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AIETEUR NEWS

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Consult Guyanese on projects funded

Wednesday Edition

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February 23, 2022 - Vol. 17 No.08 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 84,969

- Ram tells Govt.

US$100M to produce 178MW from solar, hydrogen in Barbados …Ethiopia spends US$600,000 per MW for Hydro ...Guyana engages Chinese Co. to build Amaila Hydro at US$4.2M per MW

Fmr. Bishops' High School teacher freed on one count of sexual activity with a minor

nd

t s e t o r p The es u n i t n o c e g n a h c r fo to the . ts c a r t n o c

52 Republic Anniversary greetings to all Guyanese

Man pleads guilty to killing boy, 13

Bandits carrying baby stab, rob taxi driver

Witness who recanted testimony charged with perjury

No bidders to audit Cost Oil, Guyana's share of profit

How Singapore got rid of corruption Listen to The Glenn Lall Show! @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

US$100M to produce 178MW from solar, hydrogen in Barbados …Ethiopia spends US$600,000 per MW for Hydro ...Guyana engages Chinese Co. to build Amaila Hydro at US$4.2M per MW A solar panel array, with sheep grazing and grass harvesting potential within the solar power plant and surrounding green areas.

Bajan Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley addressing delegates at the recently concluded International Energy Conference and Expo 2022.

The Government of Barbados will in the near future be realising some 178 megawatts of electricity using hydrogen and solar energy at a cost of some US$100M while in Ethiopia, that country will soon realise 6,500 MW of hydro power electricity at a cost of just over US$600,000 per MW. In Guyana however, the Irfaan Ali Government is pursuing a hydro electrical project at Amaila Falls for a revised cost of US$700M which would work out to some US$4.2M per MW for a 165MW plant to be built by China Railway First Group.

With the world on a pathway towards reducing carbon emissions as a result of burning fossil fuels primarily for electricity g e n e r a t i o n a n d transportation, Barbados is now leading the Caribbean region with the announcement that it will soon be building the largest clean hybrid power plant in the Caribbean, producing base load power for 16,000 Barbadian households from solar and locally produced green hydrogen.

The venture comes as a result of the strategic agreement signed between RubisEnergie, the parent company of Rubis Caribbean, which acquired 51 percent of the largest hydrogen power project in t h e C a r i b b e a n , Renewstable® Barbados (“RSB”), developed by HDF Energy, inked back in 2021.

HDF Energy is also in active discussions with the Barbados Sustainable Energy Co-operative Society to offer 30 percent of the project prior to construction. According to a missive, RSB is a large gridfriendly energy power plant project that will supply clean, resilient, stable and competitive base load

electricity 24/7 to 16,000 homes.

Located in St Philip, RSB will aid the island in achieving its 100 percent renewable energy mandate by 2030 without the intermittency concerns that typically limit the deployment of solar and wind power on island grids.

It was noted that using only the sun as a primary source of electricity (50MW solar), RSB combines 128MWh of green hydrogen and battery storage to deliver a continuous output of power, day and night. The project is currently under Government regulatory review and approval.

Totally carbon-free, RSB has been designed to effectively replace certain aging, costly and polluting assets that currently burn Heavy Fuel Oil or Jet Fuel, with a similar level of reliability.

Not impacted by any commodity market, RSB also eliminates the exposure to fuel price volatility throughout its 25-year operating life. RSB said in its missive that it,”is committed to promoting the dual use of solar energy and agriculture on the site.”

Additionally, it was noted that a large-scale sheep farming facility will be accommodated as part of the project, “with both direct sheep grazing and grass harvesting within the solar power plant and surrounding green areas.”

According to the missive, “sheep husbandry will be developed on the facility in order to maintain dual use of the land, producing valuable lamb meat and skins locally, and generating direct and indirect local jobs while simultaneously saving and creating vital foreign exchange.”

Continued on page 25

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Wednesday February 23, 2022

Repossess these abandoned house lots in Tuschen immediately DEAR EDITOR I would like to call on the Ministry of Housing to repossess house lots immediately in Tuschen New Housing Scheme that is abandoned for years now.

These lots are causing the following to the community: 1. They create haven for criminal activities 2. They create haven for dangerous creatures 3. Causes major flooding within the community 4. Deprive citizens who are really in need of a house lot I live in Tuschen New Housing Scheme and there

are five abandoned lots in my street alone.

The count is numerous. I am requesting an investigation into the allocation of these abandoned lots so person like my dear friend (working individual whose disposable income falls short and had applied for a lot years now) who I have to assist to paid rent can acquire a lot and live happily with his family.

Poverty is a sad reality of life and our leader should put policy to safe guard any disadvantage to our people.

Respectfully Abdul Baseer Azeez

No details on ministerial team’s visit to New York DEAR EDITOR, The Prime Minister of Guyana along with a few ministers of the Government of Guyana is presently in New York City and New Jersey to meet with the Diaspora and hold engagements —or so I have read.

Only thing is certain, people know where and when the meetings would be.

I am kindly asking, again, if the local media here can be apprised of these plans and outlines in advance of these visits.

It has been the custom in the past for just a handful and selected few to have special knowledge of these visits and specific details.

We need engagement on

all levels when these officials come on these North American trips funded by the taxpayers of Guyana.

I am the founder of the digital platform Little Guyana-592 News and am

pleased to provide coverage of this and any upcoming trip of officials of the Government of Guyana, or any Opposition visit also —whichever party holds these offices.

Our politicians in Guyana should be accessible to the wide cross section of the Diaspora here, and not a privileged few who believe they own these officials every time they visit here.

Regards Leon Suseran

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Kaieteur News

Government blindsides nation about private company getting GuySuCo’s Enmore Packaging Plant DEAR EDITOR Last week (Feb 17, 2022), a headline in this newspaper reported “US$12.5M Enmore, East Coast of Demerara packaging plant included in 55-acre land deal granted to joint venture.”

This is a big surprise, since the PPP Manifesto said they will save sugar. The nation needs to know all the terms and conditions of this deal. We demand full disclosure and the related documents should be made public. The Opposition should file questions in parliament including who are the beneficial owners and directors of the companies involved. What was sale price? Get to work investigative reporters!

The report said the government has agreed to grant some 55 acres of lands located at Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara to a 52% Guyanese owned joint venture called Guysons K+B Industries Inc. (GKB). GKB is made up of Guysons Engineering, a Guyanese company, and K+B Industries Inc., its American partner. The 55-acre plot includes the US$12.5M Enmore Packaging Plant that was commissioned in 2011 by this same administration and it will be used by the joint venture to build a manufacturing facility to support Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector.

The Government had said it would avoid the “Dutch disease” by not shortchanging the non-oil sector. Now the Government is doing exactly the opposite in this deal. The new manufacturing facility at Enmore will be set up to manufacture and repair tubular goods such as drill pipes, drill covers, etc., needed by oil companies to develop oil fields. So, what

happens to the plan for revival and rescue of sugar in which the packaging plant was a key strategy?

As it relates to the arrangement between the government and GKB for the lands and the US$12.5M packaging plant owned by the Guyana Sugar Corporation, GKB’s Chief Executive Office, Fazil Khan highlighted that the lands it is acquiring are “sugar lands,” which will have to be developed in order to become a standard facility.”We will have to do some land filling, land clearing, probably install some streetlights and so on before we can start up the facility,” explained Khan.

Minister Singh reportedly said the granting of the lands to GKB was not by accident since it took place via discussions at the level of the president to invest in Enmore.

The reason behind the decision, he added, is to create 500 jobs over a fiveyear period, especially for those who were laid off after the Enmore Sugar Estate was closed.

However, in a Globespan interview on Feb. 8, 2022, it was reported that “GuySuCo will not be a burden on the Guyana Government forever – CEO.”GuySuCo’s CEO said, “When I arrived, 64 percent of our sugar was being sold

on the world market which is a price between US$320 to US$380. Today, 64 percent of that sugar is being sold in the package and bag sugar market at double that value.

We had to reengineer the revenue stream and the revenue had to be fixed and that was fixed last year,” he explained. Packaged sugar was to be a key strategy to rescue GuySuCo. So on February 8, the GuySuCo CEO is saying that packaged sugar is making profits to help turn around their profitability and by February 16, the President and Minister are announcing the divestment of the packaging plant. Can somebody please explain this sudden turn of events? Was this deal taken to parliament?

Should we allow any Government to do whatever it wants with national resources without taking deals to parliament? Isn’t that what caused us to give away our oil and gas resources and we are now pauperized and are “tenants in our own country?”

Did the GuySuCo CEO know they were going to pull the rug from under his feet, or was he as surprised as the rest of the nation? And our friends in GAWU, whose head sits as a PPP Member of Parliament serving two masters, apparently was not

consulted. A news report of February 18 said, “Following the recent announcement that the Enmore Packaging Plant will be utilised towards the oil and gas sector, sugar union GAWU says it wrote GuySuCo yesterday seeking clarification…Through our correspondence, we have sought, among other things, to address the employment of the 30-odd workers currently employed in the plant.”We have seen, from media reports that GuySuCo plans to operate the plant through some alternative arrangements.

We, at this time, are seeking to learn of these arrangements and what the next steps will envisage. The GAWU is aware that the company continues to utilise the plant as it repositions itself as a value-added sugar producer,” the union said in a release today.

Nation, we must have eternal vigilance. We cannot allow any Government to divest national assets just like that. It’s “Our Wealth, Our Country.” Wake up Guyana!

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 23, 2022

GUYANA IS NOW EXXON GUYANA

DEAR EDITOR, It is the year 2022, but it might as well be 1952, for all that has changed, all that Guyana has progressed. In 1952, we were British Guiana and subservient to the Queen of England and her agents; in 2022, we are Exxon Guyana, and subject to the dictates, whims, and indenturing schemes of King Darren I and his handpicked governors calling the shots here.

Though 70 years have passed between when we were dominated by British visions and interests, and something called Independence occurred somewhere during this span, we are still an entity with a peculiarly staining identity. It is that we are once again, all over again, a colonised country.

Guyana is now Exxon Guyana, more and more as is evident daily, and not the master of its own house, not the controller of its own destiny.

This is the

colonising power of oil. Look around past the newer architecture in city and countryside; rollover the newer infrastructure, and there is a secret not so hidden because it is in plain sight, and painfully, insultingly so.

Our own powerful leaders are pathetic bit players in the grand conversations of our significance, our present and future, our distant destiny.

Cheddi Jagan’s power was restrained by the mighty arm of a resident Governor, whose influence extended into the corridors of decision-making, into all the nooks and crannies of this society’s existence. It didn’t matter whether it was the Legislature or the Chamber of Commerce, Premier Jagan was no more than a mere boy in his own backyard, though a grown man of considerable achievement and stature.

If anyone, any of these creatures that call themselves Guyanese, with an intact and unsullied mind still left seeks

today’s confirming evidence, I encourage looking back as an honest, balanced, and unattached examiner at last week’s international oil gathering, and there it was in abundance; what the lawyers love to label a preponderance of it. But what we are yoked to as a people, and what we labour under as a nation, is not the bloodlessness of the clinically civil but the perpetuation of rank criminality against the dignity of the peoples of this country and their welfare. In that distinguished assembly, our leaders – President, Vice President and Prime Minister - were stripped of pretense and prompted to parrot what was pleasing to the oil mandarins who came, saw, listened, and conquered us all over again.

Like Caesars, they came and reduced our leaders to doormen, domestics and doormats in their own house.

When our political princes should have dared to offend

the delicate sensibilities of the tough oil men and speak of a fair oil deal for Guyanese, the best that could come of their minds (controlled) and mouths (muzzled and managed) were raw deals favouring the business needs and business prospects (“high risks”, “investments” and “merit”) of the congregated oil dignitaries. It was Cheddi Jagan all over again - his feebleness in the face of overwhelming odds, his futilities before overpowering circumstances.

For a brief moment in time, there was a fleeting chance to roll up sleeves and bare arm and flex ownership muscle; prudent stewardship sinews displayed before all that we are serious, and we mean business not of the usual kind. But as one white man of Guyanese birth noted in the independent media, it was a conference of white men in suits calling the shots, which summarized sweetly and sharply what this was all

about, and Guyana’s place in the servant’s quarters in its oil plantation.

They can’t, dare not, take a chance, and speak even of something as basic and protective as full insurance coverage. For that would cost Exxon America too many billions, and simply too much to squander on Third World natives, mainly coloured, from this part of the globe. It is Bhopal India again, and I want Guyanese and regionals to remember that one. This time, which I hope never comes, it is not Union Carbide, but a more reckless and dangerous monstrosity that operates under the name of Exxon.

We must also remember always how Guyana’s leaders played their assigned parts well; too well for Guyanese with a hint (not so much as a strain, just a mere hint) of the fierce fire of patriotic pride left.

Now the stage is set, the table is readied, the chairs are arrayed. The placemats are just in the right spots. Those would represent the sum and substance of the men who call themselves leaders of this country, this Exxon Guyana.

It is the tale and the terror of the colonizing power of oil, the Guyana chapter. In 1952, Cheddi Jagan was the Premier reconstructed into impotency. In 2022, it is his sickly spawns, President and Vice President, who relive the mantle of his shame made naked before the world. The difference is that he slugged and battled his way into exhaustion, while his descendants crumble before the first word, the first shot of struggling and fighting gets underway. We are a colony again, but this time our leaders love it.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Our leaders need to...

From page 4 represent the whole. My worry grew when over the weekend, I learnt of another Project to convert the Enmore Estate and fifty-five acres of land. My first reaction is how we so easily dishonour the Enmore Martyrs?

The news filtering through without consultation is the launching of a US$60M joint venture for oil field manufacturing - Enmore sugar packaging plant to be transferred as part of deal.’

Democracy is much more than periodic National Elections. It is the governing of a country with ordinary people through their representatives who are informed and consulted when substantial changes are proposed.

It is therefore incumbent that the Government provides details and full disclosure to the Parliament and therefore the people. I am copying this letter to Presidential Advisor, Gerry Gouveia, who among others assured me that President Ali means well. They say that the road to ruin is lined with good intentions. But back to the Marriott Protest and road blockade Many of us criticize the Coalition Minister for the signing of this obnoxious oil contract. Quite properly, the PPP soundly and rightly were critical of this misstep and publicly asseverated that they would have the contracts

with the oil giants reviewed and renegotiated. The right of every sovereign State. I joined the Protest after no Government Representative sought to say anything about fulfilling this undertaking given publicly.

Supporters and non-supporters of the Government need credible answers. For me, I am hoping for some kind of divine intervention to change the mindset of people who can flip-flop in serious business, change their stance with the nation’s patrimony and future where it is concerned.

As an Optimist, I look forward to change, the sorry, sad, state of affairs where this crap of Guyanese leaders seem unable, unwilling or weakened or compromised to do what the Barbados Prime Minister indicated to initiate a difficult conversation, that set us apart as men and not mice.

I turn to Milic Capek who I recall wrote that “Change designates one of the most conspicuous and most pervasive features of our sensory and introspective experience - only the related feature of plurality of diversity is equally so.”

Let us all hope Dear Editor that we can benefit from a change in the mindset of our leaders to be possessed of solid moral fibre and therefore be true patriots. A change that can take us from darkness to the sunlight of peace and prosperity; a change from providing young citizens with fete, fun and frolic where some of us beg, borrow or steal to be part of.

Hamilton Green Elder

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

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PAGE 08

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Taxi driver stabbed, robbed Public Works Ministry set to spend over $400M on roads in Region 2 by bandits carrying baby A taxi driver is now nursing stab wounds to his chest after his passengers carrying a baby, attacked and robbed him in his car on Monday night while passing Crane Housing Scheme on the West Coast of Coast Demerara (WCD).

The wounded taxi driver has since been identified as, Insaf Zakir, also known as Gaddaffi, 26, of Tuschen Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Essequibo (EBE). The incident occurred sometime around 23:10hrs.

Zakir recalled to investigators that he was plying his trade as a taxi driver at the Tuschen car park, when two men along with a woman carrying a baby, approached him for a trip to Best Village on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).

The unsuspecting taxi driver agreed to take the job and they left. While driving past Crane Housing Scheme, the taxi driver said he was placed in a vice grip from the one of the men who was sitting behind the driver’s seat. The individual then demanded that he hand over his money and other valuables. According to Zakir, he managed to stop the car and tried to fight back but the man who was choking him, took out a knife and dealt him some stabs to his chest.

At this point, he decided to not resist the bandits any further, at which point, the other man grabbed his cellular phone worth some $48,000, before escaping by exiting the car together with the woman, still holding the infant and running away into the darkness.

He managed to call 911, the police responded promptly; they rescued him and he was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where doctors treated him and then referred him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). He was admitted there and is said to be in a stable condition. Police are currently hunting the suspects.

In kick starting its road projects for the year, the Ministry of Public Works is looking to spend just over $400 million from its share of Budget 2022, to facilitate the rehabilitation of a number of roads in areas such as Onderneeming, Dartmouth, Columbia, Affiance, Zorg, Suddie and Huis T’Dieren, communities that are located in Region Two. This is according to a public notice issued by the Ministry, inviting contractors to do a number of rehabilitation road projects across the country. As reported on, the Public Works Ministry was allotted a $76.7 billion budget this year and out of that, the sum of $15.2 billion goes towards the construction and rehabilitation of urban and community roads across the country.

In its recent invitation for bids, the Ministry intends to rehabilitate the Onderneeming access road at an estimated cost of $187,000,000, Hoppie Street, which is located in Dartmouth at an estimated cost of $69,000,000, Middle Walk Street which is located in Columbia at an estimated cost of $11,000,000, Mandir Street which is located in Affiance at an estimated cost of $61,000,000, 2nd Cross Street which is located in Zorg at an estimated cost of $11,000,000, Market Street in Suddie at

an estimated cost of $16,000,000 and Maschabo Road which is located in Huis T’Dieren at a projected cost of $61,000,000. Kaieteur News was told that the majority of these roads, which were rehabilitated some five to 10 years ago, are old and in a deplorable condition.

Speaking on the present condition of some of the roads that are scheduled to be fixed in his region, Regional Vice Chairman, Mr. Humace Oodit noted that when upgraded, the new roads would bring great relief to residents living in those communities.

The Regional Vice Chairman said that presently, the Market Street in Suddie, which is a busy area for commuters, is in a terrible state. The crush and run road, he noted, started to develop huge potholes over the years which have affected mainly vendors and shoppers in that area.

He added that works on this road would have been done some four years ago.

Rehabilitation on the Onderneeming Access Road, Oodit noted would be a great benefit for residents there, since the community is a sandy area. The sandy road will now be turned into a crush and run road for commuters, he highlighted.

He said that the road leads to a farming community and, with the upgrade, not only tractors would be able to use it but

other small vehicles that were affected due to its deplorable state would have access. In addition, the Onderneeming Access Road runs adjacent to a number of housing schemes in that area, so when developed residents would be able to access them easily.

Another road improvement he shared, is the Maschabo Road, which is located in Huis T’Dieren. This road was made of sand and loam and with the new rehabilitation works, it would now become an asphaltic road.

“The Maschabo Road is in crush and run and now it is going to be done in asphalt. The road would benefit the entire Maschabo Village, which is an Amerindian village, and farmers who do cattle rearing in Huis T’Dieren,” the Regional Vice Chair commented.

According to him, these roads would have “given away” over the years due to weather and heavy vehicles that would utilise it, especially during the rainy weather. Last year, the Ministry would have spent some $8.89 billion to build and rehabilitate communities and urban roads in Guyana.

The opening of the road projects is scheduled to take place on March 17, 2022 at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board office.

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

Greater respect should be shown to the Prime Minister

A primary school teacher recently administered a social studies test to her students.

She asked them to name the Vice President. One child named Prime Minister, Mark Phillips. He was marked incorrect for this answer. But the child’s answer is perfectly correct.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips is a Vice President in the same way as Moses Nagamootoo was the Prime Minister and First Vice President under the APNU+AFC government.

Great disrespect is being shown to the country’s Prime Minister, Mark Phillips.

Unfortunately, the local media has become part of this lack of regard to our Prime Minister through its failure to acknowledge and to refer to him as the country’s First Vice President.

The media continues to refer to only one Vice President and that is Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, who was so appointed by President Irfaan Ali on the

2nd August, 2020. At the same ceremony in which Irfaan Ali was sworn-in as President, he designated Bharrat Jagdeo as a Vice President.

But no action is needed by the President for Prime Minister Mark Phillips to be designated and referred to as the country’s First Vice President. By virtue of him being the Prime Minister, he is automatically Guyana’s First and most senior Vice President, senior to Bharrat Jagdeo and any other Vice President who may subsequently be appointed.

The Constitution is crystal clear: The person holding the office of Prime Minister shall be a Vice President by virtue of holding that office and shall have precedence over all other Vice Presidents.

What this means is that the country’s Prime Minister is not only automatically a Vice President but becomes the most senior of First Vice Presidents. But this fact, spelt out in the Constitution, is not

being acknowledged in official communiqués by the government; the Prime Minister has not been referred to as a Vice President.

This is a grave miscarriage of justice. It is not a simple matter. The Prime Minister deserves respect. He is next in the chain of command after the President. The Prime Minister also is more senior than the Attorney General.

The office of the Vice President is not a new or recent creation. It was established when effect was given to the 1980 Constitution. Guyana’s first ever First Vice President was Ptolemy Reid who became Prime Minister in October 1980 and as of then the First Vice President.

Prior to 1980, there were no Vice Presidents, indeed no President, of the government.

Then Guyana, however, had a bicameral legislature, under colonial Guyana and there used to be an office of the Vice President of the Senate.

In 1980, Guyana

Teen remanded for killing Venezuelan national Nineteen-year-old Shivraj Jhaint, a labourer of Ivan Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was yesterday remanded to prison for the alleged murder of a Venezuelan national.

Jhaint appeared in the Diamond/Grove Magistrate’s Court before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, who read the indictable charge to him. He was not required to plead to the charge that alleges that on Saturday February 19, 2022, at Raghoo’s Sports Bar, at the Soesdyke Junction, EBD, he

murdered Yocter Eduardo Gonsalves.

The defendant was remanded to prison and the matter was adjourned to April 12, 2022.

The police in a release on Monday said that Gonzalez was with his brother and some friends at the bar when Jhaint approached him and an altercation ensued.

During the fight, Jhaint reportedly stabbed Gonzalez to the right side of his chest after which he fell to the ground.

Police said that Gonzalez

was then rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre on the EBD where he was pronounced dead at 12:35am.

Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh who conducted a Post Mortem examination on Gonzales, concluded that the cause of death was as a result of the puncture wounds he received to his heart and lungs.

The release noted too that the quick action of the police ranks resulted in the apprehension of the suspect who has since been taken into custody

Dem Boys Seh…

De party don’t done till sunrise!

Dis time nah lang time.

Things change. Dis nah very good time.

Lang time dem fete used to start at 8pm and by 11pm yuh does deh by de car park looking fuh a ride home.

If yuh carry home yuh girl after midnight, is nuff question yuh did have to answer. And de parents nah gan want send she out back again.

Nowadays, de fete starting at midnight and going until 4am.

Nowadays dem girls waiting till dem parents gone to sleep and den dem crawling out de house. And

when de fete done, yuh does look fuh wan all-nighter fuh get a washdown. Dayclean does ketch yuh still pon de road, having a good time.

Before dem girls reach home, dem does change into tights and jersey and track boots. Suh when dem parents ask dem weh dem went so early in de morning, dem does seh how dem went exercising.

But dem nah tell dem parents how dem went partying since midnight which is when de fete does start. Dat is why when Khemraj did put de curfew at 2am, nuff people did vex with de man because if de party

starting at midnight, is only 2 hours fete yuh gat. People couldn’t adjust to starting de fete earlier.

Dat explain why de ‘Stink and Dutty party’ at de Stadium will start late and go till dayclean. Dem nah gat no curfew anymore suh things gone back to dem old ways.

Today is Republic Day and dem boys know dat dem party goers gan fete till dem drop. Dat is wat gan happen and deh gat nuttin me and you can do bout it. But Mr. COVID watching on and he smiling.

Talk half. Leff half.

established an Executive Presidency. After Reid there were a chain of Vice Presidents appointed, including that of Desmond Hoyte who later acceded to the Presidency upon the death of former President, Forbes Burnham.

The Prime Minister is a constitutional office holder.

The Prime Minister performs the duties of President when the latter is out of the country.

The Prime Minister succeeds the President should there be a vacancy in the office of the President.

The Prime Minister is more senior than Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo.

Yet, even the media refuses to refer to him as a Vice President, much less

Guyana’s First Vice President.

It is important that our school children have a clear understanding of our governmental hierarchy.

They were confused enough between 2015 and 2020 with the strange names which were given to the Ministries and the creation of Ministers and a new Minister of State.

But there should be no confusion about who is next in line after the President, and the person who holds the most senior Vice Presidency is. That person is Mark Phillips.

The diplomatic community, or at least sections of that community, are fully au fait with the order to governmental precedence.

Earlier this year the Caribbean

PAGE 9

Community held a ceremony for the handover, of a solar photovoltaic generation plant at its headquarters. At that ceremony, the Prime Minister was correctly addressed as the First Vice President.

The media should cease the disrespect which is being shown to First Vice President, Mark Phillips. He should henceforth be referred to as the country’s First Vice President and Bharrat Jagdeo as the country’s second Vice President.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Wednesday February 23, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

45 years for vaginal insertion This is my third column on what I believe is a miscarriage of justice. The other two columns were written five years ago. The son of a very prominent politician was sentenced to 45 consecutive years for inserting his fingers in a purported underage girl.

Two dimensions of that trial worried me and I came to the conclusion that the jury was not properly directed. One is that there was no documentary evidence that the victim was underage. The prosecutor submitted a letter from the Georgetown Hospital that stated on a particular day the mother of the complainant gave birth to a girl child.

In no court elsewhere that would meet the litmus test of evidence. This semi-literate man defended himself in court and could not ask one well-structured question. There is no way top notch lawyers in Guyana would have allowed that Georgetown Hospital document to pass as proof.

The second worrying aspect of the trial was the admission by the

complainant of the time she began having sex in her life and that she was currently having sex with a boy whose name she did not know. I got involved in the case because I knew the defendant’s father well.

Secondly, the young man tended to my vehicle at the car wash and so I got to know him and his friends and his friends appealed to me.

I asked, attorney Madan Kissoon (no relation) to do an appeal. It could not be done because there was no written judgment. Kissoon told me he needed the document to outline his appeal. One year later, the judge’s decision was still not written. I went three times, since I got involved, to locate Madan Kissoon but couldn’t find him. I moved on and only returned to this unpleasant court case because of a recent decision, on a rape convict in Guyana, by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The CCJ found that Calvin Rambarran’s sentence of 23 years was too harsh and reduced it to 12 years. Rambarran was jailed for a

violent rape. In giving its decision the CCJ outlined that there are sentencing structures that both the High Court and the Court of Appeal did not follow.

Interesting to note is that the CCJ made some comments in a case in which 27 years for rape of a minor in the case of Pompey versus the state was “plucked out of thin air.” There was no violence in the case of the politician’s son. He was accused of vaginal insertion with his fingers. His confinement of 45 consecutive years remains the highest so far in the annals of rape cases.

I do not think 45 years is harsh if the circumstances of rape of a minor warrant it. Most definitely 45 years or more are justified if there is brutal physical damage. I do not hold any opinion on the guilt or innocence of this convicted man.

I got involved when I was told what transpired in court.

I am completely and totally against excluding the press from covering rape cases. There should be guidelines as to what and how

the press can report. But not to have anyone in court when a defendant is facing a life sentence in a rape case is a constitutional grey area.

That semi-literate accused could not defend himself properly and I believe the jury was not properly guided. What interests me in this case is how priceless is the value of a free trial. For this reason I wrote last week that Ghislaine Maxwell was not given a fair trial.

It doesn’t matter how heinous the crime is, once you throw away priceless points of law because you think an accused is guilty, then, law becomes a caricature and a fair trial is no longer guaranteed in a nation.

One of the persons charged with the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was freed. Points of law, not emotions and beliefs, were the deciding factor.

I am still at a loss to know why one of Guyana’s most prominent politicians has not sought legal help in pursuing his son’s case. I have done all that I could. If anyone

Frederick Kissoon wants to help this man then they should contact me at fredkissoon@yahoo.com or on cell number 614-5927.

I will not reveal the name of the politician until I am convinced that the helper has finalised the transaction with the lawyer.

I conclude with the warning that it is not what the man has been charged with. It is the fundamental rights to a free trial that both priest and crook are entitled to. There can be no civilised society if there is no free and fair trial.

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

Wednesday February 23, 2022

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Wednesday February 23, 2022

Consult Guyanese on projects funded by their wealth - Ram to Govt.

Now that the International Energy Conference and Expo 2022 has drawn the curtains on the foreign dominated event, Attorney-at-Law and civil society activist Christopher Ram, believes that Government now owes its people equal respect, by engaging them in like manner on projects that will not only be undertaken in their backyards, but funded by their wealth.

Ram made this call during an exclusive interview with this newspaper earlier this week.

According to Ram, “now that we have spoken with the foreigners, it’s time that we speak with the Guyanese and the very issues, the discussions on Amaila and the Gas to Shore and all of those things, it’s

time that we have an internal discussion”. The activist argued that Guyanese remain the major stakeholders in the country’s development and must not be ignored by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government.

Elucidating further, the Attorney told Kaieteur News, “there are important matters still to be discussed and decided.”

He posited, “We probably heard more about plans for Guyana at an International conference.” The government, he said, seems more willing to speak to foreigners about plans “for our country than it is prepared to speak with us Guyanese and so we need to have a freer type of arrangement where there is an

Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram interaction and where there are different sides to the positions or arguments, so that we can come up to some kind of consensus and in fact, this is what our Constitution requires.”

Ram was keen to note too that facilitating consultations with Guyanese should not be seen as a favour to the people of Guyana, as this is the responsibility of the government. He also stressed during his interview that a significant fraction of the country was able to participate in the International Energy Conference and Expo this year due to, “the prohibitive” price tag that was attached.

During the International Energy Conference and Expo, over 800 delegates were said to have participated from more than 25 countries, while 150 businesses were on display at the Expo, with a mere 40 being local.

It must be noted too, that the

event served as a platform for Guyanese to finally receive updates on massive projects to be funded by taxpayers’ dollars as well as monies garnered from the oil and gas sector.

For instance, it was only during this forum that Guyanese were made to understand that the gas to be had from the Stabroek Block is barely enough to be used at the gas fired power plant with the remainder being able to go towards the production of about 3,700 barrels of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) used for cooking, rather than be used for fertiliser (Ammonia, Urea and other agro-processing byproducts), solid waste pyrolysis and even a cement plant as was assured by the administration.

Wednesday February 23, 2022

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Wednesday February 23, 2022

Man pleads guilty to killing boy, 13

Dead, 13-year-old Daveand Sanchar

Twenty-six-year-old Kevin Sahoy, a mason of 64 Agriculture Road, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Tuesday pleaded guilty to the 2016 murder of 1 3 - y e a r- o l d , D a v e a n d Sanchar.

Sahoy was arraigned before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall, in the Demerara High Court for murder. He had denied that he murdered Daveand on

August 14, 2016 at Plantain Walk, Triumph, ECD. However, he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. His sentencing was deferred to March 10, 2022.

While Sahoy is awaiting his sentencing, his coaccused, Raymond Wong, 34, of 110 Agriculture Road, Triumph, ECD, is waiting his trial. The duo was jointly charged back in August 2016,

for the murder of the teen.

It was reported that on the day in question, the 13year-old was at a wedding house when he got into an argument with some men who were dancing with his aunt. The teen became annoyed and subsequently left the wedding house for home. He later returned armed with a cutlass and an argument ensued between him and the men.

Awaiting sentencing, Kevin Sahoy (left) and Raymond Wong.

He was relieved of the cutlass, chopped to his head and beaten with a stick.

Daveand was then taken

to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Man caught with cocaine in fried rice remanded Twenty-eight-year-old, Esmond Anderson, who was held with US$84,000 worth of cocaine in a bowl of fried rice at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), was on Monday remanded to prison.

Anderson appeared before her worship Magistrate Judy Latchman, at Diamond Magistrate Court to answer the charge of trafficking narcotics, to which he pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison until March 8, 2022.

Kaieteur News previously reported that Anderson was intercepted by ranks of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU), last Friday, as he was about to travel on Jet Blue Airways, flight 2166, which was destined for the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport.

A search of his suitcase—which was done

Esmond Anderson in his presence—resulted in the discovery of a white substance suspected to be cocaine.

He was subsequently arrested and escorted to the CANU Headquarters with the narcotic, which weighed in at 6.605lbs, with an estimated street value of approximately $17,220,000 (US$84,000).

Pedestrian succumbs one day after accident A sixty-four-year-old pedestrian succumbed to injuries he suffered on Monday evening after he was severely injured in an accident on De Souza Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The dead man has been identified as Sahadeo Balgobin, of lot 210 De Souza Street, Better Hope, ECD. The accident occurred around 18:15 hrs.

Balram Sitaram, 61, of lot 65 Lusignan East, ECD was reportedly the driver of motorcar HB 7962 which struck Balgobin causing the fatal injuries.

According to police report, on Monday evening at around 18:15 hrs, Sitaram was driving east along the Better Hope Public Road when Balgobin reportedly ran across the road into the path of the car, causing the him to be struck. He was reportedly pitched onto the car’s windscreen and bonnet then onto the paved road. The impact caused him to receive injuries to his head and about his body.

In a cellphone recorded video, the motionless body of Balgobin was seen lying on the road and the car windscreen was completely broken. Sitaram, with the aid of publicspirited citizens, picked up the unresponsive man and took him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) Accident and Emergency Unit.

Despite the efforts of the medical personnel, Balgobin succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday around 09:30 hrs.

Police had conducted a breathalyzer test on Sitaram but no trace of alcohol was detected. A notice of intended prosecution has since been served on him as he remains in police custody.

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Duo remanded to prison for 2016 Black Bush Polder triple murder... murder of Tain pensioner in 2020 Remaining duo gets life without parole

Dead: Chandradai Bhudu, called ‘Aunty Deyo’

Remanded: Dhannyram Ramdhanny

Two men who were arrested on Monday for the murder of an 83-year-old woman from Tain Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice, back in 2020, were yesterday charged jointly with the capitol offence of murder.

Dannyram Ramdhanny called ‘Rocky’, 24 of lot 82 Tain Village, Corentyne, Berbice and Kumar Bhagwandin called ‘Scarecrow’, 25 of lot 28 Tain Village, Corentyne, Berbice were jointly charged with murder committed on Chandradai Bhudu.

They appeared at the Springlands Magistrate Court, before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh, and were not required to plead. The case was adjourned to April 4, and the matter was transferred to the Whim Magistrate Court.

On the morning of June 17, 2020, eightythree year old Chandradai Bhudu, called ‘Aunty Deyo’ was found bound, gagged and strangled in her two storey home at Tain

Remanded: Kumar Bhagwandin

Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice, where she lived alone.

She was found lying on her bedroom floor by her caretaker and her home was ransacked. The caretaker made the discovery at around 07:30 hrs that day, while taking breakfast for the elderly woman.

Bhudu was said to be lying on her side and was attired in a multi coloured dress. Her feet were bound with a piece of ‘burgundy cloth’ and her hands were tied with strips of cloth.

A strip from her bed-sheet was tied around her mouth and nose. A section of the same strip of bed-sheet was tied tightly around her neck.

Police had launched a probe and arrested two persons in 2020 but those persons were released. However, new information that surfaced led to the arrest of the two men on Monday last.

The two remaining convicts in the murder case of Pawan Chandradeo, Jaikarran Chandradeo and Naresh Rooplall of Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder (BBP), were on Monday sentenced to life imprisonment on three counts each, without the possibility of parole.

This was the decision of Justice Sandil Kissoon, as he handed down the sentence at the Berbice High Court.

Carlton Chaitram called ‘Lie-man’, 44, of lot 36 Mibicuri South, BBP and Rakesh Karamchand called ‘Go-to-front’ of Sheet Anchor, East Canje Berbice, will spend the rest of their life behind bars, despite pleas for leniency by Chaitram before the sentence was handed down.

Both men were charged for murder in January but during trial, opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Wife of Pawan

Carlton Chaitram called ‘Lie-man’

Rakesh Karamchand called ‘Go-to-front’

Chandradeo, mother of Jaikarran Chandradeo and sister of Naresh Rooplall, Indrawattie Rooplall called “Pam” of Mibicuri South, BBP in her victim impact statement, said that Carlton Chaitram broke her heart, since he mingled with her family when her husband, son and brother were alive.

Chaitram told the court via zoom from the New Amsterdam Prison, that he

will provide a tractor to the family of the deceased men and teenager and also give a plot of rice land to them if he is given a chance. This was said after the judge asked if he had anything to say before the sentencing.

“I will never see the deceased family punish...I asking for a chance, I go help them plant a plot of rice and help them, I go give them a Continued on page 28

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Wednesday February 23, 2022

Fmr. Bishops’ High School teacher freed on GWI to install 20,000 water one count of sexual activity with a minor meters throughout the year

Former Bishops’ High School teacher, Coen Jackson has been acquitted of a sexual offence charge after a jury in the High Court found him not guilty on one count of sexual activity with a child under 18, by abusing a position of trust. Jackson was facing four counts of the offence.

The mixed panel of jurors could not however, reach a decision on the other three counts of the charge. As such, Jackson will face another round of trial at the next sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes. During the trial which was conducted before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, the State’s case was represented by Prosecutor Muntaz Ali, in association with Nafeeza Baig and Latifah Elliot.

Attorneys- at- law, Nigel Hughes, Jerome Khan and Savannah Barnwell represented the accused. Jackson had been accused of having a sexual relationship with the complainant—a female student—with whom he started communicating with privately in 2010.

Coen Jackson According to the particulars of the case, the former school teacher had started messaging the student on the social media platform Facebook. The complainant claimed that she told the teacher his approach was inappropriate.

But after feeling neglected, she reached out to Jackson and this time, he invited her to his house. According to complainant that was when the sexual activity began with her teacher.

These events continued in March

and April of 2011, whereby on different occasions during these months, the accused would invite his student to his home to perform sexual acts on him.

The complainant was a student the Bishops’ High School while the accused was her teacher, whose responsibility was still to prepare her to write the CXC subjects, he taught, which were Economics and Business.

After six years, the complainant was in another relationship which caused her to realise that what happened to her was wrong and that she was being abused by her teacher. The former student said that she felt she needed to bring the matter to light and report it, because she did not want it to happen to any other student.

Jackson in an unsworn statement to the court conceded that he did have a relationship with the complainant, however, he contends, this began while she was a student at the University of Guyana and he was doing his Master’s Degree and he asked her to proof read his thesis.

A water meter (inset) system which is being installed.

The Guyana Water Incorporation (GWI) has announced a campaign to install some 20,000 water meters along the coastlands during the course of this year. The move comes as a part of the company’s strategic plan for 2020 to 2025, to achieve 85 percent metering, against baseline data from 2019 which reflected 53 percent metering along the coastland.

According to the company, it is aiming to reduce water losses—often referred to as Non-Revenue Water (NRW)—from 70 percent in 2019 to 55 percent by 2025.

Among the areas to be metered during this year in Regions two, three four, six and ten are Anna Regina, Cotton Field, Lima, Mainstay, Reliance and Walton Hall, Anna Catherina, Den Amstel, Cornelia Ida, Goed Fortuin, Pouderoyen and Versailles, Williamsburg, Rose Hall town, Nigg and Port Mourant and Amelia’s Ward Linden.

While, on the East Bank Demerara, metering will be done in Eccles, Farm, Great Diamond and Little Diamond and on the East Coast Demerara, Better Hope, Industry, Lusignan, Ogle and Happy Acres.

The Georgetown metering schedule includes Kitty, Lamaha Gardens, Queenstown, South Ruimveldt Gardens and Bel Air Gardens. In the 2022 national budget a sum of $4.9 billion was provided for the improvement of the water sector in the country.

Wednesday February 23, 2022

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Exxon’s gas-to-shore pipeline is the costlier option - PNC/R Citing reckless usage of taxpayers’ dollars by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government in the past, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is calling for an urgent review of the proposed pipeline, to transport natural gas discovered off the coast of G u y a n a t o t h e Wa l e s Development Zone, West Bank Demerara (WBD) in the administration’s highly touted Gas to Energy Project.

During a press conference hosted by the Party on Tuesday, PNCR member Gary Best said, it has

become clear that the government intends to stubbornly forge ahead, ignoring the several red flags raised by independent analysts and technical experts with regard to the project’s costs, design, and viability.

To this end, he pointed to one example of an alternative method that can be used, which in addition to be being less costly can also be more environmentally friendly.

Presently, the Gas to Energy Project carries a price tag of in excess of US$1.3 billion and government has already set aside more than US$20 million towards the massive energy project, which is expected to add 300 megawatts (MW) of power to the national grid.

The total project cost includes works to be carried out by oil-giant ExxonMobil for the laying of the pipeline and conducting of surveys to the tune of some US$900M. In this regard, Best said, “in our own consultations with experts, the PNC/R is convinced that there exist more viable and less costly options in utilizing Guyana’s natural gas resources. In particular, the use of ISO containers to ferry Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to shore, is a much less expensive and more environmentally friendly transportation method.” As such, he said “we are advised that LNG ISO tank containers are seen in the industry as the easiest and most flexible means of conveyance to transport gases”.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, B e s t reasoned that Guyana would also stand a better chance at exporting its natural gas with this option, since the pipelines would limit the amount of gas being brought to shore. He explained saying, “instead of piping the gas, using pipelines that are laid on the sea bed to shore, the gas is moved to a containerized ship built specifically for this purpose and then it comes to shore” According to the PNC/R member, “…just like how a container leaves a ship and goes on a truck that is built for a container, then the container comes off the ship and goes on a truck that is built for that purpose and it can go to the power plant”.

While providing the International Energy Conference and Expo last week with an update on the Gas to Energy Project, Winston Brassington had revealed that the gas to be had from the Stabroek Block is barely enough to be used at

PNCR member, Gary Best the gas fired power plant with the remainder being able to go towards the production of about 3,700 barrels of LNG used for cooking.

As a consequence, the party urged the PPP to “immediately, consult, discuss, and relook at the pipeline proposal in the light of the existence of a superior method of utilizing our nation’s huge natural gas resource” as the PNCR believes that the savings from the project can significantly lift the living standards of the poor and struggling families.

Best was keen to note during the media engagement that the incumbent administration has, through reckless spending, caused Guyanese to carry the burden of billions of dollars in debt through “monumental fiascos” such as the Skeldon Sugar factory, the fibre optic cable project, and more recently, Enmore Packaging Plant.

On Friday, the former Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson argued that the Wales’ gas-to-shore project will amount to a white elephant, as it has now been confirmed that the 50 million cubic feet of gas piped to shore will only be sufficient to power the generating sets and a small LPG plant rather than be used for fertiliser (Ammonia, Urea and other agro-processing byproducts), solid waste pyrolysis and even a cement plant “as was assured by the PPP/C government.”

He reasoned, “Guyana will be expending over US$1.4B and counting (Exxon–US$900M + GOG US$504M) for 250MW generating sets and posits, “this is an incredible amount, considering the fact that the current cost for 1MW of generating power is approximately US$1M; That’s correct; 250MW of natural gas-powered generating sets can be procured for approximately US$250M – yet, the Government is paying US$1.4B.”

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Martin Cheong to head up local SBM Office Guyanese business and finance specialist Martin Cheong has been appointed to the post of General Manager of SBM Offshore Guyana. The appointment is effective March 1, 2022. This is according to a statement by the company this past week, which noted that Cheong, “whose current role is Project Support Manager with SBM Offshore, had been based in the Netherlands and Brazil over the last year.”

According to the company, prior to joining SBM Offshore, he served as the Human Resource Manager at the GTM Group of Insurance Companies. He is said to also possess vast experience in finance and business support, having held senior positions in these fields for 19 years at the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) and the Bank of Nova Scotia.

Cheong is a certified Corporate Financial

Planning and Services Professional, and the holder of a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Cheong is the holder of an Executive Master’s Degree (Distinction) in Business Administration from the University of the West Indies (UWI), as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Guyana. Additionally, he is currently pursuing certification as a Corporate Financial Planning and Services Professional “As a Guyanese, I am pleased to be given the opportunity to play a key role in a company that is integrally involved in the production of a resource that is expected to be transformative for my country. SBM Offshore is committed to utilizing and developing the skills of Guyanese—a drive that I am committed to supporting in my new capacity,”

Cheong stated.

According to the SBM Offshore, Guyanese hold senior positions at the firm in Guyana and are an integral part of the company’s operations and noted that the Human Resource and Finance Department are both headed and completely staffed by Guyanese.

The company has also been recruiting and training technical personnel for its offshore operations.

General Manager, Francesco Prazzo, in making the announcement said, Cheong was being prepared for his new role for some time.

“This is not something that was decided at the last moment because Martin was hired more than one year ago. We put him on an international journey, moving into different roles within SBM Offshore. We want to continue to be the employer of choice and social value creators in Guyana,” he stated.

Martin Cheong will be appointed to the post of General Manager of SBM Offshore Guyana, effective March 1, 2022

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Wednesday February 23, 2022

Court orders City Engineer to clear parapets, entryways to Water Street store

J

ustice Jo Ann Barlow,on Tuesday, sitting in the D e m e r a r a H i g h Court,ordered that City Engineer of Georgetown, Colvern Venture, to take the necessary steps to remove all vehicles, carts, dray carts, barrels and boxes situated in front of the Collections Boutique and Centre located at Lot 27 Water Street, Georgetown.

The proprietor of Collections Boutique and Centre, Dian Balram,

through her lawyer, Siand Dhurjon, sued the City Engineer and the Georgetown City Council by way of a fixed date application in the Supreme Court on November 17, 2021.

In keeping with the request of the applicant to have the area cleared, Justice Barlow commanded the City Engineer to remove all vehicles, carts, dray carts, barrels, boxes and all encumbrances on the pavements, streets and

Vendors regularly use the entrance of stores on Water Street to ply their trade. footpaths in the vicinity of Collections Boutique and Centre.

During the trial, the Court agreed with submissions that were made

by Dhurjon that City ByLaw 10, made under the Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap.28:01, places a statutory duty on the City Engineer to ensure that the pavements, streets, parapets, and foot-paths of the city of Georgetown are not overloaded by persons placing things on them.

Balram, in her affidavit to the Court, swore that vendors were hindering and preventing her from accessing her premises to an unacceptable extent by placing structures, stalls, stands, boxes, goods and other things on the pavements, street and footpath in front of her boutique.

“I am usually unable to drive my vehicle into my said premises in the afternoons. Often, customers would come to pick up goods and would be unable to make use of the driveway and entryway for ingress and egress. The same would occur when deliveries are made,” Balram explained. Further, she claimed that this problem has been occurring for years.

Balram wrote letters to the City Council and Engineer on many occasions

on the issue. She even visited the Council three times in 2021 – but all to no avail.

In response to the Court action, Attorney-at-Law D a r r e n Wade—whoappearedon behalf of the Town Clerk and City Engineer of the G e o r g e t o w n council—statedthat when he and the staff of the City Council visited the premises, they found no one to be blocking Balram’s Boutique. It was also stated that the City Council was doing all that they could to clear up the area.

A rank attached to the City Council who appeared stated however, that indeed vendors were blocking the pavement and access ways to Collections Boutique and that the City Council had not even sat to consider the issue raised by Balram in her lawsuit in the nearly three months since it was filed.

Wadesubmitted to the Court that the City Council had no obligation under law to remove vehicles, carts, stalls and other ‘mobile things’ which could be moved around.

The Court agreed with Dhurjon however, that By Law 10 makes no distinction between fixed or mobile things and requires the pavements, streets, footpaths of the City to be unencumbered.

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Gunmen invade Jeweller’s stall at Mon Repos Market A Jeweller’s employee on Monday had to dodge a bullet after three gunmen who invaded his boss’ stall which is located at Mon Repos on the East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The employee, according to Police, was alone in the stall when three men attacked around 09:40hrs.

Without warning, they reportedly began breaking the showcase and removing Jewellery.

The employee reportedly tried to raise an alarm that the stall was being robbed but was forced to stop, after one of the men aimed the gun at him and reportedly fired a round.

He later told Police that he had to run for cover and luckily the bullet did not strike him. When he came out of his hiding place the gunmen were gone. Police are on the lookout for the suspects.

The Mon Repos Market located on the East Coast Demerara.

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Wednesday February 23, 2022

Mashramani:

2022 Resolute in building our One Guyana

Guyana our country our home, land of many waters will be celebrating its 52nd Republic on the 23rd February, 2022.

Guyana became a Republican country having its own cooperative on the 23rd February, 1970. There is also another name used for

this day known as “Mashramani”. This holiday is the national day of Guyana and commemorates the “Birth of the Republic”.

However, the country was once ruled by the Dutch colonies that first established it and imported African slaves to work on sugar plantations.

The British then took control, creating a single colony known as the British Guiana in 1831. Guyana achieved its Independence from the United Kingdom on 26th May, 1966 and declared itself a “Cooperative Republic” on 2 3 r d F e b r u a r y, 1 9 7 0 , abolishing its relationship with the British Monarchy, but remaining a member of the Commonwealth. Its heritage means Guyana is the only South American nation in which English is the official language.

Mashramani also known as “Mash “is the festival that celebrates Guyana becoming a republic. Every year since, this festival has been held on the 23rd of February. Parades, music, games, and cooking are all events that take place on that day. During that time, the Department of Culture Youth & Sport will have lots of different activities whereby schools (nursery, primary & secondary) would compete and win prizes; they even have adult competitions, such activities take over six weeks to cover.

For two years, Mash was done virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic where limited amount of attendees were able to attend the events also having COVID -19 protocols in place. Persons had to be vaccinated and social distances were ensured.

As Guyana slowly r e t u r n s t o n o r m a l c y, Mashramani events heat up.

Our mash theme for this year is “Mashramani 2022 resolute in building our one Guyana.” We would have had various events that already took place, this includes our: Junior Calypso & Soca Monarch, Adult Calypso Monarch, Adult Soca Monarch, Adult Chutney Monarch and Republic Bank Mash Steel Band Panaram. In the nights,

during this time, Guyanese like to take part in what we call “Jovert”. This fete includes the use of coloured powder, water and alcohol.

Citizens turned out in their numbers last evening to observe the hoisting of the Golden Arrow Head, on Guyana’s 52nd Republic Anniversary, which was held at the Parliament building located in the heart of Georgetown.

Present at the flag raising ceremony were several government officials including, President Dr. Irfaan Ali and his family.

Before the flag raising ceremony, there were cultural presentations done by several artistes who performed.

However, there would be no float parade this year.

This mainly because the pandemic is still in its full effect and there would be no control over the spread of COVID-19.

It was said by the mash event coordinator that it was all thought out and budgeted.

It was not said if this is the reason for some COVID-19 restrictions being lifted.

Positive comments were made by citizens in light of the mash events taking place. Lots of support and appreciations were given.

Keep in mind that Mashramani is a time for celebration and having a good time. But whether vaccinated or not, you have the responsibility to weigh risks and benefits that is best for you. Social distancing and sanitizing is the still the safest engagement.

Happy Republic Day!!!

Wednesday February 23, 2022

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Witness who recanted testimony

CHARGED WITH PERJURY

A twenty-five-year-old Kitty resident, who recanted his entire testimony in a murder trial, was arrested and is slated to appear in court to answer to a perjury charge.

Pascale Smith called “Pop Skull” 29, of Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was last week freed of a 2017 murder charge after the eyewitness, who had identified him as the suspect in the case recanted his entire testimony. Smith was on trial

US$100M to produce...

From page 3 During its two-year construction period, RSB said the venture will create about 200 jobs, and support about 25 permanent local jobs during its operation.

It was noted that with the Bajan venture, “RSB paves the way for the duplication of Renewstable® power plants at a global scale.”

The US$100M project is said to be a duplication of CEOG (en.ceog.fr), the first Renewstable® project in construction developed by HDF Energy located in French Guiana. It is being built by Siemens Energy and financed through a state-ofthe-art project finance scheme. Rubis is also an equity investor of CEOG through SARA (the refinery of Martinique) alongside H D F E n e rg y a n d t h e infrastructure fund Meridiam. Lenders include world leading private and institutional banks.

Damien Havard, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HDF Energy in making the announcement said, “…we are extremely delighted to have Rubis joining RSB, the second Renewstable® project after CEOG.” He noted that many similar projects are currently being developed by HDF Energy across the globe, using the same proven bankable business model and focusing on a valuable base load power service for local grids. According to Havard, “in addition to HDF Energy’s unique hydrogen power and local development expertise, we believe the solid presence of Rubis Caribbean in Barbados and its strong c o m m i t m e n t t o decarbonization makes it a robust development and financing partner. “ Clarisse GobinSwiecznik, Managing Director of Rubis Energie observed that this second investment in a green hydrogen power plant reinforces our growing collaboration with HDF E n e rg y. “ We s t r o n g l y believe in the Renewstable® technology already

implemented with CEOG as a viable solution to provide energy at an affordable cost to populations with challenging energy supply logistics. This new project illustrates our will to develop new carbon-free sources of e n e r g y, e s p e c i a l l y i n countries where Rubis is operating.”

Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley during a recent visit to Guyana to participate in the International Energy Conference and Expo 2022 had during the activity, championed a people-centric approach to development and economic empowerment in the region through the energy sector which that country is now exploring.

With this in mind, she used the occasion to speak to the ventures being undertaken in her country including the strides being made with the use of solar complemented with hydrogen.

To t h i s e n d , t h e Barbadian PM reminded that as a Region, there is bountiful renewable energy potential much like Africa, which is blessed with the power of the sun, wind, water and more. With this in mind, she reminded of Barbados’ commitment to being carbon neutral by 2035. Expanding on her country’s push to achieve this, Mottley noted that Barbados at present hosts one of the highest densities of Electric vehicles, Buses and complementing charging stations per capita in the world.

She said her country has also replaced 88 percent of their street lights with LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) in addition to the use of solar on all public buildings and the use of offshore wind and marine power and wave energy technology among other sources such as the development of hydrogen.

“We are also conscious that there is a need for us to maximise the solar revolution,” Mottley said, adding that Barbados 50 years ago started a process of using solar water heaters for hot water in homes.

for the murder of John Heckert Hutson, a Rastafarian resident of Kitty.

He was charged for murdering Hutson on May 27, 2017, on a parapet on A l e x a n d e r S t , K i t t y, Georgetown.

His trial commenced in the Demerara Assizes on January 18, 2021, before Justice Brassington Reynolds.

The case was prosecuted

by Counsel from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Office, Seeta Bishundial, and Lisa Cave, and Smith was represented by Attorney-atLaw Siand Dhurjon.

On Wednesday, February 16, 2022, Justice Reynolds upheld a no-case submission

that was made to the court by Smith’s lawyer and as such, Smith was set free.

Kaieteur News reported that the prosecution’s case against Smith was that during the wee hours of April 31, 2017, he had beaten Hutson mercilessly on the road in front of the Avon building on Alexander Street in Kitty, by stamping him to the ground and striking him to the head with a brick until he was motionless.

An eyewitness ran to the Kitty Police Station and reported the matter, while Hutson was taken, in an unconscious state, to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Hutson was hospitalised for over a month succumbed on

May 27, 2017.

Following Hutson’s death, Smith was arrested at his home and was positively identified as the suspect by an eyewitness on an identification parade at the Kitty Police Station.

Later that year, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, found that there was sufficient evidence against Smith for him to stand trial in the High Court for murder.

However, on February 10, 2022, when eyewitness Budhu Persaud, 25, also a resident of the Kitty area, was called to the witness stand to testify in the murder case, he recanted his testimony.

U n d e r c r o s s examination from Smith’s

lawyer, Persaud was asked if he remembered the date of the incident and he told the court “no.”

When asked if he remembered any incident in 2017 that had caused him to interact with the police he also said “no.”

Persaud then explained that sometime during the year, a police detective by the name of “Chapman” encouraged and caused him to sign a paper and also caused him to attend the identification parade and to point out Smith.

The prosecution had applied for Persaud to be deemed a hostile witness, but the defence lawyer objected and the judge ruled that there Continued on page 30

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 23, 2022

PAGE 28

LAND FOR SALE

CAR RENTAL

Adventure Public Road, Essequibo Coast Lot 23A (66x309).Tel:233-6282/6087520.

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1-152 Laverda combine with Wobble box & Fiat engine farm ready.Call:637-8027.

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Price $1.550mil,serious enquiries only.Tel:625-2167.

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

WANTED Urgently Needed! Dried carilla bush.Contact:6098281/693-3003.

Hiring Content Writers: $100,000 monthly. MondayThursday,work from home.

Email your resume to andrewp @consultpr.net.

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Female ages 25-40 to take care of elderly male in Trinidad, accomodations provided.

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Cashiers.Apply at Survival Supermarket with passport photo to 16 Vlissengen Rd Newtown,Kitty.

Office Assistant, Cashier, Counter staff, Cooks, Baker, Cleaner,Store person.Must have experience & vaccinated,226-9000,225-6255.

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One male able bodied clerk, one female able bodied clerk.

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Sales Person. Commission Only. 5 CXC 1 or 2 in Math and English Required. Contact:650-5626.

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Sales Representative.Send application to Lot 8 Sheriff St or email:mi madecor 09@ gmail.com.Call:227-0176/2270186

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Wednesday February 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 29

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Witness who recanted testimony...

From page 25 was no foundation or basis for Persaud to be so treated.

Following Persaud’s testimony, the Prosecution declined to call any further witness to testify and closed their case.

Smith’s lawyer then made a no-case submission to the court and said that what Persaud said is the truth and in keeping with his police statement in 2017, as well as a statement given on January 31, 2022, which was not disclosed until during the trial.

As such Justice Reynolds upheld the defence’s submission and directed the 12-member jury to give a formal verdict of not guilty.

On Monday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in a statement noted that they have arrested the witness and questioned him in relation to an alleged ‘wilfull and corrupt’ act of perjury.

The police reported that during the interview with Persaud, he was first cautioned in accordance with the Judge’s ruling and he elected

to tell his story.

Persaud reportedly told investigators that he did give a written statement to the police at Kitty Police Station detailing what he witnessed when Hutson was brutally attacked. He added that a few weeks later, he had attended and positively identified the suspect at an identification parade and subsequently testified during the preliminary inquiry (PI) in the matter at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

According to the police, Persaud told them that sometime in January 2021, he was taken to the accused father, who threatened him.

He explained that the accused father told him that if he did not change his story he would face the consequences. As such, he disclosed that when he appeared in the High Court to testify in the matter, he related that he knew nothing about the matter. Persaud is slated to appear in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts this week.

Remaining duo gets life...

From page 15 tractor...abee (we) not living far from matty (each other), I go always help them...I begging you sir...I live with them like family, I begging you please sir,” Chaitram pleaded.

His probation report presented by Probation Officer, Dionne Douglas, detailed that Carlton was the eldest sibling of four and that he attended the Mibicuri Primary for a short period of time before leaving due to financial constraints.

He would have subsequently assisted his parents with their cattle and cash crop farming but when he turned 16, his father started rice cultivation and he began assisting with that significantly.

In the report, Carlton described himself as a ‘loving and caring’ individual but that he consumed alcohol occasionally.

He said, he was never involved in conflict but if he was, they would reconcile.

Carlton was however described by members of the community as a trouble maker “who always used money as a tool to get what he wanted” and that his call name “Lieman”, speaks for itself.

Karamchand on the other hand, said that he only dropped the men off at the location with his boat and that he left for fishing but shortly after heard gunshots.

“I got five grand-children and me never know dem...I begging for mercy”, he said.

In his probation report presented by Judith Vankennie, Karamchand said he grew up in an abusive home with his father being abusive towards his mother.

He even recalled an

incident where his father chopped his mother on her arm when she confronted him about his unfaithfulness, this resulted in his mother moving out of the home. They moved and lived with his maternal aunt at Enmore, East Coast Demerara. Later on in his life he gained employment as a fisherman and his catch was given to his aunt to be sold at the market for money.

He was nonetheless described by some community members as a “very wicked person” while others described him as a peaceful individual.

The victims were shot dead on a dam in Kookrit Savannah, Black Bush Polder in 2016 while they were on a fishing trip. The bullet-riddled bodies of Pawan Chandradeo, his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, both of Mibicuri North BBP and Naresh Rooplall, of Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, were found on July 22, in the Kookrit Savannah, BBP. The remains bore gaping gunshot wounds to the head and upper bodies.

The bodies were found by a rice farmer of Black Bush Polder and his workmen. It was reported that 13-year-old Alvin Chandradeo, who accompanied his father Pawan and brother Jaikarran was left at a pump station on a dam while the others went further into the Savannah to fish. The lad stayed at the pump station from where he reportedly heard gunshots.

In October 2018, the four men were committed to stand trial in the High Court for the brutal murders. A fifth man who was charged with accessory after the fact was granted $2M bail in 2016.

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Wednesday February 23, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Campbell recalled, Phillip gets maiden call-up as CWI names squad for 1st England Test SportsMax - The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel yesterday named the West Indies Men's squad for the first Apex Test match against England, as well as the CWI President's XI squad for the four-day warm-up match.

The first Apex Test will be played at the Sir Vivian

Alexander Zverev and Jenson...

From page 34 survive.”The match followed similarly marathon victories for John Isner and Stefan Kozlov, with play not starting until the evening because of the hot and humid conditions.

Richards Stadium from March 8-12, following the warm-up match at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) from March 1-4.

In the West Indies Test squad, there is a maiden callup for fast bowler Anderson Phillip and a recall for opener John Campbell. Both players were impressive in the first two rounds of the current West Indies Championship, with 25-year-old Phillip from Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, taking 12 wickets at an average of 14.25 per wicket, with best figures of 5-82 against Jamaica Scorpions and 28year-old Campbell from Jamaica Scorpions hitting 213 runs at an average of 53.25,

including 127 against Barbados Pride.

The West Indies squad will assemble in Antigua from February 25 for a training camp ahead of the Apex Test Series.

Shane Dowrich, the experienced wicketkeeper/batsman has been named as captain of the CWI President's XI with Raymon Reifer, the lefthanded allrounder as the vicecaptain.

“Anderson Phillip bowled extremely well and was very impressive in the first two rounds of the West Indies Championship and we decided to give him an opportunity in the Test squad to face England.

Wednesday February 23, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) isappointment in a prominent public figure you've always admired could cause an ethical crisis today, Aries. You might find yourself doubting beliefs and values that you've accepted without question for most of your life.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) A lack of contact between you and a romantic partner could have you feeling rather depressed today, Taurus. You might be tempted to jump to the erroneous conclusion that your beloved no longer cares about you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You tend to be very intuitive, Gemini, but today your channel to the other side could appear to be totally blocked.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You’re usually a hard worker, Cancer, whether the work involves a job, personal project, or simply chores around the house.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today you just might want to cut yourself off from the world and hide, Leo. Your backyard or bedroom seems especially attractive right now, and you might have just purchased a new paperback that you're dying to read.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) friend or relative might propose some travel, Virgo, but today you don't even want to think about going to the grocery store. You won't feel much like talking to anyone, either. Your mind is probably on intellectual or metaphysical matters.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Gloom may settle upon you today when you face your financial situation, Libra.

You may have had a lot of bills to pay, and thus your coffers could be a bit low for your liking. Still, this is only temporary, and it probably feels good to have the bills out of the way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This morning you might look in the mirror and be horrified at what you see, Scorpio.

You've been working hard and are stressed out, so you probably look tired.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Something could happen during the day that unconsciously reminds you of something unpleasant that happened to you in the past, Sagittarius.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) None of your friends may be at home today, Capricorn, and so you probably won't be able to have any phone conversations or visits with them. This could cause you to feel rather lonely.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you might find yourself compelled to stay at home for some reason, Aquarius. Perhaps you're expecting a visitor who's late or a delivery of some kind.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Construction on streets or buildings might make it difficult for you to get around your neighborhood today, Pisces. Traffic could be backed up for blocks.

He has been around the squad before in white-ball cricket, so he has some experience at the international level,” lead selector Desmond Haynes said.

“I expect us to be very competitive against England.

This should be a very exciting series, with a lot of players who are out to make their mark.

We have a squad that has some experienced players, as well as some exciting young players and we expect them to equip themselves well and do the job,” he added.

Tickets are on sale for the 1st Apex Test Match at windiescricket.com/tickets.

Party Stand and special hospitality seats will be announced in the next 48 hours, with the warm-up match tickets going on sale on Wednesday, February 23 with prices from US$10 each/EC$30 each.

WEST INDIES TEST SQUAD Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain) Jermaine Blackwood (Vice Captain) Nkrumah Bonner Shamarh Brooks John Campbell Joshua Da Silva Jason Holder Alzarri Joseph Kyle Mayers Veerasammy Permaul Anderson Phillip Kemar Roach Jayden Seales CWI PRESIDENT'S XI SQUAD Shane Dowrich (Captain) Raymon Reifer (Vice Captain) Colin Archibald Alick Athanaze Keacy Carty Bryan Charles Shermon Lewis Preston McSween Shayne Moseley Jeremy Solozano Shamar Springer Devon Thomas

APEX TEST SERIES SCHEDULE (10am local time/9am Jamaica Time) March 1-4: CWI President's XI v England at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua March 8-12: 1st Apex Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua March 16-20: 2nd Apex Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados March 24-28: 3rd Apex Test at Grenada National Stadium, Grenada

Mashramani Table Tennis action set to...

From page 37 mask by non-competing players at all times when in playing venue.

Only players whose categories are in progress will be allowed to play on the tables.

Persons infringing the Covid19 guidelines will be debarred from further participation in the competition. (Samuel Whyte)

Cycle season in Berbice rides...

From page 33 presented a cheque to FACC President and race coordinator, Randolph Roberts.

A number of prizes and other incentives will be up for grabs including the first four finishers, the first three veterans and the first junior.

There are also eight prime prizes up for the taking.

The event will be coordinated by cycling coach Randolph Roberts with assistance from other members of the FACC executive committee.

Roberts took the opportunity to thank all the sponsors who assisted the club during the past year, especially the sponsors of this event. He also used the opportunity to seek their support for the coming year. He had special words of thanks for the Guyana Police Force over the years. (Samuel Whyte)