K
CXC exams NEWS pushed back by three weeks
Thursday Edition
AIETEUR
April 28, 2022 - Vol. 15 No.17 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, p. 80,782 17
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
Hess anxious to reap multibillion dollar ...says 925M barrels will be profits off more developed from p. 3
Guyana projects Yellowtail alone
‘The Chinese are more aggressive than you’ p. 13
...Pres Ali tells UK investors
Man shot in street brawl dies Thieves raid Granger's D'Urban Backland house High food prices reducing citizens' ability to afford a ...Jagdeo announces nutritious diet p. 16
p. 16
Govt. wants to spend $32 billion to tackle flooding at Berbice outreach p. 12
p. 10
- new UN/Caricom study
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Kaieteur News
Thursday April 28, 2022
Kaieteur News
Thursday April 28, 2022
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Hess anxious to reap multibillion dollar profits off more Guyana projects ...says 925M barrels will be developed from Yellowtail alone
H
ess Corporation was excited to share with investors on Wednesday morning, updates on its sanctioned Guyana projects that are poised to return multibillion-dollar profits based on the generous provisions of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) and prevailing oil prices for sweet, light crude. With respect to the developments in the Stabroek Block where it holds a 30 percent working interest, Hess said net production totaled 30,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in the first quarter of 2022 compared with 31,000 bopd in the prioryear quarter. In February, the company said production commenced from the Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) and contributed 7,000 net bopd in the first quarter of 2022. With respect to the Liza Destiny FPSO, Hess told shareholders that the vessel recently completed production optimization work initiated in March that expanded its production capacity to more than 140,000 gross bopd from 120,000 gross bopd previously. It is currently producing 130,000 gross bopd and is expected to reach its full capacity in the second quarter. As for the Liza Unity FPSO, Hess said it is expected to reach its production capacity of approximately 220,000 gross bopd by the third quarter. Additionally, Hess stated that in the first quarter, it sold approximately 2.3 million
barrels of oil from Guyana and expects to have seven one-million barrel liftings in the second quarter and eight one-million barrel liftings in both the third and fourth quarters. As for the third Stabroek Block development, Payara, Hess reminded that it will utilize the Prosperity FPSO with an expected capacity of 220,000 gross bopd, with first production now expected in late 2023. In April 2022, the Corporation recalled that the operator of the Stabroek Block, being ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), had announced it had made the final investment decision to proceed with the Yellowtail development on the Stabroek Block after the field development plan received approval from the government of Guyana in a record breaking 52 days. Yellowtail, the largest development thus far on the Block, is expected to utilise the ONE GUYANA FPSO, which will develop an estimated gross resource base of approximately 925 million barrels of oil. The ONE GUYANA FPSO is expected to have a capacity of up to 250,000 gross bopd, with first production expected in 2025. Six drill centers are planned with up to 26 production wells and 25 injection wells. Excluding pre-sanction
costs and FPSO purchase cost, Hess Corporation's net share of development costs is forecast to be approximately US$2.3 billion, of which approximately US$210 million is expected in 2022, US$430 million in 2023, US$585 million in 2024, US$390 million in 2025 and US$295 million in 2026. Additionally, Hess reminded that three new discoveries on the Stabroek Block were announced on Tuesday at Barreleye, Lukanani and Patwa. The Barreleye-1 well encountered approximately 230 feet of hydrocarbon bearing sandstone reservoirs of which approximately 52 feet is high quality oil bearing.
The well was drilled in 3,840 feet of water and is located approximately 20 miles southeast of the Liza Field. The Lukanani-1 well encountered 115 feet of hydrocarbon bearing sandstone reservoirs of which approximately 76 feet is high quality oil bearing. The well was drilled in water depth of 4,068 feet and is located in the southeastern part of the block, approximately 2 miles west of the Pluma discovery. The Patwa-1 well encountered 108 feet of hydrocarbon bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was drilled in 6,315 feet of water and is located approximately 3
miles northwest of the Cataback-1 discovery. Hess Corporation also reported net income of US$417 million, or US$1.34 per share, in the first quarter of 2022, compared with net income of US$252 million, or US$0.82 per share, in the first quarter of 2021. On an adjusted basis, the Corporation reported net income of US$404 million, or US$1.30 per share, in the first quarter of 2022. The improvement in adjusted after-tax earnings compared with the prior-year period was primarily due to higher realized selling prices in the first quarter of 2022, partially offset by lower sales volumes, the company said. Chief Executive Officer
CEO of Hess Corporation, John Hess (CEO) John Hess was keen to note that as his company's portfolio becomes increasingly free cash flow positive, it will commit to prioritizing the return of capital to shareholders through further dividend increases and share repurchases.
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Thursday April 28, 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
U.S wants to see a ‘weakened’ Russia
The United States is desirous of seeing a ‘weakened’ Russia. That was the word coming out of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC, and a host of other news outlets. It was what was heard, or interpreted, as coming from American Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, in the context of the war in Ukraine, which rages on relentlessly. Moves to foster a ‘weakened’ Russia is brimful of danger, the equivalent of toying with a cornered bear, a wounded one. It could lash back, and lash out in ways not planned for, totally unexpected. Russia is not Iraq, nor is it some banana republic, to be pushed around at will, not given its due. It is a bona fide superpower, one that is capable of inflicting incomparable and irreparable blows on those who goad it, those who back it to a place of no return. If and when there is the compulsion to take drastic, desperate action to preserve its pride, to maintain some dignity and standing among its own, through the saving of whatever face is left, it will be done. In the Russian area of the globe, face means a lot, and every countermeasure is sure to be taken to salvage as much of it as possible. It goes without saying, that it is unwise, by any calculation, to broadcast signals, of seeking to haemorrhage its powers, weaken its resolve. After all, it has that arsenal, all that weaponry. Russia also has a leader with his back to the wall, and one who has proven to be as wily as he is unpredictable. Unpredictable men, those on whom great leadership powers are centred, can be the most worrisome sort to deal with, to handle, by those thinking of themselves as civilised people. When increasingly unpredictable leaders are forced to where they prefer not to touch, or be, they take matters in their own hands, and let the results be the results. In view of where things stand today in the Ukraine, and the hardening positions of the direct combatants, and indirect backers of the engaged frontline adversaries, all that is required is the slip of a misinterpretation, one miscalculation. Clearly, where matters are today are a world apart from the strategic loftiness of containment, détente, and rapprochement that were the visions once prevailing. An embattled Russia sees itself, and feels, isolated, and being setup for second rate status, something which is wholly unacceptable to its own ambitions, its ideas about itself and its rightful place in the world. It has to be an essential aspect of Russian leadership thinking that if what is taking firmer hold in Ukraine is allowed to succeed, then its presence and its worth in other sensitive areas of the world could also come under a similar state of siege. That is, it could be forced to give ground in those strategic areas, too. Rightly or wrongly, the Russian leader (and his cohort of diehard Mother Russia followers) cannot countenance such a fall from the league of nations that count for something. For that means nothing, but retreat after retreat, and with all the regard that there can be for a spent force. From the perspective of Guyana, the Russians might decide to do what is called a strategic retreat in Ukraine, because of the overwhelming coalition of Europe and America arrayed against it, and try its hand elsewhere, either to make its muscle unmistaken, and to stay relevant near the top of superpower heights. Elsewhere for Russia could mean Venezuela, which has vast, neglected oilfields, serious issues (still) with America and its hated sanctions. The Russians have a relationship involving some longstanding mutual interests with Venezuela, and there is the tremendous advantage of no NATO to consider. In addition, there is still another plus, via Venezuela, Russia would be able to do to America what the latter is doing to it in Ukraine: get back at it through the backdoor and its own backyard. Any such movement in this corner of the world would be a problematic one for Guyana. It would be too close for comfort, too menacing to our own priorities, and too compelling in the choices to be made.
Why can’t the police do anything about noise complaints? DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to share what some residents in the Richmond Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast experienced on the 23rd of April, 2022. A family hosted a party beginning on the evening of Saturday the 23rd of April. This event was advertised from almost a month in advance on social media. Loud music with extremely heavy bass started playing from 19:00h. This bass was so heavy that the roof, the walls, the floor and even the wares in my kitchen were vibrating. There was someone screaming various phrases, slangs and expletives over a microphone every few seconds. I placed three (3) calls to the Anna Regina Police Station to report this noise nuisance with the first call being made at 21:30h. I was told by an officer that the patrol would be informed and they would take the necessary action. Nothing happened. Music still blasted from this “party.” The second call to the police was made at 22:15h and a different officer (a female) took the call this time. I explained that this is the second time for the night I am making a report of noise nuisance. The officer related that she is now aware of noise nuisance in the Rich-
mond area for that night and that she will inform the patrol. Still the noise continued. The third call was made at 22:44h. The same female officer who took the complaint on my second call answered the telephone again. I enquired as to why nothing has been done about my complaint, which was lodged over two hours ago. She explained that the patrol was dealing with other complaints of noise nuisance. Up to this point, I was very calm in my interaction with these officers. I then simply asked the officer what more should I do since I have been enduring this disturbance for close to five hours and the police seem to not be able to do anything about it. The response shocked and infuriated me; I was told ‘do wuh yuh feel like doing.’ A male officer quickly took over the call and I had to repeat my complaint for the third time. I got no further response, the line was silent for a few seconds and then the call was disconnected. At this point, my family and I gave up on anything being done by the police and once again resorted to try to get some sleep only to be jolted from our doze by what sounded like two gunshots.
We gave up on sleep from then. This torture that these people call music continued to after 06:00h the next morning. Editor, this is not the first time this has happened and it is not the first time that the Anna Regina police failed to act on complaints of noise nuisance. The first time this particular family hosted a similar event was in August of 2021. It may sound like exaggeration but we were forced to endure the heavy bass from their music system from 15:00h on a Friday afternoon until 07:00h, the next morning. The police again seemed powerless at the time since several reports were made to the Anna Regina Police Station as well as the then commander of the division (Ms. Denise Griffith) and the family was allowed to continue to disturb the community as they see fit. I have nothing against persons hosting celebrations and events at their homes or wherever they see fit but they should not impose their noise upon others. How can we, in this day and age, be forced to tolerate such lawlessness? Many children live in this village, how any right-thinking adult can
allow a DJ to be screaming expletives over a sound system that is spewing noise throughout the village? Why can the police not do anything about noise complaints? Are the police trained to tell person to ‘do wuh yuh feel like doing’ when enquiries are being made? What are the police being paid to do? Should all other public servants be like the Anna Regina police and not do their jobs and just collect a salary at the end of the month for the sake of just showing up to work? Maybe the Anna Regina police are awaiting an occurrence of assault or bodily harm similar to when the pandit was killed in Berbice for speaking out against noise nuisance before they do anything. On behalf of the resident of Richmond Housing Scheme and other concerned residents of Region Two, I respectfully request that the Commissioner of Police and the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs look into this and other complaints of nonresponse by the police in Region Two. Kind regards, Concerned resident Richmond New Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast
When a knife is a lesser evil, almost a relief DEAR EDITOR, On April 27, there were four stories in Kaieteur News, with three involving robberies. Of the four stories, three had something to do with guns, while the fourth was the mere matter of a knife, two of such. I say the ‘mere matter of a knife’ because in the Guyana of our day, knives held out menacingly in a felony represent a step-down from staring down at the barrel of a gun. It is as if Guyanese going about their law-abiding business would prefer to face the lesser of two evils (a knife) versus the perils harboured in a gun with the business end pointed to the head. As KN reported, there were three robberies, two in the capital city - Hadfield Street and North Road - and one in Linden. The two in the city involved guns drawn and aimed at the heads of citizens - one with a broken-down vehicle, the other having a conversation in his car, and hailing a passing friend. The guns came up and the victims went down. No! Nobody died or got shot, for which there is gratitude. But they are down in property and money, which is a far better
deal, though a loser anyways. As for the robbery in Linden, it was rarity in today’s Guyana, robbers with knives. They must be either rookies or strapped for the cash down payment for a real tool of their criminal trade, a gun. Again, thankfully, no one was harmed. But these three situations of crime, so normal nowadays as to be numbing, brings this puzzle before crime-weary, crime-stricken Guyanese. Is it better to be robbed by a knife, than by someone armed with a gun? Of course, if that is a choice, it is a Hobson’s one; and nothing more than a deal made with you know who and in hell. All citizens would absolutely prefer not to be robbed at all, and by anyone with anything, be it a matchstick or a missile. But guns are just all around, and in the hands of progressive denizens, who think nothing of quoting, in the corresponding Guyanese version, Robert Louis Stevenson words: “One more step, Mister…, and I’ll blow your brains out.” That is, if they say anything at all, and if they weigh those civilised options. Sometimes, it is living by
that older adage: dead people don’t talk. Editor, this hustles me to the second fearsome issue. How many roving ambassadors on motorcycles and bicycles are lurking around and prowling around on our streets and villages armed and dangerous? A motorcycle in the mirror or vicinity has now risen to the level of an uninterrupted crisis. Man, this is no way to live in a country on the move, police statistics and all. Like infrastructure that can’t be consumed, improving and comforting police statistics (hopefully untouched) are neither shields nor serenades. It is where the routine has
deteriorated into the life threatening, where the commonplace could now be one’s final resting place. As an aside, the fourth story from KN on April 27 was of two guns seized from two separate locations. In five sets of circumstances, four guns were around or found. That is an 80 percent chance of lightning bolt striking from a steel muzzle. I believe those odds are highly unfavourable to ordinary, orderly citizens walking, driving, parking, fixing, shopping, or liming, among numerous other lawful pursuits. This is rough stuff, folks, terribly frightening. Sincerely, GHK Lall
Indians deserve a month to celebrate their history DEAR EDITOR, I am delighted that we acknowledge Black History Month in February and observe Amerindian Heritage Month in September. I feel that the largest ethnic group in Guyana, Indians, also deserves a month to celebrate their history and presence.
I suggest that the month o f M a y b e d e clared Indian Heritage Month. I encourage political, religious, cultural, civic and community groups to support this notion as soon as possible. Yours truly, Dr. Devanand Bhagwan
Thursday April 28, 2022
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Kaieteur News
Kads Khan disappointed Will the PPP ever penalise with Coalition Politics their party comrades?
DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to “Former PNCR MP Kads Khan passes on (KN Apr 21). His death was very shocking. I will like to share some anecdotes of my engagements with him. I am not a friend or associate of Kads Khan, and we only met a few times although we spoke several times on the phone. He left a very positive remarkable and indelible impression on me on his ‘take’ of the politics and about his desire to contribute to Guyana’s national economic and political development. A former executive of the opposition PNC, and one time member of parliament, he was not pleased with the direction of the party since it was returned to office in May 2015, and he was critical of the coalition although he did not want his views to be on public record, fearing victimisation. He assailed the coalition’s performance saying it would take a miracle for it to win re-election unless of course, it were to rig the election, which, like me, he had expected. He urged me to become involved in ‘a new politics’ that would lead to good or better governance; I politely declined his offer as I did not and do not have interest in active politics, turning down many offers from politicians. I had heard of Kads Khan since the time of Hoyte’s presidency. His name was in the papers and as a political activist, I keenly followed developments in the homeland. He was strongly affiliated with the PNC becoming treasurer. And he successfully raised funds for the party for electoral contests especially post 1992 when Hoyte, acting against the wishes of his colleagues and the majority of its supporters, decided to restore democratic governance in Guyana after 26 years of dictatorship. The PNC was in political decline post 1992 and facing serious economic crisis to fund its activities. Kads told me he bore the burden of funding activities of the PNC. He noted that the PNC encountered problems in paying staff and putting out a party publication after its defeat in
1992. He raised funds to help out. He also said he received concession rates from the late CEO of a newspaper in order to publish the PNC organ over a period of time. My first encounter with Kads was through a common friend in Georgetown. Kads was very close to him. They were in a meeting and I happened to visit the friend who introduced me to Kads. This was around 2018. Kads said he was very pleased to meet me, telling me he knew of my political and academic history since the 1970s when I was a university student in New York. I did not know much about Kads other than what was in the public domain. He began showering accolades about my polling work, political activism in the diaspora, my writings, analyses, and other aspects of my contributions to Guyana and the diaspora. In the presence of the common friend, he discussed the politics and the governance of the coalition including its many unforced errors. Kads was not pleased with coalition rule, using epithets I can’t pen for publication; he was also displeased with the opposition. He invited me for breakfast at his home the following morning, which I accepted. There, he continued berating the political parties and making a strong case for political change to bring about honest, clean governance. He expressed fear that Guyana would be heading into a repeat of a dictatorship pre-1992 pleading upon me to play a more active role and help bring independent political forces and interested players together saying my integrity commands respect in the public. I resisted his appeal and politely told him that my interest was polling and independent political analyses. He respected my position on political independence. Following breakfast, Kads drove me to his mechanical engineering workshop and gave me a tour. It was an impressively huge workshop with all kinds of tools and equipment. His aide served coffee, and he shifted the discussion to economics. He said he was in transition
to modernise the workshop for the oil industry, claiming oil companies had expressed an interest to partner him. He was teaming up with oil people in Texas, UK, and other places. He had several workers of all ethnicities and genders. They admired and respected him. His driver was African as was one of his closest aides. He didn’t see race in employment practices. He merely wanted competence. He was unabashed in reprimanding workers who messed up. Kads expressed some of the most excoriating remarks about coalition rule, questioning competency and honesty of several appointees of government (names were given of whose fingers were in the cookie jar with examples of acts). He was praiseworthy of Joe Harmon, Amna Ally and a few others and he announced then that he would support Harmon as Chair of PNC in party election. But I knew it would be a hard fight for Harmon against Volda Lawrence; Basil Williams had no chance as I had penned in the press. On APNU+AFC coalition performance, Kads and I agreed that the government badly erred in closing down the sugar estates and that it would be their undoing. It doomed the coalition. He was most disappointed that AFC did not stand up for the farmers and workers to prevent the closure of the estates since sugar workers and rice farmers were the base of support of the AFC in 2011 and 2015 elections. He said I was spot on in writing about the anger of the sugar workers and rice farmers against the coalition government. He went into a rage against Nagamootoo and Ramjattan for allowing the estates closures and lack of assistance to farmers. We both concluded that the coalition could not win re-election without rigging. And he was (Continued on page 6)
DEAR EDITOR, Last week, the President visited Region 6 and there were numerous complaints. Many of these relate to persons who are PPP comrades now occupying key positions. In East Canje, there were many complaints against an NDC official. This is not the first time these complaints are made. This person has always come across as arrogant and vindictive towards persons they don’t like. This same individual occupies many other positions in the region and profess to be a power house in the region. Many times, the
person behaves like after President Ali, she is next in command. Why is she given so many positions and control? The PPP in 2011 and 2015 lost support due to the arrogance of its local leaders. This has returned. But the party doesn’t seem to be interested in the citizens’ views. Back then, two individuals created so much difficulties for citizens. Today, one is a minister and one a MP. The reason people don’t complain is because nothing is being done to party comrades who abuse their powers. Party officials know this;
as such, they continue to serve with no respect for others. Who knows what next position she will be promoted to for her arrogance? This kind of mistake is not one, which the President should make. Don’t take Berbicians for granted; stop having your NDC representatives treat citizens like dirt. The citizens are looking to Mr. President, we will lose confidence in you when you don’t act. Give other citizens a chance to serve the NDC. Don’t have a single person take up so many positions. Concerned citizen of Canje
Is the Govt. going to follow precedent? DEAR EDITOR, In the past, Guyanese who won a world championship were rewarded with a plot of land and a house. If I recall, I think that Lennox Blackmore was g iven a house/land even when he won the Common-
wealth title. Others personalities w h o w o n a w o r l d championship got a house/land. Now that Elton Dharry has triumphed with a world title, is the Government going to follow precedent and give him his
due? The Sports Minister was quite visible at the boxing event, but nothing was said about any reward/gift for Dharry, as was done in the past. Thank you. Rahman Mohammed
Public Service Chief Training Officer; Training Officer DEAR EDITOR, The ‘Vacancy Announcement’ in respect of the abovementioned positions indicated closure of applications as at March 25, 2022. Interested parties would be most pleased to be advised of the results, if any, of the selection process, particularly given the confusion of ‘Qualification/Experience’ sought, as reproduced following: Qualification a) Chief Training Officer Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management,
Education, Personnel Management (an extinct terminology at least); other relevant disciplines in the Social Sciences; OR Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Management, Education, the aforementioned Social Sciences, with the unfortunate insistence on ‘Personnel Management’ – the obvious connection being that there are still ‘Personnel Officers’ (five grades) in the Guyana Public Service, unlike sister CARICOM states and elsewhere. b) Training Officer Interestingly the priority here is for Bachelor’s Degree
in Education; followed by Human Resources Management or other relevant disciplines in Social Sciences (with Personnel Management omitted) OR Diploma in the foregoing areas of study; OR a Trained Teacher’s Certificate (in unidentified subject area). But reflective of the standard of productivity of the inviting OFFICE, ‘Experience’ is included in the same sentence – as a continuum of ‘Qualification’ stated as follows: Chief Training Officer – ‘and at least seven (Continued on page 6)
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Thursday April 28, 2022
Kaieteur News
Massive observers’ presence made rigging of March 2020 election impossible DEAR EDITOR, In a letter to Stabroek News on 26th April, 2022, Vishnu Bisram, after listing the various attempts to rig our elections from 1968 onwards and identifying the historical context in which these attempts were made, with which I have little or no disagreement, asks the question “why the effort was made to rig the outcome (the March 2020 elections) after the election rather than on Election day or before the count or during the initial count”? It’s an excellent question. It is highly probable that the governing APNU+AFC Coalition were confident that they would win the elections with GECOM, under the Chairmanship of Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, along with the representation of its three
commissioners, Alexander, Corbin and Trotman. The No Confidence Motion in December 2018 upset the applecart, which required then President David Granger, under the law, to hold elections within three months of the motion. Had he done so, the APNU+AFC might well have won the elections but, instead, APNU+AFC made the mistake of deliberate delay, which is now history, resulting in GECOM coming under the Chairmanship of Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. There was virtually no possibility of the March 2020 elections being manipulated or rigged under the massive presence of Domestic and International Observers. Indeed, the elections were universally
recognised as free and fair, even by David Granger, at the time. Unfortunately for the APNU+AFC, when the results of the Statements of Poll (SOPs) had become publicly known from the Statements of Poll being declared at the polling stations and in the possession of the contesting parties on the evening of 2nd March, 2020, even though the District 4 count had not yet been formally tabulated, the PNC knew that they had lost the elections. It is clear from what subsequently transpired, that the attempts by Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers, directed by the PNC leadership, to first delay and then rig the District 4 results, were an act of desperation, exposed only because of the continuing pres-
ence of the Observer teams from the Private Sector Commission (of which I was a member), the international community and the resident diplomatic community. I witnessed firsthand, the first attempt by Mingo at the GECOM office at Ashmin’s building, to announce an entirely false result without even completing the District 4 count, in the presence of the entire Observer organisations. In spite of a ruling of the Chief Justice ordering the Chairman of GECOM to continue the District 4 count using the SOPs, we know that Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers persisted in presenting a fraudulent count which
finally led to a Recount confirming that the PPP/C had won the elections. As an Observer of these events, the former Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, as Bisram reminds us, declared that he had never seen such a transparent attempt to rig an election and, before that, as an Accredited Observer for the Private Sector Commission at a PSC Press Conference, I said that “in all my life and career, in and out of politics in this country, I have never seen such a bare faced, ugly and deliberate attempt to rig an elections”. It should be borne in mind that even during the entire Recount, the false declaration of the District 4 count by
Keith Lowenfield had been held “in abeyance” by Chairman Singh. Had it been recognised by GECOM, David Granger would have been sworn in as the President of a rigged election count. We came that close and, even after the Recount, had it not been for a successful Appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the unrelenting pressure of the international community, David Granger, again, would have been sworn in as President from a rigged election count. I hope that I have provided some answers to the question posed by Vishnu Bisram. Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento
Public Service Chief Training... From page 5 (7) years’ experience in the development, delivery and management of training programmes’ – T r a i n i n g Officer – ‘Experience required is four (4) years’. In neither case is the nature or range of programmes identified. The foregoing is by no means a matter of nit-picking.
It is, more substantively, about attention to detail; about the portrayal of the standard of leadership of the related employer; about what the perceptions of employees at different levels of the organisation may be; and perhaps critically, about the judgment of the more analytical candidates of the prospective work environment.
It is obvious that the function of Human Resources Management is not to be celebrated in the Public Service of Guyana. For another thing, ‘Terms of Reference’ are more applicable to ‘Contracted Employees’ as distinct from ‘Job Descriptions’ for more normally permanent positions. E.B. John
Kads Khan disappointed... From page 5 certain what would happen in next election, revealing confidential information of a rigging plan. Kads was against rigging as was I. He was of the view that PNC could not rig the way it did pre-1992. He went into the rigging method and the figures placed in strategic offices to facilitate rigging. Kads him-
self was very close to figures who were/are well known for rigging. I did not reveal any of the confidential info on rigging to anyone, but I utilised the info to help combat planned rigging of the March 2020 elections. Kads and I spoke after the election. He had mixed feelings about the change. But he was a pragmatist. He embraced the Irfaan
Ali administration. Although he belonged to the PNC, the PPP administration has given him land and the sugar packaging plant for oil related enterprise that would provide employment for many. He died a man pleased with aspects of governance of President Ali and the PPP. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N B T . U . L . L T B . . N . U N U T L N B . U T . . L N N U T B . U . N . L U BL BLUNT B . . T . T T N N U . U L . . L B . T B . . . . N . T U T N N T U N U L L The $50MTquestion U B . L B . . . . B . . . T . N N T U N L LU U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L U T.. UNT...B L N B . . U . L T B . N L . . U B . T L . . N U NT LUNT...B L U B . L . . B T . . . N B . T . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . UN .BLUNT.. UNT...BL T...BL N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T . U B . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . BBL T...BLUN .BLUNT. T...BLU . . N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . . N . B . T . . N T U N N N U L U U B L . BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Thursday April 28, 2022
Kaieteur News
Guyana is a strange place and so are our leaders. In the midst of opulence, Guyanese are still mired in poverty. We read about the triple oil strike, yet our children are going to bed hungry. We hear about 11 billion recoverable barrels of oil, yet thousands of families go to bed with nothing in their cupboard.
And then we hear our President boasts; idle boast, we would call it, claiming that the supply boats for Exxon operations offshore expend roughly $50M per month buying greens at Parika Market; our dear President said, “these were the untold stories.” Indeed, no one would want to tell such a story, when we are paying $9B per month in rental for the said supply boats that are spending $50M monthly to patronise our vendors. What worries us here at Kaieteur News is whether when the President made the bold statement, he knew of the $9B, which we are paying for the vessels as per the oil contract; whether he was deliberately trying to bamboozle the nation or it was just plain old propaganda. The fact that he uttered such idleness to an audience of diplomats; top private sector officials and foreign investors makes you cringe.
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Thursday April 28, 2022
Politics should have no place in the appointment of top judges or constitutional commissions- Gaskin By Rehanna Ramsay
Politics should have no place in the appointment of top judges or constitutional commissions, this is the view economist and social c o m m e n t a t o r, R a m o n Gaskin. Gaskin who has been outspoken about issues affecting the development of the country added his voice to the recent calls for the appointment of a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice as well as the reconstituting of several constitutional commissions. According to Gaskin, the political climate in Guyana makes it difficult for these
functionaries to operate unhindered. He asserted: “We have a system that has for far too long hampered this appointment. The appointment of the chancellor and chief justice for instance is a prime example why the role of appointment and confirmation of these judges should be removed from the politicians and placed in the hands of a competent judicial committee like the Judicial Service Commission [JSC]…” The commentator continued “…Because if you look at it, it's not just the judiciary that is affected, we had the same issue with other
constitutional offices such as the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission and the Police Force where Police Service Commission appoints all the top officers but not the Commissioner, these are public service positions and the politicians should not be allowed to play with it.” Gaskin took his remarks a step further, calling for all the boards to have real independence from the politicians. At present, a number of commissions are inoperable. These include the Judicial Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, the
Economist and social commentator, Ramon Gaskin Te a c h i n g S e r v i c e Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Public Procurement Commission, and the Office of the Ombudsman, the Ethnic Relations Commission, and Integrity Commission. Guyana's Constitution requires that the President and the Opposition Leader hold consultations for the appointment of the Police, Public Service, Teaching and Judicial Service Commissions that largely appoint and discipline persons under their purview. The Constitution also prescribes the need for consultations and agreement between the President and the Opposition Leader for the appointment of a Chancellor, Chief Justice. They are also constitutionally mandated to consult on the appointment of the Police Commissioner. As such, Gaskin lamented: “why should we depend on the President or
Opposition for these appointments when they continue to make the work of these important functionaries and boards impossible to do. They are more into their party interests than the country so they can't sit down and decide on these crucial matters.” “Just take a look at how many of these constitutional boards are out of operation because of the leadership of this country and that will tell you if we need politicians in the position to approve or appoint these boards. The constitution has to be amended to change it.” Further expounding on the need for constitutional boards to be reactivated, the economist opined that President Irfaan Ali may be in breach of the constitution by failing to fulfill his duties and reconvene the boards. “I believe the President is breached because while he should be acting on making these appointments a reality, he is out in the fields doing party work which I believe is not priority,” he said. Gaskin' comments are being made even as calls were made to top-ranking members of the legal fraternity for the appointment of a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice. President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Judge Adrian Saunders and Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC were among those who agreed that Guyana's lack of permanent office holders for top positions for the past 17 years has had a negative impact to the functions of the judiciary. Nandlall agreed
specifically that the constitutional formula used for the appointment of the office holders. Last Wednesday night, President Ali announced that he would be i n v i t i n g Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton to constitutionally required c o n s u l t a t i o n s on the appointment of a number of service commissions. President Ali has told the media that a letter of invitation would be dispatched to Leader of the Opposition. “My intention is to meet with the Leader of the Opposition within two weeks…Well, you know there are a number of constitutional matters that have to be addressed so those are the matters that will primarily be on the table,” he said. This is despite the position by Mr. Norton's coalition of A Partnership for National Unity Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) that it does not recognise the legitimacy of the government due to claims of widespread electoral fraud by the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPPC). After several months of insisting that APNU+AFC must first recognise the PPPC as having been legitimately elected in free and fair elections before there are any talks, Norton last week had said that he would participate in consultations that are prescribed by the Constitution. As such, President Ali eventually had said constitutionally mandated consultations would be held.
Thursday April 28, 2022
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Kaieteur News
Ridding ourselves of this dangerous complex Is it that Guyanese have low self-esteem and is that why more than 10 of them would sit in a speeding minibus, placing their lives at risk and not utter a single syllable demanding that the driver step off the accelerator? No, I do not believe it is a matter of low self-esteem, which allows Guyanese to sit silently in the presence of danger to their lives. The real explanation has to do with the fact that many of us have not yet acquired that level of assertiveness, which could save so many lives from being lost on our roadways because of accidents involving speeding vehicles. While the problem is not low self-esteem, I believe it is related directly to a complex that we have developed and passed on to our children regarding those that provide services to us. That complex is one that sees the person providing that service as being in a superior position and, therefore, we feel inferior and dependent on that person and are thus reluctant to assert our rights. We have come to see those who provide services to us, services that ironically we pay for, as doing us a favour, that there was a time in this country when some young women used to go crazy for minibus drivers and conductors. It was a big thing to have a boyfriend who was a minibus driver and many a young lady could be found boasting, “My man is a minibus driver.” It is not that these girls thought so low of themselves that they worshiped these transportation providers. Rather, it is they thought – and many still do— highly of these guys especially those with the ‘ready rides’ who drive as if
they wish to be the successors of Evil Knievel. This complex has its roots in the food crisis that afflicted Guyana in the seventies and the eighties when Guyanese used to have to stand in line for hours on end for basic commodities. In those days, when an item was short and was being rationed, which was most of the time, persons would have to make some purchases at state-owned or operated outlets and then depend on the generosity of the cashier to decide how much of the scarce item you would get. If you were leaving Guyana on a holiday in those days, you required a tax exit certificate. When you went to apply and uplift this from the tax agency, you had better be respectful or else your file could be pulled and you could be denied an exit certificate. Here again, the public was intimidated by those providing this service. It was the same in many other areas of life including when a traffic cop stopped you on the roadway. If you did not have your licence with you, you could bet that nine times out of 10 you would not be allowed time to present this later. You faced the possibility of being issued a ticket for not having your licence on your person. In the private sphere, it was the same. Flights out of Guyana were limited but if you had the contact in the travel agency, you stood a chance. In the markets, you needed to be on good terms with whomever you made your purchases from so that the person would keep some of the scarce item for you, even if you were paying an inflated price for the item. So over time, we developed in Guyana an esteemed opinion of those
providing services for us. When, for example, we went to the butcher shop and the man gave us 50 percent off the weight in bones, we could not complain because the next week, he could refuse to sell us and that would mean that we would have to do without. In hard times, this was not an opinion many people liked. Today things have changed, competition is increased and customers do not have to accept substandard products. They can dictate what they want. However, this same approach is taking time to filter down to other areas such as the transportation sector. This is why when three persons are already sitting in a seat in a minibus, which caters for three and the conductors demand that a fourth be accommodated, it is not out of sympathy that most persons comply. It is simply because they feel that they cannot refuse because they feel that they may be asked to disembark and be left at the roadside. Public commuters fail to insist that they are paying for a service. And they fail to assert that this payment places them in the superior position whereby they should insist on comfort and safety, rather than accepting whatever is done to them. The problem of deaths on our roadways is not going to be changed by placing more traffic cops on the roadways or undertaking increased road traffic campaigns. This problem will only be brought under control when all commuters who use public transport assert themselves and demand better because they are paying for it. No minibus driver is doing anyone a favour. Those who
Dem boys seh...
People fighting over waste contracts
De private sector complaining again! Dis time is bout de bundling of contracts fuh de disposal of hazardous wastes. Some folks in de private sector feel dat dis bundling-up mekkin it hard fuh dem small companies fuh bid fuh de contract. In other words, because dem contract so big, we small companies can’t bid fuh dem. Dem boys feel all dis quarrelling is a waste of time. Instead of worrying about bidding fuh dem waste contracts, de private sector should be more wor-
ried about why we generating suh much waste in de fuss place and who paying fuh disposing dis waste. According to de polluter pays principle, is de oil companies wah suppose to pay fuh clean up dem own waste. But Guyana sign a Production Sharing Agreement which allow dem oil companies fuh charge we fuh clean up dem hazardous wastes wah does be produced when dem drilling and pumping oil. Nowadays nuff ah dem garbage collection services does be unreliable. Dem suppose to come one day but dem nah come
until de next day. Dem suppose to come and pick up yuh garbage in de morning, but dem does come till in de afternoon, if at all. It mek dem boys remember de story bout de father who friend ask he: “Yuh son decide wah he doing when he grow up?” ”Yes, he want be a garbage collector,” de boy father reply. De friend think fuh a moment and den say, “dat’s ah strange ambition fuh a career.” ”Well,” de boy father say, “he think dat de garbage collectors only work on Tuesdays!” Talk half. Leff half.
travel by public transport are paying for a service and they should insist when they see a vehicle speeding that the driver slows down. Unless we can have this change in thinking, we will not end the terrible carnage on our
roadways. You cannot heal the body without healing the mind. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Thursday April 28, 2022
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Guyana Revenue Authority: The irrationality of a country If you earn an official income, you have to submit annual tax returns to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Much to its credit, the GRA has allowed PAYE submitters to drop off their returns at different locations rather than the central GRA office, which is essentially a nightmarish experience for anything you go there to do. I am illiterate when it comes to finance complexities. My wife does my annual submissions from my earnings as a Kaieteur News columnist (I need a raise of pay). Before I proceed, let me write once more that I would like to thank Christopher Ram for compiling my property tax for seven consecutive years for free in 2014 after then GRA head, Khurshid Sattaur directed that I do so or face prosecution. Imagine a
church mouse like me had to pay property tax. Mr. Sattaur died two years ago so we should not speak ill of the dead, so let's move on. Yesterday, I was into my matutinal routine of taking my dog to the National Park for my daily exercise. The GRA has a drop box at the Giftland Mall which was a beautiful convenience for me because I live two minutes drive to Giftland. At about 8:30 AM, I turned into Giftland to deliver my PAYE returns. The security rank told me that the drop box is situated inside the mall and the opening hour is 10AM. I could not believe this was happening. If the mall opens at 10AM why put the operation inside rather than outside the building where there are several locations outside the mall that offer protection from sun and
rain? This could not be right. This could not be logical. This had to be irrationality that confounds the mind. Here is why. If you are living in Georgetown or on the East Bank and you go to work on the East Coast, you simply turn into Giftland and drop off your documents in two boxes that the GRA provides. If you are living on the East Coast, on your way to work in Georgetown, you turn into Giftland and drop if off. Employees cannot do that because the mall only opens at 10AM. So all those employees that could not drop off their stuff at 8:30AM would have to leave their place of employment during working hours to go to Giftland to submit their returns. There are two places
Biker succumbs three days after serious accident at Plaisance Ronaldo Sauldrepaul, a 29-year-old Security Officer of Venezuela Scheme, Melanie, East Coast Demerara died Tuesday evening at a city hospital where he was receiving treatment for injuries he sustained in a serious accident on Saturday last. The accident occurred on Saturday 23rd April, 2022, at about 18:55 hrs on the Plaisance Public Road, East Coast Demerara. It involved a motorcar #PPP 6446 which is reportedly owned by Prithima Kissoon of Bel Air Park, Georgetown and driven by Jai Kissoon, a 39-year-old Economic Consultant of Lot 123 Arupa Place, West Bel Air Park, Georgetown; and motorcycle #CL 902 which is owned and driven at the time by Sauldrepaul.
Police enquiries disclosed that the driver of motorcycle #CL 902 was proceeding west along the southern driving lane of Plaisance Public Road, East Coast Demerara, where it is alleged that motorcar # PPP 6446 drove north from out of Prince William Street, Plaisance, onto the Plaisance Public Road, and into the pathway of motorcycle #CL 902. As a result, there was a collision, which caused the motorcyclist to fall unto the road surface where he received injuries about his body. He was then assisted by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital's Accident and Emergency Unit and further transported to Woodlands Hospital to seek medical attention.
High school education and good interpersonal skill; cheerful
quite near to Giftland that could accommodate citizens at 8:30AM. One is the Aquatic Centre which is directly opposite Giftland Mall. The other is Massy supermarket which opens its door to the public sharply at 8AM. So why Giftland? If there is a God then only he can understand a nation named Guyana. I went back to Giftland and put my stuff in the box and went home and typed a letter to the GRA boss, Godfrey Statia. I went to the GRA to deliver the letter. I reached the place, went inside, then, something told me not to bother. I destroyed the letter. Mr. Statia never replied to two letters I wrote to him before. I could never get to speak to Mr. Statia. I figure it would be a waste of my effort. I regretted I used my gas to drive to Camp Street. But here is what I learnt
from a gentleman I met inside the a building. He engaged me and I told him the purpose I was at the Frederick Kissoon GRA. While chatting, he said something to me that at the time of writing, t I don't know if it is true. At fredkissoon@yahoo.com or the time of writing, I haven't call me at 614-5927. I need enquired from anyone about to know this because I have to renew mine. Do they have what this fellow told me. He said that when you go the machine to give you a to renew your driver's digitalised driver's licence licence, they send you to the right away? I mean that happens in cashier, you then take the receipt and expired licence other countries but does it to an attendant and right happen in Guyana? And if there and then you get a new so, then why can't you get a licence. So I asked him how renewed passport right that is possible because they away? My family and I have have to stamp the new to renew our passports very expiration date on the soon. If there is a God, can he spare us the hassle? document. (The views expressed in He said he does not know how they do it but he is this article are those of the certain that you are getting a a u t h o r a n d d o n o t new one right away. Is this necessarily reflect the true? Can someone email me opinions of this newspaper.)
High food prices reducing citizens' ability to afford a nutritious diet - new UN/Caricom study
A
n estimated 2.8 million people or nearly 40 percent of the population in the English-speaking Caribbean are food insecure, one million more than in April 2020, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Severe food insecurity continues to increase in the region with the current figure 72 percent higher when compared to April 2020. Highlighting the lasting impact of the pandemic, two years in, the results demonstrate deteriorating food consumption and diets with 25 percent of respondents eating less preferred foods, 30 percent skipping meals or eating less than usual, and 5 percent going an entire day without eating in the week leading up to the survey. “Having the opportunity to assess how the pandemic has impacted the livelihoods and food security of more than 20,000 respondents across the past two years has provided the CARICOM
Secretariat with invaluable data that is being used to inform regional priorities in the short and medium term,” said Shaun Baugh, Agriculture and AgroIndustrial Development Programme Manager at the CARICOM Secretariat. High food prices continue to affect people's ability to afford a nutritious diet with 93 percent of respondents reporting higher prices for food compared to 59 percent in April 2020. The ongoing crisis in Ukraine is expected to create an even deeper impact on the cost of basic goods and services in the Caribbean. “An import dependent region, the Caribbean continues to feel the socioeconomic strain of COVID19 which is now being compounded by the conflict in Ukraine. With most COVID-19 assistance programmes having concluded, many families are expected to face an even greater challenge to meet their basic food and other essential needs in the months to come,” said Regis C h a p m a n , W F P Representative and Country Director for the Caribbean
Multi-Country Office. “In the short to medium term, it is increasing pressure on governments to identify solutions to ensure families can meet their essential needs. Innovation in agri-food systems and regional supply chains, coupled with continued support to the most vulnerable households, will be essential to improving the resilience of regional food systems so that prices can be kept as stable as possible.” Along with the latest survey results, an interactive dashboard allows for comparison between different survey rounds and across several countries. It also provides data on the impact of the pandemic on livelihoods, access to markets and food security by country in the Caribbean. CARICOM, WFP and other partners continue to work together to increase resilience to shocks through stronger disaster management, social protection and food systems that are more effective, sustainable and responsive in meeting the needs of those most affected by crises.
Thursday April 28, 2022
Kaieteur News
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Thursday April 28, 2022
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Govt. wants to spend $32B to tackle flooding ...Jagdeo announces at Berbice outreach
A section of the residents who turned out to the meeting at Dundee, Mahaicony
V
ice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday led a Cabinet outreach to the Mahaica-Berbice Region where he told residents of Dundee, Mahaicony that some $32 billion will be spent to tackle flooding across the country. The funds will be split b e t w e e n R e g i o n s Tw o (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo IslandWe s t D e m e r a r a ) , F i v e (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Corentyne- Berbice) this year, he told the community. Jagdeo said, “We have been tackling this issue of flooding across the
country. Because of climate change, we have had unusual weather patterns. Many of the farmers in this area, and this is a predominantly farming region have suffered enormously from flooding and we made it clear that we want to address this issue in the long-term.” He said that government, when they constructed the Hope Canal in Region Five, had anticipated to keep the East Coast of Demerara safe from conservancy threats and to avoid excessive water being released into the Mahaica Creek. The Hope Canal, Jagdeo
said, has been effective in keeping water off of the land, but a new plan is being developed to help the administration manage overtopping. To this end, he said, “I convened, maybe three or four weeks ago, a group of people from Regions Two, Three, Five and Six and there was a presentation on various initiatives which could cost as much as $32 billion in these four regions to tackle the long-term flooding.” Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth explained that between the Mahaica,
Mahaicony and Abary Block, the backlands are not adequately protected like in Region Four where the water is held back by the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EWDC). As a consequence, Wordsworth said that when these areas experience rainfall, at levels equivalent to that of mid last year's, the water overrides the swollen rivers and downstream flooding occurs. In this regard, he said that the NDIA has compiled a list of proposals, one of which will be to construct a flood
Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth addressing the residents of Dundee, Mahaicony embankment from the Joe Hook area to the Baibo Canal in Mahaica which will lead to a current embankment. A second phase of this project will take the water to another location to add further protection. In addition, he said, “We proposed a new outlet to be added at Dantzig. This would entail cutting across the road, upgrading channels, constructing new sluice and pump stations like what we currently doing at Cottage so the work at Cottage and what we propose
at Dantzig, they will complement each other.” This project alone would control some 8,400 acres of flood affected lands. Meanwhile, Mahaicony will see a flood embankment being constructed from First Point to the Abary River. The agency is also seeking to add a new outlet between Letter T to the existing sluice. The government is also planning to dredge the mouths of the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary Rivers.
Mabaruma man charged Pedal cyclist killed with murder of foster son in Enmore crash
A pedal cyclist has died hours after he was knocked down in a road accident along the Enmore Access Road, East Coast Demerara. Dead is Hanchan Basdeo, age 30, better known as “Anil” of Lot 203 Foulis East Coast Demerara (ECD). Basdeo was struck down around 18:30hrs by a car while he was riding along the Enmore Access Road, ECD. Speaking with Kaieteur News on Wednesday, Basdeo's sister, Amrita said that he was staying at his brother's home and had just left there to go to his house to pick up some things and return. However, as fate would have it, Basdeo never made it home that day; instead he met with an accident on his way there. According to police, Basdeo was riding in a westerly direction along the northern side of the road while the car was travelling in the opposite direction along the same side of the road. The driver of the car identified as a 27-year-old resident of Haslington told police that he flashed his headlights twice and even tooted his horn on Basdeo for him to pull aside but he failed to do so and they crashed into each other. Basdeo was reportedly flung into the air by the impact
Dead, Hanchan Basdeo
and landed on top of the car before falling onto the road. An injured and unconscious Basdeo was picked and rushed to the Nabaclis Health Centre by the driver. Medical professional s there referred him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where died the following morning while receiving treatment. His relatives described him as a hardworking man who loved having fun.
Nigel Abraham, the man who reportedly stabbed his stepson to death on Easter Sunday, was on Wednesday remanded to prison after being charged with murder. Thirty-year-old Abraham of Lower Black Water, Barima River, North West District, Region One made his first court appearance in the Mabaruma Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Sunil Scarce via Zoom, where the charge was read to him. Abraham was not required to plead to the charge which alleges that on April 17, at Lower Black Water, Barima River, he m u r d e r e d 1 7 - y e a r- o l d Daniel Wilson. After he was remanded to prison, Magistrate Scarce then adjourned the matter to May 18, 2022. It was reported that Wilson of Lower Black Water, Barima River, was allegedly stabbed to death by his foster father on Easter Sunday night. According to
Charged with murder, Nigel Abraham reports, the tragic incident which claimed the life of the teen and left his cousin hospitalised occurred on last Sunday around 22:00hrs. Investigators had revealed that Wilson, his foster father and one of his cousins, Ron Moonsammy were imbibing alcohol when
an argument erupted amongst them. Details about the argument which remains unclear led the suspect to stab the now deceased with a knife. Reports are that Moonsammy intervened and tried to save his cousin but the suspect reportedly turned on him with the knife and stabbed him too. Wilson was rushed to the Mabaruma Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead while an injured Moonsammy was rushed to the same hospital in a critical condition but later had to be transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC) for further treatment. Kaieteur News was informed that Moonsammy has since been discharged from the GPHC. Abraham, who was on the run since the incident, was nabbed on Friday morning by residents and members of the Mabaruma Community Policing group who assisted the police.
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Thursday April 28, 2022
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‘The Chinese are more aggressive than you’
P
resident Irfaan Ali on Tuesday told a group United Kingdom investors that the Chinese are more aggressive than them in their approach to investment in Guyana. The Head of State made this assertion while speaking about Guyana's potential and investment opportunities during his feature address at the Guyana Investment Seminar, held at Carlton House in London, England. He said while the UK has earmarked millions of pounds that Guyana can qualify for through investment, infrastructure development and i n f r a s t r u c t u r e transformation, there is a lack of aggressiveness from the UK and EU private sectors. “Many people ask sometimes why Chinese investors find the market faster than anyone else; well I can tell you from our humble experience, their aggression is far different.” Only recently, Chinese investment here came into sharp focus with allegations that government officials were being bribed in exchange for lucrative infrastructure and other contracts. A number of major projects have been built by Chinese contractors over years such as the Cheddi Jagan International Airport,
which continues to milk the Guyanese treasury. Ali pointed out the benefits of investing in a developing Guyana. “Our development is about creating a broad platform for the future; a platform in which we are going to strengthen traditional sectors, make them more competitive…we're going to go after new sectors.” Among the sectors, he outlined, included Information Communication Technology (ICT), education, healthcare and tourism. ICT was described as one of the “new pillars” that will support the economy. He also said that Guyana wants to create a health sector that is worldclass and a “knowledge sector” where education will play an important role. The President highlighted Guyana's proximity to the US as a positive for visitors, who are looking for an alternative in medical services, and the country's geographic position of bridging South America with the Caribbean. In the tourism sector, President Ali announced that Canada will help to train Guyanese in hospitality management. He said that Guyana has launched a programme to get 6000 Guyanese trained in the sector. This, he stressed, was
- Pres Ali tells UK investors necessary to not only create the opportunity but to build institutional capacity and human capacity to meet the opportunities ahead. While the President acknowledged the challenges facing the country, he assured that “those are the challenges that we will confront boldly. And those are the challenges our development trajectory will address and must address.” He pointed to the strides made in the agriculture sector and Guyana's lead role in CARICOM in advancing the food production and food security agenda in the Region. “The heads of CARICOM came together, and we have decided that by 2025, we want to reduce the food import bill of CARICOM by 25 percent. So, the initial target is 25 by 2025. And Guyana has leadership in ensuring this target is met.” He noted that Guyana has presented an action plan to reach the target, while pointing to the importance of food security and agricultural diversification at the national level. “We have some of the largest distribution companies now ready to bring in the capital to replant
coffee, cocoa, to ensure that we become self-sufficient in corn and soya as input costs for feed production for poultry and livestock. And that is where the country is going. In just 20 months, we have embarked on a programme of crop diversification.” Within two years, the President added, Guyana will produce all the corn and soya needed for the feed production for our poultry and livestock sector. He also highlighted the collaborations with Barbados on creating the first Guyana/ Barbados food terminal as a pilot programme that will be replicated throughout the Caribbean, with Guyana becoming the food capital of the region and working with Brazil to sign an agreement to enhance Guyana's livestock breed, expand the production of mutton and mutton products to meet the full regional demand. “This is the type of transformation I'm talking about. This is where the revenues from oil and gas will go to build other sectors, ensuring other sectors are competitive, ensuring that those sectors are resilient.” The President reiterated that
President Irfaan Ali at the Guyana Investment Seminar
Guyana and the opportunities Guyana presents existed long before the discovery of oil and gas. He added that with 30% of the world's wheat taken out of the market, owing to the RussianUkraine crisis, global prices have skyrocketed and countries that rely on wheat heavily, like Guyana, are feeling the brunt. “We have just launched research on finding a wheat variety that can be grown in Guyana, to satisfy our local demand to start with. So that the next generation of Guyanese must not be in a position that we are in today, where we are faced with these shocks and sudden increases in prices. And that is where the resources must go, building… an economy that
is resilient and sustainable.” With regards to the energy sector, the Guyanese Head of State acknowledged that Guyana has the highest cost of energy in the region, which places the country at a disadvantage in the manufacturing and industrial sectors. He pointed to efforts underway to address this challenge. “ We h a v e a l r e a d y committed that by 2025, the cost of energy must be reduced by 50%. And by doing that, it will put Guyana on equal footing to compete with other countries where manufacturing and industrial development plays a vital role.” He outlined an energy mix, including natural gas and other renewable forms of energy as the country's future. (DPI)
Agri. Ministry to expand “encouraging” …1000 Blackbelly sheep for wheat trials in Reg. 9Guyana in matter of weeks The prospects of Guyana growing wheat here seems very “encouraging” Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has reported. So much so, that moves are currently being made to expand the wheat cultivation trials to a second location in a matters of weeks. Minister Mustapha had explained earlier in the month that government was making an effort to commence the first trial of 20 wheat varieties before the end of May as part of moves to diversify Guyana's food sector. However, the trial which has already commenced has yielded positive results so far. Minister Mustapha said that after speaking with the project's lead scientist, Dr. Mahendra Persaud, he was informed of the good results arising from the small wheat batch being tried at the Burma Rice Research Station in Region 5. “So, what Dr. Mahendra told me [is] that he started some [wheat trials] at the rice research station and the prospect looks very good.” “So, what he will do now is come out in open field to start that trial there and we are looking also at other locations in the country.”
The rare Blackbelly sheep Minister Mustapha related that it is the ministry's hope that in a matter of two to three weeks time, “we'll have at least two locations that will do the trials. We have about 49 lines and each line has potential to become a variety.” Apart from the rice research centre, the minister said eyes are on Region 9 for the second trial location given the climate and other factors in there. “So, in another two to three
weeks, we'll have at least two locations in different parts of the country where the trial will commence.” The minister continued that about a half acre of land will be used to continue the trials. The crop will have to be grown two to three times as part of the trial runs to see if the crop can withstand climate and other factors that may hamper the easy cultivation of the product. When minister Mustapha made
the wheat trial announcement, he told journalists that the government was actively working with its Mexican counterparts to ensure the success of the trials. “We are in contact with our counterpart in especially Mexico. We are looking at a different variety of wheat. I am hoping by the end of this month or by next month latest, we can have the first trial with about 15 to 20 varieties to see the best one that can be grown
in Guyana.” On another food diversification project, the minister informed that the rear Blackbelly sheep would be in Guyana in another couple of weeks. He explained that currently, the animals are being quarantined in Barbados to ensure that they are delivered to Guyana healthy and disease free. Mustapha said that he has (Continued on page 16)
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Thursday April 28, 2022
Kaieteur News
Thursday April 28, 2022
Economic slowdown deepens in Caribbean …new ECLAC report says average regional growth of 1.8% expected in 2022
The economies of Latin America and the Caribbean face a complex juncture in 2022 due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, which ushers in a new source of uncertainty for the world economy. This is negatively affecting global growth, now estimated at 3.3%, a percentage point below original projections before the hostilities began. At the regional level, lower expected growth will be accompanied by higher inflation and slow employment recovery. According to new estimates released today by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in this press release, average growth of 1.8% is predicted for the region in this context, where the conflict in Ukraine has heightened inflation, increasing financial volatility and costs. The economies of South America will grow by 1.5%, Central America and Mexico 2.3%, while 4.7% growth is expected for the Caribbean economies (excluding Guyana).
The new figures were announced by the organization's acting Executive Secretary, Mario Cimoli, to the ambassadors for the Group of Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) during a meeting held on Wednesday at United Nations headquarters in New York. According to ECLAC, the conflict in Ukraine will also negatively affect world trade dynamics, causing a decrease in foreign demand in Latin America and the Caribbean. The region's main trade partners – the United States (US), China and the European Union (EU) – will see lower growth rates than those expected before the conflict began. In the case of the US, growth will be 2.8% (1.2 percentage points lower than previous projections). Projected growth for China is at 5% (0.7 percentage points less than before the hostilities), and for the EU, growth of 2.8% is expected (1.4 percentage points lower than pre-conflict projections). The war in Ukraine has also caused an increase in
commodity prices, mainly in fossil fuels, some metals, food and fertilizers. This price increase is in addition to higher costs observed due to disruptions in supply chains and exacerbated interruptions in maritime transport. These price hikes have given impetus to world inflation rates, in some countries reaching historic highs in 2022. In the face of the persistent and increasing inflation, higher interest rates in developed countries can be expected. The United Nations regional commission adds that monetary adjustments in the countries of the North have accentuated the tightening of global financial conditions witnessed in recent months, causing greater volatility in financial markets. Alongside the increase in global aversion to risk resulting from the conflict in Ukraine, this has jeopardized capital flows to emerging markets. These trends may be accentuated in the coming months, especially if inflationary pressure persists in developed economies and
the central banks in these economies deepen contractive monetary policies, including rate hikes and the reversal of monetary stimuli (asset purchases). As in the rest of the world, inflationary dynamics have accelerated in Latin America and the Caribbean, warned ECLAC. As of March 2022, regional inflation is estimated at 7.5%, and many central banks in the region anticipate sustained high inflation for the rest of the year, given the greater uncertainty abroad in light of the war in Ukraine, especially in higher international energy and food prices, and disruptions in global supply chains, as well as persistent high transportation costs. In response to higher inflation, monetary policy in central banks in the region has become more restrictive and the majority have significantly raised interest rates, which in most cases have reached levels similar to those observed in 2017. Retreating fiscal momentum is expected to (Continued on page 16)
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Thieves raid Granger’s D’Urban Backland house
FOR RENT Linden.2 bedrooms, upper flat at one mile Public road. Tel:675-7667. VEHICLE FOR SALE One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable & 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:649-0956. 1 Model M Truck,TM Truck,428 Caterpillar Backhoe,416 Caterpillar,Front end loader,Cement Mixer & Mini Excavator.Contact:650-0402/ 652-0251. Ford Explorer Sports track & Land Rover Discovery. Excellent condition off road vehicles.Tel:615-8683/6180724.
2 bedroom apartment for rent.Call on whatsapp only 518-709-2667. One,Two,Three bedroom apartment furnish & unfurnish in Providence, Diamond, New Road, Vreeden-hoop.604-6664, 6826238,216-2299.
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design,Advertisements, Wedding decorations & Elderly grooming: Hair,Nail etc.Tel:626-7040. Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc.Call Nick#656-0110/630-1600. Looking for position of Labourer/Apprentice in AC, Electrician,P lum bing, Construction, Auto Repairs, Cabinet-making.Call:223-8916.
FOR SALE Over 30,000 BM used hard wood,various sizes & cheap price.Tel:227-1511,645-1613. Cows for sale at Houston Estate.Tel:227-5468/6164387/624-2920. 6-4 & 5 bedroom house at Schoonord,1-3 story building at Zeelugt public road,13 bedroom house at Blankenburg.Contact:6500402/652-0251. Prime business spot (1/2 acre)@ Parika,9 houselots together at Blankenburg & Double lot at Tuschen. Contact:650-0402/652-0251.
Thieves on Sunday raided the D’Urban Backlands home of ex-president, David Arthur Granger and stole a 52-inch Samsung Television set val-
WANTED One Housekeeper.Must be able to cook,45-60 yrs old. Must be living E.B.D. One handyman/store help, 6954785/265-3541.
VACANCY PROPERTY FOR SALE Second Field South, West, Cummingslodge.Tel:6031278.
White Toyota Verossa PLL Series,price 1.5Mil.Call:6086948.
SERVICES
Thursday April 28, 2022
Kaieteur News
Driller & Drill Helpers at Land Star Drilling Co. Call:231-1408/ 642-9191. Water Delivery Driver and Porter for E.C.D.Tel:676-1363/ 692-6768.
LAND FOR SALE
Accounts Clerk with knowledge of Quickbooks & accounting experience. Passport size picture required 6092995,email:survival. human resources@gmail.com.
Land and Building for sale,40ftx94ft.Le Ress ouv enir Main Public Road. Call: 645-1613.
Inventory Clerks.Apply with passport size photo.Tel:6092995,email:survival. human resources@gmail.com. Drivers.Valid drivers license (With Motor Lorry & Van). Apply with passport size picture. Tel:609-2995, email: survival. human resources @ gm ail.com.
WANTED Housekeeper,age 35-40yrs to perform general domestic work,4 days per week. Tel:225-8131/227-0332. Male & Female to work at Magic Touch Car Wash & Detailing Centre.Call:6041980. Washbay workers at Nandy Park.Tel:233-5227/682-1616. Male able bodied clerk. Tel:231-2029,616-5954. Labourers,Skilled Carpenters & Masons to work in Georgetown & Linden. Contact:660-6385/615-7526/6029496. Experienced Taxi Driver & Minibus Driver at Princess Hotel(Princess Taxi Service). Contact:616-5419/265-7075/ 265-7076. Maid to work from 8:30hrs to 16:30hrs.Contact:649-9359. Shri Radhey Trading,wanted sales boy.Call:225-4997. Peter Variety Store,wanted sales girl & house keeper. Call: 699-4468. 1 experience Roti/Puri/Pastry Maker,Cook & Kitchen Assistance,between 5:306pm.Tel:603-1278. Motor Lorry drivers needed and Porters. Tel:627-1835/ 626-4691.
Poultry/Livestock Farmers. Live in accommodations available.Tel:609-2995.Canal #2 W.B.D & Linden Soesdyke Highway. Vacancy for 2 experienced hairdresser.Location Grove E.B.D,Tel:652-5800. Grade 2 Teachers,Secretary & Security Guards. Contact:6 49-8174. Lash,Nail Technician & Mani-Pedicurist.Must be English literate. Contact: Reign L.A.B on 643-5855. 1 Forklift Operator.License not needed.Apply at LENS 136 Sheriff Street, C/ Ville.Tel:227-1511/227-2486. One able body Porter, Handyman,age 20-35yrs. Must be vaccinated photo & recommendation. Keyfood McDoom Village. Female Cleaner for office. Call:642-9823. Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area.Call:615-9132. One clerk for TSI Eccles office English & Math, grade 1 or 2.Call:615-9132 or email application to techserigy @yahoo.com. Fitter Machinist,Welder fabricator & mechanic. 3 yrs experience.Call:642-9823 email:techserigy @yahoo. com.
ued at $240,000, a Lasko stand fan valued $7,000, four Huawei Laptop computers valued at $320,000, one HP printer valued $120,000 and one barber set in a black shoulder bag valued $50,000. Police believe that the thieves entered Granger’s home between 18:45 and 05:45hrs. Granger has moved out of the property since 2015. He has now been living at Pearl on the East Bank Demerara. The D’Urban Backlands
property was previously loaned to the Burnham Foundation. Although the ex-president does not live there any more, the house has been converted into a library, and according to a security that works there, he locked up and secured the property around 18:45hrs on Sunday. He subsequently went home but when he returned for duties around 05:45hrs the following day, a door located on the northern side of the
one flat concrete building was opened and its lock was lying in the ground. Realising that it was the work of thieves, he decided to make some checks in the house and found that the television was missing. He decided to call his boss, Granger, and informed him of the theft. The ex-president visited the home and upon making further checks, he discovered that there were other items missing. Investigations are ongoing.
Man shot in street brawl dies
One of the men who was shot on April 16 last during a street brawl at North Sophia has died. Yardan Jacobs, 27, died around 17:00hrs on Tuesday while receiving treatment for the gunshot injury, which he had received to his lower back. Jacobs and his cousin, 29-year-old Steve Bacchus were shot just after midnight
on April 16. They were reportedly hanging out with some friends at Tanary Area, North Sophia when argument started between Jacobs and another man. As it got heated between the two, Bacchus reportedly intervened to “backup” 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 back while another struck Bacchus to his abdomen. The cousins were rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where Jacobs later succumbed. The shooter remains at large.
Agri. Ministry to expand “encouraging” wheat... From page 13 already been in contact with his Agriculture counterpart in Barbados and was able to ascertain that the sheep were available and would be sent to Guyana soon. “So, hopefully in another couple weeks, we can have it [the
Blackbelly sheep].” They don't want to send the animals directly to Guyana after receiving them so they are quarantined before being coming here. “We will have the 1000 Blackbelly sheep, they are making preparations,” the Agriculture Minister assured.
Last March, President Irfaan Ali launched the US$3M Blackbelly sheep Project in Region Five, West Coast Berbice. Some 78 farmers are already on board with a focus being placed on youths and women playing a major role.
Economic slowdown deepens in Caribbean... From page 15 accelerate in 2022, in step with the evolution of macroeconomic conditions and increased financing costs. Public expenditure will contract, reinforcing the reduction ob-
served in 2021 and reducing fiscal policy contributions to growth. Although labor markets are showing signs of recovery, this has been slow and incomplete. The pace of job creation in 2022 is expected to decline
along with the slowdown projected for growth in the region. The combined factors of greater labour participation and lower job creation will drive higher unemployment rates this year, warns ECLAC.
Thursday April 28, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 17
CXC exams pushed back by three weeks
$192M more to continue upgrade of Canal No.1 & 2 main roads
The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has pushed back final exams for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) by three weeks. The exams, which were set to get underway on May 2, will now commence on Monday, May 23, 2022. The results are projected to be released in late August or early September. The announcement was made by Registrar and Chief Executive Officer at CXC Dr. Wayne Wesley. The d e c i s i o n , w h i c h was made during a special meeting of the governing board of the council Wednesday morning, follows feedback from regional Ministries of Education. Speaking during a media briefing after the meeting, Dr. Wesley said, “This will provide candidates with additional time to prepare for the examinations.” Dr. Wesley also announced the extension of the sub m i s s i o n o f S c h o o l Based Assessments for CSEC and CAPE from June 30 by a further two weeks. He said the council will further share with the Ministries of Education for communication with candidates the broad topics to be assessed on Paper 2 of the exams. Just last week, t h e President of the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) Dr. Garth Anderson had called for the exams to be delayed by three weeks. He made the plea while delivering the feature address at the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Annual General Meeting last Tuesday morning, when he said CXC
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer at CXC Dr. Wayne Wesley was doing an injustice by proceeding as normal with the exams. “It is sad that the advocating that is taking place on behalf of our children is being done by teachers, students, parents; and our politicians, those we have elected to take care of our needs, seem to be in hiding,” he said. “The CUT has written to the chair of COHSOD [Council for Human and Social Development], who happens to be the Minister of Education of Barbados [Kay McConney]. Sadly, to date, we have no response from the Minister. We have sought several times to reach out to her office yet no response, and so, CXC is moving on with business as usual, a law unto itself and, I dare to posit, an organisation that seems to be suffering from serious constipation of ideas. “Last sitting [of the exams], we had the same challenges. COVID is still with us. Some of these students sitting the examination at this time would have been out of
school two, three years, yet we are moving ahead,” the trade union leader said. He, therefore, used the occasion of Tuesday’s AGM to publicly call on Minister McConney to respond to the CUT, “so that we can seriously discuss the injustice on the way to our students who are not properly ready for the exams”. “We are asking for a three-week delay of the examination, for broad topics to be issued, for us to look at the requirements for the practical components for the SBAs, and practical SBAs in particular. “We don’t think we are unreasonable but we see where Ministers of Education are hiding, we have a responsibility as trade unions to call them out and we are calling out the Ministers of Education, under the leadership at this time by the Honourable Kay McConney, so that we can give those who represent the future of this region a good chance to succeed. Failing to do so, we are going to pay the consequences l a t e r … , ” D r. A n d e r s o n added. He expressed the h o p e t h a t t h e r e g i o n ’s Education Ministers will speak out against CXC’s actions. “We are hopeful that the Ministers of Education across the region who have a constitutional responsibility to take care of, to have an interest in the wellbeing of our students, will step up to the plate. They cannot allow CXC to continue the way they are going on at this time, as though normalcy has returned to our education system across the region,” he contended. (Jamaica Observer)
Eight more new COVID-19 cases With no one hospitalised, the Ministry of Health on Wednesday via its daily COVID-19 dashboard revealed that within the last 24-hour period, only eight new cases have been recorded. The new cases which are all men now bring the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 63,447. Th e d a s h b o a r d d a t a shows that 93 persons are in home isolation and 13 are in institutional quarantined. Additionally, within the last 24hours,12 individuals have recovered from the virus, taking the total number of recovery to 62,126.
As part of efforts to upgrade the Canal No. 1 and 2 main access roads this year, two more contracts worth $192, 181,710 have been awarded to complete phase two of the projects. These two new contracts now make it half a billion dollar, $535,926,357, being spent by the Ministry of Public Works to do rehabilitative works on the roads. As previously reported, already $343,794,647 was spent on the first phase of these roads. The award of the projects was revealed by the National Procurement and Tender Board (NPTAB) on April 19, last to R&B Investment Inc. who won the bid to execute works on Canal No.1 road for $99,000,300 and Navin & Son Construction who won the bid to do Canal No. 2 road to the tune of $93,181,410. These projects form part of the $15.2 billion that was allocated in this year’s budget for the construction and rehabilitation of urban and community roads across the country. In September last year, two contractors, Japarts Construction Inc. and Aronco Services Inc. were awarded contracts to upgrade the first phase of the roads. Reports are that Japarts was awarded $173,131,854 to work on Canal No. 1 and Aronco to work on Canal No. 2 main access road for the sum of $170,612,793. Meanwhile, also awarded by the NPTAB was the continuation of the projects for De Hoop, Burma and Branch roads in the Mahaicony area. It was stated that the contractor to do works on the De Hoop access road is T&R Construction Services who was awarded the contract to the tune of $98,367,281. For the Burma Road, Premier Asphalt was awarded $97,349,910 for phase three of the project and lastly, M&R construction will be carrying works on phase two of Branch Road, Mahaicony to the tune of $97,659,870.
Phase one of the rehabilitative works being done on the Canal No.1 main access road. (Canals Polder NDC photos)
Phase one of the rehabilitative works being done on the Canal No.2 main access road.
Chaos, gang violence again erupt in Haiti, even human rights advocates are targets (Miami Herald) - Violence is again erupting in Haiti, where armed clashes between warring violent gangs are once more forcing residents to flee their homes under a hail of bullets. How dangerous are things right now? The head of the country’s disarmament commission narrowly escaped harm Tuesday morning along with his driver when their car was hit with a spray of gunfire. A United Nations helicopter was reportedly hit with a bullet while parked on a runway in Portau-Prince. A photo of the damage was making the rounds
on social media. The helicopter is used to ferry U.N. workers to remote locations in the country. The state of siege on the eastern edge of the capital began around 4 a.m. Sunday, say residents, and has stalled everything from public transportation to the operation of street markets between Croix-des-Missions and Bon Repos, seven miles northeast of the capital and not far from the sprawling encampment where victims of the 2010 earthquake sought refuge after the disaster.
“We are practically paralyzed here,” said a local resident and pastor named Steeve, who declined to give his last name, and was marking his third day in the village of Caradeux separated from his family in Tabarre because of the shootings. “We cannot do anything.” It is unclear how many people have died or have been shot since the violence broke out — neither police nor members of the government have made any official statements, and the Haiti National Police spokesman did not respond to a phone call.
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Thursday April 28, 2022
Kaieteur News
Russia cuts off gas to 2 NATO nations in bid to divide West
(AP) — Russia cut off natural gas to NATO members Poland and Bulgaria on Wednesday and threatened to do the same to other countries, using its most essential export in what was seen as a bid to punish and divide the West over its support for Ukraine. The move, condemned by European leaders as “blackmail,” marked a dramatic escalation in the economic war of sanctions and countersanctions that has unfolded in parallel to the fighting on the battlefield. The tactic, coming a day after the U.S. and other Western allies vowed to rush more and heavier weapons to Ukraine, could eventually force targeted nations to ration gas and could deal another blow to economies suffering from rising prices. At the same time, it could deprive Russia of badly needed income to fund its war effort. Poland has been a major gateway for the delivery of weapons to Ukraine and confirmed this week that it is sending the country tanks. Just hours before Russia’s state energy giant Gazprom acted, Poland announced a new set of sanctions against the company and other Russian businesses and oligarchs. Bulgaria, under a new liberal government that took office last fall, has cut many
of its old ties to Moscow and likewise supported punitive measures against the Kremlin. It has also hosted Western fighter jets at a new NATO outpost on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. The gas cuts do not immediately put the two countries in any dire trouble. Poland, especially, has been working for many years to line up other suppliers, and the continent is heading into summer, making gas less essential for households. Also, Russian gas deliveries to both Poland and Bulgaria were expected to end later this year anyway. Still, the cutoff and the Kremlin warning that other countries could be next sent shivers of worry through the 27-nation European Union. Germany, the largest economy on the continent, and Italy are among Europe’s biggest consumers of Russian natural gas, though they, too, have been taking steps to reduce their dependence on Moscow. “It comes as no surprise that the Kremlin uses fossil fuels to try to blackmail us,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Today, the Kremlin failed once again in his attempt to sow division amongst member states. The era of Russian fossil fuel in Europe is coming to an end.” Gazprom said it shut off the two countries because
they refused to pay in rubles, as President Vladimir Putin has demanded of “unfriendly” nations. The Kremlin said other countries may be cut off if they don’t agree to the payment arrangement. Most European countries have publicly balked at Russia’s demand for rubles, but it is not clear how many have actually faced the moment of decision so far. Greece’s next scheduled payment to Gazprom is due on May 25, for example, and the government must decide then whether to comply. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told his country’s parliament that he believes Poland’s support for Ukraine — and the new sanctions imposed by Warsaw on Tuesday — were the real reasons behind the gas cutoff. Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov called the suspension blackmail, adding: “We will not succumb to such a racket.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia views gas as a weapon for political blackmail and “sees a united Europe as a target.” On the battlefield, fighting continued in the country’s east along a largely static front line some 300 miles (480 kilometers) long. Russia claimed its missiles hit a batch of weapons that the U.S. and European
nations had delivered to Ukraine. One person was killed and at least two were injured when rockets hit a residential neighborhood in Kharkiv. Western officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence findings, said Russia has made slow progress in the Donbas region in the east, with “minor gains,” including the capture of villages and small towns south of Izyum and on the outskirts of Rubizhne. They said some Russian troops have been shifted from the gutted southern port city of Mariupol to other parts of the Donbas. But some remain in Mariupol to fight Ukrainian forces holed up at the Azovstal steel plant, the last stronghold in the city. About 1,000 civilians were said to be taking shelter there with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian defenders.
“The situation is very difficult. There are huge problems with water, food,” Serhii Volynskyi, commander of the marine unit inside the plant, said in a Facebook video message. He said hundreds of fighters and civilians were wounded and in need of medical help, and those inside included children, older people and disabled people. Just across the border in Russia, an ammunition depot in the Belgorod region burned after several explosions were heard, the governor said. Blasts were also reported in Russia’s Kursk region near the border, and authorities in Russia’s Voronezh region said an air defense system shot down a drone. Earlier this week, an oil storage facility in the Russian city of Bryansk was engulfed by fire. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak hinted at the country’s involvement in the fires, saying in a Telegram post that “karma (is) a harsh thing.” In other developments: — The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, said the safety level at Europe’s largest nuclear plant, now under Russian occupation in Ukraine, is like a “red light blinking” as his organization tries in vain to get access to the Zaporizhzhia power station for repairs. — Amid rising tensions over gas, Moscow and Washington carried out a dramatic prisoner exchange, trading a Marine veteran jailed in Moscow for a convicted Russian drug trafficker serving a long prison sentence in the U.S. With the help of Western arms, Ukrainian forces managed to thwart Russian forces’ attempt to storm Kyiv. Moscow now says its focus is the capture of the Donbas, Ukraine’s mostly Russianspeaking industrial heartland. A defiant Putin vowed
Russia will achieve its military goals, telling parliament, “All the tasks of the special military operation we are conducting in the Donbas and Ukraine, launched on Feb. 24, will be unconditionally fulfilled.” Simone Tagliapietra, senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels, said Russia’s goal in cutting off the flow of gas is to “divide and rule” — pit European countries against one another as they cast about for energy. While Poland gets around 45% of its gas from Russia, it relies overwhelmingly on coal and said it was well prepared for the cutoff. It has ample gas in storage and will soon benefit from two pipelines coming on line, analyst Emily McClain of Rystad Energy said. Bulgaria gets over 90% of its gas from Russia, but it could increase imports from Azerbaijan, and a pipeline connection to Greece is set to be completed later this year. Dobrin Todorov, a resident of Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, said the suspension is not a big problem. “Ultimately, the choice between freedom and dignity or gas, the answer is clear, in favor of freedom and dignity,” Todorov said, adding that a lack of gas “cannot be compared to the hardship and tribulations that the Ukrainian people are currently suffering.” Europe is not without its own leverage, since it is paying some $400 million a day to Russia for gas, money Putin would lose in a complete cutoff. Russia can, in theory, sell oil elsewhere — to India and China, for instance. But it doesn’t have the necessary pipelines in some cases, and it has only limited capacity to export gas by ship. “The move that Russia did today is basically a move where Russia hurts itself,” von der Leyen said.
Thursday April 28, 2022
Man caught selling ganja arrested
Kaieteur News
PAGE 19
Porter remanded for 2018 Kitty murder
A
man, on Tuesday, was arrested at Kuru Kururu, along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway for the possession and sale of marijuana. According to a police report, the suspect was Confiscated stash of marijuana. arrested between 16:30 hrs and 18:10 hrs by patrolling officers. The suspect was identified as a 24-year-old of Wismar, Linden. Ranks reported that the suspect was under surveillance for fifteen minutes and during that time, they observed him handing over blue ziploc-like packets and collecting money from several persons. They decided to swoop down on him and it led them to discover a stash of marijuana hidden in a PVC pipe attached to a wooden house. The report stated that after the suspect was busted with the drugs, ranks took possession of his money, a total of $55,740. He was arrested and taken to the Timehri Police Station where the narcotics was lodged and placed into evidence.
Remanded, Damian Bissoon More than four years after a wanted bulletin was issued for him in relation to the murder of Taj Andrew Jarvis, 33-year-old Damian Bissoon who recently surrendered was remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgtown Magistrates' Court. Bissoon, a porter of Shell Road Kitty, Georgetown, surrendered on Monday. On Wednesday, he was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which states that on March 30, 2018, in the vicinity of Barr and
Dead, Taj Anthony Jarvis Alexander Streets, Kitty, he murdered Jarvis of Dowding Street, Kitty. According to reports, Jarvis was fatally stabbed on Good Friday night in the vicinity of Barr and Alexander Streets, Kitty. The incident reportedly occurred around 20:00 hours over money. At the time of the killing, the victim was seen walking with his friend along Alexander Street when Bissoon confronted him and demanded money. Bissoon was represented attorney-at-law George Thomas and is expected to make his next court appearance on May 17, 2022.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday April 28, 2022
Volodímir Zelenski
Thursday April 28, 2022
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Fitness Express hits the mark with Arrowhead League Fitness Express has signed on as one of the sponsors for the Arrowhead League that will commence on April 30 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
At the simple presentation ceremony, proprietor of the fitness store Jamie McDonald noted that “This league in the next few years will help to develop athletics and when I
saw it in the papers I thought this would be good to be a part of, this is what the athletes need,” McDonald shared. Organiser of the event, Treiston Joseph highlighted
that, “With companies like Fitness Express onboard, the overarching goal of moving the sport forward is easier to achieve,” Joseph stated while thanking Fitness Express. Mean-
while, President of the Athletics Association of Guyana, Aubrey Hutson was also on hand to thank Fitness Express and shared that, “This league will help to give the
athletes consistent competition and that is important,” Hutson mentioned. The first meet of the league will be on April 30 from 17:00hrs.
Linden to face GT's Club 45 to decide champions... From page 23 box from a foul, while the third one was an own goal. For Tuesday's clash, Halley will be maintaining his defensive role along with Mark Glasgow at left back while their main man up front will be Kwesi Pryce.
Coach of the Club 45 side Kurt Davis said that their intention is to run the Linden side off the field with steady raids since they are the younger team. He said there will be no letting up so a victory will almost be certain.
But the Linden Senior Masters team which beat the junior Club 45 team is confident of coming out on top. Garfield 'Snooks' Shepherd led the way for the Linden masters Over 45 scoring from the penalty spot to give his team the lead and then the
winner came from a right side corner which was headed home by Lennox 'Grandpa' Harvey late in the game after it was a 1-1 stalemate. The team has the experience and will play constructive football says Shepherd and this will see them outlast
Sir Andy Roberts and Roland Butcher... From page 22 Sunday and spoke on a wide range of topics while using his legendary career as an
inspiration. Haynes urged the youth players to put into practice what they had learned and to
develop a formula of hard work, discipline and dedication. Each player at the clinic received a Certification of
Thursday April 28, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your artistic abilities could seem a bit blocked today, Aries. You could be anxious to complete a half-finished project, but at this point you may have no idea where to go with it. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today you could have a strong desire to get out and socialize, Taurus. You could well spend a lot of time on the phone trying to reach some friends. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you could receive an invitation to a social event that you'll really want to attend, Gemini. People could be there who might turn out to be important contacts. CANCER (June 21–July 22) An opportunity to travel to a place you've always wanted to visit, perhaps for business reasons, could come your way today, Cancer. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Daydreams full of adventure, perhaps involving travel, could take up a lot of your time today, Leo. You're probably bored with your situation and longing to do something to break your routine. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Your desire to see a romantic partner could be very strong today, Virgo. However, if you ask, you might be turned down.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Overindulgence in food and drink over the past few days could be causing you to feel a little out of sorts today, Libra. You might even wonder if the fun was worth it. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A strong desire to meet with a romantic partner could come over you today, Scorpio. However, you might not be able to reach your friend. . SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A moody family member could have you confused, Sagittarius, and you might not be able to discern the best way to find out what's bothering him or her. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You might want to spend most of today outside, Capricorn, perhaps taking a walk through a park. You could have some serious thinking to do and feel the best recourse is to be by yourself for a while. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Money problems could be on your mind, Aquarius, perhaps more so than necessary. You might have a tendency to blow them out of proportion and think they're worse than they are. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today you could look in the mirror and panic about your appearance, Pisces. You might be feeling a little under the weather and look a little tired.
Participation signed by the legendary test players. Roberts , H a y n e s a n d Butcher all expressed delight at the large number of cricketing talents in the a n c i e n t c o u n t y. T h e y urged the players to remain f o c u s e d a n d to take advantage of the remarkable opportunities presented to them by the Berbice Cricket Board. The Berbice Cricket Board would like to express thanks to all donors who made the event a success including Bobby Deonarine of Telenec, D r. P u r a n S i n g h , D a v e Narine of Dave West Indian Imports, Poonai Bhigroog, Ricky Deonarine, Safraz Sherrifuden, ST. Francis Developers, Ansa McAl, Banks DIH Ltd, Guyana Breweries, Guysuco, Faizul Jaffarally, Lenox Cush, Guyana Beverage Company among others.
their younger rivals. His team will be chosen from among others like Charles 'Lily' Pollard the former national defense maestro, Wainwright Bethune, Eyo 'Axeman' Wills, Compton Duncan, Leon Clement who will take
up duties between the uprights and Abdulla 'Zico' Hamid, Several trophies are on offer also to go with the bragging rights and a great night of competitive football is anticipated.
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Thursday April 28, 2022
Kaieteur News
Sir Andy Roberts and Roland Butcher complete successful cricket clinics for Berbice Youth Cricketers The Berbice Cricket Board ambitious cricket developmental programme took a giant step over the last week with close to one hundred youth cricketers in attendance at two clinics conducted by legendary test players Sir Andy Roberts and Roland Butcher. The two overseas coaches arrived in the Country last Wednesday evening and toured the New Amsterdam/ Canje and West Berbice sub associations on Thursday where they spoke to dozens of youths on the importance of discipline, the need for hard work and positive attitude.
The two clinics started on Friday with Sir Andy conducting the fast-bowling clinic with over forty young promising bowlers which included West Indies Under19 players Isia Thorne, Leon Swammy, Gevon Shultz, Sylus Tyndall, Collis Greene, Shiv Harripersaud, Shamar Joseph, Christopher Deeroop, Shamar Angel and Raymond Vankenie. The legendary West Indies pacer, who played 47 test matches and took 202 wickets, worked with the attentive youths on a wide range of topics including run up to the crease, the need to
Players in a classroom session. jump before releasing the ball, follow through, hand grip, how to bowl on a flat wicket, swing through the air and how to master the art of bowling the bouncer. Sir Andy also passed on tips on the importance of physical fitness to the bowlers and spoke widely on the need to develop strong legs as fast bowling was the most difficult aspect of the game. The bowlers were also educated on the importance of warming up before the start of a bowling spell. Butcher, who created history in 1981 when he became the first black
cricketer to play for England at the Test Level, worked with over fifty players over the Three-Day Programme. Among his charges were Rampertab Ramnauth, Jonathan Rampersaud, Kevlon Anderson, Jermey Sandia, Adrian Hetmyer, Romario Ramdeholl, Ashmini Munisar, Romesh Bharat and Rampersaud Ramnauth. Butcher, who played at the Albion Ground for England in a One Day International Match versus the West Indies in 1981, worked on a number of topics with the batters including bat grip, batting stance, running
between the wicket, bat lift, how to play fast bowling, using your feet against spin and the importance of playing each ball on its merit. A large amount of time was also spent on indoor educational sessions with topics such as mental toughness, how to prepare for an innings, visualize the bowlers you have to face, physical fitness, positive attitude and the importance of education. Former West Indies test opener Dr. Desmond Haynes also spoke to the players. He attended the batting clinic on (Continued on page 21)
Thursday April 28, 2022
Kaieteur News
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Four decades on MCYS remembers Guyana’s lone Olympic Medalist
Gobin Persaud Memorial - 12 teams vying bowls off May 5 for supremacy
- recognises him for unmatched feat Just under two years ago, Kaieteur News Journalist Sean Devers did a few impactful pieces on Guyana’s Lone Olympic Medalist, retired boxer Michael Anthony Parris, who achieved this feat just shy of 42 years ago. Parris, who competed in the bantamweight division at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union, won a bronze medal for his native land when he was defeated by the gloves of Cuba’s Juan Hernández in the semifinals on August 6th. In one of those pieces crafted by Devers titled, ‘40th Anniversary of Guyana’s lone Olympic Medal’, it stated: “The National Sporting Ambassador says he was ignored by all elected Governments after the death of Presi-
dent Forbes Burnham but is hopef u l t h a t t h i s m i g h t change with a new Government being elected.” That was one of the many sentiments expressed by the Olympian in August 2020. H o w e v e r, on Wednesday, the Boxer was recognised once again for the achievement which has eluded persons of Guyanese decent for over four decades and many years prior. In a brief ceremony that included the Olympic Bronze Medalist, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport – Honourable Charles Ramson Jr and the Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, a commemorative Wooden Sculpture along with an undisclosed sum of cash was bestowed upon the
former athlete. Once the Minister had a chance to speak, he spewed facts about Guyanese involved i n Sport not being aware of the fact that Guyana has only one Olympic Medalist. The Minister also disclosed t h a t t h e y p r e v i ously engaged Parris about the presentation, w h i c h will in term be a double presentation. Later this year, the Minister plans to raise awareness at the Sport Conference about Parris’ achievement to all the Associations that will be present, to let persons involved know that firm recognition will be given to anyone who represents the nation and does well. (Kizan Brumell)
Dave’s U15 cricket continues today The Guyana Cricket Board is advising that the date for Round 3 of t h e D a v e G C B / We s t Indies Imports and Exports
Under-15 In t e r - C o u n t y To u r n a m e n t 2 0 2 2 h a s been shifted from yesterday Wednesday April 27, 2022, to today Thursday
April 28, 2022. The v e n u e s f o r t h e t h i r d r o u n d a s w e l l as the final remain the same.
Twelve teams will compete for top honours when the inaugural Gobin Persaud Memorial Twenty/20 knockout tournament begins on May 5 at Canal Number Two Sports Club ground. Teams are not required to pay an entrance fee but stand to walk away with lots of cash and other incentives when the tournament concludes on May 26 at the same venue. The winning team will collect $150,000, a trophy and medals for every team member while the losing finalist will get $50,000, a trophy and runnerup individual medals. Additionally, the Player of the Match in the final, batter with the most runs and bowler with the most wickets will all take away trophies. The organizers, Secharran and Tejpaul Persaud; the son and grandson respectively of Gobin will also provide match
Persaud Memorial balls and will pay the match officials for the tournament. Matches will be played on Sundays and holidays while the final will be played under floodlights. Teams will use colour clothing and matches will be played with white balls. The tournament is organized in memory of Gobin Persaud who died on May 6, 2021 at the age of 85 years old. Persaud was one of the founder members of Cultural Cricket Club and was the
captain and later the president of the club located at Canal Number Two Polder, West Bank Demerara. Off the field, Persaud was a former Headmaster at Endeavour Primary School and Commons Primary School, former secretary of Vidya Daan Mandir and overall a very prominent member of Canal Number Two Polder. The twelve teams that will begin the tournament are; Canal Number Two Sports Club, Viva La Force Sports Club, Wales Community Development Council, Sawpit Sports Club, New Windsor Sports Club, Christ Ambassadors Sports Club, Bellevue Sports Club, Rising Star Sports Club, McGill Super Stars Sports Club, All Youths Sports Club, La Grange All Stars and Independence Sports Club.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday April 28, 2022
Guyana Badminton team suffer mixed fortunes at Pan Am Championship
Nayaran and Priyanna Ramdhani in action this week. The Pan Am Individual 13, 21-17. Narayan Ramdhani Badminton Championship 2022 in El Salvador started off gained a Bye to the Round of with the singles matches for 32 in the Men’s Singles, the day beginning in the while Akili Haynes got a walkover. Round of 64. I n M e n ’s D o u b l e s , Tyrese Jeffrey came up against Carlos Rodriguez of Round of 32, Akili Haynes El Salvador and lost 19-21, and Tyrese Jeffrey lost 21-6, 21-6, 21-6 in opening play. 21-9 against Kevin Lee and Next up in the Ladies Tye Alexander Lindeman of Round of 64 was Priyanna Canada. Narayan Ramdhani Ramdhani who came up teamed up with Trinidadian against Karolina Orellana Nicholas Bonkowsky and Ardon of Guatemala. gained a Bye to the Round of Priyanna played well but 16. In Mixed Doubles Round eventually lost to Ardon 21-
of 64 the Ramdhani Siblings defeated Gavin Robinson and Monyata Riviera of Barbados 21-17, 21-17 and advanced to the Round of 32. The action had continued yesterday with competition in the Men’s Singles Round of 32 with Narayan Ramdhani and Akili Haynes in action. Mixed Doubles - Round of 32 was set to feature Narayan & Priyanna Ramdhani and the Men’s Doubles - Round of 16Narayan Ramdhani was again set to be in action.
Kaieteur News
Thursday April 28, 2022
PAGE 25
Twenty Youth Players receive educational grants under Kadar Bhigroog Trust Fund “We at the Berbice Cricket Board strongly believe in the pursuit of an educational career as it lays the foundation for a successful future for youths on and off the cricket field. That is why the Berbice Cricket Board under the current administration has invested so heavily in assisting youths to stay in school to obtain an educational background,” said BCB President Hilbert Foster as he addressed the B r i a n R a m p h a l Aw a r d Ceremony last Sunday at the ST. Francis Community Developers Centre. Twenty junior players under the Under17 level received a financial voucher of ten thousand dollars towards their education. The players selected by their respective clubs and subassociations were: Aryan Singh, Alina Sinclair, Akeela S i n c l a i r, H o o p c h a n d Dhanraj, Alec Moore, Divesh Ramkisson, Darshanie Subramie, Leon Reddy, Tyrel Hutson, Jerome Taylor, Thierry Henry, Micquiel Wilburgh, Tyrese John,
Romario Ramdeholl, Parmand Khemraj, Salim Khan, Rampertab Ramnauth, Devin Lallbeharri and Nathaniel Ramsammy. Foster stated the voucher would be cashed at the New Amsterdam branch of Metro in exchange for school stationery and materials. The Two Hundred Thousand Dollars trust fund was sponsored by popular Rose Hall Town businessman Poonai Bhigroog in memory of his late father, Kadar Poonai Bhigroog, who died a few years ago. Poonai Bhigroog, Chief Executive Officer of Poonai Pharmacy and former President of the Central Corentyne Chambers of Commerce, stated that he was very impressed by the work of the Berbice Cricket Board and was delighted to support the promotion of the importance of education among cricketers. His father Kadar Poonai Bhigroog, he stated, was his personal hero and he was delighted to honour him in a special way. The BCB over the last
Some of the players pose with children of Poonai Bhigroog after receiving their Kadar Bhigroog educational grants. four years has assisted hundreds of youths with educational grants while it has received the support of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS to provide hundred of youth players with bicycles, school bags and educational materials under a special Say Ye s t o E d u c a t i o n Programme. The bicycles were handed over to cricketers to assist them to attend school and cricket practice.
Red Stripe Linden Town Week Masters Football final
Linden to face GT's Club 45 to decide champions next Tuesday at MSC ground
Charles Pollard Lennox Harvey and Garfield Shepherd Next Tuesday night's night cap is the clash between the home side Linden Masters Over45 and the challenge from the younger Under45 team from Georgetown's Club 45, which is expected to be a ding-dong affair at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. That clash will be at 9.00pm but the first game
will also feature another Georgetown versus Linden affair as it brings together the two teams who were defeated on Monday night clashing at 7.00pm. The Club 45 Seniors took care of the Linden Under45 after Matthew Halley scored twice, the first from open play and another after a penalty was awarded in the (Continued on page 21) GT Masters Dwayne Halley
Four decades on MCYS remembers Guyana's lone Olympic Medalist p. 21
Fitness Express hits the mark with Arrowhead League p. 19
- recognises him for unmatched feat One of Guyana's Living Legends, Michael Anthony Parris.
Fitness Express' CEO, Jamie McDonald (left), hands over a sponsorship cheque to Event Organiser, Treiston Joseph, in the presence of AAG President, Aubrey Hutson.
Red Stripe Linden Town Week Masters Football final p. 23
Linden to face GT's Club 45 to decide rt champions next Tuesday at MSC ground o p S
Sir Andy Roberts and Roland Butcher complete successful cricket clinics for Berbice Youth Cricketers p. 20
p. 21
Fast Bowlers pose with Sir Andy Roberts and Roland Butcher after Friday's session.
Guyana Badminton team suffer mixed fortunes at Pan Am Championship p. 22
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