Kaieteur News
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Tuesday January 25, 2022
US in move to beef up port security in Guyana - launches month-long prog. to weaken transnational criminal organisations
T
he United States, through the Department of State’s office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL), kicked off a six-month programme on Monday to strengthen Guyanese port security and container control. The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Container Control Program, in partnership with the World C u s t o m s O rg a n i z a t i o n (WCO), is implementing the project, which is aimed at weakening transnational criminal organisations and deterring the trafficking of illicit goods. Officials from the WCO opened the programme with a two-week virtual training course for members of Port Control Units, composed of members of the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, MARAD, and the GDF Coast Guard, providing them training in profiling, targeting, and inspecting containers. In a press release the US Embassy said the training will give them the skills to
Commissioner -General of the GRA, Godfrey Statia
US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch effectively detect suspicious and illicit goods, and make sure goods departing Guyana have been properly declared and duties paid. UNODC’s Container Control Program works worldwide to promote legitimate trade by enhancing container screening capacities. It provides training, equipment, and access to communications data and tools from the World Customs Organization. The programme is part of the ongoing commitment by the United States to the security
of Guyana and the region. Meanwhile, during the opening ceremony, GRA Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia said his agency was pleased to be involved with the UNODC and WCO Container Control Programme (CCP) “in our collective efforts to build capacity in our local law enforcement agencies in risk management and profiling, supply chain and border security, inspection, and trade facilitation while simultaneously minimising cross-border movement of illicit goods.” Statia said as Guyana
becomes the regional leader in transshipment services through its increased construction of deep-water port facilities, the challenges faced with illicit trade, crime, and security are expected to increase. “We therefore need to ensure that we are prepared to meet these challenges and ensure compliance with Guyanese and international laws. Consequently, there is a greater need for our officers to be more trained, prepared and vigilant, as criminal elements seeking to ply their trade increase their activities through Guyana’s ports,” the
tax chief said. According to him, the multi-agency approach, as was evident from the representation at the forum, is necessary “as our local enforcement agencies improve our efforts to stem the tide of these illicit and criminal activities.” “With the continued support of the UNODC, the WCO, and the US Government, Customs Officers and our sister law enforcement colleagues will be better prepared to identify, seize and detain criminal elements and their products that destroy the
livelihoods of the citizens of the world,” Statia underscored. “I therefore thank the donors for their support, and urge the participants to make full use of the training provided. The Comptroller, Customs, Excise & Trade Operations, GRA, who is present here, is aware of my expectations, and will monitor and coordinate with the other law enforcement agencies accordingly to increase our chances of success.” The GRA boss thanked M r . A l b e r t o Va r e l a , Coordinator for the Caribbean, UNODC, Container Control Programme who since his appointment has made it his duty to improve the working relationship and coordination between the law enforcement agencies in the entire Caribbean. “We also thank the Agency for the equipment provided to the GRA during the latter half of last year. This we assure you will help in our continued fight against the various criminal elements. I take this opportunity to urge other agencies to do likewise.”
Govt, Opposition squabble over House ruckus - eight APNU+AFC MPs sent to committee of privileges Government and Opposition have traded blame over last December’s ruckus in the National Assembly and a motion by the government to discipline eight Members of Parliament (MPs) from the APNU+AFC was referred to the Committee of Privileges on Monday. The opposition in retaliation has also submitted two motions – one a no confidence motion a g a i n s t t h e S p e a k e r, Manzoor Nadir, and also a motion for the House to discipline 22 MPs from the Government benches. Those motions have been deemed inadmissible on the grounds that they were not properly presented. The Opposition is to resubmit the motions. Meanwhile, at the commencement of the sitting on Monday Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira formally asked the National Assembly to take action to address what she termed as the misbehaviour of several Opposition MPs who attempted to disrupt the
proceedings of December 29, 2021. The MPs in question include Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones, Ganesh Mahipaul, Sherod Duncan, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Annette Ferguson, Vinceroy Jordan, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley and Maureen Philadelphia. The MPs attempted to prevent the passage of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill 2021, after government had ignored a number of organisations and private citizens to rush through the legislation. The new NRF Act has given the government total control of the oil fund, which they intend to use to fund the budget and other controversial projects. “Of special note, Mr. Speaker, is that the space between the Government’s side and the opposition’s side is in any Parliament, considered the safe zone, the safe space. And any entrance without permission is interpreted as an act of aggression, and a threat to the safety of the Members of Parliament,” Minister Teixeira told the
PPP MPs stand guard around Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh during the ruckus on December 29, 2021
National Assembly on Monday, according to a Department of Public Information release. Teixeira, according to the DPI, described the attempt by the opposition MPs to seize the mace of the House as a “treacherous act”. She asked that the violations committed by the eight Opposition MPs be referred to the Committee of Privileges, which handles matters relating to the powers and privileges of the National Assembly. “This day will go down in the annals of the Guyana
Parliament. The events during the debate on the Natural Resource Fund Bill have been recorded by the media, citizens, reporters, by persons who were viewing the livestream on that day. The evidence is overwhelming. This is recorded evidence that cannot be erased or forgotten. In fact, it was seen in Guyana nationally and globally.” Despite their disruption in the assembly, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility (Continued on page 16)
Opposition MPs blew their whistles as they attempted to block the passage of the controversial NRF Bill
Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 25, 2022
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As time closes in on Guyana…
Govt. still scrambling to put together team to audit US$9 billion Payara Project By Kiana Wilburg Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat disclosed to the National Assembly on Monday that under the APNU+AFC regime, limited work was done on the audit of the US$460M pre-contract costs ExxonMobil incurred from 1999 to 2017. The Minister described the extent of the work done as “alarming” while noting that efforts are currently underway to iron out some of the questionable details uncovered with ExxonMobil. The Minister’s response was noted as part of a series of written responses to questions posed by Opposition Member, David Patterson regarding the state of the audit which had commence in 2019 after being awarded to British firm, IHS Markit. The contract cost at that time was US$300,000. With respect to Patterson’s query about the stage of completion of the US$460M audit, Minister Bharrat said this is still ongoing. He said, “The Government of Guyana, when we took office was alarmed at the limited work done in this regard by the previous administration and immediately commenced with international consultants and local agencies to have a number of shortcomings addressed.” Minister Bharrat added, “Currently, the government is working to answer every questionable detail with the operator and the auditor to ensure that all expenditures are justifiable and accounted for as per the terms of the agreement.” He further noted that the government has ensured that the cost of the auditing process is catered for in the 2021 budget which amounted to US$250,000. This would bring the overall costs for the audit of the US$460M bill to US$550,000. In light of the fact that the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) only allows the State a two-
year timeline to conduct such audits, Patterson asked the Minister to say if ExxonMobil was approached for an extension. Minister Bharrat did not state if ExxonMobil was contacted on that issue. However, Bharrat sought to make it clear to the members of the House and the public by extension, that the cost recovery auditing process is a Government of Guyana undertaking. That said, the politician shared that the administration is in the final stages of completing the first cost recovery audit which covers the period 1999 to 2017. He said this process “was left undone and found wanting by the previous administration.” Bharrat said the government is now in the process of ensuring the second cost recovery audit process can be commended. It is expected to cover costs incurred by ExxonMobil from 2018 to 2020 in the Stabroek Block. SECOND COST RECOVERY AUDIT Last year, Kaieteur News had reported Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo as saying that the government was unable to select a group to carry out the audit of ExxonMobil’s post-2017 costs since “strong local content was absent in the bidding process.” Questioned further on this matter by Patterson was Minister Bharrat. The Opposition Parliamentarian asked the Natural Resources Minister to state the full reasons why the tender evaluation process was quashed, who gave the orders for it to be cancelled, and the list of companies that submitted bids. Minister Bharrat was keen to note that the PPP/C government did not discontinue any tender evaluation process. “In fact, the procurement process from advertisement to receipt of bids to establishing a panel of evaluators, to having a review of the evaluation process is ongoing. Please allow me to say that this
Opposition Parliamentarian, David Patterson
Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat
government remains committed to local content development at the national level,” Minister Bharrat said. He added, “There is little doubt that we have the requisite baseline technical
accounting skills to participate in the post-2017 cost recovery audit process, however our local accounting firms are yet to gain experience in conducting a petroleum cost
audit exercise, especially of this magnitude. Therefore, this government sees it apt to allow local firms to participate in the cost audit exercise alongside an international firm. This
review is ongoing.” Minister Bharrat declined to share the details on the companies being evaluated until the procurement process is properly completed.
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
A seat at the table “Guyana should have a seat at the table in all future oil contracts - Former Suriname Oil Boss” (KN January 11). We have not heard wiser words being said in a long time, and it follows that we agree wholeheartedly. Or, to use the words of one of Guyana’s world class oil leaders, it is a ‘no brainer.’ There is nothing that makes more sense than that, and in many ways. Let us start from the beginning. Those same leaders who disagree with us so furiously because of our continuous oil coverage, most of which expose their shortcomings, have said that we have a long way to go to obtain required technical skills and appreciation for what goes into the skillful management of an oil sector, which includes oil block auctions. This is particularly relevant to Guyana, which is starting out with its oil from a hole due to the crippling disadvantages of the stranglehold that ExxonMobil has over us. Nonetheless, what Mr. Rudolf Elias, the former head of Staatsolie, the Suriname National Oil Company, recommends is compulsory learning. He is saying that we must be at the table in the deliberations and as part of all the developments involved in the oil blocks being put out to auction for the experience. Guyana’s Vice President himself has said that we have a steep learning curve in many areas of the oil business. It is a business with many deep intricacies, which the oil majors and subsidiary players in the world arena are well versed in, and which they never hesitate to utilise to the fullest to get the best deal for themselves. Our process must be transparent (a curse word locally), we must understand the associated costs, and other related factors when we work fearlessly to get the most out of those blocks put up for bidding. We would urge the PPP/C Government to engage Mr. Elias to be a consultant at our elbow and whispering in our ear. We need that kind of veteran, expert guidance (been there, done that experience), since we don’t have anyone of equivalent prowess. He has had 30 years of top-notch experience in the oil sector, and would be a powerful asset on our behalf in these auctions. The Vice President has said that we need technical help and make some decisions on investing to get a better price. And another is whether to bar Exxon and others from being part of the bidding. We say let others come and show their cards; Exxon and those who already have a huge footprint here should be blocked from participating in the bidding for these blocks. They have gouged us enough with untold trickiness, which is why we say: give some others a chance to show what they bring to the table. People will have to want to take part in the auction, to do business here, we don’t have to beg anybody to come here. It is of urgent necessity, therefore, that we have a place right there among the big boys to get a grasp of the mechanics, the players, the atmospherics, and all those other subtleties that go into conducting business, oil or any other kind, at what would be rarefied levels for Guyana. We must be willing to face our limitations, and admit that we know very little of how what we have in our hand operates in the global space. The hustles, the horse trading, the relationships, the way that the top dogs work the room and walk away with the top prizes before anyone has a clue about what has been sealed. The sooner that we realise that oil is a cutthroat enterprise, the sooner we would appreciate what we have to do, in both self-education and the hands-on exposures that we must have, if we are not to be left holding an empty bag. This has already happened to us with a devious partner, and a devastating oil contract that drains the lifeblood out of us, and we have only barely begun to pump some of this wealth that is under the seabed. Thus, we must be right there next to the action and participating fully. Get Mr. Rudolf Elias.
Tuesday January 25, 2022
Freddie on Yesu and Bolsanaro DEAR EDITOR, Freddie Kissoon wrote a praiseworthy down to earth fitting tribute to Yesu Persaud describing him as a kind of a loving father who cares to see his children succeed (Jan 24). Yesu also helped many others financially. And he supported many politicians from both sides of the aisle. He facilitated my research and my polling surveys though not with financial assistance. When I visited Guyana, I would stop in his office going back to 1988/89 to say hello or phoned him when there to interact on current affairs. He would urge me to come by and warmly receive me with bear hugs praising my writings on varied issues and political activism against the dictatorship. I was at several of his meetings when GUARD was formed. Freddie may not remember, but I met him twice at the DDL office of Yesu on
High Street just exchanging greetings. I also met him briefly at a few other locations. Freddie was always busy gathering research information with no time for social interaction. As Freddie would have found, Yesu was a most charming individual, very knowledgeable on world affairs. He exchanged views on world events. He took me to lunch a few times at Pegasus and I was also at his 90th anniversary puja and some other birthday puja (80th or 85th) at Peter Hall Mandir conducted by Pandit Vishnu Panday. He also had his driver taking me around in his official car for several of my errands. Yesu was very helpful in my research on Indian indentureship in his office. Yesu led a group that ‘digitized’ the archive on Indian indentureship. I used the documents at his office –
there was a hard copy as well as on the computer and floppies (the large black computer discs). Post 2000, Yesu told me he lent the discs to someone who had not returned them. Whoever is in possession of the discs, can you please make them available for public research! Yesu had confidence and trust in me. When one of his sons (who was settled in Canada) visited India, he asked me to check up on him. I visited the hotel (Yatri Niwas) in Delhi to check up on the son over twenty years ago taking him to breakfast. A terrific youngster at the time. Separately, I agree with Freddie Kissoon (Jan 23) that Caricom (and the world) must have been sickened to what Guyana has become – sinking from a progressive democracy with one of the highest per capita income in the region and in the Third World
at independence (1966) to the lowest per capita in the region and a standard of living worse than Haiti during the 1980s and early 1990s Freddie rightly chastised those who condemned Jair Bolsanro but not those who attempted to rig the 2020 elections. Like Freddie, I have no respect for those who were silent on rigging but developed courage to speak out on other issues. Activists condemn Jair Bolsanaro for what they see as his racist rule in Brazil (Jan 1 2019 to now) but not those who governed Guyana between 1965 and 1992 and May 2015 to July 2020. Those Guyanese rulers were more racist than the allegations made by the group against Bolsonaro. Is it that they don’t care about the victims of racism in Guyana? Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
Courage requires distinction and cowardice requires company DEAR EDITOR Mr. Balram Singh Rai who recently passed on January 6th, 2022 at the age of 101 years just weeks before his February 21st Birthday in Oxford on the outskirts of London, England, was amongst the most outstanding politicians that the colony British Guiana and Guyana ever produced and he is, in my view, one of the greatest Sons of Guyana. It is extremely difficult to emerge from an experience of colonialism, slavery and indentureship and yet that is the environment from which this gentleman emerged and blossomed into an outstanding Guyanese statesman whose policies and actions were simply not only pragmatic and a direct fit to the overwhelming problems of the colony of British Guiana, but more importantly, his policies were simply ahead of its time as history has eloquently confirmed in hindsight. The conceptual positions and policy actions of Mr. Balram Singh Rai were sound and he was able to read in accurate terms and scope how the developing world especially colonies like British Guiana ought to co-exist in a Cold War frigid environment given what had recently transpired in Europe after the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and the Second World War in 1945.I have studied very closely the evolution of political and social thought from the Renaissance onwards and the centuries leading into the Renaissance. His ideas and actions were so consistent with reality that when they were
implemented were met with overwhelming success and hence the fierce opposition from the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the late Mr. Forbes Burnham who greatly respected his abilities and extended several offers to join his government which were met with rejection. As an ardent Arya Samajist, he believed in many of the principles of the sacred Vedic scriptures, the Vedas, which I also share and believe in entirely as well. So many of the official policy positions and actions that Mr. Rai took are the exact policy positions that I would take and believe in their merits. Mr. Balram Singh Rai’s legacy has only just begun as what he expounded and spoke at length in his political campaign in 1964 for his Justice party has formed the basis and a platform that if these were implemented, Guyana would not be in such a horrific state such as it is currently in. 5his extrapolation is based on what history has confirmed in the last several centuries and the laws of human behaviour and our ability to co-exist and survive as a species. It is indeed ironic that Mr. Balram Singh Rai did not fully grasp and understood the importance and power of the positions that he took and persevered in and his life of self exile in the UK were, in some ways, difficult and filled with dark spots of regret until he passed a few weeks ago in ill health. Dr. Baytoram Ramharack wrote an autobiography on Mr. Balram Singh Rai, ‘Against the grain’ and in reading this splendid work, I
developed a better understanding of the vital role that this gentleman was destined to play in British Guiana and Guyana, his native land. I thank him for his outstanding service to British Guiana and Guyana and his greatest legacy and achievement is the act of kindness that history has bestowed on him. Knighthood pales in comparison. I have never met Mr. Balram Singh Rai as he was before my time and he has no relation to me in any way except we are both ardent Arya Samajists who practice the principles of Arya Samaj that our leader, Swami Dayanand Saraswati advocated in making the whole world noble, ‘Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam’ Courage requires distinction and cowardice requires company. After his expulsion from the PPP in 1962, he formed the Justice Party and sought to get at least 4 seats in the Parliament in the 1964 general elections in the colony. One of his main pre-occupations was on what he was extremely courageous to call for which is the balancing of the ethnic composition of the law enforcement agency to reflect that of the general population. In the 1964 national elections, the Justice Party of which he was the leader was bitterly defeated acquiring only 1260 votes and the subsequent events lead to his decision to be self-exiled in 1970 in the United Kingdom. Living out his life in a new country brings its own challenges and with the gentleman’s regrets and declining health in his
last days saw his departure to another shore on January 6th, 2022. Mr. Balram Singh Rai’s handling of the Black Friday riots on February 16th, 1962 stands as a living testimony to his courage while the leaders of the The People’s Progressive Party/Civic especially the Jagans were in hiding. At his passing, the supporters of the The People’s Progressive Party/Civic are alleging Mr. Balram Singh Rai as a racist and someone who endorses the caste system in the absence of any corroborating evidence and much to the contrary. The late Dr. Cheddi Jagan rigged the internal party election in 1962 to install Mr. Brindley Benn as Chairman of the Central Committee and immediately thereafter applied to the Governor of the colony for Mr. Rai to be removed as Home Affairs Minister of the colony and subsequently expelled from the party. Mr. Balram Singh Rai made several requests for the parliamentary pension that he is entitle to in law and was denied by both the Peoples Progressive Party and the Peoples National Congress. Mr. Rai’s instructions are that if the pension is paid for the entire amount to be donated to a charity, the Dharm Shala. Mr. Balram Singh Rai’s greatest achievement lies posthumously after his death as history is kind to him and in his public life and therein lies his legacy and greatest achievement. Regards Kris Kooblall
Tuesday January 25, 2022
22nd Anniversary of the National Development Strategy DEAR EDITOR, 2022 marks 22 years since the National Development Strategy (NDS) instituted: ‘Shared Development Through a Participatory Economy.’ was launched under the PPP/C administration. The NDS’ 22nd anniversary comes at a time when a ‘landmark development plan,’ as distinct from a strategy, is being designed currently by a team led by a Harvard University Professor. This is not the first time Guyana has solicited external assistance to help design a development plan. The PNC’s first ‘New Road’, post-independence 7-year development plan (1966-1972) concentrated on infrastructure and reserved industrialization for the private sector. The plan was based on the ‘Puerto Rican Model’ that envisaged the creation of an investment climate with incentives to foreign capital. The project collapsed prematurely in 1969. The second PNC development plan (1972-1976) with emphasis on a programme to ‘Feed, House and Clothe the Nation’ also failed. It was based on import-substitution, industrialisation, land reform, regional integration and partnership with foreign capital. That plan also failed. And the third PNC development plan (1978-1981) was aimed at providing ‘free milk and cassava’ and a promise that ‘not a man would go to bed hungry. ’ According to Cheddi Jagan; ‘The plan only helped accentuate the debt burden without any agricultural growth’. That Guyana experienced ‘Growth Without Development’ became the defining character of another PNC failed plan. In all three undertakings, the Burnham administration was assisted by economic advisers including; Dr. R.W. Davenport, Dr. Wilfred David and Sir Arthur Lewis. And in the late 1980’s to mid-1990’s Dr. Kenneth King’s expertise was employed to help prop-up an ailing economy. The three development plans failed because of rampant racial and political discrimination, squander-mania and corruption. Above all, the root-cause of the plans’ failure was due to the regime’s interest in designing development models that proved unsuitable for Guyana. In 1993, following the PPP/C’s assumption to office in 1992, then President Cheddi Jagan sought the assistance of the Carter Center to help draw up a National Development Strategy (NDS). Three years later, in 1996, the first draft of the Strategy was completed, and pub-
lished. Its launch was considered ‘a landmark achievement for the government and people of Guyana.’ At the launch, then President Cheddi Jagan had prophesied that; “If properly implemented, the Strategy would create more opportunities for every Guyanese and translate their dreams and visions into reality.” The records show that the first draft of the Strategy was never laid in the National Assembly, the PNC rejected the Strategy on the ground that the PPP/C would use it to bolster its 1997 election campaign. It called for the Strategy to be shelved. Following the PPP/C’s second election victory, and with transformative changes already evident in the economy, a revised Strategy became imperative. By the end of 1999, a second final draft had emerged. What was significant for both the first and the second final draft of the revised Strategy was the broad civil society representation in the National Development Strategy Committee (NDSC) that was assembled to craft the Strategies. The NDSC’s task was not to simply update the first draft but to revisit its thrust and substance from a philosophical and strategic perspective and to introduce new chapters while retaining those that were considered relevant and applicable to the new conditions. The new chapters included governance, the family and social information technology. It was the first successful initiative in the country’s contemporary history in which civil society was so intrinsically involved in formulating an NDS.
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At the political level, through the formation of disparate groups, civil society had played a pivotal role from the mid 1980’s to early 1990’s in the struggle for free and fair elections and the restoration of democracy. But with the NDS, Guyanese witnessed the most profound involvement of civil society, in a structured, organized and coordinated manner. Unlike during the March-August 2020 period when civil society did play independent and separate but defining roles in thwarting efforts by the APNU/AFC to frustrate the will of the electorate. To re-write what was to emerge as the second final draft of the Strategy, civil society representatives assumed responsibility for leading, coordinating and managing the drafting process in consultation with the then Minister of Finance Bharat Jagdeo. Sectoral committees were established to revise all the chapters contained in the first NDS draft of 1996. According to the second final draft; ‘Every race, every religion, every political party, every economic sector, and every ideological persuasion was represented either in the NDSC and/or the sectoral committees.’ The objectives of the Strategy were: ‘1) The attainment of the highest rates of economic growth that are possible by the year 2010; 2) the alleviation of poverty; 3) the attainment of geographical unity; 4) the equitable distribution of economic activity, and 5) the diversification of the economy.’ To attain these targets, the Strategy envisioned certain conditions being in place: ‘a) a greater degree of political (Continued on page 6)
Masculinity and Sexuality DEAR EDITOR, Despite child sexual abuse being acknowledged as a crime that has extreme negative impacts, societal ideas of masculinity and sexuality often comes together to shame young boys who are survivors of sexual violence. ChildLinK’s “Caring for Boys: Social Norm Drivers of Sexual Abuse of Boys in Guyana” report found that expectations surrounding the ideas of traditional masculinity is amongst one of the largest factors that leads to under-reporting of sexual abuse experienced by boys. Through interviews done with young boys and their caretakers, it was found that there is a general belief that older girls and women cannot abuse young boys. Even in cases wherein it was acknowledged that it was possible, this abuse was not framed as being abusive, but rather it was seen as achieving a “rite of passage” to manhood. However, these beliefs significantly shift in the context of a male abuser. When young boys expe-
rience sexual violence, particularly if they are older, they are often seen as being unable to defend their masculinity, as there is an expectation for males to be strong and resilient. As a result, many can struggle with feelings of fear and shame surrounding their experience, as they believe that they should have been able to stop it. Many young boys also experience feelings of shame and confusion as they believe their experience will have an impact on their sexuality or at least be perceived that way. Those who experience an erection or orgasm during the assault may especially struggle with these feelings, and perpetrators are known to use this against them in order to silence them. These occurrences however, are normal bodily functions that one cannot control. Regardless of whether one has experienced an erection or an orgasm, it does not change the fact that it is a violation of one’s body and right to consent.
It also has no impact on one’s sexuality. Given societal expectations surrounding masculinity however, many survivors and their family can often hide experiences of sexual abuse in order to safeguard the image of manhood and heterosexual behaviour. Contributing towards an environment wherein young boys are safe from violence or at the very least, feel empowered to report experiences of violence, means challenging harmful ideas of masculinity. Doing away with expectations of strength, resiliency and heteronormative behaviours, will go a long way in creating a space where young boys are not made to feel fear and shame when they have experienced sexual abuse. Regards Akola Thompson Blue Umbrella Consultant, ChildLinK To report or seek counselling, please call 914/ 2 2 7 -0979/227-2023/2333500
Kit upset over protest against Bolsonaro DEAR EDITOR, The Stabroek News of 21stJanuary, 2022, published a letter under the heading “Bolsonaro persona non grata in Guyana” signed by a bunch of “do-gooders” who lent their name to this nonsense.
Where, may I ask, were the signatures of these good ladies and gentlemen when our country was threatened by an attempt to install a military dictatorship in place of a democratic election? Not one of them raised
their voice nor penned their signature in protest. All of them should hang their heads in shame. None of them is credible. Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 25, 2022
Simply unacceptable 22nd Anniversary of the National Development... DEAR EDITOR It is simply unacceptable, weeks after, no decisions or sanctions have been i m posed on violators of Covid protocols which occur r e d a t t h e F u t s a l
match (SN Jan 24). The foot dragging suggests this matter might be swept under the rug. Simply unacceptable! Regards Shamshun Mohamed
From page 5 inclusivity in the governance of the country; b) a higher degree of productivity and c) a re-examination of the education system.’ It was emphasized that; ‘The Strategy is not an economic development plan in the conventional sense of the term. If accepted the Strategy can be converted into programmes and projects which would then be coasted, some for financing by the public sector and others by private enterprise.’ It is not my intention to enter into an excursion in respect to the achievements and non-achievements of the Strategy however, twentytwo years later, a general assessment of the Strategy’s implementation would suffice. What was unprecedented and of great significance however, was the high degree of citizen participation and inclusiveness aimed at hammering out a long-range and a more directional journey rather than the near-term specifics found in a plan. This experience begs the question whether such an engagement between governments and civil society is ever possible in the foreseeable future. Implementation of the Strategy envisaged significant developments countrywide with the realization of: ‘an all-weather road to Lethem, improved interior
road network, hydroelectricity, improved health care, establishment of an Amerindian Development Fund, Georgetown and other urban areas to have Green Belts, improved electricity generation and growth in population.’ Rebuilding infrastructure was realized with the upgrading on the Cheddi Jagan International airport at Timehri; the construction of Berbice Bridge; the East Bank Highway; interior all-weather roads network; the National Stadium; the Leonora synthetic track, the national Aquatic Center, the upgrade of the Ogle airport to an international airport; the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre; the West Coast Highway, the Anna Regina and Port Mourant markets and housing schemes at Eccles, Providence, Diamond and Parfait Harmony, paved roads at Lethem and Mahdia; the bridge over the Takatu River; the New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek and a network of farm to market roads. The public sector was made more efficient in the management of government business through, public service reform; the public sector investment programme (PSIP); passage of procurement and fiscal management laws in 2003; the creation of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and continuation of government’s efforts to modernize the institutional
framework. In respect to the private sector being the engine of growth, the Small Business Bureau provided millions as start-up funds or ‘seed money’ for the growth and development of small and medium size enterprises. The establishment of ‘Go Invest’ helped facilitate greater public/private enterprise investments with the construction of industrial estates at Eccles, Ruimveldt in Region 4, Belvedere in Region 6 and Lethem in Region 9. In respect to Guyana ‘breaking out of the category of an ‘undeveloped nation,’ it is to be recalled that in 2016, one year earlier than the Strategy had anticipated, the World Bank recategorized Guyana from a lower middleincome country to an upper middle-income country. The country’s recategorization notwithstanding, the point must be made that income alone is not an accurate determinant of the multi-dimensionality of development. While Guyana’s economy is on the cusp of transformative developments, it remains vulnerable and insufficiently diversified with topographical challenges as well as those related to climate change. According to the Strategy, Berbice was expected to ‘become another industrial growth pole around the planned deep water harbour.’
While a deep water harbour is yet to be realized, with the announcement that a number of bids have been received to conduct a feasibility study and to secure a preliminary design for the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River the prospects are even greater for Berbice to become the much anticipated industrial growth pole. In its 1997 manifesto, the PPP/C had committed that it will ‘give a high priority to the completion of the Strategy in order to create a sound comprehensive approach to the total development of our nation.’ And in its 2001 manifesto the party informed that ‘The PPP/C administration has begun implementing key elements of the Strategy. It only makes sense, therefore, that our manifesto and agenda for the future development of Guyana should be anchored in the NDS abs the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.’ In its 2011 manifesto it was stated that ‘the PPP/C’s strategies have evolved with the passage of time and with the benefit of progressive implementation. These strategies were the subject of extensive nationwide consultative process, and enjoy strong stakeholder ownership.’ The Strategies include the National Development Strategy, the Poverty Reduction, the National Competitiveness Strategy, and the Low Carbon Development Strategy.’ These Strategies we were told, ‘will continue to benefit from implementation in the next PPP/C administration providing policy continuity and predictability’. While the National Competitiveness Strategy focused primarily on those areas that would improve the competitiveness of Guyana’s industries and businesses, the Low Carbon Development Strategy focused on renewables energy, Amerindian development, digital development, climate resilience inter-alia. Guyana has come a long way having wrestled for decades with a number of development plans and strategies in its search for sustainable development and people-centered economic growth. The PPP/C government has now embarked on designing another development plan, again with external assistance. This plan is being designed in a complete new era nationally and internationally. Guyanese expect that this time around their hopes and aspirations will be further advanced to the utmost. Yours faithfully Clement J. Rohee
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N T B . U . L . L T B . N . U . N U T L N B . U . T . L N T U N B . N U . L U L LUNT. B . T . . T T N N B U B . U . L . L T B . B . . N . . . T U T L N N T U U L N L B U . B . . L . . . T B T . . N . N T U L N LU B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . NT LUNT...B NT...BLU N U L B . . B . U . . T L . N T B . . U N . L N T B U N . . L . U T L B . . N B . . . T U . L N T B U . . L . UN T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L B U UN .BLUNT. . . L . T B . . N . T U . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . LU ...BLUNT LUNT...B NT...BL T B U . . L N . T B BLU T...BLUN BLUNT... UNT...B . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B BBLU T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU . T . N . N T T U L U L N L B U T...BLU U B . L . N . B T . . . N T U N N N L U U U B L . L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Tuesday January 25, 2022
Kaieteur News
A robbery committed on a businesswoman yesterday was described as “brazen”. Brazen aptly describes such a robbery.
We at this publication have also been shedding light on many other brazen acts of enormous proportions occurring in this country. Guyanese, we cannot take crime against our very existence for granted.
It is our hope that not only the perpetrator of yesterday’s brazen act but ALL those involved in other criminal acts in this land are brought to swift justice.
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Kaieteur News
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Tuesday January 25, 2022
Brazil, Guyana, Suriname sign MoU to explore energy corridor President, Irfaan Ali disclosed yesterday that Guyana, Brazil and Suriname—countries of the Northern Cone of South America— have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the development of an energy corridor linking the respective states. He said this occurred during his visit to Suriname last week. In his keynote address to over 300 participants at the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Conference 2022, the Head of State said this move is in keeping with Guyana’s wider goal of energy security. Ali said there are many benefits to this ground breaking initiative which is aimed at integrating the energy systems of the South
American oil producing states. He said, “It would promote energy security by assuring the availability of energy to meet present and future demand. Such integration would be a boost to the confidence of foreign investors who desire guarantees of stable, reliable and affordable energy. The initiative has the potential to ensure optimal power generation and greater use of our natural resources while reducing environmental impacts.” He noted that energy security therefore remains central to Guyana’s plans for net zero by 2050. The President stressed however that environmental sustainability is not grounded solely in energy security. In fact, Ali said there will also be greater
emphasis on having a low carbon onshore economy. In this regard, he noted that Guyana was among the first regional economies to develop a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) while reminding that it had signed a ground breaking agreement with the Kingdom of Norway in 2009 which provided a model of how the country can sustainably manage its forests and secure payments. “Presently, we are in the process of revising and expanding this arrangement for the inclusion of environmental services, the protection of our biodiversity and water resources, the development of marine economy and the promotion of climate resilience.
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali Our LCDS will allow us to further decarbonize onshore activities thereby further reducing carbon emissions,” the Head of State expressed.
During the launch of the draft LCDS-2030 last year, President Ali had explained that it sets out a vision for rising to the challenge. He said that the current and first draft is intended as the basis for a national consultation on how the country can re-double its efforts to build a low-carbon economy– through low-carbon energy; employment and development opportunities for all sections of society; a transformation of digital, marine and transportation infrastructure; and massive investment in adapting to the impacts of climate change. President Ali had explained as well that the LCDS 2030 also sets out how the government can build a (Continued on page 16)
Tuesday January 25, 2022
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Kaieteur News
The APNU+AFC and democratic institutions The APNU+AFC does not belong in democratic institutions. The Coalition has in recent times committed unpardonable assaults on electoral democracy; it has flagrantly violated the Constitution and it has desecrated parliamentary democracy. In the case of the latter it has done so on more than one occasion. The ruckus which erupted in the National Assembly on December 29th was just the latest instalment of un-parliamentary and undemocratic conduct by the APNU+AFC. In December 2018, in the National Assembly, a vote of no confidence was passed against the APNU+AFC government. This was the first time in the history of Guyana that such a motion has been carried by the House. Initially, the government said that it would accept the outcome of the no confidence vote. But then the government made an about turn, legally challenging the validity of the vote. Among those challenges was the most ridiculous suggestion that 34 votes constituted the proper majority for the passage of the motion. It also challenged the validity of the votes on the basis that a dual national had voted, not realising that on both sides of this House this occurred. Having lost its case in front of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and then, later, finding excuses not to comply with the decision of the country’s apex court, the CCJ. The CCJ judges found that the passage of a vote of no confidence requires the
resignation of the Cabinet including the President. It observed however, that notwithstanding such resignation, the Government shall remain in office and that an election shall be held “within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly, determine …” No such extension was granted by the National Assembly. The Court noted that in the interim between the resignation of the Cabinet and the holding of elections, the government, by convention, operates as a caretaker government and should restrain its legal authority. Such restraint was missing. The government bulldozed the legislation relating to the Natural Resource Fund. It did so in the period between the passage of the no confidence motion and the holding of elections. It ought not to have done so. The CCJ also ruled as unconstitutional the appointment of the former Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission. And even after this person resigned, the government came up with an ingenious interpretation of the CCJ’s rule to wit that the President has a right to nominate persons for consideration as Chairperson of the Commission. The absurdity of this interpretation is obvious: if the President had the authority to nominate and it is the President who has to choose, then he will most likely accept his own nominee. Elections were finally held
under a new Chairperson on 2nd March 2020. Those elections were deemed by international observers as free and fair. Five months after however, because of shenanigans, which were supported by the APNU+AFC, the elections results were in limbo. One observer told a regional grouping that he has never seen a more transparent attempt to rig an election. APNU+AFC sought to benefit from that rigging. That whole attempt shamed Guyana in the eyes of the international community and demonstrated to all decent minded Guyanese that there were forces in our society who were prepared to push Guyana off the precipice and into political dictatorship. Fortunately, that attempt was rebuffed with the help of international sanctions which were placed on so far unnamed officials but who are believed to include members of the APNU+AFC government. The APNU+AFC crawled into parliament. But as we have seen it is finding great difficulty in operating as a responsible Opposition. It has now resorted to absurd histrionics. But all of that merely confirms that the Coalition really is still to demonstrate that it is fit and proper to operate a democratic framework. The incident of 29th of December was disgraceful and further brought shame to the country. The time has come for the members of the APNU and the AFC to make a decision as to whether the Coalition should continue to involve itself in democratic institutions since if such institutions cannot be respected then all we will
Dem Boys Seh…
Big Brother is seeing it all! Is hard fuh hide things wah happen in public. Dem does gat plenty cameras recording wah going on. Dem cameras deh all over. Dem recording every move yuh mek and if dat move is in parliament, yuh bound fuh deh pun tape. Is no escaping de prying lens of somebody. If yuh behave bad, yuh gan get record Just like wat happen in de National Assembly on 29th December, 2021. Everybody see wah tek place. Was one set ah noise
in de place. Dem know who been trying to fuh disrupt de proceedings and wat was done. Dem see man lie down holding on to de Mace with he body as a shield. Dem even hear de racial abuse wah de man bin get from a female. Dem see who bin try fuh snatch de Mace. De video evidence is dere in de National Assembly. Was bad behaviour tekkin place. Yet now when de moment come fuh people face dem judgment, dem trying fuh turn de thing around and seh how de other side behave bad.
Sometimes yuh does wonder where we going in dis country. Of all de things wah dem can come up with, is dat one dem choose. In England dem wan remove de Prime Minister because he attend party during de lockdown. In Guyana dem wan remove de Speaker fuh wat dem boys nah know yet. But in Guyana nothing should surprise anyone. With each passing day we making headlines round de world and mostly for de wrang reasons. Talk half, Leff half.
have is a greater spectacle. If the APNU cannot conduct itself properly in the National Assembly, then it will only be confirming its unsuitability for participation in democratic institutions and
its eligibility for disqualification from such participation. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday January 25, 2022
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Is there a split in the camp of the usual suspects? By now most Guyanese and those in the diaspora (God, I hate to use that term, “in the diaspora” after its vulgarisation) know who the usual suspects are. Just in case some nuances missed you, here are brief notes. I am not going to call names because I know many among the usual suspects over the past decade have complained to Kaieteur News’ editorial management about my columns on them. This was as recent as late last year. I know they will not hesitate to sue for libel but after 34 years’ experience in both television and the print media, I know a few things about libel. So I will not cite names. But I will cite names that do not even remotely resemble libel. For example, I introduced my girlfriend (who has been my wife for 43 years) to teenager Nigel Westmaas in 1978. She and I were always fond of him. Today my chagrin runs deeply. I want nothing to do with Dr. Nigel Westmaas. With those harmless words if he wants to sue he can. I will defend myself with volcanic intensity and
tsunamic energy. Let’s get back to the usual suspects in Guyana. This is a group that evolved out of the middle class Creole folks and Christian westernised Indians who believed that they were the inheritors of the culture and values of the Anglophone Caribbean after Independence. Strangely, some dark-skinned African Guyanese have been accepted in this group since the fifties because of money, property and the acceptance of their presence by the colonial state. The Chomondeleys is the best example. Their son, Hugh, became a man of high-middle class status even though he was extremely darkskinned. Miles Fitzpatrick, an Anglo-Saxon practitioner and an enduring member of the hegemonic Portuguese class became the closest friend of the Chomondeleys. This class preserved the cultural hegemony of the Creole empire until Forbes Burnham for some strange psychic reason (which I will soon explain in another column comparing the
racial tones of Burnham and Kwayana) got them annoyed and they rallied against him. One of the persons in this country who is the recipient of a full house of knowledge of how the Creole middle class sought to undermine Burnham is Vincent Alexander. I can tell you this; his elaboration is worthwhile reading and listening to. The usual suspects do not like Vincent and have never engaged him. The problem with the Creole middle class and their descendants who have become the usual suspects is that they do not want Indian rule in Guyana. It has nothing to do with hatred for Indians. It has to do with being custodians of the values of western civilisation in the British West Indies. They want Indians to stick to money making and land ownership. After its sponsorship of the WPA evaporated with the electoral devastation of the WPA in 1992, the Creole middle class waited patiently until the AFC presented them with the opportunity they
were waiting for. Prior to the APNU+AFC, the descendants of the Creole empire as expressed in the usual suspects used every opportunity to weaken the PPP. I was a part of that project though I was not an Indian Christian or a westernised Indian. I believed in multi-racial struggle for democracy hence my participation. I have apologised to the world for helping the AFC. I am apologising again. I will never stop apologising. Space is running out, so let’s explain the caption of this column. I was surprised that in their public letter last Friday denouncing the intended visit of President Bolsonaro, the usual suspects left out several names but some inclusions were surprising. Included were – Keith Scott, Deon Abrams of Buxton, Ras Tom Dalgetty, Ramon Gaskin, among others. It means the usual suspects are extending their activism and are sending out signals of the future shape of their politics. Omissions are – Clive Thomas, Sherod Duncan, Rickford Burke, Mark Benschop, Dr. Melissa Ifill,
Frederick Kissoon Amanza Walton-Desir, Chris Ram, Eusi Kwayana, Eric Phillips, among others. Why were these names left out? Surely if the usual suspects can contact 72 persons, then, why were the omitted names not contacted? Maybe they refused. I don’t know. My friend in London, Leyland DeCambra, one of the founders in the 1970s of the WPA UK branch, was asked for his signature. He refused based on the other signatures that he saw. He told me he did not want his name among such people. The usual suspects do not know Leyland at all. The man is instinctively multi-racial and was livid about the election rigging. So, is there a split among the usual suspects on who should be part of their agenda for 2022? (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Tuesday January 25, 2022
Kaieteur News
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Second wreck removed from Demerara River - Minister Edghill
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill via a Facebook post yesterday noted that a second shipwreck has been removed from the Demerara River by Dutch Company, Koole Contractors. The company is being paid a total of $787.6 million by the government to remove three shipwrecks from the river in order to complement the construction of a new four-lane Harbour Bridge. Koole Contractors signed the agreement with the government on September 5, last year and its Project Manager, Marc Rooijakkers had noted that all three wrecks would have been removed in two to three months’ time. The three wrecks that the company was contracted to remove are, Dar B, Allana III and Miss Elissa. So far, only two of these vessels have been removed and it shouldn’t take the company much time to remove the third, this publication was informed. The contractor is using the chisel method to remove the wrecks which is simply hoisting a 17.5 tonne steel plate by a crane about 22 metres high in the air then allowing it to free fall into the water to break a vessel into small sections. A grapple is then used to remove the break up pieces bit by bit from the water. H o w e v e r, b e f o r e t h e company could have started doing this it had to orient itself with the area first. M A R A D ’s H a r b o u r Master, Glanford Archer, had state that Guyana had tried to remove the three vessels in the past but these efforts were unsuccessful.
Tuesday January 25, 2022
US Embassy announces 2022 Cohort of YLAI Fellowship Program
The second shipwreck from the Demerara River being removed Koole Contractors.
The U.S. Embassy yesterday announced the 2022 cohort from Guyana for the US Department of State’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program. Launched in 2015, YLAI empowers emerging entrepreneurs from the Western Hemisphere to enable the full economic potential of the region’s citizens. The 2022 program will begin in January and close in July, bringing together 280 young leaders from 37 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada for a fellowship. “This year
we are pleased to announce that three young leaders from Guyana have been accepted out of over 2000 applicants,” the Embassy noted in a release. Akola Thompson: A g e n d e r- b a s e d v i o l e n c e (GBV) specialist who leads a community of feminists in becoming stronger leaders in their homes and communities. Tamùkke Feminists provides information to women and girls on issues relevant to their social, economic, and mental development with the aim of promoting the formation of a network of (Continued on page 15)
Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 25, 2022
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Fishermen say Exxon’s operation forcing them out of fishing zone
Fishermen mending their nets at the Meadow Bank Fish Wharf.
- company denies allegations Already facing a crisis because of dwindling fish stock in Guyana’s waters, local fishermen are now reportedly being “chased” out of their fishing zones as a result of ExxonMobil’s ongoing operation. One of them, Toney Persaud, was willing to share his story with Kaieteur News yesterday. Persaud said he has been fishing unbothered for some 20 years in an area located some 14 to 17 miles off Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. However, he claimed that his livelihood is now being forcefully taken away after three supply vessels contracted by American oil giant, ExxonMobil, ordered fishermen to stop fishing there. According Persaud, his boat and 11 others were chased away from the area by the vessels at least six times last year. One of the vessels he identified as “Atlantic Spirit”.
“They tell we can’t go round there and fish anymore and that we need to find new fishing grounds,” the fisherman said. “We done na ketch enough fish, now to hunt new fishing grounds is like starting over it really though,” the man continued. Persaud added, “Sometime we does try to find new grounds but when we go you don’t ketch anything. You does come back with your sane tear up and barely enough to clear expense because you does burn gas.” Pesaud he and the other fishermen would then return to their fishing zone only to be chased again. “When we ask why we are being chased out of our fishing zone, the men on the vessels would tell us that they laying some cable in that area for the oil company and they don’t want us there,” Persaud told Kaieteur News. The fisherman said that
he thinks that they are being treated unfairly and wants the government to look into the matter. “We have we maps and that area is marked as one of our fishing zones. It is tough on our families when we have to go and hunt new grounds… Look the other day we went till Pomeroon side, till Northwest and we ain’t catch anything,”
lamented Persaud. When asked about the allegations levelled by the fisherman, ExxonMobil’s spokesperson, Janelle Persaud, emphatically stated that the claims are not factual. Recently Guyana’s Head of State, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali acknowledged that there are credible reports and concerns about low fish
catches plaguing Guyana’s agriculture sector. To appease concerns in this regard, the president had assured the fishermen that they will breathe a sigh of relief quite soon as his government has come up with an innovative solution. According to Ali, that innovative solution is the establishment of marine cages or what is oftentimes
referred to as caged culture. It should be noted, however, that this initiative is still in an experimental method of aquaculture and involves the confinement and production of fish inside a type of mesh in existing water resources such as ponds, rivers, estuaries, open ocean, etc. The mesh retains the fish, making it easier to feed, observe and harvest.
Portion of Guyana’s Natural Gas to be exported - Pres. Ali confirms By Kiana Wilburg Given the significant volume of natural gas discovered in the Stabroek Block and the quantity that would be piped to shore via the US$900M gas-to-shore project, many industry experts had warned that Guyana would have to explore the exportation of gas since domestic demand would be utterly overwhelmed. Based on recent statements by President, Irfaan Ali, it appears Guyana is gearing to enter the gas export market. During his keynote address to over 300 participants at the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Conference 2022 on Monday, Ali noted that if nations are to pool their c o l l e c t i v e e ff o r t s a n d achieve the imperative goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, then the transition to cleaner energy sources is critical. In this regard, Ali said Guyana has committed to playing its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Head of State said, “We have not taken refuge in the fact that more than 80 percent of our country is
forests and that these forests absorb more greenhouse gases than the country’s human activity can produce. We have not taken refuge in the fact that these forests provide the world with important environmental and ecological services. “As I committed to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Guyana will reduce carbon foot print through a progressively cleaner energy mix with the aim of reducing carbon emissions by 70 percent in the energy sector by 2030.” Ali said this cleaner energy mix involves the use of natural gas as a transition fuel. The President asserted that Guyana’s natural gas reserves will be put to work to help generate energy in the electricity sector. Expounding further, he noted that the process of developing two major sources of energy which will add an additional 400MW to national grid has begun. Ali said the government is set to establish a 165MW plant at Amaila Falls which will provide a cheaper, renewable source of energy
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali
for sale to the national grid. He said that his administration is also developing a 250MW plant to generate energy from natural gas which would be piped onshore. He said, “This natural gas facility will be linked to the establishment of an industrial park and the creation of a liquefied petroleum gas plant to fulfill both local demand and for export.” Kaieteur News previously reported that gas from the Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two and Payara projects would be providing the US$900 gas-to-shore project with natural gas in the years to come. Minister of Natural
Resources, Vickram Bharrat had also disclosed that the Yellowtail Project which is poised to be executed by ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block would also be connected when the time is right. If Yellowtail receives the blessings of the PPP/C Government, it is poised to generate 450 million standard cubic feet of gas per day by 2025-2026. This is nine times the volume of gas that would be brought onshore via the US$900M gas-to-shore project which will initially feed off the combined resources of the ExxonMobil-led Liza Phase One and Two projects. This was noted in E x x o n M o b i l ’ s
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on Yellowtail. That document is being reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In that report, ExxonMobil explained that the project which would be supported by resources from the Yellowtail and Redtail fields in the Stabroek Block will produce material quantities of associated gas. It said a key use for this associated gas is for fuel in gas turbines for power generation on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. It noted that gas not used as fuel would then be available for alternative uses. ExxonMobil went on to explain that the three primary alternatives considered for use of associated gas include: flaring, re-injection, and export. Expounding further, Exxon said routine flaring of associated gas is a method to deal with natural gas production in oil developments, but introduces significant e n v i r o n m e n t a l considerations and would not meet regulatory expectations in Guyana nor
be consistent with good international oilfield practice. As for re-injection, it was noted that this will occur throughout the 20-year life cycle of the project but since all of the gas cannot be reinjected, the next suitable option for consideration is exportation. With this in mind, Exxon said, “There is currently a separate project being proposed to transport a portion of the gas (on the order of 50 million standard cubic feet of gas per day) from the Liza Phase 1 and Liza Phase 2 FPSOs to shore, where it would be used to generate power in a gas-fired power plant.” The company added, “As this project would satisfy the currently identified gas demand in Guyana, there would not be enough additional demand in Guyana to consume the quantities of associated gas that will be produced from the (Yellowtail) Project (expected to peak at around 450 million standard cubic feet of gas per day).” ExxonMobil was keen to note that a decision with respect to the export of gas from the Yellowtail Project will be made in the future.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 25, 2022
Tuesday January 25, 2022
Kaieteur News
US Embassy announces 2022 Cohort of YLAI Fellowship... From page 12 feminists, who are leaders in their homes and communities. Coming to the YLAI Fellowship, Akola’s top business challenge is law and policy. Jermaine Slater: Owner of a tutoring service and a gaming business called Slaters Gaming. The company’s pilot card game is called Jus Drink, which is based on the Guyanese Creole language. The game provided entertainment and education for local Guyanese customers, and it brought back memories of times spent in Guyana for migrant customers. The company is unique because there is no other business that produces Guyanese card games. Coming to the YLAI Fellowship, Jermaine’s top business challenge is Finance. Ulex Smith: Founder of the Signature Move Marketing Agency, Ulex informs small businesses about the importance of brand awareness. The agency provides digital and social media services, sales and marketing strategies, simple corporate graphic designs,
and more. The Signature Move Marketing Agency is unique, as it is more about customer and client satisfaction than money – “your business is our business.” Coming to the YLAI Fellowship, Ulex’s top business challenge is Finance. The YLAI Program will begin in this month with virtual engagement with the Fellowship Curriculum and participation in the virtual Opening Orientation before departing to the United States for a four-week professional placement with their host organisation. The program concludes with a Closing Forum in Washington, D.C. in July. Fellows return to their ventures with new skills, resources, ongoing support from US counterparts, and a broader network, strengthening business ties between the US and Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. The https://ylai.state.gov/ website includes information about the YLAI Fellows Program and the YLAI Network.
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COVID-19 claims lives of 4 more persons -173 new cases recorded Four more persons, who contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, have died over a three-day period (January 22 to 24). This is according to the Ministry of Health which reported yesterday that the country’s latest COVID-19 fatalities are that of a 32-year-old man from Region Four and three women – a 63-year-old from Region Three, a 52-year-old from Region Seven and a 57-year-old from Region 10. As a result of this, Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,138. Meanwhile, in its daily COVID-19 dashboard, the Ministry recorded 173 new infections, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 57,400. The dashboard data shows that 20 (Continued on page 16)
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Tuesday January 25, 2022
Kaieteur News
Brazil, Guyana, Suriname sign MoU to... WANTED One plane operator & one woodmizer operator. Tel: 2642524/624-7088. VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Nissan pathfinder in good condition, CAT 215 used parts.Tel:683-7225/275-0367.
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VACANCY One clerk for TSI Eccles Office,English & Maths grade 1 or 2.Call:615-9132 or email application to tech serigy@yahoo.com. Maid to cook and clean for East Bank areaa.Call:6159132. Kitchen assistant & counter attendants,salary $15,000 wkly.Drop application to German's Restaurant lot 8 New Market St North Cummingsburg G/Town. Teachers for Grade 4 & 5.Submit email educationgy 3@gmail.com.
FOR SALE Pure breed German Shepherd Pups black & tan and whiteline,vaccinated and dewormed.Contact:665-9140.
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2030 continues to propel Guyana on a pathway started in 2008, when we were the world’s first developing country to publish a Low-Carbon Development Strategy. All Guyanese should take pride in the scale of vision we set out then and reflect on the significant progress that was
made since, as outlined in this document.” “We can now move to the next stage, which includes expansion of the work we started on creating a global model for valuing forests, in partnership with the Government of Norway from 2009.”
Ali had stated that no binding commitments will be entered into before the national consultation is complete, and the final LCDS 2030 is tabled in the National Assembly. The consultation process is expected to conclude next month.
Armed bandits relieve businesswoman... From page 11 Permaul’s Trading and Distribution. Kaieteur News was informed that at approximately 10:30hrs on Monday, Mangali and her clerk left Mangali’s Albion home, where the business place is also located, in motor car PTT 41 to head to Republic Bank at Rose Hall Town with the large sum of cash in their pos-
session to be deposited. Mangali told police that when they arrived to execute the deposit, an armed, identifiable man approached the vehicle. The suspect reportedly pushed the clerk who was seated in the back seat of the car with the bag of money on the floor of the vehicle. The suspect reportedly grabbed the bag before making good his escape on foot.
A police source close to an ongoing investigation into the matter revealed that a sum of $18.5 million in cash was stolen. Up to press time the suspect was not apprehended. In 2016, Mangali’s brother-in-law, Ramlingan Mangali, the proprietor of the business, was also robbed of $2 million in similar fashion. According to reports, he too was about to make a deposit
at Republic Bank Rose Hall on a Sunday when he was approached by an armed man and robbed of the bag containing the money. In 2014, the businessman was also robbed as he was about to make a deposit at the said bank. He was robbed of a sum of $10 million on that occasion. Several persons were arrested and charged for that robbery.
Govt, Opposition squabble over House...
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From page 8 platform for the economy of the future – a low carbon economy – where world-class forest, biodiversity, water and marine resources are valued for the vital contribution they make to the health of the planet. He had said, “The LCDS
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From page 2 for finance, Dr. Ashni Singh was allowed to present the bill which was then hastily passed without any debate. For this and other confusion during the sitting, the Opposition has charged that the bill was not properly passed and has hinted that it will challenge it in court. Meanwhile, ahead of Monday’s sitting the Opposition had filed a Motion for 22 Government MPs to be sent to the Committee of Privileges over their un-parliamentary conduct. The Motion was submitted to Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, on Sunday, by Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon and seconded by the Opposition’s Chief Whip, Christopher Jones. Harmon in the motion recalled that during the December 29th sitting the Members of the Opposition and Government ended up in a physical, loud and aggressive “face off” in the well of the Assembly. He said it was the Government MPs who had become abusive. “… Members of the Government side engaged in and used abusive and threatening language and behaviour towards Members of the Opposition and that this conduct VACANCY One salesman,able bodied porters.Experience in writing bills,stocktaking & cashing. Keyfood Trading,Mc Doom village. Vacancy for cleaners. Apply in person at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda. Fitter Machinist,Welder fabricator,Mechanic,Apprentice & Male cleaner.Three year’s experience.Call:642-9823 or email: techserigy @yahoo .com.
and behaviour was un-parliamentary to say the least and violative of the privileges accorded to a member of this National Assembly,” Harmon said in his motion. According to him, the conduct of the Government MPs brought the National Assembly into disrepute and invited public odium into the affairs of the Assembly. Among the MPs he listed are: Teixeira, Mark Phillips, Anil Nandlall, Nigel Dharamlall, Kwame McKoy, Anand Persaud, Susan Rodrigues, Jennifer Westford, Mustapha Zulifkar, Sanjeev Datadin, Robeson Benn, Hugh Todd, Faizal Jafarally, Juan Edghill, Sheila Veerasammy, Vickram Bharrat, Joseph Hamilton, Alister Charlie, Charles Ramson, Deodat Indar, Collin Croal and Vindhya Persaud – be referred to the Committee of Privileges. The Opposition has also filed a Motion of No-Confidence against the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir. On Sunday Harmon had said that the Opposition MPs had determined on December 29th, 2021 that they were the last line of defense against an authoritarian regime which was salivating about the idea of having complete control of the revenue from our oil re-
sources that is the patrimony of all Guyanese. According to him, the Opposition MPs came to that conclusion after witnessing the decision of the Speaker not to allow a petition by Guyanese Citizens requesting that the consideration of the Natural Resource Fund Bill be paused to allow for greater consultation. He said Article 13, the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc., and the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) had also underscored the need for greater consultation on the legislation, which was being proposed at the time. The Opposition had also asked that the Bill be sent to a Special Select Committee to ensure wide consultation on the repealing of the Natural Resource Fund Act of 2019 but this too was rejected. “The people’s representatives in the opposition were determined to defend the patrimony of the Guyanese people. However, anyone who was in the National Assembly on the night of December 29th, 2021 or looking on via the livestream could deter-
mine that the Speaker was not in control of the Assembly as most Members of Parliament both Government and Opposition were not in their seats during the debate,” Harmon said. He said the APNU+AFC is maintaining that the Natural Resource Fund Bill, no. 20 0f 2021 was not successfully passed given the circumstances under which it was debated and purportedly passed. “…we maintain that the mace which was used in place of the original one was a replica. We also maintain that at the time of members casting their votes, many members on the Government side were not in their seats. They were standing! Hon. Mark Phillips, the country’s Prime Minister and head of government’s business was not seated when the voting took place, video evidence shows him pumping his fist way above his head at this said time,” the Opposition Leader explained. He said the actions by many of the Government MPs as caught on camera on December 29th would require any impartial Speaker to discipline them.
COVID-19 claims lives of 4 more persons... From page 15 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 184 persons are in institutional isolation,
13,175 are in home isolation and 14 are in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 42,883 persons have recovered.
Tuesday January 25, 2022
Kaieteur News
Download ‘iMatter’ App to help save lives - Human Services Minister urges public ‘iMatter’, the Ministry of Human Services and Social S e c u r i t y ’s ( M H S S S ) Gender-Based Violence (GBV) App which was introduced last year, can be downloaded from both the Google Play store and Apple store and can be used to help save lives. “Calling 914 is literally at our fingertips,” a release from the Ministry noted, “as the 914-panic button in the App is linked directly to the 914 number.” Dr. Vindhya Persaud, the MHSSS Minister shared, “The App is part of the continuing work we are doing to tackle domestic violence. I wanted to ensure that persons out there have multiple ways to reach out for help, and putting the panic button in the App was something I insisted on. The team working on the App spared no effort to review and revise to have a userfriendly App that contains information and educational resources that will appeal to all ages and needs. I appeal to persons living in a violent situation to get on to 914, either by phone or App, because you matter to us and we do not want to see continued acts of violence that leave so much death, pain and scars in their wake. I encourage people to have every member of their family download the “iMatter App”, let’s save lives and stop the violence.” This technological
development allows persons to access help and resources on GBV and is a collaborative effort between the MHSSS and the Guyana Spotlight Initiative, a European Union–United Nations global partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. Its creation involved initial input by a local GBV activist while Techlify Inc. took the App to its current form under the guidance of UNFPA and the Ministry. The application was launched in March, 2021 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at the ‘We Lift’ event hosted by the Human Services Ministry and is available on all android (iMatter) and IOS devices (iMattergy) and easy to use. After downloading the App, persons can simply select the region in which they live to get started for educational information on GBV and to find support services for themselves or someone who is affected by violence. The categories that can be selected include, sexual violence and disability, sexual exploitation and abuse, trafficking in persons, domestic violence, child abuse and elderly abuse. The application also contains useful resources and answers frequently asked questions that would help users understand more about GBV. According to the
Armed bandit relieves businesswoman of $18.5M outside Berbice bank
The Republic Bank Branch at Rose Hall, Berbice. By Malisa Playter-Harry Police are probing an alleged robbery committed on an Albion Front, Corentyne, Berbice businesswoman which occurred on Monday outside the Republic Bank branch situated in the heart of Rose Hall Town at Independence
Avenue, Berbice. The victim, who was reportedly relieved of $18.5M, has been identified a s 4 3 - y e a r- o l d N a l i n i Mangali. At the time, she was accompanied by an office clerk attached to her business place at Albion – (Continued on page 16)
Ministry, dedicated GenderB a s e d Vi o l e n c e c a s e workers assigned to the Gender-Based Violence technological platform will respond by reaching out to a Gender-Based Violence survivor or individual at risk, via the communication channel that the individual has expressed a preference for.
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Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud proudly displays the mobile application ‘iMatter’ that allows persons to access help and information on Gender-Based Violence.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 25, 2022
Tuesday January 25, 2022
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The Gambia Djokovic sponsor Hublot says vaccine clinch famous is personal choice win over Guinea BBC Sport - Debutants The Gambia booked their place in the quarter-finals at the Africa Cup of Nations as Musa Barrow’s goal gave them a famous 1-0 victory over Guinea. Bologna forward Barrow collected a pass and slotted past Aly Keita from the centre of the box in the 71st minute. Defender Ibrahima Conte had an equaliser ruled out for offside before The Gambia’s Yusupha Njie was sent off. Guinea struck the post in injury time before another shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Baboucarr Gaye. It was a stunning save by Gaye to keep out the power-
ful strike by Jose Kante, which came immediately after Conte had rattled the lefthand upright from a narrow angle. Even then, Guinea forward Morgan Guilavogui latched onto the rebound off the bar and had his follow-up attempt blocked by Pa Modou Jagne. Kante headed over from the resulting corner and the Scorpions, the lowest-ranked side at the tournament, held on to win as Guinea centre-back Conte was also dismissed in injury time for a second booking. The Gambia, who are 150th in the world, will now face either hosts Cameroon or fellow debutants Comoros in the last eight on Saturday.
ZURICH, (Reuters) Watch maker Hublot, a sponsor of Novak Djokovic, believes getting vaccinated is a personal choice, the Swiss luxury group told Reuters in its first comment since the world men’s tennis No. 1 was expelled from Australia this month. The Serbian player, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, was deported on Jan. 16 ahead of the Australian Open after a federal court dismissed his appeal to stay in the country and play the tournament. Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe said the brand, owned by French luxury conglomerate LVMH, was waiting to hear from Djokovic about his experience. “We are waiting to see what his position is with regard to all that he went
Tuesday Junuary 25, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Relationships of all kinds should be thriving at this time, Aries. Mind and emotions join together in a beneficial partnership, enabling you to increase your understanding of those close to you. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Work of all kinds gets done a lot faster, Taurus, as friends or family members join in assisting you in getting it out of the way. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Love blossoms today as communication with your beloved is enhanced by an increased understanding on both your parts, Gemini.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Intellect and feelings are totally joined today, Libra, especially when dealing with friends. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A focused and enhanced practical turn of mind, strengthened by intuition, may be of great help to you today when considering career matters, Scorpio. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You probably won't want to spend much time at home today, Sagittarius. Most likely you'll want to be out and about, perhaps at a large gathering.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) A number of visitors might come to your house today, Cancer, perhaps to discuss matters of interest to all of you.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your imagination is flying high today, Capricorn. Intellect and intuition join together in a vivid and explosive union where the whole is definitely greater than the sum of the parts.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you're into computers and the Internet, Leo, you can expect to spend a lot of time today staring at a screen. You may be doing some writing or web design or animation, but whatever it is.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Thoughts of travel could be on your mind today, Aquarius, and you might tinker with the idea of actually taking time off and going somewhere that you've always wanted to visit.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Using computers either to increase your income or manage your money may have seemed like Greek to you, Virgo, but today you'll probably catch on very quickly.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Some unusual dreams may come to you tonight, Pisces, and you might awaken with the idea that they're very important.
through,” he said in an interview. “The principle of vaccines is that it’s something private. We value personal freedom. Everyone can decide. One can be in favour or against. That’s our position.” Such sensitive issues raise a dilemma for sponsors who must strike a balance between respecting an athlete’s personal freedom and keeping in step with the public mood. Guadalupe said he believed Djokovic would make a statement at the end of the Australian tournament, which ends on Jan. 30. “We will define our position then.” Hublot, a sponsor for sporting greats including Pelé, Kylian Mbappé and Usain Bolt, signed up “living legend” Djokovic last Au-
gust. The player earned $30 million last year from sponsorship tie-ups, according to Forbes. Another leading Djokovic sponsor, French apparel brand Lacoste, said last week it would contact him to review events in Australia. Djokovic’s other sponsors include carmaker Peugeot, which has declined to com-
ment on the incident, and Austrian lender Raiffeisen Bank International. The Vienna-based bank, which announced a tie-up with Djokovic in April, said it had agreed on a multi-year partnership with the player on the basis of his strong reputation in central and eastern Europe.
Overtime rules come... From page 21 on the opening possession of overtime, their opponent gets a possession and can win the game with a touchdown or tie it with a field goal. If both teams get field goals, the next team to score wins. The NFL’s overtime format, which critics argue gives too much value to something as random as a coin toss, has come under scrutiny before, including on the game’s big-
gest stage. Five years ago the New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons when they scored on the opening drive of the only Super Bowl to go to overtime. In 2019, the Chiefs could only sit and watch as the Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl with a game-winning 75yard touchdown drive to begin overtime. That offseason the Chiefs proposed a change to the overtime rules with hopes of giving each team’s offense an opportunity to touch the football. “Worst overtime format in all of sports!” Ryan Strome of the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers wrote on Twitter. For his part, the Bills’ Allen, who completed 27 of 39 passes for 329 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions against the host Chiefs, took a more diplomatic tone when asked about the rule after the loss. “The rules are what they are. I can’t complain about that because if it was the other way around, we’d be celebrating too,” said Bills quarterback Josh Allen. “It is what it is at this point. We just didn’t make enough plays tonight.”
Moeen Ali ... From page 21 through the same thing.” While this five-match series is now all square with one win apiece, a gripping conclusion means the Windies can take more than a shred of comfort despite their defeat. Asked where the balance of power lay ahead of the next game on Wednesday, Moeen replied: “If we were 2-0 down, they would certainly be taking all of the momentum. But I think both teams will be pretty happy. “We know we can play better and they know that they really put us under pressure here, particularly at the end. But for most of the game we dominated. “They can take a lot of positives and confidence from this but we did win the game so they will be very wary that we are going to try to perform better. I think it’s going to be a very tight series.”
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 25, 2022
Andre Russell’s two wickets, NBA roundup: Jayson unbeaten 31 propel MGD to Tatum racks up 51 points first victory in BPL this season as Celtics rout Wizards
SportsMax - A strong allaround performance from Andre Russell helped Minister Group Dhaka to their first win in the Bangladesh Premier League yesterday when they defeated Fortune Barishul by four wickets at Mirpur. Batting first, Fortune Barishul made 129-8 thanks mainly to 36 from Chris Gayle and 33 from Dwayne Bravo. Shakib al Hasan contributed 23. Russell was the best of the bowlers picking up 2-27 from his four overs while Isuru Udana took 2-29. Needing 130 for victory, MGD seemed destined for their third straight defeat after losing four wickets for 10 runs inside three overs as Alzarri Joseph 2-30 and Shafiqul Islam tore through the top order. Captain Mahmudullah and Shuvagata Hom brought the chase back on track with a fifth-wicket stand of 69 that was broken by Bravo who dismissed Hom for 29.
Andre Russell helped Minister Group Dhaka to their first win. Mahmudullah and Russell then posted 50 in 31 balls with Russell racing to his unbeaten 31 from just 15 balls with three fours and two sixes. Shakib broke the partnership when he dismissed Mahmudullah for 47 with the scores level.
Udana took a single from the first ball he faced to seal the victory. The win means MGD are fifth in the standings with their first two points.Chattogram Challengers leads the standings with four points having won two of their first three games.
East Coast Cricket Board announces under15 training squad The East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) has announced an eighteen man squad to attend training sessions at the LBI Cricket Facility. The practice session is scheduled to commence from 4:00pm today, Tuesday, January 25, 2022. The session will be conducted by coaches L a t c h m a n Ya d r a m ,
Ashmul Ali and Kumar Bishundial. The following players are asked to be there by 3:45pm today: 1. A l o n z o Ramsingh 2. Yudesh Jaikaran 3. Arun Ganda 4. Ricardo Singh 5. Ravin Persaud 6. Joshan Bollers
7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Aaron Kissoon Rishi Sewdat Trilok Nanan Mikel Sharma Daniel Kissoon Munesh Outar Gopaul Ramchand Fayuse Ali Anthony Chan Ravindra Balgobin Nicklos Rukhdeo Ricardo Singh
Australian Open Day... From page 22 first-set tiebreaker. Russian Daniil Medvedev is the highest-seeded competitor remaining at No. 2. He advanced with a 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 7-5 battle against unseeded American Maxime Cressy. “It was not easy,” Medvedev said, via The Guardian. “If I wouldn’t win the fourth one I’d probably be in a difficult mental shape because I had so many break points. Hell of a match. The fourth set was crazy.” Medvedev, 25, voiced frustration about playing the past two matches on Margaret Court Arena, the newest indoor court, rather than Rod Laver Arena, where the top players’ matches are scheduled as the main attraction. Medvedev said there is more space on that court.
He needed nine break points to take control of the fourth set and thereby the match. He is the highest remaining seed and defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2021 U.S. Open, the most recent Grand Slam played. He lost to Djokovic in last year’s Australian Open final. Medvedev will face Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the ninth seed. AugerAlissime eliminated No. 27 seed Marin Cilic of Croatia 26, 7-6 (7), 6-2, 7-6 (4). American women take over Australia With Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys already waiting, Danielle Collins punched her ticket to become the third American woman of eight in the Australian Open quarterfinals. It is the second year in a row three Americans have been in the quarterfinals on the women’s side.
Collins, seeded No. 27, came down a set to defeat No. 19 seed Elise Mertens 4-6, 64, 6-4. It’s the first time the 28year-old has rallied from a set down in back-to-back matches at a Grand Slam. She has won seven major matches since 2019 doing so, tied for Kaia Kanepi for most of any woman in that span. She was a semifinalist at the Australian Open in 2019, her best finish at a major. Alize Cornet reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal after 63 consecutive appearances. The unseeded Frenchwoman upset Romanian and No. 14 seed Simona Halep 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Halep is a two-time Grand Slam champion with wins at the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon. Collins and Cornet will face off in the quarterfinal.
Reuters - Jayson Tatum snapped out of a 3-point shooting slump with a flourish, hitting 9 of 14 from distance en route to a seasonhigh 51 points, and the Boston Celtics cruised past the Washington Wizards 116-87 Sunday in Washington, D.C. Tatum came into Sunday’s matchup having missed his previous 20 3-point attempts and going 0-for in each of Boston’s previous three games. But he hit his first four attempts against the Wizards and went 6 of 7 in the first half — the last of which came just seconds before halftime. Sunday marked the fifth 50-point-plus game of Tatum’s career. He also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished seven assists, while teammate Jaylen Brown finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Bradley Beal led Washington with 19 points and seven assists, but Beal, Spencer Dinwiddie and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went 0-for-14 from beyond the arc. Deni Avdija scored 13 points, and Kyle Kuzma finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. Knicks 110, Clippers 102 RJ Barrett collected 28 points, 14 rebounds and six assists as host New York snapped a three-game losing streak with a wire-to-wire win over Los Angeles. Barrett hit 9 of 24 shots from the field and posted his third double-double of the season. He also hit all seven of his free throws in 43 stellar minutes. Julius Randle totaled 24
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots over Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija (9) during the second half at Capital One Arena. (Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports) points, nine rebounds and five assists and bounced back nicely from being held to four points in Thursday’s 102-91 loss to New Orleans. Reggie Jackson scored 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting as the Clippers dropped to 12 on their eight-game trip. Ivica Zubac totaled 17 and 14 rebounds. The Clippers shot 43 percent from the field and were 14 of 41 from 3-point range. Heat 113, Lakers 107 Jimmy Butler recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, leading host Miami to a win over struggling Los Angeles. The Lakers, who trailed by 26 points in the second quarter, cut their deficit to 111-107 with 1:07 left. B u t Ta l e n H o r t o n Tucker ’s poor in-bounds pass with seven seconds
Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives the ball around Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) during the second half at FTX Arena. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)
left led to a Caleb Martin steal and layup, ending the Lakers’ final chance. Duncan Robinson led Miami with 25 points (6 of 11 on 3-pointers) as the Heat improved to 16-5 at home, the best home record in the Eastern Conference. Now with the Lakers, James scored a game-high 33 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished four assists Sunday. He has scored at least 26 points in 17 straight games. Hawks 113, Hornets 91 Trae Young pumped in 30 points and visiting Atlanta controlled most of the game in defeating coldshooting Charlotte. Young connected on eight of his 15 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc. De’Andre Hunter posted 20 points, Kevin Huerter added 11 points and reserve Danilo Gallinari scored 10. Charlotte, which lost for just the second time in its last nine games, missed its first 19 attempts from 3point range and finished 4for-36 from deep. Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball both racked up 19 points for the Hornets. In other results: Magic 114, Bulls 95 76ers 115, Spurs 109 Mavericks 104, Grizzlies 91 Nuggets 117, Pistons 111 Trail Blazers 114, Raptors 105 Timberwolves 136, Nets 125 Warriors 94, Jazz 92 (Field Level Media)
Tuesday January 25, 2022
Moeen Ali admits West Indies batting depth ‘scary’ after narrow England win PA Media - Moeen Ali admitted the batting depth of the West Indies is “scary” after England withstood a late blitz from lower-order pair Romario Shepherd and Akeal Hosein to win the second Twenty20 by just one run. England looked to be cruising to a series-levelling victory when their opponents crumbled from 47 for two to 65 for seven in pursuit of 172, with Moeen taking formatbest figures of three for 24 at Barbados’ Kensington Oval. But some bruising blows from Shepherd kept a flickering hope alive and even though that was extinguished midway through the final over, Hosein closed the show with three successive sixes off Saqib Mahmood. Shepherd and Hosein, who came in at seven and 10 respectively, each clubbed 44 not out, the latter doing so from only 16 deliveries, as the Windies made the final result so much closer than it arguably should have been. “Obviously the game was done with three balls to go but with Shepherd still in and the way it went down, it never quite felt like we were over the line till the last ball,” Moeen said. “Even though they were six or seven down for not many runs, they were never quite out of the game, they’re such a dangerous team. They’ve got so much talent, so much power. “The fact they bat all the way down to number 10 makes them extremely dangerous. For them to lose by one
Moeen Ali run, it’s actually quite scary, their batting line-up is very scary. “We’re glad to get the win but we could do a lot of things better. It is a lesson for the guys. We know we haven’t even played that well there and we still won the game.” Jason Roy had earlier topscored for England, who lost the series opener 24 hours earlier by nine wickets when they were bowled out for 103, with 45 from 31 balls as the tourists posted 171 for eight after batting first again. Reece Topley marked his first T20 international in six years with an early wicket and a run out and then – after spin twins Moeen and Adil Rashid had put the squeeze on in the middle overs – the left-arm seamer held his nerve in the penultimate over, yielding just
eight runs to leave the Windies needing 30 from the last six balls. Mahmood’s first delivery was called a wide while Hosein was left unimpressed when the second one was not and took any frustration out on England’s fast bowler with two fours and three sixes in a final over that yielded 28 runs. “You’ve got to go through this to get better and I’m sure he’ll be taking this as a lesson,” Moeen said of Mahmood. “Hopefully he can learn from it but he’s got so much ability. “It’s good for a young batter to fail a little bit and a young bowler to get hit because you can only learn from that. I’m sure he’s going to do that. Every single one of us in this team has gone (Continued on page 19)
Romario Shepherd hopeful for maiden IPL contract - “It’s something I’ve dreamed about for a long time” SportsMax - The Indian Premier League is the most popular T20 franchise league in the world and many cricketers across the globe dream about playing in it one day. West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd is no different. The Guyanese fast bowler and right-handed batsman, who dazzled with the bat with an unbeaten 44 in the second T20 international between the West Indies and England Sunday, has put his name in the last three IPL auctions but is yet to be awarded a contract. Speaking in a press conference yesterday, Shepherd
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says the dream, which at this point is very close to reality, is still alive. “It’s a great platform for any youngster. Many people dream to go to the IPL and I’m no different. It’s something that I’ve dreamed about for a very long time. My name was in the draft for the last three years so this year I’m definitely looking forward to it,” he said. In the midst of a fivematch T20I series with England at the moment, Shepherd says his full focus is on helping the West Indies win. “I’m trying my best to get there but, at the same time, trying my best to help us win
this series. I try to focus on what is at hand right now and try to put my all in there. ‘Eventually, if an IPL contract comes that would be great for me but I try not to think about it while in the game,” Shepherd said. Shepherd has so far played 11 T20 Internationals with 100 runs and eight wickets to his name. The IPL player auction is scheduled to take place on February 12 and 13 and he will have another opportunity to enhance his reputation when the West Indies and England square off in the third of five T20 internationals in Barbados tomorrow.
Windies to play Papua New Guinea in quarter-finals of ICC U-19 World Cup Plate Tournament
West Indies Under-19s will play Papua New Guinea Under-19s in the Plate quarter-final tomorrow. SportsMax - West Indies Under-19s will play Papua New Guinea Under-19s tomorrow in Trinidad & Tobago in a quarter-final of the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup Plate Tournament. The Plate tournament is contested between the eight teams that failed to advance to the Super League quarterfinal stage of the competition and is an important phase of the competition for the development of the young cricketers. The young Windies finished third in Group D behind
Sri Lanka Under-19s and Australia Under-19s after only picking up one win in their three group games, a seven-wicket win over Scotland. The other plate quarter-final matchups are UAE U-19s vs Uganda U-19s, Ireland U19s vs Canada U-19s and Zimbabwe U-19s vs Scotland U-19s. After the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals are completed, the winner of the Plate tournament will be crowned overall ninth-place finishers at the ICC Men’s Under-19
Cricket World Cup. The Super League quarter-finals will see England U-19s facing South Africa U-19s, an All-Asia affair with Afghanistan U-19s facing Sri Lanka U-19s, a rematch of the 2020 final with India U-19s facing defending champions Bangladesh U-19s before Australia U-19s do battle with Pakistan U-19s. The champions will be crowned on February 5 at the final at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and Barbuda.
Overtime rules come under fire after Chiefs win playoff thriller (Reuters) - The National Football League’s (NFL) overtime rules have again come under fire after the Buffalo Bills’ high-powered offense never got a chance to touch the ball in the extra period of their crushing playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The game on Sunday was an instant classic between two of the most gifted NFL quarterbacks and included three lead changes in the final two minutes of regulation before Patrick Mahomes’s Chiefs prevailed 42-36 over Josh Allen’s Bills. Unlike most other sports that give challengers from both sides an equal shot at winning in overtime, the NFL uses a coin toss to determine which team gets the ball first. Under the current overtime format, a team can win on the opening possession only if they score a touchdown. Otherwise each team gets at least one possession. After Allen made the wrong call on the coin toss, the Chiefs received the ball
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark (55) and outside linebacker Nick Bolton (54) reacts against the Buffalo Bills during the first half in the AFC Divisional playoff football game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports) and Mahomes needed just eight plays to drive his team 75 yards down the field for the winning touchdown. “If you are still arguing, in a game like that, it’s not in best interest of EVERYONE that both Mahomes and Allen get the ball in OT I don’t know
what to tell you,” former NFL tight end Greg Olsen wrote on Twitter. “In a game where neither team could stop the other at the end, a literal coin flip determined the ending.” If a team gets a field goal (Continued on page 19)
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Kaieteur News
D’Anjou taste defeat at IMMAF World Championships - Cave enters the Octagon today It certainly wasn’t the debut at the IMMAF World Championship Corwin D’Anjou had wanted, but the Guyanese vowed to keep fighting following his second round TKO defeat to Ireland’s Adam McEnroe in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Fighting in Cage One with all the main cameras focusing on what was the first time a Guyanese had entered the Octagon at an International Mixed Martial Arts (IMMAF) event, D’Anjou really didn’t had any answers for McEnroe from the opening horn. McEnroe entered his contest against D’Anjou at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Zayed Sports City, near UFC Fight Island (Yas Island) coming off a unanimous decision victory in his sixth (amateur) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) bout. D’Anjou went into the Octagon looking confident and was even optimistic of success during his pre-fight interview. However, he added that
being the only Guyanese with some amount of experience in the MMA arena regionally, much was riding on him to do well in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital. With D’Anjou being a black belt judoka and ‘jiujiteiro’, Coach Bruce Fraser watched from ringside as his prized fighter hardly posed any challenged against his counterpart from Ireland. In fact, D’Anjou was ‘saved by the bell’ in the first round, when McEnroe was on top of him pounding away and the Guyanese having to resort to being defensive. The Referee quickly stepped-in during the early stages of the second round, when McEnroe once against had D’Anjou on the mat and unable to return any strike. “I’m disappointed,” D’Anjou said after his fight. He added, “Our game plan was the go out there,
maintain dominance and take the match to the floor where I have the experience, but after the first round, being mounted, I defended myself intelligently but still ended up with the first round going to my opponent.” “So, I came back in the second (round) where I was again taken down and suffered a TKO loss; not what I wanted. But I’ll get back home, return to training, try to correct some of my mistakes and take it from there,” D’Anjou said. Meanwhile, the other Guyanese, Ijaz Cave will be in action today in the Round-of-16 of the Men’s Light Heavyweight Division, when he face-off with Sweden’s Robin c.While Cave is entering the Octagon for the very first time, Enontekio is coming off a four-fight consecutive defeat. He has one win seven MMA fights. (Rawle Toney)
Tuesday January 25, 2022
Australian Open Day 8: World No. 115 Kaia Kanepi shocks No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka to reach quarterfinal Yahoo Sports - The No. 2 ranked women’s player in the world is out of the Australian Open in a stunning upset on Day 8 of the first Grand Slam of the year. Kaia Kanepi, ranked No. 115 in the world, ousted world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka 5-7, 62, 7-6 (7) to reach her first Australian Open quarterfinal. The 36-year-old Estonian has now reached the quarterfinal of all four Grand Slams with her first coming in 2008. “At my age I didn’t believe I will ever do it,” Kanepi said of the feat, per tennis writer Ben Rothenberg. “I’m really happy.” The loss means of the top10 seeded women’s players, only No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, No. 4 Barbora Krejcikova and No. 7 Iga Swiatek remain. Sabalenka won the first set in a tight one, but dropped the second. In the third, Kanepi went up 40-0 in the service game, but Sabalenka saved four match points that made it 5-5. She turned it to 65 eyeing a better result than the fourth-round finish in last year’s Australian Open. Kanepi held her to love in 71 seconds, forcing a tiebreaker that she won to advance. Sabalenka was a semifinalist at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, but had struggled with her serve of late. She had at least 10 double faults in each match of the Grand Slam and against Kanepi had 46 unforced errors to Kanepi’s 30. Kanepi will face Iga Swiatek, a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 winner against Romanian Sorana Cirstea. Medvedev, Tsitsipas reach quarterfinals Stefanos Tsitsipas nearly suffered an upset of his own, instead advancing with a 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 match that went the distance. It’s his third Australian Open quarterfinal and he’s going for his first major title. The No. 4-seeded player fell behind through three sets when American and No. 20 seed Taylor Fritz, making his first Grand Slam fourth-round appearance, delivered 16 winners and three unforced errors in the third. Tsitsipas forced a fifth set and broke the second try to take a 5-3 lead, then rescued two break points to survive and advance. The match lasted into the early morning hours in Melbourne. “An epic match that’s all I can say,” Tsitsipas said, via The Guardian. “I gave everything, I am very proud. I am overwhelmed, too much, the stadium was on fire. It’s too
Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi celebrates winning her fourth round match against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka. (REUTERS/ Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Maxime Cressy of the United States hits a forehand against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during day eight of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.
Danielle Collins of the U.S. reacts during her fourth round match against Belgium’s Elise Mertens. (REUTERS/Morgan Sette) good to be true. I knew it was going to get physical. It was important to have the crowd with me, and I feel like they were backing me up when things got tough. It was important to have that ambiance, thank you. I am very tired, I can barely speak right now.” Tsitsipas finished as a fi-
nalist in the 2021 French Open, falling to Novak Djokovic. Djokovic is not in the draw this Grand Slam over visa issues. Tsitsipas will face Frenchman Jannik Sinner, seeded 11th, in the quarterfinal round. Sinner won in straight sets with a (Continued on page 20)
Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 25, 2022
Alexander Zhang receives his prize from Alicia DeAbreu.
Winners of the National under-12 Rapid Chess Championship were rewarded for their outstanding performance at the Grand Coastal Inn for the seven-round rapid tournament concluded on Saturday, January 15th. Alexander Zhang won the under-12 National title and Kristin Xavier becoming the first ever under-12 female champion.
Shaquka Tyrell
Winners across the various categories received trophies, medals, gift bags and certificates. Notably, this championship had not been held since 2020, due to the covid-19 pandemic. This was also the first time it has been held online. The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) praised the discipline and dedication of the youth and cadet
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Players rewarded for performances in DeSinco Chess Tourney players noting their excellent performance throughout the tournament. These players are expected to participate in more tournaments throughout the year. Frankie Farley, President of the GCF, noted that with today’s technology, it is now possible to teach the game to hundreds of youths across the country. Information and learning materials are much more
accessible for persons who want to learn chess than there were in the past. D e S i n c o ’s C h i e f Executive Officer Mrs. Alicia DeAbreu, representing the company’s Lifebuoy brand, expressed her gratitude to the parents of the players of the tournament, thanking them for their active encouragement and support of their children for chess
Kristin Xavier receives her prize from Alicia DeAbreu.
and praised their initiative and forward-thinking in recognizing the value of learning chess and all the benefits it brings to young minds. DeSinco has also given their commitment to sponsor more chess tournaments for the remainder of the year. Anand Raghunauth, Vi c e - P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Guyana Chess Federation has urged the youths to
continue participating in these tournaments, citing that more opportunities for both local and international play will arise for these young players in 2022 and onwards. He also noted that membership has tripled in the federation over the last three months due to the expansion of the GCF’s Chess in Schools’ programme.
AG begins 2022 calendar with developmental meet Athletics Guyana (AG) began the 2022 season on Sunday last at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, with a developmental meet with the leading athletes putting in typical performances. Keliza Smith, Ruth Sanmoogan, Shaquka Tyrell and Attoya Harvey all got their competitive juices flowing at the Region 3 facility with wins in perfect conditions for racing Smith led a Running Brave Club sweep of the podium in the Girls 17-19 100m event, crossing the line in 11.94s. Karese Lloyd who won the 200m version of the event in 25.40s, finished second in 12.23s. Shenika Campbell completed the podium in 13.16s. Sanmoogan showed her diversity once again, winning the women 20+ 400m and long jump events. She clocked 58.94s in the quarter miler then changed shoes and disturbed the sand in 5.97m to win ahead of Analissa Redmond (5.23m) and Savannah Edmonds (4.96m). Natrena Hooper also
Ruth Sanmoogan
recorded a win on the track and on the field in the women’s 20+ 200m (25.92s) and the triple jump (12.35m). Tyrell won the Girl 17-19 400m dash with her only competition coming from the clock and then placed second to Austin (2:19:40s) in the two-lap event in 2:21.50s. Rashida
Clarke placed third in 2:56.60s. Harvey completed a double in the Girls 13-16 800m and 1500m races. The Running Brave standout stopped the clock in a brisk 2:22:10s in the two-lap event then earned another gold in the 1500m race in 5:01.86s. Other athletes in the
winner’s row Sunday included: Anisha Gibbons - 42.96m(Girls 17-19 javelin), Malachi Austin- Boys 13-16, 200m, and 400m (23.40s, 53.80s). Simeon Adams- Boys 17-19, 400m and 800m (49.57s, 2:04.50s). Wesley Tyndall had the longest jump of the day with a leap of 7.18m.