Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR U.S urges Guyana Wednesday Edition July 20, 2022 - Vol. 17 No. 30

to go after assets of money launderers

NEWS

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

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership p. 2 yesterday, 72,601

...launches two-day workshop on asset recovery

7 years on… Guyana

still to protect self from being cheated on

oil revenues

- Fmr Finance Minister Jordan acknowledges flaws in Exxon contract

Alleged arsonist wanted for murder of woman in Mahdia p.

11

Man wounded Police in moves to during gunplay erase Felix Austin from college's name in Kitty

‘Guyana be

warned’- Article 13 ... as thousands of Surinamese, Sri Lankans protest corrupt governments

T&T is a treasure trove of lessons for Guyana on how to

navigate oil sector pitfalls

- UWI Lecturer

PAGE 02

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Kaieteur News

U.S. urges Guyana to go after assets of money launderer - launches two-day workshop on asset recovery

Second from right US Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch, is flanked by Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack and Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings–Edwards and other facilitators of the programme.

Wh en it comes to tackling transnational, financial crimes and assets derived from criminal activities Guyana is in grave need of capacity building.

That need was underscored at the opening ceremony of a two-day Civil Asset Recovery workshop held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Kingston. The workshop is an initiative under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Anti-Crime Program, which Guyana has been a signatory since 2010.

The workshop came also as a result of a partnership with the United States, Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). The PPP/C Government back in 2020 disbanded the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) saying that the body was not fulfilling its purpose.

However, almost two years after, the administration has not taken any steps to put in place a r e p l a c e m e n t a g e n c y.

Observers believe this USled workshop is aimed at pushing the government back into the direction of having a state asset recovery body. $200B STOLEN Back in 2018 the then SARA had said that it was working tirelessly with the Ministry of Legal Affairs to retrieve over $200B in state assets lost through corruption between 2010 to 2014. SARA Chief Executive Officer at the time, Aubrey HeathRetemyer had said: “We have been losing between $28B and $35B every year between 2010 and 2014 by procurement fraud, in illicit capital flights-$90 billion and in the underground economy (drugs) – about $100 billion. Corruption allows people to steal and if we reduce it much of the friction around election time will stop because everybody will get their fair share of the pie.”

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch told the

gathering that through the programme the United States aims to help strengthen the capacity of the justice sector to respond effectively to criminal activity and ensure citizen security.

According to Lynch, the programme takes a regional approach to tackle narcotics, trafficking, and other forms of serious organised crimes through asset recovery and robust anti-money laundering measures.

She explained: “The aim of criminals, especially of complex, organized crime networks, is the pursuit of financial profit.” To this end, Lynch cited the 2017 report released by Global Financial Integrity, the global business of transnational crime is valued at an around $2 trillion USD annually.

“These staggering figures highlight the scale of the economic cost of crime, but we know that the social cost is equally significant.

The social and economic cost of crime is magnified further in smaller countries l i k e G u y a n a . ” Ly n c h continued that “by depriving criminals of their ill-gotten gains and ensuring that in the long run ‘crime doesn’t pay’, we can disrupt their criminal activities.”

To do so effectively, the US ambassador stressed “we must also adapt, deploy our resources carefully, and work together on investigations and prosecutions… Forfeiture takes the profit out of crime.

It also serves as a deterrent to future crimes, allowing the Government to deprive wrongdoers of the tools of their trade.”

“We can formulate the most effective response to financial crimes by sharing challenges and best practices, exchanging new techniques and ideas, and building partnerships and networks,” she added.

The US diplomat noted that Guyana has a mélange of legislation that provides for asset recovery, but there is a need to build capacity on how to effectively implement and use these laws. “The purpose of this Continued on page 3

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 20, 2022

PAGE 03

‘Guyana be warned’ - Article 13 tells Govt. as thousands of Surinamese, Sri Lankans protest corrupt governments

Police officers in Suriname block the entrance of the Office of President Santokhi as demonstrators demand his resignation (CMC Photo) Guyana’s Dutch speaking neighbours in Suriname on Monday attempted to storm President Chandrikapersad Santoki’s office, in protest against the high cost of living, slashing of government subsidies on water and electricity and the suspicious transfer of funds from the central bank to a private account.

As hundreds took to the streets in Paramaribo on Monday to vent their frustrations over the prevailing economic situation in the country, citizens of Sri Lanka also have moved into 100 days of consecutive protest action, demanding changes in the government also, owing to the mismanagement of the country’s resources.

Sources in Suriname told Kaieteur News that the protestors were particularly vocal against the high prices for food items and education- even the cost for health care. In addition, it was explained that the

government had promised a salary increase to cushion the inflation rates; however, they were reportedly told that this cannot be done as the Budget could not handle an increase for public sector workers. To compound the already tense financial situation burdening Surinamese, the citizens got wind of a transfer from the country’s Central Bank to a private account.

The angry protestors, inclusive of police officers and nurses insisted that the government adopt new socio-economic policies or step down to end corruption in the oil producing nation.

Loop News, a credible Caribbean media entity reported that the protestors pinned the prevailing economic situation on the two-year old administration, being led by Santoki.

It was reported that the President of Suriname was due to leave for Paraguay on Tuesday evening to attend the Mercosur and Prosur

summits, but cancelled the trip with a government statement later indicating “the President has decided not to go because urgent national issues need his attention”.

Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation Minister, Albert Ramdin, who was in Washington attending a meeting of the Organisation of American States (OAS) was due to join the presidential delegation in P a r a g u a y, b u t w a s rescheduled to return home immediately.

The Presidential spokesman, Alven Rooseveld told Loop News that the President remains in the country and is working to solve the challenges that have arisen.

The demonstrators gathered outside the Parliament building and the office of the head of state and their action followed several calls posted on social media from citizens who have

U.S. urges Guyana to go after assets...

From page 2 workshop is to do just that. We come together to enhance our knowledge of the law and share regional and international best practices.

This will build expertise in conviction-based and non-conviction-based asset recovery in Guyana. We hope that participants will leave the workshop with a shared sense of purpose, a vested interest in asset recovery, and an understanding of how to use the tools available to successfully prosecute financial crimes,” she surmised.

Facilitators of the training, the INL/NCSC Regional Financial Crimes Team have been working to support regional partners, from law enforcement to the judiciary, in the area of financial crimes and asset recovery, since 2012. Their assistance spans from legislative drafting, legal texts and guides, training and institution-building to mentoring live cases.

Those present at the opening ceremony on Tuesday included law enforcement agents representing the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit,

Criminal Investigation Department and Special Organized Crime Unit, and Prosecutors representing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and Attorney General’s Chambers.

For his part, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC, noted in Guyana, it is crucial that State agencies continually build capacity to further efforts to punish and deter criminal activity by depriving criminals of property used in or acquired through unlawful conduct. To do so, he said, it is vital that law enforcement agents understand the powers contained in the legislation and the challenges in investigating and prosecuting assets recovery cases.

The focus of the two -day workshop, the Attorney General said will be for facilitators to aim to increase knowledge and build confidence in civil asset recovery through legislative overview; practical case identification exercises; cross-agency teambuilding; case studies and interactive tabletop exercises.

become angry after the latest scandal within the government. Last week, it was revealed that through falsified payment orders, several individuals had managed to obtain SRD$40.9 million (One SRD$=US$0.04 cents) from a bank account of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Loop reported.

Kaieteur News understands that this was the latest scandal to hit the

Santoki government, as citizens also complained against the decision made by the President to hire his family members, including his wife and friends of the Vice President, Ronnie Brunswijk to serve in senior positions of government.

Loop News reported that the protestors expressed their frustration against a series of austerity measures, cuts water and electricity subsidies and a lack of funding for prenatal care for babies.

Article 13 member, Yog Mahadeo “The leaders of this protest are Surinamese who no longer want to watch the people perish because of mismanagement, corruption, nepotism and laissez faire policies,” said a police officer, who was at the Continued on page 24

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 20, 2022

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

Permit for 35 new wells – EPA at it again Exxon has applied to Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the approval to conduct drilling operations involving 35 new wells in the fabled Stabroek Block. (KN July 18). It is a staggering number, which could up the billions of barrels of oil equivalents already found.

Some of those planned drilling operations are said to be close to areas that were previously explored. It is not surprising that Exxon would want to march full speed ahead with drilling, exploring, and commerciality assessing, as part of its forward planning process, and reserve replacement interests.

What is amazing is how this country’s EPA has greeted this latest development from the oil giant that is now virtually running this country, and calling whatever shots pleases it.

Because the record of the local EPA speaks so much for itself about its weakness, recklessness, and perilousness to Guyanese and their prospects, including safety and security, nothing more is said today about any of those things. What we do put before the Guyanese public is how, once again, the EPA seems to be working for Exxon, and is subject to its beck and call, subservient to its will, and falling over itself to please the American oil behemoth, while leaving the local population still further exposed.

By its own admission, as carried by this publication (“Exxon seeks permit to drill 35 new wells in Stabroek Block -exact locations not identified, EPA orders cumulative impact assessment” -KN July 18), our own EPA has served notice that it is ready and willing to do whatever is felt would make life easiest for Exxon. The precise locations of the drilling operations to be conducted are not known at this time, but Guyana’s EPA has signalled that it is ready with issuing the go-ahead, so to speak, as it prepares to jump as high and far as Exxon waves its wand and commands it to go.

For where, and what is involved, and how much so in all the finer details of these proposed 35 new wells to be drilled?

We think that such knowledge and answers are absolutely necessary before, and which the EPA should make it its duty to be familiar with and comfortable with, instead of reacting in this programmed and robotic fashion, as it did.

Unfortunately, the EPA is only behaving in its now characteristic helpless and captive manner in response to the dictates of Exxon, as all Guyanese have seen and come to expect.

Instead of the EPA taking its time and studying the fullness of what Exxon has put on the table in its quest for the permit, it appears to be bending backwards to clear any possible hurdles out of the company’s way. This is the substance of what Guyana’s EPA has put out, how it is watching out for Guyanese: though ‘the likelihood of some of the impacts from the project were noted to be high, the severity of these impacts’ ranges from low to medium, once mitigation measures outlined, are implemented.’ In its own words, “However, it is noted that while the activity by itself may not have a significant impact on the environment, similar activities carried out in the Stabroek Block may have significantly affected the environment.” No matter how considered, it is as if Guyana’s sensitively, crucially placed EPA is speaking from both sides of its mouth, which is putting the best light on the careful hedging that came from it.

Let’s go that over again so that this registers and rings loudly: some impacts could be possibly high, but their severity medium to low, on the condition of the faithful implementation of mitigation measures. This is more about marketing, selling, and looking the other way, rather than of watching out for and protecting this country. So, it orders a cumulative impact assessment for the 35 wells. This is what the EPA has come to, how it struggles to be all things to Exxon, while pretending to be safeguarding Guyanese interests.

With those many wells involved, the risk exposures multiply, the probability of human error intensify, yet the permit is as good as issued, cumulative impact assessment and all. This is a sham selling itself as soundness from Guyana’s EPA.

Things cannot remain the way they are DEAR EDITOR, Having read Mr. GHK Lall’s letter titled “What else the private sector wants”, in the July 16, 2022 Kaieteur News. I was convinced to pen this letter.

I, like Mr. Lall, must wonder how far more back can Government bend for the private sector? In my mind, no business whether private or public really survives without the support of the State. I know I will ruffle the private sector’s feathers by saying that. But businesses in Guyana benefit from concessions, tax holidays, revolving funds, low interest and no interest financing and a plethora of other policies. Is that also not a form of subsidization? Dr. Jailall has spoken several times about the support given to the oil sector. He is right but many businesses here also receive similar benefits though they are more obscure.

But Editor it goes beyond that. The Government pays

them to repair the roads and other infrastructure they damage and clean the drains that they, among others, help to silt up. Apart from that they are invited to take a front seat with Government to engage everyone under the sun while they benefit from the sweat of the Guyanese people. And for those benefits what do we the people get? Do we get the Mercedes Benz, BMWs, Audis and other fanciful vehicles the bosses get? Or do our children get the finest education in Guyana and abroad? And what about health care, what do we and our children get? For me Editor, the most significant support the Government has given is its staunch antiworker, anti-people policy.

While many will disagree, can we sincerely say our lives have meaningfully improved?

How much of the 50% and 60% economic growth has impacted us? How has living in the fastest growing economy in the world

changed our lives? Today, the party of Jagan has turned its back on the working-class and practices the most antilabour approach in the history of the country. Workers pay rates are kept low to keep cost of production cheap for the fat cats? Workers’ taxes are spent to build new roads and keep taxes low for the business class? And workers don’t have anyone to turn to!

The Government all around, in my mind, is helping the business class to exploit and oppress workers! It has the Ministry of Labour in name only as it has put, if you ask me, an oblong pen and in round hole to lead that Ministry. And when workers try to get unionised the Ministry remains a meek mouse allowing the rich employers and their fancy lawyers to bulldoze workers.

I heard the Government is inviting the private sector to talk about cost of living in a few weeks time. The private sector in their ivory towers do

not know how much baigan, ochro, callaloo, aloo cost.

They don’t know the cost of bus fare or how much for a cheap shoes. The giant talk shop is undoubtedly another forum to dole out the peoples resources to a few.

But I am not saddened I am determined that things cannot remain the way they are. While the Government and business may have their friends in the media, in the legal fraternity and elsewhere, people are not stupid. People’s eyes are opening and if I can play a role to open a few more I certainly will. We need leaders who are for the people not against them. I want to let the Government know if all the private sector and their allies vote for them they are not going to Shiv Chandarpal Drive. Let them know you can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

S. Rohan

“Pay to Play” and “Middle-Men” politics is well entrenched in Guyana under PNC and PPP DEAR EDITOR, It is delusional for anyone in Government to think that we can end “middlemen” in the politics and economics of Guyana. Under both PNC/ AFC and PPP, we have been a “pay to play” system.

Elections have been a political census to determine who gets into the driver’s seat to be paid and paid off.

Since the dark days of Burnhamism, especially if you were not in the “paramount party,” you had to know a PNC party man, or know someone who know someone who can put in a word for you.

The villagers also said, “It’s not who you know, but who know you.”

This middleman phenomenon pertains to whether you want a birth certificate, a tax clearance, driver’s licence, NIS payment,

public assistance, gun permit, or any Government document or approval.

This also applies to employment, cushy appointments, Government contracts, duty-free and taxfree concessions, and access to Government officials and national natural resources.

The PPP Government is now a middleman for Exxon and friends. They facilitate everything Exxon wants to do to rape Guyana. They stand with Exxon versus the people.

In a public service bureaucracy where efficiency was not a hallmark of the way they do business, and sloth was the norm, you had to “pay to play” directly or through a middle man, who was essentially a lobbyist for you and your issues. If you were willing to pay some “SUSUs,” closed doors can be

opened, missing files can be found or court files can be made to disappear. Matters that languished for years can be quickly resolved. If you don’t pay, you will get the endless royal run around.

Guyana’s Government ministries have a disease called “come-back-titis.” This has hurt mostly rural PPP supporters who must travel to the city to get services and business done, since the Regional System is a colossal failure. You will call Government offices till you are blue and no one will answer you or return your call.

Most Government websites do not have an email address, or contacts for key officials.

That’s the default system of Guyana, and the VICE videos captured that you have to pay to play. Every Guyanese knows that. In America, we

pay tips after the service. In Guyana, you pay before.

So, it’s very delusional for Government leaders to say silly things such as don’t use lobbyists for preferential treatment and there is no need for investors to engage middlemen or lobbyists. In a system where “customer service” is not a dominant value, how else will you get access to the top people who control the business process?

Does the Government think someone can walk in to a Government Ministry and get their issues resolved easily? This new message of not using middlemen is in response to the fallout from the Su affair and the VICE videos. Don’t use a middleman to lobby for you and see how far you will go with your projects.

(Continued on page 5)

Throwing mud on our livelihoods to enrich the the nation that the oil and 2017. Now we can see the fish populations. Neither the gas industry is not to be livelihoods of the coastal EPA or the Fisheries oil tycoaonstold blamed for the reports of lower fishermen being degraded Department is requiring the DEAR EDITOR, I am responding to your article ‘Exxon again sounds warning to fishing industry … as company prepares to launch 35-well drilling campaign’ (KN 19 July 2022).

In this article you state ‘Although local fishers have been complaining of lower catches, the Government of Guyana has not only dismissed these claims, producing figures in recent reports to support an increase in production, but have also

catches.’ The figures to support an increase in production must refer to projected increases in production of shrimp in artificial ponds of brackish water which have been constructed in Berbice.

For the artisanal coastal fishermen, the picture is quite different: according to the monthly data reported by the Bank of Guyana, landed catches of fin fish have been declining for years but the decline has steepened since

further by the careless dumping of mud on their fishing grounds at the mouth of the Demerara River.

The deepening of the Demerara Ship Channel, and apparently its widening, by the dredgers of the Luxemburg company Jan De Nul is simply worsening their situation.

Once again, ExxonMobil in its project summary for new drilling offshore has listed a variety of activities with possible negative effects on

immensely wealthy ExxonMobil or Hess Corporation or CNOOC to undertake or fund studies on our fishery stocks, to find out if the accelerated drilling and oil production programme is reducing our fish. Has the Vice President for oil even thought about the livelihoods of thousands of people in the fisheries sector before prioritising the oil companies?

Yours truly, Janette Bulkan

Wednesday July 20, 2022

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Kaieteur News

The harrowing Guyanese social environment DEAR EDITOR, Someone forwarded a 30second video to me Monday evening. It was brutal, ugly, troubling, and much more. In those 30 seconds, I discerned rage, hatreds, and poisons festering unaddressed in this society. I think it is not unknown, only ignored to our national peril. The video was of a white station wagon type vehicle and a motorcycle behind it. It was of a roadway, which I took to be on the eastern edge of central Georgetown because of the silhouette of the premises of one of the larger waste removal companies in the background. Around the vehicle and motorbike were a number of Guyanese, mainly youths. I saw a young man being attacked and kicked in strikes capable of decapacitating. He was knocked cold, and crumpled in motionless heap on the road. A young lady I presume to be with him and standing beside the vehicle is next attacked and beaten mercilessly, all the while cowering from the rain of blows. Both knocked out male and pounded female appeared to be members of one of Guyana’s larger demographic subsets. Their attackers of another of the

two major segments. A man in the uniform of a security guard armed with what Guyanese call a ‘long gun’ tried vainly to intervene to prevent the mayhem, but was warned off. He retreated helplessly, with his long gun now pointed in the air, a spectator to the brutalities.

He was of the same demographic as the attackers.

This is the sum of the 30second nightmare of Guyana.

Editor, this is the hidden story of Guyana. We got sharp, pungent tastes of it at Mon Repos, what I think is Mandela Avenue on Monday, and a while before Cotton Tree. This is the essence of our harrowing social environment, our tortured and tragic reality, that is right below the surface sheen.

Nobody wants to talk about it. They talk about the Police, the other side, democracy, and the rule of law. I say that what I present today is the rule of the street, the rule now gaining yardage by day, by incident, by readiness. On Monday alone, I was listener to two encounters that reflected the edginess on our congested streets, the rawness of our tense roads. I get the sense that sentiments are so scorching that anything could, and does,

“Pay to Play” and...

From page 4 In the USA, lobbying is a regulated activity. It appears as if both the PPP and PNC used paid lobbyists during the 5-month attempt by the PNC to rig the 2020 elections.

It has been said by locals and Guyanese abroad that if the VP does not “bless” your project, your “cork duck.”

The World Bank’s “Doing Business Report for 2020,” rated Guyana 134 out of 190 countries in terms of the ease of doing business. Nothing in Guyana is easy. So, a middleman is essential. Don’t believe otherwise. Ministers usually have their bag men or bag women. Both the PNC and PPP parties see

Government as a way to get rich quickly. (See my article: “Don’t steal, the Government hates competition.” (Jan 5, 2021, KN & SN).

As we fight for good governance, transparency, and accountability, let’s fight for the reinvention of Government based on high efficiency, extreme customer service, quick response, and fairness to all, including rural people. Don’t settle for poor service from Government. If Government is working well, there will be no need for middlemen and lobbyists.

Solve the root causes of the problem.

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

flare into the frightening.

I submit that it is not a matter of road rage, or of routine passions and prejudices. It is of what boils beneath our breasts, as to who betrayed (no confidence), who cheated (elections), who robs and devastates today (leaders), and at whose expense. Right or wrong, it is the state of mind. To understate, we are in a bad place, a thoroughly disastrous state-in-thewaiting. I flinch and shudder and cringe, at the meaning of all this, where these isolated incidents could lead. It is my belief that it is to the inevitable outlet that history has repeatedly confirmed is thought to be the answer and pursued aggressively. It is my belief that we sit on that box, and that the right kind of leadership and exhortation could remove the lid in a blink. We get the previews daily in town and country, with strangers and for no reason at all.

When there is thought to be a lack of effective leadership, then the outliers and pockets assume importance, gather substance.

In other circumstances, I may have used words like radical and militant in place of effective for leadership. The point is that however implemented on the ground, the vacuum is filled by splinters, and since there is impatience with leadership, then the mob controls. What I saw in that

video was a mob on the move, and unconscious or collected expression of suppressed frustrations. It is of who has, and who doesn’t, and also who is seen to benefit from our bounties, and who is left to beg to exist, and reduced to collectors of alms. Mobs don’t have minds, as we (I) saw in that video, but they understand (or are made to understand) ostracising, marginalising, demonising, and wanting.

When people are left to want in a time of all these overwhelming riches, then they want to get even, so they hit out at who happens to be convenient, who is made into whipping boy and whipping girl. There is an answer to this. It is that all, including the unthinking, unknowing, and unfeeling, must appreciate having a place at the national table. Not as recipients of occasional charities, but as participants in their destiny. I know that inclusion is a dirty word, and coming from me it is a tricky, backdoor way (as accused) of bringing losers into the winner’s circle. I think that we make the worst mistake in our already mistake-prone existence when we harbour such self-destructive outlooks. It is time to go, but I leave in my space what took place on Monday, takes places daily, and is bursting at the seams and rearing for expression. Of any kind.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

An easy solution can be found DEAR EDITOR, There is no shortage of land in a location where the disposal of radioactive waste can be managed without getting into our drinking water and away from where our citizens and animals are living. The EPA must be mindful of the needs of the population and safeguard the health of our people first and foremost before even considering granting permission for such a dangerous operation.

Houston is one of the better neighbourhoods in the city, and to think that someone would even consider placing it in harm’s way is utter folly.

When did Guyana become scarce of uninhabited land where our people will be out of danger from such a dangerous operation as in the case of radioactive waste management? Something else is wrong here.

There is lots of land elsewhere and an EIA is not optional for such a project where dangerous material is being placed into a neighbourhood. Why the rush to do such a foolish thing?

A solution can easily be had for this problem, and I am surprised that a local law firm would even consider defending a company that is willing to risk the lives of our citizens’ health when better options for a location can be easily obtained with the government’s help. Life is more important than the convenience being given to foreigners who do not appreciate the hard work and time that went into developing the Houston area.

We must not allow the destruction of our neighbourhoods, especially the good ones. The government must intervene before this gets out of hand.

We are not a nation of millions, each of our citizens are extremely valuable to us and we are not one of those countries that will sacrifice the lives of our citizens for the earnings of foreigners.

What those foreign companies are used to oing overseas will not be allowed here in our beautiful country. We will not allow them to come into our neighbourhoods and make it (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Kaieteur News

GUYANA RACES AGAINST THE CLOCK TO BANK ITS OIL BONANZA DEAR EDITOR, ”Guyana races against the clock to bank its oil bonanza”, is the title of an article by Reuters, published on Yahoo online news (July 18th). The author, Sabrina Valle had a face-to-face interview with Mr Jagdeo in which he said the following (to paraphrase): Mr Jagdeo argued that calls to halt the developments for the country to realise a larger share of its oil revenues, would not benefit the country, as it could introduce added inflationary pressures to Guyana’s domestic economy. Elsewhere in the Reuters article Mr. Jagdeo called for ramping up oil production.

Larger share of revenues would not benefit the country;

would introduce inflationary pressures. But larger aggregate revenues from Ramping up production is ok, argued Mr. Jagdeo.

It is hard to believe the de facto head of State made those statements. But I am sure Reuters recorded/quoted him correctly. Getting a larger share (currently it is nominally 14.5%) is bad; in the same breadth he called for ramping up production.

These statements from Mr. Jagdeo do not make any sense. Would Mr. Jagdeo sell his house for say, one-tenth of the value (bigger share, fair value is bad)? Let Exxon get a bigger share. Ramping up production means letting Exxon drill the resource quickly [before decarbonisation begins] –

and let Exxon get the bigger share.

What’s the matter with Mr. Jagdeo? He and his party condemned the contract in the run-up to the 2020 election – and promised to renegotiate. In November 2020 I watched Mr. Jagdeo on Globespan, explaining how the absence of Ring Fencing would cause Guyana to lose $billions on this egregiously lopsided contract. Now he is inventing false arguments to justify the contract. Has he undergone some strange kind of transformation?

Something else is very troubling about these statements from Mr. Jagdeo.

Bigger shares of revenue will cause inflation, he argued; but not bigger

aggregates of revenue that will result from ramping up production. Mr. Jagdeo is an economist. He knows no economy can absorb money in excess of its optimal capacity lest it causes inflation. But isn’t that what SWF is for – the place to park your excess rentier incomes. Kuwait, N o r w a y, U A E – t h e s e countries have huge SWF and they do not cause inflation.

Mr. Jagdeo is laying the intellectual groundwork for Exxon to exploit Guyana’s oil resource as quickly as possible without paying Fair Value for its oil resource.

President Ali has a responsibility as head of State to rein in Mr. Jagdeo. Order

him to practice silence because every time he opens his mouth he sounds like a VP of Exxon.

There were some 75 blog comments on that Yahoo News article. Several bloggers were doing PR propaganda for Exxon. Here is an example of a non-partisan blogger, most likely someone not connected to Guyana – and my response to him: Calili 1 day ago Saw the expose on Vice News about Guyana. They will fail.

Their vice president is in league with crooked Chinese companies, taking kickbacks from them for projects. Reply Mike 14 hours ago Calili, It’s much worse.

This VP has no concept of the role o f a l e a d e r o f a sovereign nation. Every

time he opens his mouth, he is defending the lopsided oil contract. Folks will think he is the VP of Exxon. His pro-govt bloggers on Stabroek News online platform now make a novel argument: if the VP were to demand Renegotiation, US govt would collude with Exxon to oust him from power.

This is a load of crock. Cold War is over. US govt has long exited that business.

Why is the VP defending a contract in which the Guyanese nation is losing $billions - more than $47 billion in royalty alone on 11 BB of crude? Is that so much of mystery for folks to figure out?

Mike Persaud

An easy solution can...

From page 5 d toxic, ruining the lives of our people. Look at how much is being spent on education. What purpose will it bring if the children we are educating end up in the hospitals with serious illnesses that will rob them of their future. The EPA is failing us too often and must be revamped. It is not supposed to act as an agent of the oil companies not give such an impression by bypassing the EIA process as we are seeing being done on so many occasions. The citizens are already crying foul, and the government must take swift action to correct its course.

Otherwise, they risk being judged by the folly of the few at the expense of all the good work that they have

accomplished.

Health is more important than wealth and without it wealth is useless. Decision making must always keep this in mind.

The money already spent by the company is sunk cost and instead of gaining the reputation of going into a good area and messing it up, they should be good corporate citizens. The Houston area is filled with many intelligent and professional people. Use the site to create an educational facility and leverage the Human Resources available in the area. We are not pigs in Guyana, and we value our environment and our loved ones more than money.

Remember all the hardships we have overcome together

as a nation. We have survived and excelled when we were embargoed. Our country was safer and people lived healthier. If this is going to be the way foreign investors will make decisions in the future, where our citizens are expected to give up their good health, just to spend their new found earnings on healthcare, then we must say no thank you and bid them farewell from our shores.

The EPA must represent the best interest of our citizens and our environment.

A failure to do so must result in comprehensive change at the agency.

With concern, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

T N U L B . . .

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N N T Whither the oil wealth?

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Wednesday July 20, 2022

Kaieteur News

Guyanese continue to fool themselves into believing that we will get a lot of money from our oil wealth.

This is far from the truth as we have pointed out in numerous articles. What we are getting is mere pittance, thanks to the wretched oil contract the Coalition Government signed with ExxonMobil and the refusal of the Irfaan Ali administration to make it right. And while the leaders of this country masturbate with our resources, the impoverished are drained by the lack of basics, and grow wrathful watching the favoured few latching onto the richness of their oil, while they are being told that oil prosperity is a work in progress, and that don't expect too much.

Many Guyanese wonder whether to expect anything at all, given how things have been going, where even the trickledown spoken of by economists has not wended its pitiful way to their doorstep. They find it increasingly difficult to live in a society, where the rate of the increase in the cost of living is expected to double. So the question is asked, where have all the wealth gone; who really benefitting?

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Wednesday July 20, 2022

CCJ to make decision on appeal over dismissed Guyana elections case A five-man panel of judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice Appeal (CCJ) on Tuesday sat through an almost five-hour long hearing of oral submissions from the government and opposition in the contentious case of the appeal over the dismissed elections petition.

The five justices that presided over the matter were: Justice Jacob Wit; Justice Peter Jamadar; Justice Winston Anderson; Justice Maureen RajnauthLee and Justice Denys Barrow.

The A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change coalition had filed the matters to challenge the results of the March 2, 2020 general elections. The elections petition was filed

by Monica Thomas and Brennan Nurse. However, Chief Justice (Ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire threw out the matter and the two petitioners then challenged the Chief Justice’s decision at the Guyana Appeal Court (COA).

On December 21, 2021,

The Honourable Mr. Justice Jacob Wit

The Honourable Mr. Justice Winston Anderson

The Honourable Mr. Justice Denys Barrow

The Honourable Mr. Justice Peter Jamadar

The Honourable Mme. Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee

the majority held that the COA has jurisdiction to entertain an appeal from the decision of Chief Justice George, who had dismissed the Election Petition # 99 of 2020 on the grounds of late service, non-service, or improper service – on former President David Granger.

The Appeal Justices had handed down a 2-1 decision.

Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards and Justice of Appeal Dawn Gregory allowed the appeal, while

Justice Rishi Persaud dissented from their position.

The consolidated appeal before the CCJ is one where Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC, are challenging the decision of the Appellate Court that it has the jurisdiction to hear the appeal over the dismissed election petition case which was filed by the main opposition coalition.

Jagdeo and Nandlall are contending that the majority

of the COA erred in law and had no jurisdiction to hear and determine the appeal; neither from statute, the Constitution nor does it have an inherent jurisdiction. In the matter, Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, is appearing on behalf of Jagdeo, while Nandlall appears on behalf of the Government of Guyana – whereas, Attorneys Roysdale Forde, SC, in association with Selwyn Pieters and John Jeremie stood for Thomas.

On Tuesday, at the hearing of the consolidated appeals, before the oral arguments commenced – attorney-at-law Kashir Khan, representing another appellant in the case was not allowed to give oral submission because he had failed to meet the deadline to submit his written submissions, nor did he seek an extension of time from the

court. The first to give their oral submission was the Attorney General, who cited that the appeal raises neat, narrow and quintessential issue of whether an appeal lies to the Appellate Court from a decision of a High Court judge dismissing an elections petition for want of service.

He argued that Article 163 (3) of the Constitution, speaks to an appeal shall lie to the COA from the determination by the High Court of any such questions or against any order made in consequence of such determination. “Now it is on common grounds that the petition raise were not determined and therefore an appeal does not lie to the court of appeal as those questions has not been determined and that is the scheme of elections dispute legislation,” the Attorney General said.

Nandlall also made reference to a recent ruling by the CCJ, where it denied request to hear a Dominican election petition because the judgment by the trial judge was interlocutory and not final. Further down in Nandlall’s argument, Justice Jamadar intervened stating, “So if there is nothing that says how you appeal but the constitution gives a right of appeal then of course the court provides for a reasonable procedure, I am not troubled by that at all…”

He questioned the right that is being given at Section 163 (3) of the Constitution.

“So let’s look at it, you agree that there must be a decision of the High Court?” to this the Attorney General responded, “Yes...”

Justice Jamadar pointed out that he is questioning whether or not there is a requirement on how to Continued on page 21

Wednesday July 20, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Bush medicine should be regulated A

few decades ago, a woman used to appear on a private television station. She purported that medicine along with spirituality could heal any disease.

One of her recommendations for curing prostate cancer was to stand in a body of water with an egg on top of your head, eyes closed and praying. She claimed to be able to help people who were sick.

People fell for it. Many persons, who were ill and frustrated with not being cured, rushed to her clinic for the treatment she offered. Large sums of money were reportedly paid to the woman. Until one day something went terribly wrong.

A patient was given a potion to drink and started to vomit soon after and then collapsed and died.

The post-mortem showed the patient died from an infectious illness.

The healer disappeared from sight. The last thing that was heard was that she was plying her wares in Trinidad and Tobago.

She never said that she was a doctor. She described herself as a healer but the then Minister of Health said that he had heard she was giving people injections and treating them for medical conditions. It was said that she was operating what ostensibly was a clinic but without a licence for a medical facility.

But she was not the only snake oil specialist of the time. A man was also a regular on another private television station. From the things he spoke, he was extremely learned about medicine and human anatomy. He could easily have passed for a medical doctor given his wealth of knowledge.

He diagnosed and prescribed herbal treatment for his patients.

The then Minister of Health had told this newspaper that although herbalists are not permitted to diagnose or treat medical ailments, there was a legitimate place for such practitioners. However, he noted that the operations of herbalists must be conducted in a manner approved by the Food and Drug Department and they should not make a diagnosis or issue prescription.

Some doctors were concerned that while this herbalist never represented himself as a medical doctor, he was doing the things which doctors did – diagnosed and treating patients. Herbalists are not medical doctors.

The matter reached officialdom and there was talk that the man should be charged for making himself out to be a doctor. The fact is that the man never represented himself as a medical doctor and as such could not have been charged.

The Medical Practitioners Act of Guyana creates an

offence of improper use of a medical title. The law provides that anyone who uses the name, title, addition or description which is intended to represent or imply that that person is qualified to practice medicine or surgery shall be guilty of an offence and subject on conviction to a fine of $225,000 and imprisonment for 18 months.

The same law also makes it an offence for a person who is not a medical practitioner to use anything to suggest that he/she is related to the practice of medicine. That person therefore cannot put “Dr.” in front of or “M.D.” behind his or her name. The same penalty applies.

The law also makes it an offence for a person who is not a medical practitioner to hold himself or herself out to be of such. The penalty for this offence is the same $225,000 and 18 months imprisonment.

This law protects the public against persons who seek to impersonate doctors or hold themselves out to be qualified to practice medicine.

But it does not protect the public against the quacks and herbalists who do not say but imply that they are practicing medicine.

The snake oil specialists can get away with diagnosing and treating people for large sums of money. They can do so because they do not claim they are doctors but herbalists and spiritualists.

There was an attempt by the PPP/C government to

Dem boys seh...

Fast food chicken deh pon diet and exercise Tik Tok does mek dem boys laugh. People does show all kinda thing pon de social media platform and others does reply and mek dem boys laugh out loud.

A man show how he went to a fast-food place and dem sell he drumsticks. He seh how de chicken small, like it deh pon diet and exercising.

Another man seh how he like two-piece servings. But like dem fast food does play abna –babna with de second piece because most times he getting a stringy wing with de thigh.

But is not only de size and de cuts is de prablem. De price also gone up. Yuh paying more and yuh getting less.

Nuff ah dem young people nah want eat home cooked food. Dem living in de fast-

food shop. Is nuff chicken and chips passing out. Dem gobbling it down and nah sharing like dem old people use to do lang ago.

It mek dem boys remember de story of de elderly couple who went in de fastfood restaurant and order one hamburger, one serving French fries and one cup drink.

De old man unwrap de hamburger and cut it in half, placing one half in front he wife. He den carefully count de fries and divide it into two piles and place one pile in front he wife, He tek a sip ah de drink.

He wife tek a sip and put down de cup.

De people in de fast-food restaurant start to believe dat de couple was poor and could

only afford one meal. One customer guh over and offer to buy another meal fuh de old couple. But de old man turn down de offer, saying dat dem does share everything.

De people notice how de old lady didn’t eat anything but just sit and watch she husband eat and only one, one time she sip from de drink.

Again a man come over and offer to buy a meal. Dis time de old woman say, “No, thank you Sir, we does share everything.” Finally, as de old man finish and was wiping he face good with a napkin, de young man again come over to de little old lady who still didn’t eat a single bite ah de food and ask, “What yuh waiting for?” She responded: “De teeth.”

Talk half. Leff half.

regu l a t e h e r b a l i s t s a n d those offering natural remedies. The Allied Professionals Bill of 2009 had its genesis in an attempt to regulate these practices. But by the time it reached the floor of the National Assembly, the manner and the extent to which these practices were regulated could not be agreed upon.

Charging persons falsely holding themselves out to be medical doctors is only one side of the coin. The laws need to be strengthened to regulate herbalists and spiritualists who set out to diagnose and treat persons for illnesses.

Unless this happens, there will be a great many snake oil salesmen and saleswomen, whose activities present a threat to life and limb.

(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

Wednesday July 20, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Read Carter, Sanders and Hergash and educate yourself: You should

T

his is the third occasion in my 34-year columnist career that I have mentioned an analysis by Mr. Ben Carter. Writing in the BBC online edition of November 1 5 , 2 0 1 3 , M r. C a r t e r produced a masterpiece of an educated commentary on how we must use context to understand life's phenomena.

It is titled, “Sachin Tendulkar: The world's 29th greatest batsman?” This is good material for grasping the reality hidden behind the things that appear to us to be truthful.

Mr. Jack uses context to explain that Tendulkar is not even near on the top of the list of great batsmen.

He put fellow Indian batsman, Rahul Dravid as being better.

What Jack did is to use context in a powerfully potent manner to explain why others are better.

The lovely thing about Jack's column is that it opens your eyes. Why wouldn't a

human want to stick with their beliefs when facts and evidence are there to educate them that some of their beliefs are not in harmony with reality? You have an obligation to yourself to enlighten yourself. That is one of the purposes of being on earth.

Another piercing analysis to read is an article by Sir Ron Sanders in this very newspaper. It removes impressions you have as a Caribbean, Western educated person, growing up in Western culture that sees the United States as a close friend of the Caribbean.

You have people in this country that give off an automatic condemnation of CARICOM heads as soon as CARICOM countries do not vote with the US in the UN or oppose a US policy or criticise US behaviour. But Sanders' analysis reveals that CARICOM is not even on the radar of the US and the US as the richest government in the world is extremely stingy in

its aid to the CARICOM region.

His column is titled, “For the Caribbean, relation with the US and China is not one or the other,” October 17, 2021.

Here are statistics for your education provided by Mr. Sanders. Read his analysis and educate yourself. When you do so, you better understand the world around you.

Mr. Sanders noted: “The 14-nation independent states of the Caribbean Community have been at the bottom of US official development assistance for decades. In 2019, for instance, total US foreign assistance globally was US$47 billion, of which collectively, CARICOM countries received US$338 million or 0.7 percent.

For emphasis, that is less than one percent of the global total. Haiti alone received US$268 million of that US$338 million intended for all 14 CARICOM states, leaving the other 13 to share

US$70 million only. For 9 of the 13 countries, the sum provided did not amount to US$1 million.”

Ask yourself, against this backdrop, why CARICOM nations must not seek developmental aid and trade which they desperately need with countries that the US do not want them to trade with?

That makes absolutely no sense in the real world of survival. You would think that given their enduring democratic substance and traditional friendship with the US, CARICOM would be better treated. They weren't even under Obama who was certainly no friend of the Caribbean.

F i n a l l y, M r. H a r r y Hergash. This gentleman was one of the first UG graduates.

He published a letter in the Sunday edition of this newspaper which was also carried in the e-paper but unfortunately was not found in the letters section of the newspaper's home page.

It meant that some in the

diaspora might have missed it. I have asked the editor-in chief to Frederick Kissoon make the letter available to should distance themselves everyone.

In his letter, Mr. Hergash from the fossil fuel industry quotes the Canadian Prime while rich countries that Minister, Justin Trudeau as continue with their fossil fuel saying this: “No country industry, need to educate would find 173 billion barrels themselves in a profound of oil in the ground and leave way to understand how the world operates. them there.”

The Russian invasion of Mr. Hergash cited his source for the quote. He also Ukraine is indefensible. referred to President Joe Countries just cannot invade Biden's announcement in other countries in which April of further oil and gas young men lose their lives senselessly. exploration.

To ask poor nations to The article goes on to make powerful points about sanction Russia is not an how super-rich countries incorrect request. But rich have become extraordinarily countries that want the Third wealthy through fossil fuels World to do so must start and today give a pittance to giving substantial aid to poor countries that they want poorer states. They need it t o s a v e t h e w o r l d ' s ASAP. (The views expressed in environment.

Anyone, who lives in the this article are those of the Third World and has the author and do not necessarily temerity to even propose that reflect the opinions of this poor countries that found oil newspaper.)

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Wednesday July 20, 2022

7 years on…Guyana still to protect self from being cheated on oil revenues – Former Finance Minister Jordan acknowledges flaws in Exxon contract Former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan has acknowledged that in hindsight, there are certain provisions in the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) which could have been better negotiated. Be that as it may, he is of the view that seven years after the discovery of oil, Guyana is yet to be fully armed with the institutional and legal instruments needed to ensure it is not being cheated on its oil revenues.

During a recent online

interview, the former Minister said,”…there were a number of things in the contract that could have been better negotiated and so forth but having said that, you have in front of you a contract. Now you can run on two parallel tracks, on one you can seek to get the contract renegotiated but on the other tract you must run on given what is in there.”

Jordan continued, “You have to ensure that you are not cheated even within what you have signed up to

get and I think in that regard, we are not doing a very good job because seven years after oil has been found we don’t have in place, I believe, not even maybe 10 percent of the legal, regulatory, human and other factors in place to ensure that in terms of what is in the contract, we get every ounce of it even as we move or attempt to get renegotiation…”

T h e f o r m e r M i n i s t e r ’s comments are also in sync with the findings outlined in a key report by

the World Bank which outlined that the shortage of oil-sector experts in relevant government entities, combined with inadequate human and capital resources, limits the country’s ability to monitor, audit, and enforce regulations on oil companies.

Further to its call for the relevant experts to be put in place, the financial institution said the international experience for oil producing states reveals that Continued on page 19

Former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 20, 2022

PAGE 13

Absent Govt. MPs stalls work of PAC The work of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has faced cancellation for two consecutive weeks owing to the absence of Members of Parliament from the government.

This was revealed on Monday

by Chairperson of the PAC Jermaine Figueira as he explained that the meeting was stalled after all of the government members of the PAC were absent from the meeting.

Figueira explained that the absence has resulted in a lack of a quorum.

He said that the government had amended the PAC quorum to provide for five members– two members represent government, two represent the opposition and as well as the Chairman.

The PAC chairman said that the government members did not show up to the meeting because they wanted to stymie the progress of the committee. He explained that as previously announced the meeting was scheduled for the committee to commence examination of the consolidated Auditor General reports for the years 2019 and 2020.

“This is something that the government is in fierce opposition to and so I believe that they would use this tactic to stop the meeting from going forward which just gives credence to what I was saying about their move to change the makeup of the quorum…” Figueira added.

He stressed that Monday was

the second consecutive meeting to be cancelled because of the lack of quorum. While the Government side of the PAC continues to object to the combined examination of the 2019-2020 audit reports, Figueira has been insisting that it is necessary for the committee to clear the backlog of its work.

The issue was raised last week and documented in correspondence between the PAC Chair and Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira. The government had previously objected to the combined examination of the audit report emanating from the APNU+AFC term in office.

Teixeira, a member of the

committee wrote to the PAC chair outlining the reasons why the reports should be examined separately. In the letter, Teixeira noted among other things, that for the period of nine months in 2019 when the APNU+AFC held office, there was no budget allocation or appropriation act approved by the National Assembly.

Therefore, she contended that monies were being withdrawn from the public coffers without the authority of the parliament or oversight as required by statutes.

The years, 2019 and 2020, Teixeira said were aberrations and not in accordance with the constitution and statutory requirements Continued on page 19

PAC Chair, Jermaine Figueira

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Wednesday July 20, 2022

T&T is a treasure trove of lessons for Guyana on how to navigate oil sector pitfalls - UWI Lecturer

By Kiana Wilburg While it is commendable that Guyana is committed to reducing its carbon footprint via a suite of renewable energy projects complemented by the imminent gas-to-shore power plant; and it has even created a Natural Resource

Fund into which regular deposits are made, that alone will not be its saving grace against the Dutch Disease.

It will require Guyana to demonstrate great vision, discipline and clear communication via g o v e r n m e n t s a y s D r.

Graham King, Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering at

the University of the West Indies (UWI). In his effort to explain the tightrope Guyana m u s t w a l k , D r. K i n g referenced his homeland, Trinidad and Tobago as a case study. He noted that the founding CARICOM member did a few things well with her oil and gas resources, much like what

Guyana is doing at the moment, but still, T&T got caught in the tentacles of the Dutch disease—a phenomenon that sees the rapid development of one sector and the decline of others.

Outlining some of the positives of the T&T oil experience, Dr. King shared that the country was an early mover on new energy opportunities. In this respect, he explained that in the mid1970s, consultation and focused dialogue led to the establishment of priority use areas for previously-flared natural gas. The UWI Lecturer shared that Trinidad latched onto a growing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market and eventually had the largest LNG plant in the world at the time when there had been no other successful developments in the Atlantic basin.

Other positives he highlighted included the fact t h a t Tr i n i d a d c r e a t e d functional collaborations between nationally owned companies, multinational operators, locally-owned private sector companies and private shareholders. He shared as well that as early as the 1950s, natural gas was identified as useful for electricity production.

Additionally, the T&T lecturer noted that his country made significant investments in education which included free local tertiary education, complemented by a

Dr. Graham King, Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of the West Indies (UWI) generous system of scholarships for international study. He said too that specialist programmes such as the Petroleum Geoscience programme at the University of the West Indies provided technically qualified, local leaders in the energy sector.

Even with the foregoing, and other notable achievements, Dr. King said T&T still managed to drop the ball on a number of other key issues. In this regard, he said it failed to modernise its national systems.

Expounding further he said, “Over the years of success in establishing itself as a world-class energy player, two worlds have emerged in Trinidad and Tobago. In one we find the professionalism and efficiency of the energy

sector, while in… well, pretty much all other parts of society, low productivity and a poor work ethic abound.

For instance, despite the declared intentions by politicians of all shades, the public service has not been reformed and remains overstaffed and generally unresponsive to changing needs.”

Dr. King said too that roads are highly congested and public transport is unreliable with a limited network. “The education system also gets a failing grade when it comes to producing critical thinkers who can innovate,” he added.

Importantly, the lecturer pointed out that sluggishness in waking up to the potential benefits of renewable energy Continued on page 19

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday July 20, 2022

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Wednesday July 20, 2022

PAGE 17

EPA invites public to share concerns over Exxon’s proposed 35-well campaign The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting members of the public to share their concerns on the new 35 well exploration campaign to be pursued by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)- the local subsidiary of US oil giant, ExxonMobil and current operator the Stabroek Block.

EPA in a public notice, uploaded to its website yesterday, said that the public has 28 days to “make written submissions to the Agency setting out those questions and matters which they require to be answered or considered in the environmental impact assessment of the cumulative

The four areas that have been identified in the Stabroek Block as the possible locations for the proposed 35 exploration/appraisal wells

4

3

2 1 Legend Preliminary Exploration Prospect Areas Stabroek Block

effects of the proposed project/activities in the Stabroek Block.”

Comments can be addressed to the Executive Director of the EPA, Kemraj Parsram or sent via email at epa@epaguyana.org.

The EPA said it has been determined that the proposed project by itself will not significantly affect the environment, hence an Environmental Impact Assessment of the Cumulative Impacts has been ordered.

In sharing the reasons for its decision, the Agency pointed out that the impacts from the 35-well campaign will be temporary and will be Continued on page 24

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Wednesday July 20, 2022

U.S. flags Guyana for not convicting human traffickers

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken

— URGES STRICTER ENFORCEMENT OF LAW The United States has urged Guyana to increase its prosecution and convictions of human traffickers and pursue them under the Combating Trafficking in Persons Act of 2005, including for cases involving child victims.

It also wants Guyana to ensure security for victims, especially those residing in government shelters, and their relatives.

“Proactively screen vulnerable populations, including Haitian migrants and Cuban medical workers, for trafficking indicators, refer them to services, and ensure potential victims are not deported without screening,” the US Government said in its latest Human Trafficking report

released by the State Department on Tuesday.

Additionally, the US wants Guyana to formally approve and implement victim SOPs and fund

specialised victim services, particularly for child, adult male, and Venezuelan victims in their native language, including for indigenous populations.

”Increase the number of Spanish speakers supporting anti-trafficking efforts; reduce delays in investigations, court proceedings, and pretrial detention of suspects; reduce the reliance on victims to serve as witnesses in prosecutions; ensure migrants wishing to change jobs are able to do so without relying on their previous employer,” were among s o m e o f t h e recommendations Washington made to Guyana which remains on the Tier 1 of the US watch list.

Tier 1, means that the Government of Guyana fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and continues to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period.

According to the US the these efforts included identifying more victims and referring them to services, increasing investigations

and prosecutions, drafting and funding a National Action Plan (NAP) for 20212025 with input from survivors, training diplomats, and conducting a campaign to inform migrants of the Spanishlanguage hotline.

According to the US Government although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not convict any traffickers for the first time in four years.

It did not formally approve standard operating procedures (SOPs) to identify victims, provide sufficient security for t r a ff i c k i n g v i c t i m s a t shelters, provide enough Spanish-language interpreters, identify any

victims among the vulnerable Haitian population, or adequately oversee recruitment agencies.

Additionally, the US wants Guyana to formally approve and fund the 20212025 National Action Plan; reduce police abuses during raids and hold officers accountable.

“Investigate trafficking cases in remote regions of the country and trafficking using online platforms.

Hold convicted traffickers, including complicit officials, accountable by pursuing significant sentences in court,” the report added. Guyana is also being urged to prohibit recruitment and placement Continued on page 19

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Guyana still to protect self from...

From page 12 successfully managing the sector requires the transparent and accountable implementation of robust policy and institutional framework composed of five core elements. It said these include: (i) policies, laws, and contractual arrangements that maximize the benefits of oil revenues and minimize downside risks; (ii) a set of regulatory institutions capable of effective oversight; (iii) appropriate fiscal policies and sound public financial management (PFM)

infrastructure; (iv) robust revenue management and distribution mechanisms; and (v) policies to promote sustainable long-term development. Although Guyana has made substantial progress in strengthening the management of the oil sector in the said areas outlined, the international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries outlined that further measures are desperately needed to align the country

with best practices. It stressed, in the same way other stakeholders have done for the last six to seven years, that legislative modernisation will help maximise benefits, manage technical, environmental, social, and financial risks, and build capacity to engage effectively with investors. At present, the key laws governing the sector include the Petroleum (Production) Act of 1938, the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 1986 and related regulations, and the Upstream Legal

US flags Guyana for not convicting...

From page 18 fees charged to workers; increase the number of labour inspectors and fines for labour violations, enforce restitution judgments for trafficking victims and undertake systemic monitoring of antitrafficking efforts and publish the results.

Meanwhile, in a message on the release of the report, US Secretary of

State, Antony Blinken said everyone should be free.

And yet, through force, fraud, and coercion, human traffickers violate this most basic right. “ Tr a ff i c k e r s ’ exploitative practices affect every country in the world, including the United States, by diminishing and d e s t r o y i n g o u r communities, sense of security, and the global

e c o n o m y. T h i s y e a r ’s Trafficking in Persons Report turns the spotlight to more clearly illuminate the impact of human trafficking on our global community and on actions we can take as individuals, and as a society, to combat this deplorable crime everywhere it occurs, especially in the most atrisk communities,” Blinken said.

T&T is a treasure trove of lessons...

From page 14 to a fossil-fuel based economy and regulatory hurdles prevent the uptake of something as simple as distributed solar.

Dr. King also noted that slowness to modernise has adversely affected the ease of doing business. In fact, Trinidad & Tobago is currently ranks 105 in the world when it comes to the ease of doing business which has ultimately hampered the competitiveness of non-energy sectors in the country. Along with overreliance on transfers and subsidies for wealth distribution, Dr. King said T&T failed to engender sustained investment in

research and development.

In conclusion, Dr. King noted that T&T’s efforts to become a leader in the oil and gas industry left efforts for economic diversification on the back burner thereby putting the future economic development of the country at risk.

Ta k i n g T & T ’s e x p e r i e n c e i n t o consideration, he posited that Guyana would be wise to remain vigilant and operate with a sense of direction, great discipline and clear communication if it is to emerge unscathed by the debilitating effects of the Dutch disease.

Requirements for Petroleum (2004).

These instruments, along with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Act, the Mining Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and other relevant pieces of legislation, are yet to be adjusted to reflect that Guyana is no longer a frontier but instead a proven oil producer.

PAGE 19

Absent Govt. MPs stalls...

From page 13 regarding expenditure from the public purse.

As a result, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister noted that the reports from the two years require proper scrutiny and therefore should not be examined together. She called on the PAC to halt any preparations to hold a combined examination of the two reports together and to proceed to examine them separately and sequentially.

However, Figueira insists that the government’s position on the issue is unfounded. He wrote to the Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, stating that the reasons posited for the government’s side, as to why the merging of the years 2019 and 2020 should be halted are immaterial to the business and concerns of the Public Accounts Committee.

PAGE 20

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Kaieteur News

Police in moves to erase Felix Austin from college’s name - Slowe urges rethink Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe

Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe has raised concerns over the Guyana P o l i c e F o r c e ’s ( G P F ) decision to change the name of the Felix Austin Police College to the Guyana Police Force Academy.

GPF in a recent Facebook post made has notified the public that it “has taken a decision to change the name of the Felix Austin Police College to the Guyana Police Force Academy.

However, Slowe believes that the move is one that will erase the history behind GPF and its training college. In a letter to the editor of this newspaper, Slowe wrote: “I asked myself whether this is a deliberate effort to erase or re-write the history of the Guyana Police Force, which recently observed its 183rd anniversary”.

Felix Austin was the first Guyanese Commissioner of Police after Guyana gained Independence in 1966 and Slowe stated that this was one of the main reasons why the “Police training school” formed in 1956 was renamed after him in 1987. “The Police Training School gained the status of a college and was renamed the Felix Austin Police College on August 28, 1987, as a tribute to Guyana’s first post-independence Commissioner of Police”, Slowe wrote.

The retired Assistant Commissioner explained that prior to Austin’s a p p o i n t m e n t , Commissioners of Police were chosen from among British Nationals because Guyana was under British rule. When Guyana gained independence, Austin was appointed Commissioner of Police in 1967 and became the first Guyanese to hold that position. Slowe also pointed out that Austin had an illustrious police career and was the founder of the Police Literary and Debating

Section of the Police Sports Club. He noted too that Austin was one of the founding members of the Police Male Voice Choir and had also served as Chairman and “militant member of the Police Federation now known as the Police Association”.

Slowe is of the view that renaming the Felix Austin Training College will erase a key part of Guyana’s history and wants GPF to reconsider its decision. Slowe wrote: “I hope that the persons who took the decision to erase the name of the first Commissioner of Police after Guyana gained independence from the police training institution in Georgetown will reconsider this decision”.

Speaking with Kaieteur

News on Tuesday, Director o f G P F ’s C o r p o r a t e Communications Unit (CCU), Mark Ramotar related that the reason behind the decision is simply because the force is launching a new police academy, with an upgraded status, one that is accredited by the University of Guyana (Guyana). Ramotar added that the formation of the new academy is part of GPF’s strategic plan to upgrade the education level of its ranks and ranks in training. This move, he said, was made possible by a five-year Memorandum of Agreement between the force and UG. The MoA was signed in 2021, with the purpose of refining existing programmes and developing new ones that cater for members of the force.

GPF has since invited interested artists and designers to be part of a Logo and Slogan competition for the new police academy.

Competitors are being asked to submit a Logo and a Slogan design in PDF format for the “The Guyana Police Force Academy”.

All Submissions must be sent in no later than 12:00hrs on Thursday July 28, via e m a i l t o pro@guyanapoliceforce.gy.

The winning entry will be awarded $300,000 in cash.

The police force’s flyer for the Logo and Slogan competition

Wednesday July 20, 2022

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

$178M estimated to complete Phase 2 of Parika Market rehabilitation

T

he Ministry of Lo cal Government and Regional Development will soon take on phase two of the Parika Market rehabilitation project.

The contract for phase two which is estimated to cost $178,830,575, according to the Ministry’s engineer, was opened yesterday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office. The project attracted two contractors, S. Maraj Contracting Service who submitted a bid of $243,349,975 and A.Nazier & Son Contracting & General Supplies who placed a bid of $147,496,305.

The rehabilitation project of the market began last year when a contract was signed between the Ministry and VAL’S Construction to complete phase one of the project.

The contract which was signed in mid July last year was worth $29.2 million.

At that contract signing it was noted that the project would see the construction of 1000sq ft of roof with translucent sheets that would allow natural light to illuminate the

market; a 300-foot concrete and steel fencing would be constructed, and the establishment of a four-chamber sanitary facility. Major works were also slated to be done on the electrical distribution system.

It was reported that when the works on the market are completed, vendors would be able to operate under better and improved conditions.

Though it is unclear, the percentage of works completed at the market, a stall holder recently wrote a letter in this publication calling for the President to intervene in addressing the present state of the facility.

According to the stall holder, Robin Salim who has a gold business there for a number of years, the market is currently in a deplorable condition which is affecting the operations of some businesses. Salim said in his letter, “The market has been in a deplorable state for some years now and several persons who own stalls were forced to close their businesses. The authorities are allowing persons to ply their

The present state of the Parika Market. (Robin Salim photo)

trade on the road to the detriment of the persons who operate inside the market. This has resulted in several persons going out of business over the years.”

He noted that the many visits authorities made they have promised that they will rebuild the market and bring back some order in the opera-

tions of the market. “It is now some ten months since they started the works to fix the market and to date only some posts and frame of the roof have been constructed,” he mentioned.

The man described that currently, the roofs of several stalls are leaking and the market is “like a ghost town as

shoppers are not coming in due to persons occupying the roadways.”

Salim added that he and others have made several complaints to government ministers about the problems but since then no form of action has been taken to address the issue. “The President has been very proactive to solve

the problems of persons in various communities across Guyana, but he has not been afforded the opportunity to visit the Parika Marketing Centre for some years now.

Please, Mr President, businesses are suffering and we are hoping that a solution could be found soon,” Salim appealed.

CCJ to make decision on appeal over... Alleged arsonist wanted for From page 8 appeal. “Then if there is no requirement honourable attorney general we have to make sense of what 3 (a) covers constitutionally,” the judge stated.

Article 163 stipulates, “(3) An appeal shall lie to the Court of Appeal- (a) from the decision of a Judge of the High Court granting or refusing leave to institute proceedings for the determination of any question referred to in paragraph (1); (b) from the determination by the High Court of any such question, or against any order of the High Court made in conse-

quence of such determination, (4) Parliament may make provision with respect to (a) the circumstances and manner in which and the conditions upon which proceedings for the determination of any question under this article may be instituted in the High Court and an appeal may be brought to the Court of Appeal.”

Justice Jamadar said too, “The constitution says what it says and the question in my mind is that section broad enough to say any dismissal or is it limited.” Moreover, Senior Counsel Mendes made similar arguments like

Nandlall. He argued that the COA has no jurisdiction over the matter and added that if the respondents had followed the procedure, the Chief Justice would have heard their petition case on its merit. Additionally, the lawyers for the respondents in their address to the court pointed to Article 163, but they argued that the language of the section gives the Appellate Court jurisdiction to hear the matter. At the end of the appellants and respondents submissions – Justice Wit informed the parties that the court will inform them of a date when a decision will be made.

murder of Mahdia woman

By Shervin Belgrave

A

n alleged arsonist is now wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of Nariman Latifan, 55, the Essequibo woman, who was on July 6 last found brutally murdered in Mahdia, Region Eight.

Police issued a wanted bulletin for the alleged arsonist on Tuesday and identified as, 48-year-old Dexter James also known as Limuel Alphonso. His last known addresses were given as Campbelltown Village Mahdia. If anyone knows where Alphonso might be, they are asked make contact with police, 226-6978, 2258196, 227-1611, 225-2317, 2258196, 638-8440 or the nearest police station.

James or Alphonso is labeled as a notorious character in the mining town. He is accused of wounding someone and even setting a house on fire at Mahdia. Police had issued a wanted bulletin for him in June this year, stating that he had committed those offences in September 2021.

Somehow he has managed to elude police in that district and has been a menace to Mahdia residents since.

One individual said that the alleged arsonist had threatened him during an argument they had some time back before running away.

Police now believe that he might have some knowledge

Murdered in Mahdia, Nariman Latifan. about Latifan’s murder.

Latifan better Known as “Nari” had gone missing from her Salbura backdam home on July 5, 2020 last. Her hammock was chopped down and the house she shared with her husband, ransacked. Blood stains were seen on their veranda and burnt body parts were found a short distance behind the house. A day later detectives found her battered remains disposed in an area close by.

Someone had beaten her and then used presumably a rope or a chord to strangle her.

Police believe that her killer could be a miner who she and her husband had granted shelter sometime ago and they believe that the alleged arsonist now wanted for questioning in relation to her murder could help them solve the case.

Wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of Nariman Latifan, Dexter James also known as Limuel Alphanso

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Caribbean monitoring spread of Monkey-pox - but no restriction of entry of persons from any country

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The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) said it is monitoring the spread of Monkey Pox in the region, but is not recommending restrictions on entry of persons from any country.

Thus far The Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica have recorded cases of Monkeypox. In a press release CARPHA said that Member States should continue to remain on high alert for the importation of viral or other infections and monitor in country syndromic surveillance systems for increases in fever and rash illnesses. “At CARPHA we coordinate public health policy and work closely with our Member States and other public health partners to respond to public health issues. As part of our regional public health management, we provide assistance to Member States through the development of tools for investigation and epidemiological monitoring, and personnel are prepared to respond in country to assist in the investigation and control of outbreak, should the need arise,” stated Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director at the Caribbean Public Health Agency.

VACANCY Cook/Baker, Hauler operator & Servicemen for interior location Applicants must be experienced. Call 231-2250.

Salesperson must have passes in English & Math.

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Vacancy- Lorry Drivers & Porters Contact: 650-0979 Experienced cashier, cleaner and counter person.Apply @ Shanta’s 225 Camp & New MarketSt.

Dr. St. John further stated “We know that diseases do not recognize borders, and international travel makes us aware that no borders are secure from the threat of diseases, especially infectious ones. At this time, Member States are in various stages of easing of restrictions for COVID-19 which severely impacted the Region.” CARPHA said it is monitoring the spread of the monkeypox virus – looking at prevention and control. “We have also commenced testing for the monkeypox virus. At this time, CARPHA does not recommend restrictions on entry of persons from any country. Working alongside our Member States, we will support activities and educate the public to protect the health of all within their borders,” the release added.

Meanwhile, in its Situation Report last week PAHO disclosed that there were some 1,981 confirmed cases from 15 countries and territories in the Americas.

According to the PAHO report, most of confirmed cases are male (99%), 79% are aged 25 to 45 years old, and most self-identify as men who have sex with other men. 65% of cases in the Americas are

local transmitted cases (increase of 6% since the last Situation Report on 8 July 2022).

The Ministry of Health last week reported that it will continue monitoring, and be on high alert for possible cases of Monkeypox as the virus has been detected in more than 40 countries already. Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, recently stated that the country now has the capability to test for the virus, if the need arises.

Guyana’s local health authorities, with guidance from the Ministry of Health, are preparing to address any possible case of the virus, locally. “We have the capability if it’s necessary to do these types of tests so that’s how we have been preparing…We did not have that capability but we’ve sent persons to train and they’re now back at the Public Health Reference lab and they would be able, if it is necessary, to run these samples, they would have the competence to do so,” he pointed out.

The minister said training was conducted by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and was rolled -out for Caribbean regions. Symptoms of Monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph

nodes, exhaustion, and rashes that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Monkeypox can be transmitted from animal-tohuman (zoonotic) by direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected animals. Further, human-tohuman infections occur when someone comes into close contact with an infected person. As such, the health minister is urging persons to take precautionary measures to avoid Monkeypox infections in Guyana.

Additionally, the spread of the virus is mainly associated with infected persons traveling from endemic countries to other locations across the world.

With the recent outbreak, Minister Anthony said the virus is not easily contained, as such it continues to spread across countries, and was recently detected in some Caribbean countries. “What is different from past outbreaks is that this one is not easily contained, and so you now have monkey pox cases in probably more than 40 countries right now,” Minister Anthony said.

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Kaieteur News

86 new COVID-19 infections detected F

r o m approximatel y 6 2 0 COVID-19 tests conducted, the Ministry of Health on Tuesday reported that it recorded 86 new cases across the country within the last 24 hours. The new infections now bring the total number of confirmed cases to 69,058.

The Ministry via its dashboard reported that four patients are admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 26 persons are in institutional isolation, 886 are in home isolation and one is in institutional q u a r a n t i n e .

Additionally, a total of 66,875 persons have recovered from the virus.

PAGE 23

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Heatwave: Ferocious European heat heads north (BBC) - Sweltering temperatures hit much of Western Europe on Tuesday as a ferocious heatwave headed north.

The UK hit its highest ever temperature of 40.2C, according to provisional Met Office figures, and forecasters warned temperatures were still climbing.

Extreme heat warnings were issued in France and

record July temperatures were reported in the Netherlands.

Deadly wildfires in France, Portugal, Spain and Greece have forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

Two people were killed by forest fires in Spain’s north-western Zamora region and trains in the area were halted because of fire near the tracks. An elderly

couple died while trying to escape fires in northern Portugal. Heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change. German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke said the climate crisis meant the country had to rethink its preparations for very hot weather, drought and flooding.

‘Guyana be warned...’

From page 3 forefront of the demonstration. The demonstration Monday also coincided with a decision by the oil company, SOL to halt fuel deliveries due to a major government backlog. The action led to several SOL service stations being closed and long lines of people forming at other gas stations.

President Santokhi’s comments on the radio on Sunday that the announced demonstration was instigated by the opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) headed by former president, Desi Bouterse, angered many of the demonstrators.

Santokhi said he has been elected for a five-year term and he intends to serve it out.

He said that citizens will have the opportunity to elect a new government in 2025.

Efforts by the protestors to enter the office of the head of state were stopped by a large contingent of police officers, as well as members of the Riot Police Unit.

Sri Lanka’s protest has escalated over the past few days, with citizens continuing their call for better governance for just over 100 days now. During the period, both the President and Prime Minister were forced to resign.

Al Jazeera reported that this was the first time in the country’s history that serving head of state had resigned. Sri Lanka, a country with a population of just about 22 million people, has been struggling to provide basic necessities for its people, such as medicine, fuel and food items.

Meanwhile, CNN reported that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to announce his resignation after more than 100,000 people massed outside his residence.

His planned resignation would leave him without presidential immunity — potentially exposing him to a raft of legal charges and reduced security.

After being blocked from departing the country at least twice last Monday, Rajapaksa and his wife managed to flee

to Malé, in the Maldives on Wednesday last, according to a high-ranking security official.

The country is suffering rampant inflation and is struggling to import food, fuel and medicine. In fact, about three weeks ago, the authorities suspended sale of petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles in an attempt to preserve the country’s dwindling fuel stocks. The country had been trying to secure fuel on credit from countries, including Russia, but have not been successful.

WARNING TO GUYANA In light of the prevailing crises those countries have been faced with, civil society body Article 13 has cautioned the incumbent administration here to be alert and ensure corrective measures are taken, so as to prevent Guyana from trotting down a similar lane.

It was Dr. Yog Mahadeo, one of the founding members of the body in an invited comment that shared this perspective yesterday. He told Kaieteur News, “In many countries, people are rising against corrupt politicians.

Suriname and Sri Lanka are current examples. The local triggers vary but usually focus on rising poverty levels, increasing prices and the everwidening gap between the politicians who flaunt their nouveau riche lifestyle and the people who put them in power who have to constantly stand with their begging bowls, waiting for party or political favours. And worse, are the levels of cronyism, nepotism and corruption.”

In fleshing out the difference between those demonstrations and local protest actions, Mahadeo explained, “race and party consciousness is superior to national consciousness. This results in reluctance to speak out ‘against your own’. We have seen it during the (David) Granger administration and see it under the (Irfaan)Ali administration, as we also saw in past PPP and PNC governments. Guyanese suffer in si-

lence because of “its our time” paradigm. Racist politicians masterfully manipulate this vicious cycle.”

On the other hand, the transparency activist said Guyanese are often afraid to join protests out of fear of repercussions or being victimized so that children end up losing scholarships, jobs or even a handout. To this end, the Article 13 spokesperson indicated that, “We have examples of Government officials who threatened persons who dared to protest by reminding them that they received Government favours.

There is a common belief that if you are employed by a government, you have no right to express against discrimination, victimization or corruption. This palpable fear is evident in state-sponsored cyber-bullying and attacks.

People who speak out are targeted and attacked as a warning to the rest to get in line.”

At the same time however, Mahadeo is hopeful that the Government can make strides to avoid mass protests in the country. “I certainly hope that Government can see what is taking place elsewhere and take corrective actions against the problems we face so that it does not get to that level that demands mass protest.”

He was keen to point out at the same time that a large gathering at a protest does not mean there is no support for the activity. Mahadeo pointed out that protestors, like himself, receive numerous messages and calls in support of their patriotic effort, sometimes even receiving the support through critical access to information by silent supporters, he said.

Importantly, Mahadeo concluded, “Guyana’s leaders need to be alert. Our people face increasing prices for basic food items. The economy is great - but only on paper, not for our poor people.

There’s a breaking point somewhere as the rich gets richer and the poor wait with begging bowls for the next handout.”

Wildfires were still burning a day after several French cities including Nantes in the west saw their hottest-ever day. More than 30,000 people have had to flee, with several camp sites destroyed and emergency shelters set up for evacuees.

Gironde, a popular tourist region in the south-west, has been hit particularly badly, with firefighters from across France battling to control two blazes that have destroyed 19,300 hectares (47,700 acres) of land in the past week. The city of Bordeaux was blanketed by smoke early on Tuesday as the wind changed direction. “It’s a monster like an octopus, and it’s growing and growing and growing in the front, in the back, on both sides,” said Jean-Luc Gleyze,

Gironde’s regional president.

The hottest temperatures have now moved to the north and east. Hundreds of people have had to leave their homes in the far north-west of Brittany, and fire has destroyed 1,400 hectares of vegetation. A dozen animals at the zoo in La Teste-de-Buch died of stress and from the high temperatures, the government said. In a complex operation involving vets, zookeepers and others, 363 animals that could be moved were driven in convoys to Bordeaux-Pessac zoo 65km (40 miles) away. The

UK’s Met Office said 40.2C°C was provisionally recorded at Heathrow Airport west of London on Tu e s d a y, and

forecasters warned temperatures were still climbing in many places.

Extreme heat warnings have been issued covering central, northern and south-east England.

Forecasters say the heatwave is heading north, with the mercury expected to hit 40C in the far south of Belgium as well as western and southwestern Germany.

A fire broke out in dunes at the Belgian resort of De Haan, setting several vehicles alight.

Germany’s DWD weather service recorded a national record temperature of 41.2C in the city of Duisburg in July 2019 and spokesman Andreas Friedrich said similar highs were possible on Tuesday in similar areas along the River Rhine.

EPA invites public to share concerns...

From page 17 localized to the site of the activities.

Kaieteur News understands that the Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) usually forms part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which considers the broader overall impacts from a project, as well as mitigative measures among others. This detailed study usually takes about a year or more to be completed, however a CIA would be completed in a fraction of the time as the impacts from projects in the surrounding area would already be reported.

To explain the process, this publication spoke to the former Head of the EPA, Dr. Vincent Adams who confirmed that the CIA should be a component of an EIA. In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, he pointed out that the cumulative impacts forms part of an EIA and considers impacts from potential and existing projects, whereas an EIA would point out likely impacts from a specific project and include details on cumulative impacts as well.

Environmentalist, Simone Mangal-Joly also confirmed this. In an invited comment yesterday, she explained, “Every EIA must consider how a project is going to affect people and the environment. A cumulative impact assessment would entail considering the project itself along with the presence of other factors or stressors in that environment.

For example, if you are putting a factory in a place where they have two other factories you must not only think of the pollution coming from your factory but also think of how it’s going to add

up with the pollution coming from the other two factories to affect people and the environment.”

The environmentalist added, “A cumulative assessment is just one component of an Environmental Impact Assessment. It’s a bit odd that EPA is advertising an EIA specifically of cumulative impacts, but I think it is a step in the right direction, as no EIA for offshore oil and gas activities or waivers of EIAs for exploratory drilling to date has genuinely assessed the cumulative impact of offshore activities. There are two challenges before the EAB (Environmental Assessment Board) of EIA waivers for drilling in the Kaieteur and Canje blocks. One of the grounds is the failure to address cumulative impacts. I think the EPA is tacitly acknowledging that truth in requiring this EIA for Stabroek Block drilling activities.”

Stabroek 35-wells campaign The drilling of the exploration/appraisal well(s) in the Stabroek Block is expected to potentially occur simultaneously with other drilling activities, including: The Liza Phase 1 Project well drilling and production operations; The Liza Phase 2 Development Project well drilling program and production operations; The Payara Development Project well drilling program, installation, and start of production; Ongoing exploration/appraisal well drilling operations in the Stabroek Block covered under a 25-well campaign approved on 1 October 2019; The Yellowtail Development Project well drilling program and installation operations; and two 12 well campaigns in the Kaieteur

and Canje oil blocks for which environmental authorization is currently being sought.

As such, the EPA has ordered that a Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) be conducted.

In the regulator’s screening report, it was explained “It can be concluded based on the existing data, technical review and exercise of discretion that the environmental and human impacts from the proposed 35 multi-well exploratory and appraisal drilling are known.”

The Project Summary for the ambitious campaign was uploaded to the regulator’s website on Friday last, while the Screening Report compiled by the EPA for the project was uploaded on the said day, but amended and updated on Sunday.

The document explains, “The exact locations of the 35 exploration/appraisal wells comprising the Project have not yet been finalized. While some of the 35 wells will be drilled for exploration purposes, it is also possible that some of the wells may be drilled as appraisal wells within the proximity of previously drilled exploration areas. Therefore, four areas of interest have been identified within the Stabroek Block as the possible locations for the proposed 35 exploration/appraisal wells to occur.”

EEPGL, commonly referred to as ExxonMobil Guyana, intends to commence the 35 well campaign in the third quarter of 2023, signaling that if discoveries are made, well tests may be performed. Conclusion of the proposed drilling campaign is expected by the fourth quarter of 2028.

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

IDB $126M loan to boost capacity Man wounded during gunplay in Kitty of over 100 small businesses Approximately 120 small businesses will soon benefit from a series of capacity building exercises following the approval of a loan from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) totalling $126M. The funding will specifically address the s t a g n a t i o n o f microenterprises (MEs) in Guyana due to challenges in accessing financing for growth, which in turn constrains MEs’ contribution to wealth and job creation, as well as economic development in the country.

The financial institution outlined that these challenges in accessing finance include firm owners’ gaps in business knowledge and limited use of technology, which generate inefficiencies, drive up operating costs and constrains profits available for re-investment; as well as the lack of access to affordable growth capital, which puts pressure on firm profits and growth.

The solution proposed by the Economic Development Fund Inc (EDF) in partnership with the IDB will address business and financial knowledge gaps of MEs in its nine-month Economic Development Accelerator (EDA), currently funded for a limited number of participants by the USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean

Mission.

It was explained that EDF is a Guyana-based business accelerator that, since 2019, has provided training, technical support, and coaching from international experts, as well as capital to support the scaling of targeted startups and MEs in Guyana.

EDF is also a Guyanaregistered private corporation and an awardee of a USAID grant. It is also sponsored by GTT, the country’s largest telecommunications provider.

Kaieteur News understands that EDA clients will participate in practical business management and business leadership development training that includes technical support and coaching from international experts. The EDA also provides capacity building for MEs involved in agro-processing and, ideally, with additional support, the skilled trades, and programmes for other small manufacturers.

Furthermore, EDF’s EDA programme is expected to offer a differentiated financing option: a mixed instrument that is not traditional debt, but a recoverable grant in the form

of a “note” that provides a legal framework for recovery of the funds. It was explained that the innovation behind the proposed funding component is that MEs’ revenue streams provide the basis for repayment of the grant awarded.

Through revenue-based grant repayments, the EDA grant will meet the working capital needs required to catalyze growth of Guyana’s MEs. A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e beneficiaries EDF’s solution is intended for growing MEs in industries that possess strong, predictable monthly revenue. The programme, inclusive of the recoverable grant, would serve an initial 120 MEs across all 10 regions of Guyana. It is anticipated that, demographically, programme awardees will be approximately 50% male and 50% female. It is expected that awardees will be from most of Guyana’s more populated regions.

The IDB noted that its contribution USD $200,000 will be structured as a NonReimbursable Technical Corporation instrument to support training, coaching of MEs as well as development of the ecosystem to support MEs’ growth in Guyana. An additional USD$600,000 will be structured as a Contingency Recovery Investment Grant (CRIG) instrument that will be used to finance the growth of an initial 120 MEs.

A shoot out on Monday between two men in front of the Mantra Restaurant and Longue has landed one of them in the police lock-ups and the other hospitalised with a gunshot wound to his armpit.

Nursing the gunshot wound at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, is Deon Jerrick 26.

According to police the alleged “shootout” took place around 01:30hrs on Lamaha Street, Kitty.

The incident was described by eyewitnesses as a “wild west movie scene” and reportedly began with an argument between the

two men. Police did not state what they were arguing over but related that it escalated and the men drew guns on each other.

They reportedly fired at each other and one of them, Jerrick, was struck with a bullet just below his left-side armpit. The other man identified as a 28-year-old then reportedly turned around and sprinted away south along Lamaha.

One of Jerrick’s friends rushed to his assistance and took him the hospital where he was admitted for treatment. Police later managed to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 20, 2022

PAGE 27

Petra launches ExxonMobil U-14 Boys and Girls Football Tournament

D

uring a simple ceremony at the Cara Lodge, the Petra Organisation launched the third edition of the ExxonMobil Boys & Girls Under-14 Football Tournament, which is expected to kick off at the Ministry of Education Ground on Saturday, July 23, from 9:00am, weather permitting.

Attending the event was the Director of Petra, Troy Mendonca, ExxonMobil's Community Relations Advisor, Ryan Hoppie, Minister of Sport, Honourable Charles Ramson Jr., GFF Assistant Technical Director, Brian Joseph, National Sports Commission's Chairman, Kashif Muhammad, Assistant Director of Sport,

Melissa Dow-Richardson and Education Specialist in the Office of the Minister of Education, Olato Sam. The entire lot was ecstatic to be a part of the launch that has firmly signaled a return to some form of normalcy after the pandemic threw everything into a vacuum. What was also collectively commended was the Girls factor that has been implemented in the grassroots aspect of the tournament.

The pros of the tournament greatly outweigh the con(s) and it keeps the fans optimistic for the future.

Joseph stated that the Federation is very supportive of the tournament and plans to use it as a catalyst to identify players to

Assistant Director of Sport, Melissa Dow-Richardson

represent the nation alongside other GFF organised tournaments.

ExxonMobil, onboard for the third year have

Wednesday July 20, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19 Restlessness may plague you throughout the day, Aries, because you could be brimming over with physical energy but have no outlet for it.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Though current business and money matters could well encounter obstacles, at this time you may find yourself reaping the rewards of past efforts.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today your powers of persuasion are at an all-time high. This is a good day to ask for a raise or promote a new project.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) This day bodes well for accomplishments in business and finance. Long-term investments of either time or funds may finally pay off.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your insight, creativity, and inventiveness are in full swing, Leo, and new ideas come thick and fast. However, you might find yourself too caught up in boring, mundane tasks to do very much about it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) As a natural healer, you m i g ht find yourself experiencing a rush of transformative energy today, which you should put into practice. This is a great time to go for a massage or study natural healing modalities.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Be prepared to work diligently toward making your dreams a reality today, Libra. Success is definitely on the way, though it may not be approaching quite as quickly as you might like.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Though current business and money matters could well encounter obstacles, at this time you may find yourself reaping the rewards of past efforts.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Today it might suddenly hit you that you have a lot of unfinished tasks that need to be completed, and this might lead to a case of the blues.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Business and financial matters look promising today, Capricorn, but you could find yourself torn between the need to attend to these matters and the desire to relax at home.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Today, Aquarius, matters surrounding business and finances need immediate attention, and this could prove a bit disheartening.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) New opportunities to advance your professional standing may arise, Pisces.

The aspects bode well for b u s i n e s s a n d m o n e y.

Promising new projects may present themselves.

plunged GYD$6 Million into the Secondary Schools tournament because they are not only aware of their social responsibility but would like

the see the youths benefit greatly from the support given.

A total of 36 teams are involved in this tournament which comprises of 24 male teams and 12 female teams.

In the Boys category, they will be competing in a round-robin format within six groups followed by a round-of-16 format where the final 16 teams will compete for places 1 – 16.

For the Girls, after their prelim matches, eight of the 12 teams will advance to play for positions one through eight.

These teams are competing for kind and medals to the tune of $300,000 for the victor, $150,000 for the runner up, $75,000 for third and $40,000 for fourth.

List of schools: L'Aventure, Patentia, New Campbellville, Cummings Lodge, Dolphin, East Ruimveldt, Lodge, Leonora, North Ruimveldt, St. Cuthbert's Mission, West Ruimveldt, Freeburg, West Demerara, Golden Grove, Tutorial High, Marian Academy, Plaisance Bosco, New Central High, Houston, Charlestown, St. Winifred's, Kingston, Tucville and Ann's Grove.

RDC 10 concerned at...

From page 29 synthetic track represents a continued strident call from athletes all across Region 10, with the Council expressing consternation that a project of this nature is receiving such poor attention while athletes continue to suffer for the lack of the availability of this venue.

As a Region that has produced Olympic athletes the likes of Mark Mason, Desmond Hector, Marian Burnette and so many others, as well as with District 10 being the District that has claimed the National Schools' Athletics Championships more times than any other District, the athletes would seem to definitely have a claim to the provision of the synthetic track to create the enabling environment for similar successes. However, athletes continue to face disappointment at the seeming abandonment of the project to complete this facility.

The project to construct a mini-stadium at Linden and to upgrade the Mackenzie Sports Club also seems to have fallen off of the government's agenda, providing further scope for concern as expressed by the Councilors of the RDC at its July statutory meeting. The Council will continue to pursue explanations for these issues up to and including their remedy by the Ministry and/or other responsible agencies.

Seejatan dominates...

From page 32 Ahmad, the latter picking up two wins with Mohamed picking up the third.

Street tuner (1500cc) class saw Troy Muir pick up two wins each as well with Zafiero Ramirez picking up a win on debut. 125CC action was also a closely knit contest between the Boodram Brothers, Nicholas and Stefan and Mattew Vieira. The club has set Thursday evening for the presentation of trophies.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 28

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Berbice Shotokan Karate Association holds grading exercise

T

he Berbice S h o t o k a n Academy Dojos (Albion and Canje) held its second karate examination for 2022 at the Albion Sports

Complex on the 17th July, 2022 from 11.00hrs to 12.30hrs.

Examiner Shihan Amir Khouri 7thDan from Georgetown, assisted by

Sensei Clinton Moriah 6th Dan and Sensei Hazrat Ali 6th Dan, both from the Ancient County, conducted the examinations.With excited parents watching their

The successful students and Instructors take a photo after the exercise.

children go through their routine the following were the results:Promoted Jurisa Deochand from 10 Kyu white to 8 Kyu yellow

belt.

Neil Madramootoo from 10 Kyu white to 6B kyu green belt.

Saafir Ali from 7Kyu orange to 6Kyu green belt.

Denesh Narine from 6Kyu green to 4BKyupurple belt.

Noorisha Harrinarine from 4Kyu purple to 3Kyu brown belt.

Ronald Arjune from 4Kyu purple to 3 Kyu brown belt.

Sameer Mohamed from 3 Kyu brown to 2Kyu brown belt.Classes continue under

Sensei Hazrat Ali 6th Dan at Albion and Canje and he can be contacted on Telephone No. 616 – 6470 and Sensei Clinton Moriah 6th Dan at New Amsterdam and he can be contact on Telephone No. 613 – 8045.

Shihan Amir Khouri 7th Dan is the C h a i r m a n ASK-G and President G K F. T h e B e r b i c e association is a member of the Guyana Karate F e d e r a t i o n / International Karate D a i g a k u / G u yana Olympic Association.

Nandu (80) leads Kaieteur Cricket Club to victory in Canada West Indies under-19 player Matthew Nandu churned out another impressive performance in Canada while representing Kaieteur Cricket Club in the 2022 Brampton-Etobicoke and District Cricket League Premier 50-over Conference competition on Saturday against GT Blizzards.

The left-handed Nandu struck an unbeaten 80 to inspire his team to a comfortable five-wicket win at Laurel ground in Waterloo, West Toronto. GT Blizzards reached a respectable 242 all out off 49.5 overs, while Kaieteur responded with 244-5 in the 36th over.

Nandu, who has been selected in the Guyana Amazon Warriors side as a young player for this year's Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament, tucked away eight fours and a six during his 76-ball occupation at the crease. Matthew's cousin Miguel Nandu also made an impression with the bat to score 53, while Abhinax Dikshit and Mahendra Jaipersaud scored 42 and 24 respectively to offer good assistance.

Sarthak Ganidhi and

Matthew Nandu Rahul Mittah captured two wickets each.

After GT Blizzards won the toss and decided to bat first, their innings got some momentum from Jatin Agicha with a fine 66, while Eshaan Giridhar made 54 and 39 from Nitin Sharma.

Seamer Daniel Argunen grabbed three wickets for 33 runs from seven overs to be the top-bowler for the winning combination.

Miguel Nandu, the leggy, also bowled well to finish with 2-18 in his six-over outing.

The competition is set to continue this weekend.

GCA beat East Bank Demerara by 70 runs Georgetown Cricket Association beat East Bank Demerara by 70 runs (DL method) when the teams collided in the Demerara Cricket Board Inter County U19 tournament which continued recently at LBI. Batting first, GCA made 209 all out and restricted East Bank for 139-8. Rivaldo Phillips top scored for GCA

with 72 while Shamar Yearwood made 47, Myhiem Khan 26 and Riyad Latif 22.

Anthon Lim captured 4-32 while Deonarine Dindial had 2-28 and Krsna Singh 2-41.

Lim led East Bank batting with 68 while Dindial made 32 and Dravid Manohar 16.

Latif claimed 4-41 and Kelvin Gordon 2-11.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 20, 2022

PAGE 29

RDC 10 concerned at lack of government investment in youths

T

he Regional Democratic Council of Region 10 has expressed concern at the lack of interest being paid to youth, sports and culture in Region 10, with questions being posed at its last statutory meeting on Thursday last, with respect to the ignoring of their calls for the appointment of a Youth & Sports Officer, the completion of the synthetic track, the proposed construction of a ministadium in Linden and any improvement work slated for the Mackenzie Sport Club Ground.

The RDC Chairman Deron Adams reported that the community of Retrieve, in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council, had pursued improvements for the Retrieve playfield next to the Regma Primary School.

Rehabilitation work on the court surface, construction of bleachers and washroom facilities and similar work was executed through this partnership, with the generous input of individuals approached for assistance.

He alluded to his contribution of electrical cables for the lighting facilities and the basketball hoops and several balls donated by Dezon Hope, an overseas-based former

resident of Retrieve, while the Hon. Minister of Sport Charles Ramson had made a contribution towards the rehabilitation of the bleachers and the washroom facilities, after he had been approached on this by the RDC, and committed to eventually converting the entire facility into a cricket ground.

The Mackenzie High School had written to the Council urging that attention be paid to addressing this situation so that students could have access to play facilities, at the same time referring to the mosquito nuisance also occasioned by the overgrown area there.

Regional Chairman Deron Adams related that he looks forward to the completion of work on this area so that the students of the Mackenzie High School, Retrieve Nursery School and the Mackenzie Primary School, as well as the community of Retrieve, could have access to well-equipped and safe play spaces. However, the appointment of a Youth and Sports Officer to facilitate and drive development of this sector still remains a concern, with the Council's approaches to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on this subject falling on deaf ears. Sports representatives from various disciplines

BBHCC's 4-team cricket & BBQ set for Aug 21 The Buxton Carl Hooper Cricket Club (BCHCC) presents their annual fourteam anniversary coloured clothes competition and BBQ on 21st August 2022 at The Buxton Community Centre Ground.

BBQ will be served from 2 pm and Cricket starts at 9 am. Tickets cost $1,500.

The Buxton Cricket Club was founded in 1992 and was involved in many Tapeball competitions before being officially launched as the Buxton Carl Hooper Club in 2002 when Hooper was appointed as Captain of the West Indies cricket team.

The BCHCC is presently one of top teams in the East Coast First Division cricket and last month held their elections with Esse Peters being retuned unopposed as President.

“We have to work hard to erase the bad image people have of Buxton and we feel that sports provides a great opportunity for us to show

Esse Peters that while every area in Guyana has good and bad people, Buxton can produce more people like Andries who are well educated and able to represent their country in sports,” Peters said.Former National U-19 Cricketer and National Footballer Clive Andries is Buxton's most prominent Sports Person.

(Sean Devers)

continue to approach the RDC for facilitation of their efforts, but with no budgetary

allocation being made available at the level of the RDC, the employment of a

Youth and Sports Officer who could make this representation to their subject

Ministry becomes important.

The completion of the (Continued on page 27)

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 30

Pele FC Alumni Corp. ExCo Members pay a courtesy call to Minister Ramson Jr. - Collaborative initiatives are being worked on

A

three-member delegation from the Pele FC Alumni Corporation, comprising Chairman Denis Carrington, Treasurer Patrick 'Labba' Barton, and Executive Committee Member Eric 'Riggy' Smith paid a Courtesy Call to the Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. on Monday afternoon last.

Minister Ramson was accompanied by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Kashif

Muhammad.

The USA-based, NonProfit Organisation brought Minister Ramson up to speed with its work since being formed in 2012 and the strides that they have been making since they have been formed.

Leading this presentation was Treasurer Barton who dealt with the history, focus and plans for the organisation which has gone beyond the realms of sports with regard to assisting Guyanese, especially youths.

Barton told Minister

Ramson that the mission of the group is to empower the youth of Guyana to help them overcome their abject poverty by building their confidence, self-esteem, and ambition through the power of sports.

Chairman Carrington stated: “The cornerstone of our community outreach programmes is developed with besieged goals to yield results in terms of education, discipline, respect, and teamwork.

These four pillars drive the narratives which help to

Minister of Sport, Honourable Charles Ramson Jr. flanked by ExCo Members of the Pele FC Alumni Corp., from left, Denis Carrington, Patrick 'Labba' Barton, Eric 'Riggy' Smith and NSC Chairman, Kashif Muhammad. determine the foundation for our initiatives as part of our strategic planning.”

Minister was also briefed on the entity's High School Scholarship Programme where six students are currently benefitting, the School Supplies initiative, medical equipment donation to the Linden Hospital Complex and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and the donation of 2500 books and 20 laptops to the National

Library, as well as the ongoing partnership with the Durban Park Lions Club.

Minister Ramson expressed his delight at being able to meet with, not only the principal ExCo members of the Pele FC Alumni Corporation but three former National footballers who have gone on to do themselves and Guyana proud and now have organised themselves in an admirable way, where they are now giving back and

empowering the youths of the nation.

Smith led the discussions on how the two entities will collaborate on initiatives that will continue to benefit and empower the youths.

It was collectively agreed that this first meeting has resulted in what will become a long, lasting collaborative partnership between the Pele FC Alumni Corporation and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

GFF/DBU/UEFA Assist/Women Development League

Otalia Thompson's hat-trick seals Santos FC's third win in five matches

Otalia Thompson and Rose Flue – Santos FC Another composed performance from a young Santos Football Club line-up was good enough to lead them to their third win of the Guyana Football Federation / Women Development League sponsored by the Danish Football Union and UEFA Assist on Sunday last at the GFF National Training Centre.

Led by Otalia Thompson's hat-trick, Santos turned back the challenge of the Den Amstel-based Foxy Ladies, 5-1; the loss means that Foxy Ladies are still to secure their first points as they remain winless.

Thompson, who has now taken her goal tally in the League to four (4), was backed up by Rose Flue who netted a brace which has taken her personal account to five goals in the competition.

Foxy Ladies consolation goal came off the boot of Sasha Johnson, the club's first goal scored in three matches. Meanwhile, the Most Valuable Player of the match was Santos' goalkeeper, Aaliyah David.

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

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 20, 2022

PAGE 31

Guyana Skipper talks to youths at MSC Cricket Academy Ten more students register yesterday

By Sean Devers

Y

esterday at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) on Thomas Road, Guyana's most successful First-Class Captain, former West Indies batter, Leon Johnson took time out from his busy schedule to share his cricketing knowledge with the over 70 enthusiastic participants of the Malteenoes Cricket Academy which commenced on Monday.

The two-week Academy, the first since 2018 due the Pandemic, is catering for both male and female participants within the age range of 7-18 years.

Yesterday, 10 more students registered and according to the club which was founded in 1902, anyone between the ages of 7-18 can still register.

Yesterday Johnson, the only Captain in the Region to win five consecutive titles, told the gathering about the role the batters play in building an innings scoring

runs.

Johnson, the only batter to score a regional U-19 double century, also told the aspiring Guyana and West Indies players about the importance of occupying the

Johnson with the participants at the MSC Academy.

Leon Johnson talks to the participants at the Malteenoes cricket Academy.

crease and assessing the pitch conditions.

With nine Tests and six ODIs to his name, the left-handed Johnson told youngsters how t o b u i l d partnerships.

Later in the day the students had drills with

F and H, Providence and Mix Up/Hammer advance to semis - Gold is Money draw bye to final

hitting, rolling and the stationary ball at National Park Tarmac where they did batting drills on Monday.

With the Malteenoes ground unavailable due to r e c e n t r a i n y w e a t h e r, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson, has allowed the use of the National Gymnasium and the National Park for physical work.

Malteenoes held the first

games to beat Providence with 75 and Spartans on 73.

Providence chalked up 73 games to win their encounter ahead of Gold is Money who made 71 and NL with 61. Earlier, Hustlers managed 83 games; winning ahead of Gold is Money with 80 and OPKO 75.

Gold is Money drew the bye to the final which will be contested on Thursday night

at Strikers Sports Club.

Meanwhile, Mix Up and Hammer cop best dressed team prize of $60,000.

The winning team is set to receive $300,000 with $200,000 and $100,000 going to the second and third place finishers.

The Most Valuable Player will receive $10,000.

Big Boss Transportation Services is also on board.

Associated Brands, Massy Stores Providence, Jacobs Jewellery and Pawn Shop, Fireside Grill & Suites, Star Party Rentals, Trophy Stall, DeSinco Trading, Exotic, Shawn Holder Brokerage, Banks DIH Ltd, Ministry of Culture Youth & Sport, Stanley Phillip's Printing, GCB, HJ 94.1 Boom FM & 96.1 Voice FM the Banging Station, have supported the year's Academy.

Discipline should be your watchword - ECC President Nadir tells youths as camp concludes President of the Everest Cricket Club and Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Manzoor Nadir told the youths that discipline plays an important role as they endeavor to make cricket their career.

Speaking the conclusion of the club's one week livein cricket camp, Nadir reminded that discipline helps players to stay focused and makes it easier to remain on top of their game.

He added that discipline assists to make sacrifices in the present for a better life in the future and creates

The final of the NSC dominoes competition will be contested on Thursday at Strikers SC. F and H, Providence and Mix Up/Hammer will contest the semi finals of the National Sports Commission Dominoes competition which continued on Monday night at Dynasty.

F and H turned in a commendable performance to beat Providence and Spartans in their latest fixture. F and H marked 78

National Cricket Academy in the Caribbean in 1993 under the Presidency of then President Claude Raphael and the last Academy was scaled down event in 2018.

T h i s A c a d e m y, which includes participants from all three Counties, has been well supported by corporate Guyana with Remote Media being the main sponsor.

Guya n a B e v e rages,

Participants at the closing ceremony of the camp.

(Zaheer Mohamed photo)

positives habits. Nadir also spoke about the benefits of playing the game and pleaded with the parents to ensure their children are punctual at practice sessions. Coaches Saheed M o h a m e d a n d Tr a v i s Mohamed encouraged the youths to be consistent with their training and to support each other.

The live-in camp made a return after a 2-year's absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic and was held under the theme, “Prepare today for a better tomorrow.”

Participants were given lessons on batting, bowling, fielding, captaincy, field placing and careers in and around cricket.

Among the sponsors were Clear Waters, Sterling Products Limited, Narine's Liqour Store, Parliament O ff i c e , B o u n t y F a r m Limited, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Toucan Industries, General Marine, Metro, Mattai's Food Market, Ariel Enterprise, Ravin Radiator Wo r k s , A P R a n c h , Bakewell, Coss Cutters, China Wholesale and Gain Mart. (Zaheer Mohamed)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 32

GMR&SC National Race of Champions…

Shan Seejatan was impressive on Sunday at the

Wednesday July 20, 2022

Seejatan dominates Group Two

South Dakota Circuit as he dominated the Group Two

Class in the second round of the Guyana Motor Racing

- Jeffrey misses Group 4 sweep and Sports Club (GMR&SC) National Race of Champions.

Seejatan, sporting number 275 on his Honda Civic started at the back of the grid following his failure to qualify on Saturday.

He progressed up the ladder nicely and found the opportune moment to command the race when an incident between Rameez Mohamed and Kemal Rahaman provided a stroke of luck.

Race two saw Seejatan, Mohamed and Rahaman engaging in an intriguing battle that had Seejatan emerge victorious.

Another driver who was a cut above the rest was Stefan Jeffrey. In race one, even though Jeffrey started on the pole, he was caught off guard and dropped to third before making it back to the top following Mohamed's machine experiencing some failures.

After that, Jeffrey suffered no setback and completely dominated in his class.

The Starlet cup continues to be lively with Mohamed, Anand Ramchand, Motilall Deodass and Afraz Allie pressing the competition.

Rameez was able to go clear when Ramchand's m a c h i n e b e g a n malfunctioning in race one before Afraz Allie was able to pick up a comfortable win in the second race while Deodass picked up the final win of the day.

Group Four saw Kristian Jeffrey perform in a no nonsense mood as he missed a clean sweep of the three races when a mini malfunction in race two caused him to retire.

Andrew King (Mazda RX7) and Mark Vieira (Mazda RX8) engaged in an almost nostalgic battle but they were no match for

Shan Seejatan Jeffrey's Mitsubishi Evolution.

Superbikes returned to South Dakota as well with Matthew Vieira winning two of the three pro class races and Kevin Persaud taking the other. Sports Tuners (1600cc) was not short of action either, a clinical battle ensuing every race between Nasrudeen Mohamed and Mohamed (Continued on page 27)

2022 Bartica Summer Splash Regatta…

Randy, Belle, Scott & Gonsalves to headline Powerboat Racing Sunday

T

he history of powerboat racing in Bartica has been well documented over the years at Easter time as well as the more recent, Summer Regatta.

Being held under the slogan, 'Summer Splash' this year's edition of this always highly anticipated spectacle being held under the auspices of the Bartica Business Development Committee (BBDC) promises to continue the rich rivalry among the Belle's, Scott's, Gonsalves, and Sanjay Ramkissoonin the Formula One Class races, 'where the big boys play.'

The Easter Regatta in April this year was a bounce-back event after the covid-19 global pandemic halted the

event for a couple of years, and it did see the Randy Belle vs Dave Scott vs Neil Gonsalves shindig return but it was short-lived as Scott developed early mechanical challenges in the opening race which eventually ended any further participation in the event.

Belle, it was who went on to dominate the remainder of the day's races and walked away with the Champion Driver accolade and a very handsome financial package.

However, come this Sunday, July 24th, 2022, Scott is promising to turn back the tables while Gonsalves is also promising to upset both his rivals on a day that is sure to be a fabulous one for the fans and supporters of all three competitors.

Apart from the tactics that would be employed by the men at the controls, millions of dollars have been invested to build unbeatable engines that each will expect to give them the edge over the other.

A bit of luck too must be added to the ingredients to ensure a fun-filled day minus any mechanical issues.

The organisers are set to introduce the first-ever, Female Bikini Kayak Race.

Following are the events that would be contested.

Three (3) Formula-one Races, Three (3) 200-HP Races, Three (3) 90-HP Races, Three (3) 40-HP Races, Two (2) Jet Ski Races (open), One (1) Female Bikini Kayak Race, One (1) 200-HP Bush Boat Race.

Dave Scott's 'Jaguar'

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 20, 2022

PAGE 33

RHTYSC Republic Bank Summer Camp and 2022 Cricket Academy off to a resounding start Over two hundred youths turned up on Monday when the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club started its annual Republic Ban Summer Camp and Bakewell/Busta Cricket Academy at the Rose Hall Town Primary School and Area H Ground respectively .The events are held annually under the vibrant club Say Yes to Education and Sports Programme and is been organised by the cricket teams of the RHTYSCPoonai Pharmacy under 13, Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second division, Pepsi under 19 and intermediate, Metro Females, Vitality Under 23, Namilco Thunderbolt under 21 and first division.

Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster expressed delight at the attendance at both events, which surpassed expectations. One of the most exciting aspect of the opening day was the presence

of thirty under 19 females, who all expressed a desire to become members of the only full time female club team in Guyana. Foster in brief remarks at the opening, urged the attentive youths to develop a culture of hard work, personal discipline, commitment and a desire to learn more about the game.

The long standing club official, who is also the President of the proactive Berbice Cricket Board, stated that the RHTYSC strongly believes that education and sports go hand in hand and therefore called on the youths to make sure that they pay close attention to both. The RHTYSC, he stated, would provide all the necessary support they need in terms of guidance, gears and educational material.

Head Coach Winston Smith, who is working primarily with the young females, disclosed that special emphasis would be

The large turnout of young females at the cricket academy. placed on getting them to understand the basics of batting and bowling. Smith, who is being assisted by a battery of assistants, stated that emphasis would also be placed on classroom work, where the players would know the history of the game and topics of importance to their personal development.

Among the topics to be covered are suicide, danger of drugs, domestic violence,

peer pressure and personal hygiene.

The senior members of the club are also playing a major role with West Indies players Kevin Sinclair, Sheneta Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi turning up to pass on their knowledge to the players and providing inspirational talks to them.

Recent Amazon Warriors recruit Junior Sinclair also turned up to the camp and

worked with over twenty five under12 players as part of his personal developmental programme with the club.

Some other senior players of the Namilco Thunderbolt Flour first division teams would also be present during the academy.

The 2022 Republic Summer Camp also started off with a total of ninety four students, way above the targeted fifty. The cricket

teams were forced to make alternative arrangements to set up two classes. The students would be taught four subjects- Maths, English, Social studies and Science.

Attractive prizes would also be shared out at the end of the two events including bicycles, tablets, cricket gears, uniforms, food hampers, household and kitchen utensils among others.

Members of the Bakewell/Busta Cricket Academy pose with their coaches and senior RHTYSC players.

Guyana Cup road show set for launch on Friday at Stabroek Square

A

s the excitement builds, the promotion continues for the much anticipated Guyana Cup 2022 carded for Sunday 14th August at the Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice.

Downtown Georgetown is expected to be a spectacle of excitement as the Guyana Cup Road Show kicks off with a street parade all culminating at the Starbroek Market Square from 2pm.

The Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee has taken their advertising campaign to a whole new level with an articulated Truck & 45 feet music trailer outfitted with an all new state of the art linear ray sound system from entertainments finest Crown Vibes Sound Company.

The road show will commence at 1pm from AJM Enterprise's showroom

The 'Big Truck' will be on the road to herald the upcoming Mega Horseracing event. located in Ogle on the East Coast. The truck will access the Rupert Craig Highway then proceed to Avenue of the Republic and turn right onto Croal Street and park at the Stabroek Market Car Park.

Onlookers will be treated to the sounds of international acts and our top local acts that are scheduled to perform at Guyana Cup 2022. The

Guyana Cup models will be present on the truck creating the ultimate atmosphere for the promotion of the largest horseracing event in the Caribbean. Patrons can look forward to the action streaming live on Boom 94.1FM from 3pm to 6pm, hosted by Casual & Renatha Bailey.

The event has grabbed

the attention of the masses with the announcement of most sought after dancehall artiste, Skillibeng. With this mega concert being his debut in Guyana he is expected deliver a performance on par with some of the largest music festivals in UK and America.

Richie Prittipaul, CEO of C r o w n Vi b e s S o u n d

Company, indicated to our news room, “I was contacted

by Mr. Nasrudeen “Junior” Mohamed to execute the Guyana Cup Horse Race for the fourth consecutive year.

He gave me a vivid scope of the vision for 2022 which is expected to double our output in previous years. Our name and production services are house hold name in Guyana through our international production services.

He then indicated his interest in a 45-foot trailer that will create the ultimate mood to promote the Guyana Cup. This Friday Georgetown will witness a production on a smaller scale to Guyana Cup, but yet still feel the power that can be expected on August 14th.”

The countdown has begun to the biggest Horse Racing Event in the Caribbean carded for Sunday

14th August at the Rising Sun turf Club. Over GUY$30,000,000 in cash and prizes are to be won so this year the competition is expected to be stiff.

T h e o rg a n i s e r s a r e encouraging fans, 'Get there before noon to avoid the rush and remember indoor parking is available for over 1,000 cars. Let's all join together for this spectacular presentation, Guyana Cup 2022!'

This event was made possible through title sponsor Banks DIH and supporting sponsors Guinness, XM Rum, Smirnoff Vodka, Hop House 13, Johnny Walker, S. Jagmohan, A&R Security, Vals Construction, Air Services, Kings Jewelry Wo r l d , K & P P r o j e c t Management, JS Guyana, Aronco, BM Soat, Club Neutraal, Japarts, AJM Enterprise & Jumbo Jet.

2022 Bartica Summer Splash Regatta rts o p S

Randy, Belle, Scott & Gonsalves to headline Powerboat Racing Sunday Petra launches ExxonMobil U-14 Boys and Girls Football Tournament Randy Belle and his machine, 'Quantum', at the Easter Regatta.

Petra Director, Troy Mendonca, and ExxonMobil's CRA, Ryan Hoppie, display the ceremonial cheque following the launch of the ExxonMobil U-14 Boys and Girls Tournament in the presence of several Education and Sport Fraternity personalities.

Guyana Cup road show set for launch on Friday at Stabroek Square Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.