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Thursday Edition Senior police AIETEUR NEWS officer to be charged for instructing juniors to stalk Aubrey Norton

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July 14, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 28

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, >>See story 76,715

on page 13<<

Bigger share of oil money now not a good thing …we can't spend it all, it

becomes inflationary- VP Jagdeo 3 cops face charges for alleged torture of teen while in police custody Toshaos call for more No ultrasound technician at jobs, sustainable Suddie Hospital forced to 'dig deep' livelihood programmes ..residents into pockets to go private

Govt. draws down another US$200M from oil fund

Trouble in sugar belt as GAWU steps up protest ..Albion, Uitvlugt workers confront managements on pay, other issues

Thursday July 14, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

‘Bigger share of oil money now not a good thing' …we can't spend it all, it becomes inflationary - VP Jagdeo

By Gary Eleazar Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is spearheading the development of Guyana's oil and gas industry believes that calls to halt the developments at the present in order for the country to realise a larger share of its oil revenues sooner, would not benefit the country.

He in fact argues that this could introduce added inflationary pressures to the country's domestic economy. Jagdeo was at the time addressing guests at the a n n u a l G u y a n a Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) dinner, held Tuesday night at the Ramada Princess Hotel.

He was asked whether capping other industries in Guyana would be a good idea “since we have all this money from oil.”

To this end, the Vice President drew reference to

calls from sections of society to not licence any new projects for development just yet.

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited along with their partners in the Stabroek Block currently operate two producing fields namely the Liza I and II locations being produced by the Liza Destiny and Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessels.

A d d i t i o n a l l y , EEPGL—ExxonMobil Guyana—has already secured the relevant permissions to develop two more projects, the Payara and Yellowtail fields, to be produced using the Prosperity and One Guyana FPSO's.

According to the Vice President, “so many people are saying, why you are going to licence, why would the government licence say any new FPSO, why don't we cap the number there so that

we can get a faster flow or larger sums of money into the sovereign wealth fund.”

To this end, Jagdeo noted that “if you cap that, you will pay back for the four FPSO faster and then the government share grows.”

He argued nonetheless that in such a situation “…what does that do, and is that the best thing to do, because if the money comes in, we can't spend it all.”

As such, he posited “it comes inflationary. “ With this in mind, the Vice President said: “we have to save greater portions of it, but what will that do, we will run out, we are trying to build a private sector now with the capacity to service this industry.”

A c c o r d i n g t o Vi c e President Jagdeo, “if we don't keep a steady stream of investments in the oil and gas sector to open up the reserves to prove it and to take it out as quickly as

possible before net zero kicks in, and the demand goes down then we'll run out of momentum.”

Qualifying his position further, the Vice President drew reference to the African Continent saying “look at what happened in Ghana, they had a spurt of activities, they end up producing a bit and now massive decline, so we have to continue to keep momentum there, and that is why we have to keep licencing new activities so that we can give our private sector enough time and room to grow and to be competitive.”

He said, such a move “is prolonging the life of the period and the opportunities for the next 10, 15 years for the private sector or else if you don't think about that you run out of steam momentum by 2027, 2028.

We do not want that to happen in this country.”

According to Jagdeo, “we have to be realistic too.

If you look by the sector side by side, so the oil and gas industry will be a big growth pole for our country into the foreseeable future but if we

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing participants at the GMSA Dinner

don't nurture this too, and we don't have a nuance understanding of the industry.”

Under the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with EEPGL and their partners, the oil companies are able to recover up to 75 percent of the gross monthly of oil, in order to pay overhead expenses including the payments for the developments.

Several analysts have argued that the 75 percent arrangement lends to the lopsided arrangement.

Coupled with the fact, the oil companies have already discovered in excess of 11

billion barrels of recoverable crude oil, there are now plans to have at least 10 FPSOs in place—one every year after 2027.

The argument is that with all of the development costs paid off it would mean less expense for the oil operations and as such more profit to be split, theoretically increasing Guyana's share.

Director of Financial Analysis for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), Tom Sanzillo, had recently expressed the view if the government fails to change the deal it would have failed the people of Guyana.

He said bluntly Guyana may never see its fair share of earnings from its oil blocks and as such pressed for government to open up its books in order for the people to be able to determine the state of affairs.

According to the IEEFA Financial Analyst, “We are not the only ones saying that this is a bad deal for Guyana” and reminded that stakeholders from around the world have been saying the same thing.

With this in mind, he noted the regular announcements made of new discoveries that are being seen as a positive thing.

According to Sanzillo however, under the present arrangement every time he sees an announcement of a new discovery, to him, that just means the mountain of debt will pile up before Guyana can get more earnings from its oil fields and reminded that with US$75B to develop what is already planned, that would take until 2070 to pay back.

With this in mind, Sanzillo said, “Our concern is that Guyana will never see the revenues it was promised.”

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 14, 2022

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Jagdeo dismisses calls for local content requirements in mining industry

By Renay Sambach

I

n 2021, Guyana passed its local content legislation, which caters to locals getting first preference in the country's oil and gas sector.

The Local Content law is intended to regulate the way companies operate in Guyana's oil and gas sector; employs persons, buy services and the way that they procure goods.

Despite the local content legislation being in effect, there have still been some related issues in the industry and several concerns have been raised. On Tuesday

night the Guyana Manufacturing and Serving Association (GMSA) hosted its mid-year dinner, at the Princess Ramada Hotel located on the East Bank of Demerara – in attendance was Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, who gave the main address.

Following his address, Jagdeo was questioned on whether the government would consider extending the local content requirements into the mining, bauxite, and other major industries. To this, the Vice President said: “Right now, that is not on the cards.

We p r o m i s e d i n t h e

manifesto that we will do it for the oil and gas industry but if we do this in every sector of the economy then it can kill the national momentum that we have and right now the answer is no, we are not planning to do that for any other sector at this point in time.”

In giving points to support the position, Jagdeo explained that as it is the government is having a difficult time administering the local content laws in the oil and gas sector, as they are now in the process of learning. He noted that Guyana has to build its capacity, adding that the

Grenada seeks closer ties with Guyana …as island nation looks to learn from country's oil and gas growth

Grenada's Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell in conversation with Guyana's President Irfaan Ali during the opening of the recently concluded CARICOM Heads of Govt. Meeting in Suriname.

Caribbean Island nation Grenada is looking to forge closer ties with Guyana especially when it comes to the development of oil and gas as a resource.

This is according to recently elected Prime Minister of the country, Dickon Mitchell, who recently publicly disclosed that the island nation can learn from Guyana's oil and gas sector's explosive growth.

On the areas of proposed cooperation between the two countries, he said “One of them is the growth of the nation's oil and gas industry,” as he reminded that the Grenadian nation has already made several promising finds.

The country is additionally seeking to locate more economically viable oil and gas resources so that the island can be developed.

According to Mitchell, he thinks Guyana's experience is useful.

He was at the time speaking with members of the Grenadian media corps and reported during following a meeting with Guyana's Head of State, President Irfaan Ali, that “there are other areas where Guyana and Grenada can work together.”

Additionally, he said, “I went through some of the key areas where we may cooperate with President (Irfaan) Ali, It would be natural for us to cooperate in that area because, as you are aware, he is quite interested in food security, agriculture, and agro-processing, which Grenada is also very interested in.”

Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) have already teamed up to investigate the hydrocarbon resources in their common maritime area and according to Mitchell, Grenada's oil and gas development may fit within a regional energy plan.

Guyana has since 2015 discovered in excess of 11 Billion barrels of oil in the Stabroek Block, in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

That block is being operated by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—and began producing back in 2019. The country presently produces in excess of 300,000 barrels of oil daily with a view to increasing that amount to over one million barrels daily come 2027.

government does not want the legislation to promote rent-a-citizen behaviour.

“We did not want the legislation to promote a rentseeking behavior on the part of Guyanese but on the other hand we didn't want people to try to juke us and they are many people who are trying to bypass the provisions of the legislation,” Jagdeo said.

Moreover, it was stated that the government also needs to take into account that Guyana is part of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Jagdeo disclosed that it is not desirable to implement the

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Tuesday night at the GMSA dinner local content legislation in other sectors because if the government starts shutting down every sector to foreigners or imposing requirements for their

investment in every other area it can create a reciprocal behaviour for Guyanese investors abroad or alternately the foreign (Continued on page 9)

Toshaos call for more jobs, sustainable livelihood programmes

By Davina Bagot

Amerindian village leaders in Georgetown for the five days National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference have called on the Government of Guyana to ease the doling out of oneoff-cash grants to their communities and instead focus on financing business ventures to help their youths become sustainable.

On Wednesday, this newspaper visited the Arthur Chung Conference Center and spoke with a few village leaders at the conference, who related that they would love to see government fund business ventures to help boost their communities.

A C o m m u n i t y Development Council (CDC) Chairman for Blackwater, Region One, Mr. Norbert Abrams told this publication that he would like to see government develop projects, especially in the agricultural sector to help promote jobs. For instance, he said, “We could have some chickens or something sent in to help us start a business and that could really help out a lot because you know the cost of living right now.”

Toshao for Whitewater Village Region Nine, Mr. Deon Adams said: “The government is doing a lot right now but we would like if they could help us out with some loans or grants in the village. There are a lot of young people who finish school and just can't get jobs so it would be good if they

could help us with that.”

Another Toshao from Four Miles Village Region One, Royston Bumbury said that the former government had removed cash grants but since the new government took office, he has seen a return of school children cash grants however, when it comes to programs to help start jobs in his community, there has not been any move in this direction. “Except like for small projects, Presidential grants were given to villages and with those grants we proposed whatever and we work with that and that's about it. Not many residents would benefit, yes they would benefit like if we do a village shop, yes residents benefit but in terms of jobs there is a very poor job system,” he shared.

A Toshao from Waipa, Region Eight, Mr. Terrence John also said that such programs are lacking to help start jobs but noted, “Probably we didn't propose for it that's why we are not getting it. I am the new Toshao and I don't have this type of experience we could see that this new government really help move contracts and so on fast and that's what I can say only.”

Development, not handouts Meanwhile, on Tuesday Mervyn Williams, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) s a i d To s h a o s h a d complained to him about

President Irfaan Ali's feature address where he boasted of the “mesmerizing” sums spent to date by his government to develop their communities. During the Leader of the Opposition's weekly press conference, Williams raised the issue, explaining that the government has been pumping funds into every other area that does not directly benefit the lives of the Amerindian people.

In fact, he shared that specific projects that were targeted at training youths and aiding in business development have been scrapped by the administration. According to him, “If you follow Mr. Ali's train of thought in that opening ceremony as some Toshaos have gotten back to me and said, look this man is talking as if elections are the next two or three months from now. This man is on a campaign trail. It's all about how much money he is giving out. How much money he has doled out, how much money his government has spent.”

Williams argued, “That is not how you measure your performance. You measure your performance by solid success stories, output. So this doling out of money is really taking away the dignity of the Indigenous Peoples…we would just give you some money so that you are comfortable and then we get to preach to you about how much money we have (Continued on page 17)

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Thursday July 14, 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

Real, probing audits are needed Huge amounts of money are being spent by this PPP/C Government on a slew of projects, and many more ‘oneoffs.’ Where these increasing ‘one-offs’ are concerned, cash is usually what is distributed by the government to citizens, who are struggling to cope with great financial difficulties in one area after another. The areas might be geographical as in a hard-hit Administrative Region, or sectoral such as fishing or sugar, as we have seen. Billions on billions have been delivered to those needing a timely hand, and for the most part in cash.

Because of these developments involving actual cash for citizens, or numerous contracts for massive developmental or remedial public service projects, the need for auditors, audits, and proper practices in this always highly valued fields takes on newer and higher dimensions.

We must not only have timely audits of monies spent by whatever means, but with a sharper eye on cash distributions. Therefore, it is compulsory that this country has the kind of audits that bring high comfort because they are deep, expert, on the ball, and reliable. In other words, they present a solid picture of what is really happening with our cash distributions and big-ticket projects, all numbering in the billions of taxpayers’ dollars.

As more and more money is spent, and in the swiftest fashion, more and more citizens are calling for and waiting for audits to be conducted of what was undertaken, and what was spent. It is to ensure that there is proper accounting, meaning that the books are in order, and that procedures have been followed, with comprehensive reports following, and people being held accountable, if such becomes necessary.

We at this publication say these are good things, and for the right purposes, which is why we agree with watchfulness and waiting for the appropriate audits to be done. It is mandatory, however, that once audits are initiated that they are credible, as in they are trustworthy because the Guyanese people, those actually footing all these billiondollar spendings, are due real value for the monies spent in their name. It is the horrible experience of the people in this country that quite a few of their public institutions are now looked upon with scorn and an almost total lack of confidence. They are a far cry from what they were in days now gone, when many of them were looked up to as fountains of trust. It was because the people in them, from those in charge to the clerks at the bottom, conducted themselves in a way that demanded respect, and it was by doing their duty honestly and consistently. Their works, in the sum of output, spoke for them.

But, as we all know now, what we live with today is where citizens dread having to visit and do business, any kind of business, with institutions of the State. Much of the blame has been placed on the heads of our politicians, who have used the public service and its people for their own purposes, usually not constructive or clean. All governments have displayed these discreditable habits, and most leaders have interfered with the free flow of honest practices, lawful practices.

Many citizens are disgusted at how the State media has been transformed, with even private media compromised.

Daily experiences and whispers about the Guyana Police Force confirm the worst is harboured in the minds of many who have had to deal with its ranks. The conviction is that the higher one goes, the more costly the price that has to be paid. And when Guyanese examine the record of their Environmental Protection Agency, it stands as a curse on this nation, given what our political leaders have done to it, the feebleness to which it has been reduced.

It is with these contexts in mind that we weigh the call and need for timely and through audits of all this spending of enormous amounts of money, lots of it in cash. We want audits, we press for them, but we must have good ones, the best ones possible, which must turnover stones and expose wrongdoings, where such exist. Our auditors have much on their hands, they must deliver most professionally.

We must cooperate for Guyana and the region DEAR EDITOR, I share completely the sentiments expressed in Tuesday July 12, 2022 Stabroek News Editorial dealing with this vital question of Food Security.

Excellency your Address to the Suriname Conference is one that deserves the nation’s approbation.

Having said that, I rely on this piece of wisdom, it takes “two to tango” or perhaps nearer to Guyanese folklore “Hand wash hand make hand come clean.”

My generation lived through the stress of World War II, when due to the blockade of German U-boats in our areas the importation of foreign food to Guyana and West Indian countries were suspended and the British Governor initiated what we knew as the grow more food campaign.

As a youngster and teenager, speaking with the youngsters and teenagers of today I get the impression, my generation was fitter and stronger than those of today.

Perhaps because we were weaned entirely eating locally produced grains, ground provisions, vegetables, fruits and meat including what was looked down upon at one time huri, patwa, fine shrimps, cacabelle, etc., all highly nutritious and exportable.

At Queen’s College led by good British ex army officers, the likes of Captain Harold Knobbs and Captain Kenneth Maudsley, we put on skits and plays to persuade people to eat what we produced and I recall one play where the Late Ron Savory acted as a skin-fish. The idea then was to persuade Guyanese, particularly the Guyanese Afro community, that there is nothing wrong nor sacrilegious about skin fish and in some areas pork.

I make this statement merely to make the point that if President Ali and the Government are serious about the goal of Food Security, the Ministers, Administrators, Educators and all in authority must all act professionally and on this question of Food Security eliminate Partisan, Political Prejudices.

Before I land myself in hot water, Guyanese everywhere must be able to maintain their beliefs and their choices of certain foods, which based on their beliefs and holy books they find objectionable and no one should attempt to change this fundamental right.

However, beyond this again at the risk of getting into hot water, if the Guyana

Government, present and immediate past possess courage, follow the template left by Forbes Burnham, since after Independence, Feed, Clothe and House this nation, Guyana and the Caribbean can more than satisfy Guyana and the Region before 2025.

Feed, Clothe and House FCH was not by accident or the capriciousness of its architects. The order was deliberate. It was understood that we could achieve the objective of feeding the nation long before clothing and housing the nation.

For example, a team was assembled headed by Professor Trotz to experiment with rice and corn to produce a flour with similar properties to wheat flour which we still use to make our bread, cakes and roti.

We dried our fruits to make our black cake, etc. so that there was no need to import raisins, currants and cherries to make our traditional black cake.

When our friends in the House of Israel began vending Plantain Chips, many of us scoffed and jeered.

Today, I am grieved and pained that we are importing plantain chips from Latin American countries.

My children born in the 70s knew nothing of what we called ice-apples. When I took them to visit an aunt in the US, the relative brought a tray with apples and grapes saying she knew we don’t get them at home. The last girl bit the apple and asked if they did not have sapodillas or buxton-spice mango, both sweeter than imported apples. Today, even the apples on the marketplace are small and tasteless but Guyanese still treat them as special.

When certain food items were not available in Guyana and Guyanese of every race, class and political persuasion said unkind things about Burnham and banning. They failed to appreciate, notwithstanding the oil crisis, that this is a bold and necessary step to encourage the use of more nutritious locally produced food and to bring prosperity to our local farmers.

When Forbes Burnham on horseback moved around the edges of urban centres to share out free of cost planting materials, one journalist was critical because he did so on horseback.

At a Conference in Europe, the Guyana Delegation walked with quantities of cassareep, and prepared some pepper-pot for

our host who was so excited that the owner of a Supermarket chain placed an order for several hundred gallons of cassareep.

On our return to Guyana we were embarrassed, because we could not get enough cassavas to satisfy this large order.

I make reference to this to say that the words of one Late West Indian Prime Minister said that our problem is “we think too small”.

While we were delidalying, Jim Jones was already exporting vegetables from the North West to the Caribbean.

President Ali and the Government can make history on the question of Food Security but the Minister in charge of food production must be a person of impeccable integrity and vision.

The Officers likewise must not be in office because of their political loyalty to a party whichever that is in office.

Even GAWU is publicly expressing another concern about the composition and leadership of Guysuco, most of them political appointees, who are mangling and mismanaging the important sugar industry.

If this pattern is not changed then Mr. President, your words will ring hollow and be meaningless.

The good thing is we have in Guyana today, young and old persons, if given the opportunity, I repeat can lead the effort to secure self sufficiency of food in Guyana and the Region by 2025.

Let us travel along the West Coast Berbice and the banks of our rivers and envisage acres and acres of eschalot, so we don’t have to import onions.

Let us likewise traverse the Pomeroon and the North West and see acres and acres of avocados, not being spoiled on the ground, but

being packed for the marketplace and export. The Government must make a reality of a farm to market road programme identified but not completed.

These days there is money galore and high quality farm to market roads can be constructed by Contractors who produce high quality work and not stymied, by having to give a small piece to obtain the Contract.

The Food & Drug Analyst Department must not mimic a toothless and clawless environmental agency but be led and staffed by persons of integrity so that we don’t buy honey that is cornstarch and syrup. A Food & Drug Department which ensures that Food and Drugs produced locally are of a high standard.

Mr. President the big question I could not answer at this stage - is do we as a people have the will?

Do you and your M i n i s t e r i a l colleagues possess the magnanimity to appoint persons who are experienced and committed patriots and not appointed because of their party loyalty and will there be genuine consultation with all of the people’s representatives, in particular the Opposition Leader and the representatives of civil society and our religious organisations?

These are prerequisites for the success of our Food Security adventure. Mr. President, let us be true to the last stanza of Arise Guyana, words by J.W. Chinapen and lyrics by Valerie Rodway - “ May we be steeled by action wise; Guard well our sacred heritage that it may thrive from age to age.”

I pray that we all cooperate for Guyana and the Region.

Regards, Hamilton Green

Tit-for-tat situation DEAR EDITOR, In the matter of the constitutional reform process and the continuing impasse, there were comments by the minority arm leader on the issue (KN July 13). The comments beg can the minority arm leader speak for the majority arm leader? If this is so then this must be made known to the Chairman of the Committee, especially in view of several recent statements, emanating from the small arm, of its walking

away from the collaboration soon.

The dead silence by the majority arm leader on the comments of the coalition partner in particular and on this matter in general, sends a clear message of utter indifference on the whole question of constitutional reform.

It seems it is a tit-for-tat, pay back situation as alluded to in the article. Where is the political maturity?

Shamshun Mohamed

Thursday July 14, 2022

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Kaieteur News

The Labour Code of Guyana – National Labour policy DEAR EDITOR, The system of industrial relations is informed, influenced and functions within the norms of national legislation, international labour standards, and regional labour policy of CARICOM. The Constitution of Guyana, the labour laws, and International Labour Conventions of the ILO, ratified by Guyana as treaty and international law, provide the legal basis, foundation, and framework for the conduct of labour relations by the Government, its agencies, and the social partners represented by trade unions and employers and their organisations. Together, these instruments constitute the Labour Code of Guyana as follows: The Constitution – Chapter 1:01 of the Laws of Guyana Part 1, Chapter III of the Constitution on Fundamental Rights: Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the individual entitle every citizen basic fundamental rights without distinction and discrimination including the right, regardless of his/her race, origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex subject to the rights and freedoms of others and the public interest to freedom of conscience, of expression, assembly, and association.

(Articles 40, 145, 146, 147) Part 2, Title 1 of the Constitution provides specific rules for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of the individuals including: Ø from slavery and forced Labour: “no person shall be held in slavery or servitude. No person shall be required to perform forced labour.” (Article 140) Ø the protection of

freedom of assembly and association - the right of all citizens and residents to as s e m b l e a n d a s s o c i a t e freely or to form or belong to trade unions or associations of their own choosing to protect their interests. (Article 147) Principal Labour Laws: 1. The Trade Unions Act, Chapter 98:03 (No. 17 of 1921) provides for registration and regulation of trade unions, their rights, protection, obligations, the registration of rules, changes in rules, amalgamation, the rendering of financial accountability, audit of accounts, and the report of the Registrar to the National Assembly.

2.

Public Utility Undertakings and Public Health Services Arbitration Act, Chapter 54:01 (No. 44 of 1956) provides for the establishment of an Arbitration Tribunal to determine trade disputes in public utility undertakings and the listed essential services. The Act also prohibits strikes and lockouts, and provides for a trade dispute procedure, and for the establishment and functioning of the arbitration tribunal.

3. Labour Act, Chapter 98:01: (No. 2 of 1942) pro v i d e s for the establishment of the Department of Labour, for the regulation of the relationship between employers and employees, appointment of the Chief Labour Officer and staff, the statutory responsibility of the Chief Labour Officer and the Permanent Secretary. The Act also provides for the conciliation in industrial disputes, defines the powers of the Minister to intervene

in trade disputes, and to establish advisory committees, procedures for the regulation of wages and hours of work, rights and obligations of employees, and the status and enforceability of collective agreements.

4.

Trade Union Recognition Act Chapter 98:07 (No. 33 of 1997) provides the procedures for determining appropriate bargaining units and for certifying trade unions as recognised majority unions for collective bargaining purposes by a seven-member trade union recognition and certification board, a corporate body. The Act also defines the composition of the board, their appointment by the Minister, the secretariat of the Board, the duties of the board, procedures for hearing, and determining compulsory recognition, and the duty to treat and bargain in good faith by employers and trade unions.

5. Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, Chapter 99:08 (No. 19 of 1997) provides for the conditions governing termination of employment, and the grant of redundancy or severance payment to employees for reasons connected with redundancy.

The Act defines unfair dismissals and the process of termination, including termination on the grounds of redundancy, and the formula for severance allowance.

6.

Prevention of Discrimination Act, Chapter 99:09 (No. 26 of 1997) provides for the elimination of

discrimination in employment, training, recruitment, and membership of professional bodies.

The Act also provides for the promotion of equal remuneration for work of equal value. It further prohibits discrimination, defines unlawful discrimination, and protects against discrimination in employment, and protection against discrimination in other areas.

7. Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 99:10 (No. 32 of 1977) provides for the registration and regulation of industrial establishments, and for occupational safety and health of persons at work.

The Act also provides for the establishment and functions of national advisory council, and Authority on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), defines the power and authority of an inspector of l a b o u r, medical i n s p e c t o r, OSH commissioner and their appointments.

The Act further provides for the participation of nongovernmental agencies through safety and health representatives and joint workplace and health committees with defined functions and powers. The duties of the employer, supervisors, workers, occupiers, owners, and directors are clearly set out in the Act. In relation to hazardous chemicals, physical and biological agents, the Act requires their identification and hazardous nature with

appropriate inventories, and regulates their use, storage, instruction and training.

Notification of accidents and occupational diseases, inquest in case of death by accident or occupational disease are further requirements of this Act. 8. National Insurance and Social Security, Chapter 36:01 Act No. 15 of 1969.

This Act provides for a system of national insurance and social security for old age, invalidity, survivors, sickness, maternity, and funeral benefits.

The Act also complements compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation law for injury or accidental death arising out of or in the course of employment or disease due to the nature of employment.

The Act further establishes a National Insurance Fund.

Other Acts The regulation of hours of work, wages and other conditions of work, duties and obligations relating to employers and employees are covered by the following legislation: Ø Licensed Premises Act, Chapter 82 (No.22 of 1944) Ø Shops (consolidation) Act, Chapter 91:04 (No. 33 of 1958) Ø Wages Council Act, Chapter 98:04 (No. 51 of 1956) for the establishment of wages councils Ø Employment Exchange Act, Chapter 98:05 (No. 21 of 1944) for the establishment of employment exchanges Ø The Recruitment of Workers Act, Chapter 98:06 (No. 9 of 1943) to regulate the recruiting of workers

Ø Employment of young persons and children Act, Chapter 99:01 (No. 14 of 1933/ No. 9 of 1999) Ø Holidays with Pay Act, Chapter 99:02, (No. 6 of 1995) to provide for the grant and regulation of annual holidays with pay for all categories of workers Ø Labour (Conditions of Employment of certain workers) Act, Chapter 99:03 (No. 18 of 1978) to regulate the conditi o n s of employment of certain workers Ø Accidental Deaths and Workmen’s Injuries (Compensation) Act, Chapter 99:05 (No. 21 of 1916) to make certain provision for accidental death and personal injury.

This is in addition to any benefits obtained under the National Insurance and Social Security Act or any entitlements from any other service. Ø Bakeries (Hours of Work) Act – Chapter 99:07 (No. 4 of 1946) to regulate the working hours in bakeries. Ø Household Service Workers (Hours of Work) Act (No. 17 of 1980) to regulate the working hours of household service workers.

(Reference: The System of Industrial Relations in Guyana by Samuel J. Goolsarran, and published by the ILO) With thanks, Samuel J. Goolsarran

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Kaieteur News

NTC is a forum for all Toshaos to voice their concerns and express their ideas find the best possible Toshaos to be reimbursed for offered the best available for indigenous peoples’ development tosolutions for our their travel expenses resources to continue their DEAR EDITOR, On behalf of our fellow Amerindian brothers and sisters, we want to thank His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C government for the hosting of this year’s National Toshaos Conference.

After listening to President’s Ali speech, we are optimistic about our future.

Thank you, Mr. President, for letting the nation know we Amerindians are not secondclass citizens and that you

and your government will listen to our ideas for our community development and work with us to ensure we achieve our goals.

But we are disheartened by the contents of a letter published in Stabroek News on July 12, 2022, by the former chair of the National Toshaos’ Council, Nicholas Fredericks, and the decision of some of the Executives of the former National Toshao’s Council to boycott the ongoing National Toshao’s Conference. While

you claim that the current government has hijacked the conference, your absence is viewed as sinister. The NTC is a forum for all Toshaos to voice their concerns and express their ideas for the development of our Amerindian communities; how will your absence help our people?

President Ali and all his government ministers are at all the sessions to address all of our concerns and work together with all our Toshaos

development. It is even more interesting that we as Amerindian people in our different communities, can follow the presentations at the NTC via social media, so the truth is told at every level.

According to the letter published, Mr. Fredericks claims that he is abstaining from the NTC because of a lack of communication on his travel arrangements and confirmation to address the NTC as the outgoing chairperson. In our view, these concerns while they might be valid on a personal level, are not sufficient enough reasons to justify his absence, thereby depriving his community of representation and even more so, lending to the discussion of ideas for our Amerindian people’s development.

There are systems in place at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs for all

Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor.

Say no to it.

according to the allotted subvention for the NTC. Further, as the outgoing NTC Executives, all the members have a commitment to represent their communities to let their voices be heard for their development.

The allegation of the PPP/C hijacking the NTC is evening more ludicrous, given that the agenda was online for all to view. Every day during the five-day conference, Toshaos have the opportunity to discuss issues affecting their communities with ministers in the presence of President Ali. These sessions are currently being chaired and facilitated by the newly elected chair of the NTC. Where were the voices of the outgoing NTC Executives when Keith Scott referred to us Amerindians as “greedy people”?

When the APNU+AFC fired 2000 of our young CSOs? Where were their voices when the APNU+AFC halted land titling and refused to address issues related to it? How convenient is it for those former Executives to now abstain from attending while forgetting the neglect by APNU+AFC in ensuring our elderly are given their pensions and our children are

education? Why were they silent when our health systems in the hinterland were neglected badly?

The records of this country would show that there we r e some Amerindian leaders who colluded with the former APNU+AFC Government to deprive and deny development for Amerindians whilst they enriched themselves from the largess of the state.

Today, we Amerindians are willing to work together with the PPP/ C government led by Dr. Ali to move our development forward. We want to urge our fellow Amerindians to speak up on issues affecting us and not be led astray by persons whose objectives are questionable.

Let us use the opportunities offered by President Ali to have our voices heard and push for our development as ‘One Guyana’. As President Ali confirmed too, ‘We have equal opportunity to development’ in Guyana.

Sincerely Yours, Sonia LatchmanBethany, Region Two Shane CorneliusKarrau, Region Seven Timothy Andrews-St Cuthbert’s Mission, Region Four

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Thursday July 14, 2022

Kaieteur News

Glamorous pictures are being painted of Guyana as an ideal business destination; that Guyana is the place to invest and make money. With significant oil finds, and other bountiful natural resources, indeed this country is wealthy and at this point, a fattened calf ready to be slaughtered.

Guyana for sale; the government is selling, the oil companies are selling, the gold companies and others reaping benefits here are selling Guyana, telling outsiders to come on board; opportunities to get rich are here. The really sad part is that Guyanese, the owners of the resources, are nowhere part of this equation.

Guyana is for sale and Guyanese must stand on the wayside and helplessly watch the transactions, clean or not. Vice News has only put some faces to the ongoing corruption, confirming what is already known; that Guyanese will be the least to benefit from its resources, unless action is taken to hold leaders responsible. The problem is not that Guyana is for sale, but rather, who we are attracting as buyers.

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 8

Man gets two years for stealing entertainment set A 24-year-old man on Tuesday was jailed for two years for stealing an Xbox (video game), a bluetooth music set and $20,000 cash from the Linden, Region Ten home of Quinessa Kitt.

He was identified as Romano Hamblin, 24, of Mackenzie Linden and appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate's Court. Hamblin pleaded guilty to breaking into Kitt's home earlier this month and stealing the items.

As a result, he was sentenced to two years in jail.

According to Commander of the Region 10 district Hugh Winter, during Hamblin's arrest, his ranks were able to recover the Xbox and the music set but not the cash.

Guyana must keep track of CO2 emissions per capita as oil production, transition to

natural gather momentum - UWI Lecturer

A

Romano Hamblin

Ambulance on “test drive” turns over A mechanic on Wednesday escaped without injuries after an Ambulance he was test-driving toppled on a trail between St Ignatius and Silver D Ranch, Lethem Region Nine.

The ambulance belongs to the Lethem Regional Hospital and according to Region Nine Commander,

Thursday July 14, 2022

Rafael Rose, it was taken to the mechanic's workshop for some repairs. After finishing the repairs, the mechanic took the ambulance for a “test drive” to see if it was ok but he encountered mechanical difficulties and toppled on the road. Luckily the mechanic escaped unhurt.

The ambulance on its side along the Lethem road.

s Guyana picks up the pace to transition from the use of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) to natural gas for electricity generation, a University of the West Indies Lecturer, Dr. Lorraine Sobers has cautioned that the country keep a watchful eye on its Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions- a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change- per capita, pointing out that the use of this transitional alternative does not eliminate emissions, but merely reduces it.

Sobers on Wednesday appeared on a Guyana Business Journal and Magazine panel that discussed Guyana's right to develop oil and gas.

Weighing in on this specific subject, Sobers a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago offered advice from her country's own experience, noting that although the country transitioned to the use of natural gas, it remained among the top 10 highest CO2 emitters per capita.

This term measures emissions per person in a state. It is calculated by dividing a country's total emissions by the average population.

She explained: “On one hand we have climate change and on the other hand we have activities that contribute to that and on the third hand, if we had three hands would be the action that Guyana is already taken or has taken to limit and mitigate that… one of its pride and joy of course is the standing forest conservation policy and very few countries in oil and gas can show that they have an overall negative sink.”

Cognizant of Guyana's

vast standing forests, the UWI Lecturer pointed out that the country has opportunities to take this further by tracking its CO2 emissions per capita.

Urging that the emissions of the country be kept in sight for Guyana to achieve its climate change objectives, Sobers shared, “What has gone on in Trinidad and Tobago's side is that we have switched in the 1960's or 1970s progressively to using natural gas for electricity generation so that's all well indeed but there is carbon dioxide emissions that comes from that and then we have the downstream development…now at the time when Trinidad and Tobago switched from fuel oil to gas that was a big bold move investing in the 56 inch pipeline across country… and it reduced the emissions of this country, however now we are consistently (among) the top 10 of CO2 emissions per capita.”

She was keen to point out that Guyana also has a small population which could position the country as a large CO2 emitter per capita as well.

However, while she applauded the country for its large percentage of standing forests and low rate of deforestation, Sobers added that Guyana has been looking to sell its carbon credits which therefore means it cannot be counted against its current production of oil and gas.

“Another thing that Guyana is doing that is good, is establishing a carbon registry and looking once again to earn revenue from that standing forest and that would have to be accounted

one time, so basically if they have sold t h o s e credits or intend to s e l l those credits t o another country o r another producer, well then it can't University of the West Indies Lecturer, Lorraine Sobers be counted against the production that they have, so per day 2025, and with that's another balance that is production targets coming on stream sooner than needed,” the Lecturer noted.

Guyana, a two year old expected, this objective is producer has embarked on a expected to be achieved.

Back in March, Kaieteur plan to trans ition its N e ws reported that electricity generation from HFO in order to lower the E x x o n M o b i l a n d i t s country's emissions and partners, Hess Corporation achieve global targets to and CNOOC, are gearing to limit a rapidly warming ramp up oil production at the Stabroek Block's Liza Field globe.

B u t w i t h as the Russia-Ukraine crisis hydroelectricity placed on continues to drive more the back burner, at least for supply shocks in the global m a r k e t . now, according to the o i l country's Vice President, Chief Executive Officer Bharrat Jagdeo, plans are (CEO) of Hess Corporation, taking shape for the startup John Hess noted at the 50th of its Gas to Energy project, Annual Scotia Howard Weil which will generate 300 Energy Conference that the Megawatts of power. At the Liza Destiny, Guyana's first same time, the oil operator, floating, production, storage ExxonMobil has been and offloading vessel rapidly flaring associated (FPSO) is up for a planned gas in the Stabroek Block, turn around.

He said this includes blaming its faulty production optimization. equipment.

Previously, Hess' Chief I m p o r t a n t l y, t h e country's regulator body, the Operating Officer, Greg Hill Environmental Protection had disclosed that such Agency (EPA) has been works could increase the accused of giving Exxon Liza Destiny's operating “free reins” as the company capacity to the range of is allowed to flare, as long as 140,000 barrels to 150,000 it pays a fine of US$50 per barrels of oil per day. The tonne of carbon dioxide vessel was operating at nameplate capacity which emitted.

Oil production is likely totals 120,000 barrels of oil (Continued on page 17) to reach one million barrels

Police engaging international counterparts to probe “King Coca” drug bust The Guyana Police Force's Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is currently engaging its counterparts in neighbouring countries to investigate the $430M “King Coca 30” drug bust at Mahdia, Region Eight.

The multimillion dollar cocaine bust was made on Sunday after a Cessna Skylane Aircraft bearing tail number N5470Z landed illegally at the Mahdia Airstrip with two foreign nationals onboard.

Police have identified the

foreigners as the plane's pilot and co-pilot, a Colombian National, Rodrigues Estiven and a Brazilian man, Mateus Vicinius Alberto. Inside the plane, CID ranks had found 10 parcels of cocaine-eight of them with the label “King Coca 30”- and a parcel of Cannabis.

The cocaine amounted to 290.2 kilograms with a street value of $430, 380, 640. The cannabis weighed 54.6 kilograms and was valued to be more than $49M.Speaking with Kaieteur (Continued on page 17)

The Cessna Skylane that landed at illegally at Mahdia.

Co-pilot and pilot of the plane found with coke at Mahdia, Meteus Alberto and Rodriques Estiven.

King Coca labeled cocaine found on a fishing vessel off the coast of Saldanha, South Africa (A Daily Maverick (South African media Company) Photo)

Thursday July 14, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

A MAN’S OWN TO KEEP A man gets up early. He quickly does his sanitary rituals, has his breakfast, kisses his family goodbye and sets off to work.

He has his problems but he does not burden the world with them. He wants to work hard and honestly so that he can provide for his family. His family is important to him and even though he may be barely making ends meet and just only covering the bills, he knows that day in day out, he has to rise for work so that he can take care of his family.

Over time, he may have accumulated some assets. He may have over time been able to buy a car or some piece of expensive jewellery through his hard work. That is a product of his labour. They belong to him and not to any other. He should be entitled to those things.

Yet while this man is busy making his daily bread, there are others who are plotting to deprive him of what he has worked for. They will try to either rob him or steal his assets. Some even go as far as plotting to extort money from the poor fellow.

These criminals are not interested in making an honest living. They are interested in taking what

others have worked hard for.

Sometimes what a poor man has takes many years to accumulate and therefore he deserves to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

The criminals who deprive other people of their hardearned savings and assets deserve no mercy. They should feel the full brunt of the law. Many of these criminals when they are caught, attempt to cover their faces so that they would not be shamed in public.

But have they ever considered what they have done to those whom they rob? Among the many victims, of carjackings, for example, are taxi drivers. Most of these guys are working class individuals who are forced to work late hours just to make some money to take care of the bills and to take care of their families.

Many of them have repayment plans for their vehicles. When these guys are carjacked what happens is that their whole life is turned upside down. The bank or credit agency still has to be paid and you can wail from now till doomsday about being robbed, you still have to pay back what you had borrowed. The bank may say

they are sorry but you still have to pay.

One man whose vehicle was recently hijacked said that the parts stripped from the vehicle were valued at some $400,000. Now that is a lot of money and this man now has to work all over just to replace what he has lost.

There are individuals who work hard to buy a cell phone for the children or their partners and then someone likes what they see and decides to deprive the beneficiary of the phone.

They go up to you and rob you of what you have. There is nothing that is more humiliating than knowing that someone can simply take from you what you have spent years accumulating. How can this be right?

And guess what, whenever the culprits are caught, they try to conceal their faces so that they will not be recognised. They hide their faces in their shirts, they pull their jerseys over their heads; they use their hands to cover their faces because they do not wish to be publicly embarrassed.

But have they ever stopped to think what they have done to someone else, to another man who when

Dem boys seh...

Write a ticket!

A day a man bin late fuh he meeting. He bin looking fuh a parking but he can’t find one. In desperation, he look to de heavens and pray, “Lord, if yuh find me a parking place, I promise to never drink, smoke or be adulterous again.”

Miraculously, a place open up just in front he. He turn he face up to de heavens and say, “Never mind, ah just find one.”

Nowadays people parking pon no parking sign outside

dem bank and near dem busy junction. And de police never deh around fuh write a ticket fuh dem wah parking in “no parking” zone.

In de United States dem traffic cops does simply write a ticket and put it under yuh windscreen wiper.

I remember de time when ah went in a store fuh a few minutes. When ah step out a traffic cop been writing a parking ticket. Suh ah went up to he and say, “Come on buddy, how about giving a

guy a break?”

He ignore me and continue writing de ticket.

Suh I call he a idiot. He glare at me and start fuh write another ticket fuh defective tyres. I let out another insult at he. He write a third ticket.

De more I insult he de more tickets he write, all de time placing dem under de windscreen wiper. In all he mussy write about 10 tickets.

I didn’t care, me car de park around de corner.

Talk half. Leff half.

Jagdeo dismisses calls for local content...

From page 3 countries can put up trade barriers, countervailing taxes to prevent Guyanese products from going into their markets. “So it's not desirable but for the oil and gas

industry, we thought it was necessary because frankly speaking, these oil and gas companies have a pattern of behaviour that they find it very convenient to work with big companies, and often for-

eign companies. They don't make the necessary or the effort or additional effort to grow local companies and we believe the law has to force them to do that,” the Vice President explained.

deprived of what he worked for does not know how he is going to put a meal on his family’s table or how he is going to continue to earn an income?

These crimes whereby persons are deprived of their hard-earned property happens everyday.

But the crimes that make

the sensational headlines are the large robberies. There are also other personal crimes in which the impact is greater for the victim than some of those larger crimes and therefore when persons are found guilty of these crimes, their identities should be made known so that others will be cautious around them and

avoid falling into the same trap as the victims.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday July 14, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

324 emails: I still can't believe I was so stupid I receive emails all the time based on things I write on this page. The largest amount of emails I got was 91. That was from a column in which I publicised a secret dossier from the AFC in which it intended to break with the PNC. Then I got a similar amount from an article I had published in which David Hinds' name was mentioned in a very negative way in one of the US Embassy cables during Walter Rodney's confrontation with the Forbes Burnham Government.

In last Tuesday's article, I notified readers that I was on social media on a programme named the Gildarie-Freddie Show hosted on the platform run by Mikhail Rodrigues AKA Guyanese Critic. The first presentation was on Monday, the second one was last evening. It is three nights a w e e k – M o n d a y, Wednesday, Friday – at 8-30 PM of one hour duration.

Since the item aired on Monday, Leonard Gildarie told me on YouTube, it was viewed by 41,000 persons and 14,000 on Facebook. But more personally, I have received 324 emails at the time of writing as a reaction to the show. Three things characterise those correspondences.

One was that each email, without exception was a positive reaction with very heart-warming words. When I read those outpourings, instantly I remember the words of O'Neil Greaves. I will always remember the words of O'Neil Greaves.

When my UG contract was terminated two weeks after Donald Ramotar assumed the presidency in 2011, I was shocked because the contract only had five months more duration.

I went to the head of my Department – Government and International Relations. I asked him how that was

possible because the contract had just five months more. I told O'Neil that it made no sense abruptly terminating it, why not wait until the five months are up and not renew it. I distinctly remember asking O'Neil if I am so feared by the government at UG that they couldn't wait for a mere five months. O'Neil had an intestinal smile on his face and said: “We never know how people think of us.” Those words still ring in my ears.

I was morally elevated when I read the contents of those 324 emails. I was relieved that there are substantial numbers out there that support my work. The second characteristic was that people welcomed the clarifications given. For example, two Guyanese living abroad did not know who or what is Moray House.

The third factor was the pleas I got from people asking me to highlight their

Regional manufacturing of vaccines to bolster pandemic preparedness in the Americas - PAHO As Omicron sub-lineages BA.4 and BA.5 drive a new wave of COVID-19 infections across the Americas, and cases of monkeypox continue to rise, the Pan American Health O r g a n i z a t i o n ( PA H O ) Director Carissa F. Etienne has called on countries to work together to meet the growing demand for vaccines, medicines, and other health equipment in the region.

The emergence of Omicron sublineages is “yet another reminder that the virus keeps evolving every time it is transmitted, and that we must remain vigilant,” the Director said during a media briefing on Wednesday.

“Manufacturing capacity will continue to be sorely needed in our Region to help deal with COVID-19 and other pathogens. There are likely to be outbreaks of other diseases that will require us to rapidly develop and deploy new vaccines, diagnostics, and drugs to fight them,” she added.

Dr. Etienne highlighted that at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the region struggled to meet the growing demand for drugs, diagnostics, and personal protective equipment, with many countries relying on imports to protect their populations. When COVID19 vaccines were first rolled

out, countries also scrambled “to secure supplies.” “We must be better prepared for the future,” the Director said, announcing a three-step plan to work with countries and international donors to bolster regional capacity to manufacture vaccines and medical tools.

The first phase will focus on efforts to strengthen research and development in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in the area of mRNA vaccine development. The Regional Platform to Advance Manufacturing of COVID19 Vaccines and other Health Technologies, launched last year, aims to train and support local companies in utilizing mRNA vaccine t e c h n o l o g y. S o f a r, Sinergium Biotech from Argentina and the Institute of Immunobiology BioManguinhos from Brazil are participating in this initiative.

The second phase focuses on developing a strong regional regulatory system to ensure that new medical tools are safe and effective.

For the third phase, PAHO is working with regional and international partners to create a shared roadmap to improve the production of health technology in the Americas, including partnerships with

the European Union to strengthen the region's capacity for medical product development. “All these efforts combined have the potential to transform how our region develops and manufactures health products, especially highly sophisticated tools such as vaccines,” the Director said.

However, Dr. Etienne also warned that improving manufacturing capacity alone “is not sufficient to guarantee access,” and that PAHO's pooled procurement mechanisms such as the Revolving Fund will be key to ensuring that vaccines and other health technologies are available to everyone in the region. The Revolving Fund shows the “impact we can have when we leverage our history of solidarity and collaboration,” the Director said. With this same spirit, we can build up our region's medical production capacity to “save and protect even more lives.” Turning to the COVID-19 situation in the region, countries reported approximately 1.6 million cases and 4800 deaths last week – a 0.9% and 3.5% d e c r e a s e r e s p e c t i v e l y.

Central America reported an increase in cases - by 54.9%, and South America reported a 2% increase. In the Caribbean, cases fell by 5.2%, and in North America, cases fell by 4.5%.

plights as the programme continued. I received some complaints about terrible things that I would not have known about if there wasn't the Gildarie-Freddie Show. I will do just that on this page and on the show. One concerns the taxi service at Giftland. That mess will certainly be featured on this page.

Then I was told of a heartbreak story from a woman with no family members in Guyana. Let me preface the description of that lamentation with a warning.

A lawyer will be disbarred if he/she robs a client. That is serious trouble that lawyer is playing with.

This lady in advanced age told me she sold her property and the lawyer who handled the papers arranged the transaction in such a way that the buyer would pay him the cheque. This is one of the most prominent civil lawyers in Guyana and one that is

financially endowed.

He charged her for his work but only gave her a b part of the sum and she is still to receive the rest. She said he has agreed to give her the Frederick Kissoon rest but because she lives abroad and has no one here, years have e en at Kaieteur passed and she hasn't heard News since it started 28 years from him. If this lady reads ago and unless I am stopped this column, please, please, from writing, I consider please urgently get in touch Kaieteur News important to with me at 614-5927 or email me. m e a t But I have recently fredkissoon@yahoo.com. I discovered that my work as a don't have a Facebook s o c i a l a c t i v i s t , m e d i a account.So there it is. My operative and academic can stupidity about social media be expanded through my had endured for too long. I presence in the social media believe it has a purpose and I sphere. There are so many have seen that purpose from wrongs in this land that need Monday. This is not to say to be exposed. that social media cannot be (The views expressed in abused and serve vile this article are those of the purposes. But it can go in author and do not necessarily directions that can serve the reflect the opinions of this cause of human rights. I have newspaper.)

No ultrasound technician at Suddie Hospital ...residents forced to 'dig deep' into pockets to go private

R

esidents of Region Two are calling on the relevant authorities to look into their plight as they are now forced to pay between $7,000 and $10,000 to get an ultrasound done since there is no trained technician to carry out the procedure at the Suddie Public Hospital.

According to residents, the hospital has been unable to facilitate ultrasound services since February this year. Residents who raised the issue with Kaieteur News said that at one time they were told that the machine was down and the other time, was that there was no trained personnel to carry out the services at the hospital.

The problem has become overbearing and residents complained that it is very inconvenient and costly and

are calling on the relevant authorities to address the situation immediately. One resident, speaking under conditions of anonymity said that “some places charge around $7,000 and $10,000 for the ultrasound, and when you have real emergency and your relatives are sick and they really need it, you got to find that money to give them and in this hard economic time it's very hard on patients especially the poor people of the region who go there to try to get the service.”

When contacted yesterday for a comment on the situation, the Regional Health Officer of Region Two, Dr. Ranjeev Singh clarified that the ultrasound system is not down, but that there is no technician at the moment to carry out the

procedure. “What happen is that the Cuban (doctor) who used to operate the machines was sent back to Cuba and we are awaiting the ministry to send someone, because it's a technician or a doctor. We do not have that person at Suddie at this moment,” he explained.

He mentioned too, that they reach out to the Ministry for a replacement, and according to him “the ministry is awaiting some doctors to be sent and technicians from Cuba.” The RHO noted that ultrasounds for emergency cases are being done at the hospital and that is being carried out by a gynecologist doctor.

For other patients seeking the services he shared that there are private institutions that offer this service at this time.

The Suddie Public Hospital

Thursday July 14, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Thursday July 14, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Trouble in sugar belt as GAWU steps up protest ...Albion, Uitvlugt workers confront managements on pay, other issues

Sugar workers at Albion Estate on Wednesday staged a picketing exercise demanding respect from management

A

gainst the background of widespread dissatisfaction over the management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) workers backed by their union have stepped up industrial action on various issues ranging from incentives to lack of respect.

On Tuesday workers at Uitvlugt took strike action against the corporation and on Wednesday it was the staff at Albion. According to a Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) statement on Wednesday morning several shop stewards at Albion Estate staged a picketing exercise outside of the estate

calling on GuySuCo to treat workers with respect. “For some time now, workers have been expressing concerns with the attitude of certain managers towards the workers. Despite such concerns being drawn to attention, some managers continue to advance an abrasive attitude,” the union said in a statement.

The shop stewards shared that they have generally enjoyed cordial and respectful relations with the managers. “However, since the arrival of a particular manager who was transferred from elsewhere in the Corporation, the situation has taken a turn for the worse,” GAWU release added. The

stewards pointed out that they understand that at times workers and management may not see eye-to-eye, but this did not prevent a healthy relationship. More recently, it was indicated the interactions between the parties have grown sour given the attitude of the new manager.

The stewards also expressed concerns, GAWU said over the state of the industry. They shared that they read in the media and elsewhere substantial sums are spent but they are hardly seeing the improvement they expect. “They remain committed to the sugar industry but believe the current senior-most

executive of the sugar company has outlived his usefulness. They indicated that several commitments made have not been honoured since his arrival.

Additionally, they hold that the stride the estate was recording has now slowed making them more apprehensive. The shop stewards believe that proper leadership can guide the Corporation to success. They remain committed to the tasks of improving the industry, however, they contend it requires capable and competent leaders.”

At Uitlugt On Tuesday GAWU said its workers at Uitvlugt staged a picketing exercise outside of the estate calling on GuySuCo to honour holidaywith-pay (HWP) payments for the first crop 2022. HWP is paid to workers in lieu of annual leave and provided at end of each crop to qualified workers. The 2022 first crop at Uitvlugt was truncated arising from issues within the factory, however, workers continued to work and were qualified to receive their entitlements, which are in keeping with the Collective Labour Agreement between GAWU and GuySuCo, GAWU said. “The estate contends that the workers are not entitled to the HWP payments. At the same time, other sections of the employees continue to receive their full annual leave entitlements. For the

workers, this is disturbing as they all benefitted similarly from the support of the Government. Previously, the workers indicated that the Management informed them that certain computations were being undertaken towards addressing the payments. Without any forewarning, the Corporation changed its position and only offered HWP to workers engaged in planting tasks,” the release added. According to GAWU the workers became more upset after the Corporation's CEO entered the estate compound without even seeking to ascertain the reason/s for the workers picketing. They said they felt disrespected that the seniormost executive who had previously professed his commitment to the workers could not have even asked of their difficulty.

Back in June, President of GAWU, Seepaul Narine used his Enmore Martyrs' Day speech to call for the sacking of the corporation's CEO, Sasenarine Singh. Singh's tenure at the helm of the ailing sugar corporation has repeatedly come under attack owing to the lack of improvements despite billions being pumped into it.

“We cannot allow the slide to continue. As the saying goes “heads must roll” and this should start from the topmost executive,” Narine had told the gathering which included President Irfaan Ali and other top government officials.

Narine had said that G AW U r e m a i n s apprehensive “as we considered the recently concluded first crop. It simply was an appalling performance, the lowest first crop output in the history of the Corporation. We have heard the explanations of w e a t h e r, l a b o u r a n d machinery. Such rationales, we contend, are over exemplified to obscure the real issue which is poor leadership and management of the industry.” According to Narine, the degeneration has reached to the point where workers Credit Union savings deducted from their wages are not remitted.

President Ali also earlier in June at a meeting with senior officials of GuySuCo had emphasised that it cannot be “business as usual anymore” and there must be sweeping changes.

According to him, the corporation does not belong to any individual or group, but to the country. “We are not investing all of these resources in GuySuCo for failure. The restructuring and strengthening of GuySuCo is not a joke. When we said we want to make this industry viable, it is not a mystery.”

“Success does not start with money, success starts with the right attitude, success starts with teams, success starts with people and if we can't get this fundamentally right, then we have no hope o f b e i n g successful—absolutely no hope of being successful,” President Ali said.

GuySuCo last year produced 30,865MT less of sugar when compared with 2020. Based on a report, GuySuCo's pre-audited production stood at 58,025MT of sugar in 2021 compared to 88,890MT in 2020. Despite the significant shortfall, the Corporation had said it met all the needs of the (Continued on page 17)

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 14, 2022

PAGE 13

Senior police officer to be charged for instructing juniors to stalk Aubrey Norton Close to two months after Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton was stalked by two ranks of the Guyana Police Force during a visit along the East Coast Demerara; the Director of Public Prosecutions has advised that a senior superintendent be charged for misconduct.

In a press release on Wednesday police said the incident in relation to ranks following Norton occurred on June 13th, 2022. In her advice, the DPP said Superintendent Alistair Roberts should be charged with the offence of acting in a manner likely to bring discredit on the reputation of the Force, Contrary to Section 4(d) (vii) of the Police (Discipline) Act, Chapter 17:01. Roberts, the police said was the one who gave his junior ranks the instruction to escort Norton, but was not truthful about it. The Guyana Police Force had initially ordered an internal investigation into the allegations. Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn had described the incident as unnecessary and untidy. On June 13, 2022, as Norton was leaving the family home of Quindon Bacchus, who was fatally shot by a policeman, he realised that he was being trailed by two masked policemen on motorcycles.

In a video that was posted on social media platforms, as Norton confronted the ranks, he asked, “Do you have the right to just drive behind me?” to which one of the

ranks responded, “Sir, Sir we are just following instructions.” The Opposition Leader can be heard in the video explaining that it is out of place for the ranks to be following a citizen who did not commit a crime.

“You know you are violating my rights and you don't have the right to do it because somebody tell you it was right to violate me,” he added. Following the incident a complaint was made and an investigation was launched.

The North America Region (NAR) of the PNCR had condemned what they described as the misuse of the authority vested in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to attempt to intimidate the Leader of the Opposition. “The scene of Mr. Norton stopping to enquire why he was being followed by two members of the GPF on motorcycles was quite disconcerting. It is of profound concern of Guyanese in the Diaspora to see members of the GPF violating the constitution of Guyana by choosing to follow the nation's Opposition Leader while on official and legitimate business of the people. The image of police officers so close to the person of the Opposition Leader must not go unnoticed. It is evident that the GPF is being used to carry out illegitimate orders of their leaders which violate the rights of the citizens of Guyana. These practices are dictatorial with the sole intent is to drive fear in its citizenry,” the

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton confronting the police ranks

Superintendent of Police Alistair Roberts

group said in its statement.

Further, NAR said Guyanese in the Diaspora note with great concern, the frequent use of the GPF to photograph individuals on picket lines/protests. “This practice sends chills down the spine of those of us who enjoy a greater level of freedom of speech in a f o r e i g n c o u n t r y.

Individuals once photographed are then tormented and even

fired by members of the PPP/c O l i g a r c h y .

The NAR calls upon all peaceloving citizens of the world to condemn these acts of tyranny, acts intended to violate the rights of Guyanese citizens denying them freedom of speech in a country that is openly violating human rights afforded to every individual in a free world. The NAR further calls on the PPP/c government to respect the office of the Leader of the Opposition and the person holding that office, Mr. Aubrey Norton. The PPP/c government must cease forthwith its action intended to intimidate and silence the opposition.”

Rats running rampage in cane fields ...GAWU pins low production on this, abandonment of lands

A

n u p s u rg e i n rodents in canfields is inflicting serious damage to sugar production, even as the Guyana Sugar Corporation's (GuySuCo) has abandoned over 6000 hectares of fields, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers' Union has said.

In a recent missive GuySuCo said that deficiencies in its tillage capacity are among the main factors in it not reac hing its production t a r g e t s . To h e l p t h e corporation, government reportedly donated six articulated and four John Deere tractors last June.

The corporation is seeking a further $1B from the administration to secure more machines to meet the tillage needs. The devastating 2021 flood was also a contributing factor to the low output which saw production falling behind a revised 70,000 tonnes target last year,

to 57,995 tonnes, and the setting of a low 66,000 tonnes production target for this year.

As GuySuCo recovers from the effects of the flood and seeks to vastly improve its tillage capacity, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is adamant that those issues are among many more responsible for the low output GuySuCo is experiencing. In a public missive responding to last Sunday's full page advertisement by GuySuCo titled, “GuySuCo sets the records straight” the GAWU highlighted that inadequate use of existing machines, rodents and the unauthorised abandonment of sugar lands are also pushing down production levels.

G AW U s a i d t h a t GuySuCo lamented the impact of the 2021 floods and failure of the gear box at the Uitvlugt Estate for its historically low 2022 first

The chart shows the rise and fall of sugar cane yield from 2017 to 2022.

crop production of 13,000 tonnes of sugar.

But in determining its production target for this year, GAWU argued that the corporation would have had to evaluate the quantity and quality of canes within each field it plans to harvest before harvesting commences.

“Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that the many 'sugar professionals and experts' in

the Corporation must have recognised the condition of fields and formulated an estimate that is realistic and attainable for first crop 2022,” the Union submitted.

The reality, the union said, is that targets set by the 'sugar professionals and experts' were not achieved and to compensate for the inaccurate estimate, the Corporation resorted to

harvesting immature canes slated for the second crop of 2022 at Albion and Blairmont Estates.

The Union said that a reduction in cultivation exists since it learnt that a decision was taken to temporarily abandon lands which have canes higher than five years old.

“We have learnt that at Albion some 3,080 hectares

equivalent to approximately one-third of the cultivation was abandoned. At Blairmont, it is said a similar proportion was also abandoned.” It is said that these major decisions affecting production and productivity were taken without the consent or knowledge of the Board of Directors and are having major implications for output, the Union informed.

GAWU said it understands that the abandonment came against the background of lower cane productivity, despite data for the recently concluded 2022 first crop indicating that fifth ratoon and older canes were yielding 34 tonnes cane per hectare (tch) while 4th ratoon canes are yielding 32 tch.

With such yields, the Union said it is logical for anyone to question the rationale of abandonment. Additionally, “we understand that the field (Continued on page 18)

Thursday July 14, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

APA sets face against Govt. control of NTC ...says law provides no basis for council to be politically-led The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has bemoaned what they described as the continuous control over the National Toshoa Council NTC by all the political administrations.

The APA in a statement, issued on Tuesday noted that while it joined all Indigenous Peoples of Guyana in congratulating the newly elected NTC Executive Committee, it's concerned over apparent control over the council exercised by the political administrations.

“We wish to register our concern that all political administrations to date have treated the NTC as a body to be controlled and led. This is in no way provided for under the Amerindian Act 2006,”

Governance and Rights Coordinator of the APA, Laura George. the APA said in a statement.

The Association added in the statement that funds

sought by the NTC have been cut and reduced with no explanations when national budgetary allocations are made. “We are aware that limited funding has hampered the programme of work of the NTC from being executed properly throughout the regions…We therefore, call on the Government of Guyana to ensure adequate funds are allocated to this national body to carry out its mandate effectively,” the APA said.

Among the highlights of new NTC, the APA noted it is relieved that there can now be representatives from the executive to sit on many important national working groups and steering committees, such as the

President Irfaan Ali (right-centre) and other Cabinet ministers during the NTC opening.

National Implementation Working Group (NIWG) of the FLEGT VPA and the Steering Committee of the

Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. “We wish the NTC Executive Committee, headed by

Chairman Toshao Derrick John, all the very best as they begin to execute the vital task (Continued on page 17)

CARICOM, UN recommit to Three cops face disciplinary achieving the SDGs in the region charges for alleged torture of teen while in police custody

L-R: Ambassador Donna Forde, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General for Foreign and Community Relations; Roberto Valent, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the UN Development Coordination Office; Yeşim Oruç, UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana; Dr. Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General; and Dr. Garry Conille, UN Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands.

S

ecretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr. Carla Barnett on Tuesday received M r. R o b e r t o Va l e n t , Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean for the Development Coordination Office (DCO) of the United Nations.

According to a UN press release, the CARICOM Secretary-General and UN Regional Director talked about their respective organisations' work on a range of development priorities, spanning economic diversification, f o o d s e c u r i t y, h u m a n services, climate resilience, violence against women and girls, crime and the rule of law. During the meeting, Dr. Barnett said, “There is urgent need to close the

emissions gap to maintain global warming to well below 1.5⁰C, and to enhance global advocacy for greater access to climate financing to help Small Island and Low-lying Coastal Developing States (SIDS) address the effects of climate change and respond effectively to loss and damage caused by climatic events.” She noted the crucial role of the United Nations to enable strong advocacy on these issues.

Dr. Barnett recalled the fruitful discussions CARICOM Heads of Government held with the UN Secretary-General during the just-concluded 43rd Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Suriname, and looked forward to further strengthening the

relationship between the CARICOM Secretariat and the United Nations Agencies that would redound to the benefit of the peoples of the CARICOM Region.

The social, economic and security situation in Haiti was also discussed.

Secretary-General Barnett underscored CARICOM's unwavering support for Haiti and said that the Community continues to urge the international community to support Haiti's long-term development needs. She further reiterated CARICOM Heads of Government support for the renewal of the UN Office in Haiti (BINUH) with a strengthened mandate taking into account the prevailing security situation, as recommended by the UN (Continued on page 17 )

Following investigations conducted by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) into allegations that Jahiem Peters was tortured and burnt by ranks while at the Vigilance Police Station, three policemen are to face charges for the incident.

According to a statement released by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), legal advice was on Wednesday provided to the Commissioner of Police and the Crime Chief, for charges to be instituted against two Corporals, and one Constable, for the alleged incident involving Peters.

According to the advice “Police Constable 25324 Nazier to be charged with the offence of failing to perform his duties with diligence, Contrary to Section 4(e)(ii) of the Police (Discipline) Act, Chapter 17:01; Police Corporal 18165 Thomas to be charged with the offence of neglect of duty, Contrary to Section 4(e)(i) of the Police (Discipline) Act, Chapter 17:01; and Police Corporal 20876 Bissessar to be charged with the offence of omitting to make a necessary entry, Contrary to Section 4(e) (Viii) of the Police (Discipline) Act, Chapter 17:01.”

It was reported that on July 10 around 10:00hrs, 17year-old Peters, called 'Coolie Boy' a fisherman of Annandale, East Coast Demerara was in custody for alleged robbery under arms.

Police in a report stated that

Peters was alone in the lockups when they heard screams coming from there.

“When a rank made checks, he observed the jersey that Peters was wearing was on fire,” the report stated.

S h o r t l y a f t e r, t h e Emergency Medical Te c h n i c i a n s f r o m t h e Melanie Fire Station were summoned to the station where they treated an injured Peters. Police said the young man was questioned about what transpired and he reported to them that he was given a lighter by another person who was in custody (on the bench), and was

playing with it when his jersey caught on fire. Peters was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for burns he sustained to his left side ribs and hand.

Before that police report was released, Peters' family had released a video on Facebook where the young man was alleging that it was the ranks at the station that burnt him. A burnt Peters who can be seen with his handcuffs on at the hospital stated in the video that the police wanted to beat him while questioning him about a firearm. “He de want knack (Continued on page 17)

A burnt Jahiem Peters at the hospital.

Thursday July 14, 2022

Kaieteur News

US$52M estimated to construct Schoonord to Crane four-lane road During the opening of tenders on Wednesday, it was revealed that 32 contractors are vying to build the new four-lane road from Schoonord to Crane.

The project which is being undertaken by the Ministry of Housing and Water, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is estimated to cost some $10,540,192,290 (US$52,700,961), according to a total account of the Ministry’s engineer estimate.

Among those bidding for

the road contract are China Road & Bridge Corporation and China Railway First Group Corporation Limited.

The project has been divided into eight lots with lot one estimated at $990,583,703; Lot2 at $1,072,220,205; Lot3 at $1,865,795,337; Lot4 at $1,961,707,682; Lot5 at $1,446,631,914; Lot6 at $1,185,303,956; Lot7 at $1,100,978,865; and Lot8 at $916,970,628.

The CH&PA has noted that the road which is expected to reduce increased

(Continued on page 18)

traffic congestion along the West Bank and West Coast Demerara corridor; while at the same time modernizing the country’s infrastructure and creating avenues for housing and commercial development, would be 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometres) long.

The construction period for the project is 16 months per lot and the defects liability period is 365 days per lot after the official completion of the project.

Below are the companies and their bids:

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

VEHICLE FOR SALE One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable & 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:649-0956.

WANTED

Looking for a Rough Diamond grades with 20yrs experience in the Rough Diamond Industry.Call:658-6080.

Live in domestic.Must know to prepare indian dishes 3050yrs salary 30-35,000 wkly 610-3974.

Female to take care of an eldSERVICES erly male,age 25-40 in Visa Application: U.S.A, Trinidad. Accommodations Canada & UK; Graphics provided.Call or WhatsApp design,Advertisements, +1(868)683-1528.

Wedding decorations & Elderly grooming: Hair,Nail Experienced crew (jet,maroc & pit men) wanted for mining etc.Tel:626-7040. operation. Call: 697-2533.

3 Bedroom house by itself with yard space, around Eccles-Grove, E.B.D. Cell: 653-7776

1 Live in Housekeeper to look after an elderly person. Age 1 unfurnish room to rent 50 and over Call: 619-9398/ @Parfaite Harmonie W.B.D 627-5765. $25,000 per month.Tel:655- One experience whole day 7405. domestic for 3 days per Three bedroom Apartment, week in Bel-Air-Park ,Top upper flat with front & back salary.Call:226-2322. verandahs in Zeeburg, W.C.D. Parking available. Tel: Nanny/Housekeeper. Age 40 and over Call: 634-6595 613-8928.

FOR RENT

1 bedroom apartment for working couple/single person $35,000 monthly, light & water included. Tel: 623-0076.

Experienced taxi drivers (Hire car License) at Princess Hotel. Call: 616-5419/265-7075/ 265-7076.

Wanted Experienced Waitress Contact: 615-01915 / 6468919.

Full time Carpenter & Full time Joiner call: 656-1485.

LAND FOR SALE Land 45x85 @Belle West W.B.D $2.5million.Tel:6557405.

Fitter Machinist,Welder fabricator ,Mechanic with 3 yrs experience,Apprentice & Male & Female cleaner 642-9823 email:techserigy @yahoo.com.

Tian Tian Hotpot Chinese Restaurant - 2 Waitresses, 2 Kitchen Assistants. Call:6722222/645-5888. Next to Chinese Embassy. Track 'C' Mandela Ave. Durban Backlands, G/town.

2 female Bartenders able to work flexible hours. Apply at August Beverage Ice house.

27 Norton Street.

Vacancy for labourers at ice factory and operator with mechanical, electrical background Call: 223-7165.

One clerk for TSI Eccles office English & Math, grade 1 or 2.Call:615-9132 or email application to techserigy @yahoo.com.

Moulder/CNC Operators, Joiners,Finishers& Labourers. Email CV to shivrattanmoulding@gmail.com/ Call: (592)220-2736.

Water Delivery Driver and Porter for E.C.D.Tel:676-1363/ 692-6768.

VACANCY Receptionist, Hotel Attendant and Merchandisers .Email: info@vgiworld.com Kawasaki Nija 2009 2X10R Tel: 640-0673/227-7714/231(1000) - In excellent condition 0951/4. $1,350,000. Call: 648-9248.

One male sales rep,age 2025.Must have knowledge of auto accessories. Contact: 610-0340.

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area. Call:615-9132.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles,age 23PENPAL 50 car/van licence. Call:6429823.

Male seeking single female 3540yr for relation,must be Lorry Driver - 34 Tubuka loving,kind & honest.Tel:675- Road Meadowbrook Gardens.

Call: 664-2172/611-3922.

4517.

FOR SALE

VACANCY

For one experienced Grade 2 Teacher Payments will be based on experience call:6231615.

Experienced Waiter /Waitress, Curry cook, Kitchen Assistant apply at Hack's Halaal with written application 5 Commerce Street.

Cook/Baker, Pitmen, Servicemen and Technical Assistant for interior location Applicants must be experienced.

Call 231-2250.

Carpenter, Mason, Painter & Joiner Contact: 686-2861/6114545 Experienced cashier, cleaner and counter person.Apply @ Shanta’s 225 Camp & New MarketSt.

Thursday July 14, 2022

Thursday July 14, 2022

Unvaccinated man succumbs to COVID-19, 4 persons in ICU

T

he Ministry of Health on We d n e s d a y reported that an unvaccinated 79-year-old man, who contracted the COVID-19 disease, has died on Tuesday while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

As a result of this, the country’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,264.

The Ministry via its latest dashboard revealed that within the last 24 hours they

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

have recorded a total of 91 new C O V I D - 1 9 c a s e s , bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 68,500. The dashboard also shows that four persons are admitted into the COVID19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 31in institutional isolation, 842 in home isolation and three in institutional quarantine.

To date, a total of 66,359 persons have recovered from the virus.

APA sets face against Govt...

From page 14 of meaningful collective representation for and on behalf of our First Peoples,” the group added.

In the meantime, the APA in a subsequent statement responded to President, Irfaan Ali for some of his remarks made during his presentation at the opening of the ongoing NTC. The President had purportedly called out the APA for its various positions on issues affecting Indigenous Peoples In its response, the APA said it stands by its various stated positions on protection and recognition of the rights of the indigenous peoples of Guyana.

At all times, the APA said it ensures the facts of any matter it represents. At all times, the association said that it encourages the exhaustion of domestic remedies before going further afield to seek other remedies.

“The fact remains that indigenous peoples in Guyana face numerous situations where, had due official attention been paid to these, they would not have needed the

attention now necessary Chinese Landing, Isseneru, revision of the Amerindian Act, properly addressing land rights issues, and the list can go on.

We hope that in all the grand speeches to our leaders, real actions follow on these fundamental issues.

We do not want to feel that because millions are spent on us, we must forever be grateful. They are our due, like any other citizens,” the rights body added.

Earlier in the week, President Ali had cause to deny that the government is trying to take control of the National Toshaos Conference (NTC) agenda. “We have no interest in taking over your agenda,” he told Toshaos at the opening of the NTC at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

“Our only interest is in promoting your agenda, and that is why the government must be integrally involved here… We have to answer to you,” he said. He noted that the objective of the conference is to listen to Indigenous leaders and understand their perspective,” Ali said.

Toshaos call for more jobs...

From page 3 given you over time.” He said that Amerindian village leaders are fearful of speaking out against these matters because they believe the promises made would not be fulfilled if they took a stand.

The Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton chimed in, explaining that he believes the NTC Conference should have been used a forum to discuss how the government contributes to sustainable Indigenous communities, however he said the agenda is aimed at the opposite rather than promoting small businesses and other development activities.

In fact, he told members of the media that his visits to Indigenous communities have proven that internet

Police engaging international counterparts...

From page 8 News on Tuesday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that his investigators have found out that the drug cargo was loaded onto the plane in a nieghbouring country. It made a stop in another country close to Guyana's border before illegally landing at Mahdia. Police will not divulge the name of these countries at this stage of investigation. However, the Crime Chief related that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is presently engaging its counterparts in the neighbouring countries as the probe continues.

Research done by this media house suggests that the seized cocaine might be-

long to an international drug smuggling ring or company that uses the label “King Coca” because this was not the first multimillion cocaine bust with the “King Coca” label. In March 2021, South African law enforcement ranks made US$34M cocaine bust off the coast of Saldanha, a bay located some 105 Kilometers north of Cape Town, South Africa. The drugs were found stashed in a Panama flagged fishing vessel.

A South African journalist, Caryn Dolley had reported in an article she had written for the Daily Marverick South Africa, the cocaine were compressed into 93 blocks packed in black boxes labeled “King Coca”. According to Dolley,

there were previous drug busts at same locations involving Brazilian vessels. As Guyanese authourities continue their probe to find out where the “King Coca 30” labeled cocaine found at Mahdia had come from and where it was heading, it appears as though the plane transporting it bears an American registration number.

Kaieteur News had reported that it is also possible, that aircraft is carrying an incorrect tail number. Tail number N5470Z reportedly belongs to a 1962 Cessna Piper aircraft.

There is however a 1972 Cessna Skylane aircraft with registration number N5470 with links to neighbouring Brazil.

hubs that were set up by the former government were shut down, while others that remained open were restricted to Amerindians. To this end, Williams noted, “there has been a departure unfortunately from what happened between 2015 and 2020 where villages had embarked on first of all the Hinterland employment and youth services program which prepared persons, trained persons and provided persons with tools and financial resources to start those businesses.

That program has been shut down after having created more than 2500 jobs through small businesses and after having trained just about that number of young Indigenous peoples.”

CARICOM, UN recommit to...

From page 14 Secretary General.

Mr. Valent stated, “The UN is committed to supporting the work of regional organizations worldwide, including CARICOM, its Secretariat and its institutions, and of course its Member States. The UN Secretary-General was at the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Suriname last week, and I am delighted to have been able to meet the CARICOM Secretary-General today to further those discussions.”

“Both the CARICOM SG and I know that there is a monumental effort required across the Caribbean to deliver on the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Agencies, Funds and Programmes of the UN System are here for exactly this

reason. Today, we spoke a little bit less about 'what' needs to be done, and a little bit more about how we are practically going to strengthen our developmental relationship to accelerate our shared objectives.”

Also present at the meeting were Dr. Armstrong Alexis, CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General; Ambassador Donna Forde, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General for Foreign and Community Relations; Yesim Oruç, UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana; Birgit Gerstenberg, UN Resident Coordinator in Belize; Mr. Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator Barbados and the OESC, and Dr. Garry Conille, UN Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Three cops face disciplinary...

From page 14 me and talk about some gun and me tell them me ain't know about no gun and me and he start scuffle.

After then he get up to get the lighter and light me cause he didn't know it woulda end up and come so bad.

I tek off me jersey and run outside and dash it inside the water. And then they end up saying anytime when the ambulance come tell them that I burnt me self and they video me that I saying duh… They end up beating me to seh duh when the ambulance come,” Peters explained in the video.

Following that report about the incident, the police in another report on Monday stated that Peters told investigators that while he was detained, two of his friends were also b r o u g h t i n t o c u s t o d y.

They were sitting on the prisoner's bench in front of the lockups with another male detainee when Peters asked one of them for a cigarette

lighter and his friend gave him a lighter. The other prisoner, police said admitted to seeing when Peters' friend gave him the cigarette lighter but claimed that he only heard Peters screaming while he was alone in the cell.

“The police officer on duty at the Vigilance Police Station rushed to the cell and removed Peters while his shirt was still on fire.

Peters, who was subsequently questioned by the EMTs, claimed that he had been smoking in the lockups when he slept off and the cigarette had caught on his shirt,” the police report noted.

While it is unclear what led to Peters getting burnt, an investigation was launched and two ranks were placed under close arrest.

The GPF release yesterday noted too that a Keron Williams who reportedly provided the lighter to Peters is to be charged with the offence of Introducing Prohibited Articles into Prison, Contrary to Section 54(1)(a) of the Prison Act, Chapter 11:01.

Guyana must keep track of CO2...

From page 8 per day.

As for the Liza Unity, Guyana's second FPSO which began pumping oil in February is also poised to be optimized so that it can achieve nameplate capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

According to Hess, the third ship Payara was sup-

posed to come on-stream at 220,000 BOD, in 2024 but that has since been moved up to the fourth quarter of 2023.

A fourth project, Yellowtail, with a production capacity of approximately 250,000 gross barrels of oil per day and startup expected in 2025 was also approved. The CEO said his company continues

to see potential for at least six FPSOs with a production capacity of more than 1 million gross barrels of oil per day at the Stabroek Block in 2027, with the potential for up to 10 FPSOs to develop the gross discovered recoverable resources currently estimated at more than 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Trouble in sugar belt as GAWU steps up...

From page 12 local market for 2021. It was explained that the shortfall was a result of the loss of some 35 percent of the standing cane during the 2nd Crop of 2021 due to the flood. “At Albion, where 50 percent of

the production was programmed to be made, the mortality rate for the standing canes planned to be harvested for the 1st Crop of 2022 is estimated at 80 percent due to the floods. On the Berbice Estates where more than 77

percent of the production is made, the rainfalls in 2021 were 72 percent more than the previous year,” GuySuCo detailed, while noting that it drained some 4.5 million tonnes of water off the land daily during the 65-day flood.

PAGE 18

Thursday July 14, 2022

Kaieteur News

US$52M estimated to construct In Mideast, Biden Schoonord to Crane four-lane road... cites ‘bone deep’ bond between US, Israel

From page 15

JERUSALEM (AP) - Joe Biden opened his first visit to the Mideast as president on Wednesday by declaring a “bone deep” bond between the United States and Israel and pledging to strengthen economic connections between the two countries going forward.

He did not mention one of the larger goals of his visit: assuring uneasy Israeli and Saudi Arabian officials that he is committed to preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

“We have a full agenda over the next few days, because the relationship between Israel and the United States covers every issue that matters to our mutual future,” said Biden, who was making his 10th visit to Israel. “We are united in our shared values and our shared vision.”

Israeli officials said Iran’s quickly evolving nuclear program is at the top of their agenda for talks with the U.S. president. Biden made reviving the Iran nuclear deal,

brokered by Barack Obama in 2015 and abandoned by Donald Trump in 2018, a key priority as he entered office.

But indirect talks for the U.S. to re-enter the deal have stalled as Iran has made rapid gains in developing its nuclear program. That’s left the Biden administration increasingly pessimistic about resurrecting the deal, which placed significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog made clear that Iran’s nuclear program will be a central focus in their discussions with Biden. And Herzog noted the “security challenges emanating directly from Iran and its proxies, threatening Israel and its neighbours and endangering our region.”

“We will discuss the need to renew a strong global coalition that will stop the Iranian nuclear program,” Lapid said.

Rats running rampage in...

From page 13 abandonment programme has taken place in a haphazard manner.” According to them, abandoned fields are usually flooded to prevent weed, rodents and grass, but this was not done.

As a result, GAWU said the fields are confronting a major upsurge in rodents which are known to inflict significant damages on young canes. “A source has informed GAWU that it caused the Corporation not too long ago to approve an emergency purchase of rodenticide to combat the situation.” GAWU continued that while the sugar company bemoaned an absence of tillage arising from the absence of a suitable fleet of tillage tractors, the equipment were also underutilized. It said that at Albion, the tillage tractor fleet was available 72.8 percent of the 46 available opportunity days during the 2021 second crop, but claimed that the equipment was utilised only 37.1 percent of that time. “It informs that the fleet though available was not operable for substantial periods of time,” the Union concluded. It said however that despite the operational deficit, the estate realised 78.4 percent of its tillage target. It remarked therefore that if utilization improved, it would be fair to conclude that the tillage target could have been realised and surpassed. “It then begs the question as to whether the adequacy of tillage tractors is really the sole issue for

poor production.” Given the data, “in our view, demonstrates that tillage is not the only challenge,” but that “more serious agronomic issues need to be addressed in addition to tillage.”

Given that the faulty gear box at Uitvlugt Estate was highlighted as a big contributor to low production, GAWU said it learnt that the 'sugar professionals and experts' at GuySuCo, “were well aware of the mill turbine gear condition and damage sustained in the latter part of 2021.” The Union said that the 'sugar professionals and experts' advised on welding repairs against procurement of a new gear to make the unit operable for first crop 2022. Instead the Estate had to abandon its first crop because the welded and locally fabricated gear failed.

“If a new gear was ordered when the damage was observed, the aborted first crop or at least part of it could have been salvaged.” The GAWU believes that Estate potential is very low and there are other instances where proper field standards are not being kept.

“The conditions in the fields are demonstrated by the cane yields which are declining and indicating an unhealthy situation.” The Union reiterated that while tillage is said by GuySuCo to be the challenge,” we have seen even when tillage is accomplished the results are below traditional yields indicating other challenges are present.”

Thursday July 14, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Volodímir Zelenski

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 14, 2022

Govt. draws down another US$200M from oil fund

Senior Finance Minister D r. A s h n i S i n g h h a s announced that Government has made its second draw down from the Natural Resource Fund in accordance with the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act 2021.

The Minister indicated that pursuant to Section 16 of theNRFAct2021, a further US$200 million equivalent to G$41.6 billion has been transferred from the Natural Resource Fund to the Consolidated Fund to finance national development priorities. In a statement the Ministry of Finance reminded that in May of this year, Government made its first withdrawal of$200 million equivalent to G$41.7 billion.

This brings the accumulated withdrawals to date from the NRF to US$400 million,

Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh equivalent to G$83.3 billion.

“This transfer was made in accordance with the strengthened legal architecture of the NRF Act 2021,' the ministry's statement added.

The NRF Act 2021 came

into operation on 1st January 2022, and as part of the Budget 2022 process, Parliamentary approval was granted for a total of US$607.6 million to be transferred during fiscal year 2022.

The ministry said the PPP/C Government will continue to work aggressively through sound and transformative investments of oil resources from the NRF, utilising these resources in a clear and transparent manner, to the benefit of present and future generations.

The NRF Act was hurriedly passed in the National Assembly on December 29, 2022 amid an in-house protest staged by the Opposition Members of Parliament, who were clamouring for the then proposed Bill be sent to the Special Select Committee for consultations to inform the key legislation. Other members of civil society had also echoed this call but the administration ignored these views and rushed to pass the Bill.Despite the public debate, Head of State, President Irfaan Ali, had, mere hours after the raucous session, formally assented to the Bill, thereby bringing it into law— with the final step being its publication in the Official Gazette.

Already, the Board of Directors to manage the fund has been appointed by President Ali, while the other management committees are to be set up. With regard to the use of the oil revenue, the NRF Act states that the natural resource wealth can be used to finance national development priorities, including any initiative aimed at realising an inclusive green economy.

To this end, financial analysts believe that the fund will be used to finance its Wales Gas-to-Energy project on the West Bank of Demerara. It must be noted that the administration has not clearly outlined how it intends to expend the oil revenue, despite receiving advice that the spending of the national wealth must be done in a transparent manner. Instead, it has said that the funds will be included into the national treasury, where it will be put to use after receiving Parliamentary approval.

Thursday July 14, 2022

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Region 10 Chairman Deron Adams visits Hamid and Joy Basketball Clinic in Linden This year’s Abdulla Hamid Basketball Foundation organised summer coaching clinic at the Mackenzie High School hard court will be one with a difference according to former national player Abdulla Hamid. This is because, Hamid explained: “We got started Monday with the combined Hamid and Joy Basketball Foundation, as it’s the first year I have a professional Guyanese basketball player Ms. Joy Adams who is from Amelia’s Ward, Linden, who is willing to give back to the Linden community coming

on board with the Abdulla Hamid Basketball Foundation. Over the past three days since it began Hamid said, “We have seen the inclusion of more youths between the ages nine to 16 turning up and we are trying to have them learn the fundamentals like passing, shooting, dribbling, laying up and defensive drills so that when they return to school they are equipped to play the game. Having held this summer programme for over three decades, now in its 33rd year, the veteran coach Hamid is confident that it will be an-

other successful basketball clinic.

He noted that Ms. Adams, who plays professionally in Spain, has provided the balls and snacks among other things to ensure it is well attended.

He said as long as players turn up they will be no cut off limits even though the numbers have exceeded the initial 50 he had targeted.

The camp starts from 9.00am and ends to 11.30am and Hamid is hoping that other coaches could be encouraged to have similar clinics in other sports

Region 10 Chairman Deron Adams (right) having a view of the players attending the clinic. disciplines for other youths in Linden and Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice). On Tuesday the camp was given a surprise

visit by Regional Chairman of Region 10, Deron Adams, and the youths were delighted to have his presence as they went through their paces. The camp

is held Mondays to Fridays and will conclude on Saturday July 23 at the venue for the coaching clinic the Mackenzie High School hard court.

Five athletes yet to join Jamaican delegation...

Thursday July 14, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You should be happier than usual with what you see in the mirror, Aries, because your inner beauty is more visible than usual. You could also feel especially sociable.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your romantic side is flying high today, Libra.

The opposite sex in general and your own partner in particular are going to seem especially attractive to you.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today you might find yourself more inclined than usual to actively explore your interests in the arts, Taurus.

You might want to look at an online art gallery or attend a virtual concert or play.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) New people you meet today are likely to be favorably impressed by your manners, social skills, and, above all, excellent sense of humor.

Don't be surprised if all of this. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Romantic feelings blossom today, Sagittarius. You may suddenly appear more attractive than usual. Lovers and potential lovers may seem unusually attentive.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A female friend you haven't seen for a while could surprise you with a call. A lot of interesting news and useful information could be exchanged that benefits both of you.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) With the current aspects at play, Cancer, you could find that the hard work you've done in the past finally brings financial rewards. This will make you very happy.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today, Leo, you might find yourself thinking longingly of exotic lands and possibly traveling to them in the future. You could also wonder about the people who live in those countries.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) A small sum of money could come your way today, Virgo.

It could be that someone pays you what's owed you, or you could win a small amount in a lottery.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You could wake up this morning, look around, and decide you want to spend as much time as possible working on your home, Capricorn. You could be bored with the decor and want to make some changes.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today, A q u a r i u s , y o u could receive an affectionate, supportive letter or phone call from someone close to you. Commun i c a t i o n s w i th others should go smoothly, PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your financial affairs could look especially rosy now, Pisces. Some benefits are definitely coming your way, although everything isn't quite as promising as it seems.

From page 22 delayed the arrival of some athletes to the pre-camp late last week before the athletes moved into the village on July 10. There were also issues with delays in accrediting some athletes because of matters relating to their Covid-19 status, Gordon confirmed. He explained that some of the athletes faced issues with uploading forms issued electronically by World Athletics, that required information on athletes’ vaccination status. This was confirmed by some coaches who spoke with Sportsmax.

TV earlier this week. However, that matter has now been resolved and all athletes have now been accredited, Gordon said. Another relatively minor issue that athletes faced was with the rooms to which they were assigned. Gordon explained that a list was created assigning athletes to specific rooms. However, some of the athletes had preferences about whom they wanted to room with and as such when some athletes reported to the rooms to which they were assigned, they found there was another athlete already occupying what should have been their space. That situation has also now been resolved, Gordon assured. Several athletes who spoke with Sportsmax.TV confirmed that they are now settled. “For the most part, people seem to be okay. I haven’t heard any complaints really,” one athlete, who wanted to remain unidentified said. “The rooms are dorms, a n d t h a t w a s expected seeing that we are on a campus.”

Jamaica’s men 400m runners will be among the first to get into action on Friday morning in the 4x400m heats after which

the preliminary round of the men’s 100m will get underway.

The heats of the men’s 100m will get underway in the af-

ternoon session tomorrow with the mixed relays finals scheduled to close out the day.

PAGE 22

Thursday July 14, 2022

Kaieteur News

GFF/DBU/UEFA Assist/Women Development League

Vincent’s 6-for secures Police’s unbeaten run following a big win against Orealla Another huge performance from the competition’s leading goal scorer, forward Annalisa Vincent ensured the Guyana Police Force (GPF) maintained their unbeaten run after four matches when they rolled over Orealla 12-0 on Monday afternoon last at the GFF National Training Centre.

It was the latest match in the Guyana Football Federation / Women Development League sponsored by the

Danish Football Union and UEFA Assist.

The win for the GPF ladies has taken their points tally to 12, the same as leaders Fruta Conquerors which enjoy a better goal difference of +50 to the GPF’s +37. Following Vincent’s match-winning performance, she has now scored a total of 19 goals in their four matches so far, two more than Conquerors’ Nikisa Wayne. Orealla suffered their third loss in as many matches

and it was Vincent who orchestrated their demise with goals in the 12th, 13th, 22nd, 38th, 78th, and 79thminutes.

Supporting well were Siasi Adams (18th, 44th) and Tiandi Smith (34th, 61st) with a brace each while there was one apiece for Imani Maxwell in the 21st minute and Alleia Alleyne in the 70th minute.

This GFF/Women Development League is supported by Danish Football Union (DBU) and UEFA Assist.

Five athletes yet to join Jamaican delegation in Oregon as Hansle Parchment and Stephenie-Ann McPherson named team leaders SportsMax - All but five of Jamaica’s athletes are in camp 48 hours ahead of the start of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. One of those athletes will not be joining the team, Sportsmax.TV has learnt.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Olympic 110m hurdles champion Hansle Parchment and Tokyo Olympics 400m finalist Stephenie-Ann McPherson have been named team captains as the athletes look forward to getting into action tomorrow.

Of the 64-member team selected by the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association to represent the coun-

try at the Championships set to run from July 15-24, quarter-miler Gregory Prince, 100m sprinter Jelani Walker, discus thrower Chad Wright as well as long jumper Chanice Porter and 800m runner ChrisAnn Gordon-Powell have not yet arrived in the athletes’ village.

Media liaison Dennis Gordon revealed that Prince received his US visa on Tuesday and is expected to arrive in Oregon by either late last night or early this morning.

Walker’s situation is more concerning as the athlete has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been advised to remain away from the camp until he is advised by the medi-

cal team.

Chad Wright, Gordon explained, will not be joining the team because of “visa issues”. As it relates to Porter and Gordon-Powell, the team’s technical leader, Maurice Wilson, at the request of their agent Claude Bryan, has granted permission both to join the camp on July 15. Otherwise, Gordon said, all the other athletes are in camp and are said to be in high spirits ahead of the start of the competition, welcome news against the background of some challenges the delegation faced over the past few days. Flight cancellations (Continued on page 21)

Thursday July 14, 2022

Kaieteur News

Jonas Vingegaard takes yellow jersey as Tadej Pogacar feels the pressure

Jonas Vingegaard took a big lead as he burst clear of Tadej Pogacar on Col du Granon. (Reuters) PA Media - The 109th Tour de France came alive on an epic day in the Alps as Tadej Pogacar cracked and Jonas Vingegaard rode his way into the yellow jersey.

Vingegaard’s JumboVisma squad worked to isolate and weaken Pogacar on a punishing 11th stage from Albertville that took in the climbs of the Telegraphe and Galibier before a summit finish on the Col du Granon, and they got their rewards as Pogacar lost almost three minutes.

The Slovenian had looked supreme up to this point in the race, threatening to make a third straight title a procession, and could be seen smiling and gesturing for the cameras as they approached the foot of the Granon, having seemingly dealt with the worst rivals could throw at him on the Galibier.

But less than 10 kilometres later it had all changed – with Pogacar left fighting his way up the double-digit gradients in agony as others rode away.

Vingegaard took second to Pogacar in last year’s Tour,

having been thrust into a leadership role after teammate Primoz Roglic crashed out.

The Dane came to this year’s race as a protected rider before another crash for Roglic elevated him to JumboVisma’s ‘Plan A’, and the 25year-old is certainly riding like a man worthy of the role.

“I think it’s really incredible,” he said. “It’s hard for me to put words on this. This is what I dreamt of always. A stage in the Tour and now the yellow jersey.

“We made a plan from the start of the day and I guess you could see what the plan was. We made it a super hard race.”

This was only the second time the Granon had appeared in the Tour, though its place in the race’s history was assured as this was where Greg LeMond took yellow from Frenchman Bernard Hinault in 1986 – the five-time winner never wore it again.

This stage too will take its place in the annals as JumboVisma executed a tactical masterclass and Pogacar fell apart in a way not previously Jonas Vingegaard

seen in the brief but brilliant career of the 23-year-old.

The fireworks were lit early with Roglic serving as the bait – launching attacks on the Telegraphe to test Pogacar’s Covid-hit UAE Team Emirates squad.

By the foot of the Galibier, Pogacar was left isolated alongside Vingegaard and Roglic with only Thomas able to keep up from the main group of favourites.

The Jumbo-Visma pair took it in turns to launch attacks, forcing Pogacar to respond while Thomas rode tempo to keep himself in touch.

Things regrouped on the long descent off the back of the Galibier and it appeared normal service had been resumed as Rafal Majka paced Pogacar up the early inclines.

But when Vingegaard attacked once again Pogacar had no answer as one by one rivals rode away.

Nairo Quintana took second on the day, but Romain Bardet was the other big winner as his third place moved him up to second overall, two minutes 16 seconds down.

Thomas came in fourth on the stage and now sits fourth overall, four seconds behind Pogacar with a deficit of two minutes and 26 to yellow.

Today will see the peloton head back over the Galibier before tackling the Col de la Croix de Fer and a finish on Alpe d’Huez, where it will be seen whether or not this was one bad day for Pogacar or a sign of things to come.

“I got attacked by JumboVisma, they played it well today,” he said.

“Tactically they did a really good job. In the last climb, it was difficult. But we will see tomorrow, I want revenge. Le Tour is not over.”

PAGE 23

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Thursday July 14, 2022

Kaieteur News

Bangladesh romp to 4th consecutive series win Windies lose 2-nil with a match still to be played

By Sean Devers Not since 2014 has West Indies beaten Bangladesh in an ODI series and yesterday the ‘Tigers’ roared to their fourth consecutive series win with an emphatic one-wicket victory in a lop-sided second ODI at Providence.

This was the 10th consecutive time West Indies has lost to Bangladesh in ODIs, dating back to December 2018 in Sylhet, Bangladesh.

The 24-year-old Mehidy Miraz bagged 4-29, while Nasum Ahmed had 3-19 as West Indies catapulted from 27 without loss to 108 all out in 35 overs.

Guyanese Keemo Paul top scored with 25 from 24 balls with four fours but only Openers Shai Hope (18) and Kyle Mayers (17) of the other batters reached 15 in an inept batting display.

Bangladesh reached 1121 from 20.4 overs as Tamim Iqbal, who ended the contest in commanding fashion by stroking sweet past his ankles for four, finished unbeaten on an even 50.

His fifty-third half century was decorated with seven boundaries and lasted 62 balls.

Iqbal shared in a 48-run opening partnership with Najmul Shanto, who reached the boundary twice in his 20 and 64 for the second wicket with Liton Dass who finished undefeated on 20 from 27 balls with six fours.

Guyanese left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, in only his second ODI game, took the only wicket to fall.

A day, in which rain was forecast, was blessed with brilliant sunshine and Bangladesh asked the home team to bat on a spinfriendly track and lush green and fast outfield.

Hope and Mayers were going well and had taken their partnership 27 when Mayers was bowled by Mosaddek Hossain in the 11th over.

Shamarh Brooks (5) was bowled by Nasum Ahmed at 39-2 and when Ahmed removed Hope for 18 at 44-3, his demise in the 18th over trig-

gered a dramatic collapse as seven wickets tumbled for 64.

Skipper Nicolas Pooran attempted an inexplicable reverse sweep off Ahmed and was bowled for first ball duck to see his team on 44-4.

Rovman Powell (13) was removed by Shoriful Islam before Mehidy Miraz struck twice in quick succession to have West Indies on 86-8.

Brandon King (11) charged the off-spinner, missed a swipe and was bowled before Akeal Hosien (2) was run out.

Paul, looking positive under blue skies, reversed swept Miraz for four and followed it up with an exquisite back punch past cover for back-to-back boundaries before Romario Shepherd (4) whose strength is hitting straight, missed an irresponsible reverse sweep at Miraz and was bowled.

Miraz struck again when Alzarri Joseph was dismissed for a first ball duck and West Indies were wobbling on the

Nasum Ahmed kept striking with the ball. (AFP via Getty Images)

Mehidy Hasan Miraz roars after taking a wicket. (AFP via Getty Images) ropes on 86-9 and in danger of being bowled out for a double figure total.

However, Paul, back in the

side after being tested positive for Covid, continued to play fluently with a delightful cover driven boundary bring-

ing the small gathering to its feet.

Motie, on the back of a pugnacious century against Barbados in the recent FirstClass season in Trinidad, got going with a boundary as Bangladesh again struggled to close off the innings.

In the first ODI Anderson Phillip and Jaydon Searles put together 39 for the last wicket but yesterday Paul ran out of partners when Motie (5) was LBW to Miraz who now taken six 4-for in ODI cricket.

The third and final ODI is set for Saturday from 9:30 hrs and if Bangladesh are victorious it will give them a clean sweep of the threematch series.

The win will also equal West Indies unwanted record of most consecutive ODI defeats (11) which they held for six months from February 2005.

Windward Islands, USA chalk wins at CWI Regional Women’s U19 female T20 tourney Windward Islands and USA have registered victories when the CWI Women’s U19 Rising Stars T20 tournament continued yesterday at Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Windward Islands overcame Guyana by four wickets.

Guyana U19 batted first and managed 84 for 3. Realeanna Grimmond led with an unbeaten 50 which came off 79 balls

and contained eight fours, while Ashimni Munisar made 17. Zaida James and Selena Ross had one wicket each. Windward Islands U19 responded with 89 for 6 in 19.4 overs.

Jannillea Glasgow made 24 while James got 18.

Cyanna Retemiah, Trisha Hardat, Niveena Ramnauth and Grimmond took one wicket each.

USA beat Trinidad and

Tobago by seven wickets. Trinidad and Tobago made 93 for 5, batting first.

Djenaba Joseph scored 34 not out with four fours off 27 balls, while Aniaya Roberts made 15 as Geetika Kodali had 2-8. USA replied with 94 for 3 in 16.1 overs. Anika Kolan struck 46 not out with four fours off 45 balls while Lisa Ramjit made 14. Samara Ramnath had 2-13.

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 14, 2022

Junior Caribbean Squash Championship…

Guyana makes flawless start to female title defence Guyana's women got off to a magnificent start in their defence of the Caribbean Squash Championship Team Title by defeating Cayman Islands in their opener yesterday at the Georgetown Club's Squash Courts.

The junior team is top seeded at the junior level with a 12-time Junior Championship record to their name and will need to continue their strong show in the five-round team competition to complete the victory.

They made light work of Cayman Islands without losing a game in their fivesetter.

The top seed Guyanese will next face powerhouses Bermuda and Trinidad today then powerhouses Barbados on Friday, before clashing with Jamaican on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Guyana's Junior Men's team got into action last evening with the team competition where they will took on British

Virgin Island in the first round.

They are grouped alongside Trinidad and Tobago, who are set to lock horns on Friday with the host nation.

Guyana currently lead the points standing after capturing three gold, three silver and six bronze medals in the individuals segment of the competition for a tally of 12 medals.

Trinidad are second with 2 gold, 2 silver and a bronze while Jamaica are third with 2 gold and a bronze.

Guyana's gold medals came with the compliments of Shomari Wiltshire in the boy's U19 category after he defeated Darien Benn of Barbados in the finale.

Nicholas Verwey also claimed the U17 title after beating countryman Michael Alphonso in the final. Youngster Avery Arjoon was always fortuitous to claim the U13 girl's title winner.

Nijel Amos

NBC Sports Botswana's Nijel Amos, the joint-third-fastest 800m runner in history, has been provisionally suspended after failing a drug test and is in line to miss the world championships that start tomorrow, Friday.

Amos tested positive for a banned substance from an out-of-competition sample on June 4. A lab analyzed the sample and notified the Athletics Integrity Unit, which handles doping cases in track and field, of the result on Tuesday.

Provisional suspensions can be issued while awaiting

PAGE 25

Nijel Amos, 800m star, provisionally suspended ahead of world championships

a hearing on charges to d e t e r m i n e a n o ff i c i a l punishment, if any.

Amos tested positive for GW1516, an experimental drug which can modify the body's metabolism but has been considered too dangerous for human use.

GW1516 was developed to help build endurance and burn fat but was found to cause cancer during tests on rodents. Anti-doping organizations have warned athletes not to use it on safety grounds.

The drug has previously been found in samples given by professional cyclists and

by Olympic race walker Elena Lashmanova. The Russian served a two-year ban and was later stripped of the 20km gold medal she won at the 2012 Olympics for another doping offence.

In 2012, Amos, then 18, took silver in the 800m at the London Games in what many called the greatest Olympic race in history.

Kenyan David Rudisha lowered his world record.

Amos matched Seb Coe as the third-fastest man in history in the event (1:41.73). Every runner's time was the fastest ever for that finishing placement.

Amos has not won an Olympic or world championships medal since.

In July 2019, he ran 1:41.89, the world's best time since that London Olympic final.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Amos and American Isaiah Jewett got tangled in the final lap of their semifinal.

In an act of good sportsmanship, the runners helped each other up and later jogged across the finish line together in the last two places. Amos was granted a place in the final and finished eighth.

This year, Amos is 36thfastest in the world.

th Jonas Vingegaard takes yellow jersey as Tadej Pogacar feels the pressure

Bangladesh romp to 4 consecutive series win Windies lose 2-nil with a match still to be played

Pogacar cracked on the final climb of the day to lose almost three minutes.

(Thibault Camus/AP)

Tamim Iqbal swats one away over the leg side.

(AFP via Getty Images)

GFF/DBU/UEFA Assist/Women Development League

s t r Spo

Vincent's 6-for secures Police's unbeaten run following a big win against Orealla

p. 21

This Guyana Police Force player challenges her Orealla rival for the ball in their Monday afternoon clash.

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