K
U.S taxes crude, NEWS money placed in - Guyana urged oil spill trust fund to follow suit AIETEUR
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
Friday Edition April 08, 2022 - Vol. 24 No. 14 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 67,082
Norton backs calls for renegotiation of oil contract …says Guyana in better position to seek re-adjustment
Low catches forcing fishermen into illegal zones …government urged to speed up study on impact
Comedian Man gets 14 years Henry Rodney for chopping passes on pregnant wife
More fossil fuel projects represent moral and economic madness ...World must triple speed of shift to renewable energy - UN Secretary General
Angola receives 20% Royalty plus taxes, pumping 1.9M barrels of oil per day for the past 31 years. on Kaieteur However, Angola has US$76B in debts, while begging to feed its people today.@11:00hrs Radio 99.1/99.5FM
PAGE 02
Kaieteur News
Friday April 08, 2022
Man killed in drunken brawl at Goed Intent rum shop
Devon Cummings on the day of the incident.
Police in Region Three are now probing the death of a 32-year-old man who was reportedly chopped and stabbed to death following an altercation at a restaurant in Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara on Wednesday. Dead is Devon Cummings called ‘Palmer’ of Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara. He was killed on Wednesday afternoon. Police in a release stated that around 16:50hrs that day, the now deceased and one of his friends were
passing from the backdam when they saw other friends including the two suspects imbibing alcohol at the restaurant which is located on Back Street, Goed Intent. The report further states that Cummings and his friend were invited to take a shot of rum to which they agreed to. At the time, one of the suspects had his cutlass in his hand. Shortly after imbibing, it was reported by the police that a ‘tantalizing’ (taunting) started and Cummings said he was going home and walked out the shop. While leaving the premise, an argument then ensued between Cummings and another male which led to a fight. Though information about the argument remains unclear, detectives reported that Cummings hit one of the men and this caused one of the suspects to arm himself with a cutlass. Reports state that one of the suspects pushed Cummings against a wall while the other pulled out a knife and stabbed him to his (Continued on page 24)
Kaieteur News
Friday April 08, 2022
Norton backs calls for renegotiation of oil contract …says Guyana in better position to seek re-adjustment
By Zena Henry The A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition just over a month ago pledged support to government in any renegotiation efforts pertaining to the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed with oil operators in the lucrative Stabroek Block. The parties’ incoming Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton, has not only endorsed the renegotiation idea, but he believes that Guyana is also in a better position to reengage its foreign partners now that there is a clear picture as to the country’s offshore oil riches. Norton told the Kaieteur News during an exclusive interview that there is no longer uncertainty associated with Guyana’s oil wealth. He said that, among other reasons, is enough for considerations relating to the adjustment of the PSA. The soon to be sworn in Opposition Leader explained that when Guyana drew up its first oil related contract, there were a lot of high risks associated with the initial projects. He said that as he understands it, the tendency of negotiations at the time, was to cater for those high risks because of the uncertainty that surrounded the presence and value of the resource. “Now that the evidence is there, that we have the oil resources, I believe it is a new context and we must engage Exxon (Mobil) noting the new context,” Norton highlighted. He said that even now, in the very PSA that binds the
Incoming Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton government and its oil partners, there is an Article that speaks to the parties engaging each other where matters of changes and modifications are concerned. U n d e r t h e P S A’ s miscellaneous section, Article 31.2 says that, “This Agreement shall not be amended or modified in any respect except by written agreement entered into by all the Parties which shall state the date upon which the amendment or modification shall become effective.” Norton believes that the Article leaves space for the government to reengage its foreign partners and state Guyana’s case within the new scheme of things. He said that being antagonistic towards the partners would not be beneficial, “but I believe if you prepare your wellarticulated case and you mobilise support for it both n a t i o n a l l y a n d internationally then you will get much more benefits for the People of Guyana.” Norton continued that the oil offshore Guyana is the people’s national patrimony.
He said that Guyana has accepted a foreign company with the capacity to explore and produce the oil and they have done so. It is only the right of Guyanese to expect from its leaders to ensure the best for its people. As a party, Norton said, once in government, they will pursue, “the issue of ensuring the people of Guyana benefits.” He said that renegotiation is only one avenue in seeking betterment for citizens because in our current position, even with the little that is being earned, it is not focused on the development of citizens, particularly in developing their capacity. Norton said that he is focused on getting the best out of Guyana’s oil riches and that should be the same priority for the government. During budget debates last month, Natural R e s o u r c e s M i n i s t e r, Vi c k r a m B h a r r a t h a d described the PSA signed by the then APNU+AFC government as the worst crime committed against Guyanese. The People’s Progressive Party government had campaigned on renegotiating the oil and gas PSA during elections but have so far ditched the idea. A number of “oppressive” provisions have been flagged in the PSA. Some of these relate to huge tax giveaways, paybacks on interests for loans, payment of legal fees for oil companies and inadequate environmental protection among others. The AFC’s David Patterson has said nonetheless that the opposition is ready to support the government in (Continued on page 9)
Man who killed teen for sitting on his bench charged A 45-year-old labourer was on Thursday charged for allegedly murdering a teen on Monday at Hogg Street and Independence Boulevard, Georgetown. The defendant, Lenny Fraser, was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison for the offence by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. He is expected to return to court on the April 28, 2022. Fraser is accused of stabbing Isaiah Smith, a 16-year-old boy to death for refusing to move from his premises. Smith’s
friends who had witnessed him being killed recalled that it took place around 14:55hrs. They had been sitting together with him on a bench situated on the eastern side of the suspect’s home. Fraser allegedly came out and ordered them to move but smith refused and was allegedly slapped by the suspect. A scuffle reportedly ensued between the two during which the suspect allegedly pulled out a knife from his pants waist and stabbed Smith to his abdomen. Smith then reportedly turned and ran but collapsed a short a distance away.
PAGE 03
Fisherman missing after boat collision in Corentyne River Coast Guards are currently searching the Corentyne River for a fiftytwo-year old Guyanese fisherman who went missing on Wednesday after a fishing vessel collided with another vessel and sank, some 40 miles off the coast of Paramaribo, Suriname. The accident was confirmed by the Director of Maritime Safety, Captain John Flores who stated that the seismic vessel; Prospector which was conducting surveys collided with the fishing vessel; Lady Roma 2 causing it to sink sometime on Wednesday. Six fishermen were onboard the fishing vessel at the time of the accident and the vessel was being captained by one of the men whose only name provided as ‘Harry’. Of the six Guyanese men, five were lucky enough to be rescued, however, Terrence Gomes “Big eye” of Region Two, did not share in this luck. Gomes is currently missing and searches are ongoing. Shortly after the owner of the fishing vessel, known to
The missing fisherman, Terrence Gomes the family only as ‘Vishal’ contacted the missing fisherman’s sister about the unfortunate accident. She contacted Kaieteur News in an effort to shine some light on her brother’s situation. The frustrated woman was told by the owner that, “The boat was hit and split in half, and it sank,” and her brother is currently the only one missing from the crew. She also stated that the owner reported the matter to the coast guards who were currently searching for Gomes.
However, she claimed that the owner could not relate much because he was awaiting further word from the authorities in Suriname. She added that her older brother, also in an effort to find Gomes, took his boat out later that day to aid in the search. Kaieteur News was also able to speak with Gomes’ wife who said that her husband has been a fisherman for quite a while and goes on many fishing trips. She said the last time she saw or spoke to her husband was on Saturday morning, the day he left to join the five other men for the fishing trip. The grieving woman said that her husband is the sole breadwinner for the family and they have three children together ages 12, seven and 11. “He is a kind, loving person, a good father and he does get his children whatever them want.” she added. The woman is awaiting good news on her husband and is hoping that he is found soon, alive and well.
On World Health Day...
PAHO director calls for concerted action to safeguard the health of citizens After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic with millions of lives lost to the virus, Pan American Health O rg a n i z a t i o n D i r e c t o r (PAHO) Carissa F. Etienne, marked World Health Day by calling for the urgent protection of the environment and highlighted how the health of the planet is linked to our own. “The so-called triple planetary crisis of climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution, is affecting the health of all people as well as our planet. Those effects are amplified by deficiencies in infrastructure and health systems to prevent diseases and effectively respond to crises, disasters, and emergencies,” the Director said in a high-level online event entitled “Our Planet, Our Health,” which was attended by over 400 participants. Health ministers from the region, including Dr. Carla Vizzotti, Minister of Health of Argentina, Dr. Jose Manuel Matheu, Secretary of Health of Honduras and
Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and We l l n e s s o f J a m a i c a participated in a virtual PAHO event to mark the day, as did Dr. Jacqueline Alvarez, Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Focusing on the Americas as one of the most unequal regions in the world, “where wealth inequality, political inequality, and social inequality are rampant,” Dr. Etienne highlighted that “extra transformative efforts must be taken to protect the health of the most vulnerable populations from environmental risks.” “Over the past three decades, we have witnessed concerted global action to build a sustainable planet. During this period, we have noted enhancements in health services and improvements in the health of peoples in the Region of the Americas,” the PAHO Director said. Inter-sectoral
PAHO, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne collaboration across the health and water and sanitation sectors, for example, has reduced the mortality risk among children under 5 years from 219 to 23 deaths per 100,000 population – that is 1.8 million young lives saved since 1990,” Dr. Etienne said. Nevertheless, every year in the Americas, an estimated one million premature deaths are attributable to avoidable environmental risks. Air pollution, contaminated water, inadequate sanitation including solid waste management, risks related to certain hazardous chemicals, and negative impacts related (Continued on page 21)
PAGE 4
Kaieteur News
Friday April 08, 2022
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Guyana’s Environmental Assessment Board
T
here were a number of Guyanese who may have believed that we do have the staying hand, the balancing power, of untouched faces and clear hands to oversee concerns with serious matters on the environment, and those raised before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We have always heard about a body called the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB), which was thought of as a kind of a referee, a neutral scrutineer, a last-gasp check and balance on the fears of Guyanese about their environment, and the dangers to their way of life, if not their existence. Well, perish the thought, give it up quickly as one that could have been better employed in areas with the promise of some return, honest return. Indeed, we do have an EAB, and it does have people involved in its sensitive work. They are senior public servants, officers of believed education, citizens with knowledge and a keen grasp of the range of activities occurring at warp speed in todays Guyana. Let that much be said for them and without exception. But there is a problem, a serious one, that is not easily shakable, but one which should trouble any fair-minded watcher on things Guyana. The problem is that all three of these Guyanese chosen to sit on the EAB, and to review what comes before it, are not just public servants, but two of the three actually work for, and earn their daily bread from, the Ministry of Natural Resources. As all Guyanese who pay attention to these matters, those who are definitely alarmed at what has been happening in this country, should know by now, it is this same ministry that has an intimate interest in what passes through and comes out of the local EPA. If the Guyana EPA did ever stumble across some bone in its official back, and a couple of working brain cells in its institutional head, and did its job honestly, then it is likely that some at the Ministry of Natural Resources would experience an epileptic episode. In other words, what is desired of the EPA is that it does its work a certain way. Meaning that it looks the other way at egregious deficiencies in what is submitted to it by the oil companies, other companies involved in downstream oil support businesses, and still others ranging from those involved in bridges to those building plants and factories dealing with potential hazardous material. Because the people at the local EPA have followed their orders so well, anxious and outraged citizens have been compelled to escalate issues of concern to the EAB. They felt that they would be in good hands with a proper Yellowtail analysis. The objectives were to get an independent hearing of substance, a review of deep probing value, and resolutions that spoke of prudent weighing of the facts and surrounding circumstances, with the final outcome(s) indicating just those elements. The most charitable way of evaluating and describing what came out of the EAB, this oversight arm, was that it is disappointing. Among the worst, it was that it reeked of the mystifying (on what basis could such be arrived at?), the surprising (the Delta Force rapidity with which deliberations were conducted and concluded), and the incredible (how could this be)? When it was thought that there was an EAB of strength and substance, that wasnt the case. It was the equivalent of going from one rubberstamp, the EPA, to another, the EAB. We do not think that it was incompetence at work, but more of sheer willful ignorance on the part of the EAB. It is even more accurate to posit that an unhealthy degree of fear was present. There is fear in todays public service because tenure is so fragile, so dependent on the whims and moods of leading politicians in Guyana. One misstep and there is the immediate risk of being out in the cold, and on ones own. Nobody wants to lose their prestigious positions and powerful places, especially those with lots of juice attached. So, lines are toed, with many public servants becoming extremely good at anticipating what pleases political masters. The latest is the Yellowtail work of the EAB.
We are now in the 2020s and the same ignorance is being repeated with oil and gas DEAR EDITOR, At the beginning of the Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) Stakeholder meeting 10 am on Friday Feb 12, 2021, CEO Alistair Routledge said they wanted to be transparent and accountable. And they took the trouble to invite Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI), of which I was an executive member. Later in the meeting when questions were asked, Mr. Routledge said EEPGL is providing the Government with all the information no doubt because the Government is the elected representative of the people, and the meeting was of barely one hour duration. So, on March 26, last year, after waiting in vain for EEPGL to send the requested recording of that exactly one hour Zoom meeting, TIGI directed questions in writing to the Minister of Natural Resources (MNR) the Hon. Vickram Bharrat MP, copied to the Environmental Protection Agency. The email address on their website was courteously and rapidly corrected by the MNR staff and I submitted the questions. One year later, there is still no answer. Let me explain something at this point. We were asking for continuous data on production, storage, and offloading (PSO) of oil and water, and on reinjecting of water and gas, which are the business of the floating production, storage, and offloading platform (FPSO), which are being paid for by Guyana to be used for PSO of the oil and gas we are told belong to us after expenses. Surely, the owners are entitled to know what is going on in the business. Our business managers, viz., our governments, are supposed to manage the business operators, Exxon, to give account of the business to us. We asked for chemical analyses to know the nature of the oil, water, and gas coming from the wells, and for when what are stored, offloaded, reinjected, flared and vented. We asked for production quantities not only for the same reason the farmer must know how much of which crops he reaps and the shopkeeper how much of which
items he sells, but also because oil, gas and associated substances can endanger the environment for Guyana and the Caribbean; and as responsible business owners, we must assess the danger and be prepared for it. TIGI asked for the quantities on a daily basis to prevent the possibility of their subsequent alteration. All production must be known. This is a commercial venture. The people paying for it must know what they are paying for and be able to inspect production at any time. Process flow and rates must therefore be known. If there is a spill, we will also be able to estimate it from the rate at the source. When gas is flared or vented, as responsible stewards of the Earth, we have to know how much of what is damaging the environment. Pressure is a primary operating parameter, from well to surface to storage and offloading, and the immediate source of danger. If pressures cannot be controlled then big bad things happen. Compressors fail and may lead to venting if not shutdown. We must know pressures. Temperatures are primary indicators of the health of the machines and is an important operating parameter. The temperatures of coolants discharged into the ocean should also be known for its effect on the ocean vicinity. In the 1990s, I asked Omai Gold Mines Limited (OGML) at the public enquiry after the first cyanide spill for flowmeter readings, but they studiously ignored this, and we had a major spill the magnitude for which we could get no information independent of OGML. We are now in the 2020s and the same ignorance is being repeated with oil and gas. Particularly troubling is that reminders were sent to the MNR and published in the press, but the so-called national newspaper never saw fit to publish anything on it. The EPA seemed to be trying its best, and we would all like it to succeed. I was accorded a tour of operations late last year, and saw where the stations are to be set up to receive the monitoring while awaiting the laying of fibre-optic cable that would
transmit the data. I tried to convey the message that it does not require that much technology to get the data I requested. Last week, on the anniversary of the request for the data, I asked the former EPA director, Dr. Vincent Adams, if he ever got such data from Exxon. His answer was a resounding, “Yes!” He said he asked for more than I asked for and he got a daily report delivered to his desk at the EPA. And this gentleman, who knew what to ask for, and got it, was replaced! I no longer get replies from the EPA, so I am hereby notifying them that Dr. Adams did not take away the daily reports and they must be somewhere in the EPA to be used as an example of what can be achieved if only they know what to ask for and why. But Dr. Adams was pleased to see they are attempting to use the cradle-to-grave structure of environmental management that he introduced at the EPA. He only hopes they do it properly. I was pleased to read in February this year that the EPA can monitor, but what they monitored was not shared with me, despite my asking. I was most pleased to read that the EPA acquired a chemical engineer. They need at least 3 of them off-shore and 3 on-shore for each FPSO, and the oil profits should pay for them, but I fear that the underfunding and understaffing that usually attends important public business in Guyana will prevail, because the political bosses, from Burnham to now, dont understand technology. I was also pleased to see that their GIS specialist was going after the big picture. Their successes or failures have not been shared with me. There are some who will ask why it is my business to know the travails of the EPA and other similar public bodies. The answer is that I have deliberately devoted my life to education in Guyana, more specifically, technical education. There were times when I had no answer to convince graduates to remain or return to Guyana. I had thought that the politicization of technical jobs ended in 1992, but it restarted shortly thereafter, and by the 2000s, even free advice was routinely ignored. There
were exceptions, but in general, technical people had to take orders from bad taskmasters, so the exodus continues, because the ambitious young scientist or engineer did not want a CV populated with incomplete or bad projects. A symptom of this malaise is the lack of formal state professional sciences and engineering oversight bodies. The current voluntary Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) and the Guyana Chapter of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences (CAS) should be supported and upgraded by legislation to become autonomous organisations with substantial state funding independent of political favour. Unfortunately, the current electoral system has fostered such intense polarisation that one side of the political divide always fears takeover of any influential organisation by the other side, and there is thus no political will for the enabling legislations. Such professional bodies should have influence like the Medical Council and Bar Association but should also be the go-to organisations to recommend technical persons to State Boards and advisory bodies, some things again that are politically contentious under our current system. Let us be very clear on the necessity for monitoring. ExxonMobil, the former EPA director, and all competent engineers know with absolute certainty that unless there is monitoring there can be no control. Therefore, a Ministry of Natural Resources that cannot monitor the processes it is ultimately responsible for is guilty of the gravest dereliction of duty. We can walk all we want on Sunday mornings for occupational safety and health (OSH), but it means nothing when the leaders recklessly accelerate the Guyana oil and gas extraction bus over the speed limit of environmental safety and health (ESH), while disregarding other signs, all in the name of hustling to make more money, not at the behest of the ordinary citizen passengers, but at that of greedy exploiters. Surely, we are better than that. Sincerely, Alfred Bhulai
The continued lack of police action speaks volumes DEAR EDITOR, On April 5, a letter, ‘Nirvan Singh is a wonderful and caring young man’ was published in the Stabroek News, in response to the allegations of abuse of a junior police officer while in uniform and on duty by Mr. Singh, a lawyer and son of a high ranking
former judicial official, Mr. Carl Singh. It would appear that the letter writer knows the young man at the centre of the allegations, enough to offer a description of how out of character these alleged actions are. They also seem to know the family, enough to know that Justice Carl Singh
issued an apology. That suggests that something happened, enough to warrant an apology. It also raises the question, why is the father and not the son apologising? But the letter writer does not stop there. They go on to make (counter?) claims about what the female police con-
stable said and did. Are they suggesting that the constable deserved to be allegedly physically and verbally abused (spat upon, chased out of the premises, insulted racially)? And why is this simply dismissed by the letter writer as an (Continued on page 5)
Friday April 08, 2022
Enough with with the nonsense!the nonsense! Enough DEAR EDITOR, The high level of hypocrisy exhibited by members of the opposition is becoming so evident that the opposition is losing its relevance for those in Our Nation that seek a high level of integrity and respect for the rule of law in our governance system. The precursor to a loss of morality in our society is the loss of morality in leadership. Trying to steal an election and then suffer the consequences of international sanctions should be a humbling experience that corrects the path of those lacking the moral fortitude to make a decision that supports the integrity of our governance system. It is utterly hypocritical for those same people who planned and got caught attempting to
steal the last elections to now turn to our citizens and say that they should be allowed to be a part of the same institution that they were trying to destroy. There are elders who lead by a good example and then there are those old crooks who have no place in our society. Those old crooks care nothing for our democratic process and would steal the shoes off your feet if they get the chance. If this group of scoundrels was so brazen as to try to steal the elections while the entire world was watching, then there is nothing good to be expected from them when it pertains to the finances of our nation. The way things are shaping up in parliament, one can only conclude that these actions are a
The continued lack of... From page 4 “unfortunate” incident? We are in full agreement with one thing that Hana Mohammed says, and that is “I hope that very soon the facts will become available.” So do we. So should we all. However, this will only be done when the police decide to open a criminal investigation into what happened at
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
the home of Justice Carl Singh. The continued lack of police action on this matter speaks volumes. Sincerely, Susan Collymore Karen de Souza Halima Khan Joy Marcus Alissa Trotz Wintress White Red Thread
clear indication to the public as to whose brainchild it was and who authorised the illegal rigging attempts to steal the last elections. Clearly, these people can no longer be trusted by the international community and more importantly, they cannot be trusted by our citizens. There is no place for dictatorship, disregard for the rule of law and the extreme arrogance that is being put on public display by these old hypocritical crooks who are now trying to masquerade around as elders with high levels of morality. Their actions do not match their words, and no one in good conscience that seeks decency and peaceful progress in Guyana should pay them any heed. Those hypocrites are the same ones who always speak of big dogs coming from Linden whenever they are not allowed to bully the government into doing their bidding. We must look beyond those that have led us astray in the past and that are trying to also mislead us now. It is not just in our best interest, but also in the best interest of the future generations of our country that we allow those who have proven their integrity to take the reins of leadership. Unfortunately, the current leadership of the opposition has shown that this continues to be lacking in their decision-making, which brings into question their true intentions. They should not
be given another bite of the apple. The risks are too high, and if history has taught us correctly, with them in power we will end up back into a dictatorial and an impoverished country. Their current display of disregard for democratic principles as seen in their embracing of those who could care less about those very principles is testament to their bad intentions. Furthermore, if you can’t properly count the votes correctly then what good can you bring to our Nation’s finances. No one needs those deliberate errors to also occur in our national budget. The time has passed for those old crooks. Step aside and let those who truly value our citizens and the strength of character that comes with integrity take our country to the next phase. What the opposition has done with their choices for parliament will make the moral standing of their arguments weaker. Instead, they should have repositioned themselves in line with democratic values. No one in good conscience will vote for those who prefer to cheat to win an election instead of endearing themselves with strong morals and policies that uplift the people of our great Nation. Enough with the nonsense! Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana
Delay in removal of a carcass demonstrates powerful inefficiency DEAR EDITOR, Can you imagine that it has taken the inordinate delay by an NDC in disposing of the carcass of an animal on the edge of a roadway to demonstrate the degree of inefficiency by those in authority in this our beloved country? It was reported that a cow was killed by a motor vehicle on Sunday night (27th March) on the northern side Mocha Access Road at a point about 500 yards from the road head. This point is also in the neighbourhood of the National Stadium, New Providence, and residential homes on both sides of the Mocha Canal. Because of the hundreds of homes in the Herstelling, Providence, and Perseverance Housing Schemes, and in MochaArcadia, traffic on the Mocha Access Road is heavy all through the day. Up to Thursday morning (31st March), the carcass, now bloated, had not been removed. At this time, the nauseating smell of the putrefying animal is wafted into passing vehicles, and the drivers tend to increase speed on a crowded roadway in order to get away from the scene. A phone call by me to the offending NDC Eccles/ Ramsburg at about 1:30 p.m.
on the Wednesday was rewarded with the answer that they were unaware of the matter. Another call by me to the Central Board of Health at about 2:00 p.m. produced the advice to call the NDC. In both cases, I stressed the urgency of the matter. A second call to the NDC at about 3:00 p.m. secured the response that the office was amassing resources to tackle the problem. What resources? Mechanical, or financial, or human, or intellectual? A further call to the NDC at about 4:15 p.m. revealed that they were going to remove the dead animal the following day (Thursday, 31st March). The carcass was covered on Thursday, 31st March. In this day and age, why must the public wait so long for prompt action in such a simple matter? It could not be a lack of financial resources! The Eccles/ Ramsburg NDC embraces an area larger than Old Georgetown. Obviously, (Continued on page 6)
PAGE 6
Kaieteur News
Delay in removal of a carcass... From page 5 its revenue from scores of palatial homes and dozens of multi-million commercial enterprises MUST enable it to have the resources to adequately cater for such emergencies! Why did the Environmental Health Officer not get into the act and demand that the NDC deal with the problem forthwith? Can you imagine the sort of publicity Guyana would have received if it were the time of the Caribbean Premier League finals when we want to attract tourists and other visitors, who may venture beyond the confines of their planned programmes?
Why did the police who monitor traffic on this Access Road not report this matter to the relevant authority and demand immediate action? Furthermore, the police have responsibility to curb the practice of stray animals on roads. See Laws of Guyana, Cap. 51. Previous action by the Police would have reduced the number of strays on roads. This is not 1950s when the Demerara Company used to graze its mules on Mocha Access Road, and when Mocha/Arcadia had only two motorcars (Lilaldrie and Joseph). The construction of more roads and of more houses re-
quires more preventative action by the police. At the same time, central government and local authorities must provide adequate pasturage for cattle-farmers. No longer must they graze on the roadways. In this our beloved country, powers that be are jealous of their authority, and rightly so, but it must be understood that power also has responsibilities. The Eccles/Ramsburg NDC has no excuse for not taking immediate action. The carcass should have been removed, even if it is in the dead of night, since it is not a corpse being entombed, which action can by law only take place between prescribed hours. Urgent action was not optional; it was mandatory. And so, when you have power and authority, you must not be selective or dilatory in discharging your responsibility. Yours faithfully, Walter B. Alexander, A.A. (Retired Deputy Permanent Secretary).
Friday April 08, 2022
One Country, One People, One Future DEAR EDITOR, The “One Guyana” policy embraces the idea of one country (a unifying national societal goal), one people (evolving a common set of values and aspirations), and one future (where there are possibilities for everyone to achieve the good life). This policy also recognises and sustains the ethnic-based core religious and cultural values, which will exist in harmony with the emerging mainstream value system. Despite this novel policy initiative aimed at moving away from the past failed attempts at societal integration and harmony, there are opposition forces that denigrate this approach by producing false narratives. A Norman Browne, for example, has made some astonishing comments against the PPP/C government, and put Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo at the center of his vitriol: He says nonchalantly, “The PPP has done terrible things to Guyana and does not intend to stop... there is no question that the PPP is, and has always been
an uncaring government that put the population through hell.” Mr. Browne recklessly blames the PPP/C government for the rise in cost of living when everyone knows that this is a global problem linked to supply chain issues. He also fails to acknowledge the mitigating measures—both “general” and “targeted”—implemented by the PPP/C government. General (national level) measures include the elimination of the 50% excise tax on gasoline; the removal of freight charges to reduce import duty and thus the reduction in cost of imported goods and machinery. With foresight, the government had earlier removed over 200 new taxes and fees imposed by the Granger administration, not to mention the removal of 14% VAT on electricity, water, education, and medical supplies. One shudders to think what might have been the consequence if the PPP/C government had not taken this creative action! At the targeted level, the PPP/C government is creating 800 jobs so that workers can supplement their household income in Region 2 (Essequibo Coast) and a similar number (800) of jobs is being created at Region 10 (Linden). The government has given annual grants in the sum of $(G) 600,000 each to 79 dialysis patients. The government is making cash grants to 250 small business owners. Other relief measure(s) is/are under consideration. Mr. Browne will also know that in a free market system, the government does not determine price levels; it is the market forces and the imposition of price controls is not an option. Mr. GHK Lall makes the preposterous statement that the Vice President is a “leader lacking in what it takes.” Dr. Bharrat Jagdeos exceptional international credentials are compelling and establish his political stature firmly. He received five honourary doctorates; was elected in 2015 as Chair of the IMF and the World Bank, while the World Economic Forum
recognised him as a young global leader, and the prestigious Times Magazine named him as a hero on the environment. In 2010, he was designated by the UN as a Champion of the Earth. Dr. Jagdeo served in 2010 on a UN High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Financing; in 2011, Dr. Jagdeo was appointed a Roving Ambassador on forests for the Amazon, Congo, and South East Asia basins; while in 2013 Dr. Jagdeo was appointed a member of an ACP group to guide and recommend future relations with the developed world; and he was appointed Chair of a Commonwealth Expert Group on Climate Finance in 2013. With all these powerful credentials, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo decided to take a sabbatical from politics after the 2011 elections. The opposition always viewed Dr. Jagdeo as standing between them (PNCR) and electoral victory. His sabbatical provided an opening which played to the PNCRs advantage; the PPP/C lost the 2015 regional and national elections to a PNC/R-led coalition. The PPP/C was sent packing and feeling demoralized. A group of PPP/C members met with Mr. Jagdeo in 2015 and pleaded for his return to the partys leadership to prevent it from buckling further. Dr. Jagdeo rose to the occasion to save the party of Dr. Cheddi Jagan. As General Secretary since December 2016, he immediately began to rebuild the party from bottom up and recruited hundreds of young people into it. He knows that it would be the young people who would energize the party and bring it fully into the 21st century. As part of the rebuilding effort, Dr. Jagdeo supported one of the hardest working members of the PPP/C and a former Cabinet minister of Housing as the 2020 Presidential candidate. Dr. Irfaan Alis Presidency has exceeded expectations. He is a President who readily connects with the people at all levels. His “One Guyana” is a revolutionary idea, which if fully operationalised, could become a major catalyst of positive change in the political landscape of Guyana. Bringing Guyanese together and reducing disparities will usher in the advancement of the common good for everyone. One vehicle to help realize “One Guyana” policy goal is the forthcoming Cricket Carnival. While Dr. Jagdeo admits that they had made mistakes in the past, they also did not allow these to deter nor detract from moving the country forwards. Under Dr. Irfaan Alis Presidency, the sharp focus on implementing transformative projects that began under Dr. Jagdeos leadership, continues to gather momentum which will change the social and economic landscape and likely to usher Guyana fully into the 21st century with the real possibility of achieving the good life for all Guyanese. Dr. Tara Singh
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N T B . U . L . L T B . N . U . N U T L N B . U . T . L N T U N B . N U . L U L LUNT. B . T . . T T N N B U B . U . L . L T B . B . . N . . . T U T L N N T Day of prayer and fasting U U L N L B U . B . . L . . . T B T . . N . N T U L N LU B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . NT LUNT...B NT...BLU N U L B . . B . U . . T L . N T B . . U N . L N T B U N . . L . U T L B . . N B . . . T U . L N T B U . . L . UN T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L B U UN .BLUNT. . . L . T B . . N . T U . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . LU ...BLUNT LUNT...B NT...BL T B U . . L N . T B BLU T...BLUN BLUNT... UNT...B . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B BBLU T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU . T . N . N T T U L U L N L B U T...BLU U B . L . N . B T . . . N T U N N N L U U U B L . L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Friday April 08, 2022
Kaieteur News
President Irfaan Ali has declared today, April 8, 2022 a day for prayer and fasting. We here at the Kaieteur News believe in the power of prayer and fasting.
We however hope, that the day will be dedicated not just for President Ali’s fanciful dream of “ONE Guyana,” but for genuine, deep, soul-searching and repentance by our leaders for the wrongs they continue to commit on the poor and defenseless in this country.
We believe that prayer doesn’t change God, but prayer changes the one who petitions the throne of God. It is against this background we invite the entire Cabinet and the members of the opposition to go before God today with sincerity and not just pray but weep for theirs and the nation’s sins.
PAGE 07
Kaieteur News
PAGE 08
Friday April 08, 2022
Guyana abstain from vote to remove Russia from UN human rights body The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday suspended Russia from the U.N. Human Rights Council over reports of “gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights” by invading Russian troops in Ukraine. And the Government of Guyana along with several other Caribbean countries abstained from the vote. The final vote was 93 in favour, 24 against and 58 abstentions. Guyana was listed among the countries that abstained from the vote. Joining Guyana for Caribbean countries were: Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Belize. Back in February, the Government of Guyana had c o n d e m n e d R u s s i a ’s invasion of Ukraine, saying then that it was “gravely concerned” over the recent “military intervention by Russia in violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine”. In its statement, the government called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to diplomacy. “The Government of Guyana deplores the threat or use of force in the conduct of international relations and urges a peaceful resolution of the differences that currently exist, in consonance with the rule of
Guyana’s Permanent Representative at United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett international law and the provisions of the United Nations Charter. “The current military action in Ukraine is contrary to the principles of respect for t e r r i t o r i a l i n t e g r i t y, sovereignty and the noninterference in the internal affairs of another sovereign state”, the statement read. It noted that the aggression against Ukraine is a threat to the region and countries everywhere. The Government said then that it supports the efforts of the United Nations SecretaryGeneral to bring a speedy resolution to the situation in Ukraine and end the threat to international peace and security. Meanwhile, a Reuters article stated that the U.S.led push garnered 93 votes in favour, while 24 countries voted no and 58 countries
abstained. A two-thirds majority of voting members in the 193-member General Assembly in New York – abstentions do not count – was needed to suspend Russia from the 47-member Geneva-based Human Rights Council. According to Reuters, suspensions are rare. Libya was suspended in 2011 because of violence against protesters by forces loyal to then-leader Muammar Gaddafi. It was the third resolution adopted by the 193-member General Assembly since Russia invaded neighbouring
Ukraine on Feb. 24. The two previous General Assembly resolutions denouncing Russia were adopted with 141 and 140 votes in favor. The resolution adopted expresses “grave concern at the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine,” particularly at reports of rights abuses by Russia. Russia says it is carrying out a “special military operation” that aims to destroy Ukraine’s military infrastructure and denies attacking civilians. Ukraine and allies say Moscow invaded without
provocation. Russia had warned countries that a yes vote or abstention will be viewed as an “unfriendly gesture” with consequences for bilateral ties, according to a note seen by Reuters. ‘PULLING A TRIGGER’ Russia was in its second year of a three-year term on the Geneva-based council, which cannot make legally binding decisions. Its decisions send important political messages, however, and it can authorize investigations. Moscow is one of the most vocal members on the council and its suspension bars it from
speaking and voting, officials say, although its diplomats could still attend debates. “They would probably still try to influence the Council through proxies,” said a Genevabased diplomat. Last month, the council opened an investigation into allegations of rights violations, including possible war crimes, in Ukraine since Russia’s attack. Speaking before the vote, Ukraine’s U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said a yes vote would “save the Human (Continued on page 9)
Friday April 08, 2022
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
Teachers are role models Teachers have to appreciate their true and complete role as educators. But the process does not begin in the teachers’ training school; the process has to begin with teachers being given the recognition that would allow them to be motivated to practice being true and complete educators. This true role as educators is not something that can be taught in a classroom setting. It is something that must be instilled within the very young, so that they can respect their teachers. Helping teachers to understand their true role as educators has to begin with the appropriate recognition for the service they provide. For some time now, the service provided by teachers has been undervalued. Teachers are underrecognised, in this country, by virtue of the importance that is being paid to their wellbeing and the lack of appreciation and respect that is being shown to them by parents and students alike. It is a depressing situation, which began with the decline in the economy in the early 1980s. The economic
hardships of that time forced some teachers to take items to school to sell in order to make ends meet. It also pressed them into offering extra lessons so as to supplement their income. But things were not always this way. There was a time when students looked up to teachers to the extent that teachers often set the fashion of the day. School girls were often seen whispering to one another about some lovely skirt, dress or shoes that a teacher wore, and some male teachers dressed so impeccably that even some of the female students developed crushes on them. The teacher was a symbol of respect. They were admired. They were role models for the children, sometimes simply by virtue of their appearance.However, there was a time when the economic crisis took a toll and some teachers began to wear shoes that were tired at the front and worn at the heels. Their clothes became shoddy and the children, therefore, had less to admire than before. Being children, the appearance of these teachers soon
became the object of ridicule and even of the coining of false names. Students whose parents were better off began to dress better than the teachers and some were haughty enough to make a point of emphasising this. The result was that over time, teachers began to be frowned upon rather than being respected. Students began to look elsewhere for their role models and this is where the problems with mentoring began. If we wish to restore the true and complete role of teachers within our schools, it has to begin with instilling greater respect for teachers. And this has to begin not in the training institutes, but in the appearance of teachers within schools. The Ministry of Education should insist on certain standards. This does not mean that teachers should be bedecked out in uniforms. This would be self-destructive. There is always a place for diversity and originality in the classroom. Any teacher who has worn a new shirt or an eye-catching blouse or skirt knows about the reaction of students when the teacher
Norton backs calls for renegotiation... From page 3 any effort to reengage the Stabroek Block oil operators. Norton is expected to
be sworn in as Opposition Leader this Wednesday. F o r m e r P N C R c h a irwoman and Health Minis-
ter, Volda Lawrence will join him when the National Assembly has its 46th Sitting.
Guyana abstain from vote to remove... From page 8 Rights Council and many lives around the world and in Ukraine,” but a no vote was “pulling a trigger, and means a red dot on the screen – red as the blood of the innocent lives lost.” The United States announced it would seek Russia’s suspension after Ukraine accused Russian troops of killing hundreds of civilians in the town of Bucha. Russia’s deputy U.N. Am-
bassador Gennady Kuzmin said now was not the time for “theatrical performances” and accused Western countries and allies of trying to “destroy existing human rights architecture.” “We reject the untruthful allegations against us based on staged events and widely circulated fakes,” Kuzmin told the General Assembly before the vote, defending Russia’s record as a Human Rights Council member. After ab-
staining on the previous two General Assembly votes, Russia’s partner China opposed the resolution Thursday. “Such a hasty move at the General Assembly, which forces countries to choose sides, will aggravate the division among member states, intensify the confrontation between the parties concerned – it is like adding fuel to the fire,” China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said before the vote.
Dem boys seh...
No tricks, no living, again! A man pull up with a horse cart on one of de city streets. De cart had some builders waste in de form of some broken and crushed concrete blocks. De road had a pothole. Was a small pothole wah most people does dodge. De man stop near de hole and start to throw de lil builders’ materials into de hole. Den he lift up a box and start to solicit donations from dem car dat was passing. Dat is an old trick which youngsters use to use fuh
extort money from motorists. Dem used to pretend dat dem filling potholes and thereby providing a public service. Nobody ain’t hire dis man fuh full pothole. But he just decide out of de blue dat he can full dem pothole and expect people fuh pay he. But people nah gat time with dem tricks anymore. Dem just drive past de man yesterday wah hanging out he donation box as if anybody bin ask he fuh full potholes. If de man wanted payment, he shoulda gone to de City Hall and tell dem dat he
full a pothole and he expect fuh get paid. But Guyanese does find all kinda ways to mek a dollar. And nuff times, it does involve barefaced trickery. Was only de odder day dat Prezzie talk how dem contractors complain to he how dem getting prablems finding labourers. So dem gat plenty labourer wuk available. But dis man decide yesterday dat he prefer to fill pothole and beg fuh donation rather dan find something better to do. Talk half. Leff Half.
steps into the classroom with her new attire. That is real life drama and we should not deny our students that experience of being awed by a teacher impressing with some dashing piece of clothing. Teachers should be allowed to be flashy once the clothing is not too revealing. They should be allowed to be fashionable, but again not show too much skin. The reason for this is that many young ladies admire their female teachers just as how many boys admire their male teachers. And so the teachers must recognise that they will in some way be imitated and be role models for their students. They must dress in a way that draws ad-
miration but which is not “common.” Through their appearance, teachers must present themselves as good role models. Not all of them may be able, on their salaries, to dress fancily but they can all ensure that they are dapper, neat and tidy. This is where the respect begins. Each day, teachers should make an impression by the way they present themselves in front of their students. The first impression for students is not the whip of the teacher but the teacher’s appearance. It is easy for a student to disrespect a teacher that does not take an interest in his or her appearance, but a teacher who makes a statement by the way he or she dresses is al-
ways going to be admired and respected. But teachers cannot be expected to dress well when they are paid poorly, and that is why the best way for the Ministry of Education to begin to instill in teachers their true and complete roles is to take a look at their pay packets. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 10
Friday April 08, 2022
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Lunatic fringe, usual suspects, Creole middle class and the missing Mace I
am entering 34 years of offering my thoughts and analyses in the print media and television (once hosted a Channel 13 programme titled, “Freddie Kissoon Notebook”), and there is a number of continuous threads running through those outputs. One of these is that I consider Guyana to be a place where incredibly unbelievably anomalies take place that you will not see in any other country. The latest aberration is the story of the Mace and the passage of the National Resource Fund Act (NRFA). Let’s digress a tiny bit. Readers will recall in April 2020 when I had a public disagreement with Eusi Kwayana in the pages of this newspaper, my point to Mr. Kwayana was that in the digital age we live in, you can see in real time from your home what is taking place thousands of miles from where you are. In the Kaieteur Radio studio, Leonard Gildarie and I saw what was actually taking place live in the
GECOM Command Centre through the use of other people’s smart phones. My point to Kwayana was distance is not crucial in today’s world in the gathering of knowledge. The opposition has filed a writ to declare the NRFA illegal. The main argument is that passage of a Bill could only be legal with the formal presence of the Mace in front of the Speaker and the Mace was missing when the NRFA was passed. Now let’s enter the realm of the surreal. Let’s return to the digital age mentioned above. When the case comes to trial, the defence will produce surreal evidence and one hopes that the judge does not get apoplexy or cardiac arrest. Opposition MPs from the PNC and one from the AFC were seen swarming the desk of the Speaker. They hijacked the Mace with one female MP (some people are clowns and pretenders in this country) fell backward on her backside because the Mace was too heavy to stay on her belly which is
where she had it when she clung to it. An employee of the House grabbed the Mace to protect it from being taken away from the parliamentary precinct and another female MP (some people are footnotes to be dismissed by this nation) stood over the employee and kept shouting to him; “you are a house slave.” If you attend court to see the proceedings, I will advise you to concentrate on the face of the judge as these videos are shown. So, the opposition becomes the only omnipotent, invincible winner in this country. They removed the Mace, ran away with it, then tell the court that the NRFA is not properly passed and must be struck out because the Mace was not formally in its rightful place. Can this asininity occur in any other Parliament? This is one of the most commonsensical ways to become a phenomenal winner and defeat an elected government from passing law. If the opposition does not want legalisation of hemp, run away with the Mace while the
debate is going on and the Bill is stalled. If the opposition does not want amendments to the Representation of the People Act (ROPA), steal the Mace and go outside the House and throw it in the gutter and the opposition achieves its purpose. After this writ was filed, the police will be perplexed as to how to secure convictions for certain crimes. So the police invite John Jones to the station and show him a note he wrote threatening to kill his wife. Before he could be charged, Mr. Jones grabs the paper and eats it. There is no evidence. He cannot be charged. End of story! Enter the lunatic fringe (TLF), the usual suspects (TUS) and the Creole middle class (CMC). We have seen letters in the newspapers and Zoom interviews and panel discussions from these three dimensions denouncing a “dildo” statement in parliament, the passage of the NRFA, the amendments to ROPA, a text exchange between a woman and a
Frederick Kissoon Cabinet minister, among other issues. But TLF, TUS and CMC are yet to express disgust at how the opposition behaved in Parliament when the NRFA was being debated. It was an unprecedented horror show. The Minister of Finance was literally prevented from doing his duty. No government speaker could have been heard from the cacophonous hullabaloo created by the opposition. They continuously blew whistles in the ear of government speakers and virtually made the Speaker a prisoner in his own seat. I will collapse TLF, TUS, and CMC under one name. I borrow it now from President Burnham – worst possible alternative (WPA). Look how futuristic Burnham was! (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Friday April 08, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
Kaieteur News
PAGE 12
Friday April 08, 2022
DDL receives official world trade center licence Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) said on Tu e s d a y i t o f f i c i a l l y received its licence for the opening of a World Trade Center Guyana from the New York headquartered Wo r l d T r a d e C e n t e r Association (WTCA). The Ceremony was held virtually and in attendance were G u y a n a ’s M i n i s t e r o f Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Wa l r o n d , G e o r g e t o w n Mayor Ubraj Narine, WTCA Chairman, John Drew, Former Secretary-General of the Central American Integration System (SICA), Vinicio Cerezo and DDL Executive Chairman Komal Samaroo. This is the first World Trade Center (WTC) to be set up in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
following several months of negotiations between DDL and WTCA, DDL said in a press release. This new venture by DDL will provide a range of opportunities for local businesses and organizations to enhance their networking capabilities globally. The World Trade Center Guyana office will be located at DDL’s High Street, Kingston building. M i n i s t e r o f To u r i s m , Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, in her address to the virtual gathering, said, “In bringing to Guyana the international brand that is the World Trade Center, DDL is yet again breaking new ground and forging new paths that blaze a trail for others here to f o l l o w. I h a v e n o t e d especially the role that the
Chairman of DDL, Komal Samaroo Wo r l d T r a d e C e n t e r Association aims to play in facilitating international trade and in the development of Small and Medium Enterprises.” Minister Walrond added, “The World Trade Center is
coming to one of the most promising economies in the world, in partnership with a Guyanese company that is second to none, comparable with the best that may be encountered anywhere on the globe.” Former SecretaryGeneral of the Central American Integration System (SICA), Vinicio Cerezo, in extending congratulations to DDL said, “Guyana with its English roots has always represented a special link with our neighbours in the north. Also, by hosting the headquarters of CARICOM, you are connecting Latin America with the Caribbean. The meeting recently with SICA and CARICOM was very important, showing that every day we have to work together and join forces on many multilateral and corporation issues.” The former SICA Secretary General added, “By establishing a World Trade Center in Georgetown,
Guyana you are creating a platform to enhance those relationships through the private sector, especially empowering the small and medium-size businesses that will have a positive impact both in Guyana and the region.” Chairman of DDL, Komal Samaroo in his acceptance of the WTC licence said, “I see the establishment of the World Trade Center, Georgetown, Guyana providing a service to all of Guyana linking the efforts of businesses in the country with potential international partners expanding trade and business relations across the world. Guyana is a small country with a population of less than a million at the present time. Therefore, any business operation that requires economies of scale to be competitive cannot rely on the domestic market only. It must be able to find markets in other countries around the world.” Samaroo
added, “It is my view that in the rapidly expanding economic space in Guyana in the future, the World Trade Center can serve the nation and its businesses well, in helping to realise its full potential while providing World Trade Centers around the world with access to potential partners in Guyana.” There are over 320 World Trade Centers in more than 100 countries on every continent globally. The Wo r l d T r a d e C e n t e r Association (WTCA) stimulates trade and investment opportunities for commercial property developers, economic development agencies, and international businesses looking to connect globally and prosper locally. The association serves as an ‘international ecosystem’ of global connections, iconic properties, and integrated trade services under the umbrella of a prestigious brand.
WPA outrage over alleged assault on policewoman by lawyer - calls on President to speak out on the matter The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has added its voice to those who have expressed outrage at the alleged verbal abuse of police officer Shawnette Bollers by Attorney, Nirvan Singh. If these allegations are true, then they represent a new low for race relations in Guyana, the party said in a statement Thursday. “It is not lost on the WPA that this incident comes in the wake of the outburst by a Minister of Government a few months ago in which he opined among other things that African Guyanese young people do not have role models. Taken together, these incidents signal a worrying development whereby persons with privilege in the society seem to feel free to openly express racial prejudice.” The WPA said it views this sense of freedom on their part as emanating from the unwillingness of those in authority to sanction such expressions when they come from some quarters. “In this regard, WPA is outraged by the lack of action by the police on the matter at hand. That institution of State has not seen it fit to act on an allegation coming from one of its ranks speaks volumes about the rule of law in
Attorney, Nirvan Singh Guyana. WPA is equally outraged that neither the government nor the ruling party has spoken out on the matter. When one adds the stony silence of Indian Guyanese Interest groups and commentators, there appears to be a coordinated effort to play down this issue. WPA, therefore, calls on the new Commissioner of Police to treat the Bollers matter with the seriousness it deserves by launching an immediate investigation. The people of Guyana must not support a Police Force that is quick to harass and execute powerless citizens but is prepared to protect the powerful. The overarching role of the police is to serve and protect all citizens regardless of sex, ethnicity, race or social class. . The charges leveled by Ms.
Bollers cry out for a police investigation now. WPA views the Commissioner’s action or lack thereof as an early test of his stated intention to introduce reforms of the Force and as proof of his independence from the political bosses. “ Similarly, WPA calls on the President to speak out on the matter. “As Head-ofState, he ought to represent the wholeness of the country rather than a political faction. His failure to address this clearly worrisome development tarnishes the office he holds. How can a President talk about “One Guyana” and then turn his back on charges of racial discrimination against one section of the society? Until the President addresses the issue of racial discrimination, we call on Guyanese to heap scorn on his “One Guyana” slogan. Towards this end, we call on Guyanese to ignore and boycott his proposed National Day of Prayer—do not dignify an empty slogan that seeks to mask g o v e r n m e n t a l institutionalization of racial domination and discrimination. A government that remains silent in the face of public displays of the rhetoric and (Continued on page 22)
Kaieteur News
Friday April 08, 2022
PAGE 13
World Bank urges reforms in Caribbean economies to aid recovery from pandemic - says countries must seize ‘Green Opportunities for Growth’
E
conomies in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are on track to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, but the scars of the pandemic remain and the need for a more dynamic, inclusive and sustainable growth is ever more urgent, according to a new World Bank report, “Consolidating the Recovery, Seizing Green Growth Opportunities”. Following a 6.9 percent rebound in 2021, regional GDP is expected to grow 2.3 percent this year and a further 2.2 in 2023, with most countries reversing the GDP losses from the pandemic crisis. However, these modest projections place regional performance among the lowest in the world at a time when the region faces important uncertainties as new variants of the virus may appear, inflation pressures mount and the war in Europe threatens the world recovery. In fact, regional growth projection have been revised downward by 0.4 percent after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On the positive side, vaccination is widespread
across the region, firms are again hiring, and schools are reopening. Nevertheless, long-term scars of the crisis remain and require attention. Poverty rates rose to 27.5 percent in 2021 and are still above their pre-COVID levels of 25.6 percent, while learning losses could lead to a 10 percent decrease in future earnings for millions of school age children. To avoid returning to the low growth rates of the 2010s, countries in the region need to engage long delayed structural reforms and seize the opportunities offered by a greening world economy. “We are in a global context of great uncertainty, that could impact the postpandemic recovery. In the long term, however, the challenges of climate change will be even more pressing, which forces us to urgently move to a growth agenda that is greener, more inclusive and that raises productivity,” said Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank. According to the report, growth advancing reforms in infrastructure, education and
innovation remain paramount, and key investments should be financed through more efficient spending and revenue mobilization. But these much-needed reforms should respond to major forces shaping the global economy, including climate change. Over the last two decades, the report stresses, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean lost the equivalent of 1.7 percent of a year’s GDP due to climate related disasters and up to 5.8 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty in the region by 2030. Agriculture is likely to be hit hard, with crop yields decreasing in virtually all countries , an d en ergy generation stability will be undermined by changes in the hydrological cycle. “LAC has tremendous green comparative advantages, offering opportunities for new industries and exports. It has vast potential in renewable energy, large resources of lithium and copper used in green technologies, and a rich natural capital, all increasingly valued in a
Vagrant found dead at Wales Region three police ranks are currently probing the death of a vagrant whose body was found on Thursday with burn marks, lying on a stand within the Wales community located on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD). Police have identified the vagrant as 68-year-old Chatterpaul Budhiprasad also known as “Quarry”. His remains were reportedly discovered around 06:00hrs. C r i m e s c e n e investigators who responded to the scene observed that Budhiprasad’s body bore multiple burn marks to his left side. There were burn
marks to his left hand, leg and buttocks. According to police “a burnt out makeshift coil was also found on a partially burnt mattress on which the vagrant had been lying. The investigators were told that he usually smokes and would normally be seen lighting various items at the stand where his body was found. They also learnt that the stand was an abandoned one and Budhiprashad slept there regularly. Detectives told this newspaper yesterday that they are not sure if the burns contributed to his death and are awaiting an autopsy to determine his cause of death.
It is possible, they said, that he could have died of natural causes too because they have received reports that he was a sickly man suffering from arthritis. One theory is that he could have died in his sleep while leaving the lighted coil on. In fact, his nephew told police that he had last seen him alive on Wednesday around 20:00hrs. The nephew had gone to take food for Budhipersaud and recalled him complaining about feeling unwell. He was reportedly suffering severe pain to the left side of his body. Investigations are ongoing.
Man gets 14 years for chopping pregnant wife
T
hirty-four-year old Richard Mohamed, who was charged for attempting to murder his pregnant wife, was on Thursday sentenced to 14 years behind bars.
Mohamed formerly of Grant Friendship, Lower Pomeroon River, Region Two, was arraigned in the Suddie High Court for attempted murder. The (Continued on page 21)
Richard Mohamed.
world where global warming and energy security are moving center stage”, said William Maloney, Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean a t t h e Wo r l d B a n k . “However, both adapting to climate change and leveraging these opportunities for diversified and sustained growth will require improving the region’s capabilities to i d e n t i f y, a d a p t a n d i m p l e m e n t n e w technologies”. The report suggests a mix of policies that can help seize the green growth opportunities. These include: Pricing policies that encourage the adoption of existing low-carbon technologies, for example through reforming fossil fuel subsidies and establishing carbon taxes and emission trading schemes; Credible verification mechanisms that facilitate access to green premiums. This allows for
Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank exports of carbon credits/offsets, and draws on the green finance market; Improved systems for identifying and adopting technologies to mitigate the region’s impact on climate, and to adapt to it, while leveraging its natural advantages for growth. Climate-smart agriculture, for example, can help
countries adapt to changing precipitation patterns and Policy commitments, credible long-term plans, complementary investments and de-risking mechanisms, which reduce uncertainty and speed up the adoption of technologies that will promote growth while adapting to and mitigating climate change.
PAGE 14
Kaieteur News
Friday April 08, 2022
Friday April 08, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 15
PAGE 16
Kaieteur News
Friday April 08, 2022
Low catches forcing fishermen into illegal zones …government urged to speed up study on impact By Zena Henry Local fisher folk are calling on the government to speed up ongoing research activity that will help to determine the cause of low catches offshore Guyana. The operators are pleading with the administration to exercise
some amount of urgency as they say that low fish numbers are now forcing them to risk their lives and venture into foreign waters. Acknowledging that fishing in foreign territories is illegal, the operators who asked not to be named said that they are left with no other choice having to accept that their livelihood has been severely affected with no apparent avenue for redress. One senior fisherman who conducts his business at the Meadow Bank Wharf told the Kaieteur News that small operators like himself are unrepresented. He said that the Georgetown Fishermen Co-op Society is the organisation responsible for the wharf but they have played no role in up keeping the facility, let alone interest in the low catch matter they are facing. He explained that despite issues affecting the fishermen being in the public domain and with the Agriculture Ministry, no one has come on the ground to conduct any inspections or make any checks. “They are supposed to be coming and see how limited this fish is, but no official never come. We don’t have no body representing fishermen here. The people from fisheries supposed to come too. They supposed to be checking and seeing how much fish we catching, the size, it type, and record it but nobody ain’t coming, so what we supposed to do?” the operator questioned. Another fisherman told the Kaieteur News that he too is a small operator. He said that he operates a 55 -foot boat that carries around five tons. With about six workers manning the operations onboard, the fisherman said he once expended around $600,000 to facilitate a 15 to 18 day fishing expedition. Now, coupled with low catches and high fuel prices, the operator said he has to invest some $800,000 to facilitate trips that come up short majority of the time. He explained further that for quite some time now, fishing trips have been proving uneconomical. He said that after some two weeks at sea, operators are finding it increasingly difficult to pay their staff since they are unable to
breakeven and are thus ending up in debt. He continued that where workers would have been paid as much as $100,000 per trip in some cases, boat owners have to now use their personal funds to afford the men transportation to their homes. It is for this reason, the fisherman said that Guyanese are now risking their lives venturing into foreign waters to catch fish. In a video seen by this newspaper, the fishermen highlighted huge catches being made by their colleagues off the Brazilian coast. They said that those Guyanese fishermen were at the time catching large amounts of red snapper while Guyanese at home are catching 50 to 60 snappers per trip. In the case of Venezuela, the fishermen said that going there is very dangerous because apart from the Sindicato gang, the Warao people and some Venezuelan fishermen would attack and rob Guyanese boats. Just over a month ago, a Guyanese boat was attacked in Venezuelan waters. They s a i d t h a t Ve n e z u e l a n fishermen robbed the boat of its catch, ration and other items before locking the workers in the engine room and nailing it shut. A teenager who was a part of the crew was able to get out of the engine room and freed the trapped men. The fishermen were left drifting however until a Venezuelan trawler saw the vessel and conducted a rescue operation. The fishermen said that they could not report the matter to the authorities because they knew that they were fishing where they were not supposed to. The fishermen said however that the low catch is a real issue but, “They (government) are not accepting that since Exxon drilling, they are humbugging the production, but as I show you here (in the video), fish is catching elsewhere.” The fishermen said that even without the research evidence, it is known that one does not make excessive noise when fishing, so, given the heavy equipment and (Continued on page 22)
Kaieteur News
Friday April 08, 2022
PAGE 17
Workers up in arms against govt. for imposing IMC at Linden Co-op LUSCSL staff participating in a sit-out
O
n Wednesday, staff members and directors of the Linden Utility Services Co-op Society Limited (LUSCSL), participated in a sit-out following a decision by the Ministry of Labour to dissolve the board and to install an Interim Management Committee (IMC), to run the affairs of Cooperative. In a correspondence to the Board, Chief Cooperative Development Officer Debbie Persaud, informed the directors that as a result of their incompetence, an IMC will manage the affairs of the Coop. “I am of the opinion that the current Committee of Management is unable to manage the affairs of Linden’s Utility Services Cooperative Society Ltd,” the correspondence noted. In a subsequent press release, the Ministry of Labour stated that one of the reasons for the decision was because of the need for accountability and transparency. It noted too that no Annual General Meeting was held for the coop since 2014, despite this must be held annually. The Ministry also raised the issues of conflict of interest; lack of audits and no
payment of dividends to members. Deposed Chairman of the Board Charles Sampson has rejected the correspondence. He said he will respond to it formally. Sampson said what is more troubling is that one committee member of the deposed board will join the IMC which he said is part of the reason the staff are holding the sit out. He alleges that it was because of reports made from the same member to the Department of Coop, resulted in the board being dissolved and that he was the only member considered because of politics. “I am disappointed because the all of the complaints that were sent to the Ministry of Labour should have been properly investigated, you cannot believe one side of the story and continue to accept one side of the story because that person must have a certain political affiliation. We have been running the society for years and I think we have been doing a fairly good job.” Speaking on the issue of not holding AGM, Sampson said that no company is perfect and there were reasons for not holding the
meeting. He said plans were however on stream to do so in two months. “I expect better from people at certain levels of government, you have to be fairer and more balance when you go to do certain things, because these things will impact this community,” Sampson said. Meanwhile, staff members expressed concerns about the dissolution of the board and the manner in which it was done. They also expressed concern that one board member who has been threatening them is the only one placed on the IMC. “I am very, very disappointed and annoyed because I heard that this individual coming on this interim committee gunning for staff and that is wrong…you have to remove the entire board, the entire board has to go, a new board must come on,” staff member Anthony Waldron said. Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton, told Kaieteur News that the Chief Cooperative Development Officer, Debbie Persaud exercised her power and authority to disband the board since investigations revealed that the Coop was managed without (Continued on page 22)
Members of the newly installed Interim Management Committee
Kaieteur News
PAGE 18
Friday April 08, 2022
U.S taxes crude, money placed in oil spill trust fund - Guyana urged to follow suit
I
n order to quickly mitigate the devastating impact of an oil spill, the United States of American (USA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have a trust fund financed by a tax on oil that is available to clean up spills when the responsible party is incapable or unwilling to do so. This is according to the U.S Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990. According to the OPA, the owner or operator [responsible party] of a facility from which oil is discharged is liable for the costs associated with the: containment, cleanup, and damages resulting from the spill. The OPA also requires oil storage facilities and vessels to submit to the Federal government plans detailing how they will respond to large discharges and requires the development of Area Contingency Plans to prepare and plan for oil spill response on a regional scale. The US EPA’s first priority is to ensure that responsible parties pay to clean up their own oil
Henry Rodney
releases. However, when the responsible party is unknown or refuses to pay, funds from the Oil Spill L i a b i l i t y Tr u s t F u n d (OSLTF) can be used to cover the cost of removal or damages. The OSLTF is a trust fund managed by the Federal government, primarily by the U.S. Coast Guard, and financed by a per-barrel tax on crude oil produced domestically in the U.S and on petroleum products imported to the U.S for consumption. The fund was created in 1986, but use of the fund was not authorized until the Oil Pollution Act’s passage in 1990. The funds may be used to cover the cost of federal, tribal, state, and claimant oil spill removal actions and damage assessments as well as unpaid liability and damages claims. Notably, no more than US$1B may be withdrawn from the fund per spill incident, including up to US$500M for the initiation of natural resource damage assessments and claims in connection with any single incident. While the US have their
During an oil spill response exercise that was conducted by ExxonMobil Guyana.
A snippet of the U.S Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990. oil spill trust fund to cater for an oil disaster – Guyana on the other hand continues to allow American oil giant, ExxonMobil Guyana to operate offshore with only limited liability insurance, in the event of an inevitable oil spill. In fact, the Head of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL),
Alistair Routledge, had defend the size of the insurance policy provided by the ExxonMobil subsidiary which has been the Operator of the oil rich Stabroek Block since 1999. Despite the company milking multibillion dollar profits from Guyana’s oil wealth – Routledge defended the limited liability insurance of
US$2B EEPGL is throwing at Guyana. Three of the oil company’s operations, Liza One, Liza Two and Payara have been granted approval without proper insurance guarantees in place from the parent company. Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently granted approval to t h e c o m p a n y ’s f o u r t h p r o j e c t , Ye l l o w t a i l development. For that project, EEPGL is held liable for all costs associated with clean up, restoration and compens ation for any pollution damage, which may occur as a consequence of the project. It also requires a Parent Company/Affiliate
Guarantee Agreement, which indemnifies and keeps indemnified the EPA and the Government of Guyana in the event EEPGL and its CoVenturers fail to meet their environmental obligations under the Permit. Notably, according to deal Guyana’s government signed onto, EEPGL pays no tax but the company’s taxes is being paid by Guyana. Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall, in an historic move, had filed a case in Guyana’s High Court, which challenges some of the most repressive tax provisions of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Exxon and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited.
Comedian Drug bond director released on bail Henry Rodney passes on
Popular Guyanese comedian and playwright Henry Rodney has passed away in the United States where he was residing. His family announced his passing via facebook Thursday afternoon. “My family and I confirm the passing of my father Henry Rodney on April 7th 2022 in Brooklyn, New York. We thank you for your continued prayers, support and well wishes. Your understanding and space is truly appreciated at this time as we process this loss as a family unit and will update you as time passes. We covet your prayers in this time,” Tamara Rodney-Williams wrote on her Facebook page. Veteran Journlist, Enrico Woolford said Rodney was involved in both amateur and professional theatre at the Theatre Guild and the National Cultural Centre for several years. “He acted in sitcoms on local TV and was a popular comedian on the local and Caribbean diaspora circuit. He also appeared in films, including a lead role in ‘1838’ and other local films. As a cultural activist, Rodney participated in, promoted, and preserved the dance ritual of Queh Queh throughout Guyana and within the Guyanese Diaspora.”
Remanded for the illegal possession of guns and attempting to bribe an officer, Terrence Williams.
Released on bail, Director of the Ministry of Health Drug Bond at Diamond, Cecil Jacques
T
he director of the Ministry of Health Drugs bond located at Diamond on East Bank of Demerara (EBD), Cecil Jacques and those who were arrested with him for allegedly stealing the bond’s supplies have been released on station bail as detectives continue their investigation. Kaieteur News confirmed this latest development with the
division’s new commander, Denise Griffith. Investigators are reluctant to share much information about the case but noted that it has to do with theft of the bond’s supplies. After receiving reports of an ongoing racket, which involves the theft and resale of medicinal drugs (property of the Ministry of Health), detectives had set up a sting operation that resulted in several persons being
arrested on March 21. Among the first set of persons to be arrested were a doctor, a rank attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and another employee with the Ministry o f H e a l t h , Te r r e n c e Williams. Williams during his arrest was found with two illegal firearms and matching ammunition and almost $5M in cash stuffed in a duffle bag. He had
attempted to buy his freedom with the cash but ended up in more trouble. He was not charged for his alleged involvement in the drug racket at the bond but was remanded to prison for the attempting to bribe a police officer and the illegal possession the guns while the doctor and GDF rank were released on bail. Days later, cops arrested Cecil Jacques and three other persons.
Friday April 08, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 19
Kaieteur News
PAGE 20
Friday April 08, 2022
More fossil fuel projects represent moral and economic madness ...World must triple speed of shift to renewable energy - UN Secretary General By Kiana Wilburg
U
nited Nations (UN) SecretaryGeneral António Guterres has issued another appeal this week for governments, particularly the world’s biggest carbon polluters such as China, India, Russia and the USA, to triple their speed in shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy. His call this time around comes on the heels of the third Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report which provides an updated global assessment of climate change mitigation progress and pledges. It also examines the sources of global emissions and explains developments in emission reduction and mitigation efforts. Additionally, it assesses the impact of national climate pledges in relation to long-term emissions goals. Following his perusal of the document, Guterres said, “This report is a litany of broken climate promises. It is a file of shame, cataloguing the empty pledges that put us firmly on track towards an unliveable world. We are on a fast track to climate disaster: Major cities under water, unprecedented heat waves, terrifying storms, widespread water shortages, the extinction of a million species of plants and animals. This is not fiction or exaggeration. It is what science tells us will result from our current energy policies.” The UN Secretary General categorically stated that the world is on a pathway to global warming of more than double the 1.5°C limit agreed in Paris by governments worldwide.
UN Secretary General, António Guterres ”Some Government and business leaders are saying one thing, but doing another. Simply put, they are lying. And the results will be catastrophic. This is a climate emergency,” warned the official. The official further stressed that the science confronting everyone is clear: to keep the 1.5°C limit agreed in Paris within reach, the world needs to cut global emissions by 45 percent this decade. He said however that the current pledges are clearly not enough. Guterres said, “Current climate pledges would mean a 14 percent increase in emissions. And most major emitters are not taking the steps needed to fulfill even these inadequate promises,” the official stated. He further noted that investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is equivalent to “moral and economic madness” since such investments will soon be stranded assets, essentially rendering them a blot on the landscape and a blight on investment portfolios. Bur Guterres said it doesn’t have to be this way. He noted that the latest IPCC report is focused on mitigation — cutting emissions. It sets out viable, financially sound options in every sector that
can keep the possibility of limiting warming to 1.5°C alive. Guterres noted however that nations must triple the speed of the shift to renewable energy. ”That means moving investments and subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables — now. In most cases, renewables are already far cheaper. It means Governments ending the funding of coal, not just abroad, but at home.” Importantly, Guterres said it also means the e m e rg e n c e o f c l i m a t e coalitions, made up of developed countries, multilateral development banks, private financial institutions and corporations, supporting major emerging economies in making this shift. It means protecting forests and ecosystems as powerful climate solutions. Guterres noted that the report comes at a time of great global turbulence. He said inequalities are at unprecedented levels, the recovery from the COVID19 pandemic is scandalously uneven, inflation is rising, and the war in Ukraine is causing food and energy prices to skyrocket. He stressed however that the increase of fossil fuel production by high emitters will only make matters worse.
PNCR seeks resolution of land ownership crisis at Sarah Johanna The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) said it has noted with concern reports regarding residents in the Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara, receiving eviction notices from a private individual, claiming to be the owner of land on
which they live and farm. “The PNCR hereby calls for the urgent intervention of the Ministry of Housing and Wa t e r t o a d d r e s s t h e concerns of residents and to ensure they are treated fairly and respectfully,” the party said in a statement Thursday. According to the PNCR,
many of the residents reported that they have been living on the land for a number of years without hindrance. “They further reported that two years ago, a businessman visited the area and informed them that he has purchased four (4) acres (Continued on page 22)
“It is time to stop burning our planet and start investing in the abundant renewable energy all around us,” the UN Secretary General concluded. ABOUT IPCC The IPCC was created in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the Wo r l d M e t e o r o l o g i c a l Organization (WMO) to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation options. Through its assessments, the IPCC determines the state of knowledge on climate change. It identifies where there is agreement in the scientific community on topics related to climate change, and where further research is needed. The reports are drafted and reviewed in several stages, thus guaranteeing objectivity and transparency. The IPCC is now in its sixth assessment cycle. Its three report released to date
address the most up-to-date physical understanding of the climate system and climate change, bringing together the latest advances in climate science, and combining multiple lines of evidence from paleoclimate, observations, process understanding, and global and regional climate simulations. A total of 234 scientists from 66 countries are behind the first chapter of the IPCC’s sixth assessment report. Also, over 14,000 scientific papers are referenced in the report. Some of the key findings of the report are as follows: • Keeping to 1.5 Degrees Celsius will require “immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions” in emissions while slower action leads to a temperature of 2 Degrees Celsius and more suffering for all life on Earth. • Drought is increasing in more than 90 percent of regions across the world • The past five years have been the hottest on record since 1850
• The recent rate of sealevel rise has nearly tripled compared with 1901-1971 • Extreme sea-level events that occurred once a century are projected to occur at least annually. • Under all the emissions scenarios considered, all targets for reductions will be broken this century unless huge cuts in carbon emissions take place. • 2,400 billion tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) have been emitted by humanity since 1850. The world can afford to only leak another 400 billion tonnes to have a 66 percent chance of keeping to 1.5 Degrees Celsius. • Many changes due to past and future greenhouse gas emissions are irreversible for centuries to millennia, especially changes in the ocean, ice sheets and global sea level. • Under scenarios with increasing CO2 emissions, the ocean and land carbon sinks are projected to be less effective at slowing the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Friday April 08, 2022
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Rowley: ‘Opposition looking to undermine T&T’ Where is the “President Guaido” that the United National Congress (UNC) was supporting to lead Venezuela? This is the question that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley wants Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Naparima MP Rodney Charles and the UNC to answer. Addressing a public meeting at the Diego Martin South Community Centre on Tuesday night, the Prime Minister castigated the Opposition for consistently “seeking to undermine every aspect of the country’s foreign policy”. Rowley said when the United States wanted regime change in Ve-nezuela, the Trinidad and Toba-go Opposition got involved and jumped in, saying they wanted “President Guaido, too”. “You (the UNC) take our country down the road publicly supporting somebody who is not even in the Parliament in Venezuela and agreeing with the Americans that they should be on the OAS (Organisation of American States) executive, and writing the American embassy asking them to sanction Rowley and Stuart Young because they allow the Vice-President of Venezuela (Delcy Rodriguez) to come to Trini-dad. ‘Allow’, eh? So we should be sanctioned by a foreign power. And then the foreign power
itself gone to Caracas (to speak to officials in the same Maduro government),” he said. “And when we said we will speak to the government that the UN (United Nations) acknow-ledges in Caracas because we stay with UN principles...they (the UNC) were still undermining us with their ‘President Guaido’ foolishness. And when the Americans wanted to talk to Venezuela (recently), who they went to talk to in Venezuela? The UNC?” the PM asked sarcastically. “Tonight, I want to ask the UNC and Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Doppy: where is President Guai-do?” he said. “And our media here is so very convenient. The PNM (People’s National Move-ment) is held to a higher standard. If a PNM opposition had done what the UNC did, the media would be on our case every Sunday, every commentator, all of them. “And, of course, the minute some-body say that Trinidad and Tobago is falling apart, oh my Lord, that was music to their ears,” he added. Rowley said one of the first things he had to do when he assumed office in 2015 was to go to Jamaica and “eat humble pie and apologise for the behaviour of Kamla Persad-Bissessar because Jamaicans were about to boy-
cott T&T products, which would have caused mass unemployment in Trinidad and Tobago. I had to sit there with 14 Jamaican ministers, smoke coming out their ears...and now I have to listen to them (the UNC) telling me about foreign policy”. PM on Mark: What disability? The Prime Minister also hit back at persons who accused him of mocking UNC Senator Wade Mark’s “physical disability” when he mimicked Mark at a public meeting on March 22. He said last week he was telling the country about a parliamentarian who was “screaming” about the new Attorney General’s citizenship status when people accused him of mocking Mark’s “physical disability”. “All of a sudden, screaming to the top of your voice is a physical disability. And (people) accusing me of mocking Wade Mark’s screaming disability. Well, I could tell you, if I knew Wade Mark had a disability, I would not touch it. Because the only disability I know that he has is when he comes to Parliament on a regular basis trying to ‘buss a mark’ and most times he is lying, and he is the only Speaker in any Commonwealth Parliament who had to appease the Parliament by apologising for lying to the Parliament,” said
Rowley. The PM said one of the big issues the UNC “going on and on and on with” on every platform is the fact that he (and his daughter) had each purchased an apartment in Tobago. He mocked the UNC, which he said was behaving as if it had discovered some secret. “(They saying) ‘These are the documents, I find them’. You know what the documents are? They are public documents from the Regis-trar General’s office. Anybody who is idle or drunk could go there and find it— ‘Rowley purchased an apartment in Tobago’. But you know what shocked them? It was purchased...purchased! You had to be a kinda jackass to be a Prime Minister and purchasing apartment when a contractor could build a house for you,” he said. The Prime Minister referred to a house which was built by a particular contractor and when questions were raised with the owner, he said it was pumpkin and cucumber money. “Another one was living in a bungalow in Siparia and the minute she became prime minister, a mansion went up in Philippine, with the contractor painting his (company’s) name off the equipment,” he said, adding that the same contractor left the country the day after the
PAHO director calls for concerted action to... From page 3 to climate change are the most pressing environmental public health threats for the Region. “Today’s World Health Day theme– Our Planet, Our Health – is a call for a green and healthy recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which places the health of individuals and the planet at the center of actions and fosters a movement to create societies focused on well-being,” added Dr. Etienne, calling on Member States to recommit to regional solidarity and to strengthen individual and collective actions to better protect the region’s health. To help countries advance in meeting the environment and health challenges, PAHO last year launched the Agenda for the Americas on Health, Environment, and Climate
Change, 2021–2030, the Director said. The Agenda will benefit all countries and territories by, among others, promoting good governance practices, strengthening leadership and coordination roles in the health sector, and fostering cross-sectoral action. “The future depends on us as we are not only the custodians of today but the architects of tomorrow,” Dr. Etienne concluded. Background information for press Approximately 431 million people in the Americas Region still do not have access to safe sanitation, and out of this number, 9.9 million still practice open defecation; 161 million people still do not have access to safe drinking water, resulting in about 30,000 preventable deaths each year.
Household and ambient air pollution is linked to almost 320,000 preventable deaths per year in the Region due to stroke, heart disease, lung disease and cancer. Globally, almost 80 million people still depend on polluting fuels, such as solid fuels or kerosene to support their needs for lighting, cooking, and heating – a problem that disproportionately affects women and children. People are still being exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as mercury, lead, and pesticides – which not only jeopardize the health of the persons directly exposed, but also that of unborn children, who can suffer ill effects throughout their life span. Extreme weather events can directly increase the prevalence of some diseases and cause injury and death.
Additionally, changing climate patterns can modify human health, by exacerbating food and water insecurity and population migration, compromising mental health, and altering the usual transmission patterns of zoonoticand waterborne diseases. Those living in poverty, in precarious housing conditions on small islands and coastal areas, are at greater risk due to more frequent and severe weather events and rising sea levels coupled with a reduced ability to adapt. New environment-related hazards to health are increasingly being recognized – for example, exposure to substances in electronic waste, the environmental and health effects of micro- and nanoplastics, and increased antimicrobial resistance, among others.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley
2015 election and “has not set foot back since”. Rowley suggested that the Oppo-sition forces, including the PDP (Progressive Democratic Patriots), were joining hands. “I am not surprised that some of them coming together and we hearing now that the PNM is in trouble because they coming
together. Is not the PNM in trouble, is Trinidad and Tobago,” he said. “But I have seen it. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the elect-orate. When they (Opposition for-ces) get you again, they will do it to you again because the leopard doesn’t change its spots. All they want is another opportunity,” he added.
Man gets 14 years... From page 13 charge stated that on March 25, 2021, at Grant Friendship, Lower Pomeroon River, Mohamed attempted to murder his 23-year-old reputed wife. He reportedly chopped the pregnant woman several times before burning down their home. However, on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of felonious wounding and on Thursday, he was handed a 14-year jail sentence for the offence. Mohamed was represented by attorneyat-law Mark Thomas, while Prosecutor Tiffini Lyken rep-
resented the State. According to reports, the pregnant woman was reportedly rescued by her neighbours after they noticed smoke coming from the couple’s home. It was reported that when the neighbours entered the home, they discovered the badly wounded woman. She had suffered severe chop wounds to her head, hands and other parts of her body. Some of her fingers were severed also. The woman had to be airdashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where she underwent surgery.
PAGE 22
Friday April 08, 2022
Kaieteur News
WPA outrage over alleged assault on policewoman...
VEHICLE FOR SALE One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable. Contact:649-0956. 2001 RAV 4,in good condition not working.Price $800,000. Call:648-9248. 1-Model M Truck,TM Truck, 428 Caterpillar Backhoe,416 Caterpillar Back hoe,Front end loader, Cement mixer truck,Mini Excavator.6500402/652-0251. Toyota Carina 170 PGG Series $1.6M negotiable. Tel:660-2661/Whatsapp 6086948.
SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design,Advertisements, Wedding decorations & Elderly grooming: Hair,Nail etc.Tel:626-7040. Specialized repairs/service refrigerator, washing machine, pressure pump, stove, treadmill,dryer, filteration system, deep fryer.Call:6949733. Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc.Call Nick#656-0110/630-1600. Mo's Bobcat Rental & Towing Service.Now hiring Bobcat Drivers. Call:643-8727/ whatsapp 685-9744.
FOR SALE 2-1 acres land@ blankenbu rg W.C.D. Contact:650-0402/ 652-0251. 1-40 acres land@Linden Highway.Contact:650-0402/ 652-0251. 6-4 & 5 bedroom house at Schoonord,1-3 story building at Zeelugt,1-3 bedroom at Blankenburg.Contact:6500402/652-0251. Prime business spot(1/2 acre land) @Parika, house lots at Blanken burg,double lot at Tushen. Contact:650-0402/ 652-0251.
FOR RENT 2 bedroom,1 bathroom downstairs for 60k.Call between 912am or 1-5pm Mon-Sat. Call:671-5773.
PROPERTY FOR SALE PFS on the main road MC Doom E.B.D 120x50.Call:6130007. 5 bedroom house.Better hope E.C.D,price 29.5M neg. Tel: 660-7935.
FOR WANTED RENT One female to work in Interior,must be 18yrs & over. Tel:674-9999. 1 live in to work in George town.Must be 18yrs & over. Tel:674-9999.
From page 12 imagery of slavery does not deserve to govern.” “For us in the WPA, we call for national solidarity with Ms. Bollers and all victims of Racial Prejudice and Domination. Racism is a sin. WPA feels that Guyana has reached the point of a State of Emergency in race relations. The malady has always existed just below the surface, but it has taken on frightening dimensions since the return to power of the PPP in 2020. We reiterate the view that unless we as a nation confront our deep-seated racial problems, our country would remain vulnerable to political instability and economic underdevelopment. Further, if these expressions of racial prejudice are allowed to flourish, the alienation of a significant section of the society would increase to our collective peril. WPA also calls for a na-
tional conversation on race relations aimed at sensitizing all Guyanese about the dangers of racism and turning the country’s face away from that scourge. Finally, we call for the immediate activation of the Ethnic Relations Commission with the expressed mandate of policing racial discrimination and racism in an evenhanded manner.” Bollers, a Special Constable attached to the Guyana Police Force last week through her lawyer, Eusi Anderson field a $150M lawsuit against Singh. Bollers is suing for GY$150 million for slander allegedly published orally by Mr. Singh on March 20, 2022. She noted that the lawyer used derogatory words to describe to wit he referred to her as “a monkey, a black monkey, you Black people have no purpose in life.” Bollers said that she was at the time operating on guard duties at the Middle and Cummings Streets
Georgetown home, owned by his father, Carl Singh who is a retired Chancellor of the Judiciary. She alleged that at the time of the incident, Mr. Singh approached her and chased her out of her duties area and subsequently, off the property, forcing her to abandon her post and duties for the said night. According the claim filed on behalf of Bollers, the lawyer used certain words in a “loud and aggressive manner which amount to defamation of character. “The willful malice in the slander is observed in the fact that he used these words to her whilst she was in uniform including full police regulation number and other police markings.” Further, the female SC alleged that Mr. Singh’s behaviour amounted to “an absolute disregard for the authority of her uniform.” Bollers’ claim explained that the words allegedly pub-
lished by the attorney were untrue, maliciously uttered and undiluted falsehood, she said they expressly or by innuendo meant that she was not a human being of the homo sapien species and by extension not worthy of recognition in her humanity or human dignity.” The policewoman said she believed that her race as a Black/ Negro person was not worthy of respect, is a group whose purpose and worthy of insult, was not worthy of respect, visibility and a human identity. As such, she is also claiming exemplary damages. The document outlined that, “Exemplary and aggravated damages are warranted, further, because of the nature of the comments in the context of slavery and its effect on Black people and the universally accepted norm that Black and monkey are derogatory terms forbidden from use on anything other than monkey and apes.”
Low catches forcing fishermen into...
Male to work in Interior.Must From page 16 be 18 & over.Tel:686-2201. scale of oil and gas operation Female to take care of an eld- taking place off the coast, the erly male between the ages of fishermen are convinced that 25 to 40. Accommodations the oil companies’ project has provided.Call or WhatsApp something to do with the low numbers. 1-868-683-1528. In November of last year, Dried carilla bush,soursop reports had surfaced about leaves,lemongrass,mango dwindling fish numbers. leaves (anyquantity). Call: By December, the Agricul609-8281/693-3003. ture Minister, Zulfikar 1 Headcook,1 Assistant Mustapha had said that a loCook,1 Cleaner for Restaurant. Call:602-8067/677-7011.
cal committee had been established to investigate the situation. He said that government had engaged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to assist with conducting an analysis to determine the reason behind the low catches. In January, when
Servers needed at From page 20 Emmanuel's Delight. Located of land in the area and they will have to “get off the at Diamond,tel:651-6342. land”. What is most disGeneral domestic covid 19 turbing, residents’ spoke vaccinated for Tuesday & of the many insults and Saturday between Cove & threats hurled at them by the John & Unity E.C.D.Tel:259- purported landowner. 0953/623-3231. These are ordinary Guyanese who are trying to make a life and livelihood for their families. Many reported that they have cultivated areas of the land. To remove them will only create hardships. VACANCY Our nation can and must do Billing clerk & Porters, location Stabroek Market. ExperiVACANCY ences is an asset. Contact: 661-1000,226-9800. One bulldozer operator to work in Great Diamond. ConMaintenance man & room attact:632-1118/647-4161. tendants,30-50 yrs old.233 South Road Lacytown or 225- One salesman,able bodied 2304. porters.Experience in writing Male Clerical Asst,age 25-30 bills,stocktaking & cashing. yrs.Must have Secondary Keyfood Trading,Mc Doom Education & license is re- village. quired. Tel:225-8131/223- Maid to cook and clean for 6488. East Bank area.Call:615-9132. One female cleaner.Apply One clerk for TSI Eccles ofat:Lens 136 Sheriff St C/Ville fice English & Math, grade 1 Georgetown.Contact:227- or 2.Call:615-9132 or email 2486 or 227-1511. application to techserigy Pitmen,Serviceman,Hauler @yahoo.com. Operator for interior location. For porters.Apply in person Applicants must be experi- to Alabama Trading,65 Robb enced. Call:231-2250. St Bourda.
better,” the PNCR stated. The PNCR recalled that in October 2020, these residents protested against their removal and publicly called on the PPP/C regime to resolve the issue based on a PPP election promise to do so when in government. “Even more, the PPP/C’s promised to provide 50,000 house lots for low-income earners and other Guyanese remains a pipe dream. These failures are clear examples of the PPP fake election pledges to ordinary citizens,” the
Mustapha faced questions at the Parliamentary Sectorial Committee on Economic Services, he said that the government was taking part in stock assessment of commercial fish species, but did not update on findings or the position of the ongoing research. When contacted yesterday, Minister Mustapha told this media house that there
has been no update on the research but he committed to making the information public as soon as it is available. Guyanese have been told that once they can prove that oil operations in the Stabroek Block have affected them then they may seek compensation. The fish research is the first step to explaining the dwindling numbers, fish operators believe.
PNCR seeks resolution of land ownership... party said. On the crisis at hand in Sarah Johanna, the PNCR recommends that the Ministers of Housing and Water immediately meet with the purported landowner to ascertain whether the land is legally owned by him. Seco n d l y, t h e p a r t y wants the Ministers of Housing and Water to engage residents to ascertain whether they made applications for house lots and, if so, priority be given for the applications to be processed
and an area in the housing scheme be allocated to them. “The residents must be allowed to remain in place until a full and satisfactory solution is found. The PNCR anticipates a just and sensible solution to this matter. We will continue to monitor the situation. Such crises serve as further evidence for the need for a people-centered national development strategy, as we have been promoting.”
Workers up in arms against govt. for... From page 17 accountability and transparency. He said that the Coop Department is in possession of several complaints from members - the latest being a petition from 18 members including executive directors, to take action against the board. He said the board is acting unconstitutionally. These actions he said, will run the coop society, which is the utility company providing electricity for the Wismar shore, bankrupt and thou-
sands of residents will be at risk of long periods of power outages. He said the coop currently has about $20M in its accounts, $11M which needs to be paid to someone as legal fees. Relative to the accusation of placing a director from the dissolved board on the IMC, the Minister said the CCDO has the authority to install whomever she sees fit and there is no law stating that an old board member must not
be placed on an IMC. He said the first order of business of the IMC will be to carry out audits and hold a long overdue election. The new board members are Mr. Renee McDonald, Chairwoman, Mr. Winston Caesar, Mr. Hilton Lyle, Ms. Wanda Richmond, Mr. Courtney Handy, Mr. Leon Greaves and Ms. Latoya Walks. LUSCSL has been in existence for over 60 years and is owned by residents of Wismar.
Friday April 08, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
PAGE 24
The Region Six Democratic Council team presented before the PAC on Monday.
Friday April 08, 2022
Alleged ‘collusion’ seen between contractor and engineer in Region Six - PAC hears An investigation by the Auditor General’s Office unearthed what appeared to be collusion between the regional engineer from Region Six Democratic Council and a contractor. According to the investigation, in eight instances, the contractor’s sum was the same as the engineer’s estimate. As a result, the contracting firm Associated Construction Inc. was awarded all eight contracts for capital works conducted in the East Berbice, Corentyne area of Region Six. The issue was highlighted at the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira during a sitting on Monday. Teixeira was at the time enquiring about the strange occurrence in which a single contractor was awarded multiple contracts because his figures matched the regional engineer. Teixeira noted that she found the occurrence “highly suspicious.” “One time is rare but to have it happen eight times… what are the odds that the engineer’s estimate and the contractor’s estimate are the exactly same?” she asserted. The Region Six team led by the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Narindra Singh admitted that there might have been collusion between the engineer and the contractor. He admitted too that there was a diversion of the Regional Administration from the procurement laws and regulations with the undertaking being done in the context of restricted tendering. Singh said nonetheless that efforts were made to ensure that there is no reoccurrence of the incident. The audit examination revealed eight instances,
where the contract sum was the same as the Engineer’s estimate. The report noted that, “Each item on the contractor’s bill of quantities was identical to that of the engineer’s bill of quantities. All eight of these contracts were awarded by the Regional Tender Board of which four were awarded at one sitting. It was noted that all eight contracts were awarded to one contractor.” Further, the audit checks revealed that 153 contracts to the value of $604.849M for both current and capital expenditures for that year were not publicly advertised and, as such, were procured by means of restricted tendering. The Procurement Act 25(2) states that a procuring entity may use a method of procurement other than public tendering proceedings in which case the procuring entity shall include in the records a statement of the grounds and circumstances on which it relied to justify the use of that particular method of procurement. However, no such statement was presented for audit scrutiny. It was further stated in the Procurement Act 26 (1) (a) that when the procurement method of restricted tendering is used; the procuring entity shall invite all suppliers and contractors to submit tenders. However, audit checks revealed that the regional tender board did not invite all its prequalified contractors to submit tenders for which they were qualified. Further, analysis of the Regional Tender Board (RTB) minutes revealed that the RTB had invited a maximum of four contractors and in some instances less than four, to submit tenders for 140 contracts valued at $570.144M of the 153 contracts.
Man killed in drunken brawl... From page 2 chest; he was also chopped to his head. After attacking Cummings, the two suspects escaped in an unknown direction. The injured man was picked up and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he died while receiving treatment. Police said his body is presently at Ezekiel’s Funeral Home awaiting post mortem examination. Police have since arrested one of the suspects while an investigation is ongoing to apprehend the other person involved.
Friday April 08, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 25
Volodímir Zelenski
PAGE 26
Kaieteur News
Friday April 08, 2022
Friday April 08, 2022
UEFA agrees new financial sustainability rules for clubs MANCHESTER, England, (Reuters) - Top European clubs will be limited to spending no more than 70% of their revenue on their squads under new “sustainability regulations” passed by UEFA’s executive committee yesterday. The new approach will replace the previous Financial Fair Play system and introduces a “squad cost rule” that will limit spending on wages, transfers and agent fees. The 70% figure will be reached after a three year transition period, gradually falling from 90%. “UEFA’s first financial regulations, introduced in 2010, served its primary purpose,” UEFA president
PAGE 27
Kaieteur News
Aleksander Ceferin said at the Executive Committee meeting in Nyon. “They helped pull European football finances back from the brink and revolutionised how European football clubs are run. “However, the evolution of the football industry, alongside the inevitable financial effects of the pandemic, has shown the need for wholesale reform and new financial sustainability regulations.” UEFA added that acceptable losses will double from 30 million euros ($32.74 million) over three years to 60 million euros over the same period. The new regulations will
come into force in June 2022. The issue of Russia’s membership of UEFA was not on the agenda of the UEFA meeting but Ceferin suggested that it remained under consideration following the invasion of Ukraine. “There are considerations about many things these days. Day by day, hour by hour, the situation is changing and again I would not be a serious UEFA president if I would first speak to the media and then speak to the Exco or general assembly or whoever,” said the Slovenian. Russia has expressed interest in a bid to host the European Championship in 2028 or 2032 but Ceferin declined to discuss that prospect.
Friday April 08, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your artistic abilities could seem a bit blocked today, Aries. You could be anxious to complete a half-finished project, but at this point you may have no idea where to go with it. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today you could have a strong desire to get out and socialize, Taurus. You could well spend a lot of time on the phone trying to reach some friends. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you could receive an invitation to a social event that you'll really want to attend, Gemini. People could be there who might turn out to be important contacts. CANCER (June 21–July 22) An opportunity to travel to a place you've always wanted to visit, perhaps for business reasons, could come your way today, Cancer. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Daydreams full of adventure, perhaps involving travel, could take up a lot of your time today, Leo. You're probably bored with your situation and longing to do something to break your routine. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Your desire to see a romantic partner could be very strong today, Virgo. However, if you ask, you might be turned down.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Overindulgence in food and drink over the past few days could be causing you to feel a little out of sorts today, Libra. You might even wonder if the fun was worth it. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A strong desire to meet with a romantic partner could come over you today, Scorpio. However, you might not be able to reach your friend. . SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A moody family member could have you confused, Sagittarius, and you might not be able to discern the best way to find out what's bothering him or her. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You might want to spend most of today outside, Capricorn, perhaps taking a walk through a park. You could have some serious thinking to do and feel the best recourse is to be by yourself for a while. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Money problems could be on your mind, Aquarius, perhaps more so than necessary. You might have a tendency to blow them out of proportion and think they're worse than they are. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today you could look in the mirror and panic about your appearance, Pisces. You might be feeling a little under the weather and look a little tired.
OMCT overcome Canal Number Two by eight runs One Movement Cricket Team defeated host Canal Number Two by eight runs when the teams collided in a T20 fixture played recently. Batting first, OMCT made 117 all out in 19 overs. Damuka Junior hit one four and three sixes in a top score of 36 while Laurel Parks made 29 with four fours and one six and Tuen Hicks 21. Emanuel Martin claimed 3- 5 and Sheldon Suluman 3-30. In reply, Canal Number Two made 109-7. Nicolas
Adrian Hinds Persaud struck seven fours and one six in scoring 43, while Chris Jadunauth scored
Damuka Junior 18. Adrian Hinds took 2-11, Laurel Parks 2-12 and Mario Franklin 2-29.
Trophy Stall Golf Classic set... From page 32 for tomorrow’s tournament will end at noon today and players are asked to uplift their score cards and proceed to their respective t-boxes for the 12:30hrs start. Club secretary Chet Bowling expressed the Lusignan Golf Club’s deep heartfelt gratitude to the owner Ramesh: “Indeed he is the classic supporter of the LGC. He understands his corporate social responsibility and Mr. Sunich mentioned the importance of family.” Mr. Bowling went on to draw the parallel to the shared values of family and community that the LGC and Trophy Stall have at the core of both organizations. Following the Trophy Stall Classic this weekend, the LGC will continue the theme of family and community by hosting a free children fun afternoon with prizes, ice cream and snacks starting at 14:00hrs on Easter Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club. The children fun day will usher in a full weekend of activities on the grounds of the golf club: All children are invited to participate free of charge in this inaugural event on Saturday, April 16th – details of which will be forthcoming. On Sunday April 17th the Lusignan golf club will once
again open its gates to the public with an adult evening event sponsored by Heineken, followed by Easter
Monday kite flying and barbecue. Both Easter Sunday and Easter Monday’s activities will be paid events.
PAGE 28
Friday April 08, 2022
Kaieteur News
Hayley Matthews named to ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Most Valuable Team SportsMax - West Indies Women all-rounder Hayley Matthews has been named on the Most Valuable Team of the just-concluded ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup
2022. The 24-year-old Barbadian was the best of the West Indies Women with 260 runs including a match-winning century of 119 against New Zealand. She also took 10
wickets with her off-spin and had her best figures of 4-15 against Bangladesh. Her performances played a major role in helping the West Indies Women advance to the semi-finals for the first time since 2013. As such, Cricket West Indies (CWI)
congratulated Matthews on making the Most Valuable Team of the tournament. Anne Brown-John, Lead Selector for Women’s Cricket also praised the team for their showing at the tournament and the strides made to finish among the top four and climb up the ICC Women’s ODIs standings. “I will like to congratulate the team on reaching the World Cup semi-final. The team went into the competition in the lower half of the standings and ended in the top four,” she said. “For this, the players and staff must be complimented. The selectors put together what we considered to be the best 18 available players for the World Cup and we are confident that they did their best. Everyone would like to get to the final but it did not happen this time. “Despite this, there were some really remarkable performances and Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin were beacons resulting in Hayley being named to the ICC team of the World Cup. This is well deserved since she was one of the outstanding players of the tournament both with the bat and the ball. For this, she must be commended.” Matthews, meanwhile, said her success at the World Cup was due mainly to hard work on her part. “I’ve put a lot of hard work leading up to the tournament and to be selected to
Hayley Matthews
the Best XI is a reward for that,” she said. “I must admit that it’s bittersweet because we didn’t make it to the final but the fight we’ve shown throughout the tournament signifies the growth we’ve had as a team. “Getting a century is always a momentous occasion but getting a World Cup hundred was, I think, just a bit more special for me and definitely up there in being quite memorable. The opportunity to contribute with the ball as well has been really pleasing, knowing that if it doesn’t go my way with the bat on that day, I can still contribute otherwise.” Meg Lanning was named captain of the Most Valuable Team after guiding her side to the title and scoring 394 runs during the tour-
nament. Four Australians were selected to the team, including Player-of-the-Tournament Alyssa Healy. The wicketkeeper-batter made two centuries in the knockout stages, including 170 in the final against England. Most Valuable Team: Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa), Alyssa Healy (Australia) – wicket-keeper, Meg Lanning (Australia) – captain, Rachael Haynes (Australia), Nat Sciver (England), Beth Mooney (Australia), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), Salma Khatun (Bangladesh) and 12thwoman Charlie Dean (England).
Remarkable Woods in Masters hunt after opening 71 AUGUSTA, Ga., (Reuters) - Back playing the Masters after a career-threatening car crash, Tiger Woods said he thought he could win a sixth Green Jacket and yesterday he made a few more believers after carding a solid opening 71. In his first competitive round of golf in 508 days, Woods mixed three birdie with two bogeys at Augusta National to sit three behind clubhouse leader Australian Cameron Smith, who started and finished with double bogeys in a four-under 68. Although the year’s first major featured all of golf’s best, there was only one man most had come to see, the world’s 973rd ranked player Woods. It was a remarkable effort from the 15-times major champion just 14 months after doctors had considered the possibility of having to amputate his right leg mangled in the single car accident.
“I fought back and for the day to end up in the red I am right where i need to be,” Woods said. “I figured once the adrenalin kicks in and I got fired up and I got into my little world I should be able to handle business.” Woods said he was prepared to play with pain and at times noticeably limped as he made his way around the undulating layout regarded as one of the toughest walks on the PGA Tour. After COVID-19 limited the number of spectators allowed onto the grounds over the last two years, the crowds were back in force and bringing with them the familiar roars that echo through the tall Georgia pines. The start was delayed 30 minutes due to thunderstorms but the dreary weather could not dampen the buzz as golf fans lucky enough to have secured one of sport’s
most coveted tickets moved quickly to stake out their places around some of the sport’s most famous holes and wait for Woods to appear. The 46-year-old, wearing a pink shirt and black pants, had his game face on as he walked out to the first tee where the entire length of the par-four 445-yard opening hole was lined with thousands of spectators. After five consecutive pars, Woods nearly aced the par-three sixth hole where his tee shot stopped two feet from the cup to set up his first birdie which was followed by his first bogey at the eighth. Even par entering Amen Corner, Woods made it through the infamous stretch of holes unscathed, picking up his second birdie at 13. That was followed by another bogey at 14 but the 16th provided vintage Woods as he rolled in a monster 29-foot birdie putt and celebrated with a trademark fist pump.
Friday April 08, 2022
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
NBA roundup: Kevin Durant’s triple-double powers Nets’ rally Reuters - Kevin Durant scored 23 of his 32 points in the second half as the visiting Brooklyn Nets rallied for a 110-98 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. The Knicks, who led by 21 points in the third quarter, held a 96-94 edge on a free throw by RJ Barrett with 5:11 remaining but were outscored 16-2 the rest of the way. Durant shot 11 of 22 and completed a triple-double by collecting 11 assists and 10 rebounds as the Nets moved within one game of the seventh-place Cleveland Cavaliers, whom they host on Friday. Kyrie Irving added 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to help Brooklyn earn its seventh straight win over New York. Alec Burks scored 24 points for the Knicks, who managed just 31 points after halftime. Mavericks 131, Pistons 113 Luka Doncic had 26 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds and Dallas reached the 50-win mark by pulling away from host Detroit. Doncic failed to reach the 30-point mark for the first time in six games, but the Mavericks won for the fifth time in their past six games. Jalen Brunson supplied 24 points, six rebounds and three assists for Dallas. Cade Cunningham had 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Pistons, whose three-game winning streak ended.
Hawks 118, Wizards 103 Atlanta kept pace with Brooklyn in its duel for the No. 8 playoff seeding in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament, riding Trae Young’s 30-point performance to a victory over visiting Washington. Young used 11-for-12 accuracy at the free-throw line as the foundation for his 34th 30-point game of the season. He also found time for a gamehigh 11 assists, completing his 41st double-double of the year, his 20th with at least 30 points. The Wizards, who were coming off a win at Minnesota on Tuesday but have been eliminated from playoff contention, fell despite a 26point, 18-rebound night from Kristaps Porzingis. Jazz 137, Thunder 101 Bojan Bogdanovic topped all scorers with 27 points as Utah cruised to a win over Oklahoma City in Salt Lake City. Rudy Gobert, Jordan Clarkson and Hassan Whiteside each contributed double-doubles for the Jazz, who clinched a Western Conference playoff spot on Tuesday. Gobert finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, while Whiteside, his backup, added 15 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. Clarkson chipped in 18 points and 10 assists. Jaylen Hoard, on a 10-day contract, led Oklahoma City with 23 points. Isaiah Roby and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl each scored 18 as the Thun-
Brooklyn Nets power forward Kevin Durant (7) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. (Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) is defended by Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Livers (12) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. (Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY der saw their two-game winning streak end. Celtics 117, Bulls 94 Jaylen Brown scored 25 points and Jayson Tatum added 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to lift visiting Boston past Chicago. Al Horford made all seven of his shots — including three from 3-point range — and finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who have won three in a row and 14 of their past 17 games. DeMar DeRozan scored 15 of his 16 points in the first half for the Bulls, who have lost three in a row and 14 of their past 20. Clippers 113, Suns 109 Norman Powell scored 24 points in his return and Paul George had 19 as Los Angeles held off visiting Phoenix, which sat four starters. Powell, who missed 22 games with a broken foot,
Serena drops Wimbledon hint as coach teams up with Halep AFP - Serena Williams hinted yesterday she could return to action at Wimbledon after her longtime coach Patrick Mouratoglou announced he would work with Simona Halep on a “full-time” basis. Williams, 40, has not played since retiring from her first-round match at Wimbledon last June with a torn right hamstring. The future of the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion was shrouded in doubt following the news that Mouratoglou, her coach since 2012, would team up with Halep. But she appeared to suggest she would compete at Wimbledon in an Instagram video featuring Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, posted backstage at a Bitcoin conference in Mi-
ami. “We’ve been talking about my comeback and he’s been hyping me up and getting me ready for Wimbledon. Can’t wait!” said Williams. Rodgers replied: “Wimbledon? What about the US Open?” “Wimbledon is before the US Open! I have to play Wimbledon first!” responded Williams. The American skipped the Australian Open earlier this year as she continued her recovery, and her ranking has plummeted to 246. Williams has won 10 of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles since pairing up with Mouratoglou, who revealed she had given him permission to coach Halep, another former world number one. “Excited for a new chapter. Let’s get to work,” tweeted
Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion who had been without a coach since splitting with Darren Cahill last September. Mouratoglou said Halep had asked if he was available to coach her while training at his academy in southern France before flying to last month’s tournament at Indian Wells. The Frenchman said it was “out of question at the time” given his commitment to Williams. “A few weeks later, I had a conversation with Serena, and the door opened for me, at least short term, to work with someone else,” he said on social media. Romanian Halep is currently ranked 20th. She rose to world number one for the first time in 2017 and won Roland Garros the following year and Wimbledon in 2019.
came back to open 6 of 6 from the field. He wound up 6 of 10 while playing 23 minutes. George topped the 15,000point mark for his career as the Clippers held on after lead-
ing by 39 points. Ish Wainright scored 20 points and Aaron Holiday added 16 for the Suns, who played without Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton
and Jae Crowder. The absences were characterized as a maintenance day after the Suns wrapped up a franchiserecord 63rd victory Tuesday. (Field Level Media)
PAGE 30
Lady Jags and GFF President Forde visit West Demerara Secondary School Members of the Senior Women’s National Team and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde have treated students and teachers at West Demerara Secondary School to football gifts and free tickets for this week’s crunch Concacaf and FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier against Nicaragua. The GFF President and four star players visited the school on Wednesday as part of a huge effort to publicise the match and to encourage fans to come out in large numbers to support the Lady Jags when the two sides meet at the Leonora National Track and Field Centre at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 8. The Jags are currently top of their qualifying group, with forthcoming matches against their Central American rivals and Trinidad and Tobago set to decide which team will progress to the Concacaf W Championship in July, which acts as a gateway to the 2023 FIFA Women’s
Friday April 08, 2022
Kaieteur News
Lady Jags present tickets to a teacher of the West Dem Secondary during their visit. World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Forwards Stefanie Kouzas and Annalisa Vincent, goalkeeper N a t a l i e N e d d , midfielder Hannah Baptiste and President Forde greeted students and staff, signed autographs and took photos at t h e s c h o o l i n Vr e e d e n Hoop in a visit that also sought to inspire girls to take up football and participate in the first ever GFF-Blue Water Shipping National U15 Girls’ League. “I want to thank the
school for accommodating us,” said President Forde. “We have been graciously welcomed here and we have had a really good interaction with the students.” “ We w a n t t o e n s u r e that the team has all the support it needs to bring home the victory on Friday, but this interaction is not just about inspiring young people to come out and give the Lady Jags the support they need, it’s also to stimulate an interest among young girls in the game of football,” Forde added.
Quinton de Kock aces chase after Ravi Bishnoi throttles Capitals ESPNcricinfo - The Lucknow Super Giants spinners stifled Delhi Capitals, and their death bowlers maintained the chokehold to restrict them to the third-lowest 20-over total for the loss of three wickets or fewer in the IPL: 149. With dew around, it became an easy target to chase, but even LSG stumbled in the end and finished the chase only in the last over despite a 52-ball 80 from Quinton de Kock. It was a remarkable comeback from LSG after Prithvi Shaw ran away to 61 off 34 balls. However, the other Capitals batters - David Warner and Rishabh pant among them - couldn’t manage even a run a ball between them. It wasn’t for the want of trying: they all tried to hit out, but Ravi Bishnoi, K Gowtham and Krunal Pandya tied them down before Jason Holder and Avesh Khan finished off with just 19 runs in the last three overs, the secondlowest aggregate for an IPL side who had top-six batters at the wicket. Between them the LSG spinners bowled 10 overs for 57 runs and took all three wickets to fall. Gowtham also bowled the first maiden Pant has faced in the IPL. Shaw welcomes back Warner This was a homecoming of sorts for Warner to the team he made his IPL debut for. Shaw was there to make him feel at home, giving him a right-hand impression of the batter he used to be before he began to set himself up for the long innings. The LSG fast bowlers tried to bowl hard lengths at Shaw, but kept getting cut or pulled. He alone scored 47 in the powerplay, letting Warner ease his way back in. Against the spinners Shaw remained aggressive and effective, going over cover with ease and punishing any error in length. In the eighth over, he stepped out to Gowtham to hit him for a straight six before going over cover for four. Shaw gone, choke on Gowtham responded by moving round the wicket and pushing one across Shaw. Shaw saw a third boundary in a row and went for the cut, but the angle and some extra bounce defeated him to take the top edge. Capitals then made a curious move to promote Rovman Powell to No. 3. Before today, Powell had struck at 150 against pace and 116 against spin. He was now being exposed to spin on a
Quinton de Kock heaves a half-tracker over midwicket •Apr 06, 2022•BCCI
surface with grip. Bishnoi and Gowtham now sucked the life out of the innings. Warner went cutting a wide ball, which kept getting away from him, and managed just a top edge, the third time he has got out to Bishnoi in six balls. A desperate Powell saw a full ball and went for the slog, but it turned out to be the wrong’un, which took out off stump. Gowtham then proceeded to cramp Pant and bowl a maiden. When Sarfaraz Khan reverse-swept the last ball of the 11th over, it was the first boundary by a batter not named Shaw. Pant’s struggles More than Warner or Powell, Pant’s struggle was stark. He managed just eight off the first 19 balls he faced, surviving a run-out chance in the process. It was with the last ball of the 15th over that he finally broke free, lofting a Bishnoi wrong’un over extra-cover. When Andrew Tye offered him a full-toss and two slot balls in the 16th, Pant finally went past a run a ball with a four and two sixes. Sarfaraz got stuck into Avesh in the 17th over, making it 130 for 3 and raising hopes for Capitals. Holder’s mix of cutters and yorkers, though, completely shut Pant and Sarfaraz out. He bowled the 18th and the 20th, but conceded no boundary. Avesh made a stellar comeback in the 19th, conceding just the one four. This 36-ball 39 was Pant’s thirdslowest innings of 30 balls or more. To make matters worse, the bowlers were wiping the ball with a towel every ball, an ominous sign if you have only managed a low total. De Kock aces the chase With Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav in the side
and with Lalit Yadav becoming effective with part-time spin, Capitals still had an attack to fight in defence of the small total, but the wet ball tipped the scales in LSG’s favour. Mustafizur Rahman and Lalit kept things tight for the first four overs, but the floodgates opened when Anrich Nortje bowled for the first time in an IPL match in India. The fifth over was full of half-volleys, which de Kock dispatched for three fours, before pulling a short ball for a six. The target was so low that it took a string of tight overs to take the asking rate past 8.5 an over, but just one beamer from Nortje that went for a six in the 14th over for it to come crashing down to 7.5. Another beamer in the 16th sent Nortje off, and de Kock hit Kuldeep for two fours. When he finally fell, de Kock had left his side seven an over to get in the last four overs. Krunal, Badoni calm the nerves Fourteen balls without a boundary, bowled by Mustafizur and Shardul Thakur, created nerves for LSG, making it 17 required off 10 balls. Krunal and Deepak Hooda tried their best to find the boundary, but the defensive bowling remained topclass. Eventually, though, Krunal picked a slower one and lofted it back over Mustafizur’s head, and then picked three straight braces to leave just five to get in the last over. They still needed Ayush Badoni to come out and hit a boundary when it came down to five off four. Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 155 for 4 (de Kock 80, Kuldeep 2-31) beat Delhi Capitals 149 for 3 (Shaw 61, Pant 39, Sarfaraz 36, Bishnoi 2-22) by six wickets.
Friday April 08, 2022
PAGE 31
Kaieteur News
Edwin Allen starlet produces masterclass to claim Class One 100m title Jamaica Observer - World Under-20 champion Tina Clayton of Edwin Allen High produced a masterclass of sprinting as she held off a brilliant run from Hydel High’s Brianna Lyston to take the Class One Girls’ 100m title on Wednesday’s second evening of the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at National Stadium, running 11.23 seconds (-2.8m/s). Three hours after Lyston won their semi-final heat in 11.28 seconds to her 11.61 seconds, Clayton rose majestically to the occasion to win one of the most anticipated races before the largest crowd ever to attend Champs on a Wednesday. Lyston, who was sandwiched between Tina and her twin Tia on the start line, got the better start and was second in 11.26 seconds with Tia third in 11.47 seconds. Meanwhile, defending champions Edwin Allen lead the points tables after nine finals with 76 points, 22 more than second-placed Hydel High (54 points) followed by St Jago High (48), Holmwood Technical (35) and Immaculate Conception (24) for the top five. A festive crowd, significantly more so than Tuesday’s first day, saluted the runners for the brilliant race that lived up to its billing as one for the ages. Lyston was off to her usual fast start, but Tina caught her at about 40 metres and they ran shoulder to shoulder before the Hydel runner at-
Clayton twins Tina (left) and Tia (right) of Edwin Allen High, plus Brianna Lyston of Hydel High stunned spectators in the Class One girls’ 100m finals. Tina took gold in 11.23 seconds, Lyston clocked 11.26 and Tia took bronze in 11.47 seconds. (Photo: Garfield Robinson) tempted a surge, but the Edwin Allen runner never flinched, both separating from the field, just inching ahead until they got to the finish line. The top three in the Class Two final all produced lifetime bests with the Hydel High pair of Kerrica Hill equalling the meet record 11.16 seconds (1.2m/s) and Alana Reid in second in 11.22 seconds, while Mt Alvernia High’s Carleta Bernard took the bronze with 11.44 seconds. Edwin A l l e n ’s Theianna-Lee Terrelonge, the Class Four double sprint champion a year ago, won the Class Three gold in 11.60 seconds (0.8m/s), easily ahead of St Jago High’s Camoy Binger (11.73 seconds) and Shemonique Hazle of Hydel High (11.75 sec-
onds). Wolmer’s Girls’ Natrece East was the winner of the Class Four final, running 11.81 seconds (1.5m/s) beating E d w i n A l l e n ’s M o e s h a Gayle (-12.03 seconds) and Excelsior High’s Janelia Williams (-12.10 seconds). Edwin Allen runners won two of the three 1,500m titles with Rickeisha Simms retaining her Class Two title in style and Kora Barnett d e t h r o n i ng Holmwood Technical’s Andrene Peart in the Class Three event, while Holmwood Technical’s Jodyann Mitchell won the Class One gold medal. Mitchell bided her time until the final 80 meters when she swung wide and overtook the two athletes ahead of her and ran away to win in 4:36.39 minues.
NSC assists Guyana CARIFTA Games team The National Sports Commission (NSC) has come to the assistance of the Guyana CARIFTA Games team, which are heading off to the 49th edition of the event in Kingston, Jamaica, from April 16 – 18. Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) president, Aubrey Hutson, received a cheque for two million dollars from Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle at the NSC’s Middle Street, Georgetown headquarters. Guyana will be represented by 13 athletes at the Caribbean’s most prestigious track and field event which caters for U17 and U20 athletes. Anisha Gibbons, the first female athlete to win gold for Guyana in the jav-
elin event in the history of the CARIFTA Games, will lead the team coached by Raymond Daw and Sham Johnny. Gibbons, who won Guyana’s historic gold in Javelin, in 2019, along with 800M bronze medallist, Adriel Austin, will lead Keliza Smith (100m, 200m), Karese Lloyd (100m, 200m), Hannah Reid (400m), in the Girls U20 division. Narissa McPherson (800m) and Attoya Harvey (800m, 1500m, 3000m) are the U17 girls. Javon Roberts (800m) is the lone competitor in the Boys U17 category. Meanwhile, Shamar Horatio (100m, 200m), Ezekiel Newton (100m, 200m), Wesley Tyndall (long jump), Gabriel Lim (javelin and discus) and Trevon Hamer (triple jump) will represent Guyana in the Boys U20 category.
At the 2019 CARIFTA Games, the AAG sent a record 21 athletes and finished with four gold, two silver and three bronze. Close to 650 athletes are expected on the Land of Wood and Water, competing in U17 and U20 categories as well as 150 officials from 27 countries. This is the eighth time that Jamaica will host the Carifta Games since its inception in 1972. Of the 48 editions held so far, Jamaica has topped the medal table on 43 occasions. And based on the impressive results being turned in at the Champs event being currently held, the Jamaicans are well set to showcase their dominance at this year’s event.
St Mary High’s Shone Walters was second with 4:37.05, just edging Edwin Allen’s Jessica McLean who took the bronze with 4:37.06. Simms had little problems in defending her title, running 4:41.85, beating St Jago High’s Misha-Jade Samuels(4:47.45) with Holmwood Technical’s Cindy Rose third with 4:47.86. Barnett and Peart staged a battle over the last lap, but the Edwin Allen athlete, out kicked the field to win in 4:44.30to Peart’s 4:45.63 with another Holmwood Technical runner Jovi Rose taking third with 4:50.09. Despite a relatively ‘quiet’
Tasha Pinnock (centre), mother of Edwin Allen High twin Tia (left) and Tina Clayton, shares in the occasion of her offspring’s moment of glory at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at National Stadium on Wednesday night. (Photos; Garfield Robinson) Vere Technical’s Kaylia season so far, Clarendon College’s Dejanea Oakley Kelly was also impressive sent a big message that she with 53.86 seconds, while St will be a factor in today’s Jago’s Safhia Hinds and Class One girls 400m final af- Bustamante High’s Shana ter running a fast season’s Kaye Anderson also adbest 52.77 seconds to win her vanced. Ferncourt H i g h ’s semi-finals heat on WednesAbigail Campbell was the day. Oakley, last year’s Class fastest qualifier in the Class Two champion had run 53.86 Two, running 53.94 secseconds earlier this year and onds, followed by Hydel was just off her personal High’s Aalliah Baker (54.48 best 52.51 seconds set last s e c o n d s ) a n d L a c o v i a High’s Rasheika Byfield year. Hydel High’s Oneika (54.61). The Edwin Allen High McAnuff and Holmwood Te c h n i c a l ’s R i c k i e a n n pair of Tonyan Beckford Russell, who were finalists (55.03) and Trinidadian in Class two last year, are Natasha Fox (55.64) also adalso through to the final, vanced. Lacovia’s Sabrina but Wi l l i a m Knibb Memorial’s Oneika Brissett Dockery ran 55.59 seconds for w a s n i n t h o v e r a l l a n d the fastest time in the Class Three semi-finals, followed by failed to advance. Brissett was a finalist the Holmwood Technical pair last year while at Rusea’s of Rosalee Gallimore- (55.84) High and made the team to and Abriana Wright (56.10) the World Under-20 Cham- seconds and St Catherine pionships, but had to with- High’s Aaliyaha Morgan ( 57.01). draw due to illness.
PAGE 32
Friday April 08, 2022
Kaieteur News
Fantastic Fernandes produces MCYS/NSC Easter Vacation fascinating Squash to win Gold ‘Teach Them Young’ Swimming ‘Nicolette is fitter than most athletes despite her age’ says Coach Chan-a-Sue
By Sean Devers On Wednesday night in Guatemala, the joyous noise which emanated from Asociacion Deportiva Nacional de Squash when Guyana a n d C a r i b b e a n Squash sensation Nicolette Fernandes scored game and match point in the final of the Senior Pan American Squash Championships in Guatemala could be heard in Georgetown and Toronto, Canada where the ageless Nicolette was born. Proving age is just a number like good wine, Nicolette is getting better with age as she produced a dominant 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 win to take the match in emphatic fashion 3-0 over the number 1 seeded Laura Tovar of Colombia. Nicolette, who turns 39 on June 19, is the first Female Guyanese to win Gold at this event. Ni c o l e t t e , w h o w o n the only gold medal for Guyana at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombia beating Samantha Terán in the final which lasted 5 sets before suffering a knee injury the following year which kept her out of action for 23 months, only lost one game on the road to Wednesday night’s final. The Caribbean Squash Queen dominated for an outstanding win in her semi-final match Tuesday night against the number 2 seed Canadian Hannah Blatt- storming into a straight set triumph 11/2 11/9 11/3. With the men failing to win a Medal in the singles or doubles categories, the pressure of giving Guyana an individual Medal rested on the slender shoulders of Nicolette… and she did so in magnificent style playing top class squash. Nicolette, who in 2010 became only Guyanese female to win both the Women’s and Men’s national senior titles, came out strong in the final, at home on the court and in command. Tovar could not take the
Guyana Head Coach Ramon-Chan-A-Sue.
pace off Nicolette cross courts or cover the court fast enough for her precise placement. With a few full-length dives Nicolette kept the ball in play on many occasions it looked out of reach and was back in the rallies to dominate, hitting some tight shots forcing weak returns. She kept her opponent turning and forcing her into the back corners waiting for the perfect opportunity for the kill. Meanwhile, Guyana’s Coach Ramon Chan-A-Sue disclosed that Nicolette was excited to get back to this position again. “I think given the timing of this at this point in her career, it is definitely one of her best performances. I was confident she had a shot based on her previous play but you never know what might happen on the day of the final,” continued Chan-aSue who began playing squash as a ten-year-old with his father since Squash was an activity t o d o d u r i n g t h e rainy season in Guyana, when his original favourite sport, cricket, was in its off season. “Nicolette’s fitness is second to none to any athlete regardless of age. She is super fit. She just was more athletic and on the ball quicker than Laura, and used all corners of the court,” said Coach Chan-
Sue, who coached the Canadian National Senior Team 2005 Pan-American Championships. “I am most impressed that she has the ability to do what she is doing at this stage in her career. She has been our light at this tournament, as the rest of the team have had some challenging results so we were excited for her and what it meant for her and Guyana,” informed Chan-a-Sue who played for Guyana from 1990 to 2015. When asked what’s next for Nicolette, the Canada based Chan- a - S u e w h o been a Coach for over 25 years, laughingly said ‘A massage and maybe a drink’. Guyana will now focus on the team segment as they aim to qualify for the Central American and Caribbean Games. The top eight Women and top ten Male teams will gain automatic qualification. The other members of team Guyana are Alex Arjoon, Kristian Jeffrey, Jason-Ray Khalil, Samuel Ince-Carvalhal, Ashley Khalil, Mary Fung-AFat and Gabrielle Fraser, Ramon Chan-A-Sue (Coach), Garfield Wiltshire (Manager) and Alwyn Callender (Referee). Meanwhile, Guyana men defeated BVI 3-0 in the team event and will face the number 2 seed the USA today. And the women will also face Argentina today in quarterfinal action.
Programme set for April 11-22
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) will conduct its annual Easter Vacation “Teach Them Young” Swimming Programme at the Colgrain Swimming Pool from April 11th to 22nd, 2022. Youths between the ages of 6 to 16 years are eligible to participate. Children will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Parents/Guardians are asked to present a copy of their child/children’s birth certificate. The NSC has waived all fees usually attached to participate, and certificates will be provided upon completion. The programme is geared at teaching swimming as a life skill. The programme will be conducted at various locations, in keeping with the following schedule: 11th April: Opening: Colgrain Swimming Pool 11th – 12th April: Region 4: Georgetown: Colgrain Swimming Pool 13th – 15th April: Region 10: Linden: Watooka
Guesthouse Swimming Pool 19th – 21st April: Region 6: Berbice: Albion Estate Swimming Pool 22nd April: Closing: National Aquatic Centre Sessions will be conducted from 9:00hrs – 10:00hrs and 10:00 hrs to 12:00hrs at respective venues. Interested persons are requested to make contact with Mr. Ian Jardine at the Colgrain Swimming Pool, Camp Street, Georgetown on telephone number 226-0387, Mr. Paul
Mahaica on Telephone number 615-5714 for Berbice and Linden and Mr. Bashur Khan at the National Aquatic Centre on telephone number 2221306 for necessary information between the hours of 08:30hrs – 16:00hrs. Registration will commence tomorrow Saturday April 9th, 2022 from 9:00hrs 12:00hrs, Sunday April 10, 2022 from 9:00hrs – 3:00pm in Georgetown. April 13, 2022 (Linden) April 19, 2022 (Berbice).
Trophy Stall Golf Classic set for tomorrow
Ms. Veronica Dhanraj hands over the sponsor’s cheque to LGC Treasurer Maxim Mangra. To his left is, Mr. Ramesh Sunich and LGC Secretary Chet Bowling. LGC VP Paton George is to the right of Ms. Dhanraj. Leading off the Easter season with a bang, Trophy Stall once again will sponsor its annual golf tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club. Trophy Stall Owner Ramesh Sunich said this year’s tournament is a celebration of the growth of his family’s business, as it occurs as their first international Trophy Stall store opened in New York this year – The new location is in the borough of Queens New York and is off to a very good start. At the tournament launch on Tuesday, Sunich struck a note of family and
community values he said were at the core of their business. The launch of this year’s tournament occurred at the Trophy Stall main store located on the corner of South Road and Bourda. This year’s annual golf classic will be a medal play 18hole competition featuring prizes for: Overall Best Net: 1st to 5th – Trophy + Voucher; Best Net – Front Nine and Back Nine; Nearest to the Flag and Longest Drive. Players can contact Lusignan Golf Club on 220-
5660 to register. This year’s Trophy Stall tournament will also usher in the start of the points chase for one free entry to this year’s two day major Guyana Open Golf Tournament – Points will be awarded for each remaining sponsored tournament leading up to the Open. The leading point’s getter will be honored with a free voucher to cover all expenses for entry into the 2022 Guyana Open, tentatively scheduled for the last weekend in October. Registration (Continued on page 27)
Kaieteur News
Friday April 08, 2022
Tucville Secondary School triumph in latest Janet Jagan Windball Cricket
Tonya Mohabir
Donna Lowe
Fayon Harry
Keasha Jones
Defending champions Tucville Secondary School sounded a warning to their opponents as play continued in the Georgetown zone of the Janet Jagan memorial school girls NSC/MCYS Windball cricket tournament organised by Sports Officer A. Munroe at the National Gymnasium. Tucville after been invited to bat made 116-1, with Tonya Mohabir scoring 58 (9x6), Tenisha Todd 22 and Tamara Griffith 20. East Ruimveldt Secondary School were restricted for 101-3 in reply. Keasha Jones was left unbeaten on 66 (11x6) and Tyiesha Taylor 18. C h a r l e s t o w n Government Secondary School made 147, with Donna Lowe scoring 82
(12x6) the second individual highest score in this year tournament and Shona Maglore 48 (4x6). Brickdam Secondary School replied with 37-2. She Dawson got 16 and Ashanti Kennedy 10. Tucville made 130; T. Mohabir scored 56(8x6) and T. Griffith 22. Brickdam got to 56-2; Stacy Rudder made 28, S. Dawson 20 and Shaquanna Halley 18. East Ruimveldt scored 92-1 with Fayon Harry scoring 50 not out (7x6), K. Jones 16 and Tyiesha Taylor 13. Charlestown won the game off the last ball - a drop catch which resulted in six; D. Lowe got 48 no (8x6), S. Maglore and Althea Barnwell hitting 19 runs apiece.
PAGE 33
rts Spo
Nicolette Fernandes flashes an infectious smile after her Gold Medal performance.
Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle (right) hands over the assistance to AAG President Aubrey Hutson.
NSC assists Guyana CARIFTA Games team
Fantastic Fernandes produces fascinating Squash to win Gold ‘Nicolette is fitter than most athletes despite her age’ says Coach Chan-a-Sue
Lady Jags and GFF President Forde visit West Demerara Secondary School GFF president Wayne Forde (left) along with members of the Lady Jags take a photo with students and teachers of the West Demerara Secondary School.
Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.