Kaieteur News

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President says Tuesday Edition NEWS will not abandon ‘risky’ Amaila project AIETEUR

July 05, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 26

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 76,381

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

‘Police promotions in limbo’ - Police Service Commission not properly constituted, Hicken not properly appointed - Forde flags flagrant breach of constitution, signals more court challenge

New quarry looks to cash in on Govt. Projects …to produce at US$26 per ton; sell back to govt. for US$50 per ton

Govt. must conduct EIA for NGL, Power Plant - Former EPA Head

CANU in $11M ganja bust in Canje Creek

Guyanese fishers to pay US$500 more to access Surinamese fishing license

Undercover cop faces murder charge over Bacchus killing

- two other colleagues to be charged for obstructing justice

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday July 05, 2022

Undercover cop faces murder charge over Bacchus killing - two other colleagues to be charged for obstructing justice

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Sergeant Dameion McLennon

Shot and killed, Quindon Bacchus

Lance Corporal Kristoff DeNobrega

Lance Corporal Thurston Simon

ance Corporal K r i s t o f f DeNobrega is slated to be charged today for murder of Quindon Bacchus, the 23-year-old Golden Grove, East Cast Demerara (ECD) youth who was gunned down in Haslington also on the ECD more than three weeks ago.

Bacchus was reportedly shot six times on June 10 by Special Branch rank, DeNobrega, during an alleged sting operation. On Sunday, Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), Retired Judge, William Ramlall recommended that three policemen be charged for the killing of Bacchus. As such, in a statement on Monday, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, noted that the file from Ramlall was received and based on the report, she has advised the police to charge DeNobrega with the offence of murder, Contrary to Common law, committed on Bacchus.

The DPP recommended that Lance Corporal Thurston Simon be charged with the offence of attempt to obstruct the course of justice, Contrary to Section 330 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, and

conduct prejudice to good order and discipline, Contrary to Section 4(z) of the Police (Discipline) Act, Chapter 17:01; while Sergeant Dameion McLennon will be charged with attempt to obstruct the course of justice, Contrary to Section 330 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. The ranks are expected to be arraigned in court today.

Police had initially reported that its rank had shot Bacchus at Haslington, ECD during a sting operation. It was alleged that ranks had learnt that Bacchus had an illegal gun to sell.

Police alleged that arrangements were made for an undercover cop to purchase the gun from him.

The undercover cop allegedly showed up to do business but while Bacchus was allegedly handing over the weapon, someone reportedly blew his cover.

Police further alleged that after Bacchus realised that he was caught in a sting operation, he shot at the cop.

The policeman reportedly returned fire and Bacchus ran away and jumped into a yard where he shot at the rank again.

The policeman alleged that he took cover and fired back again and this time,

Bacchus was struck to his body and he fell to the ground. An injured Bacchus was picked up and rushed to a hospital where he died while receiving treatment.

However, video footage has contradicted the police statement.

The video footage seen by this newspaper showed Bacchus running away from the policeman and appeared to have never fired any shot as was alleged.

A post mortem conducted revealed that Bacchus died of multiple gunshot wounds. Family members, accusing police of murdering the youth have been protesting daily.

Last week Tuesday the protest escalated, with residents of Golden Grove and nearby villages blocking sections of the East Coast Demerara roadway.

The protest later descended into chaos resulting in persons being robbed at Mon Repos. Later that evening, police indiscriminately opened fire at Golden Grove Market square shooting innocent children and adults who were desperately trying to get home due to the blockade on the road. Police have not issued a statement to explain the reason for the shooting last Tuesday night.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 05, 2022

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New quarry looks to cash in on Govt. Projects …plans to produce at US$26 per ton; sell back to govt. for US$50 per ton

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he Environmental Protection Agency has essentially given its clearance for the setting up of a stone quarry at Mabura, meant to supply the Ministry of Public Works with materials to be used for sea defence and road works.

According to the Project Summary for the initiative, the primary reason for the opening of the “quarry was to satisfy the Ministry of Public Works with boulders for sea defence maintenance and aggregates for road maintenance and other construction works.”

The quarry is being o p e r a t e d b y Wi n d s o r Technologies 19 Shamrock Gardens, Ogle East Coast

Demerara (ECD), and according to the environmental regulatory body, it screened the application for the grant of an environmental permit applied for by Pramanand R a m b h a r o s e - Wi n d s o r Technologies to establish Stone Quarry at the confluence of the Demerara River and Oring Creek, Potaro Mining District No. In making its announcement, the EPA said it has determined that this project will not significantly affect the environment, and is therefore exempt from the requirement to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The reasons for its decision as outlined indicate that the

The aggregate production schedule outlining an intent to mine out the area of over 1.7 million tonnes of stone in five years. proposed Stone Quarry will have minimal impacts on the environment; and that the site is suitable for this activity given that the area was allocated for mining related activities.

According to the summary submitted to the EPA, the company is seeking environmental permission in order to proceed with the initiative, the area applied for, is approximately 4,187

Calls grow for reliable regional transportation infrastructure PA R A M A R I B O , Suriname, CMC – St. Lucia Sunday urged regional countries to move swiftly to create a lasting reliable and affordable regional transportation infrastructure, warning that there can be no meaningful integration without free movement of people.

“We have allowed our discussions on Caribbean sea and air transport to be guided too much by external market forces rather than by the transportation needs of the people and businesses of our region,” St. Lucia Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre told the opening ceremony of the 43rd Summit of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders. He told his regional colleagues that in doing so, “we have not only closed our air and sea spaces for business expansion and growth for our own local investors, but we have also surrendered the future of our unification projects to the whims of service providers whose only interest is profit.

“To put it directly colleagues, CARICOM needs LIAT or CARICOM needs a better version of LIAT. Unless one of our island-owned carriers emerges as a truly regional carrier, not only in terms of countries covered, but with a philosophical commitment to making regionalism work for CARICOM citizens, then our regional aspirations will continue to be an elusive dream,” Pierre told the ceremony.

St. Lucia Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre He praised the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne for his efforts in keeping LIAT alive adding “St. Lucia, therefore, stands willing to work with CARICOM to find solutions to our regional transportation challenges, and will assist in any effort designed to finding a lasting, reliable and sustainable airline or consortium of airlines, to service the region”.

Last week, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime M i n i s t e r, D r. R a l p h Gonsalves, who had earlier complained of the challenges he faced as he was preparing for a number of overseas trips, including travel through the Caribbean, has said he has a “plan in mind” for regional air travel.

While he did not disclose the plan to listeners of a radio programme in his homeland, Gonsalves detailed the history of the failed regional

carrier LIAT, an entity he served as chairman of for the shareholder governments.

The airline is owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said previously that a decision had been taken that would allow Barbados and SVG to turn over their shares in LIAT to St. John’s for one EC dollar (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents).

Gonsalves said that air transportation in the region is now “a real mess”, and that he had soldiered on for two decades, having come to office, in March 2001, at a time when governments across the region “were bowing and scraping before Allen Stanford”, the Texan businessman and founder of the failed airline Caribbean Star who was later jailed for life in the United States for operating a Ponzi scheme.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Browne appealed to Caribbean trade unions to rethink their positions regarding the latest offer made to laid-off workers of the airline. The Antigua and Barbuda government said it was providing two million dollars “to meet partial satisfaction of the cash component of the compassionate pay-out” to former local employees of the regional airline, LIAT. In his address, Pierre said that St. Lucia will also be interested in a ferry offering (Continued on page 16)

acres, which potentially holds some 7.4 million tonnes of quarry resources.

According to Windsor Technologies, “the proposed quarry will produce approximately 1.7 million tonnes of boulders and aggregates in five years.”

The company said its production rate will fluctuate depending on demand and that it is expecting to employ about 100 persons with its Environmental management being outsourced.

The Summary stipulates, “the primary objective for this quarry plan is to develop a project that is safe, efficient

and profitable extraction of the maximum usable material from the available land whilst causing the minimum usable environmental disturbance which will result in beneficial final restoration and land uses.”

Speaking to the site selection process, Windsor Technology in its summary noted that “one of the major criteria, however, was the feasibility of the project, the current demand and supply, prices for commodities, capital and operation expenditure, taxes and royalties” and such like.

With this in mind, the company said, “from the prefeasibility, it was determined that the production cost for one ton is approximately USD$26.00/ton and the wholesale price was estimated as USD $50/ton.”

As such, “a surplus of USD$24.00/ton.” It was noted that at 150,000 tons per year for the first year, Mabura Quarry aims to generate a surplus of USD $3,600,000.

It would mean that the investors with this project are looking to secure profits in the range of almost 100% of its production costs.

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Tuesday July 05, 2022

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

Cheaper cooking gas and more this government must act comprehensively

I

n a country that has all these dazzling numbers, these mouthwatering projections, and prospects over what it has in its offshore oil and gas fields, it is a disgrace, when something as basic as cooking gas is so expensive for the many Guyanese who now use this commodity. We are so rich in textbook and spreadsheet numbers, yet there is the reality that will not go away of so many of our people gasping for breath, in how they find it unaffordable for this most routine exercise in daily living, that is, cooking.

Firewood largely gave away to kerosene which slowly gave ground to cooking gas as the main fuel for preparing food. Many poorer Guyanese proudly invested in a gaspowered appliance, in what was a great expense. It was of a sacrifice being made, in that other things had to be given up or held up due to the down payment and the monthly bill that came due to hire purchase sellers. What some other citizens may take for granted, is not an easy undertaking for other Guyanese.

The problem now is that their burden, their sacrifice, is being further added to through cooking gas prices that are sure to have already followed suit, given that gasoline price went up from $250 per litre to $269 per litre, because the experience is that they go hand-in-hand (see “Subsidize fuel importers cost above pre-determined prices to ease high cost woes -Economist to Govt.” (KN July 3). As the strapline to that caption noted, this is “as citizens struggling with cooking gas and transportation prices in oil producing country.”

Poorer citizens, usually wage earners at the bottom of the economic ladder, are definitely struggling, which most would quickly confirm. Daily, the local media (foreign ones too) overflow about how rich this society is, and how well its economy is doing. The question, the issue, the concern boil down to this: for whom? It is not the little people of Guyana, the ones who really cant afford to fill up their tanks, but are reduced to what is called topping up to keep going until they get some more change in their hands to repeat the process.

Those not owning their own vehicles face rising public transportation costs, and we are not speaking of taxis, which is a luxury for the citizen-in-the-street Guyanese. And when those same struggling ones face the fire, there is the rising heat of cooking gas prices that makes them sweat because of the money that they may very well not have at that moment, given that in the matter of a mere year, cooking gas price increased by $1,000 or over 21 percent. This is in an oil producing nation, and it shouldnt be.

One economist has called for some form of subsidy to fuel importers and vouchers above stated levels, which would help to cushion the impacts of rising prices with fuel (gasoline and cooking gas), and overall cost of living pressures. We think that that is a recommendation that the Government should listen to, and not just scornfully dismiss, because it originated from an Opposition source. The PPP/ C Government and its leaders have been running around to selected neighbourhoods to dispense temporary relief monies in varying amounts.

We think that, as helpful as those are, there is a need to come up with a comprehensive package that extends relief to Guyanese whoever they are, and wherever they may be.

We see this as more of governance, and less of the regular politics.

On a revealing note, there can be no denying that this PPP/C Government has been lavish to the point of being unrestrained in the private sector welfare (aka virtual State subsidies) that it is has granted to that supportive group.

The same can be said, and has not escaped the attention of Guyanese, that the partys campaign financiers (also possessing private sector membership) have received more than their share of State dole under various disguises, of which prime lands and contracts are just two.

Since there has been this generosity for the rich, then the same must take place for working class Guyanese to be given a timely financial cushion.

The Police - always the usual suspect, the ready scapegoat DEAR EDITOR, It didnt take long to follow on the heels of what I call the mayhem in Mon Repos.

Everybody is coming out, and many are up in arms, against the besieged Guyana Police Force (GPF). For sure, it gives all of us a ready scapegoat to tie to a post and flog to our hearts content. I will be bold enough to say that we are beating the wrong horse which of course, is sure to bring down wrath on heads like mine.

My response is simple: do your best, bub.

We do the same stupid thing (and it is) by engaging in the same self-reassuring exercises that comforts us that we are onto something, and we are doing something about it. I dare again to say that we are doing the wrong thing, picking the wrong target, and making bigger fools of ourselves, by digging our ostrich heads deeper in the cesspool that is Guyana. We are hesitant or fearful or too fraudulent in calling out those who should be really taken aimed at, which is the government of the day, and so happens to be the PPP one.

Our sordid history is that we have lived long and un-

happily with the GPF being used by the old PNC Governments of the last century, past PPP governments post 1992, even the last PNC Government from 2015 (to a lesser extent, admittedly), and now this current PPP Government in full flow in the close to last two years. The GPF has been used, abused, and misused to use, abuse, and misuse Guyanese depending on its members for their safety and security. We have had GPF Special Branch, GPF Black clothes, highly hailed GPF crime fighters, and some suspected GPF phantom squads, some dead and many alive, but all free to walk around here without fear of prosecution. Not even the Opposition speaks of that or them.

Those segments of the GPF have been let loose on Guyanese-mostly law abiding, some not-at different times in our chaotic past by different governments, and there is the belief that a similar force stands ready today to spring into action.

The point should have registered by now that the GPF has been at the beck and call of one government after another to do jobs dictated by those administrations.

Beck and call of government I repeat, and for both legal and extralegal actions. Therefore, it boggles the mind that Guyanese, be they in PPP ranks or Opposition ranks, jump all over the GPF for its perceived ineptitudes and failures. When will Guyanese learn, retain some sense? Perhaps, I would assert that the more appropriate question is: when will they face the facts honestly and speak to truth openly?

The situation at Mon Repos was history repeating itself on a lesser scale. The GPF, in the sum of its wisdom, could not have been so dumb, so flatfooted, so lethargic, so lacking in basic street sense, so devoid of tactical mobility, among numerous other shortcomings, that Mon Repos occurred. Or better yet, a Mon Repos was allowed to repeat itself.

Come on, people, please dont insult me by asking me to join the beat up police party. To put this in a different way, any small group of Guyanese on the march (or standstill) breathes too hard (or pass some gas in public), and the GPF is out in force, especially if matters dont feel right, or look right. Bear in

mind, I beg, that such handfuls of Guyanese are no Visigoths or Vandals out to disturb the peace, but peaceful Guyanese raising their voice about things that disturb. The point is that the GPF is on the job and very watchful. Its members know what is going on, what is coming down, what came down from whom, and are usually in a state of readiness. Let those Guyanese who push some special interest get out of hand, or bat a hostile eyelid, and the GPF is poised to swarm. Do I need to say more?

I go my way by leaving this little offering at the altar of more righteous Guyanese brethren (or self-appointed superiors).

We have seen, know, concluded how sensitive institutions of this sorry State have been subverted for this or that purpose, how they have been unleashed or withheld for what could best benefit Guyanese.

I point to the EPA and the State-owned media, as two quick examples, and ask if we are still blaming the GPF for the fiasco and farce that unfolded at Mon Repos.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

THE CURSE OF BEING FIRST - The plight of the “First Village” in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, On the 7th November 1839, a number of freed slaves, banded themselves together and purchased a plot of land Plantation Northbrook measuring 130 rods wide and seven (7) miles deep. Those industrious unschooled men and women, who were schooled in the school of hard knocks had a vision for their future and set about bringing it to reality.

What is remarkable of this event in 1839, is that this parcel of land, bought by these recently freed men and women, represented the first private purchase of ANY LAND, anywhere in the Western world, by freed slaves. Today that piece of land bears the Monika “VICTORIA VILLAGE on the East Coast of Demerara in Guyana.

What is remarkable about this so called “FIRST VILLAGE” I submit, is that it suffers from the “CURSE OF BEING FIRST”. Victoria Village is arguably the most written about village in the entire country of GUYANA. Almost every year as Emancipation Day” rolls around, there is an article in

some one of the daily papers, singing the virtues and achievements of our ancestors in having purchased this piece of ground. I continue to add my voice in applauding the achievement of my ancestors.

I am extremely proud of them.

WHAT I AM NOT SO PROUD OF TODAY IS WHERE THEIR DESCENDANTS ARE. Victoria is arguably - “THE MOST NEGLECTED VILLAGE IN GUYANA”.

Over the years, my ancestors established Victoria as being one of the most productive agricultural villages in the country and along the East Coast of Demerara, it was certainly part of the “Bread Basket” of the region. The village established the first Agricultural Fair to be held in the colony of British Guiana.

We helped in producing the foundation documents that formed the basis for Local Government in Guyana. We helped to organise what became known as the “INDABA or Village conversation in the village that culminated in the National Parliament

recognising the contribution of Victoria to the national conversation and brought about the established Parliament approved NATIONAL DAY OF VILLAGES - which is currently celebrated annually on November 7 each year.

Quite a list of achievements you may say, but alas this list belies the reality of Victoria today. In the last twenty-five years, successive governments in Guyana have used the village as great photo opportunities, but have FAILED MISERABLY in advancing the fortunes of this village community. In what became known as the “GREAT FLOOD of 2005”, Victoria was under water for over a month, with no government intervention until an article was written and published in the national and international press highlighting the villages plight. In spite of this, the village ended up getting the short end of the stick, because the frustration of the villagers manifested itself in their unacceptable bad behaviour. As a result of this “bad behaviour”, all the villages and hamlets around

Victoria benefited from relief supplies much to the chagrin of Victorians, but we did not.

Victoria is a “VERY RELIGIOUS VILLAGE”; alas though we profess to be “CHRISTIAN”, we are not.

We are only religious and religion has NEVER saved anyone. Our hope should be in CHRIST. Our ancestors, unschooled though they were, were some of the most educated people in 1839 Guyana. They set aside land in the village for three things which should have been the pillars for our development: Church, School and Farms.

Today each of the pillars is in dire need of repair. Persons in our community have neglected the church, the schools and the farms. As the Bible reminds us - “Where there is no vision, the people perish” Proverbs 29:18. Our ancestors had vision, their descendants have derailed that vision and brought us to where we are today. WHAT WENT WRONG? I would submit that what went wrong can be summed up in the effective operational National Current of Guyana.

ALL DOLLARS ($) (Continued on page 5)

Tuesday July 05, 2022

THE CURSE OF...

From page 4 AND NO SENSE (cents). We are focused only on money and as such, as the Bible again warns us - “The love of money is the root of ALL evil” 1 Timothy 6:10. It is time to do some deep soul searching as to where we are and where we desire to go. As I write this article, my mind is plagued by a quotation from Jack Nicholson in the film “An Officer and a Gentleman” in which he responds to a request to tell the truth and he says “YOU CANNOT HANDLE THE TRUTH”.

Maybe that is reflective of what will result from those who read this piece.

Today, I lament the curse under which Victoria finds itself. What is even worse is that we have been blessed with many visionless political leaders [local and national] who are desirous of being in the limelight or spotlight, but have no idea or plans that they can verbalise as to how they wish to see the village develop.

Square pegs in round holes. We are also blessed with a cadre of village youth who are intensely engaged in smoking dope, carrying fowl cocks under their arms for fowl fights, gambling and a plethora of deaf taxi drivers whose loud and lewd music only serve to corrupt the morals of our youth.

While at the same time, the unemployed youth and others continue to steal the produce of the few farmers who struggle against all odds to maintain some agricultural production in the community.

What is most disastrous is that a saying that I heard as a child seems very apt today.

My mother used to say that during the days of slavery, when Massa wanted to keep a secret from the slaves, they wrote it in books. Today we are still there.

Victoria has been failed by successive governments over the last twenty-five years.

This Village has three urgent and vital needs among a long list of others; which successive governments have ignored, even though they have all been made aware.

This village does not have a proper primary school. The current one has no space for

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Kaieteur News

children to play, it has poor educational facilities and should be condemned as a place for learning. There is a dire need for a Farm to Market road and last but by no means least, there is the need for a tarmac area where the multitude of taxis that clutter the corner of the main road can park.

There have been repeated “near misses” with disaster at the Four Corner from which only the “Grace of God” has protected us.

We are arguably one of the most populated villages in the country, we pay a lot of direct and indirect taxes, yet we are one of the most neglected villages in Guyana.

The three needs that have been identified as urgent above have been made known to successive governments, without any action. The tarmac was designed, costed and submitted to each of the previous two ministers of Works and Communication with NO result.

The previous ministers of Agriculture have been made aware of the need for the Farm to Market road, NO results; the ministers have been engaged about the need for the school, still NO results. To ALL our political leaders, I wish to remind them of the biblical quotation - 2 Samuel 23:3 - “He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God”. Our needs have been made known for years (over the last 25 years), yet in that same time, we have seen other community developments where Farm to Market roads have been built in other communities, tarmacs have been installed in other communities and primary schools have been built in other communities, BUT WE HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED AND IGNORED. I can only conclude that we are suffering from the CURSE of being FIRST. What is ironic is that from a biblical perspective, the first-born is a position of blessing; however, in the hands of mankind, blessings have become CURSES. I hope and trust that this little exposé will cause those who have the power of change at their disposal to be motivated to be JUST. Desmond Saul

“This is Guyana”

By Glenn Lall Were returning to the days of slavery.

These people are fetching away our wealth, And living like kings and queens While Guyana is left to starve, Living like beggars. Brothers and sisters, We are the richest country on earth per capita. As I speak now…

We have wealth that can make Guyana greater than America overnight.

But we are not benefiting from it.

We cannot fix the sewage system in this country.

It is stinking all over; we have a low down stinking city.

The salary being paid to our citizens, cant even pay some of their rent.

The pensioners cant even buy pampers for themselves.

Our citizens driving recondition vehicles and driving donkey carts.

Living in blackouts morning, noon and night, drinking dirty water.

Some of us cant even afford to bury our own dead in this country.

We cant even patch the

pot holes on the roads, much less pave.

We can t fix the kokers and drains to avoid flooding and disasters.

Guyanese wearing rubber slippers and balata foot.

We got people begging all over. We have people thieving all over.

Some of them are riding motor bikes, snatching umbrella to put food on their table.

While the foreign people fetching away, and living like kings and queens Drinking champagne and fine wine, taking our wealth, Building their cities with skyscrapers, building highways and railways, Driving Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini, Gucci, Nike and Louis Vuitton Yes, theyre living the life, building their countries with me and you money.

Yes, our gold, our diamond, our timber, bauxite and our oil.

What a beautiful Guyana this is. Guys, we gotta wake up! We gotta stand up!

This is a message from Glenn Lall.

(Compiled by Julie Jailall)

Greed took hold of them DEAR EDITOR, The recent statement “we needed money” by the leadership of the AFC is ridiculous. They know that the citizens of this country are well aware that they rushed to sign the contract with Exxon without full debate and hid the signing bonus form the public. They also received funds for their family members under the guise of scholarships.

The lead negotiator at the time was so arrogant that he stated he had learned to negotiate at Harvard. Upon a closer look, it wasn’t even part of a degree programme.

If they had taken the time to properly consult with others in the industry or at a minimum benchmark the best-inclass contracts for offshore drilling, the royalty rate would be in the double digits. The USA Law Library of Congress published in January 2015 crude oil royalty rates in selected countries. Based on this information, a royalty rate in the low to high teens would not have been unreasonable.

No Guyanese who wants what is best for our country will trust the AFC and APNU again. Thousands of sugar industry jobs destroyed out of racially motivated revenge.

Many Indians lost their in-

come and everyone is aware of how little help our community received from the opposition when they were in power. The AFC couldn’t even carry Whim as a result of the clear racial bias of the APNU+AFC government.

Now thanks to their and their partners greed, our fisherfolk and those dependent on the fishing industry are living off of government handouts.

Even the hardworking sugar workers had to await the support of the PPP/C to be able to better take care of their families. For the AFC to now turn and say that they were concerned about the country and wanted to urgently make more money is utterly ridiculous. Make more money for whom? For themselves of course. That my friends is and will be the legacy of the AFC and the APNU. Greed took hold of them and they wasted the long-awaited opportunity that they were given. The we in “we needed money” is the sound of a pig going weewee-wee. No one should be willing to take such a risk again.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

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Equality before the law is a central tenet of any truly democratic society DEAR EDITOR, WPA has been following closely, the developments surrounding the murder of Quindon Bacchus almost three weeks ago. In the wake of the march along the East Coast public road on Tuesday last, our party wishes to register its concern at the related developments.

First, we express outrage at attempts by the government to turn the entire issue into a racial confrontation between African and Indian communities. What occurred at Mon Repos was clearly the act of thugs with an agenda that is not consistent with the actions of the grieving residents of Golden Grove before and after that incident. The march passed several Indian Guyanese communities without any hint of attacks on persons or property.

We therefore condemn the utterances and posture of the president during his hasty visit to Mon Repos. We feel they send an ominous signal to the country. His clear attempt to characterise one community as victims and the other as aggressors is a very dangerous ploy that is sure to inflame an already tenuous situation.

That should never be the stance of any government in a democratic society, particularly one that is historically divided as Guyana. His visit to one community to console and reassure its residents of governments support while

refusing to visit the community that lost a son to bullets shot by an agent of the State is unbecoming of the Head of State and makes a mockery of his “One Guyana” refrain.

Second, the presidents decision to compensate vendors hurriedly without any due diligence is yet another example of bad governance by the PPP. The tendency to throw money around like Santa Claus without investigation and proper facilitation by the legitimate agencies amounts to illegality.

The Treasury is not the personal bank account of the president. WPA does not object to compensation to citizens for losses incurred, but we insist that such action must follow the law and not be used as a political weapon.

In this regard, we note that the same kind of haste was not employed in the case of vendors and other citizens at Golden Grove whose properties were damaged or destroyed by the police later the same day. To date, there has been no compensation granted to them. Equality before the law is a central tenet of any truly democratic society.

Third, WPA reminds the country that the issue at hand is the murder of Quindon Bacchus by a member of the Police Force. This murder is not an isolated eventit is the latest in a long string of similar murders of mainly African Guyanese males under recent

How did Quindon Bacchus come under police scrutiny?

DEAR EDITOR, With regard to the killing of Quindon Bacchus by the police during a police sting operation, the question needs

to be asked as to how did Quindon Bacchus come under police scrutiny?

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

Level of incompetence with the doctor at the unbelievable start health centre.

DEAR EDITOR, An investigation is certainly warranted in the royal runaround in the matter of the death of the six-year old stung by a scorpion (KN July 4).

Such an investigation must

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Kaieteur News

It is unbelievable the level of incompetence in this matter. Little wonder as to why death resulted.

My condolences to the grieving family.

Shamshun Mohamed

PPP government. The governments indifference coupled with the attempts at cover-up by the top brass of the Police Force have understandably fuelled charges of complicity on the part of the administration. This attitude by the government and the police has been in full display since young Bacchus was murdered.

The deafening silence by the government and the police on the fate of the investigations and the ignoring of the pleas for justice from the family and the community are the factors that triggered the march on Tuesday.

The suggestion that a press report that the alleged shooter was set free was the cause of the march is a simplistic and convenient explanation that insults the intelligence of the residents of Golden Grove and the country at large. It is against this background that WPA joins those who have been calling for a charge of murder to be instituted against the alleged shooter. Three weeks is too long a period of time especially in light of the evidence that has been in the public domain.

Fourth, WPA condemns in the strongest terms, the military assault on the community of Golden Grove on the night of the march. If the objective of the police was clearance of public road, why the indiscriminate shooting of rubber bullets and live ammunition at unarmed residents including women and children far away

from the public road? The injuries sustained by residents coupled with the destruction of property including a church were reprehensible acts by a Police Force that has gone rogue. We are yet to hear any rebuke of the police by the President, officials of the government or the Commissioner of Police.

Fifth, WPA questions the presence of members of the army on the scene. It is our considered view that since the situation was not beyond the capacity of the police, the presence of the soldiers was a cynical form of intimidation.

WPA therefore call for the immediate return of the soldiers to the barracks and the concomitant withdrawal of the heavy police presence in Golden Grove and Buxton. In the absence of a State of Emergency, their presence represents an extreme form of intimidation.

Finally, WPA views with much concern, the consorted efforts by the government to criminalize protests. This is a development that threatens to take the country back to the dark days of colonial rule.

The right to protest wrongdoing in high places is sacred and must be protected at all costs.

Emancipation from slavery and independence from colonialism were consequences of protest and resistance. Protest and resistance often stand between dictatorship and freedom.

Working Peoples Alliance

Is PARTITION a viable option?

DEAR EDITOR, With the deteriorating Indian Guyanese and African Guyanese relationship in Guyana, I asked myself if pushing for a united front is viable or even wanted in Guyana?

Should we go down the road of PARTITION, thereby saving us a lot of unnecessary trauma?

It is clear that when relationships are not working that separation is the best option rather than forcing people to live together.

Some would argue that because we are so mixed up, PARTITION is not viable which is erroneous as we are continually losing parts of our

families through migration anyway.

If we cannot grow together then I suggest we look at going our separate ways.

We do not necessarily need to go the PARTITION route.

It is just that we have had over 50 years of fighting each other rather than working together for mutual benefits.

We can work together for mutual benefits; it is just that the will is not there and we don’t want it.

Some prefer to play the “who pon top” game and “the blame” game.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

When an uninformed apologist vainly tries to make a point, it exposes his depravity!

DEAR EDITOR, Ever so often, you read an article in the print media and you can’t help but wonder how supposedly sane and civilized people can write such garbage for the public to read? I refer to one such article written by an individual who pens under the name “Dougla.” His suggestions began as a justification for the crass racism meted out to the people of Mon Repos, then later drifting into other areas causing himself much embarrassment.

So, firstly I must tell “Dougla,” that no semantics, no sugar coated language can veil the unbridled fact of what played out last Tuesday at Mon Repos. Making excuses for such atrocities only exposes your depravity and further shows up how baseless your thoughts are. The racist hooliganism perpetrated by the group operating under the guise of agitating for the injustices meted out to Quindon Bacchus, is preposterous to say the least! The question remains, what does simple sales people of Mon Repos have to do with Mr. Bacchus’ death? And no one can come up with any sensible answers?

There is no question in our minds that these thugs were driven by the narrow political aspirations of known political operators. They gave them the energy and the direction how to execute the surgical strike at Mon Repos.

So, for Dougla to come on here to make an apology for their action is ludicrous at best. This individual makes another massive mistake when he blundered into the realm of attacking our electoral system. He asserts that The Proportional Representation System, or what he refers to as “The winner takes all system,” has failed us. Here again is a situation of a bad worker quarrels with his tools.

Let me educate Dougla that the problem is not with the electoral system but with the political actions of some that make it a bad system. The PR System as it stands, is ideally suited for national government, seeing it ensures that there is an opposition. The Constituency System, which this writer is alluding to is even more brutal because it has the possibility.

The Constituency System or first past the post system means that once that constituent representative has a single vote that means he has won that entire constituency irrespective of the thousands of other votes cast; this is the crass reality of that voting system. And we need not look very far but just across here in The Caribbean, there were instances where the opposition was wiped out, Barbados and Grenada readily comes into focus. When there is no opposition in parliament, this is a death bow for democracy, it means that dissenting views cannot be heard. And in the circumstances where there is a crazed dictatorial leader, the democratic standards are eroded even further. So, in light of the foregoing, The PR System is the best option for a multi-ethnic society such as ours.

Proportional Representation or Constituency, none of these can ever work once you have an incorrigible, dissatisfied and power hungry entity moiling about. It also shows up its ugly head in the racist outbursts.

Last Tuesday’s violent political rampage by thugs directed by intellectual authors of a known political directorate is a prime example of the desperation of these people. But the “ONE Guyana” theme lives on and nothing can derail it.

Respectfully submitted, Neil Adams

Killing for a few dollars DEAR EDITOR, In the matter of the killing of the octogenarian over alleged monies owed for weeding shows the level of degeneration we have descended as a people.

If the money was owed and payment was not forthcoming, there was recourse

which could have been resorted to. Killing was not the way for a few dollars. It has to be queried, isn’t the cleaning and weeding of the premises, the responsibility of the landlord?

My condolences to the family.

Shamshun Mohamed

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Tuesday July 05, 2022

Kaieteur News

The first step in delivering justice to the aggrieved family and friends of Quindon Bacchus has been taken with the DPP recommending murder and other criminal charges against the perpetrators.

It is now for the Guyana Police Force to swiftly lay those charges against the suspects and for the prosecutorial arm of the state ensure that the various witnesses are in place for a smooth and just trial.

The mayhem that transpired last week along the East Coast Demerara when residents protested the sloth in the investigation, should not happen again and we urge those who are interested in justice to demand same for all other victims of violence whether by the state or by ordinary citizens.

For too long in Guyana, chaos, destruction of properties, robberies, arson, race hate and even murders have been going on and no one is being held accountable. It is time we put an end to this madness.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Pres. says will not abandon ‘risky’ Amaila project A proposed hydro electric plant, complete with dam, reservoir and transmission line from the Amaila Falls location to Georgetown, is key to the G u y a n a G o v e r n m e n t ’s electricity generation plans, since the viability of the overall arrangement depends on each component being constructed.

These include, the construction of a Gas to Shore initiative meant to supply some 250 mega watts (MW) of electricity to the national grid and its supporting infrastructure and the 165 MW Amaila Fall Hydro Electric Plan, which has since been shelved again, at least for now.

Head of State, President Irfaan Ali last week declared that despite the hiccups, government was not going to abandon the project.

He was at the time speaking during a critical briefing held at State House, to outline the course forward on the gas to shore project.

According to President Ali, that project is currently undergoing a process but was adamant in pronouncing, “…let me be very clear, we are not going

to abandon this project, if we have to go out again and again, we will.”

He qualified this position saying, “we know the studies, including the independent review by Norway, which has pointed to this project as being good for Guyana, being good for the environment and bringing greater prosperity.”

As such, President Ali said, “…so this project will get underway.” He did not apprise the audience that a contractor that had been selected for the project had walked away from the project recently, claiming, according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, that it could not raise the funds to proceed with the initiative under the proposed Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) model.

Jagdeo during a press engagement at Office of the President had said that the company, China Railway First Group had wanted to change the terms of the agreement to proceed under an Engineer Procure and Contract kind of contract, since it could not raise the money to finance the project.

Kaieteur News reported a

month ago that almost two decades since it was first promulgated as a solution to Guyana’s energy demands but had to be shelved on many occasions, the once again resuscitated 165 Project has again been met with another snafu as was confirmed by Vice President Jagdeo. According to the Vi c e P r e s i d e n t , t h e contractor had as late as April 22 last, written to the government “saying that they are having a hard time doing the BOOT contract and they want to shift to an EPC plus finance” option instead.

He had explained that under an EPC contract, it would mean that the government would have to secure the finances for the project and that they would be used as the EPC contractor.

As such, Jagdeo disclosed that in light of the developments, government may very well have to retender the project. “We have been in discussion with the company since November last year, the discussions, the negotiations are very difficult,” according to Jagdeo who indicated that,

“in the negotiations, we are still trying to get them to meet the commitment that they bid.”

Explaining the situation at the time, the Vice President had sought to remind that during its most recent incarnation, where Sithe Global of the Blackstone Group had been selected as the Project developer, the electricity was supposed to have been sold to consumers at a generation cost of US$0.10 (cents) per kilowatt hour (KwH).

The Chinese bid, he said, had committed to 7.7 Kwh but are now saying, “they can’t go ahead with the BOOT; they want to change the basis to an EPC.” He was adamant; however, “if we can’t change that, if we can’t get it done under the BOOT, we will have to retender, they would not be able to conclude the construction, because that is what the tender was about, a BOOT model not an EPC+ finance model.”

He told members of the press corps “…in the last six months or so, we have been struggling to reach an agreement and so we are now

Head of State, President Ali reiterates commitment to Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project going to have to give a deadline to cancel; if they can’t proceed as the original model so we may have a set back there on that.”

Asked to provide further clarity on the contractor’s position during the ongoing negotiations, Jagdeo divulged that it was not a case of the Chinese not being in favour of a BOOT arrangement but rather “they simply can’t raise the financing, because of that.”

U n d e r t h e B O O T, arrangement, he said, it

“meant they had to build it, own it and supply us with power at a particular price and then 20 years after, transfer it to the government for free, because that is what they bid on.”

In such an arrangement, Jagdeo said, “…we would not have any debt, there would be no debt associated so that model, they are saying they can’t pursue.”

According to Jagdeo, the Chinese are requesting that government contract the (Continued on page 19)

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Kaieteur News

A moral battle is looming Dobbs vs. Jackson Womens Health Organization overturned the longstanding Roe vs. Wade which had provided constitutional protection to the right to an abortion. But the Dobbs vs.

Jackson decision does not outlaw abortion but rather leaves this up to the States concern.

Some States have promulgated legislation which makes it difficult for aborting pregnancies. And it is expected that with Dobbs vs. Jackson that the movement to contain abortions is going to spread to other states, unless some federal legislation is passed an unlikely development that would override States from deciding on abortion rights.

Dobbs vs. Jackson, surprisingly, has not emboldened at least not as yet the right to life movement. But it will inevitably.

But what about Guyana?

Will the decision of the US Supreme Court embolden the dormant right to life movement and lead to demands for overturning the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTPA).

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill of 1995 was piloted through the countrys National Assembly by then Minister of Health Gail Teixeira, after what was a bruising public debate and agitation between anti-abortionists (pro-life) and those supporting the right to abortion (pro-choicer).

At the end of that debate and the passage of the Bill, an exhausted and obviously relieved and emotional Teixeira was moved to tears.

The pro-choice had won or so they presumed.

The MTPA provides for the right to the termination of any pregnancy up to eight weeks. For pregnancies between 8 weeks to 12 weeks, this can only be done by an authorised medical practitioner but only in an approved medical institution and only

if the pregnancy involves risk to the life of the mother or the risk of grave injury to her, or if it would result in a birth of a child who would suffer grave physical or mental impairment or if the mother is of unsound mind and incapable of caring for the child.

The MTPA also provides for the termination of a pregnancy between 8 to 12 weeks if the pregnancy was due to rape or incest, the woman is HIV positive, or if the pregnancy occurred despite the efforts to prevent same.

The MTPA also allows for a pregnancy to be termination of pregnancies more than 12 weeks but less than 16 weeks for the aforesaid reasons except that, in this instance, it requires the approval of two medical practitioners. For pregnancies of more than 16 weeks, the sanction of three medical practitioners is required.

The vote on the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill was supposed to be a conscience vote. But one side of the House the governments side voted almost exclusively for the Bill while the Opposition voted almost exclusively against the Bill.

Ironically, it was the PNC when it was in office which in 1983 had drafted an abortion law. The draft, h o w e v e r, d e s p i t e b e i n g later approved by the PNC Cabinet, never found its way into the National Assembly. The PNC therefore, at best, wavered when it came to reproductive rights.

In Guyana, therefore, there is no complete freedom to an abortion but there is a substantive right to such a procedure. And it is this substantive right to which most of the pro-lifers were opposed and probably are still opposed.

The right to an abortion in Guyana, however, has been snagged by an unexpected

source. Many of the countrys nurses have refused to be part of any abortion procedure.

They have objected on conscientious grounds to participate in abortion procedures.

But this action while curtailing legal abortions and medical institutions has only served to push abortions further underground and towards backstreet clinics.

A few years back a woman died after a doctor performed an abortion procedure in his private clinic.

The recent decision of the US Supreme Court has surprisingly not as yet triggered a reaction from Guyanas fanatical religious right (the pro-lifers) a segment of which once marched through the streets of Georgetown hurling abuse at doctors believed to be involved in the medical termination of pregnancies.

But you can bet that it will not take much to awaken these sleeping forces.

The debate on reproductive rights is about to enter a new phase.

While Dobbs vs. Jackson has no legal implications for the right to an abortion in Guyana, it will allow for the redrawing of the battle lines between the pro-life movement (which is opposed to abortion) and pro-choice movement (which defends the right to abortion on grounds of reproductive rights).

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

Dem boys seh...

Know yuh history!

Hammy still around. De man outlive all dem old leaders of de PNC from Burnham to Reid, to Hoyte.

In he young days, he used to be a firebrand.

But in he old age, he decide fuh pick up pen. He writing letters now to de media.

He say how he, Ptolemy and Burnham did face opposition to recognise China. Dem boys know dat when Guyana did recognise China, we still had de old Constitution which did place executive authority in de

Cabinet hands.

Suh dem boys nah understand how if only three persons did support establishing relations with China, how dat decision turn wan official Cabinet policy.

If most ah dem in de Cabinet nah agree fuh recognise China, it mean it had to be a dictatorial decision fuh do suh against de wishes of de Cabinet.

Hammy want de young people fuh learn about de history of de world. But de history according to he? And wat about de history of

Guyana and de sand dancing wah bin tekking place with relations with China.

But Hammy talk half and leff half back. He nah mention how at de United Nations, de same PNC government voted three times against de recognition of China and one time, it did also abstain. Is only when de Americans start pursue dem policy of détente dat Burnham decide fuh recognise China. All along, it did toeing de American line.

But it change course after Burnham talk at Lusaka.

Talk half. Leff half.

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Tuesday July 05, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Constant banging caused shamelessness to evaporate I

’m not sure I am good at satire though I have tried a few pieces on this page over the years and I had a few positive reviews. But before I get down to the analysis, I would like to try satire again. Here we go.

While reading the newspapers, I saw Red Thread condemned the racially targeted vendors at Mon Repos. In the state of shock I was in, the coffee dropped on my leg and burnt it and I was hospitalised for the day. I came out of hospital on Sunday and went back in for the same hot coffee and on the same spot on my leg after I read that the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) also weighed in on the attacks on the Indian vendors.

I came out of the hospital the next day and went back after reading the newspapers again. I saw two items and was so surprised that I couldn’t control my hand and the hot coffee for the third time descended on the same spot. “In the Diaspora” and the Election Reform Group appeared in the Monday edition of the newspapers condemning the racially driven

mayhem.

So there you have it. I am walking on crutches because of the political shortsightedness of Guyanese society. The doctor says that I will never be able to walk freely again. This means from today I will no longer be on the seawall and elsewhere with one of the loves of my life – my dog, Princess.

But not to worry, I still have my finger (I type with one finger and have been doing so since the use of a typewriter, this is no joke; ask my wife and daughter) and a keyboard.

Once I have those, then I will continue to analyse those political defects among Guyanese and reflect on the nationality named Guyanese.

Let’s move from satire to analysis. I went back from the noconfidence vote (NCV) in December 2018 and onwards to September 2020 with the antiIndian mayhem in Region Five, including in the five months of election rigging, and began to examine the reactions from those entities I mentioned above.

From December 2018 to July 2022, there was nothing on the NCV, five-month election impasse and the Region Five violence from “In The Diaspora.”

From December 2018, it is the same picture with GHRA and the Election Reform Group.

It must be noted that the election reform organisation was not in existence during the long battle in the Caribbean Court of Justice in 2019 over the NCV. But it would be interesting to find out how that organisation feels about the proposition that legally and mathematically a majority of the 65-member parliament constitutes 34 and not 33.

For the purpose of this article, in order not to be accused of inaccuracy, I painstakingly researched the letter pages of the four dailies from the NCV in December 2018 right up to February 2022 when the dildo comment was made to ascertain the position of Red Thread on these issues listed above. I did not extend my research to the popular online news-outlets.

On the NCV, the Region Five mayhem and election rigging, I found nothing from Red Thread.

But there is in fact a letter of April 24, 2020 in the Stabroek News condemning the election shenanigans. Interestingly, it was signed by only two members of the Red Thread leadership and they made no mention of the organisation but signed in their individual capacity.

There were two other signatures that are not in the leadership of Red Thread including that of the brother of Walter Rodney, Donald.

On the dildo comment, there is chastisement of the Cabinet minister who made the utterance by Red Thread, In The Diaspora, GHRA and all the women groups in Guyana as well as the LGBT organisation, SASOD. I saw nothing in my search in the newspaper on the insult APNU+AFC parliamentarian, Maureen Philadelphia made towards a high official of the House, referring to him as a house slave.

Frederick Kissoon What could be the answer for the attitudinal metamorphosis we have seen the past five days? I believe and will always advocate that we serve the priceless purpose of history when we reply to fictions and call out societal actors who fail to fulfill their obligation to their fellow humans by refusing to denounce human rights violations.

If we remain silent on these things, those societal actors will become fixed in their opportunistic ways.

I endorse the vexed sentiment of the President when he asked some civil society organisation why they were silent during the attempts to rig the March 2020 election. Nothing can redeem a person who remained reticent on and who supported the rigging of elections.

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

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Guyanese fishers to pay US$500 more to access Surinamese fishing license G

u y a n e s e fishermen are being told to fork out another US$500 if they wish to secure the desirable SK fishing licence to operate offshore Suriname, Chairman of the Guyana National Fisher folk Organisation and the Upper Corentyne Fishermen Co-op S o c i e t y, P a r m e s h w a r Jainarine has said. Jainarine told the Kaieteur News that local fishermen were ordered to have installed by the end of last week, a vessel monitoring system (VMS) to the tune of G$100,000 as part of the licensing requirement. The VMS is a satellite surveillance system primarily used to monitor the location and movement of commercial fishing vessels.

He told the newspaper that as of last week, all Guyanese using the Surinamese license were required to pay the US$500 to purchase the equipment.

Local operators have been ordered to leave their work

boats in the Surinamese territory. As such, they are required to have the monitoring device on their boats. Additionally, the local operators will have to pay US$30 every month as part of a service charge.

Jainarine told the newspaper that fish operators are experiencing, “a terrible backlash”. They had requested government’s intervention into accessing fishing licenses from Suriname since locals there had begun charging exorbitant prices to access the licenses from second hand providers. There had been some amount of push back from Surinamese stakeholders, including Dutch government officials, preventing the agreement between Guyana and Suriname to provide the licenses by January of this year.

Jainarine stated however that VMS is not used much by small vessels, but are usually found on industrial trawlers and other large

VP Bharrat Jagdeo and other government officials explaining to fishermen the difficulty being experienced in securing the 150 fish licenses vessels. Guyanese are now required to have the device on their boats and pay the monthly fee to use the fishing license. The new charge is an additional sum from the US$3000 they are paying a year to use the fishing license. Jainarine stated this is an added burden on the local fishermen and is worried that the negative situation is further

pressuring an already stressed industry. Outside of this, local fishermen can no longer come to Guyana with their catch. As a licensed operator in the Dutch territory, it is understand that the Guyanese fishermen must land their catch in that country. The flexibility with which fishermen previously operated, to land some of their catch in Suriname and then on to Guyana, is no longer available, the newspaper was told.

Jainarine reiterated to the newspaper the severe impact of the situation on not just the persons toiling the fish trade, but to the industry itself. He reminded that Cooperatives depend on fishing operations to survive. He said that the co-ops provide services such as painting and washing of boats. Operators purchase their fuel and other equipment, while other

services are also provided.

The Chairman reminded that former sugar workers were able to utilize the opportunities in the fishing industry when the estates were closed. “Who couldn’t make it as a fisherman; they were able to do a bit of buying and selling of fish”.

Fishermen spend large sums of money at other businesses. He said on every trip to sea, boats purchase around $200,000 in goods; thus contributing to the business environment. With the current situation, the Coop Chair said he is very concerned that the industry is at “full risk” especially since operating numbers are already decreasing.

Jainarine related that Dutch authorities are paying more attention to the manner in which Guyanese are operating over there. For decades, Kaieteur News was

told, Guyanese had been operating in Suriname accessing fishing licenses through citizens who would have secured the document through their government. A favourable situation allowed locals to access Surinamese waters and offload their catch in that country with no hassle to Guyanese who wanted to bring some of it to Guyana. Today, that has all changed.

Fishermen are reporting low catches, some of which have been attributed to oil production in Guyana, despite an unreleased FAO report debunking drilling as a cause for the phenomena. Locals who venture to nearby Venezuela and Brazil for better catch are reporting attacks by pirates and other hostile fishermen. Jaianrine described the current fish issues as, “a whole can of worms.”

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 05, 2022

PAGE 13

‘Police promotions in limbo’ * Police Service Commission not properly constituted, Hicken not properly appointed * Forde flags flagrant breach of constitution, signals more court challenge

By Rehanna Ramsay

T

he Police Service Commission is not properly constituted without the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and as such, the promotions of senior officers announced on Sunday are null and void, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde has said.

Forde, who is also the Shadow Attorney General in the National Assembly, said the same obtains for the junior ranks as Clifton Hicken is also not properly appointed as the Acting Commissioner of Police and therefore could not have authorised the promotion of junior ranks. Only last week, President Irfaan initiated consultations with Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton to appoint Hicken as the acting police chief. He had previously purported to make the appointment citing the doctrine of necessity.

However, the President seems to have walked back on this following legal challenge by Norton.

According to the Guyana Constitution: The Police Service Commission shall consist of––(a) a Chairman appointed by the President acting after consultation with the Minority Leader from among members appointed under subparagraph (d); (b) the Chairman of the Public Service Commission; (c) one person appointed by the President after consultation with such body as appears to him to represent the majority of members of the Police Force; and (d) not more than three members exclusive of the Chairman of the Public Service Commission (in this article referred to a “appointed members”) who shall be appointed by the President acting after consultation with the Minority Leader.

At present, there is no Public Service Commission in place and therefore no chairman. This means that the Police Service Commission is not constituted properly as per the constitution, although the rest of the members are in place. On Sunday, the Guyana Police Force announced the promotion of several senior officers including Calvin Brutus and Fazil Karimbaksh who had previously challenged the elevation of others because their names were not on that list. Scores of junior ranks were also elevated in rank by Hicken.

Brutus and Karimbaksh are among eight senior superintendents who have been elevated to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). The others include crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, Ravindradat Budhram, Mahendra Siwnarine, Errol Watts, Khali Pareshram and Kurleigh Simon.

Those promoted to Senior

Senior Counsel, and Member of Parliament, Roysdale Forde

Questions have been raised as to whether Clifton Hicken was properly appointed Superintendents are Khalid Mandall, Mahendra Singh, Dion Moore, Shivpersaud Bacchus, Boodnarine Persaud, Ramesh Ashram, Hugh Winter, Raphael Rose, Jermaine Johnson, Himnauth Sawh, and Amit Das. Notably two senior ranks who were on the list prepared by previous commission to be promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police were not part of this new list. They are Senior Superintendent of Police, Edmond Cooper and Senior Superintendant of Police, Phillip Azore.

Meanwhile, speaking to Kaieteur News on the issue, Forde denounced the move to promote the ranks in the face of questionable appointments of both the acting commissioner and the PSC. Alluding to the constitutional provisions which stipulate the composition of a full and proper functioning PSC, attorney noted that a properly constituted PSC requires a chairman and four members as well as the Chairman of the Public Service Commission.

He noted however, that the current board of PSC does not include the Chairman of the Public Service Commission since the Public Service Commission which is defunct for more than a year is yet to be reconstituted.

Forde noted therefore the decision of the PSC to move forward with the promotions of the senior officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) can be challenged.

“PSC that is not fully in place leaves in the door open for the

President Irfaan Ali (third from right) with the new members of the Police Service Commission and Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira (Office of the President photo) promotions to be challenged…In my view, the promotions are null and void because for the Police Service Commission to fully constituted, it must have the Chairman of the Public Service Commission on the board. There is no Public Service Commission.

The last Public Service Commission life came to an end more than a year ago,” he explained. According to the

APNU+AFC shadow Minister of Legal Affairs, a similar issue arises in the promotion of junior ranks of the GPF. With regard to the promotion of the junior ranks, Forde explained that these are to be approved by the acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken whose appointment is also being brought into question. The APNU +AFC Shadow Minister noted Hicken’s appointment which

is being challenged in Court on the grounds that it was not sanctioned by the correct procedure. “We see the President [Irfaan Ali] now trying to correct his error by inviting the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton to officially appoint Mr. Hicken as acting commissioner, in my view this is a backward state of affairs that has no legal support or basis,” Forde added.

CANU in $11M ganja bust in Canje Creek On Sunday, ranks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) conducted a maritime operation in the Canje Creek, where they intercepted some $11M worth of marijuana.

In a press release, CANU said during the operation, they discovered a speedboat containing several bulky garbage bags docked at the pump station that drains the Number 66 Village Canal.

A subsequent search of the boat revealed several parcels containing a quantity of suspected cannabis. Three individuals were apprehended in the vicinity of the boat.

The individuals, along with the suspected narcotics and speedboat were escorted to CANU headquarters.

The suspected narcotics tested positive for cannabis,

weighing a total of 41.8kg, and a street value of approximately GYD $11 million. The investigation is still ongoing. According to CANU, these operations are part of its efforts to reduce narcotics trafficking in the Berbice district.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Exxon’s second quarter profits could cover more than half company’s stock buybacks

F

avourably high oil prices have significantly contributed to improved performance of oil companies with increased profits being reported. So much so that major oil companies have begun to buy back company shares creating value for their shareholders.

In April, Exxon Mobil dramatically increased its share buyback program to $30 billion through the end of 2023, “however, it looks like the company’s second quarter 2022 earnings will be enough to cover more than half of that,” financial markets information provider, Seeking Alpha has analyzed.

A securities filing by the o i l g i a n t l a s t F r i d a y, indicated huge profit margins from fuel and crude sales to generate record quarterly earnings. “That means the company could comfortably repurchase 10 percent of its shares by the end of the year, giving it room to expand its buyback program.” The content provider agency said that Exxon has managed to substantially reduce its debt, so its overall financial portfolio is quite strong.

At US$60 per barrel Brent, Exxon should earn almost $200 billion in free cash flow (FCF). At US$50 per barrel, it is still expected to be roughly US$165 billion. However, at current Brent prices, the company’s FCF is expected to be closer to roughly US$400 billion, “or more than the company’s entire current market capitalization.” It was explained that once prices remain stable, Exxon “can pay its dividend and complete its entire share repurchase program within 2022,” while debt pay-down will also enable the company to significantly reduce its interest expenditures.

“Regardless of how the company spends its money, the potential for substantial shareholder returns is clear,” the agency said.

The largest risk to major oil and gas producer is oil prices, Alpha said. “The company is profitable at a Brent crude price of roughly $50/barrel…we expect prices to comfortably remain above that level through 2026, however, below that, the story begins to change. If prices remain lower than that for long, the company becomes a much worse investment.”

…can repurchase 10% of shares by year end

Capital cut backs could support higher commodity prices, and contribute to higher dividends through share buybacks Exxon Mobil is nonetheless growing rapidly, with a unique portfolio of assets. Guyana’s lucrative Stabroek Block was highlighted as one of those unique assets to add floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) every year, with each pumping more than 200 thousand barrels of oil per day in a production arrangement where the

company has a 45 percent stake.

“It is a profit machine at current prices,’ Alpha asserted. “Given strong margins in the refining markets, the company is seeing strong financial performance in all segments of its business.” With the ability to repurchase almost 10 percent of its outstanding shares, it is expected that the advantage was taken of

Govt. must conduct EIA for - Former NGL, Power Plant EPA Head Oil major ExxonMobil has already conducted and submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its aspect of the Gas to Energy project, that is, the o n s h o r e a n d o ff s h o r e pipelines to transport the natural gas from the Liza Fields in the Stabroek Block to Wales on the West Bank of Demerara, where the Government of Guyana will be constructing a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Plant as well as a Power Plant to generate electricity.

Upon the submission of t h a t d o c u m e n t , environmentalists and members of civil society objected to the EIA, arguing that the NGL and power plant were not included and must be considered as part of the US-billion dollar venture. However, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), the local subsidiary of Exxon, which will be

Former EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams pursuing the project, has said that the administration will be submitting a separate application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their part of the project. The oil company said that the regulator would then determine whether an EIA would be required.

However, government has moved to invite consultants to supervise the construction of the facilities it plans to establish at Wales, even without completing an environmental impact study, which according to the former Executive Director of the EPA, Dr. Vincent Adams is another case of the government putting the cart before the horse.

Dr. Adams in an invited comment on Monday told Kaieteur News that an EIA is critical for the facilities, as this study would not only help to identify potential risks involved but would also highlight mitigated steps and response measures to be instituted in the event of an unfortunate event, such as an explosion at the site.

He said, “I would expect, especially for such a big operation, there will be some natural hazards. For example, you are going to have air emissions, you will

have potential for explosions because you are going to be dealing with pressurized vessels. It’s going to be a chemical facility in a highly populated area so I would say it does demand an EIA…the capital city is right across and Region Three and Four is the highest populated. The EPA or the entire country, like the first responders such as the fire department, we have never had something like this in Guyana before in terms of the types of chemicals.”

The former EPA boss argued that first responders would need to know details of the operation to properly conduct their duties. In the EIA document submitted by Exxon, the oil company made it clear “The Government of Guyana is pursuing a separate project to construct a power plant (the Power Plant) that would use a portion of this (Continued on page 16)

recent weaknesses in the market. “The company’s dividend is now back over 4 percent, and the company is protecting its longevity with Current Cost Supplies (CCS) investment. In our view, this combination makes the company a valuable investment,” Alpha opined.

Following news of Exxon’s second quarter prospects last Friday, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna said that the company’s record-breaking profits reinforce calls for Congress to pass a windfall tax on major oil companies. “Big Oil companies should be providing relief to their customers, not pouring billions into stock buybacks to enrich their investors.”

Exxon related a projected sequential increase of about $7.4 billion in operating profits compared with the first quarter. “The securities filing indicates a potential profit of more than $16 billion for the second quarter;” a peak quarterly profit of $15.9 billion was last recorded in 2012.

Forbes Advisor described stock buybacks as companies’ using cash to buy shares of its own stock on the open market to return money to shareholders that it d o e s n ’t n e e d t o f u n d operations and other investments.

Companies may also buy back their own stock to create value for their shareholders, in this case, value through rising share price.

W h e n e v e r t h e r e ’s demand for a company’s shares, the price of the stock rises. When a company buys its own shares, it’s helping to

increase the price for its stock by boosting demand, thereby creating value for all shareholders. A stock buyback can also be an expression of confidence in the company’s stock.

In April, Bloomberg financial reported that Exxon Mobil and Chevron Corporation had pledged to ramp up shareholder returns as crude oil and natural gas prices surged to multi-year highs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite pleas from politicians to ease the burden on consumers, the U.S. oil explorers focused more on rewarding investors while keeping drilling budgets in check. Exxon had pledged a US$30billion dollar buy back; while Chevron said it would repurchase a record $10 billion of stock before the end of this year.

In February, seven major oil companies, including BP, Shell, ExxonMobil and Chevron were poised to return US$38billion to shareholders through buyback programmes in 2022, Bernstein Research data noted. That would have been almost double the $21billion in buybacks that were completed in 2014 when oil last traded above $100 a barrel.

This sum has already been surpassed with the April announcements, and could possibly increase. Oil companies are said to be paying record prices to buy back its own shares in this lucrative oil price scenario brought on mainly by the Covi-19 pandemic and the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Govt. advertises for Project Manager to supervise NGL and Power Plant construction

P

lans for the Gas to Energy project are moving swiftly apace with the Ministry of Natural Resources already inviting proposals for consultancy services for the supervision of the integrated Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Plant and the 300 megawatt (MW) combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) was uploaded on the Ministry of Natural Resources website on Saturday.

According to the advertisement, “The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) invites eligible Consultancy Firms to submit Proposals for Project Management Consultant for the Integrated NGL Plant and 300MW CCGT Power Plant Project.”

It explained that the main objective of this Consultancy is for the Consultant to assist the Government of Guyana

through the Gas to Energy Task Force in the design r e v i e w, c o n s t r u c t i o n , supervision and general project management of the development of the integrated plants, and contract administration throughout the project implementation process and thereafter during the defects liability period.

The estimated duration of the project is 42 months from the date of Contract signing and at least 12 months thereafter for defects liability from a date to be determined.

The Ministry said that Consultants will be selected in accordance with the policies and procedures set out by the National Procurement Act (2003).

L a s t m o n t h , Vi c e President Bharrat Jagdeo indicated that by the end of July, the nine prequalified bidders for the Natural Gas fired power plant and the Natural Gas Liquids plant are expected to submit their

Suriname to use oil money to finance transition to renewables - President Santokhi Amid the global push towards renewable energy, Suriname is determined not to be left behind and its President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi last week stated that they will use the proceeds from their oil resources to fund the transition to renewables.

The Surinamese President made the remarks during his feature address at the opening ceremony of the Suriname Oil and Gas Energy Conference (SOGEC) which was held in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Santokhi underscored the role energy plays in all aspects of life and noted that while it can be a tool to create a peaceful and sustainable economy, he sees energy as a resource that will fuel and lubricate societies to higher achievements.

To this end, he added that he also perceives energy as a fuel to transition into a green

President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi economy. According to the Surinamese President, prior to the energy conference, he had announced the commencement of the solar power project, which will see the upgrade and expansion of S u r i n a m e ’s e l e c t r i c i t y system. The President then explained that exploitation of oil and gas in Suriname will be conducted in an (Continued on page 16)

proposals to the Government of Guyana (GoG).

The gas-fired power plant and the NGL plant are part of the US-multibillion Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project. The GTE project will encompass three major aspects, that is, the pipeline to transport the gas to Wales, West Bank Demerara, the NGL facility that will treat and separate the gas and the power plant to generate the electricity.

This publication had reported that Guyanese have been told that the pipeline aspect, which is being pursued by US oil major E x x o n M o b i l ’ s subsidiary—Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), will cost around US$1.3 billion. Even this is expected to increase when Exxon closes critical contracts for same.

During one of his recent press conferences, Vice President (VP), Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed that the

PAGE 15

NGL Plant

A representation of the Gas-to-Energy project to be developed

3P Power Plant

-30 km onshore

Georgetown

-30 MMscfd

Destiny

-20 MMscfd prequalified bidders have already received the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the power plant and the NGL facility. He said, “we’re about to wrap up the negotiations for the gasto-energy project.

Therefore, the Requests for Proposals have gone to the nine prequalified companies. By the end of July, we will have the

Unity

proposals from them. The nine prequalified companies. That is to build the power plant and the NGL facility.”

It was VP who had disclosed that companies had been prequalified for the construction of the gas-fired power plant and the NGL plant components of the project. “A public process has been gone through. They

have now pre-qualified, I think, nine companies to bid for the NGL facility and the gas power plant.

We are working now, since the two have been combined because we believe that the synergy will save us, and therefore, it required a bit more work at preparing the Request for Proposal,” Jagdeo had stated.

PAGE 16

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Kaieteur News

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defining this future path, we must be both and ambitious.

We must demonstrate trust in our capabilities,” the president added.

Moreover, President Santokhi noted that the oil and gas strategy of Suriname will be a part of its vision 2060 strategy.

He then explained that soon he will commission the national commission vision 2060 which will develop a road map outlining where the country wants to be in 40 years and how it can be achieved.

In making other comments, the president highlighted that the countries must manage the new found oil and gas discoveries well

and effectively to steer their economies to the next level of development.

President Santokhi further stated that while his country is committed to the goals adopted at the 2021 United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference – his government have an obligation to the people to provide for a prosperous life which requires utilising all of their natural resources.

“This balancing act between economic development and environmental protection is a difficult one, one where the developed and rich countries did not need to make,” he added.

Moreover, the President highlighted that Suriname

has 15.3 million hectares of forest covering approximately 94% of the country’s surface area.

He stated too that while Suriname function as a sink for carbon emissions and provide oxygen at no cost to the world, the people are not being compensated for their efforts and sacrifices to preserve the natural habitat.

Kaieteur News had reported that the President said too “Our natural ecosystem including oil and gas is Godgiven so it cannot be claimed or owned by any government or any political party; it belongs to the people of the nation and they should benefit from the wealth that is being generated.”

Govt. must conduct EIA for NGL, Power Plant... ception that the Power Plant is considered as part of the cumulative impact assessment).”

To this end, Dr. Adams pointed out that such a project is new to the country and the EPA has no experience in handling anything of this nature.

According to him, “I believe that the only reason why they are rushing these things in terms of not doing an EIA and going ahead with an EMP (Environmental Management Plan) is because of the pressure to get it done quickly.”

The former EPA boss told this publication that an EMP is not as robust as an EIA and does not outline technical information which would be included in an environmental impact study.

As such he argued, “And that’s the danger. You never ever, and that’s one of the basic tenets or mantras of env i r o n m e n t a l m a n a g e ment, you never compromise the health, safety and the environment for cost and schedule. It’s one of the biggest sins that you can commit in the environmental world.”

Dr. Adams said that the project would definitely demand an EIA. He was keen to note that this study would also enable the public to scrutinize the project as the EIA process would cater for a comments period in which citizens can ask questions and have them responded to during this timeline.

When he was asked whether the government

should be inviting consultants to supervise the construction of the facilities without conducting an EIA, Dr. Adams said, “No they shouldn’t.

What an EIA does, before you even start construction, it drives the design of the facility because the EIA has got to identify hazards for example so when it does that then the developer would design it to mitigate against these hazards.

So what they are doing is putting the cart before the horse. You cannot design and construct a facility if you don’t know what the hazards are.”

On Saturday, the Government of Guyana invited proposals for consultancy services for the supervision of the facilities.

Calls grow for reliable regional...

From page 3 scenic and comfortable service to utilise the potential of “our sea routes as an additional attraction and transportation option for visitors and citizens alike. “St. Lucia is committed to any effort by CARICOM to find a willing aviation investor to offer dedicated airline services between Africa and the Caribbean.”

Pierre told the opening ceremony that it was important for the region to “reframe our responses” to the new and emerging challenges of food shortages, the rising cost of basic foodstuffs, climate change, youth unemployment, gun violence and crime within the framework of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour and skills across the region.

“We must not allow our enforced circumstances of day-to-day survival to dull our memories of the reasons why our past leaders pursued the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, and why they

saw it as the most optimum answer to the question of ‘what is the next stage of Caribbean development’, in light of all the global changes that had taken place in the decades since the initial treaty which established CARICOM,” Pierre said. He said at the centre of the thinking behind the CSME was the need to create the conditions for the free movement of people and capital and the need to establish a single economy as a unified space for joint growth and development for Caribbean businesses and more importantly for the improvement of the quality of life of Caribbean citizens.

“It should also be recalled that at the centre of the CSME was a recognition that issues of governance in terms of the functioning of the CARICOM Secretariat had to be reworked to facilitate the implementation of decisions and the dayto-day management of the CSME. “Colleagues, it is fair to say that other than the energies, which have gone into the pursuit of the single

economy at the OECS level and the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice at the wider CARICOM level, we have not seen the kind of advances towards the CSME within CARICOM as we had hoped.

“As we continue to face the new and emerging challenges of food shortages, the rising cost of basic foodstuffs, climate change, youth unemployment, gun violence and crime, and other social challenges, I urge that we reframe our responses within the framework of the CSME.” Pierre said he was also urging that the region engage, “in a thorough inventory of the work of the various CSME working groups, so that we can reassess where we are and what is to be done to move the regional economic and political unification process forward. “Alongside these assessments, St. Lucia pledges to work within the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) to advance the unification process within the sub-region,” Prime Minister Pierre added.

Tuesday July 05, 2022

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Civil society groups condemn police limp response to ECD mayhem

T

hree civil society groups have joined in condemning the joint services limp response to the recent violent protest on the East Coast of Demerara.

Article 13, the Electoral Reform Group (ERG) and the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) in separate statements joined with the rest of Guyana in condemning the violence meted out to stallholders at the Mon Repos Market, East Coast Demerara last Tuesday.

In its statement, Article 13 also asserted the police should have been better prepared to deal with and prevent the violence which followed.

“It is regrettable, that the police have so far failed to explain its delayed response,” Article 13 added in the release. Similarly, the GHRA on Saturday condemned those who assaulted Mon Repos market vendors and stole, damaged and destroyed their properties last week, but heaped criticism on police and soldiers for taking a laid back approach and allowing the march to extend for several miles.

On that night, police fired teargas and pellets at protesters who had charged at them.

Hours later, more than a dozen persons were arrested and placed before the court for riotous behaviour.

As such, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force’s performance

The Ministry of Public Works will soon be constructing a tarmac and shed at the Parika Market for some $171 million.

This is according to information released at the opening of tenders. Some 18 contractors have submitted bids to execute the works. The

A section of the riot squad who were sent to the East Coast to contain the unrest. in containing the unrest has also been criticised by the GHRA. “Equally to be condemned is the violent and indisciplined behaviour of the GPF/Joint Services both for the expansion of the protest along the East Coast and the terrorizing of the residents of Golden Grove village throughout the night of June 28,” the GHRA noted.

The GHRA indicated too that it had no faith in the investigation into the incident by the PCA and the Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility as they are both at the behest of the Police Commissioner.

Further in the statement, the GHRA expressed concern about the politicisation of the appointment of the Police Service Commission, the constitutional body that is responsible for the appointment and disciplinary action of members from Inspector to Assistant Commissioner.

Meanwhile, for its part, ERG said while upholding the

right of citizens to protest and agitate in the furtherance and defence of their interests, it is appalled at the acts of rioting and looting that occurred in connection with the protests related to the Quindon Bacchus killing. “ERG condemns these acts in no uncertain terms and calls on the authorities to expedite the investigation of the killing and rioting so that all who were involved in illegal actions are held accountable.”

The group said, “these events reflect the reality of a permanent undercurrent of political distress in Guyana, where unrest and instability are always around the corner even at times of apparent calm. There is a thunderstorm brewing under blue skies. The events also illustrate the folly of the politics of ethnic division and polarization that pervades the nation. One is left to wonder at the possibility that, were it not for the rioting, the people of Mon Repos would have supported the

Bids open for construction of tarmac at Parika Market

demonstrators from the villages further east.”

According to the ERG the real tragedy, therefore, is the loss of working-class solidarity that brought a massive, united victory in 1953, but has been shattered ever since.

“This incident serves to underline the destructive nature of the relationship between the Government and Opposition, and the futility of basing electoral reform initiatives narrowly on the events of the 2020 attempted rigging instead of addressing the underlying electoral arrangements that lead to perverse political behaviour, such as relate to ethnic insecurities, state capture, and elections.

We must urgently address the weaknesses that leave people cynical about the integrity of key national institutions, such as the Police, the judiciary, and GECOM and governance arrangements lacking in effective channels for addressing public grievances,” the ERG statement concluded.

construction of a tarmac at the market was a commitment made by President Irfaan Ali to the vendors during a visit he made back in April. The tarmac when constructed will see all the roadside vendors move there.

Below are the companies and their bids:

Ministry of Public Works Infrastructure development 2022- Lot10: construction of tarmac at Parika Market, Lot11: construction of shed at Parika Market.

Govt. conducts outreach at Buxton

P

rime Minister, Briga dier Mark Phillips, on Monday led a delegation of ministers in an outreach at the Community Centre Ground at Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

Some of the ministers who accompanied him were Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall S.C; Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill; M i n i s t e r o f To u r i s m , Oneidge Walrond; Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.; Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall; Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal and Minister within the Office o f t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r, Kwame McCoy. Scores of residents from Buxton and neighbouring villagers, such as Friendship, Vigilance, attended the outreach to voice their concerns and problems to the government officials.

Some asked for better roads while others wanted the

(Continued on page 18)

Scenes from the Buxton outreach on Monday government to support their businesses and assist them in growing.

One woman wanted justice for her sister Ronella Belfield who was murdered some five years ago. Another woman,

Abigail Jonas, said she wants the opportunity to showcase her wine business at the upcoming Building Expo 2022, and other government sponsored exhibitions. She argued that although the building expos are for houses, every

table in the house needs the best wine.

The government distributed hampers to the residents, basketball equipment along with a lawn mower and a weeding machine, to maintain (Continued on page 18)

PAGE 18

Bids open for construction...

From page 17 Enhancement works at Independence Boulevard (between Saffon Street and Cemetery Road), Lot 1- from

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Kaieteur News

Saffon Street to Penitence Street, Lot2- from Penitence Street to Garnett Street, Lot3- from Garnett Street to Cemetery Road.

Putin presses on after Lysychansk capture (BBC NEWS) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his defence minister to continue the offensive in Ukraine after Russia captured the city of Lysychansk.

Mr Putin was shown on Russian TV calling on forces on other fronts to pursue their aims according to “previously approved plans”.

The capture means that all of Luhansk region is now in Russian hands. Earlier the region’s Ukrainian governor said the city was abandoned so Russians would not destroy it from a distance. Soldiers have now moved to new fortified positions, Serhiy Haidai told the BBC. Losing the city and ceding control of Luhansk to Russia was painful, he said, but added: “This is just one battle we have lost, but not the war.” He pleaded for more weapons from the West to offset the Russian advantage.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged that Ukrainian forces will return to retake Lysychansk “thanks to the increase in the supply of modern weapons”.

Russia has now stepped up its bombardment of cities in the neighbouring Donetsk region, with Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in particular being targeted. Together the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk form the industrial Donbas area.

Mr Putin was seen telling Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu that troops who took part in the campaign to capture Luhansk should “rest and develop their combat capabilities”.

“Other military units, including the East group and the West group, must carry out their tasks according to previously approved plans,” he said, expressing the hope that on those fronts they would have similar success to that in Luhansk region.

Just before he launched the invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, Mr Putin recognised all of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states. Russian proxy forces began an insurgency there in 2014 - the year Russia also annexed the Crimean peninsula. Just over a week ago Russian troops captured Severodonetsk - which Russian bombardment has re-

duced to ruins. Speaking about the decision to leave Lysychansk, Mr Haidai said: “Unfortunately, our troops had to withdraw from Lysychansk because there was a threat the city could be encircled.

“Our military could have held the city for a long time, but Russia currently has a huge advantage in artillery and ammunition. They would have simply destroyed the

city from a distance, so there was no point in staying.

“We needed to save our troops, so that when enough weapons arrive, we can conduct normal operations and counterattack.” Mr Haidai said troops had now moved to positions in neighbouring Donetsk - “the next goal of the Russians”.

The governor said Ukraine needed long-range artillery.

“We have howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems, but it’s still not enough.

We need more. If you compare it to football, if we have one good player in the football team, we will not win the match. We need more.”

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military said it had raised the Ukrainian flag again on Snake Island. Russian troops left the tiny but strategic outcrop in the Black Sea last week.

Govt. conducts outreach at...

From page 17 community grounds. The

ministers also spoke personally with residents on a one-

one-one basis to listen to their concerns.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 05, 2022

42 new COVID-19 cases recorded Monday On Monday, the Ministry of Health via its dashboard reported that within the last 24hour period, it recorded a total of 42 new COVID-19 cases across the country. The new infections now bring the total number of confirmed cases to 67,657.

The dashboard also

shows that three patients are admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (IUC), 35 persons are in institutional isolation, 833 are in home isolation and two are quarantined institutionally. To date, a total of 65,530 persons have recovered from the virus.

“Will not abandon ‘risky’...

From page 8 debt and use them as the contractor “so we said we did not bid for that.”

He noted, nonetheless, that in such a situation, government would have started the process all over again by retendering.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President, with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh in January last had announced that the Chinese contractor, who was granted approval to construct the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, would commence operations on the mega venture this year. He was at the time presenting Budget 2022 to the National A s s e m b l y, “ r e g a r d i n g renewable and low carbon energy, our most promising venture continues to be the AFHP (Amaila Falls Hydropower Project) with an expected capacity of 165 MW.” He informed then that government had already requested, received and evaluated proposals for the project and negotiations were in progress with the ‘highest ranked company’ China Railway First Group (CRFG) – the same company that had previously signed a contract to build the said project several years ago.

Jagdeo in November of last year, during a press engagement, told reporters that a decision had been taken by Cabinet that government would be

approaching the selected contractor to negotiate on the way forward. The Ministry of Finance, in a subsequent public missive corroborated t h e Vi c e P r e s i d e n t ’s assertions saying, that Cabinet had given its ‘No Objection’ to the company, as evaluated by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

In this regard, the AFHP was to be developed under a BOOT arrangement where the developer would operate the project for a 20-year period before handing it over to the government, at no cost.

Jagdeo at the time, in defending the move to retender the project said that the second closest bidder would not be feasible since the cost would work out to more than that of the Gas-toShore project.

It should be noted that under the most recent iteration of the project as presented, Guyana was to stand the majority of the major risks involved in the project.

These include those related to political force majeure, payments risks in the event that electricity sold is not sufficient to meet the P PA d e m a n d s , a n d hydrology where Guyana stands the risk associated with the likelihood of there being insufficient water supply, meaning if the Amaila Falls runs dry, among other risks.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Tuesday July 05, 2022

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Kaieteur News

WDCA name team for inter Complete fixtures confirmed... association U19 tourney West Demerara Cricket Association has name a strong sixteen-man squad for Demerara Inter Association Under19 two day tournament, which started yesterday at LBI Community Center Ground.

The team includes former Guyana Under15 players;

allrounder Avinash Rajkumar, Nicholas Rajpat, Sachin Balgobin and Nityanand Mathura. The Team had its final training session last Wednesday at Uitvlugt Community center with Coach Jermaine Maxwell .

The squad reads; Sachin Balgobin, Nityanand

Mathura, Navindra Bholaram, Kevin Rameshwar, Vishal Persaud, Shamaul Lndore, Stuart Hoppie, Deo Singh, Anthony Sanchara, Amir Gabriel, Joshua Kishundial, Pameshwar Ram and Navindra Sankar.

West Demerara faced East Bank in the opening fixture.

From page 24 title defense against the Jamaica Tallawahs.

The women’s CPL will feature four matches in the inaugural 2022 season in addition to the seven women’s games at the SKYEXCH 6IXTY which takes place immediately before Hero CPL. This is 11

Windies Masters lose tour...

From page 23 Indies innings then stuttered throughout with Wales introducing its very potent spin attack from both ends.

From a scoring rate above 7 from the openers Ishwar Maraj and Kris Ramdat found it very hard to put the ball away for boundaries or to rotate the strike and pick up the singles and doubles.

The Maraj/Ramdat pair

soaked up 111 deliveries whilst scoring just 36 runs.

Thereafter West Indies effectively lost the plot as the wicket was very slow and the ball had become very soft and the Wales spinners strangled the West Indies.

Sunil Dhaniram with 20 off 30 deliveries and Azad Mohammed with 42 off 51 deliveries tried to revive the situ-

ation but it was always difficult with the run rate climbing rapidly causing them to go after boundaries.

West Indies fell short by 19 runs to end their innings on 162/9.

Mark Davies picked up 3 for 30 off his 9 overs and was ably supported by Paul Murphy with 2 for 31.

Emmott, Leeds & Cann picked up a wicket each.

Tuesday July 05 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) All your relationships could be enhanced today by your increased sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others, Aries. You may provide a sympathetic ear to melancholy friends, TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Expect to find yourself ministering to the needs of colleagues and family members today, Taurus.

People around you .

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you might feel especially intellectually and creatively inspired, and you could discuss your ideas with others.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) A close friend or member of your household could be having money problems, Cancer, and want to draw on your good business.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Moving ahead is today's key phrase, Libra. You should be feeling very optimistic and excited about goals that you've set for yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Inspiration is the keyword for the day, Scorpio. You may be feeling highly motivated to move on with what others consider impossible dreams. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) An increased understanding of distant cultures as well as curiosity about the people who live there could spur you on to further learning about those places, Sagittarius.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The opportunity to increase your income could spur you to channel more energy and inspiration into career and business matters, Capricorn.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Heightened intuition and ESP could lead to some interesting conversations with others who are blown away by your insights into their thoughts, feelings, and desires.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) The desire for travel might hit you today, perhaps to visit a friend who lives far away, and you could set the wheels in motion to make it happen at some point in the future.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) A higher level of intuition and inspiration than is usual for you could enhance your artistic talents, Virgo. A powerful drive to express the stories, pictures.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) today you might hear about opportunities to increase your income, Pisces, either through your current employment, a new job.

Nandu (64*) helps...

From page 23 took first strike and made 204 all out while JB Masters replied with 208-7 with 51 balls remaining. Both competitions will continue this weekend.

Matthew Nandu is the second son of former Guyana Under-19 captain Arjune Nandu who also featured for Guyana at the Regional firstclass level.

Final eight...

From page 23 three days of football left in the Championship that will see the victorious team win $300,000 along with the 2022 Milo Championship Trophy and Gold Medals to outfit the entire team, while the second place finishers cart off with $200,000, the corresponding trophy and Silver Medals.

Harper, Jones...

From page 24 out (1x6s; 3x4) down the order from Ashraf but no batter threatened against the powerful Regal Legends bowling attack. Newark Legends ended on 176 for 6 falling short of the total by 72 runs.

The defending champions would have been looking to take sweet revenge from the unbeaten home side, New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) Legends in the final on Sunday at the Roy Wilkins Recreation Centre in Queens where the finals of the Open and Masters Categories were also to be contested.

matches in total, representing a big step forward in the scheduling of women’s franchise cricket in the region, with plans to grow this in subsequent years.

Pete Russell, CPL’s CEO, said: “It is very exciting to be able to confirm the fixtures for this season with this an-

nouncement being all the more special with the WCPL taking place for the first time in 2022.

We can’t wait to be back travelling around the Caribbean and we are looking forward to welcoming our wonderful fans back into the stadiums across the region.”

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Tuesday July 05, 2022

Kaieteur News

CWI Women’s U19 Rising Stars T20 Championship bowls off in Trinidad today P O R T- O F - S PA I N , Trinidad – The region’s best Under-19 women’s cricketers will assemble in Trinidad for the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s U19s Rising Stars T20 Championship, with matches be played from today, Tuesday 5 July to Wednesday 13 July at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) and the Diego Martin Sporting Complex (DMSC). The six regional franchise teams will be participating, as well as the United States of America Women’s U19s team.

At the end of the tournament, a West Indies Women’s U19s Rising Stars squad will be selected for a proposed international U19 series against the United States in Lauderhill, Florida in early August. Additionally, players will be looking to put in strong performances in order to be considered for selection for the inaugural ICC Women’s U19 World Cup in South Africa, scheduled for January 2023.

Several of the franchise squads feature players who have had experience at the senior regional or international level. Trishan Holder and Naijanni Cumberbatch recently competed for Barbados in the T20 Blaze and CG United Super50 Cup, as well as Ashmini Munisar for Guyana and Djenaba Joseph for Trinidad & Tobago.

The Windward Islands are in a unique position as two of their players have been part of the West Indies Women’s Senior team and A teams in the past year.

Jannellia Glasgow was a travelling reserve with the

team to South Africa and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, while skipper Zaida James was a member of the West Indies Women’s A Team that hosted Pakistan Women’s A team in 2021.

CWI’s Lead Selector for Women’s Cricket, Ann Browne-John said: “The inaugural ICC U19 Women’s World Cup in South Africa 2023 is a significant global event in the continued pathway development of women’s cricket. This event will provide an opportunity for girls to develop and showcase their skills. This year’s U19s Rising Stars tournament is an important step towards this goal. It will not only provide an opportunity for players to be part of West Indies Women’s history as we prepare for the World Cup, but also present a wider pool of Rising Stars to be developed to ensure a bright future for the senior West Indies Women’s team.”

Tournament Director and former West Indies Women’s captain Merissa Aguilleira said: “This tournament is very important knowing that we have the first ever ICC Women’s U19 World Cup next year in South Africa to look forward to. Exposing this pool of players to the international level will feed into the senior players pool, which is currently small, ultimately leading to an improvement of competitiveness for spots on the West Indies Women’s team.

The players are excited to start competition, they’ve been very enthusiastic about the tournament. The addition of Team USA will add healthy

competition for the regional teams. I am happy to see USA cricket making this investment in women’s cricket and must commend CWI for inviting them as part of their continued wider long-term strategic partnership.”

USA Cricket Board Member and Women and Girls Committee Chair, Nadia Gruny said, “We’re very excited that our U19s are a part of the U19s Rising Stars T20 Championship as part of our preparation for the first ever U19 Women’s World Cup in South Africa, which is only 6 months away now. We’re happy to continue building on our strong relationship with Cricket West Indies. Our USA men have enjoyed participation in CWI’s regional competitions in the past and we’re pleased that for the very first time, we’re able to provide this opportunity to our young women at this time.” The CWI Women’s U19s Rising Stars tournament is part of CWI’s “Summer of Cricket” featuring matches at all levels from June to September. The event will see three matches per venue each day, at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex starting at 9:30am (8:30am Jamaica Time) and at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy starting at 10am (9am Jamaica Time) and 2:30pm (1:30pm Jamaica Time). LIVE ball-by-ball scoring of each game will be available through the www.windiescricket.com match centre.

CWI will be live streaming two featured matches per day via the Windies Cricket YouTube channel.

FULL SQUADS BARBADOS: Trishan

Holder (Captain), Elecia Bowman, Eboni Brathwaite, Gleneisha Cadogan, Asabi Callender, Zaliya Campbell, Dicoreya Collymore, Naijanni Cumberbatch, Erin Deane, Theanny Herbert-Mayers, Solange Holford, Krisanne Howell, Camia MatthewBrome, Nia Wood. GUYANA: Ashmini Munisar (Captain), Realeanna Grimmond, Sarah Amin, Naomi Barkoye, Melanie Dover, Niveena Ramnauth, Lavina Ragobeer, Leah Kamalall, Crystal Durant, Trisha Hardat, Lakshmi Mahadeo, Darshanie Subramanie, Jamie Campbell, Cyanna Retemiah JAMAICA: Jaunel Deers (Captain), Brianna Plummer, Kerry-Ann Spencer, Tianna Samuels, Tasha-Gaye Gordon, Kimarie Campbell, Kate Wilmot, Kade Wilmot, Chrishana McKenzie, Breanna Gordon, Judeen Ebanks, Lena Scott, Gabrielle Bryan, Aneisha Miller.

LEEWARD ISLANDS: Latchmi Cyril (Captain), Kimberly Anthony, Shelliqua

Carmichael, Berniecia Huggins, Jahzara Claxton, Trishanie Warner, Sarah Ghandeo, J’Cazenique Hodge, Carlisa Pluck, Gabrielle Harrylall, Johanna Humphreys, Ruchira Daly, Sheanna Wallace, Courtney Browne.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Shalini Samaroo, Ameila Khan, Aniaya Roberts, Arianne Neaves, Djenaba Joseph, KD Jazz Mitchell, Katrina Ruben, Kenika Cassar, Kiara Ruben, Kirah Manpaul, Maria La Foucade, Samara Ramnath, Shunelle Sawh, Zakiyah Harrilal.

USA: Geetika Kodali (Captain), Anika Kolan, Chetnaa Prasad, Bhumika Bhadriraju, Disha Dhingra, Isani Vaghela, Jivana Aras, Laasya Mullapudi, Lisa Ramjit, Mitali Patwardhan, Suhani Thadani, Snigdha Paul, Tya Gonsalves, Sai Tanmayi Eyyunni.

WINDWARD ISLANDS: Zaida James (Captain), Selena Ross, Destiny Edward, Namiah Marcellin, Crisa Smith, Neisha Cherry, Natalia Philip. Abini St. Jean, Earnisha Fontaine, Britney Pascal, Jannellia Glasgow, Shey-Ann Gaynes, Denella Creese, Nesha Alexander.

FULL MATCH SCHEDULE Tuesday, July 5 Guyana vs Barbados at Diego Martin Sporting Com-

plex – 9:30am Jamaica vs USA at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10am Leeward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 2:30pm Wednesday, July 6 Windward Islands vs USA at Diego Martin Sporting Complex - 9:30am Leeward Islands vs Guyana at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10am Trinidad & Tobago vs Barbados at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 2:30pm Friday, July 8 Leeward Islands vs Windward Islands at Diego Martin Sporting Complex – 9:30am Barbados vs USA at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10am Jamaica vs Guyana at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 2:30pm Saturday, July 9 Jamaica vs Trinidad & Tobago at Diego Martin Sporting Complex – 9:30am Leeward Islands vs USA at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10am Windward Islands vs Barbados at Brian Lara Cricket Academy - 2:30pm Sunday, July 10 Leeward Islands vs Jamaica at Diego Martin Sporting Complex – 9:30am Monday, July 11 Leeward Islands vs Barbados at Diego Martin Sporting Complex – 9:30am Windward Islands vs Jamaica at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10am Guyana vs Trinidad & Tobago at Brian Lara Cricket Academy - 2:30pm Tuesday, July 12 Guyana vs USA at Diego Martin Sporting Complex 9:30am, Jamaica vs Barbados at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10am Windward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 2:30pm Wednesday, July 13 Trinidad & Tobago vs USA at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10am Guyana vs Windward Islands at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 2:30pm

President Ali meets National Chess team...

From page 24 pledged Government’s assistance and support for the team to compete in India and promised continued support in further advancing the sport for persons with special needs across Guyana as well as equipment to further expand the Federation’s reach across the country.

President Ali added that

he was happy with the work the Federation has done in making the spo r t i n c l u sive, but charged the Federation to have chess become a sought-after pastime, accessible in every region across Guyana.

The 44th edition of the FIDE Olympiad will b e g i n o n T h u r s d a y, 2 8 July and end on Wednesday, 10 August, 2022.

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Republic Bank renews sponsorship of RHTYSC, MS Grade Six Summer Camp - Club makes donation to RHT Police Outpost

Republic Bank Rose Hall Branch Manager Sattie Cox hands over sponsorship to Jonathan Rampersaud while other Bank staff and RHTYSC Officials look on.

The long standing relationship between the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club MS and Republic Bank was renewed last Thursday.

The bank, which has a branch in the township of Rose Hall, handed over a sponsorship cheque to the management of the club during a simple presentation ceremony attended by club executives Jonathan Rampersaud, Ravindranauth Kissoonlall and Tyrone Pottaya.

Rampersaud, the RHTYSC Asst Secretary/ CEO, stated that the bank has been sponsoring the summer camp since 2008 and has continued to do so since then, apart from two years in 2020 and 2021 due to covid. The main objectives of the summer camp are to prepare grade six students to make a successful transition from primary to secondary school and to prepare them for the different culture of dealing with more mature peers.

The camp, which would start on Monday 18th of July, would be under the supervision of the club cricket teams.

The club has been overwhelmed by the large number of applications but would only accept a total of fifty stu-

dents. The students over a period of four weeks would be taught Maths, English, Social Studies and Science.

They would also be involved in basic cricket coaching and numerous social sessions as the teams strive for them to be fully prepared for secondary school. Among the topics to be covered would be - the importance of education, peer pressure, table manners, personal hygiene, classroom manners, how to choose friends and discipline. Rampersaud, a national junior player, stated that every child attending the camp would receive a special educational package including a school bag. Numerous prizes would also be up for grabs including bicycles, food hampers, tablets, educational grants, household items and sports gears. Meanwhile, RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster at a meeting with students from the Rose Hall Town Primary School disclosed that the top student from the school at the upcoming National Grade Six exams would receive an educational grant of fifty thousand dollars and several other prizes when school reopens in September.

Rampersaud expressed thanks to the management and staff of the Rose Hall Branch especially Manager Sattie Cox for their continued cooperation and stated that the club would make sure that the camp is not only successful but achieves all of its objectives. The teams of the RHTYSC are Poonai Pharmacy Under 13, Farfan and Mendes Ltd Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, Vitality Under 23 and Namilco Thunderbolt Under 21 and First Division.

Meanwhile, the teams on Friday last handed over a quantity of items to the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost as part of their outreach programmes. The donation included cricket gear, stationery, clock, radio, hand sanitizers, face masks, trophies and a box of cricket balls. The teams also committed themselves to assisting with first aid kits and electric fans in the near future. The teams also handed over a donation of trophies, medals and certificate frames to the RHT Nursery School for their upcoming graduation ceremony.

Windies Masters lose tour opener Windies O50s lost in a thrilling encounter against Wales O50s on a bleak summer day at the picturesque Pontardulais Cricket Club.

Captain Zamin Amin won the toss and elected to invite the opposition to take first strike, obviously thinking that with the pitch having some moisture and the overcast conditions there would be some assistance for his seamers-Kenny Girdharry, Mark Audain and Mohan Harihar. However, that did not materialize as the 2 Wales openers, veteran Iwan Rees and Rowan Evans batted very sensibly without taking any chances to put on a solid 50 partnership to lay a very good platform for their team.

It took a good piece of field-

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

ing by captain Zamin and nifty work by Sunil Dhaniram to effect a smart run out of Rowan Evans with the score on 58 and Evans contributing 25 with a solitary boundary.

Left-handed Neal Williams then joined the evergreen Rees and they added another half century partnership before Williams departed for 27 off 47 deliveries. Rees was then joined by Michael Cann who added some much needed momentum to the innings with a run a ball 17. In the process Wales lost Rees to a catch at the wicket off the leg spinner Fareed Hosein who many felt that he was introduced a bit too late into the bowling attack. Rees made a well composed 66 off 119 deliveries with 4 boundaries.

The score then was 129.

Wales ended their innings at 182 for 6 off their allotted 45 overs. In total Wales only had 6 boundaries and ran excellently between the wickets.

Fareed Hosein was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 46 off his 8 overs. Azad Mohammed supported well with 2 for 38 off his 9 overs.

West Indies started in a blistering fashion with Rajendra Sadeo & Anthony Sahadeo putting on 37 in no time before Sahadeo was adjudged LBW for a run a ball 17 with 3 scorching boundaries. His opening partner followed suit soon after when he was well caught at backward point for 21 off 27 deliveries with 3 boundaries. West (Continued on page 21)

Milo Secondary Schools Football Tournament…

Final eight decided!

- Eight more teams find ‘the door’

Friendship’s striker played a pivotal role in securing this goal for his team.

Over cast conditions with warm sunshine piercing through those clouds allowed the Petra Organisation’s Milo Secondary Schools Football to contest two exciting days of action at the Ministry of Education Ground, on Sunday and Monday last.

On Monday, Dolphin Secondary, Annandale Secondary, President’s College and Friendship Secondary were the triumphant teams who made it to the final eight.

Annandale got past Golden Grove in the opening match 4 – 1 on penalty kicks after the match ended 1-1 at full time. After that, Dolphin defeated New Central High School 2 – 1 while Friendship humbled Tucville 4 – 2 in the penultimate match of the day.

The final match saw President’s College prevail 3 – 1 to create a major upset, but the victorious side played better football on the day in question to advance.

On Sunday, The first team to advance was the highly favoured Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary (CWSS) then West Ruimveldt followed by Cummings Lodge and North Ruimveldt.

The penultimate match of Sunday’s proceedings saw Cummings Lodge complete a marvelous come-from-behind

victory after being down by two in the first 25 minutes against Uitvlugt. The team from the West side opened scoring in the 13th minute when Niaz Orella scored then made it a two-possession match up in the 22nd minute following Nyron Adams’ successful strike.

However, Cummings Lodge were not to be denied as Daniel Murray made his presence felt with a quick double to bring the match back in the balance before the half time whistle. Murray struck in the 24th and 30th minutes to alleviate the pressure of being behind.

In the second half, Cummings Lodge’s defence was resolute and their offence was clinical. They went ahead for the first time in the 41st minute when Keyshaun Millington found the back of the net. Eight minutes later Uitvlugt got a dose of their own medicine with a two-goal deficit following Elijah Mendonca’s goal for the victorious team.

Earlier in the day, the Linden team dominated Carmel Secondary 3 – 0 with first half goals from Kelvin Hintzen and Jamil James scoring in the 5th and 19th minutes, respectively. The other goal came on the brink of the full time

whistle from Kristian Louis, who scored in the 70th minute.

Game two, was much like the first as the eventual victor dominated possession from the start despite valiant efforts from the opposition.

West Ruimveldt’s 3 – 1 victory over Marian Academy featured a double from Nicholas James (55’ & 58’) after Danovan Welcome drew first blood for his side in the 12th minute.

After Welcome’s strike, Marian Academy found the equalizer two minutes later compliments of Nicholas Jones.

The day’s final encounter saw North Ruimveldt send the Canjie team back to their County, goalless. With a 4 – 0 result, North easily progressed to the next round thanks to a helmet-trick from Akeem Perriera, who completed a first half hat-trick (10’, 26’ & 31’) and followed it up with a single second half goal (41’).

This Saturday, July 9, the final eight commence battle CWSS meet Cummings Lodge, West Ruimveldt tackle North Ruimveldt, Annandale go head to head with Friendship and Dolphin will battle President’s College.

There is an estimated (Continued on page 21)

Nandu (64*) helps Royal Panthers Toronto beat Toronto Champs

Nineteen-year-old Matthew Nandu churned out another impressive performance in Canada helping Royal Panthers Toronto beat Toronto Champs last Friday in the 2022 Mississauga Cricket League Super7 50-overs competition at Danville venue.

The Guyana and West Indies World Cup youth player Nandu hit a fluent, unbeaten 64 as Royals Panthers Toronto comfortably reached 174-3 in the 31st over replying to Toronto Champs’ challenging 171 all out of 41.2 overs.

Matthew Nandu The left-handed Nandu caressed five fours and a six during his 87-ball occupation at the crease while his skipper and Canadian player Varun Sehdev contributed 45.

When Champs batted, only Justin Joseph with a no-

table batting impression by scoring 50 as Nandu grabbed two wickets for 19 runs from 8 off-break overs.

And on Sunday Nandu was again on the winning side as JB Masters got the better of Centurions Cricket Club in another preliminaryround match in this year’s Toronto District Cricket Association’s Super8 50overs tournament. Playing at King City, North Toronto, Nandu scored 22 and snared four wickets for 51 runs in his nine overs. Centurions (Continued on page 21)

PAGE 24

President Ali meets National Chess team ahead of Olympiad in Chennai - Pledges to support expansion of Sport

Members of the GCF interact with the President of Guyana, His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali, during their courtesy call.

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) made a courtesy call to His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana and Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Hon. Charles Ramson Jr., at the State House on Friday, July 1.

The delegation was led by GCF’s President, Frankie Farley, and members of the Olympiad team scheduled to represent Guyana at the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India later this month.

The team comprises of five males and five females;

Taffin Khan, Loris Nathoo, Anthony Drayton, Roberto Neto and Ethan Lee will participate in the Open Tournament, while Sasha Shariff, Pooja Lam, Jessica Callender, Anaya Lall and Nellisha Johnson will participate in the Women’s Category.

Also in attendance were Company Secretary, Marcia Lee, Executive Director, Irshad Mohamed, Team Captain and Executive Director, Davion Mars, Executive Director and FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission Councilor, Yolander Sammy, and President of the Deaf Association

of Guyana, Sabine Macintosh.

The Head of State was pleased to see the young men and women in attendance and it was noted that this will be the youngest team to ever represent Guyana at the Olympiad and the only Guyanese team to ever include a deaf player, 12-yearold Anaya Lall. Anaya will now be representing Guyana for the second time, having competed last year in the online World Chess Championship for People with Disabilities.

His Excellency has (Continued on page 22)

Complete fixtures confirmed for the 2022 Men’s and Women’s CPL

The fixtures for the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the inaugural Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) have been confirmed. The tourna-

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Kaieteur News

ment will visit St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and culminate in the final in Guyana.

The opening day of the tournament will see the

Trinbago Knight Riders Women take on the Barbados Royals women before the current Men’s champions, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, begin their (Continued on page 21)

NYSL/Independence Cup 2022…

Harper, Jones propel defending champioAns Regal Legends into final Magnificent batting from Wayne Jones and destructive bowling from David Harper spurred Regal Legends into the final of New York Softball Cricket League’s (NYSCL) Independence Cup 2022 in the Big Apple.

The defending champions made light work of Carpet Doctors in their final preliminary round match on Saturday morning with a commanding 48-run victory then sent Newark Legends packing with a comfortable 72-run victory in the semifinal at Canarsie Park, Brooklyn on day two of the 3-day tournament.

The Guyana side have set up a return clash with New York Softball Cricket League Legends in the final that was played on Sunday at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York. The very side handed the defending champions a shock defeat in round two on Friday so the return clash promised to be the match of the tournament.

In warm conditions, for the second consecutive day, Regal Legends were asked to bat first against Carpet Doctors who lost both of their matches on Friday. After an assault, Regal Legends tallied 237 for 7 from 20 overs to put Carpet Doctors under pressure early. Openers Unis Yusuf and Eion Abel put on 60 runs for the first wicket in 6 and a half overs. Abel, in his first match of the tour, smashed 31 (1x6; 4x4) while Yusuf continued with the battering to finish with 74 (5x6s; 6x4s). After Ramesh Narine (4) and Wayne Jones (2) fell cheaply, the middle order stood firm with Eric Thomas and David Harper scoring 30 each, while Throy Kippins remained 26 not out when the overs expired. For Carpet Doctors, Peter Persaud snared 3/39.

The Carpet Doctors were rescued by Peter Persaud and an injured Mattaur with a swashbuckling sixth wicket partnership of 151. The pair got together after their side was reduced to 38 for 5 in the 7th over due to a four-wicket haul from Harper in a lively opening burst. The pacer finished with impressive figures of 4/16 from four overs.

Persaud mixed caution with clinical stroke play to finish on 68 not out (7x6; 4x4) while the injured Mattaur ended unbeaten on 70 (6x6s; 6x4s) as the Carpet Doctors ended on 189 for 5.

In the semifinal, Regal Legends took on a fit and professional looking unit of Newark Legends and had

Wayne Jones

David Harper

Chaitram Gangadin

their most clinical performance of the tournament. The Guyanese side were once again in vicious mood with the bat amassing an amazing 248 for 4 total. They were lead by the technically correct Wayne Jones with 82 not out (4x6s; 9x4s). The elegant lefthander got into the act after Unis Yusuf (14) and Ramesh Narine (17) were sent back early. Jones and Eion Abel moved the score from 49 for 2 to 150, putting on 101 runs for the third wicket. When Abel was dismissed for a pugnacious 61 (4x6s; 4x4s) in the 13th over, Jones continued with the momentum with his

new partner, Eric Thomas.

The pair of left-handers quickly stitched together an 89-run fourth wicket partnership with Thomas smashing 33 (3x6s; 1x4) before he was dismissed in the final over.

Mohendra Arjune (8 not out) then smacked two fours to end the innings much to the delight of the appreciative spectators in the open park with huge trees for shade.

Chasing an imposing target against the defending champions, Newark Legends got 44 (2x6s; 6x4s) from opener Naseem, 45 (4x6s; 2x4s) from Jafiq and 29 not (Continued on page 21)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 05, 2022

Sean Kitt and his main supporter, grandmother Jackie Whyte.

USATF National Youth Outdoor Championship…

Kitt claims double silver medals Sean Kitt displays his rewards.

GBTI Day 1 kicks off with youngster Denobrega topping Rose in a 3-hour marathon

T

he 13th edition of the GBTI Open T e n n i s To u r n a m e n t featured a number of dramatic three-set matches, However, the highlight was 12-year-old Nathan DeNobrega edging seasoned player David Rose in a 6/0 5/7 - 6/4 battle. DeNobrega, appearing in his first main draw men’s open singles, led Rose 6/0 - 5/2, before Rose mounted a spirited response and saved several match points in his comeback to snatch the second set at 7/5.

DeNobrega took a medical timeout for an ongoing back i n j u r y, a n d s h o w e d incredible athleticism and determination to secure the final set at 6/4 in arguably the most entertaining match of the day. The crowd broke out into an uproar as they chanted the junior’s name, “Nathan! Nathan! Nathan!”.

Rose was a semi-finalist last year in the men’s open doubles. DeNobrega now faces his biggest match against the 2019 Men’s Champion, Gavin Lewis.

In the second round of 32 men’s singles match, veteran athlete Ronald Murray, defeated Kevin Mattai 6/7 6/2 - 3/1 ret. The first set saw both players trading winners from both ends before Mattai secured an early mini break in the first set tiebreaker. The featured style of heavy top spins and clinical hitting entertained the audience.

However, a few unforced errors from the racket of

PAGE 25

Nathan DeNobrega (right) and David Rose take a photo.

Murray gifted Mattai the first set. The experienced lefty held his nerves and went up an early break in the second set as Mattai grew tired and the errors racked up. Murray balanced between some immaculate shot making and consistent rallies that proved too much for Mattai. Mattai eventually retired due to a severe cramp of the right leg after trailing 7/6 - 2/6 - 1/3. Murray now advances to the round of 16 to face the number two seed, Donnie Anderson.

Other notable results: Men’s Singles: Junior Boys’ Champion Gerald Scotland d. Oswin Coggins 6/3 - 6/3.

Khawn Rodney d. Jamal Goodluck 6/4 - 6/1.

Johnathan Fagundes d.

Navinda Arjune 6/4 - 6/3.

Boys Open Singles: Navinda Arjune d. Vibert Mingo 6/0 - 6/3.

Joel Singh d. Kedel Prince 6/4 - 6/2.

Nathan DeNobrega d.

Burnham Lucas 6/0 - 6/1.

Denzel Luthers d.

Christian Younge 6/3 - 6/2.

Ethan Rodrigues received a w/o from Ricky Romanscindo.

Girls Open Singles: Norella Jordan d. Kyesha Harding 6/0 - 6/0.

Saskia Persaud d.

Devanie Arjoon 6/2 - 6/0.

Novice Men’s Singles: Harvey Stoll d. Kenny Bisnauth 6/0.

Ridhldan Kasim d.

Kerosene Wade 6/1.

Vinish Etwaroo received a w/o from Brandford Fordice.

N o v i c e Wo m e n ’s Singles: O’Kesha St. Kitts d.

Kezia Luke 6-1.

Breanna Simpson received a w/o from Justine Kennedy.

Sean Kitt (centre) and his clubmates.

Y

oung Sean Kitt is in the news again after participating in the United States of America Track & Field (USATF) National Youth Outdoor Championship at the Icahn Stadium in Manhattan, New York last week.

Kitt, who was born in the United States to Guyanese parents, competed in the 610 years age group 800m and 400m and finished 2nd in both events and recorded

personal best times.

Kitt had won his heats in impressive fashion and advanced to the finals where he recorded his second places and improved his personal performances in the event representing the Dons

and Divas Club.

Kitt followed on the heels of Guyanese compatriot Kunusasha Medas-King who had claimed gold in the Women’s 9 – 10 years 400m, 800m and 1500m races.

rts o p S

Members of the GCF take a photo op with His Excellency, Dr. Irfaan Ali and the Minister of Sport, Hon. Charles Ramson Jr., during a courtesy call at State House.

President Ali meets National Chess team ahead of Olympiad in Chennai - Pledges to support expansion of Sport Tucville’s second goal; the side got a clear two goal lead before Friendship returned to secure victory.

Milo Secondary Schools Football Tournament

Final eight decided!

- Eight more teams find the door

Action between Dolphin Secondary and New Central High at the Ministry of Education Ground on Monday.

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