K
AIETEUR NEWS
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
Fishermen
concerned about
Sunday Edition
'oily substance' floating in Atlantic
December 05, 2021 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
Price $140
…fearful oil companies may be silent about likely spill
Online readership yesterday, 69,564
Pres. Joe Biden to increase royalties for Exxon & others
- says current arrangement with oil companies short-changes Americans Guyana has Substantial pay an attractive increases depend investment on renegotiating package the oil contracts - Oil Minister tells Toronto Summit
- Dr. Jailall
Ignore influx of foreign ...locals must 'pool resources companies in order to compete' - Pres. Ali tells manufacturers
Thirty companies express interest in gas-to-shore project
The protest continues for change to ExxonMobil’s contract.
Yellowtail EIA “significantly - Environmentalist deficient” on waste management Listen to how oil companies are boasting about making US billions yearly, while GWI is cutting off poor people’s water at Christmas. Equatorial Guinea was once dubbed the fastest growing economy in the world, just like Guyana, but after 25 years of oil production and still pumping, these people are labelled the poorest on earth while their President and family are among the richest in the world. @ 11am, 4&7pm on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM Kaieteur Block owner emerges from the shadows into the insurance sector with T&T partner; while Guyana waits for Jagdeo to get Exxon to acknowledge US$2B insurance coverage, don’t be surprised if Ryan Perreira’s Company steps in.
Kaieteur News
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Sunday December 05, 2021
Fishermen concerned about ‘oily substance’ floating in Atlantic …fearful oil companies may be silent about likely spill Some fishermen operating in the Atlantic Ocean offshore Guyana are expressing growing concerns over what they describe as an oily film floating at different points, leading many in the industry to believe that the oil companies might be covering up a possible oil
spill. According to reports received by this publication from a number of fisher folk operating from Essequibo to Berbice, the oil floating in the water could possibly be the cause for the decline in their fish catch. According to reports, up to yesterday, the black oily
substance could be seen as close to the coast in the vicinity of the Anna Regina koker in Region Two. This publication also spoke with some fishermen from the Berbice area who reported sightings similar to those reports emanating from the Essequibo Coast. This publication has
since been provided with a number of video footage c a p t u r e d b y d i ff e r e n t individuals from various p o i n t s i n G u y a n a ’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where the fishermen would ply their trade. The videos depict a dark, sometimes foamy film floating on the ocean
A screen grab of the footage obtained by this publication purportedly of oil in the Atlantic Ocean, alongside a fishing vessel.
surface. In a number of the videos, sailors could be overheard shouting, words to the effect of “oil, this is oil; this got to be from an oil spill.” Based on reports from the numerous individuals that this publication spoke with, many are of the view that, one or more of the oil operations in the EEZ, could be encountering difficulties that they are not reporting. Some have bluntly claimed that the companies are being deliberately silent. When this publication reached out to the Civil
Defence Commission (CDC), it was revealed that while the agency is in receipt of similar reports, the locations are sketchy. It was pointed out that the CDC has been told of more sightings off the Mahaica coast. The official said that a specific location is yet to be determined but that the reports are that there is a possible oil leakage either from vessels or the production operations. A team is expected to be deployed shortly, according to the CDC official.
Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Yellowtail EIA “significantly deficient” on waste management - Environmentalist By Davina Baggot Oil giant ExxonMobil has failed to outline in its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Yellowtail development, exactly how much waste would be generated and if the present facilities can accommodate same, even though this is a requirement by the regulatory body, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is according to Environmentalist, Simone Mangal-Joly. In an invited comment, she said, “The Ye l l o w t a i l E I A i s significantly deficient in many ways. One of those ways is it does not account for how toxic waste brought to shore will be disposed of for the full life of the project. It treats very superficially with amounts of waste versus capacity for treatment and disposal for the lifetime of the project. Basically, it says that the current facilities and Haags Bosch site can handle it for now and new sites will be identified in the future. This is unacceptable.” Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), a subsidiary of Exxon in its Revised Cradle to Grave Waste Report alluded to systems it has lined up for the treatment and storage of waste; however, the document noted that of the four facilities, there are three that have no definitive startup period. The planned waste management facilities include a new integrated waste management facility (IWMF) at GYSBI for managing wastes that are generated from offshore operations and is expected to be operational in July 2021. The (Sustainable Environmental Solutions) SES facility will employ various hazardous and nonhazardous waste management technologies, including hot oil thermal desorption, incineration, decanter/centrifuge separation, wastewater treatment, waste shredding, container crusher/baling, and container washing operations. Secondly in line is an Oilfield Waste Management Services (OWMS) for which a permit application has been submitted to the EPA. The OWMS will be a 5,000 square metres (m2) drilling waste processing plant in the
Little Diamond EBD area (located approximately five kilometres (km) south of GYSBI). It will employ thermal desorption separator (hammer mill) technology to treat drilling mud but it is unknown when the plant will become operational. The third facility for Exxon’s waste management is also still awaiting approval. Environmental Waste Management Services Guyana Inc. (EWMSG) submitted a permit application for the construction and operation of a waste treatment (bioremediation) facility for mud sludge generated from activities in the Oil and Gas sector. The proposed location of the facility is at Friendship, East Bank Demerara. According to a EPA Public Notice issued in December 2020, the operation will involve the development of two treatment ponds lined with High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Geomembrane liners and contained by 91.4cm high berms. In addition, four existing structures will be repaired and developed into administrative units, laboratories, storage areas, and homes for caretakers. A screen will be constructed to separate the office area from the treatment ponds. “The status of this application is not currently known, and it is also unknown when the EWMSG facility would become operational,” the Cradle to Grave Waste Report said. The fourth project, which is also yet to become operational will be housed at
Environmentalist, Simone Mangal-Joly the Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI). According to the report, “The non-hazardous wastewater from this washing operation is currently collected and treated in on-site evaporators—there is no discharge of this wastewater. This location is being considered as part of a feasibility assessment for developing a new Protectors Grinding and Pelletizing to exclusively and specifically manage used plastic drill pipe thread protectors that are generated from the pipe handling operations. Pipe thread protectors are designed to protect the critical threads of the steel pipes during storage, handling, and transport, and tens of thousands of these metal reinforced plastic caps will be generated as a result of offshore well installation operations. These used plastic caps will first be subject to grinding to separate the plastic and metal parts, and the plastic will then be
melted and pelletized and returned to the original manufacturer as a raw material for the production of new plastic caps. The recovered metal will also be recycled. Although being considered, it is uncertain when this type of facility would move forward at this location.” Mangal-Joly in her comments to this newspaper was keen to note that in the absence of such provisions, ExxonMobil must address this deficiency in the Yellowtail EIA. She argued, “This matter should be of concern to all Guyanese. The quantities of toxic and other waste being brought to shore, health, and ecological risks of each of their constituent parts, and how they are treated and disposed of are critical issues, as the toxic waste treatment facilities are in areas where people live, all are high risk for flooding and creating a toxic soup on the coast, and our coastal groundwater aquifers are at risk. We stand to lose a lot. We need to understand the value of what we currently have and risk losing, both in terms of quality of life and health and monetary terms, and to protect ourselves and our valuable natural resources that could be despoiled.” In fact, she said that the Yellowtail EIA cannot be accepted as it stands, especially since oil was discovered since 2015. The Environmentalist believes that this approach serves to hide the shorebased impacts, including the cumulative impacts over time, from public scrutiny
and from the impact assessment process. Even more importantly, it is in violation of the Environmental Protection Act. Mangal-Joly insisted, “The Environmental Protection Act does not permit either the EEPGL or the EPA to cherry pick parts of a project for consideration in an EIA and leave out other parts. Section 5(a)(1) of the Environmental Protection Act is clear, the EIA – must address the “physical characteristics of the whole project and land use requirements”. The precise wording of “whole project” is meaningful because if you look at the lessons learned from early EIA processes in the 1990s, there was a lot of skullduggeries whereby some authorities were acting in collusion with companies to fragment a single project into parts that were addressed by different EIA processes to hide the true project impact and/or to expedite approvals. We must keep our eye on when this type of fragmentation is happening here in Guyana.” In the case of Yellowtail, and all offshore oil and gas activities waste generated offshore is brought to shore. This waste only exists because of the activity o f f s h o r e . “ Yo u c a n ’ t arbitrarily cut off the EIA at the point where the waste is brought onshore, you must
account for the impacts of all the waste from cradle to grave, over the entire lifetime of the project, including the cumulative e f f e c t s , ” t h e Environmentalist pointed out. As such, she said that a proper EIA would address the exact amounts of waste for the life of the project, the capacity and safety of treatment facilities, as well as the capacity and safety of the final resting place or dumpsite for the waste. Mangal-Joly noted that deterring such matters to the future amounts to a failure to meet the basic threshold of an impact assessment. “The courts have ruled that an EIA cannot defer the quantification and assessment of waste impacts to a future date or dissociate such waste from their original source. So, in terms of our Environmental Protection Act and case law, these matters are not up for debate. To be valid, an EIA must address the waste impacts completely and the current EIA produced by ERM for the Esso, Hess and C N O O C c o n s o r t i u m ’s Yellowtail project does not meet this threshold,” she contended.
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Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Exxon to Guyana - Don’t worry, trust us ‘Only in Guyana’ is not a cliché anymore, but a confirmed fact of life. Nowhere is this more obvious than in how we manage this oil blessing of ours, which daily assumes all the aspects of a cruel curse. In fact, it is more accurate to say not how we (Guyana) handle this massive oil wealth, but how Exxon manages it for us and, in the process, manages our present and our future. And all the while, every step of the way, how this American oil monster makes rings around us. Nowhere else in the world could something like this be happening. Specifically, where 3.7 million barrels of offshore discharges could occur daily for some 20 years hence, not too far into the future, and the company doing that mammoth amount of daily offshore discharging sets its own standards, calls its own shots (KN November 30). This is the dangerous, possibly deadly, underbelly of our oil productions that nobody else wants to talk about, are sometimes not even interested in listening to, because it conflicts with their narratives, their ambitions. “Offshore discharges” represent a clinical term. It is what is a part, the many ingredients, of the 3.7 million barrels dumped daily that brings pausing and recoiling. This can’ be good, by any calculation, any rational thinking, whatever any advocate says. A partial list only points to numerous elements that harbour harm for this country: drill cuttings and fluids; cement; well completion and treatment fluids; produced water; cooling water; sulfate removal, ultra-filtration, and wash water processing brines; topsides drainage; hydrostatic test water; commissioning fluids; ballast water; and blowout preventer testing fluids. Almost all of those possess some toxic feature, but this is what we are not concerned about, that which we take with a grin on our chin. We are so unconcerned that we do nothing. Truth be told, there is great discomfort and deeper distaste for those few who dare to bring things like these up and shout: Problems and dangers and likely devastations are in the making. It is yet another instance in Guyana of the sincere and truthful and nationalist messenger disliked, even hated. Still, these stories have to be told, these sordid truths revealed, whatever the prices that have to be paid. Reality is already creeping closer to home, and in a place that hurts. Our fishermen have been complaining continually and bitterly, as they are in agony: they live with circumstances where their catch is declining, where it is not even worth them putting out to sea, so bare it is that they can’t even cover their expenses, gain something for their toils. Fishermen are not a powerful, well-connected constituency in the local population, so there is not much listening to their cries. But they are hurting, and we, the Guyanese consumers, are hurting with them. There is a phrase for these things - it is called collateral damage, or the price of progress. And because we live in a different time, where the best defense is appearing concerned and sincere, and going through the motions, there is another phrase named damage control, which now takes the form of a study to determine if something is really wrong, and how bad it is. The fate of our fishermen is our first warning of things in the making, and the next 20 years of dumping wastes offshore are sure to bring their own calamities that this small nation is sure to buckle under, from the sheer weight of them all. We are just a small nation, but a land of small men with smaller minds and the smallest particles of truth and integrity in them. This is why an Exxon could get away with what is the equivalent of the premeditated murder of a whole nation, and very few stir into action. Six years later, and we still have no laws that lay the groundwork of standards that protect us, manage our risks or balance our possibilities. No! we are proud to let Exxon, a voracious corporate predator, if ever there was one, to set standards (safety nets) for Guyana. This is more than playing with fire, and shaking hands with the devil. It is contributing to tragedies.
GPL’s response to concerned Trade Unionist DEAR EDITOR, In response to a letter published in your newspaper on Friday, December 3, 2021, under the caption “GPL Management tells Union that ‘expired’ Board is yet to sanction increases for Staff,” the
Guyana Power & Light Inc. (GPL) wishes to unequivocally inform readers that its singular correspondence to the Union dated November 25, 2021, on the matter of salary increases, respectfully referred to Management’s re-
quest for guidance from ‘GPL’s Board of Directors’ and NOT the ‘expired Board of Directors,’ as incorrectly stated in the letter penned by the Concerned Trade Unionist. GPL’s Management re-
mains cognisant of the expectations of its valued staff and is committed to realistically meeting those expectations. Respectfully, Public Relations Unit Guyana Power and Light Inc.
BUILD BETTER ROLE MODELS FROM A BASIS OF EDUCATIONAL ENLIGHTENMENT DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Muhammad Alli in his letter on December 3, 2021, totally misunderstood and consequently misrepresented the importance of Minister Charles Ramson, Jr.’s statement and what’s going - on in USA, United Kingdom and Canada. The sad reality is that the Minister’s sentiment has been oft repeated in all three countries to detract from the true achievements of out of power groups. Of course, the
statement was patently false from its first utterance. We’re in a world where thoughtfulness takes the hindmost position to feelings. The Minister’s statement was not innocuous. In fact, the statement underscored his social bias, myopia and misunderstanding of what’s the true make-up citizens of Guyana. In Guyana, where we laud the reality of six peoples, Minister Ramson’s statement blows up that image. So, all
six peoples need to look to their own for success images? For the most part, two groups have dominated the politics and power since Independence. The basic idea that I recall from school days is that if one person, be they white, blue, black, pink or whatever, can do something, then I can do it, too. Education was the process of building your own models. What I did was look for favourable characteristics
in people and strive to model. It seems that one of the true functions of government is to provide upliftment opportunities to all six peoples. The motto should be if one ‘people’ succeeds, then another ‘people’ could, and should, because this is Guyana. Of course, on this score, the governments in the last decade and a half have failed the citizens. What has been taking place all along is (Continued on page 6)
Sunday December 05, 2021
Mr. Harmon should know: you cannot fool all the people all the time DEAR EDITOR, When will our politicians realise they are now dealing with an entirely new generation of Guyanese who are smarter, more politically minded and aware of what is going on? It is hardly likely that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) would jeopardise its integrity by falsely arresting ex-Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan for vesting State lands, particularly Guyana largest wharf facilities situated in Kingston, Georgetown worth forty mil-
lion US dollars. Vesting is a legal term that means to give or earn a right to a present or future payment, asset, or benefit. For Mr. Joseph Harmon to say, “there was no justification for the action by the police in arresting former Finance Minister Winston Jordan, and that the arrest is another vile, malicious and vindictive act of political witch hunting by the PPP/C regime that is not evidence-based, but is rooted in depravity” is so weak that anyone with a little sense of
law will know SOCU will not open itself to lawsuits. Surely, Mr. Harmon knows one of the most famous sayings attributed to Abraham Lincoln about deception is: You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. There is an old Guyanese proverb everyone in Guyana is aware of: Moon ah run ‘til day ketch um. Yours truly, Gloria Holder
Imperative that EPA learns to balance safety with output DEAR EDITOR, It is encouraging that the EPA has taken recent steps to relook at its processes and reevaluate the need for an EIA in the new proposed well. This should foster improved understanding of what will be occurring. It was very concerning to hear that the use of the conservative view of pollution was misunderstood at such a high level within the agency. It was conservative on pollution because it takes the worst case or highest level of theoretical production to consider the extent of potential pollution. This, however, is the opposite of taking a conservative approach on the safe levels of production. For the safest levels of production, the EPA should be
considering a factor of safety that minimises potential failure, while maximising output. The designed-in safety factor will help guide better decisions, as the agency will better understand how much stronger the system is vs. the designed load. If the factor of safety is low, then a lower percentage of the designed load should be taken. This will help prevent reaching premature failure.The training that is occurring at the agency to strengthen its personnel and organisational capabilities to better monitor the new Oil and Gas Sector is important and should continue to be developed. However, it must be remembered that the details of what is occurring continues to be important at the opera-
tional level, and the monitoring systems in place need to be both robust and thorough to capture the status of critical failure points within the system. Norway and other countries, with a record of very safe offshore drilling operations in the industry, should be consulted to develop an effective monitoring programme for Exxon and other suppliers. Preventing environmental damage should continue to be the first priority, as losses from a major oil spill could eliminate the economic gains obtained over the useful life of the sector.Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana
The people would not be wrong to conclude that politics in Guyana is organised crime DEAR EDITOR, Guyana was under pall of darkness last year. For five months, this country was exposed to the naked ambition of a handful of men and women who wickedly wielded their powers to delay handing over power after an embarrassing elections’ loss. There was a sigh of relief, despite the pandemic, that some level of normalcy and stability could shadow our lands once again. Alas, 16 months into President Irfaan Ali’s presidency, there are deeply troubling signs that speak to cronyism and a clear path of sidelining Guyanese who are perceived to be of a different political inclination. It is the foregone conclusion that a few powerful business persons and families have dug in their heels and believe it is their time, come
what may. Leading the pack is a prominent businessman who appears to be the golden child of this administration. Let us not mistake the issue that is on the table here. The issue about our oil deals has to do with the arrangements and the benefits that Guyana relinquished in signing so quickly with ExxonMobil. The devil is in the details. Guyana could have been so far ahead of the game and its people assured of at least something good had our politicians been more honest. There can be no explanation or excuse that would do away with the travesty of the ExxonMobil oil deals. This government has done little to reverse the sentiments but has preferred to join the now Opposition in defending the indefensible. I raise the oil deals analogy as it is applicable in the
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case how this administration is wantonly, nay, blatantly and barefacedly allowing itself to be bullied by a number of businesses. One of them leading the pack has been receiving so many contracts and concessions and privileges that Guyana has been stunned into silence. Forget the smiling faces who pose for the photos, handing over a few dollars. Pay attention to the billions that are slipping out the backdoor because the procurement systems have been manipulated or just blatantly cast aside and unilateral awards taken. Surely, President Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who has an iron-fisted control of the PPP, cannot be oblivious of the deep concerns of our people. It has (Continued on page 6)
CHALLENGES WITH BUYING/ DEALING WITH ONE’S OWN ONLY DEAR EDITOR, Buying from your own may sound nice to some people, but unless they are just talking about black pudding or plantain chips, the practicality of doing so is undoable. Tell me if those proposing to buy from your own actually do so themselves. As an example, when they
want to travel, do they buy from their own? What about things like electricity, water, telecommunication services? How exactly do you go about buying from your own? How about cars? Do the car dealers buy from their own? Don’t let me get started on computers and mobile phones.
What about renting houses? Do you then rent to your own? Are you seriously suggesting that Guyanese put up signs saying, “No Indians”, “no Africans”, “no Amerindians”, etc. when renting their house? Yours faithfully, Sean Ori
WHY THOSE RESIGNING FROM ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE ONLY DOING SO NOW? DEAR EDITOR, Almost on the eve of the elections, conflict of interest members have resigned from the accreditation committee. Since the process began, these members, openly supporting candi-
dates for the leadership position and who have vested interests in the outcome of the elections, were integrally involved. Now all of a sudden, it appears as though they have done the decent and
honourable thing. It is mind boggling that a process touted as fair and transparent could allow this glaring anomaly to go on for so long? Shamshun Mohamed
CELL OF RAGE DEAR EDITOR, In a year or two, the black hair of youth turned grey. Somber lines on his face drawn; he stumbled like an old man. For forty years, he never saw the face of the rising sun. For forty years, he never broke bread with a fellow human. His companions were the dreaded silence and the vermin,the unremitting darkness, and howling winds. He raged and cried; he pounded his fists against the walls.Blood mingled with his sweat, and the tears on his concrete bed. Each day a bowl was pushed into a narrow slot. He stared at the
same cold rice and rotten meat. He crushed a few roaches to mix in the stinking soup. He longed for a piece of that warm corn bread, and pumpkin pie, Mama every Friday would make. He raged and raged against his fate until there was no more rage left in his heart to burn. Then he sank unto his knees; he prayed for his sanity to keep. But each ray of light into his cell turned into a darkness sinister and bleak. He dreamt of the world taken from him: the sunset, a gull gliding over the cliffs, the embrace of a maiden, and a sweet kiss. But the forbidden cell mocked his every dream;
the bars of steel grew taller with each tortured season.And when he was exonerated, and walked out a freed man,he gazed at a world he could scarcely understand. The forests were all gone. He saw jungles of gleaming unending miles of asphalt and concrete. Ribs of steel stretched into the clouds.Jets screamed over his head. A screen he held was a tablet. But forty seasons of sorrows were drowned, when he saw the resplendent face of the rising sun. Sincerely, Haimnauth Cecil Ramkirath
IT’S A FISHY BUSINESS DEAR EDITOR, Over the years, there have been many issues I’ve touch on, and some require firsthand knowledge or in-depth examination. I did see many issues being printed and certain information being conveniently omitted or missed. That sometimes would cause heated discussions or mislead people and create many problems. Many media operatives would selectively submit what they wanted to disclose to the public at times and would be considered mischievous, depending on the media house agenda. Recently, a few from the fishing industry raise a concern about the scarcity of fish in the sea and hints that the exploration and drilling of oil are the reason for such. The government also seems supportive of that theory and signals their interest to conduct a study to see if indeed that’s the situation and would be seeking remedies to address the situation. No doubt, that would end up being a
costly project and would also possibly pave the way for corruption. Even though I’m sympathetic for the effects happening to everyone due to the shortage, the fishermen and government are not being fully honest to the public. Editor, being an inquisitive person, I’ve managed to make friends with many fishermen and fishing boat owners and was privileged to go on fishing trips and also gain first-hand information. Oil exploration and drilling are in Guyana for a few years, but it’s unreasonable to believe the fishing industry would be reduced so drastically because of that. There are hundreds or maybe a little over a thousand fishing boats in Guyana, and the government over the years failed to monitor the fishing industry properly. Many fishing boats would make catches and they would decide if they wanted to keep or throw away the dead fishes. Many fishes would be very small and un-
usable and because of the fishing method used to catch them, most would be dead before going onto the boats, and then they would be discarded back into the sea. Fishes and shrimps have breeding seasons and whilst the trawlers would be forced to halt fish/shrimp catching, other fishing vessels are allowed, and that severely impacts the growth. Fishermen continuously use certain working areas that they refer to as ‘work ground’ and many captains only know to go to work grounds instead of exploring other fishing grounds. Trawlers cause tremendous damage to the seabeds and that affects the fishes/ shrimps, causing them to migrate to other places. Before oil exploration, we’ve been hearing of Guyanese fishing vessels being caught in other countries fishing illegally, and whilst many boats obtain a licence to fish in other countries, many continue to do so (Continued on page 6)
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DON’T ISOLATE AND PUNISH COUNTRIES WITH OMICRON VIRUS DEAR EDITOR, Poor countries should be rewarded for quickly disclosing their COVID cases, particularly the deadly Omicron (figures or studies are not readily available on how deadly) and Delta. It will be recalled that China was severely criticised for not forthcoming on the number of COVID-19 cases and its origin. The virus outbreak was in November 2020 although some scientists feel it merged earlier. Had the public been informed instantly by China, measures would have been taken to limit its spread. The virus has now become pandemic. When India was transparent and provided full access to its cases in April/May, it was severely criticised for giving away vaccines rather than save them for its population to combat the virus. No one bothered to mention the number of lives India saved globally by sharing vaccines. Yes, India should have saved vaccines for her population; the same way, the developed western countries did and forsook the rest of the world.
Then what would the critics have said – India was selfish – their description of the wealthy countries. If India had not shared tens of millions of vaccines, then many, many people would have died. Isolating countries is a punishment for their transparency. It will become a disincentive to report their cases or the presence of Omicron. Omicron has been found in several other countries besides in southern Africa. It was found in the Netherland before it was found in South Africa. Germany and Belgium also found the virus before South Africa. The virus was present in several countries. It may not have come from South Africa. The UK and the US also have it though we are not sure when it was discovered and there is limited information on contact tracing. This suggests that the virus developed independently of contact. Netherland, Belgium, and Germany are not punished although their borders are largely closed. Other countries could also have the virus but some of them lack the facilities to do sequenc-
ing. Greater monitoring, surveillance, and contact tracing are needed. The developed countries should praise and reward South Africa, Botswana, and other southern African countries for their openness and transparency in quickly informing the world about their COVID cases and sharing the information on the makeup (genetic sequencing) of Omicron virus just as India did with the Delta virus. Instead of isolating these countries, the wealthy countries should provide them incentives – grants and development aid, testing kits, and sufficient vaccines to combat the spread of the virus. The virus poses a global risk. A coordinated system is needed to prevent the spread of the virus – testing and vaccines. Meanwhile, the developed countries should help the poor countries. They should donate more vaccines especially to the poorer countries that they have closed their borders to in order to reduce the risk of more infection. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
Better way and calibre of persons needed for presidency DEAR EDITOR, There is no doubt that every Guyanese welcomes electoral reform. It is hoped that there will be wide consultations of all stakeholders. In fact, any reform that doesn’t enjoy full participation of the wider populace is considered dictatorial. I hope to hear more from the champions of democracy. I am not sure how I can have my views considered, but I decided to pen my thoughts. My concern is who becomes president of our country in the near future. Our
present system of any person nominated by the respective parties can become president. This system is badly flawed and given our racial divide, I don’t believe it allows us to have the best and the most suitably qualify person for the highest office of this land. I do not wish to comment on our pass presidents, except to say we must do better. I believe there must be minimum qualification and experience requirements to fit the task of leading our country. It is my view that such individuals should be between ages of 55 and 70
years old. The person must have integrity and be free of a criminal record. The person must be free of any racist accusations and has the ability to be a true national leader, regardless of race, religion or party. It is time Guyana has a win-win president, who all Guyanese can work with after any election is over.It is time we have the best of the best to occupy the highest office of this land. Let us make Guyana a true nation of “one people, one nation with one destiny”. Yours sincerely, C. Woolford
Build better role models from... From page 6 basically – Get the ball bowl, out fuh play! Based on the facts on the ground, what has been happening is the obvious and evident outsized forward progress of adherents and sycophants of the party in
Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
power. Mr. Alli’s reference to the three countries is laughable. The USA, United Kingdom, and Canada were built on the premise of white supremacy. The reality is that all the citizens of those countries
made sizeable development contributions. What has been going on over there is the drive for equitable overall representation and rejection of the white supremacy nonsense. Sincerely, Phil Edwards
Issues beginning for attention DEAR EDITOR, There are two issues begging for attention. 1. The arrest of former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, last Thursday is the Irfaan Ali regime continuing to execute their pre-election threats of locking up and jailing those who worked with the APNU+AFC government. The President and his ministers would find it difficult to convince society the timing of Jordan’s arrest was not aimed to keep him in the lockup over the weekend as was done to Colvin London, Trevor Benn and others. The government is playing a dangerous game and need not fool themselves their actions will not have consequences.I was a member of the Privatisation Board when that Kingston Wharf was approved to be privatised and the beneficiary identified as B.K International. The company that was originally recommended to acquire the wharf bid approximately $2
billion but when their bonafide was brought into question, the bid was taken off the table. The second highest bid, which was below $1 billion, was that of BK. It is instructive that over the life of the PPP/C government, this deal was not finalised, but it is important to note acquisition of the property was sealed by the Privatisation Board under the Bharrat Jagdeo government. 2. We must raise our voices in unison and call for President Irfaan Ali, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, and any other in the government that do not pay income tax to start paying. The spirit and intent behind the nonpayment of taxes, which began during the Forbes Burnham government, have outlived its usefulness. The spirit and intent were to allow persons to take home more pay without increasing the salaries of the operatives. Over the years, successive PPP/C governments have
increased their salaries and are still not paying income taxes. They are earning hundreds of thousands and even millions per month, but the ordinary worker who has to live on $80,000 per month is paying income tax. This is the party that is seeking to fool society that they are working class centered when in their world, some are more equal than some and for them, they must always be the ones economically better off. If they are not guided by conscience, they should be guided by Judge Fidel Corbin-Lincoln’s ruling, last month, that income tax exemptionisunconstitutional. The present Constitution of Guyana states that any law that is in contravention of the Constitution is null and void. We the people must demand, starting this month, the President, Attorney General and others respect the Constitution and CorbinLincoln’s ruling. Lincoln Lewis
The people would not be wrong... From page 5 been placed out there time and again. Surely, they are not so blind. This situation is not about giving a local a few contracts. It speaks to other less wellresourced contractors who are being sidelined. These contractors lost because they lack connections and money to pass under the table. They dare not speak or else face blacklisting. Shut up and sit in the corner, our contractors are being told. We cannot argue it is jobs and businesses for our locals when one set of people is getting it. Some have thrown in their hands knowing they are holding the aces. How else after knowing even the US has blacklisted you from travelling that you can sit pretty?
The disguise and protection of our Muslim community is being used shamefully. Our people are facing a different kind of evil. This time, a new government, one that jerks the puppet strings of politicians, is sitting in a business office. Who is the real president or prince or sheikh you may ask? We are clearly in a dictator mode. The people would not be wrong to conclude that politics in Guyana is organised crime. It is simply. How do you explain our leaders mingling under mosques and mandirs with smugglers, money launderers, and murderers and not doing anything, at the very least, to maintain an arm’s length approach? Surely, the ABC and EU countries, with their intelli-
gence arm, cannot be blind to what is happening? Surely, they must be told that corruption, cronyism and illegalities have been manifesting itself under the PPP and that it is being nurtured. Editor, this is not the Guyana, which the people signed up for. This is not what President Ali and VP Jagdeo promised. They must know 2025 is tearing at the reins and the voting population will not be that forgiving. The voting patterns have changed.We placed the PPP out in 2015 and rejected APNU+AFC in 2020. We demand a government that does not represent one set of rich people but that of the interests of all Guyanese. Yours sincerely, A. Khan
It’s a fishy business... From page 5 illegally.In addition, fishing boats from other countries also enter Guyana’s water and fish illegally. Whilst many fishing boat owners threaten to sell their boasts, the majority them stay comfortably at home and give their boats to people to work. As a result, there are many places when the captain and crew would take the boat and sell the catch out and party, then go back and tell the owners that things were bad at sea. Then some are referred to as ‘pirates’ where the boat captain and crew would telephone when coming in and the ‘pirates’ would go out with small boats and buy either the shrimps, prawns, or fishes. Certain boats stop crews and captains from go-
ing on boats with cell phones, but they still manage to smuggle phones on the boats to conduct their nefarious activities.Finally Editor, a few years ago, I penned my concerns about the freshwater fishes and for the sake of clarity, I’ll just revisit it as a reference. Years ago, after a few crops, GuySuCo used to flood fields for six months and over, sometimes years, for the fields to produce better yields. The supposed genius government hired to manage GuySuCo gradually reduce the flooding period of the fields tremendously and that affects the canes a lot as well as the production of sugar. Not only was the cane industry affected, but also freshwater fishes/ shrimps also. Because the
fields were being flooded for such long periods, fishes/shrimps were being able to breed properly in the flooded fields and when the water got released into the trenches, the fishes/shrimps got the opportunity to spread out. Because the fields are not being flooded for long periods, the canes and fishes got affected. Now there are many, many trenches in the cane fields that don’t have that many fishes/shrimps. Many of these fields are being converted to housing schemes, which causes me to wonder if the government intended to sabotage the sugar industry for their agenda and was doing it slowly. Sahadeo Bates
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N B T . U . L . L T B . . N . U N U T L N B . U T . . L N N U T B . U . N L U BL BLUNT. B . . T . T T N N U . U L . . L B . T B . . . . N . T U T N N T U N U L L U B . L B . . . . B . T . . T . N N T U N L LU U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B . T L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B . T . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . . LU ...BLUN B T . . . N T U N L U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T . U B . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T BB T...BLU U N L U B . L . . B . T . . N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . . N . B . T . . N T U N N N U L U U B L . BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
This gas-to-shore project is a real fishy story.
Guyana's fish catch is dwindling, and everybody is hiding.
Guyana's waters indicate signs of polluting, but the EPA, the Govt. and the VP are not talking.
Meanwhile, everything is going up, and Guyanese are going down. PPP leaders are taking them for a ride and then taking them down.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 05, 2021
Suriname-based Guyanese fisherman missing after falling overboard
A
Guyanese fisherman who has been living in Paramaribo, Suriname for the
past two and half years, has been deemed missing after he reportedly fell overboard into Suriname waters during a
scuffle with another fisherman. Missing is 33-year-old Vibert Bacchus formerly of Corriverton, Upper Berbice. Kaieteur News was told by his mother, Waneeta Shivgobin, that she got a call on Friday from someone in Suriname informing her that Bacchus has been missing since last Tuesday. She disclosed that based on the information she was
given, her son was working on a fishing boat with several others and had gotten into an argument with one of them. The argument reportedly escalated into a scuffle and both men fell overboard. Shivgobin said that she was told that the man her son was fighting with resurfaced from the water but her son never did and efforts have been made to find his body ever since.
Shivgobin said that despite several days have gone by she is still hoping that “he is okay.” She said that the last time she spoke to her son he had told her that he was “trying to save some money to return to Guyana to live.” According to the woman, the individual with whom Bacchus had a scuffle is currently in police custody in Suriname.
Missing in Suriname waters: Vibert Bacchus
Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
Dem boys seh ...
Progress does mek people run mad Progress does mek some people glad. But it does also mek some people mad. Depending on which side of de political divide yuh deh, yuh does sing and dance when yuh see progress. But some people nah wan see progress when dem side nah deh pun top. And suh every time dem read bout progress dem does get traumatised. Is dat wah happening in Guyana. Deh gat people wah happy with progress. And yuh gat one and two wah distress because of de progress. All Guyanese want
prosperity and some awe leaders does also pray fuh progress. Burnham bin meet God in a dream in 1970 and he bin ask God, “God when will Guyana see prosperity?” God tell he, “In de next 200 years.” Burnham cry because he know dat he wouldn’t deh round to see de progress. Jagan bin meet God in a dream in 1980, He too bin ask God, “When will Guyana see prosperity?” God tell he in another 200 years. Jagan start fuh cry because he tuh bin know he can’t live dat lang. Hoyte also meet God in a
dream in 2000. He ask God de same question, “God when will Guyana see prosperity?” God answer he, “In de next 200 metres.” Now Hoyte bin wan know if was some mistake God mek. He ask heself if God mistake metres fuh years. Why did God say in de next 200 metres? So he pray and ask God fuh explain how Guyana can meet prosperity in de next 200 metres. Luckily fuh he, God answer he. De Creator tell he, “Guyana does move forward one metre every year. Talk half. Leff half.
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Kaieteur News
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Sunday December 05, 2021
BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY!
I
n case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecency in our of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our entire nation.
SUNDAY There was the story of thieves taking up residence in the home of Guyanese on vacation. It reminds us of those with similar traits taking up residence in high offices. But they are not called by that name. They are called respectable names like leaders. MONDAY Exxon is so confident that it is building a 4th FPSO with no Government approval. The PPP Government has given Exxon a free hand to do what it wants. Exxon can bill what it wants, and pay Guyana what it wants for our oil. PPP and Exxon's leaders sleep in the same bed and
know each other's dirty stories. It is why Exxon can behave as though it is running this country. Indeed, EXXON IS RUNNING GUYANA. Our leaders seem very comfortable being the company's puppets and mascots. TUESDAY We have almost the same population, but now we must import fish/shrimp. In all the years, when 'fish ain runnin' Guyana never had to import fish. Today, we import fish, which ordinary Guyanese cannot afford to buy. Exxon says it's not oil related. The PPP is saying nothing, doing nothing. Just like the US$10B in
unaudited bills. Guyanese goose cook, or should we say, 'we fish fry'...that's if we can get it. WEDNESDAY A wise Guyanese said that 'Policing Local Content Legislation crucial.' We agree. But if the 'police' is something like the EPA, then it's goodbye to local content. Guyanese can look forward to getting a local kick-down, a local shovedown, and a local run around. And all thanks to the PPP and its tricky VP of oil. THURSDAY A PNC woman said that 'Granger is the downfall of the PNC/R.' We aren't getting into that, but we know
something. The PNC/R is aiding and abetting the PPP to engineer the downfall of Guyana. The PNC/R's silence is contributing to the downfall of Guyana. The PNC/R's impotence and absence is helping the PPP to deceive Guyanese. FRIDAY Police stats indicate that
'bandits are busier on Saturdays and in the afternoons.' Thank God for small mercies.The street bandits are giving Guyanese a break during the week, while elected and selected bandits are operating daily and 24/7. Some of our leaders, the crooked and greedy ones, happen to be among the fulltime bandits in the land.
SATURDAY Some public servants are so low that they're even stealing the money for feeding programmes for schoolchildren. Public servants are stealing, political leaders are stealing, and all of them are lying and covering-up. Guyanese: how long will this sickness, this nonsense, be tolerated?
Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Almost two months later…
D
Kaieteur News
Sunday December 05, 2021
PS caught in sting operation taking bribe still to be charged
ecember 7 will be two months since Sharon Hicks, a Permanent Secretary (PS) attached to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was caught in a police sting operation taking a bribe from a security services contractor, and she is yet to be officially charged for her unlawful action. Kaieteur News has been seeking updates on the matter and on November 15 last was told that the case has been sent back to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a third time. That was more than three weeks ago. Yesterday, this newspaper reached out to one of the rel-
evant authorities handling the case for an update on the matter and it was revealed that the file is still with the office of the DPP. The PS was caught on October 7, 2021 after the contractor became fed-up of her allegedly demanding a $200,000 kick-back just to sign off some invoices. He had reportedly notified police of her demands and a sting operation was set up. The man agreed to pay Hicks the cash and on the day the money was being handed over, he called in the police and ranks were reportedly able to catch her red handed. She was immediately sent on leave to facilitate an inves-
tigation. Kaieteur News had learnt that the PS had allegedly struck up a deal with the contractor’s father, who was the former owner of the security services company. The deal was that in order for her to secure him a contract with the ministry he had to give her a $200,000 kickback. Unfortunately, he died and his son took over the company and did not know about the deal his father had made with the PS. When she started to demand money he was not in agreement and decided to take legal action. As it relates to the investigation,
the case file has been back and forth from the DPP to investigators. It took three weeks after the PS was caught for the DPP’s office to return the file to police for correction. Investigators did their job and on November 7 Kaieteur News was told that that file was sent back to the DPP for a second time. In a later update, it was revealed that the file was sent back to investigators again for more correction. The police force did as it was told and on November 15, it was revealed that the file was sent back to the DPP for a third time but since then, the PS is yet to appear before the courts.
The PS who was caught red-handed collecting bribe, Sharon Hicks.
Three men are Guyana’s latest COVID-19 fatalities With three more recorded deaths, Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,004. According to the Ministry of Health, the deaths are that of a 62-year-old unvaccinated man from Region One (Barima-Waini) who passed away on December 4, a 54year-old man (whose vacci-
nation status is unknown) from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) who passed away on November 22 and an 82year-old unvaccinated man from Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) who died on November 22. According to the Minis-
try there are 50 new cases and currently a total of 18 are in the country’s COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit. There are 56 patients in institutional isolation, 870 in home isolation and eight in institutional quarantine. To date a total of 36,170 people have recovered from COVID-19
Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
PAGE 13
Guyana has an attractive investment package
- Oil Minister tells Toronto Summit
Guyana this year participated in the Investors Summit in Toronto, Canada, with Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat reaching out to Canadian investors touting potential opportunities available here. During his presentation, Minister Bharrat reportedly used the opportunity to highlight opportunities and outlined incentives for investments in Guyana. According to subsequent public statement by the Natural Resources Ministry, several key areas were emphasised during the virtual participation, including Guyana’s gas to energy project, a favourable fiscal regime, the establishment of a Diaspora Investment Desk
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the facilitation of investments by the Guyana Office for Investment. Investors were also briefed on other non-oil and gas areas for investment such as mining, forestry, manufacturing, and agriculture, while at the same time Minister Bharrat also touted Guyana as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The participation by Guyana at the Canadian Investors Summit comes on the heels of Guyana’s participation at the World’s largest trade fair and expo, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Head of State, President Irfaan Ali had led that
delegation and in his remarks to that confab had also reached out to potential investors taking up opportunities in Guyana. “We need investment to drive our transformative agenda and we are keen on attracting investment across all sectors. I invite you, all of you, to come and do business in my country. We welcome you. We have an open economy and with investor-friendly policies in place, including attractive incentives regimes and laws, which protect the rights to property, and which also allow freedom to repatriate profits,” President Ali said at the time.
Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat during his Zoom presentation to the Toronto confab.
Kaieteur News
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Sunday December 05, 2021
Our Frontline Worker of this Week is…
Dr. Joseph London By Vanessa Braithwaite
S
ince the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare providers, especially those in the public system, have been going above and beyond the call of
duty. Some have done this even as they dealt with uncertainties, financial challenges and public ridicule. Quite a few of them were subjected to infection as they risked their lives daily to help save others. Despite the challenges,
the majority of healthcare workers placed others before themselves and loved ones so they could provide selfless service. Among these valiant health workers is Dr. Joseph London, Medical Superintendent (MS) of the Linden Hospital
C o m p l e x ( L H C ) . D r. London supervised scores of healthcare workers who he saw refused to place themselves first during this pandemic. “I don’t think you can express the bravery, the lack of thought for self that was expressed because this
Dr. Joseph London
was an infectious disease that you weren’t really sure how it was transmitted…it was a disease that had a mortality rate. Health care professionals stepped up, we saw people dealing with the uncertainties and still coming to work,” he told Kaieteur News. F o r D r. L o n d o n , continuing to provide much needed health care has in fact been “labour of love,” as he continued to serve, even when he lost his mother to COVID-19. In fact, he said the only time off he took, was to attend her funeral. He did not get the chance to grieve the loss of such a close family member as he had agreed to cut vacation time just so he could return to the hospital to
grieving relatives in a more humane and conscientious manner, so as not to cause them more distress during their grieving period. L o o k i n g b a c k , D r. London said he is grateful to his mother for her unwavering support during his academic journey to become a highly esteemed doctor. In fact, he said she had motivated him to return to Linden, to fulfill a need for more doctors there. Dr. London, who was born and raised in Linden, said he always had an interest in science, but more so Environmental Science. After school, he worked for 18 months at the Guyana Revenue Authority, before being invited to apply for a scholarship to study
“It was very challenging for patients with chronic diseases, those services were being neglected. For example, surgeries, we had a huge backlog but we managed to clear these up with a team from the US. Almost all of our general and gynecological surgeries were carried out.” manage its clinical affairs. But seeing his mother lose the battle to COVID-19, he said, was a defining moment. “That was a defining moment for me. She was one of the reasons I came back to Linden and a lot of time I felt as though I had not fulfilled my purpose, like there was something else I should have done, something else I should have said. Also, it gave me intimate knowledge and a feel of how the disease ravages and what it does to families and the helplessness of looking on at someone you care about go through the difficulty of the disease,” he explained. Following his experience, Dr. London said he gained a renewed perspective on how to manage COVID-19 patients and how to relate to their
medicine in Cuba. He was successful and departed in 2003 where he successfully completed his course in 2009 and even contributed to the crafting of the first electronic anatomy book at his university. His experience in Cuba was rounded he said, as it enabled him to possess a more down to earth, community perspective on medicine. Upon his return to Guyana, Dr. London said he worked at several health institutions across the country, before returning to Linden in 2012 in response to a need for doctors there. He served for 18 months as the Doctor-in-Charge and at the time was the only resident doctor at the Kwakwani Hospital where he played an integral role in Continued on page 57
Kaieteur News
Sunday December 05, 2021
PAGE 15
UG presents inaugural bursaries to 28 NGSA candidates
University of Guyana’s XI Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin (at centre) along with UG Staff and their children who received the bursaries. Twenty-eight (28) children of staff members of the University of Guyana (UG), who sat the 2021 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and will now move on to high school in Guyana, were the recipients of bursaries at the university’s inaugural bursary presentation. During a simple ceremony following its Long Service Awards hosted at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre at the University’s Turkeyen Campus, the children accompanied by their parents were presented with their cheques by members of the University’s Senior Management Team (SMT). University of Guyana’s ViceChancellor, XI, Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin, supported the i n i t i a t i v e f r o m h e r Vi c e Chancellors Fund which, according to the university, she personally seeded soon after becoming Vice-Chancellor in 2020. In sharing the special moment with colleagues in the
SMT, long service awardees, the children, and their families, she congratulated the students and wished them well as they continue their academic journeys. “We are not considering whether they passed to go to a top school or a low school, we are considering the fact that they wrote the examination and passed under very difficult times, and we wanted to always consider the equitable distribution of what we can share.” The VC also thanked the parents of the students whom she said have also made tremendous sacrifices to ensure their children persevered under the most challenging circumstances. “We also know that the parents from the University were lifting up our UG students and our students who had to graduate, while their own child/children might have been sometimes struggling,” the VC expressed. The Bursaries are intended to be used to purchase school supplies
and other items they may need. The recipients of the cash vouchers were: Jaden Luke, Annabelle Rambaran, Gabrella Rajcoomar, Alicia Robinson, Asiyah Kalyan, Jamal Moore, Devon Williams, Melina Henry, Ezekiel Hector, Orldeo Hales, David Thorne, Claudius Singh (grandchild), Nikaya Craig, Dariah Halley, Tahir Jalani Fraser, Omari A. Richards, Aedan Massay, Melroy Pyle, Zarkha Hinds (grandchild), Kalil Schroeder (grandchild), Naiara Ahiliyia Budhram, Micaiah Enoe, Joseph Daniel, Chazaiah A.R. Bernard, Elisa Keshasamma Lee, Ashanti Joseph, Jaieem Cummings, and Ezwkie Marshall. Those were the children and grandchildren respectively of: Karen Roberts-Luke – Library, Dr. Pheona Mohammed Rambaran – College of Medical Sciences, Jaya Rajcommar – College of Medical Sciences, Omodele Robinson – College of Medical Sciences,
Diaram Kalyan – University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC), Faneea Shalim – UGBC, Carol Rodney – Facilities and Maintenance Department, Terrence Moriah - Facilities and Maintenance Department, Pearly Hector Facilities and Maintenance Department, Chandradai Joseph Facilities and Maintenance Department, Carmichael Thorne Facilities and Maintenance Department, Shamwatti Sarwan Facilities and Maintenance Department, Michelle CampbellCraig - Faculty of Education & Humanities, Mellissa Richmond Faculty of Education & Humanities, Ann Phillips - Faculty of Education & Humanities, Keisa JohnsonRichards - Faculty of Education & Humanities, Johnaton Massay – Tactical Online Services, Melroy Pyle – Faculty of Education and Humanities, Allason Forde Facilities and Maintenance Department, Nelsonia PersaudBudhram – Faculty of Social
Sciences, Shonell Smith-Enoe – Faculty of Social Sciences, Ruth Daniel – Faculty of Natural Sciences, Calvin Bernand – Faculty of Natural Sciences, Samuel Lee – Faculty of Natural Sciences, Christine Bovell – PACE, and Savana Marshall – Facilities and Maintenance Department. The names of the children were provided from the faculties through the personnel department Congratulations were sent to the children and their parents from the Chancellor, Prof. Edward Greene; Vice-Chancellor, XI, Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin; Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Prof. Emanuel Cummings (Academic Engagement) and Dr. Mellissa Ifill (Institutional Advancement); and the entire Senior Management Team, Faculty, and Staff of the University of Guyana. It is hoped that this will be an annual award to children of Faculty and Staff from this year on, the release added.
Kaieteur News
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Sunday December 05, 2021
Ghana’s VP arrives for 4-day visit ian Vice-President, Phillips welcoming the Ghana Guyana’s Prime Minister, Mark port on Saturday. Cheddi Jagan International Air Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at the
The Ghanaian Vice-President (VP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is currently in Guyana for an official four-day visit. Bawumia arrived yesterday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and was received by Guyana’s Prime Minister, Brigadier Retired Mark Phillips. The Ghanaian VP is here with an 18-member official delegation along with other members of his country’s private sector. His visit
will end on Tuesday December 7 but during the time he is here, the VP will seek to intensify Ghana and Guyana’s bilateral relations, according to a government release. According to a statement sent out by the government, his arrival to Guyana follows a trip that VP, Bharrat Jagdeo, had made there recently. During that trip, Jagdeo was part of discussions in relation to several areas of mutual concern to both countries. Likewise,
Bawumia will be part of similar discussions during his brief stay here. The government stated that the visiting VP will have engagements with President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Jagdeo and other government ministers. After these engagements, Guyana and Ghana will “sign a framework bilateral cooperation agreement and further advance the
conclusion of agreements in areas of mutual interest.” Before Bawumia departs, he will co-host a press conference with Jagdeo and Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd. The government had in the past stated that it is seeking advice and assistance from Ghana to create policies to govern Guyana’s oil and gas sector. Ghana has been an oil producing nation itself and has
been in the business for many years now. Despite some shortcomings, the country definitely has some experience and can lend a hand to advice Guyana on how to reap maximum benefits from the oil industry. Bawumia has established himself as a skilled policy maker who specialises in the areas of Macroeconomics, International Economics, Development Economics and Monetary Policy.
Felicia Ally
Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
The gorgeous Miss Supranational Guyana 2021, Felicia Ally is our featured beauty today. Ally is a part-time beauty queen and a full-time manager. This belle is also a model and actress who has worked with many organisations in the world of media and fashion. She was appointed Miss Supranational – Guyana in 2020. However, due to the pandemic, she represented Guyana at the 12th edition of the Miss Supranational pageant to be held this year in Poland. (Credit Missosology Guyana)
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Kaieteur News
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Sunday December 05, 2021
Denmor Garment Manufacturers
…The female-driven enterprise making its mark on local and int’l fronts
The Denmor Garment Manufacturers Inc. Coldingen, East Coast Demerara location. By Rehanna Ramsay Whenever people mention Guyana and speak of its bounties, they are often speaking about the nation‘s vast agricultural and mineral resources. The conversation rarely, if ever, mentions the skills and manufacturing industry and this may be justifiable given the small and often not noticeable capacity the country has in this field. Yet, one cannot overlook, the efforts of entrepreneurs in this regard, and while many may not be aware, Guyana manufactures more than just rice, sugar, bauxite, gold, and diamond products. A small sect of Guyanese has for several decades also engaged in the art of garment manufacturing. Their efforts, though praiseworthy, often go without due credit. As such, Kaieteur News is today placing the spotlight on one of Guyana’s leading garment
producers, Denmor Garment Manufacturers (DGM) Inc., a 98 percent female-owned and femaledriven enterprise located at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara. This publication recently caught up with the company’s Director and Company Secretary, Ms. Upasna Mudlier who shared some insight on the efforts of the business which was established in 1997 to primarily provide employment for women who were struggling economically. She told Kaieteur News that before the company was remodelled with a female executive team, it began under the stewardship and guidance of her late father, Dennis Balkisson Morgan Mudlier. She explained that, “the company started to be available to provide jobs for women from impoverished rural communities. Denmor has grown from 250 to over 1,000 employees of which 98
percent are women. It provides employment and training to empower and elevate these women out of poverty.” INTERNATIONAL SUPPLIER Mudlier noted that when the company first started it was to supply the export market. “We employed hundreds of women because we supplied mainly the US market. We have worked for brands like Victoria Secrets, Fredrick’s of Hollywood, Russell Athletics, Ariat (safety) Industries, Capezio, Walmart, to name a few. We provided the labour aspect for these companies in where they provided the fabric and other material, and we cut, assembled, packaged, and exported back to them,” Mudlier explained. S h e a d d e d t h a t , “ We manufacture tailored to the needs of our client. You can come with a picture or a drawing or an idea and we bring it to life.” She revealed that DGM’s work
was done through a trade agreement called the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) which allowed everything to come into the country with dutyfree concession. TAKING A HIT I n 2 0 1 6 , however, the DGM Director said that
potential new clients on those markets. We created a Facebook page and a website and started engaging in networking events to meet with other companies. We started to get work from the Georgetown Public Some of the products produced by Hospital, we did bed DGM: a tracksuit for a Guyanese athlete sheets for them, the and a nurse’s scrub suit. Ministry of Local Government we did some uniforms for “the company took a them, the Ministry of Natural hit,” after the CBI trade Resources, some private schools, agreement dissolved the national school of dance we did and DGM was forced to their leotards.” scale back on its Added to this, the company production. According started to bid for work whenever to Mudlier, “Since, the the possibility arose and “we were c o m p a n y w a s n o t able to work a host of companies fashioned to supply the including Farfan and Mendes, local market, when that Banks DIH, MCG Investments happened the company that’s the Giftland power plant took a big hit…we lost company and the Cheddi Jagan all our contracts and International Airport,” she said, were forced to lay off adding that the factory also over 160 mostly female produces clothing for designers workers. We also had to such as Sonia Noel and Olympia shut the doors of our Small. second location which is While the company no longer located at Tain in has the export market, Mudlier says Berbice.” they are still hopeful that a But not one to let the restoration of a trade agreement hard work of the family could lead to DGM supplying business go to waste, the external clients again. Mudliers — Upasna, her “Our company is continuously mother Fatma, and her working to grow to greater heights s i s t e r S e r o j i n e e and get our foot back into the US M u d l i e r- P e r s a u d – market,” she said. decided to restructure THRIVING ON REFERRALS the company to suit the In the meantime, the DGM needs of the local and Director noted that the company regional markets. has been thriving on referrals. A proud moment: At left: DGM Director: Upasna Mudlier stands with “So, we had to “After the trade agreement oil executives and representatives after securing the FPSO contract. introduce ourselves to Continued on page 56
Sunday December 05, 2021
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Why work when there is Ma and Pa to provide?
G
uyana’s labour problem is not numerical. We do have a large number of persons who are unemployed but who are not necessarily looking for work. On a very quiet morning a few years ago, a gentleman went berserk in the city and attacked workers in an automotive repair shop. At the time of the attack, there were not many persons on the streets. Fortunately, the police were quickly on the scene and were able to neutralise the threat. Within minutes of this incident, persons began to emerge from neighbouring yards in their numbers. It was simply unbelievable to see the large numbers that emerged from homes. The question that immediately sprung to mind was: Why were these individuals, most of who were of working age, not gainfully employed? It is a development that can be seen throughout Guyana. There are hundreds of persons, especially young people, who are at home, not necessarily because there are no jobs, but because many of them are simply not interested in finding a job. There are persons who do not want to work in Guyana. They would rather stay home and watch TV all day instead of going out jobhunting. For some, once Ma and Pa can supply three square meals, why bother to go seeking a job in which they will have to work eight hours strenuously for a mere $6,000 per day, when they can sit back and wait on their relatives overseas to send the monthly allowance for the f a m i l y. S o , t h e r e a r e numerous persons who find it suited to them not to look for work. Then there are those persons who want only certain kind of work. They believe that the couple of
subjects they pass at the CXC entitle them to an office job. And so they will not take up employment to sell in a supermarket or store. They do not want to be seen doing those jobs which some of them describe as flunky. There are some of our university graduates who believe that they have arrived because they have a degree. They refuse to take any and every job which is offered to them. They want ‘big wuk’. Flaunting their tertiary education, they want to be managers and senior executives, regardless of the fact that they lack experience. Employers have found that many persons with fancy certification are limited in terms of their functional literacy and the ability to apply their knowledge to work life situations. One employer complained that a university graduate could not properly draft a letter or compose a report – basic skills which are now needed in the corporate world. Many workers have been found to be wanting in the practical aspects of their training. This means that employers have to invest more than usual in training. Statistical analysis is another problem. ‘Cut and paste’ has also become a problem in many companies. As such as part of the interviewing process, some companies are giving applicants tests to assess their writing and analytical ability. Construction work is always available. But the work ethic leaves much to be desired. Contractors are complaining that many of their workers, after they have been paid, do not return to work for the next two working days – they go on a drinking binge. As such, some firms are opting to pay their weekly workers on
Mondays because when they pay them on Fridays, they miss both Saturdays and Monday work. But if they are paid on Monday, they will come to work in order to uplift their pay packet. Another recurring problem is the high staff turnover. Workers are not sticking around for a long time. They work for a few years and then depart for greener pastures, either here or abroad. No wonder many firms are cagey about investing in training and pension schemes.
Given the sort of projects which the government is attempting, labour will have to be imported. Labour will have to be brought in to complete the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, the gas-toshore project and the Amaila Hydroelectric Project. A recent report in the newspapers reported a Minister in Trinidad as indicating that Venezuelan labourers have been complementing the local workforce in the farming sector. Unlike in Trinidad, Guyana does not have a
shortage of potential workforce in the agriculture sector. What we have are persons who are only willing to work a few days and to haggle over wages. At present, there are huge numbers of Cubans working in the commercial district and in private construction. They do excellent work and give more than value for money. They are demonstrating a superior work ethic because absenteeism is not high among them. The sugar industry can
do with more reliable workers. And just perhaps, Guyana should look to both Cuba and Venezuela to supplement the local workforce. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Sunday December 05, 2021
Wake up and smell the Chow Mein By Sir Ronald Sanders A television interviewer asked me if I thought Caribbean countries, and other developing territories, would benefit from the ‘war for influence’ that the European Union (EU) has launched against the People’s Republic of China.
He was referring to the announcement by the EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, that the EU will launch “Global Gateway”, a scheme to compete with China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) that has been in place since the end of 2013. The Commission
President did not try to hide t h a t t h e E U ’s G l o b a l Gateway is aimed at trying to stop China’s spread around the world, and its growing influence as the major creditor to more than 60 developing countries on every continent. “We want to create links and not dependence”, she
said – an allusion to the claim by the G7 countries (the rich nations of the We s t ) , t h a t C h i n a i s indebting developing countries so as to control them. What is striking about this new rivalry to lend money to developing countries is that it has arisen not in response to the needs of these countries for economic advancement and social improvement, but from big power rivalry for influence in their own interest. Nonetheless, should the contest, between richer countries, result in the availability of more money to fund growth and prosperity in developing nations, it should be welcomed. Not only would it produce a larger global pot of money, but it will allow developing nations to accept loans from the rival providers that offer the best terms. The EU has started late in this race, and the sums that it is suggesting are less than half of the $1.2 trillion that China has already put on the table for 13,000 projects in 63 countries. The EU Commission said it will “seek” to mobilise $340 billion by 2027 (six years from now) and from a combination of public investment and, as yet
unsecured, private investment. What the EU appears to be sure of is $40 billion in export guarantees to European private investors and around $18 billion in grants. The EU has pointed out that it has been providing “grants” while China has been providing “loans”. But in truth, the repayment terms of the Chinese loans are concessionary and affordable. Further, they are used mostly for infrastructure projects that developing countries need, whereas EU grants are highly conditional and take very long to disburse. Added to all this, while the EU’s “Global Gateway” was launched with much fanfare, its draft plan does not contain a list of projects that it will undertake immediately nor does it say to which countries. Significantly, absent also, is any indication of if the EU will drop its criterion of low per capita income as a qualifier for access to the “Global Gateway”. Socalled middle-income and high-income countries have long been disqualified for access to grants and concessionary loans from the EU, except in disastrous
Sir Ronald Sanders situations. The development of many Caribbean countries is measured by this flawed criterion. Perhaps, at some point, the EU will actually have a serious discussion with regional groups of developing countries about their real needs and how best the EU can help – particularly as several of its members have a sad legacy of underdevelopment across every continent. Among the EU members are France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Germany. The UK is omitted from this list since “Global Gateway” is a EU project and the UK is no longer a EU member. The bottomline is that, if this EU-China rivalry, coupled with the G7’s “Build Back Better World” – also an effort to compete with China and halt what is seen as its global influence - produces more money for developing nations, including the Caribbean, it would signal the start of a new world. That would be especially so, if developing countries can choose the options best suited to them, and not to the lenders. In this way, they could retain their autonomy from all lenders, spreading their exposure and seeking the best terms possible. However, right now – especially as the global financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank – still reflect the policies of G7 countries, China remains the lender of choice. The G7 and leading members of the EU who built their economies on the backs of developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean should wake up and smell the Chow Mein. It is everywhere. (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the U.S. and the OAS. He is also a senior fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The view expressed are entirely his own) Response and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com
Sunday December 05, 2021
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Dear Reader, in light of the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our publisher, with you in mind, has taken the decision to extend our weekly review of some of our major stories in their entirety. SUNDAY China takes over Uganda’s only int’l airport for failing to repay US$207M loan …Guyana already owes millions, gearing to borrow US$1.5B more China ranks among the top three richest countries in the world, with available liquidity being doled out in the form of loans to the tune of trillions. The country has been on an aggressive campaign pursuing a global infrastructure agenda under the rubric of the Belt and Road Initiative. Lauded when first announced just over a decade ago, several countries that latched onto millions in loans for large scale infrastructural projects, have since been finding themselves in a predicament where they would end up having to forfeit state assets and in some cases sovereign land. EXIM Bank This is as a result of the terms and conditions attached to these loans, including the exclusion of specific international arbitration bodies such as the Paris Club. The latest victim, Uganda, is at present unable to pay its debt to China for a US$207M loan from the Chinese Exim Bank it contracted back in November 2015. The loan had a maturity period of 20 years including a seven-year grace period. According to International reports now surfacing, the country has now signed an agreement to virtually surrender the new airport to the Chinese lenders. That airport serves as the country’s only international airport for a nation with a population of some 46 million people and a US$37.4B economy. According to international reports, efforts on the part of the Ugandan government have failed to convince the Chinese lenders to renegotiate “the toxic clauses of the 2015 loan,” leaving Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni’s administration in limbo. According to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), some provisions in the Financing Agreement with China expose Entebbe International Airport and other Ugandan assets to be attached and taken over by Chinese lenders upon arbitra-
tion in Beijing. China, according to international reports, has rejected recent pleas by Uganda to renegotiate. The Daily Monitor, this past week said, the Ugandan government waived international immunity in the agreement it signed to secure the loans, exposing Entebbe International Airport to take over without international protection. Uganda in March sent a delegation to Beijing hoping to renegotiate the toxic clauses of the deal but the officials came back emptyhanded as China would not allow the terms of the original deal to be varied. Mishandled Loan Uganda’s Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija was also forced this past week to apologise for the “mishandling of the $207 million loan” from the China Exim Bank. Notably, progress of works at the airport has only reached 75.2 percent completed, with two runways having reached overall completion of 100 percent. Entebbe International Airport is Uganda’s only international airport and handles over 1.9 million passengers per year. In March of this year, Chinese and Guyanese Presidents, Xi Jinping and Dr. Irfaan Ali, held talks on the promotion of a series of initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s controversial debt-laden plan to build a trade super highway across the globe. That news was first reported by Xinhua News Agency, the official state-run press agency of the People’s Republic of China. The Office of the President had also reported that the President led a high-level
ministerial team in the discussions that included Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, and the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill. BRI was unveiled in 2013 by President Xi and since then has been relatively successful around the world with some of China’s partners. Its official outline states that BRI is meant to “promote the connectivity of Asian, European and African continents and their adjacent seas, establish and strengthen partnerships among the countries along the Belt and Road, set up alldimensional, multi-tiered and composite connectivity networks, and realise diversified, independent, balanced and sustainable development in these countries.” D e f a u l t e r s Guyana signed on to an instrument signalling its intent to participate, in July 2018. The then Granger administration’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, who is now Government Advisor on Borders, had signed onto a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, noting that Guyana would cooperate within the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative. Guyana currently has a debt of some $1,056,093,456 or about US$5.2M in loans to the Chinese Exim Bank. This is in addition to a number of other Chinese related and other loans. Under the initiative, scores of
countries appear to benefit from multimillion-dollar soft loans from China for the construction of roads, bridges, airports, deep water ports and other infrastructure. Kaieteur News has highlighted how China has been targeting weak and/or corrupt governments to sign onto its initiative, signing away exorbitant loans for megainfrastructural projects. In 2018 alone, China acquired over 20 deep water harbours and airports from several countries around the world. The country was able to do so by lending those countries massive amounts of money they would be unable to repay within the stipulated period. The country is accused of leveraging these massive loans it holds over small states worldwide to snatch assets and increase its military footprint. Developing countries from Pakistan to Djibouti, the Maldives to Fiji, all owe huge amounts to China. Already there are examples of defaulters being pressured into surrendering control of assets or allowing
military bases on their land. Vice President Jagdeo recently confirmed that his government is exploring accessing a US$1.5B access to credit from China. Uganda is not the only country to have suffered the fate of having to turn over its assets to the Chinese for defaulting on loans. Sri Lanka is one such country that had to formally hand over the strategic port of Hambantota to China on a 99year lease, in 2019, in a deal that government critics have said threatens the country’s sovereignty. The state-controlled China Merchants Port Holdings Company signed a deal with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority to control a 70 percent stake in the Hambantota port, which lies on the southern coast of the country. Sri Lankan politicians said the Hambantota deal, valued at US$1.1 billion, was necessary to chip away at the debt, but analysts warned of the consequences of signing away too much control to China. Repayments Guaranteed ”The price being paid for reducing the China debt could prove more costly than the debt burden Sri Lanka seeks to reduce,” said N. Sathiya Moorthy, a senior fellow specialising in Sri Lanka at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation. Kaieteur News had previously published extensive reports which detailed how several countries became trapped by opting to utilise China’s BRI. In Cambodia, China “invested” some US$5.3B. While these and other initiatives were said to be geared to better the lives of Cambodians, the reality could not have been further away from this
dream. Back in 2008, China’s Tianjin Union Development Group (UDG) was granted a 99-year lease to around 20 percent of the country’s total coastline at the modest price of US$30 per hectare. Cambodia’s Constructors Association has estimated the so-called “Pilot Zone” project’s total cost at US$3.8 billion. The amount of land leased is more than three times the legal limit under Cambodian land law, which caps land concessions at 10,000 hectares. In Zambia, an international airport, a state-owned electricity company, a National Broadcasting Network and a major roadway in Zambia, have all been taken over by China. In fact, the takeover of the South African country has become so pronounced that some observers are asking the question, “Is Zambia the first African country to become a full Chinese colony?” Zambia’s reported ‘colonisation’ is due to its government’s failure to repay a US$8B debt to China for infrastructural projects undertaken by the Chinese under programmes like the BRI. A giant dam called Coca Coda Sinclair in the Ecuadorian jungle, financed and built by China, was supposed to christen Ecuador’s vast ambitions, solve its energy needs and help lift the small South American country out of poverty. Instead, it has become part of a national scandal, engulfing the country in corruption, perilous amounts of debt — and a future tethered to China as a result of an inability to make good on its (Continued on page 22)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 05, 2021
From page 21 US$19B debt payments. The price tag involved Chinese loans, not only for the dam but bridges, highways, irrigation, schools, health clinics and a half dozen other dams the government is scrambling to pay for. It doesn’t matter whether Ecuador can afford them. China gets paid either way. To settle the bill, China gets to keep 80 percent of Ecuador’s most valuable export — oil — because many of the contracts are repaid in petroleum, not dollars. China gets the oil at a discount, then sells it for an additional profit. Pumping enough oil to repay China has become such an imperative for Ecuador that it is drilling deeper in the Amazon, threatening more deforestation. MONDAY French Oil company sends auditors on fishing expedition in Mozambique -as hundreds of millions in ineligible costs detected -Guyana still to scrutinise billions of US dollars expended by Exxon Natural gas discoveries in the Rovuma Basin off the coast of northern Mozambique are among the most significant in the world. The discoveries are of such massive quantities that their development can easily catapult the African nation to being a top gas exporting powerhouse. In light of this, French multinational, Total S.A, Italy’s ENI and other oil companies have spent billions behind the development of the gas resources, which are spread across two concessions Area 1 and Area 4. Mozambique’s government estimates that it will receive as much as US$64 billion from the gas projects. It is crucial to note however that these projected revenues are heavily influenced by both capital and operating costs incurred by Total and its partners. Given that there has been limited public oversight of the said costs, civil society groups in Mozambique have been calling for its government to conduct cost recovery audits and ensure the subsequent disclosure of their results. These calls were made since 2014 but it was only in 2018 that the government caved to the requests. In 2018, the country’s National Petroleum Institute started the audit process of the recoverable costs of the Concession Contracts for Exploration and Production (EPCC) of Areas 1 and 4 offshore of the Rovuma Basin.
These costs, which are still under review, pertained to the years 2015, 2016 and 2017. Three years after that process commenced, the auditors have found that the fears of the people of Mozambique were valid. According to the reports that were made public and seen by Kaieteur News, it was found that out of the approximately US$2 billion declared by the concessionaires in the two areas, US$33M was not considered eligible for recovery. The reasons for the noneligibility of these costs as recoverable include: noncompliance with the accounting and financial procedures established in the EPCC, the non-submission of supporting documents for the costs incurred, etc. In addition, regarding Area 4, US$ 676 million of the recoverable costs (corresponding to 34% of the total costs declared by Area 4 concessionaires) were classified incorrectly, contrary to the accounting and financial procedures of the contract. At the moment, the audit of recoverable costs for Area 4 is in the process of finalisation. The auditors also noted that they faced several challenges when carrying out their work. In the report seen by this newspaper, it was noted that it took Total several weeks to successfully deliver access to its online document database while several documents were not available to support some of the costs claimed for recovery. What was also frustrating
to the auditors was that the data provided included unnecessary financial transactions, which had nothing to do with the project and therefore “wasted significant time in processing this redundant data.” They said too that resources were wasted in processing or numbering documents that were not related to the target transactions. “The overall effect of these challenges has resulted in a huge amount of our time and resources,” the auditors noted. Over in Guyana, there have been incessant calls for the PPP/C Government to complete the audit of close to US$10B in costs incurred by ExxonMobil’s affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) for its Liza Phase One and Two Projects as well as for expenditure that occurred prior to the 2015 oil discoveries. The government, specifically Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has said that the audits are
delayed by the lack of strong local content. He had said locals ought to have a leading role in the audit process but it was not evident enough when bids for the audits were submitted this year. President Irfaan Ali and Jagdeo have nonetheless pledged to ensure the audits are done. They did not say when this would be done. In the meantime, local and regional stakeholders are concerned that Guyana will not be able to challenge any ineligible costs found since the two-year time frame prescribed in the contract to scrutinise annual costs has elapsed. There have also been calls for Guyana to withhold the approval of Exxon’s $1.8 trillion Yellowtail project until the previous cost audits have been completed. Ali and Jagdeo have not responded to this request by some sections of the citizenry. Increase beneficial ownership screening in oil industry to reduce corruption risks – NRGI advises In light of the fact that the oil and gas sector is prone to corruption, Guyana is being urged to increase beneficial ownership screening so as to reduce the sector’s risk to corruption. This was recently noted by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), an independent non-profit organisation dedicated to improving countries’ governance over their natural resources. Since 2015, the institution has been providing
advice to Guyana’s authorities. The Institute noted that in most natural resource-rich countries, when a company is seeking the right to explore for or produce oil, gas or minerals, sector, rules require that regulators check some basic information before granting the company a license and accompanying contract. In this regard, NRGI said that the regulator is supposed to judge whether the company is technically competent, financially sound, and is in compliance with environmental and safety rules. It noted, however, that licensing rules generally do not require screening of whether public sector officials have interests in an applicant company, which could create serious conflicts of interest. The Institute said, “We reviewed over 50 mining and oil laws around the world and found that about half contained prohibitions on government officials or their close
associates – often called ‘politically exposed persons’ (PEPs) – holding interests in companies applying for extractives licenses, but none required regulators to actually check whether or not such PEP interests existed as part of screening license applications.” It added, “This is a potentially critical gap in regulatory oversight, because a large body of real-world cases suggests that the ability to hide a company’s true beneficial owner is a major enabler of corruption in the granting of extractive rights.” In Guyana, there is no legislation or piece of regulation, which requires beneficial ownership screening. On that note, NRGI has pointed out that a growing number of governments are developing legal policies and information systems for collecting and publishing data about the beneficial owners of extractives companies – the real people who own, control, or economically benefit from a company. It stressed that these reforms range from amending company registration laws and creating national public registers to sector-specific approaches like establishing extractives transparency laws and licensing requirements. But to have an impact, NRGI said that extractive sector reforms may need to go beyond just requiring beneficial ownership disclosure, namely by establishing rules on what types of beneficial ownership linkages will be considered unacceptable (Continued on page 23)
Sunday December 05, 2021
From page 22 self-dealing or corruption, and by determining the consequences that will apply when that line is crossed. Further to this, NRGI research shows that a number of countries have already established such rules, but monitoring and enforcement is lacking. Given the corruption risks, the Institute said that improving national policies and practices on allocating extractives licenses should be at the forefront of these efforts. Going forward, NRGI said that resource-rich countries such as Guyana will need to choose beneficial ownership assessment rules that best address the political, legal and industry realities in which they award licenses. Given the relative newness of evaluating corruption risks using beneficial ownership information in licensing decisions, NRGI said that officials may want to put much of the detail into less formal documents such as guidelines, so that the rules will be easier to amend based on lessons learned. Regardless of where rules are stipulated, NRGI commented that they should be subject to public consultation during their development, and publicly disclosed once finalised in order to facilitate monitoring and accountability. TUESDAY US$9B Yellowtail Project … ExxonMobil to determine own standards for 3.7 million barrels of offshore discharges daily for 20 years -as Guyana still to set its own rules six years later If the government approves ExxonMobil’s US$9B Yellowtail development in the Stabroek Block, the oil giant has disclosed, via project documents, that Guyana can expect to see several waste products being discharged into its waters. Since the world’s latest oil producer is still to set its own rules to govern how ExxonMobil will discard of its oil wastes, the company will have the privilege of outlining what those parameters would be. According to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Yellowtail is expected to have several potential discharges which include drill cuttings and fluids; cement; well completion and treatment fluids; produced water; cooling water; sulfate removal, ultra-filtration, and wash water processing brines; topsides drainage;
hydrostatic test water; commissioning fluids; ballast water; and blowout preventer testing fluids. Based on the conservative estimates cited in the project document, Kaieteur News noted that these discharges will total no less than 3.7 million barrels on a daily basis over the 20-year lifespan of the project. Exxon was keen to note that since Guyana has no specific legislation or regulation governing the foregoing oil wastes, it has moved ahead with putting together a collage of standards it selected from across the world which would be considered for inclusion in its environmental permit for the project. It assured that the citizenry ought not to worry since the standards it selected are in keeping with international best practices. Even before oil production commenced at Guyana’s maiden project—the Liza Phase One operations— kicked off in late 2019, local authorities were warned to keep a watchful eye on all chemically treated waste materials that would be dumped into its waters and to put in place, its own standards to govern how this would be discarded. The Open Society Institute (OSI), an international body that aims to shape public policy for the promotion of
Kaieteur News
democratic governance, human rights, economic, legal, and social reform, has warned many nations, Guyana included, that oil exploration and production poses serious risks to a country’s ecology and public health. It said that every environmental medium—air, water, and land—is affected when oil exploitation begins. The Institute said the degree of environmental harm is however determined by operator responsibility and government oversight. Further to this, the Institute explained that the disposal of oil wastes from offshore drilling operations has been a significant environmental concern for decades. It warned that one of the apparent impacts of offshore discharges has been mercury pollution from oil discharges. It noted in this regard that a study had found that mercury levels in the mud and sediments beneath oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were 12 times higher than acceptable levels under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. Taking this into account, OSI said it is expected that oil producing states, take every precaution to protect its marine life and citizenry. Further research by Kaieteur News has also found that the discharges
from the said project are known to have toxic compositions as well as impacts that must be studied. Drilling fluids and cuttings for example, are considered as hazardous or waste which are very complex and difficult to be managed due to several impurities (i.e. heavy metals, etc). With respect to ballast water, this is water that is held inside the ship for balance when it leaves one aspect of the world and releases that water into the environment of its new destination. If suitable conditions exist in this release environment, these species will survive and reproduce and become invasive species. In some cases there is a high probability that the organism will become a dominant species, potentially resulting in the extinction of native species, effects on local and regional biodiversity, effects on coastal industries that use water extraction since some of these organisms carry diseases and parasites which in turn leads to effects on public health. There are also impacts on local economies based on fisheries. Guyana does not have a single regulation on offshore discharges from the oil industry despite approving three multibillion dollar projects by ExxonMobil and its partners.
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Exxon’s ramped up production a reckless chase after money – Environmentalist In recent days, reports have surfaced of oil giant, ExxonMobil, bragging of its ability to ‘safely’ produce more oil resources than the prescribed safety limit in the Liza One development. These reports have attracted the attention of several environmentalists, including Ms. Simone Mangal-Joly, who believes that the ramped up production rates are a reckless chase after money. In an interview with this newspaper on Monday, the environmentalist said it is, “A reckless rush to chase money without counting the damages and losses in other areas in the process, both in direct benefit we accrue daily, and monetary terms, is shortsighted and dangerous to all of us, including businesses and our economy as a whole.” She explained that each time a new Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel is welcomed to Guyana, it also brings along tonnes of toxic waste that is discharged into the waters, thereby impacting our fish and other marine species. Not only this, but a tremendous amount of waste is being brought to shore for treatment and disposal, Mangal added. The environmentalist was keen to note that the risks are not only limited to an oil spill, but the dangers extend way beyond such an event. “The risks are not just in an oil spill. The coastland is low and prone to flooding that will create a toxic soup if and when floods come, and we know they will as the climate changes in the 10-30 year horizon. No one can escape a toxic soup, no matter how rich and elite they feel they are. Plus, our ground water tables are high and easily contaminated. This is the water we and future Guyanese must rely on for centuries to come or long after oil and foreign companies that profit are gone,” she posited. Mangal also questioned the logics behind the development that has negatively impacted the lives of fishermen and their customers. She argued, “Is it really positive development to put fisher folk out of work, to not be able to buy and eat the fish we grew up with that defined our cultural identity? Is it positive development to have middle men firms from Trinidad and elsewhere recruit and extract value, whilst paying our citizens who own the oil a pittance and treating them like second class humans on their job sites? Is it positive progress to have the
cost of living skyrocketing whilst workers’ wages in both the public and private sector are not rising to keep up?” Furthermore, she asked why the government would put its faith into a company that would be relying on multiple compressors to avoid an oil spill, when it struggled to fix one compressor to put gas back into the ground. “Sure some folks are able to make money but at what cost to the country as a whole? This is not to say that oil could not be positive for that, but for us to get there, we need measured, evidencebased, and caring leadership,” she contended. In further making her case, Mangal said it must be understood that the environment is the sum total of our economic assets, oil included, and is the means of existence. “Are we really justified in this rush when basic safeguards are not in place, when they are not even respected?” she questioned. Former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams recently shared his concerns over ExxonMobil’s ramped up production rates on the Liza One development. It was reported that while
the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) listed the safe operating limit as 120,000 barrels of oil per day, production rates exceeded 124,000 during the first half of the year. The current head of the EPA, Kemraj Parsram, later disagreed with this position, as he noted that the same EIA states that production can occur beyond 120,000. According to him, page 28 of the EIA mentions that emissions associated with the project were calculated based on peak production at a conservative 144,000 barrels of oil per day. Chairman of the Cooperative Republicans of Guyana, Jamil Changlee also recently voiced his concerns over the news of production being allowed to go beyond design specifications for the extraction of oil. In a letter to (Continued on page 24)
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From page 23 Kaieteur News on Sunday, he too pointed out that Exxon struggled for months to repair equipment that failed, resulting in environmental damage and excess flaring. As a consequence he said, “The rush to extract and sell oil and gas must not be at the expense of the environment. Fishers are already seeing the negative impact the sector is having on our seafood industry. As a rule, we should target 80 percent of the designed maximum load and ensure that there is a predictive and preventative maintenance programme in place that is effectively implemented; and key elements of extraction operations are reviewed on a daily basis during the life cycle of the project”. WEDNESDAY Six years after oil discovery… EPA to now procure modern instruments to monitor pollution impacts The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) disclosed Tuesday that it is in the process of bolstering its monitoring and assessment capabilities for various industries “by procuring modern and state of art measurement equipment/instruments and analyses tools to take accurate measurements, and to make credible assessments of impacts of pollutants in air, water and land.” It was keen to note that this is a basic capability of any environmental regulatory agency for providing trustworthy and timely assessments of risks and corrective actions. Further to this, the EPA informed members of the media that it will soon launch a remote real-time monitoring system and platform to keep an eye on facilities and their level of compliance with key environmental parameters. The regulator said this will be done through the acquisition of satellite services, and the installation of sensors for air quality index, among other
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mechanisms. In the meantime, the agency said it currently utilizes drone technology, has amplified the use of Geographic Information System (GIS), and employs other digital technology for remote monitoring. To complement its technological improvements, the EPA noted that it continues to build the capacity of its staff members. In this regard, it said employees continue to capitalise on virtual webinars facilitated through international and local partnerships. To date, it said 81 staff members have participated in virtual webinars focused on areas such as risk assessment and risk management, climate change and climate mitigation, human rights in Environmental Impact Assessments, reducing emission and air quality impacts, and building resilience for oil producers. Along with the strengthening of its in-house capacities, the EPA said it has improved the requirements for Project Summaries, which must be submitted by the developers applying for environmental authorization. In this regard, it said project summaries must now include the likely impacts of operations and mitigation measures that would be used by the developer. It was keen to note that each application for an Environmental Authorisation (whether oil and gas related or not) undergoes a meticulous process called screening. It said, “Screening is the first stage of the environmental assessment process. It is the stage where the decision is made as to whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required or not. Section 11 (2) provides for this process in that it states that the agency is competent to make one of two decisions when assessing an application. It may decide that the project will significantly affect the environment and, therefore, will require the conduct of an EIA; or that a project will not significantly affect the environment, so that an EIA is not required.” From this, the EPA said it is clear that what the agency is concerned with at this stage is the significance of the impacts on the environment. The regulator continued, “The agency has strengthened its screening process by ensuring appropriate screening questions are asked of the proposed project, site visits are conducted, existing information is gathered and reviewed, and engagement with key agencies and residents in the area of the proposed project is done.” The outcome of this pro-
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cess it said, is a screening report on the potential impacts and identification of possible significant impacts to inform the Agency’s decision with regards to an EIA is required or not to further inform its decision to issue an Environmental Permit or not. The EPA said, too, that it has also strengthened its adherence to the Act by publishing reasons for its decisions and making Project Summaries available for public access and review. In addition, existing activities being authorized are now being subject to section 11 (1) and (2) of the Act. Kaieteur News understands that these projects, which have been operating for a number of years and not authorized are also being screened to determine if there is potential for legacy and continued significant impacts, and decisions with screening reports published in accordance with section 11 (2) of the Act. Exxon’s Yellowtail project to drive up annual gas e missions by 30% …claims Guyana’s forest will offset environmental impacts The Non-Technical Summary (NTS) for ExxonMobil’s fourth project, the Yellowtail development, has revealed that greenhouse gases are set to increase by as much as 30 percent, throughout the production stage. According to the document, “Average emissions during production (is) estimated (to) range (between) 1,110 to 1,395 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent per year, (resulting in) approximately 24 to 30 percent increase in Guyana’s estimated GHG (Green House Gas) emissions”. Simply put, greenhouse gases are harmful emissions such as carbon dioxide that trap the earth’s heat and contribute to global warming or the warming of the planet. Even though Guyana would be significantly contributing to this phenomenon, the responsible party [Exxon] has categorically stated that these emissions will not be a problem, since the country’s forest will offset the environmental impacts. In the same breath highlighting the increase in GHGs due to the Yellowtail development, Exxon said, “Guyana’s forestry resources remove over 10 times more GHGs each year than Guyana is estimated to emit”. As a consequence, it was noted that no mitigation measures would be required. “Based on the negligible significance of potential air quality, no additional mitiga-
tion measures are considered warranted. However, a number of embedded controls and mitigation measure technologies incorporated into the Project will aid in reducing emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere,” the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Yellowtail development pointed out. Meanwhile, the EIA explained that emissions generated by the project will generally emanate from two source categories. These include, “Specific point sources, such as the power-generating units and diesel engines on drill ships and on the Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, non-routine flaring used to combust associated gas when not consumed as fuel gas on the FPSO or injected back into the reservoir, and low-level routine flaring (pilot/purge gas) for safe operation of the flare as well as small streams that cannot practically be recovered by vapor recovery; and (2) general area sources, such as marine support vessels, installation vessels, and helicopters,” the document out-
lined. Additionally, it was noted that emissions of air quality pollutants from the Project have been estimated, based on a number of factors, including activity levels, fuel types, equipment capacities, and standard emission factors. The Yellowtail development is estimated to have a 20-year life cycle and initial production is expected to begin by the end of 2025–early 2026. Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), ExxonMobil’s subsidiary will be pursuing the project. EEPGL said the (FPSO) vessel will be designed to produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day. Earlier this month, Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali attended the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) where he made a commitment to reduce the country’s carbon emissions by 70 per cent by 2030. The President told the Summit, “My country, Guyana, is already playing its part in addressing climate change and will continue to
do so. We will maintain our forests, which is almost the size of England and Scotland combined, storing 20 gigatonnes of carbon as a global asset. We will work with local communities on conserving, protecting and sustainably managing our forests, biodiversity and freshwater supplies. We will decouple economic growth and emissions through a progressively cleaner energy mix with the aim of reducing our carbon emissions by 70 per cent by 2030”. Nonetheless, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is gearing up to burn 120 million standard cubic feet of gas per day for three months (90 days) during the start up of the Yellowtail Project. The ExxonMobil subsidiary made this disclosure in the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The document for the fourth Stabroek Block development project specifically states, “…start-up flaring for the Project will be temporary and may require flaring for 90 cumulative days at the rate of (Continued on page 25)
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From page 24 120 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd).” It was keen to note that this is just a “conservative assumption.” The former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Vincent Adams has already warned of the dangers associated with the flaring of natural gas. In a recent interview with this newspaper, he explained that over 200 pollutants are released in the process. “When it goes up, it has to come down, so besides Global warming and climate change and all of that type of stuff, it has things like nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, and when those mix with the moisture from the atmosphere it forms an acid, and so that is called acid rain,” the former EPA head pointed out. He was keen to note that when the acidic water falls, it enters the ocean and affects fish, farming and the entire ecology. THURSDAY Hold off on Yellowtail, get your act together - OGGN tells Govt. The Guyana Government is clearly overwhelmed by the number of oil-related activities it is engaged in and according to Darshanand Khusial, of the Guyana Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN): “if you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging” He made this suggestion in reference to the rush to approve the ExxonMobil-led fourth oilfield development in the Stabroek Block—Yellowtail. “The oil companies will exploit this disorganised approach by the government for the benefit of their shareholders.” To this end, Khusial observed that government seems to be in a rush to approve Yellowtail and suggested “we should question why the rush.” The OGGN spokesperson in a recent public missive in questioning the government’s rationale with regard its approach to the Yellow Tail project observed that “instead of being concerned that a major oil spill can bankrupt Guyana, the government is concerned about the supposedly US$22 billion Exxon loss, due to the pandemic that hit in March 2020.” This much was illustrated over the weekend, in a public report which OGGN observed that government released an article stating that the Stabroek Oil Block is not up for renegotiation and cited a
number of reasons for its position, including the sanctity of contract, the stability clause and because Exxon lost US$22 billion last year. “The article reads like a marketing campaign for why Guyana should approve the Yellowtail project given the risks faced by Exxon and its partners.” To this end, Khusial said “there are some serious flaws in the government’s arguments which raise the question about whether the government is acting on behalf of the oil companies instead of the people of Guyana.” Qualifying the governance network’s position, Khusial noted that the administration in its defence of the oil major “didn’t state that Exxon paid out US$14.9 billion in dividends to its shareholders in 2020.” Pointing to the anomaly that a company that supposedly lost US$22 billion in 2020 still paid $14.9B in dividends, Khusial said “this quirk can be explained by temporary actions required by accounting rules.” He explained saying: “in 2020, Exxon was forced to mark down about US$19.3 billion in natural gas reserves because the price of natural gas fell in 2020. But recently natural gas prices have been hitting multiyear records – substantially reversing the temporary markdown. Hence, the US$22 billion lost was not a cash loss (it is called a paper loss); that explains why Exxon could still justify paying out US$14.9 billion to its shareholders.” According to the OGGN spokesperson, “if Exxon had a US$22 billion cash loss, then its shareholders would have fired management for leveraging the company too much by paying out US$14.9 billion in cash dividends.” To this end, he suggested the Government of Guyana is too busy defending a bad deal than spending time to consider these facts. This in addition to flipflopping positions, on
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Map showing the location of ExxonMobil’s future projects offshore Guyana The Hess boss added, whether or not the contracts proud to announce to the in- Storage and Offloading with the oil majors would be ternational market that it is (FPSOs) in Guyana to develop “By 2026, we predict that our taking action to reduce its approximately 10 billion bar- cash unit cost will go down negotiated. rels of oil equivalent re- by 25 percent versus this year Compounding the situa- emissions output. To achieve this through sources in the Stabroek Block, to approximately US$9 per tion he suggested that government seems to be in a rush to 2027, the company said it the Chief Executive Officer barrel of oil equivalent reto approve Yellowtail and said has committed US$15B in in- (CEO) of Hess Corporation, sources...” Further to this, Hess said “we should question why the vestments that will ensure a John Hess boasted that his balance between projects to company is poised to deliver his company is clearly posirush.” He noted that the now reduce greenhouse gas emis- “unparalleled” growth from tioned to deliver industry leading cash flow growth. In more than US$600M derived sions from existing operations the fossil fuel projects. During his recent partici- this regard, he said between from oil still sits untouched and increased investments in while the Corona virus rav- its Low Carbon Solutions pation in Bank of America’s 2021 and 2026, the company’s Global Energy Conference, he cash flow is forecast to inages its citizens and floods business. But even as ExxonMobil praised the economics of the crease by 25 percent annudestroy farmers’ crops. “It has not even answered says it has set aside a size- Stabroek Block projects as he ally. FRIDAY the many questions posed able sum to lower emissions noted that they will be generGuyana’s oil to help during the EPA (Environmen- output, it has neglected to ating between US$3B to tal Protection Agency) ses- highlight that it is pumping US$4B for the company double Exxon’s global profits sion on the gas-to-shore over US$45B into massive which holds a 30 percent in 5 years …as company manages project, but it rushed to have fossil fuel projects during the stake in the block. Expounding further he said, to pay off US$11B debt this EPA sessions for Yellowtail.” same period. These projects are part of “When Liza Two comes on, year—CEO Woods According to Khusial, “many questions raised to the EPA the oil-rich Stabroek Block we will steadily move down Come 2027 when Guyana about Yellowtail remain unan- being led by its affiliate, Esso the cost curve. Our Guyana develop- is expected to be producing swered” and “the govern- Exploration and Production ments have a Brent breakeven some one million barrels of oil ment has not yet released the Guyana Limited (EEPGL). They include the Liza price between US$25 and per day (bpd), US based US$460 million pre-contract audit and has failed in its duty Phase One Project (US$3.5B), US$35 per barrel. And as our ExxonMobil Corp., is projectto audit US$9.5 billion for Liza The Liza Phase Two (US$6B), Bakken production in the USA ing that its total earnings on Payara (US$9), Yellowtail goes up to 200,000 barrels of the world market would by 1 and Liza 2.” To this end, he suggests (over US$9B), and two more oil equivalent per day in the then be doubled. The announcements were “it appears the government is projects similar to the size of next several years we will be able to go down the cost made on Wednesday last, overwhelmed by the number Payara. (Continued on page 26) EEPGL’s partner, Hess curve.” of oil-related activities it is engaged in. If you find your- Corporation, had said reself in a hole, the first thing to cently that Guyana should expect six oil projects by 2027 do is to stop digging.” This since, “oil companies while adding that it is not a will exploit this disorganized matter of if but when these approach by the government will come on line. But Stabroek is just one for the benefit of their shareaspect of the fossil fuel holders.” agenda of Exxon in Guyana. The oil major is also pursuing Exxon commits US$15B to lowering emissions by 2027 24 wells evenly across the Kaieteur and Canje blocks but spending three times with another 12 exploration the amount in fossil fuel wells planned for the Stabroek projects in same period next. With a line of sight of up American oil giant, ExxonMobil Corporation, was to 10 Floating, Production,
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From page 25 when the company disclosed some of its corporate plans up to 2027, including a slashing of its overall capital expenditure from a pre-pandemic target of US$35B annually to between US$20B and $25B through to 2027. The plans, ExxonMobil said, support the corporate strategy of continued structural cost savings, investment in low-cost-of-supply and lower-emission products, and further portfolio high-grading, positioning the company to double earnings and cash flow by 2027 versus 2019. According to the company, much of the US oil major’s future spending will be focused on projects in Guyana, where the company has discovered vast reserves of crude—in excess of 10 billion barrels of proven reserves thus far with intensive drilling campaigns in train. Production from Guyana, in addition to its assets in the Texas/New Mexico Permian basin—the largest US oilfield—would double earnings by 2027 compared with 2019’s US$14.3B. Production in Guyana currently stands at some 124,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the Liza Destiny in the Liza I production field in the Stabroek Block. That Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO), has been joined by a second, the Liza Unity, currently being hooked up for commission at the Liza II development field in the Stabroek Block. Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, in a recent Argus Media was quoted as saying “By 2027, we are hoping that there will be at least seven FPSO vessels in the country and that we will be producing either close or even over 1mn bpd.” ExxonMobil intends to have five FPSOs operating in Guyana by 2026, and sees potential for up to 10 soon after. The Liza Unity is scheduled for its ‘first oil’ in a few weeks’ time - January next year - and is designed to produce some 220,000 bpd. Additionally, the US$9B Payara project, the third development field in the Stabroek Block is progressing with the FPSO currently under construction at the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore while production wells and other ancillary related works are underway. That project is scheduled for commissioning in 2024 and will deliver another 220,000 bpd to the Stabroek Block output. Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) Exxon Mobil’s
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Guyana subsidiary and operator of the Stabroek Block is currently in the process of acquiring authorization, environmental and otherwise in order to pursue its fourth development—Yellowtail. Contracts to this effect have already been given out by the operator despite any project sanctions by the Guyanese authorities. Maintaining capital investments in the range of between US$20B and US$25B per year through 2027 “with flexibility to adjust to adverse market conditions or changes in policy and technology for low-emissions projects” is being made possible as a result of the improved cash position of the company in the past year with the recovery of oil and natural gas prices. According to the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Darren Woods, “the restored strength of our balance sheet and improved financial outlook support accelerating investment in our industryadvantaged, high-return projects, and a growing list of financially accretive loweremission business opportunities,” According to Woods, “our strategy is designed to create shareholder value by leveraging our competitive advantages while maintaining flexibility to respond to future policy changes and technology advances associated with the energy transition.” To this end, he iterated that projected growth of cash flow and earnings in the upstream business, results from aggressive cost reductions and progressing advantaged investments in low-cost-ofsupply projects in Guyana, Brazil, and the Permian Basin in the United States.” To This end, he said more than 90% of the company’s planned upstream capital investments through 2027 are expected to generate returns of greater than 10 percent at prices less than or equal to $35 per barrel of oil equivalent.” According to Woods, “increased cash flow and earnings enable both further debt reduction and returns to shareholders.” It was noted that, to date, the company has repaid US$11B in debt and expects to be comfortably within the range of its targeted debt–tocapital ratio of 20 to 25 percent by year-end. Former Finance Minister arrested over sale of Kingston wharf -released, then hospitalised -BK owner also questioned Former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan was on Thursday arrested and later released on a series of allegations relating to irregular
transactions of public funds and state properties, estimated to value billions of Guyana dollars. Kaieteur News understands that Jordan was Thursday morning invited to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Headquarters, a branch of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Upon his arrival the allegation was put to him and he was arrested. Thursday around 13:35hrs while speaking with the Head of SOCU, Faizal Karimbaksh, he related to Kaieteur News that Jordan was still in custody and presently being questioned. According to him, Jordan was arrested for misconduct in public office, while serving in public office as the Minister of Finance. “This is in relation to the vesting of State lands in 2020 in relation to the Kingston water front properties and other transactions” Karimbaksh added. According to the police, the first transaction that he was interviewed about is in relation to the alleged sale and vesting of the state’s largest wharf facilities located at Kingston, Georgetown, valued approximately US$40,000,000 but was reportedly sold for US$500,000. It is alleged that the purchaser BK Marines Limited, only paid US$100,000, which is 10 percent of the purchase price, and Jordan issued a vesting order passing Title to the purchaser, without the payment of any further sum of monies. It was further stated that (Continued on page 27)
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From page 26 the vesting order stated that the property is being sold free from encumbrance and liabilities and no further sum of money is owed by the purchaser. Also, the transport was subsequently reportedly issued for the property and the value stated on the transport was US$2,000,000. It was noted however, that the agreement of sale stated that title must only pass upon full payment of purchase price. The police also reported that investigators have evidence to establish that a facility which is a mere fraction of the size of the state property that is under investigation and located seven miles upriver was sold by a private company for US$17 million. It was noted in the GPF’s statement that while Jordan was being escorted to Sparendaam Police Station for further questioning, he complained of feeling unwell and he was rushed to a Sparendaam Health Centre. It was disclosed that he was subsequently placed on his own recognizance and sent away with instructions to return today. Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, had announced that legal action will be taken against Jordan and others. The legal proceedings are grounded in the contention that Jordan allegedly played primary roles in the giveaway of prime state lands, said to be worth billions of dollars. Condemned In reacting to the arrest of Jordan, Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, said there was no justification for the action by the police and noted that the arrest is another vile, malicious and vindictive act of political witch hunting by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) regime. In fact he stated “The arrest of former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, is not evidence based, but is rooted in depravity. The PPP is bent on harassing and tormenting the lives of coalition members and supporters.”
Harmon went on to state that Jordan’s recent remarks that the PPP/C has already borrowed more money than what was received thus far from oil has clearly upset the party. It was further stated that “What we see here today is a clear case of excessive use force by the state in an attempt to silence those who seek to expose them.” According to the statement, attorneys-at-law, Roysdale Force SC and Darren Wade were at Jordan’s side throughout the process Thursday and Jordan was released from custody after needing medical attention due to the psychological and mental stress brought on by agents of the state. For its part the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) also issued a statement in which they condemned Jordan’s arrest and called it a witch hunt by the current administration. The party assured Jordan and his family that they have its full support against the tyranny of the PPP/C administration. It was also mentioned that the current administration ought to be scared of the statements that are being made by Jordan surrounding the nation’s finances and its oil revenues. Consequently, it was stated that the current administration has resorted to body violence, health threats and psychological intimidation against the former Minister. Meanwhile, businessman and principal of BK Inc., Brian Tiwari was also called in for questioning at SOCU Headquarters. This was confirmed by the Head of SOCU, who also related that the businessman was questioned in relation to prime waterfront properties in Kingston, Georgetown, in which BK reportedly breached its contractual obligations. Karimbaksh noted that Tiwari was questioned and released on his own recognizance. SATURDAY Guyana continues to rely on ExxonMobil for data on oil, gas reserves
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-independent survey yet to be done six years on Since the Liza discovery six years ago in the oil-rich Stabroek Block, Guyana continues to rely on ExxonMobil and its partners (Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Limited) for data on its oil and gas reserves. There have been promises by the previous and even the current administration for independent seismic assessments to be conducted, but this is yet to be fulfilled. Just recently, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat disclosed that the government was told by Exxon that its current drilling programme is resulting in the discovery of a lot more gas. The Minister said, “What we were told recently by Exxon is that their current drilling programme is discovering
a lot more gas than they did previously, so we are heading into an area where there [is] more gas deposits mixed with the crude and more than what Liza One and Liza Phase Two has.” The Minister was keen to note, however, that the government is not necessarily underwhelmed by this report from Exxon since in his eyes, it confirms that Guyana’s US$900M gas-to-shore project would not be left stranded after Liza Phase One and Two’s resources have
been depleted. Bharrat said, “So this is a project that would not fail…But Exxon is hitting more gas now as it heads further east, closer to Suriname.” Earlier this year, the PPP/ C Government had published an Expression of Interest (EOI) for private investors or a consortium to be part of the US$900M project. The EOI which was advertised by the Ministry of Natural Resources, called for a joint participation in the proposed gasto-shore project with the government and Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana. According to the EOI, the government and EEPGL are looking for partners “in designing or utilising the outputs from an NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) / LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) facility and related facilities.” This includes, according to the Ministry, design, construction, and financing of a power plant fuelled by Natural Gas, where the power will be delivered into the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) distribution grid. This is in addition to industries that can utilise the gas for, “Natural gas driven developments and growth.” The EOI also stated that interested parties can bid to take part in any of the elements individually or collectively. It was noted, however, that any submission for the
first and third aspects of the project, namely design and utilisation of gas or the industrial park, “must demonstrate the nexus between the projects, as detailed.” Responses to the EOI, the Ministry said, should contain adequate information, including the capabilities (technical and financial), track-record, profile and relevant information on the applicant or consortium. This is in addition to evidence of financial resources available for the proposed project, and should include a business plan. That plan, the Ministry said, must include a description of the proposed project, details on land required and related infrastructure, required quantities of gas and electricity (capacity [MWhr] and energy [kWhr]), with information on expected pricing, volumes, and ability to manage potential variable gas flows. The Ministry, in its invitation, noted also that the decision on Wales was taken after extensive evaluation of multiple sites with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EEPGL). The Wales Development Zone (WDZ), it said, has been identified as the termination point for the pipeline from the Liza Area in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana. The WDZ encompasses over 14,000+ acres of land of which approximately 1,300 acres will be set aside for heavy industry/gas-related investments.
The project, according to stakeholders, is expected to see some 27 kilometres of pipeline being buried from the Crane, West Coast Demerara (WCD) location to Wales, in addition to some 200 plus kilometres of pipeline from the Stabroek Block where the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel is located. According to the administration, WDZ will be the location for the termination of the gaspipeline measuring over 225 km from the Liza Area. Additionally, it will involve the establishment of a gasprocessing plant (GPP) and a Natural gas liquids facility (NGL) capable of producing at least 4,000 bbl./day, including the fractionation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The private partners will also be expected to take part in the operations of the establishment of a power plant to generate 150 MW, with an additional 150 MW as a second phase, in addition to the establishment of an industrial park comprising industries that can utilise gas, steam and/or electricity. Minister Bharrat has since disclosed to this newspaper that the government has received an overwhelming response to the EOI from some of the interest stemming from Europe, and even regionally. He said these are still being evaluated by the Gas-toShore Task Force.
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COVID-19: Vaccines are safe; new evidence suggests that an adjustment in how they are given can prevent the complication that worries many By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center
I
n the initial phase of COVID-19, we all felt helpless and couldn't wait for a vaccine to come out and help us against this dreaded disease. Unfortunately, there were a few cases of blood clots being triggered from the vaccines and this led to mass fear of vaccines and vaccine hesitancy. As a result, we lost the opportunity to gain the upper hand against this disease because there were too many that didn't vaccinate, giving the virus opportunities to mutate into more efficient forms. Scientists have now found an explanation on why
blood clots formed in a rare few when they received their COVID-19 vaccines. How were the blood clots formed? A group of scientists from the UK and US, teamed up to study the AstraZeneca vaccine and why it triggered blood clots to rarely form in some that received it. They found that when the vaccine is given directly into the bloodstream, it can attract a protein in the blood called platelet factor 4. This can sometimes trigger an inflammatory or clotting response leading to blood clots being formed or an inflammation of vital organs in the body. While vaccines are given in the muscle, very rarely, the needle can enter a blood vessel causing the vaccines to
be given into the bloodstream. How are vaccines usually given? I have seen the trend worldwide where the needle is “jabbed” into a muscle, often the deltoid muscle of the arm, and the vaccine is injected right away into the muscle. I was taught differently; we were always told to aspirate (pull back) on the syringe before injecting the vaccine/medication into the muscle. The wisdom in pulling the syringe back was that if your needle was accidentally in a blood vessel (which occurs rarely), you will see blood coming back into your syringe. Should that occur, we were taught to pull the syringe and needle out and to not administer the vaccine or
injection at that site as it would most likely enter the bloodstream. Somehow, that practice has become less popular with time and the routine these days is to inject the vaccine right after the needle enters the muscle without aspirating. So what is the best way forward? Given these new findings, experts are recommending that the simplest way to avoid the rare vaccine complication that worries many, is to aspirate (pull back) the syringe before pushing on it when the needle has entered the muscle. This will most likely prevent the vaccine from being administered directly into the bloodstream and triggering a clotting and
inflammatory response. It is also a step that will assure many that they do not have to worry about the vaccine complication once blood did not come into their syringe when the health provider aspirated before delivering their vaccine. Re-introducing this simple step will make the vaccine process even safer than they are currently and should alleviate fears for those that are worried about the rare complications of COVID-19 vaccines. This study has helped to strengthen the point that the contents of the vaccines are safe and are not the problem. These vaccines were designed to be given to muscles and slowly absorb. A simple adjustment in the technique of their
administration will ensure that this occurs and avoid them going directly into the bloodstream. So, go get your vaccine or your booster and make sure that your provider aspirates before pushing the vaccine into your muscle. Once this is done, you should not have to worry about any rare complication.
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>>> ENCOURAGING EVENTS, DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS <<<
Chasing after money, C’bean Human Rights lawyer and Marudi mining
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t is encouraging that a Guyanese Environmentalist, Ms. Simone Mangal-Joly, said her piece. It is Exxon’s reckless chasing after money. It is pleasing that there are genuinely concerned Guyanese like these, who know that when they take up stances that PPP powers conclude are
contrarian, they are likely never to be forgotten or forgiven. It is encouraging that a few Guyanese are stepping forward, letting their voices echo with the troubling, the endangering, the impoverishing. For my fellow citizens to get a clearer understanding of how capitalist corporate commanders think and
function, I reach back in time to my time on Wall Street, the nerve centre of the We s t e r n w o r l d ’s moneymaking machine. It should elaborate on what Ms. Mangal-Joly deemed reckless chasing after money. There was a decision to be made, which involved (what else?) money.
The first question that was asked of the small conference room circle centred around the probability of detection and financial damage. It was 50 percent. The second question was what was likely to be the maximum cost in dollars and it came up to tens of millions (between 25 and 50) American dollars,
in fines and possible censures. The last question was this: what was t h e approximate potential revenue stream? The answer was a minimum of U S $ 1 0 0 million. When the numbers man spoke, I knew that it was all over. Guyanese need to get this lesson in their heads: when money is involved, and it outruns the financial exposure, then money is king. It is what Ms. MangalJoly pointed to as the reckless chase after money. It is the rat race taken to towering heights by the biggest rats to be found anywhere. They are here in Guyana today, and they make bigger rats of our small and medium-sized rats. They are known as the political leaders, who we elect them every five years to gnaw at our hopes, dreams, and safety. In this reckless chase, Guyanese get knock down and run over. Thank you, Ms. Mangal-Joly. I am encouraged that a stranger by way of UWI and Harvard Law could have a thought to share and a word to spare about our ‘little brown brothers’ (American President Howard Taft and VP George Bush). The Canadians come and PPP leaders go out of their way to welcome them: a mining agreement signed in a dark alleyway. If I remember well, the Americans did that with their Indigenous people for their land and minerals. They got compromised and collaborating tribal leaders to surrender for some beads and a bottle of whiskey. And before I forget, some rubber bullets. That was to shoot their own people. I wish that the President and the way smarter VP would listen, maybe grasp a tendril of some truth, of what destroys us.
By GHK Lall The Canadians are ready to go to Marudi and the question is what the PPP Government (its VP) is going to do for ‘those people’. Yes, I said it: those little, inconsequential, troublesome Indigenous people. On the whole, it has been the lot of the original Guyanese to have to deal with mercury and cyanide, and God alone knows whatever else that we don’t know about. Yet. The Human Rights lawyer is admitted to practice in Jamaica. I think she would do well in Guyana. That is, if she has the kind of stomach required to stand the deviltries and debaucheries of Guyanese political leaders from both sides of the divide. Still, a voice is a voice, and it doesn’t matter from whom and where or, sometimes, even about what. Once the essence is of what is right, fair and principled, then I am for it, and encouraged that there are people like these still around. Attorney Malene Alleyne has spoken about rescinding agreement and apologising to the Marudians. I think I can hear the VP: where do they get these people from? This is business, and it is a no brainer. Why can’t some people get it, get with the programme? To clear the air, it is his programme, and no little brown people will be allowed to get in the way. Rescind, no! Apologies, hell no! (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Sunday December 05, 2021
30 companies express interest in gas-to-shore project Some 30 companies have expressed interest in the government’s gas-toshore project, which is pegged at US$900 million. Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat in
an interview with OilNOW said that companies from the United States, China and the European and Caribbean regions have already submitted their proposals. Locals, the minister told
the oil network, have also partnered with regional companies for the project. While he was careful not to divulge the names of the companies, Bharrat only highlighted some structural
changes that have been made. In the interview with OilNOW, the minister said, “There was a lot of talk by the political opposition about the cost of the project
moving from US$600M to US$900M but the scales being looked at are different. They looked at an 8-inch pipeline, but we are looking at 12. Their plan looked at taking the pipeline to
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat Mahaica or Ogle, but we are looking at Wales.” He added, “We are not only putting a power plant in place but a massive industrial manufacturing plant with a port facility. So, we are using a 12-inch pipeline with a 250 megawatts power plant and 15 kilometres of pipeline onshore…and setting up industries to feed off of that… The task force is still working on the price for the gas and there is a draft on terms of sale.” Earlier this year, the PPP/C Government had published an Expression of Interest (EOI) for private investors or a consortium to be part of the US$900M project. The EOI which was advertised by the Ministry of Natural Resources, called for a joint participation in the proposed gas-to-shore project with the government and Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana. According to the EOI, the government and EEPGL are looking for partners “in designing or utilising the outputs from an NGL (Natural Gas Liquids)/LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) facility and related facilities.” This includes, according to the Ministry, design, construction, and financing of a power plant fuelled by Natural Gas, where the power will be delivered into the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) distribution grid. This is in addition to industries that can utilise the gas for, “Natural gas driven developments and growth.” The EOI also stated that interested parties can bid to take part in any of the elements individually or collectively. It was noted, however, that any submission for the first and third aspects of the project, namely design and utilisation of gas or the industrial park, “must Continued on page 38
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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
I threw more than 50 years of experience onto the lap of Bryan McIntosh I have known Bryan McIntosh for a few years now because we live in the same compound. I got to know him better during the five-month election rigging drama when he was part of the Guardians for Democracy. We have been talking about things in Guyana since March 2020. Recently, a video went viral with Bryan in a radical show of force against what he described as a wrong thing the Pegasus Hotel allegedly did – erection of a barrier to prevent vehicles from driving unto the Kingston beach. The video shows him breaking down the barrier and making accusations against the owners of the hotel. When I watched that video, I saw me 40 years ago. But within those 40 years, I learnt with unlimited angst and broken dreams what a wasteland Guyana is where people have lost any courage to save civilisation. The man or woman who tries to save civilised norms in Guyana is going to feel that 40-year-old pain that I have endured. I was not going to let Bryan go down that sad pathway. In a long conversation I
showed him what my experience of over 50 years was like. My first offering was to avoid getting libel. Powerful people are going to sue, and ruin you if you lose. I advised Bryan that he could have accosted the owners of the Pegasus avoiding the adjectives he used. I used to express those adjectives and though they were relevant, I ended up with a large collection of libels. My second sermon was the turmoil he will go through getting a lawyer to appear in court to save him. My newspaper made it clear to me 26 years ago, it will not fund any kind of court case from my action in society or writings in the newspaper. I have spent those 26 years begging lawyers to help. I looked at Bryan and said – “you want to go through that?” Then I said something and he shook his head and uttered, “you right.” He must know the company he keeps. It will take more than two million dollars to engage a lawyer. The judgment, if he loses, may be in the vicinity of five to 10 million dollars. I told Bryan that is peanuts to some people who criticise politicians or businessmen.
They will fork out that money as if it were peanuts if they were sued. My advice was to avoid protesting with critics that can spend money for libel while you don't have a cent to your name. My third admonition was the O'Neil Greaves saying. In my Tuesday column, I referred to what my UG colleague, O'Neil Greaves said to me moons ago, “Freddie when you look over your shoulder, your army won't be there.” I told Bryan he got a massive outpouring of admiration for the seawall action and if he repeats a similar feat, the chants will be, “yes, Bryan, yes Bryan” but like me, when he looks over his shoulder his army won't be there. I poured out all my experience to Bryan. I stood alone in the High Court with only my lawyers present. They were trying to save me from prison. Bishop Juan Edghill brought a contempt of court charge against me. His lawyer, Mr. Ashton Chase (90 years at the time) worded the writ in such a way that once the judge agreed that I was guilty of contempt, there was no alternative to
imprisonment. It asked the court for “penal consequences.” No one was in court to cheer me up. I always remember what the Pakistani Prime Minister proclaimed decades ago. He said he had fans that treated him like a hero. When it was time to build a cancer hospital in his mother's name, his fans disappeared. Recently the Stabroek News publicly published how it feels about me - it will choose the leaders of Transparency InternationalGuyana Chapter any day in front of me. No one wrote even one paragraph asking
why.Bryan McIntosh if he is going to continue on a radical course needs to do two t h i n g s . I Frederick Kissoon emphasised that. Look at my life's experience and Note: In yesterday's study the country you are fighting for. I warned him column, Ms. Walton-Desir that Guyana is a very cruel, was mistaken for Tabitha lost horizon. He should be S a r a b o - H a l l e y i n t h e extremely careful about formation of a new political radical activism. My solemn party. An apology is offered advice was to fight for what to Ms. Walton-Desir. (The views expressed in he believes in but avoid bringing on unnecessary this article are those of the destruction unto himself and a u t h o r a n d d o n o t think long and hard if necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.) Guyana is worth it.
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Kaieteur News
Lessons from a Lashpreneur!!!
Eyelashes….why do they fall out?
By Latoya Zephyr Nature wisely took care of our eyes providing them not only with eyelids but also with eyelashes. They protect our eyes from dust,sand,moisture and other contaminants. Hair that grows on the upper and lower eyelids differ in length- at the top they are usually longer and grow thicker, in 3-4 rows. There are usually 150 to 250 eyelashes here and 50 to 150 eyelashes on the lower one. Each hair consist of a root and a rod, cells of which are
identical to the skin epidermis and consist of keratin. The root of the cilia is a hair follicle in the subcutaneous layer or dermis. The cells of the hair follicle are divided, allowing the eyelash to grow. The root is fed from the hair follicle. The hair bulb is surrounded by a follicle in the bottom of which the skin papilla is embedded. Through it the eyelash receives nutrition and oxygen. A bundle of smooth muscles is attached to the
bulb to lift/lower the hairs. Closer to the surface of the skin are 2-3 sebaceous glands for lubricating lashes. ·The rod is the visible part of the eyelash ·The core is a substance consisting of keratin. ·The cortical layer covers 90% of the hair area. It consists of keratinized cells which gives strength. ·Cuticle- 5 -10 thin layers of cells that cover the hair like a tile. The cuticle protects eyelashes from harmful effects and also gives them strength.
30 companies express interest in gas-to-shore... From page 34 demonstrate the nexus between the projects, as detailed.”Responses to the EOI, the Ministry said, should contain adequate information, including the capabilities (technical and financial), track-record, profile and relevant information on the applicant or consortium. This is in addition to evidence of financial resources available for the proposed
project, and should include a business plan.That plan, the Ministry said, must include a description of the proposed project, details on land required and related infrastructure, required quantities of gas and electricity (capacity [MWhr] and energy [kWhr]), with information on expected pricing, volumes, and ability to manage potential variable gas flows.
The Ministry, in its invitation, noted also that the decision on Wales was taken after extensive evaluation of multiple sites with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EEPGL). The Wales Development Zone (WDZ), it said, has been identified as the termination point for the pipeline from the Liza Area in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.
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The Court Ganja possession Journal and penalties By Renay Sambach
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he possession of C a n n a b i s (commonly called ganja) and its trafficking are very prevalent in our society since it is widely used by both the young and the old. In this edition of 'The Court Journal', I will look at matters in which persons were charged for cannabis possession and/or trafficking and the penalties attached to those offences. Recently making headlines were a barber and a miner who were intercepted by police ranks on patrol duties in Tabatinga Village, Central Lethem. It was reported that the men were travelling in a green Premio motorcar bearing registration number PRR 4548, which was proceeding on the access road. It was around 12:30 hours on November 27, 2021, when the vehicle was intercepted by the cops. There were three occupants in the vehicle. They were the driver and two male passengers – Lester George, 29, a miner of Achawib Village, South Rupununi and Shem Winter, 21, a barber of Ta b a t i n g a , C e n t r a l Rupununi. A search was carried out on their persons and police ranks found two zip lock bags in George's pocket, which contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis sativa. The man was told of the offence and cautioned and he replied, “Yes, sir is me own.” The police ranks then carried out a search on Winter and they unearthed a bulky transparent plastic bag in his pants crotch containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis sativa. Winter was also told of the offence and cautioned and he too replied, “Yes officer, is me own.” The police had reported that the vehicle and driver
Lester George Shem Winter
were also searched but nothing illegal was found. As such, George and Winter were arrested and taken into custody at the Lethem Police Station along with the suspected narcotic which was weighed in their presence. The weighing of the suspected narcotics revealed that George had 5 grams of narcotics in his possession and Winter had 16 grams of narcotics in his possession. Two days after they were arrested, the duo appeared in the Lethem Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Allan Wilson. Winter was charged for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, Contrary to Section 5 (1) (a) (i) of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substance Control Act, Chapter 10:10. He pleaded guilty to the charge that was read to him and he was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Meanwhile, George was charged for possession of narcotics contrary to Section 4(1) (a) (i) of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substance Control Act 10:10. The charge was read to him and he also pleaded guilty but he was fined $5,000 along with three months of community service. PENALTIES Penalty for possession of narcotics According to Section 4 of
the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substance Control Act, “Any person who has in his possession any narcotic, or any substance represented or held out by him to be a narcotic, shall be liable - on summary conviction, to fine of not less than thirty thousand dollars, together with imprisonment for not less than three years nor more than five years. Or on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not less than thirty thousand dollars or three times the market value of the narcotic, whichever is greater, then together with imprisonment for not less than five years nor more than ten years.
Penalty for trafficking in narcotics According to Section 4 of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substance Control Act, “Any person who traffics in any narcotics, any substance represented or held out by him to be a narcotic, or who has in his possession any narcotic, or any substance represented or held out by him to be a narcotic, for the purpose of trafficking, shall be liable. In respect to any narcotic on summary conviction, to a fine of not less than thirty thousand dollars or three times the market value narcotic, whichever is the g r e a t e r, t o g e t h e r w i t h
imprisonment for not less than three years nor more than five years. Or on conviction or indictment, to a fine of not less than seventy-five thousand dollars or three times the market value of the narcotic, whichever is the g r e a t e r, t o g e t h e r w i t h imprisonment for life.” MARIJUANA BILL Earlier this year, a majority vote by the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government resulted in an Amendment Bill proposed by Opposition Member, Sherod Duncan, being thrown out of the National Assembly. In the Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill, the Opposition had anticipations of decriminalisng 15 grams of marijuana to a significant 500 grams, and had also called for the release of those persons currently in prison behind bars for possession of under that “proposed legal amount.” However, it was stated that due to several errors in the Bill, which were also in conflict with the current law, the PPP/C government questioned the proposal, and eventually, voted against it. The government did, however, give support towards its own Bill, titled the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2020. During his presentation in the National Assembly, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, pointed out that the oppositionproposed Bill failed to amend or indicate how it would allow for the usage to be legal. To this, the AG said, “So, you can have it, but you can't smoke it or inhale it or vape it.”
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Sunday December 05, 2021
==GNBS IN FOCUS== TIPS FOR GOOD MEASURE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON The beginning of December affirms that the Christmas holiday season is upon us in Guyana and most parts of the world. Most consumers are drafting their lists of goodies to purchase before visiting the shops, markets and supermarkets to make those purchases. Included in those lists to grab are more than normal quantities of foods and other grocery items, such as rice, flour, sugar, meats, preserved fruits and cooking oil. In this season also, every dollar counts, and consumers must ensure that they are given value for money by getting the right Weights and Measures. For almost 25 years, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has been executing its mandate to ensure that all weighing and measuring devices used in trade are verified (stamped). The Bureau has been doing this twice yearly to ensure accuracy and transparency. However, it is opportune for consumers to be reminded that they too have meaningful roles to play which would guarantee that they are not given short weights and measures. The following are 10 of these roles: 1. Buy goods from vendors who are using verified scales and other verified devices. If used properly, approved devices give correct weights or measures. 2. Look for GNBS verification seals on devices. The affixed GNBS seals are one way of determining whether the device (scale) was verified. 3. Make sure the device used to weigh or measure your goods is clean and tidy. Dirty devices often give inaccurate weights and measures and can cause the contamination of goods
including food items. 4. During the weighing process, ensure that you can see the measuring indicator of scales. The scale must be positioned in a manner, which will allow you to see the weighing process. 5. Do not buy from vendors or shopkeepers using the domestic (kitchen) scales. These scales are not approved for commercial trade because their internal mechanisms are quickly worn, hence they give inaccurate weights. 6. Do not accept purchase if you have doubts about your weight or measure. You can ask the seller to reweigh or measure the item to be satisfied with the quantities given to you. 7. Buy in metric quantities. Most measuring devices used in the marketplace are in metric units and by requesting goods in metric quantities, you are assured of the quantity of goods issued to you. 8. Buy all solids by weight instead of measure. Rice, peas and channa are solid goods and all solids must be weighed, not measured. Request these goods in grammes and kilogrammes instead of pints and gallons. 9. Buy prepackaged goods that are labelled with the quantity (net contents). For example: 450 g, 1 kg, 3 litres, etc. Remember, without a stated quantity on the label/package, you can be sold a lesser quantity than you are paying for. 10. Call or WhatsApp the GNBS or visit the Sub-office or Weights and Measures Office in your Region to make complaints of short weight or measure if the need arises. For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 2190064 - 66, or WhatsApp: 6924627.
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Interesting Creature…
The Owl Butterfly
The owl butterflies are species of the genus Caligo and are known for their huge eyespots, which resemble owls' eyes. They are found in the rainforests and secondary forests of Mexico, Central and South America. Owl butterflies are very large, 65–200 mm (2.6–7.9 in), and fly only a few metres at a time, so avian predators have little difficulty in following them to their settling place. However, the butterflies preferentially fly in dusk, when few avian predators are around. The Latin name may possibly refer to their active periods; caligo means darkness. Some owl butterflies form leks in mating behaviour. The underwing pattern is highly cryptic. It is conceivable that the eye pattern is a generalised form of mimicry. It is known that many small animals hesitate to go near patterns resembling eyes with a lightcoloured iris and a large pupil, which matches the appearance of the eyes of many predators that hunt by sight. According to the Batesian mimicry theory, the pattern on the wings of
Caligo resemble the head of a predator like a lizard or an amphibian. It should deter predators while resting, feeding, mating, or emerging from the pupa. The role of eyespots as anti-predator mechanisms has been discussed since the 1 9 t h c e n t u r y. S e v e r a l hypotheses are suggested to explain their occurrence. In some butterflies, particularly Satyrinae (such as the gatekeeper butterfly and the grayling), it has been shown that ocelli (eyespots) serve as a decoy, diverting bird attack away from the vulnerable body and towards the outer part of the hindwings or the forewing tip. Research of Stevens et a l . ( 2 0 0 8 ) , h o w e v e r, suggests that eyespots are not a form of mimicry and do not deter predators because they look like eyes. Rather the conspicuous contrast, in the patterns on the wings, deter predators. In this study, however, the influence of surrounding forms, like the head region of a predator, was not tested. In addition, the question why animals evolved such complex imitations of other species is left unanswered. (Source: Wikipedia)
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Sunday December 05, 2021
NAREI expends $38M on new office, ATV to better serve farmers in Paramakatoi
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n a bid to improve its extension services in far-flung areas of the c o u n t r y, t h e N a t i o n a l Agriculture Research and Extension Institute ( N A R E I ) , o n F r i d a y, commissioned a brand new office building and an ATV in the village of Paramakatoi, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). The construction of the building, according to a Ministry of Agriculture release, was executed to the tune of $36,822,665 while the ATV was procured at a cost of $1,995,000. The building, which forms part of the agency’s 2020 capital projects, will be used to house NAREI’s extension staff as well as to conduct training for farmers and other persons in the village who are involved in agriculture-related activities. While delivering r e m a r k s a t t h e commissioning, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha said that the government is working to ensure the agriculture in hinterland
NAREI’s newly commissioned office building in Paramakatoi, Region 8.
areas benefit from the same level of development as the coastal areas. “These are the kinds of investments that the PPP Government is making. We are not only making investments in urban areas
and on the coast. Large investments are being made in hinterland areas to serve the communities and develop the agriculture s e c t o r. We ’ v e a l s o commissioned a brand new ATV so that our extension
officers in these areas can serve the communities better. This shows the government’s commitment to developing the agriculture sector in all parts of the country. Agriculture is playing a leading role now in
our country and, as a government, we are making a lot of funds available to develop this very critical sector,” Minister Mustapha said. The projects also saw the construction of a fence, a
security hut, the installation of perimeter lighting, utilities work, as well as furnishing. Following the exercise, Minister Mustapha toured a shadehouse that was set up by the research institute. The shadehouse, which is located in the compound where the office is located, will ensure quality seedlings are made available to villagers. While in the region, Minister Mustapha also spearheaded the government’s ongoing flood relief initiative, which saw approximately 340 farmers benefitting from close to $29 million in relief grants. During that exercise, Minister Mustapha encouraged the farmers to use the grant to return to that land. Farmers who received the grant thanked the government for the assistance, as many of them would’ve lost their crop. Farmers in the village are known to cultivate mostly ground provisions such as cassava, yams, and eddoes.
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Minister Vindhya Persaud launches 2021 ‘Wish Upon a Star’ initiative Minister Vindhya Persaud with a young boy during last year’s ‘Wish Upon a Star’.
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ish Upon a Star, an initiative conceptualised by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, to fulfill the dreams of children with special needs during the festive season, was recently launched for this year and is again expected to bring smiles upon the faces of dozens of children. This is according to a release issued by the Human Services Ministry yesterday. Last year, Dr. Persaud saw to it that 50 children from all across Guyana received exactly what it was that they wrote to her about, including a memorable interaction with President Irfaan Ali for some of them. The Ministry is now once again presenting the initiative, with Dr. Persaud welcoming anyone who would like to partner with the Ministry in making it a reality. “We want to be able to ensure that children are very happy for this festive season; we want to make them feel s p e c i a l , ” D r. P e r s a u d mentioned during her announcement of this year’s initiative. The Ministry is focusing on children between the ages of four and 15 with special needs, such as those living
with disabilities; children who would’ve experienced some traumatic or psychological incident in their life; who have lost their parents and do not have guardians or caregivers; and who would’ve never had the opportunity to enjoy that one gift that could make them incredibly happy. “All they need to do is put that handwritten note in the box saying what they want. If they can’t do that and you (parent/guardian) can, that’s also welcome because at the end of the day, we’ll try to make those wishes into a reality,” Minister Persaud expressed. In crafting the initiative, Dr. Persaud had especially taken into consideration how children generally look forward to Christmas time and how granting their special wishes can have a profound impact on them. Having received over 350 handwritten letters last year, the Ministry’s ‘Santa Helpers’ had a difficult task of reviewing the heartfelt requests and determining who were eligible to receive gifts. Nevertheless, as she wrapped up the event, Dr. Persaud shared, “There were moments of smiles and tears as I watched these children receive their gifts. There isn’t a price tag for a child’s
smile.” Five-year-old Ayush Bharat; 12-year-old twins Hafizah and Saleemah Harmon and their eightyear-old sister Shareefa, all met President Ali on Christmas Eve last year at
e promis on her ugh. g in r e ro eliv ome th saud d Dr. Per ke any wish c to ma
State House. Hafizah and Saleemah, during their interaction with the President, asked him to assist them with a scholarship to attend the ISA Islamic School, since their mother cannot afford the
tuition fees. Following a brief dialogue, the President announced that their wish will be fulfilled. The deadline for the letters this year is December 15 and persons are encouraged to utilise the
specially marked boxes at the Ministry locations all across the country, including at Lamaha and East Streets, Cornhill Street, and the Childcare and Protection Agency, at Broad Street, Charlestown.
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GWI surveys land for new Fyrish well Fyrish to soon benefit from improved water supply.
Sunday December 05, 2021
Biden to increase royalties from Exxon, other majors - says current leasing programme “shortchanges taxpayers and States” By Kiana Wilburg
Approximately 10,000 persons from Albion to Number One Village, served by the Fryish well station, will soon see an improvement in their water service. This is as the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) moves to drill a new well. In a release, it noted that Chief Executive Officer of GWI – Mr. Shaik Baksh, Executive Director of Operations Mr. Jawaharall Ramjug, other GWI Technical and Regional Officials on Friday, December 3, last conducted several site visits with the aim of identifying a location for the new well. The current well at Fryish is close to 50 years old and has begun to show signs of deterioration. According to Mr. Baksh, this has resulted in the well producing murky water, particularly when the well recommences pumping after a power outage. GWI is currently seeking financial
provision from the Government of Guyana for the new well, as it aims to begin drilling as early as this month (December). “So it is imperative that GWI quickly endeavours to drill a new well for the residents to give them a good quality of water. We want to do this expeditiously,” the GWI CEO stated. The team looked at a number of plots of land within the Kilcoy/Chesney and Fryish areas, with Chesney showing more potential for drilling. Also accompanying the GWI officials was Mr. Davanand Kasinath, a Councillor of the Kilcoy/Hampshire Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and Mr. Evern Marks of the Fryish/ Gibraltar NDC. Mr. Baksh pointed out that GWI is working closely with the NDC officials to acquire the necessary approval to drill on
the land. A design is also in place for the well already. As a more immediate solution, GWI has started to flush the water prior distribution, in addition to the installation of a soft starter for the motor. Mr. Baksh explained that, “When there’s a blackout, we can start without interrupting or shaking up the casing of the well and this seems to be working right now and over the last two days, the water has improved and we’re hoping to hold this position within the next two to three months.” Following the site visits, Mr. Baksh spoke with a number of residents who indicated that they have already seen improvements in the quality of their w a t e r, s i n c e t h e t e m p o r a r y interventions. Drilling is expected to last for a period of three months, after which customers will benefit.
US President, Joe Biden recently disclosed his aggressive plans to reform the American oil and gas industry, starting with the increase of royalties paid by ExxonMobil and other oil majors. This was specifically noted in a U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) report that was prepared in
climate-related costs that must be borne by taxpayers; inadequately accounts for environmental harms to lands, waters, and other resources; fosters speculation by oil and gas companies to the detriment of competition and American consumers; extends leasing into low potential lands that may have competing higher value uses, and leaves
US President, Joe Biden
response to an Executive Order 14008 on “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” The order stipulated that the DOI conduct a review of Federal oil and gas leasing and permitting practices. During that process, DOI made a damning observation. It said, “Modernization of the Federal oil and gas programme has been delayed for decades to the detriment of the American public, their public lands and waters, the environment, wildlife, and more. In its current form, the programme falls short of serving the public interest in a number of important respects. It p r o v i d e s i n s u ff i c i e n t opportunities for public input, shortchanges taxpayers and States, and tilts toward opening up low potential lands without adequately considering competing multiple-use opportunities.” Furthermore, the review found that the Federal oil and gas programme which fails to provide a fair return to taxpayers, even before factoring in the resulting
communities out of important conversations about how they want their public lands and waters managed. The document also notes that the fiscal components of the onshore Federal oil and gas programme are particularly outdated, with royalty rates that have not been raised for 100 years. Companies typically have been charged 12.5 percent the value of oil and gas extracted from onshore leases, under a rate dating to the 1920s. For offshore leases, royalty rates have ranged recently from 12.5 percent to 18.75 percent. But the Biden administration wants these rates increased. Kaieteur News also observed that the report identifies a number of recommendations that begin to modernise Federal land management. The reforms serve three main programmatic goals: Provide a fair return to the American public and States from Federal management of public lands and waters, including for development of energy resources; design Continued on page 56
Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Ignore influx of foreign companies ...locals must ‘pool resources in order to compete’ – Pres. Ali tells manufacturers In recent weeks, months and even years, there has been growing discontent among some in the local business community over the proliferation of foreign companies operating locally, particularly in the extractive industries namely gold and forestry, and more recently, the oil and gas sector. To this end, Head-ofState, President Irfaan Ali, has charged local manufacturers to not be distracted by those foreign companies perceived to be eating away at the local content ‘slice of the pie,’ but to instead focus on coming together and building their capacity, even if through strategic partnerships with foreign companies. The President was at the time delivering the keynote address to the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association (GMSA), 26th Annual Presentation of Awards Ceremony, held at the Ramada Princess Hotel, East Bank Demerara (EBD), under the theme, “Changing the paradigm for advancing sustainable industry transformation and growth.” BRIDGE GAPS Addressing the gathering in the context of its stated theme, the President was adamant, the focus of the manufacturing community should be on growing and bridging the existing gaps. “Not talking about who is coming in and going out, let us not wrap ourselves
President Irfaan Ali delivers the keynote address at GMSA’s Annual Presentation of Awards Ceremony. around that; let us identify the gaps and then let us position ourselves strategically, to see who are the partners we need to come on board to fill that gap,” according to President Ali. To t h i s e n d , h e questioned and called on the GMSA and other private sector leaders, to take on a bigger role in building domestic capacity. Calling for a SWOT (strength weaknesses, opportunity and threat) analysis of the capacity of the domestic manufacturing industry, President Ali was adamant, the GMSA needs to identify, “what the gaps are and how do we fill those gaps.” He qualified his position by saying, “in a system, once the gap is recognised, you
would know that we don’t have the capacity in certain areas but we are not going to lie down and say we don’t have the capacity. We are taking it step by step, strategic partnership, bridging the gap and then building the strategic outcome.” POOL RESOURCES To this end, the Head-ofState, cited as example manufacturing and machining and questioned, “How many small machine shops we have across the country,” and suggested “this is where critical thinking comes in.” Recognising the GMSA’s lamentations over challenges faced by small and medium size business, President Ali observed, “…if we have 25 small and
medium sized machining companies that can come together and bring their resources together and create one large machining shop that can take the jobs that big industry are taking; that immediately takes the country at another scale.” According to President Ali, “Yes, the family businesses are good but times are changing,
circumstances are changing and if 10 small businesses can come together and take away 35 percent or 30 percent share in that market, aren’t they better off?” Such a situation, he said, will create, a “better competitive advantage” for locals, “so you have to turn yourselves into corporations.” STRATEGIC ACTION Again addressing the GMSA’s theme, President Ali suggested, “…it begs some strategic questions and require some strategic action.” To t h i s e n d , h e questioned whether it was a case of domestic industries being positioned currently in such a way that there is a likelihood that they will not be sustainable and “if that is the case then what are the inputs that we are going to put in place to make them sustainable, or is it for them to be sustainable, some changes are required.” He also questioned whether as manufacturers, “we are agreeing that some
changes are required and we are agreeing that for these changes to be sustainable all of us in this room will have to do a frank and honest evaluation.” The President in recommending a frank introspection of the domestic capacity to handle the coming demands, questioned, “…can we do it alone, do we require partnership and who are those strategic partners?” To this end, he reminded, “our local content (legislation) is coming but I want to ask a very important question, have the manufacturers as a whole met and did an honest evaluation as to what are the industries that are to be sustainable?” According to President Ali, while sometimes i n d i v i d u a l l y, “ w e a r e satisfied with a small share—in Guyana we say, eat little and live long—it’s not about being satisfied with the small share, it’s missing out on Continued on page 55
Kaieteur News
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Sunday December 05, 2021
Substantial pay increases depend on renegotiating the oil contracts - Dr. Jailall In light of the increasing criticism of the seven percent across the board increase, particularly by unions including the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the Guyana Teachers Union, and the Guyana Trades Union Congress among others, Canadian based, Dr. Jerry Jailall, believes that those “unions in Guyana must understand that hefty pay raises are tied to renegotiation of the current oil contracts.” Dr. Jailall gave his views in a recent public missive where he observed that the government’s Department of
Public Information only recently just released an article essentially saying that the People’s Progressive Party is adamant about not renegotiating the contract, “and that those of us who want renegotiation can go to hell.” He observed too that, “in all of this malpractice of foreign companies raping our resources, some union leaders are busy playing Opposition politics.” According to Dr. Jailall, one prominent union leader in the TUC writes more on anti-PPP topics than on collective bargaining and health and safety of workers,
“…while we squabble among ourselves on these silly things, the oil companies are dancing and carting away our oil wealth because we have some dunces for leaders. Wake up people! Take a stand for renegotiation! Your pay increases depend on it!” a t a time when a deadly virus is ravaging the world and over 1,000 Guyanese have lost their lives. “Some unions even took the Government to court to stop vaccination efforts and lost, as expected…This group with a clear political agenda versus a workers’
agenda is unabashedly antiGovernment,” he said. Dr. Jailall in his missive noted that in the midst of all the disruption of the economy and the government engaging in deficit spending through heavy borrowing, it has offered a seven percent increase, which is higher than the five percent usually imposed in violation of the collective bargaining agreements. He posited, “both major parties have done enough to undermine the collective bargaining process over the years.” According to Dr. Jailall however, while the seven percent is way above the usual five percent, it is not enough given the inflation and high cost of living driven by COVID-19 and the emerging oil economy. He suggested that given the need to double workers’ pay to secure a “living
wage,” and the multitudinous needs for massive infrastructural works, improvements in health, education, housing, social welfare, etc., Guyana needs more income from its oil. To this end, Dr. Jailall was adamant, “It is pathetic to see the Minister of Natural Resources saying critics who say we will get nothing from oil sector reckless, uninformed.” To t h i s e n d , h e questioned, “Why don’t the Minister tell the nation how many billions the oil companies made versus the US$600 million earned by Guyana. And the US$600 million is probably already spent because we are engaged in deficit spending and heavy borrowing!” To the extent that the unions – both TUC and FITUG, Dr. Jailall said are silent about renegotiation of the oil contracts. To that
Canadian based Guyanese, Dr. Jerry Jailall extent, they have betrayed the working people of Guyana who will continue to “suck salt” for a long time to come. “What happened to the working class, antiimperialist ideologies that served the unions well in the past? …why are all the unions silent on renegotiation of the oil contract? Without renegotiation, we will never have enough money to fix our ‘s…hole’ country.” The Canadian based Guyanese in his missive observed, “I just visited Guyana and 80 percent of the roads are potholed and needs repaving. Garbage is
Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
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>>>Young Entrepreneur on the Move<<<
’ BY KESHA’ rs play a “Young entrepreneu omy by key role in any econ d bringing using their skills an arket.” good ideas to the m By Allyiah Allicock
D
espite being unemployed for some time, it was not the end of the road for Kesha Chesney. In fact, it was the gateway for a wonderful opportunity which placed her in the position she finds herself in today – as the owner of an o rg a n i c s k i n - c a r e / h a i r business. “Being unemployed was one reason I decided to start my small business in order to support my family. I always had a passion for making natural products to help persons who have issues with their skin,” the mother
of two shared with Kaieteur News. It was this passion that drove her to launch her very own business venture called ‘Go Organic by Kesha’, which she introduced on April 14 of this year. During that time, two of her products – turmeric and lemon body scrub, and avocado and banana hair mask – were the first she introduced. Since then, people became very interested in the products and what more she had to offer. From that period on, the support for her business has been nothing but great, she intimated. “I’m getting support from my family, friends and my social media
Some of the organic products you can purchase from ‘Go Organic by Kesha’.
platform, where persons are purchasing the products and loving it and sending good reviews about the products and services they are getting,” the 29-year-old pointed out. When asked about the future goals for her
business, Chesney said she hopes to one day own a store where consumers can have an even more wide variety of products to choose from. Also, she is hoping to have her organic products be distributed to all stores and supermarket countrywide
…FOR ALL NATURAL SKIN-CARE AND HAIR PRODUCTS and to have her products recognised as one of the best coming out of Guyana in a few years from now. But delving into the business arena was not without challenges for Chesney. A notable Continued on page 55
Founder and owner of ‘Go Organic by Kesha’, Kesha Chesney
PAGE 52
The little pantry thief “MOTHER dear,” said a little mouse one day, “I think the people in our house must be very kind; don't you? They leave such nice things for us in the larder.” There was a twinkle in the mother's eye as she replied,—“Well, my child, no doubt they are very well in their way, but I don't think they are quite as fond of us as you seem to think. Now remember, Greywhiskers, I have absolutely forbidden you to put your nose above the ground unless I am with you, for kind as the people are, I shouldn't be at all surprised if they tried to catch you.” Greywhiskers twitched his tail with scorn; he was quite sure he knew how to take care of himself, and he didn't mean to trot meekly after his mother's tail all his life. So as soon as she had curled herself up for an afternoon nap he stole away, and scampered across the pantry shelves. Ah! here was something particularly good to-day. A large iced cake stood far back upon the shelf, and Greywhiskers licked his lips as he sniffed it. Across the top of the cake there were words written in pink sugar; but as Greywhiskers could not read, he did not know that he was nibbling at little Miss Ethel's birthday cake. But he did feel a little guilty when he heard his mother calling. Off he ran, and was back in the nest again by the time his mother had finished rubbing her eyes after her nap.She took Greywhiskers up to the pantry then, and when she saw the hole in the cake she seemed a little annoyed. “Some mouse has evidently been here before us,” she said, but of course she never guessed that it was her own little son. The next day the naughty little mouse again popped up to the pantry when his mother was asleep; but at first he could find nothing at all to eat, though there was a most delicious smell of toasted cheese.
Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
Presently he found a dear little wooden house, and there hung the cheese, just inside it.In ran Greywhiskers, but, oh! “click” went the little wooden house, and mousie was caught fast in a trap. When the morning came, the cook, who had set the trap, lifted it from the shelf, and then called a pretty little girl to come and see the thief who had eaten her cake. “What are you going to do with him?” asked Ethel. “Why, drown him, my dear, to be sure.” The tears came into the little girl's pretty blue eyes. “You didn't know it was stealing, did you, mousie dear?” she said.“No,” squeaked Greywhiskers sadly; “indeed I didn't.” Cook's back was turned for a moment, and in that moment tender-hearted little Ethel lifted the lid of the trap, and out popped mousie. Oh! how quickly he ran home to his mother, and how she comforted and petted him until he began to forget his fright; and then she made him promise never to disobey her again, and you may be sure he never did.
Junior page
Peppermint Wreath To craft this fun wreath, you'll want to start by spray painting various sizes of flat wood rounds, wooden balls, and a craft ring with white spray paint. Paint peppermint stripes on rounds and balls with red craft paint. Once dry, spray with a spray adhesive and sprinkle with diamond dust glitter. Wrap a long length of striped wired ribbon around the ring (for hanging), and then attach glittered rounds and balls with hot glue. (Intersperse a few small solid-colored balls if desired.) Tie a bow with the same striped ribbon and attach with hot-glue. Yarn Christmas tree Supplies: - yarn in as many colors as you'd like - cardboardor styrofoam cones -wooden toy wheels in a large and small size - dowel rod that will fit the hole of the wooden wheels - small wooden stars -white and gold paint - gold glitter paper - scrap piece of cardboard - hot glue gun
your cone so you have a platform to attach your tree base to.
Take your hot glue gun and glue the start of your yarn all the way around the bottom of your cone. Keep gluing the yarn around and around as close to the previous layer as you can until you have filled the cone to the top with yarn. I used a high-temp glue gun for this project since the glue is hotter and you have a longer time span before it cools too much to adhere anything, but a low-temp glue gun will work too. I would suggest that on the bottom wider half of the cone you lay down one line of glue at a time before placing your yarn on top, and then once it gets skinnier up top you can do more of a vertical zig-zag pattern with the glue so you can wrap several times around before the glue dries. If using a hollow cone that doesn't have a bottom, once your cone is full of yarn, trace the bottom of the cone onto a scrap piece of cardboard and cut out the circle. Glue the circle onto the bottom of
FUN WITH POETRY
Make full use of your holiday I find I have a lot of time, by Uncle Roy During my holiday, To do whatever I want, To either work or play. So I shall make the effort To use this time fairly, Just as I make the time for games, I should spend some of it usefully. Helping at home makes me feel so good, There are so many things to do, Inside and outside the house, It would make my family happy too. Then I must check my school-work, To now and then read over, So that when it's school again, The things I learnt I will remember
Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
TEEN TIME
Make the Most of your Time Anyone who is really interested in being as successful as he can be will appreciate that he has to make full use of the resources at his disposal to achieve the maximum he can. These will include his physical and mental abilities, his financial assets, and the possessions he has at his disposal to help him in his everyday work. We know that these differ from person to person as some of us are better endowed in each of these aspects than others. But there is one resource that is available to all of us equally, which we are free to utilise to achieve our goals or simply waste. That resource is the time that each of us has at his command in equal quantities every day of our lives. The big difference about this is that once time goes, it can never be recalled, which means that we need to ensure that we make the full use of it as we move on with our lives.
There is one habit that will ensure that we make the best use of this valuable resource, which is getting up early and so giving ourselves as much of it as possible. There are so many benefits to derive from this one practice. Apart from the fact that we can do so much
more with the 16 or so waking hours of our day when we rise early, we can reap many benefits. Exposing ourselves to the refreshing morning air allows our body to adapt readily to the daytime conditions, and helps to keep us healthy, as well as
invigorate us for our daily work. On the other hand, when we rise with the sun already up, our body suffers from the harsh conditions we suddenly face and this can have adverse effects on our health. You will also find that you are more able to plan your day effectively when the day stretches before you, rather than when you are pressed to get yourself ready for the day's activities. You will be able to find more time for any physical exercise, mental conditioning, and any spiritual practice, so that you start every day in the right frame of mind. So, adopt this habit of waking early, and use this invaluable resource that, once lost, can never be regained. This may need a special effort during your holidays when you do not have anything special to do. This habit alone will strengthen your willpower so that it will serve you more dutifully in the key areas of your life.
PAGE 53
THIS DAY WON'T COME AGAIN I'll never see this day again, The seconds or the hours, Now's the time to take the time To stop and smell the flowers. Today's the day to give smiles And some happiness away, And the sunshine you were saving For some dark and rainy day. This day is truly priceless, God made this day so new, The good deed you do for another May just come back to you. I have so many thanks to give, I scarce can even start, For when I try to add them up, More pour forth from my heart. I'll take what the Lord has given, Drawn from His grace so true, In gratitude for all I take, I'll give myself to You. So touch a heart, hold another's hand, Call that lonely friend, Share the love that you must have, For this day won't come again.
Make good use of the time you have every day, and you will see progress in all you want to achieve.
TELL IT TO UNCLE ROY I am again appealing to all youths who have some personal problem to contact me so that we can work on a solution. Please know that I am an experienced e d u c a t o r, a q u a l i f i e d
counsellor, and a person whose main purpose in life is to ensure that others live their lives safely and effectively. Please get in touch through my email – uncleroy1992@yahoo.com
Solutions to last week’s
TEEN
PAGE 54
Healthy Habits for a Healthy Life 1. Get your exercise Regular exercise is probably the closest we can get to a fountain of youth. According to the National Cancer Institute, regular exercise helps control weight, maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints, and reduces our risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Further, about 260,000 deaths per year in the U.S. are attributable to the lack of physical activity. Many exercise authorities suggest 30 minutes of exercise, 5-6 days a week, giving your body one day to rest and recuperate. The exercise doesn't have to be a gut-wrenching, iron-man type experience. Something as simple as a brisk 30-minute walk can work wonders for your health and literally add years to your life. And it can be supplemented by taking the stairs at work, a 10-15 minute walk during lunch, or having a small pedaling device at your desk. The main thing is to find exercise that you enjoy, not something that's an ordeal. 2. Always eat breakfast Research shows that people who have breakfast tend to take in more vitamins and minerals and less fat and cholesterol. Eating things that are high in fiber and proteins keeps you feeling full and energized. These include whole-grain cereals and breads, lowfat milk, fruit, and yogurt. 3. Practice healthy eating throughout the day This habit includes such things as eating more fruit and nuts and avoiding sugary drinks and snacks. At meal time, the American Heart Association recommends a serving of fish twice a week. Besides being a rich source of protein, fatty fish (mackerel, salmon, lake trout, herring, sardines, and albacore tuna) have omega-3 fatty acids which reduce the threat of heart disease. Don't forget portion control. If you want to live to be 100, go for larger portions of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and consume smaller portions of higher calorie foods containing large amounts of sugar and fats. And chew your food! Many nutritionists recommend chewing each mouthful 20-30 times to get it into its most digestible form. Studies have also shown that chewing slowly reduces calorie intake by about 10%, partly because it takes your stomach about 20 minutes to tell the brain that it's full. 4. Stay hydrated Getting the proper amount of water is extremely important as every cell, tissue, and organ in our bodies needs water. Traditionally we're told we need eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily, an amount that's never been substantiated medically. Perhaps a better guide is to try to drink enough water that you urinate once every 2-4 hours, and the urine is light in color. 5. Don't neglect dental hygiene At the end of a long day, how many take the time to floss? Some studies indicate that regular flossing could add over 6 years to your life. Why? The theory is that the bacteria that produce dental plaque enter the bloodstream and are somehow associated with inflammation that blocks blood vessels and causes heart disease. So, get in the habit of giving your teeth a good bedtime flossing and add years to your life. 6. Get your sleep Sleep is crucial to our wellbeing. As we sleep, the brain clears away the debris of the day's work while resetting and restoring nerve networks so that they can function fully when we wake. We all know the most common effects caused by the lack of sleep—drowsiness, fatigue, lack of focus, and forgetfulness. But the consequences of sleep deprivation may go far beyond the well-known, and have possibly long-lasting effects on your brain. One recent study from Italy suggests that the consistent lack of sleep may cause the brain to start destroying itself.
To avoid this potential threat, develop the habit of getting a solid 7-9 hours of sleep. If you're having trouble dozing off, keep your bedtime routine free of TV, laptop, cell phone, and other devices, and give your brain some genuine downtime. 7. Challenge yourself We all get into ruts, doing the same things day after day, but to keep both body and mind agile, get into the habit of taking on challenges. And don't feel embarrassed about not being an expert. Remember that every expert was once also a beginner. https://www.livingmagazine.net/7-healthy-habits-healthy-life/
Kaieteur News
Sunday December 05, 2021
LOVE
Sunday December 05, 2021
‘Go Organic by Kesha’ From page 51 challenge that she faced was during the early stages of her business. At the time our featured young entrepreneur confessed, she was not getting persons to purchase her products. But because she was committed to pursuing her passion, she overcame that by focusing on promoting her items. Eventually, sales started to pick up and for that, she is grateful to her family and friends who helped along the way. Chesney is one of the entrepreneurs who believes that young men and women in the business arena can really help
to make a meaningful impact in the economy, with the many ideas they introduce. “Young entrepreneurs play a key role in any economy by using their skills and bringing good ideas to the market,” she said. To this end, she thinks that by providing educational programmes to entrepreneurs, advertising their products and assisting them with loans, can truly help them in a great way. Persons interested in an organic skin care or hair product can contact Chesney on telephone number (592) 6969636 or message her on Facebook @Go Organic by Kesha.
Substantial pay increases... From page 50 everywhere, the grass in trenches is overgrown, and when they dig the trenches, they drop the dirt right on the parapets to be washed in again. I have never seen suchongoing stupidity.”According to Dr. Jailall, the needs in Guyana are enormous but instead of the unions uniting and lobbying the government to keep its promise to renegotiate “so we can get more income from oil, our leaders are distracted by whether we should buy black pudding from Indian or Black sellers,
whether Black Bush farmers have a right to sell at the Plaisance Market, and whether the Minister of Sports (who is doing a very good job) should have said the Black community needs good role models.”He concluded, “…while we squabble among ourselves on these silly things, the oil companies are dancing and carting away our oil wealth because we have some dunces for leaders. Wake up people! Take a stand for renegotiation! Your pay increases depend on it!”
Ignore influx of foreign... From page 49 opportunities, so in changing the paradigm, we have to look at the outlook.” He was adamant, “at the end of the day, we have to build one common theme in this country, we are all winners, we are in this to win, (and) we have to develop a winning culture.”
To this end, President Ali enquired of the manufacturers, “do we see ourselves as competitors or members of a manufacturing industry who know they will have to come together…if we want to win, we have to come together and build the capacity and industry.”
Kaieteur News
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Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News WANTED Leibrands financial management and tax consultancy. Apply via email:leibrands. pmtc@gmail.com& @leibrands. info@ gmail. com.
Denmor Garment...
One live in babysitter needed serious inquiries only contact Odessa on 6936617/677-8963. LAND FOR SALE SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 House plan drawing & estimates. K.Lakeram Building C o n t r a c t o r. C a l l : 2 1 6 0671,692-8464 or whatsapp 622-0267. Specialized repair/service: A/ C, refrigerator, washing machine,treadmill,stove, deepfryer, pressurepump & backwash,dryer,oven. 6949733. Grade 3&5 teachers needed at Jos-el educational Institute. Tel:226-7868/678-0652, 120 Peterose & Laluni St Queenstown. Business opportunity of a lifetime,earn extra cash,part time/fulltime.Tel:656-2682.
102 GoodHope Mahaica, 500ftx42ft Roadside. Call: 6918420. Transported L.F.S located at Mabaruma Settlement, North West District Region#1, size 7.5 acres 10M Neg.Call:696-8021. Carmichael St,La Penitence, Cummingslodge,Eccles, Soeskdyke, Linden Highway. Contact Ray's Realty 6279685.
PROPERTY FOR SALE 1-(2) story house 3 1/2 bedroom ,9st Cummings lodge. Tel:622-8748/686-5180 negotiable. Queenstown,Sheriff St,Robb, Betterhope, Ogle, Campbelville, Ent erprise, Diamond.Contact Ray's Realty 627-9685.
One general domestic vaccinated for Tuesday & Saturday, between Victoria & Unity E.C.D.259-0953,6130836. One (1) male able bodied clerk. Tel:231-2029,616-5954. Able bodied porter,to work on Sheriff St 6 day weekly. Contact:689-4041. Live in cleaner/kitchen assistant $30-40,000 weekly (female).Call:610-3974. Fitter/Machinist,Welder Fabricator,Mechanic,3 yrs experience.Apply at Technical Services 18-23 Industrial Site. Experienced dredge worker, Jet + Marack men to work in Interior.Tel:684-1030. One experience domestic to work in Georgetown 2 to 3 days per week,vaccination required.Tel:682-3300. Motor Lorry drivers needed and Porters. Tel:627-1835.
FOR RENT Fully furnished 2 & 3 bedroom luxury apartments with AC and hot & cold,long & short term.Tel:682-2585/6911432. Business space,suitable for any business .Located at Zeelugt Public Road E.B.E, 2nd Floor -4000 SQ FT,3rd Floor - 4000 SQ FT 650-0402/ 652-0251. One bedroom apartment for rent Soesdyke.Tel:627-1050. 1,2,3 bedroom apartment for rent.Tel:682-6238. Eccles,furnished apartment. Wifi optional & prepaid meter.Tel:600-3070/233-3974.
FOR SALE 4 1/2 acres land & commercial mall on Enmore Public Road.Excellent investment opportunity. Call:609-7675. Half breed Pitbull,five weeks old vaccinated & deworm. Call Shanice Edwards appointment between 3&6 6286783 Household: Carpet-$4000, Mirror $1500,Center table/ Mattress/Printer-$8000,Desk $1200,Dining table $45,000, 655-3070,662-2652.
TO LET
VACANCY
Enmore mall commercial space for medical facility.Call centre and any other type of business 609-7675/674-1705.
Vacancy for 1 person to assemble bicycle,also experience vegetarian cook. Apply at Alabama Trading. One female general worker to work shift system at a guest house. Call:664-1566.
PENPAL Male seeking non-racial single independant female. Tel# whatsapp or call: 6986391.
WANTED Urgently Needed! Dried carilla bush.Contact:6098281/693-3003. Cleaner needed for Central Georgetown area. Please call 600-7433. Experienced Sales girl/Sales boy with atleast 6 months experience.Contact:2278529/223-7356. Live in waitress 18-25 yrs. Tel:610-3974 salary $25000 wkly.
Porters,TM log Truck drivers, Chainsaw & Mill operator , Diesel mechanic. Call: 609-7675/674-1705. Vacancy exist for experienced Water Delivery Driver and Porter E.C.D.Tel:6926768/676-1363. Dish-Washer,Counter Staff, Bond Clerk,Meat prep d e p t , P o r t e r. A p p l y : Bettencourt’s Diner. Call: 231-1368/223-1938. Need that dream job or want to start a career. Contact Jobcentre on 600-8457/6431429/665-0921. Vacancy exist for Security Officers,male & female 18yrs & above. Contact:223-4172/ 632-0099. 1 Accountant & 1 Inventory clerk.Email application to techserigy@yahoo.com or call 642-9823.
DGM is a female-led enterprise; 98 percent of the employees are women From page 18 changed. We no longer had any long-term contracts or clients with these companies. We just did the work and they would come back to us especially if they liked the product or they would refer one of their partners or clients to us,” Mudlier said. She added that “the company continued to thrive on referrals.” “We are now manufacturing for local and regional markets. We manufacture from lingerie to safety wear and everything in between. We do curtains, table cloths, safety wear uniforms and we work with from small to large scale businesses and try our best to work with our clients,” Mudlier said. In addition to this, she noted that the company buys most of its material locally. “We buy locally. Most of the materials come from Shamdas Kirpalanie, Gobin’s Variety, R. Shukraj and Son, and even the Stabroek Market.” Mudlier said that though DGM has been essentially restricted to supply locally, the company is commit-
ted to maintaining and continuously improving the strict quality standards and excellent value for money. “We achieve our goals through our quality management techniques and standards that Denmor has fashioned over the last 24 years. We engage in continuous self-testing and regular inspection of our product. We have been certified by UL and Walmart,” the Director added. Mudlier noted too that the company was able to win the award for safety and two national quality awards from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). THE FPSO CONTRACT Given the commitment to quality, in 2020 DGM was one of two local companies to secure contracts to manufacture a total of two thousand coveralls for construction workers in Singapore. “Our company in 2020 secured an international contract to manufacture safety coverall for workers constructing the Prosperity FPSO in Singapore. The workers are supporting the construction of the Prosperity, which will
become the third floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel in Guyana,” she noted with pride. Mudlier said the company was “honoured and very proud that we can be a part of this. To be able to contribute to Guyana’s economy, we are proud about that aspect, and that we are able to provide more employment opportunities for Guyanese.” She explained that Denmor is currently acquiring ISO compliance—an international standard for organisations—to be able to further serve the industry. Mudlier added, “our company was able to take advantage of the numerous courses offered at the Centre for Local Business Development in Georgetown to gain a competitive edge and serve this sector better.” For their work with the FPSO, Mudlier revealed that DGM copped the Guyana Manufacturing and Service Association (GMSA) President’s Award at its recent ceremony.
Biden to increase royalties from Exxon... From page 48 more responsible leasing and development processes that prioritise areas that are most suitable for development and ensure lessees and operators have the financial and technical capacity to comply with all applicable laws and regulations; and create a more transparent, inclusive, and VACANCY One salesman,5 subject cxc.Experience in writing bills,stocktaking & cashing. Keyfood Trading,Mc Doom village. Vacancy for Managers & Supervisor to manage a distribution business. Appy at Alabama Trading.
just approach to leasing and permitting that provides meaningful opportunity for public engagement and Tribal consultation. DOI said these recommendations represent an overdue reform agenda, which is urgent even as the Interior Department begins to take into account new stressors and new opportunities for public lands and waters, including addressing biodiversity loss, tackling climate change, and deploying new technology ranging from harnessing offshore wind in public waters, to sequestering carbon on public lands. Accordingly, DOI said the report focuses primarily on necessary reforms to the fiscal terms, leasing process, and remediation requirements
related to deficiencies with the Federal oil and gas programme. As the Department considers how to best implement the recommendations contained in the report, it said the Administration will continue to work closely with Congress, State, Tribal and local officials, industry, labour organisations, environmental justice communities, and stakeholders to ensure that proper consideration is given to creating jobs, harnessing American ingenuity, and building a brighter, more sustainable future.
Sunday December 05, 2021
Kaieteur News
…Dr. Joseph London From page 14 the hospital’s infrastructural advancement. There he said, he realised that there was a great need for surgical skills in hinterland regions, since at that time surgeons were non-nationals and they were stationed at Linden. This placed residents of Kwakwani at a disadvantage and this inspired Dr. London to apply for the surgery programme at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). After successfully completing the course for four years, Dr. London returned to Linden in 2017 where he worked until he became the head of the general surgeon department. In 2019, he was confirmed Medical Superintendent. “Coincidentally that was just before the pandemic started, before this job was just clerical (work)…but when
that pandemic came, that pandemic put everything on its head and at the same time, it placed a magnifying glass on the logistics of hospital running, everything had to run to perfection. Supply chain, management of resources, delivery of services, coordination of departments, staff movement and allocation of staff and because it was a new disease and information was constantly evolving, it was challenging,” he said. He is grateful however that he was involved in crafting policies and protocols as a member of the various multidisciplinary and emergency health committees, which saw Region 10 pioneering many of the measures that were later adopted countrywide. What was most challenging for him as the MS, was balancing managing COVID-19 care and
other medical services at the hospital. During that time, he said, “it was very challenging for patients with chronic diseases, those services were being neglected. For example, surgeries, we had a huge backlog but we managed to clear these up with a team from the US. Almost all of our general and gynecological surgeries were carried out,” he said. As MS, he said, he will continue to work with the vibrant, cohesive management team to transform LHC as the ideal healthcare tourism destination, which will take the burden off of the GPHC. Creating an impact, he said, is what is most important to him and for the rest of his career he will ensure the values instilled in him by his mother will be experienced by every patient he comes into contact with
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State required by the constitution to protect the environment - lawyers argue LOCAL CLIMATE CHANGE CASE…
The State has a legal obligation to protect the environment against the harmful effects of greenhouse gases. That is essentially the argument of attorneys in the first case filed against the State to determine whether the operations of ExxonMobil contravene the rights of citizens to a healthy environment. The case was brought against the State by Dr. Troy Thomas, a Scientist and a University of Guyana lecturer, and Quadad De Freitas, a young man from the South Rupununi Region of Guyana, an area rich in biodiversity, now threatened by climate change. The case seeks to protect children, young people and future generations who bear a disproportionate burden in having to live with
the effects of climate change. Attorneys, Ms. Melinda Janki and Mr. Ronald BurchSmith, with support from Richard Lord, QC, at Brick Court and Joshua Jackson of Cloisters in the UK are on record for the applicants in the matter. The matter which was filed in May has since seen arguments from both the applicants and the State. Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, has been added as a party. In their written response to the State’s argument that Guyana has sufficient policies to safeguard against the harmful effects of oil drilling operations and its adverse effects to climate change, lawyers (Burch-Smith and Janki) underscored the constitu-
tional provisions by which the State is legally required to protect the environment. To this end, the lawyers cited Article 149(J) of the Guyana Constitution. The attorney rebuffed the argument of the Attorney General; the State legal representative that the Environmental Protection Act is the only measure taken in compliance with Article 149(J). They noted that the Defence of the Attorney-General admits that the State has taken a number of other initiatives in compliance with Article 149(J). Additionally the lawyers noted, “It is frivolous and vexatious and an abuse of process for the added defendant (EEPGL) to claim that by enacting the Environmental
Protection Act in 1996, the State has fulfilled its obligations under/Article 149(J) of the Constitution.” The attorneys also contend that any bill or delegated legislation to amend or alter the Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05 or subsidiary legislation made under such statute with the aim or effect of allowing activities that make the environment more harmful to human health and wellbeing would be a violation of the State’s duty under Article 149 J(1) which is to protect the environment and would be unconstitutional unless passed in accordance with the procedure for altering the Constitution. Further, the lawyers are asking the Constitutional Court to declare that the State’s duty under Article 149J(2) to take reasonable measures to protect the environment for present and future generations requires the State to carry out or obtain independent verification of the types and amounts of greenhouse gases actually emitted by the Liza Phase 1 Development Project, and the greenhouse gases actually emitted by future petroleum development in the Liza Phase 2 Development Project, the Payara Development Project and other subsequent oil and gas projects.
Attorney, Ronald Burch-Smith. The lawyers noted, among other things, that the oil operations will lead to the emission of tonnes of greenhouse gases in the billions. On this premise, the attorneys were keen to note that Guyana is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which has as an objective for the stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Guyana is also a signatory to the Paris Agreement, which aims to restrict the increase in global temperature to no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.Last May, two Guyanese, through their lawyers, filed a case in the High Court against ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block projects.
Int’l lawyer, Melinda Janki For his part, Dr. Thomas contended, “Guyana is a carbon sink. The Guyanese people are not responsible for climate change, but we are already suffering the effects. Climate change, ocean acidification and rising sea level pose existential threats to the people and State of Guyana. As a scientist, I urge people to look at the evidence and to face reality.” Dr. Thomas referred to the overwhelming scientific evidence of the devastating effect of greenhouse gas emissions, pointing out that oil and gas production are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Guyana is particularly vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels while ocean acidification threatens the Guyanese livelihoods that depend on healthy marine ecosystems.
CCJ grants leave for Neesa Gopaul’s mother to appeal conviction Special leave has been granted to Bibi SharimaGopaul, the woman who was convicted and sentenced for the murder of her 16-year-old daughter, Neesa Gopaul, in 2016. According to documents seen by this newspaper, Gopaul through her attorney Arud Gossai have approach the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in a bid to overturn her conviction which was upheld by the Guyana Appeal Court last August. The murder convict has been granted special leave to appeal the conviction and her jail sentence by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The court’s decision was based on a Notice of Application for Special Leave to appeal the decision of Guyana’s Court of Appeal of Guyana, which on August 31, 2021, upheld the convictions of Sharima-Gopaul and her coaccused, Jarvis Small. The two had their sentences significantly reduced from the collective 206 years sentence to 45 years each. Last August, the Appeal Court bench led by Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-
Convicted: Bibi Sharima-Gopaul Edwards, Justices of Appeal Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory, delivered the ruling on the duo’s application to have their conviction and combined 206 years jail sentence set aside. While the Court found no reason upon which their conviction could be set aside, it held that Trial Judge, Navindra Singh, erred in imposing the lengthy jail sentences. As such, the court substituted the 106 years jail sentence handed to Gopaul, 50, and the 96 years jail sentence imposed on her younger ex-lover, Small, to 45 years imprisonment each. Additionally, the murder convicts were given no credit for time spent in pre-trial cus-
Murdered: Neesa Gopaul tody given the aggravating circumstances in the case. Rather, Justice CummingsEdwards, underscored the gruesome manner in which the victim who was only 16 when she met her demise, this included the extent of the injuries she received, the manner in which her body was disposed of and the fact that she was killed by persons close to her. On October 2, 2010, the partially decomposed body of the teenager who attended Queen’s College was found stuffed into a suitcase, which was anchored in a creek with several dumbbells at the Emerald Tower Resort at Madewini, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
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New Zealand’s Ajaz claims record 10-for but India on top in second Test New Zealand’s Mumbaiborn spinner Ajaz Patel took a record 10 wickets in an innings but their batsmen collapsed to leave India in control of the second Test on yesterday’s day two. Ajaz emulated England’s Jim Laker (1956 v Australia) and Indian spin legend Anil Kumble (1999 v Pakistan) to complete his perfect 10 in the second session and bowl out India for 325. But New Zealand’s batsmen collapsed to 62 all out and India were 332 ahead by stumps at the Wankhede Stadium after not enforcing the follow-on and reaching 69 for 0 in their second innings. First-innings centurion
Mayank Agarwal, on 38, and Cheteshwar Pujara, on 29, made to open the innings after Shubman Gill suffered a blow to his elbow while fielding and could not take field, were batting. Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four wickets and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj took three in the New Zealand innings on a day when Ajaz ruled with his left-arm spin. Ajaz, who took four wickets on day one including Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli for ducks, rattled India in the first session with wickets in successive balls to be on a hat-trick.Ajaz sent back Agarwal, who started the day
on 120 with India on 221-4, to break a 67-run stand with Axar.The wily spinner soon got Axar lbw and wrapped up the Indian innings with Siraj his final scalp as the Kiwi players surrounded their hero with hugs and applause. He sent down 47.5 overs in four spells out of a Kiwi total of 109.5 and bowled almost unchanged on day two. Ajaz returned figures of 10-119 but Agarwal’s 150 and a 52 by Axar Patel helped India to a challenging total on a turning track. In the New Zealand innings Siraj, who replaced injured Ishant Sharma in the team, struck early to send back Will Young for four.
Sunday December 05, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A business opportunity in a distant state or even foreign country could be in the works. It could require a lot of travel or perhaps even relocation. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) C A chance to increase your income could come your way. This could involve extra work or investments. Investments involving land or other real estate could be especially profitable now. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) SA partnership that may have been moving steadily forward might seem stalled in its tracks. This could involve either business or romance. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You should be at your peak of health. Physically, you feel strong and energetic. You're in the physical and mental space to accomplish wonders, so don't be surprised if today you do just that. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) The result of a creative innovation you've been working on should make itself apparent today. You'll be pleasantly surprised! Your ingenuity should pay off big, and your accomplishments won't go unnoticed. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) The opportunity to run a business out of your home could arise today, perhaps involving a metaphysical subject. Don't be surprised if it takes off right away. Friends or past business associates may want to be involved.
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LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A neighbor might be having a hard time and need some extra support now. A new business could open up in your neighborhood that in some way opens doors for you. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) As career and money matters continue to advance for you, more ideas and opportunities for expanding your horizons could come to you. You may have a hard time deciding which ones are most practical now. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your energy and enthusiasm are at an all-time high. Your life, business, and money matters are going very well, and there are no signs that this will change any time soon. Romance should also be going very well. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Tension between you and a business partner could have you doubting your professional future in the current situation. Don't waste too much time worrying about it. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A long-term dream toward which you've been working for a long time, could finally show signs of coming true. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Congratulations to you! Career progress is in the wind! If you've wanted to create a dream career, you'll be able to do so today. If you've been hoping to start your own business, don't wait another moment.
Thirteen teams advance to second... From page 64 out in 18 overs. Thameshwar Ramoutar scored 39, while extras contributed a healthy 21. Bowling for No64 - Steve Embrack, Leonard Sandy, Charles France and Ramez Naidoo took two wickets apiece for 17, 7, 30 and 31 respectively. In response, No 64 were disappointed to fall short by three wickets with five balls still to be bowled. They were bowled out for 106 in 19.1 overs despite Embrack hitting a responsible 32 and Kumar Chand stroking 31 impressive runs. Bowling for the home team, Omesh Kemraj took 3 for 16, while Shizam Khan and Thameshwar Ramoutar 2 for
16. No 70 MYO defeated No 69 Eagles by 20 runs at the No 69 Red Rose Ground. No 70 MYO batting first, reached 130 all out from 20 overs with Niazi Khan top scoring with 27 and he received support from Salim Khan 21 and Rasheed Rahamatelly 15. No 69 Eagles in response were restricted to 110 for 8 when their allotted overs expired. K. Karlo top scored with 20, while Areef Khan 2 for 7, Mohammed Khan 2 for 18 and Alim Khan 2 for 16 were the outstanding bowlers for No 70 MYO. The BCB has plans to host two more competitions for teams in the Upper
Corentyne sub-association, while clubs in the area could participate in another thirty at different levels over the next twelve months in what is expected to be a packed BCB cricket calendar.
Team name changed to Guyana Amazon... From page 63 not make the final XI he must be in the squad…we have already identified three players,” said Sarwan, the proprietor of the Amazonia Mall. When pressed for names, Sarwan, who hails from the Essequibo Island of Wakenaam, said West Indies U-19 off-spinning all-rounder and batsmen Tevin Imlach and Barbican Kevlon Anderson as those identified. The scaled down firstClass season has been reduced from 10 to five matches and is scheduled to commence on February 20 with the newly branded Guyana Amazon Jaguars playing their first three games away from home. “We should commence preparation for that tournament on December 6 and should have two practice matches. We have our core players but if any young players outside those, we are looking at outstanding performances, they could be selected,” Sarwan, who scored his maiden Test century in 2003 against Bangladesh at Dhaka. Sarwan explained while the selectors want to mix youth with experience, those young players will be selected because it is believed that they can contribute with the bat or ball. “The most important goal is winning but we want a balanced team…having Raymond Reifer from Barbados meant we had three fast bowling all-rounders and that disrupted the balance of the team,” said Sarwan who reiterated that the main worry is the batting.
UDFA AGM and elections... From page 62 Wright are the front runners to be the new President of the UDFA. However, it was indicated that of the eleven clubs affiliated, three of them, Aroiama, Silver Shattas and Coomacka did not meet the requirements to attend. Previously, the eleven affiliated clubs were advised to hold their AGM and Elections on or before October 20 to be eligible to attend the UDFA AGM and Elections.
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Sunday December 05, 2021
ExxonMobil National Indoor Hockey Championships
Masters' teams getting good prep for Hockey WC
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he two Masters teams, Guyana 40s and 50 Not Out, both featuring players preparing for next year's Masters Indoor Hockey World Cup, squared off on Friday evening in the ExxonMobil National Indoor Hockey Championships. Huge bragging rights were at stake in addition to a semifinal berth in the men's first division competition. Former national Captain set the tone of the match from the opening minute that the Guyana 40s meant business when he caught the 50s defence unsettled and slammed home the first goal of the match in the opening minute. 50s Captain Philip Fernandes drew the game level two minutes later via a penalty corner strike that whizzed past the left ear of former national goalkeeper Tony Cole. The superior pace of the younger Guyana 40s side coupled with a solid defensive performance by Robert Fernandes and Dwayne Scott took a toll on 50 Not Out and despite heroic goalkeeping by Alisa Xavier, Munroe would add a second and Chris Low-Koan and Devin Hooper one each before the half to give the Guyana 40s a 4-1 lead. Munroe would secure his hat-trick in the second half, Brian Asregado added one with a diving finish and John Abrams rounded of the victorious seven-goal haul for the 40s. 50 Not Out gave it a genuine effort with two second half goals by Damon Woodroffe and Dexter Wyles leaving the final score as 7-3 for the Guyana 40s. Bounty GCC made light work of YMCA Old Fort in the other men's first division clash, winning by 6-0. The Sargeant brothers, Mark with 3 and Meshach 2 were top scorers with Kevin Spencer's
GCC's Meshach Sargeant is either posing for the camera or on his way to one of his two goals scored against Old Fort.
Alysa Xavier made a number of diving saves for 50 Not Out.
Two former national captains Philip Fernandes, in possession, and Devin Munroe in a one on one duel. opener completing the six goal count. The Misfits had their best game of the tournament thus far and held the favoured GCC Spartans to a tied score for most of the first half which arrived with the scores levelled at 1-1. The Spartans duo of Marzana Fiedtkou and Gabriella Xavier proved too much for the Misfits however
as they both scored doubles to pull ahead in the second half. Seasoned former national Maria Munroe herself would produce a pair of goals from penalty corners that resulted in a 4-2 win for the Spartans. Saints executed their game plan with precision as they defeated GCC Ignite by 3-1. Kezia Chinian, national player Clayza Bobb and
Charlyn Elliott each scored for Saints, while Captain Aliyah Gordon managed the lone GCC goal. In the men's second division competition, the Hikers Cadets cruised to a 9-1 victory over the youngest side in the competition, the GCC War Dogs, while YMCA drew 2-2 with the GCC Pitbulls.
UDFA AGM and elections set for today at Egbert Benjamin Centre The Upper Demerara Football Association's (UDFA) long awaited Annual General Meeting and Elections is set today from 2.00pm at the Egbert Benjamin Centre in Linden. Incumbent president Terrence Mitchell, who has migrated, is not seeking re-election. Acting President Claude Williams announced that he will not be seeking re-election either. But, Williams will continue to be
president of the only Club from which is among the Elite teams affiliated to the governing Guyana Football Federation. Last Sunday's AGM which was set for the Watooka Club, at the last minute was postponed without any given reason. Sources close to the UDFA say Deputy Mayor of Linden Mr. Wainwright Bethune and vice president of Milerock FC Mr. Victor (Cotninued on page 61)
YMCA Old Fort's Jael Gaskin trying to get around GCC's goalkeeper Medroy Scotland.
Points standing going into the final pool round day: Men First Division: Pepsi Hikers 12, Bounty GCC 9, Guyana 40s 7, 50 Not Out 3, Saints 2, YMCA Old Fort 1 Women's Division: GCC Roulettes 9, GCC Spartans 6, Saints 6, GCC Ignite 6, Misfits 0 Men Second Division: Hikers Cadets 10, YMCA Old Fort 7, Saints Sensations 6, GCC Pitbulls 4, Saints Scorpions 4, GCC War Dogs 0 Full Results are as follows: MALE Division Guyana 40s defeats 50 Not Out by 7 - 3 Goals: Guyana 40s (7) – Devin Munroe 3, Chris Low-Koan 1, Devin Hooper 1, Brian Asregado 1, John Abrams 1 50 Not Out (4) – Philip Fernandes 1, Damon Woodroffe 1, Dexter Wyles 1 Bounty GCC defeated YMCA Old Fort by 6 - 0 Goals: Bounty GCC (6) – Mark Sargeant 3, Meshach Sargeant 2, Kevin Spencer 1 FEMALE Division GCC Spartans defeated Misfits by 4 - 2 Goals: GCC Spartans (4) – Marzana Fiedtkou 2, Gabriella Xavier 2 Misfits (2) – Maria Munroe 2 Saints defeated GCC Ignite by 3 - 1 Goals: Saints (3) – Kezia Chinian, Clayza Bobb 1, Charlyn Elliot 1 GCC Ignite (1) – Aliyah Gordon 1 MALE Second Division Hikers Cadets defeated GCC War Dogs by 9 – 1 Goals: Hikers Cadets (9) – Orlando Machado 3, Sherwyn Caesar 3, David Williams 2, Devin Munroe 1 GCC War Dogs (1) – Seth Jeffrey 1 Bounty GCC Pitbulls drew with YMCA Old Fort by 2 – 2 Goals: Bounty GCC Pitbulls (2) – Meshach Sargeant 2 YMCA Old Fort (2) – Shaquon Favorite 1, Daniel Woolford 1
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Team name changed to Guyana ‘Players should be responsible Amazon Jaguars for their fitness' says Sarwan By Sean Devers
B
ecause of issues involving the Guyana Cricket Inc (GCI) which have reached the Courts, new president of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Bissoondyal Singh, disclosed that because the Guyana Jaguars Franchise is owned by the GGI, under the previous administration, the Guyana Jaguars has been changed to Guyana Amazon Jaguars. This, among several other issues was dealt with yesterday at the Grand Coastal Hotel on the East Coast when the GCB held its inaugural press conference since they assumed office eight months ago. Four of the 14 executives were absent yesterday including Chairman of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) selectors Roger Harper and Chairman of Guyana's National Youth selectors. The just over two-hour interactive press conference
was held in modern and technological friendly Conference Centre of the upscale Hotel. The 41-year-old former Guyana and West Indies Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, addressed the gathering which included GCB staff members and the Media, vie zoom from Florida, and disclosed that he and fellow national senior selectors Albert Smith, Peter Persaud and Otto Christiani had agreed on number of the changes for the National team. While the CWI's requirement to pass their fitness was achieving at least 40 on the YO-YO test, the GCB test would move up to 45. “This is to ensure that when our players get to West Indies level it would easy to pass their fitness test since will be fitter. Players should take personal responsibility for their fittness. The four-day players are better in this regard to those
who focus on T20 cricket. Still the youngest West Indian to play first-Class cricket after making his debut for Guyana against Barbados in the Red Stripe Cup of 1995-96 at the age of 15, Sarwan says there must be a way to encourage players to want to be in all formats. The stylish right-hander, who retired from cricket in 2016 after playing 87 Tests, 181 ODIs, 18 T20Is, 220 First-Class, 265 List 'A'and 77 T20s, spoke about plans for leadership succession. While Leon Johnson is very good leader and has won five out the six firstclass seasons, the left-hander is now 34, someone needs to be groomed to take over from him when he goes. Sarwan says that while Johnson is a good leader he needs to lead from the front with the bat with more runs on a consistent basis. “We have won five tournaments that have not been producing outstanding International players, who not only make the team and remain in due to their consistent performances. We need our players to be averaging at least 40 at international level,” said Sarwan who, averaged
Matthew Nandu
Kevlon Anderson (Getty Images)
Tevin Imalach
above 40 in both Test and ODIs. “We have not had much cricket to play because of the Covid-19 pandemic so we
have got to pick a squad based on experience but our major concerns have been the batting…the bowling has been quite good but changes
in the batting will be made. We have to give young players a chance to get exposure even if they does (Continued on page 61)
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Sunday December 05, 2021
Thirteen teams advance to second round of BCB/UCCA/ Vitality Inc 20/20 tournament
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he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last weekend started another cricket tournament in the Ancient County as the board continued its restart of the
cricket season after an enforced stoppage due to the covid pandemic. A total of twenty six teams are participating in the BCB/ UCCA/Vitality Inc 20/20 Tournament. The Upper
Corentyne Cricket Association headed by President Dennis D'Andrade is looking after the organising of the tournament on behalf of the Berbice Cricket Board. The
tournament, which is been played on a knock out basis, w ould continu e today Sunday at six venues in the area. Results from last Sunday's matches are: CWC defeated No 69 Red by 38 runs at Red Rose. CWC Sports Club 147 for 8 from 20 overs- N. Deo 32, Q. Khan 28 M. Ramkissoon 3 for 22 No 69 Red Rose 109 all out in 20 overs D. Persaud 30 G. Sugrim 3 for 22. No 68 Turn Team got pass No 48 by 75 runs at No 68 Ground. No 68 Turn Team 213 for
2 in 20 overs - Anthony Dourjohdan 133 not out with 14 sixes and three boundaries. Karran Singh 51 with three sixes and three boundaries. No 68 138 all out in 17.1 overs – B. Somaroo 30, J. Seenauth 35 Anthony Jones 5 for 26 Bhojnarine Sookdeo 2 for 13
and Henauth Ramsarran 2 for 35. No 70 Young Blood defeated No 77 by ten wickets at No 70 Ground. Batting first No 70 was bowled out for a meagre 36 from 10 overs with A. Khan top scoring with 10. Mohamed Azoze taking 4 for 9 from three overs. In response, the home team raced to 40 without loss in 3.4 overs - Mohamed Azoze 22 not out and Baresh Shamond 12 not out. Rama Krishna Foundation breezed past No 52 CC by six wickets at No 73 Ground. Batting first, No 52 made 91 all out in 17.4 overs as only H. Nandlall reached double figures with 32. Bowling for Rama Krishna Vikash Singh took 4 for 11 from four overs and Tavindra Doobay 3 for 12. In response, Rama Krishna raced to 92 for 4 in 14.5 overs with Khemraj
Dhuj top scoring with 32. A brilliant innings from Davanand Chatterpaul led his team NO 72 Cut and Load to a crushing 150 runs victory over CWC All Family at the No 72 Ground. Chatterpaul blasted 89 with four boundaries and nine massive sixes and received support from Deoprakash Ramdat 30 and Zammer Shaw 30 not out as the team reached 216 for 4 from their allotted twenty overs. R. Hakin took 2 for 36 from four overs for the visitors, who in response were bowled out for 66 in 14.1 over. Z. Mohammed scored 12, while Ramesh
Omapersaud took 3 for 22 and Chatterpaul returned with the ball to complete a good match with 2 for 11. No 70 A Spartans edged No 64 Marines by three runs in a thriller. No A Spartans batted first and chalked up 109 all (Continued on page 61)
GFF-K&S Super 16 Cup strikes gold with Dinar Trading sponsorship
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inar Trading has thrown its support behind the Guyana Football Federation-Kashif & Shanghai Super 16 Cup, becoming the latest company to sponsor the elite year-end competition. Clifton Singh, Manager at Dinar Trading, one of Guyana's leading gold, diamond and currency trading firms, presented the monetary donation to Aubrey “Shanghai” Major of the K&S Organisation on Friday. “ We a r e h a p p y t o welcome Dinar Trading on board for this incredible tournament,” Major said. “Support like this from corporate Guyana is vital for the successful delivery of the competition and we look
forward to welcoming more partners into our team as we near kick off.” Singh said Dinar Trading was proud of its long-term track record in supporting football competitions, and that the firm was happy to provide further resources for the development of sports in Guyana. “As passionate football fans and proud sponsors of the sport, we are excited to see this GFF-K&S competition come to fruition as football returns to play,” Singh said. GFF President Wayne Forde thanked Dinar Trading for its contribution to the competition. “On behalf of the GFF, I would like to praise Dinar Trading for providing this support. It is inspiring to see that corporate Guyana is really
getting behind the GFFK&S Super 16 Cup,” Forde said. “We encourage more companies to partner with us as we roll out what promises to be a spectacular return to senior competition over the holiday season.” The GFF-K&S Super 16 Cup is scheduled to be held over the period December 12 – January 1, the GFF Women's Super 16 Festival 2021 to be held over the period December 11 – January 2 and the GFF-K&S Futsal Championship to be held over the period December 14 – January 8 will beplayed in venues across the country, including in Georgetown, Buxton, St Cuthbert's Mission, Providence, Leonora, Linden, New Amsterdam, Bartica, and Essequibo.
Sunday December 05, 2021
Ultra Shine Auto Body workshop supports four-team softball cricket tourney Naranjan Gopie ® presents the trophies to Seeraj Bhimsain.
Ultra Shine Auto Body workshop has supported the four-team softball cricket tourney which is set for today at Lilliendaal. Proprietor of the workshop, Naranjan Gopie, Friday handed over three trophies to organiser Seeraj Bhimsain at their business place situated at 19 Annandale South, East Coast, Demerara. Gopie said he is looking forward to a successful and exciting competition.
Bhimsain thanked him for the support and said all covid guidelines will be observed. Wellman, Fisherman, Success, Rockaway and LBI will battle for top honours from 09:30hrs. Among the players set to be on show are Wayne Jones, Mike Singh, Sheldon Perch, Lloyd Ruplall, Zameer Hassan, Pooran Singh, Jai Ram, Rafman Ali and Nandram Samlall.The competition will be played on a T20 basis.
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Hamilton on pole in Saudi Arabia as Verstappen hits the wall (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton put Mercedes on pole position for the first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix yesterday as Red Bull rival and Formula One leader Max Verstappen hit the wall at the last corner on his final flying lap. Hamilton, eight points behind with two races to go, was joined on the front row by team-mate Valtteri Bottas after the floodlit qualifying session on the new super-fast Jeddah Corniche street circuit. Verstappen, who needs to finish at least second in Sunday's night race to have a chance of taking the title,
qualified third with a question mark over his car's gearboxand whether he risks a possible grid penalty. "That was looking like the lap of the year," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner of Verstappen's effort until the moment of impact. "It was a mighty, mighty lap. He was pulling something very special out of the bag." Verstappen said it was a "terrible" end to a session that promised so much. "I knew the pace was there and it showed at the end. I don't really understand what happened but I locked up. I still tried to keep the car
on track and keep going but clipped the rear and had to stop," he said. Hamilton, chasing a hattrick of wins after victories in Brazil and Qatar that narrowed the gap to Verstappen, was delighted to be leading a front row lockout."For us to get a onetwo, I'm really proud of Valtteri and the men and women in our team who have just been working so hard. This is a great result," said the Briton after the latest twist in a roller-coaster season of fluctuating fortunes.The pole was the 103rd of Hamilton's career and fifth of the season.
Verstappen walks away after stopping his car.
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton during the press conference for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah orniche Circuit. (Hassan Ammar/Pool via REUTERS)
Team name changed to Guyana Amazon Jaguars
ExxonMobil National Indoor Hockey Championships
‘Players should be responsible for their fitness' says Sarwan
The oldest Master in the competition, Damon Woodroffe, still in control for 50 Not Out.
Masters' teams getting good prep for Hockey WC
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Clifton Singh (3rd left) of Dinar Trading makes the presentation to Aubrey Shanghai Major in the presence of staff members of the sponsors.
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GFF-K&S Super 16 Cup strikes gold with Dinar Trading sponsorship Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.