Kaieteur News

La Penitence man admits to killing mason in self-defence

Thursday Edition August 04, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 31

Online readership yesterday, 69,095

Rystad Energy accused of pushing Exxon’s agenda with propaganda report on - to brief business Guyana’s oil sector community today Govt. to spend half a billion $$ to build new Prison Service HQ

Guyana in ‘double trouble’ without full liability coverage, - former ramped up oil production EPA head MP concerned over exorbitant rentals for Govt. offices After seeking expert advice…

Govt. finally responds to Glenn Lall’s court challenge over oil tax waivers Norton, Ramjattan, Ali and Jagdeo should concentrate on renegotiation to secure The Glenn Lall Show far more royalties, all taxes due and full liability coverage ONLY. @11hrs on 99.1/99.5FM

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Thursday August 04, 2022

Alleged corruption in tractor purchase forces …accuses CEO of incompetence, Vieira to resign from GuySuCo misleading industry stakeholders

By Zena Henry A G R O N O M I S T, Anthony Vieira has resigned as a Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) board member following what he said is corruption, incompetence and dishonesty on the part of some company executives.

The former board member related in a public missive yesterday, that GuySuCo has embarked on measures that are not in the best interest of the already ailing company, and he will not be part of it.

Vieira stated that the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (Sasenarine Singh) has been telling “untruths to his board, his President (Irfaan Ali) and the nation.” Of the troubling issues, is the acquisition of costly tractors, which are said to be “unsuitable” for

t h e c o m p a n y ’s t i l l i n g requirements.

This newspaper had published several articles surrounding the purchase of GAME articulated tractors verses John Deere fixed frame, which included an apparent, disconnect between the board and the executive over the “unsuitability” of the machines.

At the time, Vieira told the newspaper when asked, that there were differences between the company’s executives and board over the machines, but offered no insight. In his letter, Vieira said that he was unable to respond to the media reports given his position on the board, but has now gone indepth with the matter. “At first the CEO of GuySuCo wanted to buy 22 of those articulated tractors,” the board member posited. He

GuySuCo CEO Sasenarine Singh went on that the (only) two members of the entire Board who worked in and understand the sugar industry were against the concept of replacing the John Deere fixed frame tractor with one whose only purpose is to pull trailers. As a result, he said that President Ali instructed the

company to buy two of the tractors for a trial adjudicated by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA); which was done at the Albion East Berbice estate. “The CEO orchestrated the biggest deception I have ever seen, in that at the trial, no member of the board was present, including me, the chairman of the field Operations Committee, who was a main objector to the purchase of these articulated machines…” Vieira alleged.

He continued that “the MOA

Former Board member, Anthony Vieira and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) sent representatives who had absolutely no understanding of how a tractor works in a field pulling a plough.

GuySuCo’s CEO thus arranged the staging of this entire trial and not only was no member of the Board invited to witness the trial, no representative of John Deere was invited either, Vieira said in a letter first published by the Stabroek News. Vieira accused the

CEO further, of putting a two-year-old John Deere machine to compete with a brand new articulated t r a c t o r, a n d t h a t t h e a r t i c u l a t e d t r a c t o r ’s representatives from the United States, were present at the trial, with “one of them… even operating the articulated machine during the trial.” Vieira said he refused to accept the results of the trial, especially since one of the two machines brought in for the trial broke (Continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 04, 2022

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Rystad Energy accused of pushing Exxon’s agenda with propaganda report on Guyana’s oil sector - to brief business community today

By Kiana Wilburg

W

ith Guyana’s o i l development moving at industry-leading pace, consultancy groups are making their way to these shores to deliver lofty sermons about how much money the Stabroek Block barrels are projected to make. Most of these groups however, avoid any analysis about the dangers Guyana faces with the industry, or even how much more she could have benefitted from a better contract with ExxonMobil.

Rystad Energy out of Norway is one such group that is here to present an intricate web of forecasts about Guyana’s oil earnings to come. By 2040, it believes Guyana’s oil barrels will rake in approximately US$157M. Given the sweet, light properties of the country’s premium black substance, the world market will need it for decades to come. These two are key points that will be unveiled to the business community

this evening by Rystad Energy.

Senior Vice President & Head of Latin America for Rystad, Schreiner Parker is expected to make the full scale presentation on the Guyana whitepaper at Duke Lodge. Prior to this engagement, an executive summary of the document was presented to selected members of the media at Oil NOW’s Spurwing Drive office.

There, Parker provided some of the main points of his Whitepaper which focuses on how much Guyana stands to make and the advantageous positioning and ranking she will have in the years to come. The Senior VP said Guyana will go from a frontier exploration country to a top five global offshore oil producer in the next decade and this is not including latest two discoveries in the Stabroek Block (Seabob-1 and KiruKiru-1).

Expounding further, he noted that Guyana has been leading in the offshore

discovery space since 2015 with 11.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent which account for 18 percent of the resources discovered worldwide and 32 percent of discovered oil.

Wi t h c u r r e n t developments and the production trajectory for the Stabroek Block, the Rystad official said the consultancy group forecasts the country will move up to 1.5M barrels a day by 2035 which means Guyana will be the number four offshore producer and ahead of provinces like Mexico, USA, the UK and Norway.

Further, Parker said Guyana represents material growth for government and oil companies, with revenues for government projected to reach US$7.5B per year by 2030 and amount to a cumulative US$157 by 2040. Parker was keen to highlight that his company believes the low cost of production and low emissions intensity of Guyana’s barrels leave it armed with a “future-proof” basin.

In closing his presentation, Parker said he believes Guyana is taking steps to implement best governance practices in order to harness the oil and gas revenues for broader economic development. He said these key steps have manifested in the form of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) and the Local Content Law along with membership to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Kaieteur News, during the Question and Answer Segment, was keen to point out however that it does not agree with the picture painted by Rystad. The newspaper ’s journalist stressed that the increased production of barrels and the revenues they earn do not automatically translate into transformational wealth for the people as seen with the case of Angola and Nigeria.

Both nations are the two largest producers of oil in the African continent yet, they are fraught with extreme poverty and corruption.

As for the NRF and Local

Senior Vice President & Head of Latin America for Rystad, Schreiner Parker Content Law, Kaieteur News highlighted that there are countries which are armed with both of these mechanisms yet, corruption persists and the true beneficiaries of the wealth are unable to improve their standard of living. With respect to the Local Content Law which came into being in December 2021, the government is currently battling against foreign

entities which are trying to circumvent the intent and spirit of the law on ensuring Guyanese have at least 51 percent ownership and make up a large part of the management team.

Government, even at this early stage, is also forced to fight off foreign companies from renting citizens to appear as though they are meeting the requirements of (Continued on page 17)

Govt. finally responds to Glenn Lall’s court case over oil tax waiver After seeking expert advice…

W

eeks after it requested more time to seek expert advice to respond to the court case by Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall over its decision to grant excessive tax waiver to the oil companies, the Government of Guyana (GoG) has finally put in its submission.

The document filed through the office of the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall outlined a number of contentions raised in L a l l ’s a p p l i c a t i o n . I n January, the Kaieteur News Publisher filed an action to challenge the Petroleum Agreement, dated June 27, 2016 between the Guyana Government and the oil companies.

According to Lall the agreement between the oil company and the government grants exemptions to persons other than licensees, which violate the Petroleum Exploration

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall and Production Act, the Financial Administration (and Audit) Act and the Constitution.

Lall’s application raises

several contentions for the c o u r t ’s c o n s i d e r a t i o n including whether the agreement between the Government of Guyana and

ExxonMobil are subject to the principles of private law or public law; whether the acts of the Minister of Natural Resources and certain sub-articles of the Petroleum Agreement were ultra vires and in breach of sections 10 and 51 of Petroleum Exploration and Production Act (PEPA), subsections 1A and 1B of section 6 of the Financial Administration (and Audit) FAA; and Whether upon its proper interpretation the PEPA permits the payment of taxes due on behalf of licensees.

In its response, the government has noted that the Minister responsible for petroleum may enter into an agreement with the oil company as it relates to any matter related to development and exploration in Guyana.

“It is clear… that the Minister had a power both at common law and in statute to enter into the Petroleum Agreement,” the

government said in its submission.

Further, it contended that the Minister assigned responsibility for Finance, by order, which shall be subject to affirmative resolution of the National Assembly, be able to direct any or all written law shall not apply to or in relation to a licensee where the licensee has entered into a production sharing agreement with the GoG. Among other things, the Government contends that Lall exercised undue delay in filing the court action.

Further the government noted that Lall provided no reason for the six years hiatus in bringing these proceedings before the Courts. “…The lapse of five years in seeking such redress amounted to inordinate delay in the absence of any cogent explanation. It is in the public interest that claims do not become stale..,” the Government said

in the document.

It is further submitted that third parties, who are not before the court and have not been given any opportunity to be heard in this regard, entered into contracts of varying value with Exxon; the Added Respondent,.

T h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s response outlined that “Any declaratory orders made by this court will substantially affect the interest of those third parties CNOOC, Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited and Hess Guyana Exploration Limited for the purposes of the Petroleum Agreement who, at minimum, would have a le g itim at e ex p e ct at i o n requiring protection of the law.”

“These third parties would have already been granted certain tax concession by the Guyana Revenue Authority which would now be stopped by denying them that concession,” the GoG said in the legal document.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 04, 2022

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

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

EDITORIAL

Vincent Adams puts some cards on the table Guyanese born, Dr. Vincent Adams, former Head of this nation’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is calling out some people in no uncertain terms. A recent letter he wrote in this paper laid a few of his cards on the table. They should have lasting value for all Guyanese, especially our leaders in the PPP/C Government and the Coalition APNU+AFC Opposition.

He has given them much live ammunition, and some food for deep thought. ExxonMobil, the American oil giant, now striding across this country’s stage like the colossus that it is, must be mad as hell. In his letter, Dr. Adams spoke well of ExxonMobil’s prior local chief, Rod Henson, and he was the last of the oilmen that earned that distinction.

Though lifelong oilmen, most of the rest, be they from Texas or elsewhere, fall neatly into the category of the title of that sensational novel penned by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer, which was titled, The Ugly American. According to Dr. Adams, Mr. Henson was tough to deal with, as hard as they come, but a respected adversary with some flexibility in him. Apparently for the bigshots back in ExxonMobil’s high command, he wasn’t tough enough, and he was too willing to exercise that quality that makes for a sound, working partnership-flexibility. Flexibility and openness to negotiate honestly is too dangerous to the interests of the rapacious oil company.

Flexing is not part of ExxonMobil’s playbook or game plan. So, it was out with Mr. Henson, and in with Messrs.

Alistair Routledge and Mike Ryan.

In cinematic terms, which the governors at ExxonMobil are sure to appreciate, they recalled Gregory Peck, and sent in John Wayne and Clint Eastwood to lay down the law to the natives in Guyana. To their credit, both Mr. Routledge and Mr. Ryan have lived up to their all-business, don’tmess-with Exxon mentality, aura, and practices. New Country Head Alistair Routledge said that this was what the law (according to ExxonMobil) is going to be, through what was the equivalent of 7-point plan, as outlined in Adams’s letter (“Exxon’s Ryan “eye pass the people of Guyana” -KN August 3rd). As we understand it, can only conclude from it, Alistair Routledge came to Guyana armed with an ultimatum, and it was ‘take it or leave it.’ The man came to Guyana geared for war, and Mr. Mike Ryan was only too delighted to perform his role as warrior.

The promise was that gas flaring would be for a day, which has turned out to be the eternity of three years. Just like the fixing of a gas compressor which never seems to be completely and successfully fixed, with every manner of rosy promise made. It is the same Mr. Ryan who boasted about “achieving background flaring within a record 60 days” which is something that should stand up in the evidence of supporting data. ExxonMobil’s answer, via Mike Ryan, was to give Guyanese, government leaders and ordinary citizens, the middle finger. Interestingly, Mr. Ryan has found it better to “dodge questions” related to this issue. More revealingly, ExxonMobil’s people in Guyana have settled for the widespread official Guyanese practice of secrecy, in that the data is no longer published since last year.

This is the company, and these are the kinds of officials, operating in Guyana and asking locals to trust them both.

Other Guyanese are free to exercise that right, we at this publication tried hard, but we can’t find a single gram of trust to spare for either ExxonMobil’s chiefs in America, or the ones they have here putting their knees on the necks of Guyanese.

Thanks to Dr. Adams’s writing, overall safety, safe production limits, oil spill security, and ExxonMobil’s empty boasts are mostly things which we now can all mock.

ExxonMobil’s greed and voracity is never better expressed than in the $35 that the company makes whenever it pays a dollar to passive and grateful Guyanese for flaring. There was utter scorn for the groveling posture embedded in Guyana’s leader’s words that dealing with ExxonMobil is like dealing with a superpower. Which Guyanese can trust ExxonMobil? How is it that PPP/C Government leaders only see good in dealing with these robber barons?

A youth seeking a fighting chance DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me this opportunity to just highlight a few burning issues.

Recently I read an article where the Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony was encouraging youths to make use of opportunities available in the health sector. I guess I should congratulate him and his team for the great job that they have done so far.

I don’t know what the selection process is like when it comes to being selected for training programmes offered through the Ministry of Health. However, December of last year I applied to be considered for training one of three of the programmes offered through the ministry (Dentex, Dental Assistant and Medical Laboratory

Technician) which I was very eager for.

However it seems that I didn’t meet the criteria to be considered for any of the programmes, I’m guessing this because I haven’t heard from anyone form the ministry’s training division.

The basic requirements for most of the training programmes were CSEC English, Mathematics and a science subject.

I have 8 CSEC subjects, the only subject I didn’t get an acceptable grade in is Mathematics.

Let’s now turn our attention to the Education Ministry. It is probably the only ministry in Guyana that I support 100%. Minister Manickchand is doing a wonderful job.

Ma’am I do hope that this letter is seen by you, as this is probably my last means of reaching to you.

Let me start by saying that your vision of having a 100 percent trained teachers status across Guyana isn’t a bad idea at all. But the problem comes when you’re a youth from a small community who really wants to be someone respectable in society and make an honest living. But you are not financially stable to see yourself through college; yes I’m aware that a stipend is paid to those who are attending college but ma’am let’s be real here a salary is way better than a stipend.

Ma’am I said all of that because I am a 28-year-old male who would have applied

to the teaching service commission about six times already and to date I haven’t heard a word from anyone. I honestly don’t want to be like most of the guys my age who turn to all of the wrong things just to make ends meet, my parents taught me better.

But at this point I am tired of applying and not hearing a word from anyone, I have exhausted all my options.

And I know that there are many others like myself who are depressed and tired with everything.

If this letter gets to Minister Manickchand or Minister Anthony or anyone who could tell me something, anytime I can be contacted at e m a i l : jamalscott2894@yahoo.com Tired Youth

Assign behavioural psychologists to each and every student DEAR EDITOR, Recently, President Ali spoke at The Center for Strategic and International Studies on “Strengthening the Guyana-US Relationship” held in the United States.

Video of the proceedings can be found on YouTube. During the presentation, the president highlighted key areas of Guyana’s strategy in the face of the climate crisis and impending food crisis in the world.

In response to a question about the “resource curse”, the president stated that with or without resource wealth, “management” is crucial and that the characteristics required for effective management of the resource curse includes having the right human resource, the right people, the right attitude and the right culture. On at least one other occasion, while addressing representatives from government, the media, members of the international and business communities, along with members of the public, the president referred to the need for “mental transformation” and the need for “critical thinking” as prerequisites for a successful Guyana.

Editor, you may already be well aware that present-day books on democracy are being written on the revitalised premise of the “return to the individual” as the first and final unit of democracy. Government in today’s world should ensure that the rights and dignities of individuals be protected from both the government itself and from religious institutions that may impose views and values, which can

erode and threaten the rights of human individuals. In light of these developments and given that the president has emphasised the importance of human resources to the success of the nation, what then could be more critical than the need for our systems of human development to be principally concerned with the wholesome unfoldment of each and every individual?

Editor, I ask for the space to assert a possibility that follows from this line of the president’s leadership: that each and every student that enters the school system should be assigned to one or several behavioural psychologists and should retain a continuous course with such professionals over the entire duration of their student life. Behavioural psychologists assigned to individual students can take the form of counsellors, guidance counsellors and specialised therapists that work with individuals as they face the emotional journeys that come with the challenges of school life, personal life and the trials of psychological development along the path to individuation. Of course it would certainly take much more than the space of a letter to the editor, to justify the inclusion of a deliberate keystone programme of guided psychological development at schools and so I would like to highlight two themes, relevant to our time, that line up with this assertion, in the hope that it can promulgate a constitutive dialogue surrounding the issue of the psychological development of individuals in Guyana.

One theme is the need for educational institutions to include programmes for the development of social, emotional and behavioural skills. These are more conventionally known as “soft skills” in the everyday language and is a hot topic today among management practitioners throughout industry. It has been known for decades, that scores in knowledge and aptitude tests alone do not predict success in an individual and that more so, the deeper, still developable hidden traits including motives and selfconcept predict successful outcomes in life. Doing well at CSEC is one thing, but that’s not all there is to the development of a human being, nor is administering “discipline” to them when they lack conformity. The limitations of “herding” students into “streams” and employing only traditional views, such as stricture or certain religious values, to the exclusion of other factors to a persons’ development, is in contradiction to the president’s repeated calls for mental transformation.

Another theme is the need for “therapy” and those qualified to provide the range of services outside of the practice of clinical psychiatry.

As we face the emotional journeys of our lives, be it in academic pursuits, careers, in personal life or in relationship life, the lack of well-timed facilitations of self-awareness can leave us strangers to ourselves and at times, to those around us.

Branches of the military embody the most extreme implementations of selfawareness interventions at

moments where the mind fails and a person’s trauma is revealed during the course of training. The military breaks you down and systematically rebuilds you.

I believe that this may be why some in Guyana, call for the return of “National Service”. That course is no longer relevant. The development of human beings is a subtle art that requires the care and attention of diligent and trained professionals such as practitioners of behavioural psychology.

Editor, I believe that emotional immaturities, traumas, ancestral patterns such as superstition and false beliefs, the limitation of and over-reliance upon “default traditional” values, together with inconsistencies in the services delivered to persons in Guyana, are costing us dearly and can potentially cost us more, especially since new population projections are coming into view. I feel very primed at this moment to add my voice to this most pertinent dialogue - one that I hope is seen as constitutive, especially among those who have more to say about it, and with data to support. I also believe that the president deserves far more recognition for his call for mental transformation and critical thinking.

This call runs deeper than the call for investors to fund construction projects.

Investment has to be made in each and every single individual. Multiple streams of knowledge point us in this direction.

Sincerely, Emille Giddings

Thursday August 04, 2022

Need for Investigation of Corruption DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to commentary by Mr. Glenn Lall on his radio show and as reported in KN (Aug 2).

Corruption, the abuse of positions of office or power or using it for illegal economic gains, is widespread. It takes many shapes and forms including giving out land or privileges or tax breaks to favoured persons or businesses.

There is usuallykickbacks in return.

Government funds are misused by the officials running the government as among the most egregious acts of corruption. Drawbacks are accepted or demanded in providing services or doling out contracts. Generally, people engage in corruption to enrich themselves. People use their power to get benefits in politics. It is a hobby among some. It is an addiction among others. And there are officials who can’t help but to steal or accept bribe; they would become ill if they don’t take bribes or accept drawbacks.

Guyana has declined in global perception index as produced by Transparency International – slipping two positions over the last two years, suggesting an increase in corruption under the Ali Administration.

Transparency Guyana has been complaining about lack of transparency and accountability in spending.

Few officials are not corrupt. No office escapes corruption. Only a handful of Ministers are not on the take.

Even those at the top are on the take as we learn from the Vice News expose and Su. That is most unfortunate as so many have put their trust and faith in political leadership who they thought was above corruption. Now, we know otherwise.

Corruption has the potential to destroy the nation with destructive effects on politics and economy. Corruption kills trust, transparency, accountability, equality, and justice, and it discourages investment. It destroys opportunities for honest people and businesses. It encourages both to compromise their integrity in order to get business or process paperwork. There is no equality in awarding of contracts. Contracts are based on favouritism and bribes. If you give drawbacks, you get contracts. If you are favoured, for whatever reason, you get contracts.

Contractors complain they have to give a drawback. Certain companies are favoured resulting in monopoly or a few companies getting all the contracts; they are from a particular faith. The

rich, in particular, gets the contracts. The rich or politically or religiously connected pay bribes to enter the market, driving away competition. The rich are in a position to pay the bribe. The poor can’t compete as they have no accumulated wealth to pay bribes. It results in uneven wealth distribution with the rich becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer.

A major effect of corruption on government work is poor workmanship.

Because money is siphoned off from contract, there are not enough funds to perform sturdy long lasting quality work resulting in shoddy performance and inferior infrastructural projects that falls apart. This is clear in looking at roadwork or pipes or houses, for example. Roads have been collapsing almost

everywhere — sinking holes or crests and potholes. The edges of roads are breaking up. Pipes are leaking in several areas. House walls are cracking. Officials are demanding sex in exchange for contracts or service. And there are so many other examples of corruption. All around, there is abuse of power.

Corruption causes people to lose confidence in the system and withdraw trust in politicians, the political system, and the judiciary.

Corruption is pervasive as Glenn points out. Something needs to be done to combat corruption – perhaps an independent body to investigate corruption and bring to account those who have abused their positions for monetary or sexual gains.

Yours truly, Edward Burrowes

We were not adequately to shake the represented handsHisofrefusal the guest President

DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Norton did a tremendous disservice to the African community, all the moreso when they were hosting their celebratory Emancipation Day. Whether the President of Guyana was invited or not, Mr. Norton, if he did not know better, should have been advised that the least he could do as host was to offer the warmest welcome to all guests – as equals.

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Kaieteur News

was hardly representative of the large spirit of warm hospitality for which the African community has been identified for generations.

Aubrey Norton let that spirit down to shrivelled proportions.

My grandparents and parents would have been embarrassed, like their progeny.

Neither Burnham nor Hoyte would have conceded such self-miniaturisation.

Elijah Bijay

Conventional Wisdom and Scientific Data Demand Covid-19 Booster Doses DEAR EDITOR, It is not nice reading that “Many persons remain vulnerable (as they are still) without (the) COVID-19 booster shot. This was the word from Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health. For me, it is quite mind-boggling that such a situation is still prevailing. I am most worried and with reasons too.

First, in response to the evolving SARS-CoV-2 virus and variants of concern, leading nations are recommending booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines to provide increased protection across their population. For example, as per the Canadian Immunization Guide (CIG), the intent of a booster dose is to restore protection that may have decreased over time to a level that is no longer deemed sufficient in individuals who initially responded adequately to a complete primary vaccine series. Doses of the COVID19 vaccines after the primary series are described as

booster doses. However, over time, the nomenclature of this additional dose could evolve as the optimal number of doses in a primary series is better understood. Evidence is emerging all the time that vaccine effectiveness against infection and COVID-19 disease decreases with time, and the effectiveness of currently authorised COVID19 vaccines against the Omicron variant and subvariants is decreased.

Therefore, booster doses are recommended for eligible individuals, to obtain stronger protection.

So, my question is what are we waiting for? Another chaotic scenario, where people are scrambling for their lives? We need to wake up and respond positively to the overwhelming factors that demand the booster doses.

Secondly, we need to realise the evidence on the risk of myocarditis/ pericarditis after a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine is limited, but appears to be

lower than the already rare risk after the second dose of the primary series, but higher than after the first dose. So, my question yet again is why there is stubbornness and hesitancy.

The concerned Health Minister is advising that many persons still remain at high risk of COVID-19 if they have not taken the booster shot. This is exactly what I have just pointed out, and I did not appeal to local information or sentiments.

Therefore, if when they are infected, there is a great possibility of developing a severe form of the novel coronavirus, and hence hospitalisation or death. I add too that if it becomes widespread at any time, the healthcare system will be unnecessarily taxed, and this can be pre-empted by simply adhering to common sense and scientific data that demand of positive response.

I read that so far, about 70,000 persons have (Continued on page 6)

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La Penitence man admits to killing mason in self-defence

Confessed murderer: Alex Nedd

F

orty-eight-year-old Alex Nedd of La Penitence Public Road, Georgetown on Wednesday admitted to police that he killed 33-yearold Rodwell Phillips called ‘Fishie’ in self-defence.

Phillips, a father of two and a mason of Broad Street, Charlestown, Georgetown was killed on August 1, 2022.

He was discovered lying face down on the La Penitence Public Road, with a cutlass near to his body.

According to investigators, the man’s body bore several wounds. He had wounds to his chest, right side face, left side back and another to his left foot.

On Tuesday, a wanted bulletin was issued for Nedd, who in the company of his lawyer surrendered to police on Wednesday at the Ruimveldt Police Station, and allegedly admitted to killing Phillips. According to police, the suspect was told of the allegation, cautioned and arrested.

Nedd reportedly gave a written statement in the presence of his attorney admitting to the offence.

According to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, Nedd told police in the statement that he was in front of his home with a friend when Phillips came and started a conversation with his (Nedd’s) friend.

The suspect claimed that he eventually told his friend that he was going inside, “because he cannot deal with the conversation between him and ‘Fishie’.”

According to Nedd, he

Murdered mason: Rodwell Phillips aka ‘Fishie’ then went and locked himself inside of the vulcanising shop that he operates in front of his yard. He added that after a few minutes he heard Phillips saying “when he is finish with the vulcanising shop, it will not open again.”

According to Nedd, Phillips’ word caused him to open the door and he confronted him and asked what the problem was.

Nedd claims that in return Phillips dealt him a cuff to his face and a scuffle ensued.

He stated too that during the fight Phillips bit his left ears and this caused him to reach into his pants waist for a knife which he used to stab Phillips three times.

The suspect added that they fell to the ground but he managed to get up and run into his yard. He told police that he disposed of the knife in a drain close to a shipping place on Lombard Street, Georgetown and then headed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC) where he received medical attention.

A post-mortem examination (PME) conducted by State pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, revealed that Phillips died as a result of a stab wound to the heart. The PME was conducted on Wednesday in the presence of Phillips’ mother and sister.

Phillips body has since been handed over to his relatives for burial.

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 04, 2022

Guyana should encourage investment from USA DEAR EDITOR, As it relates to the Washington trip of President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo and entourage, Guyana must heed messages delivered in diplomatic words — use of key phrases – and body language. Guyana’s political and economic future, her development and democratic culture, is tied to the USA and the West and not with any socialist oriental country seeking global dominance.

Failure to heed the underlying message coming out of Washington would result in serious repercussions.

America is our natural ally given geographic regional proximity, geo strategic security interests, democratic culture, guarantor of free and fair elections, trade, financial aid, investments, and large diaspora (bigger than the population of Guyana) in the USA. Besides, the diaspora in the USA wants closer ties, even an association or alliance, with America. In addition, America is the hegemonic power of the region. Any defiance that threatens USA interests will lead to serious consequences.

Guyana toyed with close relations with the Soviet led socialist bloc between the 1950s and 1990, and we were severely burned and are yet to recover from the devastation. Fraternising with another power alien to the region will hurt our country especially that we are producing oil which is in demand by USA and western Allie’s and that would fund our development. We would not like a repeat of the political faiths of 1953, 1964, 1992, 2015, and 2020.

The USA has been the guarantor of regime change and democracy in Guyana. As you noted, the government has not forgotten that USA ensured “the results of the 2020 election were observed”.

For that alone, Guyana should eternally be grateful to the U.S. And indeed the majority

of the Guyanese people, based on my interactions with them, are t h a n k f u l t o America for coming to the rescue of democracy. The diaspora,, as per my engagements with them in various parts of the USA, is also grateful that USA protected the people’s right to choose their government. China, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela made no attempt to condemn electoral fraud in Guyana or urged the then regime in March 2020 to respect the will of the people. If the US, had not s p o k e n o u t f o r c e f u l l y, Guyana would have become an undemocratic pariah state.

As you noted, the U.S. is concerned about Chinese influence in the Americas. And while we are not privy to any discussion in Washington relating to China, it must be assumed that the matter would have been raised with the visiting delegation as China has been on the minds of American policymakers over the last decade. Guyana should not become over dependent on Chinese loans or investment to the detriment of US investment.

It must not go unnoticed that US$2 billion American Exim Bank line of credit has been made available to American private investment in Guyana. Insurance is also generally offered to American investment abroad.

This suggests that the US wants and will encourage American investment to compete with or replace Chinese investment in Guyana. Like President Ali, I too am excited that American investment is returning to Guyana after they were

chased out by the Burnham dictatorship. The diaspora is also pleased to see greater American investment in their homeland.

They know that greater American presence is good for the country.

They recognise America’s role in securing democracy there. Guyana should offer favourable terms to diaspora investors. Guyana should unshackle financial ties with countries that don’t protect or subscribe our democratic culture, and the c o u n t r y e n c o urage and embrace American investment.

Incentives should be offered to increase

American investment. The diaspora in America should take advantage of the Exim bank credit line and invest in various projects in their former homeland. Since they want to cement ties between Guyana and USA, their investment would bring the two countries closer.

As investment grow as, the US would have greater interest in ensuring that democracy is not threatened as in 2020. And as the two nations become closer through trade and people to people contact, the US would be more inclined to protect our nascent democracy.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

The Opposition’s petty politics DEAR EDITOR, So “he” did not shake the President’s hand a few days ago. So expectedly childish.

We know the opposition has no hope of ever being in office in the future. They had five years in government, this last time around; headed by a military man, who had no idea of what was happening around him or the country, probably had no idea or understood what was in the Exxon contract and worst yet, had nothing much to show for his time in office.

This is an opposition that is still living in the past, wallowing in constant grievances. And while that is happening, certain foreigners who can barely speak English are setting up shops all over the place. Most members of the opposition can’t state what they accomplished when they were in power, a few years back-because as we all know; they were so focused on the PPP (which

means -Indians), not being in power; that they forget to rule wisely, and show results for their time in office. The opposition is ALL about making loud noises and standing in the way. Well, when the next elections come around I would bet that this present government would take out ads in papers stating what they have accomplished, including those items with flaws.

One wonders what the opposition would have on their list?

This thuggish behaviour by the “Opposition” is boring. We have opposition MP’s acting like wild cats in parliament.

(They should get away with that kind of behaviour?)

The opposition would not be talking about Discrimination/ Injustices and Divisiveness today; blah, blah blah; if they had been more strategic and run the country smartly when they were in power and (Continued on page 16)

Conventional Wisdom and Scientific...

From page 5 returned for their booster shots. The ‘but’ is that “Unfortunately, a lot of people who remain vulnerable to COVID, who can end up with a severe form of COVID, many of them have not come back for their booster doses.”

This is coming from the Minister of Health himself, Dr Frank Anthony. He added that this is most unfortunate, since a percentage of those persons, if they get infected with COVID, they can end up in the hospital and in some cases, some of those persons

may die.” Mr. Editor, to reinforce this call to get the booster doses, I point out that there is a direct link in the high number of daily cases to the new Omicron subvariants that are circulating specifically BA.5, and reinfection. Another worrying trend is that older persons and those with comorbid conditions are coming into the hospitals, as they are the more susceptible group.

Let me close with the sombre words from the Ministry of Health: “That’s

one of the challenges we have. A lot of persons are getting reinfected…There are persons, believe it or not, who still have not taken vaccines.

Now, while we’re seeing a few cases like that, we also have persons who took vaccines, but the last dose was probably more than a year ago. If you want to be up to date with protection against COVID-19, every six months you would have to take a booster.” Hence my plea: “Get the booster doses ASAP.” Yours truly, H. Singh

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday August 04, 2022

Kaieteur News

It is now dangerous to drive on the East Coast Demerara Railway Embankment, especially at nights due to the sea of potholes. Every five metres of commute you are bound to encounter at least three potholes.

It is mindboggling that the government claims that it is spending so much money on infrastructure and the embankment- a key thoroughfare for commute along the East Coast Demerara is in such a mess.

Anyone who drives on the embankment on a daily basis can testify of the many potholes stretching from Enmore all the way to Sheriff Street junction. Potholes in various sizes- some covered with water that can deceive unsuspecting drivers.

Something needs to be done quickly to repair the embankment and the many other messy roads across this country. The erstwhile Juan Edghill and his sidekick, Deodat Indar would do well in fixing these potholes rather than trying to defend ExxonMobil’s stranglehold on this country.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Thursday August 04, 2022

Guyana in ‘double trouble’ without full liability coverage, ramped up oil production - former EPA head United States oil major, ExxonMobil has refused to comply with a requirement for full liability coverage for oil spill disasters, but the company’s objective to speed up oil production at the same time has put Guyana in double jeopardyincreasing the risk of an accident.

This is the view of former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams. In a public missive, he sought to highlight some of the dangers Guyana remains exposed to as the PPP government refused to demand full liability coverage for oil spills when it threw out a Motion to that end on July 21.

According to Dr. Adams, “increasing the oil production rate above its safe operating limit by some 20 percent is callous and driven by greed compromising the environment, health and safety of the people of G u y a n a .

T h e (Environmental Impact Assessment) EIA pellucidly directs that the system is ‘designed to safely operate at sustained peaks of 120,000 bopd’.”

He was keen to point out that the key purpose of the

EIA is to set the safety envelope of an operation, adding that all safety limits prescribed therein should be sacred. In fact, he noted that Exxon’s operations would have been shut down in other countries such as the United States of America for violating such safety limits.

Dr. Adams insisted that such limits could only be changed through a safety review process that may include public involvement, and concludes with an addendum to the EIA, of which neither was done by the oil company.

The issue of unsafe operations due to ramped up oil production at the Liza One field was addressed by the current EPA Head, Kemraj Parsram back in November last year, who told this newspaper that while the operation in the Stabroek Block has a design rate for 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), the EIA clearly states that the Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel has the capacity to safely operate at sustained peaks of 120,000 bopd, while “potential impacts generated by the Project will be based on the highest potential oil production volume, which is conservatively based on

144,000 BOPD….”

To this end, Parsram noted, “So it is not dangerous at all, we considered it based on the EIA and the safeguards are in the permit.

All this talk of a fresh EIA being done since production has been ramped up beyond 120,000 barrels is not necessary.”

Last week, Exxon’s Production Manager, Mike Ry a n e x p l a i n e d t h a t currently, 140,000 bopd is being produced at the Liza One field. With more oil being produced, Adams is adamant that the risk of an oil spill will be increased.

He explained, “You are not complying with the r eq u ir ed f u ll liab ility coverage; thus putting the nation in double jeopardy of increasing the risk of an accident by recklessly exceeding the safe operating limit, and also not having full liability coverage to cleanup a spill.” Even more insulting however, according to the specialist is the fact that the ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge has made it clear that the company intends to challenge the payment of costs associated with a spill, unless it finds those costs to be “legitimate” and “reasonable”.

As such, Dr. Adams

notified the oil giant, “Guyana may be a third world country, but despite what you think, we have first world brains and can read what has happened right in our own back yard of Peru, where the oil company way under-reported an oil spill size that has devastated the country’s environment and health, leaving Peru with a cleanup mess; and forced the Government and citizens to take compelling actions such (Continued on page 9)

Former EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams

Thursday August 04, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Where is the discrimination?

It is a sign of the intellectual bankruptcy of those opposed to the PPP/C that they have to revert to the same worn old narratives which were peddled for 23 years. Instead of offering new ideas, instead of engaging in class analysis to defrock the PPP/C policies, the opposition continues to make excuses about ethnic discrimination and oppression.

But what discrimination is the opposition talking about?

If anything, the discrimination by the PPP/C favours African-Guyanese.

Region 10 which is a predominantly Africanpopulated region enjoys the lowest electricity rates in the Caribbean. It pays a considerably lower electricity rate than the rest of the country.

Is this discrimination?

The bauxite industry was bankrolled by the PPP/C government for decades until the industry was privatised.

Is this discrimination? The community of Buxton has benefitted from substantial infrastructural upgrades, including a more than G$50M in rebuilding Tipperary Hall, under the PPP/C, far more than any Indian community.

Is this discrimination?

Bharrat Jagdeo spent more than $300M to acquire private property for vendors, the majority of whom, at the time, were African-Guyanese.

And the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has made

substantial investments upgrading sports facilities and providing sporting equipment and gear to Buxton and Agricola. Does this amount to discrimination?

The available data points to greater poverty among Indians than Africans. Based on an analysis of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) of 1999, done by Dr. Ramesh Gampat, 32.9 percent of the Indian population lived in absolute poverty. The corresponding figure for Africans was 28 percent.

Since the Irfaan Ali-led administration came to office, and amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic, the government has paid out billions in bonuses to the predominantly African Disciplined Services. The government has also paid allowances to nurses.

The PPP/C has given public servants a special bonus. Is this discrimination?

A case of ethnic discrimination cannot be made out in relation to the COVID-19 support cash grant. A small number of persons have complained that they did not receive the grant. But these persons are drawn from all ethnic groups.

No community or Region has been left out.

Old age pensions have been increased across the board. Has there been discrimination? Pensioners have also benefitted from a special grant. No one has

claimed discrimination.

The disabled are receiving a grant of G$100,000 per year. No cries of ethnic discrimination have been heard. There has also been no discrimination when it comes to the schools’ cash grant.

The government launched a scholarships programme under the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme. The government has made public the names of the more than 3,000 individuals who were awarded scholarships. The public will see from the list that there has been no ethnic discrimination in the award of these scholarships.

But just perhaps the PPP/ C government may now wish to make public the names of the persons to whom the APNU+AFC granted scholarships and house lots.

Make the list public so that the public can decide for themselves who was more discriminatory!

One former government official has said that support was given to terminated sugar workers, farmers and to fisherfolk but none to terminated public servants.

That person ought to know that the government cannot terminate public servants.

Public servants enjoy security of tenure and can only be dismissed by the Public Service Commission.

He probably meant those contracted workers whose contracts were either allowed to expire or determined

Dem boys seh...

Shaking hands is not always safe!

We still in de season of COVID-19. Suh people should not be shaking hands.

Dem should be giving a knuckle bounce or an elbow bounce.

Apart from de COVID dem gat de Monkey Pox spreading in dem other countries. De WHO declare it a health emergency. And it does spread by human contact.

Suh de less handshaking, de better.

But dem politicians like shake hands. And slap back.

De man on de North seh how he nah shaking no oppressor’s hand. Well, dem boys wan know if he gan shake de US Ambassador hand. Because is de US wah

he party claim install de guvament.

He nah shaking Prezzie hand. But he bowing to de man. Dah nah mek sense!

De Man boxing heself in a corner wah he gan can’t bob and weave out of. If he nah want shake de oppressor’s hand, den he should nat be meeting with de oppressor.

Suh wah gan happen to de constitutional consultations wah gat to tek place?

Dat gat to put pon hold.

And all because of a handshake.

In de meantime, de Prezzie stretching out he hand. He meeting and greeting and also sharing out benefits. Suh he nah worried about dem wah

nah want shake he hand.

People swarming Prezzie to shake he hand. Some ah dem even checking dem hand when he done shake it. Dem checking dem hand fuh see if he leff a raise in dem hand. De Prezzie is a kind man. He hand nah tight!

It remind dem boys of de time dem had a pickpocket in de village. He used to like go around shaking people hand.

But when dem check dem hands, dem does realise dem ring or band gone. De man was slick.

Nowadays yuh gat to be careful who hand yuh shaking. Yuh might lose some of yuh fingers.

Talk half. Leff half.

Guyana in ‘double trouble’ without full...

From page 8 as stopping Company officials from leaving the country, and suing the company for more than US$4.5 Billion.”

On this note he made it clear that Guyanese, like himself, are not against the production of oil but in fact wel-

comes the new development; however, the fact remains that while the country is willing to share its riches it must be done in an equitable manner, with respect for the rule of law, health, safety and the environment.

As such, he signaled,

“We intend to stand up for what is ours, and not allow oil masters their desire for the rebirth of colonization to rip us off in enriching themselves, while making us poorer with a government that openly represents their interests instead of ours.”

following the change in government. But what about the many contract workers who were let go under the APNU+AFC? Do they not count too?

The PPP/C’s support for the sugar workers, farmers and fisherfolk was part of assistance given to distressed sectors of the economy. The sugar industry was pulverised under the APNU+AFC. The downsizing of the sugar industry affected the rural economy in which 54 percent of African Guyanese live.

The floods of last year affected thousands of farmers and destroyed large tracts of cultivation, including in the sugar industry.

The agriculture sector was thrown into distress and needed support.

The fishing industry which, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, employs close to 15,000 Guyanese, has been hard hit

by low catches. The support by the government was not based on ethnic considerations but rather economic considerations because of the fishing industry’s employment and more than G$8B contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

The government has launched a multi-billion dollar programme to provide parttime employment to Guyanese. All regions of Guyana are part of the programme. Persons from all ethnicities are being given jobs. Where is the discrimination?

During the protests which erupted following the killing of a youth from Golden Grove, some elements tried to justify the violence which occurred on the grounds that this was in protest against ethnic marginalisation and neglect.

They pointed to the poor state of the roads in some African communities and the large

army of unemployed persons in these communities.

Well, this was less than two years after the APNU+AFC left office. So what did the APNU+AFC do for these villages in its five years? But it is not African villages alone which have poor infrastructure – this is a national problem affecting almost all villages across Guyana.

And who was it that said the government cannot provide jobs for everyone?

So tell me where is the discrimination?

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday August 04, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Black people must demand answers for five years of betrayal

T

here was an address in Buxton to celebrate Emancipation Day 2022. Not one of the speakers made even an infinitesimal reference to a government in which power resided in the president, David Granger, an African Guyanese who proclaimed Forbes Burmham as his hero and set up four foundations in Burnham’s name at his private residence.

The second in command was a colonel in the army who was chief of military intelligence during the presidency of Forbes Burnham.

Included in the Cabinet of Mr. Granger was former Commissioner of Police, Mr. Winston Felix. One of Mr. Granger’s advisors was a former head of the army, Edward Collins.

One WPA senior, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine was in the Granger Cabinet. Another WPA senior, Clive Thomas, held two seminal portfolios – head of the anticorruption unit named SARA and head of GuySuCo. Many senior PNC functionaries were in the Cabinet. Many former military

officers occupied real power positions in the state.

Against this background of compelling realities, if you were from another planet, you would not have known that the above listed personalities commanded state power as recent as two years ago.

Attendees were told that Black people owed “payback” for the role played in developing Guyana. Any academic that respects his/her education must ask why that “payback” was not delivered when those personalities listed above were in power as recent as two years ago.

Now here is an interesting part of the emanations from that evening in Buxton last Sunday. The attendees were told that African Guyanese leaders must do an analysis of African communities that are not getting their share of the national wealth and compose a plan for recouping such.

Two analytical rebuttals stare you in the face when that statement is studied. Why African Guyanese must put faith in their leaders to draft an economic balance-sheet of needs and wants when those very

leaders were in power from 1964 to 1992 and from 2015 to 2020 and these very African political leaders were shouting about equal treatment months after they lost power in 2020? In other words are you sticking with a wicketkeeper who has back pain and cannot bend behind the wicket?

Why people in Guyana think that there aren’t Indian and Amerindian communities that are as in need of their share of the national wealth just as there are African? Guyana may be riveted by ethnic strife but Karl Marx’s emphasis on class structure still holds theoretical efficacy in the analysis of societal wealth. There are poor Indians in Guyana that need to share in oil money as any other ethnic community.

In all the deliveries at Buxton Sunday night, in all the sermons condemning two years of the Ali presidency, in all the torrential accusations of poor governance, in all the volcanic eruptions of discriminatory cries, the fact is, the unadulterated fact remains that as recent as 2020, there were 7000 retrenched sugar workers with a

figure of 42,000 dependents that were deprived of their share of the national wealth.

You listen to the emanations at Buxton last Sunday and if you came from another planet, you would not believe that the leaders that are being asked to document the level of inequalities were the very leaders who deprived 42,000 Guyanese of the right to earn a living.

It is as if only one section of this nation is in need of reclamation and sustenance. The analysis of the political economy of Guyana does support this jumbie logic.

If one examines the rhetoric of Buxton last Sunday, there were subliminal moments and Freudian yearnings of mo fyaah/slo fyaah.

Let’s point to two examples. One speaker noted that you cannot expect peace if you do not have equality and if the government does not dialogue with the opposition then the government will have the dialogue imposed on them.

Then the gathering was told if the government doesn’t bring African leaders to the table, African Guyanese will “knock the hole out

Frederick Kissoon of the table. One pressing question has to be asked; who is we? It certainly cannot be African Guyanese for two reasons.

One is the era of charismatic PNC leaders who had the totality of support from the African population is gone.

African Guyanese, the majority of which are under 45 years of age do not see the present crop of African leaders as trustworthy. It is for this reason they must question the betrayal from 2015 to 2020.

Secondly the era of mo fyaah/slo fyaah is gone. It had a particular context in 1997 which cannot be repeated in 2025.

Young African Guyanese are not going to impose no conversation on anyone or put any hole in any table.

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

MMG+ added as new Module to HerVenture learning app M

obile Money Guyana (mmg+) has collaborated with the Cherie Blair F o u n d a t i o n f o r Wo m e n , ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc, and their partners to bring an innovative solution to all female business operators through the HerVenture app.

The MMG +module will offer insight and training to users of the HerVenture; mobile learning app on how to use and benefit from mobile money transfers in the pursuit of their businesses. The HerVenture; the mobile learning app which was launched in 2020 as part of efforts to help female entrepreneurs in Guyana grow their businesses, has over 6000 users.

The initiative was originally a collaborative effort between ActionInvest Caribbean Inc and the UK-based women’s empowerment group; the Cherie Blair Foundation.

Since the launch, the app has been able to provide thousands of women entrepreneurs in Guyana with free, knowledge and information on how to adequately start and grow their enterprises.

There were originally seven modules on the app which later expanded to nine modules with the addition of the Ecommerce and Business Resilience through Crisis component.

On Tuesday, ActionInvest Caribbean Inc and the Cherie Blair Foundation officially launched the

Stakeholders at the HerVenture MMG module launch: Second from right CEO of Action Invest Mrs. Davitri Doerga, Manager of GTT’s MMG+ services Bobita Ram, Senior Programme Manager of the Cherie Blair Foundation Leanne Baker, British High Commissioner Jane Miller and Minister of Human services Dr. Vindhya Persaud (are also pictured 1st and 2nd from right respectively) MMG+ module via in collaboration with the GTT. The launch of the module hosted at the Savannah Suites of the Guyana Pegagus Hotel was attended by several dignitaries and stakeholders of the initiative including representatives of ActionInvest Caribbean the British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud and Manager of GTT’s MMG+ services Bobita Ram. In her remarks, CEO of ActionInvest Caribbean, Mrs. Davitri Doerga explained: the new

module will be another faction of financially empowering information to the users of the HerVenture app “Our vision at ActionInvest is of an abundant Guyana through education. I therefore implore to take advantage opportunities for greater education so that we can build a prosperous Guyana. Senior Programme Manager of the Cherie Blair Foundation Leanne Baker noted that the Foundation is committing to closing the gender gap between entrepreneurs. She noted the foundation is quite pleased at how Guyanese women have been responding to the app.

“The idea of the app is to build women entrepreneurs and women entrepreneur networks…. Access to Finance is actually a key part of these businesses. The MMG + feature on the app will help women with this very essential part of their businesses,” she said lauding the local partners for their extraordinary work in getting the app off the ground.

The MMG+ Manager noted that adding the MMG+module to the HerVenture app will help provide women in Guyana and across with useful information to use their finance in a manner that offers their business a solution to

the cash-based transactions.

“MMG is fast, safe and easy way to do transactions, particularly for entrepreneurs that do not need to leave the convenience of their homes and offices to conduct a transaction. This module will offer financial solution to women in Guyana and other parts of the world,” she added.

Outside of Guyana, the HerVenture is also available in Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. To download it for free, persons can visit the Google Play Store or Apple Store.

The app is flexible and offers bite-size learning on topics like launching a business, managing finances, accessing markets and ecommerce in easy and engaging formats to give women entrepreneur an edge in business.

The app offers female entrepreneurs an opportunity to connect with other women entrepreneurs and find out about local business events. HerVenture is making thousands of women across the world better off by unlocking their potential as successful entrepreneurs, with 94% of users saying they will apply the app’s teachings to their business.

Once downloaded, the app can also be accessed offline. In Guyana, the app is being implemented by Exxon Mobil and ActionInvest Caribbean; a local business coaching and development company.

Thursday August 04, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 04, 2022

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 04, 2022

PAGE 13

Govt. uncorks $80M development package for Pigeon Island President Ali addressing residents of Pigeon Island ECD

P

resident Irfaan Ali on Monday pledged some $80M in aid to the East Coast Demerara Village of Pigeon Island, saying that development, progress and advancement of every community across the country are paramount.

The Head of State made this assurance while addressing residents during a community outreach in the area. Priority issues raised by residents, included the completion of the regularization process, road networks in the community as well as improvements of the drainage network. “I want to say to you today that we are setting aside $80M for infrastructure development and upliftment of Pigeon Island.

As I speak to you, the advertisements are out in the newspaper for the construction of new roads in the new area that is being regularized.”

He said too that the community members with the technical skills will be involved in the works to allow them to assume some level of responsibility and for them to be part of the developmental process.

In addressing requests for work to be carried out on the community’s road, President Ali said that within 72 hours, designs will be ready for the concrete resurfacing of it. “The government, the engineers and the community will work together.”

The President also said that residents will be included in the community employment programme, which will be extended along the East Coast. The Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall are to return to the community to meet with residents to identify those eligible and how they will benefit.

In addition, with the consensus

from the residents, the community playfield will also be developed to allow for recreational activities.

“We want to get all of these projects in Pigeon Island completed before the end of the year.” The Head of State emphasized that his Government has one narrative and one agenda: to unite the citizens under the ‘One Guyana’ banner and bring prosperity to all. This transformative plan, he added, is well underway.

“Today Pigeon Island is a community surrounded by the fastest development growth our country has ever seen.” He reminded the gathering that when Government invests in communities, the net value of the area increases. “That is an important point because every time we invest in these communities, we invest in your net worth, we invest in your family’s net value.”

President Ali said that often times this aspect of the investments in development is overlooked. In this regard, he urged the residents to

The brackish water shrimp ponds developed by the Ministry of Agriculture

work together for the advancement of their community. “Today, has been the hallmark of this Government. We are here to listen to you we are here to listen to your ideas, to listen to some of your issues, but also to some of your thoughts on how we have been progressing and what you would like to see continue. So members of this community, we are with you, you are with us…

Let us join hands together to continue on this path to development and advance the best possible life for the people of this community and all across Guyana.”

Following his brief address, the President and the cabinet ministers listened to several concerns raised, including enhanced security, an additional access road, and improved access to water and electricity.

Melanie outreach Meanwhile, a similar outreach to Melanie Damishana last week led by Prime Minister, Mark Phillips saw no announcement of

developmental aid. In fact according to the Department of Public Information release, the residents were assured that they will not be left out of the development that is taking place across the country, as the PPP/C Government is inclusionary and places a high value on ensuring the livelihood of all Guyanese is improved.

Prime Minister, Phillips, who was performing the duties of President told residents: “There are many projects that we have designed and will be implemented for Guyana, every community, and that’s why we have the concept of ‘One Guyana’, what we’re saying to you is no village, no community, no individual will be left out of our development.”

Phillips told the gathering that the meeting is timely and that the concerns raised will be taken into consideration during the administration’s 2023 National Budget planning. “We cannot

have development unless the Government is involved and connected with you the people and that’s why we are here today.

We are here today to listen to you, the people… I made a commitment some time back when I went to Buxton with the same team, and we said, you know we’ll go to every village,” the Prime Minister told the gathering.

He also called on the residents to not be distracted by naysayers and to take full advantage of the training, business development and other opportunities that are available. Specific reference was made to the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme, which the Prime Minister said provides a range of degree and other programmes that lend to selfdevelopment. Residents were given the opportunity to voice numerous concerns which were addressed by the Prime Minister and the other ministers.

Govt. to set up two more shrimp farms in Berbice As shrimp production continues to decline here, the Ministry of Agriculture is set to embark on two more shrimp farms in the Berbice area this year.

In an advertisement published in yesterday’s Kaieteur News, the ministry invited bids for contractors to construct a shrimp farm at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, Region Five and another project at Farm, Rosehall, Berbice Region Six. Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha when contacted yesterday said he was in a meeting and

requested that a call be returned within an hour; however efforts to contact him subsequently were futile.

Kaieteur News understands that bids for the project will be opened at the National Procurement and Te n d e r A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Board (NPTAB) on August 23. Back in February, the Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh reported to the National Assembly that shrimp production declined by 13.5 percent. The drop in production was a result of lower catches of whitebelly (Continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Opposition signals boycott of Parliament over members’ suspension

Thursday August 04, 2022

Several nabbed during police raids on ECD - cellular phones, other suspected stolen items found

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton with some suspended members before the motion was passed The Parliamentary opposition is hoping to secure a court order preventing the suspension of eight of its Members of Parliament (MPs) when the matter is called at the High Court today.

If not, the opposing side of the House is set to boycott an upcoming sitting of the National Assembly where it is expected that government will seek support for a Supplementary Provision totaling some $44.7B. Hours before the planned tabling of the motion in the National Assembly to suspend the eight MPs two weeks ago, the opposition- A

Partnership for National Unity +Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) moved to the court to challenge the Committee of Privileges recommendation. The MPs are to be suspended over the unauthorised removal of the mace last December. The document stated that the High Court was asked to issue an order for all eight opposition parliamentarians to perform their duties as Members of the National Assembly until they have been afforded the right to be heard. The parliamentarians also want the High Court to block Speaker, Manzoor Nadir, and the Clerk of the N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y,

Sherlock Isaacs from permitting, causing or allowing any consideration of the Report of the Parliamentary Select Committee of Privileges.

MPs Sherod Duncan, Christopher Jones, Ganesh Mahipaul, Vinceroy Jordan, Annette Ferguson, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Maureen A. Philadelphia, and Tabitha Halley were nonetheless suspended when the Committee of Privileges report was passed in Parliament.

The opposition members are not taking the matter lying down as they are depending on the court (Continued on page 17)

The items that were discovered during the raids

Multiple cellular phones along with laptops and other items suspected to be stolen were discovered during raid exercises in Sophia, Sparendaam and Liliendaal communities.

According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), ranks from Regional Division Four ‘A’ on August 2, 2022, conducted raid exercises in the three communities and multiple items were seized and several persons were in custody.

It was stated that at a house in ‘B’ Field Sophia, a 27-year-old male vendor the owner of the said property was arrested after several cellphones, laptops and other electronics suspected to be stolen were found in his house. The vendor was escorted to the Turkeyen Police Station with the suspected stolen items and placed in custody pending investigation.

Notably, several searches were carried out on houses in A and B Field Sophia where

the police found the following cellular phones: Samsung 11, Digicel 7, iPhone 4, Unique 2, HTC 1, Huawei 1, ZTE 1, Umidigi 1, BLU 2, Revel 1, ASUS 1, Redmi 1, Plum 1, SKY 1. Other items that were discovered are laptops – two Toshiba, one Acer, one Del, 1 One Laptop per Family (OLPF), one Haier, one Lenovo, and one HP. Moreover, at Fourth Street Sparendaam, the police arrested a 22-year-old male in relation to an alleged robbery under arms matter. He too was escorted to Turkeyen Police Station pending further investigations.

According to the police, at a house located at Block X Liliendaal, the ranks met an 18-year-old female of the said address and when a search was conducted on the property, a five gallon paint bucket was found which contained a bulky transparent bag along with a transparent zip lock bag which contained 61 small transparent bags containing leaves, (Continued on page 16)

Thursday August 04, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Govt. to spend half a billion $$ to build new Prison Service HQ The Guyana Prison Service current headquarters building.

In keeping with the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) improvement plan, the Ministry of Home Affairs is currently inviting contractors to build a new headquarters for the Prison Service.

According to the ‘Invitation for Bids’ published in Sunday’s edition of the Kaieteur News, the Ministry is inviting sealed bids for the “Reconstruction of Headquarter, Guyana Prison Service.”

The particulars of the tender note, that bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) Procedures specified in the Procurement Act 2003. The ministry stated that bids for this project are slated to open on August 16, 2022 at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) located at the Ministry of Finance office.

Kaieteur News was informed that the reconstruction of the headquarters is not only in keeping with the GPS improvement plans but also when completed it would accommodate its staff more efficiently.

Currently, there are over 50 staffers employed at the Prison Service headquarters.

The current headquarters building which is located at 46 Brickdam, Georgetown, this publication was told is old and cannot accommodate its entire staff. Kaieteur News was also informed that the new building will

be built at Lusignan located on the East Coast of Demerara. The construction of the prison headquarters will form part of the $2.3 billion that was allocated from this year’s budget.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh who presented this year’s budget had stated that the $2.3 billion is budgeted towards enhancing the prison infrastructure.

The minister had explained that the money will go towards continuing works “on the Lusignan Prison which will be transformed into a modern facility to house both male and female prisoners including a vocational school, an infirmary annex, prison headquarters and command centre.

Additionally, works are ongoing at Mazaruni Prison on a second prison block. We will also invest in the training of 1,400 inmates in areas such as anger management, literacy and numeracy, tailoring, among others, at a budgeted sum of $88.9 million in an effort to reduce recidivism.”

Forming part of its $2.3 billion also, the GPS last month signed two contracts totalling $145,033,088 – one with Singh and Son Construction worth $96,230,253 for the construction of senior officer living quarters at the Lusignan Prison and the other with Advanced Engineering for $48,802,835 to construct a new security fence at the same facility.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

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From page 14 seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. The teenage girl was told of the offence committed, cautioned, arrested and taken to the Turkeyen Police Station. The suspected narcotics were weighed in her presence and it amounted to 710 grams. However, while during the process, a 24-yearold male walked into the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Office and claimed ownership of the suspected narcotics. As such, he too was placed in custody.

W

ith one person still admitted at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit at the Ocean View Infectious Diseases Hospital, the Ministry of Health on Wednesday reported that within the last 24 hour period they recorded 102 new cases across the country.

The new infections which take the total of confirmed cases to 69, 948, were

to take corrective action in so many areas in Guyana.

“Exactly” what does the opposition have to offer ALL Guyanese? I repeat ALL Guyanese. So please stand aside.

Chi Kansi

detected in Regions 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9. The Ministry via its latest dashboard revealed that 23 persons are in institutional isolation, 513 are in home isolation and three persons are quarantined institutionally. To date, a total of 68,140 have recovered from the virus.

With new cases on the rise, within the last two months- June and July approximately 4,868 persons tested positive for the virus.

Majority of these cases were among the female population with over 2,700 of them testing positive and over 2,100 men testing positive.

From the 4000 cases too, approximately 2,460 were detected in Region Four alone.

Notably, no case was reported from Region Eight within that period. Minister of

Health, Dr. Frank Anthony had mentioned in one of his daily COVID-19 briefings that because COVID-19 testing is hardly done in that region, they have no reported cases coming out from that area.

Between June and July, approximately 33 persons died after contracting the virus.

With new COVID-19 variants in circulation, the Ministry of Health continues to encourage persons to get vaccinated against the virus.

The Minister had explained previously that vaccination among the adult population is going fairly good but vaccination among the children population is lagging.

Presently, COVID-19 vaccines are available for everyone five years and older.

Alleged corruption in tractor purchase forces...

From page 2 down after working for a few days.

Since the trial several months ago, the said machine has been inoperable, “and they are now discovering that the machine is made up of a hodge-podge of parts from all over the world, making acquiring parts next to impossible.”

With all of this information at hand, Vieira said GuySuCo has recently decided to buy eight more of the articulated

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102 new COVID-19 recorded on Wednesday

The Opposition’s...

From page 6 had a chance to make a difference.

Frankly speaking, members of the opposition lost their way, years ago when a majority of them focused on the wrong things and failed

Thursday August 04, 2022

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tractors.

Vieria said management does not fully understand that the local industry is changing from hand labour to mechanical harvesting operations. “And they do not comprehend, even now, that you can’t tell your Board that in most years there are only 75 days when ploughing can be done by machines due to the wet nature of the soil, but you can continue the scheduling of harvesting your cane for 220 days per year by machines.”

He highlighted that Louisiana in the USA, with low lying lands experience about the same heavy rainfall as Guyana but sees a cropping season of 100 days. Vieira charged that “there can only be one explanation for all of this!!

And like an iceberg this tractor story is only the tip of the wicked agenda being executed in GuySuCo today.”

When news of the “unsuitable” tractors broke, GuySuCo’s CEO had just

signed for six articulated tractors worth over $200M from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Stakeholders told the newspaper that the tractors were unsuitable for the tilling job and that the same money could have purchased eight John Deere tractors that would have performed more efficiently.

The newspaper also reported that the CEO was seeking G$1B from government to buy more of the articulated tractors as he mostly blamed the absence of tilling equipment for low sugar outputs.

The newspaper reported further that a proposal from the GAME Company to provide the articulated tractors to GuySuCo had shown that the machine was used exclusively for haulage since that is what the company’s recommendation letters spoke to as well as the machine’s description, while GuySuCo’s requirement in the proposal spoke to the machines for tillage. Stakeholders suggested something fishy with the purchase of the

GAME tractors since the US company’s financial records showed that it was not making profit for three consecutive years; and also supported the theory that the company’s money was tied up in unsold assets. Stakeholders questioned whether GuySuCo was bailing out the company by buying up its unsold assets and why.

GuySuCo in a full page advertisement some time back, refuted all claims. When contacted for a comment yesterday, the CEO told the newspaper he was heading into a NCN interview and could not speak.

A leaked audio has nonetheless surfaced relating to the said tractors. In a heated argument between the GuySuCo board and its executives during a meeting, the CEO was accused of being incompetent and unsuitable to management of the sugar company, while he accused the board of being unfair and not providing him with the right to reply.

Govt. to set up two more shrimp farms...

From page 13 and industrial seabob shrimp.

These declines outweighed increased catches of artisanal seabob shrimp and prawns, Singh added.

Meanwhile, in December last year, this newspaper reported that the Ministry of Agriculture was pursuing 74 ponds to hopefully double the production of shrimp, by 2025, with a $58 million investment. Kaieteur News was told that the project site is located along the Corentyne coast from the Berbice River Bridge to Number 49 Village, in Region Six. Furthermore, it was re-

lated that the scope of works included the desilting of drainage and irrigation canals, pond preparation (that is building dams higher), removal of vegetation in the pond and desilting where possible.

Tubes were also installed to facilitate drainage and irrigation. The works are being completed by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), as was related by a credible source.

The Ministry said that the project is specifically aimed at boosting the production of brackish water shrimp from 250,000 kilograms to 500,000

kilograms in four years’ time.

This is one of the measures the government has pursued amidst complaints of decreased seafood catch, by local fishers.

The Fisheries Department has teamed up with the NDIA to construct the 74 ponds for the rearing of brackish water shrimp.

According to Wikipedia, ‘brackish water’, also sometimes termed brack water, is water occurring in a natural environment having more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. Salt water is the ideal environment for the rearing of shrimp.

Thursday August 04, 2022

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

MP concerned over exorbitant rentals for Govt. offices When it comes to the rental of buildings, consecutive governments continue to pump billions of taxpayers’ dollars often in the hands of private citizens in an attempt to provide suitable occupancy to State and other related entities.

But Member of Parliament of A Partnership For National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), Ganesh Mahipaul said that the issue over rental of buildings under the various administrations will continue unless there is a shift in the mentality of the political leadership from having to rent these buildings to owning them.

He noted that the issue has resulted in wastage of the much needed tax dollars and raised concerns over the management of the consolidated fund.

Mahipaul’s comments come

Opposition MP, Ganesh Mahipaul after Kaieteur News highlighted at least two scenarios in which the State has expended an exorbitant amount of monies on the rental of buildings. The most recent case was in relation to the rental of a building to

house the UN offices by the previous APNU+AFC coalition administration.

The building located at Duke Street Kingston was rented under a 10 year contract by the coalition at a whopping $188 million annually. The agreement therefore ties the Guyanese tax payers to funding a private citizen for the next decade.

And while former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson had defended the deal as necessary to satisfy the specifications requirements of the UN offices, other politicians have expressed varying views on the matter.

Current Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill has said that the rental could have been made at cost that is more suitable for the State. He suggested too using the money to host the UN on a

plot of land that is owned by the State would have been a better investment.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment to Kaieteur News, Mahipaul expressed the view that rental of buildings by the various governments will continue to be an issue unless there is a change in the policy in the way the State conducts business. “The Government can put an end to this problem by changing the way it does business. I think it is time that the government shifts the mentality from renting to owning….Moving from the tenant mentality to the landlord which will greatly assist in the State in cutting back on the amounts of monies that is spent annually on rent.”

Mahipaul told Kaieteur News that an examination of the budget estimates for the

last three years, 2020, 2021 and 2022 is testament of the need for government to change course in terms of acquisition of property to conduct business. “It is troubling governments continue to rent buildings when there are vast lands available for them to construct their own buildings. Let the State own the buildings and let the government construct and rent the building and bring in monies to the consolidated fund rather than bleed it annually for the sake of a few [private] persons,” he said.

Kaieteur News had reported that at least $400M is being spent annually for the rental and maintenance of buildings that house the operations of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). An examination of GRA’s Annual Reports and Statements of Accounts, which was laid in

the National Assembly from December 2010 to December 2014, revealed that each year, the tax agency spent between $80 million to approximately $400M monthly. A source close to the tax agency had explained that GRA’s rental and maintenance are determined by the number of buildings or facilities it rents to house its operations.

Kaieteur News understands that in addition to renting the Camp Street facility to accommodate its main office, GRA rents at least four other facilities to house its operations, these include parking spaces and places for storage. The source told Kaieteur News not only is the revenue authority’s rental and maintenance bill costing the State, but renting facilities to house GRA’s Main office has been relocated on several occasions.

Baramita man arrested after ‘pulling’ gun on shopkeeper

A

Baramita man is in hot water after he reportedly cranked his illegal firearm on a shopkeeper in the Region One district for flashing torchlight on him.

The incident occurred on Sunday. Presently in police custody is Romel Alanzo, 22 and he is expected to be charged with the illegal possession of an unlicenced .32 pistol.

According to Region One Commander Himnauth Sawh, Alanzo was initially arrested for threatening behaviour towards a 38-year-old shopkeeper at Barama Line, Baramita, North West District (NWD) during the late evening hours of July 31.

Based on information received, the shopkeeper was forced to make a police report after he heard Alanzo cranking what looked like a gun during an argument they

had. The shopkeeper claimed that he had closed up the shop and turned off the lights, but before retiring inside he made a final check around the building to make sure everything was okay.

He reportedly flashed his torchlight and saw Alanzo imbibing outside and there was a shiny object in his pants waist.

Alanzo became annoyed after the shopkeeper flashed the torchlight on him and they ended up in an argument during which he threatened the man.

Police later arrested Alanzo but they found no firearm on him only a knife.

He even denied having a firearm.

However, detectives were able to obtain information that indeed he was carrying a gun in his possession and when they confronted him he decided to admit by saying

The illegal gun found by police “yes officer I had a gun”.

Police reported that he took investigators to a busy track at Barama Line and showed them a small black

Rystad Energy accused of pushing Exxon’s agenda...

From page 3 the law. Complaints were also registered yesterday by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) that they continue to lose opportunities to participate in the sector with the bundling of contracts by other oil companies.

As for Guyana’s membership to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Kaieteur News registered its disagreement that this mechanism means the country is able to properly manage the sector. In the EITI reports Guyana has published, none of the recommendations for improvements in revenue reporting have been adhered to; and importantly, it has done nothing to date to bring about greater transparency and accountability in the oil sector.

To date, Guyana is still without an independent regulator for the oil and gas sector in the form of a Petroleum Commission, the petroleum laws remain outdated, and production reports on the Stabroek Block have not been made public despite numerous promises by the Ali-led administration.

Publisher of Kaieteur Newspaper, Glenn Lall, upon listening to a recording of the meeting also expressed disgust with the messaging of the Rystad Group as he said it is indicative of the kind of toxic indoctrination that follows from certain lobbyists when the independent media endeavour to educate the public about the realities of the sector. Lall said Rystad and Exxon’s propaganda on who really stands to benefit

from the offshore resources, are the same.

Lall said, “Guyana still has a far way to go. Kaieteur News has been at the forefront of ringing the warning bells. We have shown how countries like Nigeria, Angola, Uganda, all lost billions of dollars earned from their oil and gas while their people wallow in poverty.

Guyana is still struggling to put the fundamentals in place but Rystad wants to fool the people of this nation that we are on the right track.”

The KN Publisher said he is of the firm conviction that Rystad is here to paint a one sided picture of Guyana’s oil story. “It is deceptive, to say the least. But I will break down this propaganda in a subsequent show on one of my radio programmes.”

bulky plastic bag that was stashed in some bushes.

When the detectives opened the bag they found the illegal weapon.

Romel Alanzo, the man who cocked his weapon on a Baramita shopkeeper.

Opposition signals boycott of...

From page 14 decision to make their next move. Ganesh Mahipaul told the newspaper yesterday that the opposition is looking forward to the court upholding the members’ right to a “fair hearing”.

The opposition has argued that following the events regarding the mace, the opposition was asked to show reason why they should not be suspended; but even after inquiring what rules and regulations were broken, no infor-

mation was provided. The opposition is also arguing that the motion was brought by government MP and committee member Gail Teixeira who took the matter to the Speaker who then sent it to the committee. And despite Article 144 (8) of the Constitution speaking to the right to a fair hearing of an impartial tribunal or competent court, the opposition said what happened instead is that the same person who made the accusation, carried the

motion, tried the accusers and laid the sentence.

The opposition is adamant however, that suspending the eight is part of an orchestrated move to “weaken the guardrails of democracy, transparency and accountability,” since less opposition MPS means less scrutiny in Parliament. With government move to the Parliament for mega supplementary provisions, there will be less opposition members to scrutinise the sums being requested.

PAGE 18

Thursday August 04, 2022

Kaieteur News

Norton accuses Govt. of blatant corruption, discrimination

A

s questions continue to swirl in society regarding the hefty prices being attached to the construction of small buildings to house state facilities, the Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton has told thousands of supporters that this is evidence of PPP corruption.

Norton made these remarks on Tuesday evening during a joint Opposition rally hosted at Burnham Court.

The event coincided with the PPP’s celebration of two years in office and brought together hundreds of Guyanese to rally against corruption, the high cost of living and extra-judicial killings, among other issues.

The People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) supporters turned up in their numbers as they cheered on the Coalition’s Members of Parliament who took to the podium to assure that the critical areas are not, and will not be left on the back burner.

Charting the way forward was the Opposition Leader who insisted that when one looks at the way in which the government handles contracts, it is evident that they are not interested in development, but rather focused on raking in money for themselves and friends.

“When you see the price for some lil lil buildings you get nara.

They are very very corrupt and all Su did was to provide the evidence. We all know how corrupt they be,” he argued.

Furthermore, he explained that the Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo should prove his innocence by allowing for an independent investigation into the allegations made by his friend, Su Zhirong in the Vice News documentary, where he told the undercover journalists that the VP collects bribes to facilitate Chinese investors in Guyana. He reasoned: “I have said to Bharrat Jagdeo more than once, if you think you ain’t corrupt I gave you a simple task. If you got a house or you going to buy a house, when you go to buy the house you

Scenes from the Opposition’s rally

got to give the bank certain information and a percentage of your salary got to pay for it or else they does tell you, you can’t get it.

I want him to put his wealth against his salary and if he can prove that that is gotten honestly, then I tell he I’ll resign. But he cannot do that. He is part of a kleptocracy that all they doing is getting rich.”

In addition to the Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton; David Hinds, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Mervyn Williams, Juretha Fernandes, Sherod Duncan, Amanza Walton-Desir, Ganesh Mahipaul, Coretta McDonald, Christopher Jones, and Volda Lawrence were some of the popular faces who graced the event.

Shaking to songs of redemption, the supporters waved the National Arrowhead and their party flags as the sun went down.

Opening the rally was WPA’s Kidackie Amsterdam who reminded the crowd that several young black lives were taken by the Guyana Police Force under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government, adding that, “we will not stand for extra-judicial killings; we will not stand for a corrupt police force.

Further, we will not stand for a government taking actions, making decisions

which are against the constitution and blatantly illegal in the management of the Guyana Police Force.”

AFC’s Fernandes, during her remarks, gave the audience an overview of the economy, insisting that the country is not being managed well, as is evident by the rising inflation rates. She pointed out that even though the government enjoys boasting of Guyana being poised to be the country with the highest growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) globally,

Guyanese continue to suffer to purchase food, in an oil producing nation.

“We see a l l t h e n i c e numbers and all the nice headings but you have to remember ladies and gentlemen that when it comes to sugar, what is g o i n g o n w i t h s u g a r, ” Fernandes reasoned, as she went on to note that a selected few of the PPP friends are benefitting from the largest budget passed to date, while the majority of the population

continue to suffer. The PNC/ R’s Mervyn Williams in addressing the supporters said in President Irfaan Ali’s vision for a “One Guyana”, the PPP has effectively used its one seat majority in the National Assembly to shut out the voices of 49 percent of the country. According to him, “When you talk about leadership, you have the Vice News release that points to corruption in the highest offices of the land. You talk about trampling on the national constitution, playing

around with constitutional commissions so that certain ends can be achieved.

The procurement commission only came in after the boys them succeeded in doing other mischief before…so when it comes to leadership, they get an ‘F’ in leadership.”

On the other hand, it was insisted that there must be no other elections without a clean voters’ list. In addition to those present at the venue, there were over 4,000 viewers who tuned in online.

Businessman found shot in Chinese supermarket

P

olice believe that an i n j u r e d businessman found on Wednesday inside a Chinese supermarket at Soesdyke Junction, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was shot by an accomplice while they were trying to burglarise the property.

Injured is Lloyd Thomas.

According to the Chinese businessman, Zhou Jianhua, 49, he had found the injured man around 02:30hrs after being awakened by a banging sound on his metal door.

He told investigators that as he got off his bed to investigate the noise he heard a gunshot and when he opened his bedroom door he saw a masked man lying down in his supermarket and bleeding from the head.

Jianhua claimed too that he saw two other men running out of his property after he made the discovery Police were called in and observed that the man had a gunshot wound to the left side of his face and rushed him to the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital for treatment. Investigators recovered a 9MM spent shell from the scene and learnt that the injured man was a well-

The injured businessman, Lloyd Thomas at the Diamond Hospital after receiving treatment known businessman of Grant Sand Road, EBD. The detectives suspect that he and two accomplices were attempting to burglarise the Chinese man’s place but their plan backfired after one of them might have accidently shot him to the face. In fact, the men had

A hole made in a concrete wall of the Chinese man’s business place allegedly

by Thomas and his two accomplices. already made a hole in the concrete wall to gain access to Jianhua’s living quarters where he resides with his wife. Footage from security cameras mounted on his supermarket even captured Thomas’ accomplices fleeing

from the scene in his burgundy Chevrolet motor van, leaving him behind in a wounded state. As police hunt the accomplices, the businessman is presently under police guard at the Diamond Hospital.

Thursday August 04, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

‘Plenty noise about democracy, but - Hughes says oil opportunities should not be silence on equality’ allowed to widen the gap between rich and poor Attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes has issued a clarion call for the Guyanese politicians not to allow the opportunities in the oil and gas sector to be distributed in a manner that widens the gap between the rich and the poor. Addressing a preemancipation forum at Buxton, East Coast Demerara, over the weekend, Hughes sought to enlighten the crowd on the inequitable distribution of Guyana’s resources. The lawyer noted that while it has been established that there is a notable economic disparity between Guyana’s ethnic groups as a result of inequitable distribution of opportunities and resources, this must not be allowed to continue.

Hughes told the gathering: “We have learnt now that democracy does not give you equality. There is a lot a noise by some about democracy but there is extreme silence about equality and [tonight] I want to talk to you specifically a new term that is going around called resource allocation; it is basically how we going to share the corn… which is when you look at it the way the opportunities and wealth have been distributed in this country it has been most disadvantageous to [some demographics]….”

The lawyer noted that various ethnic groups have all played the part in the development of Guyana, but it is evident that just a select few have benefited from the country’s vast resources.

Hughes explained that “For example in the giving out of contracts, the money often goes into one community; which means that community gets employment and benefits…you give a contract for $100M to that c o m m u n i t y, t h e n t h a t community makes a profit and the contractor expands his business, he buys two tractors and bulldozer…”

“The next time, when the bids open for a contractor it is a precondition that the man with the two tractors and the bulldozer is most suitable for the job. It means the member of the community that did not get, cannot qualify and nobody else from the other communities wins the bid because they cannot qualify,” he continued.

He stressed that: “The system has to change and we have to change the system

and we have to talk to our leaders about changing the system.”

The lawyer noted there are enough resources and opportunities for all Guyanese to benefit from our resources particularly, the opportunities in the oil and gas sector. He pointed out too that so far, the opportunities for oil and gas supply entities are only given to a certain category of people in society those who already have wealth. “…Nobody ain’t going nowhere, so we have learnt how to share the corn … We cannot continue to see the resources of this country distributed in a biased manner,” Hughes stated.

He continued:” This Republic belongs to every single citizen of this country and if you’re going to say you’re not talking to the leadership of the African community which is the second oldest community in this country because you say they ain’t recognise you, then it’s going to be a new d a y. We w i l l i m p o s e conversation on you.”

As it relates to efforts to lobby for a better distribution of the resources, Hughes who is also a former chairman of the Alliance For Change Party, told the crowd that they should call on their leaders to do the work.

“I am not a politician but your leaders have to advocate that every single community in this country gets a fair share. You cannot have equality and automatically expect peace.

Can’t happen!” he said.

The attorney said too distribution of cash grants, some amounting to $250,000, should not count as advocacy for their fair share.

“That’s the highest level of disrespect…Let me tell why it is disrespectful because Hess, Exxon and CNOCC…the American President said so, made more money than God and you [the politicians] rolling into the community and giving out a lil $250,000" Speaking about the recent high-level meeting of a Guyana delegation with United States dignitaries, Hughes also told the crowd not to get too distracted by the US’ new found interest.

“It’s not because they love us but is because they recognise that the amount of wealth that is in this country, they cannot afford to have it disturbed and they realise how precariously perched

this country is,” he said.

“The American government has realised that Guyana is in a precarious place. That’s why they [politicians] were summoned there. Those that went up to speak with them, went because of what we knew for a long time which is the inadequate allocation of resources that has now reached a precarious and dangerous state,” he asserted. The prominent attorney’s remarks follows weeks after another group

called for the underlying socio-economic conditions of Afro-Guyanese communities to be addressed. International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana IDPADA-G in a recent statement had called on government to recognise the endemic socio-economic and political factors prevailing in African Guyanese communities and the challenges they continue to face.

Prominent Attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 04, 2022

Thursday August 04, 2022

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Emily Campbell and Evie Richards excel on day six of the Commonwealth Games PA Media - Emily Campbell roared to a recordbreaking gold medal in the women’s weightlifting competition at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, while Evie Richards rode to victory in the women’s mountain biking. Here, the PA

news agency reflects on Wednesday’s early action and looks forward to the highlights on day seven. Emily’s Precious moment

Campbell sought inspiration from four-time Commonwealth Games champion Precious McKenzie as

she eased to victory in the w o m e n ’s +87kg weightlifting competition.

The 86-year-old McKenzie watched from the front row as Campbell lifted a combined total of 286kg to set a new personal best as well as a new Commonwealth record, building on the Olympic silver medal she had earned in Tokyo last summer. Ace Evie Richards put a “terrible year” behind her to storm to gold in the mountain bike race.

There was no sign of the back injury or multiple illnesses that have plagued the world champion over the last six

months as she rode clear on the first of the seven laps around Cannock Chase Forest to improve on the silver she took in Gold Coast four years ago.

Sameenah success England’s Sameenah Toussaint enjoyed a debut to remember as she squeezed past Zoe Andrews of Wales via split decision to book her place in the women’s featherweight quarter-finals. The Northolt 19-year-old, who used to hide behind the heavy bags in her local gym because she was scared of getting involved, got the nod from four of the five ringside

Thursday August 04, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may have that awful feeling that you really need to get down to work yet something seems to stand square in the way of progress. Perhaps you feel like you're at a four-way stop with three other cars.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your heart has been active, Libra, and you're probably feeling the need to take charge of a certain relationship. Instead of being too hasty in your pursuit of this romance, you should probably do more planning.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You're anxious to take action, Taurus, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Be careful about acting too hastily. It's important that you and your loved one.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There is solid grounding to your emotions right now that is helping you stabilize your sensitive feelings, Scorpio. As you become more attuned to your internal needs,. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your relationships are going well from an intellectual perspective, Sagittarius, but from an emotional one, you might feel like they aren't as fulfilling as you'd like.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) It may feel as if something or someone is trying to keep you from moving ahead with your ambitious goals and aggressive nature, Gemini.

At first you may resent this ball and chain attached to your ankle.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You're apt to feel more talkative than usual, Cancer.

There are many times when you may shrink from a situation in disgust or perhaps boredom.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Concentrate on nurturing your needs right now instead of trying to accommodate the needs of others, Capricorn. There is a difficult tension that arises when you try to comfort someone.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may be anxious to try an uncharted path that speaks to your sense of risk and adventure, Leo. It's important to temper these actions with realistic planning.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Things may roll along nicely in love and romance and then suddenly run into a snag, Aquarius. Perhaps you failed to recognize an important birthday or anniversary.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Other people are likely to be anxious to get up and moving with their plans, Virgo. It might be better for you to hang back a bit and see how things pan out before you take action.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Here's a reminder that it's OK to be you. You may feel more centered than usual, which encourages you to stand up for yourself and say the things you must to people who need to hear them.

judges after a fiercely contested clash. Repeat or Revenge England’s netball team face New Zealand in a potentially crucial group game, with the losers almost certain to face Australiainthe semi-finals. Jess Thirlby’s side famously claimed gold in the final four years ago, but missed out on a home world title when they were beaten by the New Zealanders in the 2019 semi-finals in Liverpool, with their opponents going on to win the world crown. Golden Delicious? England boxer Delicious Orie makes his Games debut in the super-heavyweight quarter-finals against Nigel Paul of Trinidad. Orie was born in Moscow to a Nigerian father and a Russian mother but left the country in his childhood after fighting racism. Having settled in Wolverhampton, Orie gained a UK passport and won a bronze medal at this year’s European Championships.

Wight Hot New 1500m

world champion Jake Wightman continues his quest for a unique summer treble when he takes to the track at the Alexander Stadium on Thursday for his first round. Wightman will be representing Scotland as he bids for more gold ahead of the upcoming European Championships.

Meanwhile, Adam Gemili runs in the 200m.

Fung-A-Fat...

From page 23 Jason-Ray and Ashely, faced Wales’ Petre Creed and Emily Whitlock, also losing 0-2 (311, 10-11).

Today, the country’s squash players in Birmingham will go into the doubles competition.

Wiltshire and Jason-Ray Khalil are down to face Sri Lankans Laksiri Ravindu/ Wakeel Shamil in Men’s Round-of-32.

Over in the Women’s Round-of-16, Fung-A-Fat and Ashely Khalil will play on the ‘show court’ televised match against New Zealand’s Joelle King and Amanda Landers-Murphy.

Points for Drayton...

From page 24 attended by GCF’s President, Frankie Farley. Games continue daily with one round per day and are being played at the Four Points by Sheraton Mahabalipuram Resort and Convention Centre.

Play starts daily at 15:00 Indian Time - 05:30 Guyana. Links to live games can be found on the Guyana Chess FederationWebsite:www.guyanachess.org.

Canada Cup 1 preparations...

From page 24 while other three categories will be taking place in Scarborough, East-End Area.

He noted that trophies and cash incentives are up for grabs. All four finals are slated to be held at Ellesmere ground in Scarborough.

Meanwhile, a large number of top softball players will be displaying their talents and skills during the three consecutive days.

Some players with international exposures are likely to represent their respective teams while a legion of former Guyana national players should also be at the event.

Some of these players from

Canada are: Royston Crandon, Dillon Heyliger, Damodar Daesrath, Azib Ali Hanif, Aftab Shamshudeen, Troy Gobin, Zaheer Haniff, Sunil Dhaniram, Shiv Seeram, Desmond Chumney, Steve Ramdass, Devon Ramnauth, Shaun Deonandan, Krishna Deosaran, Krishna Arjune, Hemnarine Chattergoon, Dennis Legay, Rovendra Mandolall, Harrienarine Chattergoon along with several high-profile softball players in Canada including Bobby Parasnauth, Ian Bladeo, Muniram Karran, Imran Ali, Anil Mahadeo, Roopnarine Lalbehari among others.

Renuka, Rodrigues hammer...

From page 23 unbeaten 28-ball 34, as India smashed 58 off the last five overs. Renuka’s rampage Four nights after she announced herself with a new-ball burst for the ages against Australia, she was at it again. Off her third ball of the innings, she sent back a charging Deandra Dottin for a duck. Two balls into her second over, she had Hayley Matthews who picked out midon. Then she was persisted with for a third straight over in what was an excellent bit of captaincy from Harmanpreet, and Renuka all but sealed it with the wickets of Kycia Knight played on - and Aaliyah Alleyne, who was done in by a devious in-swinger that she left on a length to find her stumps flattened. At 19 for 4 in five overs, Barbados were starting at the inevitable. India’s spinners then got into the game and made merry, the returning Pooja Vastrakar got some gametime ahead of bigger battles and their fielders took catches that had coach Ramesh Powar yelp in excitement. The ghosts of Australia, where they let it slip from a winning position, weren’t going to have another field day. This was as emphatic as it could get.

Scores: India women 162 for 4 (Rodrigues 56*, Shafali 43, Deepti 34*) beat Barbados women 62 for 8 (Kyshona 16, Renuka 4-10) by 100 runs.

PAGE 22

Thursday August 04, 2022

Kaieteur News

Allicock, Amsterdam suffer ‘questionable’ exit at Commonwealth Games

By Rawle Toney in Birmingham (Team Guyana Press Attaché) Guyana’s 32-year wait for another boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games was extended yesterday, when Guyana’s Keevin Allicock and Desmond Amsterdam were at the receiving end of questionable decisions in their Featherweight and Middleweight Quarter-Finals.

Spectators at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Boxing Hall were bemused following the split decision result in favour of Canada’s KeomaAli Al-Ahmadieh against Allicock.

In an entertaining Featherweight Quarter-Finals at the Commonwealth Games, Allicock and Al-Ahmadieh entered the third and final round 1 - 1, after the judges from Scotland, Australia, Hungary, Italy, Germany and Malaysia, scored round one for the Canadian and the second for the Guyanese.

However, at the end of the third, Allicock, based on his performance, felt he did enough to convince the judges to send him through.

In the end, all five judges handed the Canadian the final round and the fight 10-9 on the scorecards; much to the disappointment of the crowd at the arena that voiced their disapproval of the result.

Desmond Amsterdam

GDF Sergeant, Desmond Amsterdam battling Australian Callum Peters at the Commonwealth Games.

“I was disappointed because I know I won the fight; not that I thought,” an obviously upset Allicock said following his bout.

“The first round was supposed to be scored unanimously, I went back into my corner with confidence. The second round, it was a draw and the last round he didn’t do much, plus he was getting a lot of warning; he wasn’t hitting me and I showed that I was a better boxer. I know the judge’s decision is final, but I’m not pleased with it,” said Allicock.

The 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games silver medallist, who became the first boxer since John Douglas in 1996 to qualify for the Olympics, has been at the short end of

some questionable results in his amateur career.

Asked about being weary of his results, said he’s not frustrated, but certainly disappointed, “I really wanted to take it home to my country (Guyana) and show everyone that I’m here, but unfortunately it didn’t happen, so I guess I just have to continue working and come again.”

Allicock’s coach, Sebert Blake said they will have to live with the decision yesterday, but was happy that his boxer was able to showcase his new fighting style at the second-largest multi-sport event (after the Olympic Games).

“This is the new Keevin, where he’s using his skills to outclass his opponents and

we get it right in terms of the first two bouts, but now in the third, where we’re fighting for a medal, we were not able to convince the judges. But most people in the arena saw what was done in the entire bout, and it was just amazing that the decision was against him,” Blake said.

The Forgotten Youth Foundation coach pointed to patience, noting, “You can see Keevin moving from one level, to the next and showing improvement. I think 2024 (Olympics) is and if we keep Keevin and other guys together, and give them the competition and the regular international exposure, I think things will turn in our favour.”

Meanwhile, Guyana De-

fence Force (GDF) Sergeant, Amsterdam, was not happy with this second-round stoppage defeat to Australian Callum Peters in the Men’s Middleweight quarter-finals.

It was an exciting contest from the first bell, as the two slugged it out throughout.

Amsterdam, at the time the fight was stopped, was receiving his second standing-eight count.

Fighting at his first Commonwealth Games, the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Championship Bronze Medallist said he felt good in the fight while the two traded punches, “When I got the first eight-count, I didn’t feel anything. It’s just that I was weak on my de-

fence, so I got an unexpected punch, but the second eightcount, It’s not supposed to go that way because both of us were trading punches and both connecting.”

Nonetheless, Amsterdam said he enjoyed his first games, while being adamant of doing better at his next chance given.

Guyana will now have to wait another four years (2026 Australia) to replicate Bantamweight Wesley Christmas’ 1990 Bronze Medal, or emulate Lightweight Wi n f i e l d Braithwaite’s 1978 Gold Medal performance since those were the last two to win boxing medals for land of Many Waters at the former British Empire Games.

Kiplimo kick extends Uganda Thompson-Herah takes Commonwealth 100m gold domination of Commonwealth SportsMax - Jamaica’s reigning double Olympic champion Elaine ThompsonHerah added the Commonwealth 100m title to her list of accomplishments after winning the event in comfortable fashion in Birmingham yesterday.

The Jamaican headed into the final as a heavy favorite and easily lived up to that billing after dominating the event to cross the line in 10.95. St Lucia’s Julian Alfred continued an excellent season after finishing second to the Jamaican in 11.01. Great Britain’s Daryl Neita was third in 11.07. The Bahamas’ Tynia Gaither and Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte were 7th and 8th respectively.

The medal was the third for the athlete at the event, but her first individual medal, adding to 4x100m relay gold and silver medals in 2014 and 2018 respectively.

In the men’s equivalent, Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala

Elaine Thompson-Herah is the Commonwealth 100m champion.

claimed top billing after winning the event in 10.01, ahead of South Africa’s Akani Simbine, the defending champion, who was second in 10.13. Sri Lanka’s Yupun

Abeykoon was third in 10.14.

No Caribbean male athlete made the 100m final. Jamaica’s Kemar Bailey-Cole, who won the event in 2014 finished fourth in the semi-finals.

Games 10,000m

BIRMINGHAM, England, (Reuters) - Jacob Kiplimo used a devastating late kick to win the Commonwealth Games men’s 10,000 metres gold on Tuesday, stepping up in the absence of world champion Joshua Cheptegei to maintain Uganda’s domination of the event. Opening night at Alexander Stadium was meant to be highlighted

by Cheptegei defending his Commonwealth crown but the Ugandan world record holder opted out to better prepare for the remaining Diamond League races.

That left Kiplimo, the Olympic and world bronze medallist, alone to face the three man Kenyan threat of Kibiwott Kandie, Daniel Ebenyo and Edward Zakayo Pingua. The Kenyans controlled the pace through much of the race until Kiplimo and Ebenyo broke free of the pack to re-

duce the battle for gold to a two-man fight with two laps to run. Shoulder-to-shoulder entering the final bend, Kiplimo found another gear rocketing away down the last 100 metres, hands raised with enough energy to dance in delight as he crossed the line in a Games record time of 27 minutes, 9.19 seconds. “I think for me winning this Commonwealth Games title was everything, the most important thing for me this season,” said Kiplimo. “But I still have a lot of things to do in the future at the Olympics and world championships.” Kenyans occupied the other two spots on the podium with Ebenyo securing silver and Kandie bronze. With Kiplimo’s superb victory Uganda have now won the men’s 10,000m at every Commonwealth Games since 2006. It was also a big night for Nigeria, with gold and bronze in the

women’s discus. Chioma Onyekwere took the top step on the podium with a throw of 61.70m ahead of England’s Jade Lally and team mate Obiageri Amaechi. After taking world championship pole vault bronze in Eugene, Australia’s Nina Kennedy upgraded to gold in Birmingham with a winning height of 4.60m. “I was mentally quite flat after the world championships. I am so proud of myself because it was so hard to come here,” said Kennedy.

Molly Caudery grabbed silver for England and New Zealand’s Imogen Ayris took the bronze. England’s hopes for a podium in the pole vault appeared to dim just prior to the start of the competition when Holly Bradshaw, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist, withdrew saying she had not recovered from a hamstring tear that kept her out of the world championships.

Thursday August 04, 2022

Renuka, Rodrigues hammer Barbados, India secure semi-final spot Deandra Dottin’s final international game ends in 100-run loss for Barbados ESPNcricinfo - Ruthlessness underlined India’s dismantling of Barbados in a must-win as they waltzed into the semi-finals of CWG 2022 last evening. In what should count as one of the biggest positives, India’s batting depth was on display after the prolific pair of Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur contributed all of five runs in a total of 162. Then, their young bowling, led by the ever-improving Renuka Singh snuffed out any fight Barbados may have put up well inside the powerplay to reduce the contest to oneway traffic.

A dream beginning Playing in just her third T20I, medium pacer Shanika Bruce struck in her first over when she removed Mandhana with the new ball.

Looking to whip a full toss, Mandhana missed a full delivery to be hit flush on the heel as Barbados benefited from a prudent DRS call to leave India 5 for 1. But the early loss was offset quickly as Shafali Verma counterpunched immediately to hoist India’s fifty inside the powerplay with no further loss, even as Barbados contributed generously to it with some ordinary fielding.Rodrigues stands tall Yastika Bhatia’s absence meant an opportunity for Jemimah Rodrigues to make a statement at No. 3, and she

Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma celebrate a wicket with Renuka Singh Thakur. (Getty Images) didn’t disappoint. She opened her account with a thick edge for four in the third over and didn’t hit another boundary till the 15th over.

Yet, in between, she kept turning strike over by nurdling balls into gaps and running hard between the wickets.

When Shafali went on an all-out attack - slapping short balls over mid-off and flatbatting pulls into the leg side, Rodrigues slipped into the role of a second fiddle; her contribution being all of 12 runs when the half-century stand was raised. Then when India lost 3 for 16 in the space of four overs to slip from a comfortable 76 for 1 to 92 for 4, she resonated calmness as India kept chugging along.

This passage included a terrible mix-up with Shafali,

which Rodrigues more than made up for by batting through to make an unbeaten 46-ball 56. It was only her seventh in T20Is in 49 innings.

The final flourish Rodrigues turned the screws in the 16th over when she went after Shakera Selman. Making room to access the offside, Rodrigues displayed her strong bottomhanded stroke play as she walloped a full-length delivery down the ground for six and followed that with a slap over cover to a perfectly acceptable length delivery two balls later. Deepti Sharma, another player who has profited immensely from time in overseas leagues, was an able ally.

She used the long handle from time to time, finishing with an (Continued on page 21)

Nkrumie runs spectacular 10.02 for 100m silver at World U-20 Championships SportsMax - Bouwahjgie Nkrumie smashed the Jamaican national junior record to secure a silver medal in the Men’s 100m at the World Under-20 Athletics Championships in Cali, Colombia on Tuesday.

Nkrumie, who equaled the previous national junior record by running 10.11 in the semi-finals earlier, sped to a spectacular 10.02 for silver behind Botswanan sensation Letsile Tebogo, who ran 9.91 to break his own world junior record of 9.94 set at the World Championships in Eugene in July.

South Africa’s Benjamin Richardson ran 10.12 for bronze.

Jamaica’s quartet of Jasauna Dennis, Abigail Campbell, Malachi Johnson and Alliah Baker ran 3:19.98 for bronze in the Mixed 4x400m relay final behind the USA (3:17.69) and India (3:17.76).

In the field, Cuba’s Alejandro Parada jumped 7.91m for silver in the Men’s long jump. France’s Erwin Konate defended his title from last year with a world junior leading 8.08m

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Region Three RDC Chairman receives Golf and Cricket equipment Yesterday, Chairman of Region Three RDC Mr. Inshan Ayube received a large quantity of Cricket bats, helmets and golf equipment at his office compliments of president of the Guyana Golf Association Aleem Hussain and president of the Region Three Private Sector Halim ‘Noel’ Khan.

This was in keeping with a commitment by the Region Chairman to focus on youth sports development within the region along with the full support of the Private Sector and other sports organizations. “Our President and First Lady are placing a great deal of emphasis on the involvement of youngsters in physical activities and sports as a vital part of our country’s development.

This contribution and dedication by these gentlemen is much appreciated and will be of great value since golf is growing in popularity here in Region Three.”

The Chairman was also excited that the first of the specially designed golf courses by Nexgen Golf was going to open near Crane/ Vreed-en-hoop in Region Three shortly.

“We have always been the leader in innovation and are happy that Mr. Hussain and Mr. Khan are bringing golfing to our doorstep.”

Noel Khan stated, “Both cricket and now golf has led to great youth development in our community and the Private Sector is looking at the long-term benefits that the Nexgen Golf Course brings to the West Coast in terms of the potential for economic growth as well as a fun family activity. This will also boost tourism and attract more of the ex-pats to our area.”

According to Hussain, “This is the first of many partnerships we plan on having in Region Three and this con-

Aleem Hussain with Region 3 chairman Inshan Ayube and Noel Khan with the equipment.

tribution was facilitated in part through Ms. Paula Suge Lee Mentus of Class A Construction who grew up on New Road Vreed-en-hoop.

We are looking at developing similar facilities around the country that will promote both cricket and golf development.”

Nexgen Golf Academy and the Guyana Golf Association continues to expand the sport with strategic partnerships recently formed with

Cyril Potter College of Education and Everest Cricket Club and they will host their third annual golf camp from August 15-28 at the Scouts Association Ground on Woolford Avenue for children ages 3-18.

For more information about golfing, lessons, or how to receive training or contributions of cricket and golf equipment, call 645-0944 or visit nexgen golf academy on Facebook or Instagram.

Under-15 Reggae Girl hammered 11-0 by United States Bouwahjgie Nkrumie while Brazil’s Gabriel Luiz Boza jumped 7.90m for third.

Jamaica’s Kobe Lawrence threw a personal best 20.58m for silver in the Men’s shotput won by the USA’s Tarik O’Hagan (20.73m).

Germany’s Tizian Lauria was third with 20.55m.

SportsMax - Jamaica’s Under-15 continued to struggle at the 2022 Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship in Tampa, Florida after suffering a heavy 11-0 loss at the hands of the United States on Tuesday. The young Reggae Girlz opened the

tournament in Group B with a 5-0 loss to Canada, where Nikolina Istocki led the way with a pair of goals for the Canadians. Things would get a good deal worse for Jamaica as the rampant United States, the competition’s defending champion handed them an 110 loss. Abby Ballek scored

four goals, while Alexandra Pfeiffer bagged a brace to lead the way for the North Americans.

The United States began the competition with a 12-0 win over Puerto Rico. The Jamaicans will face Puerto Rico in the final group match today, Thursday.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 04, 2022

Massy Group becomes India’s women reach field hockey semis at Women’s Caribbean Premier League Title Sponsor Commonwealth Games

India’s Lalremsiami, second right, takes control of the ball during the Women’s Pool A hockey match between England and India at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — India’s women’s field hockey team progressed to the medal rounds at the Commonwealth Games after edging Canada 3-2 yesterday.

In what was effectively a must-win match for both nations given their earlier pool results, India scored the winning goal with nine minutes remaining when Lalremsiami Hmarzote converted an opportunity moments after her team was awarded a penalty corner.

The win puts India into a semifinal against Australia tomorrow, Friday.

Kaur Navneet and Salima Tete scored early goals for India but Canada worked its

way back into the game with goals from Hannah Haughn and Brienne Stairs.

“We kept fighting until the last minute, and the last second, and that paid off with a goal,” India captain Savita Punia said. “After the Olympics we improved a lot in our attacking hockey, and we are in their circle a lot, and we got good penetration today.”

Weightlifter Junior Periclex Ngadja Nyabeyeu was in tears after claiming Cameroon’s first gold medal of these games in the men’s 109-kilogram division with a tally of 361 kilos (796 lbs).

“It’s big, very big for me, for my family. I was crying because it was too much for

me, too much to take in,” he said.

New Zealand’s Sam Gaze managed to defend the gold medal he won on Australia’s Gold Coast in mountain biking in 2018 with a convincing victory at Cannock Chase Forest.

The 26-year-old Gaze, who defeated compatriot Ben Oliver by 31 seconds, was the big favorite after fellow New Zealander Anton Cooper was forced to withdraw after contracting COVID-19.

Namibia’s Alexander Miller made strong ground late in the race to grab the bronze medal, though he finished more than two minutes behind Gaze.

Canada Cup 1 preparations moving apace Sunil Dhaniram

President of the Ontario Twilight Softball Cricket League (OTSCL) Azeem Khan has stated that preparations are moving apace nicely for the forthcoming Canada Cup 1 threeday softball extravaganza.

The event is set for September 2, 3 and 4 with four categories. Teams are expected from Guyana, Florida, Orlando, New York and Canada to compete in the various categories which including, Legends, Masters, Flip and Round-arm in the Opening category.

The Canada Cup 1 has replaced Toronto Cup which was hosted by Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs. Those tournaments were held every two years and it was launched in 2015.

The OTSCL was formed in 2021 and will be running the affairs of the Canada Cup 1.

Khan outlined that things are shaping up greatly for the mega softball tournament. He further stated that over 22 teams have confirmed their participation in every category.

“We [are] indeed delighted to have the teams ready to take part; however, we are still waiting on one and two teams to confirm as

Massy Group have confirmed that they will be the title sponsor for the inaugural Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).

Massy Group have confirmed that they will be the title sponsor for the inaugural Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) which gets underway on 31 August in St Kitts.

The Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) will feature three teams, the Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Trinbago Knight Riders.

The teams will play each other in four exciting Twenty20 matches at Warner Park, one of the fastest scoring grounds in world cricket.

The teams will be captained

by Hayley Matthews (Barbados Royals), Stafanie Taylor (Guyana Amazon Warriors) and Deandra Dottin (Trinbago Knight Riders).

Each of the three Massy WCPL teams will have the best players from the region

as well as exciting overseas players to round out their squads as women’s cricket is given huge exposure across the Caribbean and around the world.

“As one of the largest employers in the region, a significant percentage of our workforce is comprised of women. For some companies such as Massy Stores which operates from 59 locations across the English-speaking Caribbean the workforce is on average 70% female. That means that creating opportunities for women to grow and develop is integral to our business and inherent to our purpose. With sponsorship support which we hope will continue to grow for years to come, we believe that CPL will continue to develop this tournament to create opportunities for professional, Caribbean, female athletes,” commented Marc

Rostant, Senior Vice President, Massy Motors who spoke on behalf of the Massy Group to announce the sponsorship. Jamie Stewart, CPL’s Commercial Director, said: “When we set out to create the Women’s CPL, it was important to find a partner that would help build the profile and stature of the game and players around the region, with the ultimate goal of making them household faces. In Massy, one of the region’s great companies, we feel the WCPL has the perfect partner.

Massy Group, via their stories spanning the eastern Caribbean, touch more people each day than any other company in the region.

We thank the Group and the Stores and Auto divisions for believing in the vision, and look forward to working with them to give the region’s female stars the support and exposure they deserve.”

Points for Drayton, Callender and Johnson in Round 5

they have expressed interest of being part; we are looking to have about 28 teams to be in Toronto and we are working hard to have a good showdown,” Khan related.

According to the leader, the round-arm division will be played in the West of Toronto (Continued on page 21)

The Guyana Open team faced off against Namibia in the FIDE Chess Olympiad, where FIDE Master Anthony Drayton drew his match against Uatiavi Jossy Uapingene.

The 5-hour long game saw Drayton starting with a considerable advantage in the first half of the game, but miscalculations on his part resulted in half point each.

Taffin Khan, Loris Nathoo and Ethan Lee were unable to score against their Namibian counterparts.

On the Women’s side, Nellisha Johnson also drew

her match when she played WFM Linda Jambo of Malawi who is rated 1426. This draw will improve Johnson’s rating of 1093.

Jessica Callender defeated her higher-rated opponent Tupokiwe Msukwa in a wellplayed game and will also gain rating points from her victory.

The Women’s team captain Slovanian George Mohr described Callender’s game as fantastic and her best one yet.

In Round 6 which was be played yesterday, August 3rd, the Guyana Open team consisting of Taffin Khan, Loris

Nathoo, Roberto Neto and Ethan Lee had an opportunity to secure wins as they will played Gabon seeded at 169, while the women: Sasha Shariff, Jessica Callender, Nellisha Johnson and Anaya Lall face the Central African Republic seeded at 151.

Meanwhile, the FIDE Congress is also being held in Chennai from July 31 to August 9th with the General Assembly and Elections set for August 7th where a new President for FIDE will be elected.

This event is being (Continued on page 21)

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 04, 2022

PAGE 25

Letsile Tebogo breaks U20 100m Tri-State USA U-17s beat world record with Usain Bolt-like GCA’s XI by 43 runs at Everest - Shwethan (62), Bolisetty (55) give Tri-State 1-nil lead in series early celebration Botswana 19-year-old Letsile Tebogo broke the world junior 100m sprint record in Colombia.

NBC Sports - Botswana 19-year-old Letsile Tebogo drew comparisons to a young Usain Bolt for not only breaking a world junior sprint record, but also how he did it — by beginning his celebration some 20 meters before the finish line.

Tebogo lowered his U20 world record in the 100m from 9.94 seconds to 9.91 at the world U20 track and field championships in Cali, Colombia, on Tuesday night.

He raced out to a lead, and by the time the victory was assured, he turned to his right and began wagging his index finger. In 2008, Bolt won the Olympic 100m final in 9.69 seconds (a world record he’d break the next year). His celebration began at a similar point as Tebogo,

wingspanning his arms and then beating his chest as he crossed the finish in Beijing.

In both cases, one of the immediate reactions was to wonder how much faster the sprinter could have gone by running through the line.

Tebogo said 9.8, according to World Athletics. “If somebody took it as disrespect, I’m really sorry. I saw the fans and [it was so] everybody watching at home can enjoy the race – to remind them a little bit about what Usain Bolt did back in the days,” Tebogo said Tuesday, according to World Athletics. “He’s my idol – the person I look up to.”

Bolt may have been watching. Immediately after Tebogo won, the retired Jamaican legend tweeted,

“World Juniors I see.”

When Bolt was 19 years old, he had yet to run a competition 100m. He was then the U20 world record holder in the 200m, a label now held by American Erriyon Knighton. Bolt eclipsed 9.91 in his third career 100m, clocking 9.76 at age 21 in 2008. Later that month, he broke the 100m world record for the first of three times. There is still another junior record for Tebogo to chase before he turns 20 next June 7. Trayvon Bromell remains the fastest teenager in history, running 9.84 a month before turning 20. An athlete cannot set U20 world records in the year they turn 20. Tebogo is committed to sprint for the University of Oregon beginning next year.

Fung-A-Fat ends with Singles ‘Plate’ silver at Commonwealth Games …Guyana out of Mixed Doubles at Round-of-32

By Rawle Toney (Team Guyana Press Attache‘) Mary Fung-A-Fat ensured that Guyana’s squash contingent did not leave the Commonwealth Games empty handed, finishing in the runner-up position in the Women’s Plate competition.

When action resumed at the University of Birmingham’s Squash Courts, Fung-A-Fat faced India’s Sunayna Sara Kuruvilla in the women’s Plate Finals, but the Guyanese fell just short of the title, losing 0-3 (7-11, 13-11, 2-1).

Fung-A-Fat received her medal from legendary Squash player, Jahangir Khan of Pakistan.

Khan is one of International Squash most recognizable figures and is famous for his d o m i n a n c e a t t h e S q u a s h Wo r l d Championships, where he ruled supreme from 1981-1985.

In 1986 he was second. He was also crowned world champion in 1988. Khan was second in 1991 and 1993, and took bronze in 1987 and 1989.

Skipper Saharsh Shwethan (right) and Anirudh Bolisetty scored fifties at Everest as Tri-State USA beat the GCA XI.

By Sean Devers On a day blessed with glorious sunshine, Tri-State Cricket Development U-17s from the USA beat a GCA’s U-17 XI by 43 runs at Everest in the opening match of their twoweek tour to the City.

During the visit to Guyana the young Americans will play five 50-over games and a couple of Two-Day encounters against the GCA XI. Half-centuries from Skipper Saharsh Shwethan, whose 62 from 82 balls was decorated with five fours and a six and along with All-rounder Anirudh Bolisetty, who made 55 from 97 balls with a solitary boundary, were the only batters to reached double figures as the visitors reached 175-9 in 45 overs.

Left-arm spinner Brandon Henry captured 4-33 and was supported by Jayden Dowlin (2-19) for the GCA XI, who were bowled out for 132 despite 59 from Shilo Adams and 26 from Riyad Latif. Left-arm spinner Siddhant Rai took 2-20.

Tri-State began badly when Siddarth Kappa (1) was dismissed by Dillon Ramsaroop at 1-6 before Ruhan Swar and Amogh Arepally steadied the ship by taking the score to 31-2 before Swar, who struck 21

from 29 balls in his 21, fell to Gary Shuman.

Arepally, with two fours in 18, was bowled by Henry who also removed Vyas Sriman (1) at 73-4.

It was at this stage the Bolisetty joined Shwethan and executing several audacious shots around the lush green outfield to delight of the fair sized gathering which included parents of the players.

Both batters, familiar with the conditions due their previous trip here, grew in confidence as the partnership grew.

But with the score on 156 and the fifth wicket stand worth 83 Myhiem Khan broke the partnership by removing Shwethan.

The demise of Shwethan triggered a dramatic collapse as five wickets tumbled for 19 runs despite extras (14) being the third double figure contribution.

When the GCA XI began their run chase, only Adams who batted brilliantly in his 56 from 90 balls with four fours and a six, Latif and Khan (15) offered any resistance.

Adams was run out to bring the innings to an end in 39.3 overs.

Today is the second game and will be played at the same venue between the same two teams. The game is scheduled to commence at 9:30AM.

Guyana’s Mary Fung-A-Fat and Badminton legend Jahangir Khan after receiving her Women’s Plate second-place medal.

Meanwhile, things didn’t go so well for Guyana when the Mixed Doubles got on the way with the Round-of-32.

Fung-A-Fat partnered with Junior Caribbean Squash Champion, Shomari Wiltshire to take-on the Malaysian pair of Ainaa Amani and Addeen Idrakie.

Fung-A-Fat and Wiltshire would go on to lose 0-2 (2-11, 10-11). The Khalil siblings, (Continued on page 19)

Shilo Adams scored 59 for GCA in a losing cause at Everest.

Brandon Henry had 4-32 for the GCA XI at Everest.

s t r o Sp Take a bow! Keevin Allicock had a good showing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

GDF Sergeant, Desmond Amsterdam battling Australian Callum Peters at the Commonwealth Games.

Allicock, Amsterdam suffer ‘questionable’ exit at Commonwealth Games Massy Group have confirmed that they will be the title sponsor for the inaugural Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).

Massy Group becomes Women’s Caribbean Premier League Title Sponsor Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.