caribbean to meet; meet for the purpose of discussing major issues affecting the agricultural sector in the Caribbean Region.

Among the topics to be covered under the official workshops to be led are Development of the Regional Coconut Industry; Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship; The School Feeding Programme; Climate Resilience in the Agriculture and Fisheries Sectors; and Small Ruminants.

According to Cumberbatch, Guyana will be represented by several individuals, including officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and persons relevant to the topics that will be discussed.

“Several activities are slated for that week and for each activity, various individuals from the Ministry of Agriculture and Guyana as a whole will be invited and sponsored,” Cumberbatch said.

Caribbean Week of Agriculture was first held in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

Jordan woos Middle East investors –– requests write off of 1970s loan –– looks for closer partnership with Islamic Development Bank

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INISTER of Finance, Winston Jordan and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson accompanied by a technical team from the Ministry of Finance, have just concluded a visit to the Middle East which was intended to attract diverse investments and forge closer banking partnerships with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) as part of Guyana’s preparation for its impending oilbased transformation.

Minister Jordan signed a significant loan agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for US$20M which will be going towards major upgrades to the Guyana Power and Light as part of its Development and Expansion Programme for 2014 to 2021 as well as a US$900,000.00 grant agreement for the Reverse Linkage Project which aims to enhance the stability and sustainability of Guyana’s rice sector. The project seeks to diversify the rice sector with the production of new varieties of rice with an increase in rice export.

The delegation also visited Kuwait with the intention of formally requesting a writeoff of a decades-old loan.

Minister Jordan explained to the Kuwait Times newspaper; “We had borrowed around US$10 million from Kuwait in the 1970s. It was during a time when we really needed help and Kuwait was very generous to reach out and give the money we needed. But now, the amount has grown to about US$70 million because of interest.

This is the reason why we are here.” Minister Jordan also urged Kuwaiti businessmen to invest in Guyana’s growing economy and met the Deputy Chairman of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mohammad Al-Saqer in this regard.

The trip was part of a broader recognition that aims to develop and diversify Guyana’s economy, partnerships with overseas investors and lending agencies. Minister Jordan, in explaining the vision of Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy, said “We will be doing a very unique experiment whereby we will be using resources from oil and hydrocarbons to project ourselves in a renew-

able state.”

During the visit to Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Nasser Mohammed AL Ahmed AL-Jaber AL-

ministerial delegation that Kuwait and Guyana are brothers and sisters, and thanked Guyana for its support for Kuwait's Election at the United

million interest, and a repayment schedule for the US $10 million loan. Both His Highness and the deputy foreign minister promised to pursue

nical support available and the process of accessing this support. Guyana has access to a US$900M resource envelope from which US$20M

Ministers Winston Jordan and David Patterson during their recent visit to the Middle East

Mubarak Al-Sabah, Prime Minister 2006-2011, who visited Guyana, on July 19, 2010, hosted a grand luncheon/banquet for 40 persons which included Ministers Jordan and Patterson; Donna Yearwood, Head, Debt Management, Ministry of Finance; Guyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait Professor, Dr. Shamir Ally; wife Dr. Maryann Beebe Ally, and 35 high ranking Kuwait officials, including His Excellency Khaled Suliman AL-Jarallah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was on the team to Guyana on July 19, 2010.

His Highness assured the

Nations Security Council and other international agencies and added that Kuwait is looking forward to more active participation in Guyana.

Ambassador Dr. Ally, in his quarterly briefings to His Highness, discussed among other matters, visa waivers in Kuwait and Guyana for diplomatic and government officials and a Kuwait embassy in Guyana.

Head of delegation, Winston Jordan raised Guyana's US$10 million debt incurred in 1973 to Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), and a special request for a waiver of the accumulated US $64

the relief to Guyana. Minister Jordan also mentioned the opportunities for Kuwait investments, for public private partnerships in agriculture, business and education.

IsDB VISIT Prior to the Kuwait visit, the team spent the past week visiting the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) at the invitation of the IsDB President, Dr. Bandar Hajjar. The delegation was exposed to the five entities comprising the IsDB Group, the functional areas of the bank, the financial and tech-

will support GPL’s upgrade.

The Projects Department of the Ministry of Finance is currently working with other ministries and agencies to develop projects to tap into the remaining funds.

The ministers shared information on Guyana and areas of greatest interest to the country. During the welcoming formalities and exchange of courtesies, Minister Jordan presented a plaque with several samples of wood species from Guyana to the vice president for Country Programmes, Dr. Mansur Muhtar. The plaque will be prominently displayed in the

bank.

Guyana became the 57th member country of the IsDB in 2016, and has set a record with the speed with which three agreements for loan and grant support have been finalised. This is due to the high level of interest the bank has in expanding its operations into Latin America and the Caribbean. Islamic banking is very different to traditional western banking in that it espouses a more ethical approach to lending which shares the risks equitably between lender and borrower.

Presentations were made by the senior management of each of the five entities that make up the group: the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI), the Islamic Corporation for Development of the Private Sector (ICD), and the Islamic solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD).

Guyana is a member of only the IsDB and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation which is a precursor to being able to join any of the other entities in the group.

The five subsidiary entities focus mainly on the private sector. Minister Jordan has invited the representatives of these entities to visit Guyana by the first quarter of 2019 to assess the appetite and capacity of the local private sector to utilise the Shariah compliant financial products and other services of the IsDB group. These include facilitating access to Islamic Capital Markets, export credit and investment insurance, political risk insurance, mobilising financial resources, promoting entrepreneurship, encouraging trade and investments between and among member countries, providing trade related capacity building, research and training inter alia.

The Guyana team noted that the focus of the IsDB group is closely aligned with those of the country - human development, achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, narrowing the infrastructure financing gaps, creating jobs and building capacity.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

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PNCR celebrates 61st Anniversary with flag-raising ceremony local residents. “Citizens all over this country…protested against the handpicked PPP-installed interim management committees. We agreed IMC is history. Our party is proud to end the denial of citizens’ rights to elect their own local and municipal leaders. Our party is proud to have restored local government democracy to Guyana,” he said.

for everyone. As we go forward into Local Government Elections let us take this spirit of struggle to ensure that there is victory not only for the party but also for the partnership and most of all for the citizens of Guyana,” he stated.

Meanwhile, during her remarks, Chairperson Volda Lawrence thanked PNCR members for contributing

President David Granger speaks to the restoration of local democracy (Delano Williams photos)

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HE People’s National Congress - Reform (PNCR), as it celebrates its 61st Anniversary, is proud to have restored local democracy to the country through the holding of regular Local Government Elections (LGEs).

These were the sentiments of President David Granger on Friday during a flag-raising ceremony on the lawns of the Congress Place, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Several top party leaders-some ministers of the government; mayors and members of municipals and regional councils were present. “Our party, consistent in its constitution and its principles restored Local Government Elections on the 18th of March 2016, only 10 months after entering office and 22 years after the People’s Progressive Party administration failed to

conduct Local Government Elections,” the President said in his feature remarks.

He later asserted: “We shall return to the polls on the 12th of November, 2018.”

In his speech, President Granger noted the establishment of four new towns: Lethem, Mabaruma, Bartica and Mahdia and the increase in the number of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils.

This, he stated, is a stark contrast from the practice of the previous administration which implemented “obnoxious interim management committees.”

“Comrades; we recall how former PPP Local Government minister employed the haughty and high-handed approach by removing Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and Municipalities and set up interim management committees without even bothering to consult the

The flag of the People’s National Congress - Reform (PNCR) is hoisted in celebration of its 61st anniversary

He highlighted, too, the establishment of the Local Government Commission and the convening of the Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) conference as proof of the government’s commitment to regulating and reinforcing local democracy. These, he added, would also ensure collective discussions among leaders on how their communities can be improved. “Today, our party celebrates its 61st Anniversary with a sense of satisfaction; satisfaction with the success of its efforts to make Guyana a better place

“Some 41 years ago, at the party’s second biennial congress held on August 19, 1977, our founder/leader Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham spoke to the PNC members on consolidating the party’s base by bringing together other sections of the working class including groups and smaller political parties on board in order to achieve national unity. Today, comrades, our party can lay claim to fulfilling that promise since we are partners in the coalition government with a vision of eventually forging national unity,” she stated. Lawrence further urged leaders to reach out to people in all regions of the country and in the diaspora and the future will present itself as better and brighter. During the ceremony, musical interludes came from the Guyana Police Band while closing remarks were made by PNCR General Secretary, Amna Ally.

Members of the audience on the lawns of Congress Place on Friday

Go solar …President plugs energy diversification in Rupununi …tells residents build economy to withstand shocks

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President David Granger greets a resident of St. Ignatius upon his arrival at the village for the Rupununi Heritage celebrations 2018. Also in photograph are Chairman of the National Toshaos' Council, Nicholas Fredericks (left); and Brazilian Vice-Consul, Ms. Lisa Mary Sousa Dos Reis.

to the service and development of the party and for placing their trust in her to improve upon past accomplishments.

She spoke to the 20th Biennial Congress and the National Congress of Women Congress held last August as affirmation of the readiness of members to uphold the parties founding ideals.

“Comrades, today we have yet another golden opportunity to stop and take stock, each and every one of us, to consolidate that pledge we all unanimously made to intensify our efforts to strengthen the party’s membership and to reinforce the vision of the good life for all Guyanese,” Lawrence said.

She also urged members to reflect on the legacy of the PNCR’s late founding member and executive President of Guyana, Linden Forbes Burnham, who made numerous sacrifices to ensure betterment for all citizens today.

MID this country’s push to becoming a green state, President David Granger on Wednesday told residents of the Rupununi that the generation of solar energy there is very feasible not only for the use at the household level, but throughout the community to power schools and other public facilities.

He made the remarks while addressing villagers at the opening of this year’s Rupununi Regional Heritage celebrations, being held at the St. Ignatius Village Benab.

Government has said that a ‘green’ economy is neces-

sary to ensure the sustainable management of the country’s natural resources and assets and help wean it off of its addiction to fossil fuels.

President Granger, himself speaking at the opening of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) Multi-Stakeholder Expert Group in November 2017, said that the GSDS is expected to build greater economic resilience by diversifying production, reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, generating renewable energy and emphasise low-carbon manufacturing. “It will add value to production through cleaner, cheaper and renewable energy generation and propose plans to move closer towards the goal of full renewable energy by the year 2025, thereby reducing our exposure to the volatilities of oil markets.

The Green State Develop-

ment Strategy will define the purpose, principles, policies and the processes, which will guide our path towards becoming a ‘green state.’ A better understanding of the need for a strategy requires an appreciation of the rationale behind the ‘green’ state,” he said back then.

On Wednesday, he took this message to the Rupununi, telling residents that energy is an important facet of economic diversification for their communities. He said in order to achieve the ideals set by the people of the Rupununi, there must be access to energy. “In all of this we need energy. We can’t do this without energy.

Energy now is becoming more accessible…the amount of sunshine you get from the Rupununi on a daily basis exceeds that in any other part of the country. It means that the use of solar energy is feasible, not just at the household

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

Agriculture Month and food security

THIS month has been designated Agriculture Month in Guyana and as the country has done in the last few years, the spotlight would be turned on the importance of agriculture to the country’s political economy. This year’s theme is, “Shaping Agriculture for a Green Economy” which evidently speaks to the government’s official developmental thrust. One can hardly argue against such a thrust, as it partly falls in line with the global direction of contemporary thinking about agriculture and economic development.

Agriculture however, is often centred on food security. This is now the buzzword across the global community, which has become much more literate about the linkage between food and issues of development.

No longer is this term and concept nestled in discourses among erudite agriculture scientists and armchair economists; it has correctly become part of popular discourse and thinking that cut across social class and other social divides. Here in Guyana, thanks mainly to young environmental activists and advocates, our governments have been forced to embrace it as both rhetoric and policy.

The World Food Programme (WFP) defines food security in the following way: “People are considered food secure when they have availability and adequate access at all times to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.” It also lists “Food availability “, “Food access” and Food utilisation” as pivotal, central planks of food security.

As we observe Agriculture Month and heed the designated theme, it is worth re-

flecting on the extent to which our country meets that test of food security. As a traditional agriculture-based society, we often take food availability for granted. This is understandable, given the relatively high production of food here compared to other countries across the globe. We are blessed with lots of land and water which are key ingredients for food production. Thus, despite a decline in some areas of production, we have ostensibly continued to produce enough food for local consumption and trade.

But food production is only part of food security. Do Guyanese have adequate access to food and if they do, is that food nutritious enough to lead to proper health? It is in these latter areas that the government is challenged to make its theme real. Many in the poorer classes of our society would argue that adequate access to food is dependent on their financial capacity to access those foods. Given the relatively high rate of poverty that still exists in Guyana, it is fair to conclude that this must be an area of food security that should be targeted by government.

Those who produce the food we consume would also have something to say about food security. In a rapidly changing world where powerful governments subsidise agriculture in their countries, does our government do enough in that area? Does the government even have the financial capacity to adequately meet that challenge?

These and other related questions must be pondered by the government, as it attempts to reshape our agricultural thrust to meet the demands of the new technological age.

We know of the negative impact of globalisation on small, local agriculture-based economies such as ours. It is now cheaper to import some foods into countries such as Guyana than to produce them locally. This has been a negative development for us as far as local farmers are concerned. How the government gets around this thorny issue is yet to be seen, but it is one that must be confronted.

Cheap imported food has not improved access by poor communities, but it has sadly contributed to the utilisation of sub-standard food. Mass-production of food has severely hampered food security.

Of course, local food production would be enhanced by the expansion of manufacturing initiatives. This has been a troublesome area, as our entrepreneurs have not been as robust in their explorations of this sector; it is another area that cries out for adequate interrogation during Agriculture Month.

The apparent hinterland thrust of the government is welcome. From all indications, there are vast acreages of land in the hinterland which could be used to produce both traditional and non-traditional foods.

We have always talked about a hinterland agriculture thrust--the Burnham governments had made some strides in this regard in the 1960s and 1970s, but these were not sustained. It would help to study these experiments to ascertain what had worked and what didn’t.

We observe another Agriculture Month as we are in the midst of restructuring the sugar industry, which has been the bedrock of our agricultural sector.

It is a painful process that is pregnant with history, hurt, nostalgia, ethnicity and party politics. Yet it is necessary.

The government must be commended for confronting it head-on, risking political capital in the process.

We must confront agriculture, not just as economics and food production, but as culture. Many in the African-Guyanese community, for example, have advocated the return of the Village Economy which was essentially an agriculture-based economy.

But they have had to confront the fact that the new generation does not have the same relationship to agriculture as previous ones.

Most of the farmlands have been abandoned, while the limited farming that persists is hampered by poor infrastructure. Towards this end, a current government programme which targets selective countries, can be seen as a pilot programme that could tell us the extent to which agriculture could again capture the popular imagination.

Finally, as Guyana prepares to venture into the world of oil and gas, there is the temptation to downplay sectors such as agriculture. This would be a huge mistake. We, therefore, should use the observances this month to drive home that critical point. Agriculture Month should ultimately be a time to also advocate for agriculture as a route to development, security and individual, community and national liberation.

OVP will encourage and support community groups Dear Editor, DR. David Hinds rightly pointed out that in the current environment, “local government elections are less about communities and more about national parties” (KN, 30/9/18). Dr. Hinds’ position converges with that of Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP). When the political parties were lining up to contest the local government elections in 2016, OVP stayed out of the race, because we believe that political parties should not participate in local government elections, especially APNU+AFC and the

PPP, since they already dominate the national parliament and the regional councils.

OVP is committed to radical democracy. This means the empowerment of the masses of our people-- politically and economically-- from the bottom up. We believe that all citizens have a right to participate in the decisions that affect them, their families and their communities. We see local government as an arena to prepare and challenge the people to administer and be the decision-makers in their own communities.

Representatives of the political parties are more concerned about imposing the agenda of their respective parties on the

communities, than putting the interests of the communities first. OVP will encourage and support community groups who organise themselves into effective organisations, capable of reclaiming their communities. True democracy is direct and participatory, and that means there can be no more decisions about us, without us!

Regards Gerald A. Perreira Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

Suicide prevention is so much more than just sharing a helpline number Dear Editor SINCE its launch in 2015, mention has often been made about the Suicide Helpline, although stats are hard to come by even though releasing them could be an incentive for others to use the helpline. In any case, saving a life can’t solely rely on the person who is at risk, who will most probably never call the helpline; the person who would do so is the someone else, who is able to recognise that the person is actually at risk, someone such as a gatekeeper or lay counsellor who are trained to identify suicide warning signs. And this is so necessary in the context of Guyana, where there seems to be pattern of ignoring even the most obvious signs on the part of family and friends of those at risk; and/or dismissing suicide ideation as jokes and/or not being serious.

Gatekeepers would also help others to be able to identify the warning signs and thus enable circles of understanding that all such signs must always be taken seriously, even if it means erring on the side of caution.

The issue of gatekeepers brings to the fore the concept of collaboration.

This has been touted over and over and over by all and sundry, including the government, as the way to go in small economies such as Guyana’s; such economies cannot afford to roll out the comprehensive mental health and suicide-prevention infrastructure and supports. Collaboration is best exemplified by the Gatekeeper’s Programme, which arms communities with lay counsellors who can take proactive action to not only prevent the act of suicide, but to also address various forms of abuse.

The Caribbean Voice is getting ready to launch a national lay counsellor train

the trainers programme next year. Since the government is best positioned to ensure the logistics necessary for such a programme, we will be reaching out to requisite government ministries, agencies and departments to seek partnerships.

This will include help to bring on board NGOs, FBOs, CBOs, local government agencies and mass-based organisations; this is to ensure not only that the trainers are provided with the skill sets and knowledge base, but to also support them as they then seek to train gatekeepers in every community, once they receive their training. In effect, this can and should be a total collaborative effort.

Once signs are identified, scope must also be provided to such individuals to talk more and to give them a response that’s non-judgmental and really supportive. But this too calls for some basic training in emphatic communication and here again, gatekeepers come into play. In effect, we need to deepen the mental health literacy of our nation, to the point that people become self-aware of the triggers and improvers of their own mental health, as they are with their physical health. And this process starts with gatekeepers who can train others in their communities.

At a recent forum on suicide in Guyana, mention was made of the need for community-based services to tackle suicide. Well this process can start with gatekeepers who are the most critical cog in the wheel of suicide prevention at the community level. This is why too TCV is also extremely happy that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), on September 17, launched a virtual course on suicide prevention for primary healthcare workers in the Americas, including the Caribbean. The course, which is free, self-directed and available in English

on PAHO's Virtual Campus for Public Health (https://www.campusvirtualsp. org/en/), is divided into seven modules; it is also based on the World Health Organization's (WHO) Intervention Guide for Mental, Neurological and Substance Use Disorders (mhGAP-IG) that includes evidence-based interventions to identify and manage priority mental health disorders, including self-inflicted injuries and suicide at the first level of health care.

The Caribbean Voice urges government to take the lead in providing scope to ensure that in addition to all primary health care workers, all social workers, welfare officers, teachers and outreach personnel, such as those engaged in youth or women empowerment, take this training. We encourage activists, NGOs, Faith-Based Organisations and Community-Based Organisations to also use this opportunity to gain the critical skills and knowledge to enhance their suicide-prevention activism. And we also urge all media to publicise the link and a message, urging the general public to take advantage of this training.

Speaking of the media, we note that Trinidad & Tobago recently launched its National Media Guidelines for Responsible Reporting on Suicide.

While we are aware that significant changes in such reportage has been effected by the local media, reportage is still not where it should be. So we urge the crafting and launching of similar guidelines for the Guyanese media. PAHO has been instrumental in providing relevant training to the local media and its assistance can be harnessed in putting these guidelines together.

7

We are very happy to welcome Sister Volda Dear Editor, I READ with great interest, the letter published, “Geriatrics in the PNCR” written by Alex Duncan. As an old worker of the party, I must share the sentiments and grave concerns expressed in his letter.

There is one error in his letter: it is that which stated that Volda Lawrence was the first female chairman of the party. When I was a youngster in the 60s, the PNC’s leader was Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham; the treasurer was Ms. Hyacinth Goddette; the general-secretary was Hamilton Green; and the chairperson was Mrs. Winifred Gaskin.

She was therefore, the first female chairman of the party.

May I say we are very happy to welcome Sister Volda. In her there is hope. Next, I have a big worry which my party should explain. On the new executive is a gentleman (Van-West Charles) who not too long ago had many unkind things to say about the PNC and publicly stated that he had left the PNC and joined the AFC. Within a few short months, how can a person who is still on the AFC list of candidates and can therefore become an AFC Member of Parliament, be an executive member of the PNCR? He has not with similar public noise denounced the AFC. The question is why are we shooting ourselves in the foot and who are the persons within the PNC top brass responsible for this stupidity and gross crassness?

Regards Eric Moseley

Regards The Caribbean Voice

Local content questions for Charles Ramson Dear Editor THE October 3rd, 2018 Kaieteur online newspaper featured remarks by Mr. Charles Ramson on the topic of Local Content (LC). Ramson’s view is that Guyana’s economy could have been infused by US $440 million dollars had the government enacted LC legislation. Ramson’s US $440 million number assumes local businesses would have captured 10% of a $4.4 billion Liza project spending. There is no premise on the 10%, seemingly plucked out of the air.

Below are questions for Mr. Ramson.

1. Name a local company that can design a hull conversion of a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), making it suitable for a Floating Production Storage and Offloading Unit (FPSO)?

2. Name a local company that has the capacity to participate in the fabrication activities involved in VLCC hull conversion?

3. Name a local company that can design the topside of a FPSO? 4. Name a local company that can manufacture high-pres-

sure pipe spools, pressure vessels, valves and instrumentation?

5. Name a local company that can assemble the topside of a FPSO? 6. Name a local company that can commission and operate a FPSO? 7. Name a local company that can design subsea equipment (SURF)?

8. Name a local company that can fabricate subsea equipment (SURF).

9. Name a local company that can install subsea equipment (SURF).

10. Name a local company that will drill 17 deepwater production and injection wells?

11. What services or products will local companies provide to the tune of US $440 million?

Questions 1-10 cover the major scope for the Liza project.

There is no local company with capacity to be rewarded contracts for this specialised work. Local companies will provide services such as transportation, catering, security, etc. It is false that oppor-

tunities are being lost capturing Liza project money because LC legislation is not in place. Correctly crafted LC legislation should be the focus. The government and operator should develop a plan with goals for local companies to build capacity, and for locals to be trained for jobs in the sector. Legislation dictating that the operator use businesses with poor standards and no track record must be avoided; the men and women working in the oil sector must have equipment and services of the highest standards. Their lives literally depend on it.

Pivoting to priorities, repeated discussions have centred on LC, production-sharing agreements, pre-contract costs, auditing the operator, etc. There is little discussion on the priority of improving and making robust 1 )the financial accountability systems and processes & 2) contracts and bidding processes, before what will be certainly increased infrastructural spending. Pradoville 2 corruption will be the tip of the iceberg if these systems are not strengthened.

Regards D. C. Daly

8

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

Tricks and Terror Tactics

R

ECENTLY, in addressing some issues relating to the upcoming local government elections, I severely castigated the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for resorting to old political tricks and terror tactics.

Wondering why I should be so severe on my former party, someone observed: “But you were once PPP.” My response was that after the great Cheddi Jagan died, the soul of the party flickered for a while; then became unattractively dull. It became, not long afterwards, the pseudo PPP. So, when I learned about the tactics of this post-Jagan PPP in the lead-up to local government elections, especially towards my village, I felt justified that I had distanced myself from this political rump.

TAMIL BIRTHPLACE This contorted PPP, it appears, has made Whim, a tiny fishing village in Berbice, the battleground for the November 12 local government elections. The reasons are obvious: It has been traditionally a PPP stronghold; exclusively an Indo-Guyanese community and my “Tamil” birthplace.

A former Dutch estate, Whim was once populated predominantly by rebellious Madrasi immigrants, who were consigned to live near to newly freed African slaves. Their co-existence would become an epic story of inter-ethnic cooperation, which would be the subject

of a future column.

But, by its own, Whim produced sterling local leadership. My Pa, his brother, Ramsammy (David Whitlingum); their cousin Jailall Bharrat; Permaul, Kassim and Seepersaud had, for many years, served as village leaders. They tried as best as they could, with limited resources, to improve conditions in the village.

When President Cheddi Jagan approached me in 1995 to become Minister of Local Government, my response was that I was hardly knowledgeable in this area. He replied, during a brief conversation at the National Park on May Day, that I should just follow what my father had done for his people.

PEOPLE’S POWER I became, for the first time after 25 years, the Minister of Local Government with no ministry building and almost no staff, or vehicles. I walked into, and embraced, the grassroots. For me, local government was participatory democracy. It was people’s power!

I went down memory lane to figure out what has changed since I was removed as Local Government Minister. The evidence of neglect is as glaring as it is disgraceful in most Indo-Guyanese villages or neighbourhoods.

As Vice-President, Khemraj Ramjattan observed yesterday, the PPP feels that it has transport to these villages and has sought to exercise ethnic dominance over them.

Now that the PPP is chal-

lenged, it has resorted to old political tricks and terror tactics, mainly against the small but strategic Alliance For Change (AFC), of which I am the “Party Elder.”

The evidence is abundant and credible that the PPP has cunningly planned a campaign to terrorise candidates and supporters of the AFC. Initially, it has deployed guerrilla methods to infiltrate and then sabotage.

I have credible information that before Nomination Day, known PPP activists begged to be placed on the AFC lists of candidates, but were rejected. Had they been included, they could have easily protested that they were coerced or bribed to become AFC candidates or backers, as we saw in the shameless midnight melodrama in Whim Wednesday last, when the permanent professional picketers besieged the office of the returning officer under the pretext that their signatures on AFC lists had been forged.

WICKED DEMANDS Had the officials given in to their wicked demands to have backers removed, the AFC’s list of candidates could have been invalidated on the grounds that they included persons who were already PPP candidates. That was a ploy, a trap, to lure an unsuspecting party into the PPP’s end-game of ousting the AFC from the local polls, and accusing the Elections Commission of rigging the electoral processes or acting in “collusion.”

This was made very evident yesterday when the party’s members of the Elections Commission charged that there were “suspicious activities” regarding acceptance of nomination lists with alleged crooked signatures on behalf, and in support, of candidates for coalition parties. With an apparent straight face, one PPP zealot recklessly implicated the Guyana Elections Commission in what he described as “fears about collusion” with the government. And with a self-righteous judgment, he clumsily wielded the sledgehammer at the commission that “the machinery cannot be trusted …to deliver free, fair and transparent elections.”

That, to my mind, is what the post-Jagan, defeatist PPP wants to establish: That elections in Guyana are not credible.

THREATENED

BY HACKS Yesterday, Sita and I received in the prime minister’s yard several persons from our home villages, who confided that they have been threatened by PPP hacks. I recalled how, while I was in the PPP, there were campaigns to boycott the shops of persons who did not support the party, or had defected from it. Party supporters were told not to

attend the jhandis of “PNC pundits” (who were dubbed “bandits”); not to attend their weddings, birthdays, ninedays; not even their funerals.

The post-Jagan PPP has re-invented that dastardly racist past, which is why a “big-mouth” party leader went on Berbice TV and, after identifying by names some AFC candidates who are my relatives, advised: “You know what to do.”

I hold him personally responsible if any harm should come to my family or relatives in Whim-Bloomfield!

OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERSHIP It seemed that we are back to the old days when it was par for the political course to “oppose, expose and depose.” But in an enlightened period of democracy, the methods must be fair, not foul. The local government elections must not be an occasion for war; it must be an opportunity for involvement and leadership.

When I went to Paradise on Friday for the Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition, I looked around but did not see the PPP leaders who have been elected to the Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five) Regional Democratic Council. The regional chairman and the PPP regional

councillors boycotted this important event that was intended to showcase the achievements of this great region.

With every good intention, Imran Sacoor, President of the Region Five Chamber of Commerce, whom I described as “a regional patriot”, while complimenting the Coalition Government for development works in the region, noted that much more could be achieved if funds were available to build farm-to-market roads and dams into cultivation areas.

I responded that for 2018, monies allocated for capital works in the region amounted to $415M, but that the elected PPP leaders were not interested in promoting development that would make the Coalition Government look good.

In these local government polls, while the APNU+AFC Coalition remains in government, the election of elements who are committed solely to “oppose and depose” would be a betrayal of the ideals of our republic to invite, encourage and promote genuine, grassroots, participatory democracy.

I may be tempted to advise the opposition to come clean, play fair. But, as old people say, you cannot teach old dogs new tricks.

Free core homes

–– for some 250 families from low income communities

By Lisa Hamilton

N

EXT year, some 2,500 citizens in low income communities will benefit from improved housing conditions whereby 250 families will receive free core homes while others will receive improved housing infrastructure.

The programme, Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP), is being made possible by the government through a US$30M loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

It is being executed by the Ministry of Communities through the Central Housing and Planning Authority

(CHPA).

The programme commenced in 2018 and will run for five years, targeting communities in Georgetown; West Bank of Demerara; villages of Recht Door Zee, La Parfaite-Harmonie, Westminster; and Lust-en-Rust and Onderneeming.

It will also be implemented in South of Georgetown up to Diamond/Grove and to the East Coast of Demerara up to the village of La Bonne Intention.

To this regard, members of religious organisations and other community bodies were invited to attend an AHUAP stakeholder sensitisation meeting on Thursday at the Regency Suites Hotel.

Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Lelon Saul, speaks about the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP) (Delano Williams photo)

There, CHPA Chief Executive Officer, Lelon Saul, explained the purpose of the

programme.

“CHPA is mandated by law to provide housing solu-

tions for the working class and, over the years, we have offered several solutions… it is recognised that those with little or no affordability are often overlooked. For this reason, the Government of Guyana through the Central Housing and Planning Authority will provide housing solutions,” Saul said.

He explained that the three major components of the programme are affordable and sustainable housing, consolidation of existing housing schemes and the implementation of support and institutional strengthening.

The first will result in the building of core homes and home improvement subsidies in a sum of US$10M.

Meanwhile, with many of the country’s housing areas plagued by poor infrastructure and services, the second aspect will result in US$16M being injected into this area, beginning in the Sophia/Cummings Lodge area.

This investment will go towards secondary road maintenance and rationalisation; climate ready drainage, street lighting, pedestrian parks and multi-purpose community facilities and more.

With the implementation of the support and institutional strengthening component, Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) will also benefit from training TURN TO PAGE

20 ►

14Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 18, 20189

Elections have YOUR G consequences Ask not what oil can do for you FOR but what you can do with the oil

uyana is undoubtedly on the cusp of experiencing what can arguably be its biggest economic boom in decades. The Ministry of Finance projects that the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by 29.1% by 2020. All of the signs and economic writings are on(that) the wall for (not) this inevitability.

When the ‘DUH is nah positive outcome; in likes otherof Nick Butler from Financial Times declare,‘The hottest me business’ is a the famous cases, it could be negative. new prospect for the world’s oil industry in Guyana’, you phrase used in our every- Numerous issues associmust expect some attention of global finance. When you day conversations. When ated with the arrogance of have the likes of China’s Foreign Minister, his Excellency we make remark, it government in Guyana in Wang Yithis visiting your capital and the likes of Narendra means we have zero inthe past have disappeared, Darmodardas Modi expected to arrive, you know big terest anhappening. issue. because of the decision of thingsinare ItWorld is sad when this the masses at the last leaders are being updated by advisers andelecpolicy phrase is applied while tions to demonstrate their makers about this South American Jaguar economy that has discoveredour black gold. Our relatively describing attitude to comparatively power at theand ballot box. rich Caribbean neighbors racing toFurther, Georgetown sign docpublic advocacy.

Theare possometoominous uments of understanding. of this with is occurring at a rapid ture of ‘Duh is nah meAll things life-and-death pace at theismacro are you positioning for this business’ whatlevel, led but to how implications are no longer at the what is individual arguably level? the worst around due to the results of is beingin asked in every crevice of Guyanese time The forquestion governance the last polls. The simple society: “What will this oil do for me?” Seek to readjust your Guyana’s modern history, pleasure of government mindset and ask yourself: “What can I do with the opportuniexperienced between 1999- critics and reporters driv2015. Governance reached ing with their windows its nadir during this period down or citizens subjecting when the holders of power their leaders to complete declared with unrivalled ridicule on social media, pomposity, ‘we have the no longer come with fatal ethnic numbers’. On May repercussions, because of 11th, 2015, Guyanese our last monumental exerdemonstrated that elections cise of our collective franBy Indrawattie Natram the indentured system with have serious implications. chise. It is only those who specific obligations and conInON thisSeptember case, there 29, was the a were in the trenches during tractual agreements. During five Indian immigrants the time on the plantation who were viciously killed during the Devonshire Cas- they were given poor wages, tle Uprising in 1872 were they had to work for incrediremembered. In honour of bly long hours and were even their memory, a monument flogged when tasks were not was built at Cabbage Dam completed. Although the Devonshire Castle in Re- conditions were harsh, Basir gion Two. The monument said that the workers were serves as a reminder of the struggles of the Indian not allowed the freedom to represent their interest in the foreparents.

The Pepperpot Magazine courts.

Due to the intense hardcaught up with an old historian Isahack Basir, CCH who ship, the labourers began to shared his knowledge on the strike and stood their ground, Devonshire Castle Uprising. but instead gunshots were The 84-year-old historian related that the Uprising has fired. During the Uprising, become part of Essequibo’s seven male planters were injured and five were killed. history.

Unveiling the story, elder Those that died were KauliBasir said the indentured la- ca, Beccaroo, Maxidally, bourers were killed because Baldeo and Acukloo. These they protested against harsh fallen heroes had lost confiand inhumane conditions. dence in the estate manageSpeaking on the history he said the labourers were re- ment and as such had retalicruited by the white plant- ated. Although they had lost ers due to the high demand their lives they had brought for sugar and the lack of freedom to other indentured workforce/labourers. Due labourers who were facing to the acute labour shortage, challenges. plantation owners found it Every year around exhausting to find persons September 29 various orfrom other countries to work ganisations, including the on the plantations.

Regional Administration On May 5, 1838, he said Indians were brought and the Indian Arrival to Guyana to work on the Committee (IAC), rememplantations as Indentured ber the fallen heroes with labourers operating under a wreath-laying ceremony.

ties that will present themselves in an oil and gas economy?”

On the macro level, it is too difficult, bordering on the impossible to start an oiland gas company, it is too expensive.

The US 300 million revenues expected to be placed in the national treasury will certainly see its way into the national economy form. On the level, howisare you this periodinofsome destructive ousmicro mechanisms, a forpositioning yourself to be in the money when occurs? and vindictive government mal process by this which you Go into the business a fillingmake station,a go into the retailing would appreciate theofdandecision.

When of cooking gas, start an oil servicing company (Mobil, Shell, gers of going to the Cheddi you cut through the razzle Agip, Chevron and Texaco, amongst others, rely on oil serJagan International Airport and dazzleSchlumberger of campaigning vicing companies such as Halliburton, and toTransocean fulfil an overseas obligaand all the shining et al, for maintenance and servicing jobs),fanoffer tion as services an anti-government it isstart a wise legal in the oil and gasfares, industry, an oilchoice spillage activist and having to face which can affect clean-up company, start an oil to andmake gas TV programme, start the dreaded possibility from what your blogging on oil and gas issues, start an oil and gaschildren publishing ofcompany. having drugs planted will carry in their lunch The point is beingThese argued that tootooften, our your conversations in your luggage. kits whether counon oil and gasare have largely the reputation state and the simple fears nobeen more trycentred gets aonbad dependence on same.

Be cautious this approach, due to the wise choice in theabout international arena.we should to balance individual endeavour state depenmade byseek Guyanese.

These This practicewith of democradency, lest we fall into thebesocialcymindset of heavy reliance consequences cannot has been in place sinceon the government to answer all of our prayers. underestimated, especial- the 17th century. It is the I fully get it. The aforementioned insistence on individly in light of the fact that results of the May 11th most of the persons who 2015 elections that have were custodians of the bad erased the shame of Guystate between 1999-2015, ana having a reputation of have gone nowhere, they being a drug-filled banana are the ones waiting in the republic with little law and electoral wings to once order. It is due to our last again reign down terror on vote-casting that we have the population. seen an unprecedented Added to this, an elec- crackdown on the drug tion, besides its conspicu- empire in Guyana and the concomitant positive effects that come along with dealing condignly with this scourge. The average Guyanese party-goer can now remark: ‘Is a long

The 1872 Devonshire Castle Uprising Remembering the five slain martyrs

Historian Isahack Basir

Flashback- Regional Vice Chairperson Nandranie Coonjah laying a wreath

ATTENTION !

By Ronald Austin Jr.

time me ain’t see the argument that politiual effort has to be people consideredisagainst the backdrop of the shooting in parties’. are outthat of touch with economic,up political and socialcians structures have existed This is due to the fact that issues impact the system lives in Guyana before independence andthat beyond.

This Guyanese made a decision of young people.

On favours the privileged and the big capitalists. We seethe this toover elect incorruptible otherbusiness hand, there the valandanover in the construction andismore.

The President for creative id contestation that if polindividualwho can stands strain every and industrious sinlaw and order and cannot iticians refuse address ew in their bodies, without the bureaucratic to support and be enticed by the overtures your issues, it is you who enabling environment, it all comes to nothing. Be that as of the drug empire. Again, must delve into advocacy it may, you are better served with the individual responyour safety when you go and address those issues. sibility mindset. Think more of what you can do with this out to have a good time It is a crime against your oil, instead of what oil can do for you. can be traced right back to fellow citizens to allow electoral decision-making. the rise of the destructive Be that as it may, glob- state by not having an I.D al voter apathy is at its Card or refusing to get up highest percentage. The on national elections day to youth remain the most vote. Not getting involved passive global voter block; is too detrimental.

It is a good time to this is a universal trend. In July 2010, 75% of eligible remind ourselves of the voters between ages 18-30 wise words of William chose not to participate in Lyon Mckenzie King, the US midterm elections. ‘Where [there] is little or The question is: who is to no public opinion, there be blamed for low voter is likely to be bad govturnout by youths global- ernment, which sooner or ly? Politicians or young later becomes autocratic people? On one hand, there government.’

Devonshire Castle Monument

The monument that was built in memory of the five slain sugar workers

10

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

Guyana, T&T sign MoU

… Paving way for enhanced cooperation on energy …President Granger hails pact as win-win for both countries

By Svetlana Marshall

T

APPING into Trinidad and Tobago’s wealth of experience while that country capitalises on Guyana’s natural resources would create a win-win situation for both countries, President David Granger said, moments after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, on Wednesday at State House.

The signing of the MoU, which creates greater avenues for cooperation in energy between the two CARICOM Member States, was wit-

lic, said through collaboration, the social, physical and economic landscape of Guyana can be further transformed.

“Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most developed countries in the Caribbean in terms of its economy, in terms of manufacturing, in terms of the exports, in terms of the standard of living, in terms of education, and Guyana of course is the largest

President David Granger and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Rowley signing the MoU on cooperation in the energy sector

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Rowley making a point to President David Granger shortly after the signing of the MoU

nessed by Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge; and Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses along with other Cabinet members from both sides.

The MoU sets the platform on which Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago can develop and promote joint projects throughout the hydrocarbon value chain, in accordance with identified provisions and without prejudice to their respective national legal systems.

While highlighting the rich history between Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago, President Granger said though the MoU is largely focused on cooperation in energy, the bilateral talks which preceded the signing on Wednesday covered a wide range of areas including agriculture, security and youth and sport.

The President, declaring that there is much to learn from the twin-island repub-

CARICOM state.

“We have abundant raw materials, natural resources – gold, diamond, timber, manganese, bauxite – and we are confident that by collaborating, we will be able to combine the natural resources of Guyana with the entrepreneurial expertise, capital and investment from Trinidad, so for both of us it is a win-win situation,” the Guyanese leader explained.

the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) stronger.

Weighing in on the topic of cooperation, Prime Minister Rowley said the signing of the MoU as well as the Framework Agreement for the deepening of bilateral cooperation, which was renewed earlier this year, will pave the way for economic opportunities to benefit the people of Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago.

“We anticipate that the roles of the Governments in laying the groundwork and providing the encouragement for our private sectors to seize opportunities which are

maximising on each other’s resources and expertise for economic prosperity. “We should not acknowledge the existence of ‘borders’ but let our efforts identify the resources available in each of our countries and to put those resources whether they be financial, raw material, our entrepreneurial skills, to work, so as to grow the economy of Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago, where two groups of people with so much in common and so much history and so much common desire can advance ourselves, that we should not be held back by any bureaucratic impedi-

ecuting committee and a joint working group.

According to Article 2 – ‘Areas of Cooperation,’ the two countries may provide technical assistance in the areas of exploration and production of hydrocarbon resources; exchange information on public policies in the areas of regulation, administration and sovereign management of hydrocarbon resources and technology transfer; promote

this MoU, and will advise on potential areas of cooperation between Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago in accordance with guidelines set by the Executing Committee,” Article 4:01 states.

The Joint Working Group, under Article 4 of the MoU is required to establish Joint Technical Teams, which would be expected to report to the Joint Working Group within three months of their creation; and receive, consider and make recommendations in writing with supporting documentation

Vice-President and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, in discussion with Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses

training and capacity-building of technical personnel; development procedures to prevent and respond to operational accidents which may result in damage, environmental impacts and personal injury.

Under Article 3, the CARICOM Member States have agreed to establish an ExeFrom left, Guyana’s Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Trinidad and Tobacuting Committee, go’s Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Clarence Rambarat; Guycomprising minana’s Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder and isters responsible Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin. (Adrian Narine photos) for energy on both sides. That committee will establish a Joint available to both countries ments,” Dr. Rowley said.

Working Group comprising at this time could only be STRENGTHENING a maximum of 10 representaa good thing for the people COOPERATION COOPERATION tives – five from each of the of Trinidad and Tobago and IN ENERGY He emphasised that the for the people of Guyana,” The MoU consists of a two countries. commitment to strengthen he told those present at the total of 14 Articles, which “The Joint Working cooperation between two signing ceremony. clearly stipulate the areas Group will identify and evalcountries does not only Like President Granger, of cooperation in the energy uate the feasibility of the mean well for them but it is the TT Prime Minister un- sector, and pave the way for projects and activities in a significant step in making derscored the significance of the establishment of an ex- pursuance of the objective of

to the Executive Committee.

According to Article, the MoU does not provide any exclusivity or prohibit Guyana and Trinidad from entering into agreements of similar nature with third parties. The MoU is not a legally binding agreement; however, it is in effect for a period of five years.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin, Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder, Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton, Minister within the Ministry of Finance Jaipaul Sharma formed part of the Guyanese delegation while Trinidad’s Ministers of Energy, Sport and Youth Affairs, Planning and Development, and Agriculture and Fisheries accompanied Prime Minister Rowley.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

11

Understanding Energy...

Examining costs and audits

W

ITH first-oil production in 2020 fast approaching, many Guyanese are naturally curious about the costs of exploration and development and what role the Government of Guyana played in approving them.

For example, last week it was widely reported that the government did little or no verification of the pre-contract and development costs for the exploration of the Stabroek block and the ongoing development of the Liza Phase 1 project.

Given the complexity of both the operations and their related costs, it is worth examining the development process in Guyana and comparing it to other projects in an international context.

The increase in pre-contract costs, beginning with US$100,000 in 1999 to a cumulative total of US$460 million in 2015, is indicative of the general cost of offshore exploration activity. Though it is a large figure, the $460 million is not surprising, given that the significant deep-water, oil-exploration efforts such as those that occurred in the late 2000s and mid 2010s are costly.For example, just the drilling of Brazil’s deep-water discovery Tupi well in 2007, is said to have been $270 million and the costs leading up to the drilling would be much higher.

According to figures that Exx-

on’s subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited provided to the government, they spent approximately $140 million for seismic surveys on 20,000 km of ocean floor and more than $65 million to pay geologists, geo-scientists and engineers to identify promising oil formations. It also cost $230 million just to drill the first exploratory well at the Liza site.

It’s important to note that pre-contract costs are not “paid” by the government. The Exxon-led consortium risked their capital on these exploration efforts, with no guarantee of finding oil. Now that oil has been discovered, these expenses are part of cost-recovery, a standard provision in production-sharing agreements (PSAs) across the globe. Cost recovery allows companies to recoup all of the costs, without profit or mark-up, for exploration and development -- mostly in the first few years of production – from the initial oil produced, and before profit oil is shared between the government and the consortium. The $460 million was the cost already incurred and accrued under their 1999 Petroleum Agreement and has been carried forward into the current agreement.

Reports have also drawn attention to the treatment of Exxon, its partners

Go ...

level, but at a community level to power the schools, medical centres and factories,” he stated, according to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency.

“We have to take energy seriously, because once your community could generate sufficient energy, you can start producing mango juice and guava cheese, cashew nut butter [to name a few] that you want to buy in Georgetown. Energy is the key and your leaders must seek sources of energy at any cost, because energy is going to propel the economy,” the Guyanese leader told the audience.

In his address, he also touched on the importance of environmental security, referencing reports made by the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) on the pollution of the waterways by miners.

“Environmental security is very important if we are going to provide for food security,” the President said, noting that every region needs to have an envi-

ronment policy, so that children would grow up knowing that the environment is their future.

He said poverty must not be taken for granted, while stressing that there is need to reduce poverty. He said too that many persons are still deemed extremely poor and noted that poverty in the Rupununi, as in other parts of the country, can be reduced and ultimately eradicated if villages have economic independence.

REFLECT ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS President Granger also called on the people of the Rupununi to reflect on their accomplishments over the years and look towards enhancing their village economies. He reminded that an economic foundation is key to a prosperous life. “It is the economy which keeps society going… our economic survival is most important. Every society is determined by the way it makes its living. If the quality of life is to improve, hard decisions have to be made”, the President said.

and in fact, the entire offshore oil and gas industry under tax laws. Guyana’s tax terms under the contracts were purposely designed in a way that would attract foreign investment to what was, at the time, an unproven and risky Region. Typically, the tax and royalty conditions in production contracts vary, based on the estimated potential of the reserve at the time that the agreement is drawn up.

That tax plan has paid off, with Guyana looking at sizeable investment and the potential for tens of billions of U.S. dollars in oil revenues by the mid-2020s.

Former petroleum advisor Jan Mangal has also publicly said that the $4.4 billion cost of developing the Liza Phase-1 project could be reduced by as much as 20 percent; however, he provides no insight into where this saving could come from. In reality, the $4.4 billion figure is simply an estimate of project costs for a project that is not yet complete. These costs can’t yet be audited, because the companies are still in the process of incurring them and final numbers won’t be available until after the project is complete.

If the actual costs billed to ExxonMobil are lower than the $4.4 billion estimate, then the company simply has less cost to recover. Exxon and its partners must outlay their own

capital for development, so they are incentivised to keep costs as low as possible, while maintaining project integrity and safety.

Whatever the final figure, by most international measures $4.4 billion seems far from unusual. Oil and gas projects are highly capital intensive. For instance, a new deep-water oil-drilling project off the East Coast of Canada that was announced in July, will cost Norwegian driller Equinor and the regional government an estimated $5.2 billion U.S. to develop. That project is estimated to produce only 300 million barrels of oil, compared to an estimated 450 million for Liza Phase 1. uyana’s oil find is also unique, in that the country must develop production capacity from scratch. Frontier exploration and development is inherently more expensive, since so much of the equipment and materials have to be brought in from far away, local personnel must be trained and the supporting infrastructure – such as ports and roads – must be improved.

Floating production storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) themselves cost around $500 million to $1.5 billion dollars. The Girassol FPSO, for example, which now operates off the coast of Angola, cost a reported $756 million. Exxon and its partners are already in the process of

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building a larger FPSO for the Liza Phase 1, the Liza Destiny, which is slated to cost around $1.2 billion and will produce 120,000 barrels per day.

Exxon is also employing two deep-water drilling ships, which can cost upwards of $300,000 U.S. per day on multi-year contracts. All these costs are on top of the costs of laying undersea pipe; installing control and pumping systems; drilling wells; building shore bases; renting, maintaining and crewing support vessels and helicopters and employing hundreds of trained staff.

Examined in the context of the resources required for offshore development and compared to other international development projects, the numbers seen here are less shocking and really quite normal.

If questions remain about whether and how exactly the government verified all these costs, an audit should be conducted, and it needn’t be a contentious matter.

Audits are a routine part of doing business in the oil and gas world; and the IMF and World Bank have well-established programmes to aid countries in conducting them.

Guyana would be right to continue accepting this kind of help to ensure that costs are accurately accounted for under Article 23.2 of the PSA, which allows Guyana to audit all recoverable costs.

Bashraidrun by the Brazilians is set to begin on October 4, 2018.

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St. Ignatius Village, which sits on Guyana’s border with Brazil has a small population, but President Granger believes that much more can be done to enhance the livelihoods of those who live there. “We in Guyana have to be very careful as we plan our economic survival, not only for this year and this month, but to ensure the long-term survival of our country,” the President said.

He called on the people of the Rupununi to build resilience to make Region Nine strong.

“Think about how we will build resilience to make this region strong; strong enough to withstand any economic pressure. Strong enough to ensure our children and grandchildren will live better lives than we live and that our parents and grand-parents lived,” the head of state said.

Food security The head of state also addressed food security, saying that it is one of the most important elements in the economy. “The region has to be

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food-secure,” President Granger declared, emphasising that to ensure food security there must be the sufficient production of food which can be shared in other areas. “We must not let our products go to waste,” he added. The villages of the Rupununi, he noted, have the capability to move from subsistence farming to sustainable farming because Region Nine, perhaps more than any other region, is susceptible to the vagaries of the weather.

“We have to become more resilient. In a few days’ time, over five dozen members of the Brazilian Construction Engineering Battalion will be coming to this great region to provide some environmental security, so that we have wells during the dry season to provide water to families and livestock and we won’t go from these cycles of excessive water to drought,” said President Granger. The drilling of artesian wells in the villages of Aishalton, Chukrikednau, Shea, Maruranawa, Awaruwaunau, Karaudanawa, Achiwib and

UNITY Also speaking at the event was Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock, who called for greater unity among the people of the Rupununi. He cited unity, respect, management and honesty as a few important characteristics of success. Similarly, Regional Chairman Mr. Brian Allicock noted that it is through unity that progress has been made in Region Nine. Chairman of the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) and Toshao of Shulinab, Nicholas Fredericks, noted that the heritage celebrations should be seen as a time for reflection on the contributions made by the Indigenous communities towards the building of the nation. He said too that reflections must not be focused only on positive things, but also on areas of improvement. “We should celebrate in a meaningful way,” said the NTC Chair, who called on residents of the Rupununi to work hard to have their various issues resolved. “We have a lot of work to do. We must never be divided; let us work together in unity and celebrate in unity,” he stated. Mr. Fredericks also

referenced the need to preserve the cultures of the indigenous peoples.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mrs. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, also spoke at the event before the presentation of a cheque for $1M to the St. Ignatius Village and another for $500,000 to the Regional Democratic Council through Regional Chairman Mr. Brian Allicock. These were presented

by President Granger.

A number of footballs were also handed over by President Granger to Toshao of St. Ignatius, Dennis Benedict. Also present at the opening of the Rupununi Regional Heritage celebrations was Minister of Public Affairs, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mr. Alfred King; and Brazilian Vice-Consul, Ms. Lisa Mary Sousa Dos Reis. The regional heritage celebrations will come to an end on September 29.

Licensed to carry 12

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

--gov’t issues 139 gun licences to 12 Indigenous communities --move comes after gun amnesty programme

Some of the firearm licensees who purchased their weapons on spot Friday at Kamarang after being issued with their approval to bear arms (Leroy Smith photo)

Story and Photos by Leroy Smith THE Guyana Government, in an unprecedented move, on Friday issued 139 gun licenses to as many residents of a total of 12 Indigenous communities in the Upper Mazaruni.

The gesture is in keeping with a promise made by the government to the residents of Paruima, Waramadong, Kamarang/ Warawalker, Kako, Quebenang, Hawalla, Phillipai, Wayalayeag, Chinoweing, Way Creek, Ominaik and Imbaimadai that should they turn in their illegal weapons during the ‘gun amnesty’ of late 2015, they would be assisted in acquiring arms and ammunition the legal way.

According to officials of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, while residents of other Indigenous communities across the country did hand in illegal weapons during the period, it was the communities in the Upper Mazaruni who had the largest turnover of illegal arms and ammunition, numbering more than 200.

It was, however, pointed out during the process that

not everyone who turned in their weapons during the amnesty period were given licence to bear arms and ammunition, as it was found during the background checks that they were not authorised to do so.

The government facilitated the purchasing of the weapons, and also wrote to the Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority asking for a waiver on the taxes on the guns.

The residents reportedly paid more than half the price they would have originally been asked to pay for the shotguns which were issued to them, had government just granted them approval to bear arms and ammunition.

Some of the persons who handed in their weapons back in 2015 were reissued them on Friday, but with the necessary legal documents to carry them. Those weapons were found to be serviceable at the time they were handed in, and as such they were serviced and handed back to their owners.

Minister of Public Affairs Dawn Hasting told the gathering of close to four hundred persons on Friday that she was asked by President

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan hands over an approval letter

David Granger to remind them that it was while he was at the very Kamarang Community Centre Ground that residents there called on the government to have a gun amnesty, as they felt that there were too many illegal arms and ammunitions in the hinterland locations.

“He says to wish you well, and to use your arms for your livelihood; not for anything else,” she said, adding: “He says to tell you not to point your weapons at your neighbours, but to use them for the sole purpose of providing for your families and the protection of

your farms. So that is his message for you.”

The minister also reminded the residents that they could have been jailed for being holders of illegal arms, but that the government has taken a decision to give them that second chance.

RESTORE LAW AND ORDER Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs Sydney Allicock, in his address, pointed out that the amnesty period for illegal weapons and ammunition was a move by the government to restore

law and order, as it allowed for better planning for communities, regions and the country at large.

He said that it was the government’s intention to have the licences delivered to the residents during the Heritage Month celebrations, but it was not possible given the technicalities and consultations with the other stakeholders, who had a part to play in the process.

Another setback, the minister said, was having to deal with those persons who were not registered and had to have the necessary source documents, such as

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

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Dawn Hastings-Williams, Minister of Public Affairs, who represented the President, hands over an approval letter

Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Sydney Allicock makes a presentation to a resident

Police Lance Corporal Kuratas walks a female recipient through the paces of familiarisation with her brand new shotgun

Deputy Commissioner, Paul Williams presents an Indigenous resident with his firearm licence

A section of the gathering at Kamarang on Friday morning where they were briefed on the process

birth certificates in some instances.

He then called on those residents who are now legally qualified to carry arms and ammunition to be responsible in the use of their weapons, and ensure that there is proper storage and safeguarding of same in keeping with the conditions under which they were issued.

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said he was pleased to be part of the process to be delivering on yet another promise of the Coalition government; that he is partly to be blamed for the inconvenience Upper Mazaruni residents suffered when they had to turn in their weapons, but that it had to

be done, as the government was also attempting to regularise the process of determining the amount of arms in the hinterland.

He, however, cautioned that it is expected of them to exercise the best of care and caution in the use of their firearms.

“I am urging, as security minister, that you appreciate that having a firearm under the laws of Guyana and also under the practices of good safekeeping and use of firearm makes it especially challenging; you must not feel, like some people who I know, when they have a firearm they put it down on the table with a bottle of rum and they start show off.

“No, no, no! You have to be responsible and disciplined; the person with it becomes more responsible to the community.

“If I start getting complaints that the people who have the licences and approval misbehaving silly and stupidly, I am going to revoke it; I am going to take it away.”

CARE AND ACCOUNTABILITY Deputy Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams, who was also present at the event on Friday, echoed the call by the minister that residents should ensure proper care and accountability for the weapons.

“Those firearms were ballistics-tested,” he said, “and if there is any aspect of its use, or the turning up at a crime scene, the licence holder will have to answer.”

He also told them that there is no need to share or borrow rounds, and that they must safeguard their cartridges when going hunting, as persons can steal them and plant them at crime scenes.

He said that in the same way the Force had no quarrel with them when they carried illegal weapons, now that they are licensed holders, it does not expect to have to be dealing with any misuse of the weapons.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

Guyana, Barbados to ink sign economic pact

President David Granger (Adrian Narine photo)

PRESIDENT, David Granger has announced that Guyana will soon sign an economic cooperation agreement with Barbados.

The initial idea behind the pact was discussed during the ninth meeting of the Prime Ministerial sub-committee of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) in Barbados early this month, said President Granger during his remarks at the launch of the Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition (GuyTIE).

The announcement of the new cooperation agreement comes one day after Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote energy cooperation right here in Georgetown.

“We see Guyana’s future in the Caribbean and we see the Caribbean’s future in Guyana,” the President stated while highlighting the Caribbean as an important common market amidst trade wars and Brexit. The combined land space of the countries of the Caribbean Community is almost equivalent to that of Sweden. President Granger pointed out that this has the potential for increased intra-regional trade.

Intra-regional exports, at the end of 2014, stood at a 13.1 per cent of total regional exports of US$22.3 Billion, he noted.

The region’s estimated US$4.5B annual food import bill, the Head of State said, could be slashed. However, he noted that there is a need for intensified collaboration between local, regional and international firms to grasp opportunities, which can provide a platform for global market penetration.

“Guyana’s economic development has been constrained, historically, by the small size of its population, small domestic markets and the small range and volume of primary commodity exports. These have made its economy highly vulnerable to exogenous economic shocks,” the president noted.

He touted the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), as the way to build more resilient economies, not only in the Caribbean but also locally. Reference was made to the CSME’s long-term aim of creating a single economic space with an enlarged market producing globally competitive goods and services. The President committed that Guyana will continue to pursue regional economic cooperation in order to

build greater prosperity and global competitiveness.

On Wednesday President Granger said tapping into Trinidad and Tobago’s wealth of experience while that country capitalises on Guyana’s natural resources would create a win-win situation for both countries. He said the MoU with TrinPrime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley idad and Tobago sets the platform on which the two countries can develop and promote joint projects throughout the hydrocarbon value chain, in accordance with identified provisions and without prejudice to their respective national legal systems. “Our economic interests are intertwined with those of the region and we will continue to pursue regional economic cooperation to build greater prosperity and global competitiveness… Guyana’s future is in the Caribbean and the Caribbean’s future is in Guyana,” the president said.

Guyana recommits to NAM principles …calls on body to protest attempts by states to infringe on sovereignty of others

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UYANA on Wednesday told a meeting of the NonAligned Movement (NAM) that it embraces the principles of peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for the territorial integrity of states, non-interference in the internal affairs of states and solidarity with other states.

These are principles on which the movement was founded and Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge told his counterparts that they have over the years produced rich synergies and served “us well in all aspects of our development endeavour.”

The meeting was held at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. “First, we must renew our faith in multilateralism as the catalyst for creating the world of which our forefathers dreamed and which it is our obligation to make a reality,” Greenidge told the forum.

He said Guyana was heartened by the convening of theministerial Meeting of the movement, noting that it is timely on account of the fact that, as has been previously recognised, “we live in a world that faces multiple, complex and newly emerging threats and challenges to international peace and security.” For this reason, Greenidge said “Guyana endorses the prudence of recognising the importance at this juncture in harnessing and enhancing multilateralism to respond effectively to the myriad challenges we face, especially within the framework of international law.”

Greenidge told the forum that for Guyana, as a small, developing country with well-known security challenges, the multilateral recourse has been an automatic instinct and imperative. “In commending this approach that we have ourselves faithfully and fruitfully pursued to the consideration of all member states, as we seek to entrench a culture of peace, let me mention four specific aspects that my delegation is convinced will lend to accelerated progress towards a culture of peace.”

He told the countries represented that their embrace of multilateralism must be holistic and authentic. “While our perspectives may differ, dialogue, engagement and compromise

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge addressing the meeting

must remain at the heart of multilateralism, as these are the means by which we can achieve real results. The challenges we face at the current juncture require us to act in concert to generate real solutions; and my hope is that we will work together for the triumph of multilateralism.“ Additionally, Greenidge said while multilateralism is being held as the vehicle for achieving our collective goals, this can never translate into a dissolution of our sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence. “On the contrary, Mr. Chair, we come to the table as sovereign equals capable of contributing to decisions that ultimately affect the well-being of our peoples. Guyana abhors all attempts to infringe on the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of states and urges the movement to be unrelenting in its protest against every action that seeks to compromise these sacred principles.”

EQUALITY Additionally, Greenidge affirms that Guyana respects the inherent dignity, equality and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, which he said remains the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. “One

of the principal tenets on which a culture of peace must be based is full respect for and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Our work is incomplete as long as any person anywhere continues to experience the violation of his or her rights and as a peace-loving force; the NAM must have the moral suasion to cite those who perpetrate human rights violations with seeming impunity, even more so when they are numbered in this movement. The movement must be clear, consistent and unified in responding to all instances of infringements,” Greenidge asserted.

He told the forum that peace and development are intertwined and interdependent and one cannot be achieved without the other. “As a movement essentially of developing countries, we know too well the struggles associated with poverty, including extreme poverty – struggles that are often compounded by insecurity and instability created by the presence of illicit weapons in and perpetuation [sic] of illicit activities in our territories. Mr. Chair, we have to collectively undertake the mammoth task of confronting the elements that produce insecurity in our countries and in our world at large.”

Greenidge said as daunting as it may appear at times, “let us be ever mindful of the fact that insecurity is detrimental to development. I therefore urge all of us to renew our commitment to the UN’s disarmament agenda and not in word only, but more importantly by requisite action as together we work for development, peace and security. “ The Guyanese minister said it is clear that progress towards a culture of peace will entail the “reshaping of our collective mindset towards values, attitudes, traditions and modes of behaviour, and ways of life that are conducive to peace.” He said within this context, it is critical to strengthen solidarity among members of the movement and to set the example, so that the seeds of the culture of peace planted so long ago must not only take deeper root, but come to full fruition throughout the world.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

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Guyana and China sign bilateral agreements

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge and State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, as they sign one of several agreements on Saturday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, stands alongside State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, shortly after signing an agreement on Saturday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, and State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, as they discussed bilateral issues on Saturday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, greets State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, on his arrival at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre on Saturday. (Delano Williams photos)

UYANA and China on Saturday signed several agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.

The signing took place at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre during the visit of State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, during an address to several government officials including Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder and Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma as well as Chinese diplomats, said that the two sides held constructive and productive discussions on a range of important issues related to their bilateral agenda.

“Minister Wang’s visit today will no doubt contribute to the strengthening and advancement of our relationship. I am confident that, through our combined efforts, it

cooperation areas identified under the MoU, in order to extract practical benefits for our countries and peoples.

He said that while the MoU outlines broad areas of collaboration, such as policy coordination, enhancing connectivity, promoting trade and increased people-to-people exchanges among others, the two countries must now identify specific proposals and develop a mechanism by which projects and programmes in these areas may be proposed and evaluated at the technical level.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has commenced discussions with other agencies in order to secure their inputs to assess their needs and to identify priority areas.

Greenidge said those agencies were represented at Saturday’s forum and he noted that government is committed to utilising this new framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as existing bilateral mechanisms, to channel support to critical sectors, namely

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will continue grow from strength to strength, on the basis of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation,” Minister Greenidge said.

The Chinese Foreign Minister said that the two countries have enjoyed mutual respect over the years. He said Guyana has been China’s trustworthy, longstanding partner and friend.

He said the two sides covered much ground during their bilateral cooperation agenda.

The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative two months ago. Minister Greenidge said the signing of that MoU represents yet another milestone in Guyana-China relations and according to him, “will certainly add impetus to our efforts to promote deeper cooperation and collaboration in critical areas.”

Minster Greenidge said the two sides discussed how they will move forward with the

infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy, health and ICT inter alia, in order to bring direct benefits to our citizens.

Among the agreements signed on Saturday is a Framework Agreement to implement the Guyana National Broadband Project.

This project will see the upgrading of the network to enable an equitable delivery of service in the education, health, security, business and other sectors.

On Saturday officials and members of the media witnessed the official handing over of China’s contribution towards our hosting of the Seventeenth Session of the Committee for the Review and Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in January of 2019.

Minister Greenidge said it may be the first occasion on which the Government of China has contributed cash to “this very important undertaking.”

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

From truck driver to author Young Guyanese aims to help others to maximise their potential

“I WANT to teach people to be great at what they do, how to succeed and how to be the best you can be and how to get better results; how to work fewer hours for more money. Stop working hard and start working smart!”

Those are the words of Raymond ‘Ray’ Harlall, a Guyanese-born entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, international speaker and business coach, who did not complete college, yet he owns and operates several businesses and is earning a six figure income annually.

Raymond, who has a passion to serve humanity, is on a mission to give back by sharing his knowledge, skills and expertise. He wants to share how to stop working hard and start working smart so that we can maintain perfect health, maximise wealth and ultimately, achieve peace of mind.

The 29-year-old resident of Toronto, Canada, who is formerly from #56 Village East Berbice Corentyne, is on the verge of launching his third book ‘The Handbook to Holistic Health’ which he produced, published and co-authored with 20 other world-renowned experts through one of his companies, the Local Experts Group. He is the author of two other books, including one which he co-authored with New York Times best-selling author Dr. Brian Tracy. He is also the award-winning Author of “Financial Freedom by 30”, which has a Foreword written by New York Times best-selling author Raymond Aaron. Harlall owns and operates a large transportation company; inclusive of a trucking company, auto-sale, auto rental, taxi and driving schools internationally, in addition to his publishing company and video marketing companies.

Speaking with the Pepperpot Magazine, Harlall explained that he wants to produce and publish 20 books by 2020, so he can make himself more financially viable to return home to give back and help develop his country.

“I want to build an empire where I don’t need to be present to earn and am free to move around so I can dedicate my time to my homeland. I have a passion

college but opted to return to Guyana to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering. However, given his Canadian status he had to pay higher tuition rates and decided to return to Canada to work and attend college. Upon his return, he decided to start earning to pay for his tuition and worked fulltime as a labourer in a warehouse while attending part-time school on the weekends.

In a bid to elevate him-

Young successful Guyanese businessman, Raymond Harlall

for helping youths and I see a lot of our youths in Guyana are very talented but need help, and I want to lead them in the right direction to help realise their full potential,” he said.

No stranger to struggle himself, the humble young man recalled his days at No. 56 Primary School before gaining passes to New Amsterdam Multilateral, where he spent a year but had to transfer to Skeldon Line Path Secondary School.

companies within the US and Canada.

It was on one of these many trips from Canada to the US where he fell asleep at the wheel, however that became the turning point in his life.

the fire and passion in him, Dr. Grant introduced him to his colleagues and after learning he had over a million views across 224 countries, they sought his help in reaching the younger population through his channel.

Raymond Harlall shares a moment with Hollywood Actor Sylvester Stallone, at an event

Cover of ‘The Handbook to Holistic Health’

“Fortunately I was okay [but] that basically woke me up. It took me falling asleep, risking my life to make money. At that moment I realised that money is not as important as my life and my health,” he said.

Raymond decided to go hands in and invested over $USD 50,000 in self-development instead of going to a traditional school (College).

He went to seminars, training, workshops, read books, did online courses, received coaching and got several mentors

SELF-MADE At age 14, he migrated with his family to Toronto, Canada where he completed high school and started

Raymond Harlall speaking at an event in Canada

Harlall and his wife, Divya Sieudarsan

self, he dropped out of college and started doing certification courses to move up the ranks in his company, firstly by becoming a forklift operator, then upgrading his license to become a hauler driver.

He continued by upgrading himself to a forklift trainer and started a YouTube channel giving instructional videos on driving and operating, and with the extra cash he eventually bought his own trucking company moving freight for Amazon and other

NEW DIRECTION After getting a second chance at life, as he puts it, Harlall evaluated his life and recognised that in a bid to earn and live a celebrity-like lifestyle he was doing more harm than good to himself and decided to consult Dr. George Grant a Health and Wellness coach who is also a professor with the World Organisation of Natural Medicine, to help him on the road to healthy living.

The two formed a great relationship and recognising

for different aspects of life and business such as health and wellness, finance, writing, public speaking, real estate investment etc. and started the Local Experts Group.

FOLLOWING HIS DREAM He then decided to pursue his boyhood dream of writing and did two successful books with renowned authors but he wanted more and he pitched his idea Turn to page

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

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Affordable gas and electricity

– for all Guyanese when oil and gas production begins, says Greenidge

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HE use of natural gas to supply electricity via a 300-megawatt turbine and the production of domestic bottled gas are atop government’s priorities when resources from Guyana’s oil and gas industry come on stream.

This is according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, who was at the times addressing a Town Hall meeting at York College, USA, before an audience of the Guyanese diaspora.

“The biggest problem that Guyana faces today in terms of development on the investment side are the concerns in relation to ensure that energy is provided. Guyanese households pay more for electricity than any other country in the Caribbean; so an urgent necessity is to use the resources to bring the charges for electricity to an affordable level,” Greenidge FROM PAGE

said.

According to Greenidge, if realised, the electricity provided by the natural gas would be even more than what would have been made available with the Amaila Falls hydropower project.

“The first step would be to utilise, as soon as it’s available, gas from Liza 1 for driving a turbine which will supply electricity equivalent to 300 megawatts, [that is] roughly twice the size of the output that would have come from Amaila if it had delivered what it was supposed to deliver,” Greenidge explained “So one early and immediate consequence of the find will be to ensure that power is presented to Guyana at a reasonable rate. So we’re speaking now of the laying of pipeline from the vessel that is drilling to the coast; building that pipeline

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From truck driver ...

of doing a collaborative effort with Dr. Grant and his colleagues taking from his own successful journey.

The rest, as they say, is now history as what initially started as a collaborative effort with three to five authors is now a mega collaboration with 21 of the sharpest minds on the planet- all experts in their own fields including the Foreword written by one of the world’s number one motivational speakers, Leslie Calvin "Les" Brown.

Despite not yet officially released, the book and its launch titled ‘The Power of Collaboration’ slated for October 27, is an already eagerly anticipated event.

On the day of the launch, the e-books will be available on Amazon at a special price.

Given that people can now purchase one book instead of 21 to get the best of the authors. Ray is already looking at how he can produce 17 more books covering various sectors in as short a time as possible so he can focus on his goal of returning home and helping to provide guidance to those in need. “ I want young people who have a passion; who really I see are trying and searching for answers. I don’t

want them to spend their whole life searching, I want to help them to be the best at what they do,” he said.

A very strong advocate for local leaders and local development, Harlall is encouraging companies and governments to seek local expertise first before looking outside of the community or country, which is why he returned home in Guyana in 2015 for 25 hours just to exercise his franchise in the national elections.

Though already successful, he feels he has a long way to go in his bid for self-development but is happy that he has his wife, former Miss Guyana India Divya Sieudarsan, by his side to help him along the way.

His advice to those with dreams is, “Take the first step, even if you stumble and fall you would have already started making it a reality, but don’t be like most people who instead of trying, wait and make excuse that ‘I have to go to school first.’ Unless you get up and get it done, it won’t happen. You have options beyond the traditional routes. You can see yourself whole and learn how to balance all the parts in equal harmony.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge

and connecting that pipeline to turbines and eventually replacing the diesel power that [GPL] depends on for the supply of electricity to

Georgetown. It would also be used to bottle gas, so that domestic cooking, which is largely done in Guyana with gas, will also be provided

from the rig.”

The idea of using natural gas from Guyana’s discovery to generate electricity is a notion that has been in consideration since last year. The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) in an advertisement invited expressions of interest (EoI) for the development and installation of a 50-megawatt (MWs) capacity natural gas-fired power plant Addressing the gathering on a number of issues, including the plans for Guyana’s oil and gas industry, Greenidge noted that aside from directly using the gas, government is also banking on immediately investing in several infrastructural works across the country.

These include the construction of the Linden/ Lethem Road and the new bridge across the Demerara River.

“The purpose of the exercise is to address in the first instance the infrastructural inadequacies of Guyana, first as I say is power. Second would be the transport network. We do have an inadequacy of roads, and bridges associated with roads, in Guyana and that has to be a priority. The bridge across the Demerara [River], as you know there is an existing floating bridge constructed in 1978; it poses many problems in its operation.

So these are among the priorities,” Greenidge related.

Guyana to host ninth Caribbean Beekeeping Congress …focus to be on developing local sector

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Nigel Cumberbatch

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UYANA will be hosting the ninth biennial beekeeping congress from November 19 to 23 under the theme: “Natural Beekeeping for a Green Caribbean.”

At a simple launch held at the Ministry of Agriculture’s boardroom, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Nigel Cumberbatch said that there is much scope for the agricultural sub sector to develop. He said that according to the information he received, Guyana imports about the same amount of honey that it produces and that should not be in the coming years.

“We have an industry that has the ability to grow and there’s that market that we can attain by growing,” he said.

“We must push production… we have a market right here and we should be able to satisfy that market.”

Locally, beekeeping businesses produce honey and other products on

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar

a small-scale basis. But according to Cumberbatch, now is the time to expand and commercialise. Expansion of apiaries and diversification of products can be had as part of the overall developmental thrust in society, he suggested.

Additionally, he noted that while the highest producing apiaries are on the coast, hinterland areas show great potential and can be developed so that persons may become self-sufficient.

He specifically pointed out women’s groups and schools that can benefit from revenues.

Moreover, this congress also provides an opportunity for the regional beekeeping community to address the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Importantly, at the launch, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar highlighted the ban on the transshipment of Guyana’s honey through Trinidad.

This ban has been a law for over 80 years from 1935, but its amendment was only sporadically raised at CARICOM meetings. At the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Energy Sector Cooperation between the two countries, the Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister seemed optimistic that the discrimination against Guyana’s honey would be removed, once the entry of Guyana’s honey would in no way affect Trinidad’s biodiversity.

This is still to come to fruition Indar assured that the chamber will keep up the fight against this ban and assured the GGCI’s support for the subsector. And while Cumberbatch stressed that production in the sector needs to be upped, Indar was of the view that if jobs are to be created in the sector to foster the growth of the sector, then focus must be placed on creating revenue.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

Guyana to host international robot competition next year

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TEMGuyana has signed an agreement with the International Youth Robot Association (IYRC) to be the prequalifying body responsible for organising the annual qualifier national robot competition among local students to represent Guyana at the international competition.

STEMGuyana will work with public and private local partners to host the IYRC league pre-qualifier competition in Guyana in 2019.

The competition is expected to attract more than 100 school teams, community centre clubs and other civil society organisations in the 7-12 years, 13-17 years and open categories of the competition.

Participation in the IYRC competition means that Guyana now participates in two global competitions, including the First Global competition in which Guyana sent two national teams to represent the country in 2017 and 2018.

The 2018 IYRC will be held November 30 – December 1 at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, while the location of the

2019 competition in which Guyana will compete has not yet been announced. For the young people participating in the robotics league, the annual competition will be the culmination of months of preparation which will see students develop their technical skills while strengthening their communication, collaboration and critical-thinking skills.

Co-Founder of STEMGuyana, Karen Abrams, said Guyana’s participation will, for the first time, allow primary and secondary schools students and out-of-school youth in Guyana to join more than 100 nations in the world, whose youth are able to benefit from participation and exposure to robot-building and programming activities at the global level.

“Our young people will gain the confidence and expertise needed to excel at the global level and the early exposure will ultimately benefit student Maths and Science performance,” said Abrams.

“Our major challenge is to ensure that young people from all walks of life are able to participate -- not

Children at work during a robotics workshop

just those whose parents and schools can afford robots, “said Abrams. To that end, she is asking private sector organisations to sponsor robot kits for clubs and schools in the communities in which their customers live.

“We also thank the Office Of The First Lady, GTT, the diaspora, the Department of Youth, the Ministry of Ed-

ucation and the Ministry of Public Telecommunications for their support in making the programme possible,” said Abrams.

Abrams went on to note that the STEMGuyana plan for 100 STEM clubs in 2019 was ambitious. However, with the support of the public and private sectors and the diaspora, she is confident that

everyone would work together to ensure that Guyanese youth are allowed the same opportunities to prepare for the future that children in wealthier countries are given.

STEMGuyana will certify more than 50 STEM club coaches in October 1- 4, 2018 and plans a second session of another 50 potential coaches for the

following week. Schools and clubs interested in participating in the national league in 2019 are encouraged to call STEMGuyana at 592-616-4454 or email stemguyana@gmail.com to register for the October 8-9, 2018 training programme.

Chinese firm Huawei to undertake expansion of broadband system

T

he contract for the advancement of the Guyana National Broadband Project is to be performed by Chinese firm, Huawei.

This is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Monday.

Over the weekend, China and Guyana inked a US$37.6 million agreement geared towards boosting Guyana’s broadband capabilities covering several sectors. “This is actually the continuation of the work being done by Huawei,” Minister Harmon said, noting that the signing of the documents represented the final part in the process in gaining approval of the loan through the Chinese banking system. He said the

company will soon start work which is to be done under the programme.

Huawei, in the past, constructed the US$32M E-Government network on the coast of Guyana. This network consists of a fibre optic system in Georgetown, and a 4G LTE network that covers the coastland from Skeldon to Charity. Last November, Cabinet granted a no-objection to the US$37.6 million contract with Huawei.

On Saturday, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge and China’s State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, signed the agreements at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, at Liliendaal.

Minister Greenidge said that the project will see the upgrading of the network to enable equitable delivery of service in education through e-classrooms, health and security through the provision of CCTV cameras to businesses and other sectors. The construction of another data centre as a backup to the primary data centre and improvements in the capacity of the government’s network will be undertaken under the project.

In July, Guyana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) thereby creating a window of opportunity for both parties. The agreement was signed within the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative. It will see Guyana benefitting significantly in the areas infrastructural development, trade and investment and other critical areas of mutual interest.

On Monday, Minister Harmon dispelled any assertions of any secrecy in the MoU. He said if there is a call for every MoU signed between government and a bilateral or multilateral agency to be made public, government will have to make a determination in that regard. ”MoUs are signed between governments worldwide,” he said. He said there was much publicity regarding the MoU signed between the Government of Guyana and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago recently, but according to him, President David Granger said that it would be made public and the next day it was available to the public.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

Greenidge attends unveiling of Nelson Mandela statue at UN Headquarters

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(l-r) Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Mr. Ralph Gonsalves, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, Mr. Carl B. Greenidge, following the unveiling of the statue of Nelson Mandela

V President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, standing alongside the statue of Nelson Mandela

ICE President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge on Monday joined Heads of Government attending the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York for the unveiling of the Nelson Mandela statue just outside of the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters.

During the ceremony, United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres noted

that “Nelson Mandela embodied the highest values of the United Nations – peace, forgiveness, compassion and human dignity.”

The unveiling of the statue also marked the start of the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, a high-level plenary meeting held to celebrate 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela, as well as to promote his values.

$3.2B new North-West ferry coming

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HE long awaited Georgetown to Barima-Waini (Region One) ferry is one step closer to reality, as a US$15.6 million ($3.2 billion) contract for the construction and supply of a passenger and cargo ferry vessel, and associated equipment, has been awarded to SHOFT Shipyard Private Limited.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, made the announcement at a post-cabinet briefing on Monday, explaining that the contract took some time as the funding arrangements had to be finalised.

It was in November 2016 that the government signed a US$18M Line of Credit agreement with the Export-Import Bank of India for the procurement of an ocean ferry to service the Georgetown to North West District (Region One) route. The USD$18M comprises a USD$8M grant and USD$10M concessionary loan to be repaid within 20 years with a five-year grace period.

“It has taken some time because these things have to go through our public

service, that is one thing and the Indian public service is also another issue. It takes a bit of time from the actual conceptualisation of a project to funding for it. So it would have gone through several phases and would have now gotten to the point where a company has been identified to construct the ferry,” Harmon explained.

The call for a new vessel for the Region One route has been a long time coming as many describe the journey on the current vessel as treacherous and the service unreliable. The vessels that usually traverse the Parika-Mabaruma (Region One) route have “exceeded their lifespan” and the service provided to the residents has been compromised, as the vessels are in constant need of repairs.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, on signing the contract had noted that the acquisition of the new vessel will ensure that the range of social and economic benefits is maximised. “This new ferry vessel will increase efficiency and operations

by allowing passengers and freight to be conveyed more swiftly with fewer delays and reduction in travel time,” Jordan stated.

“Over the years, the res-

idents of this Region have complained bitterly about the negative impact of the service on their lives and livelihoods. The introduction of this new passenger

cargo ferry is to provide improved services to those residents who commute regularly between Regions One and Four.”

Meanwhile, another

The MV Barima which operates between Georgetown and the North West District during a recent trip back to the city

contract for $413M was also awarded, under the MoPI for the rehabilitation of the Leguan Ferry Stelling

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

Local oil service company receives ISO Certification

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ITH an investment of approximately $10M, Guysons Oil and Gas Services, and Guysons Engineering have received ISO certification-- Guysons Oil and Gas Services being the first Guyanese oilfield service provider to receive such accreditation.

The ISO 9001:2015 certification requirements established by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) were acquired by the two companies with the support of ExxonMobil Guyana’s Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD).

In making the announcement on Wednesday at the Centre for Local Business Development by Guysons Oil and Gas, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Faizal Khan said the acquisition of ISO 9001:2015 certification is a major achievement for the two companies. He said the globally recognized certification has enabled the Guyanese-owned companies to better position themselves.

“What does ISO certification means to Guysons?

Well, for the first time, Guysons, because of our quality management systems, are tendering for international-based tenders. So we are currently going through tenders for companies in Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago; that wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the ISO certification,” Khan told those present.

ExxonMobil’s CLBD Project Director, Patrick Henry; Guysons CEO Faizal Khan and ExxonMobil Guyana Operations Manager, Mike Ryan, holding a replica of the ISO 9001:2015 certificate. (Samuel Maughn’ photo)

He noted that Guysons Oil and Gas Services, and Guysons Engineering, are also in communication with internationally-based investors and partners, who had earlier required that quality management systems be put in place.

The Guysons Group CEO and advisers would be travelling to Houston, Texas, later this month to finalise a joint venture with a major International Oilfield Company to support Tier 1 Operators.

Guysons is also in partner-

ship discussions to support Sub Sea Operators.

With design and machining capabilities and a wide customer base in Guyana’s manufacturing and mineral extraction industries, Guysons has been serving a number of companies, especially those requiring heavy-duty machinery, such as gold and bauxite mining.

ExxonMobil’s CLBD Project Director, Patrick Henry, said while the local business development centre paid for ISO 9001 compliance,

Free core ...

activities regarding the operation and maintenance of urban services.

“The Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme will bring significant benefit to citizens especially those living in project areas. I urge you to encourage citizens to support the programme and those who are eligible for subsidy, I ask you to encourage them to apply,” Saul said.

Several questions from the audience and presentations from Community Development Director, Gladwin Charles and Architect, Kurleighene Hinds, revealed other guidelines and specific details of the project.

REQUIREMENTS To qualify for a core

home, the applicant must demonstrate that he/she is living in a low standard building which does not meet habitable requirements or which structural condition justifies replacement.

Other selection procedures include persons coexisting with two or more nuclear families; living in an at-risk area prone to floods or other conditions and any other specific situations stipulated by the CPHA. The applicant must also be the owner of the property holding either an Allocation Letter, Agreement of Sale, Transportation or a Certificate of Title to Land while completing full payment for the lot.

Core houses will have no

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Guysons invested heavily to bring it to fruition. “Guysons had to make investments in their stock, in their facilities, in their procedures, in their training to get better to meet the requirements,” he explained.

ExxonMobil Guyana Operations Manager, Mike Ryan, said the ISO certification is a strong indication of the high standards companies’ exhibit. “ExxonMobil and others in the oil and gas industry recognise this standard as somebody that

we can work with, that can deliver on commitments.

That’s important to us. It is a demonstration of how they can work and how they collaborate with industry. It provides better internal management, increases efficiency and effectiveness of the processes, it improves customer retention and acquisition and it provides consistent outcomes that are measured and monitored,” Ryan explained.

He said the achievement

by Guysons Oil and Gas Services, and Guysons Engineer-

8

less than 330 square feet and will be single-family homes constructed an estimated cost of US$20,000.

Its design is expandable and includes a sanitary block (septic tank, toilet and shower); kitchenette; living room; standard bedroom spaces; basic doors, windows, electrical wiring and water connections; a multi-purpose skink; concrete outer walls; concrete floor slab and wooden porch rail and stairs.

In addition, the CPHA will provide material and labour to construct the unit.

Beneficiaries must contribute G$100,000 as equity share contribution and the CPHA provide the building plan which beneficiaries must obtain approval for at the

Members of the audience making queries at the stakeholder sensitisation meeting at the Regency Suites Hotel (Delano Williams photo)

relevant authority and pay associated cost for such.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS Meanwhile, for home improvement, the selection procedure is the same as for core homes with the addition that the selected plots must be free from any illegal encumbrances or owner

limitation and occupied by the owner.

The CHPA will provide materials to the beneficiary up to the value of G$500,000 while the beneficiary must provide all labour to implement the improvement works and other criteria.

They will be focused on basic improvement includ-

ing, reinforces the position that Guyanese suppliers are up to the challenge.

In a statement issued during the simple ceremony, Guysons said its oil and gas company is more focussed on oilfield services, provided by a team of professionals with vast expertise in engineering, client relations management, customs and immigration management, freight and logistics management—and most importantly, oil and gas operations and supply-chain management.

“Moreover, Guysons is ideally located to serve the oil and gas sector. The company’s 35,000 sq. ft. head office facility is just a three-minute drive away from the ExxonMobil Guyana Shore-base in Houston, Georgetown.

In addition, Guysons has a bonded warehousing and open storage facility at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport,” it said.

The companies took approximately six months to achieve the ISO 9001:2015 certification. The umbrella company believes that achieving the ISO 9001:2015 requirements has opened unlimited opportunities for growth. It is now putting the necessary systems in place to attain American Petroleum Institute (API) certification as well as other ISO certifications. ing repairs to roofs, walls, floors, expansion to address overcrowding, sanitation improvements, rainwater harvest, improvements to water units and other modifications for persons with disabilities.

The application process for both core houses and home improvements will be opened soon and notice of such will be widely disseminated to the media, LDOs and community groups.

Meanwhile, 30 per cent of the labour force needed to construct core homes is expected to come from within the communities to facilitate job opportunities.

Also, following queries from the audience, the CPHA confirmed that measures will be taken to guard against the resale of the houses by opportunistic individuals.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

21

President commits to safe environment for investors

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RESIDENT David Granger on Monday evening assured that his government is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all investors.

President Granger was at the time addressing a large gathering at the Chinese National Day, which was held at the New Thriving Restaurant, Providence, East Bank Demerara. The Guyanese leader said Guyana shares a common desire with China to deepen and strengthen economic relations and trade, while highlighting that the Asian powerhouse plays a key role in this country’s development.

He said since establishing diplomatic ties in 1972, Guyana and China have maintained mutually beneficial, high-level and friendly relations for forty-six years based on mutual respect, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and cooperation for mutual benefit.

“Guyana recalls its principled support for United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of October 1971 which recognised the representatives of the government of the People’s

President David Granger addresses invitees at this evening's reception as First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Mrs. Nagamootoo, Minister of State Mr. Joseph Harmon and Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Cui Jianchun and Ms. Liang Huili look on

Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations,” President Granger noted.

He said relations have been cemented through continuous cooperation in culture, defence, education, energy, health, infrastructure, medicine, mining and other fields. “This was most evident during the recent visit of His Excellency, Wang Yi, State Councillor and Minister

of Foreign Affairs. During that visit Guyana and China seized the opportunity to strengthen our programme of cooperation for the mutual benefit of both states,” he said.

The President noted that Chinese grant resources support teachers’ training, it’s assistance to the nation’s ICT sector will improve national telecommunications and Chinese materials have helped

the recapitalisation of the Defence and Police Forces.

“The Belt and Road initiative is a strong indicator of China’s transformative vision for the world. Guyana signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate within the framework of the Initiative. We welcome increased Chinese investment. We are committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for all investors. International

environmental cooperation, in the context of the threats posed by climate change and natural disasters, is an urgent necessity. We look forward to learning from China’s experience in protecting the environment and in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. Guyana and China have much to celebrate,” the Head of State said.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Mr.

Cui Jianchun in his remarks, echoed similar sentiments as he noted that the relationship between Guyana and China is characterised by friendship and mutual goals. He noted that over the past year, much success has been achieved between the two nations and he therefore looks forward to forging stronger ties. “The relationship between Guyana and China has entered a new chapter. The Chinese Embassy stands ready and willing to provide more and more opportunities for China- Guyana cooperation and greater achievements. With our concerted efforts, the China- Guyana relationship will be even brighter in the new era,” he said.

The event was also attended by First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo, Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, who is performing the functions of Minister of Foreign Affairs, members of the Cabinet, former President, Donald Ramotar and Mrs. Ramotar and members of the diplomatic corps among others. (Ministry of the Presidency)

A section of the gathering at the reception held in honour of the Chinese National Day at the New Thriving Restaurant

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

Public, private engagement necessary for oil and gas – Dr Bynoe ...Hughes, Fields & Stoby establishes presence in Houston, Texas

Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes as he addressed the gathering on Friday night. (Photos by Adrian Narine)

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UYANA must improve its systems of governance and transparency, inclusive of public procurement to reduce potential downstream leakages associated with petroleum revenues.

This is according to Dr David Mark Bynoe, Head of the Department of Energy of the Ministry of the Presidency.

He made the remark during an address at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel on Friday night, when the local law firm Hughes, Fields and Stoby announced its partnership with the U.S.-based firm Access Point, to become the first local, legal and business protocol firm to establish a Houston, Texas presence.

The move was made in recognition of the emerging importance between the American energy capital

Head of the Department of Energy at the Ministry of the Presidency, Dr Mark Bynoe

Greg Clark, an attorney who will manage the local law firm’s offices in Houston, Texas.

A section of the gathering at the event.

and Guyana, as an emerging energy powerhouse.

Speaking to an audience which included several ministers of government, including Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin, Bynoe said that the department continues to seek to engage those who may have a mandated responsibility and comprehensive advantage as the oil and gas sector evolves.

He said a mixture of public and private engagement would appear more feasible, noting that the department must also engage members of the public, schools, technical institutes, universities and the private sector to ensure that they are prepared not just for oil and gas, but for the first-oil and the resources emanating thereafter.

“The best we can do for our

people is to build their capacities, to be able to participate in the move that is projected to come from oil revenue,” he told the gathering.

Dr Bynoe said the department is keen to ensure that the systems of transparency and governance will ensure that all receive equal opportunities. He said the department wants to ensure that all Guyanese benefit from oil and gas revenues and as such, it aims to commit systems and work with other stakeholders to ensure that it is a first.

He said the body continues to seek partnerships “to seek maximum returns” which would derive from the sector to the benefit of all Guyanese. He cautioned that while Guyana remains open for business, there should be “balanced relationships” as the sector evolves.

Dr Bynoe noted that oil revenue is a catalyst for longer, transitional

and sustainable development. He said there must be evolving capacity to ensure that in years to come, Guyanese can do it themselves where the sector is concerned.

Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes speaking on the partnership of the law firm with Access Point, noted that in preparation for the “new beginning”, the firm determined 18 months ago that it is critical and significant that it improves its human capital resources to international standards to prepare for the demands of an unrelenting international business environment.

He said the law offices will be on hand in Houston to guide potential clients through what will be a complex process of establishing business relationships in Guyana.

He said that from legal representation right through to assistance with appropriate business protocols

and linkages, to a network of officials in the public and private sector, a client’s every need is attended to. Hughes said that new linkage provides a new image for Guyana.

U.S. partner, Greg Clark, who worked with ExxonMobil as well as Occidental Petroleum Company, a large oil and gas company as that organisation’s general counsel in the past, will lead the Hughes, Fields and Stoby team in Houston.

Clark expressed hope that his presence will expedite a more timely service on behalf of the law firm. Clark said that what is unique about Guyana as compared to the other countries where he worked, is that the laws were already in place.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 5, 2018

23

COURTS Pee Wee football competition

Sixteen more matches on today

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IXTEEN more matches are on today as COURTS Pee Wee football tournament gets going at the Ministry of Education ground.

The tournament, which is also being sponsored by Banks

DIH, through its Malta Supreme and Rainforest Waters brand, is into match day two.

In the first game, Sophia will play Mae’s on pitch one with St Stephen’s and Winfer Gardens playing on pitch two. Both games are set for

WI in ...

Left with the final session to navigate, West Indies made a mess of their reply, crashing to 94 for six at the close, as seamer Mohammed Shami (2-11) made key strikes to put in train the visitors’ demise.

Only right-hander Roston Chase, unbeaten on 27, showed any enterprise as wickets tumbled around him, leaving the Windies still trailing by a mammoth 555 runs heading into today’s third day.

Needing a solid performance after being kept in the field for the first two sessions, West Indies experienced a nightmare start when captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s (2) off-stump was sent cartwheeling

by Mohammed Shami in the third over, after the right-hander was late on a defensive jab.

Kieran Powell followed for one in Mohammed Shami’s next over, lbw playing across a fulllength delivery, as the Windies slipped further at seven for two in the fifth over.

Shai Hope struck a couple of lovely punches down the ground for boundaries but he played down the wrong line to one from off-spinner Ravi Ashwin and was bowled for 10 at 21 for three, and exciting left-hander Shimron Hetmyer was tragically run-out for 10 in the 12th over after he and Sunil Ambris (12) found themselves stranded in the same crease.

Ambris, back in the squad for the first time in 10 months, lasted just 20 balls before edging an extravagant drive at left-arm spinner Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane at slip.

Chase, batting at number six, then attempted to halt the slide in a 25-run, sixth-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich (10) – the best stand of the innings so far.

Showing a penchant for counter-attack, Chase struck four fours – mostly lofted hits down the ground – in a breezy 38-ball knock while Dowrich was more watchful in his 35-ball innings.

But with the day drifting towards a close, Dowrich was lured

FROM PAGE

12:30hrs.

At 13:10hrs South Ruimveldt will play F.E. Pollard while on the second pitch St Pius face Redeemer.

Marian Academy and Clonbrook clash on pitch one from 13:50hrs while West

24

into an injudicious drive at left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav and was bowled, with the ball clipping the top of off-stump.

Tail-ender Keemo Paul, in only his second Test, bludgeoned a four and a six in an unbeaten 13 to see West Indies to the close.

India had earlier turned the screws on the Windies after resuming the day on 364 for four, with Kohli becoming the second fastest batsman in history to reach 24 Test hundreds, after the iconic Sir Don Bradman.

All told, the right-hander faced 230 balls and counted 10 fours, posting his fourth triple figure score this year and moving into fourth place on the all-time list of India century-makers.

Significantly, he extended his fifth-wicket stand with Pant to 133, helping to put India in total command at lunch on 506 for five.

Pant, a 21-year-old left-hander in only his fourth Test, played with gay abandon, striking eight fours and four sixes off a mere 84 balls, before perishing about 45 minutes before the interval.

Kohli, unbeaten overnight on 72, reached his landmark inside the second hour with a boundary to fine leg off Bishoo, and reached the break on 120.

He had extended his sixth-wicket stand with Jadeja to 64 when he departed in the sixth over after the resumption, clipping Lewis to Bishoo at mid-on.

West Indies then enjoyed their best period, claiming three wickets for 37 runs as India stumbled at 571 for eight. However, any hopes of quickly wrapping up the innings were dashed by Jadeja who belted five fours and sixes in a 132-ball innings, to frustrate the Windies.

He put on 55 for the ninth wicket with Umesh Yadav (22) before the declaration came at tea.

Ruimveldt and BV battle on pitch two.

Victoria and Enterprise are set to clash from 14:30hrs on pitch one with Tucville versus Den Amstel on the adjacent pitch. Mocha Arcadia and J.E. Burnham will

meet at 15:10hrs along with Timehri and Ann’s Grove on pitch two.

Grove and Colaaco contest from 15:50hrs along with St Ambrose and Parfaite Harmonie on pitch two.

Goed Fortuin and Soes-

dyke meet from 16:30hrs along with Smith Memorial and Plaisance Orphanage on the opposing pitch.

St Agnes and Craig close off the afternoon along with North Georgetown against St Margaret’s.

Clarke begins training for next competition after third-place finish in Barbados

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R GUYANA Kerwin Clarke began training for his next bodybuilding competition on Tuesday, days after battling to a thirdplace finish at the Darcy Beckles Bodybuilding Invitational Classic and Bikini and Body Fitness Championships in Barbados.

Last Saturday night’s competition proved bittersweet for the five-time Mr Guyana, given that he did improve from his previous showing seven years ago (his first career international competition), but he also felt that the result could have been different.

“I honestly had myself right there in the top two, but I can’t see myself as against the other competitors. When I am on stage, I am in my own zone.”

Kerwin Clarke collects his third place prize from promoter of the competition Roger Boyce.

TOTAL PACKAGE The former CAC gold medallist (2016) finished behind overall winner Wendel Setropawiro who hails from Suriname and Barbadian Kirk Alleyne in the competitive Invitational competition.

“I put together a total package that without a doubt I thought that it set me aside from the other competitors, but the judges went for the guys with more mass.”

Nevertheless, the 31-yearold said that the experience was great. “The judges’ decisions are final…I can be nothing else but thankful. It has been a great accomplishment, I don’t think there is any other Guyanese who has done this well at that particular show.”

Clarke, who trains at Space Gym, is now preparing for the Stage of Champions, which is scheduled for Georgetown in the first weekend of November.

COURTS Pee Wee football competition

Sixteen more matches on today

Part of the action during the COURTS Pee Wee football tournament

WI in trouble!

94-6 replying to India’s 649-9 declared

(CMC) – WEST Indies suffered a now familiar batting collapse after India captain Virat Kohli struck his 24th Test hundred and Ravindra Jadeja his first, as the Caribbean side left themselves with an enormous task of saving the opening Test after only the second day here yesterday.

The right-handed Kohli stroked a high-quality 139 to add to 18-year-old opener Prithvi Shaw’s 134 from Thursday’s opening day, an innings which helped power the hosts to 649 for nine declared – their highest-ever total against West Indies.

Jadeja hit exactly 100 not out while wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant missed out on three figures with 92, as West Indies bowlers toiled without much success on a chastening day at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo picked up a four-wicket haul but leaked 217 runs from a marathon 54-over spell while debutant fast bowler Sherman Lewis ended with two for 93.

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West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite walks away after he was bowled by Mohammed Shami on the second day of the opening Test.