Kaieteur News

K

'Change to PAC Monday Edition NEWS quorum, another blow to transparency' AIETEUR

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

April 18, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 13

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 66,770 meeting

…Ram says failure by MPs to attend should not stop scrutiny of public spending

Exxon to draw down almost US$500M in management fees t r e p x for EEPGL by 2024 - E

‘Uitvlugt sugar Parika man GPL to purchase workers face killed in grim future' Bartica 50 MW of power ...factory down for over a month; Pres. promises livelihood programme accident for national grid

Airport, stadium in Berbice will be 'white elephants' ...Engineer Charles Sohan insists economy, air traffic cannot justify such projects

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Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

'Change to PAC quorum, another blow …Ram says failure by MPs to attend meeting to transparency' should not stop scrutiny of public spending

By Zena Henry Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram is not only viewing the recent change to Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) quorum as a disregard for transparency, he believes that this recent act to increase the minimum number of persons required for the oversight meetings is another blow to the Constitutional rights of citizens to be informed.

Ram has been among the numerous professional and civil society voices critical of government's posture regarding the availability of

information. Given the PAC change, he told the Kaieteur News that the motion is another move unsupportive of the tenets of democracy.

He told the newspaper that while transparency is affected by the change to the PAC structure, it is merely incidental given the real issue, which speaks to the violation of citizen's constitutional rights.

Ram told the newspaper that it is this constitutional right that allows citizens access to information.

Information, the lawyer who is also a chartered accountant continued, is critical to the

TIGI President Fredrick Collins

processes of decision making and to the ones making the decisions. He insisted therefore that, “the persons asking the questions should have the same kind of information as the ones making the decisions.” Ram maintained that discussions in Guyana cannot remain one-sided as seems to be the ongoing case. He said that citizens cannot give informed judgments, criticisms and advice if they are not in possession of the information that would allow them to play a supporting role in governance.

Ram argued that

Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram

information and discussions are central to democracy. “To deny information is to deny democracy,” he argued.

“This is not a theoretical view but a factual one that has implications for everyone.

Whether you are supportive of the government or not, this has to be in the country's best interest.” “So, when it comes to the matter of constitutional rights, that is not something that can be defended,” Ram insisted.

Frederick Collins, President of Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI) in his comment on the PAC matter, told the Kaieteur News yesterday that he too is concerned about the delay and transparency that may arise due to the change. He questioned whether the work of the Guyanese people would indeed be stalled by its leaders because of their failure to have a quorum.

The local transparency leader told the newspaper that given certain conditions that apply to the holding of meetings, it would not seem too serious on the surface that

the government would want to change the quorum to ensure its presence when checks and balances to its spending are made. “But given what we know… government not making itself available this [quorum change] lends to the recipe for perpetual postponement.”

Collins noted that while a quorum simply constitutes the minimum number of persons required for the validity of a meeting, there are conditions that organisations use where meetings would go ahead if one party is absent for the second time of a meeting. “If some condition to this effect is not in place, then I wholly support the concerns of the opposition,” the TIGI leader said.

L a s t We d n e s d a y a majority vote by government Members of Parliament (MPs), saw the motion passed in the National Assembly to change the number of persons required for a valid PAC meeting from three to five. Minister of (Continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Monday April 18, 2022

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Exxon to draw down almost US$500M in management fees for EEPGL by 2024 - Expert B

ack in 2016, Guyana had a signed Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) which holds a 45 percent stake in Stabroek Block, along with its partners Hess Corporation Guyana and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC).

EEPGL, is incorporated in a known tax haven — the Bahamas — with a registered office in Guyana and is the company commonly referred to as ExxonMobil Guyana — the operator for the Stabroek Block.

To date, the expenditure for which the company deducts through the sale, of as much as 75 percent of the crude produced in the Stabroek block, has in large part remained in the domain of the partners and has never been shared publicly.

A study on Guyana's Oil and Gas industry and the economics involved by Tom Sanzillo, Director of financial analysis for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), has uncovered that EEPGL in fact pays its parent company ExxonMobil Corp.— based on Texas USA — a hefty Parent Company Overhead (PCO) fee.

A PCO fee is described in business circles as a fee charged by an operator to its co-venture partners in respect of costs of support services from its parent organisation such as Human Resources security and procurement services, and is most commonly charged on the basis of a percentage of all other sums charged to the joint account.

According to Sanzillo in his analysis, EEPGL prior to 2020 paid over US$73M in PCO fees to its parent company. Sanzillo in his

Director of Financial Analysis, IEEFA, Tom Sanzillo

July 2021 report said, that EEPGL paid ExxonMobil Corp. US$35M in 2020 and in 2021, it will fork out US$39M in PCO fees.

This year, Sanzillo predicts the fee being paid to the US based parent company will increase to US$53M and then US$64M the following year.

Slated to collect US$93M in 2024, it would mean that by the end of the next three years, EEPGL would have paid over to the Texas based ExxonMobil Corp. almost half a billion US$ in fees.

This publication had reported that Sanzillo in his findings had found too that another of the expenditures for which Guyana is being charged a hefty amount relates to the interest being charged on the loans contracted by EEPGL. He had found that on the interest alone that is being paid by the company through recoverable cost oil, the country prior to 2020

had paid US$143M. For 2020, according to Sanzillo, interest on loans accounts for US$229M and for 2021, he projected the amount to be some US$336M. Based in his projections, by 2024, Guyana would have had to repay some US$2.8B on loans for projects that had been approved up to July 2021— the month the analyst's report was published.

According to Sanzillo, in 2022 he is projecting that the payment for interests would amount to some US$488M. For 2023, Sanzillo projects government's total share to increase to US$905M while the US oil major will utilise some US$661M from cost oil to use for interest on loans. In 2024, the financial analyst predicts total earnings for Guyana to be US$1.3B while the interest payments alone for that year would amount to US$946M.

‘Guyana's Procurement Systems Weak' ...IDB highlights lack of guardrails for fairness, best value for almost two decades Public procurement is a critical area that needs prompt improvement, as it represents about a quarter of budgets and plays a critical role improving financial management in the Caribbean. Making these and other fundamental points is the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in its recent report titled, Economic Institutions for a Resilient Caribbean.

One country in need of this prompt improvement is Guyana, says the IDB, as it highlighted that despite 15 years of assessments, the

country is still without robust procurement rules. In fact, the IDB wrote in its report that “little progress” had been made to measure and publicly report data in critical areas such as competitive tendering.

Further to this, the development institution noted that public protests related to corruption in the procurement process exacerbate the perception that large swathes of the procurement process are closed to some bidders.

H o w e v e r, t h e b a n k ' s evaluation does not stop

Two shot during street brawl in North Sophia Two men were shot on Saturday during a street brawl that erupted between them and another man at Tanary Area located in North Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

They were identified as Yardan Jacobs, 27, and his cousin 29-year-old Steve Bacchus, a businessman of North Sophia.According to police, the men were shot around 00:05hrs while they were hanging out with some friends at the Tanary Area.

Jacobs had gotten into an argument with another man during the hang and as it got heated between the two,

Bacchus reportedly intervened to “back-up” his cousin. The man described as a mixed-race individual retaliated by pulling out a gun from his waist and firing off several rounds at Jacobs and Bacchus before running away.

One of the bullets struck Jacobs to his abdomen while another stuck Bacchus to his lower back. Patrol ranks responded to the scene and both men were rushed to the city hospital where they were admitted. Police reported that their conditions are now stable but their shooter remains on the run.

there, as the IDB stated that 23 of the country's procurement practiced continue to receive the lowest scores (D) Successive Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability ( P E FA ) a s s e s s m e n t s .

According to the IDB, this PEFA assessment is a tool for evaluating public financial management, as it provides a thorough, consistent, and evidence-based analysis of public financial management (PFM) performance at a specific point in time and repeated over time. The assessment measures the extent to which PFM systems, processes, and institutions contribute to the achievement of desirable

budget outcomes, aggregate fiscal discipline, strategic allocation of resources, and efficient service delivery.

When this PEFA assessment was conducted on Guyana, the IDB said that the results reflected “poor competition, value for money and procurement controls.”

Furthermore, it observed “considerable gaps”, particularly regarding the institutional framework, m a n a g e m e n t c a p a c i t y, market prices and transparency of the system.

To this end, the report added, “As well as the ongoing need to achieve the objectives of fairness, transparency, and best value.”

The report also indicated

that weak linkages between in-year-budget adjustments, procurement plans and internal control weaknesses within personnel and procurement management are among the shortcomings identified as hampering improvements in the operational efficiency of service delivery.

To address these gaps, the bank identified a slew of recommendations (see table attached).

Notably, to tackle some of the aforementioned weaknesses, the IDB wrote that in 2014 had provided

technical cooperation to modernize public procurement and strengthen public financial management to streamline the allocation and management of public resources. he bank had also given support to upgrade and implement technological platforms for expenditure systems.

It is against this that the bank noted, “The 2019 Budget Speech recognized the importance of a sound PFM system and stressed the government's commitment to improving it.”

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Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

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

The oversupply trap

T

he experts who know what they speak of, who study prior examples, are warning Guyana to do the right thing. We said this very clearly, as is obvious from the caption, “Another expert agrees feasibility study critical for Gas-to-Power Project -says Guyana must guard against being caught in oversupply trap” (KN April 15).

The problem is that Guyana’s leaders, who have the power in their hands to do something sensible are not listening to such cautions. In plain English, Government leaders dismiss the warnings with the equivalent of: they don’t know nothing, all they know to do is to make speeches. So, there is no heeding what international experts are saying repeatedly.

Trinidadian Energy Strategist, Anthony Paul said it; and so did Chatham House Associate Fellow, Dr. Valerie Marcel. Now the former Director of the Economics Department of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDC), International Economist, Dr. Justin Ram, has joined the voices that share both the positive and the worrying. The good is that Guyana’s gas-to-power project now racing to the starting line can offer benefits to citizens saddled with huge electricity bills. Citizens and country can be enriched through job creation, foreign exchange savings, and the basis for robust economic growth, all while reducing Guyana’s carbon footprint.

Those are the pluses. and we agree that they could occur. But only if the project is executed correctly, which is what the experts have insistently pointed out. This country can reap what is right, but it must start out with this gas-to-power project on the right foot. To do so, Guyana’s leaders need to embody the right mindset, where this expensive project is concerned.

It lies in a feasibility study done. Not just any kind of feasibility study, but a genuine and comprehensive one by credible people, who can be trusted to deliver what Guyanese can rely on. The gas-to-power project cannot be just on the say so of a leader who, it is now obvious, is a reckless gambler with the prospects and future of Guyana, and one who is stone deaf to what is safe and sound for Guyanese. The project started off on the wrong foot when it was being rammed down the craw of Guyanese as the best thing for them, without any authoritative and dependable feasibility study completed.

As International Economist, Dr. Ram asserted, Guyana must bear in mind the burdens of Ghana, which ended up with more than its people could chew and absorb. In the simplest terms, they had too much gas, and didn’t know what to with it, didn’t have any outlet to make use of its energies, its potentials. In the term of art employed by economists, it is the unwanted and undermining state of oversupply. To elaborate, Ghana had more gas than it needed, but was faced with the costly reality of ‘take it or pay for it.’ In the Ghanaian situation, the country has no choice but to take both as much gas as it needs, and also pay for amounts that it contracted for, but which it has absolutely no use for.

Ghana has such a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in place that favours suppliers, but burdens the country with an annual bill of US$500M for gas power that it has no need for. Under that torturous PPA, Ghana must take 90 percent of the gas produced from its Sankofa field, even if it has neither need nor use for it.

Ghana represents a hard lesson and sharp warning for Guyana, already hell-bent on getting its own gas-to-power project on track, without doing timely and viable demand and supply studies to avoid falling into the oversupply trap. This is particularly relevant given our tiny population, and considering our commercial and industrial needs, both current and in the future.

Indeed, citizens stand to benefit from cheaper and a more reliable supply of electricity, the absence of which has long been a plague on Guyanese. But leaders in the PPP/C Government must honestly consider the worse-case scenarios of low demand and oversupply. Those could leave us with a gas banquet and few in attendance. We can’t throw the excess gas in the garbage. We would have to pay for it.

Personnel involved in infrastructural projects must be qualified, competent and have professional integrity DEAR EDITOR, In an April 13 KN article on the above referenced subject, Economist Elson Low expressed the view that reckless spending by the Administration on questionable infrastructure projects should not be allowed to continue since eventually Guyanese will have to bear the cost of these projects which are poorly planned, executed and do not serve their intended objectives.

Cases in point. Firstly, the propose Amaila Falls Hydropower Project. Millions of dollars have already been spent on preliminary works but the Government is yet to determine whether the project is economically and financially viable.

Secondly, a contract worth over three hundred million dollars has been awarded to GAICO Construction to dredge the Pomeroon River to increase its flow to prevent

flooding of farmlands along its banks.

The Ministry of Agriculture based on the facts, has not determined how dredging of this River would mitigate flooding of the farmlands along its banks since no study was conducted to support its claim. It is worth noting however, that when the ocean water level is high and there is heavy rainfall in the Pomeroon River catchment, the increased river flows has no way to go but overtop its banks thus flooding the adjoining lands.

Instead of dredging the river, there are other meaningful ways by which the farmlands along its banks could be protected from recurring flooding. Further, there are concerns as to whether this dredging contractor has the experience, equipment, finance and reputation to execute this job. In addition, the Government does not have an

adequately equipped hydrographic vessel with trained and experienced personnel to determine which section of the River needs to be dredged to increase its flows, the volume of silt to be removed and at what depth.

These and other factors must be known before any payment for dredging could be authorised for work done.

An Ogle type airport has been earmarked for construction at Rose Hall, Region 6.

The economy and anticipated air traffic in this region cannot justify this “White Elephant”. Period. Similarly, a sports stadium and hotel are to be built at the sleepy village of Palmyra on the Corentyne Coast.

The people in this region are struggling to find jobs as well as putting food on their tables for their families particularly so since the closing of the sugar estates. Where would these Guyanese find

the resources and time to attend functions at a sports stadium and pay for lodging in an expensive hotel when their priorities have to be directed elsewhere?

Finally, Economist Low drew attention to Government’s contracts, which are poorly executed since extensive repairs have to be carried out on them soon after they are certified as completed as is the case with the University of Guyana access road. This is a complex issue as it involves the design engineers, contractors and Government personnel who are involved in one way or another with a project.

The personnel involved in the project have to be qualified, competent and have professional integrity in the execution of their duties if a project is to be successfully completed.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

Christian community has moral and spiritual obligation to emulate life and work of Jesus DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) extends Easter Greetings to all Guyanese, particularly our Christian brothers and sisters. In these times of trials and tribulations it’s important to remind the Christian community that whereas Christ called on his followers to render unto Caesar (i.e. government) the things that are of Caesar (such as obeying law, paying taxes, etc.). He also condemned leaders who governed without compassion for the vulnerable in society.

This holiday bears much significance to the Christian world for it symbolises a more compassionate approach in treating our fellowman. In the Christian faith, the resurrection of Jesus Christ brought salvation to all men. This equality in salvation acknowledges all are equal in worth and status. But Guyana con-

tinues to face a crisis in governance. It is a crisis that ignores the vulnerable and treats half the society and those perceived to be opponents of the government as aliens and unworthy. There is escalating disparity in the government’s management of the economy. Calls by civil society for inclusion in national decision-making are ignored despite the political system mandates inclusionary democracy as per Article 13 in the Constitution of Guyana. The vulnerable and poor continue to be denied social and economic justice. The working class, particularly unionised workers, continues to be denied the basic right to justice through collective bargaining and private sector workers, particularly in the commercial district, denied increased minimum wage as approved by the Tripartite Committee dur-

ing the administration of the APNU+AFC. Unemployment remains high. Inflation continues to rise, further eroding real wages and pushing essential items out of the reach of the working poor, pensioners and unemployed. Each passing day Guyana is becoming a tale of two cities, drifting further and further away from the aspirations of the founders to treat all with equal respect and dignity under the overarching principle of One People, One Nation, One Destiny. Hopelessness hovers over the nation like a dark cloud. The pandemic is not only poorly managed but has become the smokescreen for government to justify its incompetence and engage in financial squander-mania.

Thus, it came as no surprise that a recently commissioned United States’ poll found that more than half of the young people interviewed don’t see

a future in Guyana. Two-third of the population is under 35 years The God of the Christians, though a God of mercy, is also a God of accountability. GTUC therefore calls on the Christian community to put on the true armour of God, let’s hold hands and go into the highways and byways and do thy Father’s will, advocating compliance to the gospel “...to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow’s cause,” (Isaiah 1:17). May this Easter be the year of a call to action and spiritual awakening among Christians as done in days of yore and presently in other societies in taking public stands for justice and equality. May this be the beginning of a brighter and better tomorrow.

Regards Guyana Trade Union Congress

Who is protecting us?

DEAR EDITOR, A few years ago, a prominent Senior Counsel called me to inform me that an electrical appliance I installed on his property stopped working. I went to his property and upon investigation, I found out that he had instructed a worker to change the batteries. He showed me the empty packet they took out the new batteries from and informed me that

they had purchased it from a shop. I then cautioned him that it depends on the type of batteries; I only purchase batteries from Acme, Starr Computers, NP electronics, and Cultronics for my various clients, because I don’t trust the other places.

I venture to Acme and made the purchase, and immediately upon installation, the security appliance started

working again. The other new and useless batteries were immediately thrown away. I continuously keep advising people to purchase batteries from the stores mentioned above.

Editor, there are various types of batteries being used daily for various reasons, especially for medical purposes, like personal blood pressure testing, sugar, etc. One of the

most popular batteries being used is the CR2032 lithium coin cell battery. It is used on security systems, computers, key alarms, and medical testing machines. Monday, while visiting a colleague, he showed me over eight of the CR2032 lithium coin cell batteries and told me in two days, that’s the amount he purchase from various Chinese stores (Continued on page 6)

Monday April 18, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Wheat and other non-traditional crops could be viable for GuySuCo DEAR EDITOR, The following letter was published in KN and SN on August 16, 2017.

It was highly praised by a number of people with genuine interest in the development of Guyana using agriculture as a take-off.

It was published at a time when the then government was seemingly anti-agriculture and certainly not interested in the content of the letter. In the wake of new interests in wheat cultivation in Guyana by current government whose interest in agriculture has been commendable from its very inception, I request it be re-published. Of particular interest are the last few paragraphs dealing with wheat producing in poor tropical countries.

Below it the article first published in August 2017, entitled: THESE ARE MY SUGGESTIONS FOR GUYSUCO’S FUTURE Dear Editor, My lengthy paper submitted last year to the National Assembly of the Guyana Parliament, entitled: “GUYSUCOthe course it should follow to escape the syndrome of declining productivity and profitability; and the critical role it can and should play in the political, economic and social development of Guyana”, was recently read by many people and favourable responses, comments and queries were made, particularly by Dr. Dhanpaul Narine, Dr. Carl Niamatali, Flattie Singh and Romesh CD Singh.

To these persons, and others also who are concerned about the recent

events regarding GuySuCo, I wish to explain or reiterate three things: (1) Firstly, that the model I am advocating in my paper rests solidly on the socialist principle of Land To The Tiller, as enshrined in the Constitution. I referred to this principle in the paper as “Peasantization”.

Peasantization, I explained, would eventually and systematically lead to ownership through a process which I explained in the paper.

(2) Secondly, and more importantly, my paper is calling for a “Transformation of the Economy”.

Implicit to and implied in this transformation is the need for a “Green Revolution”, on which I will shortly amplify.

(3) Thirdly, funding for this Revolution will take the form of selling of National Agriculture Development Bonds in and outside Guyana (also mentioned in my paper), the details of which can be better worked out by the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Guyana.

I would be willing to amplify on this subject and participate in any discussion and implementation.

In a world where the demand for food doubles every 25 years, I contend that Guyana must be the only country that de-emphasises agriculture as a means of feeding its people, and launching its industrial development via an agro-based take-off.

Several acts of past and present governments support this contention, the latest being President David Granger’s cancellation of

leases granted to several West Coast Berbice rice farmers which was subsequently ruled unconstitutional by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George.

Incidentally, the ruling was made with reference to another section of the Constitution, and no mention was made by her nor by PPP’s former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, to the socialist-oriented “Land to the Tiller” clause which was specifically enshrined in the constitution by Forbes Burnham, himself.

Burnham was smart enough to realise, far ahead of his time, that any development of Guyana had to rest on ameliorating the antagonistic relations existing in the means of production – which I refer to in my paper as characterised by two major forms of alienation: (1) The alienation of labour from the production or any decision-making process, and (2) The alienation of the industry from the international pricing mechanism.

Development economists all agree that a country must produce and trade in the goods and services in which it enjoys a comparative advantage.

In layman’s language, this simply means a person must work in the field in which he is talented, gifted or trained. (a dentist should not be performing heart surgery, nor should a country specialised in agriculture set out on an industrialisation path by starting to manufacture rad i o s and tapir vans).

Our comparative advantage lies in agriculture.

I believe no other country is so agriculturally and climatically endowed as Guyana.

The problem with agriculture in Guyana is that production basically never advanced from primary to secondary and tertiary levels.

We produced rice, sugar and milk, but we imported rice pudding.

We produced sugar, milk and cocoa, but imported Ovaltine, Milo and chocolate.

We produce millions of cubic feet of lumber, but not one toothpick.

We remain, like our former absentee plantation owners, an enclave economy producing primarily for export, and consuming primarily – imports.

Thus, with little or no value added to it, we created for ourselves a serious disadvantage in international trade, being fatally susceptible to fluctuations in international pricing mechanisms and terms of trade.

We have been content to live in such economic squalor forever.

For, whereas agriculture should have been the engine of growth to launch our industrial development, it remained in an infancy stage.

Moreover, after 50 years of independence, according to Cassius in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, (or colonial inheritance) But in ourselves, that we are underlings.” Yes, we are a lazy people, dependent on handouts obtained

from government jobs, foreign relatives, or through banditry, white-collar crimes, and multifarious devious means.

We do not have the drive, the motivation, the stamina for massive development programmes that Developed Countries embarked upon when they were in their infancy stages.

(I marvel sometimes at the hundred-year-old subway system of New York City, the Verrazano Bridge… not at the engineering marvels themselves, but at the determination of the people to develop their country.)

The term “Green Revolution” was first used in 1968

by US Agency for International Development (USAID), noting and advocating the advancement of new technologies in the field of agriculture, establishing strong agri-supportive institutions, and restructuring social and educational institutions, all with the primarily objective of self-sufficiency in food production, particularly in developing countries, and to help advance their economic development.

Since then, many heavily populated countries have successfully carried out this revolution, including several in Africa.

One person who became famous for his involvement in the Green Revolution is the scientist Norman Borlaug. In the 1940s, Norman Borlaug developed a strain of wheat that could resist diseases, was short, which reduced damage by wind, and could produce large seed heads

and high yields.

This strain of wheat was introduced in Mexico, India, Brazil and even several African countries.

In and within 20 years the production of wheat in Mexico tripled to the point where it became a net exporter of wheat.

In 1961, India, on the brink of mass famine invited Norman Borlaug to advise them on wheat production.

This year India forecasts the harvesting of 92 million tonnes of wheat.

Currently, Brazil consumes 12 million tons of wheat a year, but produces only seven million, with the balance imported from Russia and Argentina.

In Africa, it is noted that wheat production is at only 10 to 25 percent of its potential, but it is noted that African countries, spending $12B annually to import wheat, can easily grow more to limit hunger.

For his work in developing high-yield crops and for helping prevent starvation in many developing countries, Norman Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

I am not by any means suggesting that GuySuCo should plunge into wheat, only that, as a grain with a growing world demand, it is worth exploring, even as ethanol production is being explored.

I have, in my paper, suggested a dozen other viable crops in addition to meat and dairy production.

My list is not exhaustive.

Other non-traditional (Continued on page 6)

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Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sovereign Wealth Funds and Guyana’s Natural Resources Fund DEAR EDITOR, Best leaders mobilise their nation’s “will” to “succeed, win & prosper. Seven examples are, Norway, Kuwait, Singapore, Qatar, Dubai, Malaysia, and recently Ukraine; smart investments after feasibility studies with decisions based on commercial assessments; and strategic plans, processes and programmes are extremely critical to successes for all citizens.

The top 10 Sovereign Wealth Funds as reported by Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI) are, NORWAY $1,400,400, 000, 000 (one trillion, four hundred billion, four hundred million US dollars); CHINA $1,222,307,000,000 (one trillion, two hundred and twenty-two billion, three hundred and seven million US dollars); KUWAIT $737,938,000,000 (seven hundred and thirty-seven billion, nine hundred and thirty-eight million US dollars); ABU DHABI $697,863,000,000 (six hundred and ninety-seven billion, eight hundred and sixty-three million US dollars); HONG KONG $585,734,000.000 (five hundred and eighty-five billion, seven hundred and thirty-four million US dollars); SAUDI ARABIA $580,000,000,000 (five hundred and eighty billion US dollars); SINGAPORE $578,000, 000,000 (five hundred and seventy-eight billion US dollars); S I N G A P O R E $484,441,000,000 (four hundred and eighty-four billion, four hundred and forty-one million US dollars); QATAR $450,000,000,000 (four hundred and fifty billion, US dollars); and CHINA $447,358,000,000 (four hundred and fortyseven billion, three hundred and fifty-eight million US

dollars).

Served as Deputy Chairman, Board of Directors, GO-Invest, The Guyana Office for Investment, February 2016 to December 2019, and per law, Board included an Opposition member.

Each month, Chairperson Ms. Patricia Bacchus together with Minister of Business & Tourism Hon. Dominic Gaskin, actively worked to secure the attendance of the Opposition’s member. I was told that it is Standard Operating Procedure on Government’s Boards and Commissions, for a Member of the Opposition to be included as was at GOInvest.

In this Holy Month of Ramadan, Navaratri, Lent, and Passover am hoping His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, will reconsider and appoint an Opposition Member (Dr. Vince Adams, Oil, Gas & Environment American/ Global Expert); OR Mr. Christopher Ram Esq., Chartered Accountant, Attorney at Law), to the very important NRF Board, for transparencies, democracy, and inclusivity to represent around half of the voters at the last General Elections.

ALASKA USA for Alaskans The Alaska Permanent Fund, established in 1976 via a referendum, disperses cheques to each resident without a recent criminal record. Th e d i v i d e n d usually amounts to between $1,000 and $2,000 per person. Oil, Gas & Environment American/ Global Expert Dr. Vince Adams, said on April 2, 2022 “Btw, I have a good G u y a n e s e f r i e n d who returned home after living in

Alaska for quite a while and he receives $36,000 per year from the state of Alaska.”

KUWAIT for Kuwaitis KUWAIT “OIL & GAS WEALTH to CITIZENS” with ID Cards.

Automatic, Monthly, Bank Wire Transfers, Man KWD 1,000 = USD $3,270; Woman KWD 500 = USD $1,635; and EACH Child KWD 250 = USD $818: Kuwait values very importantly its citizens who are the owners of its oil and gas wealth.

Kuwait has a population of 4.67 million people of which 1.45 million are Kuwaiti citizens while the remaining 3.2 million are foreign nationals from over 100 countries.

Oil revenues in Qatar and UAE account for close to 60 per cent of their total revenues, while in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the figure is close to 90 per cent and 93 per cent, respectively.

Qatar and Kuwait are the only two GCC members yet to introduce VAT following the signing of the Common VAT Agreement in 2016.

Kuwait with 146,000 Millionaires. Kuwait also has no income tax, which means whatever Kuwaiti people earn, they keep.

QATAR for Qataris Being rich has become a birthright for native Qataris.

The government redistributes money from its resources to citizens, resulting in the record $88,221 GDP per capita. They also receive free electricity, health care and other benefits.

500, 000 Qatari Rial (USD $ 136, 750:) ANNUALLY TO CITIZENS. 210,000 only 15% of Qatar’s 1.4 million residents are citizens; the rest are foreign workers, ranging from Western financiers and energy executives to

temporary labourers from India, Pakistan, and other Asian countries.

Qatar and Kuwait are the only two GCC members yet to introduce VAT following the signing of the Common VAT Agreement in 2016. Qatar is home to 50,000 US Dollar millionaires, in a population of 210,000.

Qatar government provides the following to ALL Qatari citizens, No tax; Free electricity & water for primary resid e n c e ; Free healthcare; Free education; USD $3,000 monthly salary for qualified Qataris in need o f a s s i s t a n c e ( e l d e r l y, divorced, w i d o w, orphans, etc.); Every Qatari is also guaranteed a job; Plus free plot of land (1,000 SQM = 0.24711 Acres) and QR. 1.2 Million = (USD $ 329, 410) interest free housing loan to be repaid over 25 years with 50% WRITE OFF = USD $164, 705) this is for married university graduates.

Qataris with less than bachelor’s degree get 60% of the land size and loan.

(USD $197, 646 WRITE OFF) The following infrastructures are in Qatar, Best Airport in the world; Best airline in the world; Qatar ranks No.3 in healthcare; Qatar ranks No. 5 in education; S t a t e o f t h e art metro; State of the art highway; and Big investment in Human Capital.

GUYANA for Guyanese From my travels and experiences at 80 countries, do believe that the above details on Alaska, Kuwait, and Qatar are the most caring, with their citizens being their # 1 priority.

His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed

Irfaan Ali, in his Ramadan 2022 message referred to a “pro-poor model” for Guyana, which is very commendable, but with due respect, we do need, “res non verba = deeds not words.”

NRF monies will be an excellent start for many suffering Guyanese under the current living conditions.

Do believe Guyanese are the owners of the USD $607 Million, Natural Resource Fund monies, and are entitled to at least 1/3 = USD $202 Million, for distribution to all Guyanese.

Infrastructures are excellent, but too heavy emphasis on infrastructures, with poor pay backs will result in a severe debt crisis.

Thorough vetted feasibilities’ studies are needed for each project.

Sri Lanka is an example o f t o o m a n y c ostly infrastructures, such as their International Airport known as the World’s emptiest, built

by China for USD $209 Million, with USD $190 Million loan from China.

Another example is the Hambantota Port deal with China, as Sri Lanka was unable to repay, China received a controlling stake of the port, which is in a very strategic area, with the political and economic interests, competing for power, via location, location, location.

Currently a political crisis is ongoing in Sri Lanka due to severe economic conditions for its citizens and their Nation.

With the totality of my Global experiences, especially serving as Guyana’s 2nd.

Ambassador to Kuwait (August 2016 to July 2020); serving as Guyana First

Alternate Governor at the Islamic Development Bank (May 2017 to July 2020) and expe r i e n c e s w i t h Q a t a r, w i t h a l l D u e Respect, all Guyanese are the owners of the Natural Resource Fund monies, and my recommendation, is for (1/3), USD $202 Million, of the USD $607 Million NRF, to be distributed to each Guyanese, through an international independent, c o n t r a c t e d a g e n c y, t o ensure transparencies with Democracy.

It was my honour, delight, and joy, to witness the Guyana Arrowhead being raised for the 1st time on May 26, 1966, while serving as the Administrative Assistant to H.E. Rahman Bacchus Gajraj, who served as Lord Mayor City of Georgetown, Speaker of Parliament, and MD/CEO of H.B. Gajraj.

The Hope of ALL in attendance at the FLAG R A I S I N G, w a s f o r a GUYANA for GUYANESE. It is now time, close to 56 years, for that Hope, Dream & Desire to be realised with their sharing of the N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e F und monies.

“Let us work together for unity and love” – Sri Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi “Give us the tools and we’ll finish the job “Winston Churchill “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. With God, Bhagwan, Allah, Jah, and Yahweh, Graces, Will and Guidance to all decision makers in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Globally.

Sincerely, Professor Dr. Shamir Ally

Who is protecting us...

From page 4 on the West Bank of Demerara, and they ain’t give him half-hour service.

The original battery he was using lasted over two years.

Both batteries are similar but when I open them for inspection, the assembly are totally different.

Because of this inferior crap that is being sold to people, it could cause people to get a wrong reading from their medical machines, malfunction at times when needed, or make people discard their appliance, thinking it’s bad.

Why are these death traps being allowed to be sold in stores countrywide?

There are many items blacklisted from selling, and they are openly being displayed on shelves.

I have not seen a hotline number advertised to report these inferior products.

Is there anyone who really cares to see this madness stop?

There’s no advisory to guide consumers on making proper purchases and to as-

sist them. The prices for these various items are slightly different, and people have to learn that to get something proper, just spend the two dollars more and not be tempted with the cheapness, because from all indications, someone is taking huge bribes to allow this craziness in Guyana.

Regards Sahadeo Bates

Wheat and other...

From page 5 crops such as maize, potatoes, soybeans, barley, peas, lentils, chick peas (channa) and a host of others are very viable possibilities.

Regards Gokarran Sukhdeo (Former economist, Ministry of Agriculture, Guyana)

T N U L B . . .

T B N U T L N B T .

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T T N N U More promises .

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N When will his government deliver?

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N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . .

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N T U N N N U L U U B L .

BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

On Good Friday of all the days - the holiest of the Christian calendar, President Irfaan Ali fresh out of church rolled into Uitvlugt to meet with sugar workers who have not worked for over one month due to the collapse of the estate's mill.

With no answers for the teary-eyed workers, Ali went into his back pocket - the old PPP way and pulled out another promise. This time, he told the workers that plans are being formulated to register them to be part of a livelihood improvement programme to supplement their estate jobs. One of the options he said is the establishment of chicken facilities where workers will be able to take part in poultry farming with approximately 150-200 birds.

I think the poor sugar workers by now are fed-up with the promises. They first promised them that once they returned to office, they will reopen all the estates closed by the Coalition.

They are back in government and now telling them to plant hemp and rear tilapia.

After weeks of no work and along with that, no income, President Ali promises more and more.

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Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

‘The battle for lands'

...Guyana accounts for highest number of land dispute cases before CCJ In addition to having the most cases filed before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Guyana also accounts for the highest number of land dispute matters the court has ever handled since it commenced operations in 2005.

This is according to CCJ Judge Denys Barrow, who delivered presentation at a virtual law conference o rg a n i s e d b y t h e B a r Association of Guyana as part of activities in observance of its recently concluded Inaugural Law Week.

Justice Barrow noted that it has been remarked that Guyana, which has by thousands of times the largest landmass and lowest population density, generates

the most land law cases. This factor, he noted, makes it curious that a discernible feature is a concern with title to land; many of these of which are commonplace.

Justice Barrow's presentation was based on Guyana's contributions to the jurisprudence of the CCJ as its appellate court for criminal and civil matters.

According to Justice Barrow, the CCJ Has pronounced on 249 cases, of which the majority – 111 were from Guyana. The other 88 are from Barbados, another 42 from Belize, and the remaining eight from Dominica.

Giving details of the types of cases filed before the CCJ, the judge noted that criminal law cases from

Guyana have contributed significantly to the Court's jurisprudence on sentencing.

He cited the case of Bridgelall versus Hariprashad the appellant was convicted of two drug possession charges for cocaine found in a house and also in the yard of the house.

In relation to the consecutive five-year terms imposed, the CCJ held that the sentences should have been concurrent.

In that case, the CCJ applied the rudimentary rule that where multiple offences arise from the same set of facts or the same incident, it will be appropriate for the sentences on those charges to run concurrently.

“It indicated that consecutive sentences may be given where the offences

arise out of unrelated facts or incidents or where the offences are of the same or similar kind but where the overall criminality will not sufficiently be reflected by concurrent sentences…”

Barrow said.

In the criminal appeal of Pompey versus the Director Public Prosecutions (DPP), a major decision on the new approaches and practices that must be adopted by sentencing courts in Guyana and other jurisdictions was made.

The appeal was against consecutive sentences amounting to 37 years imprisonment for three sexual offences including rape.

The CCJ reduced the punishment to concurrent

t e r m s o f imprisonment amounting to 17 years; notably a useful part of the decision in this case was the pronouncement that the violation of the appellant's constitutional rights by the CCJ Judge Denys Barrow. excessive delay in the case was to be compensated for by staying has bedevilled the full the portion of his sentence e n j o y m e n t o f s o m e unserved while he was on fundamental rights declared bail after Full Court reversal. in the Constitution.

Justice Barrow explained As it relates to the constitutional law cases from that the clause, included in Guyana, the judge said these t h e a t t a i n m e n t o f have attracted particular independence in various attention for the development constitutions across the in the jurisprudence on the region, served to preserve “savings law clause”, which (Continued on page 16)

Hinterland will have the same benefits as the coastland - Pres. Ali

President Irfaan Ali has assured residents of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) that his Government would ensure that they receive the same benefits as citizens who live on the coastland.

During a community meeting with residents of Yupukari and surrounding satellite villages on Saturday, he said that funds are currently being spent on developing the infrastructure in the region. “Our primary objective is to ensure the lives of all the people of our country are improved. And whatever benefits on the coastland must be available for you, and we will ensure you too benefit.”

The President told the residents that he and members of his Cabinet were there to lend assistance.

“Today, we are here to listen to you, to listen to your concerns, to listen to your ideas, to listen to what issues you might be facing so that we could work with you in finding solutions.”

REBUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE President Ali explained that this year, the region will see a rebuilding of its infrastructure, and the Government will spend $3.7b on hinterland roads and bridges, which will open up new communities and new farmlands. He also reminded the residents that they will benefit from the

President Irfaan Ali and a resident of the Rupununi.

30,000 solar panel units initiative.

“Every single household will have access to the solar panels and the additional auxiliary…you deserve it— you deserve the same development, the same opportunities [like the coastland].”

The Head-of-State assured that the Government will set aside resources for the development of sporting facilities so that young people can have a chance to enhance their skills. “We're on a journey to build a Guyana in which every single citizen, every single household, must experience prosperity.”

INVESTMENT IN THE REGION President Ali said that the Government has spent a historic amount of money in the region, including $197m in Covid-19 cash grant, which benefitted more than

7800 households; $604m with the increase in old-age pension for the 1800 recipients and $235m in public assistance for 1400 residents.The President stated that the Government has also invested in training 237 persons, 70 per cent of which were women. Of the lot, more than 60 were given grants to start their own businesses. Additionally, to ensure that children have equal access to education, he noted that over $50m has been spent on textbooks for more than 7400 children in 65 schools around the region.

COMMITTED TO MEETING DEMANDS After making his remarks, President Ali opened the floor to residents to register their concerns and suggestions. One of the suggestions made was the development of a poultry (Continued on page 9)

Monday April 18, 2022

I

n 2009, there was a pushback against plans, by then President Bharrat Jagdeo, to use agricultural lands for the cultivation of crops for biofuels. At the time, the world was reeling from the triple effects of the global financial crisis, the global food crisis and a global fuel crisis.

Guyana responded to the fuel crisis with plans to produce agri-fuels. It went as far as developing an agrienergy policy. The then government’s plans included the development of smallscale ethanol utilising either sugar cane juice or molasses, at Albion; setting aside lands in Canje for bio-energy feedstock; the production of biodiesel from palm oil; and the conversion of biomass waste into energy. Guyana did eventually generate energy from bagasse. But despite the vast amount of bagasse – a by-product of sugar – this initiative aimed at the industrial production of energy flopped. Food has long been produced for industrial uses. Cotton has been grown for use in the manufacturing of textiles.

Tobacco is still used in the production of cigarettes.

Other industrial products produced from crops include rubber, medicines, palm oil, fibres and dyes.

Despite this history of industrial crop cultivation there was a pushback against plans for converting food crops into bio-fuels. Among those leading the charge was

FOOD OR FUEL

Fidel Castro. He published a reflection in the Granma newspaper in which he called attention to the plight of the more than two billion persons in the world who suffer from hunger. The cultivation of crops for biofuels, he argued, would utilise lands which would be better put towards producing food to feed the people of the world.

He quoted from sources which pointed to biofuels further fuelling increases in food prices. Castro argued that use of land to produce biofuels will reduce the acreages for the production of other crops and will result in an increase in food prices which will be passed on to consumers. Industrial crop production is now once again on the national agenda. The Irfaan Ali government has outlined plans to utilise lands, including sugar lands, for the production of industrial hemp.

Guyana has extensive lands. But not all of these are properly drained and irrigated.

As such, the plan to put the properly irrigated and drained sugar lands into industrial hemp production is highly controversial.

It also contradicts the emphasis which the President is placing on food production because the industrial uses to which the hemp will be put will not be used as food. Why then instead of planting hemp using sugar lands, does the government not use the said lands for the production of the items which the Caribbean Community has identified as

substitutes for extra-regional imports. Hemp production requires good irrigation. It is for this reason, no doubt, that the investors – who are no doubt working behind the scenes – are eyeing up the sugar lands.

In order for hemp production to be competitive, the fields will most likely be designed for machine harvesting. As such, cane harvesters should not get excited about finding employment.

Machine harvesting will also be necessary to ensure higher yields, something that is essential to the profitability of hemp production. As such, the industry is likely to be developed as a capitalintensive industry. This will erase the employment prospects for sugar workers.

Private investors will have to be attracted. And while it is believed that there are some major investors already lined up, the investment costs are expected to be high. As such, it is likely that the government will have to subsidise production in the form of extragenerous concessions relating to land and tax holidays – which would cancel out the crop’s real benefits to the economy.

Hemp investment carries risks. There have been cases in the United States where cultivation has proven unprofitable. A recent report in Texas pointed to the fact that hemp production was generally not profitable.

Guyana is embarking on

Hinterland will have the same benefit...

From page 8 farm in the community.

The President pointed out that if, collectively, the residents are serious about the initiative and will help build the facility, it could be stocked with 400 chicks within two weeks. Key among

the concerns raised was the lack of teachers and teaching assistants in the communities.

To remedy this, the President said that within a month, qualified persons will be registered for the teaching programme to increase the pool in primary schools. In

addition to this, five qualified persons will be employed as teaching assistants in the coming weeks. President Ali also committed to ensuring that a freezer with solar power supplies would soon be provided to the community.

(DPI)

Dem Boys Seh…

No strings attach Lang ago, dem pickney use to start fly kite lang before Easter.

School use to go in recess fuh de Easter, one week before Good Friday and is den mo children does start fly dem kite.

When school close fuh de Easter, dem boys used to deh in de ball park all day, flying kite.

Looking fuh bussaway kite and mekkin dem local kite.

Dem boys use to call it kaddy-ole-punch kite. Dem use to mek it with pointers and den paper it with exercise leaf. And dem boys

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

use to put on a mountain loop and singing engine and fly it with a reel ah thread.

Fuh tail, dem boys use to use old pieces ah cloth tie together. De kaddy-ole-punch use to soar in de sky and nah buss away.

Dem boys nah bin had fuh wait fuh dem parents buy expensive kite fuh dem. But nowadays people waiting fuh free kite from de guvament.

But dem Ministers sharing out sheer cheap Chinese kite.

Dem children nah want dem cheap kites.

Dem want a proper kite like dem ones wah does sell pon de pavement.

Lang ago, when yuh buy a kite pon de pavement, it use to come with tail and balla. Nowadays, dem kite sellers gat a “no-strings” attach policy. Yuh gat to pay fuh de tail and string separately.

When yuh parents buy a kite pon de pavement, dem does mek sure dat yuh put it up after Easter Monday. And tek it out de following year.

But nowadays deh gat some children dem want a new kite every year. Is suh since we find oil. We think money flowing like water.

Talk half. Leff half.

hemp production at the worst possible time. Marketing is thus a major concern. At present, there is a glut in hemp production.

One survey found that more than six out of every 10 cultivators were engaged in production without an assured buyer.

But why should lands which can and should be devoted to pushing Irfaan Ali’s food security drive be diverted into the production of industrial hemp?

And why should sugar lands, humanised by

generations and fertilised with the blood, sweat and tears of Guyanese, be put at the disposal of private investors?

If hemp is as profitable as the government feels, why does the government not make the investment in lieu of the billions that it is using to prop up the sugar industry each year?

Hemp production may well end up like Jagdeo’s much touted plans for agri-fuels: another of his grand failures.

If the Guyana government is serious about helping displaced cane cutters, it

should divide abandoned sugar lands into manageable plots, for food production, rather than handing these lands to private hemp investors.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Monday April 18, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The response of the usual suspects and the Creole middle class

W

riter's note: I found this little gem neatly tucked away in obscurity. It was published on February 30, 2022 in a newspaper in Timbuktu.

It is a letter signed by a large number of signatories.

Below is the missive.

It is a long expression, so there will have to be part two.

Dear Editor, We have read the incessant accusation against us, since the beginning of 2019 with the passing of the no-confidence vote (NCV) in December 2018, the ending of the fivemonth election drama in 2020 and the racially targeted attacks on Indians in September last year.

The lambasting continues non-stop.

The accusation is that a large number of us who live in Guyana and our class affiliates in the diaspora write letters to a newspaper attacking governmental directions, state behaviour and the PPP's attitude but we

never sustained any critical commentary on the NCV, the five- month rigging attempts and the attacks on Indians last year.

It is a two-pronged condemnation of us.

One - because we are products of western culture, we have a historical preference for governments in Guyana run by our class affiliates.

Two - because we are from the Creole middle class and we are urban born Indians of western culture, our historical journey is against the successors of the 19th rural generation in Guyana having continued state power.

We have penned this missive here after meticulous examination of the selfproclamation of political parties all over the world in multi-racial countries.

We believe that in all countries, organisations and movements have not hidden their identity and ideology.

They openly proclaim what

they believe in relation to immigration, class and colour.

Our letter here is an explanation why we were silent on the controversy of President Granger's unilateral appointment of a GECOM chairman, the debate of 34 being a majority of 65 in parliament, the allegations of rigging by the incumbent in the general elections in 2020 and the attacks on Indians in Region Five.

Briefly, here is our position and we hope it is respected. We want to respectfully state that we, who are referred to as the usual suspects and the Creole middle class, have no anthropological dislike for Guyanese Indians.

Our politics is in support of parties that we are comfortable in terms of ethnicity, culture, religion and with whom we have a natural class affinity.

That is our right as it is the

right of all shades of activists around the world.

There is nothing culturally, psychologically and politically wrong with certain sections of the Guyanese community in Guyana and in the diaspora taking class positions.

Parties all over the world dance with class and race.

Mr. Modi in Indian is dancing to that tune right now.

Traditionally we have birthed and preserved the League of Coloured People and National Democratic Party of the 1950s, then the WPA of the 1970s and the AFC from the beginning of the 21st century.

Because of the strategic nature of politics, we have a natural partner in the PNC. We want to say we prefer the PNC to the permanent rule of the PPP. Middle class parties cannot win a majority on their own so strategic alliances have to be formed.

This does not mean we have an incestuous relation with

t h e P N C . We never did from the 1950s right up to 2022. The PNC since Frederick Kissoon its formation has had a m a r r i a g e o f convenience with us which c o n d e m n a t i o n o f o u r resulted in national disaster criticism of the PPP as being an Indian party. under Forbes Burnham.

We cannot understand The PPP and PNC are working class parties that how Guyanese Muslims can have their constituencies. We see Muslim countries in the have our constituencies too. Middle East as natural allies We want to be bold and say but we cannot view the that we have seen no Caribbean as a sea of Creole scholarly work so far that has culture.

There is a sempiternal denounced the Portuguese bond Guyanese Indians have business class in the 1960s from protecting their class formed with India, including interests in the formation of countless Guyanese Muslims too so why we cannot see the the United Force.

N a t u r a l l y, w e a r e Caribbean Sea as an area of mentally uncomfortable with Creole culture?

Now here are our the PPP leaders with whom we never had an historic or explanations for our silence that caused us to be named ongoing relationship. the usual suspects.

We do not believe the TO BE CONTINUED. PPP leaders are westernised (The views expressed in enough to control the richest country in CARICOM which this article are those of the emerged as part of the Creole a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the Caribbean.

We would like to see a opinions of this newspaper.)

Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

'Uitvlugt sugar workers face grim future' President Irfaan Ali meeting with sugar workers

...factory down for over a month; Pres. promises livelihood programme Hundreds of workers at the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate continue to be worried about their future as the factory remains closed over a month after the mill broke down.

As a result, the workers have not been earning and government is at pains to provide some cushion to their woes. During a meeting with the workers last Friday, President Irfaan Ali announced that the estate would find alternative work for six days per week on a short-term basis for the sugar workers. “Having listened to management, I am convinced that there's enough work for planting, weeding, chemical spraying, cleaning of the side-line to get you at least six days per w e e k n o w, a n d I ' v e instructed that this be implemented immediately,” President Ali was quoted in

the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

The President said that the Government wants to see the sugar workers, like all other Guyanese, succeed.

“You have a Government who understands your pain; you have a Government who is committed to working with you and helping you. As we said when we came back, we are here to ensure that the sugar sector succeeds and ensure that we keep employment and not displace employment.”

He said that while the estate is trying its utmost best to resume grinding on a normal level, it continues to be plagued by issues with its gear. To remedy this, the Government has already procured another piece of equipment that will be delivered in July. While the Government waits, he said,

they are working on finding a factory in Miami that has similar facilities.

At the meeting, the President spoke of overall support for the workers. He said that plans are being formulated to register the workers to be part of a livelihood improvement programme to supplement their estate jobs. One of the options is the establishment of chicken facilities where workers will be able to take part in poultry farming with approximately 150-200 birds.

“We are going to try to get the resources so that you don't stay without work, you get the six days per week, and at the same time, we are going to work with you to support you with the livelihood option.” President Ali added that he will consult with the Senior Minister

within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, to see what further help can be provided.

Back in March, the Guyana Sugar Corporation had confirmed that the Uitvlugt Sugar Factory is presently out of operation due to a mechanical failure of its #1Mill gearbox. In a statement, the Sugar Corporation said then that after the factory went down immediately when the mechanical problem was detected and the technical team kicked into action and had the necessary repairs commenced at a fabrication workshop. “The promised delivery date from the workshop is March 8th, 2022. If this plan is fulfilled, grinding operations will recommence on the evening of March 9th, 2022 where

some 600 punts of cane are scheduled to be crushed,” GuySuCo said then. Since then, there has been no breakthrough in fixing the problem and recently reports surfaced that the sugar company was seeking to source the parts overseas. In the meantime, the workers have been asked to stay home as there is no work.

The Uitvlugt issue adds to the woes of the beleaguered sugar corporation that produced 30,865MT less of sugar when compared with 2020.

Based on a report, GuySuCo's pre-audited production stood at 58,025MT of sugar in 2021 compared to 88,890MT in 2020. Despite the significant shortfall, the Corporation had said it met all the needs of the local market for 2021.

It was explained that the

shortfall was a result of the loss of some 35 percent of the standing cane during the 2nd Crop of 2021 due to the flood.

“At Albion, where 50 percent of the production was programmed to be made, the mortality rate for the standing canes planned to be harvested for the 1st Crop of 2022 is estimated at 80 percent due to the floods.

On the Berbice Estates where more than 77 percent of the production is made, the rainfalls in 2021 were 72 percent more than the previous year,” GuySuCo detailed, while noting that it drained some 4.5 million tonnes of water off the land daily during the 65-day flood.The ailing sugar corporation has seen a continuous decline in performance over (Continued on page 16)

Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

West Dem Co-op up in arms against Govt. over takeover President Irfaan Ali during his visit to the Leonora Market.

- chairman says IMC unlawful Chairman and committee m e m b e r s o f t h e We s t Demerara Market Cooperative Society Limited are set to meet authorities over what they believe is an illegal takeover of their functions by an imposed Interim Management Committee (IMC).

Co-op chairman, Hemraj Ragnauth, told the Kaieteur News yesterday that he was informed by way of letter, Saturday last, the decision of Chief Co-operative Development Officer (CCDO) to have an IMC conduct the affairs of the society. The move comes as a total surprise as no efforts were made to communicate or ascertain the matters involving the body, Ragnauth explained.

Ragnauth told the newspaper that based on the letter received from the Chief Co-op Officer (CCO) claims were made about

mismanagement of funds and failure to carry out certain functions. He told the newspaper that the letter claimed that a meeting was held with co-opt members, but as the chairman of the society, he nor his committee is aware of any such engagement; while none of the issues alleged were brought to their attention.

Ragnauth explained that for the last three years, there has not been no audit of the co-op's books which is a process facilitated by the Labour Ministry's Cooperative Division. Almost a year now, Ragnauth said he has written to the authorities to have the audit conducted, but to date there has been no response.

He added that following the ascension of the current administration he wrote letters to the government indicating difficulties the society was having which

Do you know this man?

included financial struggles.

Ragnauth said that instead of having the matters addressed, the co-operative has now been blindsided with an IMC consisting of persons connected to the Stewartville/Cornelia Ida NDC. Ragnauth told the newspaper that at this point, the co-operative is seeking clarity since they are dumbfounded as to how a decision was reached to impose an IMC when no communication or warning was issued. “We just want to get it clear how we have mismanaged funds,” Ragnauth said.

He said that the body is disappointed at the violation of the society's rights given their responsibility to their more than 200 members.

Ragnauth continued that every last Saturday of the month is the society's statutory meeting and one such meeting was recently held, but no mention was made of any issues concerning the management of the co-opt.

Ragnauth submitted that that he and his committee have no issues with the government intervening but that process must follow procedures.

“My point is if the CCO finds that we are mismanaging in office then

we would think that an investigation would be launched, not a takeover in this manner. It is not that we are fighting anything but you are breaking the rules,” Ragnauth opined.

West Demerara Co-op has responsibility for the Leonora Market, hometown of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, where he recently visited and promised an upgrade of facilities, such as a larger market tarmac. Ragnauth told the newspaper that matters relating to the market were among the issues they wanted to highlight to the government where persons were vending on the roadway.

He told the newspaper that, “suddenly, after the President visited the market, we now have an IMC. President Ali had visited the Leonora Market three days before Minister of

Labour, Joseph Hamilton informed that an IMC, comprising five members, would be responsible for the co-op and its functions.

He said that the IMC would be functioning for the next six to 12 months as reports of revenue mismanagement surfaced.

The government's information department had said that the Labour Ministry would be taking action after members of the society petitioned for government's intervention to properly manage the co-op's operations.

They said the petition d e s c r i b e d t h e mismanagement of funds, non-hosting of the Annual General Meeting (AGM), no dividends given to members, as well as the lack of audited financial statements.

The IMC is installed under the Cooperative

Society Act, Chapter 88:01, which permits the CCDO to take over any cooperative, friendly society or credit union, which in the CCDO's opinion, is being mismanaged or nontransparent, it was stated.

Just over a week ago, government also installed an IMC at the Linden Utility Services Co-op Society Limited (LUSCSL).

Hamilton, in defending the decision of the Chief Cooperative Development Officer (ag) had said that LUSCSL had been poorly managed, and if not fixed could result in its collapse.

Staff and directors of the Coopt staged sit-outs resisting the IMC. Hamilton had said that that co-opt had failed to have AGMs for six years and no audits were conducted since 2016, with no update to the general members register.

Parika man killed in Bartica accident

The motorcycle that killed Premnauth Persaud.

Police need help identifying Tarzan.

Police in Region 8 are seeking the public's help in identifying the body of a miner who drowned last Friday while trying to cross a creek at Obanna, Kurubrong.

The only available information that ranks have about the man is that he is called “Tarzan” and hails from Berbice, Region 6. Tarzan is an East Indian man with long hair and dark in complexion.

According to police, he had gotten swept away by high water level and strong current while crossing over a creek on a piece of wood. He was at the time heading to Obanna, Kurubrong landing. His body was recovered on Sunday.

A 54-year-old businessman died on Saturday after he was struck down by a motorcycle along First Avenue Bartica, Region Seven.

He was identified as Premnauth Persaud of Hubu Backdam, Parika, East Bank of Essequibo (EBE).

Persaud had been vending fruits and vegetables in the township of Bartica for some time now. On

Saturday around 22:10hrs, he was standing on the western side of First Avenue when a speeding motorcyclist lost control of his bike and crashed into him. As a result, he was pitched onto the paved road where he sustained multiple injuries leaving him unconscious.

According to police, the motorcyclist is a 19year-old miner and was reportedly speeding north with a pillion rider.

They too had sustained injuries after the collision. Police were summoned to the scene and the three men were picked up and rushed to the Bartica Hospital.

Persaud was pronounced dead on arrival and the motorcyclist and his pillion rider were treated and sent away.

Police have however, detained the motorcyclist as the traffic ranks continue their investigation.

Kaieteur News

Monday April 18, 2022

PAGE 15

Airport, stadium in Berbice will be ...economy, air traffic 'white elephants' cannot justify such projects P

r o m i n e n t Engineer Charles Sohan has flayed government's promises to build an airport at Rose Hall, and a stadium and hotel at Palmyra saying that the economy and the anticipated air traffic in the Region cannot justify such these projects.

“The people in this region are struggling to find jobs as well as putting food on their tables for their families particularly so since the closing of the sugar estates- where would these Guyanese find the resources and time to attend functions at a sports stadium and pay for lodging in an expensive hotel when their priorities have to be directed elsewhere?' Sohan asked in a letter to this newspaper.

During a Cabinet outreach last week, both President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo made the announcement of the mega projects- aimed at appeasing its base that is still reeling from the government's failure to reopen the closed sugar estates promised

during the elections campaign in 2022.

While addressing members of the Region Six business community at the Classic International Hotel and Resort in Skeldon last week Sunday, Jagdeo said that the government has taken all the lands from GuySuCo around the village of Palmyra, behind the Indian Arrival Monument for the stadium.

Construction works are expected to commence before year end. “We believe that just like how that stadium serves Regions Three and Four across the bridge, so too this stadium can serve Regions Six and Five and can become a growth pole,” he said. He also noted that the government has received several proposals for hotel development in Region Six and pointed out that these investments will support the government's efforts to drive growth and generate jobs in Region Six. Only last week Economist, Ramon Gaskin told the Kaieteur News that

there are several areas, some dealing with life and death situations that the government should address before spending on major investments that do not directly and immediately improve the quality of citizens' lives. Gaskin

to free education at the University of Guyana despite this requirement being in the Constitution. He highlighted the need for subsidizing basic food items and even the need for price control on those primary items that have seen huge

Government has promised to build a stadium and hotel at Palmyra. expressed concern that Guyanese are still burdened by the meagre $44,200 minimum wage which the government has not yet approved despite the awful effects felt by the globally influenced high cost of living. Gaskin pointed to the lack of attention being paid

price increases due to external influences.

Gaskin was especially concerned about what he noticed was an increase in the establishment of private health institutions to which he said government was delegating services instead of itself investing the funds

to reduce cost paid by citizens.

Gaskin said it is appalling that all these multimillion and multi-billion dollar infrastructural projects are coming on stream, while the government has failed to improve the minimum wage, which its labour ministry and workers' unions had agreed to during tripartite discussions in 2019. He opined that the government has instead embarked on projects that will benefit a small few. For example, in Berbice where the President recently announced a number of projects, these he said will not ease the pressures of the region, which was impacted severely by the reduction of the sugar industry.

As it relates to health, Gaskin said that instead of expanding its services, the government seems to be delegating its responsibility to private institutions.

Attorney-at-Law and chartered accountant Christopher Ram also believes that the government

should be doing more to benefit citizens immediately an d d ir ectly. H e to ld Kaieteur News in an invited comment that despite the physical infrastructure, they should at least deal with the important social infrastructure. To be fair, Ram posited, the government has embarked on some socially related developments, but these are not being developed at the same rate as infrastructural development. Ram insisted that, “people have a right to a living wage and that is nonnegotiable.” He said however, this right begins with the government making it clear to the private sector that the current minimum wage is unacceptable. He said, “It is unacceptable that in this day and age, with the fastest growing economy that we are well below the minimum wage of less performing countries in the world.” Ram said he is also unwilling to accept any talk that increasing workers' pay will increase inflation since there is no evidence to prove this.

Police outposts for Mandela-Eccles highway

I

nvestment in the r e c e n t l y commissioned $2.6B four-lane Mandela to Eccles highway is not over as yet.

In fact, plans are now being streamlined to adorn the new highway with two new police outposts with the aim of enhancing traffic control and crime detection in the Georgetown and East Bank Police districts.

The government's plans to invest more in the highway were revealed via a press statement sent out by the Guyana Police Force's (GPF) Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) on Saturday.

According to the statement, “Plans are in motion to further enhance the police presence on the recently commissioned Mandela Avenue to Eccles Four Lane Highway… As two police outposts are soon expected to be placed at both ends of the highway.”

One of the outposts will be placed some 400 metres

Commander of Georgetown Police Division, Simon McBean and others identifying locations for the new police outposts.

Overhead shot of one of the locations.

away from the roundabout at M a n d e l a Av e n u e , Georgetown and a second will be constructed the same distance away from the turn that leads to the highway from Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara.

Commander of the Georgetown Police Division, Simon McBean, and Acting

D e p u t y P o l i c e Commissioner of Operations, Ravindradat Budram, visited the Highway on Friday to identify the potential locations to construct the new outposts.

The government has already invested some $2.6B on the highway and President Irfaan Ali boasted during its

commissioning ceremony on Thursday last that it is equipped with a security feature that can track errant road users.

He said that the new security feature will be turned on in three week's time and will be able to track and record vehicle speeds and transfer that data

electronically to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The technology, Ali had said, will als o be able to id entify numb er plates and the image of d r iv ers an d their front s eat p as s en g ers – even o n d ar k r ainy n ig h ts –

and transmit that in f o r mation electronically as well to the relevant authorities.

If motorists are found breaking the traffic rules, such as driving above the speed limit, then the information will be used to prosecute them.

(Shervin Belgrave)

PAGE 16

Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

COVID-19 ICU empty

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Nissan X trail in immaculate condition,model 204.Price $2.8M negotiable. Contact: 641-1303.

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1 male to work on Chicken Farm in the interior.Must have knowledge about poultry farming.Contact:680-2702.

General worker, Handyboy, Receptionist & workers to work at Hotel.Contact:6933946.

As the COVID-19 cases continue to decline here, the Ministry of Health reported on Sunday that there is no patient in the ICU and that only three cases were recorded.

The total number of confirmed cases stands at 63,371, with some 62,049 persons recovered thus far. Total deaths stands at 1228. Meanwhile, amid the Easter festivities, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony last week urged citizens across the country to ensure they take all precautions since the pandemic is not over. He said wearing a mask in crowded environments can prevent infection.

He noted too, that getting vaccinated will prevent the severe form of the disease and in many cases hospitalisation.

“People must take the relevant precautions; those precautions would be that you should, if you’re in a congested environment, at least

'Change to PAC quorum, another blow to...

From page 2 Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira who moved the Motion, said that government could not allow opposition MPs to continue scrutinizing government spending without the administration's representatives, which has been hap-

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have on a mask and if you must be in those environments, make sure that you’re also vaccinated,” he said. Due to the pandemic, emergency measures were put in place to curb the spread of the disease.

As such, citizens were unable to fully celebrate the joyous holiday for the past two years.

This year, with a decrease in positive cases, hospitalisation and deaths, the government took the necessary steps in reopening the country. Also, measures such as mask wearing, curfew and social distancing were relaxed to enable some level of normalcy.

However, persons are advised to protect themselves by getting inoculated and continue to sanitise. Additionally, with approximately 100 active cases, Dr. Anthony said, “I just want people to be very cautious, because while we want to open up the country… we’re not at a place where we have zero COVID in Guyana.”

- as three new cases recorded on Sunday

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pening for the last few months. As a matter of building trust, Teixeira had said that the quorum change was merely to protect both opposition and government by ensuring their presence.

She had said that in the PAC, both government and opposition expenditure are re-

viewed. The motion is an attempt for there to be adequate participation from both sides and so that no side could have a runaway train, she posited.

Opposition MPs are adamant however that the PAC quorum change is really a new avenue to limit scrutiny

of government spending since the mere absence of their officials would now prevent the holding of the meetings.

Among other things, the PAC meets on Mondays to examine the audited accounts presented in the Auditor General's Report.

'Uitvlugt sugar workers face grim...

From page 12 the years, in terms of production but has seen billions of dollars from the nation's coffers being plugged annually into the industry.

Back in 2017, the Coalition Government had unveiled what it termed a 'State Paper on the Future of the Sugar Industry', which it then said would focus on the poorlyperforming estates and have them shift from sugar to diversification. The plan was to amalgamate Wales Estate with Uitvlugt Estate and reassign its cane to the Uitvlugt factory, since the estate is operating at 50 percent capacity. Sixty percent of its drainage and irrigation infrastructure is in a dilapidated condition. The corporation furthermore seeks to divest

itself of the Skeldon Estate.

The estates of Albion and Rose Hall were to be amalgamated and the factory at Rose Hall is to be closed.”

The Coalition had said that the industry would then consist of three estates and three sugar factories. The estates would be Blairmont on the West Bank Berbice, Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice and the UitvlugtWales estate in West Demerara. The three estates will be complete with factories and will have cane supplied from all five locations.

By virtue of the amalgamation, the Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Rose Hall, Berbice factories were to be closed. The PPP/C had criticised the move and made a central theme of its 2020

elections campaign to reopen all of the shuttered estates.

However, two years after being in office, the government has not been able to reopen any of the estates. In fact, late last year, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told state media that: “timeline for viability on sugar is linked to how quickly we decouple sugar from other activities, and so going purely after sugar itself it would mean a longer term return to viability. If we can merge sugar with other economic activities on these estates which we are trying to do then we can achieve overall viability faster.” For last year alone, GuySuCo received over $6B from the national Treasury. It received a further $6B in this year's budget.

‘The battle for lands' From page 8 existing, pre-independence laws and saved them from being declared invalid for being in conflict with the new constitutions. He highlighted that the clause has been allowed to operate for decades after the attainment of independence to preserve laws that are universally acknowledged to violate basic human rights. Instead of being struck down, the CCJ Judge said that such unconstitutional laws have been protected or saved by the savings law clause.

“It is important to recall that the clause was intended, at inception, to allow us space, for local legislatures to reform existing laws that will be revealed to be unconstitutional with the advent of the new Constitution,” Barrow said noting “However, because there has not been the legislative reform, which was contemplated in the conception, the clause has been allowed to operate for decades after the attainment of independence to preserve laws.” Justice Barrow also

referenced the case of McEwan and others against the Attorney General of Guyana, where the CCJ declared invalid a colonial-era law that criminalised crossdressing because it infringed the constitutional right to equality before the law, nondiscrimination, and freedom of expression. He noted that the CCJ as the apex court held that the savings law clause was incapable of preserving the law from a declaration of unconstitutionality and being struck down.

Monday April 18, 2022

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

GPL to purchase 50 MW of power for national grid Even though the bulk of this year’s budget is channeled to the energy sector in a bid to hopefully ease the electricity woes the country continues to grapple with, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is moving in the direction of purchasing power to add to the national grid.

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. on Sunday said it is hunting for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) that can supply 50 Megawatts (MW) of electricity to the National grid, by March next year. This year, government allocated 29.4 billion to the energy sector. Major allocations within this amount include: $20.8 for the Gas-toEnergy project and $1.4 billion for the 33 MWs solar farms for Berbice, Essequibo, and Linden. Nevertheless, an Expression of Interest (EOI), published in the state newspaper said, the 50 MW of power will interconnect with the 69kV (kilovolts) national grid and shall be split into two

lots of 25 MW per installation.

The earmarked 69 kV substations for interconnection are New Sophia and Canefield.

Although the EOI was published, the company was keen to note that the advertisement does not constitute an invitation to tender. It added that only power companies deemed qualified by GPL will receive details, guiding the next steps of the process. GPL said, “the stateowned electric utility company, invites technically and financially sound IPPs to submit an EOI to supply a total of 50 MW HFO-fired Firm Power Generating Capacity (gross) on a 24 hour basis with appropriate substations to interconnect with the 69 kV National Grid (the project) by March 2023 for a period of three years.”

The company said that companies must demonstrate the ability to deliver a complete project and be ready to commission within six months of approval. Importantly, a

operational cost, signaling that there may be a need to hike the electricity bills, if customers did not reduce their power consumption. The climb in operation expenditure for the company came amidst the ongoing Russia and Ukraine war. Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo later laid those concerns to rest, assuring that Guyanese would not see an increase to their monthly bills.

Back in January 2020, GPL Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Bharat Dindyal suitable candidate would have to provide details of a project completed successfully of similar scope within the last 10 years and, have the ability to finance the project.

GPL’s power supplier shall be responsible for all activities, which include transport to and set up at site, operate and maintain the power generating facility, test and decommission, among others.

Recently, the power company complained of its high

Mother had warned teacher not to return to abusive boyfriend’s home Simone Walks, the mother of the 19-year-old teacher who was stabbed fatally by her boyfriend on Wednesday last said she had warned her daughter not to return to her b o y f r i e n d ’s home following years of abuse and mistreatment.

S h a n i c e Wa l k s , a mother of one was stabbed to her neck with a kitchen knife at her boyfriend’s home located at Craig on the East Bank of Demerara ( E B D ) . Speaking with Kaieteur News on Saturday, Simone Walks said that the death of her daughter is a consequence of her remaining in an abusive relationship. Simone recalled rescuing her daughter several times from the blows she would receive at the hands of her boyfriend and the most recent case was in February a few weeks before she was killed.

“She confessed to me, she said, mommy, I want nothing more to do with this boy. I’m finished with him and everything…February was the last.

She reported it to the station when he assaulted her…We had to get a taxi to pick her up from Grove Police Station, she came home with a ‘boungie’ (colloquial term for bump) on her forehead and black and blue marks on her foot,” Simone related.

After that incident, Walks had broken off the relationship with her abusive boyfriend and she moved with their son to live with her mother in Linden, Region 10.

Simone said that she had

Dead, Shanice Walks warned her daughter not return to her boyfriend’s house again and not to rekindle the relationship with him and Walks had promised to comply.

On the day she was killed, Walks had traveled from Linden to Georgetown to transact some business and return, but she never did.

It is unclear how Walks ended up at her boyfriend’s house that day but it is believed that he might have called her there.

According to the police, the boyfriend claimed that he had accidently stabbed Walks during an argument they had at his home.

He alleged that Walks had attacked him with a knife and while trying to take away the weapon, he ended up stabbing her.

The boyf r i e n d t o l d police that after he realised what had happened, he became scared, locked the house and left.

He later contacted his brother and told him what transpired. Police said the brother and an aunt took the

Walk’s mother, Simone Walks. young man to the Grove Police Station where he reportedly confessed to the crime.

Police later visited his house and had to force their way in to locate Walk’s remains. She was found lying on her back beside a bed with a knife stuck inside her neck.

Walk’s mother however does not believe that her daughter ’s death was an accident.

“He is claiming that it is a mistake but it is not a mistake, it is a willful act because how we see this knife, this knife went straight through the neck and come through the next side, only the handle ‘leff ’ out...It cut all the tubes in her throat and punctured her air bag. He also locked her in the room and left her to bleed to death”, said the grieving woman.

With her daughter now dead, Simone said that she is now focused on taking care of her one-year-old grandson who celebrated his birthday on the day his mother was killed.

inked a power purchase agreement with businessman, Roy Beepat, to supply the national grid with 4.5 MW of electricity. The added power augmented the 120 megawatts that GPL was supplying to the power grid.

The proprietor of Giftland Mall had stated that his power generating system has the capacity to share some 4.5 megawatts with the Guyana Power and Light, depending on the time of

day. He explained that while Giftland has 6.7MW of power, only 1.6MW is used during optimal operations. It was later revealed that an estimated $34 million each month was being forked out to purchase the badly needed power from the Giftland Mall, to compensate for the shortfall of electricity.

Beepat said that the power itself would cost around $9.9 million per month while fuel cost is estimated to be $29.5 million.

PAGE 18

Opposition still wants full debate on oil spill insurance Motion The Parliamentary Opposition is still arguing its case for a full debate to be allowed on an oil spill insurance Motion it submitted to the National Assembly on February 16, which was weakened by the Speaker, Manzoor Nadir.

The Speaker removed 13 of the 20 clauses in the Motion which is calling for the Government of Guyana, to include full unlimited liability coverage for oil spills and other disasters related to petroleum production, as a

Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

condition for granting approval for ExxonMobil’s fourth project, the Yellowtail development, and all other future petroleum development.

It is also seeking an independent analysis on the possible ill effects of an oil spill and for this report to be submitted to the Parliamentary Committee of Natural Resources, to be used as a reference for all other future oil development submissions.

The Yellowtail Permit was issued on March 30, 2022, but the oil giant,

ExxonMobil is already seeking approval for its fifth project, Uaru+.

The Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, David Patterson in a brief comment yesterday explained that the Opposition was still trying to get the full Motion onto the order paper.

H o w e v e r, h e e x plained that if the e f forts go in vain, a decision will be made in the new week as it relates to filing a court action to get the oil company to respect Guyana’s environment.

Russian warship: Moskva crew ‘shown for first time since sinking’ (BBC NEWS) The Russian defence ministry has published images showing what it says is the crew of the warship Moskva - the first time any sailors from the ship have been seen since its sinking.

A large group of sailors is seen on parade in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, met by Navy Commander-in-Chief Adm Nikolay Yevmenov.

The Moskva was the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet.

The ship’s demise has been described as a huge blow to Russian morale.

The ministry announced late on Thursday that the Moskva had sunk on stormy seas after a fire caused by exploding ammunition.

Ukraine said it had sunk the ship with two Neptune missiles.

Russia said at the time that the crew had been taken to Sevastopol, a major port Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

This, however, is the first time any evidence has been offered of the survival of any sailors.

The video shows Adm Yevmenov and two other officers standing on a parade ground in front of about 100 sailors.

It is not clear when the meeting took place.

In an interview shown at the end of the video, Adm Yevmenov says that the officers and crew are currently residing at their base in Sevastopol and will continue their service in the navy.

Russia has not reported any casualties from the fire or the sinking.

However, an unnamed US official quoted by Reuters said Washington believed there were casualties.

Ukraine says the ship’s captain, Anton Kuprin, was killed on board, but the BBC has been unable to verify the claim.

The 12,490-tonne cruiser is the biggest Russian war-

ship to be sunk in action since World War Two. On the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, the Moskva gained notoriety after calling on a small garrison of Ukrainian border troops defending Snake Island in the Black Sea to surrender - to which they memorably radioed an expletive-laden message of refusal. Originally built in the Soviet era, the Moskva entered service in the early 1980s.

The vessel was actually built in Ukraine’s southern city of Mykolaiv, which has been heavily bombed

by Russia in recent days.

The guided missile cruiser was previously deployed by Moscow in the Syria conflict where it supplied Russian forces in the country with naval protection from the Mediterranean.

It is the second major vessel Russia has lost since the start of its invasion of Ukraine.

Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thompson-Herah runs world leading 10.89 at USATF Golden Games (SportsMax) - Double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah sped to a world leading 10.89 in the 100m at the USATF Golden Games at the Mt SAC Relays in California on Saturday. Thompson-Herah ran the time in the heats but didn’t take part in the final later that day.

Olympic gold medallist in the 4x100m relay Briana Williams was also fast in the heats with a time of 10.91 before eventually finishing fifth in the final with 10.97 with an illegal 3.3 m/s tailwind. The USA’s Twanisha Terry ran 10.77 to win the final ahead of team-

mates Aleia Hobbs (10.80) and Gabby Thomas (10.86). In the field, Laquan Nairn of the Bahamas leapt out to a personal best 8.22m to win the Men’s long jump ahead of the USA’s Will Williams (8.18) and Carter Shell (7.91). Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas-Dodd threw 18.92m to win the Women’s shot put ahead of Americans Jessica Woodard (18.77) and Jessica Ramsey (18.71). Trinidad and Tobago’s Tyra Gittens cleared 1.85m for third in the Women’s high jump behind the USA’s Vashti Cunningham’s world leading 1.96m and Rachel McCoy’s 1.85.

Elaine Thompson-Herah did not take part in the final later that day

Chelsea beat...

Monday April 18, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today, Aries, forget socializing, working, and answering the phone. Stay home and cuddle in a blanket by the fire. Get out your old yearbooks or photo albums and have fun reflecting on good times from your past.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You've been working hard lately and deserve the professional acclaim that comes your way, Libra. As a result of your efforts, it's likely you've received or will soon receive a bonus, raise, or promotion of some kind.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Don't be surprised if neighbors come to your door asking for a favor – and not just to borrow a cup of sugar!

While your initial response will be to say yes (it's your nature, after all), think twice.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is likely to be a day geared to fulfilling the needs of family. Lesser persons would resent the obligation, but not you, Scorpio. You have a nurturing spirit.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're likely to wake up today with a compulsion to clean or organize something, Gemini. This may be rather unlike you.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today should be a "no holds barred" day as you strategize your next career move, Cancer. If you were in the army, you'd be a fivestar general by now - your tactical sense is that good.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today might be largely devoted to household tasks, Leo. It isn't exactly the most glamorous assignment, but you take a certain pleasure in attending to daily necessities.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) This is going to be a rather busy day for you, Virgo, and you're likely to love every minute of it. You can expect to meet many people as you go about your day.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Guilt can be a powerful motivator, Sagittarius, but it isn't a pure one. Today you could feel obligated to help a family member with something you'd prefer to take no part in.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today you could feel overwhelmed with obligations and commitments to others.

There isn't a moment free for yourself.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Those who know the real you find your lack of confidence frustrating, Aquarius. Your talents are startling to mere mortals.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may be in a quiet, reflective mood today, Pisces. You could receive a communication from an old friend that sets you remembering the good old days of your youth.

From page 23 were eliminated 5-4 on aggregate. It also keeps them in contention to end a turbulent season with silverware when they take on Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool again next month, having lost 11-10 to them on penalties in the League Cup final in February after a 0-0 draw following extra time. “I think it took a little deflection but I’ll take it... it’s long overdue,” Loftus-Cheek said of his goal. “It’s been a tough road for me, with injuries and going out on loan. “We want to get Liverpool back, simple as that. I thought the Carabao (League) Cup final was a fantastic game that could have gone either way. We’re looking forward to it, and hopefully we’ll get our revenge.”

Rob Key named England...

From page 22 for England across all three formats and was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2005 on the back of a Test double hundred against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2004.He score more than 28,000 runs in a career spanning three decades.“Following a thorough recruitment process, Rob stood out in a very competitive field,” said ECB chief

executive officer Tom Harrison.“His passion and knowledge of the game at domestic and international level is outstanding.

He is a proven leader and combines an approachable nature with fresh original thinking and resilience which will stand him in good stead.

“He will bring a lot to the role and I am sure players and staff alike will enjoy working with Rob.”

PAGE 22

Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

NY Tri State Guyana Tour...

Campbell’s magnificent 137 highlights drawn game

By Sean Devers New York Tri State U-17 cricket team ended their Guyana tour yesterday with high scoring draw with the visitors taking a first innings lead in their final two-day game against the GCA 17s at the DCC ground.

NY Tri State resumed on their overnight score of 333-8 and were all out at 10:55hrs for 361 with Anirudh Bolisetty taking his first day score of 17 to 37.

Leg-spinner Riyad Latif had 4-129 while left-arm pacer Dillion Ramsaroop and Jeremiah Hohenkirk had two wickets each.

When the home team began their reply, Jadon Campbell’s 137 lasted 175 balls and included 12 fours and three sixes before he was removed by Tanish Dongre in the last over of the match.

The NY Tri State team after their final game at DCC (Sean Devers photo)

Jaden Campbell fell in the last over of the drawn game for a magnificent 137

Alvin Mohabir hit 10 fours and a six in a pugnacious 33ball 53 as the pair put together 83 for the second wicket.

Myhiem Khan (42) and Shiloh Adams (19) were the other

batters to reach double figures as GCA were bowled out 296. Bolisetty Dongre and Ansh Rai captured three wickets each. The host began the run chase in steaming hot

conditions with a flat track and lightning fast outfield.

Jeremiah Hohenkirk and Campbell gave the GCA unit a rollicking start with openers going after pacers Bolisetty and Ruhan Swar before Bolisetty bowled Hohenkirk for 22 at 41-1.

At Lunch, GCA were 501from 10 overs with Campbell on 27 & Alvin Mohabir yet to score. After the interval, they continued to dominated the attack with Campbell favouring the pulls, cuts and sweep while the taller Mohabir, used his off drives to good effect as the partnership flourished.

But with the score on 129 left-arm spinner Rai, the leading wicket-taker in the ‘white ball’ format, had Mohabir stumped.

Without addition to the score Jaden Dowlin missed a sweep and was adjudged LBW for a duck before Ria bowled Johnaton Vanlange

Alvin Mohabier cuts during his half-century yesterday at DCC (Sean Devers photo)

first ball to be on a hat-trick.

The host side slipped from 129-1 to 129-4.

Khan and Campbell who timed the ball exquisitely staged a recovery and took the score 210 before Khan was run out.

None of the remaining batters reached double figures before Campbell was dis-

missed to end the match.

The tourists played five limited overs games winning three while losing to the Berbice U17s at Albion and to GCA’s U-17s at DCC. Their only ‘Red ball’ game was yesterday’s drawn encounter. The Americans are scheduled to depart Guyana today.

Rob Key named England men’s managing director (BBC Sport) - Former England and Kent batter Rob Key has been named the managing director of England men’s cricket.

Key takes on the role from Andrew Strauss, who had stepped in on an interim basis following the sacking of Ashley Giles in February.

Giles’ departure from the job - which he had taken up in December 2018 - followed England’s 4-0 Ashes defeat in Australia.

“It is an absolute honour to take up this role,” Key said.

“The chance to have an impact and make a difference is an opportunity given to very few and I will give it everything I have to try to shape the next great era of English men’s cricket.”

He will start immediately, and give up his commentary role with Sky Sports.

In addition to his broadcasting work, Key been involved with cricket administration since his retirement in 2016. Among his roles, he has been a member of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Performance Cricket Committee.

He comes in at a time when England are seeking a new head coach and Test captain. Chris Silverwood was sacked as head coach following the Ashes defeat in Australia, while Joe Root announced on Friday that he was relinquishing the captaincy.

Root’s final series in charge had been a defeat by

the West Indies - England’s fourth series defeat in a row.

“Although at this current moment it has been a challenging time in English cricket, I also think it’s as exciting a time as I can remember,” Key said.

In contrast to those Test failings, England’s white-ball men’s teams have enjoyed success in recent years, winning the World Cup in 2019.

“With two of our teams near or at the top of the world rankings and an undoubted amount of talent in our game, I hope to try and bring everyone along for the ride so we can all help take English men’s cricket to new heights across all formats,” Key continued. Key played 21 times (Continued on page 21)

Monday April 18, 2022

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Concacaf, UEFA wish Guyana U-16 squad well on Euro adventure

The U16 boys’ national team historic participation in a European tournament in Bosnia and Herzegovina this month will accelerate their development as players and young men, according to Concacaf and UEFA, praising the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for crafting opportunities for young players to expand their horizons and reach their potential.

Enabled by UEFA Assist and with the full support of Concacaf, a 20-player strong Junior Jaguars squad will play Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania and Montenegro in Guyana’s first appearance at a UEFA-sanctioned tournament in Europe.

“We are delighted to support the development of the Guyana Football Federation’s U16 national team,” said UEFA Head of International Relations Eva Pasquier. “The opportunity to play in a European tournament, learn from and exchange with UEFA national associations, and expe-

rience new cultures will undoubtedly help these young stars to develop both on and off the pitch. And this is exactly what UEFA Assist is all about.”

Guyana, led by Head Coach Vurlon Mills, play Bosnia and Herzegovina on April 19, Lithuania on April 21, and Montenegro on April 24. The unprecedented invitation to play in the four-team friendly tournament is the direct result of the GFF’s focus on building meaningful relationships with UEFA and its other international football partners as it strengthens the image and standing of Guyana in the football world.

The GFF and UEFA have worked together on “return to play” planning during the COVID-19 pandemic, while UEFA funded two minibuses to reduce the cost of participation for players in GFF development programmes and competitions. With the backing of Concacaf, UEFA is also supporting the creation of

Guyana’s first professional football league.

“Concacaf wishes to express its full support on this initiative and wishes the team all the best,” said Howard McIntosh, Head of One Concacaf and Caribbean Special Projects. “The GFF administration, led by Wayne Forde, has proven time and time again that it will take on numerous football challenges, and it’s good to see this remarkable opportunity coming to fruition.”

“This approach is consistent with the philosophy expressed by Concacaf President Victor Montagliani in putting football first,” McIntosh said. “We hope that the boys have a safe and successful trip and take full advantage of every opportunity that they have to represent Guyana and Concacaf in this tournament.”

As part of their ambassadorial role in representing Guyana on their European trip, the U16 players will share

Chelsea beat Palace 2-0 to book FA Cup final against Liverpool Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored their first goal. (Reuters)

(Reuters) - Chelsea reached their third straight FA Cup final with a hard-earned 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium on Sunday to set up a showdown with quadruple-chasing Liverpool.

Second-half goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount fired Thomas Tuchel’s side to victory in the semi-final and secured a place in the May 14 showpiece match versus Liverpool, who beat Manchester City 3-2 on Saturday.

In their fifth FA Cup final appearance in six years, Chelsea will look to make amends after being runnersup to Leicester City and Arsenal in the last two seasons and also try to avenge their League Cup final loss to Liverpool in February.

“I’m happy to be part of another FA Cup final,” Tuchel

said. “It’s a huge competition.

I’m very grateful and we’ll be ready.”

After an attritional first hour, a patient Chelsea side finally broke Palace’s stubborn resistance in the 65th minute through substitute Loftus-Cheek, who had replaced the injured Mateo Kovacic midway through the first half.

Kai Havertz’s cross from the right wasdeflected out to former Palace loanee LoftusCheek who hammered a ferocious shot that hit opposing defender Joachim Andersen and flew into the net for the 26-year-old’s first goal of the season.

Mount added a crucial second just over 10 minutes later and sealed the victory for Chelsea, playing Timo Werner’s ball from the edge of the box past Andersen with

his first touch and beating goalkeeper Jack Butland with his second.

Patrick Vieira’s Palace had defended well to contain Chelsea until Loftus-Cheek broke the deadlock and were nearly rewarded for a gritty display, with Cheikhou Kouyate twice coming close.

Palace’s talisman Wilfried Zaha was unable to shake off his marker Reece James and make an impact, while Eberechi Eze offered little as a replacement for on-loan midfielder Connor Gallagher, who was unable to play against his parent club.

The win was a tonic for eight-times FA Cup winners Chelsea after Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal exit at Real Madrid, where the holders won the second leg 3-2 after extra time but (Continued on page 19)

The U16s will share tourism brochures with other teams and officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina Guyana tourism and investment brochures with other tournament participants and officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Guyana Tourism Authority has also contributed financial support to the squad.

“We are very keen for the

boys to make a positive impression on their European audience, and not just in the way they conduct themselves on the field of play,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

“The squad has been preparing to represent their na-

tion in the role of young ambassadors, including reading up on their history as well as taking it upon themselves to showcase Guyana’s beauty and spirit of adventure as a tourism destination and its attractiveness as an investment opportunity.”

PAGE 24

Monday April 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

Guyana women’s hockey Young Warriors CC launches restoration funds project team suffers second - Pleads for Government and Corporate support loss at CAC Qualifiers The players’ pavilion is in a condition of disrepair

Guyana’s Marzana Fiedtkou tries to evade two Bermudian defenders

The Guyana women’s hockey team suffered its second defeat in as many matches, this time to hosts Bermuda during the CAC qualifiers being contested in Hamilton Bermuda.

Coming after the disappointment of an opening 0-1 loss to Puerto Rico, the Guyanese ladies played much better against hosts Bermuda, as it was also their third time on the artificial pitch on which international hockey is played.

Guyana looked the better side from the outset and created several early chances which was quite different from their previous start against Puerto Rico. The inexperience of the side showed however as, despite their many scoring opportunities, they were unable to convert them to goals.

The game remained scoreless for three of the four quarters of the match with Guyana

having twice as many scoring circle entries in the match to Bermuda and one more penalty corner.

Guyana pressed hard as the match wound down seemingly headed for a stalemate.

It was during a well-constructed attack in the very final minute of the match that saw Guyana penetrate the Bermudan circle only to have the ball stripped at the last minute.

The resulting counterattack by Bermuda caught most of the Guyanese in their attacking half and the Bermudian centre forward gifted a golden opportunity of a one v one against Guyanese goalkeeper Alysa Xavier.

Xavier advanced and made a strong effort to block the shot but striker Mallory Towlson managed to fake right and roll the ball between the shuffling legs of Xavier for the goal that would send the Bermudian crowd into a

frenzy. Guyana would still have time to launch one more attack but skilful Aliyah Gordon’s final entry pass into the circle was blocked just seconds before the final whistle.

The second loss means that Guyana will finish out of the CAC qualifying spots and face Jamaica in their final match on Sunday.

Head Coach Philip Fernandes expressed his disappointment in saying that while he was pleased with the way his team performed despite the overwhelming odds of not being to train on a proper surface, their inexperience and a bit of unfortunate luck turned matches that could have been won, especially against Bermuda, into narrow losses.

Guyana fielded the youngest team with six teenagers, all of whom were playing their first international tournament.

GCA U19 50-over: MSC, TSC record victories Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) and Transport Sports Club (TSC) recorded victories when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Trophy Stall, Ramchand Auto Sales and Survival Group of Companies Under-19 50-over tournament continued recently. At the Demerara Cricket Club Ground, MSC defeated GT XI by three wickets. Batting first, GT XI made 105 all out in 17 overs. Joshua Daniels scored 28 and Gabriel Rookhun, 23. Michale Sharma claimed 3-5, Jonathan Mentore 3-19, Darwin La Rose 2-20 and Shane Prince 2-30 for the opposition. MSC responded with 1067 in 37 overs. Dave Mohabir top scored with 49, Mentore made 35 and Kelvin Gordon had 24 while Nityanand Mathura had 2-57. At the Queen’s College Ground, TSC posted 313-6 against Everest Cricket Club. Alvin Mohabir struck 70, Riyad Latif was solid with 55 and Jeremiah Hohenkirk contributed 37. Everest Cricket Club responded with 176 all out in 31.3 overs and lost by 137 runs. Ramratan stroked 69 in vain while A. Danehara made 55 against the top spell bowling of Latif (3-61) and Mohabir (2-1).

Jonathan Mentore

The once vibrant Young Warriors Cricket Club of Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice is aggressively embarking on a project to restore the club and its venue to its former glory.

Led by recently elected President, Imran Saccoor, a banker by profession, met and has launched a massive drive to raise funds to restore the venue to what it was before. S i x y e a r s a g o t h e venue was in picture perfect condition when Coach Huburn Evans migrated to the USA and the hardworking executive Anil Beharry moved to Georgetown. Since then, it has deteriorated to a state of disrepair. In an invited comment from the President, he said it is positive that the club will return to where it rightfully belongs and they are appealing to the Govern-

ment of Guyana, Corporate Guyana and private individuals for assistance. He added that the first step is to replace the fence, fix the outfield and pavilions and then move aggressively to recruit new players. The YWCC produced many outstanding players during its twenty years of existence with the latest being West Indies batter, Shimron Hetmyer. Other players who represented Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies at different levels are Gajanand Singh who now plays for the USA, Richard Ramdeen, former National Captain Damodar Daesrat, Seon Hetmyer, Paul Wintz, Kwesi Maltay, Balram Samaroo, Alex Algoo, Kevin Ramdeen, Looknauth Ramsuchit, Kassim Khan, Linden Austin, Sanjay Khan, Shazad Khan, Ishwar Singh, Aaron Beharry,

Anil Beharry, Suresh Dhanai, Farouk Hussain and Daryl Narine among many others.

The YWCC won the first and only Shapoorji Palonji National T20 competition when they defeated Blairmont.

They won the Neal and Massey National 40-Overs Competition, defeating the powerful DCC in the final at the Providence Stadium.

There are just a few championship titles won by the Berbice club which was resuscitated in 2000.

They also won the GCB club of the year title for two consecutive years. The current executive is seeking help in cash and kind to help restore the venue.

Contact can be made with Imran Saccoor on 603-1436, Aubrey David on 646-0294 or any executive member of the club. (Sean Devers)

Imlach XI overwhelms Jerry XI for the win The victorious Imlach XI

Tevin Imlach’s XI defeated Jerry’s XI by three wickets when the teams collided in a 40-over match played on Friday at the Queen’s College Ground.

Jerry’s XI batted first and made 159 all out in 24.5 overs.

Bernard Bailey top scored

with 32, Damuka Junior had 20, Jeffrey Blair contributed 19 and Ushardeva Balgobin chipped in with 18 as Richie L o o k n a u t h claimed 4-45 and Mervin Permaul supported with 217.

Imlach’s XI responded

with 159-7 in 30.1 overs.

Adrian Hinds struck a solid 61 while Laurel Parks made 24, Tevin Imlach got to 22, Owen Andrews made 18 and Mervin Permaul supported with 15. Bailey was the pick of the bowlers for the opposition with 2-12.

Kaieteur News

Monday April 18, 2022

Carifta Games 2022 …

G

PAGE 25

Gibbons claims Gold on Day Two - Harvey, McPherson impress again

uyana's team for the Carifta Games 2022 in Kingston, Jamaica secured a gold medal and two silver medals on Saturday night and followed up with one gold medal on Sunday evening at the country's National Stadium.

The opening day saw the Guyanese middle distance athletes lead the team with very c o m m e n d a b l e performances.

Attoya Harvey secured the only gold medal for Guyana on Day one while Narissa McPherson and Javon Roberts account for the silver medal finishes.

Harvey comfortably clinched the Under-17 Girls 1500m in a time of 4:45.75s ahead of T&T's Kayleigh Forde and Jamaica's Kededra Coombs.

McPherson secured her silver ware in the Girls U-17 400m where she clocked 55.39s behind Jamaica's Abigail Campbell (53.83s).

Third place was claimed by the other Jamaican in the r a c e , Q u a n a Wa l k e r (55.65s).

Javon Roberts' silver medal was won from a wellcalculated run in the Boys Under-17 1500m as he clocked 4:12.54s behind T & T ' s K e e r a n Sriskandarajah who finished hard and made sure no competitor was near. His victorious time was 4:10.58s.

Nearly missing the podium with an impressive

performance was Keliza Smith, who finished fourth in the Girls Under-20 100m.

Her time of 11.58s was edged out by T&T's Shaniqua Bascombe for the bronze medal while twins Tina and Tia Clayton of Jamaica flew away with the gold and silver medals, respectively.

Tina's time of 11.22s went down in the history books at the Carifta record for the Girls U-20 100m.

In the Boys Under-20 Javelin Throw, Guyanese Gabriel Lim was seventh with a best attempt of 53.27m, more than 7.5m short of a podium finish. The victor in this event was Bahamian Keyshawn Strachan who now holds the Carifta record with a throw of 79.89m.

The second place finisher was T&T's Anthony Dias (63.69m) while Grenada's Cameron Thomas (60.80m) was third.

Also competing on day one were Ezekiel Newton and Shamar Horatio. Both athletes were in the Boys U17 100m heats but on Horatio managed to advance to the semis with a time that trumped the majority of athletes that did not automatically qualify.

Snippets of Day two…

On Day two (Sunday), Harvey's semi-final win in the 800m was another comfortable finish which set the stage for McPherson to do the same in the second semi. Harvey's winning time in her semi was 2:15.76s

Attoya Harvey was the first Gold medalist for Guyana at the Games.

while McPherson clocked 2:19.89s.

Even though McPherson was unchallenged for the majority of the race her time was the fourth fastest of the qualifiers for the final, which took place later that evening.

In the Boys Under-20 200m, Guyana fell short in

the heats as Newton pushed hard to record a time of 22.28s but was fifth in a very fast race. The Jamaicans were in a rich vein of form for this event, all cruising to sub 22 times on their way to the final.

K e l i z a S m i t h automatically qualified for

the Girls U-20 200m with a time of 24.34s in the semis.

She was second behind Jamaica's Brianna Lyston (23.93s). In the other semi, fortune did not favour Karese Lloyd who finished seventh in the second semi of the same event.

Later in the day, Anisha

Gibbons led the charge when she acquired gold in the Girls Under-20 Javelin Throw.

Gibbons won the spoils with a best throw of 42.54m to beat Barbados' Vivica Addison (41.92) into second while Addison's country mate, Vanessa Greaves was third with 41.17m.

Carifta Games 2022 …

Gibbons claims Gold on Day Two

Anisha Gibbons won Gold in the Girls Under-20 Throw for Guyana. (Track Alerts)

- Harvey, McPherson impress again

rt o p S

Guyana women's hockey team suffers second loss at CAC Qualifiers

The U-16s will share tourism brochures with other teams and officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Debutant Madison Fernandes displays some teenager control against Bermuda.

Concacaf, UEFA wish Guyana U-16 squad well on Euro adventure Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.