Kaieteur News

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Friday Edition

Sod turned for NEWS $150M Demerara Bank branch at Leonora AIETEUR

July 15, 2022 - Vol. 24 No. 31

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 69,576

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

Developing Stabroek Block to cost Guyana over See story on page 3

$1 trillion in next 3 years President unveils $3 billion support for Amerindians Suspected skeletal remains of murdered Kuru Kururu man found Way cleared for Slowe to challenge President New stelling for Port Kaituma Ali sacking of PSC ...as Nandlall loses three estimated to cost $1 billion rounds in bid to block case p.

23

Payment delays for

See story on page 24

locals in Oil & Gas sector …as Govt. moves to review 'unacceptable' laws to regulate industry

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 15, 2022

Pilot, co-pilot in “King Coca” drug bust at Mahdia jailed, fined millions

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he pilot and co-pilot of the Cessna Skylane aircraft that landed at the Mahdia Airstrip, Region Eight, with millions worth of cocaine onboard were on Wednesday jailed and fined over GYD$493M. Rodrigues Estiven, a Colombian National and his Brazilian Co-pilot, Mateus Alberto made their court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrate Court. For the 290.2 kilograms of “King Coca” labeled cocaine found onboard their aircraft, they were fined a total of $435,380,640 and sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment, respectively. As

it relates to the 50.4 kilograms of cannabis that were also found onboard, they were fined over GYD$49M each and were both sentenced to four years and six month imprisonment.

The duo were given another oneyear jail sentence too for operating a civil aircraft without an airworthiness certificate and fined another GYD$2M. They were also accused of interference with the plane and received a one-year jail sentence for that offence as well, along with another GYD$2M fine.

The court also heard that the foreigners were also operating the plane without insurance and were both

fined GYD$3M each and had received a third one-year jail sentence for this offence.

As was suspected, the Cessna Syklane plane had a false aircraft marking (tail number) and they were fined another $2M and a fourth oneyear jail sentence was added.

However, all the charges will run concurrently so the Estiven and Alberto will only serve four and a half years behind bars.

The two were arrested on Sunday last after the plane they were operating illegally landed at the Mahdia Airstrip.

Onboard investigators found over (Continued on page 22)

Jailed and fined millions for the “King Coca” drug bust at Mahdia, Pilot (left) and Co-pilot (right), Rodrigues Estiven and Mateus Alberto.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 15, 2022

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Developing Stabroek Block to cost Guyana over $1 trillion in next 3 years T

he oil and gas industry is often referred to as a capital intensive industry and according to recent forecast, the development of the Stabroek Block is expected to cost the country in excess of a trillion dollars to be expended over the next three years.

This information can be gleaned from the most recent Financial Statements and accompanying notes for Stabroek Block Operator, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

Under its capital commitments listed in the statements prepared for issue in April last, EEPGL has committed to spend some $489,412,563,110 for its 45 percent working interest in the block to be expended between 2021 and 2024.

According to the Financial Notes, last year, the company would have committed a total of $235.7B. This year, EEPGL has committed some $196.3B, while next year some $38.8B has been earmarked and another $568.3M for 2024. It would mean that EEPGL has committed for Capital Expenditure between 2021 and 2024 a total of $498.5M for its 45 percent share.

As indicated in the documents, the figures represent the amount for the working interest held in the Stabroek Block.

As such, it would mean that the financial capital commitment for the partner with the second largest share—30 percent—Hess Petroleum Exploration Guyana Limited, for the same period would be some $326,275,042,074.

According to the projections, Hess last year was responsible for $169B of the committed spending

while this year $130.8B has been earmarked.

As it relates to next year and the following year, Hess would be responsible for 25.8B in 2023 and $378.8M in 2024. CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited which holds the remaining 25 percent share would as such, be responsible for the remaining $271.9B in spending over the period bring the total spending on Capital commitments for developing the Stabroek Block during

offshore Guyana.

According to recent financial statements filed by the oil companies, in excess of $94B has already been deducted as part of the 75 percent cost oil recovery, to repay expenses incurred by the oil companies.

According to statements filed by Hess Guyana Exploration Limited, in 2020 the first year of oil production in Guyana, it turned over $131,66,534,497 ($13.2B) while the following year, a

Project will cost US$1.05B (over GYD $200B). SBM at the time of the announcement had said the financing was secured from a consortium of 11 international banks while adding that it expects to draw the loan in full, phased over the construction period of the Prosperity Vessel.

With regard the fourth project—Yellowtail—that project was initially pegged at approximately US$9B but it has now jumped to US$10B.

ensure a secure energy transition.”

He added, “We are working to maximise benefits for the people of Guyana and increase global supplies through safe and responsible development on an accelerated schedule.”

Kaieteur News understands that Yellowtail's production from the ONE G U YA N A F P S O w i l l develop an estimated resource of more than 900 million barrels of oil.

2019; its production capacity is expected to increase to more than 140,000 gross barrels of oil per day following production optimization work currently u n d e r w a y .

T h e L i z a P h a s e Tw o development, utilising the Liza Unity FPSO, began production in February 2022 and is expected to reach its production capacity of 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day later this year as operations are safely brought

that time to just about $1.1T. With the installation of the second oil field completed earlier this year, it would mean that the bulk of the spending would be directed towards the development of the Payara and Yellowtail oil fields.

Guyana currently has two Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units and is currently producing crude oil from the Stabroek Block—the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity and a third, is currently under construction.

That FPSO named the Prosperity will be used to produce the Payara development and is the largest of the first three production vessels to be put into operation in Guyana with a capacity of 220,000 barrels per day.

The FPSO will be spreadmoored in water depth of about 1,900 meters and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil.

The project is part of the Payara development, which is the third development within the Stabroek Block, located 200 kilometers

sum of $14,834,549,944 ($14.6B). Collectively, it would represent $28,001,084,441 ($28B) over the two years being set aside by Hess for the Prosperity vessel.

The monies are reflected as advances to operator in the company's statement of financial position for the two years.

SBM Offshore the Dutch Floater Specialist that secured the contract for the Prosperity, in addition to the Unity and Destiny had disclosed that the vessel which will be used in the Stabroek Block's Payara

The company's fourth and largest project in the Stabroek Block is expected to produce approximately 250,000 barrels of oil per day starting in 2025.

The US$10 billion project will include six drill centres and up to 26 production and 25 injection wells.

ExxonMobil's ongoing offshore exploration in Guyana has discovered a recoverable resource of more than 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

The company anticipates up to 10 projects on the Stabroek Block to develop this resource.

online.

The third development on the block at Payara is on track for production startup in 2024, utilising the Prosperity FPSO with a production capacity of approximately 220,000 gross barrels of oil p e r d a y .

At least six FPSOs with a production capacity of more than one million gross barrels of oil per day are expected to be online on the Stabroek Block in 2027, with the potential for up to 10 FPSOs to develop gross discovered recoverable resources of more than 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

ExxonMobil Upstream President, Liam Mallon, following the Formal Investment Decision for that project had said, “Yellowtail's development further demonstrates the successful partnership between ExxonMobil and Guyana, and helps provide the world with another reliable source of energy to meet future demand and

The Liza Phase One development, utilising the Liza Destiny FPSO, began production in December

Suspected remains of murdered Kuru Kururu man found Leon Waddle, the self confessed killer of missing Kuru Kururu man, Answar Stoll refused to say where he had buried the body but detectives have recovered scattered skeletal remains that they believe to be that of the victim.

The skeletal remains were found on We d n e s d a y a r o u n d 20:35hrs in the Kuru Kururu Backdam scattered across an area measuring 30 feet in Murdered Remanded to diameter, police said in a Answar Stoll prison, Leon Waddle release. While some were found intertwined in the roots of DNA testing will be needed to confirm that the remains small plants suggesting that it had been belong to Stoll, investigators told there for a while. GPF added that, “the Kaieteur News that a chop wound seen skull appears to be that of a male and on the skull recovered corresponds bore evidence of a sharp injury (chop) with the suspect's description of killing to the top of the skull.” The chop wound reportedly “extended from above the his victim.

Police said several human bones eye socket all the way to the rear of the

top of the skull”. Ranks were able to recover the shoulder bones and part of the vertebral column.

Some thirteen pieces are still missing and GPF assured that the remains will be sent overseas for DNA testing a soon as possible. Stoll had disappeared in November 2020 and three months later, police arrested the prime suspect in his disappearance Leon Waddle, 30, hiding in a fowl pen.

Wa d d l e w a s S t o l l ' s roommate and while in custody, he admitted to killing him and stealing his belongings but chose not say what he had done with the corpse.

He was later charged with murder during the furtherance of robbery and remanded to prison. According reports, it is believed that Stoll was killed between November 15 and 16 during a (Continued on page 23)

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Friday July 15, 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

More oil money, not a good thing for Guyanese?

Some things needed to be listened to, heard repeatedly, and read over and over again, so incredible they are. But given that what was so shocking came from the Incredible Hulk of political and financial Guyana, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, it is not so unexpected after all. This particular Guyanese leader can move from mice to men to mountains, such are his mental gymnastics and verbal antics. The latest monstrosity from his laboratory of the slippery is over the power and problems with money, more money, for the Guyanese people from their wealth.

It was reported that he said more money now is not a good thing for Guyana since such a development would fuel inflationary pressures. In simple terms, inflation is a general rise in prices over a lengthy period, or intense demand, or too many dollars chasing too few goods Or it could be triggered by some combination involving all those drivers. Similar arguments are part of considerations in the push for higher wages for the people who need it, namely, those who just have to buy to get by. It is not binge buying or luxury shopping, but out of sheer necessity, like food for the family.

Now, Dr. Jagdeo has found another dark alley to lead the gullible Guyanese down. It is one more loophole that sprung up overnight in his fertile, smartly working, brain. It is another example of how he put his mind to work, and cunningly conjures these camouflages to wiggle out of tight corners, with renegotiation being one for more for Guyana, so that Guyanese at all levels have more. An earlier one was where he, the Vice President of Oil in Guyana, was busy preaching the virtues of the right return for the foreign oil businesses (and business interests in general) for the investment risks that they were taking. Now he is talking up bringing in more from our oil to the national treasury (oil fund) would pressure prices. In the Vice President’s own words, “if the money comes in, we can’t spend it all”, which is not an unwise statement. Further, he talks about saving, a wise thought for sure, yet there is the contradiction of the PPPC Government, most likely under his firm directing hand, withdrawing and withdrawing from the nation’s oil fund to spend in a variety of areas, including one high-cost project after the other. The astute Vice President has suddenly come to his senses, and is touting managing better and saving, while the government is rushing ahead with billions in borrowing. More is what Guyanese need, and more is what we at this paper have been insisting on, and pushing for, almost daily. Now, being the clever leader that he is known to be, Vice President Jagdeo concocts this beauty about more money for Guyana could mean more bad news for Guyanese, as in contributing to possible inflationary spirals. A surface look may convince the unwary and unknowing that Jagdeo is looking out for Guyanese, and concerned about their welfare. Anyone who ever believes that needs a timely helping hand, and we are glad to extend it. They are guilty of falling for the slickness and craftiness of this national leader renowned for his skills in a certain direction, and laced through with a worrying character.

Because the wisdom of what Vice President Jagdeo is now suddenly tabling is nothing but one more design aimed at not pressuring foreign oil companies for more. It is as if more money from oil would be most unhealthy for Guyanese.

It is like giving addicts or derelicts or lunatics something precious, but which they wouldn’t know to use sensibly.

Like children, they would splurge, cause shortages, pressure prices, and add to woes. The problem, and it is an acute one, is that too many poor Guyanese are struggling currently, with no end in sight, and which selective PPPC Government relief monies are barely making a dent in their near- and intermediate- term existence. They could use some spending money that aids them for the long haul and in this crisis.

But Vice President Jagdeo says that the government must keep a careful eye on prices. Meanwhile, the people punish.

Have we lost the plot completely?

DEAR EDITOR, Politics in Guyana regularly throws up a cluster of Orwellian tropes. Within the space of a week, we have had the National Toshaos Conference where the agenda was initially set by government officials (as opposed to the Toshaos). And then, the utterly bizarre

spectacle of the Head of State dressed as a Saudi sheik impulsively announcing the setting up a Saudi desk at the Finance Ministry.

It is one thing to welcome investment through official channels and institutions and with due process (Is GoInvest still operating?). It is quite another to assiduously

court investment from a country engaged in a longstanding war with and blockade of its poorer neighbour (Yemen), a country that accords fewer rights to half of its population (women) and a country recently implicated in the brutal murder of a journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. As allegations of

corruption linked to another outsize actor on the world stage swirl in the wake of the Vice Media programmes, Guyana needs to pause and assess its options and its approach to seeking investment. Have we lost the plot completely?

Yours faithfully, Isabelle de Caires

Judges’ Decision are not Sacrosanct: Their Decisions can be Criticised DEAR EDITOR, Any lingering doubt or indecisiveness as to whether Judges’ decision should be subject to public criticism has been further eroded with the relentless barrage of criticisms and demonstrations that erupted with the overturning of the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that had made abortion a right. The US Supreme Court’s majority holds that abortion is not a federal constitutional right and that abortion should properly be a matter for the State and its voters to regulate. Demonstrators and social rights’ activists have categorically condemned the July 2022 ruling claiming that it would damage the reproductive rights of women, including their right to privacy. Their revulsion has also been shared by top Democrats who regard the US Supreme Court’s ruling as exceeding its power. US President Joe Biden blasted the decision and referred to the Conservative Judges of the Court as ‘extreme.’ In defiance, he has issued an Executive Order to work around the ruling, but experts doubt whether that would mitigate the problem. And Liberal Democrat and Senate Majority Leader Mr. Chuck Shumer joined the picketers outside the Supreme Court to launch a trenchant critique on the Judiciary, singling out the Conservative Judges with his vitriolic onslaught. Another Liberal Democrat Pete Buttigieg, the US Transportation Secretary, defends the right to criticise Judges’ rulings but cautions that protests should be peaceful. He asserts that public officials [inclusive of Judges] will “never be free of criticism or peaceful protest” from individuals exercising their rights to freedom of speech. In the land that is regarded as the bastion of democracy, the leader of the free world, and the centre of capitalism, citizens are allowed to criticise the decisions of the Judiciary and to display their disenchantment at peaceful protests. Given that

Guyana is more aligned to the US than the UK in terms of democratic norms and ideals, the logical question then is: “shouldn’t Guyanese equally show their disapproval through criticisms and demonstrations for Judges’ rulings especially in public interest cases (such as abortion, capital punishment, constitutional violations, infringement of fundamental rights, etc.) that they perceive or regard as repugnant?” The answer could be unlocked with a review of two significant constitutional cases.

Why should Guyanese citizens remain silent when someone was unilaterally appointed in October 2017 as GECOM chair in defiance of the CarterPrice constitutional formula that has worked well for over 22 years? Had it not been for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that over-ruled in June 2019 the decision of the Guyana Court of Appeal, Guyana would have fallen prey to another PNC dictatorship. In another glaring constitutional aberration, the Guyana Court of Appeal ruled in March 2019 that 33 is not a majority of a 65-House Chamber.

That decision stunned not only legal scholars but also mathematicians, as well as the common person. In June 2019, the CCJ overturned the Guyana Court of Appeal’s decision indicating that 33 is a majority of 65.

Again, the CCJ had to save Guyana’s fragile democracy.

When Judges cannot determine that 33 is a majority of 65, don’t the public have a right to question their judgment and demonstrate their disgust? This is the age of reason, logic, egalitarianism, and accountability.

All institutions, including the Judiciary, are required to strive towards equity and accountability. And who better than the public to demand equity and accountability from the Court? Sovereignty belongs to the people (Chapter II Article 9) and not the Judges.

The impending changes in the country’s legal and constitutional architecture that would work through the existing Law Reform Project and the Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform are not radical but evolutionary in nature.

The significance of legal/ constitutional change has been beautifully captured by Karl Marx at his conspiracy trial in Cologne in 1849 captured this forcefully: “Society is not based on law, that is a legal fiction, rather law must be based on society; it must be the expression of society’s common interests and needs, as they arise from the various material methods of production... The Code Napolean, which I have in my hand, did not produce modern bourgeois society.

Bourgeois society as it arose in eighteenth century and developed in the nineteenth, merely finds its legal expression in the Code...You cannot make old laws the foundation of a new social development, any more than

these old laws created the old social conditions.”

Hopefully, all these potential changes would lead to the development of a coherent system of judicial philosophy. Such basic questions as “What constitutes justice?” have not been satisfactorily answered. “Is justice done or seem to be done,” when there are so many disparities in sentencing?

No institution in the modern world is insulated from change. Criticising Judges’ rulings or having demonstrations would not necessarily undermine the independence of the Judiciary. The constitution (Chapter XI 122 A (1)) does not explicitly prohibit public criticism or demonstration of Judicial decisions. Indeed, criticisms would allow Judges to apply greater analytic rigour to decision-making and to arrive at good judgments. Judges’ decisions are not sacrosanct. Their decisions can be criticised.

Dr. Tara Singh

Visit to Guyana after 46 years DEAR EDITOR, This letter is about my trip to Guyana after 46 years. We had a wonderful time and were very impressed with how Guyana has developed over the years. We stayed at the Marriott in Georgetown for a few days to attend a wedding there, and then spent the rest of the time with relatives. We felt very safe travelling around Georgetown, East Bank, West Coast and Berbice. The restaurants we visited served good quality and tasty food, especially one in Windsor Forest.

The one annoying negative we encountered is the very loud music that people were playing about four streets away from where we were staying. It was our last night in Guyana, and we had to be up by 2:30AM to head to the airport for an early

flight. On our way to the airport, at 3:30AM, they were still playing the loud music. I don’t understand why the police did not stop this nuisance. That would never be allowed in my neighbourhood in the U.S. If Guyana wants to promote tourism, and not annoy their guests, and treat them well, then the authorities need to fix this problem promptly. I would like to return every two years for a visit, but will not, if this problem persists. This is the 21st century, act like civilised people all over the world do turn the loud music down, and put a limit on how late people can play it. Is that too much to ask for? The Ministers of Tourism and Home Affairs need to do something to fix this problem for the citizens of Guyana and their guests.

Sincerely, Kris Singh

Friday July 15, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Mental health help Will the real President Ali please stand up? is needed now DEAR EDITOR, Narcissism and issues surrounding the mental health of our population has always been swept under the carpet until clear cut cases surface and we all run to complain about poor mental health care and the approach to correct same.

For decades, we have associated mental health as a disease that only those who walk the road aimlessly or gather their meals from nearby garbage receptacles suffer from.

The terms bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, narcissistic personality disorder are terms we associate with more developed countries, making them alien to us, when in reality, many within our population are suffering.

It becomes funny when the behavioural pattern of some are exposed but cry when lives are taken by suicide. The paradoxical approach of our society to issues of this nature is alarming and it seems that we can never get it right.

Our human resources (especially the youth) are slowly finding themselves behind bars or in graves because of their mental state.

No one wants to listen and hardly anyone wants to approach relevant institutions and experts for help, because of possible public shaming.

During this time, victims continue to suffer, some in

silence while others create havoc for those close to them But please let’s not confuse persons who are really mentally affected with those who are narcissists.

Careful studies and conversations with leading psychologists on the topic of narcissism have revealed that victims of Narcissistic abuse also become so manipulated that they themselves develop poor mental health thus making them vulnerable.

So what’s the purpose of this piece? Put simply, it’s an appeal to everyone: the family, the church and every other social institution, friends, coworkers, social media, to collaboratively work as a n e t w o r k , t o promote mental health, to form support groups to protect victims from the e n d u r a n c e o f manipulations and narcissistic abuse and to understand that the narrative of brilliance, beauty, popularity and a good occupation has nothing to do with the mental strength or capacity of an individual.

On the inside, many of us are weak, and are looking for a friend, a confidant, a strong support group, to overcome.

The pain is real whether one is affected by poor mental health or has become a victim of abuse, help is needed now!

Atika Stephens

DEAR EDITOR, Guyana’s President Ali is either the real deal and a real honest John, or he inhabits a parallel universe. In his world, he is the sole source of truth, while all those who come up against him, and challenge him are liars. For the record, Guyana’s pious President denies marginalising the Toshaos, while calling for an ‘independent’ investigation of exposed foreign Chinese corrupters. It is how some leaders transform into conjurors of myths that only they themselves come to believe; might sound warmhearted, but is coolly calculating.

On this issue of an independent investigation of corruptions by the Chinese, I inquire of the leader, why go off halfcocked and halfway, Dr. President? How about going the full nine yards and conduct a truly (emphasis on truly) full-scale independent investigation of the Dr. Vice President, since he is an irremovable aspect of the tricky workings of those foreigners, as admitted by them? For them to succeed here, even breathe here, they had to have had powerful political accessories, and in this country, there is only one that fits that bill since the departure of maximum leader Burnham. The problem is who is going to engage in any of this pretense at investigating, and is capable of so doing competently and courageously? This is why thinking Guyanese have a good laugh over these things.

Independent investigations, commissions of inquiry into this and that, and so forth,

have no credibility. The leaders calling for them are regarded as trustworthy, which means any output of their handpicked agents meet the usual contemptuous dismissal for lack of authenticity and reliability.

Relative to the Toshaos, the whole cast of them must be bona fide PNC stooges or as is more likely, genuinely struggling to manage their affairs according to their traditions and visions; for too long, they have allowed themselves to be used as pawns in the political ambitions of others. The President denies any hankypanky (hijacking) of their conference, their lives. Who believes him? I don’t.

Leaders have engaged in so many deceptions and so much dissembling here that they no longer see their misconduct as either misrepresenting (a legal word for falsifying) or misleading, which is a synonym for turning traitor to truth. I struggle to recall the last time the President spoke straight, meaning, no doubletalk, no hidden meaning, no code words. Like corruption, twisting the language, playing games with words, and engaging in slippery syntax constructions have become the regular way of leaders.

As I regard the terrain, it is clear to me that what we have here is a lipstick leader holding the highest office in this land. Like regular lipstick, touch it even gently, and smearing and smudging result. To say another way, lipstick truths from leaders like these don’t hold up in rain,

or sun, or light. I see a President with a startling feel and flair for the dramatic, costumes and all, public postures and words and all.

He has a preference to be a gamesman and showman more than the statesman urgently needed. It is now an article of faith that the President is someone who has fallen in love with his own shallow laughable rhetoric.

He has become a pronounced master of the elaborate ceremony, and the stage managed.

The best I can say is that as I contemplate all these

Presidential witticisms, I will forever be grateful for the continuous supply of low political leadership comedy that this country needs to keep its sanity. Delicious entertainment it is. Once upon a time, Guyanese had to deal with Burnham Magic; today they live with Ali sorcery. This is one comic book country. Just listen to these Daffy Duck denials, and insipid independent investigation postures. By whom locally, may I dare to ask?

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Withholding tax DEAR EDITOR, When we get pay, PAYE tax does deduct from our wages, if we save a little and put it in a savings account, 20% of the interest goes to government as withholding tax; that is double tax on us

poor people. The government can afford to stop taking withholding tax, or at least stop taking it from senior citizens, or the government needs our money to pay Exxon’s tax?

Respectfully, Mohamed Azad

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Youth stabbed to death at La Parfaite Harmonie A 23-year-old man on Wednesday opted to run for his life as another man stabbed his 19-year-nephew to death with a pair of scissors at Independence Drive, La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The dead teen was identified as Chrisgaichan Narine better known as “Boyo”, a construction

Friday July 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

worker of Lot 137, RechtDoor-Zee, WBD. According to police, they arrested his alleged killer on Thursday and he is presently in their custody at the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station.

Narine’s uncle, Gansham Singh, told investigators that they were riding home their bicycles when the suspect approached them from the

opposite direction on an electric bike. He recalled the location to be in the vicinity of Third Avenue, La Parfaite Harmonie. Singh claimed that the suspect attacked his nephew and started to fight with him. He dropped his bicycle and ran away and while he was doing so, he looked back and saw the suspect stab his nephew

twice to his body with a pair of scissors. The suspect reportedly fled the scene and he returned to assist Narine.

Singh alleged that as he was about to rush his nephew to the hospital, he collapsed and died on the road. Police later arrested the suspect in Westminister, WBD and he was identified as a 23-yearold construction worker.

Albouystown man remanded for discharging loaded firearm

What NDC? Wild horses control Diamond Housing Scheme DEAR EDITOR, I am unsure as to the entity responsible for the various everyday concerns related to the general upkeep of the environs in Diamond Housing Scheme, but I’ll hazard a guess that the Grove/Diamond NDC – which collects rates and taxes – would be foremost among them.

There are many problems such as drainage, overgrowth of bushes on abandoned lots,

and several almost impassable roads.

But my main concern at this time is the abundance of stray and unattended animals roaming the area and creating havoc.

In particular, it has reached the stage in Third Avenue and adjacent streets, that wild horses are multiplying significantly enough to become a major issue for residents and road users, particularly drivers.

Many times alternative routes have to be used, because the horses and cows stand their ground. I believe they’ve realised that they run things.

This cannot continue as business as usual, the relevant authorities have to come up with a plan to rid the area of the inconveniences.

Garbage receptacles that are put out for collection are toppled and their contents scattered far and wide – by horses, dogs, cows and even

cats. There is great frustration.

I can say without fear of successful contradiction that the NDC and whoever else is responsible for addressing issues such as this have abandoned the residents.

No one can say that there is an imminent plan to put an end to this avoidable mess. It is obvious that the councillors – who, believe it or not, reside in the community – are disinterested. Then why run for office?

Anyone traversing the length and breadth of Diamond Housing Scheme on a daily basis can see any number of stray animals moving unhindered as they seek food and occasional shelter.

There are signs of development in Guyana, but there are always stark reminders to jolt us back to the reality that the more things change, the more they remain the same.

Maybe the residents have to open stables and have the horses race competitively on a professional level. Maybe that’s what the NDC is hoping for.

Sincerely, Sherwin Crandon

Remanded to jail, Andrew Ridley Andrew Ridley, an Albouystown man on Thursday was remanded to prison for discharging a loaded firearm with intent at School Street Albouystown, Georgetown .

It is alleged that on Sunday last around 06:45hrs, he rode up on his bicycle behind 26-year-old Terrance Betsani, who was making a purchase at a shop on School Street and allegedly started shooting at him. Betsani narrowly escaped being shot dead by running away

immediately. According to reports, Ridley allegedly continued to fire more shots behind the victim but luckily all the bullets missed Betsani.

Ridley was arrested on Monday and charged for the offence on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The charge was read to him by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan and he pleaded not guilty to the offence. Ridley is expected to make his next court appearance on August 10, 2022.

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Friday July 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

Unfortunately for Guyanese citizens, we have not found a way to work together to ensure that every political party that ends up in government delivers for the collective regardless of political affiliation, race, religion, gender and all the other social titles that keep us divided.

Our failure to act as a nation of people equal in each other's eyes, has rolled out the red carpet for unscrupulous politicians to do as they please with our riches, which includes picking and choosing who will have and who will not.

We have failed to elect quality characters, people who have the genuine interest of all Guyanese in mind. Instead, what we have are characters easily tempted; whose eyes 'get full' and they must have more than what is due to them. What we end up with are citizens tempted to elect leaders by race and leaders tempted to help themselves to the people's wealth.

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Friday July 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

Exxon still testing equipment to stop flaring ...Minister Bharrat pleased with operations at Liza Unity

By Davina Bagot Since the startup of oil production in 2019, ExxonMobil experienced technical issues with the flash gas compressor installed on the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, and to date, tests are still being conducted to ensure that the faulty equipment is now ready to do its job.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat on Monday told Kaieteur News that Exxon's flash gas compressor has returned to Guyana and is being tested again. It must be noted that in the absence of this critical piece of the equipment, the oil company has been flaring the associated natural gas offshore at the Liza One operation.

Bharrat in providing the update was happy to report that the country's second FPSO, the Liza Unity has not encountered any issues as it regards flaring, as commissioning of the

operations went “well”.

However, when it comes to the first FPSO, he is hopeful that the issue would be resolved soon.

According to the minister, “As it is now, Unity has not encountered any problems with regards to flaring. The commissioning has gone well. We are pleased with the commissioning of Unity.

Destiny, as you are aware, there was an issue with the flash gas compressor. That was replaced last month and they are doing some testing on it so that, we are confident that should be resolved very soon. That is on the Destiny FPSO but there is no issue on Unity.”

In January, Kaieteur News reported that Exxon was still experiencing design issues with the gas compressor. Media and Communications Manager for ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Janelle Persaud had disclosed that the installation of the new

gas compressor for the Liza Destiny FPSO will no longer o c c u r i n J a n u a r y, a s previously stated. Persaud said the upgraded equipment will now be installed by midyear. Persaud said the thirdstage flash gas compressor (FGC) currently on the Liza Destiny FPSO continues to operate steadily in the interim.In a statement to the press, it was noted that the redesigned FGC was undergoing comprehensive testing in Germany, where EEPGL had determined it will require further enhancements before installation.

Persaud said, “We have adjusted the timeline for its delivery and installation in order to provide the highest assurance of reliable performance.”

Meanwhile, the EEPGL official said ExxonMobil Guyana and the vessel's owner, SBM Offshore, are also progressing several alternate longer-term solutions which include new technology to bypass the second and third stage FGCs,

ExxonMobil flaring at its Liza Destiny FPSO as well as an entirely new centrifugal compressor package to replace the screw design of the current compressors.

Persaud also noted in a brief note to Kaieteur News that flare levels are being maintained below 15 million standard cubic feet of gas per day when the Flash Gas Compression system is offline and below 7 million standard cubic feet of gas when the FGC is online. In May, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved to renewal of the Liza One Permit, adding a mere US$5 to the penalty price for flaring. It has now moved to US$50.

Extensive research conducted by Kaieteur News

shows that gas flaring contributes to climate change, which has serious implications for the human security and wellbeing g l o b a l l y. I n f a c t , t h e Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, outlined in one of its studies, that gas flaring is actually a major source of greenhouse gases, which accelerates global w a r m i n g .

It was noted that flaring releases Carbon Dioxide and Methane, the two major greenhouse gases.

Of these two, Methane is actually more harmful than Carbon Dioxide. It is also more prevalent in flares that burn at lower efficiency. Of

the greenhouse gases researched so far, Kaieteur News understands that the global warming potential of a kilogramme of Methane is estimated to be 21 times that of a kilogramme of Carbon Dioxide when the effects are considered.

The University of Ibadan study also noted that flaring contributes to local and regional environmental problems, such as acid rain with attendant impact on agriculture, forests and other physical infrastructure. The acid rain results in environmental degradation, which includes soil and water contamination and roof erosion.

Furthermore, there have (Continued on page 22)

Friday July 15, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

NEGLECT AND GREED I once asked a young mother when was the last time she took her children to the play park.

“Play park?” she asked.

“They don’t have that around here.”

I then asked the children whether they knew to swim.

They said yes. I then asked where they usually swam.

Their answer horrified me.

They pointed to a trench across from where they lived.

There was a time when there was hardly a Guyanese who did not know about taking a dip in a trench. Most of the older generation learnt to swim in canals and at the koker mouths.

But that was a long time ago. This is the 21st century and Guyana has made tremendous strides over the years. Yet it is disconcerting

to know that many children can still be found swimming in canals.

A few years ago, two children died after they ended up swimming in a canal near to their home. The canal was reportedly used for irrigation purposes and the children, who had swum there before, may not have known that the water level had risen, and therefore they ended up drowning.

That was a sad event. The parents and the community to which the children belong were plunged into a state of mourning.

While you cannot directly blame the government for this, the incident raised the question about access to recreational facilities throughout Guyana, as well as their limited

numbers, especially water parks. As such, children wanting to partake of some fun often end up placing their lives at risk by having to go to unsupervised and unsuited areas to swim.

Better can and should be done. In almost every community in Guyana, there is a shortage of parks and recreational facilities. This is stifling the social development of our children.

One of the excuses made by local authorities is that even when they set aside land for recreational purposes, it is underutilised. But there is an explanation for this. Most often, the reason why these facilities are not being fully utilised is that they are not properly kept and managed.

You simply cannot leave a wide-open space and expect

Dem boys seh...

International cricket might disappear from Guyana Guyana might nat get international cricket fuh a lang time. Is nuff countries in de West Indies competing fuh host international matches.

Nuff ah dem islands gat stadium and grounds like we own.

Suh when we get a chance fuh host cricket, we gat fuh put we best foot forward.

Because dem odder country putting dem best foot forward.

We did not put we best foot forward during de matches we host between Bangladesh and de West Indies. We put we worst foot forward. But wah yuh sow is dat yuh gan reap.

Cricket use tuh run properly in Guyana but de politicians dem decide dem wan control de

administration. And suh dem meddle in de game. And now, we gat sheer problems.

We nah market dem matches properly. Dat is one reason why de stands dem did almost empty. Is poor marketing. But some people claim dem nah get tickets fuh buy in dem area. Lang ago, de stands use to sold out.

De stadium gat serious problems.

A lil drizzle and de place get muddy. When de stadium did fuss build in 2007, it was de best draining ground in de West Indies. It now get like Bourda. Lil rain and yuh gat fuh get lang boots and canoe.

But de biggest failure of all was de pitches.

Dem boys nah understand wah kind ah pitch dem prepare. In de fuss

match, de ball nah coming onto de bat. It mek batting fuss difficult. It kill de West Indian way of playing cricket. It curtail stroke playing and dem fass bowler nah getting nuttin outta de pitch. And in de second match, de pitch was also nat playing consistent.

We better send to India fuh somebody who can look after de pitch. We might gat fuh dig it up again and relay de surface.

Guyana nah gan get international matches if we continue dis way. De CPL coming up and dem boys hoping dat dis time, we get a better drained ground and we get better pitches.

If we don’t, we can kiss international cricket goodbye.

Talk half. Leff half.

Health Ministry records 127 new COVID-19 cases On Thursday, the Ministry of Health reported that within the last 24 hours, 127 new COVID-19 cases were recorded, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to

68,627.

The Ministry via its daily dashboard revealed that five patients are admitted currently into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Un it, 34 persons are in

institutional isolation, 877 are in home isolation and three are quarantined institutionally. To date, a total of 66,447 persons have recovered from the virus.

Exxon still testing equipment to stop...

From page 8 been over 250 identified toxins released from flaring including carcinogens such as benzopyrene, benzene, carbon disulphide (CS2), carbonyl sulphide

(COS) and toluene; metals such as mercury, arsenic and chromium; sour gas with Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2); Nitrogen oxides (NOx); Carbon dioxide

(CO2); and methane (CH4) which contributes to the greenhouse gases. The agency had collected over $930M in flaring fees since introducing the flaring fee arrangement.

persons to utilise it. It needs swings and slides and other such things to attract and encourage children to make use of it. It needs spray fountains where children can go with their parents and soak themselves on a hot day.

These are things which do not cost a lot and which can allow parents to spend quality time with their children.

It is the lack of these facilities that forces many children to stray into the backlands looking for a suitable canal to swim, and as we know from reports, many a child has reached his or her death in these waterways.

Having play parks, including water parks, in every community would also reduce idleness. Children would engage in purposeful activity and therefore would be less inclined to end up in bad company.

Instead, however, of having more parks, what we

are having is less. In some housing schemes, land initially set aside for recreation has been converted into lots. It would be revealing if a survey is done to ascertain just whose hands some of these lots ended up in. And at the same time, by reassigning former playfields to others, family life is being affected. There is absolutely no need for this.

Guyana has land, lots of land. It may be costly to develop, but we do have extensive land on the coast which can be developed affordably. There is no need for every nook and cranny to be used for either some business or housing development.

Reserves should be kept free and land should be set aside in every community for playfields for sports such as cricket and football. At the same time, there should be recreational and water parks where families can take their

kids.

Better can and should be done. All it requires is for less greed and better planning.

People do not only need house lots. They also need facilities whereby after a hard day at school, children can be taken by their parents to have fun, to get some exercise, and at the same time to be safe.

That is not happening today, and the reason for this is neglect and greed – neglect of public facilities and greed by those who wish to gobble up public land.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Monday Friday May July 02, 15, 2022 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Giftland taxi service, Massy supermarket: This is Guyana I am getting older each day, and my mind cries out each day for the capacity to understand my country. I have a friend in the trade union movement who heads one of the unions. I saw him often in the newspapers picketing the Office of the President (OP). His concerns range from the oil contract to minimum wage.

As a trade unionist, he should be picketing the offices of the private security firms. Some of these companies, as a matter of policy, do not pay NIS for their workers. I get heartbreaking stories from the security ranks of these companies all the time. It is time the law prosecute these

recalcitrant owners.

Why my friend does not picket these security firms?

The answer is publicity. If you protest outside OP, the press is likely to put your name and face in front of the nation. You get what you always wanted – publicity.

But if you protest outside an unknown guard service, your psychological is deflated because the media ignores you.

I have never seen the women rights groups have a letter published in the newspapers about the suffering of women in these security outfits. Do you know the actual fact about these security companies is that most of their guards are

women? I am yet to see a civil society group picketing the banks on their mistreatment of small depositors.

I like the way Ralph Ramkarran has put it. I found it appropriately hilarious. I h a v e m e n t i o n e d M r.

Ramkarran's description several times on this page and I plan to do so on the Gildarie-Freddie Show that is featured on social media.

He wrote in his Stabroek News column, there are many areas of concern to the nation that civil society groups can get involved in rather than opting for preferred terrains that have sex appeal. So why don't these civil society entities picket the private security firms and the commercial banks?

Please call me at 6145927 or email me at fredkissoon@yahoo.com and here is a promise - if you are aggrieved at the mistreatment by the commercial banks, the private security companies, etc., and you plan to hold a

picket exercise, I will join you. Now for the headline of this column.

After the airing of the first Gildarie/Freddie Show, I received hundreds of emails with dozens of complaints.

Here is a heart-breaking one.

After receiving the mail, I met with three of the complainers.

Here is the story of a wrong that must be righted.

The designated Giftland taxi service consists of men who own their own cars and they pay a weekly rent to Giftland.

These men told me that most of the time, they break even and if when they make a profit, it is hardly substantial.

Their income is dwindling because outside hire cars come into the compound and solicit patrons and do it barefacedly and Giftland security would see them and refuse to chase them away.

This is wrong and Giftland must correct it. I will call Giftland's owner, Roy Beepat and Giftland's security manager, Mr. Baksh and ask that they intervene.

This is blatant nonsense and a

terrible atrocity.

These drivers pay Giftland and Giftland has an obligation to protect them. Now to Massy Frederick Kissoon supermarket.

I buy my groceries I came to know the staff at from a small businessman, the supermarket owned by Massy very well including all my friend, Lalta Gainda on the pharmacists. About 95 UG Road where I live but percent of those that I came to because Massy has things I know are gone.

Massy is now going need like fruits and vegetables and cooked food, t h r o u g h t h e S u r v i v a l I'm in that place often. I was Supermarket syndrome. So one of its first customers. I after the Gildarie/Freddie live directly opposite Massy. Show, I was invited to meet with one staff member. Well!

A quick diversion.

Well!

Things are never what I once wrote a column they appear to be. Massy about a mystery in Survival Supermarket on Sheriff conglomerate based in Street. I would meet very Trinidad is a super-rich nice cashiers, really superb company. But apparently personalities that make things at Massy are not what Guyana a nice country. After we would expect from a three months, these people Caribbean giant, like Massy. would disappear. I once But I guess they operate from asked the owner why that is Guyana and Guyana is – you so since I never saw this know what?

(The views expressed in pattern in other retail outlets.

In fact, I know three Chinese this article are those of the outlets in which many of the author and do not necessarily attendants are still there after reflect the opinions of this newspaper.) years.

Friday July 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Friday July 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sri Lankan president resigns by email after fleeing to Singapore (CNN) - Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has tendered his resignation in a letter sent by email to parliamentary speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardenena, according to an announcement from the speaker's office Thursday.

Rajapaksa landed in Singapore on a flight from Maldives earlier after fleeing his country in the wake of anti-government protests.

Abeywardenena has received an email with Rajapaksa's resignation, the speaker's office confirmed to CNN Thursday, but added that "we cannot accept such an email at face value."

"The legality of it needs to be ascertained. It has been shared with the relevant authorities for the verification of the same," the office said. "Once we have official confirmation and it is legally verified, we hope to make a statement regarding it tomorrow [Friday] morning."

Abeywardenena's office added that it is expecting to receive a paper copy of the letter, but that would take longer as it would be sent from Singapore.

According to a highranking government source, the letter was emailed after ​Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore​. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that have not been shared publicly by officials.

Singapore said Rajapaksa had been allowed to enter the

country on a "private visit" but had not asked for or been granted asylum.

"It is confirmed that Mr. Rajapaksa has been allowed entry into Singapore on a private visit. He has not asked for asylum and neither has he been granted any asylum. Singapore generally does not grant requests for asylum," the Singapore Foreign Ministry statement read.

Rajapaksa pledged to quit over the weekend after angry demonstrators broke into his official residence, swam in his pool and demanded the end of his family's ruling dynasty. He left the Maldivian capital Malé on board a "Saudi flight," a high-ranking security source in Colombo told CNN. CNN believes the source was referring to Saudia flight 788, which left Malé at 11:30 a.m., according to the source.

The flight landed in Singapore at 7:17 p.m. local time Thursday, according to the Changi Airport website.

CNN has reached out to Saudia, Saudi Arabia's flag carrier, but has not heard back.

Rajapaksa had been in Maldives for one day after fleeing Sri Lanka in the early hours of Wednesday -- the same day he had said he would resign.

But the absence of a formal resignation letter raised questions about the intentions of an apparently

self-exiled leader who appointed the prime minister as acting president after leaving his island nation.

Shortly after Rajapaksa left the country, protesters stormed Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe's office to demand h i s remo va

A Saudia airline Boeing 787 Dreamliner believed to be carrying Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrives at Singapore's Changi Airport on July 14. f

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned l. Wickremesinghe responded by calling a nationwide curfew overnight.

O n T h u r s d a y, Wickremesinghe granted Sri Lanka's armed forces special powers of arrest, and instructed them to "exercise force" if necessary to dispel protests across the nation, army spokesman Brigadier Nilantha Premaratne said in a televised address.

"In view of the escalation of violent acts, protesters intent on harming the armed

orces or public property are earnestly urged to desist from all forms of violence immediately or be prepared to face consequences as members of the armed forces are legitimately empowered to exercise force," Premaratne said.

Sri Lanka's parliament will not reconvene until Rajapaksa formally submits h i s r e s i g n a t i o n l e t t e r, Speaker Abeywardena said Thursday.

Previously, parliament had been expected to start the

process of selecting a new president on Saturday, with the goal of voting in a new leader by July 20.

That timeline is now on hold until Rajapaksa officially leaves his post.

Many protesters have vowed to continue to demonstrate until both men step down.

By Thursday morning, as questions swirled over Sri Lanka's future, a calm had descended on the streets of the commercial capital Colombo.

A lawyer representing the People's Protest Movement said Thursday all occupied buildings, except the Presidential Secretariat, will be handed back to authorities.

"We want to affirm that this is a peaceful protest and have no intention to resort to any form of violence," Swasthika Arulingam told reporters.

"This has always been and will continue to be a peaceful movement."

Habeas Corpus proceedings filed for release of tortured teen

A

habeas corpus proceeding has been filed in the High Court on behalf of 17 year-old Jaheim Peters who has accused police of torturing him while at the Vigilance Police Station.

The application drafted by attorney-at-law, Eusi Anderson requests that the High Court issue an order that Peters - a minor be released immediately from police custody and placed before the court.

The document also outlines that habeas corpus orders be issued directly to the Commissioner of Police, the Guyana Police Force and others who may have control or custody of the said minor.

According to the legal papers, the victim though

underage was arrested and held as an adult and later allegedly tortured by ranks of the Guyana Police Force.

Additionally, the application outlined that the ranks kept the teenager in custody beyond the prescribed 72 hour time limit without charging him. The writ was filed after investigations conducted by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) into allegations that Peters was tortured and burnt by ranks while at the Vigilance Police Station, recommended that three policemen face charges for the incident.

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, 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.

Shortly after, the Emergency Medical Technicians from the 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.

But everywhere, there are signs that the country remains on a knife edge.

Amid crippling shortages of fuel, abandoned vehicles line the streets near gas stations. People are no longer able to drive to work, so they cycle instead. Some have taken to sleeping in their cars.

The Sri Lankan police force said one police officer had been seriously injured during the protests and was receiving treatment in a hospital. An army sergeant had also been injured, it added.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres on Thursday said he was following the events in Sri Lanka "very closely" and called for a "peaceful and democratic transition."

“It is important that the root causes of the conflict and protesters' grievances are addressed," he wrote on Twitter. "I urge all party leaders to embrace the spirit of compromise for a peaceful and democratic transition."

Burnt teen, Jaheim Peters.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 15, 2022

PAGE 13

GMSA calls for revolving fund to help push manufacturing ...says lack of access to financing major bugbear to sector R

afeek Khan, the President of the G u y a n a Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), on Tuesday night called for the implementation of a revolving fund to assist local companies that face great challenges in accessing finance.

The lack of access to loans from the banking sector with reasonable interest rate to local companies, especially medium-sized businesses has been hindering their competitiveness in the oil and gas sector. It is in this vain that, several members in Guyana's private sector have

voiced their concerns about the issue.

Speaking Tuesday night at the GMSA's mid-year dinner which was held at the Princess Ramada Hotel, Khan explained that one area that has been affecting the business of GMSA is the access to capital. “Access to capital has been for decades a major hindrance to many of our businesses and continuing.”

To this end, Khan noted that he would like to see a revolving fund in place soon, “to help with our businesses not being beggars to an international banks or local banks.” A revolving fund is a fund that is continually

replenished as withdrawals are made. It remains available to finance an organization's continuing operations without any fiscal year limitation, because the organization replenishes the fund by repaying money used from the account.

During his address, Khan also disclosed that recently he had discovered that the banks have increased lending in Guyana by 8 percent. He added, “Which is a good sign of the economy…means the banks are lending more money to businesses in Guyana.”

Many members of the local private sector have been complaining that they

President of GMSA, Rafeek Khan

are unable to compete with foreign and larger companies in the oil and gas sector – since they have capital.

In the Private Sector Commission (PSC) 2021

report, the President of Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Timothy Tucker, stated that medium-sized businesses have suffered the most due to the fact that they

are not classified as a small business to get support from the government and not large enough to have easy access to money with good interest rate from the banking system.

In the aforementioned report, Tucker was speaking in the capacity as the Chairman of the Finance and Economics Sub-Committee.

He penned in the committee's report that, “Access to finance for businesses, especially medium-sized businesses continue to be a challenge; the Sub-Committee will continue to address moving forward.” Notably, he had (Continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Friday July 15, 2022

Way cleared for Slowe to challenge Pres. Ali sacking of PSC ...as Nandlall loses three rounds in bid to block case

T

he Full Court on Thursday threw out an application

by Attorney General, Anil Nandlall intended to block former Police Service Commission Chairman Paul Slowe from challenging a decision by President Irfaan Ali to fire the entire commission last year and the failure of the Government of Guyana to recognise the promotion of 132 senior police officers from Inspector to Assistant Commissioner made by the said Commission.

Shortly after Ali sacked the commission, Slowe and the other commissioners moved to the court challenging the decision, but the life of the commission subsequently expired and Nandlall moved to the High Court before Justice Gino Persaud asking for the matter to be discharged as the commission was no longer in place.

Justice Persaud however, on March 9, 2022 ruled that he found that the issues raised by Slowe and parties in the case are matters of public interest, supported by case law.

According to Justice Persaud, the case should be heard and determined, on its merits, stressing that it is of public importance and interest.

He added that the case would bring clarity on the role of the President's

executive power, and the issue of the legality of the President's suspension of the PSC. In addition, to ensure the continuity of the case, Justice Persaud had substituted Slowe for the PSC. Not satisfied, Nandlall appealed the ruling at the Full Court comprised of Justices: Priya SewnarineBeharry and Fidela CorbinLincoln, but he again failed in his bid and on May 25, 2022 in addition to adding Slowe as a party in the case the Full Court ruled thusly: “The expiration of the 3 year term of the members appointed to the Commission does not affect the body itself – established

by Article 137 – save that the PSC will be unable to carry out its functions without appointed members.

The PSC remains an existing constitutional body even if the term of its appointed members has expired.

There is therefore no issue of the Commission ceasing to be an existing body or having no `capacity' upon the expiration of the term of its appointed members.”

The effect of the term of the appointed members of the Commission becoming vacant is simply that there are currently no members to carry out its functions.

This by itself is not a basis to strike out the claim

Former Chairman of the PSC, Paul Slowe and Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Attorney-ay-law, Selwyn Pieters under CPR (Civil Procedure Rules) 14.01. Members can be appointed at any time to continue to carry out the functions of the PSC. Upon their appointment, those members could determine whether to continue or discontinue the claim. Of course, a court would be entitled to take the continued non-appointment of

members to the Commission as a basis to strike out the claim as an abuse of process as this would delay the prosecution of the action.

“We therefore agree with the learned trial judge's decision to refuse the application to strike out the claim on the basis of the expiration of the term of the members appointed to the PSC. “We

Drill results for 200 million barrels search rd in Kanuku oil block by end of 3 Quarter French oil exploration company Repsol has spud the Beebei-Potaro exploration well at Guyana offshore block Kanuku, according to partner Tullow Oil and is awaiting the results of the exploration activity by the end of the third quarter.

In an update on Tuesday, the London-based junior confirmed that results from the search are expected this quarter and that the prospect is estimated to hold 200 million barrels of crude.

The well is a follow-up to the Carapa light oil discovery made in 2020 and is targeting the Cretaceous light oil play.

Noble Corporation was contracted earlier this year to spud the well, as was indicated earlier this year when it gave a fleet status

report disclosing that the Noble Regina Allen would have undertaken a one-well deal in the fourth quarter of 2021 with that rig starting work.

The offshore driller had also won a conditional award under the Commercial Enabling Agreement (CEA) with ExxonMobil for four rigs in Guyana.

The three jack-ups in question are the Noble Regina Allen, Noble Tom Prosser, and the Noble L l o y d N o b l e .

As it relates to Repsol, its activity in Guyana is focused on the Kanuku Block some 150 kilometres offshore Guyana.

Repsol operates the Block with a 37.5 percent working interest, which is located in an area near existing oil and

gas discoveries.

Repsol initially signed a contract with the government of Guyana for the Kanuku Block in 2013.

As it relates to the Exxon projects, Noble Corp said the CEA includes approximately 7.4 years of additional contract term and reallocates all existing terms evenly across the four rigs in Guyana.

The rigs in question are Noble Tom Madden, Noble Sam Croft, Noble Bob Douglas, Noble Don Taylor.

“It must be said that the additional contract term is subject to government approval and final project sanction for the Yellowtail development project.

Once finalised, the conditional award will extend the contracted term into the fourth quarter of

2025.”

Importantly, it was noted that at the end of December 2021, the company's estimated revenue backlog totalled approximately $1.2 billion, excluding the CEA conditional award.

The Company noted too that there is already a trend developing with increases in rig day rates.

In its fleet status report, Borr Drilling CEO, Patrick Schorn, said that it was becoming increasingly evident that the supply of rigs ready to go to work within six months was far less than the market previously anticipated.

“Therefore, [Borr maintains] the view that day rates will increase based on the current tender activity and available jack-up rig supply,” Schorn added.

do not find that the order as framed by the learned judge had the effect of permitting a private citizen to carry out the functions of the PSC – a constitutional body. It is clear from the reasoning of the learned trial judge that he found that Mr. Slowe had an interest in his own right and not that he was continuing the action on behalf of the PSC.” “We fully agree with the learned trial judge's reasoning as to why Paul Slowe is an interested party and should be added.

However, we do not find that it was necessary to substitute Mr. Slowe in place of the PSC which remains an existing constitutional body albeit unable to function properly in the absence of appointed members.

Based on the reasoning of the learned trial judge, Mr. Slowe should be added as a party in his own right.”

Still not satisfied, Nandlall made an application to the Full Court, asking for the decision to be stayed and for leave to

appeal the matter to the Court of Appeal.

He advanced that “this matter is a public interest litigation and is of high public and constitutional importance.” In the application the Attorney General said that, “the addition of Paul Slowe as an applicant in these proceedings has serious ramifications not only for the determination of the substantive matter herein, but as well, for the filed and pending interlocutory applications in this matter, including the Urgent Notice of Application for Injunctive Relief against the Police Service Commission…and t h e N o t i c e o f Discontinuance filed on behalf of the police Service Commission.” However, his application was again denied yesterday (July 14, 2922) by Justices: Sewnarine-Beharry and Corbin-Lincoln. The Full Court ruled yesterday that it has “the right and a discretion to add any party to a proceeding whether by an application or of its own motion.

That is not an issue that in the Court's view raises any serious issues of law. This area of law of the Court deciding to add a party, an interesting party, is not an area of law in dispute nor does it raise any issue any of great public import in terms of the adding Mr. Slowe as a party.

Having regard to those facts and having regard to the entirety of this Court's decision, we are not of the view that the application of (Continued on page 22)

Video surfaces of bandits knocking man into trench to steal his motorbike Video footage of a robbery surfaced on Wednesday across the various social media platforms and showed two bandits knocking down a motorcyclist and his pillion rider at Hardina and Princes Street, just to steal his motorbike.

Based on the footage seen, the robbery might have taken place last month. A man was seen riding along the street with a female pillion rider on his motorcycle when suddenly another motorbike with two

men onboard appeared.

As the victim approached the corner of Hardina and Princes, the suspects crashed into them from behind. The victim and his pillion rider fell off their bike and rolled into a nearby trench. One of the suspects also fell off their bike and rolled into the trench with the victims but he got-up quickly and exited. He took possession of the victim's bike and rode away. His accomplice escaped by riding away together with him.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 15, 2022

PAGE 15

Guyana faces blacklist if Vice News corruption claims not addressed

T

he international community takes matters of money laundering very seriously and Guyana would know this very well since the country was blacklisted by the Caribbean arm of the international Financial Action Task Force, CFATF, for being a high-risk jurisdiction for money laundering just a few years ago. Considering that drug and human trafficking and corruption among other crimes generate large sums of illegal cash, it is understandable why there is a global stance against the financial scourge.

Guyana was under immense pressure by CFATF since 2011 to address deficiencies in its anti money laundering (AML) legislation and was offered a legislative programme to implement in an effort to rescue its reputation and remain an able to conduct b u s i n e s s g l o b a l l y.

Appropriate measures were required to ensure the full criminalization of money

laundering and financing of terrorism offences; addressing among other things, suspicious transactions and the freezing and confiscation of terrorist assets.

The country had failed to get its business done within relevant timeframes and saw more warnings coming from the CFATF to make the necessary changes in 2013.

B y 2 0 1 8 F TA F w a s congratulating Guyana for the significant progress it made in addressing its AML/CFT deficiencies and was no longer a subject to the FATF's monitoring under its global AML/CFT compliance process.

However, recent damning allegations against the government, in particular, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo by Chinese businessmen here claiming rampant corruption in the country's business environment could land Guyana right back into the AML/CFT dog house, Economist Elson Lowe has opined.

He told the Kaieteur News that should the Vice News corruption report remain unchecked and uninvestigated, Guyana could see itself being blacklisted again given the startling detailed revelations on how illegal money is systematically moving in and out of the country. A part two of the Vice News “Guyana for sale” documentary, aired just days ago, featured apparent Chinese money launders, claiming to have the capacity to transfer money.

They told the undercover Vice News reporter that they have a team in China and that they would transfer cash for both private and Chinese state-owned companies. To launder the cash, it was explained that a “flying money” system is used where cash is placed in a bank account in China and the equivalent amount, minus a hefty fee is taken out of Guyana for getting around taxes and border restrictions.

If the transfer involves drug money or dirty money for

- Economist c orrupt Chinese officials, the launder whose face was shown on the video, said that there are ways of handling those also.

Lowe, who held the post of Anti-corruption policy analyst at the now defunct State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA) has stated however, that the fact that there has been an allegation about a widespread money laundering ring, involving drug money and money from corrupt Chinese officials, is extremely disturbing. He

said, “this is because it means that if true, there is an underground economy that has a huge influence on government decisions and even from a Chinese government perspective they would want an investigation because allegations were made that China's laws and taxes were being evaded, even where corrupt Chinese officials are involved.”

He said that if this is happening in Guyana it is likely happening in other countries, “so an investigation might allow the

Economist and Youth Advisor Elson Lowe Chinese to bring down an international money laundering ring.”

Where Guyana is concerned, Lowe said if the country does not launch

PAGE 16

Friday July 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sod turned for $150M Demerara Bank branch at Leonora

$15M up for grabs in Digicel summer promotion Summer just got better as Digicel launches its $15 million Cash Vault promotion which offers a customer the chance to win up to $3 million dollars.

The promotion starts today July 15, and ends on August 25, 2022. Top up with $1000 or more and collect the letters C.A.S.H for a chance to be a part of the promotion.

Customers can check what letters they collected, by texting 'GRAB' to 1441.

Customers who collect the letters

C.A.SH will be eligible to enter the Digicel 'Cash Vault.' The first qualifying period for the first grand drawing is July 15, to August 4, and the second qualifying period is from August 5, to August 25, 2022 – while the grand drawings will be done on August 6, and August 27, 2022.

On Thursday evening, two of Kaieteur News employees along with two other media representatives were the first to win cash from the promotion.

Demerara Bank on Thursday ceremonially turned the sod for the construction of a $150 million branch office at L e o n o r a , We s t C o a s t Demerara (WCD).

According to the Bank's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pravichandra Dave, the facility which is expected to be completed within the next 18 months will provide accessible banking services to thousands of customers traversing the West Coast Demerara route. According to the CEO, Demerara

Bank—has been leading in its support for investment in the agricultural, mining and other sectors.

“Demerara Bank has loaned 57 percent to agricultural sectors; 47 percent to mining sector…and we have notable support the others sectors as well,” Dave said.

He added: “Our bank everything is locally based which means we don't have to go Trinidad or Barbados to get our applications approved. Applications are approved within two days times; w e have good

An artist's impression of $150 million new Demerara Bank facility at Leonora, WCD.

relations with stakeholders including the Ministry of Finance and the IDB.” According to Dave, it is estimated that with the construction of the facility, 75,000 people from the services available at Leonora.

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh who spoke at the event noted that Demerara Bank's new location is poised to benefit from the ongoing developmental initiatives (Continued on page 22)

Friday July 15, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Health authorities in St James on guard against monkeypox (Jamaica Gleaner) Health authorities in St James remain on heightened vigilance against monkeypox in the parish.

Medical officer of health for St James Dr Francine Phillips-Kelly today told a meeting of the St James

Municipal Corporation that testing conducted on a suspected case came back negative. Phillips-Kelly says the parish is free of the disease and health workers are committed to keeping it so. She pointed out that a keen eye is being kept on all

ports of entry and all persons who display symptoms.

“We do not have any case of monkeypox in this parish, happily, but we do know that the virus has come. We continue to be vigilant with our surveillance of our ports because we still anticipate

that, for the most part, individuals who might be diagnosed will be travelling from territories that do have cases,” said Phillips-Kelly Her update follows last week Wednesday’s announcement by the Ministry of Health that

Jamaica had confirmed one case of monkeypox, with the patient being a man who presented himself to the public health system on July 5, five days after arriving from the United Kingdom.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that can be

transmitted from person to person, with symptoms including fever, intense headache, swelling of the lymph nodes, back pain, muscle ache, lack of energy, and/or rash. Symptoms tend to last between two to four weeks.

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Friday July 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sod turned for $150M Demerara Bank branch at...

From page 16 happening on the West Coast of Demerara.

He noted that while Georgetown and its environs

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Male labourer to pluck chicken in Georgetown Call: From page 11 225-9304/225-0480. the Attorney General's ChamOne Male night Guard.Call: bers to appeal or for leave to appeal, we are not of the view 225-9304/225-0480 that the grounds of appeal Lathe Operator Call: 645-9333. really raise any grounds that are of merit and therefore we Female to take care of an eld- would refuse leave to appeal erly male,age 25-40 in and the application for a Trinidad. Accommodations stay.” Cost was awarded of provided.Call or WhatsApp $75,000 to Mr. Slowe to be +1(868)683-1528. paid by July 29, 2022. Slowe was represented by Selwyn Experienced crew (jet,maroc Pieters, Dexter Todd and Dex& pit men) wanted for mining ter Smartt. The Attorney Genoperation. Call: 697-2533. eral appeared alongside, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, 3 Bedroom house by itself Chevy Devonish and Arti with yard space, around Outar.

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has historically been referred to as the business epicenter of Guyana, developments on West Demerara. “…Just recently, we signed contract for a new Demerara River Bridge that new river bridge will connect to a new road from Crane to Schoonord that will assist commuters from the West Coast of Demerara and East Bank Essequibo, and from the Essequibo Island that road will ease the congestion for commuters heading towards the bridge and across the bridge…So this new location

is quite strategic given the impending developments.”

In his remarks, President Irfaan Ali hailed the establishment of the new branch a “financially-smart move and economically viable move.” He noted that the government is also steaming ahead with the establishment of the Wales Development Authority on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), which will see the creation of Guyana's first gas-toshore project that will harness natural gas produced in oil

fields offshore to generate cheaper electricity. “The scale of development is changing rapidly…This investment with everything else that is happening around here will create a modern economic hub that will create thousands of jobs,” Ali said. President Ali noted too that the demand for housing and services will skyrocket in the future.

He noted too that the housing developments are set to continue on both sides of the Demerara.

Pilot, co-pilot in “King Coca” drug bust...

From page 2 GYD$430M worth of cocaine and another GYD$49M worth of cannabis.

The cocaine were labeled “King Coca 30” and is suspected to be the property of an international drug smuggling ring or company.

In March 2021, South African Law enforcement Authorities busted a fishing

vessel with US$34M worth of cocaine onboard, off the coast of Saldanha, a bay located some 105 kilometers north of Cape Town, South Africa. All of the packages had the same “King Coca” label and based on photos seen by this media house of the cocaine found at the Mahdia Airstrip, it bore the same gold crown logo.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had disclosed on Wednesday that his investigators at the police headquarters located at Eve Leary, Georgetown had found that the Cessna Skylane plane was loaded with the drug cargo in a neighbouring country and had stopped in another country close to Guyana's borders before landing at Mahdia.

Guyana faces blacklist if Vice News...

From page 15 investigations into these allegations of corruption and money laundering, “we may find ourselves at risk of being blacklisted once again because it will raise the conVACANCY cern that the banking system, Moulder/CNC Operators, which has controls to prevent J o i n e r s , F i n i s h e r s & money laundering and the fiLabourers. Email CV to nancing of terrorism is being shivrattanmoulding@gmail.com/ circumvented, rendering many of Guyana's anti-money Call: (592)220-2736. laundering laws ineffective.”

Driver must be able to assist “Obviously if we're blackin workshop at Eccles,age 23- listed that will discourage in50 car/van licence. Call:642- vestment by foreign investors who will find it difficult 9823. to bring money into the counVacancy for labourers at ice try and take it out.” factory and operator with One of the things most mechanical, electrical back- disturbing about the Vice ground Call: 223-7165. news story, Lowe continued is that one of the Chinese Water Delivery Driver and businessmen, who claimed to Porter for E.C.D.Tel:676-1363/ 692-6768.

For one experienced Grade 2 Teacher Payments will be From page 13 based on experience call:623- assured that the private sec1615. tor will continue to engage the government, banks, and Experienced Waiter /Waitress, key stakeholders on the isCurry cook, cashier, Kitchen sue. Similarly, on Thursday Assistant apply at Hack's April 12, 2022, during his reHalaal with written application election speech as the Chair5 Commerce Street. man of Guyana's Private SecCook/Baker, Pitmen, Service- tor Commission (PSC), Paul men and Technical Assistant Cheong, stated that one mafor interior location Appli- jor thing that he would be cants must be experienced. pushing for is for better access to financing for compaCall 231-2250. nies, especially small and meCarpenter, Mason, Painter & dium-sized businesses.

Joiner Contact: 686-2861/611Additionally, economist 4545 and executive member of Experienced cashier, cleaner GCCI, Richard Rambarran, and counter person.Apply @ had also stated that local Shanta’s 225 Camp & New companies need better and cheaper access to finance so MarketSt.

have paid a bride to do business here, said that nothing gets done without bribes.

“This is very different than saying that bribes help you get contracts because the impression it gives international investors is that you cannot invest unless you're willing to bribe.” Lowe said many companies and investors will be unwilling to bribe, but more than that may face legal action in their home countries if they engage in bribery. He said in the United States such a response is demonstrated in that country's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act which prohibits bribery abroad. “As a result, many large international investors that are unwilling to face these types of risks, will likely avoid Guyana altogether unless investiga-

tions demonstrate that the government is serious about addressing corruption.”

Apart from falling back on the FATF and CFATF radar, Lowe is worried about what the VICE report could do to investor confidence in the country.

Both President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo have made public statements that the VICE News allegations should be investigated. Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton and other stakeholders have repeatedly called on Jagdeo to step down as VP to make way for an independent investigation into the matter. This they said will help to secure local and international confidence in Guyana's ability to conduct clean business.

GMSA calls for revolving fund to...

Experienced Handyman, Porter below 40 years. Apply with written application at Keyfood McDoom Village.

as to create competitiveness in the oil and gas industry.

When questioned on GCCI's stance on the issue of local companies' access to loans with reasonable interest rates from the banking sector.

“We have discussed in the Chamber of Commerce, and I will say this because it's something that we feel very strongly about, we have discussed that there cannot be a successful local content regime that helps to lift the standards of MSMEs [Micro Small Medium Enterprises] in Guyana, without improvement to access the finance for those same MSMEs,” he responded.

Rambarran had noted that

when it comes to the technical work of the oil and gas sector or other types of work to support the oil and gas industry, a Guyanese would need access to finance, but more importantly access to cheap finance.

He highlighted that the aforementioned will help Guyanese be more competitive in the sector.

“It is no small secret that Guyana is by virtue of the prevailing conditions, not as competitive as some other countries,” he said. He reiterated that access to finance has been one of those bugbears to the local private sector that has really restricted the competitiveness.

Friday July 15, 2022

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Kaieteur News

President unveils $3B support for Amerindians

By Zena Henry As the National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference settled into its fourth day of interactions between Indigenous leaders and state officials, President Irfaan Ali on Thursday announced a $3B financial support for the nation’s first people.

Ali made the unexpected announcement at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre telling Amerindian leaders that their development “remains a priority for the government.” “Next week Thursday, we will proceed to the National Assembly to pass a supplementary

provision to have $3 billion dedicated to Amerindian development, and the development of your community.”

The President highlighted that $250 million out of that sum will go specifically, toward youth empowerment projects and that Cabinet members will be heading to Amerindian villages in the coming weeks to help “crystalise” plans for the utilization of the funds. Just a day earlier, President Ali established a monitoring and evaluating unit that would be responsible for the execution of hinterland projects. The

Head of State related too that eligible hinterland residents can be trained as health workers, nurses, teachers and teaching assistants. He said a “common comprehensive programme” will be developed to provide the training and that “they will come on government employment system to support the delivery of efficient, reliable service” in every community.

President Ali was adamant yesterday that the government has done much for the development of Amerindians and the “truth” must be told in that regard.

He was responding to various

criticisms alleging among other things, that the administration was shunning some Toshaos; that they were dismissing the previous government as if they made no advancement for Amerindians during their time in office and that the politicians were not to be trusted.

“What was done?” the President questioned. “The truth is who took away… the jobs, the 2000 CSO jobs, who removed the education grant, the uniform grant. Isn’t this the truth, this is nothing in hiding. We encourage you to be critical of us. We bring our cabinet here before you and

New stelling for Port Kaituma estimated to cost $1 billion During the opening of tenders on Thursday, a contract for the construction of a stelling at Port Kaituma, Region One is estimated to cost $1B. The project which is being undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works is estimated to cost $1,096,071,127.

At the opening, two contractors have submitted to bid to execute the construction works. The stelling when completed would facilitate the better movement of goods and for the people of Region One. Ministry of Public Works Lot1: Construction of Port Kaituma Stelling, Lot2: upgrading of Kingston Goods Wharf.

As reported on, the North West area would soon see the arrival of a new ocean-going passenger and cargo ferry.

The US$12.7million vessel is currently being built and setup in Kolkata, India.

With the construction of this new ferry, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill had mentioned previously that they would be upgrading and constructing a new wharf in the Region One area so as to facilitate the ferry when it comes.

Also opened, the Ministry is looking to upgrade the Kingston Goods Wharf, and this project too is estimated at $1,094,079,547.

Below are the companies and their bids: Skeldon Energy Inc. Provision of transportation services for the delivery of heavy fuel oil and light fuel oil.

Hinterland roads (Phase 2) Lot39: Rehabilitation of Mahdia main access road (Mango landing to Mahdia), Lot40: Rehabilitation of Bamia road, Region 10.

Ministry of Home Affairs Procurement of armoured vehicle.

Ministry of Health Supply and delivery of laboratory equipment.

Ministry of Education Photocopying of 16,000 curriculum guides.

you can speak frankly with them, but that does not mean you must not speak to truth.”

Ali said speaking the truth about who has done what helps with knowing what advancements have been made and what else must be done.

In concretizing the President’s statement Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo charged that almost all Amerindian developmental projects were initiated by the PPP. Speaking on the comment that the politicians cannot be trusted, Jagdeo said that Toshaos are also politicians as they have to be elected at the local level, but the catch is determining if the politician is one who does nothing or one interested in the development of the people.

“We believe in the PPP; we stand on that side and if we don’t talk about what we are doing, - you do know what they say about self praise-, (but) if we don’t talk about it and point out the difference, which you do to in your communities when you campaign-, you point out the difference, you say I can do a better job than the other side and here is the evidence of me doing a better job.”

Jagdeo agreed with a comment that the politicians are the keepers of the People’s resources. He said that the resources have always been available, but u rg e d t h a t A m e r i n d i a n leaders to look at the 28 years of People National Congress in power and the recent five years in government and compare it to the PPP’s time in office.

“Ask what development took place in Guyana or at the village level in those years… ask what happened in that period and then look at the period that the PPP has been in office,” Jagdeo urged. “We have to account for our period and I can say to you that almost every single initiative to develop Amerindian communities started under the PPP.” Apart from the supplemented three billion dollars, the VP reminded that another $1.2B was allocated for hinterland and revering communities as cost of living assistance for every household numbering some 48,000. Distribution of this sum he said has already started and it takes the total sum to the hinterland region to $4.2 billion.

The VP said the government was flagged for allocating the money for only hinterland and revering areas and thus advised the Amerindians, “When we leave here, next week you watch the debate in the parliament and you will see who champions the rights of

President Irfaan Ali

VP Bharrat Jagdeo Indigenous people and who will have negatives. You will see for yourself,” the former President stated.

One area Jagdeo indicated the government was proud of is the advances in land titles for Indigenous communities.

He said the first people in Guyana make up about 12 percent of population and when the PPP took office, those lands were not titled, “today its 14 percent of Guyana.” As the government works on additional areas, “we believe it will be nearly 20 percent of Guyana, nearly double the size of the Amerindian communities, the land holding as a percent of Guyana.”

Suspected remains of ...

From page 3 drinking session at Dadrima Savanah at Kuru Kururu, Linden-Soesdyke Highway. Detectives had found his home ransacked with blood stains splattered across the walls.

Sniffer dogs had also led to an area in the Kuru Kururu Backlands where they found a bloodstained bed sheet.

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Payment delays for locals in Oil & Gas sector ‘unacceptable’ …as Govt. moves to review laws to regulate industry

By Renay Sambach Local businesses servicing the oil and gas sector continue to lament the lengthy time it takes the oil and gas companies to pay them for goods and services provided.

The issue of late payments has been a sore one and is being blamed for the stifling local businesses. As such, the government is expected to revise the regulations in the Local Content Act with a view to remedying the situation.

Guyana at the end of last year 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; employ 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 raise.

On Tuesday last, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C, met with members of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). The GCCI raised several legal issues for discussion relevant to the commercial sector. The Attorney General discussed several other issues of pertinent importance, including, regulating payment arrangements in the oil and

gas sector. While speaking to this publication, the Attorney General explained that local businesses have complained of a systemic delay in payments for good supplied and services rendered. “They complained that this delay is having severe impact on their limited capital and liquidity thereby hampering their ability to discharge their contractual obligations,” he added.

According to the Minister, the local businesses related to the government that in many instances, they are unable to secure sufficient credit facilities and as a result, they have to flunk the financial capital in some occurrences. It was noted that in some instances where they are required to pay VAT

(Value Added Tax) in relation to monies that they have not yet received, in respect to transactions that they have not received payments for.

As such, Nandlall noted that the businesses are requesting some form of regulations that would limit the timeframe for the credit arrangements. “One avenue that is being explored is the promulgation of regulation for the Local Content Act to address the issue,” the AG note.

He recalled that when the Local Content Act was being debated in the National Assembly, the government made a commitment that after it becomes functional – if any inadequacies were to arise or difficulties encountered, regulations would be made to address the issue.

Notably, the Attorney General stated that if the regulations are not effective, the government will then explore other means.

Meanwhile, still on the same issue, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Tuesday night during his featured address at the Guyana Manufacturing and Servicing Association (GMSA) midyear dinner, stated that the legislation provides for the government to regulate the payment terms to local companies. He said, “…the issue of payment terms, we spoke of it in opposition, we raised it with the oil and gas companies and that has to change and the legislation provides for us to regulate this.”

The Vice President noted that a 90-days payment term to smalls firms in Guyana is

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat not acceptable. “We are getting around to regulating that to ensure that Guyanese companies could have better payment terms,” Jagdeo noted.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, is reported in the media saying government will not tolerate the shortchanging of citizens in their own country after it was brought to the attention of the administration

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C complaints of unfair competition and other issues in the industry. The minister had pointed out that foreign companies have been failing to pay locals in a timely manner, with some payments taking as long as four months.

He explained that it is the practice here in Guyana for companies to be paid shortly after completing jobs so as to ensure the business has the resources required to start new projects. On the other hand, he said that while some companies can wait for several months to be paid, they are sometimes told that issues were encountered with the invoices, thereby forcing a longer waiting time or double the time for payments, even though the glitches in the system were not their fault.

The Minister urged the foreign companies to set a timeline for the processing of payments which will otherwise result in the ‘death’ of local contractors, effecting unfair competition as well.

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Guyana's electoral system encourages racial voting In Guyana during a Regional and General elections, under the system of Proportional Representation (PR), citizens throughout the country, cast their ballots, in favour of a list of candidates.

Once elections are concluded, the seats of the elected members on each list are allocated in the National Assembly in proportion with the number of votes cast in favour of the lists.

However, this system of voting has created the perfect conditions to keep Guyanese voting for a party based on

their ethnic preferences rather than electing leaders because of the national issues canvassed. This view was expressed by former President Donald Ramotar in his address at the inaugural lecture on electoral reform, organised by civil society body- Article 13.

Ramotar made a case for a change in the way which citizens vote. He lobbied heavily for Guyana to revert to the First Past the Post system in all elections. The Former President noted that the First Past the Post system

gives citizens an opportunity to examine the issues rather than vote along divisive lines. He explained that the First Past the Post system a l l o w s e a c h constituency/division to have a representative elected by the people of the district. If a division is predominately of one race, people choose according to who they think can best serve their interests.

Ramotar however acknowledged that any such change would require amendments to the constitution. “In the past, we

Ramps Logistics resubmits Local Content Application

R

amps Logistics Guyana said that i t h a s resubmitted an application on Thursday for entry into the Local Content Registry.

“Our updated application for a Local Content Certificate includes the additional nine (9) items requested by the Secretariat via letter dated June 24th, 2022, which was delivered to us on June 27th, 2022. We would again like to thank the Officials at the Local Content Secretariat for responding to our request and outlining the additional information needed to meet the requirement for entry into the Local Content Registry. We look forward to continuing working with the Secretariat and resolving all issues. We continue to appreciate the support from all our stakeholders, especially our team members, as we await a speedy resolution to this unfortunate situation,” the company said in a release.

In a statement last month, the Trinidadian-owned Ramps Logistics Guyana Inc. had complained that it was denied a local content certificate.

The company in a statement had said, “The recently passed Local Content Act stipulates that a company must have a local content certificate to operate in the Guyana Energy Sector.

Ramps Logistics Guyana Inc. has followed all the required guidelines to apply for this Certificate and was denied. Against that backdrop, we are hosting a press conference to share information that has recently come to hand in the matter that is relevant to all companies and investors seeking to invest in Guyana”.

According to Ramps, it is

a leading provider of freight forwarding and supply chain management services. “For over 30 years we have been offering transportation and logistics solutions. Our customised technology and solutions support the way our customers want to do business, wherever they are in the world.

Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in a statement reacting to the issue highlighted its concern over the bundling of contracts in the oil sector, thereby hindering local businesses from participating in tenders for the provision of services or goods.

The body in a statement stated its support for the Government of Guyana's intention to take strong action against entities found attempting to evade the Local Content Law. This issue has been highlighted several times since the approval of the legislation in December last y e a r, a n d s u b s e q u e n t gazetting of the Law. According to the private sector body, “The PSC is concerned by the ongoing practice to bundle contracts which often limits local businesses participating in the value chain.

The Commission will continue its advocacy to ensure that the Local Content Law aids the utilization of Guyanese goods and services and supports skills development, and the training and employment of citizens.”

It added that it recognizes the commitment shown by the Government to ensure that Guyanese benefit from the oil and gas industry, but notes that the onus is also on the business community to support implementation of the Act. To this end, the PSC

called on local businesses to get registered with the Local Content Secretariat at Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown and share their experiences regarding local content. Several businesses have been complaining about foreign companies taking advantage of the Local Content Law by bundling contracts to ensure they do not benefit.

Today, Ramps Logistics Guyana will host a press conference as it claims it has been denied a certificate to tap into the benefits of the oil s e c t o r .

Last month when the Ministry of Natural Resources held its first consultation on the Local C o n t e n t L a w, s u b j e c t Minister Vickram Bharrat put oil companies on notice that the Government of Guyana will not tolerate the shortchanging of citizens in their own country after it was brought to the attention of the administration complaints of unfair competition and other issues in the industry. One of the issues highlighted by the Minister was the bundling of contracts.

He explained that local businesses have complained that oil companies have been bundling services for catering, security, garbage collection and other technical offshore support systems as part of one contract.

This, Bharrat said, has been posing significant challenge to locals, as they are burdened to offer a service they are not registered to. In fact, this often lends to the oil company failing to achieve the local content targets.

To ensure that the breach of the fresh law is not the outcome, the Minister urged that the practice be stopped.

- Former Pres. Ramotar d id some reforms but there is still need for a further evolution, because even though we have had independence for 56 years, we have failed to evolve into what is strictly Guyanese distinctiveness…and this because we still see ourselves firstly by our racial origins and then as Guyanese,” he added.

He explained Guyana's racial problems are not rooted in economics rather it is purely subjective created at a pre-independence era to stop the unified movement of the citizens fighting for a common cause—freedom.

He noted that the success of divisive powers is still evident today.

The former President continued: “So there was certain mechanism that was established to keep the people divided. That

mechanism lays in the electoral system t h e system of Proportio n a l Representat ion because Former President the system of Donald Ramotar.

PR was imposed on this country.

Guyana is the only t h c o u n t r y i n t h e e PR system has been commonwealth in which the rejected in neighbouring system was employed… It is T r i n i d a d f o l l o w i n g believed that [this system] independence because it leads to weak governments would promote divisions in and the politicizing of people the society.

He said on the other along narrow partisan lines and detrimental to the hand, First Past the Post e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f encourages political parties mobilisation on national to contest on national issues. issues…” “Britain has “I believing changing our rejected it and continues to electoral system back to the reject it to this day because it first past the post would give leads to fragmentations,” us an opportunity to tackle Ramotar added, noting that, the bugbear that is preventing

Chinese national survives electric shock at Vreed-en-Hoop

The rooftop at Vreed-en-Hoop Junction where the Chinese avoided electrocution.

A Chinese national man on Wednesday did not know if he was going to survive and electric shock but he was keen to sacrifice his life to save those who came to rescue him from death's jaws.

At least this is what the owner of Chicken Burgers and Delight, Chetan Puran, told this newspaper after the foreigner was shocked around 11:30hrs while installing some aluminum plates at his building located on at the Vreed-en-Hoop junction on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).

“When the people run up to see what had happened to him, his hands were still clenched onto an aluminum bracket (a long piece of metal pipe-like material used to install the Aluminum Plates) and he saw us running towards him, he said, don't come y'all don't come”, Puran said.

They did not obey him but rather proceeded with caution when rescuing him.

“We remove him properly and took him to the hospital,” Puran related.

The Chinese national man was taken to the West

Demerara Regional Hospital where he received treatment for burns to his hands and legs. He was later discharged from hospital and is presently at home recovering.

An investigation has been launched into the matter by police.

Chicken Burgers and Delight had contracted a company to conduct construction work on its building.

Two Chinese nationals, employees of the company, had showed up for work early Wednesday.

Friday July 15, 2022

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Pidcock wins Alpe d’Huez...

2022 Junior Caribbean Championships…

Guyana stands firm in the Girls division Safirah Summer added another point to the host tally when she sank Somers Stevenson in straight sets (11 – 8, 11 – 6, 11 – 10).

Avery Arjoon accounted for Guyana’s other point with a 3 – 0 drubbing of McKenna Kyme who lost 11 – 3, 11 – 4, 11 – 2.

Action resumed later in the day from 18:00 hrs with the host nation taki n g o n Tr i n i d a d & To bago, while Jamaica battled Cayman Islands and Barbados locked horns with Bermuda.

Today, the tournament resumes with more matches in the female di-

vision from 15:00 hrs as Cayman Islands battle Bermuda, Jamaica face Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana goes head-tohead with Barbados.

M e a n w h i l e , i n t he Boys Division, Guyana leads the other two islands, T&T and British Virgin Islands after their 3 – 2 triumph over BVI on Wednesday. On Thursday, B V I a n d T & T ’s m a t c h ended 2 – 2 but BVI had a total of 100 points against T&T’s 89 points.

G u y a n a ’s B o y s a l s o play today from 9:00am when they face T&T at the Georgetown Club.

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Keeping things in balance will be a challenge today, Aries. You're likely to find that there's conflict brewing that doesn't seem to want resolution. It's OK. Don't press the issue.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You could find that what was so light and active yesterday runs into roadblocks today, Libra. It might seem as if you're suddenly heading straight for a brick wall regarding.

From page 29 Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul*, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav*, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh. *The inclusion of KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav is subject to fitness.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Tension is likely to arise in many different areas of your life, Taurus. It's possible that you're either too dreamy or too practical for the issue at hand.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The pace of things is likely to slow down a bit compared to what was happening yesterday, Scorpio. This is probably for the best. Take this time to do some planning and stabilizing. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You might find that there's a quality of dreaminess to your emotions today that keeps you from focusing on the task at hand, Sagittarius.

People are likely to be stubborn and confused.

- Boys team also leads Team Guyana continued to produce masterful performances in the 2022 Junior Caribbean Squash Championship which kept rolling on Thursday with a heavy feature in the Girls Division at the Georgetown Club Squash Courts.

The three groups of matches that ran simultaneously in the morning session saw Guyana defeat Bermuda 4 – 1, while Trinidad and Tobago were triumphant against the Cayman Islands by the same score line.

In the other showdown, Barbados squeezed past Jamaica, 3 – 2.

For Guyana, Kirsten Gomes wiped the floor with Bermuda’s Ariana Lowther 3 – 0 as she won 11 – 1, 11 – 3, 12 – 10 before Abosaide Cadogan humbled Olivia Sherratt with the same result. Cadogan won 11 – 1, 11 – 4, 11- 1 to secure the win in 12 minutes.

B e r m u d a ’s Rose Paulos shifted the tide momentarily with a 0 – 3 win against Ry l e e Rodrigues who lost 3 – 11, 6 – 11, 3 – 11.

Kohli, Bumrah...

Friday July 15, 2022

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Yesterday's trajectory might run into a couple of snags today, Gemini. You could find that your dreamy nature conflicts with the planned and steady.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Try to keep yourself in line with your emotions today, Cancer. It's possible that a powerful yet subtle force is slowly trying to pull you off track.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Little voices are whispering in your ear today, Capricorn.

They could be asking you to join them in the clouds.

You might get the feeling that there's a lot of tension.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You could find that an emotional issue rubs you the wrong way today, Leo. Your tendency is to want to escape. Try to do so in a healthy manner.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Someone could be prodding you to take action today, Aquarius. It might be best if you beat them to it and motivate yourself. Stay a step or two ahead of the herd

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Your artistic side may want to take to the airwaves in some way today, Virgo. Perhaps you should consider building your own website or getting a spot on a local radio show.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You might experience a great deal of emotional confusion today, Pisces. There's a debate brewing inside you. You're having a hard time deciding whether to pursue the practical.

From page 31 two minutes and 22 seconds as the 23-year-old leapfrogged Romain Bardet into second overall after the Frenchman lost touch in the last kilometres.

Pidcock’s team leader Geraint Thomas, the previous winner at L’Alpe d’Huez in 2018, finished with Vingegaard and Pogacar and sits in third place overall, 2:26 off the pace.

Bardet slipped down to fourth, a further nine seconds adrift.

The nine-man breakaway included Froome, who has been struggling to rediscover his form since he sustained multiple serious injuries three years ago, as well as Pidcock.

They built an advantage of seven minutes, which started to melt in the searing heat when Jumbo-Visma’s Wout van Aert took a turn at the front of the bunch.

The lead was down to 4:15 when the peloton reached the Col de la Croix de Fer. Pidcock rode the descent

at breakneck speed to widen the gap again and the leading group started the ascent to L’Alpe d’Huez (13.8km at 8.1%) with a six-minute lead.

Pidcock was the first to attack, 10.5km from the line, dropping Neilson Powless and Giulio Ciccone for good.

Meintjes and Froome lost contact but had the IneosGrenadiers rider in their sights until another acceleration by the 22-year-old Pidcock buried their last hopes of victory.

In the group of favourites, a brutal acceleration by Vingegaard’s team mate Primoz Roglic dropped Nairo Quintana and David Gaudu.

An acceleration from another Jumbos-Visma rider, Sepp Kuss, dropped Bardet and Adam Yates.

Pogacar jumped away twice within the last four kilometres, hoping to gain revenge on Vingegaard a day after the Dane made him crack in the mountains.

Vingegaard, however, followed with apparent ease to stay firmly in control of the race.

PAGE 28

Friday July 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

“Cricket Gear for young & promising cricketers in Guyana”

Cricket Zone USA once again on board with Project Transport Sports Club and National U-17 captain Alvin Mohabir benefited from Project “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana”.

The talented left handed batsman and right arm off spinner received an E4 bat along with a pair of batting pads and batting gloves and this contribution was from Ravi Etwaroo of Cricket Zone USA, Bronx, NY. Mohabir was selected for CWI trials for selection on the West Indies Under19 team that participated in the recently concluded ICC Un-

der19 World Cup held in the Caribbean.

While making the team, he has impressed with his maturity, skills, commitment and discipline and is one for the future. Mohabir will lead Guyana in the upcoming Regional U-17 Tournament in Trinidad.

At a simple ceremony in the USA, Etwaroo, owner of the popular sports store, handed over the gear to Kishan Das, a partner in this initiative along with Anil Beharry of Guyana.

The pair thanked Etwaroo for his continued support of

this project.

Das informed that Edwardo’s first gift was his E4 bat which was presented to Mohabir as well.

“I am also very pleased with the level of accountability and the noble purpose of this project and will continue to support young cricketers in Guyana.

This initiative is to help identify and nurture young talents and at the same time encourage them to educate themselves,” Das posited.

Total cricket related items collected so far: $170,000 cash, two trophies, eleven

Ravin Etwaroo (left) presents the gear to Kishan Das.

cricket boots, eighteen pairs of batting pads, twenty bats, fourteen pairs of batting gloves, nineteen thigh pads, one wicket keeping pad, one arm guard, six cricket bags and two helmets. In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicket keeper/batsman.

To date, thirty-seven young players from all three counties of Guyana have already benefited from three junior gear bag, two trophies, one arm guard, fourteen bats, one box, two helmets, ten pairs of cricket shoes, ten pairs of batting pads, one bat

rubber and twelve pairs of batting gloves.

In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats.

Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each while RHCCCC received two, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket keeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails.

Cricket related items, used or new, will be distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana.

Skills, discipline and educa-

tion are important characteristics of the recipients.

Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders will also assist to identify talent. Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit. Dass and Beharry thanked Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romesh Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Kelvin Brijlall, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies and Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Gajanand Singh, Chin Singh, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Denesh Chandrapaul and Dr Cecil Beharry. They also thanked the Media for assisting in the promoting this venture and anyone interested in contributing can contact Beharry on 623 6875 or Das on 1 718 664 0896. (Sean Devers)

Players’ eager as Regional U17 50-over tourney returns - Coach Nedd The Regional U17 50-over tournament is set to be played in Trinidad and Tobago from July 17-28.

The competition was last played in 2019 and it is the only title that has eluded Guyana at the age group level with their closest effort being in 2016, when a Bhaskar Yadram led team took the runner up spot.

That year Guyana played unbeaten throughout the tournament and Trinidad and Tobago took the title only after their final round fixture against the Guyanese was called off due to rain.

Following a practice session on Wednesday at Bourda, Coach Garvin Nedd told Kaieteur Sport that preparation is going well so far and the players have shown the eagerness to do well.

“We are fortunate to have a break in the weather and we are thankful for the opportunity to be able to use the GCC facility to fine tune our preparations.

Alvin Mohabir will lead Guyana in the upcoming Regional U17 tourney.

The players are willing to work hard and are looking forward to r e p r e s e n t t h e i r country with credit,” he added.

Nedd stated that the team is a balanced one and he is impressed with the players.

“I am impressed with some of the players and I am sure they can make an impact in this tournament.

We have a number of players with experience at this

level which will serve as an asset for us,” he posited.

Mavindra Dindyal, Jadon Campbell and Zachary Jodha are returning from the last Regional Under17 tournament.

Dindyal and Rampertab Ramnauth have represented the West Indies at the U15 level, while another former West Indies U15 player Isai Throne has missed out on selection due to an injury.

Alvin Mohabir has been appointed Captain of the team with Ramnauth as his deputy.

The squad reads Alvin Mohabir (Captain), Rampertab Ramnauth (Vice Captain), Ja d o n Campbell, Romeo Deonarine, Anthony Khan, Marvindra Dindyal, Zachary Jodha, J o n a t h a n Va n L a n g e , Nityanand Mathura, Kevin Kisten (W-keeper/ Batsman), Bruce Vincent, Golcharran Chulai, Dillon Ramsaroo and Sasenarine Harricharran. Garvin Nedd (Coach), Neil Rudder (Manager). (Zaheer Mohamed)

Friday July 15, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Kohli, Bumrah, Chahal rested for T20Is Republic Bank “Five for Fun” Cricket continues with Trainer of in West Indies; Kuldeep, Ashwin return ing returned from a surgery ESPNcricinfo - Virat Kohli, Harshal Patel.

Having made his T20I de- for sports hernia in Germany Bumrah and Trainers and Practical Exercises Jasprit Yuzvendra Chahal are not but in Ireland, Malik was also late June.

Coach Winston Smith and Administrator Neil Rudder with some teachers from Berbice Primary Schools.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) continues with the CWI/Republic Bank Five for Fun” Cricket Programme with a 2-Day Practical for earmarked teachers in each of the three counties.

As done with the in-class 1-Day interactive session, the earmarked primary schools in Demerara will be the first group of schools to go through the 2022 planned practical exercises geared at introducing teachers to fun related ways in which students can learn the fundamentals of the game.

The Primary Schools in Demerara participated in the practical aspect yesterday and today at the GCB’s Cricket Facility in LBI. Similar

sessions will be held in Essequibo on Monday July 18, 2022 and Tuesday July 19, 2022 and in Berbice on Thursday July 21, 2022 and Friday July 22, 2022.

The practical sessions will capture aspects of fitness, technical, skill acquisition, game awareness and tactic in a fun related approach.

This fun related demand is expected to test the creativity of the coaches and teachers involved, as they seek to appropriately feed technical points to players in the required fun related way.

Consequently, given the players’ need, teachers under the guidance of coaches will consider the suitable options available to the students to

improve.

These options will be weighed and tested to ensure that those students involved, have the best opportunities to improve their technical prowess in a manner that is safe, is technically sound but supports individuality and is realistic.

On completion of the training of teachers to be coaches, the programme activities will transition to the training of students over a five-week period during the July-August school break.

The inaugural Republic Bank “Five for Fun” cricket programme was launched on Tuesday June 21, 2022 and involves 75 primary schools across the country.

part of India’s 18-member squad for the five T20Is in the Caribbean starting later this month. The squad led by Rohit Sharma has KL Rahul potentially making a return subject to a fitness clearance.

ESPNcricinfo has learnt Kohli, Bumrah and Chahal have been rested, and Kohli, who picked up a “mild groin strain” in England, continues to remain in the team management’s plans for the T20 World Cup later this year despite his lean form.

Offspinner R Ashwin, who hasn’t featured in India’s T20I side since the home series against New Zealand last November, has made a comeback to shore up a spin department that includes Kuldeep Yadav (subject to fitness), Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant, who have been rested from the ODI leg, will play the T20Is. Umran Malik, the rookie tearaway quick, did not find a place in the squad, with the selectors picking left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh in the seam bowling department along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan and

part of the recently concluded T20I series in England, which India won 2-1. In his lone outing in Nottingham, Malik conceded 1 for 56 off his four overs. Arshdeep, meanwhile, took 2 for 18 in an impressive debut in the opening T20I, when he troubled England’s openers with swing.

Prior to the T20I series in England, Rohit publicly backed Kohli despite his lean run of scores that have sparked continuous debate over his position in the team.

“I don’t know who the experts are,” Rohit had said last week. “I don’t even understand why they are called experts. They are watching it from outside, they don’t know what is going on the inside.

We are building a team. A lot of deliberation goes behind it.

There is a lot of thinking behind it. Boys are backed. Boys are given chances. People outside don’t know all these things. It is not important what is going on outside.”

Ishan Kishan has been chosen as the reserve opener and second wicketkeeper for the West Indies T20Is, should Rahul slot back into the XI. Rahul is currently at the NCA in Bengaluru, hav-

He has been out of action since early June, when the illness flared prior to the start of the home series against South Africa. Initially diagnosed as a groin injury, Rahul was withdrawn from the squads for the tour of England. Prior to that, he had led new franchise Lucknow Super Giants to the IPL 2022 playoffs. He ended the season as the second-highest run-scorer, with 616 runs in 15 innings at an average of 51.33 and a strike rate of 135.38.

Deepak Hooda, who made his maiden T20I century in Ireland in June, has been retained in Kohli’s absence, as have Dinesh Karthik, Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav.

India begin their Caribbean tour with an ODI series, in which they will be captained by Shikhar Dhawan in the absence of the senior players. The five T20Is begin on July 29 in Tarouba, followed by matches on August 1 and 2 in St Kitts, before the series moves to Florida in the USA for the final two matches on August 6 and 7.

India’s squad for the five T20Is: Rohit Sharma (capt), (Continued on opage 27)

PAGE 30

Friday July 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

England O-50s win 2022 Marlborough Cup despite Windies O-50s finish as runners up Dhaniram Hat-Trick England have won the 2022 Marlborough Cup - and maintained their perfect home record - with a 71-run win over the West Indies. Much was anticipated from this clash as West Indies had given the English guys a huge scare in their warm up encounter last Thursday when Windies fell short by 16 runs chasing a massive 302 posted by England.

Stephen Foster starred with bat and ball as the hosts put on a clinical display of over-50s cricket. He stroked 83 off 82 balls as England piled on 274/8 off their allotted overs, then cleaned up the Windies tail with 2/5.West Indies did not help their cause with extras contributing a healthy 50 runs to the England total and the second top score. Sudesh Dhaniram ended with 3 for 43 off his 8

overs and was ably supported by Sunil Dhaniram with 2 for 54 and Fareed Hosein with 2 for 46.

The West Indies lost their last 6 wickets for just 15 runs, tumbling from 188/4 to 203 all out. Rob Nelson took 3 wickets in an over to finish with personal best figures of 4/23.

The Windies had left themselves too much to do in the last 15 overs - they needed over 9 an over at that stage despite a valuable partnership of 83 runs from Narine Bidhesi (54) and Azad Mohammed (44). Losing the two Dhaniram brothers for a combined 25 runs didn’t help. Rajendra Sadeo fought off the opening English attack to score 37 runs off 62 deliveries with 2 fours and 2 sixes but lost his wicket just when he was well set.

Windies had suffered a

Sudesh Dhaniram collects his Man of the Series for the West Indians. huge blow early in the day sparkling 103* on Sunday when they lost the services against Wales and 45 the next of its Vice captain, Ishwar day against the Indians.

Earlier in the day, England Maraj, with an injured right elbow. Maraj had struck a had gotten themselves off to

a rollicking start, with Giles Ecclestone (43) and David Snellgrove (38) adding 99 for the first wicket at 7.6 an over.

Foster came in at 5 and batted beautifully for his 83 which saw him regain his position as the leading runscorer in O50Is, over-taking Australia’s Peter Solway (690 runs) and becoming the first batsman to score 700 runs at this level. However, he then became the first wicket in a Sudesh Dhaniram’s hat-trick that tripped England up from 253/5 to 253/8.Before this match, Dhaniram had taken just 1 wicket in O50Is at an average of 177.

England ran out deserved winners of the Marlborough Cup, having gone through another season unbeaten.

Their overall record in O50Is is now 20 wins and 6 losses,

reinforcing their status as one of the world’s leading sides at this level. Sudesh Dhaniram won the Man of the Series for the West Indians. Ambassador Colin Croft graced the occasion at the Marlborough College ground where he mingled with everyone there throughout the day and the evening. Former England test player, Roland Butcher also visited the West Indians at the Broxbourne Cricket Club ground where he spent the day mixing with both the English and West Indian players and supporters throughout the day.

Attorney Rabi Sukul, who also serves as the legal counsel for the Cricket West Indies Masters Association also spent the day with the teams on Thursday at the Gravesend Cricket Club along with some of his friends.

Kadir slams 132 not out; Prashad claims hat-trick in CPSCL’s 100-ball tourney Pugnacious opening batsman and Canada-based Guyanese Riaz Kadir plundered nine four and 13 sixes to hit an enterprising, unbeaten 132 as VP Boys beat Bee Hives Sports Club by 223 runs on Sunday at Glen Forest Secondary School ground in Mississauga where action continued in the 2022 Canadian Premier Softball Cricket League (CPSCL) 100-ball round-robin competition.

Arguably, one of the most hard-hitting softball batsmen in this contemporary generation, Kadir flayed the attack with an array of strokes to see VP Boys racked up a massive 275-3 from the 100 deliveries, while Bee Hives Sports Club only reached an unsatisfactory 527 from the 100 balls.

Dillon Heyliger and Royston Crandon, two prominent Guyanese cricketers, joined the runs-fest mak-

Riaz Kadir

Gavin Prashad

ing 65 and 50 respectively in support of the rampant and right-handed Kadir.

And across at Lancaster, also in the same Municipality, Essequibian-born Gavin Prashad produced an excellent all-round performance to inspire Tricity Ravens to a commanding seven-wicket victory over Amazon Masters. Masters made 105 all out off 80 balls with Prashad historically grabbing 4-20 from 20 balls including a hat-trick

while he belted six sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 52 as Tricity Ravens achieved the target off 62 balls.

Skipper Roopnarine Lalbeharri offered support to Prashad with 39. In Masters’ innings, Suresh Ragoonauth scored 32 while Azeez Baksh hit 31 and 28 from Lindon Persaud.

Details from the other games were not available but the quarter-finals are set for July 23rd.

Friday July 15, 2022

Pidcock wins Alpe d’Huez Tour de France stage as Vingegaard retains yellow

Ineos Grenadiers’ Thomas Pidcock crosses the finish line to win stage 12.

(REUTERS/Christian Hartmann) L’ALPE D’HUEZ, France, (Reuters) - Tom Pidcock added an iconic Tour de France stage win to his impressive CV when he claimed victory at L’Alpe d’Huez at the end of a long solo ascent yesterday.

The cyclocross world champion and Olympic gold medallist in cross country mountain biking attacked from the day’s breakaway with more than 10km left in the final climb, a 13.8-km effort at 8.1% and never looked back.

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

“It’s one of the best experiences in my life,” said Tour debutant Pidcock after the 12th stage, a 165.1-km trek from Briancon.

Fending off a sea of fans, flags and flares, Pidcock finished ahead of South African Louis Meintjes and four-time Tour winner Chris Froome, who enjoyed his best day on a bike since a career-threatening crash in 2019.

“You just have to pray that they move out of your way,” Pidcock said of the tens

of thousands of fans on the climb.

“The idea today was to get me into the break and win the stage. So, box ticked, I guess.” Overall leader Jonas Vingegaard came under attack from defending champion Tadej Pogacar in the finale, but it was too little, too late by the Slovenian, who lost his yellow jersey on Wednesday when he cracked in the final ascent to the Col du Granon.

Vingegaard leads Pogacar by (Continued on page 27)

Former Guyana skipper Daesrath slams 110 not out in Canada Former Guyana first-class skipper batsman Damodar Daesrath slammed a brilliant, unbeaten 110 to pilot Brampton Gladiators to an efficient eight-wicket win over Fusion last Sunday at Marvin Heights Public School ground Mississuaga in another round of this year’s Ontario RoundArm Softball Cricket Association (ORSCA) 20-overs competition.

The right-handed Daesrath hit ten sixes and five fours as Gladiators safely reached 170-2 in the 16th over responding to Fusion’s competitive 164-8 from the 20-overs.

Daesrath received support from Muniram Karran who made 25. Daesrath, in partnership with Karran, set the foundation with an impressive 107-run for the first wicket. Canadabased Guyanese Yadram Bogh, an experienced player, made 20 not out.

For Fusion, Rishi Bachan top-scored with 50 while Aafroze Aziz supported by getting 28 not out. Karran led the way with the ball to take 3-14 from three overs bowling for the recently crowned ten-ten champion Brampton Gladiators.

Across at Elia Public School ground in North York, Masters humbled former champion Spartans by a superb nine-wicket margin. Spartans only managed an insufficient 157-6 at the expiration of the 20-overs while Masters galloped to 158-1 with 45 balls to spare. Their wonderful effort was led by attacking opening batsman Abdool Samad who cracked an unbeaten 73. Azam Haniff also

Damodar Daesrath

showed aggression to make 62. Samad is the younger brother of ex-Guyana batsman Fizul Sattur.

When Spartans batted, Asif Ali made 50, while, skipper and former Guyana youth player, Fazil Gani added 37 runs.

Satrohan Doodnauth snared four wickets for 38 runs from his maximum four overs.

Details from the other games were not available. However, the competition is slated to continue this Sunday with a number of matches across the Greater Toronto Area.

PAGE 32

Friday July 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

Rupununi FA Male and Female Senior Leagues

More clubs clinch quarterfinal spots as group stages near completion As the group stage of the 2022 Rupununi Football Association (RFA) Senior League comes to an end, more clubs have clinched quarterfinal berths. In Central Rupununi, Guyana Rush Saints FC female team leapfrogged Gladiators FC in the points standings with a comprehensive 7-1 victory over Far East United in their final group stage match.

Glauciane Ines Gomes De Assis was again in domineering form with five goals. A double from Nina Cabral completed the thrashing. Ursuline Primus responded with the solitary goal for Far East United in the 37th minute.

Guyana Rush Saints and Gladiators, with 19 points and 17 points respectively, have qualified for the quarterfinals.

Guyana Rush Saints male team are also into the quarterfinals after a comfortable 4-1 victory over Far East United. Stephen McDonald with a hat trick in the 4th, 28th, and 30th minutes and an Eric Atkinson goal in the 71stminute sealed the victory.

Ravin Naughton responded with the consolation goal in

the 23rdminute for Far East United.

Tabatinga FC have also booked their spot in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory over Gladiators FC. Goals from Carlos Isaacs and Romel Bhola in the 6thand 38th minutes were enough to secure victory with Erik Veras responding in the 28thminute for Gladiators which is in the third position in the points standings and still have a chance of reaching the quarterfinals.

However, they will have to first defeat the winner of the North Rupununi/South Pakaraimas playoff in a match scheduled for Saturday, July 23rd.

Over in North Rupununi, in Group A, Paiwomak FC female team joined their male counterparts in the quarterfinals after Challengers FC were held to a goalless draw in their final group match against Surama F C .

The draw allowed Paiwomak to advance due to their superior goal difference over Chal-

Goal scorers from the Gladiators F.C in the Tabatinga F.C clash. lengers which will now have to face Basin FC in their onelegged playoff scheduled for, tomorrow at the Basin Sports Ground.

In the male match, Challengers advan c e d t o t h e North Rupununi playoffs after defeating Surama 3-1, courtesy of goals from Marcos Rodolfo in the 2ndminute, and a double from Deroy Augustine in the 50thand 55th minutes.

Niaaz Mohammed responded with Surama’s lone

goal in the 57th minute.

In Group B action, Falcons, and FC Basin played out a thrilling 3-3 draw which resulted in Falcons qualifying for the North Rupununi playoff; they will now face Challengers.

Kelvin John opened the scoring for FC Basin in the 70th minute but Alex Mendonca equalised in the 74th minute for Falcons. A quick fire double from Kevin Hamilton in the 82nd and 84th minutes saw FC

Basin gain what seemed like an insurmountable 3-1 lead but a penalty from Floyd Peters in the 86th minute and an Almir Moses strike in the 89th minute saw a spirited comeback from Falcons.

In East Central Rupununi, Group A action, the match between Jaguars F.C. and Kanuku Harpies F.C female teams ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Mary Lawrence opened the scoring for Jaguars in the 13th minute, but Carolita Stephen equalised in the 81st minute for Kanuku Harpies.

With one round left to play, Flash FC lead the points standings with 11 but can be overtaken if they lose their final match and Jaguars FC win their final match. In the male match, Jaguars FC secured a quarterfinal berth with a 31 victory over Kanuku Harpies FC. Nimrod Park with goals in the 36th and 89th minutes and Lu Lawrence in the 71st minute ensured qualification for the quarterfinals was achieved with a game in hand.

Jason Marco notched the lone goal for Kanukua Harpies in the 56th minute.

Over in Group B, Kanuku Warriors FC were in com-

manding form, thrashing Terminators FC by a 9-0 margin to maintain their unbeaten record and book a place in the quarterfinals.

A hat-trick in the 2nd, 11th, and 23rd minutes for Josepha Leonard, a brace each for Christalene Alfred and Phyllis Lorentino along with single strikes for Simone Alfred and Marlitha Alfred ensured the lopsided win for the dominant home team. The male match between Terminators FC and K a n u k u Wa r r i o r s F C ended 2-2 with Kanuku Warriors already eliminated and playing just for pride in front of a boisterous home crowd.

But it was Terminators who took a 2-0 lead in the first half courtesy of strikes from Nathaniel Peters and Aldie George in the 12th and 36th minute, respectively.

But Simion Artes responded with strikes in the 62nd and 78th minutes to level the score.

The draw severely dented the hopes of Terminator’s quest to qualif y f o r t h e quarterfinals and must now hope other results go their way to secure qualifica tion.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 15, 2022

Lasco food drink appointed official food drink and Nutrition sponsor of the Hero CPL T20

L

ASCO FOOD DRINK, the Caribbean's leading Nutrition Beverage is pleased to announce its appointment as the Official Food Drink and Nutrition Sponsor of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for the 2022 – 2024 seasons.

This multi-year partnership takes worldclass cricket and worldclass nutrition from the Caribbean onto the global stage and reinforces LASCO FOOD DRINK's commitment to improving the nutrition and health of consumers.

“LASCO FOOD DRINK is excited to partner with the Hero CPL T20 as its Official Food Drink and Nutrition Sponsor. LASCO FOOD DRINK continues to meet the nutrition needs of millions of consumers across the Caribbean and beyond, providing them with nutrition that never tasted so good. Nutrition

John De Silva – Managing Director, LASCO Distributors Limited and health play important roles in achieving the sporting excellence the Caribbean is globally renowned for and LASCO Food Drink is proud to be part of that journey.”John De Silva – Managing Director, LASCO Distributors Limited.

“Nutrition is a key part of every athlete's

Jamie Stewart – Commercial Director, Hero CPL (DPI) preparation and in that light we are pleased to welcome LASCO FOOD DRINK, from one of the Caribbean's great companies, to the Hero CPL.” Jamie Stewart – Commercial Director, Hero CPL. LASCO FOOD DRINK

is a great tasting, nutritious beverage packed with protein, calcium and other vitamins and minerals, that can be enjoyed hot or cold – just add water! It comes in all your favourite flavours, 3 convenient sizes and is also available in a reduced sugar version.

PAGE 33

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Spor

England O50s win 2022 Marlborough Cup despite Dhaniram Hat-Trick Windies O50s finish as runners up

The second placed West Indies Masters O-50 team.

Pidcock wins Alpe d'Huez Tour de France stage as Vingegaard retains yellow

Kohli, Bumrah, Chahal rested for T20Is in West Indies; Kuldeep, Ashwin return

Ineos Grenadiers' Thomas Pidcock celebrates as he crosses the ‘finish line to win stage 12.

(REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)

2022 Junior Caribbean Championships…

Guyana stands firm in the Girls division - Boys team also leads

Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah won't tour the Caribbean.

(ICC/Getty Images)

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