Kaieteur News

K

Sunday Edition EPA quietly NEWS amends permit for Liza Phase Two project

AIETEUR

January 23, 2022

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $140

- still fails to hold parent companies liable for oil spills

Online readership yesterday, 73,995

KN Publisher's challenge to tax giveaways in Exxon deal…

Govt. has key opportunity - Chris

to rebalance agreement in

Ram

favour of the Guyanese people Protestors gathered at Mandela Avenue in Georgetown yesterday.

Cease oil production until Exxon - protestors agrees to contract changes demand

Oil money will be used for budget 2022- VP Jagdeo

3 courageous Guyanese women file legal challenge against EPA to stop ExxonMobil's flaring - asks High Court to order independent expert probe into company's compliance with manufacturer's standards for operating oil vessel Listen to The Glenn Lall Show @ 11am, 4&7pm on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Sunday January 23, 2022

KN Publisher’s challenge to tax giveaways in Exxon deal…

Govt. has key opportunity to rebalance agreement in favour of the Guyanese people - Chris Ram When he served as Opposition Leader back in 2019, the now Vice President (VP), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had repeatedly trashed the APNU+AFC regime for the poorly renegotiated Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).

In fact, the VP is quoted in the media as saying that the PSA which was signed with ExxonMobils subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Limited, is a “contract that would harm us for decades into the future.” He even accused the APNU+AFC of having “sold our patrimony” to Exxon.

But the Vice President is not the only one in the PPP/C’s camp to harshly criticise the deal. In fact, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C, has said in Parliament more than once, that the contract is “the worst on the planet.”

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC

In light of the foregoing positions which are shared by scores of local and regional actors, Chartered Accountant and Attorney-atLaw, Chris Ram says the historic legal challenge filed

by Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall via his lawyer, Mr. Mohamed Ali, provides the Government of Guyana with a key opportunity to rebalance the agreement in favour of the Guyanese people.

In his most recent writings, Ram articulated that Lall through his lawyer is asking the Court to declare a number of the provisions of Article 15 (the Taxation Article) in the PSA to be unlawful, null, void and of no legal effect. Some of those provisions address the tax concessions granted to affiliated companies of Esso, Hess and CNOOC; the tax concessions to subcontractors of Esso, Hess

and CNOOC; and the provisions that exempt from taxes, the income earned by expatriate employees of C o n t r a c t o r, A ff i l i a t e d Companies or Non-Resident Sub-Contractors who are in Guyana for 183 days or less in any tax year. Lall is also claiming that such exemption violates the Constitution of Guyana and the Prevention of Discrimination Act. His case also challenges the provision of the agreement requiring the Minister responsible for Petroleum to pay the taxes of the oil companies out of the States share of profit oil.

Mr. Lall is also asking the Court to declare as unlawful, Parliamentary Order 10 of 2016 which sought to ratify the tax concessions granted under the Petroleum Agreement. Through his lawyer Mr. Mohamed Ali, Lall is arguing alternatively, that even if the Order is valid, it only applies to holders of licences under a

Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram KN Publisher, Glenn Lall Production Sharing Agreement.

Ram was keen to note that the respondent in the matter is the Attorney General while adding that it is likely that the three oil companies will apply to be joined in the action.

Furthermore, Ram said the current Government of Guyana which inherited the agreement from its predecessor has publicly defended the Agreement on

the grounds of sanctity of contract.

That principle he said is now being challenged by a more fundamental one: legality, and in one issue, constitutionality.

Should the Court rule that the tax Article is indeed unlawful, Ram said this would have a huge impact on the economics of the Agreement and result in significantly higher revenues to the country.

“We can expect the oil companies to fight to protect Continued on page 8

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

PAGE 03

Govt Chief Whip says “gross misconduct” by Opposition MPs could be handled one of three ways

Scenes from the National Assembly on December 29, 2021. its one-seat majority to ram it through the House on Wednesday night, December 29, 2021.

When Minister, with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, was invited by the Speaker of the N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y, Manzoor Nadir – to deliver his remarks on the Bill – it was at this point the House erupted into mass confusion.

During an NCN interview on Thursday, Government Chief Whip and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, stated that the “gross misconduct” by the Opposition Members of Parliament in the National Assembly last month, could be handled one of three ways.

Kaieteur News reported

that the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill 2021, was passed in the National Assembly amid chaotic inHouse protest by the Opposition MPs. Ignoring mounting criticisms and appeals to have the NRF Bill sent to a special select committee for proper consideration and input from the citizenry, the PPP/C Administration used

Opposition members started chanting, “No thieving Bill must pass!” as they slammed the bottom of their plastic water bottles to their desks in rhythmic fashion and unison.

During the interview, Minister Teixeira first noted that when the National Assembly resumes on Monday, the act of disciple is on the Parliamentary

agenda, among the tabling of three bills.

“For all of us who have just entered Parliament and for those of us that’s been there for a while…I think it’s the worst form of behaviour I have ever seen in our Parliament,” she said.

Teixeira noted that the Opposition MPs behaviour is considered “gross misconduct” and “gross

serious disorder”. As such she stated that Parliament has to determine, whether it would allow the incident to go unpunished or what actions they will take.

She stated that the whole country would have seen the video of what transpired in Parliament the night the NRF Bill was passed and when the mace was seized by Continued on page 64

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Oil Fund theft

– over before it even started

I

t was always going to come to this inevitable con clusion. After all the agitating, arguing, and assur ing, it was the edge of one seat in parliament, the advantage of one more vote in committee, and it was over before it started. It is all that is required, and everybody else could quarrel forever, and scream their lungs out to no avail. Access to the fund under legal cover, and draining it through legal provisions were the end game. Now it is in front of us, as the circumstances once feared, are now very real, in that it can and will happen. Thanks to the criminal mindset of Guyana’s leaders.

The visions and preparations for the wastage of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) housed in a New York bank were in motion long before the elections were over, and the PPP/C took the reins of Government. At one time, the fact that the oil monies were deposited in a foreign financial institution, a New York one of immense standing no less, was cause for comfort for Guyanese.

The settled belief was that dirty greedy, grubby politicians would have great difficulty getting their hands on it.

They would have greater troubles explaining and justifying any actions that spoke of withdrawals. Well, all of that is now history and part of the wretched forlorn oil story with which this society must live. For endlessly cunning PPP/C leaders sat down, studied, and came up with a simplified mechanism to steal the oil monies under the umbrella of the law.

Just recently, we spoke of wastage of the NRF balances. It is being charitable, because as we all know when Guyanese politicians come close to big money, any money in material amounts, more than wastage is involved.

Through and through, it has been and will continue to be the incomparable criminalities that citizens of this country have always known for decade upon decade. Wastage has its purposes, because monies can be withdrawn for billion-dollar projects that excite Guyanese, but which are the channels to siphon off much of those withdrawn funds, leaving us to speak again and again, but always futilely, about massive corruptions. The deeds would be done, and the monies gone, with nobody held accountable.

Remember later when the depleted funds register that we at this paper said this publicly on this day.

Everything is in place, and very neatly. It has not been the smoothest going for the PPP/C Government with many loud, spirited, and furious objections from a significant cross-section of society. It didn’t matter then during the hasty passage of the NRF Bill now the law, and it is not going to matter now. The Government is already on the move with energy and determination to ram home its advantage (one seat) and have its way. It will, because this is what the numbers say, and it favours the government.

Unlike the United States Senate where there is a similar precarious advantage for the Democrats, it is an ironclad guarantee that there will not be a single PPP/C defector, because of conscience or internal agitation. And unlike the APNU+AFC Coalition right here, there will again be not one, not one, departure from the ranks of the fivemember PPP/C voting bloc in the Parliamentary Committee of Appointments, as did occur during the no confidence motion in late December 2019. PPP/C members live and die by one mantra: one for all and all for one, and nothing and no one interferes with that titanium structure.

When the Government has the numerical advantage, debates are meaningless, members might as well just cast their votes for and against, and let it be over, putting Guyanese out of their misery.

There is no suspense, no mystery, for it is as plain as day that is where matters will boil down to, and always terminate. However examined, both the board and the investment committee are political creatures, which will follow through on the directives issuing from leaders. Their decision-making is done for them on a premeditated and prearranged basis. All that jargon about the role of the investment committee is just that – jargon, and nothing else. This is legalised thievery, and to be on an unprecedented scale.

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

New 2022 Budget & NRF Funds must consider infrastructure and roads as top priority DEAR EDITOR, As the Government prepares to gobble up the entire NRF fund, we must make sure we engage in a massive infrastructural programme. At least, we will have something to show for our money. This “Road Revolution” as the Government calls it will be a “tipping point” for Guyana and is transformational.

When I lived in the Bahamas, there were roads built all over Grand Bahama although there were no houses in many areas. When I lived in Dubai/Abu Dhabi, the roads were well built, wide, smooth, and excellent.

Good roads with lines and markings give the impression of a decent, orderly country.

For Guyana,where it rains so much, good roads make for easy movement and quick

accessibility.

For over six decades our people have walked in mud all their lives. I have asked for all the streets and roads in my Whim village to be paved and drains concreted.

Mr. Ashni, please remember Whim. On election day, you came to find out if all our people had voted, and you asked for us to go get those who had not voted as yet. So make sure you have us in your budget! Here are some recent headlines: “President’s intervention needed to address deteriorating Parika to Hubu Road” (This road was the first road called an “abortion road.”Many farming communities, farmers, loggers and sawmills are in this area. The roads give access to resorts and other riverine areas. Vehicles are badly damaged while

navigating huge potholes.

Pedestrians are forced to walk in the mud and huge potholes to avoid being in the path of the oncoming traffic).”Herstelling wants deplorable roads repaired” (Taxi drivers are reluctant to drive into the community, and for those who do,the cost is exorbitant). “Poor road work at Zeelugt” (New roads crumbling). “Noise nuisance, bad roads, power woes among issues raised by Belle West residents during meeting with Indar.””Residents lament terrible state of West Ruimveldt roads” (The large potholes and depressions damage vehicles. Previous repairs were substandard, the roads eroded, and are now in a terrible state.When it’s flooded, the children have to walk through the water to get

to school, and taxis don’t want to come into the area).”Car flips several times after dropping into pothole; driver seriously injured.”

(The front-left car wheel went into a pothole in Mabaruma.

This caused driver to lose control of the car, which turned turtle several times before coming to a stop).

Every village in Guyana has these recurring problems. It’s the same story everywhere.

Many fear that the recent wave of new roads were hurriedly built and fasttracked that foundation work was compromised. They say these roads will not last 2025 years, as has been our perennial national problem. A recent report said Minister Indar was visiting Enmore to inspect community roads that were recently built as (Continued on page 6)

Sunday January 23, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

The Govt. appears to be reneging on its promise to release monthly oil reports DEAR EDITOR, The major Guyanese newspapers have been exposing numerous issues around the oil contracts. One positive change, as a result of their relentless efforts, was having the Ministry of Natural Resources publish Guyana’s oil lift data. Additionally, it appears that the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) reviews have had some impact because a new website has appeared over the last several months that shows oil production and gas flaring graphs. But recent publications of the oil related information appear scattered and monthly oil production reports are still missing.

In 2021, most of the lift data was published on the Ministry of Natural Resources website including the 7th oil lift, which was published on August 9th, 2021. In many of the oil lift publications, one could easily find how much barrels were lifted and the payment

received for the oil lift split into royalties and profit share.

But the 8th oil lift data is not easy to locate. The 8th oil lift data on the number of barrels can be found in an article published on November 29th, 2021, and incorrectly titled “Gov’t announces fifth oil lift”, see https://dpi.gov.gy/ govt-announces-fifth-oil-lift/ . That article did not state by how much Guyana’s 8th oil lift increased the amount in the Natural Resource Fund. That increase appears, about a month and a half later, in another article published on January 14th, 2022 found here, https://dpi.gov.gy/oil-fundcould-repair-crumblinginfrastructure-improvehealth-education-systemsminister-indar/. However, what is not disclosed is how

much money from the 8th oil lift is from royalty versus profit share.

On February 27th, 2021, the Kaieteur News noted in a feature titled, “Despite Jagdeo’s promise, Govt. not releasing monthly oil reports”, that they had made at least 10 attempts to access the oil productions reports from the Ministry of Natural Resources without any results. The article then quoted VP Jagdeo as saying, “I’m gonna talk to them to ensure that you get it, the monthly statements”. The article also stated that the Natural Resource Fund Act (NRF) 2019, specifically Article 42, stated “The Minister shall publish on the website of the Ministry and generally make available to

the public… (c) the monthly reports within seven working days after they have been submitted to the Minister by the Bank…”. This wording has been kept in the 2021 NRF Act under Article 33.

After this Kaieteur News feature and other publications in the media, the Guyana oil lift data started appearing on the Ministry of Natural Resources website but not monthly oil production reports.

Guyana recently went through an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) review in the Fall of 2021. As an EITI implementing country, the Government of Guyana should be releasing data on the amount of oil extracted and the government’s share

of production; and the revenues collected by the government from the sale of its share of oil for example profit oil, profit taxes, licence fees, etc.

Over the last several months, a new website has appeared that contains graphs of oil production and gas flaring. The website’s graphs can be found here, https://petroleum.gov.gy/ data-visualization. Some of the graphs show daily oil production and gas flared. However, one cannot find any spreadsheet reports that correlate with the data. When the “Contact Us” form on the website was used to inquire for the spreadsheet data, an error was returned with this message, “Unable to send email. Contact the site admin-

istrator if the problem persists.” If one then tries to contact the site administrator at the email address listed, that i s publicaffairsunit@nre.gov.gy, then an email does not exist error is encountered. Hence, one has to assume that this website is still a work in progress and probably the graphs and material on the website is sample data and may not be valid.

The government seems to be in a rush to approve Yellowtail, the 4th oil project. But coming up to a year since it promised to release oil production reports on the first project, Liza 1, it appears to be going backwards.

Guyana’s 9th oil lift is about to occur, the data should be (Continued on page 6)

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Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Opportunity missed for unity call

New 2022 Budget & NRF Funds...

DEAR EDITOR, It is true the city cannot be cleaned in a piecemeal fashion (SN Jan 22).

But a start was made.

What plans were advanced to promote and maintain the initiative, except finger pointing?

The lame attempt to ex-

cuse and explain the boycott call to the recent city clean up exercise spearheaded by the government, showed there was no justification for the call.

It was merely and continues to be political grandstanding.

The mayor and coun-

cillors supportive of the boycott missed an opportunity to put unity calls, as being touted by the leading party of the council, into solid action.

This can only be viewed as regrettable.

Shamshun Mohamed

The Govt. appears to be...

From page 5 released in a timely manner and in one location.

We call on the government to

honour its commitment to publish monthly oil production reports as part of its commitment to the Guyanese Press, EITI and most importantly the Guyanese people.

Sincerely, Darshanand Khusial, on behalf of OGGN, www.oggn.org

From page 4 complaints have been received that the quality of roads were not up to standard.

While road building is a good thing, it can fuel massive corruption if we do not have intense monitoring and watchdog processes.

Create community groups and pay them stipends to monitor the road building process in their communities.

It is in such large projects that politicians and their friends make their money.

The costs for road projects run into billions and billions.

The quotes for some short roads seem so inflated and need public scrutiny.

The Opposition must monitor and ask incessant

questions about these projects.

One very annoying practice I notice is when they dig the drains, they throw the debris right on the parapet, instead of hauling it away.

This is so backward because that same mud washes back into the roadside drains and you have to spend more and more money to fix those problems.

It seems like a deliberate ploy to make money.

We also need to stop building one-lane roads. That is such backward thinking.

Every road should be at least two lanes, with white lines in the middle.

We must cater for ongoing increases in the number of vehicles traversing the roads

now and in the future.

Additionally, the road builder s d o n ’ t s e e m t o know how to do the road edges so the roads don’t start crumbling at the edges. The parapets at the sides of the road need to slope down so water can run off easily.

Low maintenance grass or sod must be planted to prevent erosion and must be mowed regularly.

Please patch all roads when the potholes are starting and don’t wait until it becomes a billiondollar project.

We look forward to this “Road Revolution.”

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

VP Jagdeo has made it clear that his Government is ready to tap into the NRF.

Can we really trust the VP and the PPP/C Government to be accountable with OUR oil money?

We at this publication, and many other Guyanese who will continue to put country first, will be watching closely, how every cent is utilised.

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Sunday January 23, 2022

PAGE 08

8 more individuals succumb to COVID-19 - 957 new cases recorded

E

ight more individuals are dead as a result of COVID-19 complications, according to information released by the Ministry of Health on Saturday. The deaths were recorded over a three-day period – January 20 - 22.

Listed among the dead are three unvaccinated women – a 74-year-old from Demerara-Mahaica (Region 4) who passed away on January 20, a 67-year-old from Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara (Region 3) and a 28-year-old from Barima-Waini (Region 1), both of whom passed away on January 22, and five men – an unvaccinated 51-year old who died on January 21, a fully vaccinated 60-yearold, both from Region 3; a

79-year-old from Region 4 whose vaccination status is unknown, a fully vaccinated 65-year-old, a partially vaccinated 48-year-old, all from Region 4.

Their deaths have brought the country's death toll from the pandemic to 1,130.

The Ministry revealed in

its Saturday dashboard that there were 957 new cases.

Also, there are 16 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 177 are in institutional isolation, 13,050 are in home isolation and 20 are in institutional quarantine.

To date, a total of 42,212 people have recovered.

Govt. has key opportunity to rebalance...

From page 2 what then Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo described…as a contract that would harm us for decades into the future, accusing the APNU+AFC as having sold our patrimony. Logically, the Government should see this case as offering some rebalancing of the Agreement in favour of the people. Its response this time would be particularly interesting,” the Chartered Accountant

stated.

Finally, Ram said the granting of the Application would affect the holders of all similar Agreements.

“They too will be watching carefully,” the lawyer concluded.

The case filed by Lall via his Attorney-at-Law Mohamed R. Ali, is set to be heard on March 10, 2022 at 10:30hrs before the Honourable Justice Nareshwar Harnanan.

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

Dem boys seh ...

Cricket gan affect learning loss We gat learning loss.

Dem students bin home a lang time.

And de virtual or online learning dem claim was not as effective.

So de Ministry feel dat dem children need face-toface instruction.

But dem boys hope dat de faces nah too close to one another.

Because dat is how de COVID does spread faster.

Nuff ah dem children nah wearing dem mask when dem leff school and dem pun de road.

Dem following nuff ah dem adult wah either nah

wearing mask or wearing it wrang.

So dem picknee gat to get dem instruction pun blackboard. Dem gat to ketch-up pun dem school wuk.

Dat is why dem boys surprise when de Guyana Cricket Board seh how it want talk to de Minister of Education about school cricket.

Dem boys want to know weh dem picknee gan get time fuh play school cricket.

Dah gat to play Saturday or Sunday but dem parents nah gan support dat because dem children gat plenty home wuk fuh do, plus house wuk and yard

wuk.Some ah dem picknee does gat so much wuk fuh do at home dat is like if dem wukkin in factory.

Dem parents does wuk dem out and tell dem is good training. Some children can’t even get to play.

As soon as dem hit dem front door is wuk pun mo wuk.

Dem boys want tell de Guayan Cricket Bard dat dem should keep dem cricket tournament during de August holidays because dem children nah gat time now.

Talk half. Leff Half.

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Kaieteur News

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Sunday January 23, 2022

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, SUNDAY Must we sit back and watch as our wealth is plundered from every side?

Of course that is an impossibility when a revolutionist such as Glenn Lall resides within our 83,000 square miles.

Not only has he been talking the talk but he has been walking the walk with a view of putting Guyana in such impeccable standing that citizens of every strata of our society can truly live a good life.

Let's throw our support behind the man who stands up for ALL of Guyana.

MONDAY Do you remember the

days when people took pride in sharing with each other, not for publicity, but just because they had excess and wanted to share?

If you don't remember those days then you are probably too young or just part of the problem in our society Food For Thought: Wouldn't it be nice if people could be selfless again?

TUESDAY A son of the soil, Yesu Persaud, is no more but his legacy will remain etched in the annals of our history.

He was an outstanding mogul and trendsetter in the business arena.

Indeed, our country could

have been so much better off if we had more patriots like Yesu Persaud.

WEDNESDAY Jair Bolsonaro, the President of Brazil, our neighbour to the south, is set to visit Guyana on Friday.

It has been announced that talks during the visit will be bilateral in nature.

We certainly hope that our Government uses this bilateral interaction to advance Guyana's interests.

While we need wholesome collaborations with other countries, what we do not need, at this juncture, is to have our citizens further deprived of investment opportunities.

has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecency in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

THURSDAY The time has passed for silent protest.

Guyanese, your wealth is being taken away in front of your very eyes.

Get Up and Stand Up For your rights today.

It is only cowards who choose to hide behind silence.

FRIDAY The spread of COVID-19 in our society, since the year began, has been

unprecedented.

While it has long been ascertained that ALL are at risk, in recent days several of our young ones have fallen prey to the virus. We all can agree that this is very worrying.

Guyanese, it is clear that this is not the time to play the fool.

Our very existence is at risk, get serious and take all necessary precautions without fail.

SATURDAY Guyanese, again we appeal to you to not take COVID-19 for granted.

We have to protect ourselves and teach our family members, especially our children some of whom have returned to school, how to properly wear a mask.

Wearing a mask, we have been advised, is not an option, it is mandatory if you choose safety over being infected.

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

Steel rod which impaled pedal cyclist placed outside culvert - police say probe ongoing to determine culpability

By Tassia Dickenson The steel rod, which impaled 45-year-old pedal c y c l i s t , Tr o y P o n t o n , causing him his life, has been removed from inside the unfinished culvert where the incident occurred and is now positioned beside it.

This was observed by

this publication on Friday during a visit to the scene.

The freak accident occurred at Hummingbird Avenue and Falcon Drive, Block EE, Eccles, Greater Georgetown on January 13, last, sometime after 22:00hrs, as Ponton was returning to his Diamond Housing Scheme, (Continued on page 61)

Killed by a protruding steel rod, Troy Ponton.

The steel rod (still standing upright) is beside the incomplete culvert where Troy Ponton lost his life.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

PAGE 13

Alarming increase in COVID-19 cases…

ANUG warns Govt. of dangers country faces if it remains 'open' The A New and United Guyana (ANUG) Political Party has warned the government that if the country maintains its “open for business” management, the number of positive COVID-19 cases will only continue to spike, even as it suggested changes to the Gazetted measures to tackle the latest trend of upward positive cases.

“ANUG advises that, if the country remains fully open, the number of positive cases, ICU's (Intensive Care Unit) admissions and

mortalities will continue to trend high,” the party cautioned.

For instance, the political body reasoned that if face-toface schooling is maintained, there is likely to be an increased rate of infection within the school system.

The party referenced a recent report from the Guyana Teachers Union which has highlighted the increase in the number of staff and students who have tested positive for COVID19. It said that the Ministry of Education may try to

discredit the figures presented by the Union when the fact remains that with the

opening of face-to-face classes, more infections in the school environment are

being documented.

On the other hand, ANUG pointed out that it has observed government's determination to keep the country open while the economic drivers in both public and private sectors are continuing to operate as per normal.

“This is evidenced by increased business hours and less curfew time and the restarting of what are considered “non-essential” services,” the party outlined.

Even though the party urged that citizens observe the

COVID-19 protocols laid out in the Gazette, it called on the National COVID-19 Taskforce, the Central Board of Health and relevant arms of the Government to ensure full compliance by citizens of the said orders.

Even more importantly, ANUG called on the government to start looking at a possible urgent review of the COVID-19 Order which has been gazetted.

COVID testing With the recent announcement by the (Continued on page 62)

Kaieteur News

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Sunday January 23, 2022

Cease oil production until Exxon - protestors agrees to contract changes demand Scores of protestors on Saturday morning took to the streets, for a second time this week, to demand that the "oppressive" oil contracts be changed so as to benefit the citizens of Guyana. In fact, the protestors are now asking that oil production be put on hold, until United States oil giant, ExxonMobil, agrees to renegotiate its contract with Guyana.

Kaieteur News spoke to a

few of the protestors who were furnished with placards and t-shirts, demanding 50 percent royalty in Guyana's oil deal, which presently stands at a mere two percent.

It must be noted that Guyana has one of the largest oil reserves in the world, with more than 10 billion barrels of oil already discovered offshore Guyana.

Nevertheless, the country also has one of the poorest

royalty or interest rates for its resources.

While Guyana has accepted two percent, other countries such as neighbouring Brazil has secured as much as 15 percent royalty from its crude, according to a report from the Law Library of Congress, a global legal research directorate, published in 2015.

The report also states that

Guyana's other neighbour, Venezuela, rakes in royalty rates of 30 percent of value of crude oil extracted. The report said “the amount may be reduced to 20 percent if oil field is not otherwise economically exploitable; additional royalty in bylaws of joint ventures of 3.33 percent of value of crude oil extracted.”

Under the provisions of the Production Sharing

Agreement (PSA) with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—and its partners, Royalty is calculated at two percent of oil that is produced and sold.

It is in this context that Guyanese have decided to protest the royalty rates they are forced to accept for the valuable resources.

Yesterday's protest saw

the support of Guyanese from as far as Berbice, Region Six, Region Three and even Region Two. The rally commenced in Georgetown and moved along the East Bank public road and finally to the Square of the Revolution in the capital city. During the rally, citizens waved the Golden Arrowhead, Guyana's national flag, even as they (Continued on page 60)

Sunday January 23, 2022

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UK-based Guyanese Poet, Grace Nichols

Sunday January 23, 2022

UK-based Guyanese poet receives Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry

By Rehanna Ramsay UK-based Guyanese writer and poet, Grace Nichols, uses the experience of growing up in rural Guyana to pen culturallycaptivating pieces. Her pieces have won a number of international awards.

Most recently, Nichols became the recipient of the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, for her first collection of poetry titled, “I is a LongMemoried Woman,” prose and several books for

younger readers.

In the past, the Guyanese poet, who moved to Britain at the age of 27, won the Guyana Poetry Prize in 1996 and the Commonwealth Poetry Prize.

Speaking to Kaieteur News about her feat, the poet remarked: “It was wonderful to be recognised in this way.”

The Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry extends not only to poets from Britain but also from the Commonwealth.

According to an official communique for

Buckingham Palace, Nichols was selected for Her Majesty’s Gold Medal for Poetry for the year 2021. The selection committee for the medal was chaired by the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, who also received The Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry for 2018.

The poet says that the medal is a major honour that is given to poets for their body of work.

On receiving the Queen’s Medal for Poetry, Nichols said, “I was overwhelmed when I first got the news. It

journey that poetry has blessed me with.”

Nichols who grew up in the village of Stanleyville which is located between Mahaica and Maichony along the East Coast of Demerara is the second person in her household to be given the prestigious honour.

She revealed, “My poet husband, John Agard, also received the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2012. So it’s somewhat amazing having two Guyanese poets from the same household receiving this award.”

A publication by Grace Nichols

was both wonderful and humbling to be recognised in this way. As a poet you write your poems in solitude, never knowing whom they’ll reach. I feel so honoured and delighted to be given this award by Her Majesty and the committee, headed by Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage and to join the illustrious company of past winners from across the Commonwealth.”

She continued, “In my own work I’ve celebrated my Guyanese/Caribbean/South American heritage in relation to the English traditions we inherited as a former British colony. To poetry and the English language that I love, I’ve brought the registers of my own Caribbean tongue. I wish my parents, who use to chide me for straining my eyes as a small girl reading by torchlight in bed, were around to share in this

Speaking about the creative process of her work, Nichols said that she is largely influenced by her Guyanese upbringing. Her experience in the Guyanese village which was nicknamed “Highdam,” plays a mysterious part in her writing process.

She said, “It seemed that nothing separated me from anything then, the water, the fish, and the trees. I was part of them. I was the fifth of seven children, five sisters and one brother. Some early mornings we’d go out on the pasture to catch crabs and whenever it flooded we could also catch fish in old baskets. At about the age of eight, we moved to the city of Georgetown. I missed Highdam very much but grew to love Georgetown too, especially when I joined the Public Free Library...”

As a youth, the awardwinning poet had always Continued on page 38

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

PAGE 19

The local face of neo-liberalism Yesu Persaud, the former Chairman of Demerara Distilleries Limited (DDL) was stinking rich and famous. But that fame and fortune was achieved principally via state protectionism.

Yesu Persaud left his mark on Guyana. Since his death, the tributes have been pouring in and have been reproduced almost religiously in the daily newspapers and through virtual eulogies.

But if there are lessons to be learnt from his life, then analyses have to go beyond the sentimental and seek to offer a balanced assessment of his achievements. His achievements should be unravelled even at the expense of exposing unkind truths.

Yesu Persaud’s name will forever be associated with the Demerara Distilleries Limited (DDL).

DDL made him what he is today. It is that company to which he owes his formidable reputation … and some may say his massive wealth.

DDL was a state

company before its p r i v a t i s a t i o n . Ye s u ’s entrepreneurial achievements have their origins in state protectionism under Burnham.

Burnham protected the local rum and beverage industry. He shielded it from foreign competition. Both of the major rum and beverage producing companies in Guyana owe their superior corporate and financial standing to those many years when they were able to dominate, exclusively, the local market and to have monopoly on the exports of bulk rum. Without that protectionism achieved under Burnham and during the early years of the post 1992 PPP/C, Yesu Persaud would have been a footnote in the local business history.

To his credit, Yesu recognised that changes would eventually be needed of his company’s high dependence on rum exports.

He began to diversify his exports towards more branded liquor since he realised that his company could no longer survive and

expand without increasing exports of branded liquors.

DDL, under Yesu and using the wealth accumulated under state ownership, not only adapted but it also diversified and expanded to other countries.

It widened its investments and diversified into beverages, insurance, juices, jams and jellies, carbon dioxide, matches, internet services and shipping. It pioneered green energy for its local operations through the use of bio-methane. It a l s o e x p a n d e d internationally setting up what has been described as ‘subsidiaries’ in Europe, the USA, Jamaica, India and St. Kitts.

Yesu did not have the Midas touch. He enjoyed his fair share of failures. The matches company and the acquisition of Solutions 2000 were among some of the firm’s investments which flopped. In 2008, DDL had a decline in pre-tax profit of almost nine percent and some of its overseas operations as well as local investments cannot be deemed success stories.

Yesu Persaud used his acquired reputation as a corporate entrepreneur to great political effect. He was a ‘back room’ player and skilfully manipulated or attempted to manipulate the economic direction of the country. He is believed to be among one of the businessmen who had sought to encourage Cheddi to have an alliance with businessmen as part of a civic arrangement and even to influence the choice of the PPP/C’s choice of Finance Minister and some of its fiscal and monetary policies in the post 1992 era.

In that regard, he was the face of local neo-liberalism setting the stage for deepening free market reforms by gaining permission to establish the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), which was supported by western countries because it was the perfect forerunner for the eventual liberalisation of the financial sector. He began, running his own television programme, promoting probusiness opinions and giving

a voice to western diplomats.

He eventually inveigled Desmond Hoyte to grant him a licence to open Guyana’s first indigenous bank.

Yesu remained faithful to the neo-liberal creed, notwithstanding that it was his unchallenged position in a state enterprise which hurled him into the national limelight. But his new found neo-liberal creed pushed him also to appear on a GUARD platform which was a reform movement, limited not only to democratic reforms.

That appearance cost him his position at Seals and Packaging Co. Ltd and as head of a shell-company (similar to NICIL) called the Guyana Liquor Corporation.

But Hoyte vindictiveness could not extend to removing him from DDL over which Yesu had always held an iron grip.

The PPP/C later turned against him by trying to establish a competitor in the liquor business and in attempting to starve his company of molasses. He did not take this lying down and fought tooth-and-nail to forestall the threat to DDL.

As the later face of local n e o - l i b e r a l i s m , Ye s u Persaud, was duty-bound to protect democracy in Guyana. Much of the tributes of his contributions, over the past week, have centered around him mounting a GUARD platform to support reforms.

But his greatest contribution to saving local democracy lay in the behind-the-scenes role he played in helping to engineer a political solution to the crisis which erupted following the 1997 elections. It was Yesu who was instrumental in having the three wise men come to Guyana and to broker accords which led to the presence of the Caricom Audit Team. For that effort alone he is worthy of being remembered.

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

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Sunday January 23, 2022

Democracy in Barbados fully entrusted to new Mia Mottley govt.

By Sir Ronald Sanders Rejecting the accusations of bullying and despotism that were levelled a t M i a M o t t l e y, t h e overwhelming majority of the electorate of Barbados returned her and her Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to government for a second consecutive term at general elections held on January 19.

Not only did the majority

demonstrate their confidence in her, they returned her to office unanimously. As occurred in the general elections of 2018, they gave her and the BLP every seat in the 30member House of Representatives.

This result also put to rest any allegations that the majority of the people of Barbados are unhappy about their country becoming a Republic.

If this

unhappiness existed, the general election was the time to demonstrate it by voting against Mottley – that did not happen.

While the Constitution of Barbados does not require a referendum, it may be that many persons might have been unhappy that one was not held to allow them to vote on the matter, but any discontent was clearly not profound enough to cause the majority not to support

her.

And, make no mistake about it. The January 19 general election was most definitely about Mia Mottley’s leadership. The BLP campaign placed her front and centre of the elections contest, declaring “Safer with Mia” as its principal slogan. The main opposition, Democratic Labour Party (DLP), also made her leadership style the target of their crusade.

So, if the elections were a judgment by the people of Barbados on Mottley’s stewardship of the country’s affairs, it should now be obvious to all, except the disgruntled leadership of opposition parties, that the majority of the electorate are satisfied with her performance.

On the issues that mattered to the Barbadian people when Mottley was elected in 2018, she and her government tackled them successfully in the 3 years and 8 months they held office.

These included: overflowing sewage on the South coast of the island; poor commuter service because of insufficient buses; inadequate garbage collection resulting from an inadequacy of collection trucks; poor and deteriorating water supply; disrepair of roads; and decline in foreign reserves necessary to cover imports of goods, including food.

She inherited these issues from the government of her p r e d e c e s s o r, F r e u n d e l Stuart.

He undermined the chances of his Democratic Labour Party in the January 19 general elections by declaring its 10-year period in office, between 2008 to 2018, mostly under his leadership, as “glorious”.

The electorate manifestly did not agree with him in 2018, nor in 2022.

As for restoring respect for the country in the international community, very few would dispute that Mia Mottley quickly

established high r e g a r d f o r Barbados that redounded to the benefit of the country’s image.

She has been fearless in her representation of the rights of small island states and her advocacy for attention to their interests.

While at the time of writing the official figures are not available, it seems that the turn out at the polls for the January 19 elections was low – possibly around 45 percent. At the 2018 elections, the voter turnout was 60%, and the average between 2003 to 2018 was 63.9 Three things could have accounted for the smallness of the poll, among them: fear by older citizens of contracting the COVID-19 virus; conviction by traditional DLP supporters that their hastily assembled team, including those who were rejected in 2018, was not electable; and some disaffection by BLP supporters.

Whatever the reason for the low poll, Mia Mottley and the BLP won all 30 seats in the House of Representatives for a second time, and they did so democratically in a transparent process.

The Prime Minister and her government now have a mandate to implement the programmes and policies detailed in the manifesto they presented to the Barbados people.

One of the accepted principles of democracy is “a belief in shared power: based on a suspicion of concentrated power (whether by individuals, groups or governments)”. In the absence of an official opposition in the parliament of Barbados, power of government has been concentrated on Prime Minister Mottley and the BLP. The Prime Minister and her government have to be acutely aware that the majority of the electorate of

Sir Ronald Sanders Barbados have trusted them with the proper stewardship of the nation’s affairs. Given this great trust that has been placed in them, they now have an obligation to consult widely and deeply with representative bodies, including the private sector, trade unions and specialist non-governmental o rg a n i s a t i o n s i n t h e i r administration of the affairs of the Barbadian people.

Such proper stewardship requires the inclusion of all in the society to equal opportunity; openness in listening to the views of groups and taking account of their positions; and structured machinery for frank discourse.

The Prime Minister and her government have a great chance to demonstrate to the people of Barbados – and the world – that democracy and democratic principles can be deliberately and thoughtfully upheld and strengthened, particularly when the electorate has entrusted them so fulsomely with the power of government.

In accomplishing this, Mia Mottley can win another ‘first’ among all the other firsts that she has already attained as a warrior for people’s rights and a champion of democracy.

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the OAS. He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are his own) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

PAGE 21

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Yesu Persaud: He became my father that I loved dearly

M

y parents got seven of us.

My mother sold wood and my dad was a groundsman. Then my mom couldn't cope anymore and from the sixties my father was the only source of income.

I was the last of seven. By the time I came, it was impossible to provide for seven children. My life became synonymous with abject poverty. My dad was essentially a quiet human with a caring personality but I became his victim because though he loved me he couldn't provide for me. I hardly got anything from my father.

I made it through three universities because I met good humans of all races and all religions who helped.

Back in Guyana in 1984, I found life burdensome. I had no money; it was left in Grenada after the American invasion in October 1983. I was finely qualified so UG accepted me to teach. Then Burnham did to me what he

did in 1978 when I graduated as the best student. I couldn't get a job anywhere in Guyana after 1978 and after 1984.

Then I met one of civilisation's best products.

A man named Yesu Persaud.

I had shipped from Grenada one of the largest up-to-date library any academic could possess.

Yesu said he will knock down two wild bushes with one stroke of the stick. He would save me by giving me money that I desperately needed by buying the library and he will get UG books that it desperately needed by donating the books.

I got a handsome sum and from that day, I fell in love with Yesu because he intervened to give my post1984 life meaning and purpose.

I became close to Yesu and one day he said something to me when I spoke to him at how elite people were harassing Father Andrew Morrison to stop me from writing for the

Catholic Standard and the Stabroek News.

He told me I have something special in me that I cannot see and I must refuse to be heartbroken about life.

He told me to pursue my goals and he will be there for me. Yesu Persaud was there for me from 1984 until the day he died. The shape of my life today was Yesu's doing.

Here is a repetition of what I have written twice before. And I am glad I wrote it while he was alive.

After the government changed in 1992, he told me to move on with my life because UG and I were in constant war. He arranged a meeting with UN representative, Juan Larraburre for me to be the local point man for the UN office here. I agreed and that was that.

But UG was always in my heart so with a heavy heart I told him days after that I wanted to stay at UG. There was no expression on his face. And that was because he wanted me to do

what I felt was best for me.

Then in 1995, an unexpected burden shattered my happiness.After a parent complained to me that his daughter was overlooked for acceptance in the UG law programme, I sought an injunction from the courts and asked Anil Nandlall to do the case pro bono for me and he did. Justice Winston Moore ruled that my focus should have been on the Dean and not the head of department.

He put cost at $250, 000.

I had no one to pay that money for me. Yesu did.

Then came another triangular relation with Anil, Yesu and me.

I told Anil my daughter was growing up and I wanted to leave Wortmanville; that I needed to move; could he help. Anil came back with a suggestion. A piece of land at

Tu r k e y e n w a s about to be sold and the man selling it was one of Yesu's good friends.

I went to Yesu and he came through for me. He asked the medical doctor to sell me and he would contribute to the sale price. He paid a third, the other two thirds came from me and my m o t h e r - i n - l a w . Ye s u provided all the logistical support I needed to construct my house. I need to mention for the second time, while building Anil donated $50,000 to me.

I never publicised the countless times we met and the work I put in when he was writing his memoir.

I don't think I wanted to make that known. To this day only his various secretaries knew that. He became the

Frederick Kissoon pr ovider I never had simply because my father was too poor. Speaking objectively, he was one of the greatest humans civilisation produced.

From Elizabeth Browning (1806-61) I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life And if God choose I shall but love thee better after death (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

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Sunday January 23, 2022

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Sunday January 23, 2022

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Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Even after the infection, the problem continues for some

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Emergency Medicine Specialist A few months ago, I highlighted that there are long-term effects of COVID-19 that are showing up in patients and may be a worrying trend for survivors o f C O V I D 19.Unfortunately, studies are showing these effects in more survivors than previously thought. Some studies have shown effects in up to 70 percent of survivors but the common consensus seems to be around 10 percent of the population showing these long-term effects.Patients affected by this are called “long haulers” and scientists are calling this new phenomenon PostCOVID-19 syndrome.

What is surprising, is that while Post-COVID-19 syndrome is seen more commonly in those with the severe form of the disease, doctors are seeing increasing numbers in patients who were asymptomatic or had the milder form of the d i s e a s e . To d a y, I w i l l highlight some scary facts about life after COVID-19 so that we can understand and help support those with Post-COVID-19 syndrome.

What are the symptoms of Post-COVID syndrome?

Just as COVID-19 itself

can come with a range of symptoms, so, too, can PostCOVID-19 syndrome. The most common symptoms that can linger include: -Fatigue -Difficulty breathing -Joint pain - C h e s t p a i n -Brain fog, including an inability to concentrate and impaired memory -Loss of taste and/or smell - S l e e p i s s u e s -Complications from organ damage caused by the infection Which organs can be damaged?

Although COVID-19 is seen as a disease that primarily affects the lungs, it can damage many other organs as well.

This organ damage may increase the risk of longterm health problems.

Organs that may be affected

by COVID-19 include: Heart – imaging tests taken months after recovery from COVID-19 have shown lasting damage to the heart muscle, even in people who experienced only mild COVID-19 symptoms.

This may increase the risk of heart failure or other heart complications in the future.

Lungs – the type of pneumonia often associated with COVID-19 can cause

long-standing damage to the tiny air sacs in the lungs.

The resulting scar tissue can lead to long-term breathing problems.

Brain – COVID-19 can cause strokes, seizures and Guillain-Barre syndrome — a condition that causes

Mood and fatigue problems People who have severe symptoms of COVID-19 often have to be treated in a hospital's intensive care unit, with mechanical assistance such as ventilators to breathe.

temporary paralysis.

Researchers are still trying to understand how COVID-19 precipitates these conditions leading to long-term complications.

They are also looking at evidence which may suggest that it increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Kidneys and Liver – COVID-19 causes extensive blood vessel damage in some patients. The kidneys and liver have extensive vascular networks and are sensitive to such damage.

As a result, there are many patients that are suffering from liver and kidney failure if they survived the COVID-19 infection.

Simply surviving this experience can make a person more likely to develop post-traumatic stress syndrome, depression a n d a n x i e t y l a t e r.

Because it's difficult to predict long-term outcomes from the new COVID-19 virus, scientists are looking at the long-term effects seen in related viruses, such as the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Many people who have recovered from SARS have gone on to develop chronic

fatigue syndrome, a complex disorder characterised by extreme fatigue that worsens with physical or mental activity but doesn't improve with rest. The same may be true for people who have had COVID-19.

Who's more at risk for developing Post-COVID19 syndrome?

Post-COVID-19 syndrome can be seen in people who went to the hospital with concerning symptoms or who had advanced symptoms that required a brief hospital stay, but it can also occur in people who had mild symptoms and self-treated at home. The actual frequency of Post-COVID-19 syndrome is still largely up for debate, and different studies find this condition to be more or less common in various groups of people.

Those who seem to be most at risk of developing Post-COVID-19 syndrome include: -Adults over the age of 50 -People who experienced a more severe case

-Individuals with underlying health conditions, particularly cardiopulmonary issues, hypertension, diabetes or obesityIt's very obvious that COVID-19 is more than just overcoming a bout of flulike illness. The lasting effects are too common and can be dangerous.

The best way to avoid Post-COVID-19 syndrome is to avoid COVID-19 itself.

Practice preventative measures and avoid getting the virus so that you do not have to face life with PostCOVID-19 syndrome.

PAGE 24

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.

SUNDAY KN PUBLISHER CHALLENGES PARLIAMENTARY ORDER THAT GIVES ABUSIVE AND EXTRAORDINARY TAXFREE RIDE TO OIL COMPANIES The latest legal case filed

by Kaieteur News publisher, Glen Lall via his Attorney-atLaw Mohamed R. Ali, does not only challenge the onerous tax provisions of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). It also challenges the validity of Order 10 of 2016 which was moved in the National Assembly by former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan.

That Order allowed the affiliated companies and subcontractors of ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, to enjoy an extraordinary tax free ride that is catered for in their contract.

Counsel for the Applicant is contending that the Order was made under the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act. Ali argues however that that piece of legislation is not a Tax Act or other subsidiary legislation made under such Act. Therefore, the said Order is ultra vires, unlawful, null, void and of no legal effect.

He further argues that sub-sections 1A and 1B of Section 6 of the Financial Administration (and Audit) Act specifically provide that except as provided in subsections (1C) and (1CC) of the Financial Administration (and Audit) Act, no remission, concession, or waiver is valid unless expressly provided for in a Tax Act or subsidiary legislation.

He said too that the Minister responsible for Petroleum at the time, Raphael Trotman exceeded the authority given to him under Section 10 of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, by entering into the Petroleum Agreement dated June 27, 2016, containing provisions violative of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, Financial Administration (and Audit) Act and the Prevention of Discrimination Act.

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

The case notes as well that the Minister assigned responsibility for finance at the time, being Winston Jordan, violated Section 51 of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, and Financial Administration (and Audit) Act, when he purported to grant concessions via Order No. 10 of 2016 Petroleum (Exploration and Production) (Tax Laws) (Esso Exploration and Production Limited, CNOOC/ Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited and Hess Guyana Exploration Limited), made under the Petroleum (Exploration and Production), which is not a Tax Act. For the foregoing reasons, Lall through his lawyer is seeking the reliefs to be granted in their entirety.

The matter is set to be heard on March 10, 2022 at 10:30hrs before the Honourable Justice Nareshwar Harnanan.

REASON FOR LEGALCHALLENGE Asked about the reason for his court challenge to the contract, Lall told this newspaper that when one takes into consideration, the extent to which the provisions of the contract create oppressive circumstances that hinder locals as well as the extent to which it breaches the laws, there is no way he could sit back and not take action.

What also incensed the KN Publisher is how costly these provisions are to the nation. Lall said, “When you take into account the cost of these provisions to the country, the enormous revenue Guyana is giving away and the impact it can have, and it will have, on the country and its citizens, it is unimaginable. It must therefore be challenged. For example, we gave away US$720M in 2020 alone in taxes to the oil companies and that was a figure from the Auditor General’s Report.”

The Publisher continued, “But even that is not entirely accurate, if we are to take into account what is being given away, when we look at the oil production figures. But let me give an example of what that US$720M could do for us.

Had Guyana collected that, it could have increased the public service salary 10 times.

It could have given us a bridge across the Demerara and Berbice Rivers and another from Parika to Leguan half way. And I don’t want to talk about the number of roads that US$720M could have repaired. These are the things that have been eating away at my soul that forced me into moving to the courts.”

Lall said he moved to the courts not just as the

publisher of the newspaper who is passionate about his duty to the people but as a citizen, who refuses to sit idly by while the lion’s share of the oil wealth is given to foreign companies and Guyanese are relegated to eating the crumbs that fall from the table.

Lall, who said that the case was in the making for just over nine months, categorically states that he reposes the absolute confidence in the judiciary here to determine the case but noted, nonetheless, that he is prepared to go all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the matter.

NORTON CALLS ON GOVT. TO PLUG ‘ABUSIVE’ TAX EXEMPTIONS Citing the economic crisis prevailing in oil-rich Guyana, with the steady increase of cost of living, despite numerous oil and gas discoveries coupled with predictions of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth by the World Bank and other financial institutions, Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton has called on the government to plug what he described as the abuse of tax exemptions.

Norton made the call on Friday during his political party’s weekly press engagement.

The party leader was at the time making recommendations to the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/

C) on budget 2022, which is expected to be presented soon.

Among the suggestions given by Norton was the need for tax exemptions to switch to tax credits, an idea that was touted since 2017 by the Guyana Revenue Authority’s Commissioner General, Mr. Godfrey Statia.

While he did not make reference to tax exemptions for a particular sector, the party leader reasoned, “We support the Commissioner General of the GRA calling for a review of all tax exemptions granted (and) for a switch from tax exemptions to tax credits. This method will plug the widespread abuse of tax exemptions, while garnering additional domestic revenue.”

According to the GRA website, “As an individual or business you may pay little or no tax, that is, Customs Duty, VAT (Value Added Tax) or Excise Tax if you are importing items as a manufacturer, a pharmacist, a large scale miner or if you have an investment agreement with the Government of Guyana.

Likewise, if your business makes use of local forestry products such as lumber, sand, stone, etc., you will be allowed to claim the VAT paid even though you will not be allowed to charge your consumers VAT.” Only on Thursday, Publisher of the Kaieteur News, Mr. Glenn Lall moved to the Courts to mount a legal challenge against oil giant ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited in light of the most

repressive tax provisions of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).

The case which was prepared and filed by his attorney-at-law, Mohamed R. Ali, outlines that many of the provisions listed under Article 15.1 of the Petroleum Agreement, dated June 27, 2016 between the Guyana Government and the oil companies, grant exemptions to persons other than the licensees, which violate the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, the Financial Administration (and Audit) Act, the Prevention of Discrimination Act, and the Constitution.

The Auditor General, Deodat Sharma in his 2020 report highlighted that Guyana lost a whopping $137 million in tax exemptions from the oil sector alone. Statia has already warned that these deductions will continue to increase, unless policy changes are made.

Back in 2017, the GRA boss hinted that tax exemptions may eventually be replaced with tax credits, thereby creating a level playing field for all taxpayers.

The case for tax credits was initially proposed for Guyana by some of the nation’s best tax advisors, who were contracted to be part of the Tax Reform Commission in 2015. That Commission comprised the GRA Commissioner-General, Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram and Economist Dr. Maurice Odle, among others.

In the report, which was prepared by the Commission,

tax credits are noted to be a type of incentive which allows certain taxpayers to subtract the amount of credit from the total taxes owed, and when appropriately used, encourages investment and compliance.

Unlike upfront incentives, which are hard to police, tax credits are only given upon submission of the proof of the actual activity, and hence forces the taxpayer to comply, in order to benefit.

The Commission said, “For instance, instead of granting exemptions upfront to gold miners, an efficient tax credit regime will allow for such a credit to be granted when gold is sold to the Board.”

The Commissioner believes that this will not only encourage compliance, but will reduce smuggling and sale of the exempted fuel, thereby minimising the probability that these persons are unjustly enriched at the benefit of the state.

MONDAY GIVEN GUYANESE LACK OF CAPACITY… AMERICAN GROUPAND TT FIRMS TAKE OVER EXXON’S MULTIMILLION DOLLAR WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS In light of the fact that there is a limited number of Guyanese service providers of hazardous and nonhazardous waste management, Tiger Rentalsa U.S. based energy rental and service company with its (Continued on page 25)

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From page 24 subsidiaries in Guyana and Trinidad, have been dominating the majority of ExxonMobil’s multi-million dollar waste management contracts.

Also getting a piece of the pie are five Trinidadian firms: Oil Mop, Enviro Care (Preysal), CamQuip, Tiger Tanks, Chaguramas Shorebase. This is outlined in ExxonMobil’s Comprehensive Waste Management Plan (CWMP) submitted to Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year. The document was prepared by the American multinational in keeping with the requirements of the Payara Environmental Permit that demanded same be done.

According to the document, wastes received from offshore are managed at Tiger Rentals Guyana and Sustainable Environmental Solutions (SES) Guyana Inc, which was formed in 2020 by the Guyana Shore Base Inc. after being awarded a long term contract by ExxonMobil.

This award covers the management of hazardous waste, non-hazardous waste, and the treatment of drill cuttings. The company, which was launched officially in April, 2021, comprises Gaico Construction, General Services Incorporated and Corena Group, which operates as Gaico Corena Environmental Services, and the Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI).

The CWMP states that both Tiger Rentals and SES have a design/processing capacity sufficient to treat and store hazardous wastes.

Exxon noted that TRG, which is located at GYSBI at Plantation “A”, Houston District, East Bank Demerara, is currently the primary provider of hazardous and nonhazardous waste services to EEPGL projects. It said TRG employs a variety of waste treatment technologies (sorting/segregation of recyclables, physical/chemical/ and thermal treatment of hazardous and nonhazardous wastes) and discharges its treated fluids as permitted to the Demerara River.

TRG, the document notes, sends its treated non-hazardous solid waste as well as other wastes received (including general waste, paper/ cardboard, and scrap wood) to the publicly owned and operated Haags Bosch Landfill (HBL). Kaieteur News understands that TRG receives wastes from Exxon directly, as well as many other companies involved with the offshore oil exploration and production operations.

Even as these companies continue to dominate the contracts for waste management, it is important to note that the Local Content Law makes no provision for there to be technology transfer for locals to build their capacity and eventually dominate this aspect of the industry.

ABOUT CWMP The Comprehensive Waste Management Plan (CWMP) is a cradle to grave document based on a holistic review of ExxonMobil’s subsidiary and Stabroek Block operator, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’s

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(EEPGL) maturing waste management process first developed in 2015 for EEPGL’s first discovery well.

The CWMP was developed pursuant to Section 5 of the Payara Development Project Environmental Permit (#20181204-PPOIX) and the Cradle to Grave Waste Analysis Study approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on September 13, 2021.

Numerous topics from the Waste Analysis Study are integrated within this Plan.

The Plan is intended to accommodate all projects in Guyana associated with EEPGL’s exploration and appraisal drilling, development drilling, installation and hook-up, commissioning, and start up, office construction, production operations, and related activities.

The plan is inclusive of the Liza Phase One Development Project, Liza Phase Two Development Project which comes on stream this quarter, the Payara Development Project, the Guyana Fiber Optic Cable, and EEPGL Guyana Office Complex Project, as well as permitted or planned drilling projects. In addition, the plan makes provision for projects currently under review by the EPA, including Yellowtail and the Gas to Energy Project.

As new projects are planned or come on stream, Exxon said the Plan will be updated to address them.

Kaieteur News understands that the plan, once approved, will replace and supersede previous Waste Management Plans incorporated in approved Environmental Impact Statements and permits for ExxonMobil.

It was further noted that the Plan will provide both EEPGL and the EPA with an efficient way to understand and reference waste management practices for all EEPGL waste management activities.

Additionally, Exxon highlighted that the plan was informed by a cradle to grave waste management analysis, is defined by the Guyana EPA as the full life cycle assessment of waste from the point of generation to the final recycling, reuse, treatment, or disposal. Waste treatment may also result in the generation of new residual wastes to be considered.

The first step in the cradle-tograve waste management approach begins with the understanding and identification of the points of generation. In this regard, it was noted that wastes are initially generated on the various types of vessels and infrastructure that are operating offshore.

ExxonMobil was keen to note that its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, uses a waste tracking system that allows for the tracking of the waste from initial generation through final disposal, discharge, reuse, or recycling. The information included in the manifests is maintained in a database, and EEPGL also requires that its third-party waste management facilities use a similar tracking database to show the storage, processing, and ultimate discharge, disposal, reuse, or recycle

of the wastes.

EEPGL then compiles and reports this information to the EPA as part of its waste summary in the annual environmental report.

TUESDAY AFTER THREE YEARS OF PUMPING OIL, GUYANA STILLWITHOUT CAPACITY TO DO ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS – US COMPANY SETTING STAGE TO STEP IN, LOCATION ALREADYACQUIRED Following a review of the facilities and equipment here, it has been found that Guyana’s laboratories do not have the capability to do proper environmental tests associated with the oil and gas sector. This was noted in ExxonMobil’s Comprehensive Waste Management Plan (CWMP) submitted to Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year.

The document notes that ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) reviewed four laboratories that are in operation performing various degrees of analytical services, or have future planned operations.

It was noted that Kaizen (Georgetown) has a small lab with limited testing capability (no solid waste) with a small staff of approximately eight people for executing testing and other functions of this business.

EEPGL said the University of Guyana (Georgetown) has multiple analytical instruments but no laboratory. The company said the analytical instruments are not currently available for commercial purposes nor on a routine basis. The company said too that staffing may be limited to two persons.

With respect to Ecotox Environmental Services Ltd. (Ecotox), EEPGL said, this is a Trinidad based environmental testing and consultancy service that is considering the establishment of an environmental laboratory

operation in Guyana. Ecotox currently provides all of the analytical services to Tiger Rentals Guyana and EEPGL for their waste management programmes. It was noted however that all samples must be shipped via air to Trinidad for analysis. EEPGL said this adds delays to obtaining time critical analytical results. Further to this, EEPGL said Ecotox is in a startup mode and currently has no building or laboratory, nor a staff. The company said Ecotox may not be ready for offering services for another five years.

Turning its attention to Ground Structures Engineering Consultants Ltd. (GSEC) at Liliendaal, Greater, Georgetown, EEPGL said it has an existing geotechnical laboratory, but it is not currently equipped for environmental testing and is essentially in a startup mode. The oil company said GSEC may not be ready for offering services for another five years.

The Stabroek Block operator was keen to note that an American laboratory service company that does pharmaceutical and U.S. Federal Drug Administration testing has expressed interest in developing environmental testing capabilities in Guyana. EEPGL said the company has the experience in managing a laboratory, acquired a location, and is in the process of procuring equipment. Kaieteur News understands that identifying the testing protocols and equipment needs are the next steps.

Currently, suitable analytical testing is available in Trinidad but EEPGL said use of a Trinidad laboratory extends the timeline for completion of test results along with attendant challenges associated with transport of samples.

Taking the foregoing into consideration, EEPGL suggested that an economic feasibility study be considered to determine if a commercial environmental laboratory in Guyana is a sustainable business with respect to supply and demand.

It said economic feasibility studies consider several factors which include: estimated startup

cost for land purchase/lease, training budget, maintenance, certification, local technical staffing availability in Guyana, customer demand and pricing considerations, type and number of Guyana industries requiring third party analytical services, and Government regulations that require environmental monitoring.

EEPGL said other options to the development of a commercial environmental laboratory includes the expansion of the existing University of Guyana laboratory to provide additional analytical services to commercial customers, or the development of a laboratory owned and operated by the Environmental Protection Agency that can provide analytical services to support its needs.

EEPGL also recommended further collaboration with the EPA and potential stakeholders on the feasibility of expanding environmental testing services in Guyana to support commercial and government environmental data needs.

ABOUT CWMP The Comprehensive Waste Management Plan (CWMP) is a document based on a holistic review of EEPGL’s maturing waste management process.

The CWMP was developed pursuant to Section Five of the Payara Development Project Environmental Permit and the Cradle to Grave Waste Analysis Study approved by the Environmental Protection Agency on September 13, 2021.

The Plan is intended to accommodate all projects in Guyana associated with EEPGL’s exploration and appraisal drilling, development drilling, installation and hook-up, commissioning, and start up, office construction, production operations, and related activities.

The plan is inclusive of the Liza Phase One Development Project, Liza Phase Two Development Project which comes on stream this quarter, the Payara Development Project, the Guyana Fiber Optic Cable, and EEPGL’s Guyana Office Complex (Continued on page 26)

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From page 25 Project, as well as permitted or planned drilling projects. In addition, the plan makes provision for projects currently under review by the EPA, including Yellowtail and the Gas to Energy Project.

As new projects are planned or come on stream, Exxon said the plan will be updated to address them.

Kaieteur News understands that the plan, once approved, will replace and supersede previous waste management plans incorporated in approved Environmental Impact Statements and permits for ExxonMobil.

BUSINESS ICON YESU PERSAUD PASSES ON Dr. Yesu Persaud, who for decades of public life was revered as the nation’s top businessman and philanthropist and whose advocacy for a vibrant private sector and respect for rule of law helped shape this country, died on Monday after a period of illness. He was 93.

Persaud played a leading a role in the business community here and has also left his mark in the social and political spheres of this country.

DEMERARA DISTILLERS LIMITED Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) – one of Dr. Persaud’s company said in a statement that he lived a life which brought to the fore, the best possibilities which often were invisible to others. “His revolutionary initiatives quite often challenged convention but were extraordinarily successful as is evidenced by what DDL is today. The DDL we know today owes a great debt of gratitude to Yesu Persaud, for his bold and imaginative leadership for over four decades,” the statement read.

According to DDL, present and future generations of employees are and will be thankful for the strong foundation that he has built to make our company succeed.

“We will forever be appreciative for the career opportunities we enjoy today, which are all possible because of the carefully constructed foundation designed by a master architect, the late Dr. Yesu Persaud.”

During his years at DDL, Dr. Persaud was at the forefront of innovation, modernisation, and diversification. “He was a champion for causes of our employees, customers, and shareholders. He always displayed abiding humility and understanding, while at the same time promoting the highest levels of discipline, honesty, and productivity.”

DDL said one of the things “we will always

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remember about Dr. Persaud is his unending philanthropy.

DDL’s journey over the years was not without its challenges, particularly in its early years. However, Dr. Persaud’s leadership was robust and exemplary. As we mourn Dr. Persaud’s passing, DDL will continue to draw on the life of this national treasure; his unmatched approach to governance, and his staunch commitment to doing what is right. The Board of Directors, Management, and staff at DDL extend to his bereaved wife and children and all his loved ones, our sincerest condolences on this great loss. We hope you can find comfort in the extraordinary achievements of his lifetime and the very impactful contribution which he made,” the statement concluded.

President Irfaan Ali led tributes for the businessman on Monday, noting in a Facebook message that: “Guyana has lost an outstanding soul in Dr. Yesu Persaud, a true son of the soil.

It is with great sadness I learnt, moments ago, about his passing. To his family, friends, management and staff of DDL and Demerara Bank, and the wider private sector, I join with you in prayers at this time. May his soul find eternal peace.”

WEDNESDAY T&T FIRMS GETALL OF THE CONTRACTS FOR VESSEL-CLEANING IN GUYANA’S OIL SECTOR – EXXONMOBIL SAYS COMPANYHERE GEARINGTO TAKE OVER BUSINESS At present, all Marine Support Vessel (MSV) tank cleaning operations needed for Guyana’s oil industry are conducted by companies in Trinidad and Tobago. This is according to ExxonMobil’s Comprehensive Waste Management Plan (CWMP)

submitted to Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year. The document was prepared by the American multinational in keeping with the requirements of the Payara Environmental Permit that demanded same be done.

According to the report, the cleaning process employed in Trinidad is manual and generates large volumes of washwater and solids. It was noted that material recovered from tank cleaning services are evaluated for reuse at Liquid Mud Plants (LMPs) while tank cleaning waste streams that are unable to be reclaimed are evaluated for treatment.

While Trinidad and Tobago is handling the multibillion dollar vessel cleaning services, ExxonMobil says there are plans underway for the operations to be transferred here. In this regard, the oil giant noted that there is a tender in Guyana to provide tank cleaning services locally using technologies that minimize the generation of waste.

ExxonMobil said the need for MSV tank cleaning services in Guyana is part of the strategy for LMP operations in Guyana in the future. Expounding in this regard, Exxon said the operation of three LMPs in Georgetown to support offshore operations efficiently requires co-located tank cleaning services.

Additionally, it said startup for MSV tank cleaning capabilities in Guyana was slated to get off the ground since late last year, while adding that the tank cleaning system selected for Guyana includes a solids removal system and washwater reuse technology. The American multinational said the solids removal system and water reuse technology selected will reduce the waste generated from tank cleaning.

ABOUT CWMP The Comprehensive Waste Management Plan (CWMP) is a document based on a holistic review of ExxonMobil’s subsidiary,

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)’s maturing waste management process.

The CWMP was developed pursuant to Section Five of the Payara Development Project Environmental Permit and the Cradle to Grave Waste Analysis Study approved by the Environmental Protection Agency on September 13, 2021.

The Plan is intended to accommodate all projects in Guyana associated with EEPGL’s exploration and appraisal drilling, development drilling, installation and hook-up, commissioning, and start up, office construction, production operations, and related activities. The plan is inclusive of the Liza Phase One Development Project, Liza Phase Two Development Project which comes on stream this quarter, the Payara Development Project, the Guyana Fiber Optic Cable, and EEPGL’s Guyana Office Complex Project, as well as permitted or planned drilling projects. In addition, the plan makes provision for projects currently under review by the EPA, including Yellowtail and the Gas to Energy Project.

As new projects are planned or come on stream, Exxon said the plan will be updated to address them. Kaieteur News understands that the plan, once approved, will replace and supersede previous waste management plans incorporated in approved Environmental Impact Statements and permits for ExxonMobil.

GOVT. LOOKS TO CEMENT CONTROL OF OIL FUND BOARD – TABLES MOTION FOR GOVERNMENT -DOMINATED PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TO NOMINATE DIRECTOR Government has tabled a motion to mandate the Parliamentary Committee of

Appointments of which it has the majority to select a nominee to sit on the controversial board of directors of the Natural Resources Fund – the mechanism set up to manage the proceeds from this country’s oil resources.

The full members of the appointments committee are government ministers: Gail Teixeira, Dr. Vindhya Persaud; Kwame McCoy, PPP/C Members of Parliament Alister Charlie and Yvonne PearsonFredericks. For the coalition the members are: Khemraj Ramjattan; Nicolette Henry; Tabitha Sarabo-Halley and Annette Ferguson.

Observers say, given the divisive nature of the current parliament it will come down to a vote and the PPP/C Government with a majority on the committee would more than likely have their nominee go forward. Section 5 (1) of the Natural Resource Fund Act 2021 provides that there shall be a Board of Directors of the Fund which shall comprise of not less than three and not more than five members who shall be appointed by the President, one of whom shall be appointed Chairperson by the President. According to the act, the National Assembly and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) will be identifying one candidate each for the board, which leaves the President with three nominees. As such, with the National Assembly nominee in the bag and the PSC, given its coziness with the government, the PPP will have total control over the board.

The motion which is in the name of Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, restates the provisions in Section 5(1) of the NRF Act 2021 and added that the directors shall be selected from among persons who have wide experience and ability in legal, financial, business, or administrative matters, one of whom shall be nominated by the National Assembly and one of whom shall be a representative of the private sector.

Additionally, Section 5(10) of the said Act provides that a person shall not be eligible for appointment as a director if that person, inter alia, is a Member of the National Assembly. It pointed out that Standing Order 84(3)(b)(iii) provides that it shall be the duty of the Committee on Appointments to make recommendations to the National Assembly on any matter referred to it by the Assembly from time to time.

As such Dr Singh’s motion calls on the National

Assembly to task the Committee on Appointments with making a suitable recommendation to the Assembly for the candidate to be identified as the nominee of the Assembly to be appointed by the President to serve on the Board of Directors of the Natural Resource Fund in accordance with Section 5 of the Natural Resource Fund Act 2022.

The new NRF Act has been widely condemned, but it was rushed through Parliament late last year. In addition to the board of directors, the Act makes provisions for other committees, all of which would be dominated by government nominees.

For example, provision has been made for an Investment Committee, but three individuals, of the seven member body will be selected by the Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. Under Section 8 (1) of the ACT, three of the seven-member body, of which only five will be allowed to vote, will be appointed by the Cabinet members. In fact, the legislation states that, “a nominee of the (Finance) Minister who shall be the Chairperson of the committee, a nominee of the minister responsible for the administration of the petroleum sector (Natural Resources Minister), a nominee of the Attorney General, a nominee of the Leader of the Opposition, a nominee of the private sector and two ex-officio nonvoting members…the Senior Investment Adviser and Analyst (and) a nominee of the Governor of the Bank” shall be appointed.

Notably, the body with major ministerial control will be responsible for merely advising the Board of Directors on the Investment Mandate, Section 9 of the Bill outlines. In doing so, it shall take into account “the overall objectives of the Fund in this Act, the current conditions, opportunities and constraints in relevant financial markets, the need to ensure sufficient funds are available for withdrawals from the fund, international best practices in investment portfolio management, the principal of financial diversification with the objective of maximizing risk-adjusted financial returns…” The new NRF Act also leaves room for a nine member Public Accountability and Oversight Committee which (Continued on page 27)

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From page 26 shall comprise of a nominee again from the National Assembly, three representatives from the religious community, two representatives from the private sector, two representatives of organised labour and one representative of the professions. This Committee shall provide “non-governmental oversight of the Fund” according to Section 6 (7).

THURSDAY GUYANESE UPANTE AGAINST ‘OPPRESSIVE’ EXXON CONTRACT – PROTESTERS DEMAND CHANGE, CALL ON LEADERS TO FIGHT FORA BETTER DEAL

A protester who took to the streets Wednesday demanding changes in the oil contracts, which Guyana signed with some of the foreign oil companies was moved to tears as he called on the government and leaders of Guyana to secure more wealth for households so that their children can be properly fed.Rawle Austin, who hails from Section ‘C’ Sophia, Georgetown shared that he makes concrete blocks for a living and was robbed recently; hence, he is unable to provide for his family. The man said, “There is so much of poverty in Sophia right now and because of that people are coming out and violate people. I am a blocks maker and my own neighbour child thief my blocks mould, all two, and he put me out of business.

You know why they thieving because the children cannot eat. The family cannot provide for them and if I de take de law into my own hands, I wouldn’t have been here protesting, but is children and I leave it to God but we need to do something about this thing”.

Austin said he believes an administration that cares for its people would renegotiate the contract the Guyana Government signed with ExxonMobil. He also urged that Guyanese support the protest action. “This is not politics or religion or race, this is about fighting for what is for Guyanese. I have been listening to Mr. Glenn Lall for about a year now on his radio station.

I didn’t know about a lot of them things but I hear his voice crying out and I know that he didn’t have to do what he’s doing but he’s doing it cause he is a Guyanese and we all are Guyanese,” Austin posited as he called on citizens to participate in the ‘fight’.Kaieteur News spoke with another protester,

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Simosha Lawrence from Georgetown who said she was out to protest to get more for her children. According to her, “I am a single mother and I would like to see a better environment for them (my children) at school and hospitals and so on. I am here to support Glenn Lall because I believe we should get a better contract. It got nuff single parents and some children aint’t going to school and all of that because the parents cannot afford it”.

Lall Persaud another protester said, “We think, we need our fair share because two percent cannot cut the ice and everybody, a lot of people are complaining”.

Persaud, a Guyanese who resides in the United States said he is not against the production of oil, but rather the unfair deal that Guyanese are being forced to accept.”I don’t think that the government is doing a good job. We need some changes and we deserve 50/50.

We need to stand up for what is ours,” Persaud added.

Meanwhile, Malika Clementson, another resident from Georgetown said it is quite clear that the oil companies are taking advantage of Guyanese. She said, “They are robbing not only us, but our children and our children’s children in the future generations cause I think we need to inherit more than what we are getting here, not only for us, but for everybody’s children”.”A fair share” KN Publisher, Glenn Lall was among the protesters Wednesday shouting “demand your fair share” and “stand up for your children” on the Houston, East Bank Demerara Public Road. In an interview he said, “I came out here to fight for my own share.

The reason for that is because the leaders will not stand up and they will not fight for our share.They have sold this country out and I, as a Guyanese, will never sit back idle knowing what has happened in many oilproducing countries all across this World”.

Lall made specific reference to the extreme poverty the people are faced with in oil-producing nations such as Angola, which he said, he is determined not to let occur in Guyana. Other than protesting, Lall has already filed a historic lawsuit against oil giant ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited in light of the most repressive tax provisions of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).

The case, which was prepared and filed by his

Attorney-at-Law, Mohamed R. Ali, outlines that many of the provisions listed under Article 15.1 of the Petroleum Agreement, dated June 27, 2016, between the Guyana Government and the oil companies, grants exemptions to persons other than licensees, which violate the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, the Financial Administration (and Audit) Act, the Prevention of Discrimination Act, and the Constitution.

The newspaper Publisher is confident that Guyana would be able to retain billions of American dollars, should his case be won. In the meantime, he told this newspaper that he is prepared to protest everyday in different parts of the country, so as to bring about greater awareness about what is at stake.

According to him, “Every Guyanese home should have been getting one million dollars per month right now but the million dollars a month for our households and our housewives are going to every foreigner in this land…we are rated the second fastest growing economy in the World, yet our salary increase is seven percent”.

As a consequence, Glenn said he is prepared to protest until the contract changes. “It has to change. This contract has to change. It must change. It will change and if nobody else is gonna do it, we are gonna do it,” he insisted.

Guyana’s oil deal Kaieteur News would have exposed that Guyana’s Production Sharing

Agreement (PSA) for the Stabroek Block is one of the world’s worst provisions when compared to 130 other deals in the world. For example, the PSA sees the government paying the contractor’s income tax out of the country’s share of the profits. However, none of the 130 PSAs examined shows this arrangement.

Further, Guyana’s PSA is the only one out of 130, which has very moderate work obligations for contractors who are vested with offshore licences. Additionally, the Guyana-ExxonMobil PSA is the only one out of 130 contracts, which has no ringfencing provisions to prevent costs of unsuccessful wells being carried over to that of successful wells.

There is also no sliding scale for royalty to increase as production improves. And that is not all. Guyana’s PSA is the only one out of 130 in the world that allows insurance premiums to be fully recovered as well as interest on loans and financing costs that are incurred by the contractors.

The newspaper publisher has been adamant that the two percent royalty deal for which oil giant ExxonMobil has inked with local politicians is not carved in stone and as such can be changed in favour of the citizens of Guyana.

ECOATLANTIC GRABS MORE SHARES IN SUSPICIOUSLY AWARDED CANJE BLOCK Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd., one of the smallest oil

players in Guyana’s offshore basin, has moved to grab more shares in the highly prospective Canje Block.

Wednesday, Eco disclosed that it moved to secure an additional 800,000 common shares in JHI Associates Inc. in return for 1,200,000 new common shares in Eco. The purchase of the 800,000 common shares in JHI is expected to be completed on January 21, 2022, increasing the total number of shares currently held by Eco in JHI to 5,800,000 shares. Eco also retains a warrant to subscribe for a further 9,155,471 new common shares in JHI at an exercise price of US$2.0 per share for a period of 18 months.

It should be noted that JHI is a Guyana pure-play deepwater exploration company that was only founded in 2011. In 2014, JHI teamed up with Guyanabased Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas Inc. (“MOGI”) which was awarded the Canje Block in 2015, just a few months before General and Regional Elections were held. Both companies are industry unknowns, had no wherewithal, and zero experience in deepwater drilling. In spite of no track record, JHI and its partner were awarded the block with no signing bonus to the country.

In 2016, JHI and MidAtlantic sold the major parts of their interest to ExxonMobil which allowed the American company to become the Operator. In 2018, Total Energies farmed into the Block. Five years of extensive technical and seismic data analysis led to the Canje

partners identifying multiple drillable prospects and successfully applying for a multi-well drilling permit.

As announced on June 28, 2021, Eco acquired 5 million common shares representing a 6.4% interest in JHI Associates Inc., a private Canadian company, which holds a 17.5% working interest in the Canje Block.

Kaieteur News understands the Operator of the Canje block, ExxonMobil and block partners are working to technically define additional drilling prospects in the cretaceous and deeper in the Santonian, where the Sapote-1 well recorded hydrocarbon shows. Eco said this latest investment is consistent with its strategy to create shareholder value through advanced exploration programmes on the offshore Atlantic margins for advantaged barrels as developing nations bridge the essential reserve requirements through the stages of the energy transition.

Following the share purchase, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and CoFounder of Eco, Gil Holzman said, “We are committed to creating material value for our shareholders through a multi catalyst, high impact, exploration portfolio. As such, we are pleased to increase our exposure in the Canje Block by building our equity holding in JHI. This also marks another step in the broader consolidation amongst smaller exploration players, in which we want to lead.”

He added, “Following the work undertaken on Canje in 2021, which ExxonMobil and partners in the block continue to review, and after the recent highly positive drilling results on the nearby Stabroek block, we believe this to be another exciting opportunity in our portfolio.”

ABOUT ECO ATLANTIC Offshore Guyana in the proven Suriname-Guyana Basin, Eco Atlantic holds a 15% Working Interest in the 1,800 km2 Orinduik Block Operated by Tullow Oil, and also indirectly through a soon to be 7.3% shareholding in JHI Associates Inc. a private company which holds a 17.5% working interest in the 4,800km2 Canje Block Operated by ExxonMobil.

In Namibia, the Company holds Operatorship and 85% Working Interests in four offshore Petroleum Licences: PEL’s: 97, 98, 99 and 100 totalling 28,593 km2 in the Walvis Basin.

Offshore South Africa, Eco holds Operatorship and 50% working interest of (Continued on page 28)

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From page 27 Block 2B, and 20% Working Interest of Blocks 3B/4B and Nearshore 3B/4B, totalling some 21,603 km2.

Eco Atlantic is also a 100% shareholder in Solear Ltd. Solear is an independent private clean energy investment company focused on low cost, high yield solar development projects in southern Europe.

GUYANALEADS REGION IN CAPE, CSEC Samuel Haynes and Zaynab Shaffie of Queen’s College were on Wednesday named by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) as the Region’s top Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations performers respectively at the 2021 examinations.

This is according to a release issued by the Ministry of Education, which stated that Haynes received the CAPE Overall Outstanding Achievement award, while Shaffie received the CSEC Overall Outstanding Achievement award.

Kaieteur News had reported in November that Haynes had secured nine Grade Ones at CAPE, while Shaffie secured 18 Grade Ones, and two Grade Twos.

This is not the first time that Guyanese students would have topped the Caribbean at these exams. In fact, back in 2020, Zane Ramotar and Bhedesh Persaud also of Queen’s College were the region’s top performers for both CAPE and CSEC. When the country hosted the opening ceremony of the 2021 CAPE and CSEC result in October, CXC Director, Dr. Nicole Manning had mentioned that Guyana recorded higher pass rates than the Regional average at both the CSEC and CAPE levels.

Dr. Manning disclosed too that, much like the performance for CSEC, 88 percent of the CAPE candidates from Guyana obtained acceptable Grades One to Five Passes, as opposed to the Caribbean’s 87 percent pass rate.

Additionally, she said that the 33 subjects offered by CXC at the CSEC level, Guyanese candidates would have topped 20 subjects.

Not only Haynes and Shaffie copped regional awards but there were others students from various secondary schools in the country who received awards. According to the Ministry, Crystal Benjamin of The Bishops’ High School

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copped third place in the 2021 Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) CAPE Accounting Awards while Abdul Subhan of the St. Stanislaus College won the top prize in 2021 CAPE History.

At the CSEC level, Roshni Samaroo of Queen’s College won the top Humanities award, Naresh Jagnanan of the Essequibo Islands Secondary School won the top Business award, and Sarena Razak of Queen’s College won the top Technical Vocational Education award. The Ministry added that Riley Nurse of Queen’s College and Saalih Rahim of the I.S.A Islamic School were among awardees with other Caribbean students for the 2021 ACCA CSEC Accounting Awards.

“The Ministry of Education regard these students’ achievements as significant, particularly because they were able to perform exceptionally well despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We wish them the best in their future endeavours,” the release noted.

FRIDAY PRES. ALI’S UNBRIDLED DISCRETION TO APPOINT BOARD FOR OIL MONEY DETRIMENTAL -PRIVATE SECTOR HAVINGNOMINEE ALSO CONCERNING –GOOLSARRAN Like many other industry stakeholders who have examined the PPP/C’s rushed Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Legislation, Chartered Accountant and former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran finds the document with several concerning features and provisions.

In a detailed and ongoing examination of the law that was taken to Parliament on December 16, 2021 and passed less than two weeks later, Goolsarran wrote that he finds troubling, the provisions governing the appointment of a Board of Directors for the NRF. He said this is especially the case when it is examined against the Santiago Principles, one of which states: “There should be a sound governance framework that establishes a clear and effective division of roles and responsibilities in order to facilitate accountability and operational independence in the management of the SWF (Sovereign Wealth Fund).”

Goolsarran noted that the governance arrangements are

detailed in Sections 5-14 of Guyana’s NRF law. He noted that the Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the management of the Fund, including preparing an Investment Mandate and monitoring the performance of the Fund. It comprises not less than three and not more than five persons appointed by the President who also appoints the chairperson.

One representative each must be from the National Assembly and the private sector.

Goolsarran posited, “On the face of it, this arrangement is an improvement over the predecessor legislation since there was no provision for the establishment of a Board, and the Minister was responsible for the overall management of the Fund and for preparing the Investment Mandate. We had expressed that in that legislation there was an overconcentration of powers in the hands of the Minister.”

“Our concern with the new legislation, however, relates to the composition of the Board and how its members are to be appointed.”

Expounding further, the Chartered Accountant said three members would be woefully inadequate to execute the Board’s mandate while noting that the Act does gives the President flexibility to select up to five persons.

On this note, Goolsarran said, “But if the President decides to appoint a fivemember Board, three members will be selected by him based on his own deliberate judgment, which is undesirable.”

While the President can follow in the footsteps of the late President Desmond Hoyte and rise to the occasion by selecting

persons with the appropriate technical and professional backgrounds and who are considered politically independent in the eyes of the public, Goolsarran said it would have been preferable if the legislation had limited the President’s selection to one member.

He said in his analysis published in one of the nation’s daily newspapers, “It would have been a good idea if the membership of the Board could have comprised two representatives from the accounting profession, one from the legal profession and one from the academia, leaving the President to choose the other member. At least three members should constitute a quorum.”

What also troubles Goolsarran is that the private sector will be able to have a nominee for the NRF’s Board of the Directors. He reasoned that since the private sector will be the main beneficiary from the withdrawal and utilization of the resources of the Fund, its representative should not be part of the Board as this may present a conflict of interest.

He added to his commentary that “There have also been credible allegations that some key members of the Private Sector Commission, the parent body, are so closely associated with the ruling party that this may pose some difficulty for the selected person to act independently and objectively.”

In addition, with the Government holding the majority in the Assembly, and a nominee for the Board would also be pulled from the House, Goolsarran said it is likely that the representative will be selected from among

Government members. He said it would have been more comforting if the legislation had specified that the representative should be from the political Opposition.

Further to this, Goolsarran said it is unclear what mechanism will be used by President Ali to select the persons for membership to the Board. Goolsarran said he would have preferred if such mechanism was embedded in the law, mandating the Public Accounts Committee to identify suitably qualified and trained persons after due consultations with the representative bodies and submit their names to the Assembly for approval, with the President making the appointment. He also believes that the President should not be responsible for selecting the Chairperson as prescribed in the Law. Goolsarran opined that Board members should have been given the power to elect their own chair while warning that an imposed chairpersonship can create tensions within the Board.

Given the foregoing, among other notable concerns, Goolsarran alluded that the rushed NRF Legislation, is indeed flawed while leaving room for improvements in the area of governance.

SATURDAY HISTORIC CHALLENGE TO STABROEK BLOCK PSA… IF SUCCESSFUL, HESS AND CNOOC WOULD PAY OVER $4B IN TAXES FOR 2020 ALONE -RAM -SUBJECTED TO 40% TAX ON FUTURE PROFITS Upon noting and analysing the historic case

filed last week against the onerous tax provisions of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) by Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall through his l a w y e r, M o h a m e d A l i , Chartered Accountant and A t t o r ney-at-Law, Christopher Ram says if the matter is successful, there would be significant fiscal benefits for the country.

In his widely read and revered column, Every Man, Woman and Child Must Become Oil-Minded, Ram said perhaps the most significant fiscal effect of the legal challenge will be the taxes to be paid by the Stabroek Block partners, being Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Limited, on their share of Profit Oil. Ram in his column said, “This is hugely consequential both for the oil companies and the Government. In 2020, Esso reported a loss while its two partners Hess and CNOOC reported total profits of $16,175 million.

At the standard applicable rate of Corporation Tax, and without any tax adjustments for timing differences or losses, those two companies alone would have to pay approximately $4,000 million and a further 20 percent on branch withholding tax on their aftertax profit, less any amount reinvested.”

The Chartered Accountant added, “To put it another way, if instead of having the Government pay its taxes, the oil companies now have to pay taxes like the average taxpayer, they would be paying tax at the combined rate of as much as 40 percent of taxable income.

Contrast this with the current regime under which the Government pays the taxes for the oil companies but issues to them a certificate that they have paid taxes in Guyana.”

Ram, in conclusion, believes the case in its entirety is significant for the nation while noting that it will be interesting to see how the nation’s leaders would react to same.

The case filed by Lall via his Attorney-at-Law Mohamed R. Ali, is set to be heard on March 10, 2022 at 10:30hrs before the Honourable Justice Nareshwar Harnanan.

REASON FOR LEGALCHALLENGE Asked about the reason for his court challenge to the contract, Lall had said that when one takes into (Continued on page 29)

Sunday January 23, 2022

From page 28 consideration, the extent to which the provisions of the contract create oppressive circumstances that hinder locals as well as the extent to which it breaches the laws, there is no way he could sit back and not take action.

What also incensed the KN publisher is how costly these provisions are to the nation. Lall said, “When you take into account the cost of these provisions to the country, the enormous revenue Guyana is giving away and the impact it can have, and it will have, on the country and its citizens, it is unimaginable. It must therefore be challenged. For example, we gave away US$720M in 2020 alone in taxes to the oil companies and that was a figure from the Auditor General’s Report.”

The publisher continued, “But even that is not entirely accurate, if we are to take into account what is being given away, when we look at the oil production figures. But let me give an example of what that US$720M could do for us.

Had Guyana collected that, it could have increased the public service salary 10 times.

It could have given us a bridge across the Demerara and Berbice Rivers and another from Parika to Leguan half way. And I don’t want to talk about the number of roads that US$720M could have repaired. These are the things that have been eating away at my soul that forced me into moving to the courts.”

Lall said he moved to the courts not just as the publisher of the newspaper who is passionate about his duty to the people but as a citizen, who refuses to sit idly by while the lion’s share of the oil wealth is given to foreign companies and Guyanese are relegated to eating the crumbs that fall from the table.

Lall, who said that the case was in the making for just over nine months, categorically stated that he reposes the absolute confidence in the judiciary here to determine the case but noted, nonetheless, that he is prepared to go all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the matter.

OPPOSITION URGES GOVT. TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO CURB INFLATION RATE

Even though he has already aired his suggestions to the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) for Budget 2022, the Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Mr. Aubrey Norton, has reiterated his call for the

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administration to take steps to curb the inflation rate.

During his weekly press conference, Norton told the media that it is urgent for measures to be implemented to tackle the increase of food costs, which he believes could be addressed with more focus on the agriculture sector. He said, “If you look at the question of inflation and the measures that need to be taken to deal with it, we raised this question of food security which is a real important question because if you follow the history behind the oil and gas industry there is the tendency for resources to go in the direction of the oil and gas sector and a reduction in the agriculture sector.”

Therefore, Norton explained that the government must not only acknowledge the spike in market prices, but also take action to improve the situation, while it may still be in its budding stage.

“What we are doing is saying to the government prices are going up and you need to take action at this stage to ensure there are incentives for people to stay in agriculture, and to expand agriculture so that we have food security, and do not run into the problems that many other societies run into.

Because of the lucrative nature of oil and gas, people in other sectors go in another direction,” the PNC/R Leader pointed out.

Already in Guyana, Norton noted that many waterfront businesses, which formerly accommodated the fishing industry, among others, have been converted to aid the oil and gas sector.

In this regard, the party leader urged that this development requires urgent attention by the government, which he expects to implement measures to

address such matters in Budget 2022.

He said, “If they (government) don’t address it, then it would be obvious to the Guyanese people that they have no interest in prejudging what is happening and to take the (necessary) actions to ensure that we don’t face the risks that are likely to come from not addressing the matter.”

Norton added that while it is “worrying” that the Opposition was not included in the consultations for the preparation of Budget 2022, he is hopeful that his suggested measures would be implemented to improve the lives of Guyanese.

In expressing his disappointment, he said that the Budget is being prepared with only a “select” group being invited to present their views while the main Opposition Coalition, which represents over 49 percent of the Guyanese people, has been systematically excluded from these consultations.

During the party’s press conference last week, Norton listed several measures he feels would bring a measure of relief to citizens, amidst escalating inflation rate.

Among the party’s suggestions were; the introduction of a COVID-19 risk allowance for frontline workers on a six months basis of $50,000, until the pandemic has been officially declared over by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/ WHO), an interim wages and salaries increase for public servants of 10 percent, pending the start and finalisation of Government/ Union talks, which the party said should end in workers receiving at least a 25 percent increase and an increase to the Old Age Pension of $10,000.

To bring further relief, he

suggested an overhaul of the income tax threshold.

In fact, he recommended that the income tax threshold be increased to $1.5 million or one third of gross earnings,

“whichever is higher, from the present $780,000” and that changes be made in the Income Tax Law to ensure that the minimum wage is never taxed. Norton also said that

the income tax rate should be restructured to “the first $3 million of chargeable income 15 percent, the next $3 million 20 percent and the balance 25 percent.”

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Sunday January 23, 2022

The Court Journal

By Renay Sambach

APNU+AFC officials charged for Cybercrime offences

C

ybercrime is the use of a computer to carry out illegal acts. Cybercrimes are usually done with the use of the internet and the different instruments that it has available.

While most people are not aware of this Act and the offences that fall under the Act – some penalties carry as much as a $10M fine along with five years jail time.

The most common offence under the Cybercrime Act is, “Using a computer to publish or transmit computer data that is obscene, vulgar, profane, lewd, lascivious or indecent with intent to humiliate, harass or cause substantial emotional distress to another person.”

Since the passage of the Bill, numerous persons were charged and put before the court.

This article focuses on officials of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (ANPU+AFC) who were charged under the Cybercrime Act. PRINCE HOLDER The first APNU+AFC official who was charged under the Cybercrime Act was the former Chairman of Region Two, Prince Holder – he was charged in September 2020.

He made his first court appearance in the Anna Regina Magistrates Court, where he was charged for Cyber-bullying. Holder was c h a rg e d w i t h u s i n g a computer system to humiliate a person contrary to Section 19 (5) (a) of the Cyber Crime Act No.16 of 2018.

The charge was read to Holder by Magistrate Nylon Bess. The charge alleges that on June 7, 2020 at Henrietta Village in the Essequibo Magisterial District, via WhatsApp video call, Holder used a computer system to publish or transmit electronic data of Tamesh Jagmohan that is obscene, vulgar, profane, lewd, lascivious or indecent with intent to humiliate, harass or cause substantial emotional distress to Mr. Jagmohan. Holder denied the charge and he was placed on $10,000 bail.

ANNETTE FERGUSON On July 16, 2021, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson, was placed on selfbail when she appeared before a City Magistrate to answer to a cybercrime charge.

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APNU+AFC, Prince Holder.

The Opposition MP appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly, in the company of her lawyer, Lyndon Amsterdam.

Ferguson denied the charge, which alleges that on June 15, 2021, she used a computer system to transmit data with intent to cause substantial emotional distress to a senior officer of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Colonel Omar Khan.

During the debate, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, told the House that the concept of the Regional Joint Support Teams is a new crime-fighting initiative formulated in April 2021, and that the supplementary provision for the period ending December 2021 is to “set up” the initiative.

The Government MP had explained that the Regional Joint Support Teams will not

APNU+AFC, Annette Ferguson.

Based on the application that was made to the court by Ferguson's attorney – Senior Magistrate Daly placed F e rg u s o n o n h e r o w n recognisance.

According to reports, the Opposition MP was charged for falsely alleging in a Facebook post that Khan will be in charge of a 'killing squad.'

Kaieteur News understands that Ferguson's post, which refers to the “setting up of Death Squad and Black Clothes groups”, stemmed from discussions had during the considerations of Financial Paper 2/2021 during the parliamentary session on June 14, 2021.

denigrate or usurp the functions of the GDF or the GPF, but is intended to enhance the capacity of the law enforcement agencies in Guyana to fight crime, regardless of the type of crime, with the support of the GDF. However, following that parliamentary session, an online news agency published a story headlined, “Exclusive: PPP secures $250 million budget to resuscitation Black Clothes Death Squad.” The Opposition MP subsequently shared the article with her own commentary. Both the Joint Services Coordinating Council (JSCC) and the

Ministry of Home Affairs had condemned the Opposition MP's post and cautioned citizens against the “reckless and irresponsible social commentary.”

SHEROD DUNCAN The most recent matter is that of Opposition MP, Sherod Duncan, who was on Monday placed on $200,000, bail for allegedly referring to the IT Manager of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as a 'jagabat' and 'trench Crappo'.

Duncan appeared in the Diamond/Grove Magistrate's Court before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, in the company of a battery of lawyers: attorneys-at-law Khemraj Ramjattan, Nigel Hughes, Narissa Leander and Amanza Walton-Desir.

The MP denied the charge which alleges that on January 11, 2022, without legal or lawful justification or excuse, he used a computer system to publish electronic data about Aneal Giddings, an IT Manager at GECOM, with the intent to humiliate and embarrass and to cause emotional distress.

Principal Magistrate Latchman first granted the Opposition member bail in the sum of $275,000 but later

APNU+AFC, Sherod Duncan.

reduced the bail to $200,000, after an application was made to the court by Duncan's lawyer. The matter was then adjourned to February 10, 2022.

According to reports, Duncan allegedly made the derogatory remarks against Giddings during his 'In the Ring' talk show. It was reported that around 11:30hrs on Wednesday last (January 12), Giddings, a 36-year-old resident of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, filed a complaint against Duncan, in which it was alleged that the Opposition MP made a number of derogatory

statements against him on January 11 last during his show. Duncan is alleged to have referred to Giddings using the disrespectful names which are said to have caused significant emotional stress and humiliation. The police had reported that the video was identified and downloaded from the Facebook page under the name 'Sherod Avery Duncan'

by Inspector Blair and a statement was taken from Giddings.

Kaieteur News had reported that following the report that was made by (Continued on page 52)

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Tails of Hope MEDEXES - ACCORD...

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Sunday January 23, 2022

>>> ENCOURAGING EVENTS, DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS <<<

City cleanup, Dartmouth, COVID-19 T he city cleanup campaign makes f o r g o o d leadership theatre.

It is encouraging to observe the President manifesting that he is a man of the people, and not afraid of getting his hands dirty. If I was the leader, I would not be too preoccupied with physical dirtiness accumulating under fingernails; that should be the least of his considerations, as it is easily washable and removable.

I would recommend to Guyana’s head of state that as he is so exercised by the dirty, unhealthy state of the capital city, it would be good to observe him be

powerfully concerned by the dirtiness occurring under his watch.

The dirtiness embedded in the whole array of governance endeavours in his administration.

Because he is so busy cleaning up the streets and parapets, I will help by reminding him of the billions in COVID-19 cash relief, the billions in flood relief and the billions in one public works project following another that have disappeared into the hands and pockets of, not the citizens for whom they were intended but, mystery figures in his cabal.

I respectfully draw the attention of His Excellency

to those areas that are in dire need of cleanup campaigns; deep cleaning. Instead of this momentary pathetic diversion of city cleanup, the President should be doing some real cleanup, which is in the massive money matters.

The President should be pleased to know that in the years since I returned to this c o u n t r y, I h a v e b e e n cleaning up my area on my dime; and the record is of me honouring my obligations to the City Treasurer way in advance. The difference is that there are no cameras, and no microphones.

But even as I write this, I appreciate that Guyana’s

President is so feeble minded that he thinks these public relations exercises, and leadership gimmicks, are not only indicative of soundness, but of profoundness. He cleans up the city (and I thank him), while his sidekicks and comrades get ready to cleanup the irresistible Natural Resource Fund in the Big Apple.

It was both encouraging and disturbing to see the villagers of Dartmouth coming out in protest against the watered-down charge laid against the SWAT team member who shot and killed Orin Boston.

I was encouraged because it

confirmed that the spirit and fight have not gone out of some Guyanese, especially w h e n injustice w e i g h s heavily on the head, makes the blood race, and galvanizes feet into s t o r m y action. What is disturbing is the manner of the protest and the degree of the intensity of anger bottled up

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

Sunday January 23, 2022

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More children succumbing to COVID-19 since detection of Omicron - PAST WEEK MOST DEADLY THUS FAR FOR 2022 While the latest COVID19 variant, Omicron, has thus far proven to be especially contagious, it is also turning out to be more dangerous for children based on the prevailing state of affairs right here in our homeland.

Although a few of our children had died since the start of the pandemic, up until this past week, such deaths were quite sporadic.

But during the past week, five children, all below the age of 10, succumbed to COVID-19 complications.

Among the recent deaths are three girls – a threemonth-old, a four-month-old and a six-year-old, and two boys – a three-year-old and a nine-year-old. The week prior, on January 14, an unvaccinated 14-month-old boy was also listed among the COVID-19 fatalities.

While not speaking directly to the growing number of children dying due to COVID-19, Minister o f H e a l t h , D r. F r a n k Anthony revealed on Friday that more unvaccinated

patients with co-morbidities are being hospitalised.

Indeed, it has been confirmed by the Ministry that at least five of the six children who passed away recently were unvaccinated; the sixth child’s status is unknown.

This, however, does not mean that those who have been vaccinated are spared such a fate as nine of the 41 deaths recorded up to Friday, January 21, 2022, were those of fully vaccinated individuals. The death toll as at Friday stood at 1,122.

On January 15, the Ministry reported that in addition to 1,065 new cases there were five deaths which occurred between January 9 and 15, 2022. On January 9, two males – a three-year-old and a 58-year-old – both from Demerara-Mahaica (Region 4), each with unknown vaccination status, were added to the COVID19 death toll. They were joined in the Great Beyond on January 13 by a 74-yearold fully vaccinated woman, a 48-year-old partially

vaccinated man on January 14, both from Pomeroon Supenaam (Region 2), and a 61-year-old man from Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region 3) on January 15.

On January 16, the Ministry revealed that there were 1,082 new cases and nine more deaths were recorded between January 1 and 16, 2022. These included a 72-year-old fully

vaccinated woman from Region 3 who died on January 1 and a 70-year-old man whose vaccination status is unknown who hailed from the same Region and died on January 7.

Two more persons from Region Three, a 63-year-old man, whose vaccination status is unknown, and an unvaccinated six-year-old girl, died on January 9 and 10 respectively.

The COVID-19 situation became even grimmer on January 14, when a threemonth-old unvaccinated girl from Region 4 passed away.

On January 15, the deaths were that of two Region 4 men, a 49-year-old and a 62year-old, both fully vaccinated as was a 45-yearold woman from East Berbice-Corentyne (Region 6). The following day, January 16, another fully

vaccinated individual, a 61year-old man from Region 4, also passed away.

In addition to reporting 892 new cases on January 17, the Health Ministry also announced the death of a fully vaccinated 87-year-old man from Region 4 on the same day.

Along with 1,083 new cases on January 18, the Ministry reported that there Continued on page 51

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UK-based Guyanese poet receives...

From page 18 loved reading. By the time she left Guyana for England at the age of 27, she had already written about half of her first novel, ‘Whole of A Morning Sky’, which was later published by Virago in 1986. Not surprisingly it was inspired by Highdam. The emotional separation from Guyana drew her more and more into poetry.

The writer told Kaieteur News, “My father was a head teacher and I was always dipping into his books of poetry, even though the poets were far removed from my world.

“Mostly they were English poets like John Keats, Wordsworth and of course Shakespeare which we also studied at school. I was moved by the beauty and music of the words, just the power of language really.

I really wanted to be a novelist when I was much younger,” added Nichols.

One of her most celebrated publications, “I Is a Long-Memoried Woman,” was published way back in 1983. It was inspired by a dream, she had one night of a young African girl swimming from Africa to the

Caribbean.

In this book, the poet e x p l o r e s a n A f r i c a n ’s journey to the Caribbean through the eyes of a young girl.

In the dream, Nichols recalled the young girl had a garland of flowers around her neck.

She explained, “When I woke up I interpreted this to mean that she was trying to cleanse the ocean of the pain and suffering that she knew her ancestors had gone through during slavery.

So the whole book sprang from that. It’s been described as a kind of psychic history of Caribbean womanhood. It’s in the voice of the young slave woman who manages to keep her humanity and spiritual strength despite the brutality of that system.”

Apart from her adult collections, Nichols published a number of children’s books. Some of her work was inspired by her time in Highdam. That list i n c l u d e s , “ Tr u s t Yo u Wr i g g l y ’ i s a b o u t a mischievous little girl who was always getting into trouble.

She explained that her

writing for children also came naturally.

Nichols added, “When I’m writing for children, I suppose I’m writing for the child in me. The kinds of things the child in me would love to hear about. I’ve written some 10 collections of poetry for children with b o o k s s u c h a s , ‘Suntime/Snowtime’ by A&C Black and my latest, ‘Cosmic Disco” by Frances Lincoln.”

As regards her prizewinning efforts, Nichols asserts that poets write because they must and if he/she wins a prize in the process that’s an added bonus.

She noted nevertheless, “that doesn’t mean you can’t secretly dream that your book might win a certain prize one day.

The writer says “reading poets from different cultural backgrounds and being committed to your work will go a long way into making you an accomplished poet who might win a prize.”

The Gold Medal for Poetry was established by King George V in 1933 at the suggestion of the then Poet Laureate, John Masefield,

and is awarded for excellence in poetry. Each year’s recipient is from the United Kingdom or a Commonwealth country.

The Poetry Medal Committee unanimously recommended Grace Nichols as this year’s recipient on the basis of her body of work, in particular her first collection of poetry ‘I Is a Long-Memoried Woman (1983)’, prose and several books for younger readers.

Speaking of Nichols at the selection committee, the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, said: “Over the past four decades, Grace has been an original, pioneering voice in the British poetry scene. A noted reader and ‘performer’ of her work, she has embraced the tones of her adopted country and yet maintained the cadences of her native tongue.

He emphasised that “Her poems are alive with characters from the folklore and fables of her Caribbean homeland, and echo with the rhymes and rhythms of her family and ancestors. Songlike or prayer-like on occasion, they exhibit an

Sunday January 23, 2022

Ms. Nicholas during a presentation.

honesty of feeling and a generosity of spirit. They are also passionate and sensuous at times, being daring in their choice of subject and openhearted in their outlook.”

Above all, the Laureate said Grace Nichols has been a beacon for black women poets, staying true to her linguistic coordinates and

poetic sensibilities, and offering a means of expression that has offered inspiration and encouragement to many.

“She is a moving elegist, and a poet of conciliation and constructive dialogue between cultures, but also a voice of questioning dissent when the occasion demands,” he said.

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GNBS TO CONTINUE AGGRESSIVE MONITORING OF PRODUCTS FOR COMPLIANCE THIS YEAR ==GNBS IN FOCUS==

The monitoring of products in any country for compliance to standards is essential to ensure consumers get the level of satisfaction and benefits required from those products.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards' (GNBS) Product Compliance Department intends to maintain its monitoring activities during 2022 to ensure that imported and locally manufactured products under its purview, comply with the requirements of their respective National Standards and technical requirements.

Maintaining an effective

national monitoring mechanism to ensure quality products is necessary.

The GNBS, under the Standards Act of 1984 and amendment of 1997, monitors seventeen (17) categories of products.

These products are: tyres, textiles, garments, footwear, PVC pipes, weighing and measures instruments, furniture, gas stoves, cigarettes, safety matches, safety helmets, electrical equipment and fittings, gold articles, cellular phones, toys and playthings, and seasonal and decorative lighting products.

It is important to note that the GNBS does not monitor food, drugs, cosmetics,

medical devices, plants and animals, meats and seafood.

Although the GNBS may have the requisite standards, these products are monitored by other agencies.

Monitoring by the GNBS last year yielded positive responses from stakeholders as it relates to registration and the conduct of inspections. In 2021, a total of 483 importers, 667 dealers and 17 manufacturers registered with the GNBS. Meanwhile, during the year, 4,583 inspections were conducted for tyres, furniture, cellular phones, a n d e l e c t r i c a l fittings/equipment, garments, toys and other items.

Though there was major compliance, several products did not comply with the labelling and/or quality requirements outlined in their respective National Standards and the appropriate actions were taken by the GNBS. For example, a total of 5,514 non-conforming tyres were rejected and destroyed, to avoid subsequent use.

Other items placed on hold or destroyed by Inspectors in 2021 for noncompliance included 1,596 pieces of furniture, 10,426 toys, 21,923, electrical appliances, 418 gas stoves, 8,084 pieces of PVC pipes, 26,300 pieces of electrical fittings and equipment,

43,665 pairs of footwear, 200 rolls of textiles and 5,040 safety helmets.

In 2022, the Product Compliance Department intends to conduct countrywide monitoring.

Special attention will be placed on the monitoring of electrical equipment and fittings because of the prevalence of many substandard items in the marketplace. Other products for which monitoring will intensify include tyres, safety matches, cigarettes, and gold jewellery.

Inspections will be conducted at the ports of entry, points of sale and at warehouses.

It is crucial for the GNBS

to maintain its consumer protection mandate especially relating to monitoring the quality of products under its purview.

H o w e v e r, i m p o r t e r s , manufacturers and dealers also have a significant role to play when importing, manufacturing and selling products.

This role surrounds selecting and supplying quality products that meet the relevant National Standards.

F o r f u r t h e r information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0064-66 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org or WhatsApp: 692-4627.

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Oil money will be used for budget 2022 - VP Jagdeo Guyana's Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo has revealed that his government will be using monies from the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) to support this year's budget. He also related that his government will be using the oil fund to reduce the country's dependency on borrowing.

The Vice President made these statements while he was being interviewed by Leron

Brummell on the National Communications Network (NCN), on Friday while discussing the government's budget framework for the year 2022.

Since the government began collecting oil revenues in early 2020, this withdrawal will be the first time the government is tapping into the NRF. During the interview, Brummell asked the Vice

President about mechanisms the government will be implementing to manage its spending as well as reducing its borrowing.

“So the fiscal deficit this year in this budget will be lower than the fiscal deficit last year…from a finance perspective that means we will have to borrow less, because some of the oil and gas revenue will go to replace the high level of borrowing

that we have had,” Jagdeo responded.

H o w e v e r, t h e Vi c e President did not disclosed the amount of money that the government will be withdrawing from the oil fund. According to reports, at the end of November 2021, some US$534 million was sitting in the NRF. According to Jagdeo, while the deficit may widen because big capital projects

are coming on stream, the financing of the deficit will be reduced. He boasted that the country would no longer have to borrow large sums of cash owing to the government's decision to use some of the oil and gas resources to help with the country's expenses.

He then highlighted, “a significant part of the borrowing started with APNU, $90B a year was

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. coming from the domestic market.” The Vice President (Continued on page 61)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

Sunday January 23, 2022

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Kaieteur News

All you need to know about the M & L curl lashes.

Lessons from a Lashpreneur!!!

By Latoya Zephyr Hey lash babes, picking up from last week’s article…we are gonna talk about the two curls and you might not be familiar with. The L and M curl lashes.

You’ve probably haven’t heard a lot about M and L lashes. These new and unique curl types has already conquered many women’s hearts and I am sure it won’t be long until it captures yours too.

So let’s talk about them.

WHAT ARE M-CURL LASHES? The base of M lashes is straight, but not too long, and finishes in a strong curve without a kink at the transition. In contrast to eyelashes like L or L +, M has a nice smooth transition.

Because of its dramatic, but not over curled, bend, it creates a beautiful lifting effect.

WHAT SHAPE ARE MCURLS SUITABLE FOR? One of the reasons MLashes are so popular is their versatility to suit every eye shape. Especially hooded eyelids as they are able to be covered and even droopy eyes can be easily lifted.

M Lashes can also give a lifting effect on deep-set eyes,

downturned eyes, this curl is perfect to use for them. Because that kind of eye shape needs a lot of lifting effects which L curl has. It actually emphasized and give a nice and soft lifting effect.

For monolid eyes, it’s ideal to use volume lashes. You can use 0.05 and 0.07.

For almond eyes, you can use any curls and length as long as the natural lashes of your client can handle it.

Also, L curl lashes are not contraindicated for almondshaped eyes so you can use them.

small eyes or even Asian eyes.

Close-set eyes can even give the illusion of wide-set eyes.

So the great news is, you can use this special curl if you want to achieve an open eye look or hide any imperfections.

WHAT ARE L CURL LASH EXTENSIONS? L curl lashes have a straight base that transitions and lies flat on the client’s natural lash, this is a great curl

for monolid eyes, as well as clients who have very straight natural lashes. This curl will give your clients a dramatic and stunning look.

This lash curl looks best to those clients who have downturned lashes, L curl is a great one to help lift those lashes and clients who have hooded eyes.

WHAT EYE SHAPES ARE L CURL SUITABLE FOR. If you have clients with

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania airs today on E1 Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (also known as Hotel Transylvania 4) is a 2022 American computer-animated adventure comedy film produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released by Amazon Studios. The movie which will be aired today at 1pm on the Enetworks 1 Channel, is the fourth and final installment in the Hotel Transylvania franchise and the sequel to Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018).

The film is directed by Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska (in their respective feature-length directorial debuts) from a screenplay by Amos Vernon, Nunzio Randazzo, and Genndy Tartakovsky (who directed the prior three films). It stars the voices of Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez (who also served as an executive producer alongside Tartakovsky and Michelle Murdocca), Kathryn Hahn, Jim Gaffigan, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade, KeeganMichael Key, Brian Hull, Fran

Drescher, Brad Abrell, Asher Blinkoff, Richard “Ninja” Blevins, and Zoe Berri. In the film, Dracula and Johnny, who transformed into a human and monster, must find the way to South America to revert back, before their transformations become permanent.

Originally planned to be

released theatrically in the United States on October 1, 2021, Sony Pictures Releasing cancelled the film’s release plans and sold the film’s distribution rights to Amazon Studios for $100 million, due to rising cases of the SARSCoV-2 Delta variant in the United States.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

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PAGE 48

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

APNU+AFC officials charged...

From page 51 Giddings, Duncan was invited to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Upon his arrival, he was arrested and the allegation was put to him.

Duncan denied the allegations and was later released on $100,000 station bail and was subsequently brought before the court and charged under the Cybercrime Act. PENALTY Anyone who is found guilty of

'using a computer system to coerce, harass, intimidate, humiliate, etc., a person,' at the Magistrate's Court level, will be liable to a fine of $5M and three years' imprisonment.

If the matter is tried indictably and the person is found guilty of child pornography in the High Court, he/she will be liable to a fine of $10M and five years' imprisonment.

HISTORY Guyana's Cybercrime Bill

2016 was presented by the then Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams.

It was published on August 4, 2016. After the Bill was presented to the National Assembly, the proposed Section 18, 'Sedition,' had caused a public outcry.

However, on July 20, 2018, the Coalition Government used its majority to pass the Cybercrime Bill with an amendment expunging the controversial sedition clause.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

==CONSUMER CONCERNS==

By Pat Dial Recently there was a report in the media of the launching of a "Black Entrepreneurs Association" (BEA) under the chairmanship of Mr. Rowan Willabus, one of Guyana's outstanding ICT experts.

Before we go any further, we would like to point out that there is nothing racist about this Association. We do so because if there is any new Law, any new political party, any new institution or Association, with a kneejerk reaction, they are labelled 'racist' by a small but vocal element.

These labellings always emanate from political circles since some politicians feel that the easiest way they could get a

PAGE 49

BLACK ENTREPRENEURS ASSOCIATION PROGRESSING FORWARD

constituency is by talking "race" rather than dealing with issues. Among the main purveyors of this race discourse are broadcasters operating in the New York area and a few ordinary Guyanese folk.

Not to be misled, it is very necessary that ordinary Guyanese folk take time to analyse government and political parties' statements and policies and programmes of Associations and arrive at their own conclusions and never to take at face value, what others say or facile race abuse.

If, however, such institutions are found wanting after they begin to operate, they must be exposed.

The aims and policies of the Black Entrepreneurs Association as set out in their preliminary Report are constructive and could not be faulted. At random, we will state a few aims of the Association.

First, one of the primary aims of the Association is to be able to assist small businesses and start-ups in acquiring the funds which would help the business to move forward.

In this regard, the BEA has established a relationship with IPED, an institution which was founded by the late Dr. Yesu Persaud specifically to help aspirants to enter the business sector and to help small businesses to expand.

Lenders, even institutional

lenders like IPED, would however like to see some prior success in the small business that is borrowing and with start-ups, that the owner is knowledgeable about the venture he/she will be entering and is committed to making it a success in spite of the inevitable hurdles.

Association with BEA

would give confidence both to the lender and borrower.

Any business that would wish to be associated with BEA must be legally registered and satisfy all legal requirements.

The Association has been networking with AfroGuyanese organisations to find ways in which they

could cooperate to their mutual benefit.

It has also been developing contacts with organisations in Britain and North America which share similar vision, with the hope that in due course the link would grow stronger.

Ms. Melissa Varswyk, (Continued on page 50)

PAGE 50

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

BLACK ENTREPRENEURS...

From page 49 speaking on behalf of the Association, mentioned that one of the programmes would be to encourage members to own the premises in which they operate their businesses since such would be a great economy as they would avoid the burden of having to meet rental costs and amortize mortgages. She also encouraged those who could afford it, to invest in real estate.

Another important aspect of the BEA's activity is training. Members would be exposed to the workings of the Banking System, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Procurement Authority so as to be able to bid for projects as well as the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). Training would also be offered in other essential skills such as ICT. C h a i r m a n Wi l l a b u s iterated the philosophy on which the BEA rested: 'All

groups and races in Guyana are interdependent and inextricably bound together and if any one prospers, all will benefit, and accordingly, the BEA could not be narrowly partisan or adversarial to any other and looks forward to cooperation and friendship with all.

Another important facet of BEA's philosophy is that wealth is not only for consumption but for use in generating wealth and employment.'

Guyanese should allow organisations such as the Black Entrepreneurs Association (BEA), Local Content Law or the National Resource Fund (NRF) to be operational, then assess their impact before being dismissive or derogatory.

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

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 51

More children succumbing to COVID-19 since...

From page 36 were five deaths, between January 17 and 18. On January 17 the deaths were those of a 78-year-old man from Region 1 whose vaccination status is unknown, a 44-year-old woman from Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region 10) and two men – a 23-yearold, whose vaccination status is unknown, and an unvaccinated 42-year-old, both from Region 4. A fully vaccinated 53-year-old man, also from Region 4, passed away the following day.

Apart from reporting that there were 743 new cases, the Ministry on January 19 revealed that seven more persons had succumbed between January 14 and 19.

On January 14 a four-monthold unvaccinated girl from Region 6 died.

On January 18, the

deaths included a 60-yearold man from Region 10, whose vaccination status is unknown, a 68-year-old fully vaccinated woman and two partially vaccinated women, ages 62 and 63, all from Region 4.

Then on January 19, a 63year-old man also from Region 4, whose vaccination status is unknown died as did a 60-year-old man from Region 10 whose vaccination status is also unknown.

The Ministry made it known on January 20 that there were 815 new cases and three more deaths that were recorded between January 18 and 19.

The deaths of January 18 were of a 75-year-old unvaccinated woman from U p p e r Ta k u t u - U p p e r Essequibo (Region 9) while on January 19, a nine-year-

old unvaccinated boy from Region 6 and a 60-year-old man, whose vaccination status is not known, died.

On January 21, there were 892 new cases along with a whopping 11 deaths which were recorded between January 19 and 21, 2022. On January 19, an 86-year-old man from Region 1, whose vaccination status is unknown, died while on January 20, three women from Region 4 – a 59-yearold and 79-year-old with unknown vaccination status, and an unvaccinated 54-year-old, and a 79-yearold partially vaccinated man from Region 10 passed away.

The following day, January 21, the deaths included an unvaccinated 47-year-old man from Region 3, two unvaccinated women, a 55year-old and a 93-year-old,

both from Region 4; two women, a 74-year-old and an 84-year-old, whose vaccination status is not known, and an 87-year-old man from Region 4, whose vaccination is also not known.

On Friday too, the total

number of confirmed cases was 55,628 with 19 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 160 in institutional isolation, 12,314 in home isolation and 15 in institutional quarantine.

To date, a total of 42,013

persons have recovered from the virus.

Given the prevailing COVID-19 situation, we at this publication take this opportunity to encourage you to take every precaution to safeguard yourself and loved ones as far as possible.

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 52

Androclus and the Lion

Junior page Dinosaur Night Lights Supplies ·16- ounce plastic mason jar with lid ·Plastic plants/trees ·Small rocks ·Sand ·Flat glass marbles ·Moss ·Plastic dinosaurs ·Submersible candle lights

by James Baldwin In Rome there was once a poor slave whose name was Androclus. His master was a cruel man, and so unkind to him that at last Androclus ran away.

He hid himself in a wild wood for many days; but there was no food to be found, and he grew so weak and sick that he thought he should die. So one day he crept into a cave and lay down, and soon he was fast asleep.

After a while a great noise woke him up. A lion had come into the cave, and w a s r o a r i n g l o u d l y.

Androclus was very much afraid, for he felt sure that the beast would kill him. Soon, however, he saw that the lion was not angry, but that he limped as though his foot hurt him.

Then Androclus grew so bold that he took hold of the lion's lame paw to see what was the matter. The lion stood quite still, and rubbed his head against the man's shoulder. He seemed to say,-"I know that you will help me."

Androclus lifted the paw from the ground, and saw that it was a long, sharp thorn which hurt the lion so much.

He took the end of the thorn in his fingers; then he gave a strong, quick pull, and out it came. The lion was full of joy. He jumped about like a dog, and licked the hands and feet of his new friend.

Androclus was not at all afraid after this; and when night came, he and the lion lay down and slept side by side.

For a long time, the lion brought food to Androclus every day; and the two became such good friends, that Androclus found his new life a very happy one.

One day some soldiers who were passing through the wood found Androclus in the cave. They knew who he was, and so took him back to Rome.

It was the law at that time that every slave who ran away from his master should be made to fight a hungry lion. So a fierce lion was shut up for a while without food, and a time was set for the fight.

When the day came, thousands of people crowded to see the sport. They went to such places at that time very much as people now-a-days go to see a circus show or a game of baseball.

The door opened, and poor Androclus was brought in. He was almost dead with fear, for the roars of the lion could already be heard. He looked up, and saw that there was no pity in the thousands of faces around him.

Then the hungry lion rushed in. With a single bound he reached the poor slave. Androclus gave a great cry, not of fear, but of gladness. It was his old friend, the lion of the cave.

The people, who had expected to see the man killed by the lion, were filled with wonder.

They saw Androclus put his arms around the lion's neck; they saw the lion lie down at his feet, and lick them lovingly; they saw the great beast rub his head against the slave's face as though he wanted to be petted. They could not understand what it all meant.

Maze for days

FUN WITH POETRY

Food that is best for you

by Uncle Roy Sometimes my Mommy cooks some food, That I don't like to eat; But then she tells me that they're good For my brains and bones and teeth.

Pumpkin, squash and boulanger Are all filled with vitamins, And so are bora and kalaloo, We would be so weak without them.

So now I try to eat it all, Though some are hard to swallow, Because my mother knows what's good, And all that I need to grow.

Craft tools * Hot glue gun * E6000 glue * Scissors Instructions 1. Turn the moss upside down and trace the mason jar lid with a black marker. Cut out the moss circle.

2. Cut a strip wide enough to cover the band of the jar lid.

3. Use hot glue to attach the moss to the lid.

4. Turn the lid upside down and use E6000 glue to attach the submersible light to the inside of the lid.

Hot glue will not hold as well. Allow to dry completely.

by Uncle Roy

5. Add sand to the jar first.

6.Place flat glass marbles, rocks, plants, and dinosaurs inside the jar to create a terrarium. Add moss for a natural look.

7. Place the lid onto the jar.

8. Glue a few rocks and a dinosaur to the top of the jar lid.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

TEEN TIME Keep on the road to Perfection by making Self-improvement a continuous process in your life We continue with the steps in your effort to make the best of your life. Try to think deeply of each one and how you can incorporate it into your personality.

6. Try to improve your work in some way every single day, even in the smallest manner. Little by little this while show great progress over time, as well as make the most of your time.

Also, always concentrate on what you are doing so as to get the most benefit form it.

7. Try to get up early every day. You will find that by doing this you will not only feel better physically and emotionally, but your

day will become more and more sufficient for all the things you have to do.

When you think about the certain effects in all you have to do during the next

day, this will encourage to rise early.

8. Whether you practise a religion or not, remember that you can do much more with the help of God. Take some time for prayer every day, and your life will become more fulfilled and

productive. You will also experience peace and hope for what is best as you go about your daily activities.

9. Eat the right foods, so that your body is properly

nourished with all it requires to grow and perform its functions more efficiently.

Teenagers tend to like fatty foods, which add unnecessary weight to your body, block proper digestion and retard brain function.

Try to determine the right

food to eat, not by what you like, as most children tend to do, but what is best for your body.

10. Act in such a way as to be an example to those who may be looking up to you. I am sure you can identify younger persons in your family and neighbourhood, and some related to you or your friends, who are looking to you for some guidance.

If in no other way, you can just be an example in proper behaviour to them, and this can go a long way in helping them, as well as get to add more value to your own life.

Look out for more of these tips in the next issues.

PAGE 53

Chart your Course Is there a ship that goes to sea That has no stated port of call, Without a means of staying on course, Where wind and tide dictate and chance befall?

Is there a bird or fish or beast That has no purpose to its being?

Nay, each is counted and serves its aim, In the Good Lord's reckoning.

Why then should a man live on this earth With no set goals to meet, To pitch and toss in the sea of fate, And thus end his life in defeat?

A life thus lived is worth much less Than any of God's dumb creations, If man should claim a higher destiny, He must seek his given mission.

by Roy Paul So each of us need take the time To form the goals we cherish, To give true meaning to our lives, And thus gain fulfillment and happiness.

Strive to be the best you can be by working to be better in all areas of your life.

TELL IT TO UNCLE ROY I would like to inform our readers that the Uncle Roy email address is temporarily unavailable. So please send any contributions you would like to make to this page to roypaul2002@yahoo.com

Solutions to last week’s Cows and cacti

Inkies

Fill in the blank squares so that each row and each column contain all of the digits 1 thru 5.

The heavy lines indicate areas (called cages) that contain groups of numbers that can be combined (in any order) to produce the result shown in the cage, with the

indicated math operation. For example, 12× means you can multiply the values together to produce 12.© 2017 KrazyDad.com Numbers in cages may repeat, as long as they are not in t h e s a m e r o w o r c o l u m n .

Jigsaw sudoku Slitherlink

PAGE 54

Tips for Healthy Teeth & Gums 1. BRUSH YOUR TEETH TWICE A DAY FOR TWO MINUTES EACH TIME. Keeping your teeth clean and healthy begins with regular maintenance. Brushing for two minutes at a time twice a day, known as the 2x2 rule, will help to keep plaque at bay. Patients with children should introduce this concept early, and find ways to make it fun. You can play a song while they're brushing, or use a timer to know when two full minutes have passed. To make it easier to clean every tooth, try to spend 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth (upper right side, upper left side, lower right side, lower left side). Using the right techniques are important to ensure the teeth are being cleaned properly and you aren't damaging the soft tissue around them. Using small circular motions, angle the head of the brush towards the gums. Be sure to clean all surfaces, as well as along the gum line, both on the fronts and backs of your teeth. Some patients find using an electric toothbrush helps as well.

2. FLOSS DAILY. It's recommended to floss every night before brushing to remove anything your toothbrush is unable to dislodge. Many patients admit to skipping this step, but it is an important part of a healthy routine. If you only brush and decide you don't need to floss, small particles of food and other deposits that are missed by your toothbrush can eventually develop into decay. To avoid this, make sure you take two minutes a day to add flossing to your routine. When you first start flossing, it may cause sensitive gums to hurt. This is natural and will stop once you've been flossing for a couple days. When flossing, make sure you slide it up and down along the whole tooth. Don't ignore tight spaces, this is one of the most important places to floss as your toothbrush can't reach these areas.

3. REPLACE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH AT THE SIGNS OF WEAR. As a general rule, changing it about every 3 to 6 months should keep it in shape to clean your teeth properly. Damaged or frayed toothbrushes can't clean the surface of your teeth correctly and can cause damage to your gums. Replacing your toothbrush often also allows you to help keep it clean. Always rinse your toothbrush well and store it so it can dry. Remember to replace your toothbrush if you've been sick to prevent bacteria from being re-introduced into your mouth.

4. VISIT YOUR DENTIST EVERY SIX MONTHS. Your dentist will be able to prevent issues before they start, or at least to catch them early, if you have regular dental appointments. Regular visits also allow your teeth to get a thorough professional cleaning twice a year, removing any buildup of plaque and tartar, which helps to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

5. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY DIET. Avoiding sweetened foods (such as pop, sports drinks, and candy) as well as including foods high in calcium will help to support strong and healthy teeth. As a side benefit, your body will thank you too! Some foods that will help to strengthen your teeth include leafy greens, almonds, yogurt, and cheese. Speak to your dentist for recommendations of foods that will help keep your teeth strong for years to come.

6. USE DENTAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Brushing and flossing are key to preventive dental health, but you can help keep your teeth in top condition by incorporating supplemental aids into your routine as well. Examples of these products include mouthwash, oral irrigators, interdental cleaners, and tongue cleaners. These aids can help support good oral health and should be used in conjunction with (not instead of) regular brushing and flossing.

7. KEEP HYDRATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. Sufficient hydration is not only good for your overall health, but being hydrated also helps maintain a healthy saliva flow.

Saliva aids in dental health by moving food particles through your mouth, preventing most of them from lodging in your teeth where bacteria can grow. It also helps to keep your mouth comfortable and moist.

8. DON'T SMOKE. Smoking causes superficial concerns, such as tooth staining, as well as severe health issues like gum (periodontal) disease which can lead to tooth loss, and oral cancer, among other issues. One of the best things you could do for your oral and overall health is to quit smoking immediately.

9. CONSIDER DENTAL SEALANTS. Dental sealant fills the depressions and grooves (fissures) of your molars and premolars, helping to protect your teeth from cavities and plaque. Most people can benefit from sealants, but children and teens are good candidates as they often don't brush as well as adults, leading to a higher rate of cavities. https://www.countryhillsdentistry.ca/site/kitchener-dentistblog/2019/11/12/10-dental-hygiene-tips-for-healthy-teeth-gums

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

PAGE 55

EPA quietly amends permit for Liza Phase Two project The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) appears to have quietly amended and uploaded to its website, the permit for ExxonMobil’s Liza Phase Tw o P r o j e c t . B u t a n examination of the modifications revealed that the regulator has missed, yet again, another golden opportunity to hold the parent companies of the Stabroek Block Project, liable for any oil spills.

According to the section of the permit titled “Liability for Pollution Damage”, the permit holder which is ExxonMobils subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), shall have insurance of such type and in such amount as is customary in the international petroleum industry in accordance with good oil field practices for Petroleum Operations in progress offshore Guyana. This is in respect of the following: loss or damage to all assets used in the project; pollution caused in the course of the project for which EEPGL will be jointly and severally held responsible; loss or damage to property or bodily injury suffered by any third party in the course of the project for which EEPGL is liable according to the terms of the policy.

The EPA further notes that it shall reserve the right to request and review the environmental liability insurance policy while adding that such review is subject to the following: the provision of documentary evidence that the insurer is

- still fails to hold parent companies liable for oil spills

The Liza Unity FPSO which will be used at the Liza Phase Two project. The vessel will develop approximately 600 million barrels of oil over its 20-year life cycle.

authorised to provide the insurance in the jurisdiction and to provide evidence of the insurers financial strength; the provision of details of the amount of cover and the cost profile, evidence of authorisation of the institution or parent (insurers) to provide insurance as well as, evidence of any supplementary cover required to cover gaps in the primary cover, inclusive of details relevant to the excess level which is the responsibility of the policyholder to cover.

It is also expected to include an agreement to provide notification to the E PA o f m o d i f i c a t i o n , cancellation, expiration, intent to renew, renewal or

non-renewal, and expiry dates of the policy; the provision of reports on whether the insurance policy is maintained or renewed so that the EPA can determine if it is acceptable or if it requires a replacement policy; and the provision of the final insurance policy or certificate of insurance, evidence of financial strength and payment of premium.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e document goes on to state that the Permit Holder, his Servants and/or Agents shall be liable jointly and/or severally for any gross negligence or willful misconduct to the marine environment, biodiversity, protected species and natural habitat with respect to any

release or discharge, spill, contaminant fluids, oil or lubricants from fuel storage at any facilities permitted under this project.

It notes too that only the Permit Holder, his Servants and/or Agents shall be liable jointly and/or severally for environmental damage due to pollution from its activities within Guyana, its territorial waters, contiguous zones, continental margins, continental shelf, and Exclusive Economic Zone, inclusive of damage to the marine environment,

biodiversity, protected species and natural habitat with respect to any release or discharge, spill, or contamination which is attributable to the Permit Holder and his agents or contractors.

Earlier this week, Kaieteur News made several efforts to contact EPA Head, Kemraj Parsram to ascertain why no provisions were made to tie the parent companies to full coverage insurance but those efforts were not successful.

Since 2015, ExxonMobil

Corporation, the parent company of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, has steered clear of being tied to full coverage insurance for its Stabroek Block projects, which are certain to deliver multi-billion dollar profits on an annual basis.

Instead, it has placed only its subsidiary (EEPGL) on the hook if such an eventuality occurs offshore.

This is the state of affairs with its Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two and Payara Projects.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 56

Sunday January 23, 2022

3 courageous Guyanese women file legal challenge against EPA to stop Exxon’s flaring - asks High Court to order independent expert probe into company’s compliance with manufacturer’s standards for operating oil vessel

T

hree courageous G u y a n e s e women, Sinkka Henry, Sherlina Nageer and Andriska Thorington, through their attorneys-atlaw Melinda Janki and Ronald Burch-Smith, have filed a case against Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to put a stop to flaring by ExxonMobil.

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, an offshore company wholly owned by ExxonMobil, has been flaring associated gas almost continuously since it began production in December 2019, despite undertaking to reinject the associated gas, not flare it. In May 2021 after ExxonMobil had flared billions of cubic feet of associated gas, the Environmental Protection Agency purported to modify Esso’s permit to allow it to flare gas in exchange for a US$45 fee per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent.

The litigants are contending that the agency’s decision to modify Esso’s environmental permit to allow flaring was irrational and unlawful and that it should be quashed by the court. They also argue that the agency breached the Environmental Protection Act Cap. 20:05 by purporting to allow Esso to

Sherlina Nageer and Attorney-at-law, Ronald Burch-Smith.

International Lawyer, Melinda Janki (left) and UG lecturer Sinkka Henry. flare in return for paying a fee.

According to Henry, a lecturer at the University of Guyana, “ExxonMobil started production in December 2019. In January 2020, we first began to hear from fishermen that ExxonMobil was flaring.

ExxonMobil didn’t tell us to begin with. Then we heard that they were flaring billions of cubic feet of natural gas. People protested. ExxonMobil told us they had to flare because their gas compressor wasn’t working. For more than two years ExxonMobil has been

using faulty equipment, flaring and making climate change worse and putting toxins into the air.”

Nageer, another litigant on the case, dismissed ExxonMobil’s performance, saying it is characterised by “lies, and more lies—that is Exxon’s hallmark.

They lied to the American people for decades about the reality of climate change and they have lied to the people of Guyana for almost two years now about the amount of flaring going on at their Liza Phase 1 operations.” Nageer pointed out that ExxonMobil lobbyist, Keith McCoy, had confirmed that ExxonMobil spent millions funding groups that denied and discredited climate science.

She also warned about the secrecy and lack of regulation around ExxonMobil’s operations, saying, “The fact is that

Guyanese have no way of knowing how much gas is actually being flared by Exxon. Not only do we lack the technical capacity to conduct independent verification, we are also hobbled by a government and ‘regulators’ who care more about short term monetary gains than actually protecting the environment and preventing long term damage. Flaring is harmful to the environment.”

The litigants have asked for orders directing the agency to provide reports on the amount of gas flared, and the toxins released. They are also asking for an independent and expert investigation into Esso’s compliance with manufacturer’s standards for operating its gas compressor.

Thorington, the third litigant, and currently a student at the University of

Guyana, urged other young people in Guyana to stand up for themselves, “As a young person I cannot stand by and watch my future burn up. Young people everywhere are acting to stop oil and gas

UG student, Andriska Thorington from destroying the planet. I call on young people in Guyana to question this oil and gas and all the propaganda about jobs and money and benefits. The youth should be mindful of the fact that the purported

money and benefits will cease to matter if our environment is destroyed.”

The deadly impacts of oil and gas production on the climate and the ocean are e v i d e n c e d b y unchallengeable scientific data. Last year the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group 1 report on the physical science basis (the sixth assessment report) was a ‘code red’ for humanity. Yet, politicians continue to put profit above people and planet.

According to Nageer, there is simply no political will among Guyanese politicians to hold Exxon accountable. “So it’s up to we the people—those of us who aren’t beholden to oil or money or politricks, who can see the long term planetary picture, the negative effects of extractivism and oil on life, health, and well-being, to take a stand and demand accountability and a change...”

Kaieteur News

Felicia Ally

Sunday January 23, 2022

This week's beauty is the captivating Felicia Ally who represented Guyana at the Miss Supranational 2021 which was held in Poland.

Kaieteur News wishes her all the best in her endeavours.

PAGE 57

Kaieteur News

PAGE 58

Sunday January 23, 2022

Business icon Dr. Yesu Persaud laid to rest

I

nconsolable family members of Dr. Yesu Persaud on Saturday laid the business icon to rest, following an emotional ceremony which saw the attendance of several high ranking members of society, including the Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali. Persaud died on Monday at the age of 93, after a period of illness.

The funeral service took place at his former Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara home.

Before proceeding to the cremation site, the body of the late businessman was taken to the Demerara Bank i n G e o rg e t o w n w h e r e employees of the institution had lined up to also pay their final respects to Dr. Persaud, who was the brain behind the formation of the Bank, which started in 1994.

One of the late philanthropist’s daughters, during the funeral ceremony, reflected on the life of the

icon by sharing mostly fond and happy memories of the gentleman.

Also, Susan Persaud, his daughter-in-law, wrote in her final good-bye message, read by one of the businessman’s daughters, “I will always remember my father-in-law as a vibrant man with an amazing twinkle in his eye, always smiling and quick to laugh.

He was so affectionate and such fun for my daughters…they remember his super tight hugs…their grandpa always advised them to choose a path and stick with it.”

Meanwhile, another relative of the late business tycoon reflected, “One of my fondest memories of Dr. Yesu was at breakfast time. I would enjoy having conversations with him about all sorts of different things. I could ask him any question on any subject and he would have an answer…he will always be in my thoughts, he made me

The casket of the late business icon, Dr. Yesu Persaud (inset) being carried by his loved ones during the funeral ceremony on Saturday. a better man.”

President Ali during remarks at the ceremony spoke of the legacy of Dr. Persaud, whom he said has been an inspiration to him.

“As President, his examples in life are an inspiration and motivation to

me to serve people with humility, simplicity and to do so to the best of my ability. He was never short of advice for me. He was very strong in his conviction about national unity. He was very strong in his conviction about the rule of law. He was

very strong in his conviction for culture and religion, and he was strong in his conviction that we could do better for Guyana,” Ali remembered.

T h e b u s i n e s s m a n ’s funeral ceremony was also attended by his former

colleagues in the private sector, as well as the Minister of Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, and India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, among several others.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

Interesting Creature…

PAGE 59

Tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba)

The tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) is a small species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad, and every mainland South American country.

Description The tropical screech owl is polymorphic, with much variation in colour. It is overall grey-brown or (less commonly) brown or rufous, but always with a relatively distinctive blackish edge to the face and yellow irides. Its undersides are pale with a black "herringbone" pattern.

The subspecies differ in the intensity of the colours and

the amount of black markings on the upper- and underparts. Adults are 21 to 23 cm (8.3 to 9.1 in) long and weigh 97 to 160 g (3.4 to 5.6 oz).

Behavior and ecology Feeding The tropical screech owl is nocturnal. It forages by sallying from a low perch to capture prey on the ground, from branches, or in the air.

Its diet is large arthropods and small vertebrates. The former include worms, scorpions, spiders, and a large variety of insects.

Vertebrate prey includes frogs, other birds, bats, and

rodents.

Breeding The tropical screech owl's breeding phenology has not been well studied.

South of the Equator, the breeding season appears to start in August. The species nests in holes such as natural cavities, old woodpecker holes, and nest boxes. The clutch size is usually one to three but can be as large as six. Adults defend the nest with "fluffing" displays and aggressive moves that may extend to striking humans with their claws.

Vocalisation The tropical screech

owl's primary song is "short, purring trill, followed by two accentuated clear notes". The female's song is similar to the male's but higher pitched. A secondary, courtship, song is "a bubbling bububúbubu".

They also produce "a variety of cackles and longer hooting notes".

Status The IUCN has assessed the tropical screech owl as being of Least Concern. It is common in much of its large range, and deforestation may actually benefit it because it provides the more open habitat it frequents.

(Source: Wikipedia)

>>> Image saved as owl

Sunday January 23, 2022

PAGE 60

Cease oil production until Exxon agrees to...

From page 14 shouted for change to be effected.As vehicles joined the protest, a few protestors seized the opportunity to air their frustrations regarding the “deal” Guyana signed with ExxonMobil.

Gary Morris, a man who lost one of his legs in an accident, told this newspaper that he needs to be respected, as well as the rest of Guyana.

He feels that the contract was not only disrespectful to Guyanese, but also wholly unacceptable.

“I need my rights. We all are citizens of Guyana and nobody can't take we oil and we ain't getting nothing

(much) out of it,” the gentleman argued.

According to him, the contracts should be renegotiated so that the profits can be shared “half and half” between Guyana and Exxon.

“If them do that, you know how much they will be able to do for we Guyanese citizens? We need to get up in life, each and every one of the Guyanese people. We want we 50 percent oil money,” he added.

In this regard, the activist called on the rest of Guyana to join the protest against the “exploitative” contract. He was keen to note that the

protest should continue and if Exxon refuses to change the provisions in the oil contracts, then production must cease.

Meanwhile, another protestor, who gave his name only as Anoop, said he is a resident of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara. He told this publication that ExxonMobil should be giving Guyana more than it currently is, especially since, according to him, Guyana's fisheries sector has been tremendously impacted because of their operations.

He also made reference to the fact that ExxonMobil has not offered Guyana any

insurance in the event of an oil spill, as he explained the need for more profits to benefit the country.

Carmen, from Berbice said, “we are out here because we looking for a better future for Guyana because what they (government) promised us, we don't have, so we people in Guyana are suffering more. We have oil but it's not benefitting the Guyanese, and we have single parents and expect more for our people.” The woman was keen to note that she has never supported a specific political party, but stands in solidarity with the call for

more benefits to Guyanese.

Devika, a protestor from Cumberland, Berbice told Kaieteur News, “We are punishing a lot because they are not giving us what we are supposed to be getting. We supposed to benefit more than what they are giving us.

They are drawing so much oil from us and we aren't getting nothing (much) from it,” she reasoned.

Police interruption Just as the protestors were leaving the Square of the Revolution, ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) ordered that the driver and leader of the procession head to the East La Penitence

Station, pending a charge for “loud and continuous noise” due to the Public Address (PA) system that was being used during the protest.

Two KN staff members were in police custody but were subsequently released on their own recognizance.

The protest action, the second in a series, was organised by a group of patriotic Guyanese, including publisher of this newspaper, Glenn Lall, who is pushing to achieve more f o r t h e c o u n t r y. O n Wednesday, the protestors gathered at Houston, East Bank Demerara to protest the ExxonMobil contract.

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

Oil money will be used for budget...

From page 43 explained that with the PPP/C administrations mechanisms, it will leave more funds in the domestic market available for private sector lending.

Also, Jagdeo assured that there will be no upward pressure on the interest rates. In fact, he stated that the banks will have to be a bit more aggressive seeking out people to lend to, since the banks do not have an easy way of lending money to the government.

“So part of that is, when I spoke about this element of

sustainability, I don't want to get complex with it but that is part of the sustainability,” the Vice President said, before noting that this is a part of the government's plan to use part of the oil and gas proceeds to finance the deficits.

According to the Vice President, these measures will create financial stability – thus putting back more monies into the pockets of citizens – creating disposable income.

Jagdeo said too that the early measures by the

government in 2020, when the first budget was announced along with the removal of several taxes, has led to citizens paying about $40 million less in taxes.

In closing, the Vice President noted that while he is unable to give all the details of budget 2022, which will be presented on Wednesday, he can explain the framework of the budget and share what was in the head of the policy makers as they work on creating the new budget.

PAGE 61

Steel rod which impaled pedal cyclist...

From page 12 East Bank Demerara home from bible class with a friend.

The friend, Brenton Rodney, recalled that he was riding a short distance ahead of Ponton when he heard a loud noise. He said that when he turned around Ponton was nowhere to be seen.

Rodney said that he called out for Ponton but got no response. As a result, Rodney said that he dismounted his bicycle and walked back to see where his friend was, only to realise that he had fallen into the c u l v e r t .

He found Ponton in an upright position with a steel

rod protruding from his nose. Rodney related that he then alerted Ponton's relatives before calling an ambulance.

The police were also alerted. When the ambulance arrived, medical professionals pronounced Ponton dead and his body was removed from the culvert and placed on the roadway as police awaited its removal by undertakers.

Family members of the deceased noted that the culvert was left unfinished by a construction company.

It is believed that Ponton, a father of two, rode onto a pave and accidently fell into the culvert causing him to be

impaled by the protruding steel rod.

However, the man's family members are of the belief that the company that left the culvert unfinished should be held responsible since there were no warning signs at the location.

Inspector in charge of traffic for Police Regional Division 4'B', Maniram Jagnanan related to Kaieteur News that to his knowledge there was no construction company erecting the culvert.

He noted, however, that further investigations, which are currently ongoing, should help police ascertain who is at fault.

PAGE 62 VACANCY

Experienced Sales Girl. Apply in person at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.

Vacancy exists for one Operations Manager to work at a hotel on the Essequibo Coast.Contact:653-6750.

SERVICES

WANTED

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

Porters & Salesgirls.Apply at Best Buy Food Supplies with written application at 1E Dennis C Middleton St Camp bellville Georgetown.

Repairs at affordable prices: Fridge,Air conditioner, Washing machines, Dryers, TV, Microwaves & Freezer. Call: 6105846 or 661-8158.

Wanted experience taxi driver at Princess Hotel. Contact:616-5419,265-7075,2657076.

One plane operator & one woodmizer operator. Tel: 2642524/624-7088.

Wanted Bus Driver. Contact:698-6205.

FOR RENT 1 bedroom apartment,self contain fully grilled in Grove E.B.D preferable couple.

Tel:618-8878.

2 bedroom apartment, Betterhope E.C.D $55,000 between 8am-5pm. Tel:6173001.

Bobby’s Reality,for Sale or rent, good for business– 4.018 acres of prime land in New Amsterdam, Berbice. Reduce Price.Call 679-2497.

Bobby’s Reality,Large Property with Huge Concrete Bond, Prime Location Cumberland, Canje. Ideal for Business. Sale or rent. Reduce Price.Call 679-2497.

Fully 3 bedroom furnish apartment located in UG & Supermarkets to rent $100, 000 per month. Tel:685-9127.

Well appointed 5 bedroom concrete house near main road Eccles,A/C,water,self contained rooms etc.

Tel:609-7103.

FOR SALE Pure breed German Shepherd Pups black & tan and whiteline,vaccinated and dewormed.Contact:665-9140.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Sale! South Central Hotel.218 South Road Georgetown 6,710 feet first,second floor.Tel:697-6572,686-0444.

Houselot for sale in Culvert City Lethem,2M Neg near Airport & ball field.Tel:658-3303.

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

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

Live in waitress 18-25 years, salary $22,000 weekly.

Tel:610-3974.

Experienced Jet+ Marack men to work in the interior and 1 male cook.Tel:684-1030.

Live-in couple for tourism resort, Essequibo River. Female must have housekeeping and cooking experience Male must be experienced power boat captain and do general maintenance including grasscutting.

Tel: 2260240.

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

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

Kitchen assistant & counter attendants,salary $15,000 wkly.Drop application to German's Restaurant lot 8 New Market St North Cummingsburg G/Town.

Teachers for Grade 4 & 5.Submit email educationgy 3@gmail.com.

Maintenance guy,Laundry Attendant & Receptionist,30-45 yrs old.233 South Road Lacytown.Tel:2250198.

Vacancy exists for Counter Attendant @Dian's Deli opposite Kitty market.Tel:2253700/621-7862.

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

PM Shift Supermarket cashiers,math & eng required. To HR dept Survival Shopping Complex,173 Sheriff St.Tel:609-2995.

Accounts Clerk.Quickbooks knowledge & accounting experience. To HR dept Survival Shopping Complex,173 Sheriff St.Tel:609-2995.

ANUG warns Govt. of dangers...

From page 13 Ministry of Health that only those persons who are hospitalised or those in environments susceptible to the Coronavirus will receive the more effective PCR test, the party said that this measure should be revised.

“PCR testing is the gold standard for identifying positive COVID-19 cases worldwide. ANUG is calling on the Ministry of Health to ensure that this service is available for all persons who may need it. Antigen testing is only ef-

Porters/Bond Clerks.Basic reading and writing skills.To HR dept Survival Shopping Complex,173 Sheriff St. Tel: 609-2995.

Western Union CSRS. Experience will be a plus.To HR dept Survival Shopping Complex,173 Sheriff St. Tel:6092995.

LAND FOR SALE Transported corner lot 190 Garnett & Republic St. Tel:622-6000.

Vacancy for porters.Apply in person at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St,Bourda.

One salesman,able bodied porters.Experience in writing bills,stocktaking & cashing.

Keyfood Trading,Mc Doom village.

PENPAL An indian male seeking a female age between 35-40 for relationship,must be loving, kind and honest. Call: 6754517.

fective if the tests procured are of highest standard, if their storage is as per their maker's instructions and if they are done by adequately trained personnel at the correct time,” the political body outlined.

Earlier this week, the Ministry said it would be using more Rapid Antigen Tests for persons who have been in contact with persons who tested positive and are displaying symptoms. The Minister reportedly informed that the Rapid Antigen tests are 78 percent accurate in detecting positive cases and 98.3 percent effective in ruling out negative cases.

In this regard, ANUG noted that due to the lack of general knowledge in the population on when to get tested effectively, their mistrust of the Antigen tests and all the other variables, the number of false negatives may be higher than normal, if solely reliant on Antigen test-

ing.

“This coupled with the pronouncement of the Minister to self-isolate without getting tested if non symptomatic, can lead to an increased number of infections in the country with persons being ignorant of their true status thus mixing and mingling with others and possibly increasing the spread of this illness,” according to ANUG. The body was keen to note that adequate testing is necessary for the effective diagnosis and recording of the health situation regarding COVID-19.

It commended the government for its efforts in the vaccination campaign as well as its achievements on testing thus far.

The party in the same breath called on the administration to not decrease testing, a decision which may be used to hide the true daily positive cases.

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 63

PAGE 64

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

Govt Chief Whip says “gross misconduct” by Opposition....

From page 3 two Opposition MPs. To this end, she noted that what was not shown on camera is when another MP reportedly damaged the control room at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) where Parliament was held and when a Parliamentary staff was assaulted verbally and physically.

As such she noted that one of three measures can be taken to handle the matter. “We have a number of options open to us…the Speaker can call on a Minister of Government to call for the suspension of X number of members. The Speaker can also be willing that the matter go to the privilege committee which he chairs, and the government in its

own right can go to the Speaker in the Assembly and call for X member to go to the privilege committee,” she explained.

The Minister noted that on Monday, one of the aforementioned measures will be invoked in the N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y. S h e highlighted the power the Speaker has in accordance with the Standing Orders and condemned the behaviour of the Opposition MPs. Moreover, she added that the actions of Parliament do not preclude the actions of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). “The police may or may not take in…what damage was done to public property; the Mace is public property, the control room is public property and of course the assault

on a member of staff,” Teixeira noted. She said too that those are issues the police would have an interest in and they will determine what actions they can take.

Kaieteur News had reported that Chief Whip for the Parliamentary Opposition, Christopher Jones was first to lead the charge for a stay of the debate as he recalled the criticisms the Bill faced from various quarters since being tabled in the House on December 16, 2021. However, the Speaker refused to allow Jones' petition to go through as he instructed him to save his words for when the debate gets underway.

After the Opposition MPs started protesting it was then elevated to members circling the

Finance Minister as they continued their wailing with the intention to drown the sound of his voice. Some opposition members even crowed the podium where the Minister stood as they screamed, whistled and howled at him.

Despite some members throwing themselves into a fit of anger or frustration and one even attempting to make good her escape with the Speaker's mace, Dr. Singh still pushed through and delivered his presentation on the importance of the Bill. After a notably short speech, the Speaker then rushed the consideration of the entire Bill's clauses simultaneously and moved for a vote. The government members all gave their stamp of approval and the Bill which was

expected to see 21 speakers was passed with all of its troubling flaws.

Additionally, since the Bill was tabled on December 16, Kaieteur News has been at the forefront of highlighting some of the key loopholes that could give way to massive corruption, borrowing frenzies, as well as spending sprees.

In the Bill, there are various methods of calculations for the withdrawal of the nation's oil dollars. But if there is a major natural disaster, the government has the power to override those rules in place and withdraw any amount it deems fit for the said emergency. Importantly, there is no provision that caters for any abuse of this “emergency” mechanism.

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 65

PAGE 66

Afcon 2021: Covid hits Comoros...

From page 67 player from the team must replace the goalkeeper, provided the total number of available players is at least 11.

“In exceptional cases, the Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations will take the appropriate decision.”

Comoros will hope the injury suffered by Ben Boina could be considered an exceptional case, given the keeper had to leave the field after a

Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

red-card challenge by Ghana captain Andre Ayew in Tuesday’s Group C tie.

The islanders shocked the four-time champions, winning 3-2 to eliminate the Black Stars and take them into the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed sides.

Comoros’ game with Cameroon will be shown liveon BBC Sport on Monday.

The absence of coach Abdou will be a major loss to

the side as he is the driving force and inspiration behind their success, having engineered a wholesale overhaul in the minnows’ fortunes since taking charge in 2014.

Standing in their way of a surprise run to the quarter-finals are African heavyweights Cameroon, who have been in good form so far, with captain Vincent Aboubakar boasting five goals from the three group games.

Four matches to get four wickets’...

From page 72 she has entered in her career.

“It’s a great feeling to be named in the ICC ODI Team of the Year last year,” Mohammed said.

“And that’s definitely inspiration to go forward and try to make it into this year’s team as well.

To be honest, I’m just trying to enjoy my cricket. As you know, I’m coming to the latter part of my career, so I’ve been trying to enjoy whatever is left of my career.

“I’ll be 34 this year.

I don’t know how long I have, but I just really want to make sure that when I leave cricket or when I retire, I have a good memory of West Indies cricket and representing West Indies.”

West Indies were not among the five teams to earn direct qualification to the ODI

World Cup but made the cut based on rankings in the wake of the pandemic-enforced cancellation of the global qualifier.

They will fancy their chances against South Africa, who will be missing their designated captain and premier legspin-bowling allrounder Dane van Niekerk through an injury.

“That’s a big blow for South Africa.

And it’s never nice when you have an injury,” Mohammed said.

“But if you’re looking at winning and losing, I think that’s an advantage for us because, as we know, she’s a key player for the South Africa team, not just in her batting and bowling but also her leadership qualities.

And I think that we have to take full advantage of that

- of her not being here.

But having said that, I would like to wish her a speedy recovery.”

Mohammed, for her part, will spearhead an attack bolstered by the addition of the experienced legspinner Afy Fletcher in their 18-member squad.

“We’re really excited for Afy. It’s nice having her back,” Mohammed said of Fletcher, who is returning from a maternity break, having last played for West Indies in September 2020.

“Unfortunately, she could not bring the baby with her.

We would have liked to have a baby on tour, like the other teams, but she calls her baby every day and chat with him online.

So it’s nice having a baby around and having some fun with him as well.”

Sunday January 23, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) It may be easy for you to show up at a party or answer the phone when you know that it's your best friend calling with good news, but where are you when the going gets rough, Aries? Make sure you show your support to people in all situations.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may be wondering why everyone is getting so touchy when you see this as being just a normal day, Libra. Cut other people some slack when you think they aren't wearing as big a smile as you are.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Realize that your inner state of mind is quite apparent to people just by the look on your face, Taurus.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) It could be that you don't feel as if you can begin your day until you've made it clear to someone that you have an issue that needs to be dealt with, Scorpio.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your opinions are apt to be strong today and you may feel on top of the world, Gemini. Remember, however, that there are other people who share the world with you, so don't disregard them as you plow though the day.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Don't let another person's small, thoughtless comment ruin your entire day, Sagittarius. People may be a bit stingy with everything from money to emotions to time spent with loved ones.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Realize that you may be controlling other people's actions without even consciously knowing it, Cancer.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may be feeling a bit tired and worn out lately, Capricorn. Don't push yourself to do things when you know that your body needs rest.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Beware of unexpected circumstances today, Leo. The good news is that your flexible attitude is perfectly suited to deal with the twists and turns that this day is likely to offer.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Don't fritter away your time with a person who isn't going to change his or her mind about something, Aquarius.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Social events, probably family related, could take up a lot of your time today, Virgo.

They might involve outings, perhaps to parks or other recreational areas.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) More than likely there is a person in your world who desperately wants to get closer to you, Pisces.

Conflict is apt to arise tonight if you don't open up and let this person in a bit closer.

Sunday January 23, 2022

PAGE 67

Kaieteur News

Halep into Week 2 at Australian Open for 5th straight year Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia — Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep is into Week 2 at Melbourne Park for the fifth consecutive year.

She’ll be joined in the second week by secondseeded Aryna Sabalenka, who advanced with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over No. 31 Marketa

Vondrousova.

A contender for the No. 1 ranking – Sabalenka can potentially overtake Ash Barty depending on results here – the 23-year-old from Belarus admits her serve is still a work in progress.

The match started ominously, when Sabalenka had two double-faults and was

broken in the first game.

But unlike the previous round, when she had nine double-faults in her first two service games and 19 in the match, the semifinalist last year at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open managed to almost halve that glaring statistic.

“I’m really happy right now,” Sabalenka said, laugh-

Afcon 2021: Covid hits Comoros before crunch Cameroon clash Comoros’ No1 Salim Ben Boina is out with injury - and both his back-up keepers have Covid.

BBC Sport - Africa Cup of Nations giant-killers Comoros face a goalkeeping crisis before the biggest game in the country’s history tomorrow.

The tournament debutants play hosts and five-time champions Cameroon in Yaounde tomorrow, but their camp has been hit by 12 positive Covid cases including coach Amir Abdou.

Seven players have been affected, including the two

remaining fit keepers in the squad, Moyadh Ousseini and Ali Ahamada, with firstchoice Salim Ben Boina out through injury.

“We will do everything in our power to find a solution,” said general manager El Hadad Himidi.

Himidi added: “It’s the coach and the only fit goalkeepers, so the situation is really complicated.”

The Confederation of Af-

rican Football (Caf) ruled before the tournament that teams affected by Covid must play matches even if they have no recognised goalkeeper in their squad.

“A team will be required to play a match if they have a minimum of 11 players available who have tested negative,” stated Caf. “In the event of the absence of a goalkeeper, another (Continued on page 66)

ing, in her on-court TV interview.

“Mostly I’m happy I made only 10 double-faults.”

It’s something she’ll be working on ahead of her next match against No. 115-ranked Kaia Kanepi, who has reached the quarterfinals six times at Grand Slam events – but only once since 2013 and never in Australia.

The 14th-seeded Halep advanced with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Danka Kovinic, a player who is ranked 98th and eliminated U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu in the previous round.

This was Kovinic’s first appearance in the third round of a major.

Halep, by contrast, can count on plenty of experience in the latter stages of the sport’s biggest events.

She won the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019 and made it to the final of the 2018 Australian Open before losing to Caroline Wozniacki.

“I feel good, I feel more confident now because last year was a tough year,” Halep said. “So now I just enjoy playing tennis, I’m happy.”

None of the other players remaining the women’s draw has won as many tour-level titles as Halep’s 23.

Halep’s next opponent will be Alize Cornet, who celebrated her 32nd birthday

Simona Halep is into Week 2 at Melbourne Park for the fifth consecutive year. with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 29 Tamara Zidansek, a 2021 French Open semifinalist.

Cornet followed up her upset of No. 3 Garbine Muguruza by reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open for the first time since 2009.

In another third-round match ending Saturday afternoon, 27th-seeded Danielle Collins of the U.S. rallied from a set and a break down to beat 19-year-old Clara Tauson 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Collins will next meet No. 19 Elise Mertens, who advanced 6-2, 6-2 over Zhang Shuai.

Later on Day 6, U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev

was aiming to progress in his bid to become the first man in the Open era to win his second Grand Slam title at the major tournament that immediately follows his first such triumph.

Medvedev was the runner-up at Melbourne Park in 2021 and is seeded No. 2 this time. He might as well as have a No. 1 next to his name, because top-ranked Novak Djokovic never played a point this year after failing in his attempt to get into the tournament despite not being vaccinated against COVID19.Medvedev faced 57thranked Botic van de Zandschulp yesterday at Rod Laver Arena.

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Sunday January 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

England suffer heavy defeat in opening...

From page 69 their Ashes ignominy, and their lowest total of 80 against India at the 2012 World Twenty20 was still a long way off, but Jordan and Rashid kept the tourists afloat with a 36-run stand.

There were three lusty sixes from Jordan before he holed out while Rashid’s deft strokes took England beyond three figures. They did not make it much further, though, with Holder once again taking two wickets in two balls – Rashid the last to go for 22 –

to finish with format-best figures of four for seven as England were all out in 19.4 overs.

The Windies are without the menacing presence of Chris Gayle at the top of the order, one of several casualties following a T20 World Cup campaign where they won just one of five matches, but he was hardly missed as King and Shai Hope settled immediately. In contrast to England’s early boom-orbust approach, the Windies pair were largely content to

rotate strike, with the only shot in anger in a 52-run opening partnership coming when King swept Rashid over midwicket. Rashid ensured England would not suffer a first 10-wicket T20 defeat when he lured Hope out of his crease.Hope was beaten by some lavish turn and stumped for 20 but while England’s bowlers toiled away, with Dawson particularly miserly in conceding 12 runs in four overs, they lacked a cutting edge under floodlights with even a Covid-re-

duced crowd sensing there would be no collapse from the hosts. There was little need for any risk-taking from King, who reached a patient 47-ball fifty shortly before hitting the winning run, while Pooran also adopted a sensible approach to finish with 27 not out from 29 balls.England will have little time to lick their wounds, with the next match taking place today.

Scores: West Indies 104 for 1 (King 52*) beat England 103 (Holder 4-7) by nine wickets.

Jason Holder struck with consecutive balls • Jan 21, 2022 © Getty Images

Sunday January 23, 2022

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Kaieteur News

England suffer heavy defeat in opening T20 against the West Indies PA Media – England’s Twenty20 tour of Barbados got off to a false start after they were bundled out for 103 before the West Indies reached a meagre target with nine wickets and 17 balls to spare.

After being asked to bat first on a tricky pitch with inconsistent bounce, England lurched to 10 for three then 49 for seven as their Ashes batting woes transferred to the Caribbean at the outset of this five-match series.

Lower-order batters Chris Jordan and Adil Rashid

spared England’s blushes as they avoided a new recordlow T20 total but the duo’s efforts barely papered over the cracks, with the Windies rarely troubled in their pursuit.

Jordan top-scored for England with 28 from 23 balls and was one of only four batters to make double figures in a much-changed line-up for the tourists, without the likes of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes after their Ashes exertions.

Sam Billings was one of only five survivors from the side that lost to New Zealand in the T20 World Cup semi-

final in November, jetting out to Bridgetown from Hobart where he had made his Test debut just days earlier.

England’s bowlers were efficient if non-threatening – with Brandon King’s unbeaten 52 from 49 deliveries breaking the back of the chase – but they were given precious little to work with after a dreadful start for their batters.

Fresh from a 36-ball ton in England’s only warm-up, Jason Roy set pulses racing when he heaved over midwicket but then missed a

wild swipe and was faced with Sheldon Cottrell’s customary salute after a full toss uprooted middle stump.

Jason Holder exploited the bounce on offer from his 6ft 7in frame, inducing the outside edge of Tom Banton with a juggling Nicholas Pooran holding on at slip while Moeen Ali loosely drove the next ball low to backward point.

Two successive maidens followed before James Vince threatened to lead the counter-attack with 14 runs in five balls, including a top-

edge for six, as Cottrell erred in his lengths. But the leftarmer had the last laugh when England’s number three tamely slapped a long hop straight to cover.

England dealt exclusively in boundaries in the first five overs, often struggling just to lay bat on ball on a pitch showing signs of variable bounce, but Billings bustled on his arrival. His enthusiasm got the better of him, though, as he danced down the track and walked straight past one that beat his bat before being stumped.

At 29 for five, England were in a quagmire and their situation worsened when Liam Dawson, making his first international appearance since October 2018, was sent back after setting off for a single while Eoin Morgan, who was attempting to hold the innings together, mistimed a slower ball to cover for a subdued 17 off 29 balls.

With not even 50 on the board and seven wickets down England were in danger of setting more unwelcome benchmarks following (Continued on page 68)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

GCB/CWI to roll out Coaching Education Certification Courses in March 2022 - Potential Coaches to register through County Boards The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in collaboration with Cricket West Indies (CWI) will be conducting a series of coaching certification courses across the three counties of Guyana. The courses are scheduled to commence from March 2022 and all three county boards are currently in the process of earmarking and registering their potential candidates to participate in the applicable courses. The

Essequibo Cricket Board, Demerara Cricket Board and Berbice Cricket Board have each given an undertaking to register a minimum of sixteen potential participants. On Thursday January 20, 2022 representatives of the three counties met with CWI Coach Development Manager Chris Brabazan to discuss the roll-out of the Coaching Education Courses with re-

spect to the county’s landscape, players development plans and CWI coaching education policies. For beginners, the first step in the coaching education certification programme will be their participation in the now online CWI Foundation Coaching Course.

Individuals holding previous and current CWI Foundation Coaching Certificates and/or license who are desirous of participating in the CWI Level One Coaching Certification Course, must ensure that they have the prerequisites

before registering for this course. These prerequisites are CWI Foundation Coaching Certificate or its equivalent, Child Protection Certificate, First Aid Certificate and Police Clearance. GCB’s President Bissoondyal Singh indicated that teachers and other individuals desirous of participating in the CWI Foundation and Level One Coaching Courses are encouraged to make contact with their respective county boards to explore the possibilities of registration for the series of planned courses. Further, he suggested that CWI Level

CWI Coach Development Manager Chris Brabazan One Certified Coaches are also encouraged to register their interest with their re-

GCB’s President Bissoondyal Singh spective county boards in participating in the CWI Level Two Coaching Course.

Sunday January 23, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Second batch of footballers complete Macorp scholarship programme The latest batch of footballers, a total of three including one female, are now certified after successfully completing the Macorp scholarship programme that covered level one in excavator operation.

The players are Jammacia Hunte, Trevor Lythcott and Colin Nelson. During a press brief last Thursday at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Secretariat on Dadanawa Street, in the presence of the now certified players, GFF head Wayne Forde revealed that it has always been an aim of the federation

to help players be equipped for life off the pitch. This aim has allowed the GFF to find innovative ways to bridge the gap, post-retirement.

Forde expounded by stating that, “Those of us that have been involved in the game for a long time can appreciate the fact because we would’ve seen that many players, throughout the history of Guyana would’ve appeared to be very unprepared for life after football.” “This is just one step we have taken in partnership with Macorp to ensure that we do what we can to give them a chance to

succeed after their better playing days would’ve departed from them, and I am so happy that the players that have benefitted from the programme so far would have demonstrated the discipline to make it to the end of the programme.” The administrator revealed that the players were great ambassadors for the GFF and football fraternity and that Macorp has already written the GFF seeking the list of names for the third batch of scholarship awardees.

Police FC defender, Trevon Lythcott, who was

GFF President Wayne Forde (centre) along with the MACORP graduates at a press briefing. (Photo News Room video-grab) one of the awardees, noted that it was a fulfilling experi-

ence and he encouraged all his fellow players to grab the

opportunity with both hands if it presents itself.

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Kaieteur News

Four matches to get four wickets’ She could become first West Indian and only fourth bowler in women’s cricket to get 300 international wickets ESPNcricinfo - A new variation to unleash on the opposition and four wickets to add to her tally during the four-ODI tour of South Africa.

These, along with helping West Indies fine-tune their preparations ahead of the ODI World Cup in MarchApril, are on the checklist of their premier offspinner Anisa Mohammed as she heads into

the bilateral series next week, four wickets shy of becoming the first West Indies women’s player to 300 wickets in international cricket.

“I’m currently working on a new variation,” Mohammed, the leading ODI wicket-taker of 2021 and the all-time highest wicket taker in T20Is, said in a virtual press conference from Johannesburg. “Hope-

fully, I’ll be able to use that in this upcoming series against South Africa, and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to execute and get a positive result from that.”

Behind only India’s Jhulan Goswami, England’s Katherine Brunt, and Australia’s Ellyse Perry, Mohammed, who has 171 wickets in ODIs and 125 wick-

ets in T20Is, is hopeful the series against South Africa starting on January 28 at the Wanderers propels her to the distinction of the first spinner to reach the 300-wicket mark in the women’s international game.

“This would be a huge milestone for me. I’d really like to get it in this series and not have to wait for the World Cup,” Mohammed said.

“That’s something that I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time. I’ve been working on my game and I really hope that I’m able to pick up just four [wickets]. I’m just

Sunday January 23, 2022

- Anisa Mohammed targets history in South Africa telling myself, ‘Four wickets I have four matches to get four wickets,’ so I’m really excited.”

A veteran of four ODI World Cups and West Indies’ most-capped player, Mohammed, 33, is mindful of the responsibility her experience and heft of personal achievements in a career spanning nearly 19 years bring with them, especially with the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand around the corner.

“I’m one of the senior players on the team. This is my fifth ODI World Cup. And I’ve said to some of the younger players, ‘Playing in a World Cup the atmosphere is different and you have to

keep a level head.’ I think having played four World Cups this will be my fifth one - I have to step up as the one of the senior players on the team and try to perform and while I do that, try to keep the younger players calm and help them to be able to go out there and execute as well.”

Named in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year and the ESPNcricinfo Women’s Team of the Year for 2021 recently, Mohammed gave little away on whether the upcoming world event could be her swansong - “I’m not going to put a timeline on my career” - but admitted she was cognizant of the phase (Continued on page 64)

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 23, 2022

PAGE 73

GSWNT Players and Coaching staff from Friendlies with Puerto Rico.

Lady Jags begin journey to 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup The Guyana Senior Women’s National Team take on Dominica and the Turks and Caicos Islands in February in qualifiers for the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Championship, a tournament that serves as the regional gateway to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The fixtures, rescheduled from November

by Concacaf due to challenges posed by the

COVID19 pandemic, will bring the Lady Jags squad together for the first time since October ’s encampment in Puerto Rico, which included two friendly matches against the hosts.

On Wednesday, February 16, Guyana will start their Group F qualification campaign with a home tie against Dominica at Leonora Stadium which kicks off at 8 p.m., followed by an away fixture against the Turks and Caicos Islands on Saturday,

February 19. Further details have yet to be announced for the away game.

“The first two rounds will be an extended training camp for us, as we try and assess our players and evaluate where we are as a team,” said Head Coach Ivan Joseph. “This will be the first time in my tenure as a coach where we will have our full programme assembled, and it will take us some time to come together as a cohesive unit.”

“Turks and Caicos and Dominica will be formidable opponents, who have been working hard these past few months to build a solid programme,” he added. “We hope to get the results we need to put us in the right position to advance out of the group, but we will have our hands full.”

After the opening two m a t c h e s i n F e b r u a r y, Guyana will face Nicaragua on April 8 and Trinidad and Tobago on April 12 to

complete their qualification group matches. Each of the six group winners will join automatic qualifiers Canada and the United States – the reigning champions – in the 2022 Concacaf W Championship, which will take place in Mexico in July.

“I am very excited to have our senior team playing in the upcoming W Qualifiers,” said GFF D i r e c t o r o f Wo m e n ’s Programmes Paul Beresford.

“We have a mix of veterans

and new players available to us, and I am confident the coaching staff will put a very competitive team together.”

“Both of these games are critical in building momentum and we expect Dominica and Turks and Caicos to present stiff competition,” Beresford continued. “It will be great to have the women’s team playing in Guyana again, and I expect the football fraternity to come out and support the Lady Jaguars.”

Banks DIH supports Wiltshire dominoes tourney Banks DIH under their rum and malt beverages has supported the Mark Wiltshire dominoes tournament which commenced last weekend.

The entity has presented the second prize to organizer on Thursday night at Strikers Sports bar, Meadowbrook.

R and R, Spartons, F and H and Providence have advanced to the play off stage.

Collis Chase (left) - Rum and wine supervisor- Banks DIH presents the second place prize to Mark Wiltshire in the presence of Barbara Marshall.

The winning team will pocket a trophy and $170,000, runner up a trophy and $75,000, third place a trophy and $35,000 and fourth place a trophy and $20,000.

The female player that shared the first love and the player in the final will be given $5,000 each, while the female player that shared the first double love will receive $5,000 and a hamper.