Kaieteur News

GRA fought British Auditor on failure to flag US$40M with no transparency

A key report by the contracts for similar evidence has been provided costs that could be contested Guyana Revenue Authority materials were provided and to show that the materials by State authorities. GRA’s (GRA) has revealed the reviewed, no evidence was arrived at the shorebase or boss did not denounce these extent to which technical provided to justify the costs how much they cost. It said figures as inaccurate. He did officers are going to protect of these materials This this too should be removed note however that IHS’ theinterestoftheStateinthe amount should be removed fromthecostbank. report, as is being quoted, is audit of US$1.6B incurred fromtheCostBank.” It is now more than three not the final document, by ExxonMobil and partners It was further noted that years since the audit of adding that government is in the Stabroek Block from theGuyanaGovernmentwas US$1.6B in expenses for the now at the stage of awaiting 1999to2017. not invited to witness oil-rich Stabroek Block is feedback from Exxon’s

Parishara to get new well for potable water access

All residents of Parishara, Region Nine, to water. Minister Sukhai said the will soon have access to potable water when administration is on a mission to ensure anewwellisdrilledinthevillage. every citizen has access to potable water, to The decision to construct an additional ensure the gap between the coast and the well followed a request from the village hinterlandisdiminished.

Toshao, during the National Toshaos’ The aim is to achieve 100 percent access CouncilConferencelastSeptember to water services in the hinterland and Government recognised the importance riverine communities by 2025. Completing of the well after the village council placed it this will mean Guyana has achieved the asatoppriority United Nations Sustainable Development Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Goal (SDG) number six. Additionally, the Sukhai, on Saturday, visited the community government has set aside $1.4 billion to get a first-hand view of the proposed site towards upgrading and extending water for the new underground water system. The distribution systems across Regions One, ministeralsovisitedthecurrentwatersupply Two, Seven, Eight, and Nine. Access to network. About two dozen residents of potablewater in the hinterlandhas increased Parishara are currently without ready access from46percentto75percent. (DPI)

That audit which material counts during the yet to be completed. subsidiary. commenced in November audit period, despite this Confirming the status of the He also did not provide a 2019 is being undertaken by being a specific requirement audit was Commissioner timeline on when this UK firm, IHS Markit. In the in the 2016 Stabroek Block General of the Guyana processwouldbecompleted. almost 40-page long Production Sharing Revenue Authority, Godfrey Statia also noted that the document seen by Kaieteur Agreement (PSA) IHS S t e v e n S t a t i a H i s government will make the News, officials at GRA further noted that EEPGL clarification came on the report public at the outlined a number of does not charge for the heels of two articles appropriatetime. deficiencies that ought to inventory whilst it is held at published by the Stabroek A second audit is have been captured in shore base facilities NewsonIHSMarkit’sreport currently underway for costs preliminary reports by IHS. these costs should be its kind, adding that Guyana However, a total of that it provided to the PPP/C totalling US$7 3B which One of the matters raised, allowableforinclusioninthe “must highlight, as far as US$349,098 related to regime Stabroek News were incurred from 2018 to pointed to the failure of IHS C o s t B a n k ( T h e practical, all deficiencies, inventory adjustments has comprehensively, and 2020 That contract was to flag US$40.4M Exxon G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e irregularities and unsound been recorded in the General clearly, outlined that there awarded last year May That claimed to have spent on Cooperative Republic of practicesetc.toaverttherisk Ledger but no supporting were some US$214M in tooisstillongoing. materials for use in the Guyana) can decide if in its offutureoccurrences.” Stabroek Block. GRA said view, these costs should be In a March 2021 report this sum could not be denied from inclusion in the produced by IHS and which accounted for due to lack of cost bank based on lack of remains under critical vendor details In the transparency of the review, the company absence of transparency, expenditure even though the highlighted upon GRA’s GRA urged IHS to not evidence points to the fact instruction that EEPGL overlook this sum and to thatthesecostswereactually recorded expenditure of ensureitispartofthepoolof spent.” approximately US$40 4 coststobedisallowed. The Guyana auditing million on materials where In response to GRA’s team, which includes the the vendor details are not contention, IHS stated in its revenue authority, fought recorded in the General professional opinion that back as it noted that the Ledger for the Exxon ‘these material costs lie in a aforementioned matter subsidiary IHS said, “This category where they are strikes at the heart of means that individual covered by the cost recovery transparency The team said material entries in the mechanism, the costs did that while “a cost can be General Ledger cannot be occur(orthewellswouldnot valid,nonetheless,itcanstill traced back to specific exist and no production be disallowed premised on material purchase contracts. wouldeverbeachieved),and t h e r e b e i n g n o Thesecostsrelatetomaterial the value of the material transparency.” Importantly, issued from the shore base costs are within industry GRA highlighted that this for use in Petroleum n o r m s “ T h e I H S US$1 6B audit sets a Operations Although recommendation is that precedentforfutureauditsof general material purchase

Godfrey Steven Statia, Commissioner General Guyana Revenue Authority

Exxon partners charged Guyana US$31 million in expenses before even signing contract - Audit Report Reveals

Before Hess Corporation or CNOOC Petroleum GuyanaLimitedsignedonas partnerswithExxonMobilto the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for the Stabroek block, they apparently racked up US$31 4M in certain expenses which they claim UKfirmalludedthatallcosts incurred prior to the Co- Guyana team taking every Guyanamustpay recovered by Exxon and venture partners being precaution to vet findings Thiswasoneofthemajor partners must be traced back signatories to the PSA.” IHS revealedbyIHS. findings in an ongoing audit to a comprehensive General furthernotedthatthevalidity Statia had also said that caused some degree of which the government is of US$1 6B in expenses Ledger of these costs for recovery the government is now at the concern among observers. approving oil projects and incurred between 1999 and That Ledger would show has not been demonstrated stage of awaiting feedback Some individuals have said, the difficulties that would 2017 by ExxonMobil’s thedetailsonhowthemoney by EEPGL and should from Exxon’s subsidiary for example, that authorities ensue for cost regulation and subsidiary, Esso Exploration was spent. In the case of the therefore be contested by regarding the findings. He should properly explain why monitoring since it is still and Production Guyana US$31.4M, the auditors said Guyanese authorities also did not provide a it is taking so long to stuck at auditing costs Limited (EEPGL) and its Guyana was billed for this Commissioner General of timeline on when this complete an audit for a associated with the 1999 to above-mentioned partners but they could not find the the Guyana Revenue processwouldbecompleted. company when the Audit 2017 era. A second audit is InthereportpreparedbyUK detailsforthisintheGeneral Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia further noted that the Office of Guyana takes currently underway for costs firm, IHS Markit, it states Ledger Statia was keen to note last government will make the approximately 12 months to totalling US$7 3B which that “a total of US$31.43 IHS said this sum was week that the audit of r

auditandproduceareporton were incurred from 2018 to million was added to related to payments made by ExxonMobil’s bills covering appropriate time. The length thenation’saccounts. 2020 That contract was EEPGL’s 2017 Cost the Co-Venture partners, the period US$1.6B remain of time the audit report is There are also concerns awarded last year in May Recovery Statement.” The “many of which were an ongoing process, with the taking to be completed has about the accelerated pace at Thattooisstillongoing.

Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

PRESIDENT ALI CHERRY-PICKS

PresidentAlihaseveryrighttovoicepubliclywhat

he thinks that the local media should make its higherprioritiesinournewandchallengingoiland gassector HisExcellencysaidthatthe“Mediashouldreport on how oil developed countries rather than focus on likely damage from oil spill in Guyana -PresidentAli” (KNApril 2).AsmuchaswethankthePresidentforhiscounsel,thisis ratherastonishingcomingfromahead-of-stateinacountry thatknowsnexttonothingaboutoil. Insteadofdisagreeing, even attacking, the focus and discomforting revelations of the media on the oil sector, the President should be pleased thatthemediaisthisalert,andthatitishighlightingareasin needofsignificantandurgentimprovements.

President Ali has offered guidance on what should be highlightedinourreporting.

Wehopethathestopsthere,anddoesnotmakeithisduty totelluswhattothinknext. Forwhenthenationalleaderis comfortabletellingthemediatopretendthatcertaindangers donotexist,orareoverblown,thenitisreasonabletobelieve that some of the other areas in the oil sector that are problematic for both ExxonMobil and his government, he wouldpreferthattheynotbereportedon,atall.

This cannot be, given how ExxonMobil has dealt with Guyana. IfthisAmericancompanyhaddealthonestly,fairly, and justly with Guyana from the inception, then there may have been cause to listen to the President. In view of ExxonMobil’susingallofitsaccumulatedwisdomstodrain this country dry, only the worst can be thought of it, with terrible consequences for this country Today, PresidentAli has a problem with the media and its oil spill reporting and whatcouldresult.

Tomorrow,itfollowsthathecouldfindobjectionablethe media’s(mostlikelymeaningthispublication)reportingon thecontinuingdelaysintheUS$7.3billionauditreport. He may be intolerant of its insistence that the same report be sharedwithGuyaneseforthemtodetermineifExxonMobil iseitheratrustedandhonourablepartner,orifitisagrasping financialpredator

Then the day after, the President could grow more furiouslyimpatientanddismissivethanhehasbeenwiththe incessant independent media calls for renegotiation of the 2016oilcontract.

Stilllater,hemaydecidethatitisunconstructiveforthe mediatopersistwithcallsforring-fencingofExxonMobil’s projectexpenses,whichareamysteryandraisesthespecter of how this country is possibly being taken advantage of againbyacleveroilpartner

What Guyanese could hear from their own President is howgoodExxonMobilhasbeentoGuyana,andinsomany ways. Just like how he emphasises reporting on how other countries developed from their oil wealth, President Ali soundsasifhewouldbepleasedifthemediashouldfocuson how much the 2% royalty and zero taxes and all the other hemorrhaging elements of the ExxonMobil self-enriching contract are such wonderful things for Guyana. In other words, that this publication should parrot ExxonMobil CountryHead,Mr AlistairRoutledge’sspinandwordsabout howthereisnothingbetterinGuyana.

We agree that this nation’s oil wealth can develop Guyana, but at what rate? What rate when so many Guyanesearestrugglingsevenyearsafterthefirstreportsof oil found? Further, in prior times, President Ali and Vice PresidentJagdeohadsomuchtosayabouthowruinousthe ExxonMobilcontractwastoGuyana.

One would think that if both of these national leaders weregenuinelyformoreandbetterforGuyanese,thenthey would welcome the media directing the spotlight on the weaknesses embedded (like oil spill coverage) in the contract, so that pressure is constantly applied to ExxonMobil.

President and Vice President, therefore, should be lookinguponmediareportingasaresource,andthevoiceof the people that cannot be denied. Instead, the media is looked upon as an obstacle and an enemy This begs the question:onwhosesideisPresidentAlion? ManyGuyanese haveconcludedthatitisnotonthatofthiscountry.

Local Government and RegionalAdministration

DEAREDITOR,

Before there was Regional Administration, there were Mayoralties – in G e o rg e t o w n , N e w Amsterdam, subsequently Corriverton, Rose Hall Town,Linden,Bartica.

However, one is mostly a t t r a c t e d b y t h e preoccupation with inadequatemanagementbya sequence of Majors (male and female) and their teams of the Capital City –certainlygoingasfarbackas theregimesoftheGoodand Green Party, during which thewriterparticipatedintwo critical Consultancy Projects.

He was also closely engaged in the very comprehensive review of thisagencyconductedbythe illustrious Keith Burrowes (of recent SN publications) w h i c h d o z e n s o f professional contributors and fellow citizens, and about which leaderships of the day showed minimal interest in the ensuing

DEAREDITOR,

I t h a s b e c o m e fashionable for people aligned to the major opposition party or who are anti-PPP/C to explain every social situation through the prism of race of racial discrimination. There is a tendency to pluck an issue out of its historical context and then begin to ruminate onit.Thisisnottherightway to analyze situations for salience.

Rather,thereshouldbea shift in focus on adopting a contextual approach to any matter Inaddition,theuseof emotive language with the implicitintentionoftryingto extract a particular decision, could hardly deserve any seriousattention.

In a letterto the press on April 9, 2023, prominent Union Leader Mr Lincoln Lewis refers to the impasse in the appointment to substantive positions of the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and the acting C h i e f J u s t i c e , a s discrimination. “That these discriminatory acts continue is not a function of the Constitution but inability of politicalleaderstorecognize that such matters are not about them and their egos, but the interest of workers and citizens to be protected

Report, and consequently have lived, but not necessarilyto‘ruetheday’. Except our citizens are nowruingbothdayandnight the delinquency of the current management as notedinSN’srecenteditorial the Agency has continually degenerated over the years with regards to: policy, management, decisionmaking, professional staffing, recruitment, training, and just about everything else, albeit to the total indifference to the supervising Ministry, whose chronic incompetence and indifferencewouldappearto paleincomparison.

In the latter instance Governments over the past decades, and indeed critics, have respectively failed to report and comment on the organisational performances of the Ten Regional Administrations that is if theirindividualprogrammes areadequatelypublicised.In that connection, there has been the persistent

justificationaboutthefailure toannouncetheappointment of Regional Executive Officers, and indeed the process involved.

Incredulously responses to several enquiries have insisted that the reason the position is not shown in A n n u a l B u d g e t s (irrelevantly like that of the Fire Chief) is that they are politicalappointments.Only Deputy is shown What Parliamentarians on either side of the House seem indifferentaboutistherange of responsibilities inherent inthatpost:

Administration

Finance

Education

Health

Agriculture

Meanwhile the position ofPermanentSecretary(also aPoliticalAppointment)and which is responsible for one dedicatedPortfolioisshown consistently in the Annual Budgets.

Then when one checks, s o m e R e g i o n a l

Administrations manage more staff than several individualMinistries.

One does not recall any executive debate about H u m a n R e s o u r c e s Managementinanycase.

Whichbringsusbacktoa Ministry that proves its indifference to be much more comprehensive than theMayorandCityCouncil. When last has it reported to Parliament,withappropriate recommendations for improvedperformance.

For their consideration, onesuggeststhattheCouncil be re-ogranised from a ‘political’ to a Technically well-equipped singular apoliticalagency

The objective will be to deliverthehighestqualityof s e r v i c e s w i t h o u t discrimination.

Itshouldreporttoapanel of well recognised organisationsofanauthentic Civil Society including the Press.

Regards, E.B.John

at every level.” Would Mr Lewis have taken the same positionregardingthefailure of the PNCR Opposition Leaderstogivetheirconsent for the substantive appointment of Hon. Carl Singh as Chancellor of the JudiciaryandHonIanChang asChiefJustice?

To say now that “their appointments should be substantiveandretroactive,” isanattemptatappeasement; it is like closing the gate whenthehorseshavealready left.

Why the silence when HonCarlSinghandHonIan Changwerenotconfirmedas Chancellor of Judiciary and Chief Justice respectively?

PNCR Opposition Leader Hon David Granger stated publicly that he would not agreetotheappointmentsof Hon Carl Singh as Chancellor of the Judiciary and to Hon Ian Chang as Chief Justice Hon Ian Changserved10yearsinthe acting capacity as Chief Justice, while Justice Carl Singh served 12 years as ActingChancellor

There was no advocacy by opposition forces on behalf of the acting Chancellor Justice Carl Singhtobeconfirmedduring theDavidGrangerregime.

When Hon. Carl Singh

demitted office, President David Granger favoured JusticeKennethBenjaminof Belize and not Justice Yonette Cummings-Edward as the substantive Chancellor

The PPP/C Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo did not agree with that nomination and raised some concerns with President David Granger Likewise, the Guyana Bar Association felt uneasy with Justice

Benjamin’s nomination

Why President Granger wasn’t asked to explain his refusal to identify Justice

Yonette Cummings-Edward as Chancellor of the Judiciary but chose instead Justice Kenneth Benjamin forthatposition?

There is an important interplay of dialectics here.

To understand how this evolves and leads to a particular position, a brief probe into the relevant historical context is unavoidable.

In 2001, the PPP/C government implemented a menuofmeasures,aspartof its efforts to enhance inclusive governance by shifting some power from the executive onto the Parliamentary opposition One such measure was the arrangement (formula) to

appointtheChancellorofthe Judiciary and the Chief Justice. This formula allows theLeaderoftheOpposition to give his consent for the substantive appointment to bothoffices.

Previously,thispowerof appointment was vested in thePresidency When the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) was established, the incumbent Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana Hon Justice Desiree Bernard demitted office in 2005 and was elevated as an Appellate JudgeintheCaribbeanCourt of Justice (CCJ) that was established in April 2005. ChiefJusticeCarlSinghwas appointedActingChancellor in 2005. He served in that capacity until February 2017. In 2006, Hon. Justice Ian Chang was appointed acting Chief Justice and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2016 Neither PNCR opposition Leader Hon. Robert Corbin (2003-2012)norHon.David Granger(2012-2015)agreed to confirm either Justice Ian Chang or Justice Carl Singh to the substantive positions of Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary, respectively Former PresidentDr BharratJagdeo (Continuedonpage5)

Could the impasse on the two top judicial appointments be settled through a referendum?

Mystery in reconciling Guyana’sAuditor General 2021 exemption to the oil companies with external figures

DEAREDITOR,

The audit results for the oil companies operating in the Stabroek Block from 1999 to 2017 revealed a stunning US$214 million in questionableexpenses.

The auditor’s report was leaked 2 years after completion which raises questions about why the government wasn’t transparent with the Guyanese people, given the outrageous amount of money under question

Thereisalargerfigurethatis amysteryanditrelatestothe exemptions given to the oil companies and their related contractorsfor2021.

It is tax season for many in America Many individuals and companies arediligentlypreparingtheir taxes.Thethreatofanaudit, when information does not reconcile, can result in monthsofstressdealingwith theUStaxagency,thatisthe Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

It is also tax season in Guyana from Feb 15, when employers submit data on employees’ earnings, to the final deadline on April 30. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) are as diligentandcompetentasthe IRS,buttheydonotpossess the reach to deal with the biggestfish.

In 2021, Guyanese paid US$206 million in personal income taxes while the IHS audit, completed that same year,exposedthatforeignoil companies claimed US$214

assistance scheme

million in questionable expenses. The little fish are keptwellinthenet.

In June 2021, during a GuyanaExtractivesIndustry Transparency conference, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) had promised to release the Tax Certificates that Guyana issues to the oil companies, s e e h e r e https://youtu.be/sd8oiNNQq XQ?t=2808. To date, this information has not been released.

Theoilcompaniesdonot payprofittaxesbutreceived a tax certificate that they could use towards a foreign tax credit. But there are other ways to make an educated guess about the taxes that the oil companies intheStabroekBlockshould have paid but did not for 2021.

On the Hess USA website, information is disclosed about taxes that Hess paid in each country where it operates. For 2021, specifically for Guyana, the taxfiguredisclosedtotheUS Tax Authority (IRS) is US$119 million in deferred income tax expense and no current tax expense, please s e e https://wwwhess com/susta i n a b i l i t y / h o w - w eoperate/tax-practices We know Hess has a 30% share intheStabroekOilBlock. Hence, a 100% percent of taxes would be US$119m/0.3 which would total US$397 million in taxes for the oil companies

operating in the Stabroek Block.Oneshouldrecallthat this is US$397 million that Guyana is forgoing in taxes torichoilcompanies.

Now if we try to reconcile the US$397 million tax figure with what the Guyana’s Auditor General Report for 2021 disclosed,wehaveamaterial anomaly Guyana’sAuditor General (AG) disclosed that the Oil & Gas sector had about US$977 million in exemptions, see the GYD$204 billion figure in the table on page 72 here http://www.audit.org.gy/pub s/AnnualReport2021.pdf,an exchange rate of USD to GYD of 208.5 was used. If exemptionfortaxesonprofit oilwasestimatedatUS$397 million, what is the detailed breakdown of the other exemptions to the oil companiesthattotalUS$580 million?

The2021EITIreportdue bytheendofthisyearshould help shed light on the mysterylyingintheUS$977 million in exemptions to the oilcompanies.

Specifically, section 4.1 of the EITI requirements w h i c h i s t i t l e d “Comprehensive disclosure of taxes and revenues,” may help tease out the details in the 2021 EITI report for Guyana.

However,Guyana’sEITI statusiscurrentlysuspended as it missed the end of 2022 deadline for the 2020 EITI r e p o r t , s e e h e r e https://eiti.org/countries/guy

Could the impasse on the two top...

Frompage4

had met with PNCR

Opposition Leader Hon Robert Corbin on several occasions in the expectation of confirming Chief Justice CarlSinghasthesubstantive Chancellor of the Judiciary

Dr Jagdeo also sought the substantive appointment of Justice Ian Chang as Chief Justice. Dr. Jagdeo failed to get agreement on both appointments. When Hon. Donald Ramotar became President in 2011, he met with the leader of the opposition, Hon David Granger multiple times to seek agreement on the appointment of Hon. Carl Singh as the substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary andJusticeIanChangas the substantive Chief Justice Hon.DavidGrangerrefused

to give his consent. What is perplexingtooisthatneither Hon Corbin nor Hon Granger offered any reason for their objections to the appointmentsofJusticeCarl Singh as Chancellor and Justice Ian Chang as Chief Justice neither did they propose any alternative candidates for these positions. Ifthegovernmentandthe

ana. Let’s hope that Guyana can avoid an EITI delisting which may mean keeping thismysteryinthedarkfrom theGuyanesepeople.

Given the recent revelations about the US$214 million in questionable charges that were revealed in the report by the international auditor, IHS Markit, it raises alarms aboutwhatmaybehiddenin the US$977 million in exemptions given to the oil companiesandtheirpartners for2021.Whatisastounding is that Guyana only earned US$409 million from oil in 2021 but gave away more than 2 times that amount in exemptions to the oil companies.

This is yet another case of the Guyanese poor fatteningtherich.

Or looking at it from another angle, the Bank of Guyana reported US$206 million in personal income taxesfor2021.Guyanagave the oil companies US$397 million in tax breaks on profitoil!

Thus in 2021, we could have given every Guyanese worker a tax break instead we gave the rich oil companiesataxholiday Regards,

AlfredBhulai

AndreBrandli

JanetteBulkan

DarshKhusial

JoePersaud

DEAREDITOR,

At his last Press Conference, Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton announced that the next Coalition government will introduce a Rent Assistance Schemeaspartofitsbroader housingpolicy

He explained that his party’s housing policy “will not ignore the reality that as many as 30,000 Guyanese households continue to live as tenants Even as our policies facilitate greater homeownership,aCoalition government will address the social and financial hardships of families who rent.”

VP Jagdeo, in a panic to attack the idea (one of the most popular and effective social programmes worldwide), distorted it as a policy to get people “to rent all their lives.” Jagdeo is obviously engaging in his usualworn-outpolitics.

He or anyone else who reads the OLO press release on the Rent Assistance Scheme will surely note as follows: (i) the scheme is being proposed as an IMMEDIATE measure to help reduce poverty and to relieve the high cost of living. Rent constitutes a majorportionoflow-income family budgets (as high as 40-50% on average) Togetherwiththecoalition’s

otherproposals—suchasbill relief for electricity and water for low-income households these measures highlight a far more structured, sustained and effective approach to eliminating poverty and raising living standards as compared to the PPP’s oneoff,kneejerkefforts;and(ii) the RentAssistance Scheme is envisaged to work with other aspects of the coalition’s housing policy such as its Rent-to-Own scheme, where the rent paymentsofdwellerswillgo towards the purchase and eventual ownership of their homes.

On this proposal, last week’s OLO press release stated: “A critical aspect of this scheme is that eligible persons will not be asked to makedown-payments.

The current requirement for down-payments of several hundred thousand dollars has only served to deny many low-income families access to housing. Under a coalition government, compulsory down-payments will be scrapped.”

The PPP can feel free to borrow and use these ideas while it remains in government for the next coupleofyears.

Yourstruly, SherwoodLowe

Parliamentary opposition party cannot agree on the existing arrangement for the appointment of the Chief JusticeandtheChancellorof the Judiciary, then the authorities should allow the people to resolve this matter through a referendum Sovereignty resides in the people.

Sincerely, Dr.TaraSingh

Rejecting Jagdeo’s deliberate distortion of the opposition’s rent

bear some responsibility for the culture of incompetence that defines our leaders

DEAREDITOR, PresidentoftheAthletics Association of Guyana (AAG)

Aubrey Hudson had more than enough time and adequateresourcestoensure thatGuyana’sathletesgoing to this year’s CARIFTA games would get there effortlessly and without hiccups Our athletes participating in the 50th edition of the CARIFTA games being hosted in the Bahamaswereselectedsince February of this year Mr Hudson received three milliondollarsfromthePPP regime through its National Sports Commission and another three million from the Guyana Olympics Association to take care of theCARIFTAteam.Hemust tell us if the funds were enoughandwhyourathletes were without visas and stranded in another country tryingtogettotheBahamas. Why is it only days before the start of the CARIFTA games that the President of the Guyana Athletics Association raise the issue with the athletes about whether they had visas to travel through Miami? Why is it only last week that Mr Hudson started to rush to book flights and did he not knowthattherearenodirect

flights from Guyana to the Bahamas?Inmyresearchof this sordid national embarrassment, I gathered that the AAG president operatesasa‘onemanshow’ and his only timely interventionintoanythingon the job is when he has to collect monies for the Association. Mr Hudson’s leadership and conduct are unacceptable in this regard and he must be held a c c o u n t a b l e A n investigationmusttakeplace and if the president’s incompetence is responsible for the national and internationalembarrassment of Guyana’s athletes, he MUST be permanently relievedofhisduties.Butthe President of the Guyana Athletics Association seems not to be the only culpable party in this national disgrace in an oil rich country Why no initial involvement of the Director of Sports, a PPP surrogate and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport? Why the Minister’s intervention only after the athletes were stranded? Is imbibing at the Marriott more important to the minister and his director of sports or were they more concernedaboutflyingkites at the seawall in

Georgetown?TheGuyanese people have endured, long enough,thisretardedattitude comingfromourhighoffice holders. These leaders who seem to enjoy status, perks and privileges while paying scant disregard to professionalism in the execution of their national duties and void of any nationalprideincarryingout their functions that would ensure that we are no longer consideredabananarepublic must be confronted in the interest of preserving our national pride as a country and people.The fact remains that we as Guyanese must bear some responsibility for the culture of incompetence that defines our leaders. We haveallowedthemforfartoo longtolordoverusasifthey are unaccountable to the people and are above reproach.

We all are involved and we all are consumed in this national and international disgrace of staggering proportions and have reduced our athletes to embarrassing levels and we shouldnotallowthisdebacle tobesweptunderthecarpet.

Sincerelyyours,

NormanBrowne Social and Political Activist

Wallaba Wood:A possible alternative to Red Cedar in NorthAmerica

DEAREDITOR, (A tale of coopers, r e t r e n c h m e n t , manufacturing alum in a wooden vat and a possible market for wallaba as an industrial wood replacing r e d c e d a r ) https://d newsweek com/en/ file/465921/country-reportg u y a n a - a p r i l2023 pdf?utm source=Inter nalPromo&utm medium=h omepage&utm_campaign=g uyana_apr23

See the oak barrels stacked with the ageing rum of DDL. My father and a number of other Hinds men were coopers (tradesmen making barrels and other liquidcontainingvesselsout of wood) in the Bookers, Sandbach Parker and other cooperages of those days. I recall in 1952, my father speaking of the growing rumoursinthecooperage,of stainless-steel vessels and barrels being introduced for some stages of the processing; and the talk and his dreams of the fear of retrenchment from jobs that did not pay a living wage. Indeed, he was soon retrenched and never again obtaining a regular cooper job, the honourable trade of hisfatherandmanybeforeto which he stuck, it was an even more unstable future thereafterforus.

That experience was to return to haunt me, when at thebeginningofthe1980s,I was fully aware of the great reduction in production and the great losses we were incurringinournationalized b a u x i t e i n d u s t r y Retrenchment was inevitable.SoonIwastasked with drawing up a reduced workforceformyDivision,a one-third reduction at every level. And could I have had anydoubtthatattherarefied

levelsabovemeextendingto our World Bank and IMF handlers, there would be similar considerations including me! I survivedperhaps I owe some to that same Bookers now DDL cooperage.

In mid-1976, Guyana wasoutofalumforpurifying waterinitswaterpreparation plantinGeorgetown.Evenif it had the money, it would have taken some six months to a year to get the stock replenished Georgetown would have had to live that long with brown Lamaha water unpurified in all its taps. We had a number of customers who bought our bauxitetomakealumforsale in their areas. One friendly one was Mr “Dutch” Holland in the Boston, Massachusetts area. In our labs, the technicians would occasionally fool around making alum in glass beakers on the lab counters. We had the materials and with industrial scale guidance from “Dutch”, it seemed that we could make thealumGuyanarequired.

Thebigproblemwasthe vessel in which to cook the alumina hydrate (purified bauxite) in the strong enough, hot enough sulphuric acid and the tanks in which to store the no less corrosive 50% alum solution. Dutch kept saying that Carpenter 20 stainless steel would do the job but waswoefullyexpensive,and other no less daunting alternatives.Foranumberof reasons, I said let’s try a wooden vat made of our wallaba.Andsowedid.And soitwasthatin1976,Ipaid myfirstconscioustriptothe former Bookers Cooperage, a place where my father had worked for over 20 years (1930 to 1952). One or two

old coopers recalled my father, Archie, as some others who had turned to other jobs had done when I beganworkingatthebauxite companyinLindenin1967. Jimmy Kranenburg, my boss, Deputy CEO, observing our alum operations,remarkedthatDr Faustus stepping out of the play by Goethe and the alchemists stepping out of theMiddleAgeswouldhave felt very comfortable at my plant cooking hydrate in fuming sulphuric acid in a woodenvat.Welearntmany things along the way and I became steadily more proud and pleased with our operations, supplying all alum used in Guyana, delivering to the “Shelter Belt” in Georgetown, the plantsaroundLindenandthe small plants in Bartica and Kwakwani,until,onanother WB/IMF arrangement of about 1988/89 importation of alum was resumed as the bauxite industry was stripped to its core to be made ready for any possible privatization.

“Dutch” was very impressed with the performance of our wallaba wood of which our vat, our chemical reactor vessel was fabricated. He contacted the National Wood Tank and Pipe Institute of North Americaandlearntthatthere would be a great market for wallaba (in one-inch-thick planks) replacing their prized red cedar which was becoming scarce. However, therewasnosuchproduction in Guyana and no one was then thinking of making the investments in the possibilities of developing such a sector Some markets maystillbethere.

Regards, SamuelAAHinds

We must

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Guyanese watching and listening what is happening with their oil…

while citizens are watching and listening, the oil draining away.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

The longer they watch and listen, the more the oil getting fetching away.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

By the time that Guyanese decide to move, the oil could be done and gone!

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Guyanese: the time is now: take your destiny into your hands.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

TOO LATE, TOO LATE COULD BE THE CRY

Exxon contract allows company to recover money in dispute

Th e l o p s i d e d calendar year At the US$214.4 million in costs claimed Stabroek Block conclusion of the process, the by EEPGL for activities conducted agreement- which Contractor must be furnished in the Stabroek Block between

local activists withthereportanditsfindings 1999and2017. have been demanding be within 60 days to provide a This is the country’s first oil renegotiated- is laden with response. audit, reviewing a total of provisions that extend

The response from Exxon US$1,677,774,727 that was spent favourable terms to the will detail its objection or by the developer during the period contractor, while Guyana is acceptance of the audit claim, statedabove. left in many instances at the along with explanations

TheGuyanaRevenueAuthority mercyofthedeveloper thereof. The contract also (GRA) has since indicated that the

As with insurance and allows the subject Minister to reportisnotfinal. other aspects of the contract, conduct further investigations

That audit is said to have been thecountrywillbelefttofoot within60daysofreceivingthe completed since 2021, but never its costs associated with the Contractor’sresponse. contentswerenevermadepublic.It activities in the Stabroek

It must be noted that the is understood the report is still Block, even though these PSA makes it clear at Section beingfinalized. maybedeemedinappropriate

1.5 (b) that: “...If within sixty In the meantime, an audit by the minister responsible (60) days of the Minister’s conducted by a local consortium to forthesector. further investigation, the the tune of US$7.3 billion in

This is clearly outlined in Parties are unable to agree to development expenses within the the 2016 agreement the the disposition of the Stabroek Block is also pending. country signed with recover any disputed amounts from Contractor’s share of future Minister’s audit claim, the TheMinisterofNaturalResources, ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess pending final resolution of the Profit Oil. In the event that the claim shall be submitted to the sole Vickram Bharrat said publicly in andCNOOC.Annex‘C’ofthePSA claim...” Contractor’s share of Profit Oil is expert in accordance with Article theNationalAssemblythatthefinal at Section 1.5 (b) outlines the The same Section goes on to insufficient to provide for the 26oftheAgreement.” report would be handed over to the procedures of an audit and rights of note that upon resolution of the Minister’s extra entitlement Article 26 of the contract sets government by the end of March. the government; it is explained: claim, the Minister shall be repaid including interest, the Contractor out the conditions as it relates to He had promised to make the “...In the event that an audit with interest. The contract states: shall promptly make an equivalent arbitration. documentpublic. claim by the Minister is not “...any subsequent adjustments in payment in United States dollars to Guyana’s first audit report President Irfaan Ali was settled to the Minister’s the Minister’s share of Profit Oil theMinister.”

AnauditconductedbyaBritish recently asked about the report but satisfaction by the Contractor’s following resolution of the claim Based on the agreement, firm, HIS Markit has found that the responded that he would address reply as provided for above, the shall be repaid with interest, at the Guyanacanconductanauditwithin Government of Guyana (GoG) has the subject at an “appropriate Contractor shall be entitled to AgreedInterestRateasafirstclaim two years from the end of each reasonable grounds to dispute time”.

THE OPPOSITION SHOULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

If the main Opposition, PNCR, is smart, it would rethinkwhatappearstobeits decisiontoparticipateinthis year’s local government elections. The Opposition has said clearly that it does notwishtolosecontrolofits strongholds – the strongest signal that it will participate in the forthcoming LGE in order to prevent the PPP/C gainingacleansweep.

TheAllianceForChange (AFC)hassaidthatitwillnot beparticipatinginthisyear’s local government elections. That decision was expected given the AFC’s loss of support and its poor performance at the 2018 local government elections. ThePNCRdoesnotneedthe AFC to be able to comfortably win in its strongholds. The PNCR can even with a 25% turnout retain control of all of the municipalities and neighbourhood democratic councils which it presently controls.

ButifthePNCRiscrafty, itwouldlookbeyondmerely trying to retain control of those municipalities and neighbourhood democratic councils over which it presently commands majoritysupport.ThePNCR should take a close look at the state of the towns which

itcontrolsandrecognisethat it may be in its long-term interesttoallowthePPP/Cto seize control of those municipalitiesifonlyforthe next two years until local government elections are calledin2025.

The PNCR has not been effective in managing its municipalities The managementofGeorgetown stands as an indictment against the decades-long controlwhichthePNCRhas exercised over the affairs of thetown.

The PNCR-dominated City Council is the most financially flush of all municipalities. It has the largest revenue base of all towns.Itreceivesthehighest subvention of all municipalities. Yet, look at the condition of its home –City Hall That national monumenthasbeenallowed torunintodecaytothepoint w h e r e i n n o r m a l circumstances,itwouldhave had to be condemned and pulleddown.ItisthePPP/C government which is now spendingclosetoaquarterof a billion dollars to help restorethatstructure.

Thelargestburialground in the Caribbean is the La Repentir Cemetery In colonial British Guiana, it used to be one of the best

Dem Boys Seh...

maintainedcemeteriesinthe Caribbean Today, it is overrunbybushandtrees.It isavirtualjungle,aneyesore and a national disgrace Look at the condition of the markets administered by the Georgetown City Council. Lookatthechaos,confusion and nastiness that characterize Georgetown Look at the state of municipalroads.

The fact of the matter is that the state of Georgetown isnotlikelytoimproveifthe PNCRretainscontrolofthat municipality But if the PPP/C is given a walk-over victory, you can bet that the governmentwilltrytofix-up the city to make the ruling partylookgood.Itwilltryto provetothepopulationthatit is a better alternative and therefore is likely to inject considerable resources into improve the affairs of the municipality Thesamething applies to those other municipalities which are controlled by the Opposition. Regardless of thereasonsforthepoorstate of these municipalities, you can bet that once the PPP/C wins in these areas, the government will pour resources into them so as to make the ruling party look good.

The Opposition should

GUYANESE GETTING FRIGHTEN OF SUN-BUN

We born and grown in sun hay Yet it lookinglikeifwefrightendesun.

On Easter Monday, yuh used to have thousands of people flocking to the Georgetown Seawall fuh fly kite with dem family By10oclockdeplaceusedtofillup.

Plusalldemparksandopengroundsusedto ramjammedbymidday

Buttimeschanging.Peoplecomingout later Demsehinghowdemgattocookand prepare. But dem boys know how all dem thing used to do and still done in time fuh demreachingtodemplacesearly

Now most people coming out in de afternoon.

Someofdemchildrenonlygettingafew hours of kite-flying. When yuh ask dem latecomerswhydemcomeoutsolate,dem claimhowdesuntoohot.

Well we come and met de sun and we gangoandleffit.Onedaydesuncanburn itselfout.Butbythattime,lifeondeplanet gan already become extinct. So nah leh we mekdesundeproblem.

It mek dem boys remember de jokes about a former North Korean leader and a formerUSPresident.OnedaydethenNorth Korea announced dat it was successful in landingamanontheSun.

During a live interview with the North Korean leader, a reporter asked him, “The Sunisveryhot!Howdidyoulandaman?”

De then Great Leader replied, “We launchedatnight!”

When de former US President read this hestartedtolaughandsaid,“Hahawhatan idiot!ThereisnoSunatnight!” Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

see a strategic advantage in temporary ceding control of the municipality of

G e o rg e t o w n , N e w Amsterdam,Linden,Bartica andMahdiaforthenexttwo years.Youcanbetthatwithin those two years, the PPP/C willpumpbillionsintothese areas thereby improving all the municipal services including cemeteries, markets, roads, garbage collection and drainage

After the government has fixed-up those towns, the

Opposition can retake control of the renovated municipalities In other words, take a chance by not participating in local government elections, allow the government to win and invest into the towns and then retake those municipalities in the 2025 local government elections. Thisshould notbea gamble at all. The Opposition can easilyregaincontrolofthose municipalities and in the process show that if the

government really wanted thosetownstoflourish,itcan doso.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s affiliates.)

First 150 allottees of Tract ‘CHPA’, Reg. 9 receive agreements of sale

TheMinistryofHousing andWater-CentralHousing and Planning Authority commenced processing of Agreements of Sale for the initial 150 allottees of the Tract ‘CHPA’ Housing Scheme in Lethem, Region NineonSaturday MinisterofHousingand Water, Collin Croal, who was present at the activity, stated that the process is a critical stage since it gives beneficiaries legal ownership of their land and they can now anticipate receivingtheirCertificateof Title, which can be used to obtainfinancingfrombanks to construct their dream homes.

According to a press release by the ministry, Permanent Secretary, Mr Andre Ally; Mayor of Lethem, Mr John Macedo; and Deputy Mayor, Ms DebraKingwerealsoatthe exercise, held at the Regional Housing Office in Lethem. The new housing development at Tract CHPA,commonlyknownas Poke Bridge, has been

allocated to some 543 residents. Of this, 400 allottees have so far been able to access their land, as infrastructure works in the area including access roads progress.

Within the next few weeks, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is also expected to commence logging in the scheme to determine the optimal locationforawell.“Wewill drillawellthisyearforthat area,” Minister Croal assured the residents. He further noted that the scheme will be developed into a wholesome and sustainableenvironment.

Guyanese Scholar Dr. Raymond

Kirton launches new book on Guyana-Brazil relations

said after receiving his AgreementofSale.

Meanwhile, Mr. RonaldoEastman,ateacher from Annai Secondary School stated, “I am extremely happy because it is very challenging at times not having your own place soifyouhavethat,youwill c u t o f f h o t e l accommodations and so on”.

Guyanese scholar Dr Raymond Mark Kirton has launchedanewbooktitled–‘building Bridges in the Amazon: Guyana-Brazil Relations into the 21st

C e n t u r y ’ a t t h e Herdmanston Lodge, G e o r g e t o w n l a s t

T h e o v e r j o y e d recipients lauded the government’s efforts, as they proudly exited the venuewiththeirAgreement of Sale. “I’m so happy that at this time that I have receivedahouselotandI’m getting a Title for that location and thank you to this government for all this improvement which going on in Lethem, Rupununi,” Mr Christopher

To further improve accesstohomeownershipin the region, the first 58 Region Nine residents also received the Steel and Cement Housing Subsidy vouchers on Saturday Minister Croal also highlighted the Lethem Housing Support Project, which will see some 600 personsbenefitingfroma$3 milliontwo-bedroomhome. The government will contribute $1 million towards the cost of constructionforeachhome.

Sahibdeen

Minister Croal noted that withtheseongoingprojects, the Ministry is pumping over $1 billion into Region Nine.

Wednesday Dr Kirton, a retired lecturer of both the Universities of Guyana and theWestIndies,hasdetailed the development of diplomatic, political and economic linkages between Guyana and Brazil Critically assessing the complex consideration that has characterized relations betweentwostatescovering a period that dates back to the early twentieth century, this book coincides with both the prospect for enhanced social and economic interest between the two countries deriving from the mutual interest in the oil and gas industry as well as in their common abiding interest in hemispheric security and stability

Dr Kirton during his briefremarksmentionedtoo thatthebooktalksaboutthe 21stcenturyandsomeofthe issues that has emerged and the re-election of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the potential for a reengineering of the relations

especially the concept of changing economic fortune of Guyana and the need for greater interaction Dr. Kirton said he believes Guyana can benefit from education tourism among other things that can further d e v e l o p g r e a t e r understanding and trust between the two countries.

The retired lecturer said he intends to launch the Portuguese version of his booklaterthisyear

He challenged young academics in Guyana and the Caribbean to engage in research writing and publishing without fear of criticism as they present their evidence based research and findings to the public.Dr Kirtonsaidthere is a deficit of literature that focuses on critical national

‘Building Bridges in the Amazon: Guyana-Brazil Relations Into the 21st Century’.

and regional issues of importance and urges academics to also pursue thesefields.

Dr. Raymond Mark Kirton at his book launch last week.

Robin Hollow Blocks certified by GNBS to National Standard

Th e G u y a n a Blocks, Mr Raphael Singh RobinHollowBlocksisnow National Bureau at the business’ Lot 166 the fourth Concrete hollow S t a n d a r d s SchoolStreet,Prospect,East block company to be

( G N B S ) o n Bank Demerara (EBD) certified by the GNBS. The Thursday last certified location. He also received a companyisnowpermittedto Robin Hollow Blocks under plaque from the GNBS use the National Standards its Product Certification Technical Officer, Mr Keon Mark on the four (4) and six Programme. Rankin to be displayed to (6) inch blocks The

The company attained customersasasymbolofthis certificate is valid for one certification to manufacture achievement. y e a r M r R a n k i n four and six inch blocks

During the handing over congratulated the block whichmeettherequirements ceremony, Mr Singh noted m a n u f a c t u r e r a n d of the National Standard that he always strives to encouraged him to work G Y S 2 1 5 : 2 0 1 8

manufacture quality blocks towards maintaining the Specification for Load and is proud to join the requirements of the Bearing Masonry Units G N B S ’ P r o d u c t standard. He indicated that (ConcreteBlocks). Certification Programme the Bureau is proud of the

Tax breaks to oil companies

This year, the Bureau also commenced offering Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) for concrete blocks

in 2021 double

In a press release, GNBS “With this certification, commitment demonstrated said the certificate was customerswillknowthatmy tojoinitslistofcompaniesin and structures and cubes. construction or the approval domestic block makers, handed over by GNBS product is keeping with Guyana that have been Non-Destructive Testing of of new structures Other c o n t r a c t o r s a n d Technical Officer, Mr quality requirements, and I granted certification for concrete structures is a products currently certified homeowners, to submit their Latchman Mootoosammi to am committed to keeping concreteblocks. u s e f u l s e r v i c e t o to National Standards under concrete hollow blocks and Proprietor of Robin Hollow that standard,” he said I n a d d i t i o n t o homeowners concerned t h e G N B S P r o d u c t structures to its testing certification, the GNBS about the quality of their Certification Scheme are laboratory for testing. The offers testing of concrete concrete floors, walls, posts, PVC Pipes and Gold results would determine the blocks Concrete hollow fences, bridges etc ; or Jewellery strength and surface blocks of common sizes contractors and engineers The GNBS is urging hardness of concrete blocks including three, four and six who are involved in the local manufacturers, andstructures. inches can be tested. Testing is also provided for concrete cubes and cylinders in accordance with standards. Samples of these items can be submitted to the GNBS’ Flat 15, Sophia Exhibition Complex, Georgetown Office and subsequently a testcertificateisprovided.

what Guyanese workers paid

- Guyana gave away US$397M, while citizens paid US$206M

Back in 2021, Guyana reportedly gave oil and gas companies US$397 million in tax breaks on profit oil, which is about US$191 million more than the countryreceivedinthatsame year from personal income taxes paid by Guyanese workers.

This was highlighted in a missive by members of the PSA, neither Exxon nor its said, there are other ways to Oil & Gas Governance affiliates pay taxes. In fact, make an educated guess Network (OGGN) The Guyana has agreed to, under about the taxes that Exxon OGGN members Alfred the taxation provisions, to and its partners should have Bhulai, Andre Brandli, pay ExxonMobil’s share of paid but did not have to pay Janette Bulkan, Darsh Corporation and Income in 2021 The OGGN Khusial and Joe Persaud, Tax. As such, it would mean members cited country-bystated that the Bank of that Guyana foregoes each c o u n t r y r e p o r t i n g Guyana (BOG) reported that year, billions of US dollars. information published on the country received O n t o p o f t h i s , Hess USA website, which US$206 million in personal documentation to this effect discloses taxes, paid in each income tax for 2021, while is then provided to the US country the company the oil companies received a basedcompanyallowingitto operates. As it relates to tax break of about US$397 not have to pay any taxes in Guyana, the tax figure million. It is in this vein that its home country for its disclosed to the US Tax the OGGN members said earningsoverseas. Authority (IRS) is US$119 that in 2021 every Guyanese The OGGN members million in deferred income workercouldhavereceiveda highlighted that in June tax expense and no current tax break instead of the rich 2021, during a Guyana taxexpensefor2021. oilcompaniesreceivingatax Extractives Industry “We know Hess has a holiday Transparency conference, 30% share in the Stabroek U s i n g t h e i r o w n the Ministry of Natural Oil Block. Hence, a 100% of calculations, the members Resources (MNR) had t a x e s w o u l d b e arrived at US$397 million in promised to release the Tax US$119m/0.3 which would

r Certificates that Guyana totalUS$397millionintaxes ExxonMobil Guyana and its issues to the oil companies. for the oil companies partners, Hess and CNOOC However,itwasstatedthatto operating in the Stabroek who are operating in the date the information has not Block.Oneshouldrecallthat Stabroek Block. For those been released by the thisisUS$397million unfamiliar, under the 2016 ministry Nevertheless, they (Continued on page 16)

Owner of Robin Hollow Blocks Mr. Raphael Singh and GNBS Technical Officer Mr. Keon Rankin affixed a Certification sticker to the block making equipment

Concrete hollow blocks manufactured by Robin Hollow Blocks

‘Get tough on errant public officials’

- transparent official urges Govt. to sanction officials found culpable by PAC, Auditor General

O v e r s e a s - b a s e d always asserts that it stands imposed on the concerned unacceptable what has been Further, Dr Jailall noted Guyanese, Dr Jerry Jailall for accountability and officials. According to Dr goingonunderboththePNC that the recent call by believes the Guyana transparency, it has failed to Jailall, both the Government and PPP that the Auditor Opposition members for Government can change the actwith“duediligence,”and and the Opposition must be General’s reports and Public Government to impose culture of financial utmost speed to send “strong willing to enforce sanctions AccountsCommitteereports sanctions for breaches of the irregularity by doing what is signals,” to those charged when there are clear have identified financial Fiscal Management and necessary to ensure those w i t h f i n a n c i a l breaches and malfeasance irregularities involving Accountability Act of 2003, culpable of wrongdoing are mismanagement. through acts of omission and hundreds of millions of the Procurement Act of sanctioned. The transparency commission. dollars, and nobody goes to 2003,andtheStores

Dr Jailall said this is advocate pointed to the fact He said, “It is simply jailoraresanctioned.” (Continued on page 16) especially in regard to the that over the years, the findings of the Public system was subject to Accounts Committee (PAC) significant abuse and major and the Auditor General violations, as reflected in report In an invited successive reports of the comment,Dr Jailallsaidthat Auditor General, without while the PPP Government evidence of sanctions being

Dr. Jerry Jailall

WANTED

Skilled Carpenters, Masons and Labourers needed. Call: 602-9469, 660-6385 or 6257642.

One Female able-bodied Clerk required. Call: 225-2313, 226-1497/ 658-8559.

Canter and Truck Drivers needed, must have atleast 3 yrs experience. Call: 6447088/ 624-7248.

Excavator Operators required, must have atleast 3 yrs experience. Call: 6447088/ 624-7248.

Office Clerk wanted, must have experience in Microsoft Excel and Words. Call: 6447088/ 624-7248.

Urgent Truck Drivers needed at Platinum Investments. Call: 624-2234.

Mechanist needed, must know to work on engine head. Call: 223-5273/ 2235274.

Experienced Mechanic/ Welder (must hold qualifications) and Servicemen wanted for mining operation. Call: 697-2533.

Experienced male Cooks and Medic/ Camp Attendant wanted for mining operation. Call: 697-2533.

Wanted: Experienced Cashier, Cooks, Counter Person, Supervisor and Labourer. Apply @ Shanta's, 225 Camp and New Market Sts. or WhatsApp: +592-6541361.

Urgently need one female Bartender to work in the Interior. Ages 21-30 yrs. Call/ WhatsApp Ms. Johnson: 698-5526.

Experienced Land Dredge workers needed. Call: 6841030 between 8am-4pm.

One live-in Domestic partner, light house work. Salary $ 80,000 monthly. Call: 603-9085.

Canter/ pick up Drivers needed. Call: 223-5273/ 223-5274.

FOR RENT

Land for rent/ lease at Coverden, river front, E.B.D.

Land size: 4 acres. Call: 6231615.

Two1 bedroom apartment for rent in Diamond Housing Scheme. Call: 645-7933.

VACANCY

One General Domestic needed to cook & clean, Mon- Fri and preferably living within East Bank Area. Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom village next to the post office.

Western Union CSRS, am/ pm Sales Clerks, Cashiers, Bond Clerks, Porters and Packers required @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff St. Call: 609-2995, survival.humanresources@ gmail.com

Factory Worker needed. Must have a sound secondary education. For more information Call: 227-8041/2.

Accounts Clerk needed. Must have a sound secondary education and 1-2 years Accounting experience. For more information Call: 2278041/2.

Operator for excavator/ bobcat, semi-skilled Workers, Office Assistant and time keeping/ tool issuing Clerk . Call: 621-6969/ 615-7784.

Pump Attendant needed at Shell Station, Providence, E.B.D. Working shift (6am2pm and 2pm-10pm). Email: Shellramsburg@gmail.com

Experienced Hair Colorist, Hairstylist, Receptionist/ Massuese and Nail Tech needed. Call/ WhatsApp: 649-5005/ 226-6705.

Vacancy exists for sand truck Driver, pay per load. Call: 2311408/ 642-9191 7am to 1 pm.

Immediate vacancy exists for male Ice Handlers @ Crystal Ice house, Blairmont. Call: 618-3800 or visit office between 8am- 12 noon.

Receptionist and Desk Staff needed at 233, South Road Lacytown, GT. Preferably males, 25-50 years old. Call: 225-0198.

One Plumber needed. Call: 615-9132.

Driver needed. Must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, ages 23-50 yrs, Car/ Van licence. Call 645-8443 or 642-9823.

Make

(CMC)- The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is upbeat about future plans to lift visa requirements for Guyana nationals traveling to Canada, according to the organisation.

Senior representatives of the private sector group spoke with Mark Kevin Berman, Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, about the matter, according to a statement from the GCCI, and were given the assurance “that discussions were underway to remove visa restrictions altogether in the future, a decision that both parties are optimistic about.”

The Canadian diplomat was also talked with by the CCI team, which included its president Kester Hutson and senior vice president Richard Rambarran, “the need to strengthen transportation infrastructure for cargo shipping and direct flights between the two nations.” According to the statement, the parties discussed the possibility of strategic alliances between Guyana and Canada in a number of industries, including agroprocessing, tourism, and other conventional

FOR SALE

One double Lot 80x160 on the east side of Friendship, Public Road, $12M GYD neg. Call: 626-4234/ 628-6212.

3 pure breed black and tan German Shepard pups, fully vaccinated, 8 weeks old. Call: 626-0953/ 650-9998.

Pure honey, wholesale and retail quantity. Call: 6214273.

SERVICES

Visa Application: Canada and U.S.A. Graphics design & advertisements. Wedding decorations & elderly grooming: hair, nail etc. Call: 626-7040.

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 629-5526.

For low cost repairs for AC units, refridgerators, freezers, gas stoves, washing machine, dryers, etc. Call: 629-4946, 225-4822.

industries. The High Commissioner emphasized the value of utilizing collaboration and cooperation to the fullest extent possible to take advantage of the opportunities present in both countries. In order to achieve this goal and promote closer ties between the two nations, the GCCI is presently trying to arrange more incoming trade trips to Canada, according to the statement. Hutson expressed his appreciation to the High Commissioner “for his participation and dedication to developing the relationship between Guyana and Canada,” according to the statement. The statement stated, “There is no doubt that both nations can achieve great success together with ongoing cooperation.” For Guyana visitors desiring to stay in the UK for up to six months after fulfilling certain

requirements, including having access to sufficient means to finance their stay, the UK has repealed the visa requirement.

Last year Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman confirmed with this newspaper that Guyanese authorities have signaled their interest in having visa-free talks.

During a brief engagement with members of the media Berman had said the Guyana Government has related its interest on this matter, adding that authorities in Canada have been notified. While Guyana has already seen a visa waiver by the United Kingdom to promote business relations, Berman said the Canadian visa policy is different.

The High Commissioner stressed that his country’s visa requirements are premised on different issues which he did not disclose at

the time.

GCCI still upbeat about visa-free entry to Canada

The official said, “Guyana is one of several countries which we have visa requirements for but it is something we are looking at and we will make a determination.” While that matter remains under consideration, the High Commissioner was keen to note that there is a need for more direct flights.

Berman said carriers such as Air Canada and WestJet have been engaged in discussions about the opportunities that exist within these shores. “…I am not in the airline industry and I don’t know the factors they would have to take into consideration but we have been trying to give them as much information as possible on these matters. They are looking at it nonetheless and we will see what their decision will be,” the High Commissioner stated.

Tax breaks to oil companies in 2021...

From page 14 that Guyana is forgoing in taxes to rich oil companies,” the OGGN members said.

To this end, it was noted that if they try to reconcile the US$397 million tax figure with what the Auditor General Report for 2021 disclosed, “We have a material anomaly.” The AG’s 2021 report had revealed that the Oil and Gas sector had close to US$1 billion (GYD$204 billion) in exemptions for 2021.

The members stated that if the estimation of exemption for taxes on profit oil is about US$397 million, questions loom on the detailed breakdown of the other exemptions to the oil companies which totals about

US$580 million.

Mentioned in their statement was the audit result for Exxon and its partners in the Stabroek Block from 1999 to 2017 revealing a stunning US$214 million in questionable expenses; to this, the members said, “there is a larger figure that is a mystery and it relates to the exemptions given to the oil companies and their related contractors for 2021.”

Last week, the audit of the oil companies’ expenses was leaked some two years after it was completed by British firm, IHS Markit. The OGGN members noted that this raises questions about why the government was not transparent with the Guyanese

people, given the outrageous amount of money under question.

Added to this, they said that given the recent audit revelation it raises alarms about what may be hidden in the almost US$1 billion exemptions given to the oil companies and their partners for 2021.

Moreover, it was underscored that what is astounding is that in the same year, the country only earned US$409 million from oil but give away more than two times that amount in exemptions to the oil companies.

“This is yet another case of the Guyanese poor fattening the rich,” the OGGN members said.

‘Get tough on errant public...

From page 15 Regulation. He noted that, “It should not be that the Opposition should have to goad the Government side into urgent and timely action. Hopefully, those responsible for tardiness in enforcing the laws would respond speedily.”

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Disturbing financial transgressions by budget agencies which are documented year after year by Auditor General (AG) Deodat Sharma, in his reports, points to the need for serious action to be taken so as to protect taxpayers’ dollars and significantly reduce wastage. In the past, the PAC – the standing committee that exercises supervisory oversight of the functioning of the Audit Office has highlighted the need for weighted sanctions. The Committee exercises powers in keeping with the Evidence Act, Chapter 1:08, which allows for the summoning of witnesses to give evidence

and/or provide documents to it. It also has penalties for non-compliance without proper reason. The PAC had noted that not only are the wrongdoings by the AG highlighted but that there is no record of Accounting Officers ever being sanctioned for inefficiency, fraud, or dereliction of duty, which has allowed a certain culture to grow.

The PAC said that over the years, there have been a number of challenges regarding Budget Agencies. It was observed that across budget agencies, Accounting Officers and/or engineering staff appear to persistently sign off on incomplete projects. According to the PAC, Accounting Officers were found in many instances, not implementing appropriate measures to avoid the recurrence of overpayment. Compounding the situation is the fact that Government Agencies seemed reluctant to use the

performance-based gratuity (specifically the withholding of increments) of Accounting Officers as a means of promoting efficiency.

The Committee said too that the recycling of Accounting Officers who had been cited for inefficiency from one agency to another remains an irritant.

It was also observed that in numerous cases, Performance Bonds and Insurance were seldom utilized as surety by Ministries/Regions against shoddy and incomplete work done by contractors.

In this regard as well, it found that there is a lack of clearly defined policies as it relates to invoking the Insurance and Performance bonds at the appropriate time. “Log Books not being properly maintained continues to be a perennial problem across Ministries/Departments/Regions,” the PAC underlined in a statement.

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Paramakatoi Smart Hospital commissioned

R e s i d e n t s o f hospitals withstood severe b e c o m e m o r e Paramakatoi, Region Eight natural disasters such as environmentally sustainable (Potaro-Siparuni) and the volcanic eruptions and in terms of water, electricity surrounding communities hurricanes. andpowerconsumption,and will benefit from improved Meanwhile, Pan- very importantly, to improve access to healthcare with the A m e r i c a n H e a l t h the operational capacity commissioning of a smart Organisation/World Health towards rendering good hospitalinthevillage. Organisation (PAHO/WHO) quality and relevant health

The Paramakatoi Smart Advisor on Disease services to the people of Hospital, previously the Surveillance, Dr Rainier Guyana ” Last year, the Paramakatoi Health Centre, Escalada, expressed, “This government commissioned was retrofitted to meet effort adds a very important additional smart hospitals at modern standards as part of layer or dimension to our Mabaruma,RegionOne,and the Smart Health Care collaborative work on health Leonora, Region Three. Facilities in the Caribbean hereinGuyana.Throughthis These facilities complement Project. The project saw project, we have been the smart hospitals at Guyana collaborating with retrofitting health facilities Diamond, on the East Bank theUnitedKingdom(UK)to to become safe and resilient of Demerara, and Lethem, in

COVID,wehaveplacedalot layoutofthebuilding,sothat she said. She added that the retrofit five selected against various hazards such Region Nine, which were of emphasis on developing, when people come in, they initiative has seen success in h o s p i t a l s w i t h as hurricanes, floods, commissioned in 2021 strengtheningandexpanding can have easy and ready Belize and St. Vincent and environmentally-friendly droughts and earthquakes, to (DPI) the range of services that we access to the building,” he the Grenadines, where smart systems, and heightened can offer at any one of our explained. resistance to natural health facilities

And B r i t i s h H i g h disasters. The hospitals also [Paramakatoi] is no Commissioner to Guyana, utilise colour therapy to lift different,becauseweneedto Jane Miller noted that the the spirits of patients, and expand the range of services overall investment for the induce a sense of wellness that we can offer here,” he Smart Hospital initiative in and calm. Paramakatoi is the said. Guyana totals $1.6 billion. fifthhospitaltoberetrofitted

The minister noted that She further expressed her underthisproject. one of the most convenient satisfaction with its success.

At the commissioning things about the hospital is “One of the priorities for the ceremony on Saturday its simple layout, a key UK government is tackling morning,MinisterofHealth, featuremanyhealthfacilities climate change, preventing D r F r a n k A n t h o n y lack. “One of the challenges ecological and biodiversity e x p r e s s e d t h a t t h e we’ve had with existing loss, and also building completion of the smart facilitiesisthatovertime,we resilience to disasters that facility serves as a keep adding pieces to it, and might come along And demonstration of the afterawhile,itbecomesvery that’s why this project government’s commitment cumbersome And when started… The idea was to to the modernisation of people come, they’re not make these facilities Guyana’s health sector “We sure where to go, which stronger and more resilient have embarked on a project room to go in, and to whatever the climateis, or totransformthehealthsector sometimes it can be whatever might befall them. in Guyana. And you would challenging, especially for Andthisisthelastofthefive have noticed that over the olderpatients.So,partofthis to be handed over to the last two years or so, despite project is to simplify the Government [of Guyana],”

Pact signed for farmers to access small grants - Min. Mustapha

Farmers are set to benefit from small [Minister Walrond], from the Ministry of grants to enhance their productivity, as the Agriculture. We have already signed an government continues to implement various agreementwherewewillworktogetherto initiatives to diversify the agriculture sector help farmers to acquire small grants so andensureafood-securenation. that they could improve their farming The Ministry of Agriculture and the lands and produce these are the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and initiatives that we have been talking Commerce – Small Business Bureau (SBB) about ” The government continues to signedanagreementrecentlyforgrantstobe aggressively develop the agriculture sector accessible to farmers, the Department of as part of its efforts to transform the sector PublicInformationreported. The minister further pledged his Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar commitment to continue working with Mustapha, made the disclosure, DPI said, farmers throughout the country “Let us stating that the government remains keen on work together Let us move the process ensuring that farmers are provided with the forward. Let us empower you and you necessary agricultural inputs, technical make a contribution to food security in training, and investments to bolster output. our country,” Minister Mustapha urged “We are working with her ministry farmers.

The new Paramakatoi Smart Hospital

Eight medals for Guyana at CARIFTA Games

- Government of Guyana takes responsibility to bring team home

By Rawle Toney country’s athletes and a clinical run in the Boys U17 the Queens College student athletes will board a charter whileJavonRobertsgrabbed bittersweet moment for 800m. kept within striking distance flight, arranged by the goldintheBoysU17800m.

A rollercoaster journey some, as the Land of Many Roberts clocked a and then stepped on the gas Government, from The Anisha Gibbons had a and fairy-tale performances Waters will leave the personal best time of One in the final 150m to cruise Bahamas to Cuba, where gold medal performance in were the hallmarks of Bahamas today with three minute, 56.64s (1:56.64) to home for his first CARIFTA they will board a Caribbean the Girls U20 Javelin. It was Guyana’s showing at this gold medals, two silver and win Guyana’s third gold gold. Airlines flight back to Gibbons’third gold medal in year’s CARIFTA Games at threebronze. medal at the CARIFTA Here’sabreakdownofall Guyana. consecutive CARIFTA the Thomas Robin Stadium Javon Roberts, who got Games. theevents/finalsthatwillsee The Government’s move Games appearances, having inNassau,Bahamas. second in the Boys U17 His timing and execution G u y a n e s e a t h l e t e s comes after a series of won the event in 2019 and

It was one of the most 1500m, returned on the final of the race were perfect, contending for a spot on the reports and mishaps 2022 The silver medals memorable games for the day to produce another almost out of a textbook, as podium. regarding Guyana’s team, came from Roberts in the Trevon Hamer, who’s which resulted in several BoysU171500mandAttoya enjoying a good stint at interventions that saw the Harvey in the Girls 3000m Jamaica College, where he’s athletes and officials being open. on scholarship, leapt a able to compete at the 50th Trevon Hamer (Boys distanceof14.89mandgood edition of the CARIFTA U20 Triple Jump), Seon enoughforbronze. Games and ended with eight Booker (Boys U20 1500)

Tuesday April 11, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

There could be a meeting in your community regarding some extensive changes in the not too distant future, Aries. The meeting could bring facts to your attention that you shouldbeawareof.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Career matters might prove frustrating today. You're aiming for a specific goal of some kind that you're anxious toreach,butitseemstohitone setbackafteranother

GEMINI(May21–June20)

A new field of interest may require much of your concentration for the next several days, Gemini. You could be studying a new spiritual discipline or perhaps an intellectual problem, such as the workings of the universe,orboth.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Are you interested in psychology? If so, you might discover some information that clues you in to your mental and emotional history

Such disciplines as past-life regression or rebirthing could beespeciallyappealing.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Your circle of friends is probably changing, Leo, perhaps too rapidly for your tastes. Some friends may be moving away, or different interests have caused you to formnewfriendships.

VIRGO (Aug 23–Sept 22)

Although things may be going well for you at work, it's probably taking a physical and emotionaltollonyou Youmay suffer from mild stress-related conditionslikeheadaches

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Areyouworkingonsomething that requires in-depth research, Libra? If so, this is the day to dig in. Your mind and eyes are especiallysharprightnow.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)

Today, you might feel caught between the determination to reach a certain goal, probably financial, and a desire to stay home and work on your own projects, take care of your family,orboth.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

A social event could put you in contactwithpeoplewholoveto gossip They might have some juicy tidbits to report, and you could be torn between curiosity and compassion for the person beingdiscussed

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Over the past few months you may have thrown yourself into your work, accomplishing feats that ordinary people would never even try Today you should give your brain a dayoff!Don'tworry

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

For the past few days your mind has been primarily on the loftier side of romanceemotional support, a spiritual bond, the highest kind of love. Today your mind is likely to be on nothing more exalted than physicalpassion.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

AAdiscussion could take place in your home between you, friends,andhouseholdmembers

A love partner may also be present The conversation will concerncontroversialissues that the people feel very strongly about, so expect to hear intense debatebetweenopposingviews

NarissaMcPherson(U20 medals. and Ezekiel Saul (Boys U17 800m), Seon Booker (U20 Tianna Springer won Triple Jump) are the bronze 800m), Tianna Springer gold in the Girls U17 400m, medallists. (U17 200m), Ezekiel Newton (U20 200m) and Odida Parkinson (U20 5000m) were the other athletes on show on the final day, but despite their valiant effort, they fell short of the podium.

GOVERNMENT INTERVENES

Meanwhile, Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, highlighted that the Government of Guyana has undertaken the safe return of the country’s CARIFTA Games athletes following the conclusion of the C a r i b b e a n ’ s m o s t prestigious Track and Field event.

According to Ninvalle, following the conclusion of the games, the Guyanese

Transport SC to Clash with Georgetown CC...

From page 22 saw Jeremiah Hohenkirk bagging (4-28) from 8 overs, while Alvin Mohabir (2- 29) and Stephon Sankar (2-43) offeredsupport.

In reply, Transport ended on184-6tosealanemphatic win in 44.2 overs. Riyad Latif led with an unbeaten 56, while Hohenkirk (22*), RyanLatif30,ShilohAdams (21), and Alvin Mohabir (29), supported the halfcenturion. Bowling for Bel Air Rubis, young Ajay Gainda was the most successfulwith2-16.

Transport SC will now clash with the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), in the Demerara Final today, April 11, 2023, from 10:30am at the Georgetown Cricket Club,ground.

NBAroundup:Warriorshang157...

From page 23 timein11games themselves a guaranteed In other results: playoff spot. The No. 7 seed Celtics 120, Hawks 114 Lakers will host the eighth- Bulls 103, Pistons 81 s e e d e d M i n n e s o t a Heat 123, Magic 110 Timberwolves on Tuesday Hornets 106, Cavaliers 95 intheplay-inround. 76ers 134, Nets 105 A n t h o n y D a v i s Pacers 141, Knicks 136 contributed 16 points, 13 Rockets 114, Wizards 109 rebounds, four blocks and Raptors 121, Bucks 105 three steals in the win, Spurs 138, Mavericks 117 while D’Angelo Russell Nuggets 109, Kings 95 scored 17 points as the Thunder 115, Grizzlies 100 Lakers won for the ninth (Field Level Media)

Bartica Easter Regatta 2023–Powerboat Races

Sanjay Ramkissoon (Team Shivraj) crowned champion in 115-200hp and 75-90hp classes

Ms. Bernice Lewis is all joy as she beats her daughter, Glorine Phardoman to the top spot in the Female Kayak race.

On a where the usual amongothers,thedayturned were delivered by Regional who was always chasing ‘Clash of the Titans’ that out to be exciting despite the C h a i r m a n , K e n n e t h down Belle, took over the should have been in the incident which resulted in Williams, who is also lead and eventually took the Formula One Class but did both boats not being able to Chairman of the Bartica chequered flag. Discussions notmaterialisebecauseofan take any further part in the Easter Regatta Organising are still ongoing as to who is accident in the first race, the day’sactivities. Committee. theclearwinner second event of the day, PM Phillips declared the

The Champion Driver trophy and cash (115-200hp) were presented to Sanjay Ramkissoon by Regional Chairman, Kenneth Williams.

But on the water top, the The Clerk of Course and Sponsors of the event West, Ideal Supplies, Bolo, Sanjay Ramkisson cashed in competition open after day belonged to Team his committee are to wereMohamed’sEnterprise, LED Guyana, P Doobay& big time as he displayed delivering official opening Shivraj piloted by Sanjay deliberate and come up with BKInternationalInc,Ming’s Sons (Pandit), Sir Service versatilitybycontrollingtwo remarks, noting that Bartica Ramkissoon who was the winner of the race which Products and Services, GTT, Station, Guyana Bank Trade of the next most powerful will continue to benefit from commanding in winning was the second of the day, BanksDIH,Digicel,Guyana Industry,MinistryofNatural categories. developmental initiatives both races for the 115-200hp accordingtotheOrganisers. Tourism Authority, Sky Resources.

Blessed with brilliant from the Government. He boats as well as in the 75sunshine, a colourful crowd, pointed out that the budget 90hpclass There was a and the presence of forcapitalworkswouldhave mother and daughter, Honourable Prime Minister been increased substantially one/two finish in the female Brig. Ret. Mark Phillips, from 2022 which in itself, Kayak race while there were Minister of Labour Joseph signals the Government’s nine (9) competitors in the Hamilton, Minister of intenttofurtherempowerthe maleKayakshowdown. Tourism, Industry, and residents of Region # 7- The organisers are to C o m m e r c e O n e i d g e Cuyuni-Mazaruni, including make a determination as to Walrond-Allicock, Minister the talented sportsmen and the winner of the lone within the Office of the women. formula event which was Prime Minister Kwame Minister Walrond- being led by Randy Belle McCoy, Leader of the Allicock also spoke on the piloting ‘Wave Runner’. Opposition Aubrey Norton, importance of Regatta as a After the incident on the Regional Chairman Kenneth leading Tourism product for fourth turn where Belle Williams and His Worship Region#7,andbyextension, collided with another boat, Mayor Gifford Marshall Guyana. Welcome remarks Dave Scott aboard ‘Jaguar’

PeléFCAlumniandPeléFCpaytributetothelateKingPele

Following the death of a success noting that it came themostcommandingsports offattherighttime. figure of the last century in “Whilst it did not happen the world, Pelé, on when we wanted it to, a few December 29th, 2022, the weeks ago, we are really Pele FC Alumni along with thankful that it has happened Pele Football Club on at this time. When so many Thursday evening last paid of you are here and would tribute to the legend after havepreferreditnow.ToMr. which the club was named, Exeter, our local president, some50-plusyearsago. and his team, thank you for

This event should have theworkputintomakethisa taken place a few weeks ago memorable evening The but was curtailed due to memory of this great icon Ground. buttonstomarktheoccasion. Barton, Denis ‘Carrie’ Gomes (Local Operations inclement weather On will surely live on for many

The programme took the Players from all eight teams Carrington, Ivor ‘Brazilian’ Director), and Pele FC Thursday though, many of moregenerationstocome.” form of a brief candlelight that participated in the four Jones, Compton ‘Alan Ball’ President, Dirk Exeter, the founding and former Meanwhile, the threevigil with the attendees Youth Educational Matches, Luthers, Lindon ‘Colt’ amongothers. players of Pele FC, many of day Youth Education wearing specially printed all wore black armbands to Carter, Loris Stoby, Alfred P e l e F C A l u m n i whom went on to don Seminar which will attract jerseys. marktheoccasion. Harris, Albert Sampson- Chairman, Denis ‘Carrie’

national colours and who are some 130 youths this year, Announcer, and former Among the Pele players Barton, Wenceslas Laundry, Carrington expressed now residing overseas, were will open today at the Police national, Keith ‘Bumpy’ present were Dr Colin Lyndon ‘Pinhead’ Laing, gratitude to all present home to join in the moment SportsClub,EveLearyfrom Laynereflectedonthelifeof Watson, Lyndon Bollers, Lloyd ‘Chula’ Enmore, including the players of Pele

09:00hrs. the King as all present Paul Chan, Eric ‘Riggy’ Clyde ‘Farmer’ Browne FC, past and present, young r

gistration will donned specially minted Smith, Patrick ‘Labba’ (Former Coach), David and old for making the event Georgetown Football

commence,onehourearlier

Former national players as well as other Pele FC members, caught during the vigil at the GFC Ground in honour of the late, King Pelé.

2023 Milo U18 Schools Football Championship…

Quarterfinalist stage decided; 8 teams eliminated

Fo l l o w i n g a n roundwithacomfortable3– This means, the highly e x h i l a r a t i n g 1winoverCharlestown. anticipated quarterfinal

R o u n d - o f - 1 6

Match three featured a round will see Patentia elimination in the 2023 Milo resounding win for Chase’s oppose CAF, CWS will Under-18 Schools Football Academic Foundation collide with Mackenzie in a Championship, which took (CAF) over New Central battle of the Linden teams, placeovertheweekendatthe High, that ended 7 – 0 while Bartica will face Carmel and Ministry of Education the defending champion, East Ruimveldt will lock (MoE) Ground, the final Christianburg/Wismar hornswithSantaRosa. eight teams in the Secondary(CWS),prevailed The quarterfinalists leap tournament punched their 6 – 5 on penalty kicks in a into action this Saturday, quarterfinaltickets. nail biter against Dolphin April15,atthesamevenue.

The Nestlé-sponsored that was poised at 1-1 when This tournament is tournament resumed on the full time whistle sponsored by Nestlé through Saturday with the first four sounded. their Milo brand, organised matches in the stage then

On Sunday, East by the Petra Organisation, wrapped it up on Sunday Ruimveldt cruised into the sanctioned by the MoE and with the remaining four next round with a 3 – 1 supported by MASSY encounters. victory over Cummings Distribution, MVP Sports,

On Saturday, Ann’s Lodge, Santa Rosa romped Guyana Industrial Minerals Grovewerethefirsttosecure to huge 6 – 1 victory against Inc (GINMIN), General theirquarterfinalticketwhen 8TH of May, Mackenzie Equipment Guyana Ltd they needled (1-0) Patentia secured their spot over West (GENEQUIP), Farm in an almost evenly matched Ruimveldt with a 2-1 win Supplies Ltd (FARMSUP), battle Bartica were the and Carmel humbled Yellow Steel Inc and second team into the next Westminster3-1. WestzydeMarineInc.

Santa Rosa’s goal scorers were (L-R): Kevin Joseph, Travis Jarvis, Roy Van Sluytman, Darius Williams and Deon Chapelle.

- AAG reluctant to meet with GOA

GOA concerned over AAG’s handling of CARIFTA Games contingent

(The details below is a (AAG). theGames.

negative reports emanating and offering the GOA’s from the AAG, the Press Release issued by the Theexecutivecommittee These notions were from athletes, coaches, the support to assist with any executive committee of the G u y a n a O l y m p i c of the Guyana Olympic further corroborated by media, social media, and challenges the team may be G u y a n a O l y m p i c A s s o c i a t i o n ( G O A ) Association provided statements attributed to Mr parents, the Executive facing. Association’s primary regarding the handling of the support to the Carifta Games Hutson in the Press Committee in its However, to date there priority at this moment is country’s athletes and team based on a budget which indicated concern, sent hasnotbeenthecourtesyofa currently predicated on officials that competed at submittedbytheAAG. t h e A A G emails and response from the AAG working with other this year ’ s CARIFTA Games Atthecouncilmeetingof received all d e l i v e r e d President or any other stakeholders to ensure that in Nassau, Bahamas.) the Guyana Olympic t h e letters to the member of the AAG our athletes and members of

The Guyana Olympic Association we were told by required President executive and efforts to our delegation are well Association wishes to Mr Hutson, President AAG f u n d s a n d make contact with or engage catered for and return safely publiclyoutlinethatweview in his report on the AAG amounting members themhaveprovedfutile. totheirhomes with grave worry and activities that all systems to the nine o f t h e T h e E x e c u t i v e We wish to applaud the therefore feel inclined to were in place for Guyana’s m i l l i o n executive Committee of the Guyana athletes for persevering in express our concern over the athletics teams participation (9m) dollars committee Olympic Association the face of adversity - “your management of Guyana’s at the Games and he would b u d g e t of the AAG believes this issue is a sacrifice and exploits National athletics team like to place on record the required to s e e k i n g a significant one that brought national pride to all representing our country at AAG’s gratitude for the cover all of the meetingat3.00pm undermines both our Guyanese for which we are the 50th CARIFTA Games support received from the relatedexpenditure. on Saturday 8th April country’s interests and good trulygrateful”. being held in Nassau GOA and NSC, which Upon hearing of the 2023attheGOAbuilding,to governance, further we We wish to assure you Bahamas under the sentiments seemed to be issuesofmismanagementon ascertain if the reports believe that these issues of and all other athletes that we Stewardship of the Athletics indicative of the teams’ the evening of Friday 7th emanating were true, the poor management are will be working assiduously Association of Guyana readiness for participation in April 2023, and based on the basisforthesedevelopments alarming and disappointing to ascertain the basis of this and does not augur well for position, to redress this the positive advancement of calamitous situation and to sportsinGuyana. ensure that there is never a In the absence of any future reoccurrence of this response or communication unacceptablestatusquo.

GCB/GOG/MCYS Under-19 Boys Inter-Club Super-50 Tournament…

Transport SC to Clash with Georgetown CC after beating Bel-Air Rubis 2nd Spot in Demerara Final

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Government of Guyana (GOG) Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Under-19 InterClub Super-50 Tournament 2023, continued on Sunday, April 9, 2023, with a highly competitive match between Bel-Air Rubis U-19 and Transport SC played at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC)ground.

Summary Scores

Transport beat BelAir Rubis by 7 runs Bel Air Rubis won the toss and elected to bat, reaching 177alloutin46.5overswithRudranauthKissoonscoring48 with29extraswhichaddedtothetotal.Transportbowling (Continued on page 19)

Rudranauth Kissoon

Jeremiah Hohenkirk

Riyad Latif

Tough start for Guyanese Men at Jr Pan Am Hockey C/ship

Part of the action between Guyana and the USA at the Jr Pan Am Hockey C/Ship in Barbados.

- Women’s team in action today

Shaquon Favorite battles the USA’s Captain Amar Singh during their match at the Junior Pan Am Hockey C/Ship.

By Rawle Toney

double, scoring in the men’s team group play, Guyana’s women’s team is international competition Fernandes is the Men’s opening minute and then where they will hope for a ranked #72 in the world and and most will be seeing a Coach, with former National It certainly wasn’t the slotting home his second in positive result that will see in these championships, the hockey artificial grass field player JohnAbrahams as his start team Guyana was the 49th minute. The USA’s them being one of the two Guyanese girls come up for the first time in their assistant. hoping for at the Junior Pan other goal came from teams to play in the finals on against #14 Chile, #15 lives. N a t i o n a l J u n i o r Am Hockey Championships Grewal Mehtab (16'). While April 17. The women will Canadaand#41Barbados. National Junior Men’s Women’s Team: Abosaide in Barbados, after losing 3 – the Guyanese men featured play Barbados on April 12, The other pool in the Team: Jamal Gaskin, Raoul Cadogan, Julia Gouveia, 0totheUSAyesterday on the tournament’s opening followed by their final Pool competition will feature #2 Whittaker, Baraka Garnett, Madison Fernandes, Playing in their first day against the USA, the B game on April 14 against ranked Argentina, #16 USA Daniel Woolford, Jabari Makeda Harding (C), Sarah game of the tournament women’s side take the field Chile. and#25Uruguay Lovell,JavidHussain,Leroy Klautky, Haley Carpenter, where they’re placed in on Day Two today from Seven junior women’s Although the Guyanese Geer, Nandalall Persaud, Kazaquah Uzzi, Alexcia Group B with the USA, 11:00amagainstCanada. teams will be competing in Women’s squad features a Oshazay Savory, Quinn Elias, Aliea Khan, Clayza Canada and Barbados, the Also today, Guyana’s the female competition few experienced players in Tobin, Samuel Woodroffe, Bobb, Georgiana Fernandes, Guyanese men showed a lot men’s team will play their which is a qualifier for the Captain Makeda Harding, Shakeem Fausette, Shaquon Kirsten Gomes, Jessica of promise against the second game of the 2023 Junior World Cup SarahKlautky,ClayzaBobb, Favorite, Simeon Moore, Mittelholzer, Empress Americans, but though tournament, facing off with beingheldinSantiago,Chile Kirsten Gomes, Abosaide Tahrea Garnett, Vladimir Charles, Makaylah Poole several efforts and good Barbadosat3:30pm. inDecember Cadogan and Madison Woodroffe,WarrenWilliams andSolanaCrum-Ewing. plays, they failed to find the A clash with Canada on Whilethereisnoofficial Fernandes, the rest of the andYonnickNorton. The Women’s team head net. Katz Wyatt had a April 13 will wrap up the ranking for junior teams, s q u a d a r e n e w t o

Former will be Robert CoachisPhillipFernandes.

NBA roundup: Warriors hang 157

on Blazers, glide into playoffs

Reuters - StephenCurrypoured Leonard and Russell Westbrook Orleans into eighth place entering in 26 points in 22 minutes and the added 25 apiece and visiting Los the Western Conference play-in Golden State Warriors produced a Angeles secured the No. 5 seed in tournament. record-setting first quarter as they the Western Conference playoffs Anthony Edwards added 26 clinched a Western Conference withawinoverPhoenix. points and 13 rebounds, Taurean playoff spot with a 157-101 Leonard scored the last eight Prince scored 18 points and Mike shellacking of the host Portland points for the Clippers and finished Conley had 17 points and seven TrailBlazersonSundayafternoon. with a season-high 15 rebounds assists for the Timberwolves, who

All 13 players who suited up plus six assists. Bones Hyland tied the Pelicans’ regular-season scoredfortheWarriors,whowound scored 11 points and Ivica Zubac record of 42-40 but won the season up in sixth place in the West. The had 10 points and eight rebounds series 2-1. New Orleans’ Brandon Los Angeles Clippers won at for the Clippers, who won despite Ingram had 42 points and 12 Phoenix to finish tied with Golden shooting 5 of 23 (21.7 percent) rebounds, CJ McCollum scored 23 State, but Los Angeles held the from 3-point range and 16 of 24 pointsandTreyMurphyIIIhad20. tiebreakertoearnthefifthseed.The (66.7percent)fromthefoulline. Wolves center Rudy Gobert Warriors draw the third-seeded Saben Lee led Phoenix with a was removed from the game in the Kings in the first round of the career-high 25 points and a season- second quarter after throwing a playoffs. high nine assists. Darius Bazley punch at teammate KyleAnderson.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (1) goes to the basket as New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) defends during the second quarter at Target Center. (Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports)

Needing a win to assure scored 16 points, Jock Landale Forward Jaden McDaniels also themselves a playoff spot, the added 15, Landry Shamet had 14 exited the game, reportedly Warriors wasted no time leaving andJoshOkogieandTerrenceRoss sustaining a fractured hand after the Trail Blazers in the dust. They chipped in 13 apiece. The Suns punchingawallinthetunnellatein set an NBA record for first-quarter restedstartersKevinDurant,Devin thefirstquarter percent (27 of 49) from deep. The pointstogowithateam-highseven points with 55, making 20 of 29

Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Lakers 128, Jazz 117

27treystiedafranchiserecord. rebounds, while Jeenathan shots overall and 12 of 18 from 3- Ayton. LeBron James scored 36 points All five Trail Blazers starters Williams had 17 points for point range en route to a 28-point Timberwolves 113, Pelicans 108 with eight 3-pointers to lift Los scored in double figures, led by Portland. lead. In wrapping up the regular Karl-AnthonyTowns scored 30 Angeles to a victory over visiting Skylar Mays with 21 points. Mays Clippers 119, Suns 114 season on an 8-2 roll, the Warriors points and Minnesota won in Utah.TheLakersfailedtoearn also handed out a game-high 12 Norman Powell scored 29 shot 60.4 percent overall and 55.1 Minneapolis to move past New (Continued on page 19) assists. Shaedon Sharpe added 18 points off the bench, Kawhi