Guyana Post Newspaper

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ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER

Monday June 15, 2021

ARYA ALI IS “GODMOTHER” OF LIZA UNITY FPSO

REGION TEN VICE CHAIRMAN DIES

THREE DIE IN WEST BERBICE ROAD ACCIDENT

Tuesday June 15, 2021

ARYA ALI IS “GODMOTHER” OF LIZA UNITY FPSO

President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, and President of CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Ltd Liu Xiaoxiang hands over a token of appreciation to “God Mother” First Lady Arya Ali.

The Liza Unity, Guyana’s second floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel has been officially dedicated by the First Lady of Guyana, Mrs. Arya Ali. Mrs. Ali is the ship’s “Godmother”.

The vessel is preparing to set sail from Singapore for Guyanese waters.

President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, and

President of CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Ltd Liu Xiaoxiang hands over a token of appreciation to “God Mother” First Lady Arya Ali. The ceremony was held at the Cara Lodge Hotel on Saturday.

Traditionally, the vessel “godmother” bestows luck and protection over the vessel and crew during its journey.

have been outlined by the Government of Guyana.”

ExxonMobil Guyana’s president Alistair Routledge, said, “The construction of the Liza Unity FPSO meets our objective of maximizing value for our partners, the government, and people of Guyana.

With the addition of Liza Phase 2, those revenues will multiply, and utilization of local content will continue to grow, bringing important benefits to the country,”

The People’s National Congress in a statement said that it mourns the death of Mr. Douglas Gittens, Vice-Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council of the Upper Demerara-Berbice

Region. Gittens was elected to that position in September 2020 after the General and Regional Elections.

Mr. Gittens was at the forefront of assisting in the Region’s flood relief

were constructed and added to the hull by Keppel at their shipyard in Singapore.

The naming ceremony marks a significant step for the Liza Unity in Singapore before it sets sail for Guyana.

The Liza Unity has a production target of 220,000 barrels of oil per day and an overall storage volume of up two million barrels.

Production from Liza Unity is expected to start up by 2021

Mrs. Ali highlighted the importance of this project to Guyana. “This project will materialize in the form of local content growth; meaning more jobs for Guyanese and more opportunities for local businesses and increased revenues.

“When prudently managed these things will certainly help us President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, and President of CNOOC Petroleum to achieve many of the Guyana Ltd Liu Xiaoxiang hands over a token of appreciation to “God Mother” First Lady Arya aspirational goals which Ali.

THREE DIE IN WEST BERBICE ROAD ACCIDENT

REGION TEN VICE CHAIRMAN DIES

Mr. Douglas Gittens, Vice-Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council of the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region.

he added.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, addressed the impacts of the project on the continued growth of the industry.

The hull for the Liza Unity FPSO was built

by Chinese shipyard ‘Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding. It is based on SBM Offshore’s Fast4Ward programme.

It is the first FPSO in Guyana to incorporate the company’s “design one, build many” approach.

The topside modules

efforts in Kwakwani and other flood-affected communities for which he held direct responsibility.

He travelled frequently to various parts of the subregion to supervise flood relief efforts.

Mr. Gittens, only 38 years old, was paired with the Regional Chairman, Mr. Deron Adams, of the same age to lead the RDC. He taught Information Technology and Caribbean Studies at the Mackenzie High School. His death is a loss for the people of Linden Town, the Region, and to the People’s National Congress.

The PNC extends its deepest condolences to Mr. Gittens’s mother, Ms. Enid Gittens, to his family and friends, to his colleagues on the RDC, and to the residents of Region No. 10.

A fatal accident on the Fort Wellington Public Road, West Coast Berbice, this morning claimed the lives of three people and left several others critical.

A taxi in which they were all traveling slammed

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into a pole after the driver reportedly lost control of the car in the pouring rain.

Motorcar #HC 6077 driven by Carlos Edwards Jr, 23, of Lot 39 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice,

and his passengers Hookumchand Parmanand, 61, of # 36 Village Corentyne, and one so far unidentifiable female have been counted among the dead.

Continued on page 3

Landlord being questioned for fire at his home

A landlord in the Better Hope Area is said to be at the center of an investigation after being blamed for setting fire to his own building in order to have a tenant and her three kids out.

The tenant, according to reports did not comply with an eviction order.

That landlord was identified as 56-yearold, Mumtaz Ali of

Better Hope, East Coast Demerara. The incident on Sunday around 19:00 hours.

Reports suggest that Ali as the landlord served his female tenant a legal notice to remove from the premises.

The woman failed to comply.

In order to get the tenant and her children out, Ali reportedly set his

room on fire. The tenant was selling food when she observed smoke coming from the house.

The Guyana Fire Service managed to put out the fire with the only damage being done to the house. Through investigation, the tenant claimed that they saw the landlord running from the house into the neighbour’s yard.

THREE DIE IN WEST BERBICE.....

Continued from page 2

Those critical are also identified Lakeram Mangal, 57, of lot 696 Angoy’s Avenue New Amsterdam Berbice; Joyclyn Cole, 27, and Carolyn Edwards, six months old, both of Lot 39 Stanleytown New Amsterdam Berbice.

The incident took place around 4:30 am today.

Inquiries disclosed that motorcar #HC 6077 was proceeding west along the southern side of Fort Wellington Public Road at a fast rate.

While negotiating a left bend in the road – during

the rains– he suddenly lost control of the vehicle and collided into GECOM’s concrete and mesh fence before ploughing into a GTT lamp pole. Finally, the vehicle turned turtle into a drain.

As a result of the collision, the driver and passengers received injuries to their bodies.

They were then conveyed to Fort Wellington Public Hospital, where they were examined by a doctor on duty who pronounced the driver Carlos Edwards Jr, Hookumchand

Parmanand, and the unidentifiable female passenger; dead on arrival.

The other passengers were treated and later transferred to N/A Public Hospital for further medical attention.

Lakeram Mangal is being treated for lacerations to his head, and his condition is regarded as critical but stable.

Joyclyn Cole’s condition is regarded as stable while Carolyn Edwards’s condition is regarded as critical but stable.

Further investigations in progress.

Tuesday June, 15 2021

Contracted sanitation workers protest over short pay

A group of men from the Sophia area is calling on the relevant authorities to pay them the rightful sum of money that they really work for during a clean-up project in the area.

In the protest, the group paid the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, a visit this afternoon to voice their complaint since according to them they are fed up with the “run-around” Speaking on behalf of the group several of them said that they felt that they would have been robbed and that the authorities have turned a blind eye to them because of where they came from.

One of the workers said that even as the records show that work has been done the original payment was not made in the end by a Contractor.

“This (name supplied)…now from the time we start he said we are getting pay between $6,000 and $10,000 to chop in the trench. Almost everybody starts chopping in the trench because you know everybody going after the money.

“When the work done, we had to pick up the grass. That is another task. However, when that finishes we end up in Turkeyen Police Station forget to pay.

“I don’t know why he carries us in Turkeyen Police Station to get pay.

Now he did his own Math and multiple everything by six and what he came up with he just gives it to us.

Right now Sorby they owe me about $100,000, and that has been written

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down. Now is time to pay I can’t get all my money and I want to know why and who give them this contract,” one worker said.

Additionally, the men have insisted that all they want is their money because they have done an honest day’s work and should be able to be paid honestly.

“Well, all everybody wants is their money because they are working for an honest dollar. This man gives us a contact number to call him and when we go by this man’s house this man came out and pull a gun on us.

When we go to the station everybody getting rob.

You ask to make a report, police said to remove it from the station.

“If you talk you will get lock up. That is what they are telling us for our money. People work hard for their money,” another worker noted.

Another worker said that the notion of Sophia people does not want to work is not true. The worker said what is true is that they work but most time has to face the situation of not being paid or paid well.

“Them is quick to say Sophia people don’t work; Sophia people is thief, Sophia people don’t want to work and watch what’s going on here. We already work and we cannot get our money.”

The men are calling on the authorities to look into the matter since they claim that they are being taken for a ride. They are being told to go to various places for their money and when they arrived at the said

location no monies are available for them.

They are also calling on the President, Irfaan Ali, to look into the matter since they are insisting they have families to feed in a time of Covid-19.

Those sentiments were echoed by Mayor Narine, who said that since the project does not fall under his authority all he can do is call on them to find a solution.

He said that they deserve their payment and in a COVID-19 situation along with many other things happening, it is not a situation that should escalate anymore.

“It is not a good thing at all. I believe that they deserve their payment because they are pretty young and I know some of them to express themselves that they worked.

“It’s not like they didn’t work. And, they show me pictures and all these things and what type of work they did. They remove their vegetation from the canal and all these things.

“So, it’s not a good thing for the environment at this point of time due to COVID-19.

“So many things are happening in our country at this time.”

According to the protesting group, the project falls under the Ministry of Agriculture.

It has been close to two months since works have been completed in the area.

Some of the workers collected less than half of what they worked for.

Thursday June 10, 2021

OVER 25,000 HOUSEHOLDS IMPACTED BY FLOODWATERS ACROSS GUYANA.

The Civil Defence Commission has reported that since May 18, 2021, the Commission received reports of more than 25,000 households

impacted by flooding in more than 300 communities across Guyana.

The CDC is collaborating with

stakeholders including Central Government, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, Regional Democratic Councils, the Private

Sector and NonGovernmental Organisations to provide food, cleaning supplies and shelter to floodaffected residents in

Region Ten. Kwakwani is one of the most impacted communities with a total of 90 residents evacuated to shelters being managed by the CDC. The Aroaima Nursery and Primary Schools currently accommodate 36 residents.

There are 33 at Kwakwani Primary School, seven at Kwakwani Secondary School Hostel and 42 at Hururu Day Care Center To date, the Civil Defence Commission has dispatched 2,250 food hampers and 2,000 cleaning hampers to

support affected residents in the region.

Minister Frank Anthony stated that the Ministry of Health dispatched teams countrywide to monitor for water-borne diseases and to distribute medical supplies to residents.

The Civil Defence Commission will continue to collaborate with Government, Local Democratic Organs, Non-Governmental Organisations, and the Private Sector to provide relief to flood-affected residents in communities in every region in Guyana

EAST LA PENITENCE MAN HELD FOR KILLING GOLD MINER Following the shooting death of a Trans Guyana Airway baggage handler during the course of a robbery late last month, a 42-year-old, a man from East La Penitence has been charged and remanded to jail. The defendant, Allister Naughton, of East La Penitence Squatting Area, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate,

Ann McLennan, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to enter a plea to the charge.

It is alleged that Naughton on May 28, 2021, at Camp Street, murdered 40-year-old, Ronald Smith, during the course and furtherance of a robbery.

As such, Naughton was remanded to jail until July

6, when he will make his next court appearance On the day, in question it is alleged that Naughton was one of two men on a motorcycle. He reportedly rode up to Smith, opened fire Smith took a backpack containing cash from a gold deal.

This incident occurred after Smith made several stops via car while

conducting business in and out of the city, in the company of a miner who was driving him in motor car PZZ 6065.

During that time, Smith made a sale of gold and placed the $437,000 cash received in a haversack, and went to visit his girlfriend.

After the visit, Smith and his girlfriend were standing in front of the

Impeccable Beauty Salon when they were confronted by the suspects who came from an unknown direction.

The pillion rider dismounted from an XR motorcycle and discharged two rounds at Smith who fell to the ground. The assailants then took away Smith’s haversack containing cash and made good their

With effect from Monday, June 7, 2021, members of the media will be required to produce proof of their COVID-19 vaccination

card or a negative COVID test result before gaining access to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre for Sittings of the National Assembly.

Reporters must provide proof of vaccine or COVID test

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escape north on Camp Street.

Smith was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention. The body was examined and three circular wounds were seen, one to the upper left shoulder, one to the middle region of the belly, and one under the right armpit area

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Thursday June 10, 2021

JOB LOSS COUPLED WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE FLOODS

ADAM’s Notebook The Ministry of Health regrettably informs that as of June 5, 2021, four more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died.

This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 409.

That was the traditional opening of the news report from the Ministry of Health.

And the number had increased by five up to Tuesday.

Once more, most of the COVID-19 victims are women. Where a few months ago men outnumbered the women in infections, women have taken the lead.

This may be because women have been faced with the additional burden to keep food on the table. And it is no secret that most of the households in Guyana are single-parent households.

The trend is worrying; the number of deaths info@guyanapostonline.com

is increasing as is the number of infections. For the past two months— April and May—nearly 200 people died of the dreaded coronavirus.

Not long after the nation touted April as he deadliest month, up comes May. Already for the first eight days of this month nearly 20 people have died.

The vaccination campaign is moving ahead. Yes, there is still some hesitancy among a few but for the greater part the wider society having been encouraged, is visiting the various vaccination centres.

No one can fault the reports that the coronavirus is racing beyond control in Guyana. People are no longer dying by the ones and twos; they are dying by the fours. These are terrible times.

Already there has been an impact on economic activity. Many small

businesses have closed their doors if not because of COVID guidelines, then because people simply did not have money to support them.

This situation makes the spate of dismissals in the public sector even more worrying.

People were already struggling in the face of the pandemic. Now the government is adding to their woes. And to make matters worse, there seems to be no end in sight to the dismissals.

There was the initial batch of some 1,500 from the public sector.

Last week Guyana Water Inc announced that it was sending home 157 workers. And this number does not include those whose contracts expired and were not renewed.

All told, according to the Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh GWI will trim 300 workers.

People are crying; women who are single

parents have been sent on the breadline with one month pay in lieu of notice. When things are bad they are really bad.

First came the pandemic. Many had to tuck in; some lost jobs. Then came the widespread sackings that forced people to cope with joblessness and the pandemic. As joblessness increased up comes flooding that has wiped almost everything that some people had.

The photographs are telling. There is water to the roofs of houses.

And if the water is so high, imagine what has happened to crop and livestock. People’s entire life’s possessions have disappeared and there is no lifeline on the horizon. Perhaps some may get $25,000 again.

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But there is hope. Irfaan Ali has announced that he is going to create 50,000 new jobs. Employment opportunities loom for those who have been sacked. Rest assured that there are not enough people out there to take up the 50,000 new jobs.

Of interest is the pace with which the government and the government departments are moving to dismiss people. Many of these people are at the bottom of the employment scale. They work for the minimum wage or slightly more. They do not really impact the pay roll.

When the Chief Executive Officer of Guyana Water Inc said

that by sacking 300 people the company would save $230 million per annum, it turned out that the figure is less than one million per year per individual.

If that sounds a lot then divide by 12. It is about $85,000 per month. And these people who had little to keep themselves alive, are being denied even that. But then again, GWI said that the company was overstaffed.

So in my quiet moments I wonder about a government that cares not whether any of its people go to bed hungry. But that is power—the power over whether people eat or whether they live or die.

Email or text your letters to us, we would be happy to have publish them ExxonMobil Oil Rig

lendellnurse6995@gmail.com

adameharris@yahoo.com info@guyanapostonline.com info@guyanapostonline.com

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