Kaieteur News

Govt. must secure and publish certificates from Exxon to prove wells can produce above

safety levels - OGGN safety levels - OGGN

In the absence of a parent company guarantee to safeguard Guyana against

footing costs associated withanoilspill,theGovernmentof Guyana (GoG) must require the Stabroek Block operator, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) to provide certificates from independent auditors to prove oil production vessels operating offshore Guyana can produce abovetheprescribedsafetylevels.

This is according to the Oil and GasGovernanceNetwork(OGGN) - an environmental advocacy group. In a recent letter to this newspaper, the body called on the GoG to obtain and publish such documents, given that the oil operations have already exceeded their safe working level of production.

The letter was signed by prominent Guyanese Scientist, Alfred Bhulai, Janette Bulkan, are60,000bopdoverthenameplate thatthecomponentswillperformas

OGGN contends that the windfall for the oil companies. Darsh Khusial, Andre Brandli, and production levels, at a combined advertised, up to safe working and certificatesshoulddemonstratethat Thus, in 2027, the oil companies ProfessorKenrickHunte. level of around 400,000 bopd,” maximumlevels. continuous production at 400,000 would walk away with US$26.7

In their missive, the citizens OGGNsaid.

The group said it is almost barrels of oil per day has been billionincashprofitswhileGuyana pointed to the fact that the Tothisend,thegroupnotedthat certain that the suppliers of audited as safe by accredited would earn US$5.3 billion on its E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t in the absence of the parent components to FPSO constructor industrial risk assessors. Alluding oil.Theoilcompanieshaveasweet Assessments (EIAs) drafted by the company guarantee it is “only SBM Offshore at Keppel shipyard to the recent earnings reported by deal given Guyana would bear the consultancy firm Environmental logicalandprudent”fortheGoGto in Singapore have provided such Hess and Exxon in the second majorityoftherisksinamassiveoil Resources Management Inc. for make these demands on Exxon, as certificates, and that SBM has had quarter of 2023, the group said the spill.”

EEPGL (Exxon’s subsidiary), the the country awaits the outcome of such certificates independently oil majors have expressed great Meanwhile, in referencing the safe working level for the Liza the court case seeking full liability audited by qualified risk assessors. optimismforthefuture. decision of Justice Sandil Kissoon, Destiny was 120,000 barrels of oil coverage to help safeguard Guyana “Likewise,” the OGGN said “the The group explained, “They the group stressed that Guyana and perday(bopd). fromtheburdenofcleaningupafter parent company ExxonMobil were very optimistic about the its neighbours are currently

The advocacy body noted that anoilspill. Corporation would have required future because of their big bet on exposed to bankruptcy from a “Liza Destiny is now producing at The OGGN believes that stress overall certificates from SBM for Guyana By 2027, they are massive oil spill without a parent 150,000 bopd according to Hess, test certificates that indicate the eachFPSOasawhole.” projecting to be pumping 1 2 companyguarantee. and even higher, according to the health of the FPSO vessels is at OGGNsaiditfindsitnecessary million barrels of oil per day. With OGGNstressed,“Theparentoil website of the Government of optimal level will help offer some for this certificate to be supplied to the oil companies currently taking companies would keep their Guyana.” assurance to Guyanese at the the government and shared 85.5% of revenues, they can’t help earnings in such a disaster because

Meanwhile, the group also interim. publicly,giventhereluctanceofthe but gloat to their shareholders and subsidiary earnings flow back to observed that the second Floating In fact, the advocacy group ExxonMobil-led consortium to financial analysts about Guyana. the parent company, not their Production Storage and Offloading pointed out that such a request provide the parent company letters Hess said by 2027, the cash unit liabilities. Hence, the Government (FPSO) vessel, Liza Unity is rated aligns with industry best practices of guarantee for complete liability cost for barrel would be of Guyana should be diligent in at 220,000 bopd but is also which require the suppliers of coverage as required by the US$10/barrel If prices hover ensuringthattheequipmentusedat producing an additional 30,000 or componentsofcomplexmachinery Environmental Protection Agency around the current US$83/barrel, Liza 1 and Liza 2 are certified for more. “So together the two FPSOs to provide certificates of assurance (EPA)permits. then that would be a massive thecurrentlevelofoilproduction.”

Modern pathology lab to be launched in November - Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

As Guyana continues to Dialogue.’ healthadvisorstated. slides, view tissues using the u n d e r g o m a s s i v e “ T h i s w i l l h a v e The Georgetown Public remote technology that we transformation in the health equipment that we procured Hospital Corporation have introduced. And so, sector, the government will at about close to US $3 (GPHC) offers pathology someoftheconstraintsofnot be launching a modern million and fully automated services. However, samples having people physically pathology laboratory in pathology labs, that will are usually sent overseas for here are overcome by using November, to reduce the allow us to prepare all of our testing which can result in a technology,”heexplained. waiting time for certain specimens right here in longwaitingtimetogetback M e a n w h i l e , t h e diagnoses. The laboratory is Guyana. We don’t have to results The lab will government is collaborating as a result of collaboration sendthemanywhereandwill significantly reduce the with Mount Sinai and Hess between the Ministry of allow us to access the waiting time for diagnoses Corporation to transform Health and the Mount Sinai expertise of pathologists and according to Dr Guyana’s healthcare into a HealthSystem. around the world,” Dr Ramsammy, it will also fill world-class service that is Advisor to the Minister Ramsammydisclosed. the gap in human resources second to none and will of Health, Dr Leslie To complement this, four using technology to access ensure accessibility and Ramsammy made the health personnel will be sent expertisefromabroad. affordability for citizens disclosure during a recent for training in pathology at “They would be able to locally and across the episode of ‘The Guyana Mount Sinai shortly, the viewthespecimensandview Caribbeanregion.(DPI)

A recent protest exercise by members of OGGN in New York.

Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

VPJagdeo boasts of ‘free gas’from Exxon, future benefits of Local Content while refusing to renegotiate lopsided oil contract

...says PPP

has kept manifesto promise of ‘better contract administration’

Despite committing to hosted by Vice President better contract management significantly reduce “renegotiation” and JagdeoatFreedomHouseon

which means we had to get electricity costs, saving “immediately engaging” oil Thursday, by a Senior

more and also getting more Guyanese about US$70-80 and gas companies in “better Journalist from Demerara from the contract means million per annum at the contract administration”, the Waves The Journalist these other projects- the current generation capacity General Secretary of the essentially asked the VP and Local Content project that of 140 megawatts. If the People’s Progressive Party General Secretary of the brings more We are capacity is doubled, Jagdeo (PPP), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo Party to explain why it has estimating that within said the savings for the has walked back on this chosen not to renegotiate the another three years about country would be in excess promise clearly outlined in lopsided 2016 Production US$1billionofspendingper ofUS$100million. the 2020 Elections Sharing Agreement (PSA) annum will be with He believes that this Manifesto, as he is now in with U S oil giant, Guyanesebusiness.” sums up to “substantial” favour of maintaining the ExxonMobil and its Jagdeo boasted that the benefitsforGuyana. lopsided terms of the Exxon partners, Hess and CNOOC,

Gas-to-Energy (GTE) “That’s benefit to our deal. since this was a promise project will pay back for people but all of these things

On August 2, 2023 the made along the campaign itself with revenues get lost in the old doctrinaire PPP observed its third-year trail. generated by the initiative, type of debate...but that’s anniversaryinofficesinceits Jagdeo in his response while the country would why we put that slash there return in 2020, following a pointed out that, “We had, “practically have the and so when people say oh oilandgascompanieswould will be transported to shore months’ long elections that’s why I told you ‘slash’. electricity for free”. The VP we are reneging on our be engaged; however, to produce electricity at half fiasco. While hailing some Bettercontractmanagement/ addedthatthe300-megawatt commitment,Imadeafirm Jagdeo is adamant that the current price. On the of its achievements, that in renegotiation. The slash was p o w e r p l a n t w i l l (Continued on page 15) Exxonwasnottobeincluded other hand, he pointed out some cases excelled its therethatifthey...weputthat in this arrangement The thattheLocalContentActof initial promise to supporters, in our manifesto but if you Vice President believes that 2021 will also bring in about theleadersinthepartyfailed look at our public statements even though his party has US$1 billion annually to to make mention of perhaps and three weeks before the chosen not to renegotiate the Guyanese businesses by its most crucial campaign elections, I was asked at a contract, it has still managed 2026. c o m m i t m e n t “ t o press conference, will the to prudently engage the He said, “Just imagine if immediately engage the oil PPP be renegotiating the c o m p a n y t o s e c u r e Exxonhadrefusedtogiveus and gas companies in better Stabroek Block and there additional benefits for the the free gas for the power contract administration/ was an unequivocal answer, country plant and they were renegotiation.” no, and you can go back and

For instance, he unwillingto(heed)theLocal

The question was check that. That was before referenced that Guyana will Content Law and all of that therefore raised at the most the2020elections.” notbepayingforthegasthat stuff. We said we need to get recent press conference The PPP Manifesto said

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

PAC on GRAstaff losses

Guyana’s parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), recently met and discussed the travails afflicting the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Staff losses in the crucial auditing department have impacted the work of the Cost Recovery Unit of the GRA. Those losses are not runof-the-mill staff departures, but a luxury that can be illaffordedbytheGRA. WhentheGRAlimps,Guyanagroans for its chances of identifying issues take a hit, where the billionsinexpensessubmittedbyExxonMobilareinvolved.

The PAC had an idea that could help in some ways. It could,butonlyifitispartofamenuofmeasuresintendedto keepskilledstaffinplaceattheGRA,withtheobjectivethat ExxonMobil is thwarted for a time, and the work of reviewingthecompany’sbillscontinuesundiminished. The PAC’sideaisthatbindingcontractsshouldbeconsideredby GRAmanagement, for the obvious reason that they cement high-quality workers in places of scarce supply, such as auditing. We agree, but with qualification regarding the terms and conditions that go into such employment contracts.

Obviously, work contracts will specify a period of time which binds both employer and worker We think that that should be for five years, and not less than three. We bypass issues of pay and the total compensations packages offered, which if they are to mean anything must have sufficient incentives to attract and retain Guyanese workers. The contracts,however,musthaveaprovisionthatprohibitsany workerthatwasinvolvedinoilcompanymattersfromtaking up employment with such entities for a minimum of three years after such involvement. In addition, contracts cannot be bought out, meaning that the GRA and other such local entities are prevented from accepting compensation for those they lose. This may sound draconian, but Guyana has to protect itself, after being victimized so frequently since the discovery of oil. First, it was with the ExxonMobil oil contract, and now it is through ExxonMobil and others reaching into the thin pool of Guyanese talent and grabbing holdofwhoisthere.

ThisdoesnothavetobelimitedtotheGRA,anditisnot about those in the audit field alone. Also, the prohibition does not have to be specific to the oil producing companies only, but apply to those that support the three in the consortium via downstream businesses. If we do not get serious and severe in our approach in this fight for our life with oil companies that seek new ways to dilute Guyana’s strength,thenonlytheworstshouldbeexpected. Thesooner that we come to appreciate that oil is a cut-throat, dog-eatdog, business, and that nice guys finish last, the better we willbeabletopositionourselvestotakethenecessaryaction thatprotectsus.

We think that it makes sense for crucial state agencies in Guyana to initiate their own internal studies to determine which workers possessing what kinds of in-demand skills are likely to be prime targets for foreign company recruitment. From such an inventory of people, skills, and competencies, there is awareness of who belongs to a group that could be labeled as black belts, for they form part of an untouchable SWAT team or Delta Force. This assists management in deciding who cannot be parted with, and whoshouldbekept. Touseadescriptioncommoninsports, theblackbeltsandkeepersarefranchisepresences.

WhatGuyananeedsurgentlyasitstrugglestocontrolthe pace of the oil in which it is involved, is time; time to gather the quality human resources that make for a solid bench of high performers. Time is also needed to accelerate crosstraining so that departures do not bite as deeply. We think that every effort must be made, out of necessity, to encourage, steer, and incentivize more of our young highfliers out of CXC and CAPE programmes towards accounting and auditing, engineering, and similar such disciplines. It goes without saying that it would be immeasurablymorebeneficialiftheirfocusisontheoiland gas industry and its practices. We are heavily shorthanded, which is intensified by more expenses coming from ExxonMobilforprecontractcosts,asprojectsincrease.

Dr. Randolph Persaud Promoting Exxon

DEAREDITOR, and plunders the natural quantify any disastrous belongs to the earth. All I had just read a BBC wealth of Guyana (akin to fallout Everything is things are connected like the a r t i c l e whatwas/ishappeningtothe connected. blood that unites us all. Man (https://www bbc com/news countries aforementioned) Dr Randolph Persaud, didnotweavetheweboflife; / w o r l d - a f r i c a - Thisispreciselymodern-day indeed all of us, need to he is merely a strand in it. 66406137 amp) forwarded i m p e r i a l i s m w h e r e understand this Being Whateverhedoestotheweb, to me by Paul Tennassee “investors” rake in huge ensconced in the hallowed hedoestohimself.” regarding the recent Niger profits and neglect to “drain walls of academe, however The great Guyana hero coup. The article relates the the swamps”. The professed prestigious this may be, Cheddi B. Jagan in his early impact of colonialism and scholar Dr Randolph should not give him tunnel years recognized the the continuation of neo- Persaud discusses Exxon’s vision or blinders Dr inequality between “demda c o l o n i a l i s m i n t h e Oil as a mere commodity RandolphPersaudiscredited and abedese”, which spurred Francophile African nations where profits have to be as a researcher; therefore, he himtoproducehisopus“The – the hemorrhaging of the maximized.Inthemeantime, must or should be cognizant West on Trial”. Dr Jagan’s natural resources, the he forgets the 2% oil of the damning effect of protégé have failed him; creation of local corrupted contract. His friends in the climate change as a direct their understanding of elites, and the persistence of PPP had condemned the consequence of fossil fuel. dialectics sadly not as poverty in the general formerAPNUforthebad2% ThisJulyisthehottestperiod philosophical and profound population. The era of deal. What has happened in all of recorded history; the as I thought! They are s k e w e d p a r a s i t i c since then? The PPP led by concomitants – fires and following the unwisdoms of relationship was prevalent in the local oil czar Bharrat floods – are prevalent in arottensystem. all of Africa, Asia, Latin Jagdeo has done nothing to a p o c a l y p t i c s c a l e s I am not privy to Dr America and the Caribbean. make a difference for the throughout the globe, which Randolph Persaud’s And it continues in different better Instead, Jagdeo can result in extensive fiduciary position with the guises with “neocolonialist, appearstobeaspokesperson annihilation or the collapse PPP Is he doing pro bono condescending, paternalist forBigOil! of habitats – and indeed work or are his coffers andvengefulpolicies”. But fossil (and all fossil civilization as we know it. overflowing? My friendly

ThenIreadaletterinKN extractives) are not mere Dystopian? Maybe, but advice,ifImay,‘thinkoutof & SN arguing “that Exxon is commodities Economic realitycannotbedenied. the box’ or listen to Mark: Guyana’s new slave master development (if there is any) Dr Randolph Persaud is “What does it profit a man to is baseless” written by Dr must be weighed while simply wrong He, we, gain the whole world, yet R a n d o l p h P e r s a u d a c k n o w l e d g i n g t h e shouldnotforgetthewisdom forfeithissoul?”

Essentially, this writer symbiotic relationship with of Chief Seattle: “The earth Sincerely, favours those who exploits the ecosphere. One must does not belong to man; man Gary Girdhari

GPSU’s challenge to Public Service Commission

DEAREDITOR, regulatedbythePSCandhas dormant for a number of Executive Officers The The Guyana Public no business making years until 2021 which is rationale behind such Service Union (GPSU) nominationstothisbody evident by its declaration in decision is to insulate Public wishestoinformmembersof In 1997, the Parliament its Annual Returns filed in Officers, i e - Deputy thePublicServiceofGuyana of Guyana enacted the Trade 2021 to the Registrar of Regional Executive Officers andtheGeneralPublicofthe Union Recognition Act no. Tr a d e U n i o n s T h e from political control and following matters which 33 of 1997 (TUR Act). The Association did not submit a directive by senior staff such arose out of the Union’s intent of this legislation nominee in response to the as those forming the challenge, to the nomination based on its intituling, is to first letter issued on membershipofthePSSSA. and subsequent appointment provide a mechanism for the November 11, 2021 by the Reference is made to the of a member of the Public recognition of associations Standing Committee on Third Report of the SCA of Service Senior Staff to represent classes of Appointments (SCA), which the Parliament dated June Association (PSSSA) to the workers. evidences this dormancy It 23, 2003 at page 6 where it Public Service Commission The GPSU is the only was until a second letter states “ the discussion (PSC). association, organization or dated April 4, 2022 which which ensued focused on Article 200(1)(b) of the Trade Union with a extended the deadline for various interpretations of the Constitution of Guyana Certificate of Recognition to nominations that they were contents of the Chief Labour makes provision for enter collective bargaining, in a position to submit Officer’s letter to the appointment of members of the technical process of nominations. Committee in relation to the PSC The PSC is representationofworkers,as Consequently, in a registration of a trade union responsible for the recognized pursuant to consultation process to represent workers vis-àappointment, promotion and Article 147(3) of the concerning public officers, vis a union’s certification discipline of a specific Constitution. The TUR Act the PSSSA has no locus allowingittobeabargaining category of Public Servants promulgated the mechanism standi. Their presence on the unit The committee classifiedasPublicOfficers. for representation which PSC is not bona fide and is accepted its failure to It is settled law, that not includes consultation void in that they do not have identify a body or bodies as allPublicServantsarePublic Article 200(1)(b) provides acertificateofrecognitionto appear to it to represent Officers (referring to Article for consultation with such represent any public officer public officers, or classes of 232 of the Constitution, bodies as appear to the or classes of public officers public officers and agreed to Chancellor Bernard, Singh. National Assembly to within the Public Service refer the matter to the J. and Kissoon J. in Sita represent public officers or who is likely to be affected National Assembly for its RamlallvCherylScotlandet classesofpublicofficers. by the decisions of the guidance.” al 86/2002 High Court The PSSSA is not an C o m m i s s i o n o n The GPSU notes with Guyana, as approved by the o rg a n i z a t i o n w h i c h appointment, promotion, extreme concern the false CaribbeanCourtofJusticein represents public officers; and discipline of public narrative articulated by the Brent Griffith v The Guyana albeit its membership officers or classes of public Attorney General et al that Revenue Authority (2007) comprises a meager twenty officers. the recent action filed by the CCJ 4 AJ). Only persons (20) politically appointed T h e P S C i n i t s Union lacks evidence and appointed by the PSC are senior functionaries within Delegation Order reserved was filed after 20 years of considered Public Officers. the Public Service. (Please the powers granted to only acceptanceofthePSSSAasa Politically appointed see distinction made by Public Officers appointed by body permissible under the persons occupying senior Article 232; Brent Griffith the PSC, and specifically Constitution to make positions in the public and Sita Ramlall cases cited excluded senior staff under nominations.TheGPSU’s service on contract are not above). The PSSSA was contract i.e.- Regional (Continued on page 6)

‘Striving for an effective democracy’

DEAREDITOR, Israel’s constitution’ (Ibid). Israeligovernmenthasdone, Stabroek News ended an When the nation-state law asan‘ethnicdemocracy’and editorial ‘Now more than was passed, Arab members said that such states fall far ever, civil society has an of parliament ripped up short of the universality and ever-growingroletoholdthe copies of the bill with shouts participation normally government accountable of ‘Apartheid’, on the floor expected of democracy. But akin to the campaign being ofparliament.Inastatement, such states came into being waged by progressive the leader of an opposition as countries try to deal with democrats in Israel to coalition of mainly Arab e n t r e n c h e d e t h n i c prevent the Netanyahu parties said that Israel difficulties, are now g o v e r n m e n t f r o m ‘passed a law of Jewish constitutionalised in a few undermining the judiciary’ supremacy and told us that p l a c e s a n d a r e (SN:02/08/2023). Letusnot we will always be second- internationally accepted as harbour the view that Israel classcitizens.’ democratic (‘The model of is a liberal democracy and P r i m e M i n i s t e r ethnicdemocracy:Israelasa t h a t i t s p o l i t i c a l Benjamin Netanyahu, Jewish and democratic arrangementscanbeamodel however, overjoyed at the state’). for Guyanese to follow The passing of the legislation, Several conditions are Palestinians and Jews have wastakingselfiesandlauded identified as giving rise to had a very long and tortuous the law as ‘a defining the development of these history for which some moment in the history of the ethnic democracies, namely solution will have to be state’. As is happening in p r e - e x i s t i n g e t h n i c found. However, what is Guyana, over the years nationalism, a real or presently taking place there Netanyahu’s government perceivedthreattotheethnic is much more complex than has also restricted the group that requires what is happening in political space. For example, mobilisation of the majority Guyana, is not democracy, it has made it harder for to preserve its rights, although for some time, I human rights groups to ideological or pragmatic have detected the People’s acquire funds and has commitment to democracy, Progressive Party (PPP) forbidden groups that without which a nonhankering after this kind of criticize the military or the democracy would emerge, non-democratic justification Palestinian occupation from and the manageable size of for its dash towards speakinginschools. the minority If the minority ethnic/political dominance. Therearetwoidealforms i s e i t h e r s m a l l o r

(‘Towards an ethnic non- of liberal democracy In the disorganised, the majority democratic state?’ SN: first, the state treats all its canoptforaworkableethnic 31/10/2018). citizens equally and makes d e m o c r a c y w i t h o u t Liberal democracy is them members of a common renouncing its domination. usuallybaseduponuniversal civic nation in which the Facing a very large or too citizenshipwithequalrights, nation-state maintains and strong minority, the majority b u t i n 2 0 1 8 I s r a e l fosters a single language, may choose ethnic nonpromulgated a controversial culture, identity, and public democracy because it is too new ‘nation-state law’ that school system homogenise, difficult to maintain ethnic ‘therighttoexercisenational integrate and assimilate the democracy self-determination’ (is) population The second, Israel aside, Smootha uniquetotheJewishpeople’. more unusual form, uses claims that Canada was an ItalsoestablishedHebrewas various mechanisms such as ethnic democracy from Israel’s official language, power-sharing – minority independence in 1867 to the downgraded Arabic, which inclusion in the national Quiet Revolution of 1976 is spoken by most Arabs, to p o w e r s t r u c t u r e , that raised the status of having a special status, p r o p o r t i o n a l i t y – French Canadians to the entrenched ‘Jewish distribution of resources level of English Canadians. settlement as a national according to the size of the Northern Ireland from the value’and mandates that the group, veto power – to avoid Partition of Ireland in 1921 state ‘will labour to decisions that adversely to the Sunningdale encourage and promote its affect vital interests of the Agreement in 1972, favored e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d minority, and politics of Protestants over Catholics. d e v e l o p m e n t ’ negotiation, compromise, Article 153 of Malaysia (https://www vox com/worl consensus, and indecision Constitution gives more d/2018/7/31/) insteadofmajorityrule. rights to ethnic Malaysians

From its creation in the Professor Sammy than to Malaysian Chinese 1940s, the Jews have Smootha of Israel’s Haifa and Indian minorities. The envisaged Israel as a Jewish University described a state Slovak constitution makes it stateandtheArabshavebeen that prioritises the interest of clearthat‘State-buildingand c o m p l a i n i n g a b o u t one ethnic group, as the (Continued on page 6) discrimination ‘For Arab Israelis the new nationstate law is merely the culmination of years of institutional discrimination. Only now the discrimination is officially enshrined in

SHIFTING SOVEREIGNTIES

DEAREDITOR, prerogatives of his office in away the right of a sovereign Reference is made to Dr exchange for the private country to renegotiate Randolph Persaud’s letter capital he required to [contractprovidesforit]-for titled: ‘Suggestion that strengthenhisreign.” some unspecified benefit. In ExxonisGuyana’snewslave “ E x x o n h a v i n g Chad, it was to “strengthen master is baseless .”. (SN conceived and financed the the ruler’s (Deby) reign”. In A u g u s t 6 t h ) M y oil project and having Guyana, the benefit seems to characterization of the achieved its business aims be to strengthenVPJagdeo’s doctor’s letter is to after more than two decades holdonpower brainwash the Guyanese of effort, now moved to But look at the dollar people into feeling gratitude produce oil on a schedule of valueGuyanaloses/foregoes forExxon’sinvestment–and its choosing and under toExxon.Guyanasurrenders to disregard the Guyanese contracttermsthatenshrined $35 billion in royalty alone people’s arguments and plea its rights ahead of those of [when compared to for renegotiation of a very theChadiangovernment. Suriname’s royalty of lopsided contract. Every day “Goldthwait [U.S. 6.25%]. in the press, we read more Ambassador] marveled at 11 billion barrels times and more dismissive(s) and just ”how much control 4.25% times Av price $75 = mockery of the merited government of Chad has $35billion. arguments in support of ceded to Esso almost a It is hard to fathom that a renegotiation. loss of Sovereignty” [end- learnedmanofDr Randolph ExtractfromSteveColl’s of-quote]. Persaud’s rank can dismiss bookonExxon,page169: One wonders if Guyana, and disregard the loss of $35 “Exxon’soildealinChad like Chad, has ceded some billion on the royalty item signaled the shifting sovereignty to Exxon alone Instead, he wants sovereignties of a rising era Leaders in the government Guyanese to focus their i n w h i c h f o r m a l promised to renegotiate the minds only on gratitude for governments were losing lopsided contract in the run- Exxon’sinvestment. power A warlord running a up to the elections. Once Dr RandolphPersaudis teetering state surrendering seated in power they traded (Continued on page 6)

ON THE MORNING TRAIN

DEAREDITOR,

There were arguments and a fight or two, Atimewhenwewaitedandwaitedforthe but the train never detained, and many kept morningtrain. theirtimeonthesoundofthemorningtrain.

Wetalkedandlaughedandkeptalookout We saw cane fields, canals and trenches, for those bright eyes as the train winded its farmlands, and grassy plains where cows and wayalonggreenfieldsofrice. horses roamed, and crows tore into a

Seemed like an ungainly thing—tons of donkey’sentrails.

steel and iron—but ran like a winged stallion

We saw pink lilies as they swayed in the thatlightlytouchedearthandsand. morning breeze, and jamun trees and

All that burly metal tamed when the bamboos,moco-mocobushandnestsofkiller station master waved the flag; the train bees —all for a ticket to a trip on the morning stopped, and out came big blocks of ice that train.

the portly man at the shop carried on his Now there’s no sound of the morning or back the late-night train, but the mad rumbling of

A fair exchange when station master and minibusesandloudnoisesfromboomboxes. conductortradedflags,andthetrainmovedas There’s no time to listen to a fellow therailscringedalongpebbled-ladentracks. travellerbreakingintoasong.

The familiar clipping of tickets before we But folks still talk of fun along those rails had time to take a seat. School girls giggled long levelled and gone, and the conductors and chatted and told secrets that were never whoclippedtheticketsonthemorningtrain. kept. Boys talked of the match at Bourda as Regards, thetrainrattledalongthetracks.

Haimnauth Cecil Ramkirath

‘Striving for an effective democracy’

From page 5 turmoil. trying to diminish the Burnham, the ‘One Guyana’ United States administration to take serious note. It had nation-building in Slovakia Although the theoretical opposition, etc. As in Israel, aspiration has been called upon the political deceived the world when it are designed to install ethnic conditions that give rise to the other ethnic groups are entrenched in the national elites in Guyana to reform failed to fulfill its 2015 Slovaks as the sole nation ‘ethnic democracies’ do not expected to accommodate motto, but the country thewinner-takes-allpolitical manifesto promise to reform andtopreventanysignofbi- hold in Guyana, each t h e m s e l v e s t o P P P remains as divided as ever system and establish an and establish a more n a t i o n a l i s m ’ country must develop dominance until trust is built The PPP knows and accepts effective democracy Today democratic and inclusive (https://en wikipedia org/wi government institutions to and then all will live happily much of this, but contending the global struggle is system. ki/Ethnic_democracy). suit its context, and together in ‘One Guyana’. that, given its ethnic nature, between democracy and For it to now base its

FortheJewsinIsrael,the confronted by a virulent Since the PPP is not Guyana cannot be governed autocracy future on anyone, apart from future lies in the Palestinians ethnic opposition, the PPP, numerically strong enough, more democratically, it has Add to this the turmoil mostofitsethnicsupporters, accommodating themselves now a substantial minority the other ethnicities will not been slyly attempting to that persists in Israel and the believing that it can singly within the Jewish state, and party, believes that the only settle for its hegemony and establish and win national successful experience with make a nation of Guyana assuming that as trust is way for it and its supporters’ the result has been and international support for the Good Friday Agreement would be an enormous built, they will all live intereststobeprotectedisfor disturbances, alienation and an acceptable form of ethnic in Northern Ireland and the conceptual and practical happily together. Since the ittoestablishethnic/political a tendency towards non- democracy. PPP’s position is now retrogression. Palestinians have no dominance in Guyana (SN: democracy(dictatorship). O n c o m i n g t o pellucidlyuntenable. Sincerely, intention of accepting the ‘ T o w a r d s a n o n - Neither the PPP nor the government, the present However, thePNC needs Dr. Henry Jeffrey status quo, their resistance democracy’). People’s National Congress and its consequences have This seeks to do so by (PNC) can make a serious persisted Although some creating its own business case of being able to previous efforts were made class, keeping strict control democratically manage touniversalizecitizenrights, of the governmental and Guyana successfully If a similar situation existed in security apparatuses, nothing else, history has Northern Ireland before the dominating the media shownthatalonetheycannot Good Friday Agreement of environment, subverting its hope to make a nation of its 1998 put an end to the power base and generally peoples Since Forbes

SHIFTING SOVEREIGNTIES

From page 5 getting Fair Value for our oil resource, being a professor from an American University, able to audit the CAPEX, be concerned with now working in Guyana’s presidential lack of PCG, Parent Co. Guarantee in the secretariat. He wants Guyanese to show eventofanoilspill? gratitude to Exxon for their capital The tone of Dr Randolph’s letter, the investment;to feelsorrow for Exxon’s losses arguments he makes - all intended to wherever they occur Exxon is owned by brainwash the poor citizens of Guyana - to millions of shareholders. They are made for cede their rights to Exxon. The concept of big risks like losing $25 million in Russia Fairness - Fair Contract, paid Fair Value for when the Ukraine war broke out. That’s their our depletable oil resource - is lost on this BM, Business Model. They are heavily goodlyprofessor capitalized,madeforthoserisks. Regards, Should Guyanese not be concerned with Mike Persaud

GPSU’s challenge to Public Service...

From page 4 of occasions, to assist it in Saunders of the CCJ that “It action was premise on more interpreting the said article. is in the public’s interest to than two (2) decades of Therefore, it is unsettling ensure that the Constitution u n c e r t a i n t y i n t h e that Parliament over the past is properly interpreted and i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d twenty (20) years took applied, and the rule of law application of Article different approaches For vindicated.” 200(1)(b) at the level of the instance, between 2013 and The Union urges its trade union movement and 2016, the Parliament upheld members to remain vigilant within the very Committee thepositionoftheGPSUand and stand in solidarity, as we on Appointments and on the a p p o i n t e d o n l y traverse this journey to floor of the National representatives nominated reaffirm the true meaning of AssemblyofGuyana. by the GPSU in the persons ourConstitution.

Reference is made to of PatrickYarde and Patricia The PSSSAis a phantom StabroekNews,May8,2003 Went. organization comprising of - ‘TUC says FUGE must be Some twenty years later, politically aligned and consulted on appointment of the Parliament faced the a p p o i n t e d c o n t r a c t public service commission,’ same difficulty. In its Eighth employees, who are not Stabroek News, December Report of April 24, 2023, Public Officers and has no 6, 2003- ‘GPSU to await and Government Chief Whip, locus standi under the see on Public Service Hon. Gail Teixeira, M.P and Constitution nor the TUR Commission’, Stabroek the SCA again met the same Act to represent the interest News, December 31, 2003- difficulty in interpreting and of any public officer or ‘…Yarde regretted that what applying article 200(1)(b), classes of public officers should have been a very a n d r e p o r t e d t h a t withinthemeaningandspirit happy day had been “…members deliberated on of article 232 and the settled adulterated by the swearing whether the Guyana Public law laid down by such in of a representative of a Service Union was the only erudite Judges as Chancellor phantom union...The GPSU recognized union with a Bernard, Singh. J., Kissoon. questions the legitimacy of c e r t i f i c a t e o f J.; and CCJ Justices De la the PSSSA…),’ letter of recognition…to represent Bastide, Nelson, Wit, private citizen Humphrey public officers or classes of Pollard,andBernard. Charles in Stabroek News, public officers appointed by The GPSU thought the August 28, 2010- ‘…Does t h e P u b l i c S e r v i c e matter was resolved since the AFC understand the role Commission…”. 2013 with the appointments and responsibility of the The foregoing makes it of Mr PatrickYarde and Ms. PSC? , ’ Stabroek News, pellucid,thattherehasbeena Patricia Went, which August 31, 2010 wherein the problem in the interpretation appointments the union lateM.PSheilaHolderstated and application of article viewed were in accordance ‘…since the tenure of the 200(1)(b). Thus, the action withtheConstitutionandthe eighth Parliament in 2001, by the GPSU could not have highest standards further the matter of the legitimacy been vexatious, lacking in promulgated by the of the Public Service Senior evidence or an attack on the Parliament with the passing Staff Association…has been workofthegovernment.The of the Trade Union a burning issue with GPSU’s action, as in the Recognition Act of 1997. the…GPSU,andindeedwith words of Justice Jamadar in However, it is clear that the theparliamentaryopposition Sanatan Dharma Maha issue of interpretation and parties…,’ Stabroek News, Sabha of Trinidad and application of the law August 27, 2010- ‘Public TobagoIncandOthersvA.G continues.

Service Commission ofTrinidadandTobagoHCA The GPSU stands appointments not based on No S2065/2004, is one resolute to ensure the properconsultation-GPSU’. f o u n d e d i n “ t h e Constitutional provision is Further,thereisevidence constitutional ethic of civic upheld, and applied that the Members of republicanism – that according to its true spirit Parliament sitting on the e m p h a s i z e s t h e and intention; and will Standing Committee on responsibility, even duty, of prosecute the issue to the Appointment (SCA) has citizens to participate in fullest extent of the law until been faced with uncertainty creating and sustaining a this issue of urgent public in the interpretation and vibrant democracy and in importance is settled by the application of article particular in upholding the Courtsonceandforall. 200(1)(b), and sought ruleoflaw.”

Sincerely, clarification from the Chief TheGPSUisencouraged Guyana Public Service Labour Officer on a number by the charge of Justice Union

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

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

BLUNT

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

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

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

Don’tcomehere…

This is the richest country in the world!

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

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

But the PPP Govt. turns its face from needy Guyanese.

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

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

Hundreds turned up for a helping hand in Berbice…

The PPP Govt. gave them nothing, not a blind cent!

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

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

Other than instructions to return the way they came!

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

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

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

But Guyana is the richest country in the world!

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

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

Girl, 11 raped by three boys after leaving home for lessons

Weeks have “Iwentdoingsomework who was taking her daughter The man explained that passed since for my friend so I reached to lesson, was the one who he had to “cool myself an 11-year- home just after 2 (14:00 alerted a security guard and down” before he had taken

old girl was hours) and I didn’t see my managedtosavethegirl. matters into his own hands. allegedly raped by three daughter so I asked my According to him, he He said when he reached boys’at a community centre mother for her,” he said, later left home and went to a home, he could not even ground, after leaving her adding that his mother nearby shop. “I went by the manage to console his homeforlessons. informed him that his shop around the corner daughter because of the

The father of the child, daughter had left home for drinking two beers when my anger that pent-up in him, during an interview with lessons. He explained that sister-in-law called me and when he thought about his Kaieteur News, expressed the lesson is located in the said come your daughter get daughter being raped by his frustration with the way samevillagewheretheylive. rape,”thefatheradded. threeboys. the case is being handled, K a i e t e u r N e w s The girl’s father According to him, his and also accused the Guyana understands that a 15-year- explained that he was told mother had to console his Police Force (GPF) of old boy among two others, that the security guard had daughter “She didn’t tell me dragging their feet on the both said to be younger than held the three boys at the what happened, she told my matter him, took the 11-year-old community center ground. motherwhattheydidtoher,”

The frustrated man girl to an area at the centre “So, I rushed over there, hesaid. shared that he is a father of ground,wheretheyallegedly when I reach there, the According to the man, two, who has separated from raped her It is also security guard telling me she the matter was reported to hischildren’smother understood that a woman, hadtoletthemgo…” the police and a medical examination was conducted onhisdaughter

Heallegesthatsincethen justice for my daughter, I raped his daughter, since the matter has been moving want them boys get send to they all live in the same atsloth’space.Healsostated b o y s ’ s c h o o l ( N e w village. that one of the boys who Opportunity Corps (NOC),” “I saw one of them, he allegedly raped his daughter themanadded. watching me all scared has relatives who are in the “They done prey on my thinking I would do him GPF child,Idon’twantthemtodo something. I didn’t though, I “They look like they in it to somebody else’s child,” want the law handle it on it, like they want to hide thefathersaid. because I have to be around what happened to my Moreover, he shared that t o p r o v i d e f o r m y daughter… all I want is he saw one of the boys who daughters,”themansaid.

The President and his Vice President are singing the same tune

Both President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo have been forced on the defensive on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of the present PPP/C government They have been forced to defend their policies in light of the highcostofliving.

Bothhaverestoredtothe same hymn book As expected, they both claimed thatthegovernmenthasbeen increasing disposable incomesasaresponsetothe cost-of-livingcrisis.

Jagdeo contended that the ‘Because We Care’cash grantandtheincreaseinold age pensions and public assistance have put more disposable incomes in the hands of citizens. He also claimed that Guyanese are paying less taxes, and more jobs have been generated, thus implying that more monies are in people’s pockets.

President Irfaan Ali pointedtothemorethan200 taxes and fees that were removed which he said placed tens of billions of dollars in the pockets of ordinary citizens. Were that only the case, there could hardlyhavebeengroundsfor complaints The fact howeveristhatthesetensof billions ended up in the pockets of the stores, shops and supermarkets and the reality was that they ended upbuyinglessthanbefore.

I normally give each of my grandchildren a weekly stipend,justsothattheycan have a little extra pocket money to spend. When the cost-of-living crisis erupted, I increased their weekly

stipend.

But after the first week, one of them came and said thatIwouldhavetoincrease it more. She claimed that because the prices at the cafeteria had increased and even with the increased stipend, she was not able to buy the same number of things That incident illustrated the paradox of increasing disposable income. If prices rise above theincreaseinthedisposable income, the consumer is not necessarilybetteroff.Jagdeo is supposed to be an economist He therefore ought to know that disposable income and cost of living are two fundamental concepts in economics that play a significantroleinshapingan individual’s financial wellbeing. Disposable income refers to the money remaining after taxes and essentialexpenseshavebeen deducted from one’s total income. On the other hand, the cost of living encompasses the expenses necessary to maintain a certain standard of living, including housing, food, transportation and utilities. Whileitmightseemintuitive thatanincreaseindisposable income would lead to a reduced cost of living, this a s s u m p t i o n i s a n oversimplification.

A higher income suggests that individuals would be able to purchase more and improve their overall quality of life However, this fails to consider that cost of living may also increase as disposable income increases andifitincreasesabovethat

Dem boys seh...

oftheincreaseindisposable incomes,thiswouldresultin reducedpurchasingpower

A n i n c r e a s e i n disposable income therefore doesnotnecessarilyleadtoa reducedcostofliving.Andif the government was monitoring prices in the market, it would have concluded that the increase in disposable income, occasioned by its economic policies, would have been cancelled out by the steep increaseinprices.

One-offcashgrantssuch as the ‘Because We Care’ grant paid to every school child is a short-term measure.Itisanannualgrant paid during the August holidays and therefore only brings immediate relief in preparing children for the newschoolterm.

But what happens when theschoolchildhastotravel to and from school, has to have lunch and buy other necessities throughout the school year. The one-off school cash grant cannot stretch throughout the academic year Once the grant is exhausted, individuals and families are left facing the same cost challenges.

Government’s cash grants have not been properly targeted. Both rich and poor have received the school’s cash grant, the disability grants, the household grant and the riverine and hinterland cash g r a n t s S o m e multimillionaires have climbed the steps of their children’s school to collect the school cash grant even though they really do not need it. But many refuses

De crowds was lighter dan a drizzle

De cricket fans made a statement yesterday De cricket fans did playing hide-and-seek. Instead of a sold-out crowd, de stands looked as empty as a GT policestationindenight.

Guyana is now a highincome country And de cricket authorities decide fuh charge supersonic prices. Is like dem think Guyanese sleeping with gold bars under dem bed. Dem nah realize dat while de country rich, de people poor Depriceofaticketin de green stand was more than a week pay fuh dem

sugarworkers.

But dem boys pay de $12,500 because dem boys sehwithdatpriceyuhgatto be getting free, food and drinks Or at least a backstagepassfuhmeetde cricketers. Dem boys go earlyexpectingahugerush but was disappointed. De cricketmandisehdemhad a rush fuh tickets. But dem boysthinkhenahseeright. With CPL coming up, dedie-hardfanshadtomek achoice,iseitherdeCPLor de India series. De money cannot stretch fuh both. Things tight in de people

freegovernmentmoney

Not everyone has enjoyed an increase in disposable income. In fact, mosthavenot.Theincreases paid by government to public servants have long been eroded by the steep increase in prices for basic necessities The price of cooking oil, including locallymadecookingoil,has climbed appreciably Even though freight rates have fallen, there have been no corresponding pass-through

effects to consumers for importedgoods.Inaddition, the price of vegetables and even rice has spiked appreciablyinthemarket.

Thegovernmenthasalso failedtoacceptthatthelarge sumsthattheyhavepumped intotheeconomyatatimeof supply-chain constraints may have actually had an inflationaryeffect.

Butwhocares?Thecostof-living crisis has not hurt the rich friends of the government. In fact, these

friends have profiteered during the crisis and are continuing to benefit from the disposing of the disposable income by the poor

D i s c l a i m e r : T h e opinions expressed in this column are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or viewsofKaieteurNews.

pocket and money as preciousasumbrelladuring ElNino.

Atone-point,demboys thought was de wrong day Dem boys had to check de date two to three times. Is like if dem boys did attending a local club match. Even de tapeball matches drawing better crowds.Deattendancewas lighterthanadrizzle.

De people stay away De price of de ticket too high fuh de disposable income dat de government sehincrease.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

BY GHK LALL

Ashni Singh: budget master, ringmaster and spin master

Dr Ashni Singh, prior increase to the national debt while the local debt rafter from Guyana’s wunderkind, the pull-cord for the and get others to play along Guyana scholar on numbers ceiling since the PPP was raised from $150 billion Dr Singh First, is chandeliers; or write these with him. Leave me out of and money, former official returned three years ago. But to $500 billion, three times everythingnational,oristhat love letters to brothers Ali, thosefunandgames,please. Guyana moneyman, current another one, bhaiAshni? In (and I lost count) increase in a new synonym for Ashni,andBarry Ihopethat When do these fellas G u y a n a m a n w i t h case bhai Ashni looks down that baby I still would have individual? Second, is none of them get any ideas. stop? What is the limit? responsibility for money h i s n o s e a t m y kept my lip zipped, and not “development” now a code This new ceiling is Where is the opposition? (more of it), and Guyana’s presumptuousness to ask where all that money word for self-development, somewhere between $500 Please give me a break with man to and from that money fraternity, I bring him down went. This is not to forget as adopted by the now and$600billion. Whatisthe that one about “heated pit the Maldives, certainly to earth: I am actually doing the billions in local currency tongue-tied and hogtied PPP going to do with all that debate”. If it was really qualifies for the Guinness him a favour, and not the sucked out of the Oil Fund. guardians of democracy? money? Plus, the new heated, then the whole house Book. Heisgoodforworthy other way around. He is a Here was I thinking that Some guardians those are: money planned for the New w o u l d h a v e b e e n mention in my book: PPP step up from friars Alistair because the ‘lil’ oil money show them a ballot box and York Oil Fund? Plus, the incinerated. Cripes!Guyana Government budget master, and Barry Imagine if I had waslockedupinaNewYork theygocrazy;butshowthem other debt ceiling (a third has transformed into a ringmaster, taskmaster, declared him an enemy bank that it was safe from a budget cashbox, and they one) that spin master Ashni playground and toy land for choirmaster, and the man With those housekeeping roving political eyes, and lose sight of their security was cute enough to send out these characters straight out leading this country loose ends eradicated, back pawing political hands duty,andanyresidualinsight a spitball. It is in the works. of Marvel Comics, or a headlongintoadisaster Just to the budget; perhaps I Jeez, the cabal of comrades about democracy Watch Thanks for nothing, my FreddyKruegerhorrorstory so nobody gets the wrong shouldsaybudgets. and the contracting class themas theycrawlover each liege. Two debt ceiling Theythinkaboutmoney,and impression, I not only In 2021, bhai Ashni must have been dancing on other to get near the increases in the last 30 they go into a full frenzy applaud the work of this piloted the debt ceiling their heads. Now, I can’t multibillion-dollar action months, and moneyman and The beauty is that it is other financialarchitect,alongside increasefrom$400billionto contain any longer my As for “priorities”, I financial grandmaster, Dr people’s money The that of the chief architect, $650 billion; a stupendous curiosity and criminally recognize a good one Ashni, Ashni Singh, already talking Guyanese taxpayers, who Brother Barry, I admire his 62.5%, and that was for inclined mind. I just have to but what is not these days, about a third one, with the else? If this is what Dr handwork depending on the foreign borrowing only ask:wheredidallthatmoney since everything must be ink not even dry on the Ashni Singh learned in the flowoftheday Man! The internationals really go? ”National done now, and the money second one. Talk about Maldives, then I am on my I could understand, and must have drunk themselves development priorities” do found for such right now, transparency,andthereisthe way there. Recall that old even agree with, one under the table. This was not begin to do the trick; so, hence, these instances of PPP Government and its saw:putafoxtocatchafowl ringmaster Dr Singh needs debtceilingcalibrating? choirmaster, Ashni Singh (oranotherfox). Loveit. to put on his thinking cap, LikeIsaidearlier,Icould giving clear and advance D i s c l a i m e r : T h e clear his head, and come up stomach one debt ceiling notice. Thanks, sir Talk opinions expressed in this with a new cover story; a increase. But the roof went about forward planning, and column are those of the betterone! higher over my head, with Dr Singh is already on the author. They do not

But, more on this another, the second in two ball. It is a square one with purport to reflect the wizardry of “national andahalfyears. Atthisrate, eight sides, which only he opinions or views of development priorities” I wouldn’t be able to reach can figure out how to roll, KaieteurNews.

Guyana’s oil reserves is at least double

the official numbers - S&P Global

Wi t h a n development, Guyana is Venezuela, a country which estimate of chained to an exploitative hasthebiggestoilreservesin o v e r 1 1 deal that gives it a paltry 2% theworld.

billion barrels royalty and a 50% share of

“Venezuela has the ofoilintheprolificStabroek the profit oil after costs are biggest oil reserves in the Block, S&P Global recovered up to a ceiling of world, proven reserves of

Commodity Insights’ oil 75%. over 300 billion barrels. So pricing and news expert The Stabroek Block, in it’s just kind of an Patrick Harrington said that w h i c h E x x o n M o b i l unscientific estimate, but it’s hebelievesthattheGuyana’s maintains a 45% operating easy to imagine that oil reserves “are much stake, is supported by co- Guyana’s reserves are much biggerthanthat.” venturersHessandCNOOC, bigger than the official Harrington made the holding stakes of 30% and numbers,”headded. comment during a recent 25%,respectively Oil Price reported that podcast by S&P Global During the podcast, while Venezuela is one of titled, “Guyanese Dream: Harrington said, “And if you the most troubled countries Oil boom in Guyana could talk about oil reserves, I in the world, Venezuela is transform global crude think Starr (Spencer) was also the country with the market ” S&P Global talking about proven world’s largest oil reserves, p r o v i d e s e s s e n t i a l reserves of 11 billion barrels pegged at over 300 billion intelligence by enabling in Guyana. A lot of people barrels governments, businesses have told me, you know After a period of and individuals with the when I was down there (in flourishing in the nineties right data, expertise and Guyana), that’s just a very and early 2000s, the first oil 600,000bpd.

per day with production only in the future of the connectedtechnologysothat lowballestimate.” price slump of the new Moreover, Exxon and its targeted to startup in 2026. i n d u s t r y b u t w i t h they can make decisions He continued by stating millennium crippled the partners currently have five

Recently, this publication ExxonMobil when she withconviction. that while there is an official Venezuelan economy sanctioned projects in the r e p o r t e d , t h a t disclosed, “Guyana is the American oil giant, estimate as it relates to the Before it had a chance to Stabroek Block which are Communications Advisor future for ExxonMobil ” ExxonMobil Corporation quantity of oil that is recover, the United States worth over US$40B. The for ExxonMobil Guyana, Brasington continued that subsidiary, Esso Exploration offshoreGuyana,Harrington slammed it with sanctions most recent project that was Keisha Gilkes in a the Guyana operations have and Production Guyana said, “it’s at least double that have decimated output: approved was for the Uaru documentary, asked Exxon’s been driving the company’s Limited (EEPGL), is the that.” in 2022, the average was Project. G l o b a l C o u n t r y growth while at the same operator of the lucrative In making his case, 600,000 to 700,000 barrel It will have a production Communications Manager, time developing the country, StabroekBlock. Harrington highlighted that per day (bpd), while exports capacity of approximately Kimberly Brasington about a s s h e l a u d e d t h e For the Stabroek Block Guyana is next door to averaged a little over 250,000 gross barrels of oil theroleGuyanawillplaynot partnership.

Peacemaker killed at Honey Camp Backdam

Govt. paid private hospitals to clear backlog of ultrasound, ecg - Jagdeo

Thirty-eight-year-old Quincy Nelson was on Friday fatallystabbedatHoneyCampBackdam,RegionSeven,after he intervened to make peace with two men who had an argument.

Nelson of the West Indian Housing Scheme, Bartica, was fatally stabbed to his chest area by one of the men involved in theargument.

This publication understands that the suspect is still to be apprehended. Up to press time, the Guyana Police Force (GPF)didnotreportonthemurder

After discovering a

through negotiations, the Guyana would have to go to backlog of ultrasound and hospitals agreed to charge private hospitals,” the Vice the echocardiogram; $4000 and $6000 each to Presidentsaid. President Irfaan Ali and clear backlog of the Jagdeo called the other Government officials ultrasound and echo, rumours stupid before convened with the operators respectively highlighting that the

of the private hospitals to

”Andthathasallowedus Government has been on the arrangeforthemtobepaidto now to clear a lot of the forefront sharing its plans to clearthebacklogofthetests. backlog, they had extra investUS$600Monbuilding

This was revealed by capacity, because we care 12 new hospitals to Vice President Bharrat about the people and we did transform the healthcare Jagdeo, during his press it with all the hospitals so systeminGuyana. conference on Thursday at that we can clear up the In January, in Guyana’s Freedom House, Robb backlog for people there,” largest budget ever, the Street,Georgetown. Jagdeo added. Notably, he Government allocated

For those unfamiliar, an also shared that the $84 9B for the country’s ultrasound scan, sometimes Government is buying three healthcaresector called a sonogram, is a machines to do the About $1.8 billion was procedure that uses high- echocardiogram. a l l o c a t e d f o r t h e frequency sound waves to meeting was held at State Moreover, responding to rehabilitation and expansion createanimageofpartofthe House, where officials from rumours surrounding the of the Georgetown, New inside of the body An hospitals like St Joseph Government’s operations as Amsterdam and Linden echocardiogram, or “echo”, Mercy, Woodlands, Balwant it relates to the Georgetown hospitals and for four is a scan used to look at the Singh, Sheriff, and Davis Public Hospital, Jagdeo telemedicine centres in heart and nearby blood Memorial met with refuted claims that the Regions One, Seven, Eight vessels. An echo is a type of President Ali, and Minister Government has been andNine. ultrasoundscan. of Health, Dr. Frank underfunding the City A significant amount of

During the press Anthony. Jagdeo added, hospital. the sums was directed conference the VP said, “So “And we decided that they He highlighted that the towards the creation of we discovered over 2000 will help us clear the Government has increased much-needed hospitals and backlog of ultrasound and backlog, by paying them to the hospital’s budget from t r a i n i n g h e a l t h c a r e the echocardiogram that is clearthebacklog.” some G$9.6B in 2019 to professionals, Finance aboutseveralhundrednearly According to the Vice G$15.6billionthisyear Minister Dr Ashni Singh a thousand of those backlogs President the hospitals were “They spread a rumour said during the budget at the GPHC (Georgetown charging $6,000 to $8,000 that we’re running down presentation. P u b l i c H o s p i t a l for an ultrasound, and $12- GPHC because we want to In 2022, the government Corporation).” $15,000 for an echo give the private hospitals had allocated $74.5B for the

It was stated that a However, he noted that work so everybody in healthcaresector

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Dead, Quincy Nelson

Guyana’s ability to repay loans -Opposition

dependent on oil revenues

As the Government of thenumbersintermsofGDP potentially be disastrous for reserves available in case $

Guyana (GoG) continues to and debt is not the most thecountry. there is something that

contract more loans to fund appropriate way to look at it Lowexplained,“Whenit happens.” respectively. Notably, its ambitious development because the actual revenue comes to oil economies, we The Opposition urged US$43 4 million of the agenda, the political that you are getting is have to be cautious in the that the government should US$150 million paid by Opposition believes the actually different than your way we approach debt not position the country Guyana went towards nationmaybeslippingintoa GDP.” because we are subject to where it is dependent on oil interest. debt trap that could see the

Of specific concern to extreme price volatility You revenues which can be This figure is likely to country failing to meet its the Opposition is Guyana’s will recall that during the highlyvolatile. increase this year as the loan obligations should oil ability to repay the loans COVID-19 Pandemic oil The Bank of Guyana in country’s total debt has pricescollapse. being racked by the prices were briefly negative its 2022 Annual Report already increased by 2 3

Vice President Bharrat administration The and on the flip side last year highlighted that the country percent or US$84.5 million Jagdeo during his Thursday Economist noted that we saw them reach over p a i d a t o t a l o f inthefirstquarteroftheyear press briefing assured that servicing the debt can be US$140 per barrel; so that $ 3 1 , 4 4 4 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 – alone.TheBoGreportedthat the country is not reliant on financed through the means that we have to approximately US$150M to this sum would take the the earnings from the revenue garnered from the accumulate debt always service its total stock of nation’s total debt stock to petroleum sector to service petroleum sector; however, keeping at the back of our domestic and external debt, US$3.7B from the end of its loan repayments, any collapse in oil prices can minds that we have to have amounting to some December2022position. however some stakeholders, like the Opposition believe otherwise.

Economics and Political

EconomicAdvisor to the Science from Amherst Leader of the Opposition, C o l l e g e , U S A a n d Elson Low in an invited previously worked at comment told Kaieteur Goldman Sachs and Co. He News that the administration also has a certificate in antionlythispastweekincreased money laundering and antithe country’s debt ceiling, corruption from the paving the way for more International Law Institute loanstobecontracted. and was an investigator and

Guyana’s domestic policy researcher at the State public debt ceiling was Assets Recovery Agency increased to $750 billion, up (SARA). from$500 billion,anda new Debt to GDP external borrowing ceiling President IrfaanAli is on of $900 billion was set after record boasting that Guyana its last increase to $650 has the lowest debt to Gross billion. Domestic Product (GDP)

Low believes the ratio in the Caribbean. He increase of the debt ceiling highlighted that the was only possible as a result combined debt to GDP ratio of the growth of the oil is 24.6 percent, down from sector In fact, he reminded 39.6percent. that the Senior Minister in The Opposition argues the Office of the President that this formula is a with Responsibility for smokescreen and does not Finance, Dr Ashni Singh depict the gravity of the earlier this year told the administration’s borrowing International Energy trend.

Conference hosted at the Low reasoned that since Guyana Marriott that with G u y a n a ’s G D P h a s the tripling of Guyana’s significantly increased, the economy, the country is now ratio reflects a reduced debt. in a better position to take This however does not mean moreloans. that the country’s total stock

Low said, “This implies of debt has declined; thatthereasonweareableto contrarily, Guyana’s public take on more debt is because debt increased by 16 percent of the oil sector As a result, at the end of 2022, climbing our ability to repay these tojustoverUS$3.6billion. debts is dependent on the oil T h e O p p o s i t i o n sector.”

Economist explained,

The Economist is of the “Because the country has v i e w t h a t p r u d e n t grown so quickly, the debt to management of Guyana’s GDP number has fallen debt and sovereign wealth sharply so even if you take fund will ensure that there onahugeamountofdebtyou are sufficient reserves to wouldstillhavealowdebtto service its debt as it GDP ratio This is continues to take on more. misleadinghoweverbecause Accordingtohim,“Whatwe we must bear in mind that a need to avoid is using all the growth in Guyana’s GDP is funds in the NRF (Natural not the same as growth in ResourcesFund)andrelying government revenue. We are totally on annual revenues to still in the stage of paying pay the debt because if there back the cost of investments is down turn then we would associated with the oil find it difficult to service the sector, so revenue growth debt.” will be limited.”As such, he

Low has a degree in stressed, “Looking merely at

Opposition Economist, Elson Low

Balwant Singh Hospital now offering expanded histopathology testing

…Laboratory receives dual accreditation

Dr. Balwant Singh’s With this expansion of Hospital Laboratory is services, Dr Balwant pleased to announce the Singh’s Hospital Laboratory extension of its testing reaffirmed its commitment capabilities to include to delivering the highest Histopathology tests, special quality diagnostic solutions s t a i n s , a n d to patients and healthcare Immunohistochemistry partners. tests. Notably, GNBS has

In a press statement, it granted accreditation to the was revealed that this hospital laboratory’s significant enhancement to extended scope of testing the laboratory services has under the GYS 170: 2021 been officially accredited by standard. It was explained both the Guyana National that this recognition Bureau of Standards and the underscores the hospital’s American Association for compliancewiththenational Laboratory Accreditation guidelines and its dedication (A2LA). to maintaining the highest

Histopathology, special industrystandardswithinthe testament to our laboratory’s Immunohistochemistry Officer of Dr Balwant continuous improvement, s t a i n s , a n d country exceptional technical tests This expansion Singh’sHospital. and the highest levels of Immunohistochemistry tests Furthermore, the competence and proficiency represents a significant

The accreditation from patientsafety play a crucial role in hospital’slaboratoryhasalso in delivering accurate and milestone for Dr Balwant both the Guyana National For more information diagnosing various diseases received accreditation from reliablediagnosticresults. Singh’s Hospital Laboratory Bureau of Standards and about the extended scope of and conditions, enabling the prestigious A2LA under “We are delighted to as we continue to pursue A2LA reinforces the testing at Dr Balwant medical professionals to the

15189:2012 extend our range of services excellence in healthcare hospital’s commitment to Singh’sHospitalLaboratory, provide more accurate and standard The A2LA to include Histopathology, diagnostics,”saidDr Madhu adhering to stringent quality p l e a s e v i s i t comprehensive patient care. accreditation serves as a special stains, and Singh, the Chief Executive c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s , https://balwantsingh.com.

Region Nine farmers to benefit from $14 million agro-processing facility

More than 200

farmers of Karaudarnau

V i l l a g e , Region Nine, will now experience a boost in their i n c o m e w i t h t h e commissioning of a $14 million agro-processing facility.

The food processing plant will allow farmers to add value to their produce including peanuts that are being cultivated within the community, which will in turnenrichtheirlivelihoods.

Minister of Agriculture, Z u l f i k a r M u s t a p h a accompanied by the ministry’s Director General, Madanlall Ramraj, and GeneralManageroftheNew G u y a n a M a r k e t i n g Corporation (GMC)

Teshawna Lall, officially opened the facility on but we want you to produce which is why significant could be self-sufficient in plantwillboostthequalityof ouragricultureindustry,”she Saturday and bring value to your investments are being livestock, you could be self- produce. said Additionally, this In brief remarks, produce so that you can earn pumped into the agriculture sufficient in producing “The introduction of initiative will contribute to M i n i s t e r M u s t a p h a a decent living. That is why sector crops We have supplied modern equipment will Guyana’s fight against highlighted the importance we’ve embarked in not only He also announced that cassava sticks earlier and the ensure the production of c l i m a t e c h a n g e b y of the government’s giving you planting material the ministry will be Toshao has told me you need highly sought-after strengthening food safety investment in establishing but we want to also bring providing breeding animals more, I have asked the products, like peanut butter, andsecurity facilities nationwide, these facilities so that you tothecommunitythisyearto chairman to make more roasted butter, parched Meanwhile, Toshao of especially in the hinterland can process your produce,” enhance livestock in these available; you can collect peanuts, and cashew nuts. Karaudarnau, Apollo Isaacs which are intended to boost MinisterMustaphastated. areas. your cassava sticks shortly,” This in turn will command welcomed the development theireconomies. Guyana, he underscored, “We are working to headded. better prices compared to in his community Regional “We want our people to is leading the charge in develop communities so that New GMC’s General selling the raw products, Chairman, Brian Allicock produce, not only to be self- achieving food security you can produce everything Manager, Teshawna Lall enriching the livelihoods of also made brief remarks. sufficientintheircommunity within the Caribbean region, in the agriculture sector You emphasised that the new thoseinvolvedandfortifying (DPI)

Officials at the Karaudarnau agro-processing facility

Doctors and other medical professionals from Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital pose with the recently acquired accreditation certificates.

VPJagdeo boasts of ‘free gas’from Exxon, future benefits of Local...

From page 3 possible and it sounds crude if they will continue or any pump US$40 billion into the fuel developments, since the benefits” being harnessed unequivocal answer our on the face of it, but it is in global investor, anybody industry.” resourceswouldbestranded; through the Local Content position has not changed,” the context of net zero, and whohasmoney Ifyouhavea He went on to point out as such, Jagdeo said Guyana Law and the Gas-to-Energy hereasoned. therefore we need to transfer dispute with your partner on that the United Nations must maximize on the Project,Guyanacontinuesto Sanctity of contract? these assets that are the other side that is in Secretary General, Antonio investmentflow leak substantial revenues

Thisnewspaperfollowed there...into financial assets charge of regulation and Guterres is among global EvenastheVPrefusesto through the gapping up on the question that was as quickly as possible ensuring that you act per frontiers calling for a halt on renegotiate the oil contract loopholes in the one-sided put to the VP and asked him because at some stage if we contract, whether you will investments to new fossil due the “significant arrangementwithExxon. to clarify his position on have net zero, they can’t be refusing the renegotiate the utilizedanylongerglobally.” contract since the party had Jagdeo therefore previously said it wished to indicated, “So if you now avoid this so as to abide by engage in a renegotiation, the “sanctity of contracts” that’s the end of every single principle. oil project, the future

In his detailed response, projects because nobody the Chief Petroleum until the terms are settled spokesperson for the there will be no new administration highlighted investmentsinthesector.” that government is He was reminded by this challenged with a “closing newspaper however that window” for the extraction President of ExxonMobil of the resources. He pointed Guyana, Alistair Routledge out that developed countries during a press conference around the world have been this year said the company increasing their output while would not turn its back on the United Kingdom (UK) Guyana if it decided to seek for instance just granted more benefits for its people. hundreds of licences in this Seelinkattached. regard.

https://www kaieteurne

He explained, “They wsonline com/2023/05/21/e need the fossil fuel; they are xxonmobil-would-notmaking a lot of money, walk-away-easily-if-govtnotwithstanding net zero. demands-changes-toWe believe in a global contract-exxon-guyana/ commitment, we believe in To this end, the Vice decarbonizing so we have to President responded, “We make sure that these are just launching a bid resources are extracted and round. We will get probably that is why I said our nobody in the bid. It will kill depletion policy is to get as momentum at a particular much out as quickly as time...you go and ask Exxon

Governments are gathering to talk about the Amazon rainforest. Why is it so important to protect?

WANTED VACANCY

One experienced low bed Driver needed. Must be able to load and off load equipments. Call: 644-7088.

Wanted: Experienced Puri Maker, Cashier, Counter Person, Labourer and Cleaner. Apply at Shanta's, 225 Camp and New Market Sts.

One live-in Housekeeper needed to work in Virginia, USA. Ages 30-50 yrs. Call: 592-615-5476/ 845-325-8241.

1 Woodmizer edger Operator wanted. Call: 697-0852.

One Cook needed to work 4 days per week. Good pay offered. Call: 624-7436.

Looking for a reliable live-in aide for an elderly woman. Call: 686-8051.

Male and female needed to pluck chicken, $3500 per day. Call: 708-4374/ 617-4662.

Live-in Handyman with small family to live and work on Poultry farm, $125,000 per month. Call: 708-4374/ 617-4662.

Wanted! Male & Female workers for packaging pasta and chowmein on the Back Road (Mandela Ave). Call: 611-7839.

Security Officers urgently needed! Must be able to read and write, $350 and $400 hourly. Contact: 603-5140.

One Clerk for TSI Eccles office.Must have grade 1or 2 Maths and English. Email: techserigy@yahoo.com or Call: 615-9132.

Cleaner, Maintaining Worker, Labourers, Office Assistant and Time Keeping Clerk required. Call: 621-6969, 6157784.

One office Assistant needed. Experience will be an asset. Call: 688-7911.

Sales Clerks, Delivery Clerks, Warehouse Manager & Graphic Designer needed. Apply at: Lens 136 Sheriff Street next to Buddys/ Pizzahut. Call: 227-2486/ 2271511, lensgy@outlook.com

One Manager for A&S General Store located at Charity, Essequibo. Call: 687-5814.

East Bank Electrical is now hiring Electrical Engineer, Outside Sales Staff & Counter Sales Staff. Call: 604-6394, sales@eastbankelectrical.com

Receptionist, Room Attendant, Laundry Attendant & Security Guard needed at 233, South Road Lacytown. Call: 225-0198.

We are now hiring Counter Attendants @ Dian's Deli, Bar St Kitty. Opening hours 6:30 am-12:00. Call: 621-7862, 225-3700/ 225-6478.

Bulldozers and Excavator Operator needed to work in Interior and Truck Drivers. Call: 696-9854/ 223-7165.

One Cashier needed. Must have English & Maths and previous experience. Apply at mikeswholesaledepot @yahoo.com or at their location.

(AP) - The Amazon rainforest is a massive area, twice the size of India and sprawling across eight countries and one territory. It’s a crucial carbon sink for the climate, has about 20% of the world’s freshwater reserves and boasts astounding biodiversity, including 16,000 known tree species.

But governments have historically viewed it as an area to be colonized and exploited, with little regard for sustainability or the rights of its Indigenous peoples.

Now, as those governments seek to clamp down on a Wild West atmosphere of resource extraction, human rights abuses and environmental crime, collaboration across borders is a must. That’s a major goal of the twoday Amazon Summit that opens Tuesday in Belem, where Brazil will host policymakers and others to discuss how to tackle the immense challenges of protecting a critical resource in stemming the worst of climate change.

Here’s a rundown of the Amazon’s importance, the threats it faces and possible solutions.

WHATARE THE MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS TO THE AMAZON BIOME?

Deforestation ranks first.

The Amazon biome has lost more than 85 million hectares (211 million acres), or about 13% of its original area, according to the Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Pact.

Most of that destruction has come in the past half-century, with Brazil — home to two-thirds of the rainforest — the main culprit.

Cattle ranching and soybean crops have expanded dramatically thanks to new technology, highways, and global demand for grain and beef.

Mostly controlled by settlers of European descent who migrated from other parts of the country, the ranching and farming have reshaped local culture in aspects ranging from people’s diet to their music.

Nowhere is the devastation more sweeping than in Brazil’s Para state, where Belem is the capital. Fortyone percent of deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon has come in Para state, where so much land has been converted to run some 27 million cattle that it’s the leading emitter of greenhouse gases among Brazilian states, according to Climate Observatory, a network of environmental nonprofit groups.

It emits more than every other country with Amazon rainforest: Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Suriname, Guyana and the territory of French Guiana.

drought — in recent years.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE AMAZON TO ARRESTING CLIMATE CHANGE?

Very.

Climate change is made worse when plants that take up carbon are lost. And the Amazon functions as a massive device to store carbon.

Atmospheric chemist Luciana Gatti, a researcher for Brazil’s National Institute of Space Research, said deforestation leads to more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and generally means reduced rainfall and higher temperatures.

“By deforesting the Amazon, we are accelerating climate change,” Gatti told The Associated Press.

She co-authored a study published in the journal Nature that found that the heavily deforested eastern Amazon has ceased to function as a carbon absorber and is now a carbon source. Gatti said half of the deforestation in the eastern Amazon needs to be reversed to maintain the rainforest as a buffer against climate change.

COULD DEFORESTATION REACH A ‘TIPPING POINT’?

But some researchers have questioned the tipping point theory for using computer models to predict outcomes in such a large and complex region.

Others have said that an even bigger threat is global climate change.

Researcher David Lapola, who is part of a project that investigates how the Amazon responds to higher carbon dioxide levels, argues that even if deforestation in the Amazon basin were to cease immediately, the forest would still face the risk of reaching a tipping point due to what is happening worldwide.

WHAT OTHER THREATS FACE THE REGION?

Road paving and organized crime.

Governments initially hacked roads through forest so settlers could reach farflung lands, but heavy rains and use regularly wrecked those dirt roads.

Paving them made for easier access — and made it easier to move agricultural products, too.

SERVICES

Visa Application to Canada and U.S.A, graphics design, advertisements,USA passport application forms & i130 application. Call: 6267040.

For the completion of US & Canadian non-immigrant visa applications and Guyana passport applications. Call/whatsApp: 595645-5695.

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 6295526.

Experienced Hauler/ Lorry

Driver required. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St, Bourda.

Experienced Accounts Clerk. Must have passes in Maths, English & Accounts. Apply in person to Alabama Trading.

Experienced Sales girls needed. Apply in person to Alabama Trading at 65 Robb street Bourda.

One General Domestic needed. Apply in person to Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street, Bourda.

FOR RENT

One furnished, 2 bedrooms apt at Guysuco Gradens, long term or short term. Call: 222-7891/ 609-9202.

Other environmental threats are large hydroelectric dams, especially in Brazil; illegal logging; mining; and oil drilling, with effects on water contamination and disruption of Indigenous lifestyles. Underinvestment in infrastructure also means much of the sewage from homes in the rainforest dumps directly into waterways.

The Amazon has also seen more extreme weather events — flooding and

Oft-quoted research by Earth system scientist Carlos Nobre and late environmental scientist Thomas Lovejoy estimated that 20% to 25% deforestation would be a critical threshold for the Amazon. The resulting decline in rainfall would transform more than half of the Amazon to tropical savannah, with great biodiversity loss, they said.

That kind of change is already happening in Xingu Indigenous Territory, in Brazil’s southern Amazon, which has become an island surrounded by soybeans and pasture and where researchers have highlighted forest degradation due to persistent droughts, fires and agricultural practices.

But that also helped lawbreakers reach pristine areas to extract ancient hardwood timber and clear forest for ranching.

The roads have been called “arteries of destruction” and often generate deforestation resembling a fish skeleton, with smaller dirt roads branching off the spine of an official road.

Even more important for criminal organizations to take root has been political corruption and lax law enforcement. Few border areas are policed seriously and there has been scant international cooperation as rivals compete for drug trafficking routes.

Drug seizures have increased in Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru over the past decade, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported in June.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

One CRV Honda, $3.3M negotiable and 1 Toyota Allion, $3.350 M, fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage .

Govt. paid private hospitals to clear...

From page 2

also shared that the Government is buying three machines to do the echocardiogram.

Moreover, responding to rumours surrounding the Government’s operations as it relates to the Georgetown Public Hospital, Jagdeo refuted claims that the Government has been underfunding the City hospital.

GPHC because we want to give the private hospitals work…so everybody in Guyana would have to go to private hospitals,” the Vice President said.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Property for sale in L.B.I, ECD and Golden Grove, EBD. Call Persaud Real Estate: 653-2477/ 685-6874. Masons and Carpenters needed. Call: 623-1615.

VACANCY

Security Guard needed. Apply in person to Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St, Bourda.

He highlighted that the Government has increased the hospital’s budget from some G$9.6B in 2019 to G$15.6 billion this year.

“They spread a rumour that we’re running down

Jagdeo called the rumours stupid before highlighting that the Government has been on the forefront sharing its plans to invest US$600M on building 12 new hospitals to transform the healthcare system in Guyana.

In January, in Guyana’s largest budget ever, the Government allocated $84.9B for the country’s healthcare sector. About $1.8 billion was al-

located for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Linden hospitals and for four telemedicine centres in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

A significant amount of the sums was directed towards the creation of muchneeded hospitals and training healthcare professionals, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said during the budget presentation.

In 2022, the government had allocated $74.5B for the healthcare sector.

Contact: 649-0956.

4th annual Nexgen GGA golf camp attracts large number of youths - Camp deemed a success

Dozens of parents and guests were in attendance to celebrate the successes of the youngsters as the 4th Annual Shafura Hussain Foundation GolFun Summer Camp came to a close with both a flourish and a degree of sadness for the dozens of kids and parents who really felt it was too soon to end!

Mr. Sampson spoke to the kids about the advantages of

Sport and physical education. “This was a great experience for both parents and kids and it’s heartening to see so many kids from all walks of life given the opportunity to take part in such a wonderful program and to see the joy on these faces makes it all so special.”

The camp was sponsored by Movietowne, Banks DIH, Sunshine Snacks, Assuria General Insurance, DDL, Sterling

Products, Toolsie Persaud Ltd., Trophy Stall, Darthan Investments Print, TriStone Auto Sales, Party Castle, Balance Waitstaff, Panko Steel, Praetorian Executive Security, UG’s VC Paloma Mohamed and Westside Golf Course.

Through their generosity, kids from the Enmore Orphanage and Lions Clubs were also included for with training in golf, physical fitness, Archery and each

Monday August 07, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

Get-togethers with friends or meetings with a small group, if possible, should prove informative and enlightening today, Aries, although some of it may be a bit perplexing.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Today things could be rather hectic at work, Taurus. You'll probably be very busy and happy with whatever results you produce. You could tire yourself out,

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Some new information about an interesting field could have you browsing the web and looking through books to learn more, Gemini. This could involve law, philosophy,

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Today you might learn about new and creative ways to increase your income, Cancer, possibly involving technology in some way. So much new information could come your way.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Social events could put you in touch with interesting people in intriguing professions, Leo. You might get involved in some fascinating conversations that provide you with a lot of useful information.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

A friend or colleague could recommend some books that you want to read right away, Virgo. Be sure you take breaks and rest your eyes from time to time to avoid eyestrain and headaches today.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Today your mind will be quick, insightful, and inspired, Libra. Your creative impulses should go a thousand miles an hour and ideas should pop in and out of your head like crazy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

If visitors are able to pop in and out during the day, Scorpio, you'll be in the right frame of mind to enjoy their company. Expect interesting news and stimulating conversation.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Don't be surprised if your inbox fills with email or your phone rings off the hook, Sagittarius. Friends, relatives, and colleagues could have great news and useful information.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) = It

Inspiration is the word for today, Capricorn. Your creative talent should blossom and motivate you to work on wonderful ideas. This could involve music, painting, decorating,

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

Today your physical and mental energy should be operating at a very high level, Aquarius. You probably won't spend much time inside if you can avoid it. Expect get-togethers

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Your intuition is likely to be very keen today, Pisces. Accurate psychic insights could come to you thick and fast. Your imagination is also strong, and you might come up with ideas to enrich your home,

The golfers strike a pose following the end of the camp.

day, all parents and kids were provided with snacks (Sunshine Snacks), ice-cream (Sterling Products) and beverages (Banks DiH).

Movietowne Guyana provided gift vouchers to the movies for the top players.

Head Coach Aleem Hussain thanked all the sponsors and supporters who helped to make the camp a success especially Camp Coordinators Philip Haynes, Al Wilson, Nikita Ashby and Coaches Vishal, Roy, August, Harry along with Coach Narda Mohamed Mangra and members of ProArchers and the Archery Academy.

All attendees were presented with certificates of completion and at the conclusion, a Drive, Chip and Putt competition was held for the different age group and categories.

The results were as follows:

Boys, aged 4-8

First Place:Aviel

Bonnie; Second Place: Adam Arjune; Third Place: Kaden Patiram; Fourth Place: Kisan Mohan

Boys, aged 9-12

First Place: Davante

Pollard; Second Place: Faizale Ali; Third Place: Aiden Gomes; Fourth Place: Alexander Jettoo

Boys, aged 13+

First Place: Raul

Narine; Second Place: Ivan Permaul; Third Place: Dakarai Victorrine; Fourth Place: Devendra Guroodat

Girls, aged 5-10

First Place: K ailey

Liverpool; Second Place: Asriel Bonnie; Third Place: Brittania Hermitt; Fourth Place: Adina Arjune

Girls, aged 11+

First Place: Angela Josiah; Second Place: Tamia Sampson; Third Place: Alana Sampson;

Sweden end U.S. World Cup reign in shootout

M E L B O U R N E , (Reuters) - Sweden beat the United States 5-4 on penalties to condemn the defending champions to theirearliestWomen’sWorld Cup exit yesterday after the teams were locked at 0-0 at theendofextratime.

Lina Hurtig struck the winning spot-kick at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium to cap a madcap shootout in the round of 16 clash, though U S goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher parried the ball on the line and the result needed to be confirmedbyVAR.

Sweden head into a quarter-finalagainstJapanin Auckland on Friday but it was the first exit before the semi-finals in nine World CupsfortheAmericans,who were bidding for an unprecedented third consecutivetitle.

Gloomy U S coach Vlatko Andonovski was not convinced Hurtig’s spotkickhadcrossedtheline “It’s a tough moment, a momentwhereit’shardtogo through,” he told a press conference.

“Youhavehopesthatthe balldidn’tcrosstheline. “That just shows how cruelthisgamecanbe.”

Sweden’s Magda

Sweden players celebrate after beating reigning champions the United States and knocking them out of the Women’s World Cup via a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

Eriksson said her team had shown heart if not their best game, having been dominated for much of the match.“We’resohappyright now,” she said in a radio interview

“I don’t know how we managed to stay in this game.

“We didn’t play our best game, but in some way we showed we’re hard-headed, we showed heart, we never

give up. We took it to extra time, we took it to penalties andwemanagedtowin.”

Young U S forward Sophia Smith was left shattered, having had a chance to win the match for the four-times champions when she stepped up in the penalty shootout only to blasttheballoverthebar She was not the first playerinherteamtomiss.

The talismanic Megan

Rapinoe, renowned for her peerlessrecordinshootouts, thumped the U.S.’s fourth kick over the bar after Sweden’s Nathalie Bjorn alsofiredhigh.

NINEMONTHS

Andonovski said the U.S. had been practising penalties for the last nine months. “I know we were criticised for the way we played Ithinkwecameout today and were all about the

grit,theresilience,”hesaid.

Goalkeeper Zecira MusovicwasSweden’shero, havingmade11savesbefore theshootouttokeepthemin thematch.

Often starved of possession, the Swedes did nothaveashotongoaluntil the 85th minute when substitute Sofia Jakobsson dancedintothearea,onlyto shootstraightatNaeher

Naeher saved Rebecka

Blomqvist’s fourth shot for the Swedes in the shootout but Smith’s miss kept the Scandinavians in it. After Naeher and Magdalena Eriksson converted their spot-kicks, Kelley Ohara senthereffortpingingoffthe rightpost,allowingHurtigto step up and send the champions out of the tournament.

The U.S. will wonder howthematchhadtogotoa shootout, having dominated the play and unleashed 21 shots,including11ontarget.

TrinityRodmanproveda menacedowntherightwing early, testing the Swedish keepertwiceinthefirsthalfhour Lindsey Horan thumpedaheaderagainstthe bar and Musovic denied her again with a low dive when the US skipper fired a deflected cross at the far post.

Musovic produced another wonderful save to stop anAlex Morgan header andseetheSwedesintoextra time, then foiled a Lynn Williams shot in the first period. Rapinoe came on to replaceMorganinextratime but could not conjure the magicthathelpedtheU.S.to back-to-back World Cup triumphs in Canada in 2015 andFrancefouryearsago.

Dutch march past South Africa into quarter-finals

SYDNEY, (Reuters) -

Jill Roord scored her fourth goalofthetournamentasthe Netherlands marched into the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup with a 2-0winoverSouthAfricaat Sydney Football Stadium yesterday

Roord’s header gave her sideanearlyleadandLineth Beerensteyn added the second goal courtesy of a goalkeeping error in the second half to secure the Dutch a date with Spain in WellingtononFriday

The54th-rankedAfrican championsnevergaveupthe fightintheirfirstappearance in the World Cup knockout stage and were always a threat on the break through their lone striker Thembi Kgatlana. Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar was equaltoeverythingBanyana Banyana fired at her, however, and the 2019 finalists progressed to the last eight for the second successivetournament.

“I’m very happy with a good win against a tough opponent,”saidNetherlands coach Andries Jonker “But the part of me that wants great football is disgruntled with the first half, where we gave the ball away too much.”

The noon kickoffprimetime in the United States - was tailor-made for the reigning champion Americans, but they were packed off to Melbourne to faceSwedenlateronSunday after the Netherlands hammered Vietnam 7-0 to winGroupE.

The Dutch started well, takingtheleadfromacorner in the ninth minute, when Danielle van de Donk headedtheballtowardsgoal and defender Lebohang Ramalepe got in goalkeeper Kaylin Swart’s way to present Roord with a simple finish.

Banyana Banyana responded immediately, striker Thembi Kgatlana’s

fine first touch on a through ball, giving her space to unleash a shot that forced a saveoutofVanDomselaar

Kgatlana was a constant warningtotheDutchagainst complacency

Shegotthreeshotsaway in the 10 minutes before halftime that tested Van Domselaar, who also had to be at her best to stop a KholosaBiyanapiledriverin stoppagetime.

Ten minutes into the second half, winger Lieke Martens had a goal disallowed for offside, but theDutchdiddoublethelead inthe68thminute.

Beerensteyn was played through and shot across Swart,whoappearedtohave theeverythingundercontrol but fumbled her catch and watched the ball squirt into thenet.

South Africa again responded to conceding a goalbutVanDomselaarwas again equal to it, getting down low to turn Linda

Motlhalo’slowdrivearound thepostfiveminuteslater Banyana Banyana had onelastchancetogetonthe scoreboardinstoppagetime, almost inevitably through

Kgatlana, but there was no waypastVanDomselaar

the first half,” said South AfricacoachDesireeEllis.

“

course, but reallyproudofthisgroupof players.

DigicelSchools’NationalFootballChampionships… Final four set as final four eliminated

St. Ignatius, Carmel and Desrey Caesar-Fox Secondary Schools were the first three teams to secure their spot in the semifinal round of the 8th Digicel Schools’ National Football Championship, when the tournament continued yesterday with the quarterfinal round at the Ministry of Education (MoE)Ground.

The last team to complete the final four was the winner of the Waramuri Top versus Santa Rosa battle, which was the last match on the card

However, up to press time, the match had not been completed Details of this match will be published in tomorrow’s issue In yesterday’s first

Carmel’s quarterfinal goal scorers were (L-E) Ian Daniels, Marcus Layne and Omar Husbands.

over Tucville. Romel

Ernest was the star of that show as he produced a hat-trick and was supported byAkonAlbert and Morgan Turama as Tucvillemet‘theaxe’

The second encounter featured Georgetown’s Champion, Dolphin, in a familiar match-up against fellow GT counterpart, Carmel. However, the day belongedtothelatterasthey defied the odds to eliminate Dolphin with a 3 – 1 score line.

Usual suspects Ian Daniels, Marcus Layne and Omar Husbands each scored once in Carmel’s triumph to overshadow Dolphin’s consolation effort.

D C Fox were the

West Indies vs. India 2nd T201 at Providence…

Pooran fireworks, bowlers seal

2-0 series lead for West Indies - Varma scores 51 for India in losing effort

Pyrotechnics from Nicholas Pooran, backed by some classy bowling gave West Indies a 2-Nil lead but more importantly the chance of a huge series win over India, wholostby2wicketsduring yesterday’s match played at the Guyana National Stadium,Providence.

West Indies kept their momentumafterwinningthe opening battle, further applying pressure on the visitorsastheylooktosweep the series come Tuesday, beating India in back-tobackseriessince2016.

Chasing 152, the home teamendedon155-8in18.5 overs. Pooran provided all the necessary showpieces needed to entertain the Guyanese crowd, blasting a 40-ball67with6foursand4 massivesixes.

Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer hit a run-a-ball 22, Captain Rovman Powell (21) shared a crucial halfcentury stand with Pooran, while Akeal Hosein (16*) andAlzarriJoseph(10*)saw theWindieshomeduringthe

back-endoftheinnings.

India captain Hardik Pandya led the bowling for his country, starring with figures of 3-35 with support coming from spinner

Yuzvendra Chahal (2-19) and a wicket each coming from left-arm pacer

ArshdeepSinghandMukesh

Kumar

Batting first, India did welltofinishon152-7when their 20 overs expired, indebtedmainlytotheyoung TilakVarma,wholedwith51 off42ballswith5foursanda six.

India opener Ishan

Kishan gave his team the idealstartwith2sixesand2 foursinhis27from23balls, while Captain Pandya was thenextbestscorerhitting24 off 18 (6x2) and Axar Patel (14), completed the list of primaryrun-scorersfortheir team.

West Indies bowlers were on point during their respective spells, with the pacers Joseph (2-28) and Guyanese Romario Shepherd(2-28)andleft-arm spinner Hosein (2-29)

workinga3-manjobtokeep Indiaatbay.

Chasing a decent target, the home team got off to a horrific start losing opener BrandonKing(0)onthefirst ball, followed by Johnson Charles (2) a few deliveries later, courtesy of the magic handoftheskipperPandya.

Opener Kyle Mayers turned on the heat for a moment, smashing 15 off just 7 balls with a pair of fours and one big six before being undone by a swinging delivery from the left-arm pacerSingh.

Pooraneasedthenervesa bit with his timely powerhitting, greeting leg-spinner Bishnoi with some brutal strokes, as he went for 18 runs in his first over, as the Caribbeansideendedon613after6overs.

The left-hander brought up his 50 off 29 deliveries with his team still needing a further 70 runs in order to sealthedealbutsoonlosthis captain, who was removed by his opposite number Pandya,whograbbedhis3rd wicket.

An incoming Hetmyer, who received a loud cheer from the home crowd, survived a catch review whichshowedtheballmade contact with the ground before going into the fielder’spalmsandfollowed upwitha90metersixwhich brought the crowd to their feet.

‘Hetty’thentookhistotal intothe20’sbutfelltosome wily bowling from Chahal while Pooran also found himselfbackinthePavilion, leaving the West Indies in a bit of trouble with a small deficittowipe.

However, the pair of HoseinandJosephheldtheir nerves while accumulating three highly-required boundaries which in the end helped the pair to see their teamoverthefinishline.

Earlier, Varma despite losing most of his top-order partners, including a dangerous looking Kishan, remained steady during the ebb and flow of India’s innings The 20-year-old, playing his 2nd T20I, paced his innings nicely bringing

penultimate team to become asemifinalists following a dominant 5 – 0 triumph over Charlestown in the third match to send them packing

The one-sided affair saw doubles being scored by Carrington Isaacs and BevonJoneswhileAnthonio Isaacs accounted for the othergoal.

This means St. Ignatius will face the winner of Waramuri Top versus Santa Rosa while Carmel willtakeonD CFoxinthe semifinalround The winners will march on to the finale while the losing team will battleforthird

This edition of the tournament is organised by thePetraOrganisation.

Nicholas Pooran led the West Indies to victory with his

up his half-century off 39 balls, but more importantly digging his team out of a hole.

Shortly thereafter, Hosein landed a double blow, removing India’s topscorer who was out caught and accounting for the wicket of the dangerous SanjuSamson(7).

Pandya, seeing his team’s deficit of overs beginning to thin with wickets also falling, smashedapairoflustysixes off Joseph before being

served a deadly Yorker which sent the India captain packing.

Homeboy Shepherd, reintroduced into the attack, immediately yielded results whenheremovedPatel,who mistimed a short delivery, only to be caught by the gloveman Pooran as overs eventuallyexpired.

Scores: West Indies 155 or 8 (Pooran 67, Pandya 335, Chahal 2-19) beat India 152for7(Tilak51,Joseph228, Shepherd 2-28) by two wickets.

half-century

to

with

Team Corruption, V-Net, Tarmac into Kares T10 semi-finals

Team Corruption, V-Net Vipers and Tarmac Titans stormed into the semi-finals of the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast following their Super Eight showdownsonSaturday.

At Enmore Community CentreCricketClub,thefirst match saw Titans defeating The United Crew by eight wickets.

Battingfirst,Unitedwere bowled out for 58 in 9.4 overs as Rashidi Benjamin bagged 3-19 He was supportedbyDexterGeorge, Rawle Merrell and Azad Mohamed with two wickets each. Sylvan Williams top scored with 16 while Mark Williams (14) and Collin DeJonge (10) were the only other batsmen to make doublefigures.

Titans cruised to victory, requiring just 18 balls to reach 63 for two. Sachin Singh piloted the chase with 27 from 11 balls and added 42 for the opening wicket withEarlGilkes(20).

In the second match, Vipers registered a 16-run win over Village Rams after posting 122 for five and limiting Rams to 106 for sevenbythetimetheirovers expired.

KevonBoodietopscored for Vipers with 30 from just 10 balls. David Williams chipped in with 25 and cameos from Quinten Sampson (21) and Richie Looknauth (15) ensured them a respectable total ClintonPestanopickedup330 for Rams. When Rams batted,JoshuaJonesensured

Vipers their place in the semi-finalsaftertaking5-17, the first five-wicket haul of thecompetition.

Omesh Dhanram played thelonehandwiththebatfor Rams, scoring 49 from 25 balls. His innings was laced with four sixes and three fours.AkeemVieriamade16 andLeonSwamyscored12.

Corruption secured the final spot in the play-offs after a six-wicket win over Avinash All Stars. Avinash All Stars posted 104 for seven with Ramnaresh Sarwanleadingthecharge.

The skipper top scored with 36 from 22 with his innings highlighted by four sixes.

RonsfordBeatonwasthe only other batsman to reach doublefigureswith19while

Extras propped up the score with23.

Ashmead Nedd and Nicholas Persaud picked up two wickets each for Corruption.

Beaton returned to give his side hope of defending their score with 2-19 but Nichosie Barker and others haddifferentplans.

Barker top scored with 31 from 13, hitting three sixes and two fours before being bowled by an inswingerfromBeaton.

Steven Sankar then picked up where Barker left off, hitting 26 from 10 balls while Raymond Perez saw hissideoverthelinewith21 notoutfrom11balls.

The action heads to Providence on Saturday August 12 where EcclesAll Star play Corruption and TarmacTitanstakeonV-Net Vipers. The finals will be playedunderlights. Admission is free while there will be lots of giveaways and fun for patrons.

T&T 3-Star Boxing Referees/Judges Assessor James Beckles to conduct two-day seminar here

AssessorwithintheEnglishspeaking Caribbean, will conduct an intermediary forum to provide clarity and educate the respective participants on the recent rule changes that were implemented by the world governing body, the International Boxing Association(IBA).

Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, will serve as the setting for the theoretical assessments Both workshops are being conducted with the sole purpose of improving the quality of local refereeing andjudging.

advancementofrefereesand judges, who are pivotal members of the sport’s human capital, is synonymouswiththegrowth and development of the discipline.

prestigious

Beckles will also administer a beginner seminar to emerging and aspiring participants. Both forums will occur from the 16th-20th.

Practicalevaluationswill occur during the morning period at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, whilst the National

The joint services in the formoftheGuyanaDefence Force, the Guyana Police Force, and the Guyana Prison Service have also beeninvitedtopartakeinthe respectiveseminars.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle said, “The two forums are of the GBA’s developmentalapparatus.As anassociation,weinherently recognize that the

This is the soft infrastructure that we have continued to enhance and evolve each year Boxing cannot develop without the advancementofitstechnical and judicial officers. We are awareofsucharealitywhich is a best practice within the international sporting fraternity, and simply not an actuality or element of boxing.Thisisdevelopment personified!”

He further said, “The

seminars are also twop r o n g e d i n t h e i r developmental scope. The decision to invite the joint services,whohaveacultural and historical affinity and heritage within the discipline,wasdonewiththe simplepremiseofexpanding the pool of judges and refereeswhichwillservethe long-termgrowthofboxing. This is a mechanism for blooding and exposing new talent who will eventually transition into the senior realms of authority within their respective judging and refereeing corp This is certainly an investment for the future that will benefit thesport.”

V-Net Vipers celebrate the dismissal of Akeem Vieria.

James Beckles

Omesh Danram carried the fight to V-Net but it was not enough.

Track athletes take centre stage today at at Commonwealth Youth Games

Allattentionisset on the Hasley C r a w f o r d Stadium today as the track and field events kick off for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad andTobago.

Guyana’s standout athlete, Tianna Springer, aims to enhance her already remarkable collection of achievements by securing a Commonwealth Youth

…swimmers miss the mark at Aquatics Centre

Games medal in the women’s400mevent.

Springer, 15, currently holds the record for the South American U20 Championship in the 400m, having clinched victory in the same event earlier this year She also secured the goldmedalinthe400matthe 2023CARIFTAGames.

Another athlete to watch is Narissa McPherson, participatinginthewomen’s

400m.

Adding to the roster is Attoya Harvey, a double medallist at the CARIFTA Games and the CARICOM 10kchampion,competingin thewomen’s1500mevent.

Javon Roberts, a medallist at the CARIFTA Games,issettochallengein themen’s1500m.

Meanwhile, during the openingdayofswimmingat the NationalAquatic Centre in Couva, two Guyanese swimmersfailedtoadvance.

Ariel Rodrigues participated in the women’s 50m butterfly, finishing in second place with a time of 30.54 seconds. Despite her strong performance, it wasn’t sufficient for her to advancetothenextround.

Rodriguesalsocompeted in the women’s 200m freestyle, clocking in at 2:29.75 but falling short of progressingtothenextstage.

AsforElliottGonsalves, his time of 2:05.00 in the men’s200mfreestyledidnot secure his advancement to thenextround.

Both Rodrigues and Gonsalvesaresettoreturnto the pool today, and the upcoming competition will mark Shareefah Lewis’ inaugural appearance in the event.

Javon Roberts will be eager to leave his mark in the Men’s 1500m today

Guyanese track and field athletes will be on show today in Trinidad and Tobago.

Nicholas Pooran teed off against India. (AFP/Getty

Romario Shepherd celebrates after dismissing Ishan Kishan. (Associated Press)