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AIETEUR “Turn off all phones”…

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Expert gave Guyana mechanisms But UK consultant to avoid being shackled byremoved them from confidentiality provisions Local Content Policy p. 3

Fireworks mishap leaves 3 critical, 5 others injured

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The truck that exploded

An injured soldier walking out from the wharf

Foreign investors p. Overweight causes p.8 not worried about 13 plane to leave polling elections outcome - Major parties share similar policies on oil - Experts

agents behind - GECOM

PUC 2015 order exposes...

GTT spent US$30M for cable in Suriname and transferred ownership to offshore company it created, then became p.9 its prime customer for bandwidth

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Sunday February 23, 2020

Sunday February 23, 2020

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Expert gave Guyana mechanisms to avoid being shackled by confidentiality provisions

By Kiana Wilburg

W

h e n Trinidadian E n e r g y Expert, Anthony Paul, was hired to produce a Local Content Policy for Guyana, he never included in his two drafts, confidentiality provisions.

In doing so, it would have prevented citizens from knowing the details of efforts made by oil companies and their subcontractors to use and develop local goods, services and skills.

But those provisions which were not part of the policy to begin with, are now part and parcel of Guyana's final policy.

In the document that received its finishing touches from an ExxonMobil contact, Dr. Michael Warner, it says that confidentiality stipulations are necessary since “legal constraints” inhibit full disclosure.

What strikes as strange, however, is that Paul, who was commissioned in 2016 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to do a state of readiness report on Guyana, noted that he had reviewed the Constitution, all relevant laws, contracts and treaties for the said task.

- But UK Consultant removed them from Local Content Policy It therefore means that Paul would have been in the best position to know if confidentiality provisions were needed in Guyana's policy. Yet, he did not include it. So was there something that he missed?

To answer this crucial question, Kaieteur News made contact with Paul y e s t e r d a y. F r o m a l l indications, it was clear that the Energy Strategist was diligent in identifying, anticipating and mitigating the risks involved in derailing the intent, goals and objectives of the policy, one of which was full transparency.

In fact, Paul said he was aware of the desire for such provisions to be part of the policy but was keen to remind of a most important point which is documented in the second draft of the policy.

Page 16 of that document says, “In administering the sector, the Government of Guyana must ensure that activities are consistent with provisions of the Constitution and Laws of Guyana, as well as our obligations to our people, investors and the

international community, always keeping in mind that the best interests of the people of Guyana are paramount.”

Paul said that by including this paragraph in the draft policy, he was essentially giving Guyana the power to do what is best for its people.

Of significance is the fact that the said paragraph was removed from the final Local Content Policy.

Upon perusing the draft policy, Kaieteur News also found another provision Paul had included to ensure there is maximum reporting on local content so that stakeholders can be held

Local Content Expert, Anthony Paul accountable.

Page five of the document says, “Articulate a mechanism that provides assurance that the goals and objectives of these policies are pursued and reported on by stakeholders in a manner:

a. That allows for flexibility to respond to changing circumstances, (b.) by which achievements can be measured and tracked and

(c.) by which stakeholders can be held accountable for delivering on their roles.”

This too was removed from the final policy document.

It therefore means that the new version of Guyana's Local Content Policy removes provisions which protect the right of the people to full transparency and replaces them with those that demand secrecy.

Dr. Warner was able to do this with the blessings of the World Bank and the Energy Department.

It was the legendary Thomas Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States who always said, “Everybody knows that corruption thrives in secret places...”

Kaieteur News

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Sunday February 22, 2020

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

The mantra of national unity A one-time national political figure, now based almost exclusively overseas, has called for “national unity” before elections and the pending border matter in front of international tribunes.

As calls go, it is constructive, well-meaning, and wishful.

Rather regrettably, this vitally important message has already faded before ears blocked and hearts hardened into the toughest steel. Other than for the occasional passing and empty jingoisms, there is little nationwide receptivity and nothing by way of foundation for such calls to unity to tighten into unbreakable cement.

Instead, and similarly disastrously, national disunity is now an integral characteristic of the national political culture and social compact of Guyana for an eternity now. This core disunity was exacerbated and richly fueled by the noconfidence ingredients of December 2018.

Even a cursory examination indicates that national disunity is what quickens the blood, thrills, and is embraced and beloved. Like any addiction--demon rum, a serially cheating and abusive partner, the love of money--most Guyanese are helpless before its attractions, which have transformed into paralyzing full-fledged obsessions.

Look again, and it is obvious that there is great anxiety and fear (and resistance) over anything else that could hold some marginal likelihood of wresting the peoples of this country out of the long national nightmare lived.

In aggregate, this represents the personal, communal, and environmental catastrophes that strangle uninterruptedly, but never at such a high pitch as during national elections. For during these repeated five-year rites of passage, citizens bow in ecstatic homage to the age-old prejudices that spiral into animosities first and then settled hatreds thereafter.

This is the sum of the limitations of our visions, the dismal picture of personal and societal resignations.

National disunity, as much as we at this paper find it despicable and counter to all that is progressive, is what has to be admitted flourishes seamlessly. It is all we know, what has been lived with all along, and all of what we want, individual protestations and political exhibitions aside.

It is why occasional, hypocritical, mainly farcical calls for “national unity” fall on the stoniest of grounds. The relentless campaign began long ago by political groups to redirect allegiance from the national and the patriotic to the seductive interests of parties and the enchantments of overpowering leaders have succeeded all too well. Hence, we have what we have and are how we are.

For as long as the prior and current generations have lived, we have planted the bitter roots of deep political allegiances and proud, deeper bigotries. Now we reap the poisoned fruits of suspicions and antagonisms and sharp passions that have produced the now chronic, possibly incurable, divisions that pummel flesh and spirit and existence.

It is a terribly burdensome and devastatingly unappealing way to live. This is what we believe and irrevocably so.

We wish, pray, and hope that our present circumstances, our promised future, may be different. Yet, we must be realistic and not fool ourselves once again. For having sown, or contributed to, national disunity from the cradle of the homestead, on the knee of formative youth, in the swaggering shoulders of adult maturity, and all the way to the grave, there is little of the appealed for, wished-for national unity to gain genuine and durable grasp.

In our heart of hearts, we would like for the disturbing matters of race and unity to be the exact opposite of what and they are today and have always been.But we owe it to ourselves and to the Guyanese people to be thoughtful, truthful, and faithful to the reality that is so pervasive. That reality is best summed up in a few short, sharp sentences.

Almost no one wants to hear of anything to do with national unity at this time, other than with the most studied and distant politeness. Almost no one wants to say it and mean it, beyond the recognizably laughed-at lisps of lip service,

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

I am as fearful in 2020 as I was hopeful in 2015 DEAR EDITOR, That I supported David Granger and the APNU+AFC Coalition in the 2015elections is a matter of public knowledge.

Neither conscience nor logic nor reason allows me to do so again.As a leader with a 0.13 per cent, and a one-seat majority in a hugely bifurcated society, instead of fostering national healing and reconciliation, Granger has been more divisive than disappointing.

Instead of policies and strategies to bring the communities

closer, he, his Government and several of high level appointees have shown, at best, an insensitivity to ethnic concerns and at worst, a tendency towards narrow ethnocentric policies. For a still poor country, the pattern of public spending during the period and accentuated in this campaign season, is nothing short of reckless. Where competence is required he has preferred loyalty.

While laying claim to integrity and decency, he has shown that he is as willing to engage in cheap posturing and politics (Continued on page 7)

which dies an ignoble death even before it could be born.

We cannot hear of national unity from one source only and at elections hours only. We cannot progress on the road toward national unity when it takes center stage during times of rage and heaving disturbances only.

National unity, if we are authentic about it, has to be worked upon tirelessly and nurtured patiently and diligently.

National unity is like that most fragile of beings: a premature child: calmed and cared for, hugged and helped, along the way to some semblance of life, through all the pains and heartaches that encircles the mysteries of life and its many searing challenges, too. In Guyana, national unity has to be handled in this manner, if it is going to have some reasonable probability

of success.

Since such sustained devotions have never been part of Guyana’s political and electoral equations, the divided peoples of this country approach elections with the usual scorching passions, the regular raw and ripe emotions.

All are carried in our hearts and on the tattered lengths of our sleeves and the glitter of our breastplates.

This is the national tragedy that is Guyana. It is the mournful dirge that locks one and all in the merciless trance of national disunity. The climate and circumstances from now to March 2, will confirm and, so too, will the counts and consternations that are sure to come. We wish it were otherwise.

Sunday February 23, 2020

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Local content policy should benefit

Jagdeo’s Stewartville ranting

all Guyanese Dear Editor, In 1763, slaves of the Plantation Magdalenenberg on the Canje River in Berbice rebelled, protesting harsh and inhumane treatment by foreign entities(1). While the rebellion ultimately failed, it precipitated events that led to Guyana’s sovereignty and nationhood. Those original Guyanese fought for the ability to own a share of the resources of this great land.

Now it seems the progeny of those brave people are only too happy to invite foreigners to carve up the resources of the country and haul it back to their homelands to enrich their nations.

The development of Guyana’s oil resource is of concern to every citizen of the land both who reside here and those outside its borders.

This resource will shape the future of the nation for generations to come.

While Guyana has not been an oil producing nation and lacks the skilled population base to produce the resource, it’s important that its citizens be given every opportunity to participate in the industry. As such, the government of the day must have a well developed and articulated local content policy that recognizes the current skill gap of Guyanese within the country and take concrete steps to make a positive change. In addition to this, the government must actively recruit overseas Guyanese with the requisite petro-technical skills and professional networks to benefit their homeland.

I have personal experience with the latter issue. I was born in Guyana but moved to Canada to pursue post secondary education. I graduated from a reputable engineering program and

now have 15 years of wide ranging experience in the oil and gas industry. When I learned of the fledgling oil and gas industry, I wrote the Ministry of Natural Resources in 2017 to offer my skills and experience to benefit the nation.

I did not receive a response. I visited Guyana in 2018 and connected with a senior minister of the current government who promised to help.

My phone calls and messages to this individual fell on deaf ears when I followed up a week later.

Undaunted I contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2019. I received a response and was put in touch with a senior member of the Diaspora Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a leading figure in Ministry of the President.

I arranged to meet both senior officials in 2019 during my annual visit to Guyana.

Only one meeting occurred but unfortunately did not lead to any concrete opportunities to use my skills and experience to benefit a nation I’m proud to call home.

I’m certain that I’m not the only Guyanese whose pride and love for our homeland stirs us to want to use our expertise to her benefit. As we go into a key election season, Guyanese must make a choice about which Government clearly values and encourages their participation in our oil and gas industry.

I along with other Guyanese with petro-technical skills are only too eager to help if given the opportunity to participate. My commentary is not meant as a critique of the current government as my experience could’ve occurred with any government of the day. It should impress on politicians, who have the privilege of serving the Guyanese people, that other

citizens also want an opportunity to serve in their own capacity.

Currently, Guyana does not have the skilled workforce to exploit the resource we are blessed with. We must carefully utilize the knowledge of foreign experts while ensuring that Guyanese are trained to do the work themselves.

Whenever possible the government should enlist the services of Guyanese who have the requisite skills in the oil and gas industry.

A part of a cohesive strategy may include creating a government office dedicated to recruiting skilled members of the Guyanese diaspora. A model that has been used in other jurisdictions that have a nascent oil and gas industry involves preferential hiring of Guyanese in key positions that are strategic to development of the industry. As a first step the government should setup a hotline whereby skilled Guyanese can call to find information about available opportunities or personnel gaps that need to be filled. Foreign companies that want to set up shop in Guyana should be required to demonstrate, to the government, that they’ve made sincere attempts to hire or partner with Guyanese citizens. If we are not careful as a nation, Guyana will be left as destitute as it was before the (Continued on page 6)

DEAR EDITOR, On Sunday February 9, 2020 the PPP held a rally at Stewartville on the West Coast of Demerara. Mr. Jagdeo, while addressing his party’s supporters at that rally, used a portion of his time on stage to question the competence, readiness and fairness of GECOM. One of his many spurious assertions, which I find to be most alarming is this comment; “Whenever I walk around this country, wherever I go, people say to me, ‘we know the PPP will win the elections if the elections are free and fair’. But will they be free and fair? This is a pressing concern among many Guyanese,” Jagdeo went on to state … “That fear you have is justified but don’t think that we are taking it lightly.”

The message and signals encapsulated in these specific words should be enough to ring alarm bells in the minds of GECOM, APNU/AFC and every right-thinking Guyanese. Words matter, more so the words of leaders and those who purport to be leaders, matter!

Allow me to state exactly what concerns me about these words uttered by Mr. Jagdeo’s. Firstly, since the 23 years of the PPP rule in Guyana I have never seen Mr. Jagdeo or the PPP so obsessed with GECOM. Why are they so obsessed with

GECOM and its Chair? When the PPP was in power they appointed GECOM chairs at different periods. They appointed Doodnauth Singh, Joe Singh and Steve Surujbally. So, why do they now have a problem with Claudette Singh, an experienced and credible professional? I have never heard Jagdeo or the PPP challenge or express any kind of open attack against the men whom they appointed to chair GECOM. Are they obsessed with Justice Claudette Singh because they did not appoint!

Let’s not forget that the PPP found her to be a credible and fit nominee, and Mr. Jagdeo consented to her appointment, so why the inexorable attack? Justice Claudette Singh happens to be the first woman elected to chair this most crucial office, and mere weeks after she was sworn in Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP have unleashed a barrage of attacks on her. These attacks are targeted at her competence and integrity. However, Justice Claudette Singh has demonstrated that she can withstand the PPP’s attack.

For centuries women were

presumed to be unfit for challenging or deeply complex jobs and so they were deliberately exempted or considered for certain positions. It was refreshing when President Granger nominated and appointed Justice Claudette Singh SC, CCH to the post of Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Justice Singh’s appointment was celebrated by all in Guyana, especially women. The PPP must know that their campaign to discredit her is also a turn off to women and sends the wrong message to women and girls in Guyana.

With the just concluded Joint Services Voting process conducted by GECOM Justice Claudette Singh has demonstrated that she is more than capable of effectively executing her responsibilities.

Jagdeo’s comments seem to represent a most severe form of bullying. This kind of open intimidation must be rejected by any sane person. I hope the note takers from the Carter Center and other observer missions are taking copious notes.

Sincerely Lurlene Nestor

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Sunday February 23, 2020

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We have a unique opportunity to showcase our political maturity to the world

Ensure to vote for a political party that will work with democracy to enrich our country

DEAR EDITOR, One of the hallmarks of a functional and healthy democracy is the extent to which there is a seamless and peaceful transfer of power from the governing to the winning party in the event of such an outcome.

I think our democracy has evolved over the past few decades to one of greater political maturity especially since the return of democracy and democratic rule on October 5, 1992. And while it is true that there were sporadic episodes of post-elections tensions and disturbances, these were largely contained thanks to the professionalism of the security forces and other concerned parties.

As we approach the upcoming general and regional elections, there are some lingering fears of post-elections tensions given the current

tense political climate. My own view is that the political environment in the country has significantly changed over the years and there is today a much higher level of acceptability and tolerance by both sides of the political divide in the event of a political outcome that may or may not be to their respective liking.

The critical factor is the manner in which the elections are conducted and the integrity, credibility and transparency of the elections processes.

Once the results of the elections are officially declared by GECOM and endorsed by the observer groups, there is hardly any room for the contesting parties to challenge the results or to refuse to honour the will of the electorate.

I look forward to a peaceful and transparent elections

and more particularly the acceptance by all parties of the will of the electorate. The will of the majority must at all times be the basis of rule. Any departure from this fundamental governance norm is fraught with all manner of dangers. Governments are temporary and transitional but in the final analysis it is the democratic character of the nation-state that defines us in the eyes of the international community.

We have a unique opportunity to showcase our political maturity to the rest of the world.

This is undoubtedly one of the most high-stakes elections in our history and it is imperative that we do everything within our power to preserve the democratic fabric of this blessed and resource-rich country.

Hydar Ally

Where is the visionary thinking in Government’s purchase of an electric car?

DEAR EDITOR, Where is the visionary thinking in the Government of Guyana’s much-celebrated purchase of an electric car?

This paucity of cognitive ability in the Granger administration is worrisome in extremis.

The supercilious fuss over a purchase of a vehicle whose target market is the climate zealous housewife in America and which has no tangible benefit to Guyana exposes the shallowness of thought and action in the administration; fluff and bluff.

It is not that Guyana cannot go ‘green’ but first we must think, plan and be capable of executing the plan.

All Guyanese know that there is a massive shortfall of supply in our electrical grid, how would the addition of vehicles requiring electricity affect the already dire situa-

tion? There has to be abundant, cheap electrical supply to consider the move towards electric vehicles, should that energy come from diesel, natural gas or hydro is where we start the conversation. Then we can move to our involvement with electric cars, do we buy them at exorbitant prices as we did with this overpriced microwave bought by the GEA? Or do we think like a developed nation and explore the possibility of developing our vehicle, assembling someone else’s or some other manufacturing solution.

Those incapable of thinking big should get out of government and get back to pushing whatever paper they were before 2015.

Guyana has produced vehicles in the past, the ‘Tapir’ was an aluminum-bodied ve-

hicle and some are still with us plying the taxi trade in the Skeldon area, should we want to think ahead, cheap hydro or natural gas power opens the possibility of an aluminum smelter plant in Linden; with that, aluminum body electric cars, all designed and built for the local and international markets become a distinct possibility.

The ‘Jaguar’ moniker is taken, but the ‘Electric eel’ is available. Our possibilities as a nation lie within our minds and our grasp. We can think, innovate and build our own or go with the Granger lot and buy electric Nissans. We had 55 billion reasons not to vote for Granger, now we have 55 Billion and one.

The choice is yours on 2nd March 2020.

Respectfully Robin Singh

DEAR EDITOR, Many Guyanese are currently agonizing over which vote to cast in the upcoming national and regional elections scheduled for Monday, March 2nd, 2020. Today, we live in a world where political competition is becoming fiercer, and everyone is being well-opinionated, expressive and firm in their choices.

Nevertheless, despite our political differences and views, we must take into consideration morals, attitudes, respect and manners that we, as citizens, must regard and practice throughout this serious electoral process.

Free and fair elections and functioning electoral systems are the quintessence of democracy. Democracy is important because traditionally liberal, constitutional democratic governments tend to perform well. People living in these societies, tend to have higher standards of living, greater educational opportunities, longer life expectancy, greater access to culture and diversity, better reported happiness and life fulfillment, more freedom including freedom of expression, and more wealth than people living within undemocratic regimes.

When Guyanese vote, the government and the lives of people can either become better or worse. If wrong choices are made, racist, sexist, discriminatory or unjust mindsets can be attenuated, and the future of our lives and the next generation will be at stake.

Economic opportunities can vanish or fail to materialize.

Millions or even trillions of dollars will be spent on illconceived plans and entitlement programs that do little to stimulate economies or alleviate poverty. We fail to spend money on national development programs that

would contribute more to the society’s welfare. We inflict and perpetuate injustice and poverty. To avoid this, every eligible Guyanese should practice their civic right to vote.

Under the People’s Representation Act (amended), voting is legally and morally important.

It changes the quality, scope, and kind of government. Electoral outcomes can be harmful or beneficial, just or unjust depending on which party or coalition obtains majority of votes.

Although many countries that have included code of conduct practices and outlawed discrimination in procedural systems, practices of political discrimination are still prevalent. Several countries that still struggle with development of their nation, tend to face minority/indigenous rights issues and security threats, which may exercise political discrimination against sections of the population.

The increasing indifference and antipathy towards politics, combined with emergence of populism, undermines a democratic outcome in countries such as Guyana.

We abandon, hurt, exploit, oppress and discriminate our fellow Guyanese.

Many of us are greedy to gain power and status, and in so doing, people are often illtreated and victimized. Crime has increased in our country, and it is quite shameful and absolutely appalling, that our motto – One people, one nation, one destiny, is not followed nor practiced. Instead, racial segregation has been the outcome and injustice has been a consequence. We allow our political differences and opinions to separate us and as a result, conflict is widespread in our country. As the famous nationalist, Mahatma Ghandi rightfully said, “Many people gather around power and very few around country.”

This is evident in Guyana, as certain people yearn for power and control for themselves rather than for the country’s further development, enhancement and

progress.

As Guyanese citizens, it is our obligatory duty to abide by the constitution and exert respect amongst others. It should be agreed and established that, regardless of race, religion, gender, status or political preference, we must respect and accept the opinions of our fellow country’s man. Despite the seriousness of this time, we must practice safety and be extremely cautious and aware of our surroundings. We should all desist from throwing rude remarks, bullying or fighting. In the polling stations on Elections Day, it is important not to intimidate or disrespect anyone. Do not be fearful in polling stations. Be mannerly, polite and accepting to others. Also, remember, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but, in expressing this opinion, we should be careful not to offend others. Do not vote based on race. Fellow Guyanese, ensure to vote for a political party that will most certainly work with democracy to further develop and enrich our country, a party that promises absolute transparency and truth.

We will come across adversity in every sphere of our lives, and there is no doubt of coming face to face with a person who has nothing but malice, hatred and cruelty in their hearts.

When we are united, our country will experience major progress. United we stand, divided we fall.

The one thing that can truly bind us together forever is love, love of country, love of dreams, love of hope and love of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is only through the strength of unity, acceptance and spread of kindness, our nation can be a much better, safer, just and enhanced place. Remember to always be kind, accepting, just and faithful. Let us not be overcome by evil but let evil be overcome by good.

May justice prevail in this land of ours.

Hadiyyah Mohamed Student Sixth Form – School of the Nations

Local content policy should...

From page 5 discovery oil while foreign entities help themselves to our wealth. The current generation of Guyanese no longer has to resort to rebellions to bring about change to the nation’s policies. On March 2, the power of the pen and ballot will be mightier than the sword. Political parties are competing for your vote. Reward those who show that their local content policies will benefit this generation of Guyanese and those to come.

Yours Respectfully.

A Proud Guyanese

Sunday February 23, 2020

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STRICT BUILDING CODES AND REGULAR INSPECTIONS NEEDED TO PREVENT FIRES DEAR EDITOR, All fires are preventable (except those set by arsonists) and it is fair to say that almost all fires are caused by irresponsible conduct.

The recent fire (Feb.18 2020) in Regent Street which reduced The Sachi Store to ashes is ample testimony that there is a dire need for all in society to strive to prevent such destructive fires, some of which can be deadly. Just last year I indicated that many

home owners are violating the building codes in the country and this, along with poor safety enforcement, procedures should be of great concern for everyone, especially for those at the Housing Authorities.

The fire at Pike and Thomas Streets in Kitty a few years ago is the type of tragedy I have constantly written about in this newspaper.

The fire at Plaisance a year ago and at Ms. Joslyn

Dow’s Charlotte St. Complex as well as those at Cummings Lodge, the Medical Storage bond in Patentia (West Demerara) and Fazia’s Collection building on Avenue of the Republic clearly reveal that there is an urgent need for more safety inspections.

The Congenital Super Center in Cane Grove which was burnt to the ground on November 2016 is also a case for stricter inspections. Guyana needs a complete overhaul of its building codes and safety standards. Here are some solutions:

I am as fearful in 2020 as I was...

From page 4 as the most opportunistic politician around.

Most of all, Granger has shown contempt for and continues to display arrogance and superiority for the country’s Constitution and the rule of law.

His grand vision has been breakfast, bicycles, boats and buses, the sort of things you leave to local authorities, or a reasonably funded charity.

He has no problem with his picture on flags financed by unaccounted money, taking the bully’s position when the Courts rule against him, and breaking written promises and pledges.

His Administration has retained all the Afro Guyanese Permanent Secretaries inherited from its predecessor while removing almost all the rest.

Of the scores of senior positions in the State sector, less than ten percent of the most senior positions represent the other community.

Granger personally relieved two prominent active persons - Cecil Kennard and Prem Persaud - because of age while unconstitutionally/unlawfully appointing two individuals - James Patterson and Professor Clive Thomas – with even more pronounced characteristics. The professional and business class of Guyana can fend for themselves but the treatment of sugar workers has been nothing short of cruel and inhumane.

Taking advantage of the media’s softness and silence, Granger’s government has shown a stubborn refusal to disclose the full details of a number of projects including the Durban Park project, the Sussex Street drug storage facility, the Mazaruni Prison reconstruction, and contracts without proper approval.

For all the taxes his Administration has raised and tons of money spent, Granger’s five years in power has revealed a man of poor judgment, weak leadership and low achievement. He did

show cunning on his belittling of the AFC whose greed for power guaranteed that nothing could cause them rising off their knees.

Having broken the promise of free collective bargaining in the public service, stood aloof of the struggle between an oppressive foreign employer and its employees, and ignored the labour movement as a whole, he has managed to have the President of the TUC on his Party list– unprecedented in Guyana.

Mr. Granger now singlehandedly appeals to the same electorate to ignore his grave violations of the law and several broken promises because this time his promises represent a sacred contract.

Having failed them in the past, he seeks to entice them in the present. Granger now talks up the agriculture and gold-mining sectors as shining stars while not too long ago, he listed them among curses.

Having thrown thousands of sugar workers to the ranks of the unemployed and the desperate, his Administration scurries to distribute sugar lands.

Mr. Granger shares a special relationship with Raphael Trotman, the man directly responsible for the biggest give-away this country has ever seen and who is now CoChairman of Granger’s Reelection Campaign.

He appointed the largest Government in the history of this country which just happens to be the most incompetent. Think of former Attorneys General such as Burnham himself, Ramsahoye, Ramphal, Shahabuddeen, Fred Wills and Keith Massiah and the contrast with the incumbent is clear.

As Ministers of Finance, think of Peter D’Aguiar, Ptolemy Reid, Frank Hope, Desmond Hoyte, Bharrat Jagdeo and Ashni Singh: again the contrast is striking.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has been largely a sinecure and warrants no comparison while Khemraj

Ramjattan whose portfolio has been halved has performed several times as badly as even his more ordinary counterparts, let alone Fenton Ramsahoye, Ptolemy Reid, Desmond Hoyte and Stanley Moore.

Granger cannot be blamed for the incompetence of others. But he cannot escape responsibility for appointing and retaining what is at best mediocrity. A measure of the low rating which Granger places on the national interest is his appointment of a single unsuitably qualified person to head the petroleum sector instead of pursuing the Petroleum Commission which his Government tabled and then allowed to die with the dissolution of Parliament.

But Granger’s greatest danger is his contempt for the Constitution and our laws, with threats of more to come.

There has been no Judicial Services Commission or fully constituted Procurement Commission for some time, while many of other constitutional bodies were appointed inordinately late.

He unconstitutionally appointed James Patterson to head GECOM and never relented until the CCJ forced him to; he defied the National Assembly’s No Confidence Motion – not because he believed that the majority of 65 is 34 but because as he told his supporters “they elected him for five years and he would be President for five years”.

And now he threatens to remove the National Assembly’s power to have a Motion of No Confidence, and warns people of his constitutional power to strip them of their citizenship.

The recitation of all the above, which is only part of the story, leaves one to wonder whether he as President will ensure free and fair elections, elections that are free from fear and intimidation, and whether he will obey the will of the electorate.

I am as fearful in 2020 as I was hopeful in 2015.

Christopher Ram

1. Some buildings in Guyana, generally do not confirm to the country’s building codes.

Single family homes are secretly converted into tenant occupied residences so that homeowners can accommodate family members and get some rental income. The flaw in this is that there is the original plumbing and electric systems for a single family have to support tenants with additional appliances for the same outlets.

In other words, in a single family house the electrical system was built to accommodate one microwave oven, an air conditioner and a Frigidaire but having tenants means more appliances— enough to induce overloading of the electrical circuits.

In some cases, extension cords are hidden under carpets, and their multiple connections could induce sparks, which in turn could result in burning the carpet.

Then there is the scenario where persons break off the earth safety prongs in three way plugs to accommodate plug-ins, which is a fire hazard.

2.Single Room Occupancy which is prevalent in Hospitals and other multifamily buildings should be inspected on a yearly basis in order to prevent fires.

3.In Guyana, the building codes and zoning regulations should be updated to allow a minimum space of roughly eight feet between buildings to facilitate evacuation as well

as allow access to firefighters.

4.Given the spate of fires on commercial buildings, especially attached ones, it should be mandated that all commercial buildings be fitted with modern sprinkler systems to prevent their entire destruction in case of fire.

Automated oxygen retardant systems should also be installed inside commercial buildings so that an increase in temperature (say at 110 F) will trigger off the chemical spray which will reduce the oxygen in the fire and thus contained it. Smoke alarms should be installed in homes and along the corridors of commercial buildings which are the principal pathways for smoke.

5. Bonds, regardless of what is stored in them, need to be sectionalized, much like the compartments in ships, especially oil tankers in which compartments are fire-proof.

This, coupled with periodic safety inspections, must be the way forward. Storage of cooking gas containers must not be placed inside a closed building.

Propane is highly flammable and needs to be stored outdoors: any leakage/explosion will dissipate harmlessly into the atmosphere.

6. Perhaps the worst aspect of construction in Guyana is the electrical system, materials and installation codes, all of which should be updated to reach international standards. For example, the main power distribution panels in both residential and

commercial buildings should be equipped with Fly Back Circuit Breakers in the event of an over load. In other words, any over load will cause the breaker to trip, thus shutting of the power and prevent a fire.

7. Fire hydrants which are generally taken for granted by many instead they should be seen as a means of emergency water supply to out fires. For the safety of all Guyanese, young or old, The Bureau of Standards must make it its duty to monitor the quality of electrical fittings and accessories, most of which are imported from China. And while these electrical accessories are cheap, the Bureau of Standards should not place cheapness ahead of life. And the Housing Authority must determine the safety features and occupancy of commercial buildings.

8. In the final analysis the Housing authorities should put safety first and institute rigid and sound polices which must be mandated by law, to prevent further tragedies. All buildings must be insured, have sprinkler systems and undergo a yearly inspection by the Fire Department where pitfalls will be identified and corrected. Fines must be imposed on all forms of non-compliance if Guyana is truly serious about preventing fires and saving lives.

Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine Real Estate Builder (New York)

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Sunday February 23, 2020

Overweight causes plane to leave polling agents behind- GECOM

T

Army ranks and officers waiting to vote on Friday at Base Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands.

here were no political party agents taken on a flight to Region Eight on Friday to observe voting of members of Disciplined Forces stationed in the area.

According to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday, three agents were left behind because the plane taking them on Friday would have been overweight.

That caused a decision to leave them behind, rather than take one or two of the agents.

The Opposition had complained bitterly of one of their agents not being able to participate in overseeing the voting process.

GECOM said it is appalled by reports in some sections of the

media which seemingly created an impression that the agent for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) was the only agent who did not get on the flight to Region Eight to observe the Disciplined Services balloting on Friday.

Members of the police force, the army, and the prison services, were among 10,000plus persons expected to cast their ballot.

GECOM said that the Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield, held a meeting with the elections agents of all political parties on February 15, 2020 to provide details pertaining to the operational activities for the conduct of Disciplined Services voting for the General and Regional Elections.

“Subsequent to the meeting, the CEO provided a detailed movement plan, the payload for each aircraft and the number of persons that can be accommodated. On arrival at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle on Friday, 21st February, 2020 the pilot advised that all the scheduled passengers could

not go on the flight since the weight was above the 600lbs payload.”

The passengers who were scheduled to be on the flight included the GECOM Balloting Officers, Commissioner Vincent Alexander, a police officer and three agents from Coalition, PPP/C and URP. GECOM made it clear that the pilot advised that two persons would not be able go on the flight. “As such, it was decided that rather than taking one agent and leaving two, no agent would go on the flight.

“This is a regrettable situation. However, in the interest of ensuring safety and that the statutory activity of Disciplined Services Balloting proceeded as planned, the best decision was taking in this regard.”

GECOM assured that the process was observed by international observers on the ground which lends itself to a level of transparency.

Officials reported that just over 80 percent of the 10,000-strong Disciplined Services voted on Friday.

Sunday February 23, 2020

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

GTT spent US$30M for cable in Suriname, transferred ownership to offshore company it created, then became subsidiary’s prime customer for bandwidth

PUC 2015 Order exposes...

By Kiana Wilburg The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT), despite its positioning as a local company, is 80% owned by USbased Atlantic Tele-Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:ATNI) with Michael T. Prior as its current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Under a 1990 agreement with the Government of Guyana, GTT is licensed to provide international voice and data to the Guyanese market – but in recent years, the company has expanded its portfolio to offer unregulated services outside of its license, to the benefit of its shareholders.

One such service is internet, for which GTT, as part of a consortium, invested US$30M in 2010 to construct a submarine fiber optic cable system, the Suriname-Guyana Submarine Cable System (SGSCS). This system has landing points in Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname.

The SG-SCS became a point of note in the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)’s Order No.1 2015 (which is available on the PUC website for public scrutiny), when GTT requested a review of its rates for services provided under the 1990 Agreement – and for which, the PUC is the regulator.

The 2015 Order stated: “A few years ago GTT spent US$30 million to establish an underwater cable from Suriname (SG-SCS). We had requested particulars of this transaction and were told that it had no business plan for that enterprise!!!

ATNI’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Prior “GTT also told us that the cable will not form part of the asset base in any tariff filing, that it does not plan to operate the cable system as any type of common carriage, and as such the cable system is not subject to the Commission’s approval or authority pursuant to Section 28 of the PUC Act.” Based on GTT’s ability to land the SG-SCS without need for approval or presentation of business plan to its regulator (the PUC), observers want to know under which provisions and/or permissions was this investment done.

Further to its Order, the PUC said it subsequently learnt GTT created an offshore company in the British Virgin Islands (a well known tax haven), to sell bandwidth

to service providers, and then transferred its ownership of the SG-SCS to this newly formed company.

The PUC later found, however, that GTT was that company’s only purchaser of bandwidth in 2011, noting that, despite the maneuvering, this was in actuality an investment by GTT. The PUC also observed that this investment served GTT since bandwidth is an essential component in the lucrative internet business in which GTT is prominently involved.

The PUC stated: “We are not aware that GTT has been earning any interest on the funds expended in the creation and functioning of the subsidiary.

“A utility company may have little incentive to minimise its own expenses while remitting funds to an overseas enterprise, be it parent or lateral subsidiary, which may result in significant increased profit to that entity with no regulatory limit on its permissible earnings. There must be dealings with affiliates at arm’s length.”

In raising this point, the PUC, as GTT’s regulator under the 1990 Agreement, was keen to note that it does not have the practicability to regulate transactions with affiliates that may involve the examina-

Dem boys seh...

Guyana encouraging people to tie its hand and foot Guyana is a funny place.

Nobody don’t tek this country anymore. Elections coming and usually dem farrin people des sit back and watch from a distance. These days dem coming like if is a normal time.

When dem boys ask one of de farrin people she tell dem that as far as people concerned, de government is six of one and half a dozen of de oddas. All two of de major parties done promise not to trouble de oil situation.

Of course, when de news come out that neither Soulja Bai nor Jagdeo intend to revisit de oil contract, people realize that de situation wouldn’t change—talk fuh rain or talk fun sun.

That is why none of dem parties mek oil an election is-

sue. De political parties talk bout corruption and who knock off people but none of dem talk bout oil. Even when people talk bout de lopsided contract Jagdeo ain’t seh nutten.

When de dust settle he did seh that he wouldn’t change de contract.

But that is only part of de story. Now de local content report got problems. Dem boys hear that this one got something bout confidentiality. De first man who draft de contract tek he time to mek sure that nutten like that in de clauses.

If de country don’t have a jail and de law don’t mention anything bout imprisonment, why a man must draft a contract that talk bout imprisonment?

Dem boys remember that de Trini did seh that he gun do everything to ensure that de people of Guyana don’t get shackled by contracts and contract deals.

De new man not only mek sure dem get shackle he bring some brand new shackles to lock in de Guyanese people.

That is why some odda farrin companies operating in Guyana behaving like if dem own Guyana. Dem boys done believe that de farrin people see Guyana as a cash cow.

All of dem come, get dem concessions and promise jobs. But dem never mek a profit suh Guyana never get what it due. De situation ain’t change.

Talk half and watch how people shackling Guyana

tion of their books and records, and which can be very critical in tracing the bona fides of an affiliated transaction.

It also noted that since the subsidiary does not come under its jurisdiction/purview, it is therefore impossible for the PUC to review/examine the books, account papers or records kept by them (the subsidiary).

Significantly, the 2015 Order states, “The Commission in monitoring the operations of Utility Companies under our purview has long held the view that GT&T appears to inflate the cost of its capital acquisitions.

“This will increase the asset base of the Company resulting in higher profits to which it is not entitled. If this is so then the depreciation figures stated in the financial statement would be overstated.”

The 2015 Order continues, “We are also concerned about the valuation of the Company’s assets and its reluctance to respond to our requests for the acquisition costs of assets for specific periods.

“We also have a difficulty reconciling the company’s test year data and investiga-

tions must be conducted seeking explanations on the computation of property, plant and equipment, and working capital.”

These points become noteworthy when one considers GTT’s continual complaint that it is “overtaxed” at a rate of 45% --even though it fails to provide detailed accounting to its regulator (the PUC) through mechanisms such as conflating revenues for regulated and unregulated services which shroud a true assessment of the company’s actual rate of returns on investments under its licence; using an offshore company to hide investments; and bypassing the PUC for permissions to operate by claiming that services are outside of the ambit of its regulation.

In view of the doubts relating to the true value of GTT’s asset base, and the accompanying issues in relation to determining its real, effective tax rate, the PUC, in its 2015 Order, said it may consider having an investigation carried out in this regard.

This would indeed be helpful, prior to liberalization and the settlement of GTT’s outstanding US$44 million tax claim to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), to ensure that the Guyanese treasury is not further deprived of revenues, apart from the already considerable tax concessions GTT enjoys under the 1990 Purchase Agreement, and the additional benefits post-liberalization it is seeking in its negotiations with the government.

PAGE 10

Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

Eddy Grant, Godfrey Statia, Varshanie Singh and Dr. Nehaul Singh among 2020 national awardees

Guyanese Singer Eddy Grant To mark the nation’s 50th Republic Jubilee, President David Granger announced a list of prominent Guyanese who have been selected for the conferral of national awards.

The 2020 list of awardees includes the names of the recipients of the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (CCH) – the third highest national award. Among the awardees are International Guyanese singer Edmond “Eddy,” Montague Grant, Guyana Revenue Authority Commissioner, Geoffrey Statia, and Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh.

Others to receive CCH include the Right Reverend Charles Alexander Davidson, Dr. Abraham Agustus Clemwood Fung-A-Fat, Dr.

Jagdeo’s ex wife, Varshanie Singh

Mark Anthony Benschop

GRA Boss Geoffrey Statia

Dr Nehaul Singh

Neville Bhagwandeen Gobin, Professor John Edward Greene, Dr. Cecil Edward Harricharran, Dr. Fawcett Anthony Jeffrey, Dr. Dalgleish Joseph, Ambassador Charlene Alexis Phoenix, Justice William Rajendra Ramlal, Claude Augustus Saul, Paul Esmond Slowe and Michael Orrin David Somersall.

Those listed to receive the Golden Arrow of Achievement are Varshanie Oudho Singh, wife of former President Bharrat Jagdeo; Mark Anthony Archer, Mavis Anita Benn, Marlan Kwesi Cole, Charles Mitroy Corbin, Reverend Roshanna Gillis, Catherina Penda Guyan, Sheran Roxanna Harper, Troy Henry, Loris Emille Heywood, Ranald An-

drew Jacobs, Pastor Richard Avert James, Edward Jameson, Zaida Joaquin, Lincoln Brandon Lewis, Frederick McWilfred, Cita Indranie Pilgrim, Cheryl Sampson, Olive Beverly Sampson, Clinton Murphy Williams and Apostle Jason Clifton Yorrick The Medal of Service honourees include Wesley Adrian Benjamin, Mark Anthony Benschop, Paulette Patricia Bollers, Terrence Glenberth Boston, Donna Bowen, Lucille Elaine Cadogan, Beverly Clenkien, Jenny Benn-Daly, Ann Pamela Forde, Gregory Douglas Fraser, Claire Ann Goring, Virgil Harding, Phyllis Erica Jackson, Glenyss Barbara James, Jainarine Maraj, Leon

Randolph Mc Donald, Doreen Evelyn Blackman Ng-A-Qui, Kissoon Dyal Persaud, PremnauthPrashad, Urica Yernesi Primus, Deserdeen Roberts, Kaylan Persaud Sharma, Beverly Ann Somerset.

The Military Service Medal honours will be conferred on Colonel Raul Kenneth Jerrick, Lieutenant Colonel Denzil Walter Carmichael and the Disciplined Services Star will be given to Chief Fire Officer Marlon Anthony Gentle.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police Kevin Adonis, Assistant Commissioner of Police Edgar Mortimer Thomas and Deputy Chief Fire Officer Jacqueline

Bonita Greene are all set to receive the Disciplined Service Medal.

On February 4, last, the second highest honour, the Order of Roraima was conferred on Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados.

In conferring the honorary national award on Mottley, President Granger noted that the Barbados Prime Minister exemplified dedication to duty and to service to the region.At the announcement of the new awardees yesterday, President Granger and members of the Advisory Council for the Orders of Guyana, offer sincere congratulations to the 66 persons who have been honoured.

Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 23, 2020

Sunday February 23, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Foreign investors not worried about elections outcome; major parties share similar policies on oil – Experts legislation and strengthen fiscal management and accountability.”

Still, the policy positions of both the major parties are essentially the same. Both parties have said that a new Production Sharing Agreement model must be in place before the next licensing round. The only

Chatham House Associate Fellow, Dr. Valérie Marcel Experts share similar views on major parties and their approach to the oil sector. They say that investors are unconcerned about the outcome of the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections.

Why? Because, no matter who wins, there will not be a significant change in policy where the energy sector is concerned.

Take Valérie Marcel, for instance. Marcel is an Associate Fellow in the energy, environment and resources programme at Chatham House, also known as Royal Institute of International Affairs.

In a February 21, 2020 publication of Energy Advisor, titled ‘What’s at Stake for Guyana’s Oil Sector in the Elections?’, Marcel is asked about the

Granger’s ‘Green State Development Strategy’, Marcel said that there is no significant departure from Granger’s policies in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) manifesto.

For one, the PPP also supports the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which Guyana is already a member of. Both parties also endorse a sovereign wealth fund. The only difference is that PPP general secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, disagrees with the constitution of the current Natural Resource Fund. He has vowed to repeal and replace it.

The Economist’s Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently released its Country Report for Guyana’s 2020 first quarter.

In that report, the EIU

Guyana elections.

In her response, Marcel said that the stakes are high in the election, as Guyana has just begun producing oil, and that the winning party will reign over the country’s oil revenues. She added that there is “unique political opportunity for state building” once the winning party ensures the wealth gained from the production and sale of Guyana’s oil is equally distributed amongst Guyana’s various groups.

She expressed the risk that there could be developed clientelistic networks based on ethnic and party affiliation.

Pointing out President David

stated, “Irrespective of who wins, no major policy shift is expected under a new government, especially in energy policy – a cause for concern for investors.”

The publication noted that Guyana is on the cusp of becoming a major oil producing nation, which will give the new government the opportunity to define the country’s development path.

“The new government will also gain huge popular advantage from the capacity to rapidly expand public spending and investment over the course of its term in office. Policy priorities will be to tighten anti-graft

difference is that the PPP intends for the new model to update most of the current agreements. The coalition has not pronounced on renegotiating any of the current agreements.

Though Jagdeo wants to renegotiate most of the current contracts, the biggest issue in the oil sector is the

renegotiation of the Stabroek Block agreement, which Jagdeo has stated would be the exception, should his party win the election.

He has said that ExxonMobil should be rewarded for its “pioneering investment” in Guyana.

Both parties have refused to renegotiate the lopsided

agreement. Both parties intend to draft and implement local content legislation.

Both parties intend to amend the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act. If there is much nuance in their policies for the sector, it is unknown, as their manifestos have been limited in expansion on these issues.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Sunday February 23, 2020

“Turn off all phones”…Minister promises police ranks, officers’ house lots in meeting hours before voting Hours before the Disciplined Services voting on Friday, a government

minister met with members of the Guyana Police Force to talk about house lots.

During the meeting with Minister with responsibility for Housing, Annette

Ferguson, at the police training building on Camp Road, the ranks and officers

were told to turn off phones.

In a more than 30-minutes recording, Ferguson is heard assuring that once the Coalition Government is returned to power, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will be moving to ensure that they receive the house lots and homes.

The Opposition has since slammed the meeting, describing it initially as a masked attempt to buy votes for house lots and turn-key homes.

Late last evening, the Minister confirmed to Kaieteur News that ranks and officers had voiced concerns, and that she met with them on Thursday.

She said that she explained the situation leading up to 2015 that the Coalition met and outlined the process going forward.

The Minister promised to address their concerns.

Kaieteur News was told t h a t o n T h u r s d a y, t h e minister had three separate meetings with the ranks and officers.

In the recording, police ranks and others were told to turn off their phones.

Ferguson outlined the hardships of the CH&PA in sourcing new lands with the dependence on the Guyana Lands and Survey and the Guyana Sugar Corporation.

She stressed that in 2015, the Coalition entered office with almost 50,000 applications for house lots on file, dating back to the 90s.

She said that the Coalition found that house lots went to cronies of the PPP/C with examples of even Chinese investor, BaiShanLin, benefitting.

She said that this government has lowered the age of persons applying to 18 instead of 21.

According to Ferguson at the meeting, she had with her a tabulation of the applications of senior officers whose applications date back to the early 2000s.

There was a huge demand in Region Four and especially on the East Bank of Demerara for housing.

With a planned bypass from Ogle to Diamond, lands will be opened up, she said.

She said government has also been building homes, including duplexes and one and two-bedroom houses for families.

She told the police ranks that she will continue to look at applications dating back to the 90s.

While not committing to allocate “tomorrow”, she said that she knew Friday was a special day and “Y’all gun

Inducement? NO! Minister Annette Ferguson mek I smile.”

The lands that will be opened by the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission is located in the Great Diamond area, East Bank Demerara.

According to Ferguson, once she returns as minister, CH&PA will be pushing to ensure that the soldiers, police, firemen and the prison officers are catered for.

She said that Government cannot answer for what happened before 2015.

Rather, former Housing Minister, and now the PPP’s Presidential Candidate, will have to answer about the backlogs.

Ferguson said that the prospects for housing sector will be “great” when the coalition returns.

She told the gathering of about 200 that it is the intention of President David Granger in a second term to ensure that there is adequate housing for all.

“Don’t lose hope, the future is bright…when we go back to Government we will be building houses.”

The minister urged that police ranks and officers to do the right thing when they vote on Friday.

“Don’t touch the box...for the first time voters, put the x in the middle (of the box)…”

She stressed that she is representing the government, so “Don’t stop the progress.”

Meanwhile, the recording appeared to have landed in the hands of PPP/C officials.

The party in a statement last evening that it is bringing the matter to the attention of the public, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, local and international observers and all other relevant stakeholders.

“The party calls for this matter to be thoroughly investigated and for the Minister to be held responsible for inducement.”

Sunday February 23, 2020

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

Arrest warrant issued for Police Inspector Failure of a police inspector to honour a judgment of the Court has resulted in the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.

The warrant was issued on February 14, last, for the arrest of Police Inspector Ganeshan John over his failure to pay contractor Kissoondatt Premsukh a sum of $1,296,180 for building works executed to his home.

The dispute dates back to 2017.

According to court documents seen by this newspaper, the row developed after a business deal between the police inspector and the contractor fell through.

The documents showed Premsukh of KP Construction firm, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, was hired by Inspector John to build a house at Samatta Point, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara.

The construction of the building cost an overall $7,547,000 and the bulk of the financing came from mortgage lender, New Building Society.

Afterwards the house was completed; the officer hired the builder to further construct a chain link fence, a master bedroom and a trestle.

In an action filed before High Court, Premsukh alleged that he developed problems with the inspector after the man refused to pay him for the additional work.

The action resulted in a trial and a subsequent judgment order issued by Justice Diana Insanally for Inspector John to pay the outstanding sum of $1,296,180, last December.

However a failure by John to adhere to the order resulted in Premsukh moving to the Court again.

This time, he asked for an enforcement of the judgment order issued by Justice Insanally.

On February14, last, Justice Franklyn Holder issued a warrant for the arrest of Officer John, who is said to be an Inspector at a ‘C’ Division Police Station. John has not yet been apprehended.

When contacted Divisional Commander, Royston Andries – Junor told Kaieteur News that he is not aware of the arrest warrant but promised to look into the matter.

During a trial last year, Premsukh gave a breakdown of the sum expended. The contractor claimed that he agreed to build a chain link fence which cost over $500, 000, a master bedroom worth approximately $300,000 and a trestle for a water tank worth over $428,000 for the

Police Inspector, Ganeshan John plaintiff (John).

He claimed that at the encouragement of Inspector John, he expended on the materials and manpower to get the work done.

The contractor said that he had provided invoices for the work to the policeman who had agreed to pay him at a later date. However that never materialized.

Numerous attempts by Premsukh to collect monies owed proved futile.

Premsukh told the court that the policeman currently enjoys the benefits of the completed house while there is no hope of the recovery of the monies he expended.

He noted that there might be recovery of the value of the said work by dismantling the permanent structure. “[But] even if that course is taken many of the items will lose its economic value,” the plaintiff said.

As such, he noted that a Court order directing the policeman to pay him is only means of relief. Despite the contentions raised by Premsukh, Inspector John claimed that the contractor did substandard work.

John accused the contractor of deviating from the building which was approved by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

He claimed that inter alia, that the contractor deviated by building a smaller house than that which was outlined in the plan, using substandard material to do the work.

The trial Judge nonetheless agreed with Premsukh’s contention that the monies should be paid and granted judgment in his favour.

She cited the fact that the contractor remained resolute that the mortgage financing did not cover the additional construction expenses—it was therefore taken out of his own pocket.

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Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

Smoking in public places is illegal It is prohibited for persons to smoke a hookah in any public space. This is according to the To b a c c o C o n t r o l A c t (TCA) of 2017 and the Director of the Chronic Diseases Unit under the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Dr. Kavita Singh.

During an interview with Kaieteur News on Thursday last, the Director made it known that hookah smoking has much more health risks when compared to cigarette smoking.

Since this product contains tobacco and is more dangerous, it must be forbidden from use in any public setting, Dr Singh said.

In August 2017 when The Tobacco Control Act came into effect, it paved the way for 100% smoke-free environments in all public spaces, indoor work spaces, public transportation, and specified indoor spaces to protect persons from exposure to tobacco smoke.

Even though the

- says Director of Chronic Diseases Unit

- businesses can be charged $9M for breaching law

Director of Chronic Diseases Programme, Dr. Kavita Singh legislation has been in place for almost three years, Dr. Singh said that some companies, businesses and persons have disregarded the Act and the provisions listed in it.

The doctor said that under the legislation, the use of tobacco products such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes,

vapours and hookah in public spaces is prohibited, but some clubs and bars, particularly in Georgetown, are guilty of offering these very products.

Dr. Singh stated that it is illegal for businesses to be selling hookahs. She listed a few places that are in violation of the legislation.

She explained that on almost any given day of the week, one could stroll into popular spots like The Strip Hookah Lounge, Level, Boardoom, (bars which are located at the Giftland Mall), Palm Court, Red Bar, and others and spot a hookah on a table.

She revealed that she has reached out to the management of the Giftland Mall on number of occasions and has informed them that they were in breach of the Tobacco Control Act. She said that for two weeks the bars stopped

selling hookahs out of “respect for the laws”.

Unfortunately, they relapsed.

Penalties for violating Tobacco Control Act Dr. Singh said that breaches could attract a fine of $9 million and/ or two months imprisonment for a company that breaks the Tobacco Control Act. For smoking in a public space you can be fined $20,000 and serve six months’ imprisonment. She added that anyone who wants to smoke must do so at least five meters from any opening.

Cigarettes vs. Hookah; Which is more dangerous to health?

In the aspect of health, non-communicable diseases (NCDS) account for 68% of all mortalities, the Director disclosed.

“Every year when you tally up the number of people who die, a very large percentage of them died because of NCDS, of which tobacco use is a risk factor among all of the deaths.

“Nobody understands the sufferings of the patient, so it is a priority for me that we protect not just the smokers but also the nonsmokers.”

“It is much more harmful in the sense that it increases the abuse liability. By passing the smoke through water, it becomes less harsh

and by adding flavour, it becomes more palatable so the user tends to use it more over a longer period so you find there is increased exposure to one of the major components and that is carbon monoxide,” Dr. Singh explained.

She said that a person exposed to one session of hookah gets 15 times the

there is no safe tobacco product and the use of tobacco will remain on the government’s radar.

“We will not stop until there is no user of tobacco.

It’s a long cry but we are willing to take up the challenge,” Dr. Singh declared.

According to data issued by the American

amount of carbon monoxide as compared to using conventional cigarettes since that person will be inhaling 100 times the smoke than if he had smoked cigarettes.

“A lot of persons are under the impression that hookah is not tobacco. I want to emphasise that hookah is tobacco at least that is how it was invented to be used; of course, we know there are variations.”

She emphasised that

Heart Association, there is growing evidence that hookah smoking affects heart rate and blood pressure, with chronic use linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

A review of the evidence shows that hookah smoke contains many of the same toxic chemicals present in cigarettes, and sometimes, these harmful chemicals are even higher in hookah than in cigarettes.

Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Sunday February 23, 2020

On a mission to help make Guyana a better place…

Probation and Social Services Officer,

Monique Meusa is a ‘Special Person’

A loving daughter to her parents

By Sharmain Grainger

A

single word that can aptly describe our ‘Special Person’ this week is exuberant, for she is always full of energy, excited to get done all tasks before her, and plays her role with absolute cheerfulness. But what many people may not know is that much like the refining of crude oil [an analogy that Guyanese should have some appreciation for these days] she has had to pass through some intense heat [struggles] to become the woman she is today.

Those who know Monique Abika Meusa, are

well aware that she is nothing less than resilient, and a champion for those whose ‘testings’ have been similar to hers, and others whose experiences have been so jarring to the senses that even society sometimes, too ill-equipped to act, turn a blind eye.

But not Monique. She has had one too many daunting experiences to knowingly let those experienced by others who are vulnerable go unchecked on a daily basis. To achieve this, she has been able to assume a suitable battle stance from the Broad and Charles Streets, Georgetown headquarters of the

Childcare and Protection Agency [CPA] which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Social Protection.

By virtue of being a Probation and Social Services Officer for the past six years with s u p e r v i s o r y responsibility for the F o s t e r C a r e Department, Monique has been proving to be a force to be reckoned with.

But it should come as no surprise, the passion and dedication she wields to ensure that she completes her duties, and then some, with absolute

precision. She knows what it is like to be hurt, to be betrayed, but thankfully, with the support of a strong family circle and caring others, she was able to pull through and become a human with the wit and stamina to create needed changes in society that can help more than a few.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS B o r n o n T h u r s d a y, January 7, 1993, as the second of four children [Yoel, Monique, Tahir Meusa and Tomika] to the union of entrepreneurialminded parents: Deborah Caesar and Harvey Meusa, Monique remembers

Monique Meusa is a ‘Special Person’

realized that her calling was to become a Social Worker.

“Growing up I always wanted to be a teacher, but as I as I grew older and overcame some harsh experiences in my childhood and teenage years, I was certain that my calling was social work. Social work has provided me with an avenue where I could “At CPA we do more than just provide turn my mess into a psychosocial support to children who are being message; and change abused, we strengthen families; we provide from a victim into a families with the necessary tools to make better survivor and be the decisions which will further eliminate social ills such vehicle of positive change in society,” said as domestic violence, child abuse, drug use, youth a philosophical and crime, unemployment, etc. When we Monique. strengthen families, we further strengthen But this she didn’t communities and when communities are know when she first strengthened, we build a better Guyana.” enrolled at the University of Guyana [UG] with a plan to do a growing up at Vergenoegen, has a vivid recollection of Diploma programme in which she proudly described engaging in interpretive Social Work as a stepping a s a b e a u t i f u l , s m a l l dancing as a favourite stone to the law programme. community located on the pastime, which she got to But as Monique recalls it, “I indulge in through the was drawn to Social Work by East Bank of Essequibo.

Her mother, she recalled, Vergenoegen Fountain of pain, anger, bitterness, uncertainty and curiosity but was the owner of a small Life Wesleyan Church.

Although she had a at the age of seventeen, like business which was characterized by her selling secret desire to become a most teenagers just out of poultry in the community of teacher as a young girl, the Secondary School, I had no Vergenoegen, and her father way things panned out for clue what I wanted to do with (continued on page 65) she described as a “Jack of Monique, she eventually all Trades” and very versed in things accounting and carpentry.

As a young girl, Monique attended Vergenoegen Nursery and then Philadelphia Primary before writing Common Entrance to secure a place at Brickdam Secondary. She

During a Foster Care sensitisation outreach

Chilling with her siblings

Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Sunday February 23, 2020

Fireworks mishap leaves 3 critical, 5 others injured - Fireworks display cancelled The truck that exploded Forces' Medical Officer, Dr. Nigel Langhorne

By Shikema Dey and Stacy Peters

A

n explosion at the Guyana Defence Forces

Coastguard Wharf at Ruimveldt has left eight persons nursing burns and trauma injuries about their bodies. At least one person is considered to be in a critical

condition.

Kaieteur News understands that the massive explosion occurred at around 14:30pm yesterday as the ranks of the Artillery Unit

were offloading imported fireworks to be used in the 50th Republic Anniversary Fireworks display.

According to reports, the truck laden with fireworks

on the pontoon spontaneously combusted resulting in a massive explosion that sent the ranks scattering for cover, many plunging into the Demerara River to avoid injuries.

When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, firefighters had already put out the blaze. The injured soldiers were being rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Those injured were identified as Lt. Cpl. Trevor Joseph, 35; Cpl Terrence Neil, 26; Cpl. Andrew Gordon Cornette, 34; Staff Sgt. Otto Row, 35; Cpl. Victor Lowe, 25; Cpl Delroy Baird, 28; along with Diah Gordon and Cpl. Sean Rose.

Residents around the area told Kaieteur News that explosion propelled debris several meters into the air.

Located next to the wharf is a fishery and fishermen there explained that some of their equipment was damaged.

“They went loading the stuff on the truck and then all you hear is a big explosion and fire start.

Then about five more explosions. People start jumping off the pontoon into the river to out the fire on their skin. One guy, when he walk out, he got skin hang off he. Another one, all you seeing is white; nothing else.”

The Forces' Medical

O ff i c e r, D r. N i g e l Langhorne, speaking to reporters at the Georgetown Public Hospital said that Cpl. Sean Rose reportedly sustained burns to 90% of his body and is said to be in a very critical condition.

“Of the injured soldiers, we have one who is very critical; he would have sustained burns to more than 90 per cent body surface burns. And his prognosis is not well. The other two injured; they are in critical conditions.”

Kaieteur News was informed that Rose suffered a heart attack while receiving medical attention.

President David Granger visited the scene of the explosion and later spoke to reporters at the hospital.

According to the Head of State, the ranks did extensive training to ensure safety.

“These are experts.

These are some people who go overseas, who went to Barbados to train for the 50th Independence anniversary in 2018.

Some of the very persons involved went to Barbados.

These were not untrained.

“These were expert people who've been doing this over and over again. But as far as we are concerned, we have always applied the best safety measures, to ensure that the soldiers' lives (continued on page 63)

Kaieteur News

Stacy Ramcharan

Sunday February 23, 2020

Meet the captivating Miss Stacy Ramcharan. This Guyanese beauty enjoys modelling, listening to music, and getting her beauty sleep. Her costume belongs to the Genesis Carnival line and it was designed by phenomenal Lauren Austin.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 23, 2020

Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

Backpedaling on local content

T

he government seems to have an obsession with secrecy. It has drafted a Local Content Policy which allows for the withholding of information on the grounds of confidentiality.

This is a presumptuous act by the government, considering that it took almost 18 months for it to make public the contract it had signed with Exxon, Hess and CNOCC Nexen. And that only happened because of a huge public outcry.

As reported by another local news agency, the local watchdog, Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. had called on the government to make full disclosure of its contract with Exxon.

Transparency said that doing so would assure Guyanese that the country's best interest was secured in the contract.

In response to demands for the details of the contract to be made public, one government official said that it was not to the government's benefit or interest to make the contract public.

We now know just why the contract was not made public earlier, and why it took relentless public pressure for the government to do so. The country was flushed down the drain during the contract negotiations.

When the contract was eventually made public, it revealed that the country's pockets had been picked by the oil companies. Global Witness, an independent non-governmental organization, assessed that Guyana had deprived itself of US$55B during the negotiations.

The contract was signed in June 2016. It was not made public until December 2017. Guyana knew that oil had been discovered since 2015. Yet, it is only now that

the government is scrambling to put in place a Local Content Policy. And this is after the Trinidadians and other foreigners have gobbled up the contracts for the supply of goods and services to Exxon, Hess and CNOOC Nexen.

If the details of the contract had been known earlier, local companies would have had a better chance. I am suggesting that the horse has already bolted and the Local Content Policy is of no material significance at this time. In any event, a Local Content Policy is of no use without Local Content legislation.

The government, which is further out to sea than Exxon's oil rig, does not have a clue as to how to systematically approach the development of the oil industry. It is learning as its goes along, at a huge price to the country's interests.

The government did not need a Local Content policy to ensure that locals benefitted from the provision of goods and services to the petroleum sector. Provisions already exist within the contract which the government signed, with Exxon, to have greater local participation in the oil sector The contract with Exxon provides that the oil companies have to give preference to the purchase of Guyanese goods and services, provided that such goods and services are available on a timely basis and in the quantity required, at competitive prices.

The contract also provides for the company to give preference to local companies as sub-

contractors, insofar as they are commercially competitive and meet the technical requirements demanded by the contractor.

The government is yet to explain to the public what it has done to enforce these provisions of the contract.

Perhaps, it is also not to the national benefit or interest to make that known.

The government has to get serious. It has to put the right personnel in place to oversee this industry.

Otherwise the oil companies

are not going to take any action to ensure greater jobs and business opportunities for local businesses. The foreigners will continue to gobble up the upstream activities of the oil and gas industry.

Secrecy, under the guise of protecting confidentiality, will only result in the oil companies not honouring their contractual obligations.

Under the present contract, Exxon has certain obligations relating to local content, and it should be

honouring those obligations.

No Local Content Policy should provide a leeway for the oil companies to hide this failure. The Petroleum Act makes it clear that the permission of the oil companies is not required to make disclosures “in connection with, any matter or purpose, specified in a petroleum agreement.�

The contract with Exxon specifies what is expected in relation to local content. The government is therefore free to make disclosures in

relation to this matter which is specified in the contract.

Any Local Content policy which backpedals on this is retrograde.

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

Kaieteur News

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Sunday February 23, 2020

Guyana-Venezuela and international law

By Sir Ronald Sanders

G

lobal attention to Guyana has focussed on the current campaigning for general elections due on March 2. Reports indicate a vigorous campaign, with the country's newly found resources in oil and gas very much on the minds of the contesting political parties.

While the election campaign is proceeding and

the electorate awaits the date on which the majority will decide which party forms the next government and who will be the President of the country, the long-standing contention between Guyana and Venezuela has been ambling its way through the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague.

Three weeks after the general election, the ICJ will begin four days of legal arguments, between 23 and

27 March, from Guyana and Ve n e z u e l a n t e a m s o n whether the Court has jurisdiction to pronounce a judgement. It is important to emphasise that this hearing is to determine whether the Court has jurisdiction; it is not yet concerned with the merits of the case, which the Court will hear if it decides that it is properly vested with jurisdiction.

T h e Ve n e z u e l a n

Government disputes the ICJ's jurisdiction.

In a statement issued on 29 November 2019, the authorities in Caracas said it “reiterates its historical position on the lack of jurisdiction of that international body”.

Calling the Guyana application to the Court “absurd and disturbing”, the Venezuelan government revealed that it had informed the ICJ of its position in a

memorandum the day before.

Conveniently ignored by the Venezuelan government is the binding international Aw a r d o f 1 8 9 9 t h a t established and demarcated the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

That boundary had been accepted, respected and even protected by Venezuela for almost 60 years until 1965 w h e n G u y a n a ' s independence from Britain was set to take place the following year.

Venezuela resurrected an unsubstantiated claim, attributed to one of its long dead lawyers from the 1899 arbitral process, that the US Chief Justice - one of the Arbitrators – had been bribed. It is upon this shaky and shady allegation that Venezuela asserts the nullity of the 1899 award.

In any event, it was the ICJ that had decided it wished to hold a hearing on the matter of jurisdiction, inviting Guyana and Ve n e z u e l a t o s u b m i t arguments. Having informed the Court on 18 June 2010 that “Venezuela would not participate in the proceedings”, the Venezuelan government nonetheless submitted its memorandum. However, it remains unclear whether legal representatives of the Venezuelan government will turn up to make arguments before the Court in accordance with the Court's advice.

What is clear is that the Venezuelan government does not want any legal arbitration of its territorial claim; instead it wants Guyana to halt the ICJ proceedings and “to recommence the negotiation for a definitive solution”.

That negotiation would be between the Venezuela and Guyana governments – one that has been ongoing in different formats since 1965, and which made no progress because there was no shift f r o m t h e Ve n e z u e l a n position that it has “historic and legitimate rights over the 'Guayana Esequiba' since its own birth in 1810”.

V e n e z u e l a n governments have not been averse to flexing their military muscle by invading Guyanese territory and seizing ships in Guyana's territorial waters.

These instances are well-recorded.

It should be noted that

Sir Ronald Sanders the Maduro government's continuing claim to twothirds of Guyana is matched by the position of leaders of opposition parties, including Juan Guaidó, who some governments regard as the President of Venezuela.

Ve n e z u e l a h a s traditionally wanted negotiations with Guyana instead of arbitration by international legal m a c h i n e r y, b e c a u s e successive governments have felt that their larger population, superior military might, and greater wealth (from oil and gas) placed them in a powerful position.

Bigger and more powerful countries, regardless of their ideological stripe, prefer to deal directly with weaker countries, precisely because the strong can bully the weak and, in so doing, get their way without regard to justice.

Throughout the entire period of this Venezuelan claim, Guyana has been relatively poor, lacking in military strength and of no particular strategic interest to the hemispheric or international community.

All of Guyana's options for development were constrained by that reality.

In part, it explains why the Guyana government was anxious to settle a deal with Exxon Mobil and others for the production of oil and gas.

As of 2020, Guyana officially joined the ranks of petroleum-producing states, and a big one as well. While Guyana is still a militarily weak nation, its economic standing will improve on the back of oil and gas reserves.

Further, there will be far greater international interest in the preservation of Guyana's sovereignty and territorial integrity than there was before.

But the risk posed by Venezuela remains, despite its current weak economic situation and its fragile military circumstances. In time, these conditions could change while the ambition for claiming two-thirds of Guyana remains. That is why the Guyana government is right to pursue legal recourse at the ICJ, as many other nations have done from (continued on page 45)

Sunday February 23, 2020

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Kaieteur News

---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---

Despite our alienation, we must vote on March 2 In a week’s time, Guyanese go to the polls for the 15th time since achieving self- government seven decades ago.

As is the case with ethnically divided countries around the world, our elections, except for the first one in 1953, have all been moments of discord and conflict, which have more often than not spilled over into the post-election period.

In short, elections in Guyana have not solved our deep-seated historical problems. Rather, they have only exacerbated them to the point where anxiety and fear often precede them.

We have also had our fair share of crooked elections, which have left a long shadow across the political landscape.

The memory of that era is often used as a mobilizing tool for one section of the ethnic electorate. For another section, there is either silencing or denial. In recent times, both sides have made charges and countercharges of rig-

ging, but it often sticks on one side. The force of historical memory is still very strong.

There was a time when radicals argued that elections were not a means to a revolutionary end. We saw elections as more democratic form than substance. The overthrow of the old order could not be done via elections, we contended. But as time passed and revolution slid into the past, elections have taken on new meaning—it is now part of the new revolution.

And, so here we are on the eve of perhaps the most consequential election in our history. It is difficult to ignore its presence. The campaign rallies have been huge, largely because the two big contestants have for the most part bussed their supporters to the locations. The platform speeches have been short on substantive policies, but long on that which stirs the crowds to partisan frenzy. For those who pay close attention to

the saner side of our politics, it is no secret that the megarallies mask a deep sense of alienation among the voters.

Yet for all the alienation, I have argued in this column and on the platform that skipping the polls is not an option at this juncture. Yes, one may be guilty of encouraging people to vote, with full knowledge that the election outcome would not lead to any immediate fundamental change in the way in which we have approached governance, especially as it relates to the distribution of common resources.

What then are we asking people to vote for? I sought to answer that question by asking voters to use their vote as an investment in the future. But the investment must not stop with the vote.

The people of this country, especially the poor, must be prepared to fight their leaders after the election for that future. This is what I think is

The Baccoo Speaks Indeed, a new trend has developed in Guyana.

Gangs on wheels are roaming the streets snatching personal items.

This incident is becoming prevalent, but the police are on to the culprits.

There will be three arrests in the coming days.

One of the attempted escapees would be a schoolboy. ** Another murder will occur in a depressed area. A

quarrel will escalate, because someone hears that the other person had said something untoward.

In fact, drugs would be at the centre of the dispute. The suspect will run, but with

hardly anywhere to seek shelter, he would be caught in a hurry. ** Elections violence is not really an option, but individuals would take their party preferences too far.

One such incident would actually split a peaceful community.

Strange enough, this is going to be the case in a remote part of the country where politicians have made their presence felt.

lost on those who berate me for supporting the Coalition, after my serious and sometimes extreme critique of them during their first term.

I still believe that the ultimate outcome of political struggle must be revolutionary change or what we loosely call transformation. But we live in an era in which there is no appetite for political contestation outside of the ballot box. The ballot box in these post-radical times, then, becomes an arena for more than just returning governments to or throwing them out of office.

In these times when political parties in the Caribbean have little or no ideological differences, making electoral choices are most difficult. I have looked at the manifesto of both the PPP and the Coa-

lition, and I am hard pressed to find any deep, ideological thread running through them.

They list what they will do if they win, but there is nothing that binds the items together.

But vote we must. I have already said that I don’t think the newer parties would make much of a difference to the two-way race between the PPP and the Coalition. In any case, as I said before, I don’t think a minority government would lead to a movement away from the zero-sum politics we are fighting to overcome.

I am for power sharing as the ultimate road to a solution. And Coalition politics is a significant step in that direction.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the

Dr David Hinds author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his w e b s i t e www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news.

Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 23, 2020

A JUNGLE MYSTERY Will the Mazaruni ever reveal its secret about the three men who vanished eleven years ago?

By Michael Jordan Flying over Guyana’s interior in one of those tiny, flimsy-looking planes, you look down on that vast jungle so far down below, and you can’t help wondering: What would happen if this plane went down? Would I survive, slamming into trees and hurtling down like a stone? And if I were to survive, would I ever be found? Or will I wander through square mile upon square mile of jungle, lost forever?

For sure, looking for that tiny plane would be like searching for a needle in a large green haystack. And you would be right, because that has been the fate of many an unfortunate pilot who has ventured into Guyana’s rugged interior.

The old-timers will tell you that one pilot crashed in the Mazaruni area over two and a

Captain James Wesley Barker

First Officer Chris Paris

Patrick Murphy

half decades ago. Neither plane nor man was found.

They will reminisce that another plane, with its pilot and about six European passengers, vanished without trace while flying between Anna Regina and Mount Roraima.

A third disappeared while flying to Kaieteur.

And that would bring them to speculating about the fate of three men who ventured into the Mazaruni in a plane over 11 years ago and were never seen again.

At around 14:14 hrs on Saturday, November 1, 2008, a Beechcraft King Air plane departed the Cheddi Jagan International Airport for the interior.

On board were pilot, Captain James Wesley Barker, 28, First Officer Chris Paris, 23, both US citizens, and Canadian Patrick Murphy, a Geophysics technician.

Their mission: to conduct aerial surveys on behalf of Prometheus Resources (Guyana) Inc., a Canadian Company that was hoping to locate uranium deposits in the vicinity of Chi Chi, Cuyuni/ Mazaruni. The aircraft had enough fuel for five hours 30 minutes and the crew was scheduled to conduct their survey in the Chi-Chi/ Imbaimadai area for approximately four hours 30 minutes before returning to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

At 15:06 hrs, the crew reported to the Control Tower at the airport that they were commencing normal operations over the survey area. No further reports were received from the aircraft.

When the plane failed to return at the scheduled time, or report on their whereabouts, Air Traffic Control staff alerted other aircraft in the vicinity to try to establish contact with the Beechcraft.

The US MCC Southern Command was also contacted for any reports of distress signals from the area. But no one had heard from the crew and by afternoon, there was no doubt that they were missing.

Officials from the Guyana

Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) were alerted to the crisis, and one of the longest and most intense searches for a missing aircraft in Guyana began.

The initial search team included the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps and Special Forces, along with two British helicopters and five other planes. These were supported by two aircraft chartered by GCAA from Air Services Limited and two private aircraft.

But cloud cover and bad weather caused the search to be delayed until the following day.

Ground searches were also conducted by the army. Officials of Prometheus Resources (Guyana) Inc., the company, which had sent the men on the survey expedition, also organised its own search party.

But no trace of the plane was found the following day, or the next.

At first, the rescue team had been picking up signals from the missing plane’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT).

An expert in locating ELT signals arrived in the country with sophisticated equipment.

But he was unable to locate the area from which the ELT signals were emanating.

After seven days, the ELT signals ceased, and hope of finding the men alive began to fade.

Veteran Guyanese pilot Captain Gerald ‘Gerry’ Gouveia, who had survived a crash some miles from Timehri, knew that hope was running out for the crew.

The Mazaruni area where they had disappeared was harsh terrain. Even uninjured survivors would be exposed to cold, to inclement weather, and a shortage of food and water. And they would also be running out of hope.

On November 16, 2009, some two weeks after the Beechcraft King Air plane disappeared, the then-Minister of Transport, Works and Communication Robeson Benn reluctantly announced that the aerial search had been called off.

“As difficult as it may seem, we have expended all the resources, the time and the effort that we could at this stage. There is nothing more that we can do…We aren’t in a position to recover them. We have no specific knowledge of their whereabouts. The basis of our calling off the search is that we believe that they have perished.”

Nevertheless, officials from

Prometheus Resources (Guyana) Inc. decided to continue the search, even if that meant merely recovering the wrecked plane and the bodies of its crew.

Flyers were distributed to residents of the Middle Mazaruni, where the plane was believed to have crashed.

Pilots took aerial pictures, which were later posted online and scrutinized by a barrage of other pilots. This was backed up by a team conducting ground searches.

In late November, the search shifted to an area in the Kurupung after a Brazilian miner claimed to have heard an explosion in the location shortly after seeing a plane flying overhead. But they found nothing.

Hope rose again in December 2008, when some pilots examining aerial photographs identified what appeared to be the tail of the Beech King aircraft protruding from trees in an area in the Middle Mazaruni jungle.

This information led to suggestions that the pilot had crashed while flying over the escarpment, which borders the Middle and the Upper Mazaruni.

According to this theory, the pilot underestimated the steepness of the escarpment and was forced to climb faster than he actually could. But the aircraft stalled and then dived down into the dense vegetation. It had most likely plummeted nose-first, hence the failure to create any significant clearance in the vegetation and so make the crash site easily visible.

However, to their immense disappointment, when the search party reached the suspected crash site, they discovered that the “tail” of the aircraft was actually part of a dead tree.

Undaunted, the team continued searching into the new year.

In August 2009, aided by specially-trained cadaver dogs, a US search-and-rescue team of ex-army personnel ventured into the MidMazaruni area for one final attempt to recover the victims.

But, like others before them, they found no trace of the plane or victims. They finally acknowledged that the victims may never be found.

The team then dropped wreaths over the area where the plane was believed to have disappeared. That was acknowledgment that the treacherous Mazaruni jungle would be their final resting place.

Sunday February 23, 2020

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Kaieteur News

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

Dresden: 50 years of republicanism I had three chances of settling comfortably in another country that was and is far more developed, more comfortable, far more civilized, far more stable, peaceful and rational than Guyana is. In the process, I have dragged my wife with me into the permanency of Guyanese residence.

Because I chose not to leave, my only child is Guyanese.

Of course, I love Guyana, but in abstraction. I have no psychic explanation, and I doubt there can ever be one, as to why I stayed when the disappearing land was in front of me.

I have no one in Guyana except the woman I dragged back with me, and the daughter I fathered with her. Relatives and friends are all gone.

My wife’s siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends are all gone.

If I had the chance to enter a time machine and go back to younger days and sit right in the middle of the sinking ship, would I have taken up rescue and acceptance to be exiled? I don’t know, but deep in my mind I think I would have refused. I am a Caribbean man.

When I started teaching philosophy at UG and saw right in front of my eyes that students had no knowledge who Sigmund Freud was; why slavery into the New World is the worst thing to have happened in civilization; why western values continue

to dominate the world after thousands of years, then I knew my place was in this country. It doesn’t mean that I appreciate Guyana. I don’t.

This is an extremely sad place and a deeply tragic land that has no parallel elsewhere on the global map. I cannot think of another country where spirit and humanity are completely absent.

I cannot think of another nation that is not living under a brutal dictatorship where people are jailed, tortured and killed, that can be so psychically destroyed that fear and sheepishness are deeply embed in their psychology. I cannot think of another society where the young people are so empty, ignorant, uncaring, un-philosophical, and downright resigned to living in a lost land.

I cannot believe that another country on Planet Earth, except Guyana, there can be a university campus where the young population and the academics are so brutally uninterested in the violations, cruelties and injustices that dominate their country. It is nihilism beyond belief.

Today is fifty years of republicanism in this country, and as a trained academic, I will confront and challenge any other fellow academic to paint a positive portrait in those 50 years. Whenever Independence and republicanism anniversaries come

around and my topic has to be on those twin subjects, I think of the city of Dresden in Germany. The human mind cannot arrive at an explanation for the juxtaposition of Dresden and Guyana.

For the third time in my newspaper commentaries that have being going on for 31 years, I will offer the example of Dresden, to prove that Guyana does not exist.

As Germany faced defeat, the Allies, in World War Two, literally reduced Dresden to ashes. It was a bombed out city with nothing standing. 30 years after the war ended, that is 1975, Dresden became one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Today Dresden is one of the world’s post-modern structures.

How can a piece of earth rise up to that level, yet 50 years after republican status simple street lights and traffic lights cannot work continuously for one straight month in Guyana? Whenever I do an analysis on the anni-

versary of Independence and republican status, I think of something my eyes were opened up to by my good friend, Colin Smith, editor of the Catholic Standard.

We were on the deck of the ferry, returning from Berbice to Georgetown years ago, discussing how shambolic was the administration of the ferry system. Colin said that in the 1950s, British Guiana had a GDP and GNP higher than Singapore and Malaysia. I couldn’t face him, because of what I perceived was the absurdity he uttered.

After gazing into the river,

I looked directly at him and said, ‘You know what you are talking about? Two of the top countries in the world, billions of miles ahead of Guyana, are Singapore and Malaysia’. With a thin smile, he told me to check it out. I did. It is painfully true.

I went to UG from 19741978 and studied in darkness at home due to blackouts.

Blackouts have pursued and plagued me since then. No country can have electricity disruption for 46 continuous years. But Guyana has. But then again, this is a joke, because a country named

Frederick Kissoon Guyana does not exist in the real world.

(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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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 23, 2020

The path to Digital Guyana under APNU+AFC leadership

T

he APNU+AFC coalition success fully campaigned the 2015 General Elections with one of its key promises being the liberalisation of Guyana’s telecommunications sector. This promise – one that would create increase competition in the market and affordable telecommunications countrywide – was particularly important to the Guyanese people since this sector had been grossly underdeveloped in relation to our counterparts in the region.

The situation in Guyana was made more challenging as the previous PPP Government in fact renewed the GTT contract in 2010 at a time when in other parts of the world, monopolies were ending given the fast pace of technology.

In 2015, Guyana’s tele-

communications market was characterised by its continued use of outdated technologies, such as EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) cellular networks: a 13-year old technology , in comparison to the rest of the world, which was using 3G and 4G (3rd and 4th generation) technologies.

After they acceded to government, President David Granger in January 2016 established the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and Catherine Hughes was appointed Minister.

Under her leadership, this Ministry expressed its commitment to promoting and implementing the Government’s vision of establishing ICT as a fundamental pillar of Guyana’s developmental agenda and increasing broadband and internet connectivity throughout the

country. The Ministry undertook several strategies to ensure that the Government’s promise of liberalisation was delivered in effect, if not necessarily also in black-andwhite.

The first notable accomplishment was the prompt passage into law of Guyana’s long-awaited Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill in July 2016.

This is particularly noteworthy considering that this Bill was first introduced since 2011 under the previous PPPled administration.

Other steps taken to bring the Act into force include the establishment of the Telecommunications Agency in January 2017. Both of these were fundamental to the Liberalisation process.

Another example of the widening of telecommunications was enablement of the

evolution of Guyana’s networks from EDGE to 4G, which was done in time for Guyana’s Jubilee celebrations in 2016. Few understand that this was another important facet of a liberalisation environment.

In fact, this can be seen as the initiation of the Government’s forging ahead with greater connectivity for Guyanese by leveraging the disruption in the sector worldwide – without being restricted by ongoing liberalisation negotiations.

This allowed Guyanese to reap the benefits of current technologies, such as OTT (over-the-top) television, messaging and voice calling (e.g. Netflix, WhatsApp, Skype) – benefits such as access to affordable and, in some cases, free, content and communication.

The Government recognised that our telephone companies were not interested in providing service in far-flung communities where they would derive little economic gain, regardless of their obligations, and set about to provide connectivity via the internet for its people.

By permitting the use of this enhanced technology in telecommunications and broadcasting, an enabling

environment was created, that proliferated benefits comparable to a traditional liberalised environment.

Over the past 4 years, the growth of Guyana’s telecommunications has been exponential. Guyana now has 4G LTE networks, and has acquired a second subsea cable, which created redundancy and geodiversity with its Barbados termination.

Internet speeds have increased significantly, and the sector has benefited from the introduction of widely accessible fibre-to-the-premises networks, which widened access to advances in education, healthcare, and communication.

The Ministry has also engaged several international and local companies, which have expressed interest in investing in the local sector, even as attempts are underfoot to include full liberalisation.

This will pave the way for their swift entry, thereby making full liberalisation actualised quickly thereafter the completion of negotiations.

The Ministry has also aggressively pursued the enhancement of remote and hinterland connectivity, such as through the National Data

Management Authority/ eGovernment unit, which offers free internet access through ICT hubs to hundreds of communities beyond the coastline.

Using satellite connectivity from several community ISPs countrywide, these government-implemented ICT hubs enable the residents to access enhanced services in education, healthcare, entertainment communication and government.

Minister Hughes’ longterm vision also includes a focus on creating an equipped workforce, one that is educated around innovation and able to adequately reap the benefits and job opportunities of a digital economy of the future.

This aligns with the Ministry’s mandate of ensuring that every Guyanese across every region, including and especially the hinterland regions, is not only able to access ICT but also able to harness its capabilities for their daily personal and professional needs.

This strategy includes investing in the availability of education and training in the skills and competencies essential to the use of the new world of technology, such as through STEM clubs, robotic training and Code Camps.

In this pursuit of a fully digital nation, the Ministry has donated robotics kits to STEM clubs at public primary schools, which have been proven to strengthen the students’ skills in the sciences, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving and technical skills.

The Ministry is also investing in regional Code Camps, such as the Iwokrama International Centre in Region 8, which was identified as a hub to deliver training modules to students and adult residents of surrounding communities.

These initiatives are part of a comprehensive plan to ensure that the focus of the Ministry does not stop at liberalisation but goes beyond to ensure that its potentials are fully and beneficially realised for the Guyanese people.

Visionary leadership has permitted the sector to benefit from the newest technologies, surpassing the expectations of liberalisation in a way that effectively made traditional liberalisation moot.

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

Sunday February 23, 2020

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Kaieteur News

My column

Expecting so much more from the oil wealth A lot has been said since President David Granger made the oil contract with ExxonMobil public, the focus has been on what many say is a lopsided deal.

There have been explanations and already oil has begun to flow. Guyana secured its first one million barrels, but the cost of the oil has not yet been made public.

Indeed, Guyana had sold its first three shipments by tender which was won by Shell. The price was not declared, but insiders report that Guyana got more than US$55 per barrel. The Head of the Energy Department almost confirmed this when he said that Guyana would get in excess of US$300 million from its five oil shipments this year.

Of course, this excludes the royalty of what is dubbed a paltry two per cent.

The shipments represent Guyana’s cut of the oil profits after Exxon takes its seventy-five cost recovery. This volume of cost recovery was thought to be too high, but at the time the volume of oil underground was not ascertained.

To this day none of the explorers could safely say how much oil there is in Guyana. What is emerging is that the supply will last Guyana more than forty years.

If that is the case, Exxon can reduce the cost recovery, stretching it over a longer period, thus giving Guyana more money. And this is expected to be one of the points of the negotiations when the contract would be reviewed.

Of course, some will argue that the faster Guyana clears its debt to Exxon the better it would be in the long run, but from my position, the need for more money at this time is better. Oil is being threatened with the global drive for green energy.

These past few weeks I saw how the price fell when the coronavirus hit China.

That country with its large population and its expansion is a large consumer of oil. The coronavirus saw a slump in production and the consequent slump in oil consumption.

As fate would have it, Guyana sold its oil on the futures market, so the fall in price on the world market would not affect this country, at least for the first three shipments.

The arguments about a higher royalty and the scrapping of the profit share is beyond my scope of reasoning.

As a layman, I am tempted to fall for the perception that as the cost recovery falls, the profit share would increase.

The royalty will be constant and at the mercy of the world market price of oil.

But then again, I am no economist, so I will leave those things to the economist. I can however comment on local content.

This is something that every country demands. Local content is more than jobs. It is more than goods and services provided by the country, although this should be significant.

For more than a century, Guyana has been import-oriented. To this day, Guyana buys the foreign equivalent of its produce. It imports water, plantain chips, milk and even vegetables.

This country has an abundance of fresh foods, but the fast food enterprises are making their mark. They are so many, and all of them making tons of money, that I wonder whether Guyanese must be foreign-minded all their days.

Given this trend, although Guyana produces these things, one could see the foreign company attempting to do the same as many in the

population—import.

The roar would hit the roof if Exxon should bypass Guyana to import its food supplies. But it is here that local producers should up their game. Packaging is crucial to marketing. This is an area that Guyana must develop.

Undoubtedly, the private sector is awash with money that should be invested in the many areas of food production and marketing.

I know that some businessmen got involved in the shore-based operations in the oil sector. Wharves have been transformed into offloading and onloading areas.The not so surprising bit of news to emerge over the past few days is that more than a hundred foreign businesses, many of them from the United States, are heading to Guyana. They are coming because they see investment opportunities that have so far escaped the local businesses.

Perhaps, the government should insist in joint ventures. Every foreign investor must seek a local counterpart.

In that way, not only will there be knowledge sharing, but there will also be skills development.

Some are of the view that the foreign investor is only interested in raping Guyana.

He comes in, seeks incentives and concessions, and promises jobs. Guyana needs more than jobs. And in any case, the wages and salaries paid are comparatively low should that investor operate in his own country. That is why joint enterprises are best in such conditions.

The landscape is changing. A few years ago when the Marriott was mooted, the talk was that Guyana had many unused rooms. The Marriott was touted as a white elephant. Far from it, the Marriott is now a successful

entity, almost always full. And this is because of the burgeoning oil economy.

More hotels are being constructed. One of them is being funded by a rich Trinidadian. Those Guyanese who got into the industry, albeit at a lower scale, are also in the money. They were forward looking although they never expected oil.

Guyana is seeing the spin-off in many areas.

Money is also trickling down.

But the talk is that there should be more. I travelled along East Bank Demerara by night and was amazed at the

extent of street lighting.

The Soesdyke-Linden Highway is also being lighted.

And these are early days. No doubt the trickle from the oil is being felt. But there should be even more local content.

To my mind, Guyanese should create these opportunities.

They should be discussing with the oil companies what is needed and set about providing the services. There is no limit to what Guyanese could do, but given their inexperience in these areas, there should be greater collaboration with the oil com-

Adam Harris panies. And the government should insist on this.

(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 February 23, 2020

The President on national defence (A review of David Granger’s The security of small states in the international system; State of Peace: The United Nations and the Guyana-Venezuela controversy; and Guyana’s Defence: Sovereignty and survival of a small state.)

David Granger was elected as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on 11th May 2015. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela issued a decree purporting to annex the greater part of Guyana’s territorial waters on the day of the celebration of his inauguration with a ceremony at the country’s National Stadium. It was a provocative act.

For more than 50 years, Venezuela had laid claim to almost two-thirds of Guyana’s territory and, by extension, most of its petroleum-rich territorial waters. If it had expected to intimidate the new Guyanese President, it had its hopes dashed. If it anticipated that the President would placate its aggression, it must have underestimated the resolve of the former Brigadier, now President, who stood defiant.

David Granger marshalled his political resources and launched a diplomatic counter-offensive immediately.

This three-book collection highlights some of the diplomatic and non-diplomatic initiatives which the President undertook to defend his country’s territory and protect its sovereignty. The collection is an exposition in the art of statecraft. It shows how small states, limited in military might, can use soft power to advance their defence.

Guyana, historically, has deployed diplomacy as a first line of defence against Venezuela’s threats. Guyana,

unable to match Venezuela’s military might, sought to win the support and solidarity of international organizations, such as the Caribbean Community, the Commonwealth and the United Nations and sympathetic states which subscribe to the principles of international law, including respect for a country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

President Granger’s address to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015 provided him with a grand stage to present this case before the international community. He did more than that. The President, in an absorbing address, told the international community not only how his country was being threatened but, also, he made a convincing case as to why the United Nations had an obligation to protect small states.

It was no coincidence that, at the same time that the President was making his diplomatic debut, his country was petitioning the UN Secretary General to use his pow-

ers under the Geneva Agreement of 1966 – an accord signed with Britain, the country’s former colonial ruler and Venezuela– to place the controversy before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). *** The security of small states in the international system – the first book in President Granger’s collection – constitutes the text of his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly. Its timing, occurring on the 7oth anniversary of the United Nations when there was much reflection on the work of the institution, was exquisite.

The Guyanese leader, in this book, asks and answers the question as to how peace could be guaranteed in the face of threats to the world’s peoples and states, particularly small, independent states. His address has earned him a reputation as one of the world’s foremost spokespersons for small states. Its universal message was that the United Nations had an obligation to protect small states. *** State of Peace: The United Nations and the Guyana-Venezuela controversy, the second book, emphasises, also, the United Nations’ role as a guarantor of peace. The book provides a concise background to the controversy between the two states. It chronicles the acts of aggression committed against Guyana by Venezuela

and iterates Guyana’s support for the region as a zone of peace. It is written, expectedly, from a Guyanese perspective.

State of Peace brings greater awareness to the plight of Guyana as a small state which, has been subject to acts of aggression by Venezuela for the greater part of its post-Independence history. It elicits sympathy for the country’s protests that it is a victim of foreign aggression.

Guyana, however, not only protests. It relies not solely on international solidarity to help deflect the Venezuela threat. The country is also prepared to detect and deter threats of invasion to its territory.

The question is how does a state as small as Guyana, with limited financial and military capabilities, protect itself against Venezuela – a formidable enemy which is four times its size and has armed forces forty times those of the Guyana Defence Force– in this asymmetric relationship? *** Guyana’s Defence: Sovereignty and survival of a small state, provides the answer in the third book. President Granger presents his strategy of total national defence – one in which all the elements of state power are applied to national defence. The doctrine is the basis of the country’s restructuring of its Defence Force in order to respond to any aggression.

Total national defence has its limitations. It relies on the

mobilization of all elements of national power. If that power is enfeebled then, logically, such a mobilization of all elements of national power would hardly be impactful.

But that is all Guyana has at the moment.

The President’s response to Venezuela’s provocation has been successful. The United Nations’ Secretary General agreed to refer the Guyana-Venezuela territorial controversy to the International Court of Justice. Arguments on the court’s jurisdiction are being heard at present. Guyana is confident that the Court will rule in its favour.

When that time comes, the nation will owe an enormous debt of gratitude to David Granger ’s shrewd statecraft. He has achieved what no other leader before him has done– having the dispute referred for juridical settlement. *** The three-book collection is a powerful testament to the President’s persistent efforts to rid his country of a threat which impeded its development for more than fifty years.

The collection is a rich addition to the literature on small states. It carves out a unique niche because it addresses, directly, the issue of small states security, a field of study which deserves deeper study in international politics.

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

Sunday February 23, 2020

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Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Painful and Debilitating Illness

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

H

ave you ever had or seen someone who has Chikungunya? It’s a terribly painful and debilitating time.

The joint pains and stiffness are sometimes unbearable.

Now imagine having to live like that.

The reality is that patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis have to live with similar joint pains and immobility. Over one percent of the world’s population suffers with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Some are undiagnosed and are left to suffer without proper treatment.

Today we will shed some light on this incurable condition.

WHAT IS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS? Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. It is one of many different types of arthritis.

Doctors do not know what causes it. But they do know that it happens when the body’s infection-fighting system, called the immune system, “attacks” the joints.

HOW CAN I TELL WHETHER I HAVE RHEUMATOIDARTHRITIS ORANOTHER TYPE OF ARTHRITIS? You cannot tell. Only a doctor can tell you that. But there are some clues to look for. For instance, rheumatoid arthritis usually starts by affecting the small joints in the fingers, the balls of the feet, and the wrists.

It usually affects both the left and the right side at the same time. (Other types of arthritis tend to first affect larger

joints, like the knees or hips.

And they might affect one side much more than the other.)

ARE THERE SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR? Yes. Symptoms include: ·Pain, swelling, limited motion, warmth and tightness around affected joints, which most commonly include the hands and wrists, feet and ankles, elbows, shoulders, neck, knees and hips, usually in a symmetrical pattern. Over time, joints may develop deformities. ·Fatigue, soreness, stiffness and aching, particularly in the morning and afternoon (described as morning stiffness and afternoon fatigue) ·Lumps or rheumatoid nodules below the skin · Weight loss · Low-grade fever and sweats · Trouble sleeping · Weakness and loss of mobility · Depression from unbearable pains and stiffness WHAT HAPPENS AS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS GETS WORSE? Even though it might start in the fingers and toes, rheumatoid arthritis can affect any of the joints. Sometimes it damages the joints forever.

Plus, rheumatoid arthritis can cause problems in other parts of the body, such as the heart, lungs, or eyes. Doctors have no way of knowing which people will get which symptoms or how bad the effects will be.

WHATARE THE TREATMENTS FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS? If your doctor tells you that you have rheumatoid arthritis, start treatment right

away.

Do not wait until your symptoms get worse. Getting treated early can help prevent a lot of the damage the disease can do to your body.

There are dozens of medicines for rheumatoid arthritis.

The right one for you will depend on: · How bad your symptoms are · How many of your joints are affected · How your disease has changed over time · What side effects you feel with the medicines you try · What your X-rays look like · The results of certain blood tests In general, the treatment options include: · Medicines called “nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,” also known as NSAIDs ·Medicines called steroids ·Medicines called “disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs” also known as “DMARDs” People who have severe pain that does not get better with the medicines listed above sometimes get narcotic pain medicines.

IS THEREANYTHING I CAN DO ON MY OWN TO FEEL BETTER? Yes. It is very important that you stay active. You might want to avoid being active because you are in

pain. But that can make things worse. It will make your muscles weak and your joints stiffer than they already are. A physical therapist can help you figure out which exercises will do the most good.

An occupational therapist can help you figure out how to keep doing the everyday tasks you need to do—even with arthritis.

Another thing you can do to on your own is to eat a healthy diet. People with rheu-

matoid arthritis are at risk for heart disease, so avoid fatty foods. Instead, eats lots of fruits and vegetables WHAT IS LIFE LIKE WITH TREATMENT? Early, effective treatment can help you live well with rheumatoid arthritis, although the severity of the disease and its response to therapy are highly variable. Eating healthy, regular checkups, and using your medications as prescribed by your doctor,

Dr. Zulfikar Bux are your best options with this debilitating illness.

PAGE 32

SUNDAY GUYANA HAS STRONG CASE TO RENEGOTIATE EXXON’S DEAL – CHATHAM HOUSE ASSOCIATE FELLOW When the Government of Guyana engaged in negotiations with ExxonMobil in 2016 for the Stabroek Block licence, it had a lot of power in its grasp but perhaps, did not realise it. Since then, Chatham House Associate Fellow, Dr. Valerie Marcel, says Guyana’s power has grown significantly.

In fact, the industry expert says with this kind of power, it gives Guyana a strong case for renegotiation. The Petroleum Governance academic made the foregoing remarks, among others, during a recent interview on Kaieteur Radio’s programme, “Guyana’s Oil and You.” There, she was asked to say if Guyana has a good case for amending the terms of the deal given the impressive discoveries to date.

Dr. Marcel said, “I think there is a strong case for renegotiation because it’s important that the deal is fair and that it’s favourable enough to both parties to endure for a very long time because, you know, the oil project lasts for 25 years. So if it’s too unfair it becomes well, you know, like a political football and it becomes very difficult for the deal to survive.”

Even as she agreed that Guyana does have grounds for renegotiating the deal, Dr. Marcel was quite careful to note that she would not recommend “unilateral renegotiation.” In this regard, the Industry Expert explained, “When we say renegotiation, it’s basically coming back to the table. So every time an oil company comes to the government to say ‘Well you know, you we need an extension for this and this reason’ or ‘We haven’t gotten the permits, we need some more time, we need to alter terms to compensate for this,’ …that is not called renegotiation but it is renegotiation.”

Dr. Marcel added, “And that’s the opportunity for the government to say ‘Well while you’re here, get comfortable (and) let’s talk about what kind of modifications we would like to see to the contract so that it is mutually beneficial.’ And I think these are long term relationships, you don’t want them to be adversarial…”

At the end of the day, the Chatham House Associate Fellow said there is still scope for being assertive about what sort of minimum requirements the leaders of

Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

the day want to see in the agreement.

APNU+AFC MANIFESTO HAS NO ROOM FOR IMPROVING OIL DEALS – NO NEW PLANS FOR INDUSTRY A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC’)s manifesto has proffered no intention to renegotiate the oil contracts granted to companies for blocks offshore Guyana, despite the fact that every single one of the 19 discoveries made has strengthened the country’s negotiating position and cemented the status of the Guyana-Suriname basin as a world class exploration hotspot. Released on Friday last, the manifesto only refers to contracts in a line about the new production sharing agreement (PSA) model, which is being developed against years of criticism, especially levelled against the notoriously lopsided Stabroek Block PSA. The party document states that the new model will be institutionalised. This is known.

Energy Director, Dr. Mark Bynoe had already said that the Department he leads will not go to a licensing round for new blocks with the old PSA template. However, the governing coalition has never signalled an intention to bring current contracts into conformity with the new template. The coalition’s substantive opponent, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has indicated however, that it would renegotiate all oil contracts except the Stabroek PSA, if it wins the March general election.

Just about all the smaller parties contesting the general election have also indicated their i n t e n t i o n t o s e e k renegotiation for oil contracts.

S e t t o b e G u y a n a ’s most lucrative industry for years to come, the oil and gas sector has been at the centre of public discourse since ExxonMobil made the first discovery in the Liza field in the Stabroek Block in 2015.

Sure enough, the fiscal terms of the contracts handed to companies that wish to explore and develop Guyana’s coveted blocks have been discussed c o p i o u s l y.

Because the contract model they are based on is outdated, the contracts do not reflect modern developments in the i n d u s t r y, n o r d o t h e y consider G u y a n a’s increasing value as an exploration hotspot. For instance, the contracts

Brazilian Local Content Expert, Nelson Narciso Filho generally carry a royalty of one percent.

DOCTORS IMPLICATED IN GRANDPA’S DEATH WERE PART OF INVESTIGATION – COURT OVERTURNS DECISION OF MEDICAL COUNCIL There is a new twist in the story involving the death of an Enterprise man back in February 2014, at a private city hospital.

The Medical Council of Guyana, chaired by Dr. Shoba Gobin in 2015, took a decision to sanction Dr. Surendra Persaud, a surgeon that once worked right at her Woodlands Hospital for his alleged role in the death of Edward Subryan, 74.

The problem is, she was one of the doctors who looked at the patient before he died.

Dr. Persaud successfully challenged the decision of the Medical Council on the grounds that Dr. Gobin had participated in the treatment of Subryan at Woodlands Hospital while he was a patient there.

In June 2015, almost a year and half after the death of Subryan, Justice Ian Chang agreed that there was a clear conflict of interest in Dr. Gobin sitting on the Council as Chair and overseeing a matter that occurred at her hospital.

Both Dr. Gobin and Dr. Sheik Amir were named by Dr. Persaud in his court action to overturn the sanctions by the Medical Council.

Dr. Amir was another doctor who Dr. Persaud said was part of a medical team that treated the patient.

Dr. Gobin is said to be the Resident Anesthetist at the Woodlands Hospital.

As a result, the Medical C o u n c i l ’s d e c i s i o n t o sanction Dr. Persaud was set aside by the court.

The case involving Subryan has brought the spotlight sharply down on

University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro the operations of private hospitals in Guyana.

Subryan’s case has raised startling questions about the independency of the Medical Council and whether doctors were recusing themselves in cases where there would be a conflict of interest, like in this case.

The Medical Council has sweeping powers and can halt the practise of doctors by taking away licences.

The man’s family said that they have been running back and forth to the Council since 2014 to get justice.

They were being told that the Council was handling the matter.

MONDAY EXPERTSAGREE CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISIONS IN GUYANA’S LOCAL CONTENT POLICY “HIGHLY UNUSUAL” Several industry experts have agreed that the use of confidentiality provisions in Local Content Policies is not just “highly unusual” but also in direct conflict with efforts to be absolutely transparent.

Specifically, Local Content Experts, Nelson Narciso Filho and Renee Tissot were quick to agree that it is indeed “odd” to see Guyana using such provisions in its recently released policy.

Another specialist in the area was said that the move to include such clauses is a signal of what can be expected in the local content legislation. The official said this move would only put additional curbs on transparency and reporting to the public. He added, “It puts barriers on accountability of the regulator.”

As for University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro, the best local content practices are ones where the companies share information with the government and the public on how they perform their

International Local Content Expert, Renee Tissot due diligence, how they vet local suppliers and also share it with other members of the industry to avoid companies using the excuse that they didn’t know that much about the local companies.

Mitro who has more than 40 years’ experience in the sector, said that being transparent and sharing information assists with providing training and orientation.

The University of Houston Instructor said, “…The only argument I could see for confidentiality is in the actual value of the contract awards so as to keep them competitive. But even that can contribute to potentially inappropriate awards because it is not clear that those companies were valid and not owned by individuals that are connected to the government.”

According to Appendix G o f G u y a n a ’s L o c a l Content Policy, several documents were used as a point of reference.

They included policies from Tanzania, Ghana, and Sierra Leone. Interestingly, none of those policies or their local content laws, which were scrutinised by Kaieteur News, had any clause about confidentiality.

GUARD AGAINSTABUSE OF DISCRETIONARY POWER WHEN AWARDING OIL BLOCKS – WORLD BANK … SAYS OFFICIALS MUST GIVEACCOUNT FOR ODD DECISIONS In cases where a law, policy or regulation does not definitively point the way forward, an official is expected to make decisions based on his/her own discretion.

Guyana’s Petroleum Act allows for some amount of discretion to be exercised by someone like the subject Minister. But Guyana’s

development partner, The World Bank, holds firmly to the position that the exercise of discretion should be kept to a minimum when it comes to giving out oil contracts.

The Bank expounds on this in its publication: License To Drill – ‘A Manual on Integrity Due Diligence for Licensing in Extractive Sectors’. The institution noted that, in any licensing system, there is likely to be a need for an official to practice discretion. But it explained that when there is less opportunity for officials to exercise discretion, the likelihood of corruption may be less. So it posited that the need for discretion should be minimal.

“A good licensing process will be one in which discretionary decision making is eliminated where it is not absolutely necessary, it is clearly limited where necessary, and the criteria and other factors on which discretionary decisions are made (technical and otherwise) are spelled out as clearly as possible.”

This is because some officials may make mistakes or abuse their authority, exercising discretion based on some precursor to corruption, like a conflict of interest. That is another matter The World Bank warns against in License To Drill.

So the Bank states that there should be clear limits in discretion. Any overstepping of these limits would be described as an abuse.

An effective oversight procedure it notes is that at least one official should be responsible for overviewing critical decisions to make sure they comply with laws and regulations. In such cases, the official exercising discretion should also give a full and written justification documenting all factors which led to the decision, The World Bank advises.

AFTER 25 YEARS AS A TOP OIL PRODUCER, NEARLY HALF OF EQUATORIALGUINEA LIVES BELOW THE POVERTY LINE The people of Guyana are justly excited when they hear news of consecutive high quality oil finds off Guyana.

They are excited because they know that this means the country could be on the verge of seeing revenue inflows that are unprecedented in the history of this country, more lucrative even than the powerhouse industries of gold and other minerals which have long served as pillars of the Guyanese economy. But even though oil (Continued on page 33)

Sunday February 23, 2020

From page 32 has great potential to lift underdeveloped countries out of poverty, there are many grave issues that follow oil industries around the word, like unmitigated corruption and gentrification. They have rendered some oil producers crippled and their people unable to benefit from oil revenues.

Take Equatorial Guinea, for instance.

The Central African nation first discovered oil in 1995. Because of oil, Equatorial Guinea experienced rapid economic growth in the early years of the 21st century, reaching a point as recent as 2017, where its per capita wealth rivaled that of its former colonial master, Spain, according to a December Bloomberg report. The operations of ExxonMobil, Kosmos and other oil companies form pillars of the country’s economy.

Spain is one of the most developed nations in the world, with enviable human development indicators.

Equatorial Guinea has not followed suit.

The country ranks 144 out of 189 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index. Human Rights Watch said that the country has the world’s largest gap between per capita wealth and human development.

The International Monetary Fund’s 2016 Article IV consultation IV report states that about 44 percent of the population is poverty stricken.

TUESDAY IMPLEMENT EXXONMOBIL DEAL TO THE BENEFIT OF GUYANESE – CHATHAM HOUSE ASSOCIATE FELLOW The Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) has been heavily criticised over the years for the its fiscal weaknesses such as the absence of ringfencing provisions and low government take, thereby leaving many observers to deem it as unfair for Guyana.

Chatham House Associate Fellow, Dr. Valerie Marcel, says that indeed there are a number of opinions out there on the deal, some of which say it is unfair while others say that it is in line with industry standards for frontier countries.

Be that as it may, the Petroleum Governance Expert told Kaieteur Radio on its programme, Guyana’s Oil and You that she may be no fiscal expert but the deal is

PAGE 33

Kaieteur News

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Photographer: Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP via Getty Images “confining” for Guyana.

Expounding on this note, Dr. Marcel said that one of the issues is that if government wants to set rules, laws and policies like those for local content, then it would have to work within certain parameters. “…As you start to produce, you need to put to paper, the rules by which the operator has to work and the contract is very confining, in the sense that it prevents Guyana from developing a local content policy that would have any implications on the commercial terms of the contract and a variety of things like that,” the Chatham House Associate Fellow said.

She said it is important at this stage for the government to set the regulations for oversight of the environment, oil metering, valuation of the crude and local content “and be able to do so in the interest of Guyana and not to be hamstrung by that contract.”

Dr. Marcel said she is not sure how Guyana can resolve the foregoing but she stressed nonetheless that there needs to be a focus now on how one administers the contract and implement it in a way that protects the interest of the country.

FINANCE MINISTRY SAYS NO OIL MONEY RECEIVED IN DECEMBER – ROYALTY TO COME AT THE END OF FIRST QUARTER The Ministry of Finance confirmed Monday that Guyana received no revenues in the month of December for its oil resources since the production up to the end of that month was less than the standard cargo size of one million barrels.

This was explained in the Finance Ministry’s first report on Petroleum Production and Revenues (RPPR). In the document that it released Monday, the Ministry explained that the Liza Destiny FPSO facility began

producing oil on December 20, 2019. Before the start of production, there was an onboard inventory of 21,592 barrels (BBL) of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) and Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO). This was the remaining fuel that was loaded to power the FPSO facility for the journey from Singapore and for the commissioning of subsea risers and flowlines.

The report further noted that the production of oil was reported to be 427,282 BBL for December 2019, or 35,607 Barrels of Oil Per Day (BOPD).

Of the 427,282 BBL produced, the Finance Ministry said that a total of 3,202 BBL were used for facility fill, which includes the oil that remains in the various piping before the cargo tanks. It is estimated that an additional 1,020 BBL will remain in the hose and piping between cargo tanks and the offloading hose point at the completion of the first lift.

Kaieteur News understands that during December 2019, no oil was lifted from Liza Destiny since the volume available for lifting, i.e. 163,673 BBL, was less than the standard cargo size of 1,000,000 BBL. Since no petroleum was sold in December 2019, all petroleum produced in that month was allocated to profit oil, half of which the government will be entitled to plus the onboard inventory, which amounts to 92,633 BBL (i.e. 1/2*(142,081) + 21,592).

GOVT.’S NEW ASPHALT PLANT HAS CAPACITY TO USE TYRES, PLASTIC BAGS AND BOTTLES The Eco 2000 Batch Mix Asphalt Plant which arrived in Guyana back in July last year is nearing completion.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson Monday visited the construction site in Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara and was accompanied by his Permanent Secretary,

Map of Equatorial Guinea

Kenneth Jordan.

The team was led by Rawlston Adams, General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC).

It was noted that the mechanical installation of the plant is currently about 98% completed, while the electrical aspect is approximately 80% complete.

Works commenced on the installation of the plant on January 7, 2020. It is being set up by a team of 25 persons, inclusive of 23 local DHBC staff and two German technicians.

“Minister Patterson expressed satisfaction in the exceptional standard of work done to date as he anticipates the commissioning of the project within the stipulated timeframe,” a statement from his Ministry said.

The present asphalt plant only has the capacity to produce 30 tonnes of material per hour.

It does so with the use of bitumen, sand, stone and sifting.

When completed, the new asphalt plant will be able to produce 160 tonnes of material per hour. The stateof-the-art machinery will also be able to use plastic bags and bottles as well as used tyres to pave roads.

This new technology has been proven to be cheaper and more durable as well as time efficient. It will also mean that more roads can be built faster with the use of the new plant.

The plant arrived mid-last year and is said to cost almost half of a billion dollars.

WEDNESDAY GUYANA STANDS TO LOSE AS MUCH AS US$108B FROM BAD EXXON DEAL – CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Global Witness may say that Guyana could lose US$55B from the controversial Stabroek Block agreement between Government, ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC. But Chartered Accountant Nigel Hinds is of the view that the anticorruption watchdog and its partner, Open Oil, were being modest. Hinds says that Guyana stands to lose as much as US$108B. In an interview with Kaieteur News, Hinds noted that in the Global Witness report, it set a normal Government share between 65 percent and 85 percent, then went on to state that Guyana stands to lose US$55B based on the assumption that it should have gotten a deal that would give it a 69 percent share.

Hinds holds firmly to the view that 69 percent is too close to the lower end of that range, and that a fair share for Guyana would be better placed about the top of the range.

Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram shares that view.

Hinds, who has studied Open Oil’s model, said that the difference between the 69 percent share used and the 52 percent share it says Guyana

is getting under the current contract’s terms is 16 percentage points. He calculated that with a potential loss of US$55B, each percentage point amounts to US$3.3B. Therefore, assuming that Guyana should get an 85 percent share, Hinds added an additional US$53.3B to the purported US$55B Guyana stands to lose.

“Thus, the total sellout is US$108.3 billion using the high end of the oil industry PSA.” Hinds posited that the Global Witness report would be better titled – “SIGNED AWAY: How the Governments of Guyana were complicit in selling out Guyanese.”

Also mentioned by the accountant are the Kaieteur, Canje and Orinduik awards, which have all had their time under the public microscope amidst controversy over either their fiscal terms or the circumstances under which they were awarded.

GUYANALIFTS FIRST MILLION BARRELS OF PROFIT OIL – GRA, GNBS ON BOARD FPSO TO OVERSEE TRANSFER Director, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, travelled to the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, Tuesday, to witness the transfer of Guyana’s first million- barrel lift of crude onto the oil tanker Cap Philippe. The Cap Philippe (Continued on page 34)

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From page 33 was chartered by Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited.

While on the vessel, Dr. Bynoe iterated that this is a significant moment in Guyana’s history. He noted that this first lift is part of the country’s profit oil allocation.

He emphasised that this does not include the two per cent royalty, which would be paid on gross productions.

“These one million barrels is part of our profit oil allocation. It does not include the two per cent royalty, which would be paid on gross productions. So, even though we are having a million barrels lift in this particular instance, we are also receiving two per cent on all oil that is being produced.

“This gets us away from the perception that all Guyana is getting under the contract is two per cent royalty. I am happy to say that Guyana is entitled to approximately five million barrels of oil in 2020 alone, plus the two per cent royalty, plus withholding taxes, plus the direct and indirect benefits through employment creation and other revenuegenerated income.

“So, this is not a contract that we should take lightly, it is not an occasion that we should take lightly,” the Energy Director said.

Dr. Bynoe noted that the offloading takes between 20 and 36 hours and the process is expected to be completed tomorrow. He added that the required officials from the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) are on board to ensure the integrity of the investment is protected as well as to ensure and provide, the level of comfort to Guyanese that the requisite systems are in place to protect Guyana’s interests.

“What has also been happening is that the GNBS has been working assiduously to tag specific meters that are critical in terms of measurement. They have also been working with the operators on the FPSO with regards to calibration so that the measurements that we are getting are precise as far as practically possible, and those tags are to protect the integrity of the system.

“When GNBS make their checks before they leave and when they return, they are able to ascertain that the system is not tampered with and that Guyana is getting its fair share,” he noted.

With regard to pricing, as it was previously announced by the Department of Energy, Shell was nominated as the successful buyer of the Government’s first three cargoes, with each cargo

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being approximately a million barrels of crude.

TWO SHOT, ONE DEAD AFTER SNATCHING WOMAN’S BAG Chaos broke out Tuesday afternoon in William Street, Campbellville, after a convicted robber was shot dead while his accomplice is currently hospitalized under police guard nursing two gunshot wounds to his legs.

Dead is 22-year-old Randy Bowen, of lot 184 Duncan Street, Georgetown. His accomplice was identified as 20-year-old Shaquille Mentore of lot 191 D’Andrade Street, Newtown.

While details of the incident remain sketchy, it was stated that the duo snatched a woman’s bag two streets away and were attempting to escape.

But their plans were cut short when a businessman who is a licensed firearm holder witnessed the robbery and gave chase.

The businessman reportedly chased the men into William Street, Campbellville, and opened fire. One of the bullets fatally struck Bowen while Mentore was hit twice to his legs. They both collapsed at the scene.

Video footage posted on social media showed the injured men lying in agony, screaming out for pain shortly before police arrived on the scene.

Bowen later succumbed to his injuries but Mentore lay on the roadway, begging to be taken for medical attention.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the scene of the crime, Bowen’s body was still lying in the yard while Mentor was being transported to the hospital.

Police quickly cordoned off the crime scene and with the aid of sniffer dogs, began their investigations to ascertain whether the men may have dropped any evidence while running through the yard.

The dead man’s body was identified at the scene by his father, Andrew Bowen.

Bowen disclosed to the media that his son was with him up to 3 o’clock that very afternoon. According to him, Randy asked him for some money and said he was going with some friends. That was the last conversation they had.

THURSDAY EXXONMOBIL RELEASES UNVERIFIED LOCAL CONTENT ACHIEVEMENTS From 2015 to now, ExxonMobil said it has spent $45.7 billion on hundreds of

local vendors. In 2019 alone, the American Oil Giant notes that over $24 billion was spent directly on 700-plus Guyanese vendors providing goods and services ranging from food to engineering.

This it said, represents a 74% increase in its expenditure compared to GY$14 billion spent with Guyanese vendors in 2018. But this data ExxonMobil issued to members of the media Wednesday from its Centre for Local Business Development has not been independently verified since Guyana is still without a Local Content Compliance Unit (LCU).

Last year, Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe promised that such a body would be in place to audit all the data Exxon submits in its reports. In the absence of same, the official confirmed that the department would have to take local content data as reported, noting at the same time that the granularity of the information provided has improved. (SEE LINK FOR THAT STORY: https://

www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2019/07/30/energy-deptnow-putting-together-auditunit-for-local-contentreports/).

In addition to this, ExxonMobil did not provide for independent verification, the names of the Guyanese businesses it used from 2015 to now.

Further to this, ExxonMobil told the media that the number of Guyanese supporting its Guyana exploration, development and production activities, has grown by 77% in 2019, now representing more than half of the total workforce. It said, too, that there are now nearly 1,900 Guyanese supporting the company’s activities.

Here again, Exxon did not provide details on the employment positions of these “nearly 1900 Guyanese” much less what they are being paid versus foreign employees.

As for the achievements of the Centre which it established in 2017 to assist

small and medium-sized Guyanese businesses in building capacity, Exxon said that it now has more than 2,100 Guyanese businesses on its register. No evidence of this was provided nor is the Centre’s business portal available for perusal.

In keeping with its mandate, the American oil giant said that the Centre provided coaching and mentorship to more than 450 businesses while noting that 15 Guyanese companies are receiving mentorship for ISO 9001 compliance. It said that four companies were certified and one company has reached compliancy.

BRASSINGTON TELLS COURT, “I RECUSED MYSELF FROM NICIL TRANSACTION WITH HAND-IN-HAND” …AFTERADVISING BROTHER TO PURCHASE SHARES As Head of the State‘s privatisation unit – the

National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited, (NICIL),–Winston Brassington was privy to several transactions between Government, private individuals and companies.

Testifying in a libel suit, he brought against Kaieteur News, the former Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of NICIL told the Court that he was knowledgeable of the sale of Government‘s 20% shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) company, the Marriott Hotel project, the acquisition of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) lands by businessman Ed Ahmad, the sale of the Sanata Texile Complex, the Fip Motielall construction of Amaila Falls project, and the Berbice River Bridge.

However, it was the transaction, which involved NICIL, his brother Jonathan, and Hand-in-Hand Trust that was the source for which Brassington was grilled by (Continued on page 35)

Sunday February 23, 2020

From page 34 defence counsel, Nigel Hughes.

In 2014, Kaieteur News was sued repeatedly for publishing what the newspapers labeled as irregularities in the transactions involving the former CEO of NICIL. Brassington especially took offence the newspaper’s satirical piece, DEM BOYS SEH, which he believes referenced him as a “fat crook.”

At the continuation of the libel trial Wednesday, Brassington testified via audio video link (SKYPE) before Justice Navindra Singh at the Georgetown High Court about his role in the purchase of shares by his brother, Jonathan Brassington, from Hand-inHand Trust; a company in which the government (NICIL) had acquired a minority share.

Confronted with several questions, Brassington denied there was any conflict of interest on his part.

He admitted however that as CEO of Government’s privatisation unit, he was privy to information about the intention of Hand-in-Hand Trust to sell some of its shares.

LOCAL CONTENT POLICY… ENERGY DEPT. FAILS TO JUSTIFY SECRECY PROVISIONS The first two drafts of Guyana’s Local Content Policy were prepared by Trinidadian Energy Expert, Anthony Paul. He never included a word about confidentiality provisions in an effort to ensure all stakeholders can be held accountable. When UK Consultant, Dr. Michael Warner, who has ties to ExxonMobil, was handpicked to finish the policy, confidentiality provisions became a key feature. But why was this allowed? What is so “confidential” about knowing the extent to which Guyanese have benefitted from the sector?

Upon perusing the 2020 Local Content Policy for plausible answers, it was only stated that these provisions are due to “legal constraints.”

For a more defined understanding, Kaieteur News by way of email asked Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe, to provide an explanation for this since independent research as well as interviews with industry experts could not explain this conundrum.

That email was sent on February 16, last. A response was tendered by the Energy Department via a statement to

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the press Wednesday.

Unfortunately, the Energy Department still failed to explain why exactly the confidentiality provisions were used. Instead, it said what Kaieteur News already knew and reported on, which is, the provisions were used since “legal constraints” prevent full disclosure of local content reports and statements submitted by companies.

The Energy Department said that while the 2020 Local Content Policy does contain the confidentiality provisions, there still exist several mechanisms for public disclosure. It said these are as follow – “To the general public, the extent of adherence of an Operator to the requirement to submit a yearly Local Content Plan complete in all regards, and half-yearly reports; (ii) to the general public, a yearly summary of performance in the form of a Local Content Utilisation Report, provided by the Operator to the Minister and (iii) upon request to the Oversight Committee.”

Kaieteur News has made it clear, however, that the citizenry deserves full disclosure and not a “summary” of the information so that it can be in the best possible position to hold all stakeholders involved accountable.

FRIDAY LOCAL CONTENT POLICY… LEGAL CONSTRAINTS WARRANTED USE OF CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISIONS – DR. BYNOE Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe has finally provided answers to several queries made by Kaieteur News, which sought to garner a better understanding of why confidentiality provisions were included in Guyana’s Local Content Policy.

Dr. Bynoe said that the drafters of the policy had to honour the contractual terms of Articles 18 and 19 in Guyana’s current legally binding Petroleum Agreements. But when perused, Kaieteur News did not find a single provision in the Articles referenced which demanded that the Local Content reports of the oil companies must not be disclosed in full.

With respect to Kaieteur’s question on what Local Content Policy that is in use by other countries, was referenced to justify or support the need for the secrecy provisions in Guyana’s policy, Dr. Bynoe said that Guyana’s policy is built around being fit-forpurpose for the country. He

said that this includes “legal consistency (or at least not obvious inconsistency) with any contractual terms which pre-existed and which predate the 2020 policy.”

Further to this, the Energy Department Head said, “Consistency with the PAs (Production Agreements) was the all-important starting point for position of the Policy on disclosure.

However, the Policy has also sought to interpret those particular articles in a highly favourable manner, by including the provisions which support the need for as much disclosure as is reasonably possible.”

Dr. Bynoe said that the current provisions support and develop local content, up to the limit of avoiding the possibility of any legal battles with operators over breaches of contractual terms. Dr. Bynoe said, “We wish to again point out that Guyana’s 2020 Local Content Policy is a live document intentionally designed to respond to legal and other contextual developments as they evolve; all with the view of delivering the best value for the people of Guyana.”

PEGASUS 90-SUITE PROJECT ON STREAM FOR AUGUST COMPLETION …BUT BADAL STILL PEEVED OVER LACK OF INCENTIVES FOR LOCALS Pegasus Hotel is gearing

for an August completion with over 90 one-bedroom suites to be added. Another building, to house corporate offices, is to be completed in December with over 200,000 square feet to house restaurants, salon and a gym there.

The disclosures were made by Pegasus’ owner, Robert Badal, Thursday during a media tour of the US$100M project.

The tour would come d a y s a f t e r t h e s t a t e ’s National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) announced that three new hotels, including an AC Marriot and Hilton, are coming to Guyana.

They will be built in the Ogle, East Coast Demerara area, where former cane lands have been earmarked for commercial and other developments.

O n T h u r s d a y, B a d a l noted that his ambitious project was launched a year and half ago, using China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), as the contractor.

CHEC is the same company on the Timehri airport project which has been under fire for its work at that US$150M project.

Almost seven years after that project was started, it has not been completed.

CHEC, however, has completed the MovieTowne mall and is now working on the Pegasus’ project.

The 12-story luxury suite building towers over the nearby Marriott and will be one of the tallest buildings in the country.

The businessman, who has established his own party and is contesting the March 2nd general and regional elections, was critical of the airport project, noting that his own is 10 times that of the terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The fact that Pegasus has managed to come so far in so short of a time, is testimony of how the private sector does things – within budget and time, he reiterated.

“This is 300,000 square feet of space – 10 times the terminal of the CJIA. We would have this in two years. Under politicians, it is taking them more than five years to build the one at CJIA.” Badal is not threatened with the announcement of new hotels.

He said that the previous administration under the P e o p l e ’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had conceived the Marriott in Kingston, next door to him, “to close Pegasus – the biggest display of unpatriotic behavior”.

“Look what happened today. We are paying our taxes while Marriott has not paid one dollar in dividends after five

years…”

The businessman insisted that he is familiar with his business and has done well to market it.

“It is time that government insists that Marriott pay its taxes and dividends to the people of Guyana.”

Badal was critical of the sod-turning of the two projects on the East Coast

by NICIL without clarity.

“When I turned the sod here, I had building permission…I had EPA permission…I had all the permits, the financing…everything.”

Badal made it clear that there is no building permit and no EPA, and no clarity if financing has been closed for the hotels announced on the East Coast.

“A group of persons come into the country, and are making a fool of our minister. We must demand some respect, we must demand better leadership.

If you don’t have a building permit; an EPA permit; don’t have financing, how could you turn the sod?”

Badal said that he noted that Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, during the sod-turning on Wednesday, had indicated he wanted to reduce taxes on these types of investments, The businessman complained that it takes (Continued on page 36)

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From page 35 foreigners to push for reduction of taxes while locals are being discriminated against. He believes that if given the same opportunities, local businesses can build their own brands.

OGLE HOTEL INVESTORS LEASE 200 ACRES AT WALES ESTATE The investors of a twohotel project at Ogle have snagged a 200-acre land deal with the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) at Wales, West Bank Demerara. On it, they are planning to build a cold-storage facility that will work with a state-constructed agro-processing project, right in the area.

Thursday, at a launching at Wales, a community that was tied heavily to sugar a few years ago, until the estate was closed, it was disclosed that the investment company, Caribbean Marketing Enterprises Incorporated (CMEI), will secure overseas markets for farmers.

The transaction will be looked at closely, as Wales is one of four sugar estates closed within the last four years by the Coalition Government.

The sugar industry nosedived in the last two decades after losing its preferential European market, and facing migration of workers, aging factories and lower world prices. With little capital injection, Wales was the first to go, sparking deep anger in the mainly Indianpopulated community.

Government has argued that the loss-making sugar industry has been one of the biggest drags on the economy.

At the Wales area, there were thousands of acres of canelands which had to be divested.

The Opposition has made it clear that no transaction can be conducted at this time, at least no major ones by the government which is in campaign mode, ahead of a March 2nd elections.

Leading the CMEI investors is well-known Guyana-born, New Yorkbased businessman, Edmon Braithwaite.

SATURDAY NO RESTRICTION ON DISCLOSING LOCAL CONTENT INFORMATION – SHOWS LAW ONLY AFFORDS CONFIDENTIALITY PROTECTION TO PETROLEUM DATA– RAM Upon noting the recent

Kaieteur News

explanation by Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe on the reason confidentiality clauses are part of Guyana’s Local Content Policy, Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram says he has been thrown into a state of complete and utter disappointment.

Dr. Bynoe had explained that drafters of the Local Content policy had to honour the contractual terms of Articles 18 and 19 in Guyana’s current legally binding Petroleum Agreements.

Those Articles speak to the Local Content requirements of oil companies.

Dr. Bynoe subsequently highlighted that the said Articles do not call for disclosure but for the Operators meeting with the Minister on such issues.

Irrespective of the foregoing explanation by Dr. Bynoe, Ram strongly contends that the disclosure of local content data is not subject to any restriction.

During an interview, Ram said, “… Dr. Bynoe does not seem to know that the relevant Confidentiality provisions are set out in the Model Agreement and are subject to Section 4 of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act. Confidentiality protection is afforded to petroleum data, but the Act expressly excludes from such a restriction disclosure ‘for, or in connection with, any matter or purpose specified in a petroleum agreement.”

Of significance as well, is the fact that Guyana’s PSAs stipulate that such agreements “shall be governed by, interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and, consistent with such rules of international law as may be applicable or appropriate, including the generally accepted customs and usages of the international petroleum industry.”

Three industry experts have confirmed that the use of confidentiality provisions in Local Content Policies is not a “generally accepted custom” in the oil industry. In fact, it is unheard of.

Ram was keen to note during his interview that full disclosure of local content data is good for the country since the businesses may be incentivised to outdo each other in terms of utilising Guyanese goods, services and skills.

With respect to Dr. Bynoe’s talk of needing confidentiality, Ram said that this shows how slowly he is learning on the job.

Ram opined, “It was the

same kind of nonsense peddled by (Natural Resources Minister, Raphael) Trotman about the release of the 2016 Exxon agreement until he was corrected.”

The lawyer added, “…The time may soon come when we may have to ask that Bynoe be replaced. We cannot have such a major sector being handled in such an incompetent manner.”

TURF WAR BLAMED ON 2018 ‘MASSACRE’ OF FISHERMEN …TOO MANY BOATS; COI RECOMMENDS TRACKING DEVICES, TRAINING A Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into a deadly attack on Guyanese fishermen off the coast of Suriname back in April 2018 that saw about 18 persons killed, with a number of them still missing, has found it to have originated from a turf war.

The report has pointed, also, to too many boats in the Corentyne fishing area and recommended more training for boat operators.

The attacks had been described by President David Granger as a massacre.

Authorities in both countries collaborated to investigate the shocking case which left several families without their breadwinners.

Several persons were charged in Suriname. Seven pirates were jailed for 35 years late last year.

In Guyana, two accused, Nakool “Fyah” Manohar and Premnauth “Sinbad” Persaud, were committed to stand trial in the High Court.

On Friday, Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams, received the ‘Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the 2018 Piracy Attacks and the Death of Guyanese Fishermen off the Coast of Suriname’.

The CoI was conducted

by Dr. Rishi Thakur.

A copy of the report was also handed over to Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan.

Dr. Thakur said during the inquiry, it was determined by extended findings that the piracy was organised, planned, systemic and executed open confrontation that has its origins in a turf war over fishing grounds.

“We were able to establish that in no uncertain terms,” he said.

Dr. Thakur also noted that during the inquiry, it was discovered that while there were 350 cabin cruisers or fishing vessels in the Corentyne, there is not a

single registered crew or trained and licensed captain.

Among the recommendations was for the Chief Co-operative Officer to address the congestion and excessive number of fishing boats and the traffic in that area since it is seen as a source of tension among fishermen.

The report called for an institution of fishing standards in the area with training and licensing of captains and fishing crews; a vessel monitoring system in accordance with the Fisheries Act and the transformation of the Inter-Agency Piracy Task Force into a permanent statutory body.

According to Dr. Thakur, the Commission divided the recommendations into two categories: what can and should be done immediately without prohibitive costs and those that can be done through long term planning and design.

The CoI was commissioned by President David Granger in June 2019.

He had described the attack on the fishermen as a “massacre” and declared June 25, 2018 a National Day Of Mourning in their honour.

FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE IAN CHANG HONOURED

BY FULL COURT SITTING A special hearing of the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature was convened on Friday to pay tribute to the life and work of the late Chief Justice retired, Ian Chang C.C.H S.C. During the sitting, several distinguished officers of the Court reflected on Justice Chang‘s contribution to the nation’s legal fraternity and the Caribbean jurisprudence.

Those in attendance included the Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette CummingsEdwards, Justices of Appeal, Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory and Judges of the

Sunday February 23, 2020

High Court.

Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP) Shalimar Ali- Hack, Chief Parliamentary Counsel on behalf of the Attorney General Charles Fung -A -Fat, Former Attorney General and Justice of Appeal, Charles Ramson SC, and Attorney-at-law Mayo Robertson were among the speakers at the event held at the Court of Appeal in Kingston.

The speakers reflected on the former Chief Justice’s legal career that spanned over three decades.

He served in various capacities of the judiciary before his retirement in 2015.

Chang was a former DPP, Justice of Appeal, (J.A) and Chief Justice (CJ).

On November 16, 2019, Chang lost his battle to cancer at the age of 68.

Mrs. Ali-Hack spoke of Chang’s indelible contribution to the offices of the DPP. She said that as young prosecutor, she considered herself a student of Chang.

The DPP noted that while occupying the office of DPP, Chang taught her in the disciplines of both in criminal and civil jurisdiction of the Courts.

Further, the DPP said that Chang was especially strict in that a person’s fundamental rights are not to be breached.

“He knew no discrimination. He was a simple person…not one for push, pomp and frills of the legal profession. He preferred not to wear a tie or a suit.”

Justice Chang was a hard worker and while he was a Justice of Appeal, he would go down to the High Court to sit in the criminal assizes to ease the backlog.

“He loved the law. He played with the interpretation and application of the law.”

Similarly in her overview of Justice Chang’s life, Chancellor Cummings-Edwards commented on his passion for the law.

“He was voracious reader and keen student of the law. His passion for the law caused him to go into deep thinking. He was a fountain of knowledge; his intellect was phenomenal.”

The Chancellor remembered Justice Chang as someone who loved challenging, complex and controversial issues; he presided over several c o n t r o v e r s i a l constitutional matters.

She noted that Chang has written almost 400 judgments, an achievement no other past or sitting judge has accomplished to date.

Yet, despite his many

accomplishments, the Chancellor said that Justice Chang remained humble and was an avid animal lover.

She said Justice Chang was someone who was always willing to take law to new frontiers.

“Indeed Justice Ian Chang has left a rich legacy,” the Chancellor concluded.

CUBAN’S KILLERS KNOWN TO COPS Officers are closing in on the shooters behind the murder of Cuban national, 35year-old Ofredis Duarte Campos.

Campos, who resided at 321 East Street, Georgetown, was shot dead during an early morning attempted robbery on Thursday morning as he was making his way to his place of work, at the Rossignol Butchery located on Church Street.

A senior police official when asked to provide an update on the investigations disclosed to Kaieteur News that “we know who we are looking for.”

Sources further disclosed that the two suspects are known criminal characters who have committed a string of similar robberies in the past.

The police have also obtained CCTV footage from the scene of the crime to pin the suspects to the scene of the crime.

The fatal shooting occurred shortly after 6:30 am.

According to reports, Campos was walking along Cummings Street, between Middle and Quamina Streets, when two men rode up beside him and attempted to snatch his haversack.

According to the official police report, while on the western parapet proceeding south on Cummings Street, Campos was confronted by the suspects on a red and white XR motorcycle which came from the opposite direction.

It was said that Campos put up a fight with the two men, refusing to let them take his belongings.

This fact may have angered the thieves, as one of the men pulled out a handgun and shot Campos multiple times before riding off.

He sustained gunshot wounds to his right wrist, upper chest and under his chin.

The suspects reportedly escaped with nothing, because all of the dead man’s valuables were found in his possession.

The victim was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

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Citizens/workers of Guyana, you have reasons to vote. Vote!

T

oday marks Guyana's Golden Jubilee as a Republic. This date pays homage to the Berbice Slave Revolution led by Cuffy, our national hero. 257 years ago, he and others struck a decisive blow against slavery and 207 years later, that uprising remains testimony of a people's determination to rule their destiny.

Whereas their eyes have not seen the glory of 1970, Guyanese owe it to ourselves and forebears never, ever, to be caught in this vice again.

This has been a remarkable journey for us, regardless of race, class, creed or geographic location.

For ours is a proud legacy fighting with all our might against the brutal systems of slavery, indentureship and colonialisation. We fought not only for the moment, but to ensure we are governed by our own laws, live by our own culture, and have the welfare of state managed by our elected representatives in the thrust of building a nation of one people, working towards one destiny.

Guyanese could walk tall and speak proud under the Golden Arrowhead. And we must. Every citizen/worker has a right to participate in t h i s n a t i o n ' s b o u n t y, shoulder the responsibility to produce for our collective good, and a duty to stand in defence of nationhood.

The processes of shaping our destiny have not been without challenges and we must continue to assiduously work to overcome. This e l e c t i o n o ff e r s u s a n opportunity to enter a new chapter as one. Go boldly in your numbers on Election Day and make your choice for Guyana's future!

Last Friday, members of the Disciplined Services voted for a party or group of their choice. Two Mondays hence the general population will vote. It is incumbent upon the state and GECOM to ensure the process is not only free and fair, but conducted in an environment free from fear and hindrance, and the results declared reflect the will of the people.

There is confidence that all Guyanese want a fair share of the national pie.

Rightly so. To not vote is an abrogation of duty and disregard for a right fought

for and achieved through blood, sweat and tears. Not voting denies the opportunity to determine how the revenues from oil and gas will be managed.

Thus, there is strong objection to the call to make March 2nd a national holiday. We went down this road before and it was disastrous. A public holiday hinders a commute to the poll because the minibus service, which relies on workers for their livelihood, will be sparse or not work.

Guyana does not have a public transportation system to offset this reduction.

We cannot not vote, sit it out, or have hindrance in exercising this right. Your vote is your voice, and when voices are resoundingly registered, they not only serve in electing persons, but also holding them to account for the day-to-day management of your affairs.

All are aware Guyana is on the cusp of economic greatness, and this election is the most consequential within recent times.

Post-election will determine what is in store for us. We acknowledge the media for their coverage on oil and gas, and are hopeful of the bounty in store for us, equally as it is recognised the media's right to tell their truth and reference their sources. Their role has not only aided a more empowered society, but confirms how important it is in holding leaders to account and achieving a just society.

These are vital components for transparency and more even development.

It has not escaped attention that the coalition government has d e m o n s t r a t e d responsiveness to public c r i t i c i s m s a n d recommendations. Amidst criticism of the Local Content Policy, Kaieteur News on 20th February reported the Energy Department said the policy remains a “live document,� and stakeholder comments on any aspect, including levels of disclosure, continue to be welcomed.

Score another one for Guyana! Were this a Bharrat Jagdeo administration, or he playing a role in any, this would not have happened.

His is a record, and the party under his leadership, where whatever he says or does

becomes edict.

This year Guyana is entitled to five million b a r r e l s o f o i l .

Announcement by the coalition that should they be re-elected citizens will receive benefits in various forms (school, education, single parents, nutrition programme, farming, elderly, health, etc.) after a feasibility study is noted.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) publicly advocated for government to examine direct and indirect oil benefits/cash transfer, with or without conditionalities, after Professor Clive Thomas' public call for US$5000 per household. We considered Thomas' proposal worthwhile to stimulate national discourse.

GTUC registered support for disbursement of funds and/or approved programmes to be identified after careful research. This is essential for Guyana, because such programmes target the workers - past, present and potential irrespective of diversity, and allow for equity in the system. Where there exist a c c u s a t i o n s o f

discrimination in this nation, such approach could represent viable measures to reduce discrimination and weld the nation together.

General attitude towards the industry indicates that even in the face of uncertainty, Guyanese are prepared to ensure they get what's theirs. Where objective and constructive (continued on page 45)

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g ts in s... re ure e t t In rea C

T

Golden Lion

Tamarin

he golden lion t a m a r i n (Leontopithecus rosalia, Portuguese: micoleão-dourado, also known as the golden marmoset), is a small New World monkey of the family Callitrichidae.

Native to the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil, the golden lion tamarin is an endangered species.

The range for wild individuals is spread across four places along southeastern Brazil, with a recent census estimating 3,200 individuals left in the wild and a captive population maintaining about 490 individuals among 150 zoos.

The golden lion tamarin gets its name from its bright reddish orange pelage and the extra long hairs around the face and ears which give it a distinctive mane. Its face is dark and hairless. The bright orange fur of this species does not contain carotenoids, which commonly produce bright orange colours in nature.

The golden lion tamarin i s t h e l a rg e s t o f t h e callitrichines. It is typically around 261 mm (10.3 in) and weighs around 620 g (1.37 lb). There is almost no size difference between males and females.

As with all New World monkeys, the golden lion tamarin has tegulae, which are claw-like nails, instead of ungulae or flat nails found in all other primates, including humans. Tegulae enable tamarins to cling to the sides of tree trunks. It may also move quadrupedally along the small branches, whether through walking, running, leaping or bounding. This gives it a locomotion more similar to squirrels than primates.

The golden lion tamarin has a very limited distribution range, as over time, they have lost all but 2%–5% of their original habitat in Brazil. Today, this tamarin is confined to three small areas of the tropical rain forest in southeastern Brazil: Poço das Antas Biological Reserve, Fazenda União Biological Reserve, private land through the Reintroduction Program.

The first population estimate made in 1972 approximated the count at between 400 and 500. By 1981 the population was reduced to less than 200.

Surveys from as recently as 1995 suggested that there may only have been at most 400 golden lion tamarins left

(Leontopithecus rosalia) in the wild; they have made a nice comeback and now number 3200 in the wild.

Tamarins live in coastal lowland forests less than 300 m (984 ft) above sea level.

They can be found in hilltop forests and swamp forests.

The golden lion tamarin is active for a maximum of 12 hours daily. It uses different sleeping dens each day. By frequently moving their sleeping nests around, groups minimize the scent left behind, reducing the likelihood of predators finding them.

The first activities of the day are travelling and feeding on fruits. As the afternoon nears, tamarins focus more on insects. By late afternoon, they move to their night dens. Tamarin groups use hollow tree cavities, dense vines or epiphytes as sleeping sites.

Sites that are between 11 and 15 m (36 and 49 ft) off the ground are preferred. The golden lion tamarin tends to be active earlier and retire later in the warmer, wetter times of the years as the days are longer. During drier times, it forages for insects longer as they become more scarce.

Golden lion tamarins are characterised by using manipulative foraging under tree barks and epiphytic bromeliads. Their sites of foraging are usually distributed around their home ranges, which are large territories (averaging 123 hectares) in which multiple foraging sites are located, to find sufficient resources over long periods of time.

These areas are sufficient enough in size so that even if there is overlap in between the home range of two different groups, the interactions are minimal due to the distribution of the foraging sites (they spend 50% of their time in approximately 11% of their home range).

Golden lion tamarins are social and groups typically consist of 2-8 members.

These groups usually consist of one breeding adult male and female but may also have 2–3 males and one female or the reverse. Other members include subadults, juveniles and infants of either sex. These individuals are typically the offspring of the adults.

When there is more than one breeding adult in a group, one is usually

dominant over the other and this is maintained through aggressive behaviour. The dominance relationship between males and females depends on longevity in the group.

A newly immigrated male is subordinate to the resident adult female who inherited her rank from her mother. Both males and females may leave their natal (continued on page 45)

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We’ve been fed that bone, Confidentiality officially empowers political criminals and cronies time and time again The news that is supposed to be good and inspiring is that two hotels, including the famed Hilton chain, are coming to Guyana.

We are supposed to be overjoyed, because we are so often fed that bone to appease us: jobs.

We are so hard-up, that jobs alone are sufficient to soften us into putty and sawdust.

We at this paper ask: why does this nauseating story have to be repeated with every buccaneering corporate presence that arrives on these shores?

This was what the previous government told believing citizens about the Marriott when, all along, the Chinese came with their own workforce - down to the bottom feeder jobs that are normally doled out to Guyanese to keep them quiet and in line.

We now take this farther, and across the board of the decades of PPP rule and the recent years of this current government - and it seems that when push comes to shove, nobody is making any money here, and when the

merest pressure is applied, they threaten to pack up and leave.

As exhibits, we tender those Great Guyanese Giveaways. There is Rusal, Bosai, Omai and the granddaddy of them all Baishanlin.

They plundered and helped themselves in the manner of corporate barbarians, while we had to be contented with minimal jobs, no taxes, no profit sharing, and not a dime of any dividends. Worse yet, there was and still is absolutely no respect.

Then along came another set of heavyweights, this time in the mining sector, by the name of Troy Resources and Aurora Gold, who kept excavating and carrying away the gems – the heart of our riches, while we clawed for a measly percent here and another there.

Somehow, the upper limit of our mathematics education never took us past double digits, as in 10%. Jobs, royalties and taxes, profits, industrial relations respect, true partnership somehow appear to be secondary to

our political and professional negotiators, or to have fallen by the wayside.

We at this publication do not believe that it is for a lack of smarts, or that our people at the table are limited and ‘dotish’. We say that the truth is far from that, as our leaders and advisers and inner circle helpers scheme for what is good for them, and are contemptuous of the interests of country and people.

So, they resort to secrecy or the blandness of what never fails to intrigue and enchant: the magic word is jobs.

We at this paper, on behalf of the Guyanese people, dare to ask: what about taxes, profits, dividends? How about some transparency?

And, lastly, why are there no lessons learned from the follies and errors of that Exxon fiasco? How long are we going to continue selling the riches of this country for jobs and a few pennies?

[This article was first published in our Monday Feb. 17, 2020 edition as a front page comment]

Golden Lion Tamarin From page 41 group at the age of four, however females may replace their mothers as the breeding adult, if they die, which will lead to the dispersal of the breeding male who is likely her father. This does not happen with males and their fathers.

Dispersing males join groups with other males and remain in them until they find an opportunity to immigrate to a new group. The vast majority of recruits to groups are males.

A male may find an opportunity to enter into a group when the resident male dies or disappears. Males may also aggressively displace resident males from their group; this is usually done by two immigrant males who are likely brothers. When this happens, only one of the new males will be able to breed and will suppress the reproduction of the other. A resident male may also leave a vacancy when his daughter becomes the breeding female and he must disperse to avoid inbreeding.

Golden lion tamarins are highly territorial and groups will defend their home range boundaries and resources from other groups.

Tamarins emit “whine” and “peep” calls, which are associated with alarm and alliances respectively. “Clucks” are made during foraging trips or during aggressive encounters, whether directed at conspecifics or predators.

“Trills” are used to communicate over long distances to give away an individual's position. “Rasps” or “screeches” are usually associated with playful behavior.

Tamarins communicate though chemicals marked throughout their territories. Reproductive males and females scent mark the most and their non-reproductive counterparts rarely do so. Dominant males use scent marking to show their social status and may suppress the reproductive abilities of the other males.The golden lion tamarin has a diverse, omnivorous diet consisting of fruits, flowers, nectar, bird eggs, insects and small vertebrates.

They rely on microhabitats for foraging and other daily activities and tamarins will use bromeliads, palm crowns, palm leaf sheaths, woody crevices, lianas, vine tangles, tree bark,

rotten logs, and leaf litters.The golden lion tamarin uses its fingers to extract prey from crevices, under leaves, and in dense growth; a behavior known as micromanipulation. It is made possible by elongated hands and fingers. Insects make up to 10–15% of its diet.

Much of the rest is made of small, sweet, pulpy fruits. During the rainy season, the golden lion tamarin mainly eats fruit, however during drier times, it must eat more of other foods like nectar and gums. Small vertebrates are also consumed more at these times as insects become less abundant.The mating system of the golden lion tamarin is largely monogamous. When there are two adult males in a group only one of them will mate with the female. There are cases of a male mating with two females, usually a mother and daughter.Reproduction is seasonal and depends on rainfall. Mating is at its highest at the end of the rainy season between late March to mid-June and births peak during the September–February rains.Females are sexually mature between of 15–20 months but it isn't until they are 30 months old when they can reproduce.Only dominant females can reproduce and will suppress the reproduction of the other females in the group. Males may reach puberty by 28 months. Tamarins have a four-month gestation period.Golden lion tamarin groups exhibit cooperative rearing of the infants. This is due to the fact that tamarins commonly give birth to twins and, to a lesser extent, triplets and quadruplets. A mother is not able to provide for her litter and needs the help of the other members of the group. The younger members of the groups may lose breeding opportunities but they gain parental experience in helping to rear their younger siblings. In their first 4 weeks, the infants are completely dependent on their mother for nursing and carrying. By week five, the infants spend less time on their mother's back and begin to explore their surroundings. Young reach their juvenile stage at 17 weeks and will socialize other group members. The sub-adult phase is reached at 14 months and a tamarin first displays adult behaviors.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Anything to do with local content that is CONFIDENTIAL is a big problem, which could lead to a corruption crisis. It would make prior shenanigans look like petty thievery. It is why this paper says a loud NO to anything that is confidential relative to Local Content provisions.It is a nonstarter and should be condemned outright. We, at Kaieteur News, so damn it.

There are substantial precedents for our unalterable stance relative to how local content can become monstrously disfigured, and this is even when things are not so confidential. Look at several countries with similar circumstances to Guyana, financially, and the stories are identical.

First, the riches are exploited by the foreigners. Second, local leaders and ruling elites spring into action to enrich themselves quickly.

Third, they create a sophisticated and complicated network (a maze) of corporate entities to conceal their grand larcenies.

Most important, and fourth, the native populations of starving, suffering, and despairing are left in the gutter of their enduring impoverishment, while their political mas-

ters live high on the hog and take them for yet another crippling ride.

Unsurprisingly, the bulk of those populations cheated by their crooked and deceiving rulers - mostly democratically elected - have nothing but their lifelong miseries and anguish to show for the hundreds of billions received by and stolen by the local political bandits.

This is what we think, and sense is at work when this garbage about local content and confidentiality is merged and mentioned in the same conman’s breath. For when local content is confidential, then the shell companies, and the intricate nests of corporate creatures that are conjured to deceive, are free to operate with unchecked abandon.

Confidentiality officially empowers the politically criminal, in conjunction with their handpicked bureaucratic cronies, to come up with endless business wizardries to provide the perfect covers for corruption on a grand scale and one unimagined as to its b r e a t h t a k i n g scale.Confidentiality in terms of local content furnishes enough time and lots of room to engage in uninterrupted fi-

nancial skullduggery without the population being any wiser. By the time that it gets some awareness, it is too late, and the tens of billions in damage is done, with no recovery possible, with little assets left to salvage to give something to the emptyhanded masses.

Confidentiality facilitates much secrecy occurring and beyond early detection. This is what one government after the other practiced and prospered from, that was castigated by the then opposition, which is now the current government.

Now the latter is trying to pull the same dirty trick for the same dirty result.

That is what has come to light in Angola and Equatorial Guinea, and other Third World places.Guyanese had better come to their senses quickly, or they would share the fate of poor brethren everywhere.

It must be NO to confidentiality by anybody regarding local content. A loud NO to any such provisions. A great, big NO to any schemer bringing that before the public.

This article was first published in our Friday Feb. 21, 2020 edition as a front page comment]

Guyana-Venezuela and international ...

From page 24 the time of the Court's inception. Settlement of the issue will come only from lawful resolution.

The 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have always stated their support for Guyana in the territorial claim from Venezuela, notwithstanding the close relationship that developed between some of their governments and the Chavez/ Maduro governments because of the benefits of the now defunct PetroCaribe arrangements.

At their Thirty-First InterSessional Meeting in Barba-

dos on 18-19 February, CARICOM Heads of Government repeated their “full support for the judicial process that is intended to bring a peaceful and definitive end to the long-standing controversy between the two countries”. They did so while reiterating “their firm and unswerving support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana”.

This unanimous decision of the meeting - to stand up for a determination of the Guyana-Venezuela boundary under the rule of international law by the world's highest

Court – was one of its better outcomes, showing real value for membership of the treaty organisation.

(The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States. 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 views expressed are entirely his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

Citizens/workers of Guyana, you have reasons to...

From page 39 comments come from all quarters or sectors of society, from individual, media, and opinion shapers who may very well shape outlook from their commentaries, this bode well for nation-building. All groups, whether political, private sector, trade union or pressure group views should be entertained, provided they are meritorious, based on widespread consultation and decision-making.

Allowing people's input in influencing our development gives meaning to Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution.

This principal objective of the political system speaks to an inclusionary democracy, allowing for individuals and groups to be involved in the management and decision-making processes of the state that impact their well-being.

Come 3rd March, we the people must push Govern-

ment and Opposition to create legislation, including a modernised Petroleum Act, that would realise the requisite programmes and policies in our unyielding quest to be beneficiaries of the nation's bounty.

Happy Republican Anniversary!

(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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STORY WITHIN THE

Monitoring foreign investments

By Leonard Gildarie

E

ight more days to G u y a n a ' s toughest general elections yet. Oh my, the game has changed all so dramatically. No longer is it alone about the big parties.

There are also a few upstarts, some of them were part or supporters of the bigger parties. A few have money, while the others are hoping that the people will be brave enough to change the status quo.

At the end of the tunnel is control of the oil and gas sector. There is definitely a fear by the parties that to lose would make it hard to compete next time against a government which has oil resources to dole around.

It is hard to judge, as Guyana has never been in that position before. We only started production of oil in December. What I can say with much certainty is that there is a feverish pace in the air by all parties to get their message out. Every street corner, playground, and square has become popular.

That is a conversation for another day.

MANAGEMENT OF FOREIGN INVESTORS Historically speaking, in the last 30 years or so, our management of foreign investors has been unacceptable. There was a time in the 90s when investments were badly needed.

Our state-run bauxite, electricity and telephone companies were struggling for cash injections to recapitalize.

Three major deals were inked - the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, Barama Company Limited and Omai Gold.

Almost 30 years later, Guyana is assessing the benefits of those investments.

The persons who closed those deals will probably argue that it was a time when no one saw what was coming - that we therefore were bending over backwards.

From the telephone company that was falling apart to the bauxite industry that faced low world prices and needed money for more

modern, efficient equipment, there was an urgent need for cash injections.

A US company, ATN, entered and GTT was born.

Almost three decades later, GTT is facing a severe backlash. Despite the concessions and the monopoly, it failed to quickly rollout, as it should have, landlines for the people of Guyana. Its quality of service and response time to fix faults have all been flagged time and again by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Today, GTT is also under pressure with questions about its accounting practices. It will be recalled that Guyana passed Telecoms laws almost four years ago.

Today, we have failed as a country to allow new players to enter the country, because GTT is playing hardball. It has, to its benefit, been fighting for relief of more than US$40M in taxes that is being demanded by the Guyana Revenue Authority.

In the meantime, it is unrolling its services while new companies are not being allowed in. In fact, GTT wants more concessions.

I like foreign investors. It is needed. It brings transfers of technology and experience we don't have. It is, however, unacceptable what we as people of Guyana were subjected to and are still experiencing with the quality

Leonard Gildarie of service from GTT. In the case of Barama, today, the workforce has been dramatically scaled back. The forest concessions, over 1.6 million hectares, have been relinquished. The Malaysian investors are not too enthusiastic about investment more and have been searching for a buyer.

Omai has shut shop and there are still questions what Guyana got out of that deal.

For a while, there was significant employment. The gold was being taken out.

About a decade ago, there was still work being done to bring the area back to natural vegetation. We even suffered a cyanide spill under Omai.

Today, another company is leaving a bitter taste in the mouth of Guyanese.

Yes, Rusal. It has been granted billions in concessions, yet no dividends were being paid to Guyana. It has been continuously declaring a loss. As we speak now, the workers, about 300 of them, have been sent home and the operations are at a standstill in Region 10.

We will not even talk about the atrocities of Baishanlin.

In the cases above, one has to ask‌what exactly did Guyana get out of the deals?

I am sure GTT will make (continued on page 71)

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SEARCH BEGINS FOR MISS GUYANA CULTURE QUEEN 2020 For the first time ever; Guyana will be hosting a national pageant to select Guyana’s representative to the Annual Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant slated for August 2020 in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Under the directorship of Guyanese born international fashion designer and Pageant Guru Randy Madray; the Miss Guyana Culture Queens aims to promote, market and preserves the diverse culture and tourism of Guyana.

This year Miss Guyana Culture Queen will be selected through a national pageant from a lineup of carefully selected quarterfinalists. Applicants will complete a well-structured application online after which a panel of the pageant, fashion and other related professionals will select which applicants will move on to the interview round. From the interviews; the quarterfinalists will be

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Kaieteur News

selected to begin the 2020 national pageant.

The pageant in itself will feature a preliminary interview and the coronation event. On the coronation night, delegates will compete in national costume, performing talent, swimwear, evening gown and interview. At the end of the production, Miss Guyana Culture Queen 2020 will be crowned and begin preparation for the regional competition.

Last year, Arian Dahlia Richmond was selected by a team of professionals within the fashion and pageant industry as Miss Guyana Culture Queen 2019 and took on the task of representing Guyana at the Miss Culture Caribbean Queens 2019 Competition. With her grace, poise, and confidence, Arian competed with notable models in the Caribbean and secured the first-runner up position. She also won several accolades such as Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality

and Best Country Promotional Video produced by local videographer Anthony Indar.

The Miss Guyana Culture Team will comprise a brilliant team of creatives, professionals and local and international pageants, beauty and fashion experts.

Applications are currently opened and the pageant seeks young women between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26) who are of great physical health and possess the passion, drive and determination to showcase Guyana’s rich culture and tourism.

Applicants can sign up via the “ Sign Up” button on the Miss Guyana Culture Queen Facebook page ( h t t p s : / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / missGuyanaculturequeeen) or via the link provided on the@missguyanaculturequeen Instagram platform. The application deadline is 28th February 2020.

STAGE 8-DUTTY JOUVERT ALL SET FOR FEBRUARY 22

Come February 22, Ansa Mcal will be hosting its most beloved event, Stage 8, which is expected to be the ultimate Dutty Jouvert Party of the year where anything goes. To keep you entertained, the line up of stellar performers include: Brandon Harding, Ttimeka Marshall, Jumo Primo, Father Moey, Ras Shizzle, all backed by DJ Energy at the National Tarmac. There will be ticket promotions at various bars across the country.

Tickets can also be had at several supermar-

kets such as DSL – Sheriff St, Ruimveldt & Diamond; Freshco – Grove; Massy Stores – Providence; S& S – Lusignan & Mahaica; Tularam’s – Margot Tout, WBD; L. Bukhan – Parika; Ram’s – Vreed-en-Hoop, WBD; Survival – Sheriff St; Andrew’s Supermarket – Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt; Mattai’s – Water & Hope Sts; Real Value – Church; and Bounty – Water St, Regent St, Kitty, Grove. Be sure to get your ticket for 2020’s most exhilarating event!

Omiah Hall , Relon Sumner take top spots at Junior Soca and Soca Monarch Omiah Hall during her performance

The talented Relon Summer The Tabatinga Complex Ground in Lethem, Region Nine was rife with excitement last Saturday as contenders for the Junior Soca and Calypso song competitions delivered their individual pieceson stage.

The song competitions saw eight young people vying for the Junior Soca Monarch crown while nine vied for the Junior Calypso Monarch Crown.

Eighteen year old Omiah Hall was adjudged the 2020 Calypso Monarch with her song “Tell me How Come” which speaks to a number of trending social and political issues. Ms. Hall delivered a performance which wowed the judges and audience alike.

The young songbird was awarded 283 points out of a possible 300 followed by Rayshaun Whyte in second place with 272 points with her song “I Ain’t Ready for This” while third place went to Chisara James who scored 269 points after the performance of her song “Think Before You Act” and fourth place went to Akeem Alexander with his song “Wake Up” which got him 264 points.

During the second segment of the show, the young performers all delivered during their individual perfor-

mances. Patrons were given a taste of the Mashramani vibe as competitors delivered with energy and showmanship for the Junior Soca Monarch title.In this category, Relon Sumneremerged supreme.

Sumner was crowned the new Junior Soca Monarch after a lively performance; he was awarded 251 points for the performance of his song “Celebrating”.In second place Akeem Alexander scored 227 points with his song “Time Fuh Love” while Faith Corrica better known as “Lil Canary” came out with 221 points for her song “Bless Us Oh Father” and Jada Harry with 211 points for her song “The Greatest Party”.

The young monarchs will automatically transition into the Adult Calypso Monarch and Adult Soca Monarch competitions. Omiah Hall expressed overwhelming joy after her win. She related that this is her first attempt to secure the Junior Calypso crown.

As planned upon her entry into the competition, she delivered 110% but plans to bring 150% to the Adult Competition on February 9.

Hall, who will be voting for the first time this year, said that the lyrics of her song

were inspired by what she considers critical questions thatpoliticians should answer.

Meanwhile, a visually impaired Relon Sumner believes that his entry into the competition is proof that being differently-able should not prevent persons from pursuing their dreams. He sees himself as a strong competitor in the Adult Soca Monarch song competition.

Residents and visitors of Lethem were also treated to bonus performances from a number of local artistes including Melissa Roberts aka Vanilla, Kady Kish, Nesta and Bunty Singh.

The adult competitors will first face-off in the 592 Soca Monarch semi-finals on February 8 at the Linden/ Georgetown Municipal bus park in Region 10, followed by the Banks Calypso semi-finals in Bartica on February 9.

The finals will both be held in the upcoming Mashramani Village at D’Urban Park which will run from February 13-18 .The Senior Calypso and Soca crowns will be held on February 14 and 15 respectively.

(Released from the Press Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport.)

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19 BENEFITS OF DRINKING APPLE CIDER VINEGAR + HOW TO DRINK IT Apple cider vinegar is everywhere. Everybody talks about it and everybody seems to love it. Is this just a new hype or is apple cider vinegar actually amazing?

Are there actual health benefits of apple cider vinegar?

First of all, there’s nothing new here. Apple cider vinegar was used as a natural remedy for health problems for a very long period of time. In fact, it’s an ancient remedy. It seems that we’re becoming more aware of those benefits these days, but they were always there. It’s a re-discovery, if you will.

More people are trying to improve their life by making healthier and more natural choices these days and that’s why you’ll see apple cider vinegar pretty much anywhere there’s a conversation about health, food, and natural remedies.

So I’ll get my POV right out here: I think Apple Cider Vinegar (aka ACV) is amazing.

Seriously, AH-MAZING. And most of the health benefits of apple cider vinegar are endorsed by science — so nope, not just a hype.

However, despite being so amazing, apple cider vinegar won’t work miracles. And it won’t replace a balanced diet and exercise. It promotes health and it helps you maintain it, but drinking apple cider vinegar won’t have a major impact unless you’re making other steps towards your health. No remedy can do that.

Moderation is always key.

WHAT IS APPLE CIDER VINEGAR? Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar made from apples. Duh, right? More specifically, it’s fermented apple juice.

To make apple cider vinegar, apples are crushed and exposed to yeast. By doing this, the natural sugar from the apple is fermented over time and turned into alcohol (like you would do with wine).

Sounds like making apple cider, right? Yeah, because the process is similar. The difference is the apple cider vinegar is fermented twice –once to make alcoholic cider and a second time to make it vinegar.

WHY DRINK APPLE CIDER VINEGAR? As crazy as it may sound at first, drinking apple cider vinegar will bring you many health benefits which will be discussed in detail in just a sec. Aside from health benefits, apple cider vinegar also reduces cravings by inducing satiety which means apple cider vinegar is great for weight loss or for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Not only that, but apple cider vinegar is filled with beneficial

nutrients.basically, apple cider vinegar rocks!

HEALTH BENEFITS OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR So what about those health benefits of apple cider vinegar? This almost-magical vinegar can do many things for your health. Let’s start with a list and then get into more details with the ones that will help you to live a healthier life, ok?

Apple cider vinegar… · is a natural laxative and it can improve digestion; ·lowers blood sugar levels; ·improves insulin sensitivity; ·increases satiety and helps people to lose weight; ·educes belly fat; ·lowers cholesterol; ·lowers blood pressure and improves heart health; ·prevents and decreases the risk of getting cancer and slows down the growth of cancer cells.

HELPFUL NUTRIENTS IN APPLE CIDER VINEGAR Impressive, right? But wait… there’s more. Apple cider vinegar is also a nutritional powerhouse. That would explain some of the health benefits! Let’s take a closer look at apple cider vinegar’s nutritional composition to see what makes it so special.

Apple cider vinegar contains: ·magnesium; ·iron; ·phosphorus; ·manganese; ·amino acids; ·antioxidants; ·only 3 calories per tablespoon.

DRINKING APPLE CIDER VINEGAR FOR WEIGHT LOSS Most people use apple cider vinegar for weight loss, but they don’t know the rest of the health benefits of apple cider vinegar. That’s because apple cider vinegar was used as an aid in weight loss for ages.

There are several studies that have concluded using apple cider vinegar for weight loss actually works. They also found it works even without dietary changes. However, when drinking apple cider combined with a healthy lifestyle, the results are truly impressive.

So…how does this happen? Most people overeat because they don’t feel full.

Apple cider vinegar increases satiety (your feeling of fullness) and that’s very helpful for staying on track with your healthy diet. Especially at the beginning of your weight loss journey when you need a little bit of help to start and to stay on track.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AND DIABETES When it comes to apple cider vinegar and diabetes, there are a few things you should know. Apple cider vinegar is great in diabetes prevention. So, if you have a family history of diabetes, you should consider drinking

apple cider vinegar improves digestion. Drinking apple cider vinegar for digestion can… ·get rid of heartburn; ·reduce bloating; ·improve digestion overall.

Let me just say that discomfort and pain are not nor-

apple cider vinegar to decrease the risk.

Apple cider vinegar has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels when one is fasting (not eating), which is incredibly beneficial for people who have difficulty regulating their own blood sugar levels, like those who have diabetes. However, this won’t replace medication. A healthy diet and exercise are always recommended for people with diabetes. If you have diabetes and take insulin or prescription drugs, you should talk to your doctor before drinking apple cider vinegar because your potassium levels can drop too much.

CHOLESTEROL, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND APPLE CIDER VINEGAR Other common uses for apple cider vinegar are to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels.

What’s the deal with apple cider vinegar cholesterol and apple cider vinegar blood pressure? Apple cider vinegar helps in controlling renin, a hormone produces by your kidneys that is responsible for constricting and dilating the blood vessels. When the blood vessels are constricting, the blood pressure rises.

Apple cider vinegar keeps the vessels relax, and that means blood pressure won’t rise.

As for apple cider vinegar helping with cholesterol – drinking apple cider vinegar before a meal lowers cholesterol. Basically, studies have shown that apple cider vinegar reduces LDL (bad cholesterol) and increases HDL (good cholesterol) due to its natural antioxidants.

HOW APPLE CIDER VINEGAR HELPS WITH DIGESTION As I already mentioned,

mal. When we experience pain and discomfort after a meal, we should listen to our bodies and realize that something is not exactly right.

Maybe we ate too much or maybe our digestive system doesn’t work properly.

Proper digestion means proper acid levels in the stomach so the nutrients in our food can be absorbed. When there’s not enough acid, food is not properly broken down and the nutrients are not assimilated which can lead to digestive issues like the ones I mentioned. Or more serious ones.

Drinking apple cider vinegar for digestion means increasing acid production.

And that leads to proper digestion. Simple, right?

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR KILLS BACTERIA Did you know apple cider vinegar kills bacteria? In fact, apple cider vinegar was used for disinfecting wounds and treating fungus back in the day.It was – and still is – a great way to treat and prevent infection because apple cider vinegar can kill bacteria easily. It also inhibits bacteria, like E-coli, from spoiling food so that’s why it’s so often used as a food preservative. It’s also natural and better than artificial preservatives. So awesome!

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AND CANCER When it comes to apple cider vinegar and cancer, it has been shown that apple cider vinegar can help in cancer prevention because it promotes health. There are many factors and causes for cancer and we still have a long way to go in terms of prevention and treatment but, what we do know is apple cider vinegar can reduce the risk of

cancer and can slow down the cancer cell (tumor) growth.

That being said, apple cider vinegar shouldn’t replace treatment for someone diagnosed with cancer or a healthy lifestyle for those who want to reduce the risk of developing different types of cancer.

USING APPLE CIDER VINEGAR FOR SKIN AND HAIR Aside from the health benefits of apple cider vinegar, using apple cider vinegar can also improve skin appearance and hair health. Woot! See? Apple cider vinegar is indeed amazing. Told ya!

Why apple cider vinegar is great for skin and hair: · treats and reduces the prevalence of acne; ·treats and soothes sunburn; · has anti-aging properties; ·improves hair health; ·combats hair tangles; ·reduces hair frizz; ·seals the hair cuticles and help the hair to retain moisture; ·treats dandruff.

Seriously, is there anything apple cider vinegar cannot do? I don’t think so!

However, it’s important to note it is not recommended to apply apple cider vinegar to the skin without diluting it in water first.

POPULAR WAYS TO DRINK APPLE CIDER VINEGAR Since there are so many health benefits apple of cider vinegar, you’re probably considering drinking apple cider vinegar right out of the bottle to benefit from its amazing properties. But… let’s first discuss how to drink apple cider vinegar.

First off, look for the unfiltered and organic type cuz’ that’s the best type. The Bragg’s Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar I have pictured in this post is my fave, but there are many other options as well.

How to drink apple cider vinegar Well, you don’t really have to drink it. Especially if you don’t like the taste. There are other ways to consume apple cider vinegar. You can incorporate apple cider vinegar into your diet by… · using it in various recipes including salad dressing recipes and marinade recipes. ·making an apple cider vinegar tonic by mixing apple cider vinegar with lemon juice – 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar added to a glass of fruit juice. Drinking apple cider vinegar is easier this way. You won’t notice the taste as much but you’ll get all the health benefits of apple cider. Plus the benefits of fruit

juice. Make your own fruit juice at home for a fresh and yummy tonic. You can spice it up with a little ground cinnamon or cayenne pepper or sweeten it with a little raw honey. Good stuff.

If you don’t mind the taste of apple cider vinegar, you can add it to a glass of water and drink it. It’s as simple as that.

HOW MUCH APPLE CIDER VINEGAR SHOULD I DRINK DAILY? This is important. Because you don’t want to overdo it.

That’s never a good idea. So how much apple cider vinegar daily? And how much is too much?

Common dosage per day is 15-30 ml. Basically, 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar – mixed with water or made into a tonic or added to a salad dressing.

My advice is to start with a tablespoon and then increase to 2 tablespoons if you don’t notice any side effects.

It can be quite strong at first, so you’ll want to get used to it.

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS OF DRINKING APPLE CIDER VINEGAR Apple cider is rather harmless, but too much of anything can cause problems.

Also, there are certain instances when apple cider vinegar is not at all recommended. For example, if you have stomach ulcer or kidney problems.

As a reminder, drinking apple cider vinegar without diluting it is not at all recommended because apple cider vinegar is acidic and it can cause: ·tooth decay and weaken tooth enamel; ·low potassium levels – when drinking more apple cider vinegar than recommended or when you already have low potassium levels; · indigestion – too much apple cider vinegar can cause indigestion; ·digestive problems – this may sound counterintuitive since apple cider vinegar can improve digestion but for someone who has ulcers or acid reflux, apple cider vinegar will only worsen the symptoms. ·skin burns – another counterintuitive one since apple cider vinegar can soothe sunburn but if you apply it to the skin undiluted it can burn your skin. For treating acne, make sure you add only a little bit of apple cider vinegar in water before applying it to the skin. For sunburn – use 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into your bath water. (https:// www.asweetpeachef.com/ benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/)

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The Animal Carnival

O

ne day, JD, Brenda and I were watching TV and we saw an ad on TV. The carnival was in town on August 8-14. JD and Brenda said, “Can we go this year, Mom?” I smiled at them and said, “ Yes, this year we will go.”

The children and I saved our money. When August came around we went to the carnival at the Exhibition Grounds. We were excited. The children wanted to see all the animals at the carnival. They wanted to see the tigers with their two-colored coats, the elephants, the bears, the wolves and the unicorns.

We started to walk. The first animals we saw were the orange and black tigers and the white and black tigers.

The big cats put on a performance for us.I said to the children, “The orange and black tiger looks like Tigger. See the way he walked across and pounced down off the stand. It looked like he wanted to talk to his mom and the other two tigers.

They look like young tigers. Look the white and black and the orange and black tigers are talking to you.” JD and Brenda were really excited.

Then the tiger that look like Tigger began to talk to me, “How come you say that I look like Tigger?” asked the tiger.I was surprised that he was talking to me. “ I - I think you look like Tigger because of the way you walked and pounced off the stands. You remind me of the cartoon of Tigger.

You pounce like he pounces in the forest.Just then the two young tigers, the ones that were white and black, started talking to JD. “It must be nice to have freedom. You are out in the world. You are not stuck in a cage and made to go from town to cities.”

JD looked at the tigers and said, “Yes it is nice to be free. But still it must be nice to travel.

We don’t travel around much to different cities or towns.”The other orange and black tiger started to talk toward Brenda, “Are you having fun looking and talking to all the animals?”

Brenda replied, “Yes, we are having fun.

But we haven’t seen all the animals yet.” I heard my daughter’s conversation and said,

“Come let’s go see the bears and then the elephants.”“Yes. Let’s!” Brenda and JD said.

We said goodbye to the tigers and we walked on to see the bears in their cages. After, we went to the elephant’s cages. We stopped and talked with the elephants. We asked the elephants how they liked being in the carnival and how old they were. One elephant said that she was about fifty years old and the other one said he was about twenty-five years old. They said that they had been in the carnival for all of their lives. Our next stop was at the wolves. We all like wolves so once again we stopped to talk with them. The wolves talked to JD and Brenda. They told us that they had only been in the carnival for a few years. They were surprised to see how many people like to see the different animals.

But they were sad that not many people stopped to talk.“So, do you guys like us?” the wolves asked.JD and Brenda said, “Yes of course. We like wolves very much. But we are sorry we can’t stay and talk longer. It’s getting late and we still have to go to see the unicorns.

They are the most beautiful animals of all.

Thank you for talking with us. Goodbye.”Off we went to see the unicorns. The unicorns had over heard the children saying that they thought that unicorns were such beautiful animals. Before anyone could say anything, the unicorns thanked the children. “You know many people do not believe in us and because of that they can never see us.”

Sunday February 23, 2020

Junior page MAKing CARNIVAL MASK Materials: Carnival Mask Template Colourful cardstock Small colorful feathers Sequins Glitter Glue Glue Paddle pop Sticks

by S Jones

Instructions: To make these masks, first print out the mask template on white paper and cut out.

Trace around the mask onto colourful cardstock.

Make two copies for each mask, so if you are creating two masks, you will need 4 copies of the mask template.

Then glue some feathers

to the top of one of the masks and a paddle pop stick to one side of the mask.

After the feathers and paddle pop stick are dried in place, glue the other piece of the mask on top to cover where the feathers and paddle pop stick are glued

on.

Once this has dried, decorate the front of the mask anyway you like, with glitter, sequins, glitter glue or whatever else you fancy.

Once this has dried, hold your own Carnival parade and show off your creation!

“Oh we believe in you and we find you to be the most fantastic animals. But it’s so late now and we have to go” JD, Brenda and I thanked the unicorns. As we started to leave, the unicorns called out to the other animals, “Let’s all say good bye.”One unicorn said, “I will count to three and we will say good bye.” And he began to count, “One, two, three.”

And with a loud noise that almost sounded like thunder, all of the animals said good-bye and good night.It had been a very special day for us. We had often talked to the animals but this was the first time that the animals had talked to us.

LAST KIDS ON EARTH ZOMBIE PARADE FUN WITH POETRY

Let’s Mash together

by Uncle Roy Of all the holidays in Guyana, More than all the rest, We must agree that Mashramani Is in many ways the best.

It is the special time of the year, When all Guyanese come together, To celebrate as one great people Our republic’s status and power.

There will be so many celebrations All over our beautiful country, That everyone will find some way To take part in this festivity.

So let us all join our hands, As we enjoy this great occasion, And determine to strive for peace and progress To fulfil our national aspirations.

Kaieteur News

Sunday February 23, 2020

Keep on the effort at Self-improvement by trying to be the best person you know No matter how much you may think of yourself, no one is ever performing at his best, simply because he is a human being.

There is always room for improvement, and it may very well be the purpose of our life to keep searching for ways, and acting on these, so that we become better as time goes on.

There are many ways by which you can learn how you may become a better person. Read books on character building, practise your religion, keep the company of people from whom you can learn, keep doing things that improve your body and elevate your mind, and search for ways to improve the lives of others.

If you really mean to improve yourself, there are other ways for self-

improvement which you can discover for yourself.

When you are really earnest in this quest, you can move forward in confidence that your life will become fulfilled and on the right path.

You can make your life matter the most by seeking out ways to help others It would be to your immense credit if you search for ways by which you can reach out to your friends and l e a d t h e m i n t o understanding your approach to the proper solution of the problems they would be faced with in their everyday lives.

For instance, if and when you experience any friend, relative or other acquaintance wanting to retaliate for some wrong they felt was done to them,

you would be doing everyone a favour if you advise them to desist.

Make them see, as you have, that there is a much better and effective solution to the problem than yielding to the temptation of revenge.

You may advise them to face the situation and confront the person who they perceive has wronged them.

If this does not work, then you need to do your part to let them believe that they should give the benefit of the doubt, and move on with their lives.

You can start a discussion group in which you get your acquaintances to interact and spread your ideas of good behaviour.

You can also single out anyone who seems to be having problems, and try to show them the right course

to follow. You can get someone from the church or other organisation to speak to your group on this matter.

Just believe that you can make a huge difference if you are willing to take the trouble to help.

No act of kindness goes unpaid, and it will always come back to you in the end and give you the satisfying feeling that your life really matters.

This is the last part of this series on Selfimprovement.

I hope that you acceded to my request to somehow keep these tips together so that you can refer to them as time goes on, and so ensure that you make full use of them to make your life what it should be, and achieve some real improvement in your own life-style.

Snub Square Slitherlinks

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Let us celebrate together

by Uncle Roy As we observe Mashramani, it’s good to remember The reason for this huge celebration – It’s the greatest achievement of our people In this young and vibrant nation.

It was not so long ago we were a colony, Ruled by the state of Great Britain, And our people had to wage a hard struggle So as our Independence to attain.

Then we found we needed more freedom To fulfil our national aspirations, So we had to intensify the battle

Let Mashramani be the instrument to ensure that we Guyanese can forget our differences when we need to jointly work for our country’s progress.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Solutions to last week’s

SOCCER MAZE Score a point by finding your way through the field maze.

Goodluck!

RIPPLE EFFECT

Fill in some of the dotted line segments to form a meandering path that forms a single loop.

The path does not cross itself, branch, or touch itself at corners. The numbers indicate how many line segments surround each cell. Empty cells may be surrounded by any number of line segments. There is one unique solution, and you should be able to find it without guessing. You may find it helpful to mark segments that cannot be filled in.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid in Hair Care 1. The right Shampoo Shampoos contain dozens of chemical products; unfortunately, some of these products are bad for your hair. The choice of shampoo is a very important step towards hair regrowth and hair care. Make sure you choose the right shampoo for you to avoid any unwanted consequences.

2. Using Towels to Dry Your Hair.

Drying your hair should not be done in a hurry. Instead, gently use a towel to bolt it from the roots to the end. Never tie a towel around it as it can damage the hair follicles and affect your hair regrowth rate. If you are in urgency, use a cotton material to dry it.

3. Poor Diet.

We can safely say that a good diet makes 50% of your hair care routine. Make sure you eat healthy food and sick to a schedule. This would help your hair get the most out of the minerals and vitamins you consume. If you follow these two steps, you will notice significant hair growth and reduced thin hair. Eating protein animal-based food will help speed up the process.

Hair thinning 4. Not Nourishing and Moisturizing Your Hair.

The human’s hair quickly loses moisture. Several hair care masks and balms can be used to prevent your hair from becoming dry, just make sure that the product you are using does not have any components that could hurt your hair. You can use balm with the shampoo or after you rinse the latter off. To use balm correctly, smear it on your hair in full length and avoid it from touching your skin. The usage of masks should be limited to once a week.

Excessive use may result in thin hair and hair loss.

5. Hot Water Temperature.

Water temperature is as important as the type of shampoo you are using. A big number of people use overly hot water when they are washing their hair. The mistake can lead to disastrous effects overtime. Hot water removes your natural hair color and make glands that produce oil plentiful. Warm tepid water is the best way to go as it will significantly help in decreasing these glands, strengthen your hair regrowth rate and help blood get faster your skin.

6. Wrong Application of Shampoo The application of shampoo is simple, right? We bet you have doing it wrong. First, you have to comb your hair prior to washing it. Second, you have to use the right quantity of shampoo in accordance with the length of your hair and its density. Do not use too much, though otherwise you may hurt your hair.

7. Use of Styling Products.

Daily use products such as hairdryers or irons make the hair loose its fluidity leading it to become dry. If it is impossible for you not to use these styling products, you can apply a protective thermal spray on your whole then proceed.

Hair regrowth 8. Wrong Use of Hairdryers Speaking of stylish products, many people use incorrectly use hairdryers. The wrong use of this product can cause severe damage to your hair without you knowing it. In order to avoid this mistake, follow these steps.

Turn the dryer to maximum temperature if the hair is still wet and start reducing the temperature in order to avoid drying your hair too much. This can only be done with a dryer that 9. Not Being Healthy.

Quick hair loss and increased thin hair can be a sign of dangerous health problems. People who suffer from hormonal sickness, stress, diabetes are familiar with these two issues. The hair is last thing that benefits from vitamins, therefore, it requires that you consume prodigious amount of vitamins to keep your hair on point. If you have unmoral hair problems, you might want to consult a doctor, or follow a protein rich diet plan.

10. Frequency of Combing.

Combing your hair too much can lead it to become overstretched and brittle. You should never comb your hair right after you get out of the shower. Waiting for it to dry and then combing it will prevent hair loss. After the hair is dry, use your fingers to separate the strands and then start combing it from the ends and move gradually to the roots.

11. Not Wearing Hats.

We realize it can be annoying for some people to wear hats, but neglecting them would affect your hair negatively in some cases.

Hats or caps offer protection from humidity and the sun. You can wear a sauna hat to keep effects of steam of your hair or a woolen hat to keep it away from cold. Choose a comfortable and stylish hat you think you can be comfortable in.

12. Comb Hygiene Your comb needs to be washed in warm water at least once a week. Also, do not forget to replace old combs regularly.

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K O

BO

Book: Madwoman Author: Shara McCallum Critic: Glenville Ashby, PhD

S

hara McCallum's stark and edgy writings explore the underworld, a place where the conscious and the unconscious self merges; it is a place of knowing, experiencing, and the habitat of the Madwoman McCallum's muse and her alter ego.

McCallum unravels and splits, only to become whole.

It is a tortuous journey that she recounts, a persnickety task that lays bare a soul teetering on dissolution. But the darkest night of the soul revivifies, enlightens, and reconciles every disparate and warring pieces of thought.

Madwoman is, in reality, a thought-form rooted in the poet's unconscious. Over the years, it has morphed into an archetype and a permanent denizen of her space. This is hardly an implosive development. She has learnt from it, mending her broken parts. Her reflection is her catharsis. Her spry memories

A Journey to

take the form of imagery – “whore” and “abomination” to name a couple; they are representations of an identity shattered by society, our boundless and suffocating superego.

In 'You,' McCallum is a woman consumed by neuroses. We feel her dissociation; she is psychically shredded, her candour volcanic. “You bring out the sorriest of Bad Wolves in me. Dropped baskets, loose teeth, lost pathways in me.”

'Invention' tells how cleverly she buttresses a frayed ego with flights of f a n t a s y, h e r m y t h i c a l indulgence a salve for open wounds - "Even if smoke and mirrors, the beloved remains the rage, Love, how do I go on being your marvelous invention? If I sometimes misplace myself, who really can I blame? The... kiss was my miscalculated invention.”

In 'Grief,' she has either stumbled on truth or has assuredly decoded the mystery that is life.

“Have you really not yet learned?

Only in fairytales is disaster averted," she pens.

'Madwoman Apocrypha'

is clothed in ontological inquiry: Q: Who created you?

A: A breach in the self.

Q: What caused the breach: A: I'd become mistrustful of beauty again, each sound perforating the moment.

Q: How do you measure the distance between the girl you were and the woman you've become?

Each question probes deeper into her being.

And her 'Madwoman in Middle Ages,' traverses time

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Wholeness

and cultures.

She writes, “As a girl I knew the world was mutable.

A beggar could pass for king.

In a new country I became a woman, mistaking what I'd love for what I lost now I tell myself...every red is not a shade...Now when tea leaves drift through steaming water, sifting into shape, I say: This portends nothing.”

'Madwoman Exiled' is brutally haunting.

Climatically raw and Freudian, it captures our

unconscious drive for selfannihilation.

McCallum is at her expressive best – “Walking from the house of my earliest dreams…

Next town I enter, I will kneel on the steps of the first church I find, plant myself in the path of parishioners who turn from me...Whore of Babylon, Abomination, I will take matted strands to stone, scouring, for all who must see, the scourge he left in me.”

In like vein, she follows

with 'Salome to Madwoman' – “You too could learn what the wind becomes when it scythes the palms. A storm is an opportunity for all to be given form.”

In 'Elegy,' death has long consumed the living. It is a sobering reminder that the 'event' is an interpretive concept with divers meanings. In many a case, “death is like an ill-fitted suit that can be worn longer than we'd imagine.”

McCallum's encomium (continued on page 71)

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Fireworks mishap leaves 3 critical, 5 others injured From page 20 are not in jeopardy.”

Granger stated that the pyrotechnics were imported from overseas and stressed that a full investigation will be conducted to determine what happened.

“We are trying to get to the bottom of it. This occurred about 2:30 pm and eight soldiers were injured…But right now, the Guyana Defence Force Board will ensure every possible measure for the recovery of the injured soldiers.

“The families are here, I spoke with the families…It is something unexpected, particularly because of the level of training and professionalism of the unit.”

The unit was set to perform last night outside of the Stabroek Market for the 50th Republic Anniversary Fireworks display. But with this mishap, the display has been cancelled.

“Needless to say, the fireworks display has been cancelled. It is impossible to go on.”

Meanwhile, Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West told reporters that the unit held its rehearsals for the display on Friday evening around 10:00 pm. That went without hiccups.

“Our rehearsals were done (Friday) evening at 20:22 hrs and during those rehearsals, we had no challenges; it was well done.

And we were satisfied at the

end of the rehearsals that we could have done the display today.

“As they were preparing for the display today, they encountered some challenges, and there was some form of spontaneous combustion we believed that caused these detonations and the resulting injures.”

According to Brigadier We s t , a complete Commission of Inquiry will be conducted to get to the bottom of it and to determine what measures you can take to make sure that there is no reoccurrence.

The Chief of Staff also praised the Guyana Fire Service and the Emergency Medical Service for their immediate response.

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Govt. commissions $445M sluice at D’Edward, West Berbice Residents of West Berbice (Region 5) are happy with the commissioning of a new $445M sluice. The sluice which is situated at D’Edward Village will benefit approximately 5000 residents and farmers.

It will now make flooding in the region a thing of the past. The new four-door sluice is a tremendous boost to infrastructural works in the region and replaces an old three-door sluice which was in a dilapidated condition.

The sluice is capable of draining 16,000 acres of land and pumping over 6000 gallons of water per second.

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, stated that the new sluice was constructed to cater for future developments of the region.

It signals the government’s commitment to developing regional agriculture and boosting village economies.

“Region Five is the largest rice-producing region in Guyana, producing 45 percent of paddy annually. From Number No 27 Village to D’Edward, West Coast Berbice, there are about 500 rice farmers who cultivated

approximately 11,500 acres in the last crop.

“They will directly benefit from this investment.”

The Minister said that in 2019 alone, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the MMA-ADA, invested $846Million to continue implementing the upgrading and rehabilitating of drainage and irrigation systems and land administration in Region Five.

He assured residents that the government “remains committed to flood risk management for the economic and social well-being of the Guyanese people.”

Chief Executive Officer of National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Frederick Flatts, said the sluice in conjunction with other sluices and pump station serves an area of approximately 48,000 acres of residential and agricultural land.

“All of this is being done to improve drainage in this area. We look forward to a time when we would hardly see flooding in the area.

“Through planning, when we talk about reducing flooding it is not mere talk, it is a real attempt to reduce

flooding,” Flatts mentioned.

Farmers heaped praised on the government for the construction of the new sluice. This is a blessing for us in the region, and will make life much easier.

The project was completed at a total cost of $445 M. The designed was done by SRK Engineering at a cost of $13.7M and supervised by E&A consultants for $16.7M. The sluice was constructed by Courtney Benn Construction Services Limited.

Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder (left) along with Chief Executive Officer of NDIA Frederick Flatts and a student of Rosignol Secondary, Commission the sluice at D’Edward.

Region Six schools receive STEM kits

Minister Henry (left) and Regional Education Officer, Mrs. La Cruz with students and teachers of the Gibraltar-Courtland Primary School.

More schools in the East Berbice Corentyne Region have been equipped with STEM learning kits to enhance their capabilities of learning. The schools were presented with the kits by Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry.

Three schools namely Fyrish, Gibraltar Courtland Primary, and Hibiscus Nursery school in New Amsterdam, benefitted.

During the presentation

of the kits to the schools Dr. Henry said that they will allow for greater creativity and innovation among the students.

The Education Minister said that the kits will assist science education in schools at a time when several skilled professionals are needed for the Oil and Gas sector.

Minister Henry alluded to the other soft skills the kits will help the children to

develop such as creativity, critical thinking, while ensuring learning is made fun and interactive.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Regional Education Officer, Ms. Bhagmattie LaCruz.

She urged the children and the teachers to make maximum use of the kits so that there can be improvements among students and the overall education system.

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Education Minister donates beds to the family of stabbed Linden school girl …teenager discharged from hospital, recovering well Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, donated two beds, with mattresses to Mr Maynard Williams, the father of 15-year-old, Shashamani Williams, the Linden Foundation Secondary School student who was stabbed during a fight after school late last month.

According to the Education Minister, she wanted to ensure that the teenager ’s needs are adequately met now that she has been discharged from the hospital and on the road to recovery.

During a visit to the child’s home in Linden, Remigrant United, a NonGovernmental Organization

(NGO) with overseas affiliations was working to ensure that the family can move into their new home in two weeks.

According to Mr Paul Nurse, a member of the NGO, after learning of the girl’s plight and the family’s living arrangement, he and other members have been seeking assistance from persons in the community and elsewhere to assist with the construction of a new home for the family.

Nurse said that they have been receiving donations of sand, cement and other building supplies to assist with the construction of the new home.

He explained that because some amount of construction has to be done and the fact that the schoolgirl is recovering, they thought it was appropriate to have the family accommodated at a guest house in Linden until works are completed; and that expense is being covered by the organization.

During the visit to the f a m i l y ’s residence, workmen were milling around with alacrity to complete works.

It was explained that the services offered by those working on the construction of the home were being provided voluntarily.

Members of the organization

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

GNBS - Providing calibration services to industries As industries increase use and demand for traceable and accurate measurements, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) continues to build capacity to offer reliable calibration services to meet their needs.

Calibration is known to be a complex scientific process, which allows traceability in measurements. It compares the accuracy of instruments or equipment with a known and proven measurement standard.

Companies and laboratories are increasingly submitting their measuring instruments to the GNBS for regular comparisons with traceable standards in the areas of Mass, Dimension, Volume, Pressure, and Temperature.

GNBS, under its Industrial Metrology Programme, calibrates instruments that include balances, masses, measuring cylinders, liquid in glass thermometers, gauge blocks, pressure gauges, measuring tapes, micrometers and calipers.

Last year, calibration services were provided to manufacturing companies, medical and testing laboratories, the aviation industry and contractors within the oil and gas sector.

As a result, 1254 devices were calibrated for 2019, which represents a 21% increase above the previous year. The GNBS anticipates a greater increase in the number of devices calibrated in 2020.

To maintain the traceability and accuracy of its verification services, which are offered to stakeholders in trade, the GNBS also calibrated its working standards, i.e. masses,

electronic balances and provers (volumetric containers). Hence, these vendors, shopkeepers, and other users of scales

verified by the GNBS can have confidence in the verification process.

Meanwhile, in industry operations, calibration is very important. Consistently knowing the accuracy of measuring instruments gives companies the confidence that they are putting the right amounts of ingredients in their products.

This maintains consistency in product quality. The use of calibrated instruments also ensures that key parameters such as temperature conditions are maintained to preserve raw materials.

Inaccurate pressure gauges can result in major unwanted incidents such as explosions, which can be dangerous to life and limbs and can cause major spillage of products and damages to the equipment.

Companies that are certified to international standards such as the ISO 9001 Quality Management System Standard are required to have their measurement instruments calibrated. More of these companies are submitting their instruments to the Laboratory Services Department for calibration at costs competitive to overseas calibration providers.

As companies and laboratories demand calibration in higher ranges and areas, the GNBS will continue to develop the competency of its Laboratory Technicians through training and acquire the necessary equipment to ensure their measurement and calibration needs are met.

The GNBS provides calibration (Industrial Metrology) Services in the following areas:

For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0064 - 66.

The Education Minister makes the presentation to Maynard Williams, the father of 15-year-old, Shashamani Williams, who was stabbed in an after school fight. commended Minister Henry for the donation and the interest she has shown in the teenager’s recovery.

The Education Minister said that it is heartwarming to see such acts of kindness when it is most needed and

believes that persons can learn from the approaches and initiatives of the NGO. Minister Henry visited the family at the guest house where they are temporarily residing.

Shashamani Williams said

that she feels great and is looking forward to returning to school and that during her stay in the hospital she realized that her ambition is to become a nurse and she will be working towards accomplishing that.

Popular Pastor Cecil Agard succumbs one year after struck down by drunk getaway driver Popular Pastor Cecil B. Agard has succumbed to his injuries more than one year and two months after he was struck down by a drunk getaway driver on the Sheet Anchor Public Road, East Canje.

Pastor Agard, 77, who is the founder of the Faith Deliverance Tabernacle Church at 73 Nurseville/ Tucber Park Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam, died Saturday morning at his home. He never recovered from the injuries he suffered during the accident.

The accident occurred around 20:00 hrs on Sunday December 9, 2018. Pastor Agard was riding his motorcycle CF 9858 on his way home after praying for some believers when he was struck by motor car PPP 2518 driven by Gavin Saunders, 52, of Philadelphia Street, New Amsterdam.

Both were heading towards New Amsterdam. In trying to pass the motorcycle the left side of the heavily tinted motor car which was going at a fast rate of speed collided with the motor cycle.

The impact threw Pastor Agard off the motorcycle and crushed his right leg in four places. He also suffered injuries to his head and back.

Pastor Cecil B Agard

Accused: Gavin Saunders

The car then reportedly turned off its lights and accelerated from the accident scene.

Agard who had been on the pulpit for over 60 years was picked up by residents and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital. He underwent more than four hours of surgery.

Residents who had noticed the vehicle gave a description to the police. The car was subsequently located some hours later parked at a popular night spot in the town. The driver was imbibing. A breathalyzer test

was conducted on him and he was found to be way over the legal limit.

A search of the vehicle unearthed a quantity of marijuana, a bottle of rum and a cutlass among other things.

Saunders was subsequently slapped with five charges. Driving under the influence of Alcohol, failing to stop after an accident, failing to render assistance, driving an uninsured motor vehicle and driving an unlicensed motor vehicle.

All those charges were reportedly dismissed.

PAGE 68

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Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Canje River man to face jury on attempted murder charge

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Leroy La Fleur Leroy La Fleur, called “Devon”, 23, of Calabash Creek, Canje River has been committed to stand trial in the next sitting in the Berbice High Court on a charge of attempted murder.

He is accused of attempting to kill Suraj Azeez, called “Collie Boy”, 31, of Canje River on September 11, 2011.

La Fleur appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court where a preliminary Inquiry was conducted and it was concluded that a Prima Facie case has been made out against him on the charge of attempted murder.

The case for the prosecution as presented by Corporal Winston Poliah is that Azeez and the accused are known to each other, but are not friends.

It was reported that the accused has a farm about 300 feet from Azeez’s and disputes would arise from time to time.

Azeez had cause to report LaFleur to the police due to the ongoing dispute.

On the day in question the accused was at the estate pump at Calabash Creek up the Canje River talking with friends. They were also catching fish.

During the time Azeez told investigators that he felt a chop across his right hand.

Upon looking around he saw the accused with a cutlass in his hands.

The accused began chopping him about his body while threatening to kill him.

Azeez fell to the ground and eventually lost consciousness. He was picked up and taken to the hospital.

The matter was reported to the police and LaFleur was arrested and charged.

Sunday February 23, 2020

PAGE 69

Kaieteur News

CONSUMER CONCERNS

Guyana-Venezuela controversy comes before ICJ March 23

By PAT DIAL We revisit the GuyanaVenezuela Border controversy because it is an issue of the greatest importance to the very existence of Guyana. It is something that has been almost omitted from the media because of the inundation with writings on electoral politics.

The Controversy is coming before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the last week of March. It is an issue which touches the lives of all Guyanese. In this offering, we will briefly recount the narrative of Controversy to the present: In the last quarter of the 19th century, Venezuela, encouraged by the Munroe Doctrine which declared that the United States will oppose the founding of any new European colonies in the Americas or the expansion of the already established colonies, claimed most of the colony of British Guiana.

The United States championed Venezuela’s claim against Britain.

Relations between these two English-speaking countries became very tense until there was even talk of war.

Eventually it was decided to refer the matter to International Arbitration.

At the Arbitration, Venezuela was represented by the United States. Both sides were represented by the best lawyers of the time and the judges or Arbitrators were equally respected for their legal acumen and integrity.

The work of the Arbitration was thorough.

The National Archives of Spain, Holland and Britain were meticulously searched and the documentation recovered was voluminous.

Britain’s claim was territory to the mouth of the Orinoco River and most of the present Venezuelan province of Guayana while Venezuela

claimed all of British Guiana except Berbice.

The Arbitrators made their award in 1899. Britain (British Guiana) lost its claim to the territory to the mouth of the Orinoco River and its claims in what is now the Venezuelan province of Guyana while the Essequibo two-thirds of British Guiana was confirmed as belonging to Britain.

The Venezuelans were jubilant at the Award and celebrated it as a victory.

They even issued postage stamps commemorating their victory.

After the Award, a joint team of Venezuelan and British surveyors painstakingly demarcated the boundary of British Guiana which was recognized by Venezuela and internationally.

Then after 63 years, just as Britain was about to grant Independence to Guyana Venezuela rejected the Arbitral Award and claimed two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. Several motivations have been suggested for Venezuela’s action but it is clear that they did not wish Guyana to be granted Independence at that time and threatened not to recognize the new state.

Britain was however determined to grant Independence and to meet Venezuela’s objections. A Mixed Commission of Britain, Venezuela and Guyana was established in 1966 to work towards the settlement of the Controversy. Guyana was then granted its Independence.

The Mixed Commission deliberated for four years (1966 - 1970) without result.

And for the next half-acentury Guyana tried to bring closure to the issue: There was the 12-year Moratorium (1970-1982); the seven-year Process of Consultation (1983-1990); then the 27-year Good Offices Process under the aegis of the Secretary General of the United Nations

(1990-2017).

If the Good Offices Process failed to bring about a solution to the Controversy, then the Secretary General was charged to identify any other methodology. The Secretary General ruled that it should be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Guyana accepted the Secretary General’s ruling but Venezuela claimed that the Secretary General had no authority to make such a ruling and that the ICJ could not hear the case. The ICJ invited Venezuela to prove its contention, giving it half-ayear to do so until November 2019. Venezuela made no appearance or submissions.

During this period of seeking a solution, Venezuela took a number of hostile and harassing actions against Guyana. There was always a continuous threat to attack Guyana with its very superior military.

Such hostile activity included seizure of Ankoko island from Guyana (1966); instigating the Rupununi Rebellion to dismember the state of Guyana (1969); the Leoni Decree when Venezuela attempted to seize Guyana’s territorial sea (1968); assault on Eteringbang outpost (1970).

After many other threats such as overflying Guyana’s territory and sabre rattling on the borders, Venezuela finally decided to hamper Guyana’s Oil and Gas exploration by the seizure of seismic vessels Technics Perdana in early 2018, and Ranaform Tethys in December 2018.

The Controversy will come before the ICJ in the last week of March when the Court will decide whether it has the authority to hear the case. Guyana’s filing seeks to obtain from the Court a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award which established the boundaries between Guyana and Venezuela remains valid.

Both Government and Opposition have pledged themselves to support Guyana’s position in unity.

The settlement of the Controversy will be in both Venezuela and Guyana’s interest and would allow the

two countries to cooperate with each other and grow stronger in friendship to their mutual interest.

PAGE 70

As Guyana celebrates 50 years as a Cooperative Republic, we reflect on the unity that was warranted for such an auspicious feat to be achieved by an under-developed country, now on the cusp of becoming an oil-rich nation.

We have come a long way together as a unified people by echoing the single tune: One People, One Nation and One Destiny.

We at Kaieteur News hope that we do not falter in this

INDIAN ACTION COMMITTEE The Indian Action Committee (IAC), in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of Guyana having achieved republican status on 23rd February 1970, is calling upon all Guyanese citizens, including those who will be involved in public celebrations, to observe this day in a safe and considerate manner given the fact that many persons will be consuming alcohol in large quantities.

The IAC further calls upon all drivers who are involved in festivities to observe the basic rule of not drinking and driving.

The IAC recognizes that the date itself is linked to the Berbice uprising of enslaved persons of African origin, which allowed the then Dutch colony of Berbice to be administered by the temporarily freed slaves for a period of one year between 1763 and 1764.

The IAC also recognizes that a number of citizens, particularly dislocated sugar

Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

workers and many recently dismissed bauxite workers and their families will not be partaking in this year’s activities because of severe financial constraints and the organization encourages these persons to remain within their own communities and observe the day in private gatherings.

The IAC understands that many families of all ethnicities have been suffering and, presently, continue to suffer untold hardships in this current state of economic downturn in Guyana which began over four years ago.

The IAC is cognizant of the political and ethnic tensions that have risen to a dangerously high level in light of the fiercely contested upcoming General and Regional Elections, which, if not m a n a g e d t a c t f u l l y, c a n lead to the destabilization of the entire society given Guyana’s turbulent post-In-

dependence political history.

The IAC is highly concerned that the mishandling of the brand new petroleum industry will very likely result in future hardships for the vast majority of the ordinary Guyanese working class people given the sordid history of international oil companies operating in poor Third-World countries; and the organization is calling upon the new government to act swiftly to undo these mistakes that, if not remedied, will cause unpardonable punishment on these citizens.

The IAC joins with the political parties, religious bodies, trade unions and other civil society groups in the call for inclusion, genuine and lasting national unity in the drive towards economic development and prosperity.

T h e I A C wishes all Guyanese a Happy 50th Republic Anniversary.

regard as we onward march to more successes as a Cooperative Republic.

Also to mark our 50th Republic Day Anniversary are the following messages from various factions of our society:

GUYANA AGRICULTURAL AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION As our nation pauses and reflects as we observe half a century of Republican status we of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) takes this opportunity to extend greetings to the Guyanese people on this significant anniversary.

This anniversary gives us – the Guyanese people – yet another opportunity to assess what and where that Constitutional status has brought us.

As we salute our nation on this important anniversary of Republicanism we must take a sober look at where the

Republic stands nearly half a century on.

No doubt we made strides in various socio-economic aspects during this time but, we contend, that the economic transformation whereby the masses of Guyanese could experience fully the results of development is still to be achieved.

To this day, the economic struggle for a reasonable standard of living continues. Too many of our skilled, qualified citizens have opted for migration in pursuit of a better life.

As we have noted before the “Good Life” here is still out

PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM The People’s National Congress Reform is pleased to extend greetings and good wishes to all Guyanese as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our Republican status.

This year, 2020, our nation celebrates its Golden Jubilee; 50 years as a Republic and the national celebration of Mashramani.

Therefore, it is an occasion for reflection and assessment of the state of our nation, 50 years after Guyana was declared a Republic and 54 years since we achieved our independence.

The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Guyana Together; reflect, celebrate, transform.”

In this regard, it must be evident to all that we, as Guyanese, need to redouble our efforts to banish crime, disease, ignorance and poverty. We must strengthen national unity, expand national infrastructure, fortify national institutions, ensure national security and extend public services.

This year we must all stand as one.

This is the year for national unity. In the words of our Party Leader and President, “It is a year for recalling and recommitting towards the dream of a free, united and prosperous Guyana, one in which the good life is attainable by all.”Accordingly, the PNCR wishes all of the Guyanese people, a Happy Republic holiday, and a joyous celebration of Mashramani, as we pray that the spirit of peace, love and unity will dwell among us on the 50th Anniversary of our Republic.

of grasp of the workingpeople.When we consider our times of today, we recognize that several issues still linger on. In fact our now-aday circumstances, very much mimic the situation on our attainment of republican status. Guyanese are still grappling with the shocking news that our nation has given up as much as US$55B from our oil resources.

The cheap sell out of our national patrimony is a matter that cannot be countenanced or explained away with wishy-washy excuses and rationales.

Such conduct cannot and is not helpful especially given our stage of development and the pressing need to address several national issues.

Of course, we cannot ignore too that this significant anniversary comes on the eve of National and Regional elections. The polls which are overdue nearly a year now come as we see a new litany of promises and commitments emerging from those holding the reins of power.

GAWU calls on Guyanese not to abandon hope and unite and struggle for genuine progressive change. As the Anniversary’s Mashramani events take centre-stage, let us celebrate but, bear in mind our responsibilities as citizens of our Republic to bring about enduring prosperity and all-round progress benefitting every Guyanese.

A happy, peaceful Republic Anniversary and Mashramani 2020 to all!

A MESSAGE FROM THE PPP On the occasion of Guyana’s 50th anniversary as a Republic, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to express best wishes to all Guyanese, both at home and in the Diaspora.

At this point in time, there must be a sense of collective pride as a nation as we observe this Golden Jubilee milestone in self-governance.

Hallmarked by the various activities that epitomize the national festival of Mashramani, the imbued pride is manifested through the colourful and vibrant celebrations across the country in a demonstration of patriotism.

The splendor of the multitude of colours splashed to the pulsating beat of the mu-

sic reflects revelry after hardwork and our rich diversity that defines us as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multicultural nation.

This 50th anniversary comes at a time when our dear country is about to hold a most critical election which would decide its forward trajectory.

With Guyana on the cusp of becoming an oil and gas economy, we have to ensure that Guyana and all of its people have a fair share of the dividends of oil.

The PPP/C has laid out a Plan for Prosperity that will return vibrancy to our economy and generate thousands of jobs. We will also invest significantly in worldclass education and healthcare, ensure that our

children get more help by increasing the school cash grant and provide help for our pensioners by significantly increasing old-age pension.

We urge you to read up on the other measures outlined in our plan.

Let’s work to ensure a vision of Guyana that is inclusive and one which delivers prosperity for all of our people so that we can truly realize the goal of one people, one nation, one destiny as captured in our national motto.

Our Party also takes this opportunity to commend the dedication and efforts of all involved in the various activities held across the country and which will culminate with the annual national costume and float parade.Happy Mashramani to all.

Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

TT and Barbados sign gas agreement NEWSDAY - Barbados and TT governments have signed a unitisation agreement for collective oil and gas exploration last week and this agreement is expected to be the first of several initiatives by both countries to strengthen diplomatic ties, according to Prime Minister Dr Rowley.

Speaking at a post Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, Dr Rowley said the energy agreement between TT and Barbados was in effect as exploration into Barbados continued. He said the agreement would ensure both countries are given a fair share of any pockets of gas found.

“This agreement means that in the event the exploration is

successful in identifying any commercially viable resources, TT and Barbados would have already agreed to extract those resources on a unitised basis, meaning that if the pools cross the borders from one territory into another, there will be no difficulties in extracting oil on the other side of the territory.

“These developments will allow us to bring to the market at a much earlier period anything we may find. It also opens the door to improved seismic work across the border and Barbados has also granted exploration in two of their blocks which conjoins with TT so this unitisation is a major step forward for offshore exploration.”

Rowley said both countries were also focused on including renewable sources of energy in their plans for greater sustainability and development. “Just today Cabinet took a decision to continue with our renewable energy initiative.

We came to the point where two companies BP and Shell won the proposal and Cabinet agreed that we should advance to that.”

He also said both countries were interested in expanding into Africa for various trade missions and to enhance the state of diplomatic ties, citing the opening of an office both Barbados and TT will be sharing in Kenya.

ST. LUCIA OBSERVES 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE CASTRIES, St. Lucia - CMC – St. Lucia celebrated its 41st anniversary of political independence yesterday, from Britain with Prime Minister Allen Chastanet urging nationals “to shake the habits that continue to drown” the island.

In his Independence Day message, Chastanet said the developments over the past four decades, including building an economy no longer tied to or dependent on an agricultural monocrop, “we must continue

to recognize the things that keep us back, the attitudes and modes of behaviour which hurt us and eliminate them once and for all.“We need to apply equal effort to the development of values as we do to fiscal policy and infrastructure. But what are these values? I am speaking here about love and respect for each other and for our country, respect for authority and the laws of our country, tolerance, honesty, discipline and so on.”

Monitoring foreign investments From page 47 its case. Omai is gone and Rusal has been arrogantly silent about its treatment to workers.

2020 IS MUCH, MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE '90s In the last few weeks, on top of questions about ExxonMobil and the Stabroek Block, there have also been disclosures about three new hotels and land at Wales.

A number of investors are here, including from Trinidad and the US, who have signed deals to build AC Marriott and Hilton hotels at Ogle. Some of the investors are also looking to establish a cold storage facility at Wales on 200 acres it will be leasing.

The transactions will speak to an evolving role for the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). That stateowned entity has been controversial in the past and the same words of caution will be issued.

Let us ensure that Guyana benefits. It is not all about tax holidays for them. Not only jobs. There also has to be strict adherence to agreements signed and not deviations.

Timelines must be met and kept. NICIL has to understand that the year 2020 is much, much different from the '90s.

We are in the driver's seat now.

The US is the one confirming that hundreds of companies are waiting to come.

Investors are knocking.

We have to skillfully negotiate our deals and ensure that Guyana gets the best agreements. The benefits have to be jobs, taxes and the spinoffs. We have to strike a balance.

We are tired of bending backwards and hearing, 'oh,

they are coming and providing jobs'.

That cannot be the only reason. Let us wake up.

NICIL and others have to ensure they have the mechanisms to monitor these companies to ensure they deliver.

We expect nothing less.

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

A Journey to Wholeness From page 59 to death is telling. It is in 'Death' that she makes the final stride toward wholeness. In this transformative experience, there is vindication…and victory.

This one moment is inextricably weaved into life, no longer a dreaded finality, but a spark to be revered. - “This truth you turn from has been your companion from the start. Oh my sweet, you will remember me, anytime now, despite yourself.”

McCallum masterfully and ever so subtly delves into the incalculability of the human mind. To call her work a psychoanalytic marvel is an understatement.

Wryly authentic, she invites us to glean from the recesses of self and its dynamic relationship to time

and timelessness. Hers is a poetic treatise steeped in psycho-philosophical and metaphysical enquiry. We are that much closer to understanding McCallum if we define her work for what it truly is.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) F e e d b a c k : glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @glenvilleashby Madwoman by Shara McCallum © Shara McCallum 2019 Publishers: Peepal Tree Press, UK ISBN: 13: 9781845233396 Available at Amazon Ratings: Highly recommended

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Police launch investigation into former national security minister BELMOPAN - CMC – Police Commissioner Chester Williams has confirmed that an investigation has been launched into allegations linking former national security minister, John Saldivar to a bribery scandal involving an imprisoned American businessman dating back to 2013.

Early last week, Saldivar’s successor, Michael Peyrefitte, told reporters that an investigation had been launched into the allegations after text messages surfaced in a Utah court showing that Saldivar had rejected a wire transfer and accepted to go to Miami to receive a sum of money.

Saldivar, who was place on indefinite suspension by Prime Minister Dean Barrow, earlier this month, has admitted that he took the money as campaign finances, but there have been calls for an independent investigation of the matter.

Williams said that Assistant Commissioner of Police Marco Vidal has been assigned to take on the investigation.

But he acknowledged that for the investigations to happen, the police must first receive the trial transcripts from the Utah court and any evidence presented in the case against accused the American fraudster Lev Dermen.

“It is not a fly by night thing. There are things that we need to obtain in order to trigger the investigation. From what I have been made to understand, the matter is still ongoing in the Utah Court; a final determination has not been made on the matter,” Williams said.

“So once that has been done, we are going to request the transcript of the case, through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty that we have with the US along with other things that were exhibited in court as evidence. So whenever we get those, we will be able to further the investigate more,” Williams said, adding “I have identified an officer who is going to lead that investigation and I have explained to him what the scope of that investigation is going to be”.

Williams said the police will be working

Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

“Set aside differences and cooperate for the common good” – Pres. Granger on 50th Republic Anniversary

former national security minister, John Saldivar with various agencies and government departments, including the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, in the probe. Williams, noted also that the investigation can possible exculpate Saldivar of any wrongdoing.

“If it is at the end of the investigation the file will have to be sent to the DPP to see whether or not a crime has been committed because remember an investigation is not only to show that a crime was committed. But it can also show that a crime was not committed so investigation can also be done to exculpate somebody and not only to show that the person is guilty of having committed a crime,” he added.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Barrow said he placed Saldivar, on “indefinite suspension” as well as demanded his resignation as the leader elect of the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP).

Barrow had said then that the suspension would allow for both the government and the police to fully investigate the allegations reminding the population that he earlier warned that any minister implicated in the matter would be dismissed, but that Saldivar has continued to maintain his innocence..”

The main opposition People’s United Party (PUP) is planning a demonstration on Sunday in support of the call for fresh general elections in the country.

Head of State, President David Granger, has made a call for Guyanese to set aside their differences and band together for the “common good” as Guyana celebrates 50 years as a Republican State.

President Granger in his address to the nation, stated that Guyana celebrates this milestone with a “sense of satisfaction.”

“Mashramani, the festival celebrating our Republican status, is an occasion for all Guyanese to set aside their differences and cooperate for the common good.”

He called on Guyanese to work together to “place Guyana on an irreversible path to greater liberty, unity and prosperity.”

“This Anniversary evokes emotions of pride and patriotism. There is satisfaction over the nation’s progress over the past fifty years, and expectation over the prospects for the future.”

Granger said that the 50th anniversary marks the commencement of the ‘Decade of Development: 2020-2029’ seeing progress in every sector.

In the Decade of Development plan, educational achievement, economic growth, energy security, environmental protection, constitutional reform, governance, social cohesion, social protection, infrastructural improvement and international relations are among the key pillars that will be addressed.

Child hospitalised after falling from top floor

A

seven-year-old child is now a pa tients at the Pediatric Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after she reportedly fell from the top floor of her home on Friday.

The incident occurred around 15:30hrs.

The currently hospitalised victim has been identified as Shania Payne of Lot 32 ‘A’ Field Sophia.

As a result of the incident the child sustained a broken left hand and two cuts to her stomach region.

She reportedly sustained the cuts after falling on pieces of broken glass that was be-

neath the verandah she fell from.

Kaieteur News understands that at the time of the incident Shania was instructed to play on the verandah of her home by her mother, who at the time was cooking.

However while playing it is suspected that Shania climbed onto the rail of the verandah when she slipped and fell.

Shania remains at the city hospital where her condition is listed as stable.

Welfare officers have since been called in to examine the condition the child live under at her respective home.

“We live in a country that is protecting its national patrimony – its coastland, grasslands, highlands, islands, wetlands, lakes, rainforests, rivers and waterfalls.

“These physical features, together with our magnificent fauna – animals, birds, fish, insects and reptiles – are wonderful natural assets.”

Further, the Head of State said that Guyana is in transition to becoming a ‘green state’.

This, he noted, will place greater emphasis on the preservation of the environment and biodiversity, the promotion of the generation of energy from renewable sources and the implementation of measures for climate mitigation and adaptation.

Granger pointed out that Guyana boasts as a country that is enjoying high levels of growth and human development and with accountable government and greater equality.

“Ours is one in which everyone will be able to enjoy equality before the law, education that is free, employment that is satisfying and an environment that is safe and healthy.”

He explained that “statehood represented a substantive fulfil l m e n t o f o u r p e o p l e ’s a s p i r a t i o n s t o chart their own destiny by refashioning their social and economic relations, introducing new national institutions, affirming sovereignty and advancing towards the goal of self-reliance.”

According to him, statehood brought us to the realisation that the common good is greater than the sum of our individual interests.

“Our country has progressed over the past fifty years on the basis of this principle. It will continue along this path during the Decade ahead.”

“I extend best wishes to every Guyanese for a happy Anniversary, one in which we will enjoy the bounty and benefits of the Decade of Development, the most exciting and exhilarating in our nation’s history.”

Sunday February 23, 2020

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Skeletal remains wash up on Berbice beach 82% of Joint Services turned out to vote The remains that were found.

GECOM PRO, Yolanda Ward

Commander in charge of Region Five, Yonette Stephens, has confirmed with this publication that skeletal remains believed to be that of a human washed up along the Number 37 foreshore West Coast Berbice Friday morning.

According to Stephens the police were informed by a farmer who was at the location some time around 10:00 am Friday.

She added, “We have since contacted our counterparts in Region Six and informed them so they may contact relatives of persons that were missing (fishermen)”.

She explained that the

remains are currently at the Bailey’s Funeral Home awaiting an examination from the Pathologist.

On October 5, 2019 four fishermen ventured out to sea to work but were attacked by other fishermen who robbed them and dumped them overboard.

Ajai Kissoon, Vishnu Seeram, Marvin Tamasar and Lamar Petrie left the Number 65 fishing wharf on the SARA-1 fishing vessel. Petrie and Kissoon’s remains were found and identified by relatives but the other two Seeram and Tamasar still remain missing.

Police have since indicated that they are not

The disciplined services voted at a high turnout of 82 percent last Friday, according to Guyana Elections Commission public relations officer, Yolanda Ward.

The turnout for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was 5,400 (80.6 percent); Guyana Defence Force (GDF) – 2,539 (83.6 percent); Guyana Prison Service (GPS) – 430 (88.1 percent).

That amounted to a total of 8,369 votes from a list totaling 10,226 eligible voters.

The governing coalition commended the high voter turnout in a statement, as they prepare to provide security for the March 2 general and regional elections.

Kaieteur News understands that the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) will be voting on March 2, with the rest of the general populace. ruling out the possibility that the remains might be that of them. DNA testing is also expected to be done.

Investigations are in progress.

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Halep survives Rybakina Jesus seals win for Manchester City onslaught to win Dubai title at Leicester (Reuters) - Top seed Simona Halep came back from a set down for the third time in the tournament to beat Kazakhstan’s rising star Elena Rybakina 3-6 6-3 7-6(5) to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for the second time yesterday.

In a battle that lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours, the match came down to a tiebreak where two shots that went agonizingly wide for Rybakina eventually decided the title in front of a noisy crowd that constantly chanted Halep’s name.

Romanian Halep, who first won the title in Dubai in

2015, and 20-year-old Rybakina had nearly identical numbers with respect to winners and unforced errors, and they both broke each other four times to underline how close the contest was.

Rybakina, playing her fourth final of the season, was unplayable at times before Halep got a foothold in the contest and started controlling points.

“I really want to congratulate Elena, she’s so young and has many years to play at the highest level,” a visibly exhausted but relieved Halep said in her post-match interview.

“I was checking the board to see how fast she served.

Sometimes I couldn’t really touch the ball, it was really tough to return.

“I fought hard, I really wanted (to win) this tournament because I love playing here and I gave everything I had. Now I’m actually pretty dead!”

The title was reigning Wimbledon champion Halep’s 20th of her career and the world number two has now extended her stay in the top 10 to 318 weeks — the 10th longest streak in WTA history.

Sunday February 23, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) It’s possible that you could fear for your job today, Aries. Fortunately, those fears are unfounded. There is a lot of upheaval occurring at work. You’re best advised to steer clear of it, if you can.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) It's hard to deny the power of a chemical reaction to another person. You’ll likely meet someone today or perhaps you've just met someone who has a strong influence on you, Taurus.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) “The person who dies with the most toys wins” may well be your philosophy.

And today you certainly move ahead in the race as you add yet another technological wonder to your home.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today you could sit down at the computer for just a minute to research something on the Internet and wind up spending most of the afternoon entranced by what you're reading, Cancer.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Yo u ’ v e a l w a y s h a d a knack for all things financial, Leo, but today your ability is especially enhanced. You’ve discovered all the free investing information available over the Internet.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Keep your eyes wide open today, Virgo, as you may meet the person of your dreams! Or you could stumble, literally, upon a stack of cash.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A change of profession may be in the stars for you, or a change of hobby at the very least. The latest technological advances have really captured your interest.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You’re likely to be feeling the tug of distant lands, Scorpio. Today you could stop at the travel agent’s office, the one you've walked by countless times, and stare at the pictures.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Change, even when it's for the better, can sometimes be a little scary, Sagittarius. You could feel some hesitation about taking a new job or upgrading your home. Nevertheless, you’re being given a terrific opportunity.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A There are plenty of opportunities out there, and you’re tempted to seize every one of them. Well, Capricorn, a bit of discrimination is in order if you’re going to make the best use of the auspicious atmosphere.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You’re likely to receive a windfall of some sort today.

Be cautious with it, Aquarius. If you invest it wisely, it will serve you long and well.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A change of scene is in store for you, Pisces. It’s unclear whether or not this is a voluntary move, but it’s clear that chaos and confusion reign over the next few days.

There is much to be done.

(Reuters) - Gabriel Jesus came off the bench to secure Manchester City a 1-0 Premier League victory at Leicester City after yet another penalty miss by Pep Guardiola’s side yesterday.

It looked like being a frustrating day for secondplaced City when Kasper Schmeichel saved Sergio Aguero’s spot kick just past the hour but Jesus spared his blushes late on.

The Brazilian was fractionally onside as he collected a pass by former Leicester title winner Riyad Mahrez and he showed great composure to power a shot past Schmeichel.

Victory lifted City seven points above Leicester in the battle for runners-up spot behind runaway leaders Liverpool who remain 19 points clear before their clash with lowly West Ham United at Anfield on Monday.

While Liverpool’s first title for 30 years is a formality, champions City showed that they will not down tools as they edged an absorbing game that surprisingly required 80 minutes for the deadlock to be broken.

Premier League top scorer Jamie Vardy rattled the post for Leicester early on while Schmeichel made great saves from Kevin de Bruyne, Aguero and Mahrez. The Danish keeper’s block from Aguero’s penalty means City have failed to score five of their last seven in all competitions.

Victory was the ideal boost for City ahead of a week in which they face Real Madrid in the Champions League followed by the League Cup final against Aston Villa next Sunday.

“The most important thing is that we won today even if we miss the penalty,” said Mahrez, who was superb on his return to the Midlands.

“Today we showed a great reaction.

“It was a perfect game to prepare (for Real Madrid), a tough game, we are ready.”

As is becoming the norm, VAR was again a talking point with Leicester not being awarded a penalty in the first half after De Bruyne appeared to block a free kick with his arm.

When Dennis Praet blocked Ilkay Gundogan’s fierce shot with his arm on the hour, City’s players appealed en masse and VAR correctly awarded the penalty.

Aguero went for power rather than placement, however, and Schmeichel saved with his legs.

Minutes later he denied Aguero again with an equally

Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring their first goal. (REUTERS/Eddie Keogh) Chelsea 2 – Tottenham 1 impressive save. City were Burnley 3 – Bournemouth relentless though and Mahrez surged forward before a 0 Crystal Palace1 – perfectly-timed pass sent Jesus clear to score his fourth Newcastle 0 Sheff Utd 1 – Brighton 1 goal in five Premier League Southampton 2 - Aston games against Leicester.

Saturday 22nd February Villa 0 Leicester 0 - Man City 1 2020 results:

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Sunday February 23, 2020

Faoud Bacchus bats for West Indies Over 50s team - 2nd Over 50s World Cup bowls off in SA March 10th -24th Sheik Faoud Ahamul Fasiel Bacchus is a former cricketer who played for both the West Indies during their halcyon days as the undisputedly best team in the world and then, his adopted country, United States.

Faoud was a stylish righthanded batsman who also excelled in the field of play in almost any position that he was placed in.

His prowess in the field, whether in the point/cover region or at the dangerous forward short leg positions made him a legend in the game just for his brilliant anticipation.

He made his Test match debut for the West Indies aged 24 in the 1977/78 series against Australia. His best series was in 1978/79 against India, where he scored 96 in the second Test and 250 in the sixth Test, although overall he averaged 26.06 in his 19 Test matches.

Many cricket enthusiasts are unaware that this double century was his first and only test century and there are

many stories that swirl around this particular innings when he was just 6 runs adrift from the highest test score made by another Guyanese and West Indies batting legend, Rohan Kanhai.

Faoud also played 29 One Day Internationals for the West Indies between 1977 and 1983, with a high score of 80 and an average of 26.60, winning two man-of-thematch awards.

Bacchus’ international career came to an end after he joined the rebel tour to South Africa in 1983–84 and played a few seasons there, defying the international sporting boycott of the apartheid state at that time.

Bacchus later migrated to the USA and, quite naturally, continued with the game that he so loved, culminating in him captaining the United States in the 1997 and 2001 ICC Trophy tournaments.

Faoud has decided to throw his support behind the West Indies Over-50s World Cup squad which will be competing for top honours in

the second Over-50s World Cup in South Africa during the period March 10th to 24th against 11 other nations. It is noteworthy that similar to our first Ambassador, Lawrence Rowe, Faoud also spent quite a few seasons in South Africa with top provinces, Western Province and Border.

Lots of cricket fans were upset when some of our top cricketers chose to defy the politicians in that era but there were circumstances that dictated those decisions, chief of which was the challenge to maintain your position in the West Indies team at that time.

Sometimes it was an economic decision to continue playing the game that you so loved at a very high level.

If you were dropped from the West Indies team, usually, there was very little chance you could ever recover to get back into that team. It was brutal, a release from the team informed.

The Over-50s squad was ecstatic when they had the

Faoud Bacchus (left) accepts a gift from the West Indies over 50s team recently. opportunity to mingle with Faoud and learn from his experiences in South Africa.

Some members of the squad such as Dhaniram, Zamin Amin and Julian Charles would have had the opportunity to have played

Darren Sammy to become honorary citizen of Pakistan ESPNcricinfo - Darren Sammy has played a major role in the return of top-flight cricket to Pakistan, and the country has decided to express its gratitude in style, by extending an honorary citizenship to the former West Indies captain. Arif Alvi, the Pakistan president, has signed off on the same, and Sammy will also receive the Nishan-e-Pakistan, the country’s top civilian award, on March 23 in Islamabad.

The idea of the honorary citizenship was initiated by Javed Afridi, the owner of Peshawar Zalmi, the team Sammy has represented since the start of the PSL in 2016.

The PCB followed up on it with the federal government in light of Sammy’s “invaluable contribution to cricket in Pakistan”.

St Lucian Sammy, 36, has been Zalmi’s premier marquee player from the beginning of the PSL. Ahead of the second edition, Shahid Afridi, who led the team in the first season, stepped down and handed the reins to Sammy, and he has led them since -

with or against him at various levels.

True to form, Faoud was generous in sharing his deep knowledge of the game and his vast experiences in SA. Faoud was a fitness fanatic and played squash regularly and everyone that knew him well can attest to the fitness fanatic that he was known for.

His advice centered mainly around our guys

attaining and maintaining superior fitness levels as the weather can get a little mean and humid to our guys who are more accustomed to the tropical climate.

These little nuggets and titbits were latched onto by the squad members and they were lucky to have interfaced with 2 WI icons who, coincidentally, both had decent experiences in South Africa.

Police Rank continues to impress with Gold at recent Boxing Extravaganza

Darren Sammy goes traditional after Peshawar Zalmi’s PSL title win in 2017. (AFP via Getty Images) they won the title in 2017 and were the losing finalists in 2018 and 2019.

More than that, though, it’s Sammy’s support to the Pakistan cause that has endeared him to people in the country. He was the first to agree to tour Pakistan when the PCB wanted to bring the

PSL final to the country.

Then, when an ICC World XI was lined up to tour Pakistan for three T20Is in September 2017, Sammy - a part of that squad - spoke to the other tourists as part of a security briefing.

At the time, he had said, “I did brief them quickly about my experience in Lahore for the PSL final. We’ve had the best security team, who have also briefed them. Like I said before, it’s important. I get to play in front of my fans in St Lucia and around the world and we see how passionate

they are, and to get an opportunity after so long, they are all happy to be part of that process.

“First thing I said to guys after the PSL final - apart from all the security and the protocol - once I stepped on the field, it felt like playing in St Lucia. That is my honest experience - the crowd were just hungry for cricket, to see their icons and role models play in the game. That is what it felt like. That is what I briefed the players when the coach [Andy Flower] asked me about my experience.”

On Sunday February 16th, 2020, Constable 23337 Dewani Lampkin, who is a serving member of the Guyana Police Force for the past five years and is attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), contested in the Mashramani Boxing Extravaganza held at the National Gymnasium where he was successful.

Constable Lampkin, who is one of the upcoming talent in the amateur boxing arena, contested the junior welterweight category where he defeated his opponent Orin Bancroft in a split decision match, winning a Gold Medal.

Constable Lampkin has been boxing for approximately 12 years, both locally and internationally and has contested in a total of 67 fights with 55 wins and 12 losses.

His next fight is expected to be during the Patrick Forde Memorial tournament fixed for July.

The Guyana Police

Dewani Lampkin displays his medal won Force wishes to congratulate Constable Lampkin on his achievements and urges that he continues to stay focused and make the Force and Country proud.

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Hetmyer, Russell recalled for T20s; Lewis still sidelined ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Stroke-maker Shimron Hetmyer has been recalled to the West Indies squad for the two-match Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka next month after passing a critical fitness test.

The 23-year-old lefthander was left out of the ongoing one-day series in Sri Lanka after failing a similar fitness a s s e s s m e n t l a s t month but was re-tested during the last week following his outing for Guyana Jaguars in the domestic four-day championship, and met the minimum requirement.

However, opener Evin Lewis, who like Hetmyer also failed to meet the minimum fitness standard and was overlooked for the o n e - d a y t o u r, d i d n o t undergo a re-test and has not been included for the upcoming matches on March 2 and 4 in Kandy.

CMC Sport understands that selectors are hopeful the left-handed opener can be retested soon so he can be available for the white-ball home series against New Zealand in July.

Meanwhile, fit-again allrounder Andre Russell has earned recalled and is now set to feature for the first time since he limped out of West Indies’ ill-fated ICC 50-over World Cup campaign in

England last June with a knee injury.

“Shimron Hetmyer missed out on selection for the ODI squad. He has since attained the required fitness level, becoming available for selection and has been included,” said chief selector Roger Harper.

“Andre Russell is back in the squad, having been cleared by the medical panel and successfully completing CWI’s return-to-play protocol. Andre will add potency to every department of the team.”

The 31-year-old Russell underwent surgery following the World Cup, making a successful recovery and has since mainly focussed on franchise cricket around the globe.

He has not represented West Indies in a T20 International in 19 months.

Selectors have also recalled Test and one-day batting star, Shai Hope, fast bowler Oshane Thomas and left-arm spinning all-rounder, Fabian Allen to the 14-man squad.

Hope last played against Afghanistan in November before missing series against India and Ireland, while Thomas escaped serious injury in a vehicular accident in his native Jamaica earlier this week to be fit enough to make the trip.

- Nat’l U-20 Women’s, Men’s teams face Nicaragua in Dominican Rep. and Nicaragua

Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer.

Allen, a member of the one-day squad, also missed the India and Ireland series recovering from injury.

“Oshane Thomas appears to be focused and raring to go. He will add pace and penetration to the bowling unit,” said Harper.

“Shai Hope provides an opening option and cover as a back-up wicket-keeper also.

Fabian Allen returns from the injury he sustained in the series against Afghanistan late last year. He will provide a spin bowling option as well as adding depth to the batting group.”

Disappointingly there is no place for Test captain and leading fast bowlingall-rounder Jason Holder

who toured India last December, was then rested for the Ireland series and has now been snubbed by selectors.

CMC Sport understands that 21- year-old fast-bowling all-rounder, Sherfane Rutherford, who played all three T20s against Ireland last month, has been dropped after failing a fitness assessment.

SQUAD – Kieron Pollard (captain), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kesrick Williams.

Amelia’s Ward Basketball court renamed Agnes Blair Court - New committee elected to mange facility

From Left: Shawn Kitt Floyd Martindale, Robert Archer, Cheryl Waithe, Wilfred Younge, Kevin Joseph and Numez Browne missing is Alistair Webster.

The Amelia’s Ward basketball court is now renamed the Agnes Blair Basketball Court. It is named after the woman who was instrumental in getting the land for the recreational facility. At the same time a Management Committee was elected to look after the running of it.

That Committee is headed by former Linden Amateur Basketball Association

president Robert Archer.

Other executive members include Allister Webster as vice president, Secretary Ms. Cheryl either, Treasurer Kevin Joseph, Assistant Secretary Treasurer Numex Browne, and Committee members Shana Kitt, Wilfred Young and Shawn Kitt.

The new president Robert Archer said that soon they will seek recognition from the municipality and will explore

Super Sunday for Guyana’s football @ Concacaf U-20 C/Ships

ways and means of completing the rehabilitation work which is currently underway at the court.

The basketball court now has two new basketball backboards which were donated by the Brusche’s Basketball Foundation in association with former Linden resident Byron Freso through his Escalade sports organization.

Mrs. Agnes Blair, who is

a senior living at Amelia’s Ward, was a pioneer of the Amelia’s Ward community, and made the approach to have the land allocated for the purpose of the construction of the basketball court according to Archer in the 1990s.

The new body will also have the work currently happening on the court be completed in time for the Linden town Week in April.

History beckons for Guyana’s football today when, for the first time in its history at the Under-20 level, the respective male and female teams would both be playing against the same nation in two separate countries.

Yes, some years ago, Guyana had two male senior teams on the road at the same time but not playing against the same nation and not Concacaf competitions.

Today’s, however, the future of the nation at both levels would be on display for the world to see according to Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President, Wayne Forde.

“The name Guyana is clearly on the minds of all Nicaraguans who no doubt understand what a resounding echo will be felt across the entire Concacaf Region if their U20 Men and Women were to go down to our National U20 Men’s and Women’s teams respectively.

This is a historic moment for the GFF and despite the result at the final whistle; I am very proud of the players and Coaching Staff and wish them well in today’s encounters.”

While the Men’s U20 Team would be wrapping up their quest to qualify for the championship, the U20 Women would be opening their quest for further glory when they take on Nicaragua at the Olimpico Felix Sánchez in the Dominican Republic from 19:00hrs.

Also in Group D are Mexico and Puerto Rico, which will face off from 16:00hrs in the opener today.

A win for both teams would be the perfect gift to the nation as celebrations continue for the Golden Republic Anniversary.

The National U20 Men’s team, already playing against the odds as they do not have their full complement of players, having five (5) fewer than the other nations, 20 each, have already shown great heart by recording three wins to date against Montserrat, St Vincent & the Grenadines and US Virgin Islands with home team Nicaragua to go tonight from 21:30hrs.

Head Coach Wayne Dover has stated that he is

backing his charges to deliver the goods come this evening against the home team; the ‘Junior Jaguars’ are getting ready for the final roar and the nation must be behind them on this historic day.

Captain Nicholas Mc Arthur along with his peers as well as the entire Technical Staff are bracing for a positive end to what has certainly been a challenging week.

Head Coach of the Under-20 Female Team, Ivan Joseph had stated earlier in the week that they would have been preparing strategically and are ready for the challenge at hand.

“The coaching staff and players have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming Concacaf Women’s Under 20 championships,” said Coach Ivan Joseph when asked to comment on the team’s preparation so far. “It is our hope that we will make our country and all our fans proud of our effort and commitment on the field.

Mexico, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico are all formidable opponents in our opening Group D round-robin pool.

All three teams are ranked ahead of us in our pool with Mexico leading the way as the number two-ranked team in the tournament. We will need to play at our very best and hope to get a bounce or two in our direction to advance to the next round,” he added.

The final squad includes several debutants including Goalkeeper Raven EdwardsDowdall, Midfielder Shanice Alfred, Forward Makayla Rudder and Defender Anaya Johnson. These four players join a contingent of players who helped Guyana qualify for the U20 Concacaf Championship for the first time in Guyana’s history.

The progress made by the women’s programme has been notable with the U20 and U17 teams both advancing to the Concacaf Championships.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 23, 2020

Windies falter in opener despite Hope hundred COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – Shai Hope’s ninth One-Day International hundred went in vain as West Indies lost their composure inside the last 10 overs to suffer a narrow one-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in a tense opener of the three-match series here yesterday.

Sent in at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, West Indies’ 289 for seven from their 50 overs was underpinned by Hope’s stylish 115 from 140 balls – his third century in his last eight innings and fifth in the last 10 months.

Roston Chase (41) and left-hander Darren Bravo (39) both got starts but failed to carry on while all-rounder Keemo Paul lashed a 17-ball unbeaten 32 batting at number eight, to give the Caribbean side a strong finish.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne then topscored with 52 off 57 deliveries in a century opening stand with Avishka Fernando (50) while

Wanindu Hasaranga kept his calm to win Sri Lanka a tight game. (AFP via Getty Images) Kusal Perera struck 42 off 50 balls.

However, it was Man-ofthe-Match Wanindu Hasaranga with a lively unbeaten 42 off 39 deliveries which turned the game in Sri Lanka’s favour, in a 38-run, seventh wicket stand off 30 balls with Thisara Perera who

thumped a cameo 32 from 22 balls.

On 231 for six at the end of the 40th over and requiring 59 runs from 60 balls for victory, Sri Lanka got the better of the exchanges thanks to Hasaranga’s efforts, the 22-year-old righthander blasting four fours

Orinduik Development Inc. takes off with Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation for 3rd consecutive year Like the multi-tiered series of cascades of the Orinduik Falls, Orinduik Development Inc. has been supporting the respective shooting disciplines of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF). This 3rd year in a row is no different as the Board of Directors once again will be sponsoring a Practical Shooting Match to be hosted by the GSSF and which will as usual, be open to all established practical shooters of Guyana.

Orinduik Development Inc. is a 100% Guyanese owned company that is building Guyana’s first commercial Heliport on the Lusignan coast.

The primary objective of the proposed heliport is to provide an independent facility for helicopter operations in close proximity to Georgetown, and to facilitate the growing need for such air transport services coming from many sectors, including the extractive industry.

The heliport shall provide a location for the voluntary basing of helicopter operators providing commercial services (moving people and cargo, mining, tourism, oil industry, construction, agriculture, news and media) from and near Georgetown and is also intended to support the

and a six and Perera counting three fours and a six.

The contest could have been even tighter late on but left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell’s last two overs leaked 21 runs and Sri Lanka got home in the end with five balls to spare.

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph claimed three for 42 while legspinner Hayden Walsh (2-38) and seamer Paul (2-48) ended with two wickets apiece.

For the Windies, the defeat left them trailing in the three-match series, needing to win the remaining matches in order to clinch their first-ever ODI series win in on Sri

Lankan soil.

Hope had earlier taken the spotlight for the Caribbean side, stroking 10 fours in his first hundred against Sri Lanka and sixth on the subcontinent.

Given out lbw to seamer Nuwan Pradeep off the second ball of the game before he had scored, Hope used the DRS reprieve to reach his half-century off 77 balls at the start of the 26th over, before raising triple figures in the 43rd over off 128 deliveries.

He lost opening partner Sunil Ambris cheaply for three in the fourth over but then posted 77 for the second wicket with Bravo and a further 85 for the third wicket with Chase.

Bravo hit three fours and a couple of sixes off 52 balls before he was run out in the 20th over after being sent back by Hope over a quick single, while Chase punched three fours and a six in a breezy 45-ball knock before playing onto Pradeep in the 36th over.

Hope was eventually out in the 46th over, bowled by left-arm seamer Isuru Udana (3-82) as one of four wickets to tumble for 47 runs.

However, Paul smashed four fours and a six in an unbroken 49-run, eighth wicket stand with Hayden

Walsh jr (20 not out) to propel the Windies in the final stages.

In reply, Sri Lanka held the early advantage when Karunaratne and Fernando put on 111 for the first wicket as the Windies struggled for a breakthrough. Left-hander Karunaratne hit seven fours while Fernando faced 55 balls and counted five fours and a six.

When Karunaratne nicked a forcing drive at Holder and and was taken behind in the 18th over, Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 57 runs to decline to 168 for four in the 29th over.

Kusal Perera, who struck four boundaries, put on 33 for the fifth wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva (18) before both fell in the space of 10 balls, but Hasaranga’s heroics kept the hosts in the contest.

Scores: WEST INDIES 289 for seven off 50 overs (Shai Hope 115, Roston Chase 41, Darren Bravo 39, Keemo Paul 32 not out; Isuru Udana 3-82).

SRI LANKA 290 for nine off 49.1 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 52, Avishka Fernando 50, Kusal Perera 42, Wanindu Hasaranga 42 not out, Thisara Perera 32; Alzarri Joseph 3-42, Hayden Walsh 2-38, Keemo Paul 248).

Taylor, Campbelle see off Thailand challenge

Mr. Brian Backer of Orinduik Development Inc. hands over sponsorship cheque to Mr. Andrew Phang, Asst. Secretary/Treasurer and Director of the GSSF in the presence of Secretary of GSSF, Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon. medical, coast guard, security, search and rescue, law enforcement and other emergency services.

At the recent simple handover ceremony at the Company’s office on Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown, the Directors extended GSSF’s sincerest

gratitude to Mr. Brian Backer and the Board of Directors of Orinduik Development Inc for the kind sponsorship and support of the Foundation’s activities and events.

More information on the GSSF is available on its website www.GuyanaSportShooting.com.

PERTH, Australia, CMC – Captain Stafanie Taylor produced a tidy all-round performance as West Indies survived a small scare before brushing aside minnows Thailand by seven wickets in their opening match of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup campaign here yesterday.

Chasing 79 for victory at the WACA Ground, West Indies found themselves floundering on 27 for three in the seventh over before Taylor hit an unbeaten 26 and Shemaine Campbelle, 25 not out – in an invaluable 53run unbroken fourth wicket stand – to see their side home with 20 deliveries remaining.

Taylor faced 37 balls and struck three fours while Campbelle hit four fours in a 27-ball knock.

The veteran West Indies all-rounder had earlier snatched three for 13 with her off-spin to restrict the minnows to 78 for nine off their 20 overs.

Choosing to bat, Thailand got a top score of 33 from 19-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman

Nannapat Koncharoenkai but she lacked support and only one other batsman managed to reach double figures, with Naruemol Chaiwai getting 13.

Fast bowler Chinelle Henry struck the first blow when she had left-hander Nattaya Boochatham carving a drive to Deandra Dottin at cover for two in the third over.

And new-ball speedster Shamilia Connell followed up in the next over when Nattakan Chantham (9) nicked a wide ball through to wicketkeeper Campbelle.

Thailand then enjoyed their best stand of the innings as Koncharoenkai and Chaiwai added 35 for the third wicket to frustrate West Indies.

However, veteran offspinner Anisa Mohammed broke the stand, getting Chaiwai to hole out to mid off and her dismissal sparked a terminal decline as Thailand lost their last seven wickets for 32 runs.

Facing a straightforward target, Hayley Matthews looked to attack early, lashing three fours in 16 from 18 balls as she and Lee-Ann Kirby (3) put on 19 for the first wicket.

But Kirby’s run out in the fifth over saw West Indies

stumble and lose three wickets for eight runs in the space of 16 balls to give Thailand hope of an upset.

Kirby hesitated over a quick single and was run out by a direct hit at the nonstriker’s end from cover and Matthews followed in the next over, missing a pull at one which kept low from left-arm spinner Soraya Lateh and having her stumps shattered.

And Deandra Dottin’s first international innings in a year lasted three balls before she too was run out, failing to beat Suleeporn Laomi sharp throw from point at the striker’s end.

However, Campbelle combined with Taylor to dash Thailand’s hopes of a shock v i c t o r y, Campbelle finishing the game in style by sweeping off-spinner Nattaya Boochatham behind square for four.

Scores: THAILAND 78 for nine off 20 overs (Nannapat Koncharoenkai 33; Stafanie Taylor 3-13).

WEST INDIES 80 for three off 16.4 overs (Stafanie Taylor 26 not out, Shemaine Campbelle 25).

Kaieteur News

Sunday February 23, 2020

Concacaf U-20 Qualifying

PAGE 81

Guyana grind out gritty 2-0 win over ultra defensive USVI

A robust but not too disciplined performance from Guyana’s Under-20 ‘Junior Jaguars’ still produced an accepted 2-0 win over an ultra defensive US Virgin Islands outfit, Guyana’s third win in as many matches of the Concacaf Under-20 Qualifying competition, Group A at the Nicaragua National Football Stadium in Managua. Nicaragua on Friday night last.

The young Guyanese had to play smart and if they had followed their coach’s instructions throughout the encounter, the score line could have been even wider, according to Head Coach, Wayne Dover.

The USVI lads kept the Guyanese at bay for the entire first half, the ‘Junior Jaguars’ not following instructions: “Our game against USVI was a very difficult game because they made it so for us by sitting

Captain Nicholas Mc Arthur (right) and Omari Glasgow. very deep and refused to come forward. It was the kind of game we expected, but didn’t expect them to not offer anything in offence. It was tough trying to break them down. The instructions given to our players during the first half after the first 20 minutes were never implemented.”

It was do or die in the second half for the Guyanese and the deadlock was finally broken in the 54th minute when Omari Glasgow rocked the back of the nets with his third goal in as many matches for Guyana.

The insurance goal was tucked in by Captain Nicholas Mc Arthur five

minutes later from the penalty mark, his fourth goal of the tournament. Glasgow was brought down in the area.

Dover explained the play for the second half: “At the break, I instructed the players to play box in very close to each other in the offensive third. To play combinations to open them and create scoring opportunities, which was done and Omari Glasgow opened the scoring with a well taken left foot volley.

We continued over the next few minutes and Glasgow was brought down in the penalty box which resulted in a penalty for us which was taken and

converted by the Captain Nicholas Mc Arthur to take the score to 2-0.”

Guyana, unlike the other teams competing are only doing so with 15-players after five (5) were denied entry to Nicaragua due to issues with their yellow fever cards. After enjoying a good spell of dominance which brought the two goals, the lack of focus by the lads again propped up.

“After that spell strangely they went away from playing close to each other and made it difficult again to continue scoring goals. However, we got the win and it put us to nine points and one win away from topping the group to

Latest Group A Point’s Table Country G W Nicaragua 3 3 Guyana 3 3 Saint Vincent 3 1 Virgin Is. 3 0 Montserrat 4 0

D 0 0 0 1 1

L 0 0 2 2 3

GF 14 11 5 1 2

qualify for the championship in June.”

Guyana will close out it quest to qualify with a tough match against the host nation today at the same venue, Dover looks ahead: “Sunday’s game against the host nation will definitely be our toughest. Nicaragua is a very good team. We’ll have to be very disciplined during the game for 90 plus minutes and score our chances and win the game which we can do. Despite playing at home and having the home support behind them, our boys will do a great battle like in the other games for the win, as that’s the only way we could make it to the top of the group.”

GA 0 0 6 11 16

+/14 11 -1 -10 -14

Pts 9 9 3 1 1

PAGE 82

Kaieteur News

Sunday February 23, 2020

Dave West Indian Imports U-15 Inter-County final

Algoo, Khan help Berbice dethrone Demerara at Bourda

Berbice dethroned Demerara yesterday at Bourda in a low scoring final.

Third from right is the sponsor Dave Narine of Dave West Indian Imports.

By Sean Devers Watched by a fair sized crowd which included several parents, Defending Champions Demerara were dethroned by Berbice when the curtains came down on the fifth annual Dave West Indian Imports 50-over U-15 Inter-County tournament organised by the Guyana Cricket Board.

In scorching heat on a slow track, Demerara elected to bat and were dismissed for a paltry 83 in 35.2 overs; Nityanand Matura top scored with 17 in the low scoring encounter.

Hemraj Harripersaud (13) and Josh Alves (12) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures for Demerara who left out one of their leading batsmen, Romeo Deonarain.

Sanjay Algoo had 4-9 after pacer Shiv Harriprashad, who took 215, started the slide. But it was 13-year-old Off Spinner Salim Khan who again looked the best bowler with 1-9.

The Port Mourant player was the leading wicket taker in the tournament with 12 scalps including a best of 716 and seemed unlucky not to have captured his third Manof –the-Match award.

Berbice made it as hard as turtle climbing Mount Romrima before eventually reached 87-8 in the 45th over to win by eight wickets.

When the pretournament favourites began the chase of what appeared to be an easy target, the classy 14-year-old left-handed Rampertab Ramnauth looked a class above his peers and executed several imperious cover drives.

However, the tournament leading run scorer with 159

runs, including a magnificent 96 in the first round, got a yorker length delivery that swung into him to rattle his stumps and by Lunch Berbice were in control on 26-1.

But after Lunch the home side fought back and never allowed the lads from Guyana’s second largest County to score freely.

Once Avishkar Persaud, the only other batsman in the tournament to score a fifty, fell for one, Shiv Harriprashad, Josh Alves, who had figures of 6-1 against the President’s X1 and Sachin Balgobin reduced Berbice to 47-6 before Khan joined Kevin Kirsten (13) and orchestrated a good stand before Kirsten departed.

But Khan, showing good all-round ability, batted sensibly to score a game high 22 in what proved to match winning innings before he was dismissed with Berbice a few runs short of their target.

At the Presentation Ceremony, sponsor, USA based Guyanese Dave Narine, who provided every player in the tournament with exercise books, told to the players to work hard on their cricket but not to forget their studies since education is very important for a successful life.

President of the GCB Faizul Bacchus and chairman of the National Yo u t h s e l e c t i o n p a n e l Azearudeen Drepaul spoke at the Presentation Ceremony. But although Drepaul confirmed that an U15 team had been selected to participate in the U-17 InterCounty tournament which commences on Tuesday, he did not disclose the names of those picked.

The tournament’s leading wicket-taker Salim Khan was the best bowler in yesterday’s game before making a match winning 22 for Berbice.

Sunday February 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

Milo Schools U-18 F/Ball tourney

Annandale beat Bladen Hall 2-nil, other two games end in draws

O

n a day blessed with brilliant sunshine at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue, day three of the 2020 Milo Schools U-18 football tournament and organised by the Petra Organisation got going yesterday with a triple header.

Annandale secondary beat Bladen Hall in the last game of the day, while Charlestown secondary drew with New Central High in the in day’s curtain raiser before St John’s College drew with Uitvlugt in the second game.

Played before a fair size crowd, Dante Sookram got Charlestown off the mark in the 20th minute and Charlestown maintained their 1-nil lead at half-time.

Garfield Caesar found the back of the net two minutes into the second half to level the score which was 1-all at the stroke of full time in 70-minute match-up.

In the second game in which Uitvlugt enjoyed the bulk of the possession in first

half after Junior Redman’s diving header from a corner beat St John’s custodian to his left in the 16th minute to spark on-field celebrations f r o m t h e We s t C o a s t Demerara intuition.

The West side students, dressed in yellow jerseys and blue trucks, continued play and when the referee blew the half time whistle, the score was Uitvlugt 1, St John’s 0.

Playing with the strong Atlantic breeze on his back Anthony Xavier found the back of the with the equaliser 10 minutes before the end of the game but no other goals were scored for the second draw of the day.

In the last game, Tyquan Taylor (6th) and Jerome Horrigan (45th) scored in either halves as Annandale defeated Bladen Hall 2-nil in an all East Coast clash.

The tournament will not be played today due to mash festivities in the City but will continue tomorrow with a triple header at the Ministry of Education ground from noon.

The fixtures show:

Courts Furniture Store annual Cycle road race brought forward to today in Berbice

T

he annual Courts Furniture Store cycle road race sponsored by the Courts Berbice branch is now set for today in the Ancient County.

The race, which is being organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC), has been brought forward by one day to today due to the fact that another event, the Forbes Burnham Memorial Cycle road race is set for the said day.

All other arrangements remain the same. The event is open to cyclists throughout the country and is expected to see all the top riders in the country in action.

The 50 miles event will

pedal off from in front of the Courts Furniture Store at Main and St Ann’s Street New Amsterdam, Berbice, proceed to Nand Persaud Business Complex at No 36, Village Corentyne before returning to finish at its place of origin.

Prizes will be awarded to the first eight finishers in the open category, the top three veterans and the top three juniors. There will also be eight sprint point prizes up for grabs.

Starting time is 09:00 hrs and officials from The Courts Furniture store are expected to be on hand to start the race and distribute the prizes. (Samuel Whyte)

12:00 hrs - Friendship Secondary v/s Carmel Secondary 10 13:45 hrs - Canje Secondary v/s South Ruimveldt 11 15:30 hrs - Vergenoegen Secondary v/s Tucville Secondary 12 (Sean Devers)

PAGE 83 A diving header from Uitvlugt’s Junior Redman from a corner give his team an early 1-nill lead over St John’s College yesterday at the MOE ground.

Taylor, Campbelle see off Thailand challenge

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Windies falter in opener despite Hope hundred

Shai Hope plays through the on-side during his 115 against Sri Lanka in the opening ODI yesterday.

Stafanie Taylor gets into a good position to drive. (Getty Images) Guyana’s U-20 Junior Jaguars are set to face Nicaragua tonight.

Super Sunday for Guyana’s football @ Concacaf U-20 Championships - Nat’l U-20 Women’s, Men’s teams face Nicaragua in Dominican Rep. and Nicaragua

Flashback! Head Coach Ivan Joseph and Technical Staff interacting with the ‘Lady Jags’ during the Suriname at Leonora.

Hetmyer, Russell recalled for T20s; Lewis still sidelined 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.