Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR Govt. to receive Monday Edition 2020 Liza One NEWS operating costs - Has two from ExxonMobil years to audit January 25, 2021 -Vol. 14 No. 04

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EPA demands no studies for five projects dealing with hazardous oil & gas chemicals

- Agency lacks p.3 capacity to do testing p.

Man survives 8 Female guard Detector operator dodges cutlass three bullets in to escape p. shot in legsp.3 execution attempt bandits 15 by drunk man

Guyana urgently needs Oil & Gas monitoring unit - Dr. Adams p.

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Fishermen can be frontline Venezuelan Navy of monitoring effects of oil detains Guyanese operations - Dr. Janette Bulkan fishing vessels p.

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Coalition MP collected $5.7M for construction of pig pen p.

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using unregistered association Listen to Glenn Lall and Attorney Christopher Ram discuss the rampant corruption in Guyana @ 11:00AM on 99.1/99.5FM Kaieteur Radio(Rebroadcast)

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Kaieteur News

Monday January 25, 2021

Govt to receive 2020 Liza One operating costs from ExxonMobil - Has two years to audit

The Liza Destiny FPSO is currently producing oil at ExxonMobil’s Liza Phase One project

By Kemol King

W

ith over US$6 billion in unaudited bills from oil supermajor ExxonMobil, the company’s l o c a l s u b s i d i a r y, E s s o Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is set to hand Guyana yet another one by the end of the first quarter of this year. The new bill will account for the operating costs ExxonMobil footed for the year 2020 to run the Liza Phase One development.

The deadline for the submission of these costs is set out in the Payara production licence.

Section (k) of the licence, which speaks to Cost Estimates, states “Within one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date of the Licence, the Licensee shall submit a report in the format and degree of detail no less than that as set out in Schedule X2 (Operating Costs Estimates) as follows: Schedule X2 – Breakdown of Actual Operating Costs for the first year (or such shorter period as has completed as of the date of the report) of operation of Liza Phase 1…”

In this case, the licencee refers to the Stabroek Block co-venturers, ExxonMobil (the operator), Hess and CNOOC. Schedule X2 of the licence sets out the categories of operating costs: Operations, Maintenance Repair & Inspection, Logistics, Well Work, and Cost Above Field.

The operating costs are separate from the development costs for a well.

While development costs cover what is needed to procure and install the equipment for production at a well, operating costs cover what is expended to keep the production running.

ExxonMobil will be expected to submit the yearly operating costs for each well it produces from as Liza Phase Two and Payara come

onstream, in addition to the development costs.

Because all of those costs are expected to be recovered, Guyana is charged with a u d i t i n g E x x o n M o b i l ’s submissions to ensure that it and its partners do not recover unreasonable or otherwise overstated costs.

The Stabroek Block production sharing agreements (PSA) grants Guyana a two-year window to scrutinize these costs, after which, all claims must be accepted as is.

Guyana’s lack of capacity to audit oil companies’ submitted costs and at a suitable pace is a going concern for the media and transparency advocates.

The only audit Guyana has done on Exxon’s costs was outsourced to a British firm called IHS Markit. The firm was charged with auditing Exxon’s first set of costs of US$1.6 billion, inclusive of pre-contract expenditures.

T h e p r e v i o u s administration had allowed more than years to pass before it contracted the firm to audit the supermajor’s precontract costs in December 2019. Despite the fact that this contract was awarded over a year ago, setbacks have held up its completion.

The Government is set to review a draft report from Markit – the second report in the process, which it accepted from the firm – after which it will submit the document to Exxon and its partners for comments.

The government has made some adverse findings, according to Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, including claims for expenses, which it doesn’t consider recoverable.

After Exxon’s comments are made, the government is supposed to instruct Markit to submit a final report.

After that is handled, the government will have to turn to in excess of US$6 billion of outstanding claims to audit from ExxonMobil.

Monday January 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 03

EPA demands no studies for five projects dealing with hazardous oil & gas chemicals - Agency lacks capacity to do testing

By Shikema Dey

A

n Environmental I m p a c t Assessment (EIA) can be defined as a critical tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project whether it may be for the construction of a plant or warehouse for industrial or chemical purposes.

Once completed, the document which comprises the risks the project would pose to the environment would be assessed for approval by the relevant

authorities.

In spite of the importance of this critical report, Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been taking a position of not requiring EIAs for at least five projects dealing directly with a slew of hazardous chemicals used in the petroleum sector.

Not only is the move alarming to most industry advocates, but equally concerning is the fact that the agency which is meant to be Guyana’s environmental watchdog, severely lacks the capacity to monitor the

Detector operator shot in legs by drunk man A detector operator, 24, was on Thursday last shot to his legs reportedly by a drunk man at Five Star L a n d i n g , N o r t h We s t District, Region One. The man who has since been identified as Satesh Ramnarine of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was shot sometime after 16:30hrs with a shotgun.

Investigators were told that an intoxicated man had entered the building where Ramnarine resided and confronted him in his kitchen. The detector operator was cooking at the time and a brief argument ensued between the two.

The man left shortly after but returned five minutes later armed with a shotgun.

Ramnarine was at the time

standing in front of the building when his friend alerted him to run. The drunk man however took aim and fired a shot.

Ramnarine told police that he heard a loud explosion but continued running until he entered an abandoned building close by and locked the door.

He then felt a burning sensation and numbness in both of his legs. After his shooter left, a publicspirited individual rescued him. He was granted some first aid and the person assisted in transporting him in a five-hour-long journey to the Port Kaituma District Hospital where he was admitted.

Efforts are to be made to apprehend his shooter.

influx of chemicals set to increase as the sector expands.

In addition to severely lacking basic capacities such as human resources to assess simple environmental issues, the EPA is also devoid of simple equipment to measure pollutants in the air.

As is required, the EPA would publish public notices listing projects that require its authorization. On those very notices for the projects in queation, the EPA stated: “In accordance with Section 11 (2) of the Environmental Protection Act, Cap 20:05, Laws of Guyana, the application for each project listed above has been screened by the agency to assess its potential environmental impacts and it has been determined that these projects will not significantly affect the environment or human health, and therefore are exempt from the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).”

But without the requisite equipment to conduct tests or a study to determine the impact which the project will

have on the environment and nearby environs, it is unclear how and why the EPA arrived at that conclusion.

Of the five projects, Glass Holdings Inc. had planned to construct a Chemical Storage and Warehouse Facility and Laydown Yard, at A3 & A4, Plantation Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara.

The company had outlined in its project summary that it planned to store chemicals such as A s p h a l t e n e I n h i b i t o r, Corrosion inhibitor, Biocide, Hydrate Inhibitor, D e m u l s i f i e r, C h l o r i n e Scavenger, Defoamer and Hydrate Inhibitor.

Then there was Ramps Logistics with the construction of an oilfield services and supplies storage and container transfer facility meant to store and process similar chemicals.

Later on, Oilfield Waste Management Services (OWMS) announced plans to construct a thermal desorption waste treatment plant based on a thermal desorption separator (hammer mill) that uses friction to heat wastes so that

oil residue are evaporated.

Another form, E n v i r o n m e n t a l Wa s t e Management Services Guyana Inc., has planned the co n s tr u ctio n o f w as te treatment (Bioremediation) facility at Lots 21 and 22 B l o c k X X V 111 Z o n e , Plantation Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD) to process mud sludge generated from activities in the oil sector.

The most recent project to seek the EPA’s approval is that of John Fernandes Limited with the construction of a Hazardous Materials Storage Facility at Plantation Fairfield, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD) to process and store Asphaltene I n h i b i t o r, C o r r o s i o n inhibitor, Biocide, Biocide Filter, Hydrate Inhibitor, D e m u l s i f i e r, C h l o r i n e Scavenger, Defoamer and Hydrate Inhibitors.

T h e c o m m o n denominator in these projects was the fact that they would all be located in proximity to residential housing areas and even in one case, in proximity to a community reservoir.

While the EPA stipulates a 30-day period for complaints and objections to be lodged, that deadline would be missed by concerned residents who only discover the small notice tucked away in the local newspapers weeks after.

By that time, the projects would be given the stamp of approval leaving residents to deal whatever harmful effects that follow.

G u y a n a ’s r e s p o n s e capacity was already tested in a major way after a “Rheduce” chemical spill at the Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) leading to the EPA putting a halt on chemicals being stored at the wharf.

A forklift pierced the container holding the chemical that was left at the facility for months after being imported by Schlumberger Guyana.

While the chemical placed no harm on the environment and human life, what was worrying about the incident was that the EPA was notified more than nine hours after the spill had occurred.

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Monday January 25, 2021

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

Is there a looming oil war?

Is there an oil or resource war on the horizon? We would not make a joke about something like that, and have never been more serious. This was the question tabled by OilPrice.com in an article dated January 23 that was captioned, “Will Venezuela go to war over oil?” Though we hope that never comes to be, it cannot be dismissed out of hand, especially in view of recent verbal bellicosity and alarming sabre-rattling from under pressure leadership in our next-door neighbour.

The ongoing contexts are these: a longstanding and still fully unresolved border dispute (given what is at stake, it may never be, regardless of near and intermediate term political and judicial outcomes); one rich discovery after another of oil (they have been enough to make even the holy lose some piety); a leader with his back to the wall and fighting for political relevance and continuity (meaty and stirring jingoistic foreign distractions are a traditional leadership ploy to re-energize base and countrymen), and the geopolitical underpinnings at work (with the United States signalling its own current preferences and commitments). In aggregate, it is a witch’s brew dangerously perched on a bubbling, simmering cauldron that must be viewed with the greatest caution and responded to accordingly.

The editorship of the online presence in the oil sector concluded that Venezuela’s claim is rather dubious and looks unlikely to pass muster at the International Court of Justice, which is expected to hand down a decision around 2023/24.

Of course, as all Guyanese should be well aware, our neighbour to the north has already made clear as to where it stands on any ruling. So, all that any court judgment that favours Guyana does is to continue the controversy and at different temperatures, which may not be limited to sensations and perceptions as interpreted from circumstances, but of hard and hostile, if not outright aggressive, developments on the ground. To be most blunt, it could mean the same thing at which Oilprice.com hinted to, which is war.

On a comparative basis, it is no secret as to the vast differences between the two countries. For starters, this includes manpower, armaments, military leadership depth, and much more. But little Guyana has a couple of things going for it, which should be given the most sensible weighing possible. Its population may be small, but the will of its people should never be underestimated. Its forests are vast and mysterious, but there is nobody that knows it like its own people. And, last, there is that fearsome eagle hovering in the middle of the unmoving positions laid out by the two countries. It is a heavyweight eagle; it is the United States of America.

At present, the U.S. is Guyana’s friend and looks upon the resistant Venezuelan leadership as an adversary best out of power and in the wilderness. There have been maritime agreements signed between the United States and Guyana, which led to widely reported coverage of joint exercises involving vessels from the American Coast Guard and those of Guyana. And yet another concrete and not to be misinterpreted signal as to America’s position is that, “in the first days of 2021, the commander of the US Southern Command arrived in Guyana for a three-day visit, to celebrate the launch” of those same joint maritime exercises mentioned earlier.

Rattling sabres and heightening the pitch of bellicosity against Guyana is one thing and relatively effortless, picking a fight with the United States is another story altogether, and playing with the worst fires. This is regardless of who occupies the White House as Chief Executive. There should be no mistake on that score, and the United States has a treasured dog in this business. In fact, when a broad and most careful of consideration is given to the sum of all related circumstances in this regional hotspot, America may have another dog that has also attracted its interest, if not longing. That would be those hundreds of billions of barrels of proven but still untapped oil, in what is touted as the world’s largest oil reserves.

Government and ministers commended on infrastructure development Dear Editor, My memory of readings on economic development when I did doctoral studies in Economics in the 1980s is the infrastructure sector is/ was a key driver for the development of any economy.

This sector, along with agriculture, was highly responsible for propelling the US, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Soviet Union, Argentina, Brazil, among other countries, overall development. Australia, New Zealand, and US became first world countries through agriculture and infrastructure development. Singapore became first world through trade and infrastructure, among other sectoral development. Infrastructure and agriculture, in addition to info tech, construction, among other sectors, are now driving India’s economy.

The present PPP administration has wisely initiated major infrastructure policies, which along with agriculture, farming, and mining, among other sectors, would drive development. I had the privilege of traveling around the country, along the coast and some interior sections.

I observed massive infrastructure work being undertaken including in the interior that was badly neglected by previous administrations. As I experienced in the vehicle, the trails were extremely rough; I got bounced around frequently hitting my head on

the roof of the vehicle. One can suffer serious injuries just sitting and traveling in a vehicle.

Vehicles could overturn or skid and end up at the bottom of a ravine or hill, resulting in loss of life and or broken limbs. Fortunately, sections of the trails were being smoothened for a less rough ride. The trails into the interior are being graded to make them passable.

Work seems to be moving apace. For years, the trails posed challenges for trucks (laden with goods, logs, stones, sand, minerals, etc.) and passenger vehicles.

Photos showed some fastened in the quicksand or mud while others toppled; lives were lost and limbs broken. Vehicles were also destroyed with losses in the billions of Guyana dollars to private developers. There is a commitment from government of paving the road within a few years.

My interactions with Indigenous people and the business community in the interior reveal that the trails were neglected under the previous regime. They are very pleased that there is a change in administration and that the present government is addressing their concerns. Business and hinterland life were severely affected over impassable trails and neglect of people who dwell in the outlying areas.

Business has taken a toll over the last five years, made worse by the

Citizens must let Venezuela know that provocation will not be tolerated Dear Editor, Guyana, the Nation, needs to register its strongest disapproval against our neighbour for the interception and detention of our citizens in our own waters.

While diplomacy at government level will be at work, we the citizens must let our neighbour know its actions are nothing short of provocation and such

bullyism will not be tolerated.

How about peaceful protest action outside the Venezuelan Embassy demanding the immediate release of our citizens or a citizens ‘ letter to the Ambassador demanding the release of our citizens or a petition to the Venezuelan President or UN? Not a blade of grass...

Yours truly, Shamshun Mohamed

Those reserves are in Venezuela, and it is a fact and of interests that are not lost on either Venezuelan leadership or its citizens struggling under extremely punishing U.S. sanctions.

So, to return to the question raised: will Venezuela go to war over oil? That is, Guyana’s oil? It had better think most carefully about the mountain that could come tumbling down on its head.

pandemic.

(Some businesses complained that government officials and Ministers of the preceding regime took goods, ate in their restaurants on credit, and even filled up the gas tanks of vehicles and never paid.

They could not complain out of fear of victimization or assault by goons. Such behaviour is unconscionable given the difficulty of life in the interior among the Indigenous people.

Those government individuals including former ministers are uncaring and shameless.) The hinterland people praise President Ali’s government for looking into their complaints of neglect and marginaliz a t i o n . T h e y applaud the government for holding outreaches in their communities. Such outreaches give the people to voice their complaints to the ministers and other government officials.

President Ali is lauded for taking government to the people in the various regions around the country in the rural and hinterland communities.

Government gets almost 100% positive rating on this

initiative of President Ali to take Cabinet to the people.

As the public have noted, the Ministry of Infrastructure is on the job.

Those who I interacted with applaud the government for making a conscientious effort to address the problems experienced in the interior and in the rural areas. They are pleased with the work of Ministry of Public Infrastructure showering accolades on Ministers Bishop Edghill and Deodat Indar. Indar scores very high on favorability ratings for his public engagements and ground work. His work ethic is praised. Respondents in a poll, which I conducted say he is among a few ministers who has been very active on the ground listening to complaints and concerns of the public.

They say he listens and acts. Minister Indar is saluted for his engagement with the public and delivery of promises to rehabilitate roads, cleaning drains, and electrifying streets and recreation grounds. People say that his Ministry promptly attempts to resolve their complaints.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

AstraZeneca is the best COVID-19 vaccine for Guyana Dear Editor, I fully support B. John’s letter in the KN of 1-24 2021 in which he implores the Guyana government to approach india for supplies of th AstraZeneca vaccine.If India can be generous to neighbouring Brazil by giving them COVID vaccines then there is no reason to believe it will not do likewise to Guyana.

Noteworthy is Barbados Prime Minister Mia Motley offering to buy the AstraZeneca vaccine from India for Barbados citizens.

Why can’t Guyana get more proactive in this area. In the developed countries the major vaccines used are the Moderna and the Pfizer.

Distributing them presents a daunting challenge.

One big reason? One of the front-runners in the vaccine race — the one made

by Pfizer — needs to be kept extremely cold: minus 70 degrees Celsius, which is colder than winter in Antarctica.

Moderna has said that its vaccine needs to be frozen

too, but only at minus 20 Celsius, more like a regular freezer.

India’s AStraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine candidate dubbed AZD 1222 can be stored and transported at normal refrigerated temps at 2 degrees to 8 degrees Celsius (36 degrees to 46 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least six months and can be administered in “existing healthcare settings” giving the shot a major logistic leg up in distribution. It follows that India’s vaccine is best suited for Guyana.

Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two doses to be effective.

So far there are no reports of any vaccines being given to Guyana.In the meantime qualifications need to be made who will get the vaccines first including health care workers, the armed forces and those above 55 years old.

Accordingly Guyana needs to prepare for the proper storage facilities when the vaccines arrive.

Yours truly, Sultan Mohamed

Monday January 25, 2021

Not decent at all!

DEAR EDITOR, Serving in Trump’s Cabinet is one thing - but serving and joining Trump in trying to overturn the result of a legitimate election is something else. A horrible thing. This is what Mike Pompeo did. Trump sent a mob of White Supremacists (WS) to sack the Capitol (legislators at work). Five people were killed by the WS mob. To this day, Pompeo has not condemned the crimes of that WS mob. For that, Pompeo is not a decent man.

Mr. Pompeo, as Secretary of State, however, did do a Big

Favour to the Guyanese nation - he ended the fivemonth election impasse in which PNC was trying to overturn the result of a legitimate election. So, how do you evaluate Pompeo’s Big Favour to Guyana? It was transactional. Not policy. He did it as a favour to the lobbying firms.

He is probably in cahoots with Big Oil Company. It is now almost guaranteed, Pompeo will be the WSendorsed candidate for the presidency in 2024.

Sincerely, Mike Persaud

Democracy is not inherently practised by the PPP DEAR EDITOR, While elections in Guyana are held in a democratic manner, Democracy is not inherently practiced by the PPP. As we, all know, in the PPP, the Central Executive Committee selects Leaders in the PPP as opposed to Members electing Leaders in the PPP. This is not Democratic at all.

What criteria are used to

select leaders, Guyanese citizens ask?

When Members are allowed to elect their Leaders, then the PPP will evolve into a Democratic political party.

Which means, they will then govern in a Democratic manner whereby accountability, transparency and good governance are not just words.

Sincerely, Sean Ori

Nothing has been done to secure the border Dear Editor, The Venezuelan president said he will reconquer it, their generals came to their side of Ankoko and spoke with the inhabitants, and now there is a surge of Venezuelans into Region 1.

Nothing has been done to secure the border, no homestead has been removed, the immigrants have not been asked to peacefully leave the country and no joint training with the

USA on the border has been started. Yet, the influx of Venezuelans has commenced. What are we waiting for, an invitation to the flag raising by Maduro in Essequibo? It is time to get busy and stop being naive.

Learn from our history.

Reconquering may take many forms. Put them all out and secure the borders with the help of our allies.

Yours truly, Jamil Changlee

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Kaieteur News

Ministers come in for special praise for performance DEAR EDITOR, The public is very pleased so far, after just over five months in office, with the government’s delivery on varied promises made in its manifesto – the contract it made with the people to win their vote. This is one of several findings of an opinion poll I conducted among the population over the last 10 days. The public is very impressed with the performance of several Ministers, who have received soaring ratings for “delivery.”

These Ministers, as well as the Prime Minister and President, have also come in for special praises for their interaction with the public and on implementation of plans for development. They are down to earth, humble, and in touch with ordinary people.

Among those who have been called out for their performance are: Indar Deodat (Infrastructure), Anil Nandlall (Attorney General),

Collin Croal (Housing), Zulfikar Mustapha (Agriculture), Juan Edghill (Infrastructure), Vickram Bharrat (Energy), Susan Pariag (Public Administration), Kwame McCoy (State Media & Information), Nigel Dharamlall (Local Government), Vindhya Persaud (Social Services), Frank Anthony (Health), among others. Respondents say government Ministers are very people friendly as compared with some Ministers of the preceding coalition regime.

Respondents in the poll note that Ministers Indar Deodat and Zulfikar Mustapha respond very promptly to complaints of flooding and bad roads. They do their work effectively and efficiently. Indar Deodat’s experience in the private sector is a tremendous asset to Public Infrastructure resulting in his Ministry getting work done quickly.

Kwame McCoy is described

as a very hard worker and who knows the media matters very well. Croal is empathetic towards the poor to quickly get them house lots. Bharrat is rapidly learning energy issues. Dharamlall is down to earth addressing local development. Nandlall towers over the other Ministers in terms of likeability and popularity. Respondents describe him as a giant in the legal field. Nandlall who came into government with experience as AG is extremely intelligent, confident of himself, articulate, witty, and experienced.

Asked who was a more effective Attorney General, Nandlall betters Basil Williams 71 percent to 12 percent, with 17 percent not offering a response.

Asked to rate the performance of various Ministers as positive or negative or no rating, Nandlall scores 83 percent-8 percent9 percent, Indar scores 72 percent-18 percent-10

percent, Zulfikar scores 73 percent -19 percent -8 percent, Kwame scores 63 percent-28 percent-9 percent, Croal scores 70 percent-19 percent11 percent, and Edghill scores 65 percent-27 percent-8 percent.

Respondents were asked which government performed better on handling various issues. Voters say the PPP/C administration has done significantly more than the APNU+AFC coalition to create jobs (69 percent to 18 percent), rescue agriculture (72 percent to 14 percent), help farmers (79 percent to 11 percent), turn around the economy (61 percent to 31 percent), attract investments (70 percent to 19 percent), and crackdown on corruption (56 percent to 38 percent).

(Numbers don’t add up to 100 percent because some respondents did not offer a response to the questions).

Yours truly Dr. Vishnu Bisram (Pollster)

Remarks that cannot be taken lightly DEAR EDITOR, Response is made, to Frederick Kissoon’s article in his January 19 column, where he accused me in my capacity as General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) for supporting rigged election, deliberately and maliciously dragging the GTUC into his attack. Such a statement made by a writer of Kissoon’s calibre, one who has influence through the media, is not to be taken lightly for clearly there is intent, not only to besmirch my character, but to drag the GTUC into the fray of alleged support for “election rigging.”

He uses said argument to also undermine the integrity

of the formation of the Civil Society Forum (CSF) and to discredit the right of the GTUC and CSF, in its present configuration, to participate in any effort to strengthen and deepen democracy in Guyana. The attempt of a hidden agenda behind those statements is clear. It is an attempt to make me persona non grata and make the GTUC and CSF inconsequential in the struggle for the development of Guyana.

In a previous article of his, a blatant lie of me “always” with a cigarette in my mouth was published when everyone around me knows I have never smoked, and I am a very light social drinker.

Whereas similar attacks and lies about other persons are oft ignored for a variety of reasons, including the fear of unleashing more vicious attacks and time spent, I fear neither and make the time. I understand the drive to destroy my credibility and silence me lies deep within the undermining of dissent and all citizens of Guyana participating in the democratic processes of this country.

The CSF was launched last Sunday, two days prior to Kissoon’s attack, to help society to give meaning to Article 13 in the Constitution of Guyana. The Principal Political Objective of the society, as per this article, is

to forge a “political system” of “inclusionary democracy” in recognition and celebration of our collective strength in building this nation. Given the dynamics in the Guyanese society, it is not unusual that a forum of this nature will find itself subject to attacks by those who seek to operate outside of the interest of the collective. True to form, he who I refer to as the captain of chaos lashes out and seeks to undermine an effort as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution in Article 13.

There has never been any support from me, in my personal or professional capacity, and the GTUC for the 2020 Election. Also, every (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

Monday January 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

Globalization is here to stay but what will its character be?

DEAR EDITOR, Globalization has changed the power to regulate human activities from government to international institutions, which are indirectly controlled by multinational companies.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) creates rules and regulation and government have to enforce them in their respective countries. Globalization has compelled many countries to change their legislation and constitution to facilitate the private sector. Governments have also been compelled to get rid of the rights of workers and environment.

The Treaty of Westphalia of 1648 fosters national sovereignty was replaced by United Nations Treaty Series

which fosters Globalization.

To illustrate the power of globalization, most of the world’s country is following the World Health Organization guidelines on how to deal the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Polymerase chain reaction test (PCR test Replicate DNA to create a polymer (a large molecule)) is endorsed and prescribed by the World Health Organization.

This is the test that countries require you to have a negative result for COVID19 to enter their country.

Personally, being a lover of science, I am concern about the standard. Since the COVID-19 virus has not been isolated and purified, the PCR test for COVID-19 is

scientifically meaningless only a virus, proven through isolation and purification, can be a solid gold standard.

Jessica C. Watson from Bristol University in a paper “interpreting a COVID-19 test result,” published recently in The British Medical Journal.

She writes that there is a “lack of such a clear-cut ‘goldstandard’ for COVID-19 testing.” PCR tests are calibrated for gene sequences (in this case RNA sequences because SARS-CoV-2 is believed to be a RNA virus), the gene snippets must be part of the looked-for virus.

And to do that, correct isolation and purification of the presumed virus has to be executed. There is no distinct specific symptom for COVID19. The symptoms are referred to as flu-like. Koch postulations have not been met. Koch’s postulates the following: 1) The microorganism must be found in abundance in all organisms suffering from the disease, but should not be found in healthy organisms; 2) The microorganism must be isolated from a diseased organism and grown in pure culture; 3) The cultured

microorganism should cause disease when introduced into a healthy organism; 4)The microorganism must be reisolated from the inoculated, diseased experimental host and identified as being identical to the original specific causative agent. I do not believe that scientists and medical officials are deliberately misleading the public. I know it is their best guest. My research showed they sequence the virus based on computer modelling, which is not reliable but a calculated guess.

This illustrates the need for Caribbean scientist to step up. So far, the only Caribbean country that can produce an “effective” COVID-19 vaccine is Cuba.

According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for more than 35 cycles (replication) the accuracy of PCR test is zero.

The five top PCR machine recommended by Food and Drug Administration: 1) Gnomegen PCR test used 39 cycles; 2) Gk PCR test uses 40 cycles; 3) In Bios PCR test uses 45 cycles; 4) Luminex Aries PCR test 45 cycles; 5)

Quest PCR test 50 cycles. Can we depend on the PCR test to diagnose COVID-19?

Additionally, center stage in the global arena, is the competition between China and the United states, which will be determinant of the global order.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research said China will overtake the United States to become the world’s biggest economy in 2028, five years earlier than previously estimated due to the contrasting recoveries of the two countries from the COVID-19 pandemic in an annual report published late December, 2020. China’s overall surplus for the year hit a record $535 billion, up 27 percent from 2019.

Beijing’s trade surplus with Washington rose to $317 billion in 2020, a seven percent increase from the year prior and the second highest amount on record, according to Iris Pang, chief economist for Greater China at ING. The amount is just $7 billion lower than 2018 levels, when Trump launched a trade war.

This competition between China and the US will define the next decade and we must pay attention. The US debt is $27.8 trillion or 130.63 percent of their GDP while China debt is $7.9 trillion or 53.65 percent of GDP. In 2012, the Journal of Economic Perspectives published a study, which found that countries with national debts above 90 percent of GDP averaged 34 percent less inflation-

adjusted annual economic growth than when their debts were below 90 percent of GDP. The US money supply is increasing at an annual rate of 70 percent. The Rule of 72 is a simple way to determine how long an investment will take to double given a fixed annual rate of interest. Using the rule of 72, the amount of money the US needs to borrow each year will double.

In eight years, President Barrack Obama increased the US debt by $9.3 trillion, while President Donald Trump increased US Debt by $7.9 trillion in half the time (4 years). Historically there is a direct relationship between military and economic might.

The Chinese dominance of 5G and their trail blazing of 6G illustrates their technological and eventually military dominance.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a test of government.

People instituted government to improve their quality of life and security.

Most government are falling their populous presently. Quality of life has significantly diminished; joblessness and food insecurity are rampant in most country.

A total of 2,109,802 have died from COVID-19 globally.

Asian countries have managed economically, socially and wit h preservation of life. What does that say about governance in the west?

Globalization is here to stay but what will its character be?

Sincerely, Brian Ellis Plummer

We need a master plan to combat flooding from climate change Dear Editor, Guyana is prone to flooding which is likely to increase if/when sea level rises due to global warming.

Therefore, we need to come up with a Master Plan for development in Guyana. Do we, (a) gradually move our capital to higher ground, (b) build sea and river defences as well as drainage system to get the water off the land

as quickly as possible, or, (c) continue with the ad hoc development that has been taking place?

Funding needs to be provided to the University of Guyana so that researchers can study the effects of climate change and associated rise in sea level on Guyana over the next 100 years.

Yours faithfully Sean Ori

...Remarks that cannot From page 5 member on the CSF enjoys the right to vote. Whether all or some exercised this at the last election by voting for their party of choice is their prerogative.

The exercise of choice

does not prevent guarantee to inclusion, as per the constitution, on matters of the state impacting individuals and/ or their organisations.

Sincerely, Lincoln Lewis

Monday January 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Man survives three bullets in execution attempt

A

labourer, 22, y e s t e r d a y, survived three bullets in an execution attempt at Barbie Dam, East La Penitence, Georgetown.

Osafo Johnson, a resident of East La Penitence, was reportedly shot around 04:45hrs by four gunmen.

According to police, Johnson and his commonlaw wife were at the time heading home from a party held at Tower Hotel on Main Street in a car. The car was driven by an acquaintance of

Johnson who was about to drop them off at Barbie Dam when two other cars drove up from behind and blocked the path.

Four men stepped out from the car and called Johnson by his name.

Johnson then grabbed his spouse by her hand, exited the car they were in, and ran.

Investigators were told that the men opened fire behind them and Johnson fell.

The men then re-entered their cars and sped off.

Police reported that, Johnson’s wife escaped

unhurt but he had to be picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Doctors there discovered that he was struck three times - two to his hand and another to his left side abdomen. He was admitted and a surgery was performed immediately. His condition at the moment, investigators reported is regarded as stable.

His acquaintance who was dropping the couple home has since been detained by cops.

Monday January 25, 2021

Fishermen can be frontline of monitoring effects of oil operations - Dr. Janette Bulkan University of British Colombia (UBC) Professor, Dr. Janette Bulkan, recently posited that Guyana’s fisherman can be the frontline in the monitoring of the country’s inshore waters, especially in reporting the effects of the oil operations on marine life.

Dr. Bulkan made these and other comments two Saturdays ago during a virtual Moray House Trust discussion titled Guyana’s Oil: Priorities for 2021.

There, the UBC Professor reminded that regular seagoing fishermen would possess the knowledge to report changes in inshore waters.

According to Dr. Bulkan, who is an Anthropologist by training, these changes could include observing oily sheen on the water tops, unusual numbers of concentration of dead fish, the temperature change of the water and even the smell of the air.

“You do not need a UG degree to begin to be incorporated in what’s happening to the environment,” she reminded, while adding that by

Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Janette Bulkan including the fishermen as monitors, it would give them an added sense of meaning or purpose. “Fishers will then see themselves as (protectors) of Guyana, not just as the poorest people who are invisible to everyone else,” she expressed.

Further, with the fishers’ local knowledge, Dr. Bulkan indicated that they can work with regulators such as the Environmental Protection A g e n c y ( E PA ) , t h e Government of Guyana and even non-government organizations (NGOs), so as

to share data and resources to develop systems of monitoring.

The Professor stated too that the government should compensate fishermen for their monitoring, through proceeds derived from the oil production.

To this, she recalled reading a study where Sea Conservation International in Suriname, in 2019, had conducted a small study where they worked with owner-operated fishing boats. Participating fishers, the Professor said, were asked to focus on Grey Snapper and Sea Trout.

She added that these fishermen were asked to complete a form, indicating where and when they spotted these fishes, and whether they had observed any ripe eggs. Captains who completed an assessment form received US$10 on the day of the fishing trip for participating in this project, she stated.

Such a project, Dr. Bulkan notes, should be monitored independently by a credible NGO or a regulatory agency.

Monday January 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Farewell to Larry King! Welcome to the new breed of broadcasters!

A n e w e r a o f broadcasting has emerged but will a new breed of broadcasters arise. There is now a multiplicity of radio stations, following the liberalisation of radio first by the PPP/C and then by the APNU+AFC. Unfortunately, sufficient attention was not made to developing a pool of broadcasters from which these new stations could have drawn.

Too many deejays are masquerading as broadcasters.

Fortunately for Kaieteur Radio, some of the journalists with Kaieteur News have made a wonderful transition to radio. I have been extremely impressed with Kemol King’s perceptiveness in interviews; Kiana Wilburg is thorough and informed about the subjects she covers; and both Shikema Dey and Mikaila Prince have voices made for radio.

I encourage them to continue to hone their broadcasting skills. And there can be no better role model to imitate than Larry King who passed away last weekend.

CNN’s Larry King is one of the best television interviewers around. He conducts his shows with absolute control. You will never find Larry getting into an exchange of views or a debate with his guests.

King allows his guests to do most of the talking and to give the opinions. He limits himself to asking questions.

He probes. He teases responses from his guests.

If he needs to confront them on an issue, you will never find Larry taking an aggressive stand and

contradicting his guests. He would simply say, ‘But how do you respond to those who say…” This is his style.

In Guyana, we have some radio and television hosts who feel that the programme they host is for them to give their own views. They try to engage in tit-for-tat with their guests.

This is a style mimicked from the BBC Hard Talk programme where the host tries to put the guests in the hot seat. We do not need to do that in Guyana.

But often, we have hosts who try to steal the limelight, trying to impose their opinions, thus reducing the quality of the interview.

A few years ago, one of Guyana’s leading luminaries appeared on a local television show. At the end of it, the host spoke more than the legal luminary. This was a real turn-off, because here was an opportunity to really hear one of Guyana’s foremost legal minds, and, instead, the interviewer gave his opinions more than the interviewee did. The next time that host appeared; I simply turned off, since it was hard to endure that again.

A whole generation of broadcasters has gone off the scene. Most have retired, migrated or gone to the Great Beyond. Some do not know when to call it a day. They continue with the same old style and play the same old music, which they did in the 1970’s and 1980’s, not realizing that the essence of radio’s stamina has changed.

We h a v e a n e w generation that needs the necessary training in modern broadcasting. The media has changed from the old days,

and while there are some things, which can still be learnt from the old-timers, there is a completely new set of skills required.

Today, there are all manner of persons who feel that once they have the necessary sponsorship and can play a few music videos, they qualify as television hosts.

In the case of radio, there is an urgent need for good producers.

Local nighttime radio has become something of a drag, because enough effort and resources are not being channelled into producing good programmes for listeners.

Things are changing too.

There used to be a time when it took great skill for all the death announcements to be slotted into the available time. A few evenings ago, there was only one death announcement on radio and one message.

Radio still has a greater reach than television. Yet, television death announcements outstrip those aired on the radio.

There needs to be greater investment in producing good local radio programmes for prime time listening. Playing a musical interlude or simply having programmes which amount to nothing more than musical shows cannot substitute for having an interesting interview, a call-in show in which the audience participate or simply some educational or discussion programme.

Long gone are the days when you could look forward to a sports programme. Most of them these days feature someone being interviewed, a most

Dem boys seh...

De new generation nat going backwards When yuh support rigging, yuh does find yuhself having to lie pon top of more lies.

Yuh entire life does end up becoming one lie after de other.

This is wuh happening to dem vagabonds who did try to steal elections in Guyana. Fuss dem seh how dem win de elections. Dem claim de Statements of Polls gan confirm dem victory.

When de recount start and de Statements of Poll start fuh get expose, de Bingo wah one man bin playing with de numbers, dem tune change. De same ringleaders wah bin claiming dat dem win de elections and dat de recount would prove it, start to cry foul. Dem suddenly concoct a story how dead people and migrants vote. And dem face dry when dem claim dis.

Dem fuhget dat dem mooma and dem

poopa bin tell dem dat honesty is de de best policy. Or as de man from St. Vincent seh, “stand up and tek yuh licks like a man.”

Some of dem tun thief man by trying fuh steal elections.

Dem only fooling demselves. Even dem strongest supporters know de truth.

Is time fuh change.

All de vagabonds wah bin trying to go back in power through de back door should get banished. All dem mouthpieces gat fuh be sent packing.

Dem gat a new generation and dem nah gan allow dem future fuh get spoil by no fascist. Dem bin can’t agree with wah going on and dat is why de riggers gat little public support.

Talk half and tell de riggers dat dem old and cold!

boring format for an exciting field such as sport b r o a d c a s t i n g .

Radio is not going to disappear. What will go, unless good programming is produced, is the audience.

Who knows, most of the listeners may have already permanently switched to television.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not

necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Monday January 25, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Jimmy James, Roxanne Myers and the absurd existence of Guyana

O

nce again, I lament the horrible levels of mediocrity in Guyanese journalism. I do not believe you have to go to journalism school to know the basics.

The fundamentals of any profession lie in a commonsensical mode.

One of the sacred foundations of journalism is to provide a nation with news that is factual, verifiable and that allows the nation to be more informed about things that matter to it.

Just one example – if the leader of the purple race says that the turquoise race is inferior, then when you are interviewing him, you have to ask that question so the citizens can know where the leader stands on race issues.

I read an interview in the Stabroek News with Jimmy James, a Region Eight councillor of Lenox Shuman’s party, who is yet to take his seat because the councillors have not been sworn in. In the interview,

Mr. James said silly words that did not reflect as damaging on him as it did on the journalist that allowed James to get away with fictions.

James said he has to be seated as a councillor because the Region Eight people voted for him and they will skin him alive if he is not on the council. That is completely false. In Guyana, we do not vote for individuals except in certain areas of local government elections. At the national and regional elections held every five years, citizens vote for a list.

James was on a list for the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP). It was his party’s leadership that chose him for a seat at the Region Eight table. The journalist had to know that and correct James’ misinformation. Secondly, James should have been asked what purpose his party serves if he, James, has not been sworn in but the party’s leadership has no scope for

changing its mind.

Thirdly, James in his understanding of politics is more powerful than his entire party since the party has no choice but to allow James to do whatever he wants. In the current scenario, James is instructed that when the Region Eight council meets, he must vote for the PPP to have the chairmanship. James said he cannot do that; he wants to vote for the APNU+AFC to head Region Eight. Now James is contending that he must be allowed to go into the meeting and vote the way he wants and LJP cannot stop him. Such a circumstance is not replicated anywhere in the entire world.

It would have been a different ball-game if James was already seated as Charrandass Persaud was in parliament and he voted against his own party. That would have been a conscience vote. James, like Charrandass, would have known that his party would

part company with him. The difference with the Charrandass situation is that James, not a councillor as yet, telegraphed his thought as to how he would vote and is telling his party it has to choose him.

Not only is James a funny man but he makes Guyana looks pathetic and funny too.

But there is nothing funny when Roxanne Myers, the Deputy Chief Elections Officer, who has rightly been charged for criminal misconduct during the March 2020 election, comes into the picture. According to leader of the JLP, he has written Ms. Myers requesting the change of names of LJP councillors for Region Eight since November but to date, she has not acted on the party’s request.

Is Myers above the law?

Is there no one in GECOM or in Guyana who has jurisdiction over Myers? The answer is yes. GECOM’s

chairperson, Claudette Singh, could insist that Myers facilitate the request of Mr. S h u m a n .

A l t e r n a t i v e l y, Shuman could ask the three PPP commissioners to write Ms. Singh requesting a meeting of Frederick Kissoon GECOM where they this is. Myers did not can have a vote on Shuman’s request. Why that appear before the Ethnic route has to be taken is Relations Commission in the Vishnu Persaud case. Myers nonsensical.

Myers has no jurisdiction was a superwoman during to deny a political party the the five months of election names it wants before a rigging. Now Myers appears Region has a statutory to be a law unto herself in the meeting to decide on its Region Eight drama. On her composition. What happens Facebook page, a Deputy if before the Region Eight Vice Chancellor of the council is legally in place, a University of Guyana, designated councillor dies, defends Myers stubbornly. migrate or is incapacitated? Can she advise Myers to do M a y b e a s “ d u e s e x her job?

(The views expressed in machina”, the JLP could urgently seek a court order this article are those of the compelling Myers to do her a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the job.

What an absurd country opinions of this newspaper.)

Monday January 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Monday January 25, 2021

Venezuelan Navy detains Guyanese fishing vessels The Venezuelan Navy Vessel, Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24 which intercepted the Guyanese fishing vessels

Port Guiria, where the Guyanese crew members are currently held

T

wo Guyanese fishing vessels, along with its respective crews are currently detained on Venezuelan soil.

The vessels, Lady Nayera and the Sea Wolf, according to the Ministry of F oreign A ffairs , w ere intercepted on Thursday last by the Venezuela Navy Vessel, Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24.

The vessels were at the time operating in Guyana’ waters just off the coast at Waini Point.

In a release sent out by the Ministry, it stated that captains were instructed by the Venezuelan armed force to navigate their way to Port Guiria where they are being

held.The Ministry added that it is currently seeking to ascertain the status and welfare of the Guyanese crew members. In fact, Guyana has called on the Venezuelan Government to release them immediately.

The detention of the Guyanese fishermen follows a series of aggressive statements and moves made by the Venezuelan President, Nicholas Maduro Morro and regime stemming from the Essequibo territorial controversy.

The Essequibo has been caught in a bitter territorial controversy between Guyana and Venezuela for a number of years now. The matter has been brought before the International

Court of Justice (ICJ), where it ruled on December 18, 2020 that it has jurisdiction to resolve the issue.

Guyana’s argument is that it has sovereign rights over the coast and land territory because it was awarded to the then British Guiana in the 1899 Arbitral Award.

In response, Maduro has chosen an offensive path against Guyana. Just recently during an outreach in San martin, a Venezuelan Indigenous village bordering Guyana, government officials told villagers that they must fight with blood to conquer the Essequibo.

Apart from telling its citizens to fight, the Maduro regime also made some bold statement during recently

held press conference in Caracas.

Minister of Defence for the National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Ve n e z u e l a , V l a d a m i r Padrino had said, “Our Bolivarian National Armed Forces will guard every one of the geographic spaces that make up our Venezuela, inch by inch.”

Padrino then went to add, “It has been ordered by instruction of the

Commander in Chief, Nicolas Maduro, the constant patrolling of our legal waters, and the permanent observation by air and sea on the Atlantic coast.”

Maduro himself had also issued a presidential decree, which purports to establish a new maritime territory of Venezuela called ‘Territory for the development of the Atlantic Façade’.

The so called Atlantic

Façade, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs encompasses Guyana’s territorial waters, continental shelf and its land territory to west of the Essequibo River.

Guyana has since condemned all these aggressive acts and called on Maduro and his regime to behave in a manner that is consistent with international law and good neighbourly relations.

Gov’t. approaches IICA for assistance to recover $1.9B Panama owes rice millers

T

he Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has been invited to assist Guyana in obtaining from Panama, $1.9B it owes to Guyanese rice millers. This was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha last Friday.

The Minister stated that hopefully, he and Panama’s Minister of Agriculture can have a meeting soon and the payment can be made shortly following that meeting.

However, in late November last year, Panama had indicated that it would be unable to make the payment until the end of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This was after a letter asking them to honour its obligations was dispatched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd to the Panamanian government.

In light of this, the Government of Guyana is still consistent in its call for the repayment. In fact, Minister Mustapha has been tending to the issue since taking office in August, but every effort to recover the money from Panama has been unfruitful.

The country had even committed to clearing the debt when President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali intervened and said Guyana would be repaid with interest.

Panama’s debt comes from contracts signed in 2018 and 2019 for rice shipments.

The rice was shipped by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) but only a partial payment of US$550,000 was made for the 2018 contract while none was made for the 2019 contract.

The partial payment from the 2018 contract was used to pay rice millers in 2018.

Kaieteur News understands that the GRDB

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha had to use its own funds to pay rice millers afterwards resulting in it having a liability of $4.7 million. It was also previously highlighted by this newspaper that the Panamanian government’s market offers a higher price than other markets; however, payments are sometimes delayed due to government processes.

Despite its outstanding debt, the country has expressed that it would like to revive the rice deal with Guyana.

Minister Mustapha has since stated that he is awaiting the meeting which is being arranged by the IICA. He believes that if the previous administration had shown more interest, the issue would not have existed but Kaieteur News understands that the former regime was not responsible for the billion-dollar debt.

Kaieteur News

Monday January 25, 2021

PAGE 13

ExxonMobil has transformed itself from a stock market leader to a laggard

By Tom Sanzillo and Clark Williams-Derry IEEFA: By virtually every measure, the global oil and gas industry had a dreadful 2020. Demand slumped; prices sagged; stockpiles swelled; profits evaporated; and, for the fifth time in seven years, the energy sector ended the year in last place in the stock market. Amid this rout, ExxonMobil stood out for its poor performance. The company’s stock lost 40 percent of its value. It announced unprecedented write-downs while cutting 14,000 jobs. It fell out of the Top 10 of the S&P 500, was booted off the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and its market value was briefly eclipsed by its largest U.S. rival, Chevron.

But for ExxonMobil, this was simply the continuation of a trend. During the tenure of CEO Darren Woods, the

company’s stock has fallen faster and further than other oil and gas majors, destroying tens of billions of dollars of shareholder value.

Last year’s torrent of bad news has now eased a bit. Oil and gas prices have risen, and stock values have moved with them. In the U.S., drilling has ticked up slightly. The industry is by no means thriving, yet rising oil prices should prevent a repeat of last year’s abysmal performance.

Based on recent statements, ExxonMobil’s corporate leaders will likely

strategy has hinged on a singular view of oil’s trajectory in the global economy: Consumption would rise in lockstep with economic growth. Pinched by rising demand and limited supplies, prices would rise—and companies able to discover and develop oil and gas reserves would eventually generate ample returns.

The last decade proved that this view of oil markets is outdated. Economic growth now requires less oil.

Reserves have grown more abundant. Prices have

cheaper renewables, rising e f f i c i e n c y, p l a s t i c s recycling, preference for clean energy, growing cooperation on Paris Agreement goals, and a sophisticated global climate movement—are realigning energy markets by eroding oil and gas demand.

Combined, these forces undermine both growth assumptions and long-term profits for the oil and gas sector.

Even an increase in oil prices no longer signals long-term financial health for ExxonMobil, or for the

ABOUT IEEFA The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) examines issues related to energy markets, trends, and policies.

The Institute’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a diverse, sustainable and profitable energy economy. treat this upturn as a vindication of their business strategy. For decades, that

trended downward. A host of competitors and external forces—including ever-

industry as a whole. Yes, higher prices will boost short-term cash flows, lift

IEEFA energy finance analyst, Clark Williams-Derry

IEEFA Director of Financial Analysis Tom Sanzillo

stock prices, and foster a storyline of an industry on the rebound. Yet, rising prices in this period of energy transition now carry growing financial risks for oil companies.

Rising prices now destroy demand. Higher oil and gas prices simply a c c e l e r a t e t h e e n e rg y transition by making renewables and efficiency investments more costcompetitive. Electric cars are already chipping away at

gasoline demand. Wind, solar, and battery storage are starting to do the same for natural gas. The alternatives to oil and gas are already inexpensive, and costs continue to fall.

High prices encourage speculation on new oil and gas production. Over the last decade, price upticks spurred oil companies and Wall Street investors to pour billions into capitalintensive oil and gas (Continued on page 17)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Monday January 25, 2021

Coalition MP collected $5.7M for construction of pig pen using unregistered association It has been revealed that Jermaine Figueira, an A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament (MP), collected $5.7M to construct and extend pig pens in Linden via a co-operative society that was never officially registered.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, who spoke to Kaieteur News yesterday.

According to Hamilton, Figueira’s association, the Green Jaguar Environmental and Community Development Co-operative Society, was handed the funds in 2019 to construct the pig pens which are part of a pig rearing project for the Wi s r o c c o m m u n i t y i n Linden. It is one of the many community projects funded under the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme in 2019. The groups receiving project funding are required to be registered as Co-operative Societies before any disbursement is made. But Figuera’s company was never officially registered.

APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira In fact, Hamilton said that the documents that were submitted by his “cooperative society” failed to meet the criteria. He said too that even though Figueira submitted an application to be registered, it was still pending when the funds were disbursed. To date, the co-operative society has not been registered by the Department of Cooperatives.

Hamilton’s claims were supported by documents, which were seen by this newspaper. The Minister also highlighted that the pig rearing project was being

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton executed on private lands.

Kaieteur News understands that the Minister even visited the area on Friday, last, where he got a first-hand view of how the moneys collected were being utilized. It was during this time that the official discovered that the project is incomplete.

On Saturday via a Facebook post, Figueira responded to Hamilton’s disclosures where he called them “wild, irresponsible and callous”. The young politician claimed that Hamilton’s utterances were intended to tarnish his

The incomplete pig pen (Photo Credit: Department of Public Information)

reputation and gain “cheap political points”.

He also denied receiving any money, saying, “I take this opportunity to publicly state and make it absolutely clear, that I Jermaine Figueira, Member of Parliament for Region Ten, has never been t h e re c i p i e n t o f a n y disbursement of monies from the sustainable l i v e l i h o o d a n d entrepreneurial development (SLED) programme in 2019 or any other year for that matter”.

But his claim of not receiving any funds was contradicted by documents seen by Kaieteur News, which clearly outlines that

Figueira was the contact p e r s o n , c o o r d i n a t o r, recipient of the money and contractor for the project. A status report as of December 12, 2019, stated that the building was completed as well as the extended section for the pigs. It was found following a visit by the Minister that the doors for the extended section were not sturdy, there was no drainage system built for the wastewater, there was a wooden beam that needed reinforcement to support it, and no pigs were in the pens as yet.

The very document also showed that he received an interim payment on July 19, 2019, at the tune of $3.1M.

The report also showed that the final payment was collected.

Figueira has since asked Minister Hamilton to withdraw the “character assassination” and the “malicious article” that was published regarding the same issue. He has also demanded a front-page apology or he will take legal action against Hamilton and those media entities, which published his statements.

Figueira’s association is among several in different regions that has not been officially registered by the Department of Cooperatives but have received funds for projects under the SLED programme.

Kaieteur News

Monday January 25, 2021

PAGE 15

Female guard dodges cutlass to escape bandits

A

female security g u a r d i s counting her blessings after she was able to dodge a cutlass yielding bandit and escape to safety on Tuesday morning last while on her way to work.

The lucky woman has been identified as Colleen Joseph, of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara.

Joseph is a security guard attached to Delta Security Service. Kaieteur News understands that Joseph was stationed at a worksite on the East Coast of Demerara but was recently moved to work in Georgetown.

Joseph said that there is a bus that usually collects the early morning workers that are heading to Georgetown.

She said, “The first bus that leaves Enterprise would come out every morning at 04:45hrs.

This bus would pick me up and some other workers

that have to come down to Georgetown very early,” According to Joseph, she lives six to seven houses away from the corner where the bus would usually pick her up.

“I never feel fearful because it’s in my street, so I had no fear of going out there,” She added.

Further to this, Joseph s a i d t h a t o n Tu e s d a y morning when she got up, she had a strange feeling but did not pay it much mind.

She shared that while leaving her yard, she could not locate the gate keys and so asked her daughter to lock the gate.

On her way out to the corner, she said, “I heard a dog barking but from a distance.

So I was like ‘I hope no dog ain’t out there…because I’m afraid of dogs.”

Joseph stated that while she was walking, she heard the sound of a bicycle

Superbet employee robbed of $162,700 while closing shop

A

Superbet employee was on Saturday robbed of $162,700 while she was closing up her shop.

The victim has been identified as Shakule Khan, 29, of Belle West, West Bank Demerara.

According to a police report, Khan was robbed of a bag containing the cash, which is the property of Superbet. The report stated that the incident occurred around 18:45hrs at First Street Patentia, West Bank Demerara.

Khan was allegedly

robbed by a lone bandit. The woman told the police that she was in the process of closing the front door of the shop with a padlock when she heard a male voice saying, “Don’t move!”

The bandit then reportedly grabbed Khan’s bag and made good his escape on foot in a northern direction.

The police were alerted and when the ranks arrived, they made checks around the area. The suspect however was not located.

The investigation into the alleged robbery is ongoing.

Guyana urgently needs...

From page 13 oil on their books, so they can enhance the financial appearance. They’re not going to be allowed to do that and get away with it,” Dr Adams told the panel he was part of recently.

Be that as it may, Dr. Adams recommended that Guyana needs to have the capacity to conduct its own verifications of the data.

A 2019 mud spill in the Kanuku Block operated by Spanish oil company Repsol had exposed just how important it was for the EPA to have on site monitoring.

Dr. Adams had revealed that the company reported that only 84 barrels of mud was released into the ocean due

to a valve that was open during its efforts to drill a well.

While 84 barrels of mud is what the company said was released, the official was keen to point out that the EPA due to its limited resources was incapable of verifying if this is accurate as no designated officer is at Repsol’s offshore operations since the EPA does not have the human resources to ensure same. He stressed that this state of affairs needs to change as soon as possible especially when one takes into account, how aggressively exploration and development activities for the oil sector are ramping up offshore and onshore.

approaching. She added, “So I turned on my torchlight and when I shine the torchlight ahead of me, it was a bicycle approaching me.”

The woman said she was soon able to see that it was two men on the bicycle but as they passed her, one of the two suspects leaned over and grabbed her bag.

However, Joseph said that her bag was wrapped around her hand so she kept holding back her bag.

According to Joseph, she and one of the suspects were in a scuffle over her handbag for some time.

Following this, the other

bandit grabbed her sweater in an attempt to relieve her of the bag.

She added, “That’s when I saw the guy that was holding my bag, hold the bag with one hand and then he reached for a cutlass that was stick at the back of the bicycle.”

The woman said that when she saw the cutlass, she shouted, “Murder!

Murder!” The security guard said she continued screaming too.

Joseph then said she did one heavy tug while adding, “Let me tell you this, when I tug myself away from this

guy that cutlass come down ‘zloop’ to the side of me.

When this cutlass come down to the side of me, I felt so strange because right there and then a millisecond more that cutlass would have either hit me in my head or on my shoulder.

I would have either been dead or badly wounded.”

She stated that she continued screaming and that’s when she saw a man coming down the street with a dog and she shouted, “Mr. Mr. you live in this street,” but he did not respond.

Moments later, Joseph said her phone rang and it

was her daughter calling her after she heard her mother cries for help.

Joseph said she told her daughter to open the door and she ran home, while the bandits made good their escape on the bicycle.

Joseph stated that she did not recognise any of the two suspects but for the rest of the day, she was left shaken by the incident.

Kaieteur News understands that the matter has not been reported to the police since Joseph was not only able to escape unharmed but with all of her belongings intact.

PAGE 16

Monday January 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

Bids open for institutional strengthening for probation services WANTED Wanted (1) One welder to do grill work. Call 625-5763

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Repairs,Services,Spares to Washing Machine Refridgetor Store, Treadmill, Deepfryer,Cooler,Dryer,Grains mill.Call:#694-9733 FOR SALEFOR SALE

Yamaha outboard motor 115hp 150hp 9.9hp 50hp all foreigh use and amplifiers Call 670-4795 Caterpillar backhoe $2.2M, Honda 52000 $ 2.2M, Audi A4 $2.2M, Perkins disel welder $1.1M Contact: 650-0402/ 2604115

Wanted to buy 2 door MK 1 Ford Escort must be in resonable condition.Call 6003271/ 600-1767

FOR RENT Fully furnished 1 & 2 bedroom house / apartment / parking, E.C.D. US$600, US$700, daily $40, whatsapp/ call 868747-4343, 648-1787 Residence: Diamond & Pearl East Bank, Business: Saffon, Hadfield Georgetown Bond in East Coast Ray's Realty 6279685 One Bedroom Apartment for working couple or single person, $36,000.Monthly light and water included.#6273800 PROPERTY FOR SALE Kitty,Republic Gardens, Thomas street, Paradise & Enterprise, East Coast, Uitvlugt & Diamond.. Contact Ray's Realty 627-9685 LAND FOR SALE La Penitence, Bacheler's Adventure (double lot), Paradise Kuru Kuru, Cornelia ada, Plaisance Contact Ray's Realty 627-9685

WANTED Male & Female to work in factory. Apply in person to R.P'S Enterprise area "K" Le Ressouvenir. E.C.D

their Ministry of Finance (MoF) office on Main and Urquhart Streets.

Notable projects from these bids included the procurement of a

Central Planning and Housing Authority (CH&PA) Construction of community facility at Sophia Housing Area, Georgetown

consultancy firm for the Institutional Strengthening of the Probation Services under the Ministry of Legal Affairs, as well as the Supply and delivery of

service connection materials for the Guyana Water Incorporated.

Below are the companies and their bids.

Office of the Prime Minister: Hinterland Electrification Company Incorporated Supply of line hardware for Achiwib

Lathe operator and welder S. Sawh machine shop Contact 645-9333 Caption to ply from Parika Bartica Contact Tel#650-0402 / 260-4115 VEHICLE FOR SALE

Guyana Water Incorporated Supply and delivery of service connection materials in five lots

Toyota Fortuner 2012 model G$11.9 Million. automatic, Low Mileage (40,000 km) Tel#660-0192, 233-5859, 6885554 Toyota rush- PRR series year:2006 excellent condition price: $2.3million please call 628-4029 Toyota Carina 212 for sle. Contact 624-5650 for details

TO LET One bedroom apartment living room, kitchen and bathroom Cummings lodge E.C.D 222-0401 preferable UG students

The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), on Tuesday, opened -----bids for five government ministry at

Ministry of Legal Affairs Consulting firm for the Institutional Strengthening of the Probation Services VACANCY Vacancy exist for the following positions: 1 civil engineer, 1 secretary. Call 608 2114 Pitmen and Hauler operator for interior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call 6182020 Workers for P.S.G.C.S Labourers, Cleaner, Maintenance worker, Semi- skilled labourer. Contact number 6157784, Mon- Fri 8am- 3pm 1 experienced sales clerk to work in a lumberyard / hardware store.Preferably from the W.B.D or W.C.D 612-9344 / 646-1738 Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 2545, Car/ Van license Call: 6429823 Emmanuel's Delight sec S Grove Diamond 1 night cook, 1 baker server's Tel#696-5492 Searching for Labourers to work on cash crop farm paid $5,000 - $6,000 per day. telephone #695-6139/ 638-7420

Ministry of Local Government & Regional Development Provision of consultancy services for the design and supervision of the #52 Canje Creek Road

Two new COVID-19 fatalities added to country’s death toll The Ministry of Health reported two new COVID19 fatalities yesterday, a 78year-old male from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and a 60-yearold male from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

According to the Ministry’s press release, both persons died while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

The COVID-19 death toll now stands at 172 deaths.

The Ministry also reported 76 new infections via its daily dashboard update yesterday which increases the country’s COVID-19 case toll to 7,298.

One general domestic apply at VACANCY Alabama Trading 65 Robb 1 officer worker with 3 years street Bourda experience and have knowlege New York marketting firm of payroll Contact # 621-6969/ wants to hire sales managers. 615-7784 Paid Training. Serious Candidates. Email: sally@jwiz.com Immediate vacancy exists for one canter lorry driver+ male (1) trained and qualified night workers @ Del Ice Co Call 231security graud must have: 1408/ 642-9191 valid police clerance two references. contact sofia razak @ Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area Call: 615-9132 266-3256

The dashboard also shows that seven patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 713 in home

isolation, 36 in institutional isolation and 13 in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, a total of 6,370

persons have recovered from the virus with nine new recoveries recorded yesterday.

Kaieteur News

Monday January 25, 2021

PAGE 17

Guyana urgently needs Oil & Gas monitoring unit

I

t is critical for Guyana, a novel oil producing nation, to have adequate capacity to monitor the exploration, development and production oil by ExxonMobil so as to ensure what is submitted by the company on paper, is an accurate reflection of what is taking place on the rig.

As such, Dr. Vincent Adams who holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering, underscored the urgent need for the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) to staff the Petroleum Unit at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.

On a recent panel discussion, Dr. Adams who previously headed the agency explained that under his tenure, the EPA had worked with the World Bank to develop a Petroleum Unit containing 36 highly-skilled staffers to streamline its monitoring duties of the oil and gas sector. However, the a g e n c y ’s e ff o r t s w e r e hampered due the then Coalition regime’s inability to approve the requisite funding due to its caretaker status.

With a new government and budget in place, Dr. Adams posited that acquiring the relevant

-Dr. Adams officers for the unit should be a priority to ensure there is no a value leakage or breaches of production licences. “I am pleading with the government to make sure that we start staffing that unit because we have to have 24hour coverage and on site monitoring so that we could see exactly what is going on,” he advised.

Dr. Adams noted too that with proper and accurate verification, Guyana runs the risk of accepting whatever is being reported

by ExxonMobil as gospel.

Porter injured after being pinned by truck on Mazaruni trail A porter, 40, is now hospitalised after being pinned by a truck last Saturday along the Toraturu Trail, Mazaruni, Region Seven.

The porter, Odit Narine Persaud of Essequibo, was reportedly working on the truck at the time.

According to police, the incident took place around 13:30hrs.

Investigators reported that the truck was decending a hill when its driver lost control

causing it to turn turtle along the hill.

Persaud was pinned underneath the truck and had to be pulled out. He was rushed to nearest health outpost and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was admitted.

Persaud received multiple injuries to his body and a broken right leg. Investigators revealed that his condition at the moment is

ExxonMobil has transformed itself ...

From page 13 projects—only to see those investments obliterated when the inevitable oversupply brought prices back down. Investors may have been chastened by these failures; many have pledged to eschew new oil plays. If this discipline holds, new drilling could remain subdued and prices might stay higher for longer.

If not, we could see more capital inflows and more production, creating yet another boom-and-bust investment cycle that diverts scarce capital from the much-needed energy transition.

Consumers and importing nations can now fight back against high prices. High prices create a host of ills for the globe’s oil and gas importers, including trade deficits, inflation, currency devaluation, and a weakened investment environment. But consuming nations now have new tools to fight back against high prices.

Structured investments in renewable energy can permanently loosen their dependence on imported oil and gas, and a host of policies can redirect capital towards energy alternatives.

Rising prices may give new life to outdated strategies. Each oil uptick has prompted ExxonMobil and like-minded companies

to double down on the failed strategy of heavy capital spending on new oil and gas supplies.

But until prices rise dramatically and persistently, the oil industry can’t find a sustainable business model in simply depleting and replacing reserves. In 2018, global oil prices stood at $71 per barrel, almost $30 more than in 2020, yet the energy sector still finished in last place in the S&P 500.

Rising prices could lull investors into complacency.

The oil and gas industry’s financial woes have galvanized investors into pressing for changes in oil industry governance and strategy. Some companies have responded by diversifying their business models—shifts that were healthy for the companies and rewarded by shareholders.

But rising prices could derail this investor pressure, discouraging healthy s c r u t i n y, w e a k e n i n g t r a n s p a r e n c y, a n d dissipating the momentum of the energy transition.

By clinging to its outdated view of energy markets—a view in which price increases were both i n e v i t a b l e a n d beneficial—ExxonMobil has transformed itself from a stock market leader to a laggard. The business model

that failed to sustain the company during bad times will serve just as poorly as prices rise. The company can find no refuge in politics, either. Just look at the past four years: When a “pro-fossil fuel” administration took office in J a n u a r y 2 0 1 7 , E x x o n M o b i l ’s m a r k e t capitalization was $373 billion. Today, it is $204 billion.

Clearly, ExxonMobil needs to adopt new strategies to deal with the reality of today’s energy markets. The process will be uncomfortable. First, the company must acknowledge the core problem with its business model: It is a cash business with a deteriorating asset base. The company’s leaders must then establish a new model that accommodates lower revenues, slower demand growth, competition and falling opportunities for profitable oil and gas investments.

But the management team that brought the company to its diminished state is unlikely to steer it back towards financial success. For ExxonMobil, change must start at the top, w i t h n e w, c l e a r- e y e d leadership able to understand where the winds are blowing in the global energy markets, and willing to tack accordingly.

He said “You know in my experience, over 90% of the time, when you sit in your office, 90% or more of what the contractor is telling you is totally wrong, is totally

Stabroek Block outside of what has been stated by ExxonMobil, Dr. Adams answered in the negative.

While he admitted that all of the data comes from the American super major, he pointed out that he has no qualms with this as Exxon is accountable to the United States (US) government and thus must be transparent and truthful in its reporting.

Former EPA Director, Dr. Vincent Adams

misleading as a matter of fact.”

When asked whether there has been any independent verification of the oil potential of the

“They have more accountability than Guyana to deal with, in terms of reporting numbers.

So, it’s not just they can willy nilly say they’re going to put eight billion barrels of (Continued on page 15)

Motorcyclist killed in Linden accident

The family of Adriel Drakes, 26, of Blue Berry Hill, Wismar has been thrown into a state of mourning after he was killed in an accident in Linden on Saturday afternoon.

According to the police report, the accident occurred around 16:30hrs on Sir David Rose Avenue, Mackenzie. Kaieteur News understands that a motorcar driven by Clifton Cadogan, 68, of Blue Berry Hill, was travelling north on the western side of the road while the motorcycle was travelling in the opposite direction reportedly at a fast rate.

Reports are that while he was negotiating a left bend, Drakes lost control of his motorcycle and ended up colliding with the right side front of the car. As a result of that, he fell onto the roadway where he received injuries about his body. He was picked up by public-spirited persons in an unconscious state and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was seen and examined by a doctor. Drakes later succumbed while receiving treatment.

Kaieteur News understands that the

Dead: Adriel Drakes. driver has since been taken into custody and is assisting with the investigations.

Govt. launches programme to help unregistered businesses transition to formal economy The Ministry of Labour is aiming at transitioning businesses from the informal economy to the formal economy by means of conducting one stop shops in the various regions of the country.

This announcement was made by the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton during a virtual conference with the American Chambers of Commerce (AMCHAM) on Tuesday where he shared his vision for the future of Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) in Guyana.

According to Minister Hamilton, the aim is to have businesses contribute to the

National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Kaieteur News understands that this will be done by way of having businesses that are not registered and therefore form part of the informal economy, regularized.

The now registered businesses will also be made to adhere to the Decent Work Country Programme for Guyana 2017-2021, which involves the payment of minimum wage, granting of leave and the payment of overtime.

During a telephone interview with this publication, the Minister shared that the whole point

of it, is that people need to be regularized and have their skillset upgraded so they can become part of the formal economy, meaning they pay taxes and they pay insurance.

The Minister added that many of the people that do not contribute to the National Insurance Scheme suffer because they have no safety net to help take care of them when they are sick.

He further emphasized that people in the informal economy should seek to be regularized as it is the right thing to do. Kaieteur News understands that the initiative is expected to conclude by September month-end.

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Kaieteur News

Monday January 25, 2021

Monday January 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Rahmat Shah’s 103* trumps Paul Stirling’s 128 as Afghanistan go 2-0 up ESPNcricinfo - Better support with bat and ball ensured Rahmat Shah’s unbeaten 103 trumped Paul Stirling’s 128 as Afghanistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

A third-wicket partnership of 184 between Rahmat and Hashmatullah Shahidi carried Afghanistan to a sevenwicket win with 28 balls remaining, after Ireland had set them a target of 260.

The only comparable partnership for Ireland was a fourth-wicket stand of 106 between Stirling and Curtis Campher, which came up in just 100 balls and featured excellent use of the sweep from both batsmen, particularly off Mohammad

Nabi and Rashid Khan. The partnership left Ireland in good shape to mount a slogovers charge, but they lost steam following the dismissal of Campher, caught at short extra-cover off Rashid. They only made 49 off the last 51 balls of their innings, and lost five wickets while doing so.

Three of those wickets, including that of Stirling in the 45th over, went to the fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who finished with figures of 4 for 42 from his ten overs.

Afghanistan’s other bowling star was Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who picked up three wickets including the key dismissals of Kevin O’Brien and Andy Balbirnie with the new ball, which left Ireland 20 for 2 at

one stage. Stirling began rebuilding the innings in the company of Harry Tector, who made a watchful 24, before Campher joined him in the 25th over of the innings.

Stirling celebrated his hundred - his 11th in ODIs, equalling William Porterfield’s Ireland record - by paying tribute to Roy Torrens, the former Ireland player and team manager who died yesterday, pointing to the sky after removing his helmet. Stirling had tweeted that Torrens’ passing was “crushing news”, describing him as “Irish cricket to the very core but an even better man”.

Afghanistan’s chase began brightly, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Monday January 25, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) There is some likelihood that the mood at home is fraught with tension. Did you dare to express some contrary intellectual opinion? In any case, it looks like your self-confidence is stronger than usual right now.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) It would seem that your sensitivity is in slight conflict with your actions. You continue to go through the motions and do what you planned to do, but it seems like your heart isn't in it anymore.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may have been spending or saving too much money, Gemini. It's clear that a rebalancing is in order if you're to find pleasure rather than eternal frustration.

CANCER(June21–July22) You've been stamping the ground impatiently. You're waiting for the moment to jump into new adventures with renewed vigor after your meditation of the last few months.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you find yourself tired and irritable now, Leo, you should know that this is normal. You may have had a few months that were a little too studious.

Would you like to continue with the same rhythm?

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) This is going to be a good moment to look elsewhere, Virgo. You should do just as the artist does when he has worked on a painting for too long, which is take a step back.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is the right moment to extricate yourself from relationships that have seen their day, Libra. This won't be easy, but you must.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You took off like a bullet a few days ago, Scorpio, making great progress in a short amount of time. But now you're grappling with doubts that are undermining all your energy.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) There is some likelihood that thoughts of your love life will haunt you today. Perhaps you're intrigued by the idea of exploring certain realms of your relationship that remain secret.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today more than ever you will yearn to escape from the daily routine. You're thirsty for new sights and sounds, new faces and places.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Finally, you're on the mend, Aquarius. The minor ailments that have been dragging you down lately are beginning to disappear, and you're about to regain all of your physical energy.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Do you feel a little under the weather, Pisces? It's possible, considering all the emotional turmoil you've been through lately. It takes time to recover from those storms. As you know, the work itself isn't what gets you down but rather your worries about the future.

following up his debut hundred in the first ODI by clattering 31 off 26 balls, including two sixes off Simi Singh’s offspin. Barry McCarthy and Campher struck in successive overs thereafter, though, to leave Afghanistan in a bit of bother at 48 for 2 in the ninth over.

Rahmat and Shahidi counterattacked, hitting four fours and a six between them in their first four full overs together. Shahidi then slipped into a lower gear even as Rahmat kept finding the boundary with pristine drives to keep the required rate well under control. He brought up his half-century off 49 balls, at the start of the 23rd over.

It took Shahidi another ten overs to get to that milestone, off 68 balls, but having done so he opened out significantly, hitting Craig Young for back-to-back fours in the 38th over to bring up Afghanistan’s 200, and repeating the dose off Simi in the 42nd over before holing out to long-off to fall 18 short of a century.

There was no such trouble for Rahmat, who brought up the landmark for the fifth time in his ODI career, before giving a chance, put down at point by a diving Tector off McCarthy. By then Afghanistan only needed 21, and their captain Asghar Afghan ensured they’d finish in a hurry, hitting McCarthy for 6, 6, 4 in the 45th over and ending up unbeaten on 21 off 13 balls.

While Afghanistan have now wrapped up the series with a game to spare, the final fixture on Tuesday will not be treated as a dead-rubber, with 10 World Cup Super League points still on offer.

Scores: Afghanistan 260 for 3 (Rahmat 103*, Shahidi 82) beat Ireland 259 for 9 (Stirling 128, Campher 47, Naveen 4-42, Mujeeb 3-46) by seven wickets.

Rahmat Shah was most effective with his drives around the ground © Abu Dhabi Cricket

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Monday January 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

Root’s 186 helps England close in on Sri Lanka

Dom Bess congratulates Joe Root after the captain reaches 150 © SLC

AFP - Skipper Joe Root was run out shy of a second successive double century yesterday as England scored 339 for nine in reply to Sri Lanka’s 381 on day three of the second Test in Galle.

Root was out to a direct throw from Oshada Fernando on 186 in the final over of the day as stumps were called with England trailing by 42 runs.

Sri Lanka’s Lasith Embuldeniya claimed seven wickets and broke a key seventh-wicket stand of 81 between Root and Dom Bess, who fell to the left-arm spinner for 32.

Root, who completed his 19th Test ton in 99 matches before lunch, kept pushing in the marathon knock of 309 balls.

The captain, who hit a match-winning 228 in his team’s opening win, was helped along by wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler in a partnership of 97 runs.

Debutant Ramesh Mendis took his first international wicket when he dismissed Buttler for 55 after the batsman’s reverse sweep hit his boot and the ball lobbed for an easy catch to short leg.

Buttler survived a similar call in the morning session when replays showed his shot had hit the boot and ground, and he went on to register his 18th Test fifty.

Embuldeniya, who registered his third five-wicket haul, struck twice early in the day with his left-arm spin, including the key wicket of Jonny Bairstow, to break a 111-run third-wicket stand with Root.

Bairstow, who added just four more to his overnight 24, was given not out by the umpire but Sri Lanka successfully reviewed the call as replays suggested the ball had grazed the bat before hitting the pad and being caught second slip.

Root reached his hundred with a single off Dilruwan Perera and raised the bat to an applauding dressing room and lone England fan standing on the ramparts of the fort overlooking the picturesque ground.

He went past England greats including Geoff Boycott (8,114), Kevin Pietersen (8,181) and David Gower (8,231) in Test runs before he attempted a cheeky single, and was run out while returning back to his crease.

The series resumed on January 14 behind closed doors after being cancelled in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Scores: StumpsEngland 339 for 9 (Root 186, Buttler 55, Embuldeniya 7-132) trail Sri Lanka 381 (Mathews 110, Dickwella 92, Perera 67, Chandimal 52, Anderson 640) by 42 runs.

Fernandes free-kick sees Man Utd beat Liverpool in thrilling FA Cup tie BBC Sport - Bruno Fernandes’ superb 78thminute free-kick gave Manchester United victory in a thrilling FA Cup tie with old rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Liverpool led a fantastic contest through Mohamed Salah, who then equalised after Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford had struck for the hosts either side of the break.

But in a game which had everything last week’s

drab stalemate between this pair at Anfield lacked, Fernandes came off the bench to have the final word after Fabinho had fouled Edinson Cavani on the edge of the area.

Fernandes might have been slightly off the pace in recent games but when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needed his £47m inspiration to come up with another special moment, the Portuguese delivered, bending his shot round the wall and beyond Allison’s

reach.

The victory earns United a home meeting with an inform West Ham side managed by former boss David Moyes in the fifth round.

But the search for form goes on for Liverpool, whose only win in seven games since that seven-goal hammering of Crystal Palace came against Aston Villa’s kids in the last round, and who have a meeting with Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham looming on Thursday.

Monday January 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

Cricket Development Programme 2021

RHTYSC Cricket teams donate to BCB and UCCA

UCCA Executives poses with RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster after the presentation. “We have a belief that the more you share your blessings, the more God would bless you. Over the last twenty-five, we have worked beyond the call of duty to assist our fellow cricket clubs and the Berbice Cricket Board because we want everyone to succeed, not just us. When we are all successful, we would be able to keep more youths from the evil ways of Satan.� Those were the words of Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster as the club made a contribution to the operation of the Berbice Cricket Board.

The donation was done by the ten cricket teams of the club under their massive cricket development programme which seeks to assist other clubs to reach the standards of the RHTYSC. The teams are Poonai Pharmacy Under 12 and Under 13, Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermediate, Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Under 21 and First Division, Metro Females. The teams also handed over a donation

to the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association.

The BCB received five cricket trophies, stationery, cleaning detergents, security equipment and a set of COVID-19 protective items.

The Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, the most vibrant sub association in Guyana received five trophies, box of balls, educational posters and COVID-19 protective items including face masks, face shields and hand sanitizers.

The club also handed over four school bags and educational materials to the family of an injured cricketer of No72 Village. The player was badly injured in a fight and Foster, in his capacity of President of the Berbice Cricket Board had committed himself to assisting the family with food hampers, a cricket bat and educational materials. All of the commitments have been fulfilled.

The long serving RHTYSC Secretary/CEO stated the club had struggled a lot during the first five years of its existence and at times was barely able to keep its head above the water, but was

able to excelled through a simple theme of hard work, dedication and faith in God. He stated that over the last twenty-five years, the RHTYSC had assisted over one hundred clubs in Berbice along with hundreds of cricketers with cricket gears, uniforms, bicycles, educational materials, food hampers, scorebooks, youth information booklet among others. The club also assisted numerous of its sister clubs financially to aid them to fulfill their mandate.

Foster stated that the RHTYSC is pleased to be the leading cricket club in Berbice but wanted other clubs to step up as it would enable more youths to fulfill their dreams and keep them away from a life of crime and drugs.

He committed the RHTYSC to assisting at least forty cricket clubs and 200 youth players in 2021.

BCB Secretary/CEO Angela Haniff expressed gratitude to the RHTYSC for the timely assistance, while UCCA Vice President Sydney Jackman hailed the club as a true friend of the sub association.

RHTYSC Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu hands over donation to BCB Secretary Angela Haniff in the presence of other executives.

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Monday January 25, 2021

Kaieteur News

Dustin Poirier scores brutal TKO of Conor McGregor at UFC 257 Yahoo Sports - Dustin Poirier said repeatedly during the build-up to his rematch with Conor McGregor on Saturday at UFC 257 that he wasn’t the same fighter that McGregor knocked out in the first round in 2014.

He proved that dramatically on Saturday. He chopped McGregor’s lead leg apart with calf kicks and then finished him with a brutal combination, dropping him with a left and a right and ending it with two shots on the ground.

With McGregor slumped over on the canvas at Etihad Arena and unable to defend himself, referee Herb Dean jumped in to stop it at 2:32 of the second round.

It puts Poirier in position to fight for the lightweight title, either against champion Khabib Nurmagomedov if he chooses to resume his career or another top contender.

But Poirier, who closed at +260 at BetMGM, will be difficult to beat no matter who he fights for the belt.

“I’m happy man, but I’m

not surprised,” Poirier said. “I put in the work.”

The consensus going in was that Poirier had to avoid McGregor’s power early and make it a long fight.

And while McGregor did have a good first round and landed several solid strikes, Poirier was composed and gave as good as he got.

He took a number of hard shots from McGregor, including a shoulder strike to the face while they were clinched, and didn’t buckle.

It was the same move McGregor used a year earlier at UFC 246 in Las Vegas to knock out Donald Cerrone.

But Poirier stuck to the plan. He chopped repeatedly at McGregor’s lead leg with the calf kick and it was swollen and bruised by the end of the round.

“The calf kick was very good,” McGregor said.

The final sequence began when Poirier landed a calf kick.

He followed with a left hand and came back with a right and dropped McGregor.

Poirier walked over and landed a blistering right and then another shot that caused Dean to stop it.

“The goal was to be technical, pick my shots and not brawl at all,” Poirier said.

It was a fast-paced fight but he stuck to his plan and he’s now in position for a massive opportunity.

McGregor said he would

continue to fight and vowed he’d be back in the cage in 2021.

“I need activity,” McGregor said. “You don’t get away with being inactive in this business and that’s the way it is.”

Poirier proved that with a brilliant performance that opens a huge range of possibilities for him.

IPL’s Royals appoint Sri Lankan Sangakkara as director

Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara has been appointed director of cricket for the IPL’s Rajasthan Royals.

AFP - The Indian Premier League’s Rajasthan Royals have appointed former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara as director of cricket for the fourteenth season of the world’s richest cricket league. “Kumar brings a wealth of cricket knowledge both as a player and a leader,” Mike Fordham, Group CEO of Rajasthan Royals, said in a statement.

“We are thrilled to have him join the team and we are confident that Kumar will motivate, challenge and inspire our players and coaches that will translate to success on the field,” Kumar added.

Kumar is considered one of the legends of the modern game, having scored over 28,000 runs in his 16-year career.

The Sri Lankan said he was excited about the new challenge.

“To oversee the cricket strategy of a franchise in the leading cricket competition in the world... is an opportunity that really

motivated me,” Kumar said in a statement.

The appointment comes days after Royals released Australian star batsman Steve Smith and announced Sanju Samson as the new captain, days before next month’s pre-tournament player auction.

Samson played 14 matches in the 2020 IPL — which was played behind closed doors in the United Arab Emirates because of the coronavirus pandemic — scoring 311 runs.

The Royals have kept England stars Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer in their team, which Smith captained this year and hauled them off the bottom of the eight-team league.

The IPL — the world’s wealthiest cricket tournament and which attracts top stars from around the globe — is expected to start in April.

The venues, and whether the tournament will even be held in India, still hasn’t been finalised because of the pandemic.

Kaieteur News

Monday January 25, 2021

PAGE 23

Works underway at South Dakota Circuit until January 26

Minister of MCYS continues meaningful community engagement with visit to Reg 3 - Selected grounds across Guyana to be converted to Leisure and Recreational Parks

Aaron Bethune on the straightaway during testing for Endurance last Sunday. (Calvin Chapman photo)

T

A footballer (foreground) shows off his boots received from Minister Ramson Jr. who greets a community member.

Despite the ongoing challenges being presented by covid-19, Minister of Culture Youth and Sport (MCYS) Charles Ramson Jr. has been making the rounds as he gets to know administrators and other stakeholders across Guyana as well as get hands on experience as to the real needs.

This past weekend, Saturday to be exact, Minister Ramson was on the West Demerara and East Bank Essequibo where he visited a number of grounds and met with dozens of individuals, all activities taking place under the guidelines and protocols that have been mandated by the National Covid-19 Task Force.

Minister Ramson commented on

Saturday’s visit: “This is part of my consultation with communities so that I could get a good assessment of their needs for the state and condition of the community centres ... in addition some of the grounds across the country will be converted to leisure and recreational parks so that they could better serve communities and families. So this is the beginning of that process too, which is community engagement, involvement and support.” The centres and grounds visited were Tuschen, Meten-Meer-Zorg, Zeeburg, Cornelia Ida, Zeelugt, Leonora, Crane and Goed Furtuin. Some of the clubs were recipients of sports gear, compliments of minister Ramson and the MCYS.

These members of the Tuschen Community are elated to receive gear from Minister Ramson Jr.

Minister Ramson seen engaging members of the Tuschen sports community.

he South Dakota circuit is reportedly closed until January 26 according to president of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC), Rameez Mohamed.

Last week, the club president, Rameez Mohamed, announced a shift in the date for the seasonopening endurance meet due to emergency works that had to be done to the track.

Works commenced last Tuesday and as a result the club decided to close the venue to ensure that the ongoing work is not hampered.

“The contractors had requested that we close the areas where they have to work because they do not want to be working and have cars speeding by,” the GMR&SC boss noted.

Mohamed continued, “The additional week that we have now gained by pushing the event from the 24th to the 31st, also gives competitors some more time to work on their machines.”

He highlighted that there was a brief test and tune event on the 18th, when prospective competitors had a chance to check their machines and there is likely to be another one before the

official event to allow same.

“We had a really good day last Sunday when a lot of guys had the chance to test their cars and the track and such.”

The GMR&SC has explained that special covid19 rules and protocols will be provided in the coming week to ensure the safety of drivers, mechanics, officials and everyone involved at the event.

Prospective competitors are reminded that helmets and gloves are required and those interested in competing are asked to make contact with the GMR&SC via their Albert Street office.

Root’s 186 helps t r o p S England close in on Sri Lanka P. 20

Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor of Ireland in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Joe Root gets low to reverse-sweep Š SLC

Dustin Poirier scores brutal TKO of Conor McGregor at UFC 257 P. 22

Minister Ramson Jr. (center) hands over sports gear to members of the Meten Meer Zorg Sports club.

Minister of MCYS continues meaningful community engagement with visit to Reg 3 P. 23

- Selected grounds across Guyana to be converted to Leisure and Recreational Parks

Works underway at South Dakota Circuit until January 26

P. 23

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