Kaieteur News

K

Budget 2022 is NEWS $476,000 debt for each Guyanese family

Thursday Edition

AIETEUR

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

February 03, 2022 -Vol. 15 No. 05

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

- Shadow Finance Min.

Online readership yesterday, 88,009

But continues to deny Guyana full coverage insurance Exxon boasts of closing 2021 with highest profit in 7 yrs...

Over 6,000 barrels of crude spilled in Ecuador Amazon Miner drowns after canoe sinks in Mazaruni River

Body of man found at Vryheid’s Lust

est The prot es continu e to g for chanobil’s ExxonM act. contr

Man, girlfriend killed during high speed police chase ...were en route to his mother’s birthday celebration

Government unashamed budget supports Private Sector - Minister Indar

$30B plugged into GuySuCo since 2020 despite 34.7% …meant to prop up image of survivability at decline expense of poor Guyanese - Opp. MP History has already warned us of what will befall our nation, our children and our families if we do not stand together and take control of our country. @ 11:00hrs

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Thursday February 03, 2022

Over 6,000 barrels of crude spilled in Ecuador Amazon (Reuters) A burst pipeline in Ecuador caused an oil spill within a protected area of the country’s Amazon rainforest, the environment ministry said on Monday, adding that the pipeline operator will face legal consequences.

A rock fall following rains in the Piedra Fina zone caused a part of the OCP heavy crude pipeline to split late on Friday, causing an oil spill which affected flora and fauna in the region, authorities said.

Operator OCP Ecuador said on Saturday that it had stopped pumping crude. On Sunday, it said it had contracted three specialist companies to carry out cleaning and remediation work.

“We were successful in containing the majority of oil that flowed from the

pipeline,” OCP Ecuador’s executive president, Jorge Vugdelija said in a statement on Monday.

“However, we are aware that small traces have reached bodies of water, and we are working on it.”

Since 2020 regressive erosion advancing along the Coca river has caused problems for both the privately-operated OCP pipeline and the state-owned SOTE pipeline.

In December both pipelines suspended pumping due to the issue, leading the government to declare ‘force majeure’ over the majority of the country’s oil exports and production contracts.

The affected area spans some 21,000 square meters (226,000 square feet), mostly within the protected zone of Cayambe Coca

Spillage from an oil pipeline rupture is seen in Piedra Fina, Ecuador in this handout picture taken January 29, 2022. Picture taken with a drone. Nicolas Mainville/Amazon Frontlines/Handout via REUTERS.

national park, which is inhabited by western mountain coati, a relative of raccoons; red brocket deer; bird species including the Andean cock-of-the-rock, and various amphibians, the environment ministry stated.

The government has initiated legal and administrative actions against OCP Ecuador, the ministry said, adding it has requested the company to carry out a detailed investigation to measure the spill’s impact.

Oil has been found on the C o c a r i v e r ’s b a n k s , according to communities living in the area. The river was previously affected by a major oil spill in April 2020 after both the OCP and SOTE pipelines burst due to the effects of the regressive erosion.

“Once again we have been polluted and we are fighting about it with OCP,” Patricia Vargas, who heads the Panduyaku community in Ecuador’s Sucumbios province, told Reuters.

“The oil is already coating the banks of the Coca river and we call for immediate action,” she said.

Thursday February 03, 2022

Nicolette Henry resigns as Opposition MP

Kaieteur News

PAGE 03

Exxon boasts of closing 2021 with highest profit in seven years...

But continues to deny Guyana

FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE

Dr. Nicolette Henry during her final address to the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, yesterday resigned as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the National Assembly, paving the way for the Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) to sit in Parliament.

Dr. Henry who was Education Minister under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, made the announcement as she wrapped up her 2022 budget debate presentation.

“This is my final budget presentation in this honourable house,” Dr. Henry informed the National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon. Before leaving the podium, she expressed her sincere gratitude to former President, David Granger and former Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon for their unwavering support towards her during her time in office.

“I am forever grateful to the people of this country w h o a ff o r d e d m e t h e opportunity to serve them with professionalism, dignity and accountability. I thank the coalition partners, Khemraj (Ramjattan), for their unwavering support and guidance. I thank each and every member in this honourable house for the commitment and dedication you bring each and every day, sometimes under the m o s t d i f f i c u l t circumstances… I part company and I conclude my contribution to budget 2022,” an emotional Henry concluded.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir earlier in the day had announced that Henry was not going to be a part of the debate, but later apologised

and allowed her to make her presentation.

Following her departure as a Member of Parliament, the Speaker told Dr. Henry “on behalf of everyone, we thank you for the service you provided to this parliament and this nation, thank you very much.”

With this latest development, it is expected that Norton will be sworn in as Opposition Leader.

Just last week, it was announced by the Speaker that Joseph Harmon had resigned as Leader of the Opposition. The move came one day after Harmon and Granger resigned as general secretary and chairman of the APNU respectively, even as Norton assumed the role as chairman.

During its 2021 fourth quarter earnings call, American oil giant, ExxonMobil proudly disclosed that it made US$23B in profits – its highest posting in seven years. But even as it continues to make billions of dollars in revenue, it continues to deny Guyana, a key asset in its portfolio, its fundamental right to full coverage insurance.

Currently, the Liza Destiny vessel is operating at the Liza Phase One Project in the absence of full coverage insurance.

Next month, Guyana will be starting up its second oil ship called the Liza Unity. It will be producing 220,000 barrels of oil from the Liza Phase Two Project. Despite numerous calls from local and regional actors, neither the PPP/C Government nor ExxonMobil have made any effort to give Guyana full coverage insurance to protect its environs and citizens from the irreversible and devastating effects of a potential oil spill.

I n f a c t , G u y a n a ’s regulator, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), quietly made modifications to the Liza Phase Two Project’s Environmental Permit which preserved a

provision allowing only E x x o n M o b i l ’s l i m i t e d liability company, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to cover costs for any spill or pollution that occurs. This also obtains in the permit for the Payara Project which comes on stream next year.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who has claimed on numerous occasions to have the citizen’s interest at heart, has also failed to demand full coverage insurance from ExxonMobil which the country is entitled to.

Instead, he has said the administration is looking to get Exxon to “acknowledge” that it has a commitment to protect the environment.

Towards this end, he had said that negotiations are in play for a possible US$2B coverage for Exxon’s fourth project called Yellowtail.

During a press conference that was held last year, the Vice President had specifically said, “As you know, we are constantly seeking to improve the permits, and in the one we are looking at in the Yellowtail Project, we are looking for a generic position where the parent company, ExxonMobil, will now guarantee; well we are

ExxonMobil’s CEO and Chairman, Darren Woods

looking at maybe up to US$2B for any damage caused here… because from the beginning there was no parent guarantee, it was implicit but…that is crucial for us as we move forward.”

In noting the rationale for insurance being secured from the parent company, Dr. Jagdeo said, “…this has been a long-standing issue in the private domain and one of the criticisms was that should you have a spill or anything of that nature that there would not be a specific guarantee from the parent company to the local company. So, this is trying to nibble away at all of the

issues that we have had problems with.”

WHAT OTHERS ACCEPT When one examines what other administrations across the world demand from ExxonMobil in the area of insurance, there is a noticeable difference when compared to Guyana.

In Liberia for example, ExxonMobil is not allowed to provide the authorities there with insurance coverage from its subsidiaries. To prevent Exxon from using this loophole, the authorities there have demanded that the Continued on page 9

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Laparkan arson

T

he acting head of the Guyana Fire Service has come out and declared the recent devastating Laparkan Shipping Company’s Storage Bond fire as an act of arson. This certainly adds a whole new dimension to the destruction, and brings more perspective to what was initially thought to be electrical in origin. It boggles the mind that someone acting in cahoots with others of a similar malicious mindset would want to burn down a bond that houses mainly goods. In view of some information that is now closer to centre stage, involving storage of a specific kind of materials, a slew of questions now arises.

Who would want to burn down a private sector entity operated bond that brings in barrels and packages and the like for ordinary, sometimes dependent, Guyanese from their families? What possible profit could flow from thinking of, planning, and executing something of that nature?

Perhaps, the most important question of all is this one: what is the significance of the presence of the chemicals stored in the bond for a foreign oil company? That is, what role did its presence play, if any, in the fire, this act of arson that resulted in millions in damage and scores of workingclass Guyanese out of a job? We refuse to speculate and let the Guyana Police Force take matters from here.

But there are some things that we at this paper would like to go on record as saying.

First, setting fires for almost any reason, some frivolous, some fascinating, has taken on a life of its own in Guyana.

Close family members, either drunken or addicted, vent their anger and get even by burning the very homes in which they live in, but which a parent or sibling laboured long and hard to put together. Second, our much disputed and long stretched out last elections season saw several fires in different places being deliberately set, and involving government buildings or offices. Third, family members in stormy court proceedings on occasion run ahead of the law, or sabotage the expected outcome of the law (against them), and set fire to whatever property was the subject of the family dispute. Fourth, a prisoner acting alone, we have been told, vented his frustrations by the easy convenience of shockingly and mysteriously available tools to burn down the flagship and longstanding Brickdam Police Station. Fifth, a patient also allegedly acted identically in a moment of madness at the Cardiology Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

From the available public evidence and related police charges, it appears that fire is the weapon of choice unleashed in wrath, and with terrible consequences, for any number of grievances on any place and any object that attracts such incendiary attention.

Now this brings us back to the damaging Laparkan arson case. We are hard pressed to believe or accept that this fire had any vicious personal element involved. After all, it was a storage bond that held a few vehicles and the usual barrels and such.

Also, the opportunity for looting looks remote. Given the items coming usually and legally imported into the country and housed there, one wonders if it is too much of a stretch to think that some sort of cover-up was at work, with an act of arson furnishing the means to remove whatever evidence was around. Though not unlikely, it looks remote from our perch, like that of disgruntled employees.

There were, however, chemicals for a foreign oil company that were there. It certainly gives off the picture and smell of a possible smoking gun, a probable link to what is now costly in its consequences to many others.

By now, there is general awareness that increasing number of Guyanese are deeply angry over the insulting and cheapening manner in which the foreign oil companies have dealt with Guyana, and continue to deal with Guyanese, without regard for their humiliations and their cries. This is loaded and fraught with possibilities, if such could ever be proved, of where matters could have deteriorated, the passions washing over and taking hold. By the process of elimination, we look at what is there, and what is left. There is not much, otherwise.

Thursday February 03, 2022

Ramjattan living in wonderland!

DEAR EDITOR, The GAWU has taken note of Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan’s contribution to the 2022 Budget debate in respect of the sugar industry.

According to media reports, Mr. Ramjattan used the parliamentary platform to continue his jaundiced criticism of the Government’s support to the industry. One report indicated that Mr. Ramjattan had justified the Coalition’s miniaturization of the industry as he went on labelling State support as throwing monies into a black hole.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Ramjattan continues to operate apparently with blinkers.

For the erstwhile gentleman who hails from the Corentyne coast where sugar is one of the predominant economic

activities and makes a major contribution to that part of the country, it appears that Mr. Ramjattan has clearly lost touch with reality and lives seemingly in an ivory tower disconnected from the truth.

So far, the Opposition MP, despite his huffing and puffing, cannot advance any plan to address any displacement brought about by the closure of estates. Certainly, one would have expected him and his colleagues to have developed such a plan when, like peacocks, they strutted down the corridors of power.

Such plan it appears may have suffered a stillbirth yet Mr. Ramjattan continues to bellyache.

Of course, the importance of the sugar industry has been re-emphasized by the

socio-economic study conducted by the ILO. That report, empirically, demonstrated that hardships that were spawned when Mr. Ramjattan and his colleagues heartlessly closed four (4) estates and placed 7,000 of our Guyanese brothers and sisters on the breadline. It demonstrates that miserableness these Guyanese faced and underscored the importance of the industry not only to the workers but entire communities.

But Mr. Ramjattan is unbothered by such facts and chose to live in his own wonderland.

It seems Mr. Ramjattan rather than considering the contributions of the sugar industry and its potentials for viability has doubled down

on his caustic attitude towards sugar. We remain at a loss as to why anyone who holds themselves out as a leader would seek to advocate that our ordinary people be made jobless and forced into miserable lives. For us it says a lot about the character of Mr. Ramjattan and his colleagues who spare no opportunity to denounce the Government’s support to the sugar industry. The GAWU, as the major voice of the workers in the industry, cannot allow such highly irresponsible statements to go without challenge. We remain strong in our position that sugar remains simply too important to fail.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine President, GAWU

PNC’s leadership duality reminiscent of Trinidad DEAR EDITOR, The battle in the PNC over the Opposition Leader position is reminiscent of and somewhat similar to what happened in UNC in Trinidad and Tobago in 2005 with some minor differences. But dual leadership separate party leader and opposition leader C failed in Trinidad and is not likely to work in Guyana although it can be tried as is the case now.

The Guyana or TT constitution does not recognize office of party leader but opposition leader. The party leader is de facto opposition leader providing he or she is a member of the house unless otherwise chosen by commanding a majority of the opposition.

Basdeo Panday reportedly promised in the 2002 election the leadership of UNC to Winston Dookeran, the former central bank governor, to lure him to contest a safe Indian seat to parliament with the expectation that his replacement for the iconic former Attorney General and anti corruption crusader Ramesh Maharaj would pro-

pel the UNC to victory and Dookeran would replace Panday as leader after the election as PM or Opp Leader.

The forces around Panday were convinced that Dookeran would bring back the Indians who abandoned UNC when Ramesh was fired as AG. The UNC lost power in 2001 without Maharaj and was consigned to opposition when Panday yielded power to Patrick Manning as PM. The UNC lost the 2002 election with PandayDookeran combination. A Panday-Maharaj combination would have won as opinions polls found before the election.

Under pressure from business persons who funded the party, Basdeo Panday stepped down as leader of UNC in 2005 and appointed Winston Dookeran as leader.

Panday Cs position was he promised to make him leader not Opp Leader. So Panday retained the Opposition Leader position while Dookeran demanded the other title also. The dual leadership and dichotomy of functions did not work and led to seri-

ous conflict and in fighting and trading of words between the two leaders. Dookeran could not wean enough MPs to become Opp Leader. Eventually, Dookeran left to form his own party (COP), taking away much of the Indian base resulting in Panday sending back for Ramesh Maharaj to save the UNC from certain defeat and the loss of the Indian base. With Maharaj back in the UNC, Dookeran4Cs COP did not win a single seat in the 2007 elections with Dookeran himself losing his safe Indian seat to a newcomer.

The PNC is not going to break up into two or more parties over the conflict for Opp Leader. And the party s support remains ethnically solid. But as the Trinidad case showed, dual leadership is untenable and impractical.

The government cannot work with two oppositions from the same party. It didn Ct work in Trinidad and won Ct work in Guyana. President Ali and the government can Ct give recognition to Aubrey Norton unless he is also Opp Leader. Who is Opp Leader is

the PNC Cs or the coalition Cs business.

They must sort out that problem. But President Ali can Ct recognize and do business with two PNC leaders from different offices.

Norton is not a member of parliament and as such, he can Ct be Opp Leader. But unlike Dookeran who was selected as leader at Panday Cs instruction, Norton was elected as leader.

That gives Norton legitimacy to lead. Nothing prevents Norton from being chosen as a member of parliament. As leader of the list, all that David Granger has to do is to replace a current MP with Norton paving the way for him to become Opp Leader.

The coalition will not object to the PNC leader becoming Opp Leader.

At any rate, the majority of Opp MPs are from the PNC. They determine who is the Opp Leader. The appointment of Norton to parliament and his becoming Opp Leader is just a matter of time.

Yours sincerely Vishnu Bisram

Unaccounted for Stabroek Block gas could have powered Guyanese homes for 7 years DEAR EDITOR Would you blindly trust someone who has treated you unfairly as a partner? It appears the Government of Guyana has put its faith in the oil companies that operate in the Stabroek Block. This is not a wise decision given the numerous issues that have been raised during oil production such as flaring and a reduction in fish being caught.

We need to have our own checks in place and stop relying on the oil companies to inform us on matters of national importance. We are a

sovereign state not a subsidiary of the oil companies.

Starting with signing for the 2016 Stabroek Contract, there are many issues that have been raised with regard to trusting the oil companies.

The contract was not signed with Exxon, HESS, or CNOOC. Instead, shell companies registered in the Caribbean are named on the contract. These shell companies have limited resources but they serve the purpose of protecting the parent companies from major lawsuits and liabilities. The contract itself contains highly

questionable terms including Guyana paying taxes on behalf of the oil companies. Yet, more than 5 years after signing the Stabroek contract, we blindly trust these oil companies to tell us how much gas is being flared and the amount of toxic water, which is dumped into the ocean. More concerning, there is no mention of the vastly more polluting venting of gas.

In July 2020, the media reported that the Guyana EPA said that the gas flaring was projected to end on August 10, 2020. However, more than

a year and half after that statement, the oil companies are still flaring our gas. On December 4, 2021 during a Moray House Trust, see here https://youtu.be/ V49Xm5f52vE?t=1130, it was noted that Liza 1 operations was bringing up, on a daily basis, 180 million standard cubic feet (mmscfd) of gas with the oil. The 180 mmscfd figure is from page viii of the EIA Volume 1 for Liza Phase 1. However, after subtracting for the gas flared (16 mmscfd) and that used in operations (Continued on page 6)

Thursday February 03, 2022

The PPP has returned to pre-2015 type of ruthless and spiteful governance DEAR EDITOR, During the election campaign, the PPP mantra was inclusivity, good governance and to govern in the interest of all Guyanese.

And even though this was recited several times in President Ali’s inaugural speech, yet there was absolutely no consultation on the budget with the opposition which has the support of almost half the population.

However, after being in office for only 18 months, the PPP has reneged on its campaign promises and has become the most vindictive, arrogant, disrespectful, and hateful government to ever govern this nation.

In this period, it has not only fired thousands of AfroGuyanese civil servants, many of whom are supporters of the main opposition party, but it has also begun the marginalization of blacks across the country and in every sphere of society.

This government, which has so far proved to be malicious, nasty, and hurtful is being run by one individual and the one who was elected is a titular head of state.

Every adult knows who he is, because of his proclamation on policies and they believed that the budget was directed by him and not the designated minister.

Since taking office on August 2, 2020, the government has not provided enough resources to the Mayors of Georgetown, New Amsterdam, and Linden, which have most PNC supporters.

As stated by their respective mayors, these three areas have more than half of the country’s population who have been starved of funding by this wicked government.

And as reported, President Ali showed poor leadership in that he did not even have the courtesy to consult the Mayor of Georgetown about his plans to clean-up the city.

Many are of the opinion that his high-handedness approach as autocratic and that the PPP government led by the “boss man” is a clear indication that the PPP government has reverted to its pre2015 type of ruthless, spiteful and despotic governance.

The leaders of the PPPC should be reminded that Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Right (UDHR) adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, ensures the fundamental right of everyone to have equal access to public service in his/her country.

Article 25 of the UDHR states that the right to vote for a political party of his/her choice is a fundamental human right for every citizen and any type of discrimination against citizens by governments shall be deemed as a violation of their human rights.

However based on the prejudicial practices of this government against AfroGuyanese, businesses, and contractors, which have allegedly supported the previous administration, continued to face discrimination by the PPP government.

As such, the government has ignored Articles 21 and 25 of the Voting Rights Act adopted by the United Nations.

It is regrettable, awful and shameful.

Such nefarious practices by the PPP government are wrong and should be exposed.

It is time for the two main races—Indo-and-AfroGuyanese to hold the government accountable for such acrimonious practices and not to ignore them.

The PPP government has notoriously discriminated against Afro-Guyanese and has victimized businesses/ contractors because they support a party of their choice.

At the same time, the government has granted contracts worth billions of taxpayers’ dollars to foreign contractors mainly from Trinidad. These contractors are supporters of political parties in Trinidad and not the PPP or APNU/AFC in Guyana.

Furthermore, these companies have brought thousands of workers from Trinidad to take good paying jobs away from Guyanese.

And to add insult to injury, there has not been a single complain, protest, criticism,

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

or rebuke from the government and trade unionists.

Yet this government has denied contracts to several companies, including B&S Contracting Company, Dunn and Associates, DM Contractors, Clarke Investments, and the largest of all, BK International, among others.

Except for BK International, which is owned by an Indo-Guyanese, all the other companies and many others not mentioned are owned by Afro-Guyanese.

The government is using taxpayers’ money, and not their own to discriminate against contractors who it has deemed are PNC supporters. It is appalling and all Guyanese regardless of race or ethnicity should condemn the PPP for its racist attitude.

We need unity, fairness and equality from the leaders of the PPP. As a nation, we have seen the massive corrupt practices, gross incompetence, the failure of the education and health care systems, the collapse of infrastructure, the spending of more than U.S $200 million on the white elephant Skeldon factory, increased poverty, the barbaric killing of 500 black youths, the allocation of the country’s resources to one ethnic group and the elevation of one race over the other.

All these events took place under the high-handed and oppressive leadership of one individual who is currently back at the helm of this government.

Today, they have done what they have accustomed doing in the past, that is they have produced a budget that benefits their wealthy friends and relatives while the poor masses must be contented with the crumbs.

Currently, inflation is at an all time high, but there has been a meager increase in old age pension and the PPP has refused to allocate funds from the oil revenue and give directly to the people.

They are bent on widening the poverty gap between the rich and the poor. It is a disgrace.

Regards Jeffrey Downer

A fearless public servant DEAR EDITOR, There is a senior British public servant, who was compelled by the call of duty to operate under the close scrutiny of the microscope. She is an Englishwoman name Sue Gray, who was handed a daunting job. The confidence that I had placed in Sue Gray that she would rise up and deliver has since been justified.

Ms. Gray had been tasked with investigating and reporting on not one, but two powerful bosses. One is Simon Case, the premier public servant in the English system, her immediate boss; like I said, a daunting duty. And as if that was not enough, the other powerful gentlemen to be looked into and reported on is the boss of bosses in merry old England, one Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister.

Her job, pursuant to its terms of reference, was to investigate, document, and deliver.

That’s it. It is not to recommend anything.

Her probe encompasses what went on in repeated sessions of reported rum drinking (better make that Scotch swilling, and ale guzzling) where the Prime Minister Johnson, and other illustrious political company were present, and in possible violation of standing COVID-19 protocols. It could be the head of Boris Johnson,

should Ms. Gray find smoldering cigarettes (smoking guns) that give away Mr. Johnson et al. The hounds are baying over there in the British Isles, and they scent blood. Well, the prime minister is in trouble, and his opponents are calling for his head. It is nothing else, but that he must do the honourable thing and go. The problem is that he doesn’t want to, and loyalists have surrounded him in a show of determination. For Sue Gray has delivered the goods, on what the facts and circumstances attest to, and Prime Minister Johnson looks poorer for her work. Irresponsible I would say, and that’s the least of it. There are 12 situations, which the Metropolitan Police are investigating, involving 500 pages of documents, and 300 photographs, which offer a little primer on what went on. It doesn’t look good for Mr. Johnson, which is his problem to work through, hopefully honestly. I think he should go, especially when some of his earlier statements are reconciled against what happened, what he says now.

As for Sue Gray, I would like to say that she is a true woman of rare steel; she has proven to be a fearless public servant, one of deep probity and an indomitable will, who will go wherever the road

leads, regardless of who is involved. There is neither friend nor foe, only her own standing before the mirror of her ethics and conscience. I can say his with aplomb, as she has done this before in a crunch when a minister was the man erring, and that was the end of him; unlike King Charles I, he did not lose his head, but wished that he did, such was the result of Ms. Gray’s pristine handiwork. If the PM and the PS went out of bounds, she would drill for it, which she did, and found so.

Editor, I share Ms. Gray with my fellow Guyanese, to cry out and cringe over who and what we have here for top people in the strength of character and powerful ethics departments. I once thought that the head lawman was sufficiently so, only for him to lower profile when colleagues were fingered. I went my way shaken.

We could use a few formidable men and women in our public service, our nationalist unit, our media army, our politics brigade also, who are of God, country, flag, cookup rice, cassava bread, curry, and macaroni. I remind that all of those coexist alongside family. Save that in the Guyana of today, there is not one around. Nothing.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

The Speaker is showing his partiality DEAR EDITOR I did not intend to say anything on the ongoing budget debate. However, I noticed something on day two that grabbed my attention.

Member of Parliament Tabitha Sarabo-Halley delivered a brilliant budget presentation, without shouting, name calling or stooping to the level of those on the Government side. Her presentation was well balanced with facts, information and solid suggestions on how the Government can better serve the people. Her critique of the budget was sound and well articulated. If she happens to read this letter, I’d like her to know that she represented well and many of us young women look to her for inspiration.

I will now turn to the part of her presentation that

grabbed my attention. During her presentation, Mrs. Sarabo-Halley, MP stated that she had a dream and she began in a very creative and concise way, to share with the Assembly and the nation details of what transpired on December 29, 2021 while highlighting how poorly the Speaker handled the entire proceedings.

Then the Speaker after realising that he was being scolded by the member for his continued shameless bias in the National Assembly, tried to get Mrs. SaraboHalley to stop speaking and move on to another part of her presentation.

He again stopped the member’s presentation after she shared the meaning of the

word Nadir, which means “the lowest or most unsuccessful point in a situation” which she pointed out is what the Assembly has descended to under him. In his defence, the Speaker then went on to speak about the meaning of his name and its origin, (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 03, 2022

Brands on supermarket shelves a long time DEAR EDITOR It seems the GA-FDD is now awake from its slumber as it is now aware of foreign labelled cooking oil on the local market (News Room Feb 1/GT Feb 2).

The brands identified have been on supermarket shelves and elsewhere for a

very long time. And, if as claimed, these brands were illegally imported while not in keeping with labeling requirements, how come supermarkets and other agencies were allowed to put and offer them for sale to the public?

Has GNBS a role in this, to ensure standards were ad-

hered to and maintained?

Would there be consequences for these establishments which offer products not in keeping with legal requirements and which might not have been lawfully imported?

Regards Shamshun Mohamed

Unaccounted for Stabroek Block...

From page 4 (20 mmscfd), there were at least 83 billion cubic feet of gas (144 mmscfd x 578 days) that is not accounted for since Liza 1 started producing oil.

That amount of gas that could have powered all the homes in Guyana for about 7 years has vanished, without any questions! Can the Ministry of Natural Resources and the EPA give an explanation for that?

There are numerous reports about the lives of our fishermen being severely impacted by a significant reduction in the fish being caught.

Is it a coincidence the reduction in fish seems to have occurred in the same period when we started pumping oil?

Who is monitoring the changes caused by the daily dumping of toxic water from the oil production vessels?

Thousands of fishermen are being affected but it seems like there is no action to figure out the root cause.

Could the fish that is now being caught contain oil related toxins that are harmful to our people?

It was reported in the media that we have at least some equipment to monitor. However, it appears that equipment is sitting idle.

Why? We should learn for our neighbour, Suriname that has a fraction of our oil resources.

They have 24 hour, seven days a week in-person moni-

toring for oil production. In fact, the former head of Suriname’s national oil company, in a recent media interview, has advised us to put in place a similar monitoring system.

We are depending on oil companies who have been unfair partners to monitor for us. Given our lack of monitoring, would we find out that a major oil spill has occurred when it washes up on our shores? Before we approve Yellowtail, we need 24-hour monitoring in place for such things as flaring, toxic water and oil spills.

Regards Darshanand Khusial On behalf of OGGN, www.oggn.org

The Speaker is showing his...

From page 5 thereby trying to insert his

reasoning into the member’s speech. It was a moment of

brilliance by Mrs. SaraboHalley as she got the Speaker even while being scolded about his bias nature to further expose himself as he tried several times to prevent her from sharing and even sought to change the context of her presentation.

This has got to be the worst Speaker to ever preside over th e N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y.

He is bias and vacuous. Guyana deserves b e t t e r.

Regards Joy Adisa

Thursday February 03, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 03, 2022

Vehicles being bought, registered faster– GRA finds - as PAB series quickly comes to an end

The PAB series is quickly coming to an end.

The registration of vehicles under the PAC series is expected to shortly commence bringing to an end the PAB series which was introduced just over seven months ago.

In a release the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) announced yesterday that its Licence Revenue Office will soon commence the registration of motor vehicles in the PAC series as the PAB series comes to an end.

The current PAB series began on June 23, 2021 and with less than 180 motor vehicle registration numbers remaining, this will be the first series completed in just over seven months, the release noted.

The ZZ series was completed a few days shy of 10 months. The registration series which lasted the longest is the HH Series

which commenced in June 2000 and ended in September 2003. Thus, the current trends indicate that more vehicles are being bought and registered over an increasingly shorter period.

In its release too, the GRA reminded “the public that registration of new motor vehicles is currently being facilitated at the G R A’s R a i l w a y Embankment location.

Payment of the registration fee, physical examination of motor vehicles, and change of motor vehicle registrations are also being facilitated at this location.

Taxpayers are advised to visit the GRA’s website www.gra.gov.gy or contact its Tax Advisory Services Section on telephone number 227-6060 ext. 8000 for more information.

Thursday February 03, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Govt. unashamed budget supports Private Sector - Min. Indar Members of the political opposition have, from day one of the Budget Debates for this year, lamented what they contend is a policy document of spending aimed at benefiting only the Private Sector and not the working and poorer class of people in the country.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, is however adamant, the administration has no shame or regrets or need to distance itself from the Private Sector with regard its budget policies.

According to Minister Indar, the Private Sector employs 65 percent of the working population.

The total labour force, he said, is documented at around 251,000 persons, of which just over 70,000 are employed in the public sector.

Non-Government Organisations, he said, account for the remainder of the employment figures— figures provided by the National Bureau of Statistics.

To this end, the Minister within the Public Works Ministry said, “…if you don’t address the Private Sector, then the budget is a misfit.”

remind of the floods of last year, which he deemed as a once in a 1,000 year event.

Additionally, on the matter of inflation and its steep rise and the impact on the cost of living, the government minister was quick to rebut, saying the issue has to be seen in the global context and reminded of factors such as increased shipping costs.

Addressing the Opposition Members directly, he said, “you have an issue about inflation. What is driving

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar during his presentation yesterday.

It is in this vein that he downplayed arguments against the Budget— arguments that point to a Budget being in favour of the Private Sector and Business Class. Qualifying his position further, the Minister pointed to the revenue stream of government such as income taxes which account for some $89B from the Private Sector.

He spoke to additional revenues to be had from taxes paid by the private sector, such as import duties and other licence and fees paid.

According to Indar, it is the private sector which

passes on the majority of money into the coffers of the country—money that is then used to execute government programmes. As such, he contends, the argument that the Budget is money for the “big boys” is a weak argument by the opposition.

Addressing the points of view proffered by opposition Shadow Spokesperson on Finance, Juretha Fernandes, the government Minister was quick to dismiss her analysis as novice. On the matter of her critique of the agricultural and other sectoral performance, Indar sought to

But continues to deny Guyana...

From page 3 company provides insurance coverage without limitation.

Such insurance can therefore, only be provided by the parent company and not its subsidiary which has little to no revenue.

The clause in one of the Production Sharing Agreements Exxon is tied to in Liberia says, “The Contractor shall take out and cause to be taken out by its contractors and subcontractors, in respect of the Petroleum Operations, all insurances of the type and for such amounts customarily carried in accordance with Good International Petroleum Industry Practice, including with-

out limitation, third party liability insurance and insurances to cover damage to property, facilities, equipment and materials, without prejudice to such insurances, which would be required under Law.” Importantly, Liberia makes it categorically clear that evidence of full coverage insurance by Exxon, its partners and subcontractors, have to be provided “before Petroleum Operations begin and thereafter at least annually.”

Closer to home, Guyana’s South American sister, Peru, also displays a no-nonsense approach in dealing with oil companies.

On Monday, Kaieteur

News reported that a judge in Peru barred four Executives from Spanish oil company, Repsol, from leaving the country amid a devastating oil spill, which saw more than 6,000 barrels of crude contaminating the shores of Peru. Repsol could face liabilities of up to US$500 million for compensation for the effects of the spill.

While Peru continues to take action to protect its people and its e n v i r o n ment, Guyana in contrast, continues to give Exxon the permission to pollute the airspace without consequence and to operate without insurance at break neck speed.

inflation.

Don’t we know, there is a global supply chain issue?”

There has also been criticism against one of the relief measure, namely the withholding tax that was paid by resident contractors, since removed by the administration.

According to Indar, the critique of this measure is among the more “grotesque” of the criticisms, since the tax being talked about is a levy paid by persons such as the

man cleaning the drains. To this end, he dismissed the criticisms as “kangalang analysis.”

He further contends, that for the opposition to argue that Budget 2022 is not people centred “is hogwash.”

He qualified this position by pointing to the billions in allocations for sectors such as Health, Education, Housing Infrastructure and other Social Services, arguing, their objectives are all to benefit poor people.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday February 03, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Civil society forgot about Andrew Bauer. Why?

T

his is Guyana where nothing makes sense and making sense out of people in this land is a scientific impossibility. Let’s start with psychological and sociological reasoning in research.

The researcher tends to put more weight on what an independent mind says. The partisan approach is pregnant with subjective mannerisms.

A pro-Trump supporter cannot be relied on to assess the Biden presidency. A fan of Kamala Harris is not going to expatiate on her failures.

In Guyana, a PPP member will guide you through the policy-making decisions of the government with marks of approval for everything the government

did. An anti-government voice will see all the policies as having serious defects.

The researcher turns to the independent analyst because that is where a more dispassionate assessment will come from.

Mr. Andrew Bauer is a global expert on Sovereign Wealth Funds. Here is what Mr. Bauer pronounced, on the recently passed National Resource Fund Act (NRFA): “A very detailed document and transparent legislation.

It’s very detailed and I would say in some ways, it’s even more detailed than the previous bill in terms of, for example, the investment rules, what the fund is allowed to invest in, what it’s not allowed to invest in, what the constraints are around the amount of risk that the asset managers can

take; you know these are really great elements of the law. There’s some parts of the law that I’ve never even seen in any law that are so detailed and innovative that I think will really help Guyana, it will help the fund not invest in some of the crazy derivative instruments or art or commodities or whatever that a lot of the funds around the world (fall victim to) and Guyana’s fund will not be allowed to do that…”

On the stroke of midnight, I saw a prominent citizen saying that the NRFA was the last straw and from here on, Guyana’s stability is uncertain. Certain civil society groups have denounced the Act as fundamentally flawed. So where does that leave

Bauer? Does Bauer have a political side that is why he gives excellent marks to the Bill? Or is it that we have people in this country masquerading as civil society hiding their Freudian minds?

Let us look at how the researcher should operate.

Christopher Ram is an open critic of many aspects of the PPP’s policy output. There is sufficient material from Mr. Ram to describe him as a government critic.

Yet Mr. Ram saw nothing sinister with diving Region 4 into four sub-divisions for the purpose of counting the votes which is one of the amendments in the forthcoming changes to the Representation of the People Act. Attorney Timothy Jonas is the de facto head of the opposition party, ANUG. I h a v e n ’t r e a d o r s e e n anything from Mr. Jonas to suggest he is a supporter of the PPP government. Yet Mr. Jonas described the subdivisions as a process of lessening the burden of bureaucracy in the large district of Region 4. Ram and Jonas interpreted the change as an administrative one.

Why should the researcher accept the words of a so-called civil society group formed a year ago Frederick Kissoon named Election Reform Group (ERG)? this society and one is at a This entity sees mischief loss to find out how the in the amendment to divide government is going to cope Region 4. You read the with this relentless outbreak amendment, and you will be of poisonous lava? completely baffled to know F i n a l l y, o n e m o r e why counting the votes, in e p i s o d e o f w h a t t h e four subdivisions, is a government has to deal with. backward step. It is not. It is In five editorials, the the political agenda of the Stabroek News lamented the ERG that propels it to make removal of Dr. Vincent such a statement.

Adams as head of the EPA. T h e G u y a n e s e Dr. Adams sits as one of six economist, Dr. Tarron leaders on the apex of the Khemraj, certainly does not opposition parliamentary write in support of the party, AFC. Government. Yet he did not Yet this very newspaper describe the NRFA as an in a recent editorial rejected u n w o r k a b l e p i e c e o f the government nominating legislation. anyone from the Private He went so far as to say, Sector Commission (PSC) to there isn’t much difference be on the board to administer between the current Bill and the sovereign wealth fund the one that was passed in because PSC is too close to 2019 by the APNU+AFC the government. What a government. mess Guyana is in.

Yet when that Act was passed, there was no (The views expressed in outpouring of gloom and this article are those of the doom. This is the kind of a u t h o r a n d d o n o t pathological hypocrisy that necessarily reflect the is tearing away the fabric of opinions of this newspaper.)

Thursday February 03, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

$30B plugged into GuySuCo since 2020 despite 34.7% decline …meant to prop up image of survivability at expense of poor Guyanese - Opp. MP The ailing Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has, over the years seen a continuous decline in performance in terms of production but has seen billions of dollars from the nation’s coffers being plugged annually into the industry.

This is the determination of Member of Parliament (MP) in the Opposition benches, Vinceroy Jordan, when he added his voice to the Budget debates for 2022 which continued yesterday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

The A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) MP, who kicked off the third day of Debates, told the House when the Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, presented the 2022 Budget, he was “living in Disneyland and planning a fairytale for GuySuCo in Wonderland.”

According to Jordan, “this government spent almost $30 billion on GuySuCo from 2020 to now and still fail to reopen one estate today.”

He told the House that the sugar industry “has been pronounced dead by the PPP/C government when they failed to resurrect and reopen the number of sugar estates as they promised to do once they returned to office.”

Jordan was vehement that the failure to reopen any of the Estates, “is not only a failed promise but an unrealistic venture.”

He said, “especially when they keep plunging billions of dollars every year to prop up the image and survivability of GuySuCo at the expense of thousands of poor Guyanese and hardworking public servants who continue to suffer.”

To this end, he pointed out to the House that there was just over 80,000 metric tons of sugar in 2020.

He reported too on a revised target of 97,420 metric tons in 2021 to 70,000 metric

Opposition Member of Parliament, Vinceroy Jordan is convinced Budget 2022 is crude, cruel and wicked.

tons, then to an unsatisfactory 57,995 metric tons, “then to a further reduction of planned production target of 66,000 metric tons for the year 2022.”

According to Jordan, what this represents is a 34.7 percent decline in the performance of the sugar industry over the years at “this unprofitable poorly managed entity.”

This, he said, obtains against a background of the APNU+AFC Coalition having a five years (2020-2025) Business Plan for GuySuCo—a plan that was estimated to continue on the path of production of 147,000 metric tons annually.

To this end, he sought to illustrate that “….with the PPP/C managing the sugar industry, we saw production significantly reducing from 92,246 metric tons in 2019.”

Jordan’s presentation to the Budget debates was heavily critical of the document as one that was akin to another pandemic.

He dismissed Budget 2022 as a long empty talk, “one which has been a funded waste by the tax payers’ dollars.”

According to Jordan, “in an already challenged and adverse Guyanese society, one would have expected that with a Continued on page 18

Thursday February 03, 2022

The Mazaruni River in which Renaldo Rampersaud drowned.

Miner drowns after canoe sinks in Mazaruni River

A miner reportedly drowned on Tuesday after the canoe, in which he and another colleague were travelling in, sank in the Mazaruni River, Region 7.

The dead miner has since been identified as 19-year-old Renaldo Rampersaud.

According to police, the canoe sank sometime around 16:00hrs between a place called ‘Luw Luw’ Island Point and Banana Landing, Middle Mazaruni. Rampersaud and his colleague were at the time paddling back from a shop located at Banana Landing.

The two worked on a land dredge and had

paddled to the shop around 15:00hrs to purchase some items for their mining camp.

However, as they were returning to the camp, the canoe began taking in water and eventually sank. Rampersaud’s friend managed to swim to shore but he (Rampersaud) reportedly went under and failed to resurface.

A search party was launched and Rampersaud’s lifeless body was fished out of the river by his brother around 16:50hrs.

His body has since been transported to Bartica and place in the hospital’s mortuary.

Kwakwani gets emergency flood relief supplies through tripartite partnership

From left: Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, Director General of the CDC; Ms. Caroline Mireault, Political Counsellor at the Canadian High Commission; a resident of Kwakwani and Mr. Dwight John, Regional Executive Officer of Region 10.

The Canadian High Commission, along with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Tuesday donated water tanks and other emergency flood relief resources to residents of Kwakwani, Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice (Region 10).

According to a release from the Canadian High Commission, residents of Kwakwani, especially those in Lamp Island and Bamboo Landing, on Tuesday received a quantity of water tanks (56 for Lamp Island and 18 for Bamboo Landing) donated by UNICEF. Persons in those areas also received hampers including rain boots, collapsible water containers, mosquito nets, face masks and thermometers donated by the Canadian High Commission and the CDC.

This is all part of a collaborative effort to provide relief to communities such as Kwakwani where the devastating effects of the May-June 2021 flood took its toll.

Persons in the area are still recovering from the consistent rainfall and unprecedented flood levels of last year.

A ceremony to officiate the distribution took place at the Kwakwani Recreational Centre, which attracted at least 50 residents.

The Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig gave brief remarks lauding the joint effort. “I am elated to be given the opportunity to deliver remarks at today’s handing over ceremony for the Emergency Flood Relief Project, made possible by our valued partners in Continued on page 18

Thursday February 03, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Man, girlfriend killed during high speed police chase - WERE EN ROUTE TO HIS MOTHER’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION The horrific accident scene.

Killed in Wednesday’s tragic accident, Christopher Bhagwandat

travelling in the opposite direction towards Berbice.

The impact of the collision caused the canter to flip onto the Toyota Fielder Wagon that was travelling behind, dragging it a short distance.

By Shervin Belgrave A high speed police chase on Wednesday ended in tragedy after a multi vehicle smash-up claimed the lives of a 21-year-old man and his girlfriend who were on their way to celebrate his mother ’s birthday.

Several other individuals were also injured as a result of the accident which involved a recently procured police pick-up – PAB 3143, a Toyota Allion – PNN 8852, a canter and a Toyota fielder wagon.

The collision reportedly occurred sometime around 11:00hrs at the Mahaica Bridge, located on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), Region 4.

Those killed have been identified as the driver of the Toyota Allion, Christopher Bhagwandat of Mon Repos, ECD and his 16-year-old girlfriend, Sheereda Persaud of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice (WCD), who was sitting in the front passenger seat.

Among the injured are, three police ranks – one of them a female, all occupants of the force’s pick-up - and a family of four; a man, his

wife and two children ages, 8 and 2, who were travelling in the Toyota Fielder Wagon.

According to reports reaching this publication, Bhagwandat had left his Mon Repos home earlier that morning in his Toyota Allion to pick up his girlfriend from her home in Bath Settlement.

His plan, according to a relative, was to take his girlfriend to his mother’s birthday celebration in Mon Repos.

East Coast Police Commander, Khali Pareshram, said that ranks from the Region 5 district were conducting a traffic

operation in Mahaicony and had stopped Bhagwandat’s car at their road block along the New Zeeland Public Road. Bhagwandat, he told reporters, had pulled over his car to the side of the road but as one of the ranks approached he suddenly drove off.

The ranks, according to Pareshram, alerted a patrol vehicle attached to the Mahaicony Police Station and a pursuit began.

While speeding across the Mahaica Bridge, both the f o r c e ’s p i c k - u p a n d Bhagwandat’s car slammed into the canter that was

The driver of the force’s pick-up, identified as Corporal Carmichael, recounted that as he was pursuing Bhagwandat’s car on the Mahaica Bridge, he (Bhagwandat) pulled to the

right and crashed into the force’s vehicle. Carmichael then remembered losing control of the pick-up and slammed into the rail of the bridge before both he and Bhagwandat crashed into the canter.

Eyewitnesses described the collision as something out of a movie scene. One of the police ranks said that as he and his team were leaving the compound of the Mahaica Police Station, which is located a short distance from the scene, when they heard a loud impact coming from the Continued on page 18

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday February 03, 2022

UG announces powerful line-up of speakers for upcoming virtual graduation ceremonies The University of Guyana’s (UG) upcoming virtual graduation ceremonies will see a powerful line-up of speakers, including wellknown businessman and former politician, Stanley Ming; international Tzar on transportation, security, customs, and trade issues Mr. Khanai “Ken” Singh; leading Guyana-born s c i e n t i s t , M r. Vi d i a Roopchand and highly decorated Guyanese PoetEducator, Grace Nichols.

In a release, the university noted that close to 2,600 graduands from over 50 disciplines are expected to walk the virtual stage when the University of Guyana hosts its second series of virtual graduation ceremonies set to commence on February 4. This is the 55th Convocation for the Turkeyen Campus and the 20th for the Berbice Campus.

To kick off, Mr. Stanley Ming will deliver the keynote address at the first ceremony scheduled for

Khanai Singh

Stanley Ming

Grace Nichols

Friday, February 4. This will include graduands from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry (FAF), Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), and the School of Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation (SEBI).

Ming is a well-known businessman, former politician, philanthropist, and champion racer. His illustrious career spans both the public and private sectors.

He attended Queen’s

College in 1963-1970. He is the Founder and CEO of Isika Construction & Engineering Inc. (ICE) as well as Founder and CEO of Ming’s Products & Services Ltd. Ming served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) (2016-2020), Chairman/Shareholder for General Equipment (Guyana) Ltd (1992-2017), and Chairman/Shareholder

for Farm Supplies Ltd (1993 – 2015).

During his tenure as a politician, in 2001-2006, he served as a Member of Parliament in Guyana’s National Assembly, Shadow Minister for Housing and Water, Member of the Public Accounts Committee, Member of the Social Services Committee, and Board Member of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST).

This successful

GECOM cannot contribute to amendment of RoPA without probing 2020 elections The Opposition Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are of the view that the organisation cannot contribute to the amendment of the Representation of the People’s Act (RoPA ), without first conducting an investigation to determine the weaknesses of the agency, which they believe should inform the amendments.

The three Opposition Commissioners – Desmond Trotman, Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin – in a statement to the press yesterday said, “GECOM is in no position to objectively contribute to the process of amending the RoPA in the absence of an internal investigation of the 2020 elections to determine what are the manifest weaknesses of its system and operations.”

As a consequence, the Commissioners noted that cleansing of the voters’ list is nothing short of a “persistent demand” of major stakeholders which should be addressed.

“In that regard, the judgment in relation to House-to-House

– Opposition Commissioners

Opposition GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander Registration should be clarified from the standpoint of its applicability to the voters’ list as distinct from the Register of Registrants.

In like manner, relatedly or separately, the relevance and application of Regulation 40 of the National Registration Act should be determined,” the Commissioners added.

They were keen to note that the mechanism to allow for the cleansing of the voters’ list must be integral to the amendment of the electoral laws.

The Commissioners were adamant in their missive that the fact that

there is no mechanism to ensure that a registrant who dies overseas can be removed from the voters’ list is sufficient reason to warrant such a mechanism.

Furthermore, they said that the determination of the way forward should be guided by an investigation into the weaknesses of the Guyana Elections Commission.

In fact, the Opposition GECOM Commissioners concluded that their “suggestions should be treated as primary activities and foundational to the review of the proposed amendments and the comments provided by the Secretariat.”

According to the draft proposed changes, submitted by the government under the amended law, not only can the Chief Election Officer face hefty penalties for fraud, but other top officials within the elections machinery can face jail time for similar offences.

The amended law stipulates further, that “a person who obstructs an

assistant agent or an alternate polling agent in the performance of his functions commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.”

Accordingly, the draft amendment recommends that any person who fails to follow the procedure set out in the new law in ascertaining or to ascertain the total votes cast in a district or sub-district for each list of candidates commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $10 million and imprisonment for life.

Additionally, it notes that any person who fails to deliver to the returning officer of district Region Four a true certified copy of the sub-district tabulation form or who delivers the sub-district tabulation form with falsified information commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $10 million and imprisonment for life.

Vidia Roopchand businessman is also an avid sportsman and many know him as a champion racer. In 1971, he began racing at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri, and went on to compete internationally in Grand Prix (GP) motorcycles racing in Barbados, Jamaica, Cuba, England, and Daytona U.S.A. He was also the Caribbean Motorcycle Champion for four years.

Mr. Ming is involved in the work of several NGOs and charitable organisations.

He is married to Dr. Michele Ming and is a father of four.

The second ceremony set for Saturday, February 5, will see leading Guyanese scientist Vidia Roopchand delivering the keynote address and will involve graduands from the College of Medical Sciences, College of Behavioural Sciences & Research, and the Faculty of Natural Sciences (FNS).

Mr. Roopchand is a University of Guyana alumni. He is originally from the Island of Wakenaam in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

Mr. Roopchand currently serves as one of the leading scientists at the top American firm, Pfizer. He rose to international fame for his role in the development of the Pfizer vaccine, which is currently being rolled out in countries, including Guyana, to help fight the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.

Mr. Roopchand graduated in 1990 with a Degree in Chemistry from the University of Guyana.

He then moved to New York, USA where he completed a M a s t e r ’s d e g r e e i n Immunology at the New York Medical College and a n o t h e r M a s t e r ’s i n Chemical Engineering at Columbia University.

The renowned scientist has been working with Pfizer

for over 28 years and spent his career supporting the efforts of the research and development team to develop innovative vaccines that prevent diseases and to help treat people globally.

He was part of the “Kick Polio out of Africa” movement initiated by the late great South African president, Mr. Nelson Mandela. His efforts have contributed to the reduction of polio and pneumococcal disease around the world.

For the third ceremony set for Friday, February 11, 2022, Mr. Khanai Singh will deliver the keynote address.

This ceremony will involve graduands from the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS).

Mr. Kanhai Singh is a proud graduate of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

He is the founding President of Atlas International Freight Forwarding Inc. and Canadian Customs Brokers Inc. In 1996, he also founded and is the President of Cargo Partners Network (CPN) - a worldwide freight association for the advancement of technology, security and customs unification globally, with representation in over 90 countries.

Mr. Singh was born in Strangroen, East Coast Demerara in Guyana.

Following the completion of his secondary education at Tutorial High School in Georgetown, he then enrolled at the University of Guyana where he completed studies in Sociology and Psychology in 1976.

In Guyana, Mr. Singh worked for British Airways.

He left for Canada in 1977 and got enrolled at York University, Toronto. In 1979, he earned a BA in Sociology and in 1981, he earned a BA in Business Administration.

He is a guest speaker across Canada and internationally on transportation, security, customs and trade issues.

For over 40 years, Mr. Singh has been actively involved in providing humanitarian and charitable relief all over the world. He served as Chair of the Advisory Council, York University, and also the Humber College Advisory Council to implement a Degree Programme in International Trade and Logistics.

He received the 2005 Businessman of the Year Award in Ottawa, Canada.

This is in addition to other numerous awards and Continued on page 18

Thursday February 03, 2022

Kaieteur News

Body of man found at Vryheid’s Lust The naked body of an unidentified man was discovered yesterday lying in the grass on a dam beside the Vryheid’s Lust main road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Passersby, sometime after 14:00hrs, reportedly noticed the individual, who they said was homeless, lying still and unresponsive, and decided to summon police.

An ambulance with paramedics onboard visited the scene and officially pronounced the individual dead.

Undertakers were then called in to remove the man’s body.

Investigations are ongoing.

Paramedics covering the man’s remains.

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 03, 2022

UG now offers course for Summary Court Prosecutors WANTED FOR RENT

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Wanted skilled carpenters, mason & labourers to work in G/Town & Linden. Contact:615-7526/602-9469/6606385.

1 Nissan pathfinder in good condition, CAT 215 used parts.Tel:683-7225/275-0367.

One female able bodied worker.Tel:225-2313,2261497.

Bush ready Pickup for sale 3.3M negotiable,3RZ engine 4 wheel drive with complete suspension,2002 Tacoma Extra Cab.Tel:630-3750.

One (1) male able bodied clerk.Tel:231-2029/616-5954.

Unregistered 2012 Toyota Fielder Wagon (Blue). Tel: 654-1903,222-2381.

One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable.

Contact:649-0956.

One general domestic Covid19 vaccinated for Tuesday & Saturday between Cove & John Unity E.C.D.Tel:2590953/623-3231.

Car Wash Staff.Tel:649-7371.

Professional Soup cooks and kitchen assistance and professional kichen manager, good pay.Shot hrs.Call:6751509.

1 day per week-Handyman, 1 part-time domestic. Experienced required from Grove/ Diamond.Tel:637-5723.

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

Dishwasher,Puri/Roti cooks.

Apply at Shanta’s,225 Camp & New Market St G/Town.

Looking for someone to look after an elderly person & to live in,age over 50.Tel:6199398.

FOR SALE Household items.Call:6913467,whatsapp 661-1417.

LAND FOR SALE One houselot for sale,Lot 48 Cove and John E.C.D. Tel: 664-1856/698-7152.

VACANCY Cashiers & Supermarket helpers at Nirva Super Store. Apply in person,49 Sheriff & Craig St.Tel:227-5771.

One office clerk,must be computer literate record keeping.

Send CV to Durban Quarries Inc. Tel:608-2241/608-2240/ 220-0912.

One clerk for TSI Eccles Office,English & Maths grade 1 or 2.Call:615-9132 or email application to tech serigy@yahoo.com.

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank areaa.Call:6159132.

FOR RENT Lower flat for rent @Vigilance North E.C.D. Partially furnished with 3 bedrooms, price $60,000 negotiable.

Tel:630-3750.

1-2 bedroom apt to rent for single person,3 road st C/ Town.Tel:223-9677.

Fitter Machinist,Welder fabricator,Mechanic,Apprentice & Male cleaner.Three year’s experience.Call:642-9823 or email: techserigy @yahoo .com.

Crimson Bat Hotel,hiring a housekeeper.Send/Drop application to 633 Industrial Area, Linden. Contact:4442102.

One female to work for two weeks from 7th-19th February. Call:226-2320 or 193 Charlotte St G/Town.

Vacancy exists for Water Delivery Driver and Porter for E.C.D.Tel:676-1363/692-6768.

T

he University of Guyana (UG) on Tuesday commenced registration for it newly launched Certificate in Advocacy and Evidence for Summary Court Prosecutors.

This was announced on the Facebook page of the Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC. According to the Attorney General’s post, the new course is the product of a joint initiative between the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Government of Guyana (GoG), and UG to produce professionals to prosecute matters in Guyana’s Magistrates’ Courts. The initiative is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank as part of the Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme (SCJSP).

The post, on Nandlall’s Facebook page, states that 35 persons will be granted scholarships to pursue this training, which will be facilitated through the University’s Department of Law and persons who complete this Certificate will be hired by the State to serve as Summary Court Prosecutors in Guyana’s Magistrates Courts.

Summary Court Prosecutors will prosecute persons accused of committing summary offences or either way offences which are being tried summarily, and may be involved in the preliminary inquiries and paper committals regarding indictable offences. Persons who wish to apply for the course must be a third-year Bachelor of Law

(LLB) student currently enrolled at UG, and any other person already possessing an LLB from UG or another recognised university. The application process, according to the post, commenced on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, and closes on February 24, 2022. The course is scheduled to commence on March 7, 2022.

Govt. allocates $5B to improve water sector During last week’s 2022 budget presentation, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh announced that $4.9 billion has been budgeted for the improvement of the country’s water sector.

Dr. Singh stated that to guide the efforts in this regard, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) commenced the implementation of its new strategic plan for 20212025 to improve access to potable water, enhance the quality of service and reduce non-revenue water.

FOR RENT VACANCY Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles,age 2350 car/van licence.Call:6429823.

The water supply system that was previously installed at Chiung Mouth village in Region 8 early last year.

This strategy, he noted, is one that aims to substantially increase water use efficiency across all sectors and improve the sustainable management and availability of the country’s water resources. Of the $4.9 billion provided to the sector, a sum of $394.5 million has been budgeted under the Hinterland Water

Supply Programme (HWSP).

Dr. Singh further stated that the sum will be used for the provision of new water supply systems to be installed in several communities in hinterland Regions across the country, such as Phillipai, Isseneru, Warwatta and Tasserene in Region 7, Itabac in Region 8, as well as

Yakarinta and Katoka in Region 9.

The Region Nine Chairman, Brian Allicock, told this publication that the water system at Yakarinta is currently damaged due to water overflow, and has been in that state for a number of years.

However, at Katoka there is an available hand dug well, which is stationed around the school and admin area, and gives access to some of the 700 residents.

According to Allicock, under the HWSP programme, the villages will see new artesian wells which will benefit more than 1,300 residents in total.

Meanwhile, during the opening of tenders at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office on Tuesday, (Continued on page 18)

Thursday February 03, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Budget 2022 is $476,000 debt - Shadow for each Guyanese family Finance Min. Budget 2022 represents a debt burden of $476,000 on the shoulders of each Guyanese family even as $600,000 per family is being withdrawn from the Natural Resources Fund (NRF), and as such has been given a failing grade by the Opposition over several missed targets.

This was revealed as day three of the Budget Debates on the $553B Estimates of Expenditure for this year escalated yesterday in the Dome of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), when opposition Shadow Finance Minister, Juretha Fernandes gave the document a failing grade for a third time.

This conclusion, according to Fernandes, was made based on Dr. Ashni Singh’s own admission that for the third straight budget cycle, government has failed to meet any of its targets with regards the non-oil economy of Guyana.

She sought to impress on the House that none of the targets promised by Dr. Singh—Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance—in relation to economic growth rates, sectoral performance or inflation.

According to Fernandes, her conclusion of a failing ‘F’ grade is not her own but Dr. Singh’s own admission.

To this end, she reminded that Dr. Singh in his Budget presentation delivered a report of total failure when he “reported that the 2021 non-oil GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth was an anaemic 4.6 percent after a projection of 6.1 percent and after suffering a contraction of 7.3 percent in 2020.”

Qualifying her position further, Fernandes reminded the National Assembly that the Minister for this year now gives a projected growth for 2022 at 7.7 percent and again, “I project an epic failure to meet that target this year.”

SIGNIFICANT FAILURE Breaking down the figures into context, she explained, while gesticulating to government member, Minister Kwame McCoy that, “the PPP/C continues to fail at economic policies to sustain or grow the non-oil economy, and thanks to their failure, the non-oil economy today is still smaller than the non-oil economy of 2019.”

Shadow Finance Minister, Juretha Fernandes adding her voice to the 2022 budget debates yesterday.

Even as Fernandes noted that the country has witnessed the PPP/C miss two GDP growth targets in two years, she posited, “not only have they missed every growth target set since they came to office but they have missed both by miles.”

She expounded further by saying that in 2020, the Minister projected the GDP would contract by between 1.4 percent and 4.3 percent.

When presenting the 2021 budget, however, “he reported that the economy actually contracted by 7.3 percent.”

Fernandes reminded, “…with that failure on his record, he then projected GDP growth of 6.1 percent in 2021…6.1 percent was a very modest sum which fully took into account the reality of COVID-19 and the current oil boom Guyana is going through. But modest as it might have been, it was clearly not modest enough to overcome the legendary incompetence of the PPP/C.” To this end, she reminded that Dr. Singh last week reported that instead of the 6.1 percent projected growth, Guyana had recorded a GDP growth rate of only 4.6 percent.

With this in mind, she said, “with another significant failure on his record, he then proceeded to project that 2022 would see a GDP growth rate of 7.7 percent.”

According to Fernandes, “I’m willing to take any bet that the PPP/C is going for the hat-trick of 3 failed GDP growth targets in a row.”

She posited for the sake of argument “that they somehow get their act together and finally deliver on a promise, let’s say the economy actually grew by

7.7 percent in 2022, as unlikely as it is, that would amount to an average GDP growth of 1.47 percent over the three budgets executed by the PPP/C”.

INFLATION On the matter of inflation, Fernandes lamented, “they stand here a n d t a l k a b o u t transformation” but this obtains in light of another litany of failings as it relates to containing the country’s inflation rate.

To this, she noted that last year Dr. Singh projected that inflation would have been contained at 1.6 percent. This did not obtain however, as reported by Dr. Singh himself, inflation rate in 2021 was in fact recorded at 5.7 percent.

This, she recognised “is over three and a half times his announced target; and that projection was made in light of the COVID p a n d e m i c . ” According to Fernandes, “I pause and wonder how a government could be so utterly incapable of hitting a single one of the targets they set.”

Putting the figures into context, the opposition Shadow Finance spokesperson reiterated, “when this budgetary period ends, the PPP/C would have presided over a total inflation rate of over 11 percent in just two and a half years.”

Breaking it down further, Fernandes said it represents a cost of living increase of $11,000 on a $100,000 budget and questioned, “where would the average worker and pensioner find the money to meet this spike in living cost?”

According to Fernandes, “in the biggest budget ever, a

budget that drains the Natural Resources Fund, the pensioners will receive an increase of $3000; that is the relief that this uncaring administration offers, when by their own projection they would have presided over an inflation of 11 percent since they assumed office.”

Referencing the criticisms on the part of the government, Fernandes quipped, “these are the people that want to scold us on management of the economy, what a joke! Their own report reeks of economic mismanagement.”

Compounding the situation, Fernandes drew reference to the fact that outside of the oil sector, there has been an abysmal failure in the performance of key sectors such as Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing.

That sector, she observed, contracted by 9.1 percent in 2021 and “this comes after he had estimated that sector to expand by 5.6 percent in his previous budget presentation.”

With regards the failure

on the part of meeting the targets in the Agricultural sector Fernandes noted, Dr. Singh “now is trying to blame their failure on the floods.”

To t h i s e n d , s h e responded by saying, “we did our homework and we can tell this nation that when you look at the GuySuCo report, you will recognise that the highest yield achieved was 5.63 tonnes of sugar per hectares.”

DEBT BURDEN As such, “even if we are to take into consideration the lost from the flood, we will still be left with a resounding ‘F’ in this department as well.”

According to Fernandes, Budget 2022 “rips through the very soul of this nation, a nation that was hopeful. This hope is now lost.”

Further compounding the situation, Fernandes posited, “this abomination, which the PPP/C calls a budget, lays out a plan to add a further debt burden of $100 billion while emptying the Natural Resource Fund of

$126 billion.”

She expanded saying, “let me put that into context for the Guyanese people, the PPP/C has outlined a plan to place a debt burden of $476,000 on the shoulders of every Guyanese family while they also withdraw the $600,000 per family that was saved in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF).”

This, she said, represents $1,076,000 per Guyanese family or $90,000 per month for every Guyanese family.

According to Fernandes, that money was more than enough to immediately end extreme poverty in Guyana and make hunger and homelessness a distant memory for the countless thousands of Guyanese who struggle in the depths of extreme poverty.

“Yet, you can search for the next year and you will find nothing in this 2022 budget – the first budget to use all the oil revenues – to end extreme poverty.”

To this end, she concluded, after this budget – the biggest Continued on page 18

PAGE 18

Ministry records 5 more COVID-19 fatalities A total of five persons from Region Four, who contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, have died over a two-day period (January 31 to February 1). This is according to the Ministry of Health, which reported that the fatalities are that of an 81-yearold man and four women – a 41-yearold, a 63-year-old, an 80-year-old and an 86-year-old.

As a result of this, the country’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,176.

Meanwhile, in its latest COVID-19 dashboard, the Ministry recorded 276 new infections, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 60,385. The dashboard also shows that 12 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 84 persons are in institutional isolation, 8,399 are in home isolation and 17 are in institutional quarantine.

To date, a total of 50,614 persons have recovered.

Chesney and Parika will be completed within the first six months of this year, he said.

Meanwhile, a sum of $410.7 million was expended in 2021 to increase access and improve the water supply systems in hinterland communities. Works were completed at Katoonarib, Toka, Potarinau, and St. Ignatius in Region 9, as well as Kamarang and Jawalla in Region 7, which benefitted over 3,000 residents in both Regions, according to Dr. Singh.

Further, the completion of

the Chiung Mouth water supply system in Region 8, which was completed in the first quarter of 2021 to the tune of $30 million, now provides the entire community with access to potable water for the first time.

The new system, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, said, brought joy to close to 200 residents as they are now able to access portable water in their homes after being unable to do so for over four years.

Budget 2022 is $476,000 debt...

Man, girlfriend killed during high... and trying to assist the individual lying among the debris by fetching them to the side of the road.

Several photographs of the horrific scene were taken and cell phone recorded videos showed fire fighters cutting through mangled vehicles to free bleeding victims. Commander Pareshram informed reporters at the scene that all of the victims, except for the canter driver who escaped unharmed, were rushed to the Mahaicony Public Hospital. Unfortunately, Bhagwandat and his girlfriend were pronounced dead on arrival.

The injured family of four was treated at the Mahaicony Hospital while two of the injured police officers were referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

As it relates to what caused the now dead Bhagwandat to drive away from the cops, investigators may never be able to find out because nothing illegal was found in his car.

UG announces powerful line-up...

From page 14 recognitions for his significant contribution to the industry, trade, and charitable organisations.

For the fourth ceremony on Saturday, February 12, renowned Guyanese poet Grace Nichols will deliver the keynote address. This ceremony will involve graduands from the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (FEES), Faculty of Education and Humanities (FEH) and Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) – Degree and Diploma Programmes only.

Grace Nichols is an award-winning Guyanese poet. She was born in Georgetown in 1950 and grew up in a small country village on the Guyanese coast. She moved to the city with her family when she was eight, an experience central to her first novel, Whole of a Morning Sky (1986), set in 1960s Guyana in the middle of the country’s struggle for independence.

She worked as a teacher and journalist and, as part of a Diploma in Communications at the University of Guyana, spent time in some of the most remote areas of Guyana, a period that influenced her writings and initiated a strong interest in Guyanese folk tales, Amerindian myths and the South American civilisations of the Aztec and Inca. She has lived in the UK since 1977. Her first poetry collection, “I is a Long-Memoried Woman”, was published in 1983. The book won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize and a subsequent film adaptation of the book was awarded a gold medal at the International Film and Television Festival of New York. The book was also dramatised for radio by the BBC. Subse-

Govt. allocates $5B to improve...

From page 16 it was discovered that R. Kissoon Contracting Services was the only company to place a bid, to the tune of $47,860,000, for the installation of a new water supply system.

Dr. Singh told the National Assembly, it is estimated that 70 per cent of the hinterland communities by the end of this year, will have access to potable water compared to 56 percent currently.

Additionally, the drilling of the new wells located at

- 276 new infections

From page 13 direction of the bridge.

Another eyewitness related that he heard “tyre burning (screeching)” on the bridge and had looked out just in time to see the “two vehicles and canter slamming into mattie (each other).” Surveillance camera from a nearby business place also recorded the exact moment when the vehicles collided.

It started with the canter moving at a normal rate of speed with two cars travelling slowly behind. Suddenly as the canter drove onto the bridge, two speeding vehicles slammed into it. The canter flipped over onto a car that was behind. The air then became foggy with dust and smoke from the smashed vehicles. As debris scattered across the bridge, it appeared as though someone was flung out from one of the mangled cars too.

An eyewitness was seen rushing to the scene

Thursday February 03, 2022

Kaieteur News

quent poetry collections include The Fat Black Woman’s Poems (1984), Lazy Thoughts of a Lazy Woman (1989), and Sunrise (1996). She also writes books for children, inspired predominantly by Guyanese folklore and Amerindian legends, including Come on into My Tropical Garden (1988) and Give Yourself a Hug (1994). Everybody Got A Gift (2005) includes new and selected poems, and her collection, Startling the Flying Fish (2006), contains poems that tell the story of the Caribbean.

Her latest books are Picasso, I Want My Face Back (2009); I Have Crossed an Ocean: Selected Poems (2010); The Insomnia Poems (2017), and Passport to Here and There (2020), which received a Poetry Book Society Special Commendation. She was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry for the year 2021 for her body of work, particularly her first collection of poetry, I is a Long-Memoried Woman (1983), prose and several books for younger readers. In 2007, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Grace Nichols lives in England with her partner, the poet Sir John Agard. In addition to the keynotes, the Minister of Education, Honourable Priya Manickchand, will deliver the charge to graduands. UG’s Chancellor, Professor Edward Greene, will deliver remarks.

Additionally, there will be a rich cultural programme featuring stunning performances by various renowned Guyanese artistes. A record number of attendees are expected this year since due to the online nature of the event, there will be no limit to the number of invitees who can join the proceedings via UG’s Facebook LiveStream @uniofguyana.

From page 17 budget ever of $552.9 billion, the first budget to use all of the oil revenue, after it would have been fully implemented at the end of this year, “there will still be a plastic city in Region 3. There will still be families struggling in Tiger Bay. There will still be children begging on the streets. There will still be homeless people sleeping on every road corner of our city. After the biggest budget ever, and the first budget to utilise our oil revenues, Guyanese will still be struggling to survive.”

TRICKLEDOWN ECONOMICS She was adamant that with Budget 2022, “poverty, the lack of basic human needs, will continue to plague our most vulnerable under this careless, heartless, immoral, inhumane budget.”

Fernandes insisted too that single mothers struggling to provide for their families, pensioners who are no longer able to work, the sick and the disabled, these are the people who make up the bulk of those who suffer in extreme poverty in this country and “this budget does absolutely nothing to raise the standard of living of those persons.”

To this end, she questioned, “is it too much to ask that, in a country set to have the third highest oil production per person when the Liza Unity comes online in a few weeks, that this 2022 budget should have outlined a plan to end childhood hunger? Is it too much to ask that there be a plan to get thousands of children living in the squalor of squatting areas be provided with emergency housing? Is it too much to ask that our pensioners be given

enough money to have at least three healthy meals a day?”

According to Fernandes, the government of the day is least concerned about those people and those issues, “they are more concerned with projects and programmes that will yield the biggest kickbacks.”

The PPP/C, she said, “seems to be filled with two extremes, on one hand, they have people that don’t care and on the other hand, they have people that don’t understand; so in essence, they are a group in which the wicked and corrupt is leading the blind.”

According to Fernandes, if the PPP/C was accurate for once in their life, they would have named budget 2022, “trickledown economics again, we promise it will work this time.”

Kwakwani gets emergency flood...

From page 12 humanitarian services, the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development and the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).” The Director General also indicated that the CDC and its partners were challenged with responding to multiple flood events in every Administrative Region, along with other hazard impacts such as the 5.7 magnitude earthquake that impacted several communities in Deep South, Rupununi, Region 9 last year. As a result, Relief efforts like this are essential

to equip persons with the tools necessary to respond to hazards and disasters in the future. The Canadian High Commission representative, Political Counsellor, Ms. Caroline Mireault, shared similar sentiments. She recognised the effects of the May-June 2021 floods and the importance of continued support for the vulnerable communities. Ms. Mireault also expressed her joy for having her organisation be a part of such a venture. The Political Counsellor assured attendees that the Canadian High Commission is always poised to help in any way that they can and they aspire to have con-

sistent symbiotic relationship with the CDC. Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 10, Mr. Dwight John and Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Vice Chairman of Region 10, Mr. Kurt Simeon were also in attendance.

Supplies have been distributed to some residents and the remaining items have been handed over to the NDC so that they may disseminate them accordingly.

Eteringbang in CuyuniMazaruni (Region 7) is the next community set to receive similar supplies in the near future as they too have been hard-hit by the recent floods, the release added.

$30B plugged into GuySuCo since...

From page 12 budgetary plan coming to this House it would bring great relief for all citizens, workers and their families amid the COVID-19 pandemic.” He insisted that Budget 2022, instead of instilling hope, “has caused Guyanese now to be in a much depressed and worrisome state now knowing that they have to put up very soon with three major pandemics instead of two in one country; first, the COVID-19, secondly the PPP/ C government and thirdly the soon to be passed 2022 bud-

getary allocations.” To this end, he lamented that Budget 2022 appears to cater for a selected few, namely, “one class and calibre of people, one set of affiliates and associates, and yes one way of governance through corruption, inequalities and injustices.” As such, he concluded “this budget will indeed build one class and group of people while Sir (Speaker Manzoor Nadir), the ordinary citizens and hardworking public servants are left out in the cold fighting for survival in an ever changing

and difficult society.”

Adamant “this long empty talk of a budget will put significant pressure on the lives of the ordinary Guyanese,” Jordan told the House, “Budget 2022 is crude, cruel and wicked, it is like a runaway train heading this country into a serious wreckage; it will do the ordinary Guyanese no good.” He concluded by saying “Guyanese today are emotionally distressed at hearing this budget and will soon file a report with the Guyana Police Force.”

Thursday February 03, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 03, 2022

Thursday February 03, 2022

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Thompson-Herah nominated for prestigious Laureus Sportswoman

of the Year award SportsMax - Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah is in line for another major global award following her nomination for the Sportswoman of the Year at this year’s Laureus Awards.

The Jamaican sprint star was nominated alongside fellow track and field athletes Allyson Felix and Eliud Kipchoge; the latter vying for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year honours.

Thompson-Herah, World Female Athlete of the Year, NACAC Female Athlete of the Year and Jamaica’s Sportswoman of the Year earned the nomination following her triple gold-medal-winning performance in Tokyo, where she

won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m.

“She is an athlete who just completely dominated their sport last year,” athletics legend and Laureus Academy Member Michael Johnson said of Thompson-Herah.

“100m, 200m, repeating as champion, which is very difficult to do, and threatening one of the oldest and most impressive world records in the books, the women’s 100m – we haven’t talked about anyone threatening that record for years.”

The five-time Olympic champion said she was honoured by the nomination.

“Thank you @laureussport for your nomi-

nation for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award. I am honoured and excited to be one of the nominees and congratulations to all the other nominees,” she posted on Instagram.

Felix, meanwhile, is nominated off the back of her record-breaking medal tally, with her 400m bronze and 4x400m gold medals taking her count to 11 medals. They are joined on the list of nominees by swimmers Emma McKeon and Katie Ledecky, tennis player Ashleigh Barty and football player Alexia Putellas. Kenyan marathon legend Kipchoge is one of six nominees for the men’s award, alongside NFL player Tom Brady, Bayern Munich footballer Robert Lewandowski, Formula One

Thursday February 03, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) An enhanced feeling of determination could motivate you today, Aries. Finish the things that aren't complete and make some plans for this evening.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Feeling the effects of today's energies, Taurus?

Take heart if this is the case, because the end of the tunnel isn't as far away as it seems.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Consider making some plans for a vacation or short getaway, Gemini. Looking forward to something fun can make even the toughest of days far easier to handle.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Don't judge someone if he or she has a different lifestyle than what you consider to be OK, Cancer. You probably lean toward the traditional, yet not everyone feels this way about relationships.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Friends seeking advice or a shoulder to cry on could be plentiful today, Leo. You're one of best people to give them the support and care they need.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Getting through today shouldn't pose too big a problem for you, Virgo. You may feel a huge second wind that can give you the drive and determination to see your chores and projects through.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Working within boundaries and restrictions could really get to you today, Libra.

Yours is an independent spirit and your best achievements are often born of doing things your own way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Chances are that you'll feel upbeat and positive today, Scorpio. Consider sharing this energy with those around you who are feeling less than content.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Don't discount your ability to be extremely resourceful if you need to be, Sagittarius. If you don’t have everything you need or all of the required information, take time to think.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Try not to let today's blues get you down, Capricorn.

While it's true that some days can seem to drag on, the busier you are the faster time will pass.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Dare to be different, Aquarius. It can be so easy to fall into a drill. Sleeping at the same time, eating at the same time, wearing the same style, and going about work the same way day after day.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) If your lifestyle is considerably different than that of others, resist feeling self-conscience about it today, Pisces.

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah

world champion Max Verstappen, tennis player Novak Djokovic and swimmer Caleb Dressel. Olympic triple jump champion Yulimar Rojas and Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra, meanwhile, are nominated for the Breakthrough award.

The winners will be revealed in April, following a

vote by the Laureus World Sports Academy, comprising 71 sporting legends. If she wins, Thompson-Herah would become the first Jamaican female athlete to win the award that was founded in 2000. Usain Bolt was a fourtime winner of the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award (2009, 2010, 2013 and 2017).

Roger Federer...

From page 22 “So, it’s still good times even though it’s a little bit slow, because I would love to do way more. But the doctors and everybody’s holding me back a little bit.”

Federer, who had been among the first to congratulate Nadal for winning on Sunday, said he had “no problem” with his great friend and rival breaking a record he himself had held since 2009 and last extended in 2018.

“I’m the first guy to be happy for anybody who breaks any record, because I know how hard it is to do,” he said.

Federer said he watched the Sunday’s final at home but not all five hours and 24 minutes thanks to his four children.

“The match took too long, and I’ve got too many children so I couldn’t watch every point, but I tuned in for the very end and it was nice to see the emotions.

“It gets you all emotional to see such an incredible hard-fought victory.”

Egypt objects...

From page 24 shows that he learned nothing from his time in professional football,” Queiroz told a news conference.

He was referring to the stampede that killed eight fans and injured 38 others outside the Olembe Stadium in the capital, Yaounde, before a game between Cameroon and Comoros.

“It was a very, very unfortunate comment, because football is not about war, it’s about celebration, joy and happiness,” Queiroz said.

Cameroon in recent years has also seen fighting break out in western parts of the country between Englishspeaking separatis t s a n d soldiers from the Frenchlanguage dominated government based in Yaounde.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in the fighting and more than 700,000 have fled their homes.

PAGE 22

Roger Federer facing make-or-break few months with return in the balance The Telegraph - Roger Federer has said he should know by May whether he could return to tennis after revealing he was still not allowed to run following triple knee surgery.

Federer announced plans to resume intense exercise this month, admitting being able to do so would make or break his hopes of a comeback at the age of 40.

The Swiss has spent the best part of two years on the

Thursday February 03, 2022

Kaieteur News

sidelines, during which time he watched Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic equal his record of grand slam triumphs, with the former then moving clear on Sunday courtesy of an epic Australian Open victory.”I have, I think, very interesting and important next months ahead of me,” said Federer in an interview with sponsor Credit Suisse. “Until now, I wasn’t really allowed to run yet and do the heavy workloads with

Roger Federer facing make or break few months with return in the balance

jumps and stop and goes. So I hope that that’s all going to start hopefully in a couple of weeks. And then we’ll see how the body will react to that. And that’s obviously what I need to return to the tennis court. So I think this question is better answered maybe by April/May. “But for now, of course, the drive is there. I’m really motivated to do my work, what I’m allowed to do.

(Continued on page 21)

National Senior Table Tennis C/Ships concludes this weekend The second leg of the Senior National Table Tennis Championships, being played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), came to an end last weekend with players booking their spots for the final action this weekend at the same venue.

Chelsea Edghill and Natalie Cummings made light work of the competition to emerge women’s double champs. The “C” Class Open Draw saw some new faces turn up on the first day, but by the end of the night, it was only Vicente Henery, Saalih Rahim, Walter Marcus and Ishaka Jackman who had to do battle in the semifinals to book their final spots.

Rahim dominated Henery in the first semifinal. The scores read 3-0 (11-7,11-7,119). In the other matchup, Marcus and Jackman had a close battle before Jackman

had the better of Marcus in the 3-2 win.

In the U21 Men’s Singles, Jonathan Van Lange, Kyle Chung, Krystian Sahadeo and Colin Wong were set to do battle in their semifinal bout. Van Lange and Wong were the two victors, and face each other this weekend in the U21 finals.

In match one, Van Lange defeated Sahadeo 4-0 (116,11-7,11-3,11-8). In the other semifinal, Colin Wong made light work of Kyle Chung, winning 4-0. In the under-21 women’s division, Jasmine Billingy and Thuraia Thomas will be pitted against each other on Sunday when they battle for the top spot. Both athletes are tied on 4 points.

The action continues on Saturday and Sunday with the B Class, under 21 and senior Singles and their respective finals.

ECDCB names squad for DCB Under-15 Inter-Association Competition 2022

T

he East Coast Demerara Cricket Board (ECDCB) has announced the 15-man squad and reserves for the Demerara Cricket Board Under-15 Inter-Association Competition. Four (4) other teams will participate in the competition, namely Georgetown, West Demerara, East Bank Demerara and Upper Demerara.

The Inter-Association Competition will precede the Guyana Cricket Board/Dave Narine Imports and Exports Under-15 Inter-County Tournament which is expected to be conducted during the latter half of February 2022.

The ECDCB Under-15 team will be led by Arun Gainda who possesses a wealth of experience at this level, having first represented the GCB’s President X1 team at the tender age of 11 years old and progressing to play for Demerara Under-15 in 2019.

The East Coast Demerara

Arun Gainda, Mickel Sharma, Trilok Nanan Cricket Board Under-15 squad is: Arun Gainda(Captain), Trilok Nanan (Vice Captain), Mickel Sharma, Ravin Persaud, Rishi Seodat, Alonzo Ramsingh, Antonio Chan, Munesh Outar, Gopaul Ramchand, Aaron Kissoon, Mohan Jagernauth, Udesh Jaikarran, Fauiz Ali and Adrian Kissoon. The reserves are: Joshua Bollers, Nicholas Rukhdeo, Daniel Kissoon, Richardo Singh and Amit Prashad.

Thursday February 03, 2022

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Mane helps Senegal to final CWI pays tribute to Easton McMorris – Former West Indies batsman with win over Burkina Faso BBC Sport - Senegal are through to their third Africa Cup of Nations final with Sadio Mane on target to help them overcome Burkino Faso.

In an eventful game, VAR chalked off two Senegal penalties, with Burkina Faso goalkeeper Herve Koffi injured during the events of the first.

Abdou Diallo and Idrissa Gueye put Senegal in charge before Blati Toure narrowed the deficit late on. But Mane chipped in to settle victory for the tournament favourites. It was Mane’s 29th goal for his country, taking him level with Henri Camara at the top of their alltime scorer list. Senegal will face Egypt or hosts Cameroon in Sunday’s final (19:00 GMT).

Burkina Faso will take part in the third/fourth-place playoff, which has been brought forward a day to Saturday (also kicking off at 19:00).

Superior Senegal break Burkina Faso’s stubborn resolve Just four minutes into the game at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde,

there was a serious clash of heads following a fully-committed 50-50 challenge between Nampalys Mendy and Cyrille Bayala.

It set the tone for what would be a full-blooded and fiercely-contested last-four clash between two sides who have both reached the final of this competition in the past but never won it. Senegal are the highest ranked side in Africa - 20th in Fifa’s global list - and their extra class ultimately told. They were teased with the opportunity to open the scoring twice before the break, with Koffi’s aerial clash with Cheikhou Kouyate and Edmond Tapsoba’s elbowblock on Idrissa Gueye both adjudged to be penalties on the field. But both were correctly overturned by referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa after he had been called to view them on the monitor by the video officials. There was still a cost to Burkina Faso, with Koffi forced off hurt in the 36th minute after awkwardly landing on Crystal Palace midfielder Kouyate as he tried

to punch clear. The Stallions are used to dealing with adversity, though, having got this far despite being outsiders and with the backdrop of a military coup back in their home country. That they took the contest so deep is a tribute to their fortitude and a defiant performance that gave the favourites more than one scare, mainly via the direct running of Aston Villa’s Bertrand Traore. After Idrissa Gueye had slotted in to make it 2-0 in the 76th minute - six minutes after Diallo’s finish following a corner - Kamou Malo’s side could have wilted.

But Toure gave them brief hope with his 82nd-minute effort, before Senegal talisman Mane fittingly had his say on the occasion with a driving run and chipped finish three minutes from time. It leaves the tantalising prospect of a final showdown with his Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah if Egypt reach the final - a game in which Mane will be looking to break his country’s goals record in fine style.

and outstanding Jamaica captain

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) today paid tribute to Easton McMorris, who passed away on Tuesday. The former Jamaica captain and West Indies batsman was 86.

McMorris made his Test debut for West Indies against Pakistan at Queen’s Park Oval in 1958 in a team alongside Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Garry Sobers and Sir Conrad Hunte.

He played 13 Test matches and scored one century – 125 against India at Sabina Park in 1962.

CWI President Ricky Skerritt said: “I had the privilege to engage with Mr McMorris on a few occasions over the years.

I found him to be an encouraging and selfless gentleman. On behalf of CWI, I want to send condolences to his family and the entire cricket fraternity in Jamaica.

Easton was a true stalwart of the game and contributed significantly at all levels, on and off the field. He was a leader

Easton ‘Bull’ McMorris at the Lucas Cricket Club, carrying on the legacy established by the great George Headley.

After retirement from playing, he gave yeoman service as a board member of the Jamaica Cricket Association and manager of the Jamaica cricket team.”

McMorris was an outstanding captain for Jamaica, including winning the much coveted Shell Shield, and he

was a steady performer for West Indies in Test cricket. As a captain McMorris led from the front.

He was an astute thinker of the game, a shrewd tactician and was respected by his teammates and opponents.

He was a very determined batsman, who valued his wicket.

The region has lost a true and life-long servant of the game

PAGE 24

FIBA, WABC “Start Coaching” Programme slated for February 16-17 World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC) instructor, Nelson Isley, is scheduled to arrive in Guyana to bounce-off the collaborative programme of Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA) and the WABC, which is slated “Start Coaching”.

Composed in an effort to promote growth at the grassroots level under the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), the course is billed for February 16-17 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), and will also feature a Level 1 Coaches Assessment Clinic for more advanced coaches.

GABF Technical Director, Junior Hercules stated that the Federation was quite pleased to be aligned with the venture.

Hercules disclosed that the coaching clinic is designed to target aspiring coaches who have a desire to develop the sport; particularly Physical Education (PE) teachers, parents or anyone interested in basketball is encouraged across the length

Thursday February 03, 2022

Kaieteur News

and breadth of Guyana.

“We’re excited to have this course. It’s one of a kind in the sense that the world coaching Basketball Association obviously has seen the need for it.

We have reached out to them and there’s a desire for us to grow the sport and it’s in keeping with our strategic long term plan to have us not only develop athletes, but increase our pool of coaches across the length and breadth of the country,” Hercules said.

The two-day clinic will comprise of grassroots coaching activities from a newly published Handbook which includes a Coach Workbook, Activities Book, Practice Plans and a Facilitator Handbook to support National Federations to promote and grow coaches at grassroots level.

GABF General Secretary, Patrick Haynes, also played quite an integral role as he lobbied with the FIBA to get the WABC Instructor to attend the Start Coaching program in Guyana as part of the

GABF’s strategic goals to promote basketball coaching at the most tender stage.

Haynes said, “This is the key to making our sport stronger, more popular and enjoyable for all.

This programme is designed to give coaches starting out practical tips on how to make learning basketball fun and how to keep players active and engaged.

I believe the GABF can use these resources to not only provide valuable coaching information and coaching methods but also encourage and helpthose interested to start coaching.”

Meanwhile, the Federation is appealing to interested participants who would have signaled their desire to be a part of this course to ensure that they are COVID-19 compliant.

Interested persons can visit the Guyana Basketball Federation website for more information, or contact Junior Hercules on 665-2425 for any information you may need and also tips to be registered for the programme.

CECC 10-10 final set for this Sunday The inaugural Central Essequibo Cricket Committee (CECC) Invitational ten-ten knockout final is slated for Sunday at Reliance Sports Ground, Essequibo Coast.

But before the championship fixture, eight teams are still in the race as the quarterfinal action will begin at 10:00hrs with four matches.

The final will commence at 15:00hrs, according to president of the CECC Trevis Simon.

At Reliance Sports venue, Reliance Hustlers Sports Club will collide with Reliance Sports Club while at the same time, Invaders Masters will lock horns with Bacchus Bulls at Imam Bacchus facility.

The two other matches will see Queenstown tackling Charity at Anna Regina Multilateral School Ground also from 10:00hrs and across at Affiance venue, Rising Stars will confront Aurora Knight Riders.

After these games, the top four teams will advance to the semifinals stage before the decider begins for a top prize of $70,000 and a trophy, while the second-place side is set to pocket $30,000 and a trophy as well.

In the opening round last Sunday, Rovindra Parasram hit an aggressive 62 to inspire Reliance Hustlers Sports Club to a commanding 37-run vic-

Hassan Rahim tory over Young Achievers.

Hustlers raked up a formidable 120-4 off the 10-overs, while Achievers only reached 83-6 when the overs expired.

Nathan Persaud supported the right-handed Parasram with 25. Ganesh Gopaul made 34 in Young Achievers’ chase as off-spinner and captain Trevis Simon grabbed 3-6 off his two overs.

At the Reliance Sports Ground earlier in the day, seamer Hassan Rahim helped Charity defeat JC X1 by 18 runs. Rahim grabbed 5-3 in one over including four wickets from as many deliveries.

JC X1 only responded with 58-6 from the reduced seven overs after Charity scored 765. The reduction of the overs was due to the late arrival of

both teams. At Imam Bacchus Ground, Bacchus Bulls whipped Devonshire Castle/ Walton Hall by ten wickets.

Devonshire Castle/Walton Hall only made 79-5, while Bacchus Bulls replied with 800 with 11 balls unused.

Sheldon Charles hit a flamboyant, unbeaten 43 for the victorious combination.

Back at Reliance, Queenstown brushed aside Reliance Hustlers A team by 70 runs. Queenstown rattled up a formidable 153-4 from the 10-overs while Hustlers A team only reached 83-5 when the 10-overs ran out. Carl Gilgeous led the way for Queenstown with 56 while a good contribution came from Wazim Mohammed with 48.

Invaders Masters beat Affiance by a handsome nine-wicket margin. On an Imam Bacchus pitch, Affiance only got to an inadequate 594 from the 10-overs, while Invaders Masters surpassed the target in the 8th over. Fazir Khan hit 27 not out. His teammate Amit Persaud had earlier taken 3-14 from his two overs. Reliance Sports Club got the better of Cotton Field by five wickets to round off the initial segment. Rising Stars drew the bye, while Aurora Knight Riders claimed a walkover from Lima whose players were absent due to work commitment.

Egypt objects to referee picked for African Cup semifinal CAIRO (AP) — Egypt has filed a complaint with the African soccer confederation against the appointment of a Gambian referee for the Pharaohs’ game against Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations semifinals today.

The Egyptian Football Association did not give reasons for its complaint against Bakary Gassama, one of Africa’s best-known referees. He refereed the Pharaohs’ 1-0 loss to Nigeria in the group stage.

The 42-year-old Gassama is known to Egyptian fans for having refereed the Pharaohs’ 2-1 victory over Congo in October 2017, which qualified Egypt for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It was the first time in nearly three decades that they qualified for the tournament.

Egypt, which has won the African Cup a record seven times, filed its complaint late Tuesday. Representatives of the Egyptian Football Association and the

Confederation of African Football were not immediately available to comment.

The Pharaohs advanced to the semifinals by beating Morocco 2-1 thanks to a goal and an assist from its star Mohamed Salah. Host nation Cameroon progressed with a 2-0 win over Gambia. Yesterday, Senegal faced Burkina Faso in the first semifinal.

Gassama has also refereed many games for Egypt’s giants, Al Ahly and Zamalek, in the African Champions League tournaments, with some of them sparking controversy in the soccer-mad nation.

Today’s game will feature the two most successful teams in African Cup history with 12 titles between them.

It will be a repeat of the 2017 final, when Cameroon won its fifth cup, and the 11th encounter between the two heavyweights in the tournament’s history, according to the CAF. Egypt relies heavily on

Liverpool star Salah, who is still looking for a first major title with his country since its last the African Cup championship in 2010. Cameroon hopes striker Vincent Aboubakar, the tournament’s leading scorer so far with six goals, can lead the hosts to the Feb. 6 final.

Following its win over Gambia, Cameroon federation president Samuel Eto’o told his country’s squad to prepare for a “war” in the semifinals. “Everything you’ve done, you need to capitalize on it. Prepare yours, because it will be a war, my guys, a war,” Eto’o was seen telling players in video comments. Pharaohs coach Carlos Queiroz dismissed Eto’o comments as “unfortunate” and a “bad message.” “I think he forgot that Cameroonian people died at the stadium several days ago, and so making this declaration of war before one game (Continued on page 19)

Thursday February 03, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

Everest CC Masters make donation to Mashabo Sunrisers CC - Triumph in 25-over fixture

The Everest Cricket Club Masters team, with assistance from a number of businesses, have presented a quantity of cricket equipment, uniforms and cash to the Mashabo Sunrisers Cricket Club which is located behind Huis’t Dieren village on the Essequibo Coast.

The Everest CC Masters team visited the area and engaged the host in a 25-over fixture on Sunday last and made the presentation which the club gleefully accepted.

Mashabo Sunrisers CC was formed over two decades ago and started to play competitive hardball cricket in 2016. The club also plays softball cricket and volleyball.

Captain of the Mashabo Sunrisers CC Decasey Williams expressed gratitude to Everest Masters team and said it was a historic moment for them since it is the first time they have received such assistance.

He stated that the entire community is thankful and added that they would like to visit the Everest Cricket Club for a return fixture.

Captain of the Everest Cricket Club Masters Rajesh Singh said they are happy to be given an opportunity to render assistance to the community and encouraged the members of club to take sports seriously. Singh added that their team is not

Small Goal Football set for Bob Marley’s Birthday celebrations in Linden on Sunday

King Mandela Organiser of the BOB MARLEY Birthday celebration set for the Mining Town of Linden on Sunday February 6, Canadian based Guyanese Reggae Singer King Mandela is inviting all artistes who would like to be involved in celebrating the birthday of a regional and international music icon.

The event will be a fun day and small goal football competition followed by live performances from Guyana’s top international artistes after the football final, a day of fun and frolic is anticipated for the young, the old and in between.

Seven artistes from Georgetown along with four others from the Westside will travel to Linden on Sunday.

According to King Mandela, who wanted to a Footballer during his school days, informed that the Bus will leave Linden Bus Park at 11 AM sharp.

“If you miss the Bus you will have to make your way to Linden on your own. Upon arrival in Linden, the artistes will receive refreshments and accommodations for the night.”

The artistes are asked the bring their instrumental tracks once they are interested and are asked to reply with a message or sending voice notes starting with their contact information to King Mandela’s Whatsapp (688-4697) or email the same information to reggaekingdomtour@gmail.com.

King Mandela said he is still seeking Sponsorship for Sunday’s event and added that those desirous of supporting this venture can contact him on his whatsapp. (Sean Devers)

only about playing cricket, but to assist in the development of the sport and young players.

Singh thanked the sponsors, which included We s t I n d i a n S p o r t s Complex, Trophy Stall, New Doctor’s Clinic, Rajace Auto Plus, Everest Cricket Club and Everest Cricket Club Masters team.

Toshao of the village Arefa Shabeer thanked the Everest CC and donors for their kind gesture and said they were happy for the visit.

She stated that their assistance will help in the development of sport in the area and serve as motivation for the youths.

The donation of the cricket uniforms to the team was brainchild of Managing Director of New Doctor’s Clinic Satyendra Khemraj and was sponsored by Khemraj, CEO of Rajace Auto Plus Rajesh Singh and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall.

In an invited comment, Khemraj who also plays of the Everest CC Masters said he visited the community in December for some charity work and made a commitment to assist with the uniforms, and he was

Captain of the Everest Masters Rajesh Singh accepts the winning trophy from Toshao Arefa Shabeer. happy to deliver on his promise. He thanked Singh and Sunich for their input and is encouraging the

youths to take sports seriously as well as their education since the two complement each other well.

Khemraj would have also made similar donation to clubs in several outlying areas in Guyana and said he will continue to support the development of sports.

Meanwhile, Everest Cricket Club Masters defeated the home team by 43 runs. Batting first, the visitors managed 165-9.

Usherdeva Balgobin made 40, Beesham Singh scored 26, Ravi Narayan 24 and Gavin Singh 19.

Alonzo Christian claimed 2-23, Decasey Williams took 2-26, Norman Fredericks 2-29 and Conroy Charles 2-29.

Mashabo Sunrisers were bowled out for 122 in 14.3 overs, in reply. Richard Smith struck 48, Charles 13 and Fredericks 12. Gavin Singh captured 3-19, Randy Lindore snared 3-28 and Ariel Tilku 2-17.

Lindore was named manof-the-match, while Singh took the most economical bowler prize, Balgobin picked up the prize for hitting the most sixes and Smith collected the prize for being the best batsman on the home team. The game was sponsored by members of the Everest CC Masters team. (Zaheer Mohamed)

t r o p S

National Senior Table Tennis C/Ships concludes this weekend

FIBA, WABC “Start Coaching” Programme slated for February 16-17 WABC Instructor, Nelson Isley

Chelsea Edghill in action last weekend at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

GABF Technical Director, Junior Hercules

Mane helps Senegal to final with win over Burkina Faso

Senegal have twice appeared in the Afcon final before without winning the event, in 2002 and 2019.

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.