Kaieteur News

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Thursday Edition Oil confab NEWS failed to address lopsided Exxon deal

AIETEUR

February 24, 2022 - Vol. 15 No.08

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 87,730

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

...Article 13 knocks event as a “feel-good” conference

GPL, customers must still pay even if all electricity from Amaila not used …to also meet shortfall if revenues - Winston not enough to pay Chinese Company Brassington GKB joint venture says it was Govt. that recommended Enmore as suitable site ...boasts that US$37.5M investment is unmatched

Unlicenced Pres. Ali lashes driver dies in out at critics in three-vehicle Republic address ...but fails to deal with smash-up at problems in oil sector, Schoonord controversial mega projects

New fire station at Wales to cost $68M

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

More bills for Guyana …as Exxon searches for more oil in Stabroek Block at Lukanani Well

Barbados spending US$100M for 178MW of electricity; Brassington telling us the Chinese Company Listen to The Glenn Lall Show! spending US$700M on the hydro to give Guyana 165MW of electricity. @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 24, 2022

Thursday February 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Oil confab failed to address lopsided Exxon deal ...Article 13 knocks event as a “feel-good” conference P

ro-Governance group Article 13 said the just concluded International Energy Conference held here was nothing but a “feelgood” conference that failed to address critical issues such as the deficiencies in the Production Sharing Agreement, and the Regulatory Framework.

The group said that the foreigners who dominated the conference “must have left Guyana with the impression that there was total national consensus on all things oil, and that Guyana was heading to become the Dubai of the Caribbean. They could not be more wrong.”

“The Exxon Petroleum Agreement, the sector's regulatory framework, the country's environmental capacity and oversight, the mega-projects, and steps in place to prevent the Dutch Disease and the more damaging resource curse, are issues which the Government seems willing to leave to chance or treat as low priority,” the civil society organisation said.

Article 13 said while the conference saw presentations

Delegates at the recently concluded International Energy Conference. and participation of three foreign Heads of State and a host of foreign speakers – including Exxon's Chairman and CEO, Darren Woods, the absence of the parliamentary opposition and civil society

representatives on the panels has not gone unnoticed. “The absence at the higher level of Trinidad, with their century of experience in the oil and gas sector, could not escape attention,” posited Article 13.

In light of the exclusions and the burning issues to be addressed, Article 13 called on the Government to have a domestic version of the conference but in the form of a consultation.

“It is entirely unacceptable that Guyanese had to learn from a prohibitively priced international conference, an additional trickle of information on the

Government's Gas-to-Shore and Amaila Falls Hydro projects. Article 13 is not satisfied that the Gas-toShore project is consistent with the Petroleum Agreement, but is satisfied that the announcement that the arrangements for the cost of building the pipeline will be treated as recoverable from oil proceeds is evidence that the Government does not take ring-fencing very seriously,” it said.

Article 13 also expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of Government to pursue the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project with all its costly risks, noting that the awarding too of the construction contract without simultaneously entering a Power Purchase Agreement is putting the cart before the horse.

“We are satisfied too that a price being bandied about

by Mr. Winston Brassington does not include all the costs and that Guyana and the Guyana Power & Light Inc. will be incurring significant additional costs, other than the nominal price tag,” it said. It was pointed out that (Continued on page 16)

More bills for Guyana …as Exxon searches for more oil in Stabroek Block at Lukanani Well

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sso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—is forging ahead with its planned drilling campaign for the year. This time, targeting more oil at its Lukanani-1 well in the lucrative Stabroek Block.

This was confirmed by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), which in a Public Notice yesterday noted that the activity commenced on Monday last and is expected to be completed by May 15.

That well, according to MARAD is being spud by its contracted drill ship, the Noble Tom Madden.

According to the Notice, the activity is being undertaken 105.5 nautical miles from the coast of Guyana and covers an area of one square kilometer or 0.29 nautical mile squared.

As such, all mariners have since been cautioned to

stay clear of the 24 support vessels being employed in addition to the drill site and ship.

The Lukanani-1 Well forms part of ExxonMobil's subsidiary's plans to, by the end of 2025, spud some 52 wells across the Stabroek and Canje Blocks during a five year period, having begun an aggressive campaign in late December 2020.

According to the schedule of exploration activities for the company for the Stabroek Block, the company is currently engaged in an aggressive 25 well exploration campaign that begun back in June of last year.

That drilling campaign is expected to last until the end o f 2 0 2 5 .

This is in addition to a separate 12 well campaign that had begun back in December 2020 in the Stabroek Block and ended

earlier this year.

Additionally, the US super major is also gearing for a 12 well campaign in the Canjie Block.

An application for E n v i r o n m e n t a l Authorisation has since been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the 12 We l l E x p l o r a t i o n a n d Appraisal (E&A) Drilling Programme in Canje Block, Offshore Guyana.

ExxonMobil back in 2020 said publicly that it had identified considerable undrilled potential of more than 50 leads in the blocks it operates in Guyana's offshore Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The oil major has also announced plans to do more drilling in prospects targeted in the Kaieteur Blocks.

Only recently, during the recently concluded International Energy Conference and Expo,

ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO, Darren Woods

ExxonMobil Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Darren Woods, lauded the unprecedented achievements in Guyana.

With this in mind, he told conference delegates that the oil company was still to explore in a significant

portion of its concessions that could lead to further discoveries beyond the more than 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent that would mean future development opportunities.

The ExxonMobil boss was adamant “people need

access to energy including t h e e n e rg y r e s o l u t i o n right here in Guyana; as people become more prosperous the need for energy will increase” and expressed the sentiment of a long future ahead in Guyana.

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Thursday February 24, 2022

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

Amaila Falls T

he Amaila Falls hydro project is back with a louder bang, it is alive and kicking. If Guyanese were to listen to the Project Head alone, it is better than slice bread. This second presence of the controversial and ill-fated Amaila Falls project, in its new and improved version, is almost as appealing as the Second Coming.

This is from a Project Head, who is himself a second coming of sorts.

According to the Project Head, this reincarnated Amaila Falls is all pluses for Guyanese. The Chinese are financing, and under the BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer) model, Guyana will take ownership of the project’s assets and operations after 20 years.

The first warning was just issued (though he may not know it) by the man doing the talking for leaders of the PPP/C Government, such a liable solider is he. Whenever and wherever the Chinese have run with the whole kit and kaboodle of a big dollar project, the host country has always ended up with the short, sharp, and wrong end of the stick. What others thought as sweet and unbeatable financing terms ended up being an albatross around the necks of those saddled with repaying the debts.

To those with questions, or needing enlightenment, we point them to countries in Africa and more recently Sri Lanka.

The next thing that should have captured the attention of Guyanese watching developments with this project is the startling news that the GPL is liable when Amaila Falls runs dry (KN February 22). That pearl of wisdom came from the lips of the man selling the project - this pig in a bag - to Guyanese. It was the Project Head, Mr. Winston Brassington himself, who is in charge of papering over the cracks already being exposed with this project. He has his work cut out for him.

GPL, meaning Guyana, is responsible for hydrology risk. Meaning, when the water supply runs short, and the required levels in the reservoir to power the turbines cannot be maintained, GPL must deal with that baby. We don’t know if we are hearing right, but we do know that we have not lost our senses, because something about this is not right. It is taking sovereign risk into a whole new territory and turning it upon its head.

That is, what the Chinese have priced into their final project cost, with an eye on a host of different risks, sovereign included, they have turned and handed back to us, by dumping it right into our laps, through the GPL being liable.

Instead of sovereign default risk, the Chinese took their hydrology risk and handed it to Guyana. It’s like penalising the Saudis for not finding oil.

Putt differently, the Chinese factored this into their total pricing equation, then dropped hydrology risk(s) on us. Exxon is suspected of doing this with inflated bills; the Chinese now follow suit.

They own the project for the first 20 years, so the argument could be made that hydrology/water risks belong solely with them, and for which the appropriate contingency arrangements are theirs.

This risk sharing seems on the face of it to be onesided, since there is no mention of reward sharing in the first decades of the BOOT arrangement. What is touted as cheaper, through the assumption of hydrology risk could be an annual killer for Guyana, given seasonal fluctuations.

Rather cleverly, this falls under the trickery of “allocation of force majeure risks” with GPL carrying Guyana’s share. The GPL can’t manage blackout risk, but is now carrying the ball for water risk(s).

The other piece of good news for Guyanese was that after 20 years this country would own the Amaila Falls hydro project. The Chinese are not known for their generosity with such things, which tells us that there is a catch, a few of them.

The state of the facility is one, with another being guidance and partnership, both costly, to assist smooth local management of the project. The concern is whether we are getting a project wreck, being sold a pig in a bag, or inheriting wasted assets.

Something about Guyana making Americans uncomfortable DEAR EDITOR, America is unhappy with how things are in Guyana. It is the cause of much anxiety on the part of senior Americans at the highest elevations.

This was confirmed by the article captioned, “US President calls for stronger democracy, inclusion in Guyana” (Demerara Waves, February 22).

As said, something in Guyana is contributing to the discomfort of Americans all the way to the White House.

I approach this from several angles.

For starters, President Joe Biden is preoccupied with his current number one crisis.

It is the long, spiraling standoff, stare down if you will, with Russia, over developments in Ukraine.

Matters keep escalating, and this is the kind of situation that the world watches nervously, since one miscalculation, misinterpretation, and misstep could lead into the unknown and the uncontrollable.

The crisis in Ukraine has to be keeping up President Biden at nights; or at least stretching his days by hours that he does not have the luxury of sparing, past the point of the humanly tolerable.

Yet here he is with an eye on and a word for Guyana. I sense a warning word, and though it may be the first from President Biden, it is not the first from America, which is aimed dead center at the PPPC Government and its leaders, and their way of governing this country.

It is too self-serving to the

interests and prosperities of PPPC Government leaders and cronies. It leaves out too many Guyanese, particularly those who need a helping hand the most.

And, at the crux of the actions and the contentions that flare from them, it is too divisive and antagonizing to long-term peace and stability in this country.

At the risk of overreach, American leaders at the heights do not have the time for day for Guyana. Back in Cold War days, the spread of communism, and domino effect prompted intervention and close-up rearrangements in Guyana, with U.S. Presidents maintaining a safe, diplomatic distance from the workings of Guyana.

Venezuela over there, and oil right here, influenced rebalancing the priority of Guyana in American calculations.

What used to be left to the State Department now finds voice from the White House, even at a time like this.

I detect some worry on America’s part.

The opposition is too quiet, though agitating a tad more recently. I think that men here and elsewhere are contacting ranking Americans and sharing their fears, and the fears of what could come, if circumstances are left alone.

That is, to let the rampaging, unhearing, and unheeding PPPC Government run amok in almost every area of leadership, politics, and governance.

In fact, politics and governance have become so entangled that there is

extreme difficulty in determining where one ends and the other begins.

That is, if real governance ever begins at any time.

Because this rages, from America’s perspective, it is detrimental and dangerous.

Detrimental and dangerous for Guyana, which means detrimental and dangerous for Exxon first. And, perhaps even more importantly and relevantly, to America’s visions and interests in the region.

Using that same blueprint in some respects, Her Excellency, Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch, has articulated an identical call (and caution) as her President in public forums on at least one occasion that I can recall.

There may have been more that eludes me presently, but the record is of her doing so in some fashion what Joe Biden took the time to deliver in the heat of global tensions.

It is of inclusion, of oil benefiting all citizens.

For emphasis: all citizens of this newly oil rich country; the British have also weighed-in in their usual understated way.

I think that America and Great Britain, when they take these public positions about inclusion and expansion of oil richness to benefit all Guyanese.

I conclude that their strongest word yet to President Ali and the Vice President can be distilled to this: be alerted, be forewarned, be proactive in responding tangibly to what is presented in not so nuanced form.

Like me, the Americans observe protocol by

including the head of state in the mix as a courtesy.

For their part, leaders in the PPPC Government find themselves in a bind.

Having reached for, cultivated, and accepted powerful American backing during the elections season, they cannot claim the old line of ‘internal meddling’ since they are the primary beneficiaries of such meddling, or whatever it is termed nowadays.

They have a choice: continue in the same manner to their peril; or introduce genuine change.

Perhaps, it is timely to reintroduce that little hymn that was sung by USAID recently (sharing), which is now echoed by President Biden himself in a variation of the language.

The fact that he could be so engaged by what is happening in the Ukraine, and still find time to make a call on Guyana, and about the need for ‘stronger democracy and inclusion’ speaks for itself.

My last point is this: given the rush of events in Guyana and globally, I do not think that the PPPC Government and its leaders have the cushion of the tolerances that they enjoyed for 23 years.

The ABC&E people were upset then. Today they are impatient because they fail to detect any of the leadership rehabilitations expected.

They discern worse. Change ways. Or else. In sum, America has plans for Guyana, which may not necessarily be ours.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Will local content be monopolised?

DEAR EDITOR, The announcement on the sideline of the energy conference by President Ali that GuySuCo’s Enmore packing plant, plus 55 acres of cane lands, would be sole to a fabricating company aiming to serve the oil and gas sector should have created a ruckus amongst Guyanese.

But it didn’t.

They had seen Governments selling out so much state assets without any consultation with the people that such action has become an acceptable norm.

It seems that after voting a political party into power, they automatically own the country’s assets and can dispose of any at their pleasure.

This particular piece of asset (Enmore packaging plant) was dubbed as the key

to turn around the fortunes of GuySuCo by the CEO, based on the lucrative price offered for package sugar.

The selling out of this facility questions the sincerity of the PPP in their campaign promise to reopen the industry and bring it back to viability?

This sale makes the Government look like they have publicly broken the cistern (GuySuCo) yet they planned to pour the 8 billion dollars budgeted for GuySuCo this year - all in the name of political expediency.

An article said that GAWU requested a meeting with GuySuCo on the issue.

Would they be talking to Sase Singh or Irfaan Ali? The real owners of GuySuCo (the people of Guyana) remain languishing

on the sidelines and would not be consulted.

Despite all the letters written in the media about the naysayers and the importance of the reopening and survival of the sugar industry, Seepaul Narine, GAWU’s general secretary did not offer a word of condemnation or regret about GuySuCo losing this vital asset.

The article clearly voices GAWU’s concern for the faith of the 30 workers at the plant as if continuity of union dues from them is all that matters.

Couldn’t this plant and 55 acres of land be sold by auction? The fact that it wasn’t and the sale was first announced by the president puts the president in a conflict of interest scenario.

The reasoning here is that a politician who prom-

ised renegotiation of a lopsided contract on his campaign trail and refuses to renegotiate the contract after being elected president now sells, without publicly tendering, a vital packaging bond of a struggling state own corporation to a local and foreign partnership company in the name of local content.

If this is not a conflict of interest, what is? Or perhaps it is what it is - interest for benefits!

The general consensus here is that this fabrication company will get all the contracts from the oil company after being propositioned by the president. So we can look out for a monopoly in local content?

Yours sincerely, Rudolph Singh

Thursday February 24, 2022

Preposterous stand from the Opposition DEAR EDITOR, The idea is most preposterous, that is, that there is an “Opposition motion seeking (the) expulsion of Dharamlall from Parliament.” This motion is the continuation of the now infamous, but dead ‘dildo’ statement made by him, the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development.

As we all recall, and can of course access the footage, Nigel Dharamlall, during a recent sitting of the National Assembly, uttered the distasteful remark. Now, a motion has been submitted by Opposition Parliamentarians, Catherine Hughes and Nima Flue-Bess, to Parliament, to refer the minister to the Committee of Privileges and have him be expelled from the House.

Let me back up please, as I want to ask those behind this motion about what transpired, when Opposition Members of Parliament protested the hearing of the NRF Bill, which they wanted to be sent to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee for review. However, in being overruled, they resorted to disrupting the session.

As was witnessed on the occasion and which can now be seen on social media, Coalition MPs stood banging on their desks when the Bill was called up for debate and subsequently gathered in the pit of the Dome of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where National Assembly sittings were being held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bill was eventually passed, but the Opposition’s protest escalated into a physical confrontation with Parliament staff, after one of the Coalition MPs snatched the Parliament Mace from in front of the Speaker. I remind our readers that “… no matter where parliament sessions are being held, the space in the middle between the Government and Opposition sides is sacred ground and a peace zone.”

Therefore, it is forbidden territory and no one is ever allowed to be in that area.

However, it was stormed by

the Oppositions MPs and supporters, who threateningly surrounded the presenter of the Bill, Dr. Ashni Singh, in an intimidating and physically violent manner.

The behaviour was so raucous, it resulted in the compromising of the Control Room, as the internet was disconnected and the loudspeaker system shut down. There is another case I want to bring to the fore, that is, when in Nov. 30, 2018, the then Minister of Public Health and Chairwoman of the People’s National Congress (PNC), flatly said that “I will only give jobs to PNC people.” The utterance emanated during her address at the party’s Region Four District Conference at Congress Place. At that time, she emphasized that “The only friends I got is PNC so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC.” Imagine! I can go on to the crudely Outspoken Opposition Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan, currently facing cyber-crime charges in the Magistrates’ Court, after being accused by IT Manager at the Guyana Elections Commission, Aneal Giddings, over statements that he allegedly made on his social media talk show.

Mr. Giddings was singled out by Duncan and he was allegedly referred to as a “jaggabat” and “trench crappo,” two demeaning descriptions that are disrespectful and so caused him a significant emotional distress and humiliation. Add to this that Sherod Duncan

was publicly chided for his “vile, most repugnant onslaught” against Priya Manickchand. On that occasion, he used his Facebook page, to describe in song, that the Education Minister, Priya Manickchand as a ‘wild hog’ that needs taming.

Against this background, the Opposition collective and their allies have no moral and ethical grounds to sponsor any motion against Minster Dharamlall. The argument on their behalf is that “…

Dharamlall, in response to questions posed by various Members of Parliament, “hurled abusive language to his parliamentary colleagues.” It stated further, that “while being questioned by female Members of Parliament on the Opposition side, and during his exchanges while being on the floor of this honourable House, he blurted out the words ‘you got to get a dildo, that’s what’s you looking for.”

The motion also stated the existence of evidence of the minister’s outburst as a review of the closed-circuit video of the proceedings confirmed the utterance of the “offensive” words.”

Well, let us get the balance and see which side is heavier with negatives. I have this strong feeling that the ‘criminality of the attempted purloining of the Mace’ and the ‘crappo and jagabat’ derogatory remarks is bothering the Opposition, they are looking for distractions. I am sure that they know the reality of 33/ 3 2 .

Yours truly, H. Singh

Widen search area

DEAR EDITOR, The team searching for the sunken vessel and missing crew members should widen the search area.

Maybe the fishing net might have floated down and landed in the area it was found.

Also divers who can go deeper should be employed in an effort to scour and search in greater detail and depth.

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Remnants of the missing aircraft MH370 some years ago and which to this day has not been located, despite intensive and extensive searches, comes to mind. But this is a sunken vessel and should be located.

May the search reap success soon as the wait for the families must be heartbreaking.

Shamshun Mohamed

Russia invasion of Ukraine DEAR EDITOR, Whilst conversing with friends overseas and in Guyana recently, they asked me whether I think Russia would invade Ukraine.

My answer to them was “I don’t know.” The question at that time was not a surprising one.

Apart from the fact that the issue is being discussed on all major news channels, it appears to be a matter of interest for governments and peoples around the world especially in Europe.

As it turned out, after weeks of speculation about what Russian would do and not do, accompanied by a flurry of high level diplomatic initiatives in and out of Russia and Ukraine aimed at finding a solution to the Russian/ Ukraine crisis and preventing any military action on the part of Russia against Ukraine, finally, Russia made its moves.

First, it engineered the evacuation of thousands of Russians from Eastern Ukraine on the ground that a war was coming.

Secondly, President Vladimir Putin signed two decrees recognising the Luhansk People’s Republic and Donetsk People’s Republic as independence states formerly part of Ukraine’s national territory.

Thirdly, Russian troops, under the guise of a ‘Peacekeeping Mission’ were ordered to enter the territory of the two newly birthed ‘People’s Republics’.

The moves triggered a raft of sweeping sanctions by the US in the areas of investment, trade and financing on ‘any US person to, from or in the so-called People’s Republics’ as well as on ‘any person determined to operate in those area of Ukraine,’ meaning the two ‘People’s Republics’.

Subsequently, the British Prime Minister announced sanctions on five Russian banks and three prominent Russian citizens.

And the European Union chimed in with sanctions on Russian MPs who supported Putin’s actions, financial institutions supporting the Russian military and prohibiting trade with the breakaway regions.

Meanwhile, in the face of a possible outbreak of a war

between Russian occupying forces and the Ukrainian military, the moves by Russia has complicated efforts at the diplomatic level aimed at resolving the crisis.

But the fundamental question, speculative as it might seem, is whether Russia’s military intervention and occupation of the breakaway regions in Eastern Ukraine can be categorised as just or unjust?

Joseph C. Sweeney in his article, ‘The Just War Ethic in International Law’ published in the ‘Fordham International Law Journal’ states that ‘An Unjust war is characterised by the use of military force in violation of the United Nations Charter by a sovereign Nation State; while a just war is the use of military force according to the decisions of the United Nations Security Council’.

According to Sweeney, ‘Only in the inherent right of self-defence against armed attack can a Nation be justified in resorting to military force, without the approval of the Security Council use of military force as directed by the Security Council or use of military force in self-defence against an armed attack constitutes the criteria of a just war established by the United Nations.’

Within the meaning of the UN Charter, and pushing aside the constant stream of propaganda, sensationalism and fake news emanating from various quarters about the Ukraine/Russia crisis, Russia’s geo-political and military strategic objectives appear to have borne fruit at least in the short-term.

Referring to the application of United Nations Charter in the context to the Russia/Ukraine threat of war, the Secretary General Antonio Guterres addressing the recently concluded Munich Security Conference stressed, “All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the integrity or political independence of any State or in any other manner inconsistent with the processes of the United Nations.”

“The Charter is clear!” he emphasized.

Russia is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. It goes with-

out saying that it must be aware of its role and responsibilities as one of the P 5’s.

Following the recent meeting of the Security Council to discuss the situation in and around the Ukraine, the UN Secretary General after describing Russian’s action as a violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, called inter alia; for the immediate cessation of hostilities, the peaceful settlement of the conflict and the prioritizing diplomacy to address all issues.”

Diplomatic intervention to facilitate de-escalation of tension between States is not uncommon in such circumstances. These efforts can be anonymous and unseen.

Mediation by listening to both sides and communicating in good faith are central elements if de-escalation of tension and a permanent solution is to be achieved. In the circumstances, President Macron’s initiative still bears some relevance.

Small States like Guyana with a border controversy and dispute to its East and West should not standby pondering as it were what position it should adopt in the face of what is happening now in Europe as if it is of no relevance to Guyana.

There is no way the ‘Just War’ theory could justify any foolhardy adventure that could trigger a full-scale armed conflict in Europe. All options must be exhausted.

Small wonder why the British Opposition Leader Keir Starmer stressed that “Even at this late hour, we must pursue diplomatic efforts to avoid conflict.”

Thomas Aquinas, Italian priest and philosopher answering the question, ‘When is a war just’?’ wrote; “For war to be just, three conditions are necessary: (1)There needs to be a right authority to declare war, (2) A just cause and (3) A right intention on the part of the belligerents i.e. achieving some good or avoiding some evil.”

Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee

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Thursday February 24, 2022

Govt. launches local content register The opposition’s extreme - Website opens door for Guyanese businesses, individuals to gain easier access to oil and gas sector In keeping with the new stipulations occasioned by the local content law, the Government of Guyana has launched a register for local businesses and professionals to advertise their goods and services.

The new Local Content law provides for the establishment of a Local Content Secretariat that will develop and maintain a Local Content Register of Guyanese nationals for employment and Guyanese companies from which goods and services may be procured. The law also outlines a schedule that sets out targets of benefits for Guyanese in 40 key sectors to be implemented by the end of 2022. The creation of the register is set to open the door for Guyanese businesses and individuals looking to gain easier access to the oil and gas sector.

Individuals and companies who fall in these two categories are urged to register on a website which was launched on Tuesday under the Ministry of Natural Resources which houses the office of the Local Content Secretariat. This comes some two week after the National Assembly approved $20 million for the implementation of the Local Content Secretariat as well as the local content register. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has signalled its intention to commence the creation of the Local Content Registers following the passage of the game-changing Local Content Bill in the National Assembly last year.

These two registers, as stated in the law, will deal specifically with the procurement of goods, and secondly, the provision of skills and employ-

Brazilian businessman found murdered at Eteringbang Kaieteur News has learnt that a Brazilian businessman was on Wednesday morning found with his hands bound, and a pick axe sticking out from his head at the Eteringbang Landing, located along the Cuyuni River, Region Seven.

It is believed that the man was brutally murdered during the wee hours of Wednesday. Police have since confirmed that the foreign national was indeed found dead. The police could not provide further details. Kaieteur News will bring more as the story develops.

ment. Minister Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, noted that the “The [Act] will require Guyanese to register with the Local Content Secretariat at the Ministry of Natural Resources.”

He explained that continuous consultation will pave the way for the government to expand the list of services that are outlined in the first schedule of the Local Content Act. For instance, the oil and gas companies operating in Guyana, as well as their contractors and sub-contractors must procure from Guyanese companies by the end of 2022, 90% of office space rental and accommodation services; 90% janitorial services, laundry and catering services; 95% pest control services; 100% local insurance services; 75% local supply of food; and 90% local accounting services. These are just some of the 40 different services outlined in the first schedule. “A true assessment of our capabilities will have to be done overtime, and the implementation of this Act will aid in this… We need a strong Local Content Act in place to ensure that benefits trickle down to every single Guyanese, regardless of if you are a farmer, regardless if you are a welder, mechanic, in the catering business or the waste disposal business – everyone should benefit from the oil and gas sector and the opportunities that arise from this sector,” Bharrat said.

Local businesses and professionals can now register at h t t p s : / lcregister.petroleum.gov.gy.

hypocritical response to Minister Dharamlall

DEAR EDITOR, As a supporter of the opposition coalition, please permit me to respond to the news of the, ‘Opposition’s motion seeking to expel Minister Dharamlall from Parliament.”

Minister Dharamlall used a single obscene word in an enclosed building, in response to heckling from members of the opposition.

Members of the opposition and their social media surrogates, immediately seize on the Minister’s obscenity to instantly impugn his integrity and set about to ruin him.

Please contrast this

Minister’s behaviour to Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan. On a morning and night basis, and to an audience of thousands Mr. Duncan insults, denigrates and offends thousands...and this same opposition cheered him on. With uncontrolled glee and without criticism, Mr. Duncan regularly used words like “stink, dutty, wicked and evil” to describe the opposing party and their supporters. Many members of this party are partly responsible for paying Mr. Duncan’s handsome salary. When he used vile racial epithets like

“trench crapos”, this same opposition and other Guyana human rights associations remained quiet. Furthermore, sharply dressed in suit and tie Mr. Duncan while screaming “things tight, things tight” he then shamelessly proceeds to extol viewers to send in monetary donations.

Surely, to allay any concerns of rank hypocrisy and incompetence, this opposition needs first to clean their own house before they proceed to further embarrass themselves.

Respectively submitted, Chitrakha Persaud

The Guyana Police Force is more like a farce DEAR EDITOR, What is new? What is surprising that the “Public trust in Police Force remains low,” as reported by the USAID, who also stated that the army continues to be held in high respect. The actual wording showed that “Most Guyanese have greater trust in the military or religious bodies than they do in the country’s Police Force, and this is according to a recent study conducted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Now for my response, and what I have to

say relates to the Guyana Police Force.

First, it is common knowledge that “Public trust in the Police Force remains low in comparison to other institutions.” We do not need to even investigate this. If we were to, it will be shocking as to what has been normalised because of a defunct policing system in Guyana.

I dared many times, Mark Ramotar and Stan Gouveia, Heads of the Guyana Police Force’s Public Relations Department, to run sting operations, using their programme, “The Police and You,” aired on the Voice of Guyana every Tuesday, and they keep ignoring me. All I am asking is that uninformed police station be called, a report be made on any issue, say for example an on-going burglary, noise nuisance, or a seeming live murder, and I bet them the generic answer will be “We will inform or send the patrol; they are on the road right now.” This dismissal is so commonplace, the public seldom calls, and that is why noise nuisance for example is where it is. It is normal, and unless one ‘grants favours’, police response remains a no-show.

How about the minibus culture? I am constantly being told that ‘loud music’ is illegal. I have reported this on numerous occasions only to

be met by ‘you know how it goes.’ I mean added to the speeding, loud music is a hallmark of the minibus trade in Guyana. This has spread to privately owned vehicles, to the point where there are ‘loudness competitions’ across Guyana. Too many times, people’s lives, that is their sleep, study and health have been invaded by loud music from a vehicle. If it is a wedding, it goes on for days.

Imagine a thing like noise, which cannot be hidden, is overwhelming our police force. I ask how will crime be solved, or arrests be made?

Let me close on a real note of concern. Our police force has been totally emasculated by virtue of some strange happenings. A speeding or otherwise violating vehicle is stopped, and the driver makes a call and gives his phone to the police, a conversation ensues, and the driver goes off. For no ‘rhyme or reason,’ the police toot signals of all sorts, and bully their way through traffic. I have a feeling the officers are hurrying for meals from some kind citizen.

Personally, I have given up on the police force. Reason: I am biding my time, and out I go. Many are just like me.

Yours truly, P. Mann

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Thursday February 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

Why are our leaders hell bent on straddling us with enormous debts for generations to come?

They have already caused the nation enough troubles, yet they have the nerve to lash out at those who call them out on their incompetence and reckless behaviour.

We at this publication will not, on any terms, sit back quietly and watch those who call themselves leaders mismanage this nation to the detriment of our people.

PAGE 07

Thursday February 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

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NCN, DPI flagged for Increase vaccination rates in the late submission of financial statements Caribbean urgently The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has once again highlighted an issue in which State agencies continue to be delinquent in submitting their financial statements for audit on time.

The matter came up before the PAC on Monday as queries were made about the outstanding statements for the National Communications Network (NCN), Department of Public Information (DPI) and the Integrity Commission. All three agencies were listed in the 2017 Auditor General's R ep o r t as h av in g n o t submitted their financial statements. During the PAC meeting on Monday representatives of each agency was given an opportunity to update the committee on the submission of the statements.

Based on the responses provided to the PAC, the 2017 financial statements for both the DPI and the

Auditor General: Deodat Sharma.

Integrity Commission are yet to be audited. As it regards NCN, the state media entity is said to have submitted financial statements for 2019.

H o w e v e r, t h e company is still in arrears as each agency should have the statements submitted for audit by April of the previous year. During the hearing of t h e PA C m e e t i n g , representatives of the agencies were reminded of the importance of submitting the financial statements on

time. In his 2017 report, Auditor General (AG) D e o d a t S h a r m a recommended that the statements be submitted so that the accounts for the NCN and DPI could be laid in the National Assembly.

During a previous PAC meeting, AG Sharma listed several factors which affect the execution of his work.

Chief among these, were the non-submission of financial statements by some ministries and budgetary agencies.

The non-submission of financial statements along with lack of adequate human resources within the Audit Office, as well as the late commencement of audits, resulted in the AG's inability to meet the September deadline for the submission of his report. While steps were taken to address the issue of staffing, the non submission of financial records remains a major factor affecting the AG's work.

...PAHO says as COVID-19 continues to spread

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ow vaccination coverage in many countries of the Caribbean must be urgently addressed to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the most vulnerable, warned PAHO Director, Carissa F. Etienne Out of the 13 countries and territories in the Americas that have not yet reached WHO's 2021 goal of 40% vaccination coverage, 10 are in the Caribbean, she said at a media briefing on We d n e s d a y.

Va c c i n e h e s i t a n c y, a l a c k o f vaccination centers in remote areas, insufficient staff numbers, and limited cold-chain infrastructure remain huge barriers to vaccination in many islands, but we now have the tools “to turn the tide on vaccinations in the Caribbean.”

With 700 million people now vaccinated in Latin America and the Caribbean, there are “real-world data to show that vaccines are safe a n d e ff e c t i v e a g a i n s t COVID-19,” the PAHO Director said. But interventions must now be tailored to the needs of those who remain vulnerable in each country.

In some countries, this means ensuring that health care workers are provided with the information they need to get vaccinated, including potential side effects and how long the benefits of the vaccine last.

“These are legitimate questions that must be acknowledged and

PAHO Director, Carissa F. Etienne addressed so that we can better protect our health care workers and everyone else,” Dr. Etienne said. In other countries, PAHO is working with governments to ensure that vaccination centers are closer to the people who need them the most, and that the hours of operation are convenient for those that work.

The Director also urged countries to work with trusted voices and community leaders to create spaces for dialogue to address concerns about vaccination.

A recent survey by PA H O a n d U N I C E F, supported by USAID, showed that 51% of vaccine hesitant people in the Eastern Caribbean were open to changing their minds after seeing more scientific and medical evidence to support vaccination.

“Dialogue, trust and

outreach are the tools we must rely on to get more vaccines into arms and ultimately save lives,” the Director said.

Dr. Etienne also made a special appeal - “As a doctor from the Caribbean who has dedicated her life to public health, the best decision you can make for your health right now is to get a vaccine against COVID,” she said.

“The pandemic is not over, and a new variant can emerge at any point.” “We have the power as a community to overcome these barriers and reduce the toll of this virus on our people.”

Turning to the COVID19 situation in the region, new cases declined by 28% from the previous week, to 2.2 million. Deaths also fell for the first time since the beginning of the Omicron wave to 29,000 – a 9% drop.

Overall cases dropped by a third across North America, and while deaths declined in the United States, the rates remain among the highest seen during the pandemic.

With the exception of Honduras, deaths also dropped by 17% in Central America though Nicaragua experienced a surge in new infections.

In South America, deaths decreased by 13%, with spikes remaining in some areas, including Chile.

In the Caribbean, new infections fell by 44%, yet eight countries and territories reported an increase in deaths.

Thursday February 24, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Is Constitutional reform back on the front-burner?

Two important developments took place Tuesday evening. The first relates to the observance of Republic Day and, the second, to constitutional reform.

When the PNC was in office, it gave greater prominence to Republic Day than to Independence. There was a political rationale to this bias. Burnham had declared Guyana as Cooperative Republic and while Independence came under him, Jagan is long seen as the architect of Independence.

After 1970, Burnham took Independence Day off of the national holiday calendar.

The PPP/C restored it in 1996.

The PPP/C took the decision in 1996 to reverse this emphasis. It opted to emphasize Independence and de-emphasize Republic Day. But it did not take Republic Day off the calendar. Instead it opted for a low-keyed flag-raising ceremony. This decision was taken during the tenure of Education Minister Rev. Dale Bisnauth. At the time, there

used to be a traditional flagraising ceremony at the National Park but the PPP/C decided to cancel this, opting instead for a much simpler ceremony, at Parliament Building, devoid of speech making and cultural programmes.

The PNC reacted angrily to this development, and, at one stage, had even begun to organise its own Republic Day flag raising event at the Square of the Revolution. But financial constraints soon put an end to this experiment.

Tuesday evening saw the Irfaan Ali administration make a departure from the PPP/ C ?s traditional approach to the Republic anniversary.

There was an evening, as opposed to morning, flag-raising ceremony and there was speechifying and a grand cultural programme which surpassed anything before.

The new PPP/C, under ALI, knows how to put on a good show. The implication is that Irfaan Ali is restoring the former Republic Day flag-

raising ceremony and is placing Republic Day on the same footing as Independence Day. This is a positive development since both national days hold significance for the country, regardless of who is perceived as the principal architect of Independence or Republican status.

The speechifying last Tuesday evening was jejune as best. The President spoke a lot of nonsense. His presentation generally was superficial especially with references to attitude, narratives, character, values and beliefs and objectivity. That sort of presentation is suited for a pulpit or a self-development course, not a national address to the nation. But there was one aspect of his presentation which has already caught the public eye and which represents an important point of departure between himself and the former Jagdeo administration. In his address, the President signalled that, in order to support the development thrust, the governance

A new fire station at Wales, West Bank Demerara, is estimated to cost some $68.5 million.

The announcement of a fire station in that area was first made by Senior Minister with the responsibility of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh back in January when he noted during the reading of Budget 2022 that some $47.9 billon was allocated to the Ministry of Home Affairs to boost public safety and security.

Tapping into its budgetary allocation, the ministry is now inviting contractors to execute the construction of this new facility. In a public notice it noted that bidding for this project will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) Procedures, specified in the

Procurement Act 2003, and is open to all bidders subject to provisions of Section 3 (Eligible countries) of the bid document. It should be noted that this project will form part of the $508 million that was allotted to the GFS in this year’s budget, which goes towards its infrastructure.

During his presentation, Dr Singh stated that the money would facilitate continued works at the GFS headquarters at D’Urban Park, located on Homestretch Avenue. Also a fire station at Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara, a fire Station at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara and for facilities (conference room and general stores) at the New Amsterdam Fire Station. Kaieteur News understands that the con-

struction of the washroom and staircase at the Central Fire Station also forms part of the $508 million.

Already a contract for the new headquarters has been awarded to Mohamed Enterprise to the tune of $614 million and for the Ogle Fire Station. That contract was awarded to Singh and Son Construction on December 31, 2021 to the tune of $76,343,119. The Fire Service was boosted also with an additional $49.1million for repairs and maintenance of fire stations countrywide. Bids for the Wales Fire Station project will be opened on March, 15 at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), which is located at the Ministry of Finance office.

New fire station at Wales to cost $68M

Dem boys seh...

De smoother de road de faster we go!

Y’all remember when dem public road was full ah potholes? When it used to tek dem minibus almost two hours to drive from Georgetown to Timehri. And dat was when dem never had so much traffic.

Dem potholes used to be big and deep. One time a hire car driver had on he radio.

He drop in one ah dem potholes pun Main Street and de radio change station.

But dem use to have some bigger potholes on de East Bank Berbice public

road. Dem was more like manholes. Yuh use to believe dat was a volcano erupt and leff a hollow space.

One time a minibus drop in one ah dem potholes and de driver get fling to de back seat.

When he ketch he self, he think he was a passenger; hustling fuh pay de conductor.

Y’all remember all de damage dem potholes used to cause? It use to carry yuh shocks, destroy yuh steering end and bendup yuh tyres and rims. Now we gat smooth

road and we getting mo accidents, deaths and damage.

Dem cars flying pun de four lane highway. Yuh does want know if is airstrip rather dan a road.

Nowadays is not yuh shocks, steering ends and wheel rims dat getting damage, is de body and engine getting damage when dem cars crash.

It mek dem boys think is best dem road bin leff with dem potholes.

It woulda slow down some ah dem drivers.

Talk half. Leff half.

system must be efficient, reliable, trustworthy, accountable, simple, responsive and flexible to the global environment and that these elements must be embedded in a modern constitution which must be developed from the people, a process that, he said, was ongoing.

While it is hard to uncover any evidence of an ongoing process to develop a modern constitution, his statement may be interpreted as a signal that constitutional reform is possible. Indeed a strong case can be made for updating the Constitution. A Constituent Assembly was established in 1978 following a fraudulent referendum which was intended to end all referenda. The final document was foisted on the Guyanese people and was intended to consolidate the political dictatorship at a time of rising political repression, including political assassinations. The Constitution was modelled

after Zambia ?s Constitution and was part of the then dabbling with cooperative socialism which Burnham had copied from Tanzania.

The PNC/R, the party of Burnham, and the PPP, the party of Jagan, no longer espouse socialist ideologies.

Both now embrace a neo-liberal economic agenda which is incompatible with some of the economic objectives of the 1980 Zs Constitution which remained substantively intact despite the reforms which followed between 2001 and 2009. The Constitution, for example, speaks about Guyana being in transition from capitalism to socialism. Guyana is now a capitalist society but with a socialist constitution. There is a mix of a Presidential and parliamentary system which has been criticised as placing too much executive authority in the hands of the President ? in fact all executive authority lies in the hands of the

President. The socialist elements of the Constitution constitute a hindrance to the modern neo-liberal economic agenda of the country Zs leaders. A simpler Bill of Rights and the purging of socialist references may be the result of the constitutional reform which the President says is ongoing. We shall have to wait and see if the promise of Constitutional change is just blow-blow.

What is not likely to happen is a reversion, next year, to the traditional low-keyed Republic Day flag-raising. The new PPP/C loves a pantomime!

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

Kaieteur News

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Thursday February 24, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Two dildo moments: A look at Guyana's Freudian psychology A parliamentarian's dildo comment was indefensible.

He knew it thus he apologised. But the dildo moment has tremendous implications for understanding the psychology of this nation.

The dildo moment offers researchers a gold mine in trying to comprehend the corrugated minds this nation has produced. In terms of etiquette and responsible parliamentary behaviour, the dildo remark is wrong.

B u t w h e n t h e comparative context is used, the dildo utterance cannot produce consequences that could destroy this nation.

In fact, the dildo emanation is an unpleasant out-of-place thing that we may see again from inside and outside of parliament and life will go on. But life cannot

go on, and will stop if we do not modernize our psychology and rid our minds of Freudian nastiness which is overflowing.

Let us use the comparative context and judge the Freudian minds of some Guyanese who objected to the dildo moment.

During the ongoing attempts to rig the election last year, a senior public official, in his capacity as a representative of the Minister of Public Security, made a public utterance with no subtlety and diplomacy in relation to the then UK High Commissioner.

The remark was in the form of an accusation about the envoy and a young lady.

The usual suspects uttered not even half of a sentence on what the official

( w h o i s a l s o a parliamentarian) did which was unprecedented and obnoxious.

The reason why the usual suspects pounced on the parliamentarian and not the official has to do with barefaced political, racial bias. In September 2020, something happened that made the dildo comment look totally harmless.

In fact, comparatively speaking, the dildo controversy was indeed harmless.

It is interesting and hilarious to note that the official referred to the parliamentarian as a nasty fellow for the dildo insult.

One needs to ask the official if he could be described as a nasty fellow for what he said in 2020 about the British High Commissioner. Nasty is

the opposite adjective to clean.

When the official was a city councillor, he donned a garment in public with the words, “Captain Clean”.

Two officials, who at the time were senior government functionaries, went to Cotton Tree and used inflammatory language that had implications for the destruction of the country.

Once more, Indians evoked memories of senseless violence being committed against them the past 60 years.

The people who were silent on what the two officials did but found their voice on the dildo moment revealed in graphic ways their Freudian minds, on which is etched on the walls that Indian people are not in the same high category of other ethnic communities.

In the anti-Indian mayhem that followed the oral delivery of these two officials, there was a sad case in which hooligans, robbers and violent mobs surrounded a teenager and her grandmother and mauled and robbed them.

The usual suspects said not one word. This was no dildo moment. This was no

u n s a v o u r y exchange in parliament.

This was the attempt to recreate the Frederick Kissoon anti-Indian violence of the early 1960s. context again.

The teenager wrote about her ordeal and she is Which is more deleterious to forgotten. We must not forget the social fabric of Guyana – her. She lives in New York an MP shouting across the and can be located. On the aisle – “you need a dildo” and s e c o n d a n n i v e r s a r y, a n M P u s i n g r a c i a l September of this year, of her v o c a b u l a r y a g a i n s t a traumatic experience, we parliamentary employee need to invite her and allow protecting the Mace?

One reads and hears all her to talk about her feelings.

The dildo saga isn't going the time the constant refrain to go away. In weeks to come, of Guyanese that we live in a those who hate the PPP and d e t e r i o r a t i n g r a c i a l l y prefer there not be Indians in charged environment.

We are constantly being the leadership of the government will keep the advised to avoid racially insensitive language that can dildo flame burning.

The usual suspects will inflame.

The dildo comment naturally, I repeat naturally, ignore the acts committed by inflamed many but not the opposition MPs and their M P w h o a b u s e d t h e surrogates against the employee in racial terms. By government and its Indian the way, the dildo remark leaders and evade public came at the same time that the comment on the nasty things ban on importation of sex that are said and done to toys was removed.

That is another dildo governmental leaders.

A sitting member of moment.

(The views expressed in parliament from the opposition was filmed this article are those of the describing a parliamentary a u t h o r a n d d o n o t employee as a house slave. necessarily reflect the Let's use the comparative opinions of this newspaper.)

Thursday February 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

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GPL, customers must still pay even if all electricity from Amaila not used …to also meet shortfall if revenues - Winston not enough to pay Chinese Company Brassington

T

he Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated and its customers, will, in the event of the power being supplied by the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Plant (AFHEP) not be utilized by its customers, stand that risk.

Additionally, if for whatever reason the revenue garnered by GPL is insufficient to meet payment obligations under a Power P u r c h a s e Agreement—currently being negotiated—then again the power company and its customers are the parties that bear the risk and would have to meet any shortfall in payments to the Chinese contractor sponsor of AFHEP, China Railway First Group.

This much was made pellucid—for those paying attention—during the recently concluded International Energy Conference and Expo 2022, when Winston Brassington, the de facto head of the AFHEP Project, provided delegates with an update.

He told conference delegates that with any large projects there are risks involved but in the case of AFHEP, “most of the risks are being put to the developer.”

During his presentation, Brassington was aided by a video slide presentation, which for that part of his update, projected a screen outlining in more detail, the expected 'primary project risks and mitigants.”

Notably, outlined on that slide were the risks being

borne by GPL with regard insufficient revenue to meet payment obligations under the PPA, or in the event of the demand for the power being supplied to the national grid from AFHEP is not sufficient.

Brassington in his presentation did not mention this, but in fact sought to outline that Guyana was not bearing any financial risks with that project since it was not investing anything.

This publication reported on Tuesday that in addition

incurred liability whenever the Amaila Falls runs dry or if the 23 square kilometres reservoir is unable to feed the hydro plant.

Hydrological risk is generally seen, as the risk of having insufficient water in the source river or dam to support the expec ed levels of electricity generation as had been the case in the past with the Amaila Falls which runs dry during the course of the year.

A c c o r d i n g t o Brassington, the new

The financing for the project this time, according to Brassington, will be borne by the contractor – China Railway First Group, and will include the installation of some 270 kilometres of 230 kilo volt transmission lines, which he said would run from the Amaila Falls to the Sophia Substation.

Included in the new project scope, according to Brassington, is the upgrade of the Amaila Falls Access Road, two substations—one in Linden and another in

An artiste's rendering of the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project.

to the outlined risks to the power company and its customers, GPL would also be liable if and when the Amaila Falls runs dry.

This since the power company, under the latest iteration of the project has agreed to assume the hydrological risks for the project.

As such, it would mean that GPL would bear the

iteration of the 165MW project will be coming in cheaper than its 2012 price tag, when the then project developers—the Blackstone Group—walked away.

At the time, the reported price was pegged in excess of US$1B but, according to Brassington, this time around, the project is earmarked to cost some U S $ 7 0 0 M .

Georgetown.

Insisting that Guyana has not made any other financial commitments to the project, other than to pay for power when it arrives in Georgetown, Brassington said that the Chinese contractor is expected to put in the finances in part from Chinese institutions.

Being pursued under a Build Own Operate Transfer

Project Head, Winston Brassington (BOOT) model, Brassington related that the contractor will have to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in which the o w n e r — C h i n a Railway—will assume all of the debts and equity and that power will be purchased by the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL).

“GPL will buy all of the power under a PPA,” and the contractor will have to assume the majority of the risks in the project, he said.

According to Brassington, all of thos e t h a t h a d submitted proposals with the intention of pursuing the project had been given copies of every bit of information and documentat i o n a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s disposal.

These include, according to Brassington, all of the feasibility and other studies undertaken in relation to the project such as hydrology surveys and others.

Under the BOOT arrangement, Brassington said Guyana would, in 20 years' time, take ownership

of the project.

He did, during his presentation, seek to point out that during the three-anda-half-year period expected for construction, an independent supervision firm would be hired by the administration to ensure the hydroelectric plant is built to specifications.

This is in addition to the recruitment of an Operations and Management consultant.

Wi t h G u y a n a t a k i n g ownership of the project 20 years after commissioning, Brassington noted that the project's average price measured over that time period would be about 7.7 cents which is largely going towards the repayment of the US$700M financing.

According to Brassington, the project will be funded by China Rail and Chinese institutions.

They will own the project and it will be operated under a concession for 20 years.

At the end of the 20 years, he said, it will be handed over to government at no cost and as such “I think this a great project.”

Unlicenced driver dies in three-vehicle A 49-year-old man died Wednesday morning in a horrific accident on the Schoonord Access Road, West Bank Demerara.

Dead is Joseph Charles an unlicenced driver of Lot 55, Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, Georgetown. Police said ranks in Regional Division #3 reported that the fatal accident occurred about 08:30 hrs. involving motor lorry, GWW 4927 driven by Ivan Mitchell, 41, of Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara and motorcar, PVV 4804 driven by Charles. Alex Saul 23 years, of Land of Canaan EBD was an occupant of the car. Another vehicle, PZZ 513 owned and driven

by Steve Gulani was also involved in the crash.

According to the police report, motor lorry GWW 4927 was proceeding north along the western side of the Schoonord road while m o t o r c a r, P V V 4 8 0 4 w a s proceeding south along the eastern drive lane of the said road at a fast rate of speed when the driver lost control of his car and collided to the right side front of the lorry, spun around and collided with motorcar, PZZ 513.

As a result of the impact the driver of motorcar PVV 4804, Charles and the occupant, Saul suffered injuries about their bodies.

They were taken from the motorcar with the assistance from ranks of the La Grange Fire Service in an unconscious condition and taken to the West Demerara Regional

Hospital.

They were seen and examined by a doctor on duty who pronounced Charles dead on arrival while Saul was treated and admitted as a patient to the Emergency Unit of the said hospital suffering from a fractured left hip and leg and is now in a stable condition.

The body of the deceased is presently lying at the West Demerara Hospital mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination.

At the accident scene, a breathalyzer test was carried out on Mitchell, but there was no trace of alcohol in his breath. A notice of intended prosecution has been served as further enquiries are in progress.

smash-up at Schoonord

The ill-fated vehicles involved in the accident.

Thursday February 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

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GKB joint venture says it was Govt. that recommended Enmore as suitable site

T

he announcement on February 16, 2 0 2 2 t h a t Guysons K+B Industries Inc. (GKB), a 52 % Guyanese owned joint venture acquired a 55-acre plot that includes the US$12.5M Enmore Packaging Plant to be transformed into a manufacturing facility to support the oil sector, has plunged citizens into a state of worry over the apparent disposal of national assets.

Chief among the burning issues is why the government has chosen to lease the said lands with the plant after it was deemed, time and again, to be a crucial part of the plans to revive sugar. Another crucial concern is the price at which the PPP/C Administration leased the national asset to the company.

While the government has yet to come forward to address the said issues, among others, the company released a statement yesterday to clear its name and to assure citizens that it has the best of intentions.

Guysons K+B Industries was keen to note that its record of investment in Guyana and its people dates back to 1992 when Guysons Engineering was founded in We s t R u i m v e l d t , Georgetown, a then economically depressed community. After nearly three decades of growth and prosperity, Guysons shared that it teamed up with the USbased K+B Industries, a leader in manufacturing, engineering and machining in 2020, to ramp up services provided to the oil and gas sector.

It said that a key investment the joint venture, GKB, committed to make is in the people of the East Bank Corridor, plugging US$37.5 million (GY$7.5 billion) to establish the Enmore Manufacturing Plant as a state-of-the-art Oilfield S e r v i c e s f a c i l i t y. T h e company said a minimum of 50 acres of land is required to effectively deliver OCTG & Premium Accessory Services to the O&G Sector and for this, GKB engaged the Government. GKB said it proposed a site closer to port facilities in Georgetown but saw merit in the “ G o v e r n m e n t ' s recommendation of Enmore.” Importantly, GKB said its lease is for the Enmore packaging facility, not the Sugar Estate, which is approximately 100,000 sq. feet. “To build such a facility would take an estimated 1824 months, whilst the Enmore Sugar Packaging Plant can be repurposed and become operational, almost immediately, preserving jobs currently held at the Plant, with a guarantee of a minimum of 150 by end of year 1 and a minimum of 500 by end of year 5,” the company stated.

It further noted that the OCTG and Premium Accessory Service that GKB intends to provide is currently outsourced to Trinidad & Tobago, the United States of America, and farther afield. “This initiative would increase commercial activity on the East Coast Corridor and tap into considerable foreign exchange earning potential, bringing greater Oil & Gas

...Clarifies it was only leased packaging plant, not the entire sugar estate ...boasts that US$37.5M investment is unmatched revenues to Guyana.

Significantly, this would be the first time ever that these services are provided incountry,” GKB reasoned while adding, “The total investment of US$37.5 million (G$7.5 billion) into the East Coast Corridor is unmatched.”

GKB further stated that it endeavors to train residents of the East Coast Corridor.

GKB plans to create and guarantee 150 jobs in the first year with an initial injection of US$7.5 million (GY$1.5 billion).

Within three to five years, GKB said that the guaranteed number will increase to 500 jobs while reiterating that it has committed to rehiring 100% of the workers currently employed at the Enmore packaging plant.

“We will see to it that our expansion uplifts economically-depressed communities of the East Coast Corridor with sustainable jobs which will serve as a revitalizing lifeline for its youth and laid off sugar workers. GKB has also agreed to strict land development timelines and milestones over the first three years that will be monitored as the phased development occurs,” the company stated.

GKB in conclusion, said it remains committed to the development of the East Coast Corridor, including Enmore, Haslington, and the surrounding areas.

SUGAR LANDS WILL BE ACQUIRED

In a February 17, 2021 report, Kaieteur News noted that 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. GKB will also offer premium threading of the tubular goods, accessory services and Turnkey manufacturing solutions in the country.

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 (GuySuCo), GKB's Chief Executive Office, Fazil Khan, was

willing to share some details with this newspaper in an exclusive interview.

Despite negotiations are still ongoing between the two parties, Khan said that an agreement has been made for his company to purchase 25 acres of the land, lease another 25 and also lease the packaging plant on a longterm lease. Consultant Advisor on the project, Rosh Khan, who spoke with this publication also pointed out that GKB will not be granted all of the lands at one time.

He explained that GKB will begin with 25 acres and the packaging plant which spans an area of at least five acres.

In order to lease the remaining 25, it will first

have to complete all of the commitments it made with Guyana.

GKB's Khan confirmed this and noted too that considerations were also taken to safeguard against a scenario where Exxon can pull out. “You don't want to invest or buy then Exxon pulls out of Guyana because it can happen and you can lose,” Khan said.

Asked if any agreement has been with the government on the purchase and lease price, Khan responded that these are still in the process of being negotiated. However, the CEO assured that it will be a fair one for both parties and (Continued on page 18)

Two arrested for chopping Corentyne woman A screenshot of the video showing attackers with cutlass in hand while the victim was on the ground.

Wounded, Amrita Singh

Govt. to spend $37M to rehabilitate, extend three schools in Berbice Government is looking to spend some $37, 256,147 million for the rehabilitation and extension to three schools in Berbice.

The schools are: Bush Lot Secondary, Rosignol Primary and Waterloo Nursery schools. In an invitation to tender, which was published in the Wednesday's edition of Kaieteur News, it was noted that major rehabilitation works will be done on the Bush Lot Secondary school and the Rosignol Primary school at $12,317,694 and $12,362,218 respectively, while extension works will be done on the Waterloo Nursery school at an estimated cost of

$12,576,235.

Tender documents can be obtained from the office of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Region No. 5, at Forth Wellington, Berbice for a nonrefundable fee of $2,500.

Tenders must be placed in separate plain sealed envelopes, bearing no identity of the bidder but the work being tendered for.

The document must be addressed to The Chairman of the Regional Procurement & Tender Administration Board, Region Five, Forth Wellington, West Coast Berbice and be deposited in the tender box at the office of the RDC. This must be

done no later than 09:00hrs on March 14, 2022.

Valid certificates of compliances from the Guyana Revenue Authority and the National Insurance Scheme must accompany the Standard bidding documents. It must be noted that when a contractor is tendering in the name of a company, the National Insurance Scheme Compliance must reflect the name of the company or as an Employer. In the 2022 national budget, a sum of $6.6 billion was allocated towards the construction, rehabilitation, maintenance and extension of educational facilities in many areas throughout the country.

The injuries Singh sustained to her head.

Police in Berbice have arrested two persons for the assault of a Port Mourant, Berbice woman last week.

Amrita Singh of Free-yard, Port Mourant, Berbice, is currently nursing a chop to the head which she sustained during an attack in her village by two women on Sunday 20th February 2022. Police Commander of Regional Division Six, Boodnarine Persaud, disclosed that shortly after the incident, the persons accused of carrying out the attack were taken into police custody and are being prepared for court today 24th February 2022.

The entire incident was caught on video by an onlooker and shows Singh walking with her bicycle when a female rushed up to her and slapped her across the head. The said female then grabbed unto Singh's clothing and tugged her several times. A second female, armed with a cutlass, ran up to Singh and the other woman chopped Singh to the head. Singh was eventually taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where she received several stitches, was treated and sent away. Kaieteur News understands that the incident stems from an old grievance between the two parties.

Thursday February 24, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Pres. Ali lashes out at critics in Republic address - but fails to deal with problems in oil sector, controversial mega projects President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday night used his 52nd Republic Day speech, to lash out against critics of his government, saying while his administration welcomes criticisms these discussions must not be based on selfish agenda, biasness, perception, propaganda, and feelings.

The flag raising ceremony was held at Public Buildings home of the Parliament of Guyana.

Ali’s remarks seem to be aimed at civil society and other stakeholders who in recent times have been critical of his government’s decision making including its reluctance to renegotiate the heavily criticized “lopsided” Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed onto with American oil giant, Exxon Mobil.

Additionally, citizens haves been critical of his government’s failure to bring the oil giant to the table to secure full-coverage insurance for the Stabroek Block operations.

Additionally, Ali’s government has been chided for raiding the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) and also its handling of several multi-billion dollar projects like the, Gasto-Energy, Amaila Falls Hydro project, the Demerara Harbour Bridge and others.

Only last week, on the sidelines of the International Energy Conference held at the Marriott Hotel, citizens staged daily protests calling for action regarding the PSA with ExxonMobil among other issues.

But in his Republic Day message, instead of addressing these matters, the Guyanese leader highlighted

10 areas in which he said Guyanese must understand their role, responsibility, and function.

He stated that citizens must address these 10 things at a personal level, and, “ultimately, at a country level if we are to pursue the right blend of character and traits that will make us a successful people.”

None of the ten things include the lopsided deal with ExxonMobil and the lack of full coverage insurance for the company’s Stabroek Block operations.

His 10 things are: attitude, character, narrative, values and belief system, objectivity, realistic, achievable targets, governance system, country positioning and people.

The President said, “From the inception, let me be clear, I and my Government are supportive of constructive criticism. To advance our ‘One Guyana’, as a society, we must have healthy debate, exchange of views and critical examination of policies, programmes, initiatives and plans.”

However, President Ali stated that these discussions must not be based on selfish agenda, biasness, perception, propaganda, and feelings. Instead, he said they must be, “firmly rooted in facts, and a pragmatic understanding of what is required in this rapidly changing Guyana.”

All of the issues citizens have been agitating about are achievable with the right political will and love for country, citizens have repeatedly argued.

RENEGOTIATION As it relates to the Stabroek Block

PSA, Guyana’s Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had repeatedly bashed the then APNU+AFC administration for the poorly renegotiated Stabroek Block PSA. He has even been quoted in the media as saying that the agreement which was signed with ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Limited, is a “contract that would harm us for decades into the future” and even accused the APNU+AFC of having “sold our patrimony” to Exxon.

However, the Vice President is not the only one who has criticised the deal. The PSA has faced heavy criticism, from both local and regional actors.

Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, is also on record calling the PSA, one of the most lopsided agreements signed in the country’s history.

However, while being aware of how lopsided the Stabroek PSA is and that the agreement can in fact be renegotiated – the government has no intention of renegotiating this contract which, if corrected could mean more for Guyana.

Guyana’s VP, is on record as saying contracts are sacrosanct, must be respected and that the ExxonMobil has a right to make money on its investment. On the sidelines of a January 2020 campaign rally at Anna Regina in Essequibo, Region Three, Reuters had reported that President Ali informed that an Ali-led PPP/C government would “keep the Exxon con-

New report shows that Commonwealth...

From page 16 “Commonwealth advantage” in trade spurred this increase in exports. Historical ties, familiar legal and administrative systems, the widespread use of English and the presence of large and dynamic diasporas, mean bilateral trade costs are around 21% lower, on average for Commonwealth countries compared with the cost of trading with non-Commonwealth countries. Bangladesh’s strong export performance Bangladesh, the largest Commonwealth LDC, contributed significantly to this group’s overall trade performance.

Bangladesh’s global exports increased by almost 65%, from USD 27 billion in 2011 to more than USD 45 billion in 2019. By the end of 2019, Bangladesh’s share in world trade was 1.5 times higher while it remained largely un-

changed for African LDC members and grew marginally (1.15 times higher) for the four Commonwealth LDCs in the Pacific. Commonwealth LDCs’ export growth was driven by both the merchandise and services sectors.

Overall, Commonwealth LDCs’ service exports grew faster than their merchandise exports, increasing by USD 7.5 billion – from USD 9 billion in 2011 to around USD 17 billion in 2019. Despite the improved performance of services exports during the prepandemic period, Commonwealth LDCs still rely heavily on merchandise trade, which accounts for 80% of their exports.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic reversed many of these trade gains with the services sector being particularly hard hit. In 2020, services exports from Common-

wealth LDCs contracted by 27% and merchandise exports shrank by 10%. While Rwanda and Bangladesh maintained their share of global exports at 2019 levels, the share declined for five African members: The Gambia, Lesotho, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. Zambia was the only Commonwealth LDC whose share of global exports increased slightly in 2020, mainly due to rising demand for copper in the transport (electric vehicles), renewable energy and manufacturing sectors. While there are still many challenges ahead, the new Commonwealth report ‘A new programme of action for Commonwealth LDCs’ identifies possible pathways to help guide Commonwealth LDCs towards progress, recovery and sustainable development. Read the report here.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday night . tract intact” but review and push for renegotiation of others signed after 2015.

The article quoted Ali as saying that Exxon was a pioneer investor here and “a different case” which he would not look at for a renegotiation, should he become president.

“Exxon was a pioneering investment,” Reuters quoted Ali as saying.

“But those that came after that time they were not pioneering, so they have to be examined in totality,” he added. Senior Minister, within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has in the past skirted the question of whether Guyana was getting a fair share of its revenue from its oil deals, to instead say, that what Guyana gets is already dictated by the contract and that, “We have to work with them and to make the best of them.”

However, the provision obtains at Article 13.2 of the PSA but comes with the caveat — the renegotiations and happens only with a signed written agreement between all of the parties involved.

According to that provision in the PSA, commonly referred to as the contract, “This Agreement shall not be amended or modified in respect except by written agreement entered into by all the parties which shall state the date upon which the amendment or modifications shall become effective.”

Former Head of Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, had pointed to the provision and suggested the fact it exists in the PSA, is indicative of the fact it can be renegotiated.

INSURANCE On the issue of full coverage insurance, Ali and his government have acknowledged in the past how important this social security benefit in the lives of many. To avoid putting yourself in debt and to safeguard one’s self, most people ensure they secure insurance for themselves and loved ones.

It is against this background that the government has been criticised for approving new oil fields for ExxonMobil and its partners without first securing full-

coverage insurance to protect the country in the oil and gas sector.

Recently, ExxonMobil announced that it has commenced oil production at Guyana’s second offshore development area called Liza Phase Two in the Stabroek Block. Guyana would have to spend heavily if an oil spill or any other disaster should occur at any of ExxonMobil’s approved projects, due to the fact that the country remains without comprehensive insurance coverage from Stabroek Block operators; ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC/NEXEN. In fact, what Guyana does have, is an agreement with Exxon’s subsidiary, EEPGL – but that company has little assets, so little that it would not be able to carry the cost of any disaster that could occur in the Stabroek Block area, which would leave Guyana to bear the costs. It is along these lines that Dr. Jagdeo, is reported in the media on February 10, 2021, as saying that he believes that Exxon and its partners should be the ones accepting liability for such disasters; the current administration has received no commitment from ExxonMobil detailing this. However, one year later this is not in writing.

Later in the year, the Vice President is reported in the media as saying that the government is working to secure up to US$2B from ExxonMobil to cover any damage that may result from the US$9B Yellowtail Project, the fourth to be developed in the prolific Stabroek Block.

As the pussyfooting on full coverage insurance continues, Jagdeo, during one of his recent press conference shifted the responsibility for full coverage insurance from Exxon to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

This publication reported that when asked for an update on the full-coverage discussions with the oil operators, the Vice President shifted the attention from himself and government, by extension on the matter to say, it is the EPA that is handling this crucial insurance negotiation with Exxon.

NATURAL RESOURCE FUND In the area of the Natural Resource (NRF) Bill 2021, the Bill which was passed in the National Assembly in December 2021, was heavily criticised for provisions which stated that the oil revenues be used to satisfy four specific purposes.

Part II of the Bill outlines these to be: ensuring that volatility in revenues does not lead to volatile public spending; ensuring that oil revenues do not lead to loss of economic competitiveness; fairly transferring natural resource wealth across generations; and most importantly, “using natural resource

wealth to finance national development priorities including any initiative aimed at realising an inclusive green economy.”

Kaieteur News highlighted in its review of the NRF Bill that there is a noticeable absence of consequences for the misuse or abuse of the oil money that is withdrawn for emergencies or green economy initiatives.

When Guyana had pursued the creation of its first NRF legislation back in 2018, it was warned to have clear penalties or the fund could run the risk of failing to serve current and future generations.

This advice was provided by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), which also cited numerous examples from around the world of how often Natural Resource Funds become easily mismanaged, and the perpetrators go unpunished.

M U LT I - B I L L I O N PROJECTS Moreover, the government has also been criticised for the multi-billion dollar projects that will be coming on stream.

For the gas-to-shore project, it was first touted as a US$900M project inclusive of a gas pipeline, a gas fired power plant and related processing facilities – however, Budget 2022 has confirmed this to be untrue and has in fact now confirmed a new price tag in excess of US$1.3B. For the Amaila Falls Hydro project, in addition to agreeing to purchase all the power to be delivered to Georgetown from the 156 megawatt (MW), the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has also agreed to assume the hydrological risks involved in the project.

As such, it would mean that GPL would bear the incurred liability whenever the Amaila Falls runs dry or if the 23 square kilometres reservoir is unable to feed the hydro plant.

This is according to Project Head, Winston Brassington, who provided an update on the project for stakeholders at the recently concluded Energy Conference and Expo, venue at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston.

According to Brassington, the new iteration of the 165MW project will be coming in cheaper than its 2012 price tag, when the then project developers—the Blackstone Group—walked away.

At the time, the reported price was pegged in excess of US$1B but, according to Brassington, this time around, the project is earmarked to cost some US$700M. There are several other risks to this project which the Guyanese citizens would have to bear should there be any problem.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 24, 2022

10 persons in COVID-19 ICU, 33 new cases recorded The Ministry of Health on Wednesday reported that 10 patients are presently admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 33 new cases of the infections were recorded.

The Ministry stated that

in the last 24-hour period they have recorded 33 new infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 62,779.

Out of that, a total of 33,873 persons are women while 28,906 are men.

Its dashboard data shows that 57 persons are in institutional isolation, 779 in home isolation and five in institutional quarantine.

To date, the Ministry has recorded a total of 60,718 recovery cases.

GKB joint venture says it was Govt...

From page 15 revealed that his company has committed to an overall commitment of US$60M towards the development of the project.

Out of this amount, Khan

said, more than US$7M has already been expended.

The CEO further highlighted that the lands it is acquiring are “sugar lands”, which will have to be developed in order to become a standard fa-

cility.

“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.

Thursday February 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Thursday February 24, 2022

Thursday February 24, 2022

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Hamilton calls for ‘non-biased’ F1 stewards (Reuters) - Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton called on Formula One to bring in “non-biased” race stewards, saying friendships between some of them and certain drivers had influenced their decision-making.

The Briton, who said he had lost faith in the sport’s governance following the controversial safety car call in last year’s Abu Dhabi finale that denied him an unprecedented eighth title, did not name any stewards or driver.

He also did not specify any incidents where a biased decision had gone against him.

“Race drivers, some are very, very good friends with certain individuals, some travel with certain individuals and tend to take a more keen liking to some of them,” the 37-year-old told a news con-

ference on the opening day of pre-season running in Barcelona yesterday.

“So I think (F1 should appoint) just people ... that have just no bias and (are) super central when it comes to making decisions,” said the Briton, adding he would also like to see greater female representation among the stewards.

Formula One races are policed by a rotating panel of stewards whose responsibility it is to rule on incidents during the race, which includes the handing out of penalties.

The Abu Dhabi safety car restart was the result of a call taken by race director Michael Masi, who has been replaced as part of a wide-ranging overhaul of F1’s refereeing process unveiled by newlyelected FIA president

Mohammed Ben Sulayem last week.

The Emirati said Masi’s role would now be split between the two alternating race directors while a VAR-style virtual race control room would be set up to support them.

But there have been numerous complaints about an inconsistency in how stewards have applied the rules, especially those governing wheel-to-wheel racing, which have grown louder with Hamilton’s on-track battles against Red Bull rival Max Verstappen drawing so much scrutiny.

Hamilton’s comments were in response to a question about whether the ambiguity surrounding the racing rules could be addressed by the new structure.

Thursday February 24, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Prosperity is just around the corner, Aries, if it isn’t here already. All your efforts are about to pay off and in a big way. It may be that a big proposal gets accepted at work.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) There is passion in the air, Taurus, and you’re convinced that you’re the one electrifying the air around you. To be blunt, you can think of little else but sex today.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You have an innate psychic ability that only needs some fine-tuning and strengthening for it to develop into a formidable power.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You surprise yourself by signing up for a group lesson rather than a private one.

This is unlike you; nevertheless, you find you enjoy the social interaction.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your natural intuition and sensitivity will be heightened today, Libra. You’re able to read the thoughts and feelings of others and interpret them accurately.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A new relationship is likely to form soon, and it will probably be with someone who’s already in your life. Perhaps it’s someone you knew in high school and you just recently got back in touch with, or perhaps a colleague. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your head is somewhat in the clouds today, Sagittarius. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it just means that it’s difficult for you to get any work done.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your heart and intuition will rule today much more than your mind. Trust what your instincts tell you, Capricorn.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You’ve been working especially hard and you’re beginning to wonder if all your effort has been for naught.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your creative nature will no longer be repressed, Aquarius! As you look around your home, you realize you feel the need to spruce it up a bit.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You’re bubbling over with confidence and enthusiasm, Virgo. Not surprisingly, those around you respond in kind.

Your smile is contagious, and you have people joking and laughing with you throughout the day.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You’ve always had psychic ability, and today it’s at a peak, Pisces. Perhaps not coincidentally, you’re likely to be contacted by a close friend or lover from your past.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff called for professionalism in the stewards room.

“I don’t think there is a conscious bias, to be hon-

est,” said the Austrian.

“There shouldn’t be a lot of room to interpret the rules.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner agreed,

“You’ve got very complicated regulations that then leave room for interpretation.

“So what you need is clear rules which are then easier to police.”

Ukraine crisis: English clubs should boycott Champions League final if in St Petersburg – Truss BBC Sport - Any English clubs who reach the Champions League final should boycott it if it is held in St Petersburg, says Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

Uefa are almost certain to move the final away from the city over the escalating Ukraine-Russia crisis.

Russia has ordered troops into two rebel-held regions of Ukraine. UK prime minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday there was “no chance of holding football tournaments in a Russia that invades sovereign countries”.

The UK has introduced sanctions against Russia amid fears a full-scale inva-

sion is planned.

Asked by LBC host Nick Ferrari whether an English club should boycott the final if it went ahead in Russia, Truss said: “Yes. If I was them I would boycott it.

“I would personally not want to be playing in a football match in St Petersburg given what the Putin regime is doing.”

The Champions League final is currently scheduled to take place in St Petersburg on Saturday, 28 May. Premier League sides Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City are among the 16 teams left in the competition.

A number of political figures said on Tuesday the final should be moved.

“I would be appalled if the match was to go ahead,” Truss earlier told BBC Radio 4. “I don’t believe that should go ahead in St Petersburg. I think it’s wrong at this stage with what Russia is doing internationally to have a football tournament there.” Tensions escalated further this week when Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered troops into two rebel-held regions in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent states. Fears over an invasion have been rising in recent months, as Russia has massed around 150,000 troops along Ukraine’s borders, according to US estimates. Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko wrote on Instagram on Tuesday that “no-one will ever be able to appropriate” Ukraine.

Liverpool...

From page 24 through the middle with Luis Diaz on the left - added the fourth after an assist by substitute Jordan Henderson before the Senegal forward made it 5-0 when he was left unmarked on the edge of the sixyard area. Van Dijk’s late header means Liverpool head to Wembley on the back of scoring six goals at home in the Premier League for the first time since November 2016, when they hammered Watford 6-1.

Lewis Hamilton...

From page 22 lot in the coming weeks after the race.

“I don’t remember what I said to Max, it was all a bit of a blur after that.

“I have not revisited it. I don’t particularly want to look backwards; I want to go forwards.”

Masi has been replaced as race director by Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, who will be assisted by returning veteran Herbie Blash in an advisory role.

The FIA have said that Masi will be reassigned elsewhere within the organisation.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 24, 2022

Spain beat Canada in Arnold Clark Cup

BBC Sport - Alexia Putellas scored the winner for Spain as they edged Olympic champions Canada in the Arnold Clark Cup. Ballon d’Or winner Putellas slotted in the only goal in the 21st minute following a nice passing move down the left by Spain.

She later hit the crossbar with a header after Canada’s Jordyn Huitema had done the same before the break.

Spain currently top the table ahead of England and Germany who were to meet yesterday.

Jorge Vilda’s side, who had drawn their opening two matches, will have to wait for the outcome of Wednesday’s

later match as victory for England could mean the hosts win the four-team tournament.

Canada came into the game at Molineux knowing a victory would see them win the competition, having been the only side to win one of their first two games when they beat Germany 1-0 on Sunday.

They started well with Huitema having a shot blocked inside the box within the first two minutes, before a swift break almost saw Reading’s Deanne Rose get in behind on the left.

Spain took some time to settle but it finally clicked when Leila Ouahabi’s low cross from the left rolled

through Jenni Hermoso’s legs and was put away by Putellas.

From that point on, Spain dominated and produced some of the free-flowing football many had expected to see throughout the tournament and the style that has made them one of the favourites for this summer ’s European Championship.

Canada’s defence, described by Vilda as “possibly the best in the world” before the game, struggled to contain the movement of Putellas and Athenea del Castillo in particular.

Defender Kadeisha Buchanan was called into action on several occasions,

Alexia Putellas has scored both of Spain’s goals during the Arnold Clark Cup tournament. (Getty Images)

making crucial blocks for Canada, having also almost

poked in the rebound from Huitema’s header which had come back off the crossbar.

Spain’s lack of ruthlessness in front of goal will remain a slight concern, having dominated for large periods and not taken advantage.

They were put under pressure late on as Canada desperately searched for an

equaliser. Cloe Lacasse forcing a save, Nichelle Prince guiding a cross over the bar and Rose inches away from tapping in from close range.

But victory for Spain caps off a positive tournament in which they remained unbeaten against sides all ranked inside the world’s top 10.

Lewis Hamilton calls for ‘everyone’ to see results of key FIA report The Independent - Lewis Hamilton has called for the FIA’s report on their investigation into the events of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to be shared with “everyone”.

The FIA made significant structural changes last week, including replacing race director Michael Masi, whose role in the controversial ending to the 2021 season had come under significant scrutiny.

The full report will be delivered to the World Motor Sport Council on 18 March ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Hamilton, who has not been privy to an advanced copy, says that he is “excited” to see the conclusions of the report, and hopes that “everyone” will be able to gain an “understanding” of what occurred at the Yas Marina Circuit.

“I’ve not seen it. I didn’t think it was out yet,” the seven-time world champion said about the FIA’s investigation.

“I’m excited to see the results from that report. I think hopefully everyone will get to see it, and to have perhaps a better understanding of everything.

“I think ultimately, like everything, it’s down to understanding where we’ve been, so we can move forwards in a positive light.”

Hamilton was denied a

Lewis Hamilton has called for the FIA report on the events of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to be shared publicly. (Mercedes F1) record-setting eighth Drivers’ Championship after Max Verstappen took both race and overall victory on the final lap in the United Arab Emirates. Verstappen was afforded the opportunity to launch a title-winning move after Masi ruled that lapped cars between them could unlap themselves.

In the immediate aftermath, Hamilton said that the race had been “manipulated”.

The 37-year-old has confirmed that he has not watched the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix back.

“I absolutely did not watch the race,” Hamilton said. “It was something that was very clear in my mind, the experience and of course, it replayed in my mind quite a (Continued on page 21)

Thursday February 24, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Hero delivers huge economic impact in SKN’s direction The Hero Caribbean Premier League has delivered outstanding exposure and generated a significant economic impact to the 2021 host countries, St Kitts & Nevis.

The tournament took place in the Federation of St Kitts between 26 August and 15 September with all 33 matches being held at Warner Park, Basseterre.

The total value delivered to St Kitts & Nevis from the 2021 Hero CPL was US$88,698,200.

This figure comes from organiser spend, visitor spend and sponsorship

value. The report detailing all the deliverables was compiled by independent and world-leading research company, YouGov Sport.

The total economic impact value for St Kitts & Nevis was US$8,990,210, with the direct spend being USD$3,329,707. This figure takes into account the total spent by Hero CPL to put on the 2021 event as well as the money spent with local business by those who travelled into St Kitts & Nevis for the tournament, either independently or as part of CPL’s franchise teams.

The total spent to organise the Hero CPL in St Kitts & Nevis during the tournament was US$2,250,725 with local suppliers and businesses being the beneficiaries.

In addition to the organiser spend, St Kitts & Nevis also benefitted from Franchise owners and fans from across the region and the world coming to watch the games – an extra USD$1,078,982 of direct spend being attributed to this group.

St Kitts and Nevis also enjoyed huge exposure from

the global broadcast of the tournament, a sponsorship value of US$79,707,790 being generated – the most any host country has ever received. A combination of innovative and engaging advertising throughout the Hero CPL broadcast, including branding and tourism vignettes, ensured St Kitts & Nevis was given the opportunity to promote itself to a vast global audience.

The total viewership figure for Hero CPL 2021 was 517.4million, with the tournament passing half a billion viewers for the second successive year.

This massive TV and digital viewership helped to drive the fantastic sponsorship

valuation.

Pete Russell, Hero CPL’s CEO, said: “We are hugely grateful to everyone in St Kitts & Nevis who made the 2021 tournament possible, especially the Government who backed CPL to deliver another World Class event.

Special thanks to the Minister for Education, Youth Empowerment, Culture and Sport, the Hon. Jonel Powell and his team who left no stone unturned in ensuring we had a safe and successful tournament. We are delighted that St Kitts & Nevis were rewarded with these fantastic numbers, and of course a winner’s trophy.”

Hon. Jonel Powell, Minister for Education, Youth Em-

powerment, Culture and Sport, said: “I am very pleased with the data, in particular the direct spend into our economy and the local employment at what has been a very difficult time financially.

The exposure that our Federation has received to over 500 million viewers is of tremendous value, it is our hope that the world now knows St. Kitts and Nevis as not just a fantastic destination for R and R but also a great destination for sport tourism.

We truly value our partnership with the CPL and look forward to developing new opportunities that we can share together.”

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 24, 2022

Liverpool score six against Leeds 62nd Caribbean Table Tennis Championships… to cut Man City lead to three points

Guyana team wings out on March 1

Mohamed Salah is the third Liverpool player to score multiple first-half penalties in a Premier League match, after Robbie Fowler against Sheffield United in 2007 and Steven Gerrard against Leicester in 2015. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - Rampant Liverpool closed the gap on leaders Manchester City to three points after cruising to a sixth Premier League win in a row at Leeds United’s expense at a raucous Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp’s side warmed up for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final with an utterly dominant display that included three goals in 20 firsthalf minutes. Two of those came from penalties by Mohamed Salah, who also set up defender Joel Matip for his first goal since December 2020. Sadio Mane added two late goals and Virgil van Dijk scored with an added-time header. The margin of Liverpool’s win means they have a superior goal difference to title rivals City, who they are due to meet on 9 April at Etihad Stadium. Liverpool now have a difference of +50 compared to Pep Guardiola’s side’s +46, with both teams

having played 26 games.

Ruthless Reds warm up for Wembley in style Liverpool were looking for the perfect preparation before this weekend’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley - and they eventually turned on the style against struggling Leeds.

Klopp said before the game he was not thinking about the title race and only concentrating on picking up three more league points.

Yet the Reds, who are in the fifth round of the FA Cup next week and have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after establishing a 2-0 first-leg against Inter Milan, remain very much in the hunt for four trophies after a ninth straight win in all competitions. City were 14 points clear of Liverpool after beating Chelsea on 15 January, albeit Guardiola’s side had played two games

more.But Klopp’s men have impressively clawed back 11 of those to create the prospect of an exciting title race with 12 games left.

Liverpool have now scored 70 Premier League goals this season - two more than they managed in 38 games on their way to finishing third last season - and Salah has 19 of those in another impressive season for the Egypt forward. He opened the scoring from the spot after Stuart Dallas handled inside the box before Salah’s pass allowed centreback Matip to double the lead with a sweeping finish any of Liverpool’s front three would have been proud of. Salah made it 3-0 when Mane was fouled by Luke Ayling and then missed a couple of chances to complete his hattrick. However, Mane - playing (Continued on page 21)

The Guyanese team of seven, which was selected to attend the 62nd edition of the Caribbean Table Tennis Championships in Havana, Cuba from March 3 – 8, has confirmed their flight, with departure scheduled for March 1.

The team was named following Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) National Championships held a few weeks ago and had to be confirmed to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) on or before February 28.

Natalie Cummings, Priscilla Greaves and of course the female National champ, Chelsea Edghill were the females named, while the Men shortlisted were Christopher Franklin, Jonathan Van Lange and Shemar

Britton. According to the GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe, “For the last remaining days before the team travels what we want to do is ensure that we bring the team together in terms of the members to engage in fine tuning type preparation sessions, and this will include match simulation, mental preparation and tactical simulation data preparation.”

Munroe also disclosed that they have formulated training schedules for the team that feature day and night sessions and the major goal is to maximize those sessions doing service drills, reception practice and a lot of tactical elements.

The tournament which will include eight Caribbean powerhouses will grant a ticket to attend the upcom-

ing, Pan American Championship in October and the 2023 Individual World Championship. “This would be a good litmus test to see where this team stands. You know, coming off of 2019 was the last time this crew and championship was played and this event has the possibility to be a qualification event for Commonwealth Games and other ranking positions,” the President stated.

“I think it heightens the stakes for us to really push out and ensure that the team participates in one dimension and also that the team does its best. We’re happy to have them participate to make an assessment of where we are as we move forward and develop in advancing our performance and trajectory,” he opined

Elanga goal rescues draw for gritty Man Utd in Madrid

Anthony Elanga’s goal was Manchester United’s 500th in the European Cup/Champions League. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - Anthony Elanga’s late equaliser boosted Manchester United’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League as they fought back to draw against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.

The 19-year-old had been on the pitch less than six minutes after replacing Marcus Rashford, when he raced onto Bruno Fernandes’ perfectly-weighted pass to roll the ball past home goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Until that point it had looked as though Diego Simeone’s Spanish champions were going to take a narrow advantage to Old Trafford after delivering a masterclass in controlling the game without dominating

possession. Joao Felix’s early header from Renan Lodi’s inviting cross gave the hosts a dream start with United looking ragged on their right, where interim boss Ralf Rangnick’s gamble of playing Victor Lindelof at full-back failed badly.

The Swedish central defender looked uncomfortable throughout and was booked for a tug on Felix before his miserable evening was ended prematurely by his withdrawal midway through the second half.

By then Atletico could and perhaps should have been two goals ahead with Sime Vrsaljko heading the ball off Lindelof and onto the United bar in the closing moments of the first half after some more dismal defending.

While Rangnick’s side enjoyed plenty of the ball, they were slow and indecisive in possession and barely looked capable of carving open their well-drilled opponents who repeatedly picked off every sloppy United pass in US Open champion midfield.

Emma Raducanu Atletico were also unlucky to not score late on themselves when Antoine Griezmann rattled the visitors crossbar.

However, Elanga, who missed the crucial penalty when Rangnick’s side lost in the FA Cup to Middlesbrough earlier this month, followed up his goal at Leeds on Sunday with another important intervention to change the complexion of the tie before the second leg in Manchester in three weeks time.

Thursday February 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

Djokovic maintains winning return with defeat of Khachanov in Dubai DUBAI, (Reuters) World number one Novak Djokovic impressed again at his first tournament since being deported ahead of the Australian Open, beating Russian Karen Khachanov 63 7-6(2) to reach the Dubai Championships quarterfinals yesterday.

Just as against Lorenzo Musetti in his opening match here on Monday, Djokovic received plenty of vocal support from a large crowd at the Aviation Club and responded with some dazzling tennis under the lights.

The 20-times Grand Slam champion dominated the opening set after breaking serve in the fourth game with a winner.

It was much more of a battle in the second set as Khachanov recovered from an early break of serve to level the set at 4-4.

Djokovic was forced to pull out all the stops to fend off a fired-up Khachanov, forging ahead in the tiebreak and claiming victory on his first match point with a superb return.

The Serbian is competing

for the first time this year after his hopes of winning a 10th Australian Open title were dashed when he was deported following an 11day saga revolving around his decision not to have a COVID-19 vaccination and the subsequent exemption he was granted to play in the event.

Two court hearings were required before Djokovic was expelled on Jan. 16 having spent several days in a quarantine hotel, with the country's immigration minister revoking his visa on the basis that he could fuel anti-vaccine sentiment if allowed to compete.

His absence from Melbourne allowed careerrival Rafa Nadal to win the title and move ahead in the race to claim the most men's Grand Slam titles, reaching 21.

Djokovic could also lose his number one ranking in the next week even if he wins the Dubai title.

Russian Daniil Medvedev, who Nadal beat in a thrilling Australian Open final, will take the top ranking if he wins the Acapulco title.

Djokovic said he was just happy to be back on court after a difficult start to the year.

"I missed it, obviously.

This is my life. This is what I have known (how) to do -and will still keep on doing -for the last 20 years.

Professional tennis is my love," he said on court.

Djokovic faces Czech Jiri Vesely next.

PAGE 25

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his second round match against Russia's Karen Khachanov.

(REUTERS/ Suhaib Salem)

Hero delivers huge economic impact in SKN's direction St Kitts & Nevis have claimed the CPL title once.

62nd Caribbean Table Tennis Championships…

Guyana team wings out on March 1 GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe

Liverpool score six against Leeds to cut Man City lead to three points p. 22

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton during testing. (REUTERS/Albert Gea)

t r o Sp

Hamilton calls for 'non-biased' F1 stewards 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.