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Chinese contractor NEWS continues to disregard Govt. deadlines on airport project

Sunday Edition

AIETEUR

January 10, 2021

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Expert says Guyana moving too fast with development of its oil - But Jagdeo tells company “drill baby drill” Local authority tax Guyana's oil compliance should sector and the be mandatory for 'Boulevard of Death' business transactions Pres. Ali summons Venezuela’s rep. to Guyana over Maduro decree GPL dodges Govt. cleared permits for over questions investments by on energy US$55M in-oil APNU+AFC had them waiting demand local firms for 2.5 years - VP Jagdeo

OP-ED

City Mayor says...

Brazil to auction 92 oil blocks this year - equivalent to size of just three of Guyana’s blocks combined

“Guyana losing more $$ in the destruction of our Fishing Industry than what we are getting from Oil. Listen to The Glenn Lall Show today at 11:00AM."(Rebroadcast)

Kaieteur News

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Sunday January 10, 2021

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

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

EDITORIAL

Regulatory and political capture Something catastrophic occurred a while back that led to the deaths of hundreds of civilians. In eerily similar circumstances, two Boeing Max 737s crashed soon after takeoff, one killing 157 people travelling from Ethiopia and another killing 189 after leaving Indonesia in good flying conditions. These are a few of the barebones statistics from a lengthy article in the BBC’s online edition titled, “What went wrong inside Boeing’s cockpit?” (BBC, May 17, 2019). The most relevant question is what went wrong before anyone got onboard those Boeing Max 737 planes, the answers to which should open eyes in this country, on how business is conducted at elevated levels.

The assertion is that something called ‘regulatory capture’ was at work and that it bedeviled the work of the US Federal Aviation Authority, a most vital watchdog over Boeing, so much so as to render it toothless, and Boeing dangerous to the public’s interests, the first of which is safety. Regulatory capture is defined as when a state agency’s relationship with the industry it oversees becomes too close for comfort; instead of acting primarily in the interests of the public, it allows the business to call the shots.

This was also part of the critique issued by U.S. Senator, Richard Blumenthal, who said that the FAA had “decided to do safety on the cheap… and put the fox in charge of the henhouse.” In other words, too much of the safety work on the plane had been outsourced to Boeing itself. In the rush to produce the new Max 737aircraft, critical safety features had been disregarded. A former head of the US Department of Transportation, Mary Sciavo, noted that she oversaw an audit of the FAA’s work relating to the Boeing 777, and concluded that the bulk of the work was done by Boeing itself, with little real oversight. “At the FAA, they know they’re outgunned by Boeing,” she said. “They know they don’t have the kind of resources they need to do the job they’re tasked with doing. They pretend to inspect, and Boeing pretends to be inspected, when in fact Boeing is doing it all almost entirely by itself.”

Though Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency is one of the most critical places that is under sharp scrutiny that is the wrong place to start, for it is being held hostage by men far more powerful, more resourceful, and more ruthless.

All roads lead there and all starts rightly begin in political circles.

In view of the continuing charades that goes on here with Guyana’s oil, what we have is not so much regulatory capture, but political capture. Guyanese have to wonder why government after government, which all come down hard on citizens and take no prisoners are without answers, without muscle, without pride, and without the willpower necessary to stand up to ExxonMobil and say: stop! Enough of this nonsense! What we have here is not working, and we need to talk. Instead, regular Guyanese have been left openmouthed at the apparent impotence and cowardice of local leaders, whether the current ruling PPP government or the prior coalition regime or the one before that (also PPP).

It has been a case unlike that of the Biblical David and his slingshots confronting the tormenting giant; but of one with crawling around on hands and knees to pay it (Exxon) homage in every which way that the company deems possible.

In Guyana’s scenario of political capture and leading political figures jumping to Exxon’s whim, no information is forthcoming from the government of the day, no laws are revised, no independent parties are recruited to oversee critically what Exxon is doing in sensitive areas.

Unsurprisingly, there is no inclination or movement for the national togetherness that is absolutely mandatory, through political partnership and civic engagement. Instead of powerful, feared, and respected Guyanese political watchdogs (sentinels) prowling the perimeters on behalf of the people, what we have had is, one toothless poodle after another signaling their friendliness by rolling over to have

their bellies tickled.

To be sure, we have material lack of expertise in many fields of petroleum management ranging from wellhead to oil accounting and auditing to environmental protection. It may be embarrassing, but the question should be asked (for which Exxon already knows the answer): What work in which area is there that Guyana can do competently enough to turn around and challenge Exxon, and say not here?

We outsource auditing. We outsource legal work. We have to outsource consulting and advisory services relative to this country’s oil wealth. Bottom line: there are few oilrelated things in very few spaces that we can do by ourselves, which leads to dependency on outsiders. Exxon knows this all too well, and because of that, we pay prices for things and what we know not. There’s no question, Boeing does have tremendous economic clout. The same can be said for Exxon worldwide, and particularly in Guyana today, which is way behind the clock and in points on the kind of skills and expertise to offer the degree of pushback to Exxon in most fields. One area, in which there are glaring weaknesses, is in protection of the environment with the coming of oil.

The truth must be faced, Guyana’s EPA does not have what it takes to make things right, to even offer feeble resistance against a behemoth like ExxonMobil. And when it does make a pedestrian attempt to do either, the Guyana government has ensured that its arm is short, and its muscle not flexed in any alarming manner. The government got rid of the one man, who could have possibly made a difference, while leaving those more familiar with the limited confines of Guyanese

industrial and other practices in charge of the shop. Truth be faced, the local EPA is severely handicapped, perhaps deliberately so, in any confrontation with Exxon. It can’t even get off the ground. We offer its bewildering position on Environmental Impact Assessments, which according to the EPA’s record, are not needed, regardless of what is involved.

To help understand this some more, here is a real-life set of circumstances, which should make Guyanese understand how the Boeings and Exxon(s) of the world operate. Barbara Lichman, an aviation lawyer and former Washington lobbyist, says firms of this size know how to work the political machinery to its advantage. “Companies of that size have very proficient lobbyists,” she says. “They hit Congress very, very hard, and put pressure on them to relieve pressure on the company.” In the context of Guyana, this means Exxon’s pressuring the Guyana government, so as to compel its head honchos to eat out of its hand and jump to its command. When observant Guyanese pay attention to the current government, there already is some degree of headshaking as to how dumb and clumsy it looks in the face of Exxon. Look at how the EPA is reduced to a skulking shadow, how ruling and opposition politicians do wonderful imitations of year-round masqueraders, and how far both leading political groups are willing to go to like emasculated and inoffensive.

This is the essence of political capture, and it is manifested daily by government big shots. This is what Guyanese, including those that put-on blindfolds, cannot help but seeing.

Where this oil of ours is concerned, may God in His goodness help us!

Sunday January 10, 2021

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Kaieteur News

GECOM, under the current secretariat, can never be allowed to run another election Dear Editor, One year ago, on Friday, January 10th, 2020, GECOM had its Nomination Day for the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

It was on this day, at around 10.00am that the political parties and the nation at large, received some inkling as to the skullduggery that was to come from the GECOM senior staff.

In preparation for this day and having being told that political parties would be accepted into the Umana Yana site, where GECOM would accept the lists of candidates from the contesting parties, on a first come, first accepted basis, two of the newer/

smaller parties camped out in front of the Umana Yana from the Wednesday evening, three days before the actual event.

The New Movement (TNM) arrived first at around 6:00pm, followed by the United Republican Party (URP) sometime between 7:00-8:00pm. A New United Guyana (ANUG) joined the campout line on the Thursday morning at approximately 6:30am. The Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and Change Guyana (CG) also eventually joined the camp out later during the Thursday.

Please note: at no time did the ruling Coalition of the A

Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) join the campout or the line of political parties waiting patiently to register with GECOM. On the morning of Friday, January 10th- Nominations Day- members of the Guyana Police Force arrived and erected barricades in front of the Umana Yana.

They then told all the political party representatives, who were keeping their space in the line, to remove to behind the barricades to avoid congestion at the entrance to the Umana Yana.

The party reps all did as told, with lots of jokes and good humour.

Shortly after, Keith Lowenfield, GECOM’s CEO, and his party of staffers ar-

rived and spoke to us.

He explained the procedure, for registering for the Nominations Day event, which was for reps to go to the guard hut of the Umana Yana and give information to the security guard who would enter it into a book.

This would be used to determine the order in which the political parties would be allowed into the Umana Yana compound to register and present their Lists of Candidates along with the required signatures.

This order was important because if a person had signed for two political parties, the party which had registered first would be allowed to keep the signature, and the other Party would have to find a replacement signature.

I will respond with the proverbial sledgehammer Dear Editor, I make no apology having a preoccupation with race.

Unlike Vishnu Bisram whose preoccupation is driven by promoting a narrative his race is superior; mine is the pursuit for racial justice in the economic, political and social space for all Guyanese.

As a trade unionist who stands up for the rights of the working class across race, sector, creed or region, I would be abrogating the principles of trade unionism were I to stay silent when my race is singled out for sustained attacks, mistreatment.

Response is being made to another of Bisram’s distorted letters: “Lincoln Lewis has a pre-occupation with ‘Race’” (KN 6th Jan 2021). Guyana is birthed out of a racist past, where the dominant race not only exploited the others but sustained the evil system through the divide and conquer rule.

Decent Guyanese, who had enough, charted a new course in 1966 to put the racist past behind and build a nation of one people (equality).

Vishnu, et al, may not desire this thus they will have to encounter me, and I do not care how angry they are with my presence in the public space.

I reject his new racial mischief to emasculate the role of U.S Vice Presidentelect Kamala Harris’ black Jamaican father, Donald Harris, in influencing who she is today, because according to him that sole credit belongs to her Indian mother, Shyamala Gopaul Harris. He is behaving as though he was not only the lucknee in the Harris’ union but was part of

their household.

Bisram needs a reality check on race as a non-white person living in the United States. Thanks to the sweat, blood, tears, pains, injuries, mutilations, beaten bodies and loss of life of my African/ American brothers and sisters, he enjoys equality in a foreign land.

Theirs is a proud story of resistance to injustices and the fight for equality for coloured people. He is reminded of the greats such as Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Stokely Carmichael, Angela Davis, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis and Stacey Abrams, whom he owes a tremendous amount of gratitude.

In the U.S, which

continues to confront its racist past and seek to correct same, he is the beneficiary of laws such as Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Fair Housing, Equal Employment Opportunity, and affirmative action. He can sit anywhere on the bus or train in any state, attend any education institution, get any job once qualified. He can vote and have the protection from being discriminated against because of his race, belief or political association. He can live in any neighbourhood once he can afford it, enter any business and eat at any lunch counter, etc.

These are benefits fought for and achieved by my fellow black brothers and (Continued on page 6)

Finding a replacement signature may have meant the political party having to go back into the area to find another person to sign on their sheet.

The party reps hurried across the road and I entered the guard hut first. The guard opened the book to receive the information and low and behold, there was the APNU/ AFC’s representative’s name, Carol Joseph, already written in the first line and stating she had arrived on Tuesday at 18:30hrs.

When I objected to this, the Guard just shrugged his shoulders and gave a look that said “what can I do? I am just following instructions.

Don’t quarrel with me.”

As I was objecting loudly to the guard and the nearby police officers, along with the other party reps, Mr. Lowenfield entered the gate and I called out to him for an explanation as to how the APNU/AFC’s rep could be listed first when they had not arrived until that very morning.

Mr. Lowenfield replied stating that there was nothing he could do about it and kept on walking away.

Nominations Day is an event organised and controlled by GECOM and Mr. Lowenfield was the CEO of GECOM. Therefore, the ultimate authority was with him.

He, therefore, had will-

fully allowed the APNU/ AFC’s representative’s name to be written in the book before the other party reps.

At the time, this incident may have seemed to be a small matter but looking back, that was the moment when we should have known and be prepared for all of the GECOM and APNU/AFC skullduggery that was to come trampling down on Guyana.

I am calling on the Chairman of GECOM to investigate this and other incidents of misbehavior committed by the GECOM Secretariat and its senior staffers.

Any confirmed incidents of misbehavior should be dealt with firmly, including dismissal where necessary.

GECOM is no longer a trusted organization and its good name has been brought into ill repute.

The secretariat needs to be cleansed of persons found unworthy.

An internal investigation is urgently needed and evidence found can and should be used to dismiss or penalise errant personnel, including the CEO, the DCEO and other senior staff.

I am taking this opportunity to say that Guyana and GECOM should never be allowed to conduct another election, of any kind, under the present management of the Secretariat.

Jonathan Yearwood

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Sunday January 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

Trump and Granger have become the world’s greatest laughing stock Dear Editor, Irresponsible enablers let “Trump be Trump” and as such, Wednesday January 6th, 2021, was sadly allowed by pro-Trumpers to manifest as one of America’s darkest days of retribution, regret and reprehension.

America and the world were appalled, apoplectic and apprehensive at the deadly, disastrous and dangerous effects from the cowardly and dastardly attack on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. As a result, five people died, many injured including people and police, a trail of damages and wreckages and now, a slew of charges, arrests and prosecutions.

As the assault materialized after being instigated by an incited speech by President Trump, he returned to the safety and security in the White House, to the warmth and comfort of his family and colleagues.

He did not care that he had endangered the lives of members of the House and Senate as they tirelessly and fearlessly performed their national duties to carry out the work of the nation.

He was unconcerned about the safety and security of the nation as people and law officers were exposed to facing death at the hands of a frenzied mob, encouraged and influenced by his words, deeds and actions.

He watched entertained

and satisfied of his handwork, as a nation was hot on fire on a cold day.

Was Guyanese President Granger, during his tenure, allowed to be Granger, or was he a jumping puppet, dancing to the tune of a rogue gang?

His placement in the party was handpicked and his presidential candidacy was also secured via strategic manipulation.

Did he execute any autonomy or were his decisions and announcements a relay transmission from a decisive body and not his own? He only faced the media on a few, handpicked chosen occasions, always spoon-fed, dodged questions with: “I said what I said,” for an answer and quickly ushered out after his brief appearances.

The roving and raging media operators were always kept at bay by his watchdogs.

Most of the times, he was kept out of sight and his lieutenants were the serving force, ready, willing and able to prevent him from taking any initiative and executing the business of the nation.

The aftermath from him vacating his office, would reveal that he was unaware (acclaimed) of what was happening pervasively, and if he knew, then, he had no choice but to flow with the tide.

Claiming to be a selfrighteous and religious

person, he would have condemned all those corruptions which his administration was responsible for, rather than condone them in collusion.

Perhaps, he could have stamped his authority and put his foot down (not in his mouth) and prevent any malfeasance.

Being a spiritual servant of the Lord who loved to kneel and bow in the church, not to repent or confess but to sing. His guidance to do only the right thing for the people and by the people… were they, his (Granger’s) lies, deceits and d i s h o n e s t y of his own making, or the direction from dictators of the APNU/AFC coalition?

An obedient devotee of the Lord will not commit any sin, will do no wrong and only speak the truth. Whatever Granger did, he would have had to seek the Lord’s permission or the blessings of Satan?

Was Granger acting (?) under duress while he kept the nation undermined, in siege, during the election period in March’ 2020, or, was he performing an inglorious act when the APNU/AFC Party held Guyanese at ransom and refused to abide with the result of the No Confidence Motion (NCM) back in December 2018?

Did his conscience not pricked him when on assuming office, he

...I will respond with the proverbial sledgehammer From page 5 sisters. That he not only takes these for granted but is comfortable promoting the denial of same for others, he will find an opponent in me.

I shall continue to challenge his interest in Indian triumphalism. I am the least bothered that he takes offence when I speak about racial injustices.

I shall continue to shine light on the problems he wants us to ignore or is comfortable with because of who are affected by and who are the purveyors of injustices. Whereas he does not see African/Guyanese equally deserving of what he enjoys in the U.S. I have news for him. He, nor any who thinks like him, will still my voice or hinder my pursuit for racial respect and justice in

this society.

His instant letter is punctuated with his usual bigotry, tripe and fake intellectualism. He is just like Freddie Kissoon in his column of 9th January who still cannot differentiate the dynamics at play in the USA election and Guyana.

Consequently he continues with his false analogies and thinks when he names me he adds credibility to his piffle. Intelligent minds recognise he brings nothing qualitative to serious discourse other than nonsensical reasoning, magnifying stupidity.

Both Bisram and Kissoon continue to blissfully palaver, making statements absence of evidence and context, highlighting the idiocy they bring to discussions of

import. They are the epitome of ‘academic’ nincompoopism.

Bisram is once again challenged to provide evidence to his claim that “workers he spoke with say Lewis should take positions like that of his predecessor Joseph Pollydore and be supportive of what is right not what favours his race.”

This pseudo academic and pollster, like his buddy columnist, know only one thing- public mischief which they are being allowed to perpetuate with impunity. As his buddy was put on notice so is he. If he comes at me with his continued foolishness I will respond with the proverbial sledgehammer. Enough is enough.

Lincoln Lewis

immediately approved exorbitant salaries for his boys and girls despite the fact that the rest of the nation was in abeyance and anxiously waiting in suspense?

Perhaps, he became a devil’s advocate onwards and was hypnotized to perform at the will of an evil force masquerading as APNU/ AFC. Did the sacred Granger advocate the abuse and harassment of the foreign dignitaries as they rightfully and peacefully observed the election, or, was it a man of violence and passion who institutionalized the vulgar behaviour by lawless party members?

Was it a believer who swore by the Book of God to petition all those legal proceedings all the way to the CCJ, or, was it a worshipper of illegality who was recommended to travel the path of sinners?

Was the virtuous Granger in his right frame of mind when he invoked the wrath of the Berbicians by insinuating racial incitement and creating

mayhem as a result, or, was it a malefactor who preached immorality to directly perpetrate violence and caucus? Granger is no longer a decorated soldier with honor and bravery, but, a timid sailor sailing at sea without a paddle and a rudderless canoe in the middle of a turmoil ocean.

Is Granger not the brash and brazen commander to face the bullets at the helm of the front line, or, is he the weak and meek to pelt a brick in the dark and then hide behind the enclosed walls of security and protection? He always shunned from his promised duty to uphold the law and defend the people of this nation.

What he admonished was recklessness and heartlessness, use and abuse of power, disrespect for the constitution and the court, ethnic and racial division, victimization and discrimination and disregard for rules and regulations and ignoring law and order.

As such, Trump and Granger became a platform for truism, lost the touch of

reality and secluded themselves in a frantic and horrific ideology which represents questionable sanity, judgmental incapacitation and selfish leadership.

Former US White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly said, “he’s (Trump) a laughing stock and someone needs to manage him…you don’t survive by telling him the truth.”

The truth hurts where it pains the most and both Trump and Granger find the inconvenience of truth as unacceptable and uncomfortable because they cannot handle the truth.

It is uncharacteristic of them and it is not in their mantra to speak or uphold the truth.

Trump and Granger have become international spectacular figures for the world to poke fun at, ridicule and laugh at. Both of them can never again look squarely eye-to-eye to the public without a guilty feeling.

Jai Lall

Sports and the pandemic Dear Editor, We are in a new normal, a circumstance that calls for a different kind of leadership and cooperation. While there has always been some indifference in our sports, this is not the time to continue along that path. What is needed now is leadership, at every level, that could bring people together not only with a national plan but a way to galvanize all of our people and inspire the best possible outcome.

With the suspension of sports in Guyana and globally since March of 2020, and now almost 10 months later, it is still unclear how we are going to recover and sustain sports in Guyana.

We have seen how major international sporting bodies and associations have been cooperating and innovating under these new restrictive conditions, to restart their respective businesses, while meeting the needs of their communities.

Right here at home, we have seen cricket, cycling, athletics 10k, lawn tennis, bodybuilding, badminton, golf, and the K&S/GFF/ MCYS football receiving approval from the MPH/ COVID-19 Task Force, and from what have been reported in the press, they have all had successful events.

But what about the grassroots- school and team sports that accounts for mass participation among our youth, across the regions of Guyana? The question

regarding the safe and timely return of school and youth sports has to be addressed in a thoughtful, caring, and serious way.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put all of sports in a proverbial “straitjacket of the century”, giving us a new challenge to maneuver; and while we don’t know what will happen in the future, at the end of the day, we are all in the same boat where everyone is affected. So we can no longer play this game of looking out for our own or undermining the other or criticizing or being more separate than we are, it is a good time for us to come together. It’s an opportunity for us to try to harness the best ideas and share resources so that all sports can benefit.

Here is where I believe coordinated cohesive leadership could make the difference. Ideally, the National Sports Commission could be leading this effort working as an intermediary facilitator between sports partners and the Ministry of Public Health/COVID-19 Task Force, and other national and regional stakeholders in providing guidance and support to aid in the safe and timely return of sports. This would allow for a more uniform, data-guided, and principle-based approach for sports to function safely during and post COVID-19.

The last thing we need now is everyone looking out for themselves, too much is

at stake.

Editor, we know that long before this pandemic, there were some major deficiencies and inequities in our sports governance; disparities between city sports and regional, male and female, youth and senior, mainstream and smaller disciplines, access to facilities, sponsorship, and media.

The challenge now is much greater and further compounded by the social, mental, and economic effects of the last 10 months, and unless we can have a wholeof-sport cohesive approach to this new challenge, we will not be able to adequately address the real needs and recover as a fraternity.

In my humble view, the priority at this time should be trying to figure out how to give all sports, regardless of their status or connection the opportunity and support they need to overcome this unprecedented challenge.

It’s going to take some creativity, which will be a challenge in scheming against this unpredictable pandemic.

But it is the right thing to do— even if it means for the year 2021, that the Government has to play a greater role in subsidizing sports across the board, in the long term, I believe this would be a good investment for the health and wellbeing of the grassroots.

We need leadership now more than ever!

Chris Bowman

Sunday January 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 10, 2021

Chinese contractor continues to disregard Govt. deadlines on airport project C

ontinuing to disre gard the g o v e r n m e n t ’s deadlines is China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). This is after the Chinese contractor had failed on completing critical outstanding tasks at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) by a December 2020 deadline.

It was previously agreed upon that the contractor would complete 34 out of the 71 critical items at the US$150M airport by December 31, 2020. Concerningly however, CHEC has only managed to complete 13 of those 34 items as of January 7, 2021, as revealed by CJIA authorities.

Due to their inability to

complete the tasks, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, has called on CHEC to adhere to strict timelines to complete outstanding works on the airport. But even with these calls of urgency, no penalties have been stipulated by the government if CHEC fails to honor those commitments.

Speaking at a meeting with CHEC officials at CJIA on Friday, Minister Edghill had said, “the new things to be done as well as the old items to be fixed have to be done together and if we find that there are slippages, I will have to make the necessary intervention because we cannot allow for last minute rush.”

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill engages China Harbour Engineering Company and officials from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Edghill continued, “The Government of Guyana, in good faith, entered into that agreement with China Harbour Engineering Com-

pany and we signed an amicable settlement agreement that requires actions on both parts. We have upheld our end of the bargain as noble and as sincere. As Government, we expect no less from CHEC.”As part of their remedial objectives, CHEC was therefore pressed to submit to the Government, a Resource Allocation Plan no later than January 31.

This plan will provide a guide for the Administration on how CHEC intends to execute its obligations within the agreed timeframes.

Additionally, the contractor was urged to complete the preliminary designs for the curtain walls, a corridor to facilitate the two air bridges and a superstructure for the building at the front of the airport.

Preliminary designs for these

items are due January 31 and final designs are expected in March.

“We need to have those because we need to get them agreed on, [So, we can] start procurement and we start work. We know how long the civil works have been taking you and we can’t have wishful thinking that if we start in October, we will finish by December 31 [2021]. It is not going to happen and we are not going to tolerate it,” Minister Edghill said.

Improved communication Minister Edghill had also called for better communication among the contractor, project manager and project engineers as this is critical to swiftly resolve any issues that may arise. To this end, the Minister said he and the CJIA’s CEO, Ramesh Ghir, and the project consultant would meet all parties involved to iron out any issue.

Concerning ongoing works, Minister Edghill admitted that there might be challenges at the airport to execute contractual works while the facility is operational, but he maintained that the works must proceed. In this regard, he said, “there must be somebody who is working closely to ensure there is proper planning ahead of time so we can be able to make the necessary adjustments.”

In December, Government brokered an agreement with CHEC for the company to undertake $1.8 billion in

works on CJIA at no additional cost to taxpayers.

This represented a major breakthrough for the President Irfaan Ali Administration as the PPP/C had criticized the APNU+AFC, in and out of the National Assembly, for reducing, the scope of the original contract signed in 2012, thereby short-changing Guyanese.

The project is years behind its completion date and the new agreement stipulates December 31, 2021 as the date by which all outstanding works must be done so that taxpayers could have value for money.

The additional works that CHEC agreed to undertake entail: 1. An extension of the airport’s boarding corridor to accommodate two more passenger boarding bridges, providing the airport with a total of six boarding bridges capable of servicing aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Dream liner, the Airbus and similar trans-Atlantic aircraft.

2. An extension of the Terminal Building to provide accommodation for additional commercial space such as food courts and duty-free shops.

The extended building will feature a modern airport façade covering the full length of the Departure Terminal.

CHEC has also agreed to rectify and complete all outstanding remedial works within prescribed timelines.

Sunday January 10, 2021

President Irfaan Ali has thoroughly rejected the latest decree by Venezuela’s leader, Nicolas Maduro following a recent statement in which he vowed to reconquer the Essequibo as a territory of the Bolivarian Republic.

The decree comes weeks after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) handed down a decision that it has jurisdiction to hear the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute over the validity of the Arbitration Award of 1899 which gave Guyana rights to the territories of Essequibo.

The case is ongoing and is expected to be ventilated through the ICJ within the next 24 months.

Given the recent developments from the neighbouring territory, President Ali announced in a live broadcast address to the nation yesterday that Foreign Affairs Minister, Hugh Todd has been instructed to summon the Officer-in-Charge of the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown to express Guyana’s deep concern about the decree.

He said that the Officerin-Charge has been told to convey to the Venezuelan authorities in Caracas, that, in accordance with international law, and its assertion of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Guyana rejects entirely the decree issued by President Maduro.

The President noted that Guyana is committed to continue on the path of peaceful resolution of this matter in keeping with international law and the jurisdiction of the ICJ. “It is, therefore, deeply disturbing that,” he said that “on January 7th, the President of Venezuela, Mr. Nicolas Maduro, issued a decree claiming Venezuela sovereignty and exclusive sovereign rights in the waters and seabed adjacent to Guyana’s coast, west of the Essequibo River.”

adding that “at no time, have we engaged in making any statements regarding the continuing inflammatory remarks, emanating from the Government and other parties in Venezuela, except to continue to affirm our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

President Irfaan Ali.

In this regard, President Ali reminded that sovereignty over this coast, and the land territory to which it is attached, were awarded to Guyana (then British Guiana) in the 1899 Arbitral Award, which is valid and legally binding.”

“Regrettably,” he emphasized that by decreeing that the seas adjacent to this territory belong to Venezuela, at least two fundamental principles of international law have been violated.

“The first violation,” he said “is that no State can unilaterally determine its international boundaries, whether they are land boundaries or maritime boundaries. The fixing of an international boundary under international law can only result from an agreement between neighbouring States, or a binding determination by an international court or arbitral tribunal.”

He noted therefore, this attempt by Venezuela to unilaterally fix both its land and maritime boundaries with Guyana is a legal nullity, which cannot, and will not, be respected by any other state in the world, including Guyana.

The second violation of fundamental international law, the President said, is based on the fact that, under wellestablished rules of international law, there is a fundamental principle that “the land

dominates the sea”.

“This means that sovereignty, and sovereign rights in the sea and seabed, emanate from title to the land that forms the coast to which those seas and seabed are adjacent. Since Guyana is sovereign over the coast west of the Essequibo River, as far as Punta Playa, it follows, consequently, that only Guyana can enjoy sovereignty and exclusive sovereign rights over the adjacent sea and seabed,” he explained.

According to Ali, this is precisely the issue that is before the ICJ, and which, on 18 December 2020, the ICJ decided to resolve, i.e., whether Guyana or Venezuela is sovereign over that land territory.

The President expressed confidence that the Court will resolve the issue in its favour, and that this will necessarily also settle the issue of maritime rights in the adjacent sea and seabed.

The President noted that “Guyana has always acted as a peaceful party in the process of finding a resolution and will continue to do until the conclusion of the matter before the ICJ. “Guyana has done so even as we pursued our right to request the UN SecretaryGeneral to refer to the ICJ, the long-standing contention with Venezuela over the 1899 arbitral award,” Ali stated

Dem boys seh...

Fire is a bad master Dem Boys get news on Friday how Fogarty’s deh pun fire. But thank goodness was just a lil thing which cause no structural damage.

Immediately people start to talk about de Big Fire dem had 75 years ago when an entire block went up in flames. Dem boys was wondering whether de lil fire at Fogarty’s was meant to commemorate dat event but somebody tell dem boys nah mek joke about thing like dat.

During de Great Fire of 1945, dem had a watering

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Kaieteur News

hole nearby weh plenty people used to drink. De place ketch fire and it tek de fire about a half an hour fuh put it out.

After de fire was doused, de firemen went in and found two men drinking inside.

Dem was surprised and ask de men how come dem nah manage to get out during de fire. One of dem answered, “I don’t know but it was already on fire when we got here.”

De fire truck tek eight minutes to travel in three blocks from de fire station by de mar-

ket to Fogarty’s. Dem seh that was because of traffic and obstructions. Dem now wan move de fire station. Instead of moving dem vendors and vehicles wah blocking dem from getting to downtown fires, dem wan move de station.

But dem boys seh moving de station nah gan help.

Many years ago, dem had a fire right opposite de fire station and de whole place bun down.

Talk half and pray for no more fires fuh de rest of the New Year!

The President stressed therefore that he is confident the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will unequivocally uphold Guyana’s position. President Ali also expressed the hope that the Venezuelan government will reconsider its position and will decide to participate in the

remainder of the proceedings before the ICJ, as the Court decides upon the validity and binding character of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the international boundary that it created.

He noted however, that should Venezuela choose to (Continued on page 13)

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Sunday January 10, 2021

Motorcyclist, pedal cyclist GPL dodges questions on energy demand die in separate accidents Two persons have now lost their lives following two separate accidents on the East Bank of Demerara on Friday.

Dead are Adiraj Persaud, 37, called “Trini” a pedal cyclist of Third Street, Herstelling and Dayle Jordan, 36, a motorcyclist of La Retraite, West Bank Demerara.

Just around 14:10hrs Persaud was struck down by a minibus driven by a 43-yearold of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown on Herstelling Public Road.

According to the information received, the minibus was travelling north along the western lane on the western carriageway of the road when it collided with the pedal cyclist who was about to ride across the road.

Reports are that as a result of the collision, the bus ended up colliding with a motor lorry driven by a 28year-old of Canal #2, West Bank Demerara that was stationed on the western side of the road. Persaud was flung some distance away on the road. He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation

D

Dead : Adiraj Persaud

Dead: Dayle Jordan

(GPHC), where he was seen and examined by a doctor who admitted him as a patient.

Persaud later died while receiving treatment.

Kaieteur News understands that the man suffered a fractured right arm and skull.

A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver of the mini-bus but no trace of alcohol was detected – investigation still continues.

Meanwhile, Jordan who was employed at Massy Stores died on arrival at the GPHC following a motorcycle and pickup accident on Yarrowkabra Public Road, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway.

According to the police report the accident occurred at around 23:30hrs.

Based on the information received, the motor pickup driven by a 51-year-old of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice was going north along the western side of the road when the motorcycle ended in its path.

It was reported that the motorcycle driven by Jordan along with a pillion rider allegedly overtook a car and ended up in the path of the pickup causing a collision.

Both the motorcyclist and his pillion (Continued on page 55)

espite numerous attempts in seek ing answers, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated continues to dodge questions from Kaieteur News regarding the country’s energy demand and how it is expected to grow within the next ten years.

Kaieteur News thought it necessary to ascertain these details with the advent of natural gas and other forms of energy being discussed and introduced to Guyana.

With this in mind, this publication on December 17, 2020 had reached out to the state agency’s Public Relations Officer, Shevion Sears, requesting the details on what is the country’s current electricity demand, and how it is expected to grow within the next ten years, among other energy supply issues.

Sears had acknowledged the email on the same day, stating that she would “action” Kaieteur News’ request.

A follow up email was sent to the PRO on December 29, requesting an update on when the request would be fulfilled, but no response ensued.

Calls were even made to contact the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO),

Bharat Dindyal, but even those attempts proved futile.

The Institute of the Americas is advising Guyana to conduct an assessment of the country’s power demand before it brings its natural gas to shore, which might force it to accept an oversupply of gas and leave the energy sector financially unsustainable.

In the Institute’s report titled, ‘Guyana’s Gas-toPower Potential,’ author Kathryn Hillis said that, while there are significant reliability problems when it comes to electricity in Guyana, taking too much gas at a time would likely result in oversupply for the nation’s 750,000 people.

“Gas should be brought onshore through a phased approach,” Hillis had written, “in which the government only purchases incremental natural gas as electricity demand increases and infrastructure is developed, so Guyana does not accumulate any unnecessary gas surplus.”

The Institute had advised that government first focus should be on providing power to coastal areas, then attempt to supply power to the hinterlands after sufficient infrastructure has been developed in the area.

The Institute saw it pertinent to weigh in, after seeing that Ghana signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to bring its gas to shore, and its failure to properly assess its energy needs at the right time has left the African nation struggling to find uses for the gas it is paying hundreds of millions of dollars for.Also in the mix are renewable forms of energy, such as solar, wind and hydro. Many foreign institutions have expressed interest in investing in renewable energy in Guyana, with its latest being Fortescue Metal Group (FMG).

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, had said earlier this week that the company is seeking to establish operations in three countries and have shown keen interest in Guyana.

During a recent visit to Guyana, Fortescue had discussed the harnessing of renewable energy from the

Amalia Falls Hydropower Project – another renewable energy project – to produce green energy products such as ammonia, hydrogen, fertilisers and metals for both local and foreign markets.

Pensioner, 74, found submerged in Hampton Court trench The body of a 74-yearold pensioner, who was reportedly missing for several days, was found submerged in a trench at Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast, yesterday morning.

The body has since been identified as Deodat, called John, a resident of Devonshire Castle, Essequibo Coast. It is believed that Deodat, who is a known alcoholic, drowned sometime between Wednesday January 6, 2021 and Saturday January 9, 2021. The body was found sometime around 06:30 hrs. yesterday morning.

Daughter of the now dead man, Sabitree Deodat, told police that her father visited her on Wednesday January 6, 2021 about 17:15

hrs. She also told police that he appeared to have been under the influence of alcohol, and subsequently departed for his home sometime around 17:30 hrs.

When the man did not make it home, his family members became worried and commenced a search for him. Their search came to an end yesterday, when tragically, the body of the elderly man was found floating with his face down in the Hampton Court trench.

An alarm was raised and the body was fished out and positively identified.

The body was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital and then escorted to the Suddie Mortuary, where it presently awaits a post mortem examination.

Sunday January 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Woman who battered 6-year-old unconscious granted $300,000 bail

T

he 25-year-old woman, who con fessed to brutalising her 6-year-old daughter in Berbice, was yesterday dragged before the court and slapped with the charge of attempted murder.

Drupattie Balkarran called Natasha, of Goed Bananen Land, East Canje, Berbice, made her first court appearance at the New Amsterdam Magistrate Court where the charge was read to her.

The charge read that the accused on Sunday December 13, 2020, at Geod Bananen Land, East Canje, with intent to commit murder, wounded Jenita Ramsarran.

Magistrate Singh granted Balkarran bail in the sum of $300,000 and ordered that she stay one hundred feet away from the child.

The matter was transferred to Reliance Magistrate’s Court for disclosure on January 27, 2021. On December 13, 2020, little Jenita was found battered and unconscious in a swampy area located not far from the home she shared with her mother.

The suspect had claimed that on Sunday she took her daughter on a walk a short distance away from their home at Geod Bananen Village.

When the child started to play in the nearby bushes, she told investigators, she yelled at her to stop.

Sunday January 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

The woman and the 6-year-old.

GWI restarts upgrading of city’s transmission pipelines The ongoing works to upgrade the water transmission lines in the city.

After not being heeded, the mother said she grabbed a piece of wood and dealt the girl several lashes.

She said she beat her daughter until she became unconscious, and then left her under a mango tree.

She then returned and reported to her parents who live in the same yard, but a different household, that her daughter was missing.

A search was then formed and the grandfather of the child reportedly discovered

the child in the swampy area. She was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where she was admitted and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. She has since been released and is in the care of her father.

The upgrading of Guyana Water Incorporated’s (GWI) transmission pipelines in the Kitty area has recommenced and upon completion will result in water supply improvement in the capital city.

The execution of this project had commenced in 2017, but hiccups were encountered due to the previous contractor’s failure to meet his obligations. The contract was terminated and legal proceedings were instituted against the defaulting contractor in the High Court. This matter is pending.

However, according to GWI, on Friday January 8, 2021, works commenced on Eping Avenue by the new contractor, R. Kissoon

Contracting Services.

The project entails excavation works, the installation of a 22-inch transmission pipeline, 4 and 6-inch distribution pipelines and the restoration of the work site, including roads and bridges. The project is funded by the Government of Guyana and is being executed on Vlissengen Road between Shelterbelt and Lamaha Street, in an effort to provide an improved level of service to customers.

Acting Programme Manager of GWI’s Coastal Programme, Arshad Yacoub, explained that the project is expected to last a period of three months.

He explained that when there is breakage on the existing aged transmission

mains, customers experience a disruption to their water supply. This will be a thing of the past with the installation of these new mains.

GWI said it does not foresee that the water supply in the project areas will be affected during the execution of the project.

However, the works being done may include “minor” traffic diversions, dust and noise associated with the use of large equipment.

“Excavation works may include temporary blockage of property entrances. GWI is seeking the co-operation of residents within the project areas during the execution of these works and thanks them for their patience and understanding during this period.”

Sunday January 10, 2021

Local authority tax compliance should be mandatory for business transactions - City Mayor City Mayor Ubraj Narine.

City Mayor, Ubraj Narine, has proposed making local authority tax compliance for business transactions as part of efforts to curtail the issue with businesses defaulting on payment of rates and taxes.

During a press briefing at City Hall on Friday, Narine explained that the proposal is to help give the various Councils some sort of authority and leverage to collect their dues.

He noted that the problem with rates and tax collection is a universal one in the various local authority districts.

The issue has resulted in the municipality losing billions in revenue.

He suggested that if the Councils were given the same respect as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) when it comes to compliance, then they would never have to worry about being owed rates and taxes.

“The same way you need compliance from NIS and GRA you should need compliance from your local authorities, where you’re living to show that you’re paying taxes to your NDC, to your municipality and if you’re not up-to-date with these taxes, you cannot do business with Government,” Narine added.

He noted that there are many companies out there not honouring the Local Authorities taxes and the Local Authorities have a role to play in Government.

As such, the Mayor believes that the Government should carry some of the blame for allowing business to get contracts without paying their taxes.

“Why aren’t we questioning these things? You’re going and do business with Government, a multi-milliondollar contract awarded to you and you don’t have a Local Authority’s Compliance where the office of your company resides?” the Mayor pointed out.

The Mayor therefore appealed to the Government to bring laws and regulations into effect, which facilitates the compliance.

According to Narine, the responsibility lies with the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, and Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga, to make business compliance from all local authorities compulsory.

The Mayor stressed that without these measures in place, many businesses will continue to disregard the tax payments.

President Ali rejects latest decree by Venezuela‘s...

From page 9 boycott the ICJ’s proceedings, it will not deter nor delay the Court from adjudicating the case.

He noted too that despite its non-participation in the proceedings Venezuela does not have the “right” to “reject” the Court’s binding decision.

The President noted that the rules of the Court expressly provide that the deliberate absence of one of the

parties shall not prevent it from deciding a case.

In the meantime, Ali said that the Government has alerted t he International

Community, including those in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and in the Americas of the danger to international peace and security that is being threatened by this latest decree, one which violates fundamental principles of international law.

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 10, 2021

Cops pick up wrong person PPP/C mourns as Central for murder of missing man Committee member, Majeed - search continues for fugitive

I

n their efforts to cap ture a fugitive wanted for the murder of missing man, Answar Stoll, Guyana Police Force ranks yesterday picked up the wrong person.

Kaieteur News was told by well-placed sources that police arrested a man around 12:15Hrs at Haruni, Soesdyke.

The individual was spotted in a vehicle and resembled the wanted man Leon Waddle, who detectives believe murdered Stoll at his Kuru Kuru home between November 15 and 16 of last year.

He was detained immediately along with the driver of the vehicle and another passenger who they suspected were harbouring him.

Moments later ranks transported the man to Georgetown but when he arrived, detectives working on the case told them that he was the wrong person.

The man was subsequently released and police assured that it will continue its manhunt to capture the correct suspect, Waddle. Stoll was not seen or heard from since November 15, 2020.

Wanted for murdering Answar Stoll, Leon Waddle

Missing man believed to have been murdered: Answar Stoll

Worried family members turned up at his home in December with ranks and found blood stains on the wall. His house was ransacked as well.

His documents and other personal belongings were missing but his keys were found.

An investigation was launched and police revealed that detectives had gathered enough information for them to suspect that he was murdered.

Waddle was implicated in

the crime by another individual who detectives had questioned in the early stages of the investigation.

Sources also told this newspaper that one theory, is that Stoll was killed during an altercation during a drinking session held at his premises.

Family members later revealed that Waddle has been living with Stoll for some time now.

They said that the suspect was always abusive to Stoll (Continued on page 53)

Hussain, dies from COVID

The ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic is mourning the passing of one of its leaders, Majeed Hussain. Hussain was a member of the party’s Central Committee, one of the highest decision-making bodies in the party.

He was well known on the campaign trail and one of the faces of the so-called Guardians of Democracy, who camped out for weeks near the Kingston headquarters of the Guyana Elections Commission, to guard the ballot boxes there last year.

PPP, in the statement yesterday, said that he died in the morning. Family members said he was hospitalized more than a week ago after testing positive from COVID-19. He was hooked up to a ventilator but could not make it.PPP said that Hussain served the party in various capacities.

“He was a member of the Central Committee. He was a true patriot who was integrally involved in the struggle to resist the attempt by the APNU+AFC to subvert the will of the Guyanese people through the rigging of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.”

The party said it is expressing its deepest condolences to the family and relatives of Hussain and the members of the PPP family who knew and loved this “friendly and humble leader.”

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who joined at expressing his dismay, said that he awoke to the shocking news that Hussain died.

He said that Hussain was one of the unsung heroes of last year’s elections.

“He was your proverbial “work horse;” he was an outstanding political “foot soldier;” he was a leader.

During that five months alone, not only was he a leader of the group who guarded the containers with the ballot boxes, 24 hours per day, but he was the Commissioner of Oaths to Affidavits and Justice of Peace who sat with me, sometimes all night and into daylight hours, to swear the numerous Affidavits, which had to be filed in the series of litigation which permeated that period. He was always ready upon call, without excuse or hesitation, despite the hour.”

Died: Majeed Hussain

Sunday January 10, 2021

Dear Reader, in light of the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our publisher, with you in mind, has taken the decision to extend our weekly review of some of our major stories in their entirety.

mulling a wave of industry reforms to keep its leading status in the industry.

JAGDEO SINGLEHANDEDLY DICTATES GUYANA’S DEPLETION POLICY TO BE “DRILL BABY DRILL!” IN ABSENCE OF NATIONWIDE CONSULTATION…

SUNDAY GUYANA’S ‘LAWLESS’ GIVEAWAYS FORCE BRAZIL TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO KEEP OIL COMPANIES Competition for investors in the petroleum industry has grown stiff in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the genesis of the global energy transition.

With this shift, countries have had to ensure that as they work to ensure that their regulation is strong enough to prevent being robbed by oil companies.

They would also offer terms and a system that is fair and attractive. Guyana has so far avoided striking this crucial balance between being an attractive investment destination and securing value for its people.

The country received advice to negotiate fair oil contract terms for the Guyanese public and to use the sector’s formative years to develop Guyana’s regulatory capacity properly before the start of oil production.

Instead, the David Granger administration gave away one of the world’s most valuable oil blocks – the Stabroek block – at extremely generous fiscal terms, and approved two oil developments without conducting timely financial audits and securing necessary protections for the environment.

Consequently, other oil producing nations have become pressured to relax their strict industry protections and requirements to compete.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Roberto Castello Branco, of Brazil’s stateowned oil company, Petrobras, threatened Brazil late last year to set the company’s sights on Guyana, if the government took too long to issue environmental permits to drill in Brazil’s Fox do Amazonas Basin, according to S&P Global Platts.

The energy industry information provider reported Branco as saying: “This has to be resolved,” during an address at the Rio Oil & Gas 2020 digital conference. “We have big oil prospects there, and we’re prohibited while Guyana is enjoying a moment

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Kaieteur News

and opening up,” he reportedly added.

S&P went on to report, on December 31, 2020 that Brazil is eyeing more industry reforms to lure investors, amidst a series of moves already made.

The firm said that Brazil needs to buck up to remain one of the world’s top destinations for energy investments.

Platts said that Brazil’s Congress is expected to debate potential changes to the production sharing regime during the next session, which would allow the National Policy Energy Council, or CNPE, to determine whether oil blocks would be sold under the production sharing or concession models.

Platts reported Brazil’s mines and energy minister, Bento Albuquerque as saying that the country may trend towards the sale of oil blocks under the concession regime, as opposed to the PSA regime, given the current global scenario.

With the concession regime, the oil companies pay royalties and specialparticipation taxes on the petroleum produced, as opposed to the PSA regime, under which they deliver a set percentage of the profit oil to Brazil’s government and includes oversight from the government management company. The concession regime is seen as favourable.

According to Platts, Brazil has also had to reduce requirements for oil companies to use locally procured goods and services, which caused delays.

The country struggles with other issues, which cause delays, such as strict environmental and other regulations. Platts reported Brazilian officials as saying that the current scenario will require flexibility as Brazil grapples with fierce competition from other oil producers, including neighbours like Guyana and Uruguay.

Guyana has been handing out permits quickly, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that the infant oil producer has been managing its oil sector

expertly.

Under the Granger administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted a permit to ExxonMobil on the same day that it received the 1,500-page environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Liza Phase One project.

The regulator was later sued for giving ExxonMobil a 20-year permit, when the law only allows for five-year permits to be issued.

That lawsuit was successful. Evidently, the EPA has been quick to grant permits without conducting complete reviews, and with terms that are not necessarily in keeping with the law.

On the other hand, the Irfaan Ali administration, since assuming office, has been criticized for the manner in which it goes about conducting reviews.

The Government hired former Premier of Alberta, Canada, Alison Redford, to head the Payara project review team. Redford was forced to resign from politics after she mismanaged public funds while in office. The hiring of the former premier is further complicated by the fact that she benefitted from thousands of Canadian dollars donated to her party by an ExxonMobil subsidiary in Canada, called Imperial Oil. This raised questions about whether Redford held a conflict of interest in her review of Exxon’s US$9B Payara project.

The product of her review gave no finality to two of the controversial environmental infractions committed by ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block, the dumping of thousands of barrels of produced water every day, and the flaring of over 12 billion cubic feet of natural gas. The PPP/C government handed out the permits just six weeks after she began her review.

This is the kind of lax regulatory system and overt generosity Brazil is now forced to compete with.

Brazil, with its maturity in oil and years of securing hundreds of millions of US dollars in signing bonuses is continuously executing and

When the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) assumed office about five months ago, Kaieteur News had published a list of 20 things, which the new government must do to set the oil industry on the right path; a path that would allow the nation to build its capabilities to properly govern and monetize the resources. High on that list was the creation of a depletion policy.

In simple terms, this strategy would say how fast or slow Guyana must extract its oil resources.

Several local, regional and international stakeholders have appealed for the nation to have a policy that slows the aggressive rate of extraction by ExxonMobil; otherwise, the country would be left extremely overwhelmed and on a dangerous precipice.

Taking this into account, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo was asked in November 2020, during one of his press conferences, to state the government’s interest in implementing a policy that would slow the rate of extraction.

At that time, the Vice President did not give any commitment or guarantee that the government would be inclined to walk that route. Dr. Jagdeo did state, however, that his personal view is that there should be aggressive oil production. (See link: https:// www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2020/11/14/jagdeo-in-favourof-aggressive-production-ofguyanas-oil/) Weeks later, Guyanese, who have yet to be consulted on this critical matter, would learn that Jagdeo’s personal position has become the bedrock of what the PPP/C’s depletion policy for the nation would be. That policy for the time being says –”Drill baby drill!”

During an interview on Kaieteur Radio on December 23, 2020, the official said that Kaieteur News has often reported that the PPP/C is yet to define a depletion policy.

He stressed, however, that the government has already done so “anecdotally.”

The Vice President said, “My own view is that we have a period in which oil would still be very relevant in the global mix of energy and

we have a period but it is a window that is closing because of climate change.

The window for Guyana will be open a little longer for us than other countries because we have low breakeven costs and because our crude is sweet, light unlike others which have heavy or sour crude.”

The Vice President also noted that the recently issued regulations by the International Maritime Organization require the removal of 80 percent of the sulphur content from global shipping. Since heavy or heavy sour oil has a lot of sulphur, “everyone is looking for sweet crude now.”

Further to this, Jagdeo pointed to the fact that the world’s leading economies, China and the USA, have made it pellucid that they will be heading to renewable. In fact, China, the world’s biggest energy consumer, aims to achieve carbonneutrality before 2060. As for the USA, President-elect Joe Biden has declared intentions to increase the nation’s switch to renewable energy.

Considering the implications of climate change and the global transition to cleaner energy sources, Jagdeo posited that demand for fossil fuel is either going to be static or declining in 15 to 20 years’ time. He said that this is what has influenced the PPP/C’s position to extract the oil as quickly as possible, use portions of it to build world class infrastructure and education while putting aside some for inter-generational equity.

“That is the depletion policy for you,” the Vice President concluded. (See link: depletion policy time stamp: (1: 05: 26) https:// w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=WA03jUwgIDY) Origin of the phrase – ”Drill, baby, drill!”

“Drill, baby, drill!” was a

Republican campaign slogan first used at the US 2008 Republican National Convention by former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, who was later elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee. The slogan expressed support for increased drilling for petroleum and gas as sources of additional energy and gained further prominence after it was used by Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin during the vice-presidential debate.

GUYANACANNOT TAKE ANOTHER FIVE YEARS TO GET READY FOR OIL – IDB COUNTRY MANAGER C o n s i d e r i n g ExxonMobil’s plan to have five oil projects working concurrently in the Stabroek Block by 2026, it is clear that Guyana needs to increase the pace at which it is strengthening its governance framework for the sector.

In light of this, Country Manager for the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), Sophie Makonnen, has said that the country cannot take another five years to get its act together.

During an exclusive interview with this newspaper, Makonnen said, “…I know that people are worried and I understand. I understand how the world works and why they are worried. But there has been, maybe not enough work done. I think that the next two or three years are critical. The pace to prepare has to speed up. It cannot be what it has been in the last one to five years. It had to speed up.”

Asked to say why she highlighted the next two to three years as critical, Makonnen posited: “I am just looking at the cycle of when the other oil fields are coming in, cycles of development, (Continued on page 22)

PAGE 22

From page 21 political cycles and all of that.

So I am saying that it cannot take 10 years to get ready. You can’t…It took a long time to get Guyana where it is in terms of what has been done and there’s still a lot to do. So you cannot take another five years to continue.”

Even as she said that much more needs to be done, the IDB official said this should not be interpreted to mean that there is no movement towards this end.

Makonnen reminded that the PPP/C administration has only been in power for a few months.

She added that she is aware that there is an oil and gas working group, where things are probably happening. But the difference between today and a few years ago, she said, is that there are key documents which the financial institution helped produced that are at the PPP/C’s disposal. “…They don’t have to be in agreement with everything that was produced. But it’s something to start working with. It’s not a blank sheet of paper,” the IDB Country Manager stressed.

The Inter-American Development Bank has been one of Guyana’s key partners in developing its capacity to manage the oil sector.

Towards this end, it has given Guyana several loans, one of which included: GY-T1167: Strengthening the Technical Functions of the Department of Energy. This was approved on December 17, 2019 and totalled US$ 606,062. The objective of this project is to provide immediate support to operationalize protocols for management and compliance monitoring of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) through improvements in general monitoring and enforcement standards during administration procedures, production control and verification processes.

It is also intended to provide general training and support to key agencies within the oil and gas regulatory framework with specific attention to the use of the contract management systems; and provide a platform for the dissemination of best practices for software solutions for compliance monitoring and for operating requisite internal control systems to maintain data integrity and accuracy in the sector.

MONDAY GOVT. TO MAKE LOCAL CONTENT REPORTS PUBLIC – VP JAGDEO Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said that during the process of broad national consultation to be had for

Sunday January 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

Guyana’s local content policy and legislation, the government is set to publish the local content reports prepared by the local content advisory panel.

He made these comments during a December edition of the Kaieteur Radio show, ‘Guyana’s Oil & You’ hosted

by Senior Journalist, Kiana Wilburg.

The panel members comprise President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Shyam Nokta; former Foreign Minister, Carl Greenidge; Trinidadian local content expert, Anthony Paul; former Trinidad energy minister, Kevin Ramnarine; trade unionist, Carvil Duncan, and accountant, Floyd Haynes. They were expected to review all existing initiatives and policies where local content is concerned and guide the development of a new policy and legislation. They were also required to conduct consultations with key interest groups and stakeholders, including from the private sector, government and civil society.

The first report was submitted late November, 2020.

Dr. Jagdeo said that government told the panel that its report was lengthy, so they were instructed to reduce it to about 30 pages.

This would serve the purpose of culling duplicate recommendations made by different sectors. “…the banking sector made proposals, the manufacturing sector, agricultural, all of the sectors spoke about local content and they made presentations,” The VP said, “so we are hoping that they can amalgamate all of the common comments into one document and then use that document for broader consultation.”

He added that once the document is completed, what the government intends to do is to make a release for consultation.

“We can release both the original document plus the summarised document to the public,” he explained, “and then the President himself would have a consultation with the public.”

The public consultation would be one of the final steps on the way to the formulation of a local content policy.

Vice President Jagdeo said that the public’s views would inform the preparation of a negotiating brief to announce a policy and to submit to lawyers to prepare legislation for tabling in the national assembly.

The local content policy

currently in place was drafted under the former David Granger administration but was controversial, mainly due to the consultant hired to prepare it.

It was finalized by UK consultant, Dr. Michael Warner. He had been hired by Exxon to work on its Center for Local Business Development.

Warner is the UK consultant that APNU+AFC used to replace Trinidadian local content expert, Anthony Paul, who had worked on earlier drafts of the policy.

Paul has been retained by the Irfaan Ali administration to assist with the revision of the policy and the installation of legislation.

JAGDEO’S REVELATIONS ON DEPLETION POLICY UNBELIEVABLEAND TROUBLING – RAM “Unbelievable and troubling” — that is how chartered accountant and attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram has chosen to describe the recent announcement by Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana’s depletion policy for petroleum extraction in the millions and millions of acres being operated by Exxon’s offshore subsidiary in the Stabroek Block.

According to Ram, the policy announced by Mr. Jagdeo amounts to no policy – just explore and extract as much as possible within the shortest possible time. He is of the view that this announcement, which was made during a radio interview, outside of a more formal announcement, which such an issue warrants, must be music to the ears of ExxonMobil, which sees Guyana as its redeeming cash cow.

Ram said that prior to the 2020 elections, he had reason to believe that a PPP/C Government would take a stand on the egregious and in some parts unlawful Petroleum Agreement signed by former Minister Raphael Trotman one full year after a world class discovery offshore Guyana. He now thinks that on an objective assessment, the PPP/C appears to have decided to leave matters well alone and worse, giving ExxonMobil even more than it has asked for, such as the rushed Payara production licence with no meaningful conditions attached, the kid gloves treatment of Exxon over its flaring, and the removal of the highly qualified Dr. Vincent Adams, who was becoming a thorn in Exxon’s flesh, from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Christopher Ram Noting that it might be purely coincidental, Ram drew attention to 17 notices by the Maritime Administration Department of the Government in Sunday’s newspapers, only some of which include the area size of the operations. These notices advise mariners of continuing Deep Water Development operations in Liza Field within the Stabroek and the Canje Block, to run for the whole of 2021.

Further to this, Ram noted that Article 5 of the Exxon’s Petroleum Agreement provides for relinquishment of part of the area after the end of the first renewal period and the signal to Exxon of the unrestricted exploration and extraction policy can have on the effect of forestalling any meaningful relinquishment by Exxon when the time for such relinquishment comes around. The accountant who also holds a post-graduate degree in Oil and Gas notes, that while it was under then Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud, who is now back in the Government, that the Model Petroleum Agreement was made more attractive than the 1999 Agreement to Exxon granted by the late President Mrs. Janet Jagan. Mr. Trotman then exploited and abused this relaxation to the hilt – all in Exxon’s favour.

Ram said that while Jagdeo is an economist by training, many energy economists will have fundamental disagreement with the logic and rationale for the absence of any depletion policy. While fossil fuel use is coming under increasing pressure, coal will go long before petroleum and that there is no economic logic for running down our premium quality petroleum resources.

Ram also pointed out that the newly announced policy will de-optimise local content and

gave the example of Omai Gold Mines Limited, which took around five years to achieve its local content targets within a mandatory agreement involving a comparably miniscule geographical area and activity.

Ram said that the PPP/C may not have paid enough attention to oil and gas between 2015 and 2020 and suggested that the Government now reflect on the need for a comprehensive Petroleum Policy having regard to Article 149 J of the Constitution, the limitations of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act and regulations, local content, the economy’s absorptive capacity, Dutch Disease, resource curse in general and the urgent need for a petroleum regulatory body, among other things.

AG RECOMMENDS POLICE PROBE, CHARGES FOR OVER $170 M SPENT ON LAWYERS BYAPNU+AFC GOVT.-SPECIAL AUDIT REPORT Auditor General, (AG) Deodat Sharma has recommended a police probe and charges where necessary for breach of the procurement procedures by officers attached to the Attorney General‘s Chambers for over $170 M in retainer (legal fee) agreements signed under the previous A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government.

The recommendations follow a special audit of the retainer agreements, which was requested, by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall.

According to the report by the Audit Office, the inspection covered the period May 2015 to 31 August 2020

and focused on all transactions related to legal fees paid to 26 local and foreign attorneys-at-law/law firms/agency under the APNU+AFC administration.

The auditors examined records pertinent to the audit, which included Tender Board minutes and approvals, payment vouchers, contracts, and its supporting documents for retaining lawyers for a number of cases including the No Confidence Vote cases brought by the previous government and the matters filed to challenge the outcome of the March 2020 elections.

In a detailed compilation of the matters, the auditors noted that the Ministry of Legal Affairs (MOLA) in its contract registers for the period May 2015 to August 2020 had 71 contracts, which were awarded to 26 attorneysat-law/law firms/agency totalling $170.828M. According to the report, the MOLA’s current appropriation accounts for the years 2015 to August 2020, amounts totalling $112.200M which was expended on employment cost under the State Solicitor, whilst amounts totalling $166.474M were expended as retainer agreement for 22 attorneys-at-law/law firms.

The document specified that State Solicitor is responsible for filing all pleadings in action instituted by the State and against the State.

Additionally, it was pointed out that based on the documents examined, there was no evidence to conclude that these contracts were publicly advertised, which is in breach of Sections 25. (1) And 10(1) of the Procurement Act of 2003.

The Procurement Act 2003 states that “Subject to subsection (2), public tendering is mandatory. For such tendering an invitation to tender or to prequalify, as applicable, is mandatory” and “the procuring entity shall maintain a record of the procurement proceedings including the means used to solicit suppliers or contractors and a record of any such advertisements”.

Further, the audit report stated that direct contracting/ single source method was used to award these contracts. “…The guide to the Public Procurement Procedures, states that where contracts are to be awarded regularly, or are to be renewed within a specified period of time, the contract value is established on the basis of the actual aggregate cost of similar contracts or services (Continued on page 23)

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From page 22 awarded over the previous twelve months or financial year, adjusted where possible for anticipated changes in the value or quantity,” the report added.

It was also observed that cases where the attorney/firm would have represented the MOLA at more than one Court hearings, approval was sought from Ministerial Tender Board (MTB) and later on National Procurement and Tender Administration Board NPTAB for the additional hearing and vice versa.

Added to this, during the period under review, it was observed by the auditors that withholding tax was deducted for contracts exceeding $500,000. The rate for withholding tax was charged at two percent for companies who are housed locally and 15 percent for companies who operated out of the Country.

Audit scrutiny revealed amounts totalling only $10.536M were paid to GRA in respect of the 71 contracts that were awarded.

As a result, the Audit Office recommended that the MOLA appropriate disciplinary action for any culpable Officer(s); an in depth probe by the Guyana Police Force followed by the charges where necessary; and full compliance with the Procurement Act 2003 with respect of awarding of contracts.

TUESDAY GUYANACOULD BE HEADING FOR ENVIRONMENTALAND ECONOMIC DISASTER GAS TO SHORE PROJECT… – INT’L LAWYER ALARMED NO EIA DONE TO DATE While the People’s Progressive Party /Civic (PPP/ C) administration has continued where its predecessor left off on establishing a project to bring gas to shore so as to meet the increasing energy demands of the city, some industry stakeholders are now advising against it as they believe the project has the potential to land Guyana in environmental and economic disaster.

During a recent interview on Kaieteur Radio’s programme, Guyana’s Oil and You, International Lawyer, Melinda Janki, bluntly stated that the authorities of the day are actually embarking on a “lunatic project” which will place more massive debt on the backs of Guyanese.

According to a 2018 feasibility study that was handed to the former

APNU+AFC administration, a whopping US$304M is needed for ExxonMobil and its partners to bring natural gas from the Stabroek block to Guyana’s shores. The feasibility study, which was compiled by Energy Narrative, a US-based market analysis firm, states that out of the US$304M, ExxonMobil would be responsible for US$165M, which will be used for pipeline construction costs. The remaining US$139M for the construction of the onshore infrastructure will have to be financed by the Government of Guyana. Also, Guyana would still have to pay for the transportation of the gas but that price is currently under negotiations between the PPP/C and ExxonMobil.

Further to her concerns about the increase in debt, Janki expressed that the nation is supposed to see an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the project before thought is given to its execution.

Considering that the law requires EIAs to be done for projects of this nature, Janki is of the belief that the gas to shore venture in its current state, is illegal.

The lawyer also contended that Guyanese are yet to see a current economic analysis, which shows that this project is economically sound for Guyana in the long run as opposed to going the route of renewable energy.

Taking the foregoing factors into consideration, Janki said that the gas to shore project is a foolish proposition.

Also sharing similar sentiments during the radio programme was Tom Sanzillo, Director of financial analysis at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

During the discussions on Guyana’s proclivity to bring gas to shore in a mere four years, Sanzillo said he can certainly appreciate the nation’s desires to respond to the rising demand for electricity as well as to find a solution to the issue of power outages and high electricity costs.

He stressed, however, that the manner in which Guyana went about negotiating a lopsided deal for oil provides no evidence that it can do otherwise for bringing gas to shore.

The financial expert said, “…I have to be frank about

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this, the way the contracts were negotiated for this oil endeavour gives me no confidence that the country has any ability to negotiate the best price for a pipeline and other infrastructure to bring gas to shore…There is no evidence of that. In fact, one has evidence to the contrary.”

In addition to this, he said that based on his observations of how Guyana’s leaders intend to pursue the gas to shore project spells out “a recipe for financial bankruptcy for Guyana.”

In this regard, Sanzillo recalled that the leaders have intentions of having ExxonMobil build a pipeline that would allow for the project to be brought to shore.

Guyana would not be paying for the gas but it would have to pay ExxonMobil the cost for transporting the resource.

By subjecting itself to such an arrangement, Sanzillo said that Guyana is in simple terms, taking the little oil money it would make and investing it in another fossil fuel project that would leave the country saddled with more debt.

He said that Guyana is not only accepting a lopsided deal with the Stabroek Block but it is now moving to invest in a project that will handsomely support the interests of oil companies and their bankers. This he alluded is not just backward, but a dangerous precipice for Guyana to be hanging from.

FAILURE OF GOVTS. TO PUNISH CORRUPT PARTY MEMBERS UNDERMINES GOVERNANCE – SAYS GREENIDGE The factors, which undermine good governance in Guyana, are many. But chief among those challenges would be the way corruption is addressed by governments, especially when their party members are at the heart of those matters.

Making this assertion during a recent interview on Kaieteur Radio’s programme, Governance, Corruption and Justice, was Carl Greenidge, the Advisor on Borders for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration.

During the discussion, Greenidge asserted that the

failure of governments to properly deal with their own party members who have engaged in corruption not only undermines good governance but the standing of the party too. When this is observed by the public, Greenidge said, it leads to citizens harbouring the belief that one enters politics with the purpose of filling their pockets and any means by which they choose to do so is acceptable. This state of affairs, he alluded, has to be corrected, otherwise it would only continue to erode the moral fabric of the nation.

Also part of the problem, he said, is the way some sections of society perceive corruption. In this regard, the APNU Member said, “…The public has to look at its own attitude towards corruption; …You’ve got one section of the society that sees white collar crime as acceptable because nobody loses and another section of the public that regards it as absolutely vile. So, there’s a cultural element to this in which crime, in some measure, is condoned by some elements of our community…”

Greenidge said that members of the public have to be more forceful in holding policy leaders accountable; otherwise, they become part of the challenge to good governance.

Further to the need for addressing corruption, Greenidge was also keen to point out that the poor level of dialogue between the government and political opposition of the day is cause for concern. He holds the view that it is a critical element in the bid to improve the quality of good governance.

The politician said, “If there was proper dialogue, I think we would not be in a position in which you spend 15 or more years with Chief Justices and the like, at the highest levels of the country acting and can’t be confirmed. All of this is a reflection of how poor dialogue can eat away at good governance.”

In concluding his thoughts, Greenidge said that the nation would stand to

benefit more if there is improved dialogue between policy leaders and within the parties too.

GHANA FINES OIL COMPANIES FOR FAILING TO HONOUR WORK OBLIGATIONS The Republic of Ghana fines oil companies that fail to deliver on the work obligations committed to in their contracts, in order to deter inactivity on the oil block. Guyana does not.

Instead, Guyana has embraced non-compliance with work obligations by granting extensions.

In petroleum agreements, the work programme is a feature. It holds the contracted company to a minimum work obligation to complete tasks by a certain period. The contractor would have to complete a seismic study or drill a well within a specified period. In addition, the company would be required to commit a budget to each task.

The African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) is a think-tank that conducts high quality research, analysis and advocacy in the energy and extractives sectors in Africa.

In a report titled ‘PETROLEUM CONTRACTS MONITOR, 2019; A PUBLIC INTEREST REPORT’, the firm said that Ghana’s petroleum agreements have an exploration period between six and seven years. The periods are subdivided into three phases with specific milestones and expenditure requirements: the initial phase, the first extension period phase and the second extension phase. A company can move on from initial phase to the first extension period if it has satisfied the minimum requirements under the initial phase. The rule also applies for the transition to the second extension.

“If a contractor does not deliver the terms specified, there are sanctions to be applied,” ACEP said.

“Similarly, if the contractor delivers more than was expected for a period, the

company is credited with the extra delivery in the extended period.”

This is an excerpt from a petroleum agreement with Swiss African Oil Company Limited: “Work accomplished in any period in excess of the above obligations may be applied as credit in satisfaction of obligations called for in any other Period.

Without prejudice to Article 23.3(e), should Contractor fail to perform its Minimum Work Obligations under Article 4.3(a), (b) or (c) as applicable, Contractor shall pay to GNPC, an amount equal to the unspent amount of the Minimum Expenditure Obligation for the relevant Exploration Phase.”

GNPC is Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, the state agency charged with exploration, licensing, and distribution of petroleumrelated activities.

When it comes to Guyana, there is no such provision to hold oil companies accountable for the failure to honour their work obligations.

In fact, one company – CGX Resources Inc. – held on to the Demerara Block for eight years without drilling a single well, despite being required to drill at least one well within the first four years of having the licence. At the end of the four-year period, CGX was required to give up 15 percent of the contract area or the entire block and renew the licence for another three years. In 2017, it exercised the option to relinquish 15 percent of the block and renewed its licence for three years. The David Granger administration approved the renewal even though CGX did not honour its work obligations completely.

Further to this, the petroleum agreement notes that if it acquires the renewal, CGX should drill two wells.

Instead of honouring this, it approached the coalition regime in 2017 to approve a work programme with fewer obligations.

The Addendum states that between 2017 and 2020, CGX could simply conduct additional data processing and planning for an exploration well, after which it can elect either to relinquish the entire contract area except for any discovery area or commit to doing any additional processing and planning, while securing all regulatory approvals for the drilling of the first exploration well.

The Addendum also states that at the end of the first renewal period of three years, the company shall elect either to relinquish the entire contract area except or 25 (Continued on page 24)

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From page 23 percent of the block and renew for a second period of three years.

The Granger administration approved this work programme in December 2017 in spite of the fact that the company breached its commitments during the first four years of having the licence. It also gave CGX the option of not drilling a well until 2021.

This is just one example of the Guyana government allowing the company to get away with not honouring its commitments.

WEDNESDAY JAGDEO LAMENTS LIBERALTAX REGIME IN STABROEKAGREEMENT BUT MAKES NO COMMITMENT TO FIX IT Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, is in agreement with criticisms of the tax regime of the Stabroek block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) granted to ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC by former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.

Despite commitments to revising that regime for other petroleum agreements, the Vice President did not commit to improving the Stabroek block tax regime, which governs the handling of Guyana’s nine billion oilequivalent barrels. Exxon has already received approval to produce 1.5 billion barrels of those reserves under that tax regime, thanks to the current administration, and the immediate former administration.

Dr. Jagdeo appeared on Kaieteur Radio’s Guyana’s Oil & You, hosted by Kaieteur News’ Senior Journalist, Kiana Wilburg.

The discussion briefly touched on the uneven application of tax

Kaieteur News

breaks in favour of foreign oil firms, and the Vice President said that they are egregious, especially in cases where, even if tax liabilities fall on the company, the government is responsible for paying the company’s taxes.

The PSA, signed in 2016, states “no tax, value-added tax, excise tax, duty, fee, charge or other impost shall be levied at the date hereof or from time to time thereafter on the Contractor or Affiliated Companies in respect of income derived from Petroleum Operations or in respect of any property held, transactions undertaken or activities performed for any purpose authorized or contemplated hereunder…”

Some exceptions are listed, but in those cases, the PSA explicitly holds the Minister responsible for paying them: “The Minister hereby agrees… that a sum equivalent to the tax assessed… will be paid by the Minister to the Commission General, Guyana Revenue Authority on behalf of the Contractor and that the amount of such sum will be considered income of the Contractor…”

The records would show that the tax liabilities of the company are h a n d l e d a n d p a i d f o r, though at government’s expense. Effectively, the oil companies pay no taxes, nor do their subcontractors or affiliates.

Despite being in a g r e e m e n t , t h e Vi c e President pointed to former Minister Trotman as the responsible party, as they are enshrined in the PSA he signed on to.

“A lot of the laxity you see in relation to the oil companies derives from the PSA,” he said.

In a report, Global Witness had pointed to

Tr o t m a n ’s lavish ExxonMobil-paid trip to its Texas headquarters in 2016 as a red flag. The nongovernmental organization also said that Trotman ignored expert advice on multiple occasions, and signed the agreement away in a short period. Most importantly, the firm said that Guyana left US$55B on the table because of its failure to secure a fair deal.

“The fiscal regime of the PSA is too liberal and it puts us at a disadvantage.” Dr. Jagdeo said.

He referred to advice Guyana has received that the tax regime cannot be changed.

The contract contains a rigid stability clause at Article 32.

Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram, had said in 2018 that one gets the distinct impression that ExxonMobil went above and beyond to strangle Guyana’s Parliament and future governments with the use of this clause.

It states that: “Except as may be expressly provided herein, the government shall not amend, modify, rescind, terminate, declare invalid or unenforceable, require renegotiation of, compel replacement or substitution or otherwise seek to avoid alter, or limit this agreement without the prior written consent of the contractor.”

The contract reads: “After the signing of this agreement and its conformance with Article 15, the Government shall not increase the economic burdens of the contractor under this agreement by applying to this agreement or the operations conducted hereunder any increase of, or any new petroleum related fiscal obligation, including but not limited to any new taxes whatsoever, any new royalty, duties, fees, charges, VAT or other imposts.”

If it does, the government would have to compensate ExxonMobil for any losses caused by the changes made.

The Vice President said that he wants to make it clear that this issue only applies to the Stabroek PSA. He said that if any oil company comes to the government for a production sharing agreement, relative to another block, that they would face an entirely different fiscal regime, “which will correct the deficiencies in this current PSA, and put in additional features that will safeguard the country…”

The contract allows for a renegotiation. However, this must be done with the agreement of all parties. Both

Murdered: Haresh Singh major parties have been urged to seek renegotiation, but have rejected those calls.

So has ExxonMobil.

GUYANABEGGED FOR USD$61M IN COVID AID – BUT GAVE AWAY USD$600M IN TAXES TO OIL COMPANIES IN 2019 When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, Guyana, like many other third world countries, were forced to seek financial aid to cope with the unprecedented health and economic crisis.

With aims of combating the pandemic in Guyana, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) had approved a US$22M loan, which it had announced on November 9th, 2020, under its Contingent Credit Facility for Natural Disaster and Public Health Emergencies.

The bank had said that the expenditures are necessary to contain transmission of COVID-19 and mitigate further health and economic consequences.

But before this, the IDB, on November 6th, 2020, had approved COVID-19 loan for Guyana, to the tune of US$30.4 million. This, it had said, will contribute to providing financial support for vulnerable persons hit by the crisis, and mitigate the fallout of the crisis on the education sector.

The World Bank had also approved a loan for Guyana, in the sum of US$7.5M. It said that the funds would strengthen laboratory capacity, support screening and surveillance, improve contact tracing, and equip healthcare facilities for more effective treatment and care of COVID-19 patients.

In total, Guyana would have stretched its hands for some USD$61M in COVID aid. It contrasts sharply with the giveaway of a whopping USD$600M in tax exemptions to oil companies in 2019.

These and other startling details were revealed by the Auditor General (AG) in his audit report of 2019.

“During the year 2019, the

Sunday January 10, 2021

Murdered cousins: Joel and Isaiah Henry oil and gas sector received tax exemptions totalling $125.849 billion through the GO-Invest (Guyana Office For Investments) and the Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC),” the Audit Report for 2019 had noted.

To put that figure into perspective, the magnitude of those exemptions measures up to 37% of last year ’s $329.5B national budget.

In addition, the report pointed out, too, that two companies objected to assess taxes totalling some $265.626M. Guyana will continue along this path of billions being lost in revenue because these very exemptions it granted. For context, instead of allowing ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC/ NEXEN to pay their fair share of Corporate Income Taxes (CIT), Guyana had agreed to pay the same on behalf of the contractor from its share of oil profits.

In other words, if Guyana gets 50% in profits and the taxes to be paid to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) amount to $20, it means that Guyana has only gained $30 in profits. If Guyana did not agree to such a provision in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) to begin with, it would have walked away with a total of $70.

Tom Sanzillo, Director of Finance at the Institute for Energy Economics (IEEFA) and Financial Analysis, on commenting on this very issue had stated that the public is fundamentally being short-changed when the government pays the income taxes for the company.

Sanzillo, who has 30 years of experience in public and private finance, had noted, too, that in a five-year-period, ExxonMobil would be walking away with US$653 million which it should have paid in taxes.

Based on his calculations, Sanzillo stated that bill is what Guyana would be left paying from its share of the profits.

A simple calculation of

that figure over the 40-year life of the agreement, considering ExxonMobil’s plan for five oil vessels by 2026, would see Guyana losing USD$40B in taxes throughout the deal.

However, the US$653M projection is based on the early years of ExxonMobil’s oil production in the Stabroek Block, when it is recovering most of its investment in the development of the fields.

ExxonMobil’s profit will increase to a large extent after it has recouped those investments, therefore, higher taxes would be due, and the actual loss of tax revenue for Guyana will likely be much higher.

Meanwhile, industry analysts as well as global organizations such as the IBD and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have said that Guyana should have taken more than a 50% split of the profits made from the Stabroek Block since it is satisfying the tax obligations of the oil companies.

Both institutions had acknowledged that Guyana is short-changing itself by opting to pay the oil companies’ taxes without increasing its stake.

FBI ASSISTING POLICE IN SOLVING WEST BERBICE TEEN MURDERS Assisting the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in its efforts to solve the gruesome triple murders of the Berbice teens is the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The FBI is a domestic intelligence and security service of the United States of America (USA). It is also considered to be the US’ principal law enforcement agency.

According to a release sent to this media house, the police force stated that it has sought assistance from the FBI as the probe continues into the murders of Haresh Singh, 17, and the Henry cousins – Joel, 16, and Isaiah,19. In fact, Crime Chief, (Continued on page 25)

Sunday January 10, 2021

From page 24 Wendell Blanhum, told Kaieteur News Tuesday that the FBI has already began the process of assisting police with certain aspects of the investigation. He added that the US law enforcement agency would be providing technical assistance to GPF, which does not require their physical presence in Guyana.

The three teens were brutally slain in early September, sparking protests, robberies, and the blocking of the roads in West Berbice.

Several vehicles were burnt during the protests as access to and from Berbice were cut off for days.

Police and army ranks had to be shuttled to the area to bring back some level of normalcy.

The mutilated bodies of Joel,16, and Isaiah Henry, 19, were the first to be discovered next to a coconut farm at Cotton Tree Backdam, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

A rice farmer was arrested as one of the suspects for their murder. A few days later amidst the violent protest, his grandson, Haresh Singh, 17, was also killed in an apparent retaliation.

In a few days’ time, it will be four months since they were killed and their killer (s) are yet to be charged. Help was received from regional investigators (RSS).

Police offered a $3M reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators. A number of suspects were arrested, but subsequently released.

The Director of the Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology (EAAF), Dr. Luis Fondebrider, was also brought in by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) to assess whether or not his team can help.

He conducted a four-day visit, where he visited the crime scene and family members of both Singh and the Henry cousins.

Well-placed police sources had told Kaieteur news that local pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, had advised that the EAAF director could be provided with a video of the autopsy conducted on the teens. With a copy of the video, he would be able to form his own opinion or conclusion.

Sources said that investigators had communicated this to Fondebrider, but he is yet to respond.

Nevertheless, the police force said it is positive that the FBI will play a key role in helping it crack the case.

The FBI is equipped with special agents, support professionals such as intelligence analysts and

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scientists.

The agency has successfully solved a number of high profile cases in its homeland such as the 1993 World Trade Centre Bombings.

FBI agents had also worked in the past with Guyanese lawmen in investigating the 1978 murder of a US congressman, Leo Ryan Jr., and the mass suicide in Jonestown.

The agency was successful in extraditing, Larry Layton, one of the men involved in what is known as the Crime of the Century.

Layton was later convicted in the US and sentenced to life imprisonment.

THURSDAY GUYANA’S LAWLESS GIVEAWAYSAFFECT OUR NEIGHBOURS TOO Brazil is a regional neighbour hit hard by the sellout, backward behaviour of Guyana’s political leaders.

The low standards and returns, which Guyana negotiated, are pressuring countries to relax strict industry protections.

As a consequence, the Brazilian state-owned oil company, Petrobras, is threatening to set the company’s sights on Guyana unless environmental permits are expedited.

The precedent set by Guyana, through its oil giveaways, is threatening a backlash in our relations with Brazil. When Guyanese leaders giveaway the nation’s oil wealth for ‘next-tonothing’, this places Brazilian regulators in a difficult spot.

Oil companies, including state-owned oil companies, can now demand that Brazilian regulators grant to them nothing less than what the oil companies obtained in Guyana.

The capitalist system is about competition. Oil companies are bloodthirsty sharks competing globally for oil assets. They will move their investments to where they can obtain the best terms.

Oil companies will flock to free-for-all markets such as Guyana where they can benefit from lax regulation and breakneck terms. This is good for oil companies, but will not benefit Guyana.

It will have ramifications for economic development in Brazil and for that country’s relations with Guyana.

Brazil is no push-over.

PETROBAS – the Brazilian Petroleum Corporation – is angry. And the Brazilian government, in turn, has ways and means of apprehending us for lowering the sector’s negotiating benchmarks.

Chatham House Associate Fellow, Dr. Valerie Marcel CHATHAM HOUSE EXPERT SAYS GAS-TOSHORE PROJECT MUST BEAFFORDABLE – INSISTS IT CANNOT BE SEEN AS “END ALL” In its bid to pursue a gasto-shore project, the Government of Guyana must first ensure that the venture is affordable says Chatham House Associate Fellow, Dr. Valerie Marcel. During an exclusive interview with other industry stakeholders on Kaieteur Radio’s programme, Guyana’s Oil and You, Dr. Marcel said it is clear from the inception that Guyana did not expect to find as much gas as it did in the Stabroek Block hence there is a common interest among ExxonMobil and its partners along with the government to bring the gas to shore. The industry expert stressed, however, that the big question that has to be answered relates to the affordability of bringing the substantial resource to shore and whether Guyana can have all the relevant mechanisms in place to ensure the project is efficient.

In addition to this, Dr. Marcel said that a gas-toshore project will still have shortcomings because it would not meet the energy demands of the entire country, especially the needs of persons living in far flung areas. Considering this, she said that Guyana needs to look at the role of renewable projects in the national energy matrix.

In her concluding thoughts, the Chatham House Fellow also said that the project has merit in principle but at the same time, admitted that she is making

such a statement without having read or considered the feasibility studies or economics of bringing such a project on board.

Former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, was in agreement with the position expressed by Dr. Marcel. His reasoning for supporting such a project was premised on the fact that Guyana has poor power generation capacity and infrastructure in place and therefore needs to find a response to the energy demand that is increasing annually by seven percent.

Patterson also noted that the previous government had commissioned several studies, which examined the feasibility and practicality of the project. It is important to note, however, that none of these studies, which Kaieteur News perused, prove that the gas-to-shore project is the most viable option for Guyana based on a comparative analysis done against the costs of renewable projects.

None of the studies commissioned also show that Guyana and its future generations would not be burdened with the repayment of exorbitant loans taken to fund the project.

Even as Patterson lent support to Guyana having a gas-to-shore project based on the studies his regime would have commissioned, he insisted that the country needs a holistic debate on all the alternatives available to meet the energy needs of the country.

ENVIRONMENTALAND ECONOMIC DISASTER Apart from the views offered by Patterson and Dr. Marcel, two other guests on

the programme were quite blunt in their remarks that Guyana should stay as far as possible from the project. In fact, International Lawyer, Melinda Janki, stated that the authorities of the day are actually embarking on a “lunatic project” that is tantamount to courting massive debt.

According to a 2018 feasibility study that was handed to the former APNU+AFC administration, a whopping US$304M is needed for ExxonMobil and its partners to bring natural gas from the Stabroek block to Guyana’s shores. The feasibility study, which was compiled by Energy Narrative, a US-based market analysis firm, states that out of the US$304M, ExxonMobil would be responsible for US$165M, which will be used for pipeline construction costs. The remaining US$139M for the construction of the onshore infrastructure will have to be financed by loans taken by the Government of Guyana.

Also, Guyana would still have to pay for the transportation of the gas but that price is currently under negotiations between the PPP/C and ExxonMobil.

Further to her concerns about the increase in debt, Janki had expressed that the nation is supposed to see an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the project before thought is given to its execution.

Considering that the law requires EIAs to be done for projects of this nature, Janki is of the belief that the gas to shore venture in its current state, is illegal.

The lawyer also contended that Guyanese are yet to see a current economic analysis, which shows that this project is economically sound for Guyana in the long run as opposed to going the route of renewable energy now. Taking the foregoing factors into consideration, Janki said that the gas to shore project is a foolish proposition.

Tom Sanzillo, Director of financial analysis at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), was quick to agree with Janki as he said Guyana has no evidence to show that it can achieve a financially sound arrangement. In fact, Sanzillo said that the lopsided oil deal for the Stabroek Block deal is testimony to the fact that Guyana is incapable of negotiating the best prices for the pipeline and other infrastructure for the gas to shore project.

The financial expert said that Guyana ought to stay

clear of the project or else it risks jumping off the edge of a most dangerous precipice.

EXXON CAVES IN TO THEIR INVESTORS’ CALL FOR TRUER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Oil supermajor ExxonMobil has finally bowed to investors’ pressure to start reporting, on an annual basis, Scope Three emissions, a category of emissions it has evaded disclosing for many years. This follows a plan it announced last month to reduce its emissions by certain specified periods.

To many climate activists and climate conscious investors, Exxon’s additional reporting provides a truer representation of the impact of ExxonMobil’s work on the global environment.

ExxonMobil disagrees.

Simply put, there are three accepted categories of emissions for this kind of reporting by companies like ExxonMobil: Scopes One, Two and Three.

In its report titled ‘ExxonMobil 2021 Energy and Carbon Summary’, it is explained that Scope One emissions data generally covers the direct greenhouse gas emissions of ExxonMobil’s operations, while Scope Two data tells investors and the public of the indirect greenhouse gas emissions from energy purchased by the company to power its operations.

Scope Three data refers to the company’s “indirect” (as it notes) greenhouse gas emissions derived from use of the company’s products. The sale of petroleum products by Exxon for 2019 was equivalent to 730 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Exxon disagrees with assertions that Scope Three emissions data fairly represents its own efforts to protect the global environment, as it said that those emissions are outside of its control.

It said that, “Because Scope One and Scope Two emissions are within the direct control of a company, the criteria for identifying and reporting them is well established, transparent and consistent across industries.”

“Reporting Scope Three emissions, however, is less certain and less consistent,” it states. “Evaluating a company’s Scope Three emissions and comparing them to other companies can be challenging due to inconsistent reporting methodologies, as well as potential duplication, inconsistencies and (Continued on page 26)

PAGE 26

From page 25 inaccuracies that may occur when reporting emissions that are the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the reporting organisation.

The International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) acknowledges these issues.”

It further posited that Scope Three emissions are misleading when it comes to providing insight into the company’s emissionsreduction performance because, for example, data on increased natural gas sales for power generation would show an increase in Scope Three emissions despite the effect such sales would have on the amount of coal burned for power generation.

Exxon said that meaningful Scope Three emissions reductions would ultimately be driven by changes in society’s energy use and the development of more affordable low-emission technologies.

This company will only see increased pressure from climate-conscious investors in the years to come, as its investors have blasted it as a poor performer among its oil industry peers, when it comes to reporting.

In the past two years, investors such as Legal and General Investment Management Limited (LGIM) and the Church of England have dumped Exxon stocks out of dissatisfaction with its performance. Its European shareholders have led the charge, in this regard.

Exxon has also faced multiple lawsuits from US states like New York and Massachusetts, as well as US local government leaders, which allege that it made damning findings years ago about the impact its operations would have on the environment, and that it deliberately hid this information so it could lie to its shareholders and the public about the true environmental cost of its work.

FRIDAY PPP/C YET TO DISCLOSE STUDIES TO JUSTIFY LANDING GAS PROJECT AT WALES Even though Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has disclosed to members of the media that the government has decided to land the gas-to-shore project at Wales, West Bank Demerara, the administration is still to release the relevant environmental studies, which

Sunday January 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

support that choice.

It should be noted that previous studies, which were commissioned by the Coalition administration, did not list Wales as one of the most cost-effective options for the landing of the project which would bring gas from the Liza Phase One Project for 20 years.

In fact, the former regime had engaged consultancy group, Energy Narrative, in 2017, to undertake a desk study on the options, cost, economics, impacts, and key considerations of transporting and utilizing natural gas from offshore Guyana for electricity generation.

According to the report, an offshore pipeline is estimated to cost between US$165 million and US$270 million to build, depending on the size and landing site location. It said that in shore compression and separation of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is estimated to cost between US$43 million and US$114 million. Finally, distributing the natural gas to the various electricity generation locations is estimated to cost between US$95 million and $127 million depending once again, on the various proposed landing sites.

It was further noted that three sites were under discussion for the landing site of the proposed pipeline.

With respect to the first option being Georgetown, the report said that this location was being considered because of the location of the Sophia substation (and the proposed New Sophia substation as noted in the 2016 GPL Expansion Study).

The second option, which was Clonbrook, was being considered as it is located to the east of the main city along the Atlantic coast. It was

being considered as an alternative to Georgetown, as it is less busy and potentially has more space for development. The location is estimated to be near the Columbia substation too. The third option was New Amsterdam, owing to its location along the Berbice River and the potential to develop a new industrial site and deep-water port to support new energyintensive industries. Its location is estimated to be near the Canefield substation.

After doing its analysis of the costs, the Clonbrook landing site was considered as the most optimal landing site for the 30 million standard cubic feet per day (MMcfd) pipeline. The document said that this option would cost US$304 million, including US$165 for the offshore pipeline, US$43.5 million for a compression station and separation plant onshore, and US$95.4 million for onshore pipelines to bring natural gas to power stations in Vreed-enHoop, Kingston, Garden of Eden, and Canefield.

Based on the sites it reviewed, it was found that the Clonbrook landing site results in the lowest overall delivered cost of natural gas.

COMMERCIAL REGISTRY DEMANDS COMPANIES TO SUBMIT NAMES OF BENEFICIAL OWNERS As part of its mandate, the Commercial Registry is calling on companies in Guyana to submit the names of their beneficial owners.

The beneficial owners are the people who ultimately control an asset as well as benefit from its use. The Registry, in an advertisement in Thursday’s paper, asked companies to submit to them a statement of beneficial ownership, identifying the

natural person/s who own/s and control/s 25% or more of the company’s shares.

Importantly, the registry stated in their ad that all notices previously published or issued in relation to beneficial ownership, including the notice that had been published in the Official Gazette, had been withdrawn.

The call for companies to submit the names of their beneficial owners comes at a time when there is a large contention over the beneficial owners of the Kaieteur and Canje blocks—two oil blocks that were awarded under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), by former President Donald Ramotar, just before he demitted office in May 2015.

With the Canje Block, one its owners, JHI Associates, is incorporated in the British Virgins Islands (BVI), a place known as a secrecy jurisdiction and tax haven.

This is a major red flag for governments that prioritize transparency and mitigation of corruption risks. It is difficult for authorities to gain information from tax havens like BVI. The company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Canadian John Cullen, would appear to set the country’s roots in that jurisdiction. Its website was created in June 2015, and has added bits and pieces of information over time. It claims it was formed in 2011 and expanded its core team to support Mid-Atlantic Oil & Gas in 2013 – the year the block was applied for.

Mid-Atlantic is the first recipient of the Canje Block and currently retains a 12.5 percent stake.

It is notable that one year before Mid-Atlantic received the block, JHI had completed a “pre-licence farm-in” with Mid-Atlantic in 2014, according to its website.

It is unprecedented that a company can “farm in” to a block even before the block was even legally signed away, since the host government would have to approve such a farm in.

Why this happened could be explained by exploring the multiple linkages between Mid-Atlantic and JHI, as expressed in a series of articles published by Kaieteur News. Mid-Atlantic’s sole shareholder, Edris Kamal Dookie and Cullen have history together as the cofounders of CGX. They also, along with another member of JHI (Scott Young) are owners of a company called Oyster Oil & Gas. While Guyana knows Dookie is the sole shareholder in Mid-Atlantic, revealing the beneficiaries of JHI will shed much more light on what happened with the Canje block.

It was recently announced that BVI would by 2023, be creating publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership for companies incorporated there.

By then, Guyana would have the opportunity to know who benefitted from the sale of its Canje block to ExxonMobil and Total.

ALLEGED PONZI SCHEME BOSS TELLS ATTACKERS… HARMING ME OR MY FAMILY WON’T BRING BACK THE MONEY During an appearance as a guest on social media news network, Big Smith News Watch, alleged Ponzi scheme operator, Yuri GarciaDominguez, said Thursday that harming him or his family won’t bring the money back.

Garcia-Dominguez and his wife, Ateeka Ishmael, are the principals of Accelerated Capital Firm Inc (ACF), a company that allegedly swindled at least 17,000 Guyanese of about $4B. On Wednesday, around 9pm, three gunmen turned up at a house located at Track ‘A’ Coldingen, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and opened fire.

According to police, Garcia-Dominguez occupied the bottom flat of the property, which he rented from a businessman, Aubrey Norton, 42.

It is believed that that attack was aimed at sending Garcia-Dominguez a warning to repay monies to thousands of persons who invested in his company.

CCTV footage showed three men-two of them dressed in hoodies - exiting a dark coloured car and walking

up to the house. They whipped handguns and shot at the premises before returning back to the car and leaving.

Norton lives in the upper flat of the house with his wife and had told cops they were both watching television when they heard the loud explosions. They were forced to seek cover.

Garcia-Dominguez and his family, however, were not at home at the time. While being interviewed on Big Smith News Watch, GarciaDominguez said that they were at a meeting with his legal team.

Commenting during the live interview, his landlord claimed that he is not staying there.

Nevertheless, GarciaDominguez, insisted that he would like to send a message to whoever might want to harm him. “Harming me or harming my family won’t bring the money back”.

Garcia-Dominguez added that he has been receiving numerous threats on his life.

“I have received messages and told that if I don’t pay the money back they will harm me,” he said.

Garcia-Dominguez pleaded with the public to desist from the violence and said that he is not a robber.

He acknowledged that people are frustrated about their payments. However, attacking him won’t solve the problem.

Garcia-Dominguez is currently out on bail after he and his wife were remanded for multiple fraud chargesmore than 80 charges.

He has since promised that he will repay all of his investors. Many of those persons are still to be paid and have reached out to Kaieteur News to vent frustration.

They labelled him a fraud and called his promises empty and fruitless.

SATURDAY MADURO VOWS TO “RECONQUER” ESSEQUIBO; MAKES NEW PRESIDENTIAL DECREE President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, on Thursday issued a presidential decree, reinforcing the country’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo Region and in a tweet has vowed to “reconquer” the Essequibo.

Alongside that action, the Venezuelan President announced on the same day (Continued on page 27)

Sunday January 10, 2021

From page 26 that he wrote to SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, requesting the union to lead direct negotiations between Guyana and Venezuela as an alternative solution to the ongoing litigation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Maduro said that the Essequibo region has always been the territory of Ve n e z u e l a b u t t h a t i t suffered imperial dispossession.

In a tweet posted on Thursday, Maduro said, “I signed the decree by which t h e Te r r i t o r y f o r t h e Development of the Atlantic Façade of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is established, which becomes part of the legal, diplomatic and political actions for the defense of our rights for more than 200 years.”

“That territory belongs to the Venezuelan men and women and we are going to reconquer it.” Maduro said in another tweet, as he called on Venezuelans to support his cause.

Maduro’s call was buttressed by a unanimous agreement made on Thursday by all political factions in Venezuela’s National Assembly that they would fight for the region they call ‘Guayana Esequiba.’

According to Venezuela’s Ministry of Popular Power for Communication and Information, the National Assembly made three agreements, which include the formation of a ‘Special Commission for the Defence of the Guayana E s e q u i b a Te r r i t o r y a n d Territorial Sovereignty.’

Maduro also announced in another tweet on Thursday that he wrote to the UN with the objective of advancing a peaceful alternative to the ICJ litigation.

The Ve n e z u e l a n President said that only sovereign states can bring us closer to a solution to the controversy.

“We reject the ICJ’s decision.

We are determined to defend our Essequibo.” Maduro said.

The Court, in December, delivered a judgment stating that it has jurisdiction to hear a matter in a border case Guyana filed against neighbouring Venezuela. The judgment states that the UN Secretary-General may choose a means of settlement under Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations, which includes

judicial settlement.

Ve n e z u e l a h a d l o n g held that it would prefer direct negotiations and that it rejects the jurisdiction of the ICJ to settle this matter once and for all. After the judgment was passed down, Venezuela declared that it rejected the Court’s assumption of jurisdiction The Guyana Government’s Advisor on Borders, Carl Greenidge, has said that he expects the ICJ to take two to three and a half years to issue a judgment settling the matter.

TRINIDAD PM ROWLEY TAKEN TO HOSPITAL Trinidad and Tobago NEWSDAY – The Prime Minister was taken to hospital on Friday afternoon, but no official statements were given on his condition.

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for communications, Symon de Nobriga confirmed that Dr. Rowley was taken to hospital.

But he said, there is no official position on his condition at this time.

In March 2019, Rowley went to California to seek medical treatment for a coronary issue. When he returned home, he said his doctors had given him a clean bill of health. One media report said Rowley was being treated for a cardiac issue.

De Nobriga said, “I have seen the report. I have no official information on it. As I get, I will share.” Cabinet sources confirmed to Newsday, Rowley was taken to Westshore Medical Hospital in Cocorite.

But they could not say why.

“It’s too early to tell,” one source said.

A second source added,

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“They are going to do some tests.”

WORKS BEGIN ON CORRECTING ELECTORAL LOOPHOLE, WEAKNESSES- AG With the aim of strengthening Guyana’s electoral system, so that the fraud, corruption and gymnastics that occurred during the March 2 General and Regional Elections, as well as those events that ensued, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has revealed that works have begun on correcting those electoral loopholes and weaknesses.

During an interview on Kaieteur Radio’s Guyana’s Oil & You with senior Kaieteur News Journalist, Kiana Wilburg, the AG was asked about the importance of strengthening the ‘check and balances’ the citizens have at their disposal as it regards to changes in government. To this the AG reminded listeners of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civics’ commitment to conduct “wide-ranging” reforms to ensure gaps are bridged, loopholes are closed and strengthening is exercised, on those weaknesses which “miscreants exploited and nearly succeeded in stealing government.”

To this, AG stated works have already begun in that regard, with the assembly of a small unit at the AG Chambers, now tasked with compiling requisite pieces of legislation, which will form the basis for the review.

Following such, he went on to add that consultations will be held with the relevant stakeholders, who will all work on correcting the loopholes.

“And these are not constitutional changes that we are speaking about,” the AG pointed out, while adding that, “These are simple things like the Statements of Poll [which] must be used as the basis for tabulation of the results and that must be absolutely clear, so that one cannot substitute a spreadsheet, like what Mingo did—a spreadsheet that he concocted or that was concocted and was given to him with falsified numbers.”

As part of another fixed requirement, Nandlall said that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and political parties would be mandated to make online uploads of SOPs within 24 hours of receiving them.

Failure and refusal to adhere to such will result in consequences, he noted.

“Then that [final] report that the CEO is required to produce by law—we have to clarify what that report must contain and we must have to make the language clear, so that no Chief Executive Officer (CEO) can reasonably or unreasonably prepare a report of his own. We must state in the law that invalidity of votes can only be determined at an election petition and no CEO or political party can decide if a ballot is valid or invalid outside of what is a spoilt or unspoilt ballot,” the AG articulated.

Corrections and discussions will also be conducted on whether a cyclical system can be stopped midway and commence a house-to-house registration process; and whether additional biometrics will be introduced into the law.

The AG also spoke about the misconduct of electoral officers under GECOM and

Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro (Photo - @NicolasMaduro Twitter) how “very few offences” apply to them. He reminded that the laws in their current form define offences in relation to the conduct of the elector, such as voting twice or attempting to impersonate another. There is, however, no reciprocal list of offences in relation to election officers, Nandlall noted.

“And what we find in Guyana is that the election officers are the errant ones, not the electors.

We have to create a series of offences {penalties} to imprison for life election officials who attempt to compromise the electoral machinery and process at any stage. And the higher the office the official holds, the greater the penalty imposed upon him,” Nandlall expressed.

Notably, GECOM’s CEO Keith Lowenfield, Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, Region

Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo, Information Technology Officer Enrique Livan, as well as other GECOM staffer, Shefferon February, have been charged with fraud, misconduct in office and breach of public’s trust.

These charges are still before the court and are said to go to trial soon. Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo as well as the Private Sector Commission (PSC) have both called for the removal of these officers from GECOM before this year’s constitutionally scheduled Local Government Elections (LGEs).

“That is a fundamental cornerstone of our agenda in government,” Nandlall said.

“We know that because of our track record, because of our performance, because of our competence… we will not lose a free and fair election in Guyana. So it is in our interest

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Sunday January 10, 2021

Sunday January 10, 2021

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==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

These are my best columns for 2020 9 – “Holed up with my wife: Does music have ethnicity,” - Sunday, April 26.

About how closer I came to my wife after 41 years of marriage, being imprisoned with her in our house 24 hours a day because of the pandemic and the restrictions, it brought.

In that column, I dedicated to her a composition of my favourite writer of popular music, Burt Bacharach, “I’m a better man,” sung by a gentleman whose voice I loved, growing up as a teenager in Wortmanville, Engelbert Humperdinck. In that piece I reflected on growing up in south Georgetown, loving all kinds of music including what my friends in Wortmanville referred to a “White people music.”

8 – “The National Park bosses stopped me from feeding a stray cat,” – Sunday, February 9. It was clear to me that as my exposure of the degeneracy and bankruptcy of APNU+AFC misfits intensified; I would feel the heat of the small minds of those who wield authority on behalf of such fools. I cycled in the park for over 10 years where my cycle was kept.

First, they stopped me from leaving the cycle there. I complained to the National

Park chairperson, Dr. Raquel Thomas, but this lady was oozing elitist power that she refused to talk to me when I approached her at the funeral of a mutual friend. One day, I will meet her and tell her about illusions of grandeur. After the cycle incident, they stopped me from feeding a poor, stray cat. Some people can have tiny minds.

7- “A song for me and the heroes I see from my window,” – Sunday, May 24. This was when the Caricom observed recount was underway and the containers containing the ballot boxes were stored at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. My bedroom windows overlook the Centre because my house is high. Many times, it would be raining torrentially and those young men and women would be there throughout the nights and the early mornings to safeguard those boxes.

I would look at them from a distance, reflect on my youthful days when I fought for free and fair elections, and the painful consequences it brought as a youth and as a married man. Many times, I wished I was there but I was much older to brave that kind of weather.

As I looked at them, I knew my days for radical ac-

tivism was drawing to a close.

In that column, I dedicated a song to me that tells the story of my life. Sung by the band, the Alan Parson Project, it is titled, “Limelight.”

6- “A helpless 16-year-old girl, her grandmother and three LGBT victims,” - Monday, September 21. This was about marauding gangs beating up East Indians in Region Five after the murder of two youths in the village of Cottonfield. David Granger and Joe Harmon went there and incited PNC supporters.

The result was widespread attacks on East Indians.

5- “An appeal to the protestors; do not beat innocent people,” – Sunday March 8.

Mark Benschop in a radio interview asked me why I didn’t condemn East Indians for beating up African persons after the rigging by the PNC looked that it would have succeeded and Indians took to the streets. I condemned the attack of an innocent African nurse in Region Three.

4- “Make a bust of the following persons,” – Wednesday, June 17. The persons named in that column are US Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch; EU Ambassador, Fernando Ponz Canto; then UK High Commissioner, Greg Quinn; then Canadian High

Commissioner, Lilian Chaterjee; Former Jamaican PM, Bruce Golding and former Barbadian PM, Owen Arthur (deceased). Guyana’s democracy was saved by these people. I believe then, as I do now, that we should have a collection of their busts placed in a popular spot in Guyana.

3 – “Electoral insanities unseen in modern times,” – Sunday, May 3.

2 – “What happened should never happen again in the world,” – Monday, August 3.

1- “We must never forget

those five months in 2020,” – Sunday, August 30.

My three best columns for 2020 are those on the elections of March.

I am still to recover from what we as Guyanese have been through last year. One has to understand at my age, I never thought we would see again, the PNC trying to achieve permanent power through rigged elections. I saw this drama for the entire period of my youthful days and even when I was in my thirties. It brought us the demonic rule of Forbes Burnham. From March 4,

Frederick Kissoon 2020, I saw this horror show playing out in front of me.

This time I had a daughter that I was prepared to fight for.

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

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Coronavirus: The more we facilitate its spread, the more mutations we will have

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center As you may know, there has been recent evidence of mutated strains of the coronavirus (Sarscov2) appearing in the UK and South Africa.

These strains appear to be more infectious and have been associated with the recent surge in cases in those countries.

These are not the first set of mutated strains from the virus; scientists have already discovered more than 20 mutated strains and expect more to occur as the virus contin-

ues to spread.

Today, I will discuss why these mutations can pose a threat to our livelihood in the long run if we do not take proper actions to prevent the spread.

What happens when viruses mutate?

Viruses tend to mutate as they jump from host to host.

The more hosts they infect means the longer they will be around and the likelier they will change their structure and thereby mutate.

Mutations can make the virus more infectious, less infectious, more lethal or less lethal.

Most of the time, the mutations weaken the effects of the virus but ever so often, it can make it more infectious or deadly. The strains discovered in the UK and South Af-

rica are thought to be more infectious. What is worrying about this fact is that the higher the infection rate, the likelier the health systems will be overwhelmed leading to higher death rates.

What does this mean for us in Guyana?

I do not believe that the mutated strains from the UK and South Africa are with us in Guyana as yet.

However, it has already been discovered in countries with high traffic to Guyana such as Canada and the USA. It may just be a matter of time before it arrives here and creates more chaos. Should this happen, I worry of an overwhelmed system that I keep warning about.

How will this affect the current vaccines?

Scientists are still researching the effects of the new strains on the effectiveness of the current vaccines they have developed. So far, the vaccines seem to be effective against the UK strain

but there are some doubts over the South African strain.

Scientists fear that the vaccines may be less effective against the South African strain and they may have to modify vaccines to accommodate the change in structure of this strain.

The biggest worry is that if we continue to be reckless and allow this virus to spread, it will mutate faster and become like the flu virus, which cannot be eradicated, and new vaccines have to be developed every year to keep up with it.

How can mutations be avoided?

We obviously do not want to have a situation where this virus cannot be eradicated because it is mutating faster than we can vaccinate to control its spread.

The best way to keep the mutation under control is to avoid the spread of the virus.

Thankfully, the same preventative measures are standing the test of time and work against the spread of the mu-

Dr. Zulfikar Bux tated strains. Unless there is a miracle, I do not see a substantial proportion of Guyanese and the world’s population getting vaccinated in the first half of this year to control the spread of this virus.

We therefore need to come together and wear our masks, watch our distance from others and wash/sanitize our hands regularly.

If we do this and we do it properly, I do believe we can keep the coronavirus mutations under control until we all get vaccinated and eradicate it.

Kaieteur News

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The Adventures of Aladdin Once upon a time, a widow had an only son whose name was Aladdin.

They were very poor and lived from hand to mouth, though Aladdin did what he could to earn some pennies, by picking bananas in faraway places.

One day, as he was looking for wild figs in a grove some way from the town, Aladdin met a mysterious stranger. This smartly dressed dark-eyed man with a trim black beard and a splendid sapphire in his turban, asked Aladdin an unusual question: “Come here, boy,” he ordered. “How would you like to earn a silver penny?”

“A silver penny!” exclaimed Aladdin. “Sir, I’d do anything for that kind of payment.”

“I’m not going to ask you to do much. Just go down that manhole. I’m much too big to squeeze through myself. If you do as I ask, you’ll have your reward.” The stranger helped Aladdin lift the manhole cover, for it was very heavy. Slim and agile as he was, the boy easily went down. His feet touched stone and he carefully made his way down some steps . . . and found himself in a large chamber. It seemed to sparkle, though dimly lit by the flickering light of an old oil lamp. When Aladdin’s eyes became used to the gloom, he saw a wonderful sight: trees dripping with glittering jewels, pots of gold and caskets full of priceless gems. Thousands of precious objects lay scattered about. It was a treasure trove! Unable to believe his eyes, Aladdin was standing dazed when he

by The Brothers Grimm

heard a shout behind him.

“The lamp! Put out the flame and bring me the lamp!” Surprised and suspicious, for why should the stranger, out of all such a treasure want only an old lamp, Aladdin wondered.

Perhaps he was a wizard. He decided to be on his guard.

Picking up the lamp, he retraced his steps up to the entrance.

“Give me the lamp,” urged the wizard impatiently. “Hand it over,” he began to shout, thrusting out his arm to grab it, but Aladdin cautiously drew back.

“Let me out first . . .”

“Too bad for you,” s n a p p e d t h e s t r a n g e r, slamming down the manhole cover, never noticing that, as he did so, a ring slid off his finger. A terrified Aladdin was left in pitch darkness, wondering what the wizard would do next. Then he trod on the ring. Aimlessly putting it on his finger, he twisted it round and round. Suddenly the room was flooded with a rosy light and a great genie with clasped hands appeared on a cloud.

“At your command, sire,” said the genie.

Now astounded, Aladdin

The Truth is always the Best

by Uncle Roy There are times when it happens That I have to tell others About something that has happened To myself or a sister or brother.

This thing that I have to tell Can make me look bad or good, And I have to make up my mind To tell a lie or the truth as I should.

Then I must always remember That the truth is at all times the best, As, whenever I cheat and tell a lie, It will always end in a big mess.

We know that honesty is the best policy In all the things we do and say, So tell the truth at all times, And you will always be in the right way.

could only stammer: “I want to go home!” In a flash he was back in his own home, though the door wa tightly shut.

“How did you get in?” called his mother from the kitchen stove, the minute she set eyes on him. Excitedly, her son told her of his adventures.

“Where’s the silver coin?” his mother asked.

Aladdin clapped a hand to his brow. For all he had brought home was the old oil lamp “Oh, mother! I’m so sorry. This is all I’ve got.”

“Well, let’s hope it works. It’s so dirty . . .” and the widow began to rub the lamp.

Suddenly out shot another genie, in a cloud of smoke.

“You’ve set me free, after centuries! I was a prisoner in the lamp, waiting to be freed by someone rubbing it. Now, I’m your obedient servant. Tell me your wishes.” And the genie b o w e d r e s p e c t f u l l y, awaiting Aladdin’s orders.

The boy and his mother gaped wordlessly at this incredible apparition, then the genie said with a hint of impatience in his voice.

“I’m here at your command. Tell me what you want. Anything you like!”

Aladdin gulped, then said: “Bring us . . . bring . . .”

His mother, not having yet begun to cook the dinner, went on to say: “. . . a lovely big meal.”

From that day on, the widow and her son had everything they could wish for: food, clothes and a fine home, for the genie of the lamp granted them everything they asked him.

Aladdin grew into a tall handsome young man and his mother felt that he ought to find himself a wife, sooner or later. One day, as he left the market, Aladdin happened to see the Sultan’s daughter Halima in her sedan chair being carried through the streets. He only caught a fleeting glimpse of the princess, but it was enough for him to want to marry her. Aladdin told his mother and she quickly said: “I’ll ask the Sultan for (Continued on next edition)

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Junior page

Pop Bottle Firefly Here’s what you will need: Water Bottles or Pop Bottles, Tissue Paper, Glow Sticks,Pipe Cleaners, Googly Eyes, Foam Sheets, Mod Podge/white glue, Hot Glue Gun. 1. First, cut some strips out of tissue paper. I made my paper coordinate with the color of the glow stick that I was using. Brush on a layer of Mod Podge to the center of the bottle. This is going to create the body of your firefly!

2. Apply the tissue paper onto the area that has Mod Podge and smooth it out. Add another layer of Mod Podge on top.

3. Once the Mod Podge is dry, wrap 3 pipe cleaners around the bottle and twist to form the legs.

4. Cut two wings out of the foam and glue them to the top with hot glue.

5. Put your glow stick inside!

6. Stick the eyes on the lid and wrap another pipe cleaner around it for the antenna.

7. And now you have the cutest little firefly!

Bridges Connect these islands with bridges until each island can be reached from any other island, and each island has as many outgoing bridges as its number. You may only connect islands vertically or horizontally and bridges may not cross.

There may be one or two bridges connecting pairs of islands, but no more than two. Each puzzle has a unique solution that can be found without making guesses.

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TEEN TIME Enhance your life further by

adopting these other essential values C o m m u n i t y mindedness, Congruence, Contentment, Contribution, Dedication, Dependability, Devotion, Education, E n d e a v o u r, F r e e d o m , Grace, Gratitude, Health, Humour, Improvement, Inquisitiveness, Integrity, Leadership, Nurturing, Perfection, Perseverance, Preparation, Refinement, Responsibility, Satisfaction, S e r e n i t y, S i n c e r i t y, Standards, Support, Taste, T e n d e r n e s s , Thoughtfulness, Teaching, Trustworthiness, Understanding, Upliftment.

Some questions you may ask to help you in this effort are:- Which of these values are expressed in your life already?

How have these values influenced your life?

Which values still need to be expressed in some way? Once you are clear about the values you treasure most, you will start to notice how your life is

moving towards positive change. Make a list of all possible changes you could make to better express these values in your life.

Try to incorporate one of these changes at regular intervals. As you make the effort to align your personality with the values you most desire, you will find that you will begin to create a solid relationship with yourself and others,

and start taking steps in the right direction.

When our life becomes a true expression of our values, we make our greatest contribution to the world.

We feel inspired, eager to live every day, and at peace with ourselves knowing that we are fulfilling our greatest potential.

This gives us the courage and confidence to live a life of meaning and

purpose.

To truly fulfil this purpose, we need to make a conscious commitment to our loftiest ideals, elevating our thoughts, words, and actions to a higher, more enlightened level, and secondly to move beyond ourselves and contribute to others, so that we leave this world a significantly better place than when we came here.

GALAXIES BY KRAZYDAD Connect the dots to make edges so that each circle is surrounded by a symmetrical galaxy shape, and the puzzle is completely tiled with galaxies. Each galaxy shape must be rotationally symmetric, having an identical appearance when rotated 180 degrees.

We fill your year with blessings

by Oswald Gunraj Hello there! My name is January, I commence the New Year with wishes to make you happy; After me comes my sister February, Filled with Valentine love and sometimes as extra day to party; Look out for March, he approaches very fast, In this new year, he makes you forget the ills of the past; Then comes brother April, that guy is very nice, His time is to fly kites, which reminds of the Resurrection of Christ; The month of May consists of many holidays, With Labour, Arrival and Independence days; June and July are when life is in spring, As we marry our cupids in big fancy weddings; To be followed by the school break of August, When we feel games and vacations are a must; Then come the final Big Four; With Thanksgiving, Halloween and a whole lot more;The first of this quadruplet is September, We go back to school with so much to remember; October is the time when Libra is celebrated, He is the balance for which we all waited; Next the cold wind starts to blow in November, Bringing on the jolliest month of December.

I and my siblings complete the year of seasons, You can now see why we are all famous for different reasons.

Just as how you accrue physical value by working, you add spiritual value to make life by making the effort to adopt good principles.

Solutions to last week’s

SAMURAI SUDOKU

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Science-Based Benefits of Meditation You can use it to increase awareness of yourself and your surroundings. Many people think of it as a way to reduce stress and develop concentration.

1. Reduces stress Stress reduction is one of the most common reasons people try meditation.

Summary:Many styles of meditation can help reduce stress.

Meditation can likewise reduce symptoms in people with stresstriggered medical conditions.

2. Controls anxiety Meditation can reduce stress levels, which translates to less anxiety.

Summary: Habitual meditation can help reduce anxiety and improve stress reactivity and coping skills.

3. Promotes emotional health Some forms of meditation can lead to improved self-image and a more positive outlook on life.

Some forms of meditation can improve depression and reduce negative thoughts. It may also decrease levels of inflammatory cytokines, which could contribute to depression.

4. Enhances self-awareness Some forms of meditation may help you develop a stronger understanding of yourself, helping you grow into your best self.

Summary: Self-inquiry and related styles of meditation can help you “know yourself.” This can be a starting point for making other positive changes.

5. Lengthens attention span Focused-attention meditation is like weight lifting for your attention span. It helps increase the strength and endurance of your attention.

Summary: Several types of meditation may build your ability to redirect and maintain attention.

6. May reduce age-related memory loss Improvements in attention and clarity of thinking may help keep your mind young.

Summary:The improved focus you can gain through regular meditation may boost your memory and mental clarity. These benefits can help fight age-related memory loss and dementia.

7. Can generate kindness Some types of meditation may particularly increase positive feelings and actions toward yourself and others.

Summary:Metta, or loving-kindness meditation, is a practice of developing positive feelings, first toward yourself and then toward others. Metta increases positivity, empathy, and compassionate behavior toward others.

8. May help fight addictions The mental discipline you can develop through meditation may help you break dependencies by increasing your self-control and awareness of triggers for addictive behaviors (34Trusted Source).

Summary: Meditation develops mental awareness and can help you manage triggers for unwanted impulses. This can help you recover from addiction, manage unhealthy eating, and redirect other unwanted habits.

9. Improves sleep Nearly half of the population will struggle with insomnia at some point.

Summary: A variety of meditation techniques can help you relax and control runaway thoughts that can interfere with sleep. This can shorten the time it takes to fall asleep and increase sleep quality.

10. Helps control pain Your perception of pain is connected to your state of mind, and it can be elevated in stressful conditions.

Summary: Meditation can diminish the perception of pain in the brain. This may help treat chronic pain when used to supplement medical care or physical therapy.

11. Can decrease blood pressure Meditation can also improve physical health by reducing strain on the heart.

Summary: Blood pressure decreases not only during meditation but also over time in individuals who meditate regularly. This can reduce strain on the heart and arteries, helping prevent heart disease.

12. Accessible anywhere People practice many different forms of meditation, most of which don’t require specialized equipment or space. You can practice with just a few minutes daily.

There are two major styles of meditation: • Focused-attention meditation. This style concentrates attention on a single object, thought, sound, or visualization. It emphasizes ridding your mind of distractions. Meditation may focus on breathing, a mantra, or calming sound.

• Open-monitoring meditation. This style encourages broadened awareness of all aspects of your environment, train of thought, and sense of self. It may include becoming aware of suppressed thoughts, feelings, or impulses. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation

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Sunday January 10, 2021

PLACING THE SPOTLIGHT ON PANIC ANXIETY DISORDER It comes to ravage you; like a thief in the night- it pounces without warning; it makes you lose a piece of yourself every single time.

The intense fear, your heart ripping through your chest, the inability to breathe as if you’re drowning, the immense sweating, the room spinning like a Ferris wheel and worse yet, the feeling that your heart is about to stop. Sounds familiar?

Well, Panic Anxiety Disorder is the culprit! It is a subtype of Anxiety Disorder that sneaks up on you when you least expect it and feeds on your life.

The mastermind behind it is Anxiety Disorder which is a psychological disorder that involves excessive levels of negative emotions such as nervousness, tension, worry, fright and anxiety.Anxiety presents with a diffuse, unpleasant, vague sense of apprehension, often accompanied by autonomic symptoms such as headache, perspiration, palpitations, tightness in the chest, mild stomach discomfort, and restlessness, indicated by an inability to sit or stand still for long.

Consider Anxiety Disorder to be a big family of distinct mental disorders. Its subtypes are Panic Anxiety Disorder, Agoraphobia, Specific Phobia, Social Anxiety Disorder or Phobia, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It [Anxiety disorders] can also increase your risk for other medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and depression.

Panic Anxiety disorder surfaces when you experience recurring unexpected panic attacks and feeling of impending doom. While panic attacks are simply abrupt surges of intense fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes it comes with that daily fear of having another

attack. Panic Anxiety Disorders are acute and intense periods of sever fear that varies from several attacks during one day to only a few attacks during the year.

Its first attack is spontaneous, and sometimes followed by excitement, physical exertion, sexual activity or moderate emotional trauma.

Changes in your dietary habits (consuming more caffeine, nicotine, alcohol; or have unusual patters of eating) or sleeping habits, may prompt an attack. Doing its damage in less than 30 – 60 minutes, the attack begins with 10 minutes of intense palpitations (accelerated heart rate), shortness of breath and sweating, feelings of choking, chest

pain or discomfort, nausea or abdominal distress, feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint, chills or heat sensations, feelings of unreality (derealization) or being detached from one-self (depersonalization), fear of losing control or “going crazy” and fear of dying. Symptoms disappear quickly or gradually.

But even around every dark cloud there is a silver lining and contrary to beliefs, anxiety can be normal and we all experience it from time to time. For instance, when preparing for an important examination, getting married, becoming a parent or even about finances and it is even beneficial in warning us of external threats, thus activating the flight or fright response.

Yet, for many of us, it is the opposite of what colours our life. The dominant emotions we experience daily are those dread of anxiety. There is always a lingering, overwhelming feeling that you will be humiliated in society, lose your job or the people you love.

But you are not alone, approximately 1-4%of the population suffer from this disorder and moreso if you are a woman, you are two to three times more at risk than men.

It [ Panic Anxiety Disorder or PAD] is here steal the best years of your life since its onset is usually early to mid-20’s but it can occur at any age. Research shows that if you have a fearful, anxious, nervous or even a competitive personality you are at risk of having this disorder. Further-

more, living in a household that is overly demanding and constantly expecting perfection, or even experiencing a stressful life event, (such as a divorce, death of a loved one or losing your job) make you are a prime candidate to develop Panic Anxiety Disorder later in your life. There is an even higher risk if you are a victim of physical and/or sexual abuse or experienced other traumatic events. There is a strong link between panic disorder and familial patterns.

People with a close biological family member with Panic Disorder are 8 times more likely to develop this condition themselves. Panic Anxiety Disorder does request a table for one, instead it brings along several other friends; depression and agoraphobia.

Depression or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a type of mood disorder characterized by persistent and pervasive feelings of sadness and worthlessness and a lack of desire to engage in formerly pleasurable activitiesand it may even coexist with Panic Disorder.

Consequently, agoraphobia is a fear of being in public places with an abnormal fear of being helpless in situations from which escape may be difficult or embarrassing.

As a result, there is a sense of imprisonment so you avoid public places and you never leave the house unaccompanied. Combined, they leave you like an empty, hopeless shell and you may wonder if there is any escape from this ravenous beast. Fortunately, there is. It is important

to seek medical attention, since there are ways to regain your life and live without fear with the aid of pharmacological (medication) and nonpharmacological (cognitive and behavioural therapy) treatments. Alprazolam (Xanax) and paroxetine (Paxil) are the two drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of panic disorder and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s) are effective first line agents (Paroxetine) which has sedative effects and provide an immediate calm (citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline, fluoxetine). Benzodazepines provide a more rapid onset and are used for longer periods most (alprazolam, lorazepam, clonazepam). Tricyclic drugs-effective but more side effects (clomipramine, imipramine).

Duration of the treatment may vary from 8 to 12 months.

When pharmacological treatment is coupled with Cognitive and behavioural theraphy the treatment is more effective. Cognitive therapy stresses the facts that panic attacks are time limited, not life threatening and gives awareness about panic attacks. Anxiety, the beast may always be around but you don’t have to be its minion anymore. Research shows that 30- 40% of all individuals seem to be symptom free after a long follow up while about 50% have symptoms that are sufficiently mild and doesn’t affect their lives significantly. Less than 20% continue to have significant symptoms.

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Enetworks all set for premier of Special Episodes for Batwoman and Euphoria

Enetworks is gearing for the premier of two special episodes of Euphoria on January 24 at 10PM and Batwoman on January 29 at 8PM. For those who may not be aware of what these shows are about, Batwoman is an American superhero television series developed by Caroline Dries. It is based on the DC Comics character Batwoman and shares continuity with the other television series in the Arrowverse.

As for Euphoria, it is an A m e r i c a n t e e n drama television series created and written by Sam Levinson for HBO, loosely based on the Israeli miniseries of the same name.

Euphoria follows a group of high school students through their experiences of sex, drugs, friendships, love, identity and trauma. The series stars Zendaya in the

Sunday January 10, 2021

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lead role, alongside an ensemble cast consisting of Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie

Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith, Sydney Sweeney, and Colman Domingo. It premiered on June 16, 2019.

The Do’s and Dont’s of Accessorizing

Accessories can be your friend or your enemy. Too much can make you look like a Christmas tree and too little can make you disappear in a crowd. The wrong selection of accessories can spoil even the most jaw-dropping ensembles and the right pieces of accessories can make a simple dress appear to be more than what it is. That said, finding the right balance to make you an exemplary standout is the aim but it is no easy feat.

But not to worry; the Guyana Inc Magazine has you covered in this regard.

In this special edition, you will learn some of the key ways in which you can personalize and complete your look. And since the first rule of accessorizing is occasion appropriateness, below are some guidelines for three events.

Accessorizing for a Party When you are accessorizing for a party, there is scope to choose your dress and accompanying pieces to achieve different looks. But once you have selected your attire then you have to decide on what becomes the showpiece. Ask yourself, “Is the dress a flashy one?” If it is, then there is no need to go overboard with the embellishments. For example, let’s say your dress is a short, shimmering gold sequin number with long sleeves and a plunging V-neckline. In this case, the dress can speak for itself; it without question becomes your showpiece.

Therefore, there is no need to accessorize with bracelets, a watch, a bedazzling chain and earring set. A simple pair of gold earring be it studs or hoops would do the trick.

Remember, the key when it

comes to flashy dresses is your accessories must be subtle, they should never look as though they are trying to overpower your already showy dress.

However, if you were to choose a similar dress, this time with no sleeves and a different colour, perhaps, then there is more room to have fun. In this regard, you get to choose if your showpiece will be the accessories.

Considering that it is a party, you can wear an elaborate necklace that falls comfortably into your cleavage with small studded earrings to suit.

As for your shoes, they should either balance or contrast with the selected attire. Let’s say you have decided on wearing a simple black dress. In this regard, you can choose shoes that set the colour theme. However, if the dress is shimmering, opt for shoes that have a similar colour and style. Remember, delicate shoes, like strappy sandals, add elegance to an outfit, while chunkier shoes with wedges for example, create a more casual look.

When it comes to bags, it is important to bear in mind that small bags or clutches give an elegant finish to your attire while a big or broad bag gives a casual feel. Also, be mindful to not wear a large bag when the size of your accessories is small. That distorts the structural theme of your outfit as well.

Accessorizing for an Interview Accessories are just as important as the attire you select for a job interview. In this regard, there are several important rules you must pay attention to.

1) Earrings can either

be a distraction or add a touch of elegance to your persona.

Therefore be sure to avoid dangling earrings which are more suitable for an evening look. Instead take a classic approach by using studs that are either, metal, pearls or gemstones.

2) Necklaces are always a charmer. Be sure to select a piece that is small, simple and yet classy. It is recommended that you choose a necklace with one focal point such as a pendant.

Avoid necklaces that trail to your breasts or midriff.

3) Handbags play a great role in completing your look. It is advised that you use a handbag that is without much detail and not bright in colour (Black or White works perfect). In short, avoid a handbag that has the potential to steal attention away from you.

Mistakes to avoid when accessorizing 1) It is possible to wear a jewellery set. However it must be with small pieces.

Large matching pieces of jewellery adorning your body makes you look clunky.

2) If you are wearing a pink pair of high heels with a black dress, there is no need to accessorize with a pink purse. It is actually a fashion sin to have matching shoes and hand bag. The fashion rules dictate that with bright coloured shoes, lighter toned bags are required to give a better contrast.

3) If you are going to wear a colourful ensemble then hold the colourful jewels. It is either one or the other.

4) Do not wear watches with evening dresses, whether it’s long or short. Just don’t!

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Sunday January 10, 2021

Guyana needs an integrated assessment of gas vs. renewables investment

By Tom Sanzillo The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) has been closely following Guyana’s offshore oil and gas development. Our most recent analysis is publicly available and can be viewed here and here.

We found that oil revenues would not cover Guyana’s annual budget deficits, new spending proposals or contributions to a sovereign wealth trust fund. Our analysis concludes that failing markets and weak revenues during the first five years of the contract are unlikely to provide anything beyond a small benefit for Guyana. One commentator, Joel Bhagwandin, has cor-

rectly pointed out that oil revenue will initially not cover Guyana’s debt service.IEEFA concludes that beyond five years, Guyana is likely to continue to experience a weak revenue flow.

The revenue outlook is dim because the markets are faltering as diminished demand leads to low prices and earnings.

Guyana’s revenue will remain low because the contract with the oil companies requires operating and development costs to be paid back to its foreign partners before the country begins to collect the robust revenues that have been promised. After five years, ExxonMobil and its partners will be owed

US$20bn to come out of future oil revenue. Valerie Marcel, a Chatham House Fellow appears to agree with this negative outlook for the oil and gas industry. The contract is basically ‘frontloaded’ in ExxonMobil’s favour. It creates a significant financial risk for Guyana, since there is no guarantee that there will ever be robust oil revenues. It is not a good idea to gamble Guyana’s financial future on a declining global market.IEEFA has also concluded that having ExxonMobil as a partner can be more of a cause for concern than a guarantor of profits. The company has lost hundreds of billions in shareholder value over the last de-

Financial Expert, Tom Sanzillo. cade, its revenues are down, and it is no longer part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average stock index. The oil and gas industry has been in last place in the stock market for four of the last five years. The industry is declining, and ExxonMobil is stumbling right

along with it. Joel Bhagwandin points out that there is insufficient information in the public domain about the possibility of tapping natural gas reserves to support a new electricity system for Guyana. I agree. However, there is sufficient information on Guyana’s natural gas reserves, energy needs, financial position and prior experience to be concerned about plans to rely on natural gas.

The proposed gas-toshore project is a recipe for financial bankruptcy because piling on additional natural gas obligations stacked upon oil contract obligations—not to mention Guyana’s existing debt—is too much, given the

weak outlook for the oil and gas market.

If Guyana goes forward with the natural gas project, it would effectively be using its meager oil revenues not to fund existing debt, close deficits, pay for new needs or build a sovereign wealth fund, but to pay back obligations on new natural gas infrastructure investments.

In other words, Guyana’s borrowing would make it poorer, not richer.

The public needs a natural gas proposal that is complete; an integrated energy plan showing how all the pieces fit together; a business plan for ensuring electricity rates remain economically (Continued on page 45)

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Guyana needs an integrated assessment ...

From page 44 competitive and affordable for residential needs; and a fiscal road map spelling out how much Guyana must invest to truly reap any benefits, how natural gas reserves will be extracted, and how the public will be protected financially

and environmentally.

Most of this information is not available for the current oil contract.As the renewable energy sector continues to make rapid technological and financial progress, a thorough comparison between r enewable energy

and natural gas investment

should be explored before making a decision that relies so heavily on natural gas. We look forward to this information being made available to analysts and ordinary ratepayers alike.(Tom Sanzillo is IEEFA’s director of financial analysis.)

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Sunday January 10, 2021

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT – A PRIORITY FOR GNBS IN 2021 The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is mandated to facilitate the development of standards. In 2021, crucial standards, which can affect the various sectors, will be considered for development and review.

Standards are rules and/ or guidelines that are developed for use within various fields of practice as required.

Most standards are applicable to products, processes or production methods that may include or deal exclusively with terminologies, symbols, packaging, marking requirements or labelling requirements.

Eight standards were developed last year (2020) by the GNBS, which are related to cellphones, Laboratories, the labelling of household electrical appliances, BRC Steel Fabric, Used Motor Vehicles and Concrete masonry units.

To develop any standard, a consensus is crucial as it gets the buy-in from all of the parties that will be impacted by the new document. A proposal for standard development would be considered especially if it addresses quality, safety or the performance of any product, process or service.

It is important to note that any stakeholder, including an individual from the public, can submit a request to the GNBS for a standard to be developed. Firstly, the standards development process begins with the completion of a New Work Item Proposal (NWIP), which is submitted to the GNBS by the proposer. This NWIP documents all information, which justifies the need for a particular standard.

Secondly, the completed NWIP and any supporting documents submitted to GNBS, are evaluated and assigned priority based on social and economic importance, and perceived and future needs, in keeping with National Development Plans and Policies.

The GNBS anticipates the full support of all stakeholders to the standards development process.

Aside from the work of the established technical committees, stakeholders raise concerns and submit suggestions at the Public Comments stage or at Public Consultation Sessions.

All of the comments received from stakeholders during the Public Consultation period are reviewed by Tech-

Cops pick up wrong...

From page 14 and would threaten to kill him. A sibling had revealed that Stoll had decided to put out the suspect which sparked tensions between the two.

They suspect that this might have been the reason why he was killed. Anyone

with information that can lead to the arrest of Leon Waddle, prime suspect in the murder of Answar Stoll are asked to contact the police on telephone numbers: 216-0250, 216-0251 216-0252, 216-0253, 216-0254, 265-7383, 261-2760, 225-3650, 226-1928, 911 or the nearest police station.

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nical Committees, which determine whether each comment is accepted or rejected (with justification).

At the end of the process, a final draft is prepared by the GNBS and submitted to the NSC for approval as a Guyana Standard.

Additionally, to make any Guyana Standard compulsory, a stakeholder has to make a request with justification. Once the National Standards Council is satisfied, the request is forwarded to the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce with recommendations for the standard to be made compulsory. All compulsory standards are Gazetted.

The Standards Development process is very important to ensure that the quality of products and services are maintained to sustain the economy. These standards provide a benchmark for quality, consistency and reliability across sectors.

Importantly, apart from developing new standards, in 2021 approximately forty available standards relating to agriculture, foods, consumer products, the environment and construction will be reviewed and updated to maintain their relevance for use.

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

For further information, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0062, 219-0065 or 219-0069.

Please visit our website: www.gnbsgy.org and like our Facebook page: gnbsgy

Karanambu Lodge, Piraiba Lodge among 13 tourist operations granted conditional approval for reopening Karanambu Lodge, Region Nine, is among 13 operations granted conditional approval to resume tourism-related activities.

The Guyana Tourism Authority has announced that two hinterland lodges linked to tourism have been granted conditional approval to welcome tourists.

“The new year is off to a great start. The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is happy to announce that Karanambu Lodge and Piraiba Lodge have both been inspected and granted their conditional approval, which is tied to the National COVID19 measures and GTA’s recommended Hygiene and Sanitation Protocols and can now commence welcoming travellers to their properties,” a statement from the authority said yesterday.

Karanambu Lodge is located in the Rupununi Savannahs area, Region Nine, while Piraiba (Lau Lau) Lodge, is situated on the Eastern Bank of the

Essequibo River, approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Iwokrama River Lodge, deep into the jungles of Guyana.

“This brings the total to 13 tourism businesses that have received conditional approval to reopen and are marked as Safe for Travel,” the statement said.

According to the body, its team has been working assiduously with these businesses to ensure that they have all the necessary measures in place to safely reopen and that “we will continue to monitor their adherence to all of the stipulated protocols as outlined by the Ministry of Health.” Director of the GTA, Carla James, stated that, “2020 redefined the landscape for travel, creating a new normal, and in 2021 with the advent of a vaccine, we will welcome

the opportunity for travellers to visit a safer Guyana.”

GTA advised both domestic and international travellers to use only GTA’s approved tourism businesses to book and plan their tour activities.

“The GTA has increased the number of inspections and training to support tourism businesses with their preparations for safe r e o p e n i n g . ” The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is a semiautonomous governmental organization responsible for developing and promoting sustainable tourism in Guyana through collaboration with sister agencies and the tourism private sector, in order to maximise local socioeconomic and conservation outcomes and improve the travellers’ experience.

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Sunday January 10, 2021

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VACANCY Driver; Must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, Age 2545, Car/Van License. Call 6429823.

Technical Services, 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles. 1. Mechanic 2. Fitter/Machinist 3.

Welder/Fabricator. 3 Years Experience. Apply in person.

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank Area. Call 6159132.

Security grauds contact 2235273/74 or 600-0266

House plan& estimate Call 216-0671/ 692-8464 or whats app 622-0267

2 & 3 bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments to rent long & short term Tel#691-1432/ 682-2585

Accounts Clerk & Operations supervisor- apply to Perfume Dazzle- 137 Regent street Georgetown

PROPERTY FOR SALE

LAND FOR SALE

Eccles AA-2,500 sq.ft - 4 bedrooms - G$70 Million Tel#6885554, 233-2546

Republic Gradens- phase 1, G$28 Million. Gated community, Tel# 688-5554, 233-2546

Workers for P.S.G.C.S Labourers, Cleaner, Maintenance worker, Semi- skilled labourer. Contact number 6157784, Mon- Fri 8am- 3pm

Land size 85x40. Corner lot Charlestown,Georgetown.

Concrete building 58x33. Contact 618-6257

Eccles AA- Land size: 55" by 100" $45 Million Tel# 688-5554, 233-2546 Farm (East Bank) $4.5 M. Tel# 627 - 0753 Residential Lot 14 Mahaica E.C.D, two way access 147ft x 70ft Contact 614-8467 VEHICLE FOR SALE

CAR RENTAL AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL& TOW TRUCK SERVICE :PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE .#6987807 FOR SALETO LET

Appartment in Eccles rooms in Albertown Tel#225-3234/ 698-7807 FOR SALEFOR SALE

For Sale - 4.018 acres of prime land in New Amsterdam, Berbice. Call 679-2497 PROPERTY FOR SALE Experienced and senious land. Dredge workers with some knowledge of chainsawing. Call: 639-2219 between 08:00 - 17:30 hrs.

Toyota Fortuner 2012 model G$11.9 Million. automatic, Low Mileage (40,000 km) Tel#6600192, 233-5859, 688-5554

Vacancy for one experience carpenter & mason.Tel#223-6035,6736210 Experience Baker kitchen supervisor servers Emmanuel's Delight section C Diamond, Grove 696-5492 Experience salesman good communication handwriting skills 5 subject, CXC, NIS, PAYE ETC key food McDoom village

WANTED

Experience water delivery driver and porter Tel#6761363 / 692-6768

Parfaite Harmonie Tuchen, farm, Eccles, Herstelling, Uivlugth, Covengarden, Zeelught and elsewhere Cash.

Call 666-2326

Immediate Vacancy exists for male workers & 1 lorry driver @ Del Ice Co Tel#231-1408/ 642-9191

Gardener/Handyman to work part time or full time.

Call 226-0240.

Hick's Ville Hotel receptionist/ Hotel attendant washer/ presser Tel#2310951/ 227-7714

Experienced cashier, counter server, roti/ puri cook, cleaner, apply Hack's Halaal, 5 Commerce St

Puri roti cooks apply @shanta's 225 camp & Newmarket One skilled line / GPS man to track out and cut road Call 696-9854

1 body workman. Call 6687033 Cashiers to work at superbet.

Tell# 618 3575 1 320 B Caterpillar excavator can be used as spares. Call: 639-2219 between 08:00 - 17:30 hrs.

2nd quality 1x4 greenheart flooring/ wall board $150/ BM Tel#627-0056

Boys & girls for the interior & live in domestic for Georgetown. Tel#670-1641, 660-9093

1 Dishwasher/ cleaner & 1 handyman apply to Bistro Cafe & Bar 141 Middle & Waterloo st Georgetown Te1 #226-1686

Plastic drums for sale contact 223-5273/74 or 600-0266

Vegetarian gardens Driver salesman/ Porter Tel#2277714/ 223-3448

One general domestic apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb street Bourda

One female to work shift system, Tel#225-6337

Individuals to work with reputable company. Age 21 and above. English and mathematics required. Attractive benefits- Call 679-2497

Corrugated steel rods 1/ 2"(12mm) 5/8(16mm), AlabamaTrading 27 Lombard street call 227-4234, 231-3384, 225-5800

One 1 welder must know grill work Tel#625-5763

Guyana recorded 31 new infections of the novel coronavirus yesterday, according to the Ministry of Health. This was presented in their daily dashboard update, which shows the COVID-19 case toll increased to 6,541.

It further stated that 304 patients are in home isolation, 46 are in institutional isolation and five are in the COVID-19 Intensive

Care Unit (ICU).

An additional 36 persons are in institutional quarantine and 19 more persons have recovered from the virus. The total number of recoveries to date, according to the Ministry, is 6,019.

The COVID-19 death toll remains at 167 deaths.

Sunday January 10, 2021

GT Mayor claims Government is sidelining Council on city projects

T

he Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, is claiming that the government is sidelining the Mayor and City Council on city projects.

During a press conference on Friday, the Mayor said that the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has been displaying very shady behaviour because they are undertaking projects throughout the city, while failing to consult with the council.

He stressed that the Ministry has been showing no effort to engage in collaborative efforts with the council.

“The Minister has to run that Ministry in a professional manner and stop playing politics with people’s lives and welfare and the development in this city.

I am shocked to know that these things are happening in our country,” the Mayor said.

Narine revealed that as it relates to contracts and other pertinent information about city projects, the Ministry has been withholding them from

the council.

He stated that the council even wrote to the Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Ministry requesting copies of the documents for all the projects that they will be embarking on, but never received a response.

He further stated that when questioned, officers of the ministries told the council that they are not required to give them any documents.

During the conference, Narine showed documents of an old project conducted at the Bourda market, which was assisted by the previous administration.

He stated that the reluctance to share information did not occur under that government.

He maintained the importance of the city council possessing all of the information on city projects because they must know what to report to their constituencies.

“We are not against development.

We want development, but let us do it in a way that all the parties are involved.

We don’t want to do things in a way where we will get criticism. We want betterment for the people and that is what this City Council is working towards,” the Mayor also said.

It was disclosed that his recent statements came as a result of the Ministry’s failure to consult with the council on a project being done at the East Ruimveldt Market, even though the city council is responsible for the market.

This, he referred to as a “clear pattern” observed with the Ministry.

Narine also spoke about an upgrade being conducted at the Waterloo Street Avenue and the Carmichael Street Avenue, where he stated that a meeting was held and the city engineer was instructed to obtain documents for that project, but the city council was completely locked out of that one too.

He said that the council made several contributions to the project under the previous government and even came up with some of the ideas.

Expert says Guyana moving too fast with...

From page 2 extremely important to have that architectural or policy planning view of the whole thing to ensure there is long term value for Guyana.”

DRILL BABY DRILL! When the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) assumed office last year, Kaieteur News had published a list of 20 things which the new government must do to set the oil industry on the right path; a path that would allow the nation to build its capabilities to properly govern and monetize the resources. High on that list was the creation of a depletion policy.

In simple terms, this strategy would say how fast or slow Guyana must extract its oil resources.

Several local, regional and international stakeholders have appealed for the nation to have a policy that slows the aggressive rate of extraction

by ExxonMobil; otherwise, the country would be left extremely overwhelmed and on a dangerous precipice.

In spite of this, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has made it clear that Guyana’s Depletion policy will essentially be “Drill, baby, drill!”

His reasoning behind the “anecdotal” policy was explained during an interview on Kaieteur Radio on December 23, 2020.

There, the Vice President said, “My own view is that we have a period in which oil would still be very relevant in the global mix of energy and we have a period but it is a

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Kaieteur News

window that is closing because of climate change. The window for Guyana will be open a little longer for us than other countries because we have low breakeven costs and because our crude is sweet, light unlike others which have heavy or sour crude.”

The Vice President also noted that the recently issued regulations by the International Maritime Organization require the removal of 80 percent of the sulphur content from global shipping. Since heavy or heavy sour oil has a lot of sulphur, “everyone is looking for sweet crude now.”

Further to this, Jagdeo had pointed to the fact that the world’s leading economies, China and the USA, have made it pellucid that they will be heading to renewable.

In fact, China, the world’s biggest energy consumer, aims to achieve carbon-neutrality before 2060.

As for the USA, Presidentelect Joe Biden has declared intentions to increase the nation’s switch to renewable energy.

Considering the implications of climate change and the global transition to cleaner energy sources, Jagdeo posited that demand for fossil fuel

is either going to be static or declining in 15 to 20 years’ time.

He had said that this is what has influenced the PPP/ C’s position to extract the oil as quickly as possible, use portions of it to build world class infrastructure and education while putting aside some for inter-generational equity.

“That is the depletion policy for you,” the Vice President concluded. (See link: depletion policy time stamp: (1: 05: 26) https:// w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=WA03jUwgIDY) Origin of the phrase “Drill, baby, drill!””Drill, baby, drill!” was a Republican campaign slogan first used at the US 2008 Republican National Convention by former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, who was later elected Chairman of the Re-

publican National Committee. The slogan expressed support for icreased drilling for petroleum and gas as sources of additional energy and gained further prominence after it was used

by Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin during the vice-presidential debate.

Motorcyclist, pedal ...

From page 10 rider who has been identified as a 29-year-old female of La Retraite were taken to the hospital. Jordan was pronounced dead while the female was admitted as a patient.

A breathalyzer test was

conducted on the driver of the pickup and he was found to be above the legal limit with .77% and .70% micrograms.

He is reportedly in police custody assisting with the investigation.

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY! In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our page seven to be blunt about ongoing indecency in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

SUNDAY The year 2021 will be a critical one for the Irfaan Ali administration.

Unless he wants to become a president known for missing golden opportunities, President Ali must make it clear that Guyana comes first.

He must take ownership, on behalf of Guyana, of our natural resources, and sound a clear warning to all and sundry. Our people must benefit.

We are on par with the richest countries in the world. We will accept nothing less than a fair deal for our people!

MONDAY We are officially in a new year, 2021.

Our entry into this year marks what could, what should, be a breaking of the chains of the past.

For too long Guyanese have shown little concern about how the impact of oil will impact the average citizen.

In previous years, we could have been excused because political leadership colluded with the oil companies to keep us ignorant.

Ignorance is no longer an excuse. If you are reading this right now, you should know what has been going wrong.

Kaieteur News has been giving you clear, uncontested information on how we are being robbed of our oil wealth while overseas companies are growing rich with little effort.

Last year was the time for learning – this year is the time for action.

TUESDAY The Coalition, now in Opposition, has forgotten its mandate.

According to the results of the March 2 elections, more than 217,000 voters believed in them.

After just a few months in Opposition, the Coalition has done what many thought was impossible.

It has partnered with the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic on one issue…oil and gas.

On this one issue, the Coalition had a chance to stand tall and do the right thing.

Instead, it has remained a silent partner in the rape of Guyana’s offshore wealth.

But the Coalition still has a chance to redeem itself.

Will it choose to act ignominiously or will it be able to stand tall?

We, Guyanese, deserve so much more!

WEDNESDAY The silence on renegotiation of our oil deals from both the PPP/C and APNU+AFC is deafening.

It is impossible that as a country on which the spotlight is on that our leaders remain silent.

We are losing billions of dollars of our birthright and our legacy.

Yet, there are no commitments on how to fix this glaring eye pass and the obvious highway robbery.

We cannot be amazed at our leaders and their selfishness.

THURSDAY Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, claims he understands that the tax-free ride given to Exxon, its affiliates, sub-contractors and partners is too liberal.

Yet, he will do nothing about the fact that nine billion barrels of Stabroek block oil will be produced with no income or other taxes to benefit the Guyanese people.

What good is admission if it comes with no action?

Talk is cheap, Dr. Jagdeo.

What Guyana needs is action!

FRIDAY The PPP/C Government of Irfaan Ali has selected Wales to be where a gas-toshore project will be. There have been warnings that there must be studies to ensure the project is affordable.

We can remember all too clearly the Skeldon sugar project, which costs extended beyond US$200M. That project is now a white elephant. We can recall the promises of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, that he will personally see Skeldon works.

Well, it never did to date.

There are questions over the cost of the gas-to-shore project. Will our leaders be cautious, transparent and accountable?

The ball is in President Irfaan Ali’s court.

SATURDAY In this modern age, no country can grow without education and information.

As time goes by it is clear that successive governments have withheld both critical education and critical information on the oil industry from Guyanese.

There is no benefit to deliberate ignorance other than making room for corruption.

Ask yourself why there is no government information site for oil and gas. Ask yourself why information on oil block ownership and details of contracts continue to be withheld.

No responsible government, or opposition, keeps their people in ignorance while foreign companies suck our wealth dry. Demand more from the people you put into power.

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Sunday January 10, 2021

Sunday January 10, 2021

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Sunday January 10, 2021

Sunday January 10, 2021

Akila Dananjaya cleared to bowl in international cricket ESPNcricinfo - Akila Dananjaya has been cleared to bowl in international cricket after an ICC “expert panel” concluded that the flex in his elbow is now within the permitted limit, following remedial work on his bowling action.

Dananjaya had suffered a 12-month suspension from international cricket after his action was found to be illegal on two separate occasions within the space of a year.

That suspension period ended in August last 2020, but Dananjaya was still required to show the ICC that his action had been remodelled to

comply with the maximum limit of 15 degrees of elbow flexion. As travel to an ICCaccredited biomechanics lab was not possible due to Covid-19 restrictions, Dananjaya was cleared by a panel that viewed footage of his new action. Sri Lanka Cricket had provided the footage.

Although still suspended from internationals at the time, Dananjaya did play in the Lanka Premier League late last year, bowling largely his googly and legbreak, while avoiding the stock offbreak that was understood to have been the delivery that ran

afoul of the flexion limit. His returns in that tournament had been modest, however. He claimed only two wickets and conceded runs at 10.56 an over. Prior to his suspensions, Dananjaya had been Sri Lanka’s leading spinner in the limited-overs formats, and was also beginning to be utilised increasingly in Tests.

The suspension was a substantial setback for his career, and if he is to return to international level, he must now compete for places with the likes of left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya and legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

...NBA roundup: LeBron James, From page 58 on a night in which Jonas Valanciunas left after halftime due to health and safety protocols. According to a report

by Fox Sports South, it was not due to a positive COVID19 test.

Caris LeVert led all scorers with 43 points and hit a career-high seven 3-pointers.

He scored 19 points and hit five 3-pointers in the third quarter when Brooklyn stormed back.

In other results: Houston Rockets 132 - Orlando Magic 90 Utah Jazz 131 - Milwaukee Bucks 118 Golden State Warriors 115 - Los Angeles Clippers 105 Toronto Raptors 144 Sacramento Kings 123 (Field Level Media)

...Olympic silver medalist Sunday January 10, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Too much reading might have you experiencing eyestrain and possibly headaches, Aries. It might help to have your eyes checked, but it's probably just too much stress.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Doubts about business and financial matters might weigh on your mind now, Taurus, so much so that they invade your dreams.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A scheduling conflict may come up today, Gemini. A business engagement could interfere with a social event. You might doubt whether you can attend both, but if you plan carefully, it should be OK. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Confusing communications could be the pattern for today, Cancer. Some paperwork you need to do for a task might be delayed hung up in the mail or filed in the wrong place.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today you could doubt the amount of money you might get from a business transaction. If you can, verify this before starting anything.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Business transactions that could take place in your home might seem a bit unclear today. Before agreeing to anything, read the fine print and verify all the facts about what you're signing.

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Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You might get a lot of mixed messages from friends, relatives, and colleagues, Libra.

They may say one thing while you sense that they mean something else.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you might not feel secure about your financial situation, Scorpio, and get a little nervous. Disconcerting information in the news about the general state of the world economy might have planted some unsettling seeds in your mind.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Some unsettling news about your work situation might reach you today and make you worried, Sagittarius.

You might question your future in this field and possibly consider a change.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You're a logical person.

When insights come to you through ESP, you tend to doubt their validity. Don't do this. If a feeling is particularly strong, go with it.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Doubts about a friend's motives could plague you today, Aquarius. This person seems to be acting strangely and isn't communicating.

This probably has little if anything to do with you.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A friend or family member might act strangely and seem distracted. You may wonder if he or she is upset with you. This probably isn't the case.

From page 60 doping tests or failing to update details of where they can be contacted by sample collection officials.

Manyonga won gold at the 2017 world championships in London. He finished fourth two years later in Doha.

American sprinter Christian Coleman, the 100-meter champion, is serving a twoyear ban imposed after he was initially reprieved to compete at the 2019 worlds. Elijah Manangoi of Kenya, the 1,500 world champion in 2017, will also miss the Tokyo Olympics while serving a two-year ban.

Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain, the women’s 400 champion, faces a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing in a whereabouts case. The AIU filed an appeal after an independent tribunal cleared her on a technicality.

Another United States athlete, Pan American Games triple jump champion Omar Craddock, is suspended for competition in the Olympic year while his whereabouts case is processed.

...NexGen Global is taking From page 63 PE teachers of these schools to become master trainers of golf instructors in all the other schools.

Nicholas Fraser, head of the Physical Education Allied Arts Unit holds an MBA specialising in Sports Management and is no stranger to implementing new programmes, having held many senior positions including Assistant Director of Sports at the National Sports Commission amongst others, said, “Golf has the potential of becoming a dominant sport in the school programme based on the reaction from both teachers and students so far and the fact that it is a covid-19 compliant sport.

Many activities are planned for the school golf programme with competitions for inter-classroom, inter-school, inter-region and national championship scheduled for 2021.”

Hussain, despite the personal challenges he faced many years ago, has been the driving force behind the development of golf in Guyana and has proven that adversity does bring out the best in everyone, especially when

one has the desire to succeed. The President of the Guyana Golf Association and Nexgen Golf Academy is also ranked as one of the top golf players in the country.

He has performed well in tournaments in Barbados, Trinidad, Suriname and Costa Rica and aims to use his skills and determination to ensure that a national team is created to participate in international events leading up to the Olympics.

So far, everyone ranging from the CEO of Education to the Regional District Education Officers, Head Teachers, Physical Education teachers and especially the students have reacted well to the inclusion of the sport in the schools as evidenced by the smiles and reactions from Wisburg Secondary School DHM Cordel Sealey; HM Ms. Michael; Anna Regina Secondary School HM Laljeet Ruplall and DHM Raghunaught Doodnaught; Region 2 Regional Education Officer - Nichola Matthews; and Region 2 District Education Officer (in charge of Secondary schools) Deodat Singh when they met with Hussain and Fraser during the roll-out.

Kaieteur News

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Sunday January 10, 2021

Head Coach, Courtney Walsh gets started at West Indies Women’s Camp

S

T JOHN’S, Antigua — Twenty-Four (24) l e a d i n g We s t Indies Women cricketers are gathering in Antigua from this weekend, for a training camp which bowls off today at The Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG). The camp will be the first face-to-face assignment with the players for new Head Coach Courtney Walsh and his technical support team, who will conduct a three-week high performance programme for a mixture of senior players and new faces.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has been working closely with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Sport in Antigua & Barbuda to orchestrate logistics and agree the safety protocols for the commencement and duration of the camp. All players and support staff were tested twice with negative Covid-19 results before their arrival into Antigua. The players and support staff will train and live in a bio-secure bubble for the duration of the camp, during which they will have four more tests conducted.

The preparation camp,

West Indies women are taking part in a training session in Antigua starting today. (CWI)

running from January 9 to February 1, kickstarts the year’s activities for the Women’s team, a feature of which will be the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, due to talk place in Sri Lanka in July.

Walsh said: “It’s very gratifying that the camp can take place during this challenging Covid-19 period, as the players are excited about getting down

to work. We have a good mixture of youth and experience coming into the camp and I’m especially looking forward to working with some of the younger talent we have coming through.”

Coach Walsh will be joined by an experienced team of qualified coaches including former West Indies players Robert Samuels and Corey Collymore, and the camp will be also overseen

by High Performance

Manager, Graeme West.

Walsh added, “Also on the coaching side, we have Samantha Lynch joining us and she did her Level 3 coaching certification training at the same time as me, so I know her very well.

This camp will be a good experience for her, and I expect her to quickly become an asset to the team.

Also, we have Steve Liburd who went to England with the team last September, to help with the fielding and

Ryan Austin to focus on our spinners. I think we have a good blend of players and coaches and I’m looking forward to a great camp.”

Among the 24 players called up for the camp are some world-class performers: Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed and Shakera Selman.

Japhina Joseph a righthanded batter from St. Vincent and The Grenadines is the newest member to be invited to the training camp.

She impressed the selectors during the CWI Under-19 tournament in 2019. Allrounder Qiana Joseph from Windward Islands makes a return to the training squad along with teenager Steffi Soogrim from Trinidad and Tobago.

FULL SQUAD: Aaliyah Alleyne Reniece Boyce Shemaine Campbelle Shamilia Connell Britney Cooper Deandra Dottin Afy Fletcher Cherry-Ann Fraser Shabika Gajnabi Sheneta Grimmond Shawnisha Hector

Chinelle Henry Qiana Joseph Japhina Joseph Kyshona Knight Hayley Matthews Natasha McLean Anisa Mohammed Chedean Nation Karishma Ramharack Kaysia Schultz Shakera Selman Steffi Soogrim Stafanie Taylor TEAM MANAGEMENT UNIT: Courtney Walsh - Head Coach Robert Samuels Assistant Coach Corey Collymore Assistant Coach Ryan Austin – Assistant Coach Steve Liburd - Assistant Coach S a m a n t h a Ly n c h Assistant Coach N e i l B a r r y Physiotherapist Shayne Cooper – S&C Coach Amanda Johnson Mental Skills Coach Gary Belle – Team Analyst Sheena Gooding – Team Manager Naasira Mohammed – Media & Content Officer

NBA roundup: LeBron James, Lakers edge Bulls LeBron James had 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 117-115 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Montrezl Harrell contributed 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who played without Anthony Davis (left adductor strain).

Dennis Schroder also scored 17, while Wesley Matthews had 14 points and Markieff Morris added 11.

Z a c h L a Vi n e , w h o scored 19 points in the first quarter, had 38 points and six assists for the Bulls. Wendell Carter Jr. collected 23 points and seven rebounds and Thaddeus Young chipped in 15 points and seven boards.

Coby White finished with 14 points.

Bulls forward Otto Porter Jr. left the contest in the first half with back spasms and did not return.

Forward Lauri Markkanen sat out his sixth straight contest due to the league health and protocols policies.

Detroit Pistons 110 Phoenix Suns 105 Jerami Grant tied his

career high with 31 points and host Detroit rallied from a 23-point, first-half deficit to down Phoenix in overtime.

Grant, who also snared 10 rebounds, had just established a new career high in points against Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Blake Griffin had 16 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, Delon Wright contributed 16 points, five rebounds and six assists, and Mason Plumlee added 12 points for Detroit.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 23 points and former Piston Langston Galloway had 17. DeAndre Ayton added 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Dario Saric had 12 points and Chris Paul supplied 11 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.

Boston Celtics 116 Washington Wizards 107 Jayson Tatum scored 32 points, Jaylen Brown added 27 and shorthanded Boston held off visiting Washington.

Marcus Smart had 13 points, Payton Pritchard 11 and Daniel Theis 10 as the Celtics won for the sixth time in their last seven games.

Brown chipped in a game-

high 13 rebounds.

Bradley Beal followed a franchise-record-tying 60 points scored Wednesday with 41, but the Wizards lost for the seventh time in their first nine games. Russell Westbrook, playing with a dislocated finger on his right hand, had 12 points on 4-of16 shooting.

Oklahoma City Thunder 101 - New York Knicks 89 Hamidou Diallo scored 11 of his season-high 23 points in the fourth quarter as visiting Oklahoma City pulled away from New York.

Diallo also added a season-high 11 rebounds despite coming off the bench for the Thunder, which trailed by 11 points in the first quarter before coming back to win their second straight. Shai GilgeousAlexander also had a doubledouble with 25 points and 10 rebounds while Al Horford added 15 points and eight assists.

Julius Randle had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. RJ Barrett scored 19 points while Elfrid Payton (16 points) and

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) moves to the basket against Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) during the second half at Staples Center. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports) Austin Rivers (12 points) also got into double digits.

Charlotte Hornets 118 New Orleans Pelicans 110 Gordon Hayward scored 26 points to lead six Charlotte players in double figures as Charlotte defeated host New Orleans.

Miles Bridges added 20 points, Devonte’ Graham scored 17, Terry Rozier had

15, rookie LaMelo Ball had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Bismack Biyombo scored 11.

Zion Williamson scored 26, Josh Hart added 19, Brandon Ingram and JJ Redick had 17 each and Steven Adams scored 13 for the Pelicans, who lost their third straight to complete a four-game homestand before

embarking on a seven-game road trip.

Memphis Grizzlies 115 Brooklyn Nets 110 Dillon Brooks scored 24 points as Memphis started fast, withstood blowing a 22point lead and ended a fivegame home losing streak with a victory over Brooklyn. The Grizzlies won (Continued on page 57)

Sunday January 10, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 61

Sarwan says Chemar Holder should have been in Test squad Chemar Holder celebrates his first Test wicket in New Zealand.

- Feels biggest challenge will come against spin Coach Ronnie Sarwan

Joshua Da Silva in the Regional Super50 in T&T.

By Sean Devers Forty-year-old former Guyana and West Indies Captain Ramnaresh ‘Ronnie’ Sarwan said he is surprised that 22-year-old Barbadian Chemar Holder was not selected in a depleted West Indies team to tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and Two Tests starting with the first ODI on January 20.

“I would have probably opted for another fast bowler…I know we are playing in Bangladesh but their batters are better equipped at playing spin than pace. If we had another fast bowler who bowls at 80 miles per hour it would have tested their batters rather than them playing spin.

However though, three left-arm spinners in Bangladesh…I doubt if they will all play together but we have to wait and see. As I said I would have opted for another fast bowler and ask him to be aggressive and

bowl in short spells.

I was surprised young Holder from Barbados…was not selected and I don’t think we have enough players to be choosing horses for courses.

We have to make use of what we have and give the confidence to express themselves.

The situation we are facing in the West Indies is we do not have an abundance of talent that we could ship in and ship out players for different conditions,” said Sarwan who announced his retirement from all formats at the Stella Maris Primary School in 2016.

Holder had two wickets and bowled with genuine pace in his only Test match against New Zealand last December.

Sarwan, who made 15 centuries including a masterful 291 against England and 31 fifties from 87 Tests and five tons and 38 fifties in 181 ODIs, was speaking on the ‘Sean

Jermaine Blackwood plays a classy cover-drive.

Devers Sports Watch’ Radio show on Kaieteur Radio last Wednesday night along with fellow former Windies Test players Reon King and Trinidadian Tony Grey.

Sarwan, who was born in the Essequibo Island of Wakanaam, said he does not foresee too many problems for the batsmen against the Bangladeshi seamers but feels their biggest challenge will come against the spinners.

“What I would recommend is that they back their defence. You also can play spin from your crease very well if you believe in your defence. Most times when the ball is spinning our batsmen tend to find it very challenging and either try and slug their way out or buckle under the pressure so if they can back their defence it could play a major role for them in staying patient and keeping the good balls out,”advised Sarwan, who

made his first Test hundred in 2002 against Bangladesh.

The Guyanese made his Regional 50-overs debut as a 15-year-old against Trinidad & Tobago at Bourda and was regarded as one of the best batsmen to spin bowling.

“Once they can do that and spend a long time at the crease they should be able to score runs. Most of them have done it at the Regional level. But you get less bad balls at the higher level and in International cricket you have to spend more time at the crease,” continued the Jamaica Tallawahs assistant Coach.

Sarwan, who at 28 years and 228 days, became the youngest West Indian to reach 5,000 runs when he made a century against England in Jamaica in 2009, feels the pugnacious nature of Jamaica’s Jermaine Blackwood could be a good thing against the home team’s spinners.

“I think young Blackwood, who likes to use his feet, will be aggressive and that could be a good thing because sometimes when the ball is spinning you could bug down yourself too much… so he is one to look out for since the way he plays could put pressure on the bowlers,” added Sarwan.

“In those conditions the Bangladesh left-arm spinners could bowl wicket to wicket and try to get you out LBW and that is something the West Indies batsmen should look out for but I would tell them to back their defence.

While you want to spend time at the crease you also have to be positive. You don’t have to hit the ball in the air or use your feet… you can be positive playing backward or playing forward because I think your body language says a lot as well so if they can do they can conquer the spin,” informed

Sarwan, who believes Joshua DaSilva, who has also played one Test, is a very promising player and is one for the future.

Touching on the issue of the senior players choosing safety first by opting not to go to Bangladesh, which is only behind India on the subcontinent in terms of positive Covid-19 cases, Sarwan responded saying you have to respect people’s views.

“Really and truly I can understand the safety reasons in terms of the pandemic which is still going on but in terms of the personal reasons I don’t know what they are. But at the end of the day you have to respect people’s views.

Of course we would have wanted our best team to tour but that has not happened. It also presents an opportunity for the others players selected and let’s hope they grab it with both hands,” Sarwan concluded.

Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds caught making derogatory remarks about Marnus Labuschagne ESPNcricinfo - One of Cricket Australia’s broadcast partners has been forced to apologise after Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds made derogatory remarks about Marnus Labuschagne.

Wa r n e a n d S y m o n d s w e r e preparing to commentate on Friday’s BBL match between Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades seemingly unaware that the feed was live on Kayo, the streaming arm of Fox Sports, with the start of play delayed due to the third Test match between Australia and India still taking place in Sydney.

The conversation started plainly

enough with Warne suggesting that Labuschagne should be brought on to bowl. However, Symonds then referred to “ADD”, presumed to be attention deficit disorder, in relation to Labuschagne, with Warne following up with a swipe at his mannerisms when he bats.

The final part of the brief segment involved Symonds referring to giving Labuschagne “the hogpile” - a group of people jumping on each other.

Warne: “Give Marnus a bowl.”

Symonds: “Do something... that or his ADD.” Warne: “Jesus, it’s

annoying. ‘No!!!’ [imitating Labuschagne batting] Just f***** bat properly.” Symonds: “You’ll have to give him the hogpile, ‘mate, if you keep that shit up, we’re gonna squash your guts out of your arse.”

After the footage was posted on social media, Kayo tweeted: “Our stream started early and caught some unacceptable comments. On behalf of @kayosports and the commentary team, we unreservedly apologise.”

Labuschagne is currently part of the Australian team in the ongoing Sydney Test.

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Sunday January 10, 2021

Labuschagne, Smith steer Australia to ominous lead over India

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FP - First innings heroes M a r n u s Labuschagne and Steve Smith steered Australia to an commanding 197-run lead in the highstakes third Test yesterday, leaving an injury-hit India with a mountain to climb.

They came to the crease after Will Pucovski and David Warner fell early, pushing them to 103 for two at stumps and a strong position with the four-Test series locked at 1-1.

Labuschagne, who scored 91 in the first innings, was not out on 47 and Smith, who blitzed 131 in his first knock, unbeaten on 29.

Australia padded up again after taking eight wickets on day three to dismiss India for 244 in reply to the hosts’ 338.

“I woke up today hoping that by the close of play we still wouldn’t be bowling and to have a lead of near 200, a great day,” said Australian pace spearhead Pat Cummins, who took 429.

“I think we need (to bat) for at least a session-and-a half, two sessions tomorrow and then have a good crack at them.”

I n d i a ’s C h e t e s h w a r Pujara, who made a patient 50, said early wickets would be crucial for his team today.

“We need to pick up a couple of early wickets tomorrow morning and not allow them free runs in the

first session,” he said.

India’s task was made harder by the absence of key spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who was sent for scans after a hit to the thumb while b a t t i n g . Wi c k e t k e e p e r Rishabh Pant joined him in the clinic after a nasty blow to the elbow.

It piled more misery on India, who were already without injured bowlers Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma and batsman KL Rahul, while skipper Virat Kohli is on paternity leave.

Despite this, Mohammed Siraj stepped up to remove Pucovski for 10, caught by substitute keeper Wriddhiman Saha.

Ravi Ashwin then took the prized scalp of David Warner for 13, his ninth career dismissal of the opener, trapping him lbw.

But the disciplined Labuschagne and Smith steadied the ship, building a threatening 68-run partnership that is slowly taking the game away from India.

- Crumble India were all out just before tea after some scintillating bowling and razor-sharp fielding, having resumed at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 96 for two.

Cummins snared Pujara while Josh Hazlewood removed a dangerous Pant after a breezy 36.

The pair’s downfall saw

the team crumble, with Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah both run out, joining Hanuma Vihari who suffered the same fate earlier in the day. A cautious Pujara began the day on nine and captain Ajinkya Rahane two after Hazlewood and Cummins dismissed openers Rohit Sharma (26) and Shubman Gill (50) on Friday.

Rahane, who scored a century in the last Test at Melbourne, had an escape on 16, with a Nathan Lyon delivery ballooning to Matthew Wade at short leg, who could only get his fingertips on the ball.

The skipper then whacked Lyon for six before his new-found aggression cost him his wicket, chopping a Cummins ball onto his stumps in the next over.

Pujara did what he does best, grinding out singles while occasionally opening his bat, bringing up his 26th half-century.

But the celebrations were short-lived, with Pant out two balls later, edging a Hazlewood delivery to Warner at slip.

And it got worse when Pujara was removed in the next over, gloving a rising Cummins ball to wicketkeeper Tim Paine.

“They bowled a good line and length and it wasn’t easy... it’s not easy to score runs so you need to spend a lot of time at the crease and wait for the loose ball to

Olympic silver medalist Manyonga suspended in doping case Luvo Manyonga of South Africa makes an attempt in the men’s long jump event at the IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting at London Stadium in London. (AP Photo/ Tim Ireland, file) MONACO (AP) — Olympic long jump silver medalist Luvo Manyonga was provisionally suspended in a doping case on Friday and could be banned from the Tokyo Games.

The Athletics Integrity Unit said it sent Manyonga a ‘’notice of charge’’ in the case, which is based on suspected breaches of whereabouts rules. The South African long jumper -

who had his 30th birthday on Friday - is the latest world champion to be investigated regarding whereabouts rules. The cases include missing out-of-competition (Continued on page 57)

come,” Pujara said.

India slumped, with Ashwin slow off the mark for a single and Cummins alert, making a quick throw to Labuschagne standing at the stumps.

It followed Vihari being brilliantly run out before lunch, attempting a run that wasn’t there, with Hazlewood diving and throwing the ball in one movement.

Bumrah became the third run out of the day, courtesy of a lightning-fast Labuschagne.

Scores: Stumps Australia 338 and 103 for 2 (Labuschagne 47*, Smith 29*) lead India 244 (Gill 50, Pujara 50, Cummins 4-29, Hazlewood 2-43) by 197 runs.

Pat Cummins leaps up in joy after getting rid of Cheteshwar Pujara with a jaffa, Australia vs India, 3rd Test, Sydney, 3rd day, January 9, 2021 © Getty Images

Former Cricketers and executives on board to support development of Berbice cricket - Nagamootoo brothers, Halley and Deonarine the latest The outstanding work of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to attract the attention of sponsors and former cricketers as the board strives to fulfill its commitment to return the game to the highest level after the covid 19 pandemic is brought under control. The very vibrant board over the last three years under the Presidency of Hilbert Foster has developed a reputation of attracting sponsoring from a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y, Caribbean and North America for tournaments and wide range of developmental programmes.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the BCB marketing effort is its ability to have former players to come on board to sponsor events and tournaments.

Current players like Shimron Hetmeyer, Kevin Sinclair and Romario Shepherd are sponsors of tournaments, while former West Indies opener Clayton Lambert recently spearheaded a $ 1.5M gears project which attracted support from former national players Ray Joseph, Leslaine Lambert, Kevin Darlington and Demerara born Nolan Mckenzie. Former national captain Jerry Angus also contributed to the joint BCB/RHTYSC Basil Butcher gears project.

Others like Anthony B r a m b l e , Ve e r s a m m y Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Esaun Crandon, Ishwar Singh and Gudakesh Motie have also assisted to support

Troy Halley the BCB work programme.

One of the BCB new initiatives for 2021 is to host several one day cricket tournaments at venues where clubs may be struggling to attract youths to join and where the passion for the game has dropped off.

Another objective of the tournaments would be to give clubs who struggle to compete against the more established clubs like the RHTYSC and Albion an opportunity to win a BCB Tournament. The board hopes to organise these tournament at venues such as Whim, Bush Lot Farm, Port Mourant, Skeldon, Chesney, Rose Hall Canje, Edinburgh and Bush Lot on the West Coast. Former West Indies player Mahendra Nagamootoo and his younger brother Vishal, who also played for Guyana, have agreed to sponsor the tournament in their home village of Whim.

Port Mourant and Belvedere would clash for the Nagamootoo Brothers trophy.

The West Berbice-born Troy Halley, who played for several teams in that area, contacted the board and

agreed to sponsor another at the Bush Lot Ground. Four teams - Bush Lot United, Bush Lot Rising Star, Achievers and De Edwards would play in that tournament.

Former Guyana captain and West Indies player Narsingh Deonarine would be the sponsor of the Deonarine Cup to be played between Chesney, Fyrish and Courtland at the Chesney Ground.

Deonarine, who played 18 tests for the West Indies, was b o r n i n C h e s n e y. H e received co-sponsorship from Faheed Ahmad, J a y n a t h C h a k r a v a r t h y, Khavita Deonarine and Dariel Inshan Ali Deonarine.

Meanwhile, former BCB Executive Lloyd Simpson at the request of the BCB President would shortly be handing over an office photo copier to the board as it continues efforts to reduce overall operating costs.

Foster hailed the cooperation of the former cricketers who are now living overseas for remembering their roots and paying it forward. He stated that the players were very impressed with the current state of Berbice cricket and most importantly they have confidence in its leadership.

He expressed thanks to them and reassured that 2021 would see unmatched development in the county.

Several more former players are in discussion with the board and more tournaments would be unveiled shortly.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 10, 2021

PAGE 63

Serena, Osaka to join top men in Adelaide ahead of Australian Open M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) - Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka will join Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic in playing a preAustralian Open warm-up exhibition in Adelaide after serving their quarantine in the South Australian city, Tennis Australia (TA) said yesterday.

The “A Day at the Drive” event will take place at the city’s Memorial Drive Tennis Centre on Jan. 29, a week before the delayed

Grand Slam gets underway at Melbourne Park.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley had already flagged that Ash Barty and Simona Halep would be among the eight players involved in the exhibition with U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem now confirmed as the third man.

Adelaide will also host a WTA tour 500 level event, the Adelaide International, in the week after the Australian

Open as TA look to give players every opportunity to compete after travelling Down Under and isolating for two weeks.

“These two tournaments are a real coup for South Australia,” state Premier Steven Marshall said in a news release.

“This is a real show of support for the way that South Australia has managed the COVID-19 pandemic and underlines our ability to attract world-class events.”

West Indies confident as they depart for Tests and ODIs in Bangladesh

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RIDGETOWN, Barbados — We s t I n d i e s squad members have departed the Caribbean during the course of this past Thursday and Friday for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh.

The final group left from Barbados on Friday night, including newly appointed Te s t C a p t a i n , K r a i g g Brathwaite.

The experienced Test opener expressed confidence that the team will perform well in B a n g l a d e s h ’s h o m e conditions.

He said “We are all up for the challenge… it will be a tough series in Bangladesh but we have confidence and we have belief that we will do very well,” Brathwaite said. “We have some members of the squad who will be playing there for the first time so it will be something new to them, but they know they have the talent and are capable of performing at this level.”

Brathwaite has scored three of his eight Test centuries against Bangladesh. He made a career-best 212 in 2014 and had scores of 121 and 110 in the two-match rubber three years ago.

He added: “It’s about being very clear in our plans, whether when we’re batting or when we’re bowling. We have to know how we want to play … how we are going to score our runs and how we are going to look for our wickets. Patience will be the key. It’s always very important in the Test format and especially on the pitches in Bangladesh.”

Kemar Roach The tour comprises two Test matches, as part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) World Test Championship, and three One-Day Internationals (ODI) as part of the ICC’s Cricket World Cup Super League. The ODIs present the first opportunity for the West Indies to earn Super League points which count towards the prequalification for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023.

All squad members returned their second negative COVID-19 PCR tests as part of the established medical protocols and have been cleared for travel to Bangladesh. The full squad is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka today.

We s t I n d i e s O D I Squad: Jason Mohammed (captain), Sunil Ambris (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua Da Silva, Keon Harding, Jahmar Hamilton, Chemar Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Andre McCarthy, Kjorn Ottley, Rovman Powell, Raymon Reifer, Hayden Walsh jr

We s t I n d i e s Te s t Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Kavem Hodge, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Ve e r a s a m m y P e r m a u l , Kemar Roach, Raymon Reifer, Jomel Warrican Team Management: Phil Simmons (Head Coach), Rawl Lewis (Team Manager), Roddy Estwick (Assistant Coach), Monty Desai (Assistant Coach), Rayon Griffith (Assistant Coach), Denis Byam (Physiotherapist), Dr Praimanand Singh (Team Doctor), Ronald Rogers (Strength & Conditioning Coach), Sharon Coppin (Massage Therapist), Simeon Christophe (Massage Therapist), Donald LeGuerre (Mental Skills Coach), Dario Barthley (Media & Content Officer), Paul Slowe (Security & Compliance Officer), A.R Srikkanth (Team Analyst) Full Tour Schedule January 10: West Indies arrive January 18: One-day warm-up match, BKSP, Savar January 20 1st ODI, SBNCS, Dhaka January 22: 2nd ODI, SBNCS, Dhaka January 25: 3rd ODI, ZACS, Chattogram January 28-31: Four-day warm-up, M.A. Aziz Stadium, Chattogram February 3-7: 1st Test Match, ZACS, Chattogram February 11-15: 2nd Test Match, SBNCS, Dhaka

Other warm-up tournaments, including a shortened version of the ATP Cup involving Nadal, Djokovic and Thiem, will be held in Melbourne before the Australian Open.

Hundreds of players and entourages will arrive in Australia from Jan. 15 and u n d e rg o a m a n d a t o r y quarantine as part of COVID-19 health protocols for the Asia-Pacific Grand Slam. The players will be allowed five hours a day outside their hotel rooms to train during their mandatory isolation and Tiley told the Tennis Channel that health regulations would be the same in Adelaide.

However, the Sydney Morning Herald said the Adelaide hotel, with gym facilities, would offer much better accommodation for the players than those on offer in Melbourne.

France’s Jeremy Chardy,

Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates after her match point against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus (not pictured) in the women’s singles final at the US Open. (Danielle Parhizkaran-USA Today Sports) ranked 72nd in the world, was not happy with the decision on the Adelaide tournament and feared that top players isolating in the city would benefit from extra privileges.

“This announcement for the top threes is a bit out of

the blue, and it’s weird, to put it mildly,” Chardy told L’Equipe.

“They will even be able to benefit from a gym at the hotel and will be able to do their exercises, which will not count towards the fivehour quota.”

Learning to bowl on slow, unresponsive pitches, crucial lesson for young Windies bowlers claims Lloyd SportsMax - Legendary West Indies captain, Clive Lloyd, insists the current crop of players must learn to play in all conditions if the team is to eventually emerge from the doldrums of world cricket.

In the aftermath of the recent squad selection for the We s t I n d i e s t o u r o f Bangladesh, plenty of eyebrows were raised not only due to the absence of 12 first team players but following the non-selection of promising young fast bowler Chemar Holder for the Test cricket squad.

The team has the typical fast-bowling trio of Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, and Alzarri Joseph but with captain Jason Holder opting out of the tour, many thought Chemar would have been a natural replacement, particularly after a promising debut in difficult circumstances last month.

Cricket West Indies chief of selectors Clive Lloyd, however, explained that the panel had chosen to include more spinners at the expense of Holder, due to the nature of spin-friendly surfaces in Bangladesh. Lloyd believes the decision could cost the

Legendary West Indies captain, Clive Lloyd young bowler valuable experience.

“These guys need to play in those countries where it’s not that helpful and you learn to bowl a better line and length,” Lloyd told the Mason and Guest radio show.

“On the dead pitches, someone like (Collin) Croft would still be disconcerting.

He would be getting it up into your neck. The point is that our fast bowlers bowled well on any kind of wicket,” he added.

“Our bowlers were not deterred by slow pitches and

that is what our youngsters have to learn, to bowl on pitches that are not responsive. Dennis Lille, when he realized the pitch was not helping, he would cut down his run and bowl a different kind of delivery, cutters, and so on and make you think about your cricket.

So did Richard Hadlee, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, all these guys would have learned to bowl on wickets that are not responsive. If we are just going to rest people because the wickets are not responsive then something is wrong.”

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Sunday January 10, 2021

Four Linden basketball clubs benefit from donations from US based Gary Stephens and Ryan Clarke Former Kings player Ryan Clarke and coach Gary Stephens have donated basketballs and boots to four basketball clubs, while footballs were also given to selected football clubs in Linden.

These donations were presented to club officials of Retrieve Raiders, Kings, Victory Valley Royals and Amelia’s Ward Jets at the home of Stephens and making the donation was Kings Club Secretary Ms. Lissa Robertson. Kings, at one time the top club in Linden, has seen changes over the years and have placed emphasis on junior players and is concentrating on a junior programme for development.

A donation was also made to the Amelia’s Ward Panthers Football Club which received a football while others are to be made shortly. Among those who witnessed the presentation were two former national women players who are attached to the club, Ms. Shana Jacobs and Nichola Jacobs and are spearheading the youth programme which should soon involve female players.

Club officials pose with basketballs and boots donated by Gary Stephens and Ryan Clarke. Standing at right is Nichola Jacobs and second right Lissa Robertson, while at left is Shana Chester.

Good Times Hang Out Bar backs Assanah appointed Chairman of Wiltshire dominoes tourney R/J Commission Steve Ninvalle

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ood Times Hang Out bar of 6 Middle Street, Pouderoyen has supported the Mark Wiltshire Birth Anniversary dominoes competition which is set to commence on January 16 at Turning Point Sports bar.

T h e e n t i t y ’ s representative Suzanna Hunte made a presentation to Wiltshire yesterday. She said that they are looking forward to an exciting and successful competition, and wished the t e a m s w e l l . Wi l t s h i r e expressed gratitude to the sponsor and said all covid rules will be observed.

Entrance fee is $15,000 and all GNDA rules will be in effect. The winning team will take home a trophy and $175,000, the runner up a trophy and $75,000, third place a trophy and $35,000 and fourth place a trophy and $20,000.

The MVP will receive $5,000 while the best female

Mark Wiltshire accepts the cheque from Suzanna Hunte.

Lawrence Assanah

G

player will pocket $10,000.

The competition will conclude on January 17 and G o o d Ti m e s a r e t h e

defending champions.

Action gets underway at 14:00hrs. Teams can contact Wiltshire on 659-8672.

uyana Defence Force Warrant Officer Lawrence Assanah has been appointed Chairman of the Guyana Boxing Association executive.

Assanah, a AIBA certified One Star referee, received the appointment yesterday at a meeting between GBA president Steve Ninvalle and members of the R/J Commission.

The army officer has taken over from fellow One Star Ramona Agard and will hold the position for two years. One of the most promising referees in CARICOM, Assanah was successful at the One Start exams in 2017

in St Lucia and is tipped to be elevated to Two Star once those exams are available.

At yesterday’s meeting Ninvalle thanked Agard for her stewardship over the years which he claimed was of a very high standard.

The GBA president informed those present that it would not be business as usual as recently elected AIBA President Umar Kremlev is “a body in motion” and wants to see results.

Assanah will meet with the executive of the GBA later this week to assist with the appointment of the Vice Chairman and three other members of the commission.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 10, 2021

PAGE 65

NexGen Global is taking Golf Nationwide through CSEC School Programme Over the past week, the plans to implement Golf in secondary schools across the country under the auspices of the Unit of Allied Arts Division of the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Golf Association got off to a smashing start as the programme was rolled out in B e r b i c e , G e o rg e t o w n , Linden and Essequibo. This prompted the head of Nexgen Global Group of Companies, Aleem Hussain, to announce plans for the third of a series of golf courses his company plans to build this year as he continues to expand the game around the country.

“During the visit to the Anna Regina Secondary School to donate equipment and meet with Education officials, we identified the location on the Essequibo Coast and expect that with the revolutionary design and layout of the course, we can have the facility fully functional before the end of this year,” said Hussain.

“This is in addition to the two other golf facilities we plan to build in Linden and Berbice.”

The Guyana Golf Association’s goal to have as many as 6,000 new players in the coming years is realistic considering that Guyana has approximately 100,000 students in the school system (57,000 in secondary schools alone) and with parental involvement, the game has the potential to reach great heights, thereby creating the demand for more playing facilities and courses.

Hussain said that he plans to build at least eight golf facilities since his unique design for the new golf courses require less than 15 acres of land, thereby

allowing them to be built closer to densely populated areas. “Maintenance and upkeep costs will be drastically reduced and as such, the game will be more affordable and accessible to anyone who has an interest in learning and playing golf.”

Administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts, Ms. Lorraine Barker-King said she was tremendously excited about the fact that Guyana will make history when our kids will for the first time be able to utilize Golf as a sport option in the Physical Education and Sport syllabus for CSEC and CAPE. “This opens up a world of opportunity for our children, especially in light of the impact covid has had on sports and Mr. Fraser is showing excellent initiative in ensuring that we come up with viable alternatives for them in sports. This partnership with Mr. Hussain and the Guyana Golf Association is definitely one that will change the way our country looks at the sport and we will do everything possible to ensure its success,” said Ms. BarkerKing.

The current pilot programme will see six schools selected by the Ministry of Education; Anna Regina Secondary, Richard Ishmael Secondary, Queen’s C o l l e g e , P r e s i d e n t ’s College, Berbice Educational Institute and Wisburg Secondary begin teaching Golf immediately.

In August the remaining CSEC schools will roll out the programme nationally to ensure that as many students as possible have the opportunity to learn the game. The aim is to train the (Continued on page 57)

Aleem Hussain (left) presents golf equipment to ARMS HM Laljeet Ruplall (c) in the presence of Niholas Fraser.

Aleem Hussain (2nd from right) making a presentation to Wisburg HM Ms. Michael (left) in the presence of, Deputy HM Cordell Sealey (2nd from left) and Nicholas Fraser.

Narsingh Deonarine

rt Spo Kraigg Brathwaite

Mahendra Nagamootoo

Vishal Nagamootoo Serena Williams of the US reacts during her first round match against Kristie Ahn of the US at the French Open. (Reuters/ Gonzalo Fuentes)

Former Cricketers and executives on board to support development of Berbice cricket - Nagamootoo brothers, Halley and Deonarine the latest

West Indies confident as they depart for Tests and ODIs in Bangladesh High elbow, straight bat - Marnus Labuschagne follows the textbook too sometimes, Australia vs India, 3rd Test, Sydney, 3rd day, January 9, 2021 Š Getty Images

Serena, Osaka to Labuschagne, join top men in Adelaide Smith steer Australia to ahead of Australian Open ominous lead over India 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.