Kaieteur News

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Time to appoint NEWS Chancellor, Chief Justice -- CCJ President President

Tuesday Edition

AIETEUR

April 12, 2022 - Vol. 16 No. 15 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterdays 76,216

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Guyana has power to improve 2016 Exxon deal, no provision is off limits UNDP Report says...

Court grants ‘lifetime’ restraining order against alleged abusive businessman Breach in tender process - PAC continues in Region 7 finds

Local Fishing industry in deeper trouble - as Suriname demands catch, reneges on issuing licences

EPA utilising NASA satellite data to keep track of Exxon’s flaring Corrupt projects are emptying the treasury so you will never get an increase of salary. @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday April 12, 2022

Girl, 14, dies in accident on way to visit grandfather - mother seeks assistance for burial

By Allyiah Allicock Makida Quick’s plan to visit her grandfather on Sunday ended abruptly after she was killed in a tragic accident around noon that day. The accident, which claimed the life of the 14year-old Tucville Secondary School student, occurred around 12:30hrs on the ‘E’ Field main access road, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Kaieteur News understands that the teen who resided at Lot 668 Section ‘D’ Field, Sophia was heading to her grandfather’s residence, in same the area, with a younger sister when she met her demise. The two were travelling separately on their bicycles when the accident occurred.

Police in a report stated Quick was riding, south along the eastern side of the main access road, when a motorcycle, CK 7840, driven by Glenton Redman, crashed into her. The police revealed that the 21-year-old

Dead, Makida Quick motorcyclist, who was speeding in the same direction, was in a lying position on his motorcycle which he allegedly lost control and collided with the teen. As a result of the collision, Quick was flung some distance in the air before falling into a nearby drain, while Redman fell onto the roadway.

They were both picked up in an unconscious condition and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where the young

girl was pronounced dead on arrival. The motorcyclist, who police suspect is not the holder of a provisional or d r i v e r ’s l i c e n c e , w a s admitted and is said to be receiving medical treatment under police guard.

In an interview with this publication on Monday, the dead teen’s mother, Melissa Vossey said Quick is now the second child she has lost in just under three years. She recalled that back in 2019 her eldest child, Olijah Chesney, a former Guyana Defence Force rank, was murdered during the course of a robbery. The grieving woman said that on Sunday, the sister, who was with Quick at the time of the accident, had visited the grandfather earlier that day and the man had requested to see Quick because he had not seen her recently.

As a result, the younger sister left for her older sister to take her to their grandfather but unfortunately the man never got to see his granddaughter alive.

The motorcycle which reportedly collided with the 14-year-old girl “Both sisters does always be together and after the sister went first to the grandfather, the grandfather said he ain’t seeing Makida, he say ‘weh Makida deh?’

He said bring she and carry she to him but she didn’t get to reach to the grandfather,” Vossey related.

The woman stated that she had just reached home from work that day when she heard about the accident.

What was related to the woman was that her daughter was standing on the

corner of the road with her bicycle waiting for the motorcyclist to finish doing his “stunts” before she continued her journey.

“The boy was lying on his motorbike while riding when he knock she down,” Vossey related. She said her daughter, as a result of the accident, suffered a broken neck and leg, among other injuries.

The woman described her daughter as a jovial and mannerly person. With school recently being closed,

she revealed that Quick had already purchased her Easter Monday outfit, adding that the family had made plans to spend the holiday at the National Park.

Even as an investigation into the fatal accident is ongoing, the grieving mother is asking the public for any form of assistance towards her daughter ’s burial since she is cashstrapped. Persons desirous of lending support can make contact with Melissa Vossey mobile number 641-4434.

Applications open for Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Prog.

In a press release it shared on Monday, the U.S. Embassy said that it is pleased to announce the annual competition for the 2023 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program.

The application deadline is July 29, 2022.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program is a fully funded, one-year fellowship programme offered to young and mid-career professionals who have a proven track record of leadership, a public service commitment, and the capacity to take full advantage of a self-defined programme of independent study at a leading U.S. university. The Humphrey programme is unique in its practice orientation for the students, as they receive high quality networking opportunities in their field, which will last throughout their career.

The programme brings accomplished professionals from designated countries around the world to the United States at a

- U.S. Embassy midpoint in their careers for a year of graduate-level academic course work and professional development activities.

The Humphrey programme was initiated in 1978 to honour the memory and accomplishments of the late Senator and Vice President, Hubert H. Humphrey. Fellows are selected on their potential for leadership and commitment to public service.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Humphrey Fellowship Program, according to the release, is part of the U.S. continued commitment to the prosperity of Guyana and the region. The programme provides a basis for establishing lasting ties between citizens of the United States and their professional counterparts in other (Continued on page 13)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 12, 2022

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ExxonMobil seeks another EPA approval for fifth oil project

I

n January 2020, oil giant, ExxonMobil announced its 16th discovery, Uaru-1, in the Stabroek Block of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

In April last year, the company announced another oil find, this time its 19th dubbed Uaru-2 in the Stabroek Block.

ExxonMobil said that the well is located approximately 6.8 miles (11 kilometres) south of the Uaru-1 well.

The two separate announcements or discoveries are, however, being pursued through one application process, as one project, under the guise of Uaru+ as was announced by ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge, as the final investment decision for its fourth project, the Yellowtail development, which was declared last week.

In fact, this newspaper was told by Exxon’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Janelle Persaud, that the Uaru+ project is also seeking to develop other discoveries

in the Stabroek Block that are within close proximity to the Uaru discoveries.

She pointed out that presently, the only identified discoveries for which approval is being sought is Uaru 1 and 2.

Persaud was also keen to note that since the two discoveries are being pursued as one project, one Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel would be required for the operation, along with the other supporting equipment.

Messages sent to the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr. Kemraj Parsram, for details pertaining to the application went unacknowledged since Saturday.

Nevertheless, while making the announcement on April 4, Routledge said t h a t t h e c o m p a n y ’s application for the fifth project reflects Exxon’s commitment to “steadily and responsibly” develop the more than 10 billion oil equivalent barrels found in Guyana’s waters.

He pointed out, “These developments and our ongoing exploration success will enable the continued advancement of our Guyanese workforce and the companies that are supporting our activities, all while enabling enhanced economic growth for the country.”

Routledge also boasted of how the revenue from oil has been beneficial for the country’s growth. “The direct revenues the government is receiving have surpassed US$600 million and growing quickly as a result of high oil prices and the recent startup of Liza P h a s e Tw o P r o j e c t .

Revenues from the first two years of operation have been incorporated into the 2022 government’s Budget to support key national projects,” the ExxonMobil Guyana President related.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, h e highlighted the benefits of the company’s operations to the local workforce, as more than 3,600 Guyanese are presently involved in the development of the country’s resource. In fact,

Map showing the location of Uaru+ in the Stabroek Block

this figure represents an increase of more than 50 percent since 2019, according to him.

Local companies have also been reaping the b e n e f i t s o f E x x o n ’s operations, Routledge said, as over 880 local suppliers have been supporting the company since 2015, which account for more than US$6 million of its expenses.

It was only on April 1 that the EPA announced it approved the Environmental Authorisation for Exxon’s fourth project, the Yellowtail development, pegged at US$10B. The Environmental Permit was granted for a period of five years to

Exxon’s subsidiary and operator of the Stabroek Block, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) to undertake the requisite construction and operation of production facilities.

Oil production is also presently ongoing at the Liza One and Two projects, while the third project, Payara is slated for startup in 2024.

Production at Yellowtail is set to commence in 2025.

About Uaru+ The Uaru-1 discovery was announced in January 2020. Uaru is ExxonMobil’s 16th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block.

The well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering

some 94 feet (29 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled in 6,342 feet (1,933 metres) of water.

Meanwhile, Uaru-2 was announced in April 2021. ExxonMobil said that drilling at Uaru-2 e n c o u n t e r e d approximately 120 feet (36.7 meters) of high quality oil bearing reservoirs, including newly identified intervals below the original Uaru-1 discovery.

The well was drilled in 5,659 feet (1,725 metres) of water and is located approximately 6.8 miles (11 kilometres) south of the Uaru-1 well.

EPA utilising NASA satellite data to keep track of Exxon’s flaring

By Kiana Wilburg

T

he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently disclosed that it is utilising satellite data from t h e U S A’ s N a t i o n a l Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to keep track of flaring offshore

by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary and operator of the Stabroek Block, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

According to the World Bank, flaring entails the burning of natural gas associated with oil extraction. The practice which releases over 200 toxic chemicals into the atmosphere has persisted from the beginning of oil production over 160 years ago. It takes place due to a range of issues, from market and economic constraints, to a lack of appropriate regulation and political will.

Given the environmental dangers associated with flaring, Joel Gravesande, who serves as the Head of the E PA’ s O i l a n d G a s Department has said that flaring is one of the key

EPA staff members during real time monitoring of offshore operations issues his agency pays attention to, hence, it has been unceasing in its effort to build oversight capacity.

He made these and other remarks during his first appearance last week on Kaieteur Radio’s, Guyana’s Oil and You. While on the radio programme, he noted t h a t t h e Ye l l o w t a i l E n v i r o n m e n t a l Authorisation Permit demands that there is real time monitoring by the EPA of all gas used. He was keen to note that this provision does not exist in the previously issued documents

for the Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two and Payara operations.

EPA’s Head, Mr. Kemraj Parsram at this point, found it prudent to note that Exxon’s subsidiary cannot flare without presenting a safety case or risk assessment to the agency.

This document indicates the reasons for wanting to flare and duration of that exercise.

He noted as well that the EPA is continuously building its capacity for external expertise to ensure there is independent monitoring of Exxon’s activities.

To support Parsram’s statements, Gravesande noted that the EPA is now able to utilise the NASA Earth Observatory Group data set to see if flaring is being done offshore. He explained that the Earth Observatory’s mission is to share with the public the images, stories, and discoveries about the environment, Earth systems, and climate that emerge from NASA research, including its satellite missions, in-thefield research, and models.

Gravesande was keen to note that this initiative is a

brainchild of the EPA Head.

Parsram disclosed that the agency has been making use of the data set since January.

He said, “So we are able to use the satellite imagery to actually see when there is a flaring event by the minute.

What is important is that we can pull up the data on that specific event and then calculate using a formula, which our team is now working on, to know the volume of gas flared so we can cross check this with what is submitted by Exxon.”

The EPA team also noted t h a t t h e y h a v e

operationalised the agency’s monitoring room, which allows for remote real time and near real monitoring of both offshore and onshore activities including air quality. It also includes a platform to monitor permitted facilities and a high level of compliance with key environmental parametres. The EPA team said it is also in the process of bolstering its monitoring and assessment capability by procuring modern and state of the art measurement equipment/instruments and analyses tools to take accurate measurements, and to make credible assessments of impacts of pollutants in air, water and land. This is a basic capability of any environmental regulatory agency for providing trustworthy and timely assessments of risks and corrective actions.

Kaieteur News understands that the agency currently utilises drone technology and has amplified the use of geographic information system (GIS) and other digital technology for remote monitoring.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 12, 2022

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Low fish catch is possibly Guyana’s first oil casualty A set of Guyanese are hurting, feeling the squeeze on each occasion they venture far from land. These would be our fisherfolk, who are struggling with their financial pains, looking at bleaker and bleaker prospects, and are being forced to engage in the previously unthinkable. That is, knowingly participating in what would be labelled as illegal activity, by committing what other countries on our borders consider to be crimes. It is this stark reality of some of our honest, hardworking countrymen being forced by circumstances to play hide and seek with criminal conduct, hoping that they dont get caught, and all to make a living.

The caption of one recent story carried by this publication should need no elaboration: “Low catches forcing fishermen into illegal zones government urged to speed up study on impact” (KN April 8). There can be no argument about the facts and circumstances, since they speak for themselves, house persuasive truths. It is what our fishermen and their families have lived with, in the past few years, and are now forced to endure, with no relief in sight. That is, other than resorting to taking a chance and dabbling with fishing in illegal zones.

Our fishermen are catching less, which is the first harsh reality faced. The second is that they have to spend more to haul in less fish. The spending is driven by rising fuel prices, which means that a 15-day trip now costs around $800,000, instead of the old $600,000 of a few short years prior. They spend more in money, sometimes more in time on the high seas in the hope of a bigger, more meaningful catch, only to end up with the disappointing opposite.

Fishermen and those who depend on them are now despairing at what they have to deal with, which is less quantities of fish, and a lesser quality of the catch that they bring to the wharf. It is not only their immediate families impacted, for there are others who depend upon them, in what is now the known subculture around the wharves.

For the plight and pain of fishermen going out to sea, and coming back light-handed is also that of the many Guyanese, who are working there (wharves), or going there to buy for personal or commercial purposes. The people who unload the boats, transport fish in and around the wharf, and clean and fillet purchases all have less work to occupy their time and hands. This means less, or nothing at all, in their pockets more frequently.

The vendors, who dot our landscape, especially around the capital city, be it in shops or on the street side, have less to sell, are compelled to charge more, since they are paying more. The reasons for the pain and anguish being felt by our fishermen are still unclear. Most prefer not to rush to any premature conclusions as to what is responsible for their troubles, so they wait.

But they are fast running out of patience, which is why they are urging and pressing the Guyana Government to hear their cry, and feel for them, by acting upon their concerns with speed and efficiency. Some honesty and what is trustworthy in the study that they have heard about would be most helpful to the fishermen, who would want to know what is really behind their sudden deteriorating situation. One line of thinking tendered by some fishermen is that since the bustle of oil work started in the vicinity of the fishing areas traditionally plied by them, their problems were noticed. They point to the noise, the movements of oil-related vessels, the accumulated underwater activities, and more than a few believe that those are the cause of their calamity. Indeed, it is a calamity that has compelled these Guyanese to take their lives in their hands, and roll the dice. They venture into fish-rich Brazilian waters, sometimes even enticing Venezuelan spaces, at great danger to themselves. They are violating the laws of neighbours, and with all the punishments that could come if caught. Therefore, the study said to be in motion must be speeded up. It would help if government officials gave them some attention. They are hurting badly.

There must be no picking and choosing the situations for a position to be taken DEAR EDITOR, Though the story is distasteful, the caption is wonderful: “‘It’s the worst anyone can do’ -Human Services Minister slams businessman for trying to justify mistreating daughter” (KN April 11).

I read no more. It was all that I needed. It is what I expect from the Hon. Minister of Human Services and some other kind of protection. Editor, I have some regard for this female minister in the PPP Government.

I still do, though it is lower, and by her own hand, her own inaction. I thought that she was the full package, the real Teresa, Indira, and Golda; the first a mother of magnificence, the other two women leaders of particular caliber.

It is delightfully pleasing to read that caption about a father and daughter, and how when things went wrong, the Hon. Dr. Vindya Persaud,

could have had the courage and personal integrity to say, I deplore the deed and I denounce the dad. It is of a minister that, indeed, is about human services (I am here for the hurting), and a woman whose maternal instincts are stirred to righteous wrath, so that she hastens to provide the widest of social protection (I call out and I condemn).

It is the Vindya Persaud that I had conjured in my mind, and in the fullness of doing her duty, of delivering on her closely held dharma. If I may be so presumptuous as to lecture the Hon. Minister, the nation’s first lady of human services and social protection, I say to her that such wondrous energy, such clean strokes of conviction, must not be piecemeal, should never be paltry, in the roaming application of standards, of class, and this is regardless who is involved, and

when it is absolutely mandatory. The Minister is bright enough and wise enough to know that which I speak of without me mentioning a single word. But, just in the event that she is overcome by a rare moment of memory lapse, I give her a one-word nudge. Parliament. I think it is enough; I leave the rest to her.

However belatedly, she must not fail to address the unaddressed that goes beyond degrading others of the fairer strain.

I think it endangers them, wounds grievously. There comes a time when one’s own character, the sum of convictions, must come to grips with circumstances, as they are, and rise to conquer whatever it is that is not protective of human dignity, what lacks humanity, and all because it is so despicable with its accumulated vile indecencies and

indignities. On such occasions, there are no friends, no brothers and, if I may, no cherished comrades. There must be no picking and choosing the situations for a position to be taken. For sure, it is safe and primly proper to take aim at a businessman, a likely stranger, who hurt himself and another.

But the truer test, the tougher triathlon, what kind of measuring results when it is a neighbour, a fellow with a compulsive fetish, a fellow traveler who lost his way a while, and keeps going down that decayed road. In sum, Minister Persaud disappointed, when she manifested a lack of true grit, when the circumstances in that desecrated house called for nothing, but such personal gravitas.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Building bigger tarmac not the solution for the woes at Leonora Market DEAR EDITOR, The idea of creating a massive tarmac for the Leonora Market is a good idea, but it still does not provide a solution that balances demand and supply.

The current Administration should consider the creation of a second market where there is sufficient demand to support its existence.

Based on personal observations and the comments of the vendors, it is clear that there isn’t sufficient demand to support the large number of vendors inside and outside the Leonora Market.

If we are to pursue a fair solution, then it is only just that the vendors inside the market get the benefit of the development.

They have been paying rent for years, while those outside the market have been

selling without paying rent, thus having a cost advantage, which gives them the ability to undercut the profits of the vendors inside the market.

An equitable solution would be to remove the vendors along the road and create a new market location where they can also benefit from good infrastructure and a source of captive demand.

This will allow both groups to benefit from stronger demand for their products.

Another essential solution has to do with the professional service provided by the police at the market.

The presence of law and order is critical during and after this transition period so as to avoid confrontations from escalating. The police should have been able to prevent unauthorized vendors from establishing a presence outside

the market. This must be a priority at the current Leonora Market after a solution is put in place. If a new market is established, the police should also ensure that unauthorized vendors do not establish a presence.

The government must allow those adhering to the policies of the market to benefit from their investments.

The police have a major role to play in ensuring our markets are safe and free from those who break market policy by illegally selling goods in unauthorized locations. It should also be noted that this is a problem across the country at other established markets. It would be beneficial to have a meeting between the government and the administrators of the various major markets nationwide to establish a national stan-

dard and policy that will ensure our markets are tourist friendly (safe and sanitary), a profitable investment for authorized sellers and has the infrastructure necessary to maintain a high standard that allows for a pleasant shopping and selling experience.

The mayors do also have a role to play, and by making this an ongoing annual process will help ensure that agreed upon solutions are implemented and new opportunities identified to continually improve our markets are discussed.

What the current administration has recently done is a good first step in this direction.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

How will shore base be funded?

DEAR EDITOR, It was reported last week in your paper that Exxon Guyana has contracted to use a shore base being established by private developers at Vreed-en-Hoop.

Exxon Guyana is reportedly financing the project. This is a US$600 million project that is in early stages.

Transparency and accountability are needed in the arrangement after all, public money (Exxon Guyana revenues) will be used to rent the base. What is not known and that should be revealed

to the public is the arrangement for the construction and ownership of the shore base.

The Guyanese public, as owners of Exxon Guyana, should be informed what, if any, is the role of the state in the funding of the project? Is this a similar arrangement in which private players hardly put in funds and in which government agencies provide the bulk of financing and in which private shareholders, cronies of some government officials, hold majority shares?

Is Exxon financing for the

project to be billed to the government of Guyana as an expense? If so, does this not constitute the government of Guyana using Exxon as a conduit to finance a huge project of some US$600M for cronies with taxpayers footing the bill? The bottom line is this: Is Exxon Guyana financing the construction of the base or is it paying up front (hundreds of millions of American dollars) for use of the base as it is being constructed? If both of the above is factual, then Exxon Guyana (taxpayers) is actually

funding the construction of the base with Guyana government revenues (from sale of oil) with ownership actually belonging to private interests, friends of or those closely connected with government officials.

It would mean that private interests invest little or virtually nothing and would own a US$600M project and would also earn rental income (of tens of millions of American dollars annually) from it. State oil revenues would fund a project (Continued on page 5)

Tuesday April 12, 2022

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Kaieteur News

“All is fair in love and war” DEAR EDITOR, Today, 12th of April marks the 77th death anniversary of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who passed away days before the allied victory in Europe on the 8th of May and the surrender of Japan in August 1945, signaling the end of a vicious World War II, which destroyed billions of property in many parts of the world and took several millions of lives.

This murderous war began in 1939 as a typical European conflict and escalated with the entry of a reluctant Unites States of America after the Japanese bombed US Battleships and other facilities at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 killing over 2,400 American Servicemen, described by President Roosevelt as a day of infamy.

Mr. Editor, why note the sudden passing of F.D.R. in 1945, it is because I believe that if there are cordial relationships between persons whether it be the family, the community but in particular Leaders of great nations, then much of the difficulties, wars and hardship would never take place. Thomas Carlyle in his influential lectures of 1840 contended that, “history is no more the biography of prominent personalities.” This is so true unto this day and hence I draw attention to the passing of FDR and my belief that his passing changed the course of history in particular the confused but critical conditions we witness in Europe today.

While in London, I had the opportunity to peruse available records of Meetings among the big-Three (Churchill-UK, RooseveltUSA and Stalin-Russia), and I am of the view that Roosevelt, even as they met at Yalta in February 1945, appreciated the fact that the Russians made the greatest sacrifice in terms of human lives and materials to defeat Germany, and was therefore prepared to offer concessions to Russia, as the Big-Three sought to literally divide the world, in terms of spheres of

influence, control and the realignment of nation states.

The Battle of Stalingrad in 1942 is a good example.

The Germans tried to take Stalingrad in what has been described as the fiercest battle in modern times. There were two million casualties and over eight hundred thousand fatalities in a seven month campaign from August 1942 to February 1943.

Of course, it is now history that by April 1945, Adolph Hitler and his mistress were hiding in a bunker and it is reported that faced with a weakened Germany, Hitler died on 30th April, 1945. It is my view that the cordial and perhaps friendly relationship between Roosevelt and Stalin served as a sort of cushion for the aggressive stance of the British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. I hold the view that Roosevelt’s successor may not have shared that kinship developed between Stalin and Roosevelt. So it was that when the Big-Three met again at Potsdam in late July that Stalin was faced with two

new conferees.

Harris S. Truman was the new President of the United States; Churchill had to pack his bags and return to London when the news came that he and the conservatives had lost the Elections in the UK. He was replaced by the new Labour Prime Minister of the UK, Clement Atlee.

It is not clear whether at that Big-Three Conference in Potsdam, that US President, Harry Truman informed Stalin and Atlee that the Manhattan experiment was a great success and the US had up its sleeve this powerful nuclear weapon we know as the atomic bomb.

On his return to the US, Truman ordered the bombing of Hiroshima on 6th August, a major city in Japan and three days later in spite of the massive and unbelievable destruction of Hiroshima, another atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese City of Nagasaki killing within ninety-six hours over 200,000 thousand - men, women, children and infants, medical and

How will shore base...

From page 4 and hand it over to a few private individuals is this accurate?

Is it not a similar government-private arrangement with the Berbice bridge, Marriott, etc., in which government provided the bulk of the funding for construction and the private sector f r i e n d s o f g o v ernment officials owned the majority shares? Would similar

opportunities be made available to other business groups contemplating transformative projects across the country?

Can the Vice President or the government or Minister of Finance explain the exact structure and nature of the arrangement between Exxon Guyana and the owners of the new shore base that is yet to begin.

Yours truly, Mukesh Narine

other facilities that make up a typical City.

The majority of children were on their way to school when the bomb exploded, sometime after 8’o clock in the morning. The first nuclear weapon to be used on innocent people in human history.

At a church service, which I attended last Sunday at the Guyana Veterans Association, some of us gathered after and discussed war issues and of course, the present conflict in Ukraine.

Many of us listened to reports on the Ukraine issue from the BBC and Western Media. As one who has lived through the struggles here and elsewhere and the recent Int’l Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade on 25 March, 2022, I listen to these stories from CNN and BBC cum grano salis.

I said to my friends at the post-service exercise at the Guyana Legion that Guyanese must be careful and cautious before picking up the cudgel of either side in what is essentially an European Civil War that we are thousands of miles away from and may not fully understand.

Our position ought to be while expressing a grave concern for the loss of life and destruction of property to urge both sides to sit and talk, talk and talk and tell those who seem addicted to war and who have for generations benefitted from a destructive and allconsuming arms race to provide humanitarian aid and facilitate constructive and civilized dialogue and as it now appears to be the case - not

fan flames of fury and fire.

For that reason, I support President Ali’s explanation for Guyana abstaining on the resolution at the UN last week calling for the expulsion of Russia from the Human Rights Council.

A modern media, which has developed all of the Hollywood techniques making it difficult for those of us, the consumers, to differentiate between propaganda and the reality of facts. This generation remembers for example, how we were led to believe that Saddam Hussein, Leader of Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. After his trial and execution, no weapons of mass destruction were ever found.

Of interest, no one is talking about the carnage inflicted on many parts of Africa by the French and other European colonizers holding billions in European Banks, from the Continents’ Natural Resources and today we hear

little while in parts of Africa, notwithstanding the substantial natural resources, there is starvation.

I therefore support the position taken by President Ali on this situation that we should have waited for the results of an independent investigation into these allegations, including reports that Ukranians pushed Africans off vehicles heading for areas of safety. They had to walk.

The challenge for the UN is to identify an investigating team that is truly neutral and not influenced by preconceived notions.

We should also know that everywhere East, West, North or South that nation states with military muscle have tended to employ brute force instead of having the patience to exhaust avenues of diplomacy, discussion and shared decency.

In other words, they all, and I repeat all without (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Poor management of the local government sector DEAR EDITOR I have noticed with great concern the actions of the Ministers of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall and Anand Persaud especially in the context of the treatment being meted out to our Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), Municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

The Ministry is guided by a mission which is to supervise and maintain the legal and regulatory framework of the system of local and regional administration, to encourage and facilitate the development of the regions and local organs and to support the continued integration and development of the hinterland communities.

However, the country has two installed zealot Ministers that are directly interfering with the administrative operations of our RDCs, Municipalities and NDCs. I wish to remind Ministers Dharamlall and Persaud that our constitution is supreme and the elected bodies at the level of RDCs, Municipalities and NDCs are autonomous and independent of political directives. Articles 71 to 78 of our

constitution are pellucid.

I therefore call on the Ministers of Local Government and Regional Development to stop directing Regional Executive Officers (REOs) of RDCs, Town Clerks of Municipalities and Overseers of NDCs on how to execute their functions. The elected Councillors are the authorities in these respective organs and not Ministers of Government. The Councillors were elected by the people for the people.

The deliberate directive to the REOs, Town Clerks and Overseers to not carry out the instructions of the elected councils is a violation of our constitution and will be met with the strictest of resistance if not halted.

Additionally, I call on the Regional Executive Officer of Region 10 to respect the appointment of Mr. Seewchan as the Deputy Regional Executive Officer of the Region and allow him to function as the Programme Manager for Programme One - Regional Administration and Finance.

Yours faithfully, Ganesh Mahipaul, M.P. Shadow Minister of Local Government and Regional Development

Where do we go with this work ethics in society?

DEAR EDITOR, I wish to bring to the attention of the powers that be and the public in general the workings of the Co - op Department and by extension the Chief Co-Op Development Officer (CCDO).

It all started in October 2021 when I presented a letter of allotment for Lot 789 granted to me by the Paradise Multipurpose Coop Society (PMCS). This document was duly presented to the CCDO. This being the first stop, the next was the Ministry of Housing -these are way stationsbefore a certificate of title is issued by the Supreme Court.

When I returned in December to uplift the processed document, the CCDO informed me that she could not “sign or process” the letter because it has six names and that processing such would entitle me to six lots.

It was pointed out to the CCDO that members of PMCS are entitled to one plot per family and the names listed represented one family and there was no mischief amidst.

At this point, the CCDO became irate, calling me arrogant and demanded that I leave her office. On leaving the office, I consulted The Commissioner of Lands and Surveys along with his legal Advisor and Supervisor of Land Registry of the Supreme Court who all state that there is no law or statute that restricts the number of names that could be included on a Certificate of Title. Judging from her tone and demeanour, one wonders how come in this day and age such could be the head of an important Department.

Where do we go with this work ethics in society?

Regards, Clinton Valentine

Tuesday April 12, 2022

Breach of tender process continues in Why are Ministers 7 – PAC finds silent on pornographic Region Regional Executive Officer examination. Physical verifi-

Minister

DEAR EDITOR, Why are female Ministers not protesting and or publicly condemning the alleged remarks, a consistent pattern of abusive behaviour, of the pornographic Minister?

There is no word from anyone from the government commenting on the latest pornographic behaviour of the Minister.

Have Ministers and officials been instructed not to comment on this burning matter in the press or on social media? How come something of such magnitude and importance which has to do with respect and regard or rather disregard and disrespect of our female folks is not addressed especially by the Attorney General, the Vice President, Social Welfare Minister,

and female members of parliament and government.

It would be interesting to know the comfort level of female Ministers and MPs sitting across the table of the pornographic Minister (Mr. Dildo). This is an issue that has to do with rights of young women and children. It must be roundly condemned by all.

If it is that Ministers are restricted from commenting on such a burning issue, one has to wonder how much freedom they really have in executing the mandate of their office.

Isn’t it time that the female Ministers and MPs marched into the office of the VP and resign en bloc in protest as a matter of principle and save face for the nation?

Yours truly, Nirmala Seecharan

Above the law minibuses or mini-gods DEAR EDITOR, I don’t believe I’ve met a single person who hasn’t had an issue with the minibus culture in Guyana.

What thousands of Guyanese have to endure while making their daily commute in these buses is nothing short of abuse and degradation.

And commuters are not the only victims of these crass and lawless minibus drivers and conductors; other road users are left at their mercy. People who don’t want a confrontation or just want to get where they’re going, choose not to avoid these hooligans who use the roadways recklessly with impunity.

I believe anyone who has used our roadways has experienced minibuses racing through red lights, stopping as they please while other drivers are made to wait for them to pick-up or offload

passengers, overtake or undertake to get to the front of the line, blast lewd and vulgar music callously while passengers have to sit quietly lest they be abused and put out of the bus, throw garbage out their windows, urinate in public as passengers wait, drink while driving, speed down busy streets, the list goes on.

This is the public transportation that Guyanese are forced to use, and no serious measures seem to be in place to curb the absolute lawlessness. Guyanese deserve better. A little respect during your daily commute is not a burdensome request, but a basic necessity. The time is long overdue for us to have dignified, dependable, comfortable, and safe public transportation. That surely isn’t too much to ask.

Regards, Darrell Carpenay GUMDAC

No one is invincible DEAR EDITOR, Former Pakistan prime minister was ousted from office by a no-confidence vote, after much shenanigans, (familiar theme), bringing an end to what held hope and promise in the beginning, but which became disillusionment and disgruntlement in the end.

The lessons from the fall

out are there for the learning for all. The inglorious downfall of an icon shows and tells no one is invincible and as you are elected, so can you be unelected.

The world is now watching those who engineered his downfall and will now hold the reins of government.

Regards, Shamshun Mohamed

(REO) of Cuyuni/Mazaruni (Region Seven), Kerwin Ward faced a series of questions as it relates to the tendering process used in the award of contracts for his region. Ward and his team were, however, unable to respond to the queries made by members of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) before whom they appeared on Monday.

The questions surrounded the 2018 award of

cation of the project revealed overpayments totalling $324,000. The contractor was contacted and he promised to repay the amount overpaid.”

When asked about the specific transaction, Ward told the PAC that he and his team were ill- equipped to provide the information.

“I want to know what sort of tender process was used…Was it open tender, was it selective, was it sole

REO of Region Seven, Kerwin Ward and his team at the PAC meeting on Monday. contract for the maintenance of doctors’ accommodation at the Regional Health Office in Bartica, according to the briefing notes contained in the Auditor General’s report. The report outlined that $5.733M was paid to a contractor for the maintenance works.

The report outlined nonetheless that, “As at 31 December, 2018, amounts totalling $5.721M were paid. No details regarding the tendering process and award of this contract were presented for audit

sourced… where is the document to support,” Minister of Public Works and PAC member, Juan Edghill enquired.

“I believe it is at the office … I was not the person in charge when the contract was awarded, I don’t have any information about the tender process,” Ward said.

Edghill then followed up, “So you’re saying, you don’t have details so you can’t help us out here this morning?”

(Continued on page 9)

“All is fair in love...

From page 5 exception, seem addicted to war. It is this that has created so much pain and punishment on the innocent worldwide.

The Korean war took 10M lives, the Vietnam war took millions of lives including American Servicemen who were dispatched to the battlefields in an unwinnable war.

Today, the Red Cross is concentrating in Europe while many thousands are starving elsewhere, when we are spending billions on weapons and arms, instead of materials to produce food.

For me, white lives matter, black lives matter, brown lives matter, all lives matter and we must try to change this culture of believing that war must solve our problems.

I end with this thesis, that everywhere, Africa, Asia, America, Europe, Pacific, Antarctica, we must learn the value of discussion and patience and learn that none of us is ever one hundred percent right nor one hundred percent wrong.

I am reminded of school days, when two bullies squared off, instead of trying to keep them apart, we urged them to fight

and this seems unhappily to be the curse of centuries of human history among tribes, caste and nation states.

I hope that this may not be the case but that every nation subscribes to clear codes of conduct and behaviour, irrespective of their military might. Let there be peace and let that peace begin with each one of us or are we all doomed and condemned to journey through our planet with the sentiments expressed in the poem written by John Lyly which determines that ‘All is fair in love and war.”

I pray and hope that we overcome this curse on humanity and that John Lyly is wrong very wrong. Let us work to fulfill the aspirations outlined which remind us that peace and the absence of conflict will not happen by prayers alone, but as in the Book of Isaiah 2:4, we beat our swords into plowshares.

Let this be our Tribute to the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who passed away on this day and yearned for a peaceful world.

Hamilton Green, Elder

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Tuesday April 12, 2022

Kaieteur News

Why can’t we just get along?

In a country that’s clearly on a robust developmental path, once our wealth is handled with care, it seems quite a tall task for our leaders to get along.

For instance, for years, respective Presidents and Opposition Leaders of this country have been incapable of agreeing on nominees to appoint a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice.

But as proclaimed by the CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders, the time has come for these appointments to be made.

Come on leaders, it is about time that these intelligent and hardworking women at the helm of our judicial system, are appointed so that they can serve this country with pride.

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Tuesday April 12, 2022

LUSCSL Management Committee not installedIMC IMC recognising Govt. --installed

By Vanessa Braithwaite The Linden Utility Services Cooperative Society Limited (LUSCSL) Management Committee, which was recently dissolved by the Ministry of Labour, has rejected a correspondence informing them of this development

and that of the installation of an Interim Management Committee (IMC).

Chairman of the Committee, Charles Sampson said, the IMC is not recognised and the management committee will take legal action towards the ministry for not executing due process in

...plans to take legal action dissolving the board.

The LUSCSL has been in existence for over 60 years.

Staff and members of the committee continue to participate in sit-outs as they await proper engagement

with the Department of Cooperatives.

However, in a correspondence to the Coop, Acting Chief Cooperative Development Officer (CCDO), Debbie Persaud, explained that the move to install an IMC was based on mismanagement, unaccountability and the lack of transparency.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton has revealed that the Management Committee has “broken all of the rules”.

No Annual General Meeting was held since 2014 – despite an existing mandate that it be conducted annually, conflict of interest, no audit and no payment of dividends to members, are some of the reasons that have been listed for the disbanding.

Meanwhile, in an engagement with the members of the Coop last Friday, Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton said that this move is not about accountability and transparency as is claimed by the Ministry of Labour, but about political control.

“This is not about accountability and transparency, but this is about political control; to ensure domination and control. They want to remove the subsidies so that they can do as they like with Linden, to put them under pressure so that they can become more dependent on them,” he claimed.

Some members who turned up to the meeting said they are pleased with the way the management committee is managing the affairs of LUSCSL, despite some limitations. Some expressed their concern that only one member of the management

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton travelled to Linden recently and engaged members of the LUSCSL. committee has been placed on the IMC and alleged that this is because of his political affiliation.

Secretary of the dissolved committee, Ms.

claims was Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, who said the electricity subsidy will not be removed. Government, he revealed currently expends $2.3B and $500M to subsidise electricity for the town of Linden and the Upper-Berbice community of K w a k w a n i respectively. “The most recent of such is his peddling of the lie that the PPP/C Government plans to remove the electricity subsidy from Region 10.

This is totally untrue as the government has no such plans. Jagdeo also revealed Guyanese should therefore not fall prey to Norton’s attempt to mislead and cause panic,” the Vice-President urged.

At his recent outreach to Linden, VP Jagdeo revealed that a 15 megawatt solar farm will be constructed in the mining town to provide reliable power through renewable energy.

The IMC members are Ms. Renee MacDonald, Mr. Winston Caesar, Mr. Hilton Lyle, Ms. Wanda Richmond, Mr. Courtney Handy, Mr. Leon Greaves and Ms. Latoya Walks.

“We ain’t no thief, thief man couldn’t get lights running all the time.”

- Ms. Esme Yangapatty Esme Yangapatty, who worked at the LUSCSL for over 20 years before joining the committee, said the committee is aware of the areas in which it fell short, and revealed that efforts were being made to put the records in order to take to membership. “Somehow we were doing it, even though the cost of electricity hardware and services have been inflated,” said Yangapatty. She said too that the committee has been working together as a team, paying over 50 workers and raising their salaries with a five percent Christmas bonus yearly. “We ain’t no thief, thief man couldn’t get lights running all the time,” she continued.

Countering Norton

Court grants ‘lifetime’ restraining order against alleged abusive businessman Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, on Monday, granted a ‘lifetime’ restraining order against a Kitty businessman to ensure that he keeps 1,000 feet away from a woman who he allegedly assaulted.

The businessman, Daveanand Singh, the owner of Brandz2Go stores was charged on April 1, 2022, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the offences of ‘Inflicting Grievous Bodily

Harm and Threatening Language’. He denied both of the charges and was placed on $400,000 bail.

Singh is being represented by attorney-atlaw Bernard DaSilva and the next hearing of the matter is set for May 6, 2022.

On Monday, the 25-yearold woman was successful in obtaining the restraining order against Singh. It was also ordered that the woman

gets her personal effects.

The woman and the businessman are known to each other and she was the manager for his store.

In an interview with another section of the media, the woman expressed her dissatisfaction with how ranks at the police station had handled the matter.

Those ranks are currently under investigation by the (Continued on page 12)

Tuesday April 12, 2022

18-year-old Lindener dead after motorcycle collision An 18-year-old resident of One Mile Wismar, Linden, is now dead after the motorcycle he was riding crashed into another on Sunday morning.

According to police, the accident occurred about 07:45hrs on the One Mile Public Road, Wismar, Linden.

The dead man has been identified as Odel Taylor. He was riding motorcycle CL 731, when he crashed into motorcycle CF 6477, owned and ridden by 22-year-old David Narine of Lot 7 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden.

Reports suggest that motorcycle CL 731, was speeding north along the western side of the One Mile Public Road while motorcycle CF 6477, was proceeding east out of Pinette Street heading to One Mile Public Road. It is alleged that CF 6477, failed to stop at the junction and rode into the path of CL 731, which collided into the front of CF 6477.

The impact caused Taylor, the rider of motorcycle CL 731, who was not wearing any helmet at the time, to fall on the road surface. His head reportedly hit a concrete culvert causing him to receive injuries. He was picked up by

Dead, Odel Taylor public-spirited citizens and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty who pronounced him dead on arrival.

Narine, the driver of motorcycle CF 6477, had initially fled the scene but on Mon-

day turned himself in to the Mackenzie Police Station with his lawyer. He is currently in custody assisting with investigations. Friends and family members of Taylor described him as an easy going and ambitious young man.

Court grants ‘lifetime’ restraining...

From page 8 Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) for allegedly mishandling the case.

The investigation, this publication understands, will entail how the ranks went about seizing the businessman’s guns.

But, the man has since come forward to publicly justify his actions.

Singh claimed that he is a loving person and that the woman is “own way”.

He stated that on the day he had assaulted her, she had been rude to him and he reacted emotionally.

His family even supported him while he was making his claims.However, CCTV footage of the ordeal showed the woman being kicked around the store, slapped and even placed to sit in a chair and beaten with a belt.

It also showed that the person who was abusing her was armed with his firearm.

It can be seen in the footage that the other persons who were in the store, continued what they were doing while a man briefly stepped in to prevent the woman from being assaulted.

The woman stated during the interview, that she has suffered at the hands of the businessman for years – but the only reason she came forward now is because the most recent assault was

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

A screenshot of the CCTV footage which shows the woman being brutally assaulted. caught on camera.

The interview with the woman has been viewed by many on social media and Minister of Human Services and Social Protection, Vindhya Persaud has since

wrote on her personal Facebook page, “The worst thing anyone can do is to justify abuse, violence and just plain cruelty –no one deserves that no matter what.”

Breach of tender process continues...

From page 6 “No I cannot!” the REO said as his team remained silent.

“It is becoming more obvious why some of these things happened and documents are not available…we are here asking the wrong people,” Edghill added.

As a result, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira then suggested that the team returns to the Region and forwards the necessary documents to the PAC. She asserted that a lot is amiss in the region but without the record, the PAC

could not scrutinise or come to any conclusions about the transactions listed in the audit report.

“There are so many questions I would like answers for.

For instance, the audit record says a contractor signed a contract today and within two days time, he is in receipt of full payment for works that has not been carried out,” observed Teixeira.

She noted too that there are many instances where current Accounting Officers for the various regions have repeatedly complained of missing documentation while others could not remember

the transactions from that period. “It is very unfair to the present officers who have to answer for the tenure of another person.

I would like to have a talk on that issue to consider how we will deal with it internally in the PAC,” Teixeira said.

A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul agreed that such a discussion must take place.

“I fully support and endorse against that backdrop that we speed up the process...,” he said.

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday April 12, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

156 days: Trifecta of anti-Indianness, anti-PPPism and anti-democracy A Member of Parliament telling a woman she needs a dildo; a minister allegedly sextexting a young woman; and a lawyer allegedly abusing a woman with racial invectives are not actions to be glossed over or even condoned. There have been condemnatory voices and pens, particularly from TUS – the usual suspects – but these alleged unpleasant behavioural traits have occurred right in the middle of the second anniversary of the failed five months of election rigging in which many voices that are so vehemently angry at this time were overwhelmingly and deliberately nonexistent during this time in 2020.

It was around this very time, two years ago, that then Chief Election Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield announced that he had set a time limit of 156 days to

complete a recount of the votes cast. This meant that GECOM would need four months to count 440,000 votes. In reality, starting from 7AM using five counting stations, the exercise could finish before Bourda Market closes its gates at 5PM on the same day.

The 156 days farce was just another in the millions of absurdities that characterised the five months of rigging but TUS and the Creole middle class (CMC) didn’t pen a letter with 40 signatures informing the CEO that his time line was not only comical but had embarrassed Guyana in the eyes of the world. If it takes 156 days to count 440,000 votes then it must take a million years to do a recount of the votes in a general election in India.

Now that we are into the anniversary of one of the

most disastrous events to have occurred in the modern history of this country, it is pungently relevant to ask why the three incidents listed above are so excruciatingly painful to society than five months of rigging a general election which, had it succeeded, this country would have collapsed.

Now please don’t get me wrong. I did a column expressing my rejection of the dildo comment. I did a column with my advice to the lawyer that if he did use racially laced vocabulary, he must apologise. I am not on Facebook and I don’t use social media so I will need an extensive description about the sextexting incident. I honestly don’t trust the contents of the letters TUS writes in the newspapers because I know the substance TUS is made of.

Here is another question; why are those three incidents

more germane to the preservation of the social fabric of Guyana than the racially determined postelection mayhem that broke out in Region Five when two powerful leaders of the PNC went down there and incited violence?

I saw a programme in which one panelist said that the PPP government isn’t going to recognise what TUS says because the PPP leadership is unforgiving about their silence during the five months of rigging. I think it is deeper than that.

Here is my analysis.

I believe the PPP leaders do not see the behaviour of TUS and CMC as moment of silence but something psychologically deeper and it is this factor that keeps the angst alive in the PPP leadership. I am postulating the theory that the PPP believes that the reaction of TUS and CMC to the five

m o n t h s o f internecine rigging was the trifecta of anti-Indianness, antiFrederick Kissoon PPPism and antidemocracy. know TUS and CMC It is a complex situation. employed a racially based The PPP will come around in ideology to shape their the next two years to having attitude to the five months of dialogue with the PNC. This widespread fraud. is because PPP leaders do not It is for this reason, it is see Freudian motives of going to take a longer time contempt for Indian people for the hierarchy of the PPP that were behind the rigging to even react to what TUS of the election by the PNC. and CMC have to say about For the PPP, it was five political economy in Guyana months of a gruelling contest much less to talk to members for power between the PPP of TUS and CMC. The and PNC that has dominated question is whether the PPP the political landscape since will ever reach out to them.

1957.

Maybe once the PPP remains There is more a hardened in office, it will not forgive emotional inflexibility from people who saw the election the PPP hierarchy about TUS rigging in ideologically and CMC. PPP leaders racist terms. believe TUS and CMC (The views expressed in supported the rigging and this article are those of the some were comfortable with a u t h o r a n d d o n o t their reticence because of necessarily reflect the cultural ideology. They opinions of this newspaper.)

Environmentalists seeking CARICOM’s intervention on ‘reckless’ pace of oil activities in Guyana

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

T

he “limited capacity” of G u y a n e s e regulatory bodies to exercise oversight of the offshore oil operations, coupled with the “breakneck” pace of seismic surveys taking place in the Guyana basin stands the chance to imperil the entire Caribbean region.

This is according to a group of environmentalists in a recent letter to the Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley.

In the letter seen by Kaieteur News, the group, including Alfred Bhulai, Janette Bulkan, Dennis H e n r y, J e r r y J a i l l a l , Darshanand Khusial, Mike Persaud, Joe Persaud, Ganga

Ramdas and Charles Sugrim told the Prime Minister that her relationship with the current political administration in Guyana has given them hope, thus their writing.

I m p o r t a n t l y, t h e y highlighted that even a small oil spill that occurs in Guyana can ruin the Caribbean Sea and threaten the livelihoods of fishers as well as the tourism industries, in addition the damage to marine life and ecosystems.

To this end, they told Prime Minister Mottley, “We draw to your attention the limited capacity in the Guyanese regulatory bodies to exercise oversight of the

offshore oil industry, which imperils the entire C a r i b b e a n … t h e accompanying breakneck pace of 4D seismic surveys and the velocity of the current and projected oil drilling and pumping are greater than any other exploration and/or extraction that have occurred, hitherto, globally for offshore oil extraction.”

The environmentalists reasoned that scientific studies have established the harms to marine life from the frequent and intense noises caused by deep sea oil production and from the discharge of wastes. It also pointed out that ExxonMobil intends to continue seismic surveys throughout the expected 20-years lifespan of the oil fields.

In this regard, the group asked that Mottley takes the lead in convening CARICOM leaders and experts to assess the scale, intensity and risks posed to the Caribbean region by what they described as the reckless pace of oil exploration and production taking place in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

They said, “We hope that

you will urge the governments of CARICOM to evaluate the scale, intensity and risks posed to the entire Caribbean by the ongoing high velocity oil exploration and production in Guyana’s EEZ. We hope you will assess the deeply inequitable and neo-colonial arrangements between the government of Guyana and petroleum companies, in which the public wealth of Guyana is privatised and negative environmental harms to both Guyana and the Caribbean are socialised.”

Even as specialists worry about the impacts of the offshore oil activities and cite the dangers that may affect marine species, here in Guyana, fishermen have been complaining of facing the brunt of such effects as their fish catch have declined significantly.

Late November last year, this publication spoke with a few fish vendors in the Stabroek Market, Georgetown, who said they believe their fish catches have declined as a result of ExxonMobil’s operations.

They even shared fears that if the worrying trend continues, they may very

well be out of jobs soon. ”Ever since them man start drill we seabed out deh, we catch gone very low. I in this business like since I was a child.

In the earlies, from like 2007 when I start catch fish to like 2016. We used to get an exciting catch. But you see from like 2016 to now; presently, we catch is like going and strain water cause when we go out there, we would just catch back lil gas money and something to feed the family. You can’t presently do nothing for yourself with this fish,” said Stayon Frank.

Even though the Environmental Impact Assessments and other studies conducted by Exxon have specifically stated that the marine sectors are likely t o b e i m p a c t e d , Vi c e President Bharrat Jagdeo said that there was no evidence to support that the oil company’s operations were driving the fish away.

Jagdeo said, “Now there is no scientific view, for example, that the oil and gas industry cause the fish to swim away from Guyana and he (KN Publisher, Glenn Lall) is telling the fishermen that the fish swim away.

Now if we can prove that, that’s great but there’s no scientific view of that.”

The VP implied that it would be irresponsible to attribute the decline in fish catch across the country to ExxonMobil’s operations.

However, when the first six months of 2019, 2020 and 2021 were compared, it was revealed that for the past two years, fish and shrimp production has been declining. This was evident in the recent Bank of Guyana (BoG) Half-Year Report.

According to that report, the fishing industry recorded mixed output performance and this resulted in a smaller reduction of 6.6 percent compared to the 12.1 percent recorded in June 2020. It was also stated that there was a decline in catch of both fish and shrimp by 22.1 percent and 11.8 percent, respectively, due to a reduction in the number of fishing vessels operating.

A table in the report illustrated the fish and shrimp production as follows: fish (tonnes): 2019 – 10,378, 2020 – 9,509 and 2021 – 7,406, and for shrimp (tonnes): 2019 – 10,046, 2020 – 9,259 and 2021 – 8,171.

Tuesday April 12, 2022

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GTT Business Solutions to be champion for businesses in the local market - company collaborates with GCCI to observe national small business week

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, and COO GTT Business Solutions, Orson Ferguson, interact with an exhibitor at the Business Expo.

Businesses in Guyana will now experience greater convenience as GTT Business Solutions aims to be the champion for businesses, offering internet and voice solutions packages with its new conneX plans.

This development was announced via a GTT release.

Unveiled over the weekend by Chief Operations Officer (COO) for GTT Business Solutions, Orson Ferguson, the new conneX 75, conneX150, and conneX 600 plans will see new and existing businesses receiving high-speed internet service with complimentary voice solutions of 3,500, 4,000 and 6,000 free minutes for local on-net calls and international calls to US and Canada.

“Today, we have SMB officers who are responsible for working with small businesses in specific geographic areas, to help them make informed technology decisions. These officers have been working with businesses since July, and have been responsible for delivering solutions for hundreds of small businesses across Guyana. We have Guyana’s number one noncash payment solution, MMG, in our solutions stack for small businesses as well.

With MMG+, small businesses can make and receive payments from anywhere in Guyana,” Ferguson said.

Emphasising on the new

package Ferguson said, “[conneX] will make i n t e r n a t i o n a l communication with stakeholders faster and deliver more value. This solution will also deliver g r e a t e r s i m p l i c i t y.

Simplicity that these businesses need…”

The COO at the event f u r t h e r m a d e a recommitment to existing partnerships with the government and the business fraternity in efforts to promote entrepreneurship nationwide.

Being the feature speaker at the event, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge W a l r o n d s a i d , “Organisations like GTT and GCCI complement the Government’s effort to an enabling climate for small and medium enterprises.”

The Minister also called on GTT and GCCI to continue stewardship and development of s mall business through innovation.

In addition to the internet and voice solutions, Senior Manager SMB, Technical and Cloud Delivery at GTT Business Solutions, Tanya Wilcott, explained that customers who have landline numbers can keep their current numbers when upgrading to the new conneX plans.

“These solutions were crafted especially for you, and this is how we give you the extra pair of hands, and the extra day you need to

Applications open for Hubert...

From page 2 countries, fostering an exchange of knowledge and mutual understanding throughout the world.

All interested applicants should visit the U.S. Embassy website at https://gy.usembassy.gov/educationculture/humphrey-Fellowship-program/ for full programme details and application.

advance your business with ease. These new plans provide the added benefits of more speed to keep you connected to your stakeholders, more minutes to keep you connected to your [international] partners and more value to ensure that you can take advantage of the opportunities that the new economy is presenting,”

Scenes from GTT and GCCI’s Business Expo

CEO GTT, Damian Blackburn and President of GCCI, Timothy Tucker interact with an exhibitor during Business Expo she stated.

Wilcott added, “This is all about you [businesses], and as we keep focused on our customer promises of reliably connecting customers, strengthening o u r c o m m u n i t y, a n d innovating for all in Guyana; we just want you to know that we have listened to your constant feedback. We are also giving you the convenience of a single bill for both landline and internet

services, making paying your bills a whole lot easier!”

Businesses are encouraged to take advantage of the new conneX plans to enjoy the absolute convenience provided by GTT Business Solutions. Application forms can be accessed via https://www.gtt.co.gy/conne Xapplication Additionally, subsequent to the launch of conneX, GTT and the Georgetown

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) collaborated to host a Business Expo which saw over 40 small and medium businesses utilising the opportunity to display their products and services to members of the business community and the public.

This expo was a free opportunity for businesses to gain exposure and meet with the public and members of (Continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday April 12, 2022

Guyana has power to improve 2016 ExxonMobil deal, no provision is off limits - UNDP Report

O

il contracts are not set in stone.

If there are fiscal arrangements that leave a country holding the short end of the proverbial stick, then renegotiation is not an unreasonable expectation.

This is essentially the viewpoint of a report that was facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

That report was written

by Anthony Paul, Principal Consultant of the Association of Caribbean Energy Specialists Ltd. In the document that was handed over since 2016, Paul noted that one of the basic rules of contract renegotiation is that the minute one party opens an agreement up for review; all terms are up for discussion.

It means, therefore, that Guyana during its review of the ExxonMobil oil deal in 2016 was in a position to renegotiate to the state’s benefit, all fiscal terms.

Nothing was off limits.

For future contracts, it was recommended that Guyana puts in place a strategy for renegotiating contracts. Paul said that this must include engaging an experienced negotiator. As with other such advisory services, Paul said that if such a person is taken on, use should be made of her/his presence to train and mentor Guyanese staff from the Ministry and other agencies, involved in contract negotiations.

Paul also said that Guyana’s authorities must get clarity on terms it may want to review while adding that this is regardless of the security of certain terms. He

said that Guyana may want to review terms that relate to the extension of licences, sale of assets, opportunities to capture capital gains taxes, local content and capacity development, procurement rules and strategies, cost recovery limitations, etc.

CHATHAM HOUSE AGREES In an effort to ensure transparency and accountability, Chatham House is another international agency which has advised Guyana to input renegotiation and periodic review clauses in all oil contracts.

Chatham House is a nonprofit, non-governmental o rg a n i s a t i o n b a s e d i n London. Its mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs.

In its 2016 report, Chatham House said that the aforementioned clauses would allow renegotiation when specific triggers are activated. It advised that such a move helps to maximise economic returns to the state.

Additionally, Chatham House advised that Guyana and other emerging producers should design fiscal terms that are aligned with a national vision and ensure clear fiscal priorities.

It said that these must also clearly articulate the fiscal terms that govern upstream petroleum activity.

Chatham House said, “Emerging producers must also develop simple tax structures. Tax obligations should be defined in the tax code rather than in contractual agreements. This

includes provisions for taxing capital gains earned by companies that sell or assign their rights or part of their rights before or during production.”

The London-based organisation said, “New producers seeking capital for exploration should focus on requiring viable work programmes in order to encourage drilling activity.

To a t t r a c t a n d r e t a i n investors, the use of progressive, flexible fiscal formulas and royalties that respond to changes in profitability is particularly recommended.”

It added, “Emerging producers must strive to reduce the knowledge asymmetries they encounter in negotiations with foreign oil companies. For example, governments can engage consultants or technical advisors to evaluate the baseline conditions for the award of acreage. “ To s i m p l i f y negotiations, emerging producers should move as many contract elements as possible into laws and regulations that apply across licences.”

Chatham House said that new circumstances, such as a major discovery being made, or a rise in commodity prices, may prompt many producers to seek to change the terms of their contracts with foreign companies.

It said that similarly, low prices may prompt companies to ask governments for revisions of terms. Chatham House said that Governments should respect existing contracts, and their first remedy, when changes become needed, should be to amend future

licensing.

HELP IS AVAILABLE If the government so desires, it would be able to tap into the expertise of an international group, which helps countries in the successful renegotiation of contracts on a pro bono basis. The group is called the International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP).

Over the past 17 years, with support from law firms, foundations and government agencies, ISLP has mobilised hundreds of experienced lawyers to provide more than $100 million worth of pro bono legal assistance in support of just, accountable and inclusive development in more than 80 countries.

The project was successful in helping Liberia renegotiate its contracts with Arcelor Mittal S.A., a German-based steel manufacturing company and American company Firestone Tire and Rubber.

The group has also helped other countries across the world in the renegotiation of oil contracts.

ISLP is also no stranger to Guyana as it has provided support to the Attorney General’s Office for the review of Guyana’s Cyber Crime Bill and Electronic Transactions Bill.

CALL FOR RENEGOTIATION Local commentators have also expressed concern over the lopsided deal Guyana signed with ExxonMobil, especially when it is compared with the agreement ExxonMobil signed onto with the African country, Ghana.

The glaring disparities

T&T Energy Strategist, Anthony Paul between the two contracts also underscore the need for the Guyana–ExxonMobil contract to be scrutinised by Parliament, critics say.

The Ghanaian contract, for example, has an entire section dedicated to procurement laws, which ExxonMobil must follow at all times. Those provisions are in place to ensure that a

significant number of the local companies are able to benefit from the nation’s oil sector. On the other hand, Guyana’s contract mentions nothing about procurement laws.

G i v e n t h e aforementioned and other factors, locals have been calling for the contract to be renegotiated.

3 patients in COVID-19 ICU, 6 new cases recorded

W

i t h n o COVID-19 fatality recorded for the month, the Ministry of Health in its daily reporting revealed on Monday that three patients are now in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) receiving treatment.

The Ministry in its latest dashboard recorded six new infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases

in the country to 63,332.

Out of the number of confirmed cases, 34,174 individuals are women while 29,158 are men.

The dashboard data further shows that nine persons are in institutional isolation, 97 are in home isolation and 21 are in institutional quarantine.

To date, a total of 61,997 persons have recovered from the virus.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 12, 2022

PAGE 15

Gary guns for Rowley F

ormer police commissioner Gary Griffith is promising his party the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) will bring about a “tsunami” of change.

He claimed Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is already shaking in his boots. “If you listen to Keith Rowley’s comments in his constituency meeting (in Diego Martin last week), he has already conceded, he has already started speaking about amalgamation and

alliances which is definitely not in the cards for me. “I intend to form a political party based on me speaking to thousands of persons from different aspects of the society who said they want an independent political vehicle that can transform the country,” he said in an interview with the Sunday Express last week.

Griffith said the debacle that occurred with the Police Commissioner process is grounds for any Prime Minister to be removed from office. He claimed

Rowley’s focus was on removing him regardless of what the country wanted, and cited successful crime statistics.

“My focus now is to remove him from his very own seat in his constituency where he is not in touch with the people,” he said.

Nothing that the PNM held a meeting in Diego Martin last week, Griffith said: “That is a sign of fear, he is fearful of what is coming. He knows the tsunami of what happened in Tobago (THA election

…to launch National Transformation Alliance and contest PM’s seat

14-1) is going to happen in Trinidad and I intend to lead that battle straight into the belly of the beast and take him on his own battle ground of Diego Martin West and all the other seats in the local government election.”

The country, he said, has been longing for proper governance and leadership. “This is not about Gary Griffith, it’s not a one-man show, this is going to be a powerful team with the best minds that this country can assemble in every

aspect that will work towards the development of Trinidad and Tobago, and if there are other entities that would have the same similar views towards good governance, we would obviously speak with them. But this country will have an independent party that is not going to be used or split votes to get one of the two parties into government,” he said.

He said once all the approvals are given, the party will be launched. ripe for change.

PAGE 16

Tuesday April 12, 2022

Kaieteur News

Local fishing industry in deeper trouble - as Suriname demands catch, reneges on issuing licences TOURS TOURS!Easter weekend trip to Suriname:Apr 14-17th, 2022.Tel:639-2663/673-2348.

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TOURS TOURS!Independence weekend trio to Suriname: May 26th-29th, 2022. Tel: 639-2663/673-2348.

A section of the attendees with government officials during Sunday’s meeting

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G

uyanese fisher men might be heading for even more challenging times as an agreement between Guyana and Suriname to provide 150 licences to local fishermen by the start of this year is yet to materialise.

The issuance of these Suriname Coast (SK) licences would allow Guyanese operators access to that country’s offshore fishing grounds as a means of regularising the operators, who have over the years complained about high costs of acquiring fishing licences through Surinamese middlemen and harassment by fishermen and coast guard operating in the Dutch territory.

Given several factors currently affecting the local industry, fisherfolk were hopeful for positive news when Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and other ministers visited Skeldon, Upper Corentyne on Sunday.

The Vice President told the fishermen that the government was having a hard time securing the Dutch licences since operators in that country were pushing against the arrangement. He said that the issue remained unresolved because there are individuals in Suriname who are benefitting from the current licensing system. Guyanese pay as much as US$3,000 and US$4,000 to use Surinamese fishing licences.

Chairman of the Guyana National Fisherfolk

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Organisation and the Upper Corentyne Fisherman Co-op Society, Parmeshwar Jainarine told reporters that Guyanese are facing even more hurdles as Surinamese authorities are now instructing them to leave their boats in that country if they wanted to maintain their licences.

He disclosed that there are fisherfolk in Suriname who own 25 to 30 fishing licences but they do not have a fishing boat. Those persons, he explained, “take out the licence as a business and sell it to Guyanese.”

However, to prove that the licence was acquired for legitimate reasons, Guyanese must now leave their boats in Suriname so that the licenceholder there could show the boat to the authorities.

Outside of this, Chairman of the Greater Georgetown Fishermen Co-op, Mohamed Khan told Kaieteur News that there are many factors affecting fishermen in Guyana. He said that the licence matter would have been one to ease some of the pressures being felt because neighbouring countries have been tightening security at their fishing grounds.

While fishermen have complained about low catch resulting from oil operations offshore Guyana, Khan said that a fish study would confirm this.

He noted, however, that the fishing ground for Guyana has reduced.

“So if they used to go here in Suriname and fish and here in Venezuela to fish, they can no longer do that,” Khan explained.

Meanwhile, where the Surinamese licence is concerned, Khan said not only are Guyanese being told to keep their boats in Suriname, but they are also being told to reduce their boat sizes and to sell their catch in Suriname.

An influx of fish to the Suriname’s market, he said, would mean less money in Guyanese pockets since they would have to sell their catch cheap.

Minister Mustapha has told the fishermen, however, that, “Many don’t want to see the issue resolved because they are benefitting from it, so they are fighting to prevent the issue from being solved and so that is the problem, we don’t control it.”

He, nevertheless, assured

that the government is working to resolve the licence matter.

Fisherfolk here were asked to provide all their fishing related complaints which will be reported to the Foreign Affairs Minister there.

Mustapha said, “We (government) are trying our utmost, I have been talking to the fisherfolk, especially No.66, on a regular basis.

They have been sending messages that they are being harassed, that their boats now have to go to Suriname to be inspected for licences.

The Corentyne River fishermen are saying that they want them now to reduce the size of the boat to fish in the Corentyne River, all these issues I raised with our partner and when we raise these issues, they are making commitments that they will deal with and look into it and try to resolve it.”

Khan, who is Chairman of the Guyana Fisheries Limited, said that he is part of a team working with the Fisheries Department of the Agriculture Ministry to create policies that would improve the conditions under which fisherfolk currently operate in Guyana.

GTT Business Solutions to be...

From page 13 the private sector. These businesses will also be given three free months of conneX to kick start their improved connectivity.

GTT Business Solutions and the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) have partnered to celebrate a weeklong series of events in observance of National Small

Business Week from April 815, 2022.

About GTT Business Solutions GTT Business Solution is a Division of GTT, the largest provider of ICT services in Guyana, providing a suite of 21st century products and services to its over three hundred thousand subscriber base. The company’s promise to the

Community, to the Customer and the entire Country is to strengthen, reliably connect and innovate for all.

The ICT giant is committed to the mission of pivoting the company to become a 21st century customer centric organisation in order to improve life experience to every home and business by 2025.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 12, 2022

PAGE 17

4 companies bid to repair marine vessels for Maritime Dept.

The Ministry of Public Wo r k s , M a r i t i m e Administration Department (MARAD) has recently put out a tender for the docking and rehabilitation of four marine vessels for an estimated cost of $221 million.

The vessels that the department is planning to repair are the M. L. David P

for an estimated cost of $19.5 million, M. L. Thompson for $24 million, Barge Seamang for $149 million and Spilt barge for $49 million.

During the recent opening of bids last Wednesday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board ( N P TA B ) o ff i c e , f o u r

companies applied to carry out the repairs on the vessels.

The companies are Dock Yard, the Guyana National Industries, Builders Supplies, and Gopie Investments Inc. Kaieteur News had previously reported that the Auditor General’s 2020 report had flagged a contract signed by the MARAD in

2019, where a contractor was paid the full contract sum in advance for the rehabilitation and docking of a vessel, while there was no proof of the status of the works. The contract was to rehabilitate the M. L. David P vessel which is again slated for repairs this year.

It was reported that a $12.9 million contract was

signed on November 27, 2019 to repair the vessel. The AG at the time of reporting, in September 2021, stated t h a t n o p r o p e r documentation was provided to them for the works on this project despite the contractor being paid the entire contract sum before the end of 2019.

As a result, the AG noted that this is a clear breach of the

payment schedule of the contract.

Meanwhile, also opened last week was a contract to re-construct the St. Gabriel’s Primary School. This project, according to the Ministry of Education, is estimated to cost $63 million.

Below are the companies and their bids:

Ministry of Public Works - Maritime Administration Department Docking and rehabilitation of vessels, Lot 1: M. L. David P, Lot 2: M. L. Thompson, Lot 3: Barge Seamang and Lot 4: Spilt barge.

Ministry of Home Affairs Procurement of minibus ambulance, office equipment and furniture for the Guyana Fire Service.

Design, supply, installation and commissioning of solar photovoltaic systems at Aishalton and Karasabai Learning Channel facilities.

Construction of beacons wooden-small with steel top structure.

Supply, delivery, installation and testing of tools and equipment at the Essequibo Technical Institute.

Supply, delivery, installation and testing of tools and equipment at the Leonora Technical Vocational Training Centre.

Procurement of heavy-duty vehicles for Lots 1 to 3.

Electrical upgrade and minor civil works - UG Turkeyen.

Ministry of Education Re-construction of St. Gabriel's Nursery School.

GSEIP- Electrical works- The completion of electrical works at the Good Hope Secondary School.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 12, 2022

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 12, 2022

PAGE 19

Time to appoint Chancellor, Chief Justice - CCJ President President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Adrian Saunders has decried the lack of substantive appointments for the post of Chancellor and Chief Justice (CJ) of the Judiciary in Guyana, stating empathically that it is time to appoint permanent holders of the office.

The call for immediate appointment of the Chancellor and CJ follows days after President of the Bar Association of Guyana, Pauline Chase and Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, SC, spoke of the impact the nonappointments have had on the state of governance.

Both Chase and Nandlall called for the formula used to appoint the officers to be reviewed and changed. For the past 17 years, the two top judicial posts were only held by persons acting in those capacities.

Chase called the absence of substantive office holders an “embarrassing state of a ff a i r s ” t h a t m u s t b e corrected swiftly while the AG noted that the legal formula, which requires the agreement between the President and Opposition Leader for the nominees to be appointed, has resulted in deadlock.

“This has long been my position, to amend it; reason being is that ever since this formula was put into the constitution, a President has never been able to secure the agreement of the Opposition Leader on the matter. As a result, since 2005, we have not had the substantive appointment of neither a Chancellor nor Chief Justice which is a real sad state of affairs,” Nandlall said last week during an airing of his Facebook commentary.

During his address at the Bar Association of Guyana’s dinner held at the Kingston, Georgetown, Marriott Hotel o n S a t u r d a y, J u s t i c e Saunders noted that while Guyana’s legal and judicial landscape has seen some transformations in its favour over the past decade, the absence of permanent appointees to fill the top position remains the “one significant blot,” on an otherwise impressive justice system.

“For the country to have not appointed a Chancellor for 17 long years is very

disappointing; likewise, to be without an appointed Chief Justice for several years,” Justice Saunders said.

As the President of Guyana’s final Court of Appeal, Justice Saunders added, “I believe I have a right and a duty publicly to express the view that Guyana should not let this year pass and not remedy this regrettable situation.”

In the meantime, Justice Saunders noted that over the years, the CCJ has observed as Guyana’s justice system became dynamic, responsive and innovative in just a few short years.

“It is currently ably led, for a few years now, by two forward looking and progressive judges in the persons of the Acting Chancellor and the Acting Chief Justice. The length of time the cases that reach us have been in the system has grown considerably shorter.

So far as I can tell, the judgments are being delivered in a far more timely fashion,” he said.

Further lauding the efforts of the acting C h a n c e l l o r , Yo n e t t e Cumming-Edwards, and Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George-Wiltshire, the CCJ President noted that the Guyana judiciary has for the first time, implemented a sexual offences court.

Saunders declared, “You have a sexual offences court… Many cases are disposed of via mediation as they should be…You also have or will soon have juvenile and drug treatment courts; not long ago new civil procedure rules were introduced under Acting Chancellor Carl Singh; and you have embraced the marriage of modern information and communication technology to case management.”

He continued, “It is a fact that over the last 10 or so years, we have been witnessing a series of steady reforms in the administration of justice of this country. The trajectory is certainly trending in an excellent direction. These reforms have benefited from increased allocations of funds from the State.”

The CCJ President noted, nonetheless, that the judiciary did not accomplish the objectives alone.

“The judicial reform initiatives,” he stressed, “have received substantial assistance from various donors and other agencies including UNICEF, the British High Commission, the NCSC of the United States, the Canadian funded JURIST project and of course the CCJ.” “And I can promise you, Madame Chancellor that as long as you and your team maintain that progressive and proactive approach to judicial reform, donor funds and ready assistance will continue to come your way,” Saunders said.

President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Adrian Saunders

Chancellor (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edward

Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George-Wiltshire

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 12, 2022

Tuesday April 12, 2022

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Star Party Rental, GISE, Trophy Stall 1st Division cricket

Forrester hits ton, Johnson, Barnwell score 50s, Sankar, Johnson & Dick grab 5 wkt-hauls as GCC, DCC win

By Sean Devers Winton Forrester’s 176 and Leon Johnson’s fine allround performance spearheaded GCC to victory over Malteenoes, while a fifty from the consistent Chris Barnwell and a seven-wicket match haul from Steven Sankar led DCC to a win over Police despite an eight-wicket match haul from Dwayne Dick in the latest round of the GCA’s twoday Star Party Rental, GISE, Trophy Stall’s First Division cricket competition for teams in the City.

At DCC, the host declared just before Lunch on the final at 302-4 from 55.5 overs with

overnight batter Forrester hitting 25 fours and two sixes in an entertaining 176 from 165 balls before he was removed

by Daniel Ross.

Forrester and Persaud who played the supporting role in the 166-run opening partnership with a patient 25 from 75 balls with a single boundary before the partnership was broken by off-spinner Nichosie Barker.

West Indies U-16 batsman Mavindra Dindyal was run out for 12 before Guyana Captain Johnson contributed a 47ball 65 with 10 fours and a six before he provided Ross with his second wicket.

Johnson returned with the ball to take 5-31 with his leg-spin, while Forrester and Persaud supported with two wickets each as MSC were dismissed for 74 with former Guyana opener Shemroy Barrington 26 with a four and three sixes, while only Scott (10) and Collis Rumple (11) of the other batters getting into double figures.

Earlier, on day one, GCC, led by 33 from Ricardo AliMohammed and Forrester (30) fell for 129 with Barker (446), Dequan Murray (3-30) and Delon Dalrymple (2-29) being the wicket-takers from MSC who fell for 126 with

Barker getting 38 and Jerimiah Scott making 32.

At the end of the first day GCC were 54-0 with Forrester on 41 and Navindra Persaud on 11.

At the Police ground at Eve Leary, Police were bundled out for 77 as only Adams (14) and pacer Ronsford Beaton (16) getting into double figures as Sanker had 3-19 for seven wickets in the match.

Medium pacer Barnwell and left-arm spinner Raj Nanan had two wickets each for DCC who struggled to 556 before eventually winning by four wickets despite Dick’s 5-35 to follow up his three wickets in the first innings.

Earlier on day one, the

South Africa...

Tuesday April 12 , 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You could be overwhelmed with information today, Aries, as you receive more phone calls and email messages than you can possibly answer.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Your mind is like a sponge today, Taurus, eager to absorb all sorts of information.

Take care that the information you're absorbing is accurate.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) If you aren't careful, there's a strong possibility that you'll overindulge today, Gemini. Your career frustrations may manifest in the form of overeating, excess drinking, or reckless spending.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You should make an effort to be patient and tolerant, especially at the office, even though you might not feel like it, Libra.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This could be a day of inner turmoil, Scorpio. You'll rethink some of your fundamental values, unsure if they're still relevant to your life.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You need to pull yourself up by the bootstraps, Sagittarius. Why not take a few steps back and try to look at your life more objectively? Regardless of what you might be thinking at the moment.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You're too hard on yourself, Cancer. If things haven't gone exactly as planned over the last few days, there's no sense in berating yourself over it.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A particularly tricky situation could occur at work. If you aren't careful, you could lose your cool. Make a concerted effort to keep your wits about you, Capricorn.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You're especially intuitive today, Leo. If this is a fairly new occurrence for you, you could be at a loss as to how to make the most of this gift.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Boy, your life seems seriously out of balance, doesn't it, Aquarius? Today provides an opportunity to rethink what is truly important.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today's planetary aspects indicate that this is likely to be a day of excess, Virgo, some of it good, some of it not so good. Take care not to overindulge in food and drink.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You like to feel needed, Pisces, but today you might throw up your hands and say, "Enough!" You've given so much of yourself for so long that friends and loved ones

From page 22 Rahim went on a big drive against Maharaj and was smartly caught at slip by Elgar for one.

Mominul did not add to his overnight score of five, top-edging an attempted sweep to midwicket.

Yasir Ali slogged the fourth ball he received from Harmer to deep midwicket and Bangladesh were 44 for six, having lost three wickets for 17 runs in 29 balls since the start of play.

Liton Das batted brightly, scoring 27 and sharing a stand of 25 with Mehidy Hasan before leaping down the wicket against Maharaj to be stumped by Kyle Verreynne.

The last three wickets fell in the space of seven balls.

Scores: South Africa 453 (Maharaj 84, Elgar 70, Taijul 6-135) and 176 for 6 dec (Erwee 41, Verreynne 39*, Taijul 3-67) beat Bangladesh 217 (Mushfiqur 51, Mulder 3-25, Harmer 3-39) and 80 (Litton 27, Maharaj 7-40, Harmer 3-34) by 332 runs.

Winston Forrester scored a big ton for GCC against MSC. Cops were led by Dwayne Dick (46), the consistent Kevin Christian (41), Andrew Lyght Jr (23) and Pernell London (21) all getting starts with none of them going on to get a half-century.

Sankar (4-70), Carlton Jacques (2-22) and Pacer Trevon Garraway (2-14) bowled well for DCC who made 193 with Barnwell following up scores of 176 and 175 with 56 from 72 balls with three fours and two sixes in his last three ‘Red ball’ games to stake a strong claim for a FirstClass place since the Harpy Eagles’ top order is struggling.

The 35-year-old Barnwell got support from Tevin Imlach (31), Peter Perez (23) and Harpy Eagles’ stand by Trevon Griffith who made 21.

National left-arm spinner Anthony Adams (4-48), Dick (3-54) and London (2-31) were the main wicket-takers.

PAGE 22

Prashad Storms to victory in Saturday’s Trophy Stall Golf Classic In a somewhat predictable fashion, Captain Patrick Prashad finished two shots clear of the second and third place golfers in Saturday’s Trophy Stall golf classic played at the historic Lusignan Golf Club.

Prashad’s handling of the very fast greens is legendary at the LGC. His ability to play a classic bump and run shot is what separated him and made him the favorite going in. He did not disappoint as he played smart golf, leaving his layup shots in the right positions to attract the hole.

Prashad was the only golfer in the field to finish at level par-70. The course got the better of everyone else who all went over their course handicaps.

The Winners Row: 1st: Patrick Prashad, HC 10 gross 80, Net 70 2nd: Satrohan Tiwari, HC 12 gross 84, Net 72 3rd: Guillermo Escarraga, HC 20 gross 92, Net 72 4th: Kassim Khan; HC 5 gross 78, Net 73 5th: Miguel Oviedo; HC 19

South Africa spinners wrap up crushing win over Bangladesh

Patrick Prashad (R) accepts his prize from LGC Secretary Chet Bowling.

gross 92, Net 73 Consolation Prizes handed out to: Mike Gayadin; best Net front-9 Mahesh Shivraj; best Net back-9 Rohan Alber won Longest Drive Permanand (Max) Persaud won Nearest to the flag.

The trophy presentation was one of praise to the Captain for his stellar performance

on a challenging day along with several thank you’s to a leading sponsor, Trophy Stall - the leading seller of a massive variety of trophies and sporting memorabilia in Guyana. And more recently this reliable brand that is a household name in Guyana has opened a new store in the borough of Queens New York.

Trophy Stall hosted this first of two golf tournaments as a celebration of this milestone.

Bencic tops Jabeur for Charleston Open title AP - CHARLESTON, S.C. – Belinda Bencic won three of the last four games to outlast Ons Jabeur 6-1, 5-7, 64 and win the Charleston Open for her first clay-court championship.

Bencic won her sixth career WTA title and first since the Tokyo Olympic.

Bencic lost her opening match in Indian Wells last month and wasn’t sure what direction she was headed.

Things began to turn in Miami where she reached the semifinals before losing and she built on that positive momentum in Charleston.

“I feel like it is the tournament that you breakthrough and then it goes the right way,” she said. “So I’m happy about it.”

Bencic, of Switzerland, reached the semifinals here in her first visit in 2014 and hadn’t advanced that far until this year. She earned $158,000 for winning the season’s opening clay-court tournament. “It’s so cozy here,” Bencic told the crowd at the trophy presentation.

“You always make this such a family event.”

Bencic, seeded 10th, looked like she’d have an easy time with Jabeur, from Tuni-

Tuesday April 12, 2022

Kaieteur News

sia, who she broke twice on the way to taking the opening set.

But Jabeur, the fourth seed ranked 10th in the world, cut down on the unforced errors and drew on the energy of the crowd, who applauded almost every move the dynamic 27-year-old made much of the week.

Jabeur held serve at 5-all in the second set before ripping a forehand to break Bencic and tie the match.

Jabeur got down on one keep and pumped her fist in celebration heading to the deciding set.

But it was Bencic who regained her form to open a 3-1 lead. Jabeur had one last rally, squaring the set at three-all with her final break of Bencic’s serve. That’s when Bencic’s smooth ground strokes and near-perfect placement wore down Jabeur.

Bencic took control for good after Jabeur sent a shot long to go up 4-3. Bencic won the final game at love, dropping to her knees and covering her face in celebration after Jabeur’s forehand sailed over the baseline. The two shared a long hug at the net after the match. Bencic moved to 2-0 against Jabeur, both of the

wins coming on clay.

Despite the loss, Jabeur had another successful run on the green clay at Charleston. She reached the semifinals of this event a year ago, then made the finals of a companion tournament here a week later.

Jabeur wasn’t thinking about the big picture. She broke out in tears at the trophy ceremony and in media interviews. This was her fifth WTA final with the only win coming in Birmingham, England last year.

“Too many emotions today,” Jabeur said. “But hopefully, I can get past this. It’s a very tough loss, I think one of the toughest of my career.

But I’ll keep going, you know.” The tournament, first played in 1973 on Hilton Head Island, celebrated its 50th year. It was the first women’s only pro tournament in the United States. It moved to its current location in 2001 and was rebranded the Credit One Charleston Open this year.

“Thank you for your support of women’s tennis,” Bencic said. Bencic, at 25, feels more consistent and confident with her game.

Where it takes her next, she’s excited to find out.

The South Africa players pose with their trophies after beating Bangladesh 2-0 in the Test series. (AFP/Getty Images) AFP - South African captain Dean Elgar hailed the performance of a belowstrength team after they completed a crushing 332-run win on the fourth day of the second Test against Bangladesh at St George’s Park yesterday.

Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque, meanwhile, bemoaned the failure of his players to perform with both bat and ball.

Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer bowled South Africa to victory for the second week in a row.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 80, losing their remaining seven wickets inside an hour.

Left-arm spinner Maharaj took seven for 40 and off-spinner Harmer claimed three for 34.

It was the second successive match in which the two spinners bowled unchanged through the fourth innings. It

was also Maharaj’s second seven-wicket haul in successive matches after he took seven for 32 in South Africa’s 220-run win in the first Test in Durban.

Maharaj, who top-scored with 84 in South Africa’s first innings, was named player of the match and player of the series.

South Africa shrugged off the loss of five leading players, including their full firstchoice fast bowling line-up, to the Indian Premier League.

“People say were playing the series with a weakened squad but I don’t see it as that,” Elgar said at the postmatch presentation.

“I see that as giving guys opportunities at this level, testing their skills and seeing where they are as an international cricketer.”

Elgar praised Maharaj and Harmer, who took advantage of spin-friendly conditions in

South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj took nine wickets in the match and made 84 with the bat. (AFP/Marco Longari)

both Tests.

“What a combination that is,” he said. “It’s great to see two guys experienced in their careers going about their business at the highest level.”

Elgar said the performance of some of the younger players was a highlight of the series. “They are putting their hands up and putting pressure on the guys who aren’t here,” he said.

- ‘Massive statement’ Speaking later at a press conference, Elgar said South Africa had enjoyed a successful summer with five wins in seven Tests but he was mindful that major challenges lay ahead with away series against England and Australia coming up.

He said the IPL players were not guaranteed their places. “I think the guys who have played right now have made a massive statement.”

Mominul said Bangladesh had failed to perform as a team. “When we play well, we play as a team.

We didn’t make any partnerships with the batting and the bowling.”

He said the bowlers were guilty of bowling on both sides of the wicket while the batsmen needed to apply themselves more.

Three wickets fell in the first half hour in what for Bangladesh was a depressingly similar pattern to the first Test in Durban when they were bowled out for 53 after starting the last day on 11 for three.Resuming in a nearhopeless position at 27 for three after being set 413 to win, Bangladesh lost their fourth wicket just eight balls into the day’s play.Mushfiqur (Continued on page 21)

Tuesday April 12, 2022

NBA roundup: Klay Thompson scores season-high 41 in Warriors’ win Reuters - Klay Thompson scored a season-high 41 points and led a 3-point shooting barrage as the visiting Golden State Warriors defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 128-107 in the regular-season finale for both teams Sunday night.

Thompson, playing in just his 32nd game after returning from Achilles surgery, scored more than 30 points for the fourth time in his last six games and topped his previous high of 38 points. He made 7 of 14 3-pointers as the Warriors (53-29) made 19 of 33 from beyond the arc.

Golden State won its fifth consecutive game and clinched the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Warriors will face sixth-seeded Denver in the first round.

The Pelicans (36-46), locked into ninth-place and a play-in home game against San Antonio on Wednesday night, held out Brandon Ingram (hamstring), Jonas Valanciunas (ankle), Herbert Jones Jr. (tibia contusion) and Devonte’ Graham (knee). Naji Marshall scored 19 points, Gary Clark had 17, Trey Murphy III 15, Jose Alvarado 12 and Jared Harper 10 for the Pelicans.

Cavaliers 133, Bucks 115 Kevin Love came off the bench to score a game-high 32 points and pull down 10 rebounds as Cleveland beat visiting Milwaukee in the regular-season finale.

The No. 8 Cavs will travel to No. 7 Brooklyn on Tuesday for an Eastern Conference play-in game.

Milwaukee (51-31) finished third in the East after the second-place Boston Celtics beat the Memphis Grizzlies 139-110 on Sunday night.

Lauri Markkanen fired in 23 points for the Cavs (44-38),

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jared Harper while Rookie of the Year candidate Evan Mobley contributed 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.

Sandro Mamukelashvili paced Milwaukee with 28 points, 13 rebounds and four assists, Thanasis Antetokounmpo had a careerhigh 27 points and Jordan Nwora added 24.

Nets 134, Pacers 126 Kyrie Irving scored 35 points as Brooklyn clinched the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with a victory over skidding Indiana in New York.

Irving was 15 of 20 from the floor in his sixth home game of the season as the Nets shot 64.2 percent and ended the regular season with a four-game winning streak.

Kevin Durant posted a tripledouble of 20 points, a careerhigh 16 assists and 10 rebounds despite 5-for-17 shooting.

Oshae Brissett scored 28 points and Buddy Hield added 21 as Indiana ended the season on a 10-game losing streak. It was the Pacers’ worst season since finishing 28-54 in 1988-89 — Reggie Miller’s second season.

Kings 116, Suns 109

Davion Mitchell posted 18 points and 15 assists, Justin Holiday, Donte DiVincenzo and Damian Jones each scored 19 points, and visiting Sacramento closed its season by beating NBA-leading Phoenix.

Sacramento led throughout, pouncing on a shorthanded Phoenix lineup that was missing four starters and building a lead of as many as 19 points. The Kings shot a red-hot 14-of-26 from 3-point range.

The only Suns starter to appear in the game was Mikal Bridges, and he played fewer than six minutes in completing a regular season with 82 starts. Landry Shamet led Phoenix with a season-high 27 points, including 5-of-12 from 3-point range.

In other results: Magic 125, Heat 111 Knicks 105, Raptors 94 76ers 118, Pistons 106 Celtics 139, Grizzlies 110 Bulls 124, Timberwolves 120 Mavericks 130, Spurs 120 Jazz 111, Trail Blazers 80 Clippers 138, Thunder 88 Lakers 146, Nuggets 141 (OT) (Field Level Media)

SportsMax partners with free-to-air...

From page 24 track and on the field will be seen live on CNC3 in Trinidad, CBC in Barbados, CVM TV in Jamaica and Winners TV in St Lucia.

SportsMax CEO, Nicolas Matthews has also assured that viewers are in for a unique experience.

“SportsMax will bring its world-class expertise and team to deliver the highest level of production, bringing quality to viewers across the world like never seen before for CARIFTA. Our team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals will ensure viewers get the best seat in the house. As the Caribbean’s leading broad-

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

caster, we will showcase athletes on screen from across the region as they compete to see who is the Caribbean’s best.”

Matthews said the broadcast will be of the highest standard that will include elements that are sure to enhance the viewing experience.

“As the Home of Champions, we plan to give our audience the best viewing experience as never seen before for CARIFTA. We have prepared features highlighting athletes from the many competing countries. You can expect to view over 20 hours of live coverage with daily highlight packages. Our world-class production comes with our

first-class commentary team including world-renowned Lance Whittaker, Ricardo Chambers and other expert analysts from around the region.”

“There will be interviews with past CARIFTA athletes, now greats, and other special guests.” In addition to the live broadcast on SportsMax and the SportsMax app, viewers can find clips of the action on the SportsMax YouTube channel.

“We look forward to a great competition and SportsMax will ensure a true track and field broadcast, where CARIFTA gets the quality attention it deserves,” Matthews concluded.

DeSinco National Junior Chess Qualifiers…

Ethan Lee, Rajiv Lee, Ricardo Narine command the top

Ethan Lee, Rajiv Lee, Ricardo Narine command the top Day two of the four-day National Junior Chess Championship Qualifiers, sponsored by Beep Products and DeSinco Ltd., ended with Ethan Lee, Rajiv Lee and Ricardo Narine taking the top three spots as they work to ensure their places in the National Junior Championship.

All three remain unbeaten for the first four games of the tournament. Ethan Lee faced off against Kyle Couchman in an exhausting 4 hour struggle for dominance in the final round. Solid play from both players led to an opportunistic position for both sides, yet Lee squeezed a tiny advantage from Couchman as the endgame begun.

That tiny advantage led the way through a tough and grueling endgame that took the remaining 2 hours. Both players’ time had elapsed and were now playing on the 30 second per move increment.

Couchman held defiantly attempting to escape with a draw, but Lee converted the position to a win with seconds on both players’ clocks.

Ethan racked up his other wins against Landon Mohabir, Kishan Puran and Tejasvarun Kandavel in the first three rounds.

Ricardo Narine was paired against his former school mate, Queen’s College’s

Raveon Adonis in round 4.

Explosive positions filled with tactics erupted from the very beginning, as the two players fought for an edge against the other.

Interesting play from both sides led to even more interesting positions, as one mistake would spell disaster for the player. Alas and Adonis succumbed to the complexity of the position at its peak, allowing Narine to finish the game victoriously with cruel efficiency.

Ricardo Narine won his other points against Javier Davenand, Morven Barran and Anasie Fredericks.

Rajiv Lee and Jessica Callender took a different approach than the other players in round 4, as the positional dance for dominance began right after the opening. This game was not won with brute calculation and prediction, but with experienced precision.

The two traded into an endgame where Lee simply had a better position than Callender, whilst being up no material. Callender held valiantly, but the dance ended with Lee winning enough material because of his position to claim victory. Additionally, Rajiv defeated Jacob McDonald, Udhyam Lekhraj and Justin Goberdhan.

Pooja Lam and Sasha Shariff, also unbeaten for the first four games, would be right up there with the boys, except that the fourth game saw them matched against each other, which ended in a draw. They each amassed 3.5 points.

Rounds 5 and 6 take place today at the Guyana National Stadium Providence. Board one features a highly anticipated game between Ethan Lee and Rajiv Lee, these two veterans of national and international events are sure to put on quite a show.

Almost 70 junior chess players are competing in the DeSinco sponsored tournament from across five regions.

Heading into the last few games of the tournament, with so many strong players still to take their shot at the top boards, it’s impossible to guess which 10 players will be facing off for the National title next weekend.

The final round will be played today, April 12th at 9:30 hours and an award ceremony will be held at the playing venue at 13:00 hours.

Boards 1 to 6 will be continued to stream live on guyanachess.org and youtube commencing at 9:30 hours and at 14:00 hours each day.

Opelka beats Isner in Houston for first clay title AP - HOUSTON – Reilly Opelka beat fellow American John Isner 6-3, 7-6 (7) to win the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in the tallest matchup in an ATP Tour final.

The 6-foot-11 Opelka won his fourth tour title and first on clay. He improved to 5-1 against the 6-10 Isner.

The 24-year-old Opelka, seeded third has won all his titles in the United States, taking the first in 2019

Reilly Opelka in an indoor event in New York and following at Delray Beach in 2020 and Dallas this year.

The 36-year-old Isner, seeded fourth, won in Houston in 2013. He has 16 ATP Tour titles.

PAGE 24

Tuesday April 12, 2022

Kaieteur News

Williamson, Pooran help Sunrisers hand Titans their first defeat Kane Williamson and Abhishek Sharma put on a 64-run stand •Apr 10, 2022•BCCI

ESPNcricinfo - After starting the season with successive defeats, Sunrisers Hyderabad have turned it around with back-to-back victories. Two days after swamping Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers’ attack turned up once again, this time to consign Gujarat Titans to their first loss. It was T Natarajan, who led the way for Sunrisers, first striking in the powerplay and then regularly pinging the blockhole in the death, to limit Titans to 162 for 7, despite Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten half-century.

Titans would’ve ended with fewer runs if not for 20 wides, ten of which came in the first over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Titans’ total, however, looked bigger when Kane Williamson struggled to get out of first gear in the chase, and when Rahul Tripathi retired hurt on 17 off 11 balls due to cramps. Williamson ultimately hit a higher gear, against his New Zealand team-mate Lockie Ferguson, and notched up a 42-ball fifty.

Williamson holed out for 57 off 46 balls, with Sunrisers needing 34 off 23 balls, but Nicholas Pooran closed out the game with a flurry of boundaries along with Aiden Markram.

SRH’s seamers make early inroads After leaking 17 runs in an

uncharacteristic opening over, Bhuvneshwar tightened up in his second, having Shubman Gill caught at short cover, where Tripathi pulled off a blinding one-handed catch. B Sai Sudharshan, who impressed with 35 on debut, against Punjab Kings, made another solid start, but Natarajan cut his innings short at 11 in the sixth over, when he found sharp extra bounce.

Matthew Wade laboured to a run-ball 19 before Umran Malik rushed him for pace and pinned him lbw. In four innings so far, Wade has managed 56 runs at an overall strike-rate of less than 100.

Pandya’s slowdown Pandya dashed out of the blocks, with a second-ball four, off Natarajan. Malik then pinged Pandya on the grille of his helmet with a searing lifter, but Pandya immediately shook it off with back-to-back fours, the first being an eyecatching high-elbowed drive through extra-cover. And when Pandya launched Markram over midwicket, he brought up his 100th six in the IPL. After zipping away to 22 off 14 balls, Pandya slowed down, managing only 28 off his last 28 balls. The variations of Natarajan and the accuracy of Washington Sundar, who bowled only three overs, in particular, shut down Pandya. Abhinav rides

his luck Once he walked in, Abhinav Manohar threw his bat at the ball and carved a pair of fours off Malik - both off the outside edge. He then top-edged Bhuvneshwar for four and similarly miscued Natarajan to long-off, where Markram dropped a sitter.

Abhinav was on 21 at that point; he got two more lives on 32 and 33 before Tripathi finally caught one in the outfield, off Bhuvneshwar.

Hello, again, yorker king A recurrence of a knee injury and Covid-19 ravaged Natarajan’s stint in IPL 2021, but this season he has already shown enough signs that he’s back to his best. He tucked up David Miller with hard lengths and even surprised him with a bouncer.

Later in the death, he let rip his trademark yorkers, conceding just seven runs off the last over of the innings. Fittingly, he finished Titans’ innings with a yorker that castled Rashid Khan for a duck.

Nobody has bowled more yorkers than Natarajan’s 15 this season. And nobody has more wickets at the death than Natarajan’s five.

SRH’s go-slow Sunrisers had a quiet start to their chase, scrounging 11 from the first four overs.

Williamson could’ve been dismissed in the first over had Pandya reviewed the lbw

Boxing History maker, Amsterdam, promoted

by Chief of Staff Good fortunes continue to ring in for Desmond Amsterdam following his historic feat of being the first Guyanese Boxer to secure a medal at the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Continental Championship recently hosted in Ecuador.

On Sunday, March 28, 2022, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) member achieved a podium finish following his triumph over Paraguay’s Samuel Eldric Rodriguez Sella to claim the bronze medal in the middleweight division.

On Monday, his exploits were publicly recognised when he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant for his discipline and recent perfor-

mance at the Championships.

According to a post from the GDF Facebook page it stated, “Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, promoted Corporal Desmond Amsterdam to the rank of Sergeant for his outstanding performance at the recently concluded championship, which was held in Ecuador.”

The COS congratulated Amsterdam for his continued success and commitment to the sport.

“You have made us proud!

Continue to be a good ambassador for the GDF and Guyana. I wish to encourage that you continue in this stead, stay focused! These attributes allow you to see the fruits of your labour,” Brigadier Bess urged. Sergeant

Amsterdam expressed gratitude for the opportunity and support given by the Force. “I feel proud of this achievement. Being able to travel and represent my country and the Force at these competitions, have been an honour and great privilege. It was indeed an auspicious moment for me,” he said.

The result has qualified Amsterdam to compete at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which is slated to take place in the United Kingdom.

Also present for the small ceremony were Officer Commanding Sports Corp, Major Keith Watts and GDF Boxing Coach Terrence Poole.

shout that was deemed notout on the field. Williamson and Abhishek then flicked on the intent switch, hitting 31 off the last two overs of the powerplay.

Abhishek used the pace and bounce of Ferguson to his advantage, picking him off for four fours in his first over that cost Titans 17 runs.

Then, when Ferguson returned to the attack for the 11th over, Abishek had fallen to Rashid and Williamson was stuck again.

Williamson, Pooran do

the job for SRH After being on 46 off 41 balls, Williamson found the release when he jumped across off and stylishly scooped Ferguson over short fine leg for six. He crunched the next legal delivery from Ferguson for four to celebrate his fifty in style. Sunrisers then suffered a hiccup when Williamson flapped an offcutter from Pandya to longon, but Pooran teed off to seal the deal. After Ferguson dropped a difficult return catch to reprieve him on 11,

he shanked two sixes and two fours to ensure that Sunrisers didn’t miss Tripathi.

Sunrisers, however, might be fretting over the fitness of Washington, who had his right wrist strapped in the dugout.

Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 168 for 2 (Williamson 57, Abhishek 42, Pooran 34*, Pandya 1-27) beat Gujarat Titans 162 for 7 (Pandya 50*, Manohar 35, Natarajan 2-34, Bhuvneshwar 2-37) by eight wickets.

SportsMax partners with free-to-air stations to broadcast 2022 CARIFTA Games across the region SportsMax will broadcast the games live on its channels and Mobile App.

SportsMax - As the CARIFTA Games return for the first time since 2019, SportsMax, the Caribbean’s premier sports and entertainment broadcaster, will broadcast the games live on its channels and Mobile App. Cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the CARIFTA Games first held in 1973, returns to the Caribbean sports landscape with the promise from the broadcaster that it will be bigger and better than ever. Jamaica will host the

Games scheduled for April 1618 at the National Stadium in Kingston and SportsMax Limited, the holder of the broadcast rights, plans to take the broadcast to a whole new level.

SportsMax will produce the CARIFTA Games and broadcast on linear TV via its many cable partners across the region and on CEEN TV outside the Caribbean and on its SportsMax and SportsMax+ channels within the SportsMax App in addition to partnering with sev-

eral free-to-air entities across the region, ensuring that fans get to see their favourite athletes engage in pulsating track and field action over the Easter Weekend.

When the CARIFTA Games get underway, SportsMax, through its partnership with the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) and the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC), will ensure that the action on the (Continued on page 23)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 12, 2022

PAGE 25

GTTA launches National Team Training Programme - Cuban coach returns for 2 engagement nd

The Guyana Table Tennis A s s o c i a t i o n ( G T TA ) continues to nurture from their partnership with the Cuban Government and the C u b a Ta b l e Te n n i s Federation’s Development Support Programme.

Over the weekend the GTTA launched the National Team Coaching Programme and have reacquired the services of Cuban Coach Osdaani Garcia Romero, who will be taking on his second stint in Guyana spanning a time of three months.

When the coach was here on his inaugural trip, President of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe believed he was quite impactful in every aspect of his delivery.

During the briefing, Munroe outlined what the association expects from the implementation and formulation of the National Training Plan.

Munroe said, “National team training in terms of the structured nature is very critical to players realizing their potential. Over the years we’ve had an ad hoc system that didn’t allow us and our players realize their true potential.

So the association saw this as something that is critical for us to implement and in this regard, we solicited this services of the coach.”

“As the Cuban Government indicated, he comes with a well acclaimed background in terms of his expertise, training, physical education and table tennis level three advanced coaching and he’s worked with the top level coaches and players in the Cuban National set ups,” the President disclosed.

E s s e n t i a l l y, t h e programme is basically constructed to achieve a few objectives, which, on the top

of the list is to prepare National Team players adequately, and that speaks in terms of the tactical, physical, and psychological aspects for key engagements.

Munroe added, “More particularly, in the long term it helps players rapidly develop to achieve better performance and realize their challenges and technical and tactical capabilities. One also is to ensure that they build team chemistry and camaraderie and that they learn from the methodologies that are being implemented.”

Garcia stated that he is grateful to be back in Guyana for a longer period and is looking to give greatly of his experience to development the sport.

He recently was engaged with the males of the Cuban National teams and will now bring that experience to share. Garcia is fully aware of his time and that he has different levels of athletes to work along with to help them achieve their objective, so he is looking forward to that challenge.

The Cuban coach revealed that his programme is quite an intricate one and he will be working along with local National Coach Linden Johnson, who he is already impressed with, to add to their regiment.

What Garcia also stressed on was continuity of the Training programme, since the knowledge will not be effective with gaps in sessions.

Meanwhile, Garcia’s input will be integral as Guyana prepares for upcoming International Engagements that include the South American Senior and Junior Games, Commonwealth Games and Islamic Games, to name a few.

From left: Sports Administrator Seon Erskine, Cuban Coach Osdaani Garcia Romero, GTA President – Godfrey Munroe and GTTA General Secretary and National coach, Linden Johnson.

Boxing History maker, Amsterdam, promoted

by Chief of Staff

t r o p S

s

Kyle Couchman (left) and Ethan Lee.

DeSinco National Junior Chess Qualifiers…

Desmond Amsterdam (left) received his promotion from the Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess.

Ethan Lee, Rajiv Lee, Ricardo Narine command the top

Prashad Storms to victory in Saturday’s Trophy Stall Golf Classic

Respective prize winners with their accolades.

Forrester hits ton, Johnson, Barnwell score 50s, Sankar, Johnson & Dick grab 5 wkt-hauls as GCC, DCC win

Star Party Rental, GISE, Trophy Stall 1 Division cricket st

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