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Health Ministry Sunday Edition NEWS issues guidelines to deal with Monkeypox AIETEUR

July 24, 2022

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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Price $150

…as WHO says outbreak of int'l concern Govt. shoots down full coverage liability Motion on oil spill…

Online readership yesterday, 60,966

Guyana,

Region remain in grave danger Woman, 96, is latest COVID-19 fatality - 81 new cases recorded

Company showcases plastic house at Building Expo - says setting-up factory here could see people “getting paid for trash”

Cement and steel drive likely to be marred by fraud, discrimination - Economists condemn President's sporadic decisions

Guyana on dangerous footing…

Exxon keeps racking up multi-billion $$$ bills but country

continues to have no say

- former Finance Minister

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Sunday July 24, 2022

Health Ministry issues guidelines on dealing with Monkeypox With the current world outbreak of Monkeypox, information about the prevention, care and treatment of the disease has become essential.

In a document released by the Ministry of Health on Saturday, Dr. Tariq Jagnarine, a Family Medicine Specialist and Endocrinologist, issued

…as WHO says outbreak of int’l concern guidelines on how to detect symptoms of the illness and how it should be treated.

This comes even as the World Health Organization (WHO) declares the Monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.

As of July 19, 2022, a total of 1882 cases of Monkeypox were reported.

Added to this, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) said it is monitoring its spread 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.

In the document, Dr. Jagnarine explained that the virus, which originated in West Africa, and later spread to various parts of the world is transmitted by coming into contact with an animal or a person infected with the virus.

He noted that animal-toperson transmission occurs through broken skin, like from bites or scratches or through direct contact with an infected animal’s blood, bodily fluids, or pox lesions (sores).

“Monkeypox can spread from person to person, but it’s less common. Person-toperson spread (transmission) occurs when persons come in contact with the sores, scabs, respiratory droplets or oral fluids of an infected

A case of Monkeypox found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Image: via REUTERS) person usually through close, intimate situations like cuddling, kissing, or sex. Researchers aren’t sure if the virus is transmitted through semen or vaginal fluids,” Dr. Jagnarine explained in the document.

He explained further that the virus can also be spread by coming into contact with recently contaminated materials like clothing, bedding, and other linens used by an infected person or

animal.

According to the family medicine specialist after exposure, it may be several days to a few weeks before a person develops symptoms.

He explained that “Early signs of Monkeypox include flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

“Monkeypox causes pus-filled blisters that crust Continued on page 17

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

PAGE 03

TT company joins local business to provide modern power technology, services

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rinidadian power c o m p a n y, Innovative Power Systems Limited (IPS), has teamed up with local Tech S u p p o r t g i a n t Vi s h n u Panday & Associates (VPA), to provide integrated cutting-edge technology and power solutions and services to the local market.

IPS, which has been providing quality services for the past 18 years, is one of the leading power quality companies in the region, with a customer base

spanning financial services, g o v e r n m e n t , e n e r g y, manufacturing and SMEs (small and medium enterprises).

They are the authorised sales and service distributors for Eaton Corporation and are also distributors for a wide range of batteries from leading battery manufacturers Enersys, CSB, NPP, MK Batteries (Deka) and C&D Technologies.

Their local partner, Vishnu Panday & Associates

Inc., is a fully owned Guyanese company with more than 20 years’ experience providing technological support to medium and large companies in the country.

Innovative Power Systems Limited (IPS), which registered in Guyana in December 2021, was founded in 2004 by Mr. Ian DeFreitas and the c o m p a n y ’s C E O a n d Managing Director is Nicole DeFreitas, For all power quality,

IPS and VPA Management after finalisation of the service support partnership

power audit and backup power needs, as well as batteries for all

Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS), regardless of the brand, persons can

contact the company at (868)-626-3718 or info@ipstt.com.

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Kaieteur M@ilbox

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

The World Bank speaks, Guyanese should listen

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

here is serious trouble ahead, if this country keeps barrelling down the road that it has always followed regarding the careful parenting of its natural resources wealth. This is what no less an authoritative entity than the World Bank (Bank) is warning.

The word from the Bankis simple: listen, learn, get it right, do it right. When these steps are prioritised, then the results would be right, and lead to the prosperity that is due from our infant oil and gas (O&G) sector could be reaped, with all the related benefits coming to Guyanese.

We are going about oil and gas matters in the same old way, meaning, that we are getting it wrong right from the start, while our leaders make an already bad situation worse by not paying any attention to what is offered as guidance.

“There is a large capacity gap at administrative and technical levels responsible for the management and oversight of Guyana’s nascent O&G sector. This includes a shortage of O&G experts in the relevant ministries and departments,” the Bank noted.

There were those wise words that we extracted from the Bank’s Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project document. “Large capacity gap” is as good as saying that we are beginners at best in the O&G business, or that what we have as expertise is so poor as to be meaningless. Similarly, “shortage of O&G experts, means just that, in that we are struggling and need all the help that we can get. This is in such crucial oversight areas as the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Guyana, and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, of which the latter is severely strapped for expert manpower. It is also noteworthy that the Bank pointed to Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and identified the ‘mismatch between its human, financial, and technical (equipment/laboratories) capacity and the broad mandate that it has been assigned’ under Guyanese law.

To say differently, we have the wrong people with the wrong skills doing what is a wrong job at the EPA. Yet we can afford the luxury of firing someone like Dr. Vincent Adams, the former agency head.

The technical people, the money people, and the people with the correct competencies and skills sets are either not enough to make a difference, or simply not there at all. This is a leadership tailoring of our circumstances so that we are prone to, and fall before, any disaster in the O&G sector, by doing nothing with the US$20M approved over two years hence by the Bank for direly needed capacity building. A reasonable expectation would be that the Government of Guyana leaders would appreciate all the red lights lined along our way and pay heed, as in proceeding with the utmost caution. Instead, it has been the other way around, with both the President and Vice President of Guyana boasting upon the speed at which O&G developments race head under their watch.

We don’t have a well-equipped machine in our hands, lack the necessary skillful drivers at the wheel, and navigate without the advantage of a comprehensive GPS to point us in the right direction. But it is pedal to the floor and somehow, we will make it, while the way ahead automatically falls into place for us.

This is not just the height of folly, but relays the magnitude of leadership insanity. The Bank is prevented from officially documenting country concerns in this sharp manner, but we can, and we must, given that the failures of our elected leaders combine to impact us directly, and could destroy our hopes and aspirations.

To pretend that all is well, or that we agree with how this O&G sector is being handled, is furthest from the truth of our convictions.

When we and others speak, the response from leaders is to denounce as ‘critics’ and ‘naysayers’ those who harbour thoughts and postures that question or clash with their damaging attitudes and actions. We now wait to hear how our leaders in this government are going to respond to the Bank’s broad, scorching condemnations of their lapses.

They are going to cost us heavily, if radical adjustments in mind and deed don’t occur rapidly.

Send your letters to Kaieteur News, 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Govt.’s plan to modernise health care system commendable but equity in rural areas essential DEAR EDITOR, The delivery of proper heath care services in Guyana has languished over the years and is a tale of “Two Guyanas” where rural areas (where mostly PPP supporters live) were neglected and you had to travel to the city to obtain better treatment and services.

The drug bond scandal under the PNC/AFC is reflective of the corruption in the health sector, including staff stealing medicine and

medical supplies, depriving the system of vital resources.

Lack of doctors/nurses/ trained specialists (for example, no trained ultrasound technician at the Suddie Hospital for five months), drug procurement problems, poor systems of inventory controls, the need to destroy medicines because of a high rate of expiration, have impoverished the health care system. (See “Govt. begins dumping over $742M worth of expired drugs left by

Coalition,” KN, Nov. 21, 2020).If you did not have money to go to a private hospital, you are likely to die in the Government facility. So, the Government must be commended for its plan to build seven new hospitals.

The PNC/AFC, playing politics, had defeated the PPP’s plan to build a specialty hospital. The urgency of a decent health care system may not have been a priority for politicians because they can access foreign treatment

at the taxpayers’ expense. A Mr. David recently wrote, “Guyana is a fractured healthcare system that needs major surgery.

Try summoning an ambulance, an ambulette, or an Emergency Medical Transport (EMT) to take a sick, injured, or disabled person to the hospital and you will experience the futility of your efforts.”

Our experiences in Region 6 give an insight (Continued on page 5)

Sunday July 24, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Govt.’s plan to modernise health...

New Providence residents concerned about private company’s proposed project

From page 4 into how bad our system operates. In health clinics badly kept and grass uncut you get few services and are usually referred to a real hospital. If you go to the Black Bush Hospital, they may refer you to Port Mourant Hospital which has been a long running joke, as it had been a decrepit, illequipped, and poorly maintained facility that offers very few services.

Whether you go to the Black Bush, Port Mourant, or Skeldon Hospital, you eventually end up at the New Amsterdam Hospital, and then you may get a referral to the Georgetown Hospital.

You can die in that merry-goround. For a rural person, having to go to Georgetown to access treatment is traumatic because it consumes time, you are not familiar with the city, and travel and accommodation will be difficult and expensive.

Rural folks pay more for everything, compared to city/ Region 4 folks. Those with lots of money can access the private Anamayah Hospital at Belvedere.

When people go to the clinics and hospitals, many times medicines are still not available, and you are given a prescription to go search for it and buy it yourself.

My friend George told me he took blood tests and after a month, his clinic said they had not received the results.

What I find very sad is when parents have to make appeals in the newspapers for financial help to obtain lifesaving treatment abroad for their children. This should not happen when we are the richest country in CARICOM (but our currency is lower than Haiti’s), while the Government allows the oil companies to fetch away the

bulk of our oil wealth.

People need to understand if we do not renegotiate the oil contract to get more money, we will have to wait a long time to see any widespread improvements in our lifetime.

The announcements of many new hotels does nothing for poor people in the villages.

I noticed the Government is partnering with Hess and Mount Sinai. We need more disclosures of this arrangement. Make the documents available on the website.

While the USA has good technical facilities and services, health care is the biggest scam there. Their “for-profit” system is designed to gouge consumers. Health care and medicines are very expensive and can make you bankrupt.

The medical lobby is the most powerful. Republicans are able to convince their constituencies that universal (free) health care is bad for you. The first thing a medical provider wants to know is whether you have medical insurance. In Dubai/United Arab Emirates, an employer bringing in workers, must provide health insurance as a condition for a work permit to be issued. With foreign people coming in to work in Guyana, do we have such a rule?

We need to watch the

growing trend to privatise health care. Which friends of the Government stand to benefit when they do that?

We must expand universal health care. We need dialysis clinics everywhere, in every region, and should have more than one such facility in large regions such as Region 6.

We need laboratory services including all diagnostic imaging, MRI, ultrasound, x-rays, scans, occupational and physical therapy in the areas where we live. Government must stop putting everything in New Amsterdam. We need equal services in the Upper Corentyne, Central Corentyne and New Amsterdam. What is Government’s plan for the current Skeldon Hospital?

Why can we not upgrade and modernise the Port Mourant Hospital which is in the heart of a large population area, also a PPP votes farm? How about adding a US-type “Urgent Care” component to some community health centres?

The Government is on the right track with the seven new hospitals, but a lot more remains to be done, and should be accelerated.

Renegotiate the oil contracts so we can get more money to do all these things.

Everything needs improvement!

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

DEAR EDITOR, I am a resident of New Providence, EBD and I write to you on behalf of our association to voice our grave concerns about a proposed project by a certain private company. Around 2018 this company claimed that they are the owner of our western drainage canal and reserve which runs north to south from Mocha road to Stadium road. A claim which no proof or documentation was ever provided to us. Their plan is to fill up this said canal which separates our neighbourhood from their land and further to take hold our reserve and build a 10ft fence parallel to our back fence. This canal no longer serves as Navigational and Irrigation purposes for GuySuCo’s sugar cane but was expanded becoming central to the drainage network of neighbouring communities since the construction of the Guyana National Stadium many years ago.

Over the years, our association had several visits by officials of the Guyana Lands & Surveys Department who told us explicitly that the

ownership and use of the Government reserve and canal cannot be legally changed.

Recently we have observed several attempts by this company to fill in the said canal which has served as an important drainage catchment for our community since its establishment in 1968.

In recent months several residents have experienced increased flooding during periods of heavy rainfall and are now of the opinion that the deliberate reduction in the

size of the canal may be directly responsible for this flooding.

On several occasions residents have approached the Eccles/Ramsburg NDC to make them aware of this development and sought their intervention in this matter. The NDC reiterated that they never transferred ownership of the said Government reserve nor canal and that they will issue a “Cease order” which apparently was never issued.

On the night of (Continued on page 72)

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox Guyana Parliamentarians - It’s Redemption Time DEAR EDITOR, In any super-hero story, a super-hero acquires superhuman powers above the normal person, however, there is always a wise person reminding the super-hero that great powers come with great responsibility.

Our parliamentarians were given powers by the ordinary citizens via elections to work in the best interest of the citizens, but so far, they have done a dismal job as they fail to fulfill their responsibilities which was to manage Guyana’s oil and other resources to uplift and enhance the standard of living of all Guyanese, especially the poor.

In life, no matter how evil a person is, they try to seek redemption and atone for their sins before their time is up in this life as they want to make peace with god before they die, especially those who have a long life, those who

die young may have not even have time to think about redemption, this usually happens at the late stages in life. God do not redeem anyone’s sins, yet God is merciful, God gives sinners a chance to redeem themselves and they must take that chance to do just that.

So, parliamentarians you thought you could go ahead and sign contracts in secret with foreigners who rob Guyana while you get your kickbacks as Guyana is being sold out? But you didn’t count on a thorn or pimpla known as Glenn Lall who exposes your sins.

Parliamentarians how do you look in the mirror? Look at your families and friends and those who voted for you, especially the poor whom you have failed by staying silent and not fighting for Guyana’s fair share of its God given oil and other resources. How can

you watch as ordinary Guyanese struggle in their daily lives to painfully make a living just to survive? Have you no conscience, no shame, no human decency?

Don’t you have any feelings?

Are you cyborgs or robots?

When you parliamentarians go to church, mosques, temples, etc. and pray to God in whatever way, what do you tell God in that sacred moment?

However, parliamentarians, with all your mistakes and sins, there is still a chance to redeem yourselves for Guyana before you get to God, you should take that chance.

Mr. Vice President, head of the oil sector, you are a respected man in Guyana’s politics, you are the current VP and the former President of this country, yet why are you stooping so low for these oil companies? Have you no self-respect?

The American envoy said Guyana should clamp down on corruption yet they didn’t mention the oil companies’ corruption and sins, that should have been a hint or threat to you, the exploiters

want to look good at your expense, make you the bad guy and them the good guys, can’t you see this Mr. VP? The oil business will be going on for decades Mr. VP, how long can you live like this misleading the Guyanese people? You are making stupid statements like “the oil money is not fungable”, “Guyana got assurance instead of insurance” and “if you give people the oil money there will be inflation”, there is already inflation without Guyanese getting any oil money.

Mr. VP you are fighting lawsuits filed by Glenn Lall with Guyanese lawyers, this the oil companies will put on record as the Guyana Government fighting Guyanese but not the oil companies, so when they go to other countries they are indemnified, Mr. VP, remove your lawyers from these lawsuits, let the oil companies put up their own lawyers so the optics would be, it’s the oil companies vs the people of Guyana, let it be bad optics for them not you, there are more lawsuits filed against the oil companies including the

citizens on the East Bank Demerara filing lawsuits against the Houston shore base, are you going to fight all these lawsuits Mr. VP? If you do then there is something wrong with you, the oil companies are boasting on oil projects that have not been approved as yet, do they own you Mr. VP? You once stated oil companies will not take advantage of Guyana, so you don’t even have respect for your own words? However, with all the wrongs you have done, there is still a chance for you to redeem yourself.

Mr. President, you were elected to undo the wrongs of the previous administration, but you have reduced yourself to a puppet by stooping to the oil companies, even the people of Leonora, WCD, where you’re from, don’t have confidence in you anymore.

Aren’t you ashamed to embarrass yourself and Guyana as well? All you can do is shout down at Guyanese who question you on oil and oil blocks, yet there is still a chance for you to redeem yourself.

So, Mr. President, V.P, P.M, Opposition Leaders and other parliamentarians, the way you REDEEM yourselves starts with calling for an emergency meeting and address the current oil programme and make the necessary changes for Guyana’s fair share, invite the likes of Melinda Janki, Janet Bulkan, Christopher Ram, Vincent Adams and other interested parties who want to fight for Guyana’s rights and come up with a game plan to tackle the issues. An emergency meeting is warranted at this time as Guyana’s oil will now be part of World Geopolitics.

Parliamentarians the oil companies are using you all like chewing gum, when the sweet is done they spit you out, why are you accepting this using?

As long as you serve them, they will leave you alone, when the oil is done, they will charge you for corruption and take all back what they gave you, no gambler wins from a mafia casino, even if you win, they come in the night with guns and take back the winnings, they will take the oil revenues, the royalty, the taxes, etc.

The oil companies are looking down on you all as backward.

Why are you accepting this degradation of yourselves?

The oil companies are sponsoring sports tournaments looking like the good guys, with our fair share we can sponsor tournaments putting up more than they are putting, they are using our own wealth against us, why are you parliamentarians condoning this? In the future if anything goes wrong in Guyana, the oil companies will say it’s the Guyana Government (Continued on page 69)

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

President Irfaan Ali has embarked on a Santa Claus mission to share out goodies and cash grants, but only to some in our society; maybe the ones that are considered 'nice'.

With all jokes aside, it is troubling when one considers how the government would account for these building materials it plans to distribute to home builders. We at this newspaper are not against development, but as gatekeepers, we believe that development must take place in a transparent manner and the leaders must be able to account for the billions that will be doled out for this initiative.

While the President has promised to hand out these construction materials, there are several stones which he left unturned.

Can the President say who will be supplying these materials to the state for distribution, and at what cost? Will this be going through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB)?

How will the distribution be managed, and by which agency?

The Alliance For Change has already flagged the infrequent meetings of the National Assembly. To this we ask, where is the promised transparency and accountability?

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Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

Suspect in murder of woman at Mahdia captured

P

olice have managed to capture an alleged arsonist who is wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of a 55-year-old-woman at Mahdia, Region Eight.

The wanted man, 48year-old Dexter James also known as Limuel Alphonso, was arrested by police on Friday and is being held in Georgetown.

Detectives believe that he is a key person in assisting them to solve the murder of Nariman Latifan, an Essequibo woman who was found brutally murdered on July 6, last.

Latifan, better known as “Nari”, had gone missing from her Salbura backdam home on July 5, 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

Captured, Dexter James found her battered remains disposed in an area close by.

It is suspected that someone had beaten her and then used a rope or a chord to strangle her.

Police believe that her killer could be a miner who she and her husband had given shelter to sometime ago. Police suspect that the alleged arsonist might have knowledge about her gruesome death.

James is said to be a notorious character in the mining town. He is accused

Murdered, Nariman Latifian of wounding someone and 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 managed to elude police in that district and was reportedly 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.

Sunday July 24, 2022

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Kaieteur News

The PPP/C is a rich persons’ government The government’s efforts to reduce interest rates for loans below G$6M is bearing fruit. Reports suggest that the banks are prepared to offer a modest, but still welcome, reduction in interest rates.

The reduction of interest rates is a key economic variable that could stimulate domestic investment and the local banking sector. The relatively high interest rates deter borrowing. It increases the cost of investing including in home construction.

The other recent measure announced concerns subsidies in the form of steel and cement – both imported items – to home-builders up to a cap of G$25M. Those buildings which cost less than G$6M will receive steel and one sling of cement free.

And those costing between G$6 to G$25M are expected to benefit from two slings of cement.

Low-income homebuilders will benefit from these concessions. But no one has yet quantified the exact saving. If this is done and then compared to the tax concessions with the branded hotels are receiving, a different picture will emerge.

The subsidies of steel and cement will benefit the friends of the government who are into the importation of these items. They will benefit from increased sales, already having benefited from the removal of the taxes on

cement.

The removal of the taxes – a feature of every year’s Budget, is not intended to help the small man. It is intended to provide a tax relief to the large capitalist entities that are into the construction of hotels, shore bases and other structures. They are the ones that will benefit more than the G$6M homeowner, The poor man will have to stretch his $G6M to afford a low-income house. That sum can barely build a two bedroom bungalow. At present prices, it costs about G$10,000 per square foot for a low-income house. It means that with G$6M, a low-income earner will at best be able to afford a 20 foot by 30 flat structure. And since we are talking about a bungalow, it will not require much steel.

But the G$25M house will require much more steel.

This is the catch which bourgeois governments employ in order to help their friends. The governments give poor people a concession but the real benefits flow proportionately to the rich.

Large amount of steel will be required will be in the construction of those large hotels and offices which are being erected across the country. Those buildings are steel guzzlers, and some of them are being built with prefabricated steel frames.

The rich classes do not

have to wait on a Building Exhibition for the announcement of their concessions. They negotiate that through agreements which are signed with the government offering extragenerous concessions.

Importers do not pay imported VAT on imported building materials. Locally built and fabricated steel beams do not attract VAT. Do you believe this benefits the man who is building a G$6M bungalow?

Government should make public the value of the annual concessions given out per recipient. Then a truer picture as to who really gets the hog of government concessions and subsidies will emerge.

Do not be deceived into thinking that the government is a working class government. The last working class champion in Guyana, Mrs. Janet Jagan, died 13 years ago. That was a woman who was generous when it came to poor people.

She and her husband were working class heroes, not the pretenders who now occupy some public offices. Mrs. Jagan had little regard for them and wanted to know how some of them got such high positions. But by then she was regarded as a private citizen.

There are thousands of potential low-income homeowners who cannot afford their house lots. There

Dem boys seh...

De jail gat potential world champions De World Track and Field Championships tekkin place.

And dem boys watching pon de TV. Dem boys like de 400 metres. Is de true test of athleticism. It too long fuh de a sprint and too short fuh endurance.

But is de 1500 dat dem boys does really enjoy. Is de most tactical race dem gat. It all about tactics, knowing when to mek yuh move.

Dem see how nuff record getting break or equaled at de World Championships. One man even break Michael

Johnson’s 26-year-old American record in de 200 metres.

Dem boys know we gat Guyanese who could break dat record. We gat some bandits in Guyana, when dem snatch yuh chain and purse, dem does buss a sprint and de speed dem does guh at can break world record.

We gat some men in dis country would out-run Forest Gump.

We gat criminals does train fuh run. Dem friends does loose a vicuous pitbull behind dem and dem criminal

does gat to run fuh dem life.

Dat is how we does train.

When it comes to long jump, dem man nah gat to tek run off. Dem does clear trench with ease. And when it comes to high jump, dem would step over dem world record as if dem skipping.

De athletics association looking in de wrang place for world champions. Dem should stop looking at dem clubs and school and start looking in dem jail. Dem bannas can run, jump and even fly.

Talk half. Leff half.

are young professionals who borrow money from the banks to pay for their house lots.

They do not have the savings and the cost of the land, while subsidized it is still beyond the reach of what they have in their bankbooks.

The working class therefore will welcome what the government is doing by offering them free steel and cement. But they should not be deceived by the concessions offered. For

every serving to the poor, the rich gets four times. The government is throwing candies at the people. But it is the bourgeois class which is enjoying the sweetness.

The PPP/C is a richpersons’ government. It does enough to keep the poor happy by offerings such as what was announced on Friday at the Building Exposition. But the reality is that it is the rich people who are fetching away the

contents of the candy store.

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

Kaieteur News

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Monday July Sunday May 24, 02,2022 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Listening to Elvis Costello on Fort Groyne seawall

I

drove to the Fort Groyne seawall to kill time last Tuesday because I know the amount of time customers have to spend in the banks. My wife had gone to do a transaction at one of the banks. I grew up on the seawall from Fort Groyne in Kingston to what is now the Kitty pump

station.

For years, since I was in primary school at St. Thomas More School on D'Urban Street, Wortmanvile, I would skip classes and visit my dad at his work place at the St. Stanislaus cricket ground, where he was the groundsman. After sharing

his porridge, I would roam the entire seawall.

If any human has in his/her DNA, the ocean, beaches and seawall, then I do. I have been perambulating the seawall my entire life and I am still doing so. I saw a sad thing at the Fort Groyne seawall last week. It is not the incident in

itself that is sad; it is the fact that it can happen in a country, where people just could not be bothered.

Boulders for rip-rap sea defence projects are stored at Fort Groyne. Last week the men in throwing the boulders with their Hymac, threw some of the boulders on the Fort Groyne jetty and broke the tip of it.

I am not referring to the seawall itself but the little jetty that juts out into the ocean right in front of the coast guard building.

That jetty is a historical relic in Guyana and should be treated with utmost respect by the people of this country. It is more than 200 years old. The coast guard sentries told me they didn't see when it happened. I called the contractor. He said he will fix it. I don't know if that was just a brush off.

Anyway back to Elvis Costello.

I chose Fort Groyne to relax while my wife spent her entire day in the bank because Fort Groyne has something the other parts of the entire Georgetown seawall do not have.

If you are looking at the ocean with your binoculars, then all you see is the ocean and the sky. But at Fort Groyne you can actually see We s t C o a s t D e m e r a r a (WCD) sitting on top of the Atlantic Ocean. If you want to see one of the most beautiful images from any country, look at how the sun sets on WCD from Fort Groyne.

I played my f a v o u r i t e Costello song, “Everyday I write the book,” three times because I like the song a lot mostly for the movement of the base in the Frederick Kissoon arrangement. The base o f reactions I have never in the song is splendid.

There was a line in received from the public on “Everyday I write the book,” anything I have written from that I never thought about for 1988 onwards when I began in recent years that I have m y p r e s e n c e i n t h e been listening to it. It goes newspapers.

I will not stop writing like this: “With my pen and columns because I owe a electric typewriter.”

There and then at Fort loyalty to Kaieteur News. I Groyne, I remember the h a v e b e e n w i t h t h e beginning of my career as a newspaper from its birth but newspaper columnist. It forms of life in the world are began with a little red changing rapidly.

Maybe I will finally get a typewriter, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine loan me for smart phone. Maybe I may months. Then I graduated to get a Facebook page. People an electric type writer. In would stop and ask me on the today's world the pen and the seawall and in the National Park why I am still using a typewriter are gone forever.

As I reflect on those discman.

I don't know why I do words of Costello, I think of my columnist days in paper that. You can listen to form may be nearing an end. thousands of songs on a flash How many people in the drive.

But I persist with my world still stick with printed discman. I just received from newspapers?

There is almost complete overseas a box set of five gravitation to social media. I CDs titled, “Julio 100.” The entered social media and box contains 100 of Julio now I know the pen and the Iglesias songs.

Maybe soon from now, electric typewriter and so many other things associated I'll listen to Julio the way with my career in the media most people listen to him today - on a flash drive on are gone forever.

James Bond appeared on their phone or in their car.

(The views expressed in the Gildarie-Freddie Show on social media last Monday this article are those of the evening, and at the time of a u t h o r a n d d o n o t writing, I received 231 necessarily reflect the emails on Bond, an amount opinions of this newspaper.)

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

Woman, 96, is latest COVID-19 fatality - 81 new cases recorded A fully vaccinated 96y e a r- o l d w o m a n f r o m Region Four, who contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, has died. This is according to the Ministry of Health which reported that the woman died on Friday while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

As a result of this, the country's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,269.

Meanwhile, in its daily

COVID-19 dashboard the Health Ministry recorded 81 new infections, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 69,413.The dashboard also shows that there are five patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 30 persons are in institutional isolation, 833 are in home isolation and five are in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 67,276 persons have recovered from the virus.

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

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BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY! In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecency in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

SUNDAY Nothing lasts forever!

For those who think that they are somehow in control of things in this land, please be advised: You are not, and you will never be!

There is a Supreme Being who controls things here.

So if perchance you want to hang on to the belief that you have a hand in how things are meant to unfold in this land, think again!

For the moment, you may be allowed free rein, but your days are numbered – for nothing lasts forever.

Everything has its season and the time of reckoning is imminent – you will either be exalted or abased.

What you do today will determine your destiny tomorrow!

MONDAY Transparency, accountability critical in a democracy!

The Government and President in particular boast on every public occasion of the good traits possessed by the administration.

President Irfaan Ali says his government is transparent and accessible yet, basic information is kept from the public regarding our oil and gas.

If our people are to be brought up to speed on the development taking place in their backyard, access to information must be easy and not cumbersome. The Environmental Protection Agency is a glaring example of a semi-autonomous body that has become totally dominated by the government.

Our people no longer feel safe with this regulator hastily approving oil projects after old projects without running details under the microscope. It is the eye of the public that should help fine-tune the permits being granted, yet, concerns are ignored or merely “noted”.

This newspaper will continue to call for transparency, especially in the management of our resources!

TUESDAY Sugar shortage or management shortage?

Guyanese have been finding it hard to get sugar, a commodity we have been producing for decades owing to significantly low production levels by a

corporation that is being propped up for years by the government subsidies.

The Chief Executive Officer of that rundown entity- GuySuCo last week came out in defence of the embarrassment to say that there was no shortage of the sweetener, but rather a shortage of the packaged sugar. He also said that sugar was being smuggled out of t h e c o u n t r y. N o w i f smuggling is allegedly taking place as he claimed, then it stands to reason that this would contribute to shortages as stocks meant for local consumption are being moved overseas.

The CEO after almost two years in the job is still trying to find his feet. No one seems to have any confidence in him turning the fortunes of the industry around and it is believed that it is just a matter of time before he is shown the door. We like the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers' Union (GAWU) believe heads must roll from the top if that entity is to survive or wean itself off the breast milk of the State. We are in a situation where it is not only just a shortage of sugar, but also a shortage of effective management at that ailing entity.

WEDNESDAY Whither the oil wealth?

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

THURSDAY Change Must Come!

It is good that the President himself has heard the cries of the people and has put measures in place to make sugar available, and at reduced prices.

It is, however, saddening that a big-ticket issue as the renegotiation of the Exxon contract could not have

commanded such interest and urgency from the Head of State.Our leaders are eager to help citizens save a few hundred Guyana dollars but seem unconcerned that the country is haemorrhaging millions in American dollars.

If only our leaders had the will to do right by this nation, our piece of the world would have been further along the path of development.

But thankfully, we don't have to depend on them for true divine intervention, change must come!

FRIDAY Are You Ready?

What doesn't happen in years can happen in a single day – in mere seconds even; when we least expect it.

Are you ready for what's coming?

Our lives are but a vapour; here today gone tomorrow. So we must be careful to live each day like it's our last.

We ought to be deliberate about our action; be intentional about habits because time is ticking.

Are you living like you know your days are numbered?

Be on your guard as you make every moment count!

SATURDAY It would seem as though the PPP has mastered the art of midnight madness.

The Opposition's Motion on Full Insurance Coverage for the oil sector was finally debated on Thursday, but instead of such a critical topic taking precedence on the agenda, it was only called up

after 8pm in the evening. The session ended in the wee hours of Friday morning.

This move begs several questions. Is the PPP, through the designated Speaker of the N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y, deliberately calling such important matters when the Parliamentarians are too tired to defend such matters of critical importance? And is it a strategy to avoid the citizens of this country from hearing the government defend ExxonMobil?

The PPP must do better by its people! \It has again failed to prove its loyalty to Guyanese by allowing ExxonMobil to call the shots where insurance coverage is concerned. We can only pray that a devastating oil spill does not befall our land.

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Sunday July 24, 2022

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Kaieteur News

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==CONSUMER CONCERNS==

By Pat Dial Recently, there was a media report to the effect that the Dental Council had issued a warning to the public that "quacks" had been advertising on Social Media the provision of dental braces services at knock down prices. The providers of such

Sunday July 24, 2022

USE OF QUACK DENTISTS IS A DANGEROUS RISK TO HEALTH

orthodontic treatment are not legally registered dentists and it is therefore a risk to be treated by such persons.

These persons are infringing the Law and it is hoped the Police would act.

Fifty or sixty years ago, there were far more quack dentists in practice than there are today and Police

prosecutions were fairly common. At that time, there were much fewer qualified dentists in practice than there are today and this opened the door to quacks. Further, in the Interior and remote areas where there were no dentists in practice, sick nurse/dispensers were permitted to practice as

dentists within certain limited areas. These persons received some training at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

If, however, they attempted to practice outside of those specified areas and in Georgetown, they were quite rightly classified as quacks and subject to Police prosecution. Many of these

persons, however, established themselves in Georgetown.

A number of these quacks equipped themselves with dentists' chairs and had much of the normal dental equipment and would perform basic procedures such as extractions, fillings and making of dentures. The most fashionable procedure in those times, among both men and women, was capping the teeth with gold and some quacks earned the reputation of producing the best "gold teeth".

Though a few of these quacks may have performed basic procedures with some level of competency due to their exposure in the s u rg e r i e s o f q u a l i f i e d dentists, they were all deficient in the deeper knowledge of Dentistry and when they were faced with such difficulties as continuous bleeding after an extraction or gum ailments or pains in various areas of the mouth or when a patient required surgery, they experimented and the patient invariably had to seek the help of qualified dentists for corrective treatment. Further these quacks never had modern tools and they rarely ever properly sterilised the equipment they used.

The main reason patients used quacks was because

they could not afford the high fees charged by dentists and because, in the remote areas where some patients lived, there were no practising dentists and patients were compelled to seek available first aid.

Today, there are many more dentists in practice, training facilities are easily available for those who may desire to qualify and the public are more aware of the risks to health if they use quacks.

Accordingly, traditional quacks have almost disappeared and this is evidenced by the rarity of police prosecutions.

The Dental Council has warned of a form of quack practice which has comparatively recently appeared – the provision of braces at fees much lower than those of registered dental surgeons.

Such quack services are risky and could result in impairment for which qualified dentists would have to administer corrective treatment. In its statement, the Dental Council indicated: "These braces are also being advertised for fashion purposes…it's somewhat of a trend globally where people want to have braces because it looks cool and very much a status thing, but there is no (Continued on page 68)

Sunday July 24, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Health Ministry issues guidelines on dealing with Monkeypox...

From page 2 over and fall off. After a few days, a rash often develops.

The rash starts as flat, red bumps, which can be painful.

Those bumps turn into blisters, which fill with pus.

Eventually, the blisters crust over and fall off — the whole process can last two to four weeks. Persons can also get sores in their mouth, vagina, or anus.”

However, Dr. Jagnarine warns that not everyone with Monkeypox develops all of the symptoms. In fact, he said in the current (2022) outbreak, many cases are not following the usual pattern of symptoms.

“This atypical presentation includes only a few lesions, no swollen lymph nodes, less fever, and other signs of illness. Persons can have it and not know it.

But even if they don’t show any signs of infection, it can still spread to others through prolonged close contact.

Although no deaths have been reported thus far, Dr. Jagnarine noted that Monkeypox can lead to other

complications like pneumonia and infections in the brain (encephalitis) or eyes, which can be fatal.

When it comes to safeguard against the spread, the medical officer noted that everyone should be wary of the virus since anyone can get Monkeypox.

In Africa, Dr. Jagnarine noted that most cases are among children under 15 years old. Outside of Africa, he said the disease appears to be more common in men who have sex with men, but there are numerous cases in people who don’t fall into that category.

To prevent contamination with the virus, Dr. Jagnarine stated that avoiding contact with infected animals (especially sick or dead animals) is pertinent.

He noted that avoiding contact with bedding and other materials contaminated with the virus; thoroughly cook all foods that contain animal meat or parts; wash your hands frequently with soap and water; avoid contact with people who may be

infected with the virus; practice safe sex, including the use of condoms and dental dams, wear a mask that cover your mouth and nose when around others; clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces; and use personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for people infected with the virus. As it relates to the diagnosis and treatment, healthcare providers may first suspect other rash illnesses, such as measles or chickenpox but swollen lymph nodes usually distinguish Monkeypox from other poxes.

“To diagnose Monkeypox, a healthcare provider takes a tissue sample from an open sore (lesion). Then they send it to a lab for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing (genetic fingerprinting). A

blood sample can be taken for the Monkeypox virus or antibodies the immune system makes to it,” he explained. Most people with Monkeypox, the doctor said, get better on their own without treatment. Following diagnosis, a healthcare provider will monitor a person’s condition and try to relieve their symptoms,

prevent dehydration and give them antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections if they develop.

“Monkeypox normally takes about two to four weeks to run its course. If exposed to Monkeypox, health care providers will monitor persons until the rash resolves,” he added.

Further, Dr. Jagnarine said

that there’s currently not an approved antiviral treatment for Monkeypox. He noted that antiviral drugs may help, but they haven’t been studied as a treatment for Monkeypox. He revealed that several investigational antivirals with activity against Monkeypox are available, but only as part of a research study.

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

More than 500 companies request work permits in 18 months - over 4000 persons approved for same period

By Zena Henry

M

ore than 500 companies have requested

work permits in an 18-month period from 2020 to this year.

This is according to information provided to the National Assembly by the

Home Affairs Ministry after the questions were posed by the Shadow Human Services Minister, Tabitha SaraboHalley.

The Home Affairs Ministry reported that from August 2020 to March of this year, 566 companies were said to have requested and became eligible for work permits during the period. Of those 65 are stores, 52 are

VP Bharrat Jagdeo during the launch of part-time jobs in Region 6 supermarkets, 32 restaurants, seven security firms , six universities/schools, nine construction companies, seven embassies, three engineering companies, 17 hospitals/ pharmacies, nine churches and 29 trading companies.

The ministry also reported that from August 2020 to May of this year, over 4000 persons from 54 countries were granted permission to work in Guyana. It was explained that 9270 work permits were requested between the stated periods with 4847 being granted the document to work here.

While the ministry did not specify the initial length of the work permit, it did state that businesses on request will be granted a two-year extension of their work permits.

The jobs those granted permits facilitated include teachers, doctors, engineers, contractors, pilots, nurse, field technician, materials engineer, foreman, crane supervisor, glazier, security guards, electrician, iron maker, safety director, site m a n a g e r, chef, c o n s t r u c t i o n e n g i n e e r, heavy equipment operator, building i n s p e c t o r, surveyor, pipe fitter and gardener.

The information reported to the Parliament provides a revealing story regarding foreigners employment interest as the number of permits requested represent a significant spike in permission to work here.

The Guyana government has stated repeatedly the increased rate at which the country is growing based on the amount of business activity taking place. Much of the buzz is very much related to the lucrative oil and gas sector that continues to expand at an “unprecedented” pace.One year before Guyana began oil production, the country had reported granting just over 1000 work permits within a five-year period.

The question was at the time posed to then Minister

of Citizenship, Winston Felix, when he reported that exactly 1200 work permits were issued within the five years.

The then minister had stated that while there were no figures for the number of work permits issued between 2013 and 2015, in 2016, there were 697 approved work permits with the number dropping to 488 the following year and 28 being reported for 2018 at the time.

Compared to the 1200 work permits issued in five years, 4847 in 18 months represents the incredible increase of foreign input within the local work environment. Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud had stated last March that the country needs 100,000 additional workers to help the country develop. He was speaking to Guyanese based in Trinidad and Tobago and called on the Guyanese diaspora to consider returning home to build the country.

He said that the country’s economy is growing at a fast pace and it needed both skilled and unskilled workers to fill jobs within the public and private sectors.

He said that the Guyana government has been trying to encourage members of the Diaspora to return by offering several incentives including tax concessions on personal effects such as vehicles and housing lots in Guyana.

The minister had said also that the government was concerned with attracting Guyana’s diaspora before going ahead with plans to draw in non-nationals. The government has, nonetheless, promised thousands of part time jobs to Guyanese as a means of cushioning economic hardships. During outreaches in several regions, potential workers were told that they would be paid $40,000 for 10 days of work. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had said that the part time workers would be utilised around the region in government offices, libraries, daycares, among other agencies.

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

Company showcases plastic house at Building Expo - says setting-up factory here could see people “getting paid for trash”

By Shervin Belgrave South Atlantic, a local company together with its Colombian partner, Caña Dulce, is introducing houses made entirely of plastic to Guyana.

Currently on display at Building Expo 2022, is a three-bedroom model house constructed with bricks made only of recycled plastic.

Speaking with the media, South Atlantic’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alphonso De Armas related that these houses are not only a way to recycle plastic but they are more affordable, quicker to assemble and very durable.

Emphasising how quickly a plastic house can be assembled, Alphonso said, “We started building it (referring to the three bedroom model on display) on Thursday night when the container arrived and we have finished the structure already in just a few days.”

The model house on display at the expo, according to De Armas, measures 600 square feet and

can be procured at a cost of $5.7M. He said that the plastic bricks, beams and other materials needed to assemble the house are all pre-fab and can be imported from Colombia.

De Armas highlighted Alphonso De Armas, CEO of South Atlantic posing for a photo too that customers can in front of the plastic house on display at Building Expo 2022 choose to make changes to their structure should the need arise and do so at very affordable cost. He revealed too that if they want they can finish by plastering the walls with concrete but it is not really necessary.

He went on to explain, that the homes are actually prefab so a customer cannot head to a warehouse and buy a few plastic bricks, instead they can head into the company and the experts will work with them to get a design that suit their taste.

The materials would then be manufactured in Colombia and imported to Guyana where it would be assembled He mentioned, however, that plans are in the pipeline to establish a factory here and this move could actually see locals getting paid to pick-up Continued on page 70

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Cement and steel drive likely to be marred by fraud, discrimination - Economists condemn President’s sporadic decisions

Economist, Elson Low

By Davina Bagot President Irfaan Ali has announced an ambitious campaign to assist home owners in the construction

process, by providing building materials to offset the associated expenses, however, one economist is questioning the particulars associated with this campaign, warning that it could be marred by fraud and discrimination.

E l s o n L o w, t h e Economic and Youth Policy Advisor to the Opposition Leader, on Saturday during an interview told Kaieteur

News that the government has been and continues to put band-aids on issues as they arise, rather than implement strategic solutions to resolve them.

He reasoned that most of the population currently does not own their own homes and that the situation is likely to escalate over the next few years as foreigners rush to Guyana to cash in on the oil boom, securing prime

lands for their own development. Not only that, but he explained that another factor to be considered is the extensive migration pattern of Venezuelans into the country, citing that this number may be as high as 30,000 already.

However, Low argued, “In the face of this, the government continues to put band-aids over the problem rather than developing a

comprehensive housing strategy based off of an assessment of the needs of the country. This is why we see hundreds at a time, not thousands of low-income homes built and these random solutions, such as providing concrete or steel.”

In fact, the economist, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in political Science and Economics from a United States College, Amherst, said there are several questions that must be addressed regarding this new initiative. According to him, “how will this be monitored to ensure there is not fraud and discrimination as we’ve seen with various other grant initiatives? This is what happens with these one-off initiatives, because they lack any mechanisms to monitor them and evaluate their success.”

He made reference to the hand out of COVID-19 cash grants to families across Guyana, insisting that lowincome households that needed the assistance the most were left for last.

Arguing that he feels select persons would benefit from this drive, Low suggested that a better method to incentivise home building was to introduce a home builders’ rebate programme.

According to him, “If the government wants to incentivise home building it should offer a home builder’s rebate, which is a fixed amount each person who builds a home can claim, varying based on the value of the house, during construction to offset the cost of building their house.”

Low added that this initiative can be rolled out based on criteria such as prioritising areas where there is the greatest demand for new housing. To this end, he shared, “The PNC/R has assessed the housing needs of the country and has an ambitious plan to ensure every Guyanese is housed in the shortest possible time.

Rather than band-aid solutions it will be far more comprehensive and far larger in scale than any housing initiatives in the c o u n t r y ’s h i s t o r y. We envisage modern, livable communities that go far beyond just providing house lots.”

Similarly, economist Ramon Gaskin in an interview with this newspaper condemned the

Economist and transparency activist, Ramon Gaskin w a y i n w h i c h announcements for development are being made.

Gaskin said, “You need to help people but you need to have a plan. Where is the plan? When you come tomorrow you give this man a million, you give the fisherman them another billion, you come this day another man get a half a million. You can’t work like that; you have to have a plan when it comes to spending money in this country.”

The transparency activist also noted that the government should be approaching Parliament to seek its permission to spend the money on these specific areas. “Not when you wake up in the morning the President says well I gon give this body couple million and give this one some. No, no, no! The country does not work like that. The economic apparatus of the country is based on the law. You have to bring the thing to Parliament, get it approved and when it’s approved it becomes law, and that’s how you spend money,” he argued.

Furthermore, he reasoned that these handouts being announced and distributed by the President only benefits one section of society, while it is unclear as to when the other persons in society would benefit in like manner.

To this end he posited, “All the people of this country needs help. The Indigenous communities need help, the sugar workers need some help and the other marginalised, unemployed people also need help.”

It was on Friday during the launch of Building Expo at the National Stadium that the Head of State said, “I wish to announce first that for affordable homes, homes $ 6 M a n d b e l o w, t h e Government of Guyana with effect from the last day of building expo will support home ownership by giving to every builder in this category, the steel and one sling of cement that is Continued on page 70

Sunday July 24, 2022

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Kaieteur News

s l l a f r e t Wa lcohol The

A ’ N I B A C E H T … s e b i v d n a d o o f t a e r g r o F

ddiction - the dark truth

‘ Tis the place to be

PanJam: The SteelBand Jamboree SLATED FOR TODAY

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Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

Amel Sigourney Griffith This week’s featured beauty is the enchanting, Amel Sigourney Griffith, a 21-year-old journalist and University of Guyana student who happens to be a delegate of the Miss Jamzone, 2022 contest. Amel hails from Bartica Region Seven, and has a love for all things fashion, pageantry, literature and travelling. She is a firm believer in the power of education and aspires to one day attain her Ph.D. Amel’s favourite quote is by the late and great Maya Angelou: “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”

“Stanie”,

Sunday July 24, 2022

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Kaieteur News

VILLAGE

…a modest “melting Williamsburg pot” community

By Malisa Player-Harry

L

ocated mere minutes away from the bustling township of Rose Hall, Corentyne, East Berbice, is the inviting community of Williamsburg which caters to just about all of its residents' needs.

Though it may appear tiny, the community, with its two main access streets running north to south, is populated with residents and several of them were extremely welcoming to me when I visited.

Once you enter Williamsburg

Among the residents I got to chat with was 50-year-old Monica Anthony, who is well known as 'Julie' or 'Aunty Julie'. She revealed that she had moved from Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara to Bloomfield, Corentyne, East Berbice, but after she and her husband separated she moved to Williamsburg.

This was about two years ago.

What is left of the old cinema

One of the electronic outlets in the community

Two business places in the community.

from Rose Hall (the eastern end), you are sure to see the branch of the New Building Society (NBS) and just next door to it, there is a private clinic which I was told is owned and operated by one Dr. Sugrim.

Opposite the NBS building is an electronic and home appliance store which has on sale some of the best-branded products at affordable

prices.

The village is also home to yet another electronic establishment, perhaps to help meet the growing and varied needs of residents.

In addition to a supermarket and the Elwena's Mobile Snackette, the community also has at least two churches, three mandirs and quite a few rum shops too.

The community was also once home to a bridal shop, but according to residents that business closed its doors sometime ago and the building has since been refurbished, perhaps to accommodate another business.

Just nearby, some construction workers were rebuilding a bus shed that collapsed a few days.

A smiling on Aunty Julie was especially welcoming.

The community's bus shed being rebuilt

Entering the community of Williamsburg

As I explored the community, I couldn't help but notice a car wash with several drivers patiently waiting to have their vehicles attended to.

However, one of the more important places in the community is the Williamsburg Health Centre.

At the time of my visit, construction work was being carried out on a building in its compound.

As I travelled deeper into the community, I noticed a once popular cinema – all that remains of it is a ruined and crumbling structure.

Among the several thriving businesses in the community is the Peter Lewis Construction establishment, an ice parlour and a Chinese restaurant.

On the day of my visit, the sun was scorching but I observed a few residents were busy doing chores such as washing and keeping their surroundings clean.

Since then, the woman said that she has been a single mother taking care of her daughter who recently wrote the NGSA examinations.

At the time of my visit, the woman was simultaneously doing laundry and cooking a dish of curried fish on her fireside made of clay.

As she skilfully maneuver between the two chores, Aunty Julie revealed that her move from Enmore to Berbice has not been much of a change since there is great difference in the way of life. She however sought to point out that access to places like the market and shopping outlets are much closer when compares to where she lived on the East Coast.

“In town, you got to buy everything there but here now, at least you can plant a little garden, you can pick a dry coconut and mek (Continued on page 52)

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Kaieteur News

Despite condemnation

Essequibian, Reyaz Shahadudeen Baksh turns his passion into a business

The ambitious Reyaz Shahadudeen Baksh

By Romario Blair

Some of his appreciative clients

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

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==The Social Edge==

Guyana’s food security master plan more critical than ever

Kiana Wilburg

By Kiana Wilburg

W

hether it is the torrential weather patterns or supply chain disruptions for key inputs, the agriculture sector, here and across the world, is facing increasing pressures. The price for fresh greens and vegetables such as tomatoes is skyrocketing.

Meanwhile, the costs for other goods that we need for a nutritious meal to support a healthy lifestyle are becoming more expensive.

The situation we face in Guyana is certainly not unique to us. From a panoramic view of the world which is offered via the latest report of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the state of access to food security is frightening. Here are some pertinent points just so you can grasp the picture in full. · According to the FAO, there were great hopes that the world would emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and food security would begin to improve.

Unfortunately, world hunger rose further in 2021. Almost 3.1 billion people could not afford even the cheapest healthy diet that is essential to good health and well-being.

This is 112 million more than in 2019, reflecting the inflation in consumer food prices stemming from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures put in place to contain it. · Projections are that nearly 670 million people will still be facing hunger in 2030 – 8 percent of the world population, which is the same as in 2015 when the 2030 Agenda was launched. · Nine million more people were hungry in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020 than in 2019, and an additional 4 million were thrust into hunger between 2020 and 2021. · Also, around 2.3 billion people in the world were moderately or severely food insecure in 2021, and 11.7 percent of the global population faced food insecurity at severe levels.

There are currently no statistics available on the extent to which the Guyanese population is affected by the prevailing increase in food prices but surely one can conclude and agree that the current state of affairs makes access to nutritious food even harder.

They also require us to candidly discuss three matters: what agricultural policies and fiscal measures are necessary to reduce the cost and improve access to nutritious foods; what

measures are needed to increase self-sufficiency; and how can we fortify our agri-food systems to ensure they are more climate resilient.

For the time being, we know that the President Irfaan Ali-led government has recognised the need for Guyana to intensify the utilisation of her rich soils and begin a fast-tracked approach toward food security.

In addition to fertiliser incentives that have been given to farmers along with grants to fisherfolk, the administration launched in January 2022, the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP).

The initiative is expected to wipe out Guyana’s $2.6B import

bill for broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.

The Head of State had explained that the programme which was introduced to bolster the agriculture sector, empower youths and create jobs, will allow for the creation of 25 shade houses that will be managed on a rotational basis by graduates of the Guyana School of Agriculture and will be used for the cultivation of the said crops to meet domestic demand, and eventually, service regional demand.

Since being launched, the programme has found its way into several schools.

To complement the foregoing, efforts are apace at the level of CARICOM for Guyana and other member states to reduce their food

import bill by 25 percent in three years’ time.

At the 43rd Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which was held from July 3 to 5, 2022, Heads of Government received an update on the progress made by the Ministerial Task Force on Food Production and Food Security (MTF) in advancing the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Agenda to address the current food security challenges and rising food prices and to achieve the 25 by 2025 Vision.

They noted that a majority of Member States have developed and submitted to the MTF their national targets, which will contribute to the attainment of the

25 by 2025 targets. The MTF, through the Secretariat, has also developed a reporting and monitoring tool through which Member States are requested to report monthly.

They mandated the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) to conclude, by the end of July 2022, various initiatives and programmes, aimed at the removal of Non-Tariff Barriers to IntraRegional Trade.

Furthermore, Heads of Government requested the CARICOM Private Sector Organization Inc. (CPSO) to accelerate the implementation for its various agricultural investment projects.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e M T F, working in collaboration with the CPSO, has identified 19 potential investment opportunities for displacing extra-regional agrifood imports into CARICOM Member States. The potential areas were not identified.

Be that as it may, they commended the Lead Head of Government with responsibility for Agriculture, Agricultural Diversification and Food Security Agriculture Development in the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet, President Ali, for his efforts thus far and endorsed the Action Plan and Outcome Statement of the event which called for priority action around four main areas: F o o d I n s e c u r i t y, R e g i o n a l Transportation, Trade Barriers, and Women and Youth in Agriculture.

It is left to be seen whether these valiant efforts to produce US$1.5B worth of food in three years in the region will be completely realised since Guyana, like the rest of the world, is facing unprecedented challenges in recovering from setbacks caused by the COVID19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Irrespective of the circumstances/hardships, it is undeniable that Guyana has no choice but to refashion herself and her policies to ensure economic diversification; to ensure agriculture remains at the frontline of her development agenda.

I have every confidence that she is blessed with the talent and capabilities to do just that.

To share your comments or questions, feel free to email me at kianawilburg@gmail.com

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Sunday July 24, 2022

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Sunday July 24, 2022

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Sunday July 24, 2022

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>>> ENCOURAGING EVENTS, DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS <<<

Fastest growing economy

By GHK Lall

W

e have among the best economic numbers anywhere in the world. This is not somebody else's news we are reading about, but of ourselves.

Speak of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and Guyana is it.

Similarly, mention record economic growth, and it is Guyana that is the name, and we are a world leader in the numbers game.

In sum, we are giants, with an economy on steroids, with number after number confirming the breathtaking, encouraging developments in this poor country of ours.

But behind the fancy numbers is another story, one that disturbs. I thought of the best way to put this so that all Guyanese could understand.

It is like that of worried Guyanese visiting a doctor and getting all these comforting numbers about diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol, only for them to drop dead in the street before

the end of that same day or week. So much for numbers and how they turn out sometimes.

I take this position because I observe a country that is so rich statistically; yet as a society, far too many of our neighbours, friends, and strangers are so yoked to poverty.

The bulk of our national budget goes to build, from which the local and foreign rich get richer. We even borrow by the billions to facilitate our building rampage, some of which are good things, needed things.

But as we build with steel, concrete, and glass, our own citizens are glassy eyed from the need of somebody, some leader, to pause and come up with a programme that builds them up in this statistically prosperous land. It is of how to get by in a land soaking in rich numbers and actual riches.

Citizens can't eat statistics. They can't buy medicines using leadership speeches. Citizens can't pay

the rent, light bill, or minibus with record growth numbers.

In fact, I learned that many Guyanese can't buy a pack of tennis rolls or a can of sausages.

They can only afford one or two of one or the other.

And this is in a country with the best GDP and astonishing economic growth.

It stands to reason that if Guyana was without this fabulous growth, then more than a few Guyanese could be staring at the spectre of their burial without a coffin because their family can't manage even that dignity.

We are now in the business of producing endless experts to talk about the economy and economic numbers, but we are not in such a hurry to have halfway decent experts to stand guard over what the oil hustlers are doing with our wealth offshore. Our homegrown experts occasionally find the time to talk about trickledown benefits for those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

The

supposed recipients in the local environment are still waiting and looking for the first real droplets from this so-called trickledown economics.

What the poor in this country do know in this numbers happy country is that the 'trickle-up' is, indeed, happening and it is going to the already very rich in our midst.

It is more than a 'trickleup' and nothing but an endless rain shower of goodies for our politicians, their private sector friends, and public servants who do dirty jobs for both. They are called 'middlemen' in this country. We have all these bright and beautiful numbers and the weak and vulnerable and hopeful are told to take a number.

They are still waiting for their names to be

called for their share from the numbers bonanza that make the rounds daily.

I know a b o u t squeezes from not having while living in Guyana, and early on in the United States. It is why I care about the plight of the poor, am moved to talk about it, and make it a duty to keep their struggles front and centre. Others can forget their roots, refuse to look back, but that's their choice.

I know about pain and outsider status under Burnham, so I can recognise both in these days and under

GHK Lall these leaders. Neither pain nor left out has to be.

Not in place with so much plenty.

Well, the numbers say so, and that is the tragedy.

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

Kaieteur News

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Health Facts Alcohol addiction - the dark truth

By Rehanna Ramsay

A

lcoholism in the simplest term is described as the addiction to the consumption of alcoholic drinks. While addiction in any form is never

a good thing, alcohol addiction has some uniquely harrowing effects on a person's health and social wellbeing.

Dr. Travis Freeman of the Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) Unit of the Ministry

of Health explained that owing to the culture in Guyana where “rum” and other forms of alcohol is present at almost every function or social gathering, it is quite easy for persons to access and oft-times abuse

the substance.

The DDR Unit officer pointed out that alcohol falls under the category of psychoactive substances.

He explained that “Psychoactive substances affect how the brain works, it

affects changes in the mood thoughts, or behaviour.”

This means the judgment of an alcohol user or abuser is often impaired.

While speaking on Kaieteur Radio's Your Health Matters programme, Dr. Freeman emphasised that while alcohol use in Guyana is not prohibited, it lends to some severe health and social issues.

He noted in many cases persons are introduced to alcohol use very young but because of individual genetic make-up and susceptibly to the feeling the substance brings, some people tend to get hooked on it. He noted that this form of addiction usually creeps up on a person.

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Freeman, the habit may come as a desire to be socially accepted in a certain clique or group, and then before they realise it, they have developed an uncontrollable dependence on alcohol.

He noted that a person with an alcohol problem not only drinks excessively, meaning too many to count at one time, but he/she would sacrifice relationships, finances, job, social standing, and basically anything of value just to drink and satisfy their craving.

The medical officer noted too that very often an alcoholic or substance abuser has a lot of underlying matters influencing their use.

“People often deal with stuff affecting their lives; financially, family life, peer pressure, or sometimes it is just something they do not wish to confront in their lives so they get high to avoid it, etc…,” he said.

The medical officer noted there are several health complications of alcohol use.

“Severe alcohol use damages key organs in the body. In Guyana, that is one of the main causes of cirrhosis liver…that is damage to the liver and eventual death.

There is also the impact on the brain and nervous system, alcoholism can result in the development of dementia or forgetfulness at an early stage…” he added.

He continued that many people fail to realise that these are mental health

issues; drug addiction, or substance use disorder, is a brain disease.

“We need to exercise empathy because alcohol or drugs affect your brain, making it difficult to stop using, even if you want to.

The first step to addiction treatment is seeing the problem and deciding to get help,” he quipped.

As stated by Dr. Freeman not only does alcoholism affect individuals but it has a severe social impact. This is cited in a 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) report on alcohol use in Guyana.

According to the report, alcohol use results in substantial costs to society including property damage, job loss, and health service costs.

“Alcohol use has many potential consequences including accidental falls, burns, drowning, brain damage, impaired driving resulting in accidents, deaths, and injuries, poor school performance, work productivity loss, sexual assault, truancy, violence, vandalism, homicides, suicides, lower inhibitions, increased impulsivity, risky sexual behaviour, early initiation of sexual behaviour, multiple sexual partners, pregnancy and STDs.” That WHO report also points to evidence that dates to 2010 when on average, Guyanese consumed more than 8 litres of pure alcohol compared to the global figure of 6.2 litres.

Data from Guyana shows that youths who start using alcohol before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence and two and a half times more likely to become alcohol abusers than those who wait until the age of 21.

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Freeman, the Ministry of Health has seen the need to treat this phenomenon with a public health approach and as such, the DDR Unit has been working with private nongovernmental stakeholders at the Salvation Army and the Phoenix Drug Rehabilitation Centre to help people get intervention, treatment, rehabilitation from alcoholism and other forms of addiction.

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

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==My Testimony==

The Guardian Angel Concept Sharmain Grainger

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or as long as I can remember, I have had a cushioned existence.

But this isn’t because I was born into any exceptional circumstances. I was raised by a single mother who worked hard to provide for me and my siblings.

However, my mother did have an outstanding trait over the years that I believe made an immense difference – she had a passion for protecting me, even when I wasn’t aware that I needed protecting.

In protecting me, she tried her best to meet the majority of my needs and on the occasions she couldn’t, the alternative she proffered was simple: “If I can’t do it for you, do without it!”

However, at a young age, and even into adulthood, I couldn’t see the wisdom in some of the advice she gave me, but these days, I have complete appreciation for all my mother did and continues to do for me.

You see she has not merely been a mother who catered to my physical needs; her love, over the years, has been backed by the guidance of the true and living God whose principles she instilled in me from a young age.

Of course, this didn’t prevent me from wandering off and flirting with danger at times.

But had it not been for the biblical wisdom she shared and the prayerful ways she exhibited over the course of my upbringing, I am convinced that my life today would have been void of purpose, or worse yet, it could have ended abruptly.

My mother, I have no doubt, has slain a multitude of diabolical monsters that were vying to steal my very peace of mind, and probably so much more, by holding true to her faith in God. In fact, I am convinced that it would have been especially easy for me to fall victim had it not been for her endurance.

She, unknowingly, was the only person keeping me sane at one point of my life. For many years, I was an introvert and pretty much lived in a bubble, and shied away f r o m being a part of anyth ing

Sharmain Grainger

meaningful. In fact, there were many occasions that I became overwhelmed with the thought that I simply didn’t “fit in” anywhere and therefore had no purpose to fulfill.

Needless to say, there was many a suicide ideation that I battled quietly, and near executed on a few occasions. My saving grace was nestled in the biblical knowledge my mother exposed me to from a young age, coupled with the fact that she was and still is a prayer warrior of mountainmoving proportion. It was because of this God-fearing woman that I became acquainted, for instance with verses like Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

The act of deciding to take your own life is a literal demonstration that you do not trust the one who created you to take care of you, thus you feel empowered to take matters into your incapable hands.

Although the pages of the bible are laced with some disturbing atrocities – which I have come to accept characterizes real life – it is laden w i t h a n abundance of hope as well.

When you consider scripture s such a s : “Th e

Lord…will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged” – Deuteronomy 31:8, and the fact that he is prepared to absolve me of every wrong so that I can have a better life, it is simply mind blowing and humbling. It makes no sense that Jesus “…took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…He was pierced for our transgress ions, He w a s crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed” – Isaiah 53:4-5. But I have c o m e t o appreciate that God just isn’t logical. Can you appreciate how sobering it is that a Supreme Being would allow his literally flawless son, to assume the flawed human form as a sacrifice to free us all from any oppression, depression or suppression that ever was, just so we can have fulfilling lives.

I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t deserve such sacrificial love. But it is only through the reading of the scriptures that I am able to grasp and appreciate the depth of this love. This Supreme Being is not

fierce and off-limits but rather loving and accessible and wants nothing but the best for me – even surpassing m y

mother’s desires.

According to the bible, God did not come to condemn us but rather to save us (John 3:17) from our foolish thoughts and actions.

When the knowledge of a loving God is instilled into a young child, I am convinced, based on my own experience, that child will remain grounded, even if inundated with opposing doctrines. The truth will always prevail; light will always overcome darkness.

Today I admonish parents, at least the responsible, loving ones, to adhere to Proverbs 22:6 which offers the wise instruction to “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will n o t depa -rt from it.”

I pray that all parents would see the importance of adopting the guardian angel mentality as I have seen exhibited by my mother, who to this day, would fight tooth and nail to ensure that her daughter does not fall prey to those predators, some of whom lurk around i n plain sight, prete n d i n g t o b e angels of light.

Having put in the work over the years to safeguard me, I believe my mother has sufficient confidence in God today that her daughter can finally fend for herself, and others too, with boldness and zeal that cannot be earned but rather is supernatu r a l l y gifted.

“For by grace you are s a v e d through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of G o d - ” Ephesians 2:8

Kaieteur News

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Europe and US gripped in lethal heatwave: Will this bring long delayed action on Climate Change?

By Sir Ronald Sanders

O

ver the last few weeks, global warming has caused the deaths of thousands of people in Europe, and it has dislocated communities in the United States.

S u d d e n l y, C l i m a t e Change is a big item on major news programmes and talk shows in the international media. It is tempting to say, “thank God for it”, and to recall that when worse conditions decimated entire nations in the Caribbean and the Pacific, scarce attention

was paid to them.

But suffering is unacceptable, even in circumstances where people, by their own irresponsibility, contributed to the extreme weather conditions that now plague them.

More than 100 million Americans are now being

roasted by record temperatures. More than a dozen wildfires are engulfing a r e a s f r o m Te x a s t o California and Alaska. The inhabitants of San Antonio, Texas have endured more than 12 days of temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and they are still rising.

Temperatures in Phoenix, Arizona hit 104 Fahrenheit, causing heat-related deaths this year. And, in Fort Worth, Texas, a “red flag” warning has been in place as temperatures soared as high as 109 Fahrenheit.

Today, the situation is so serious that, on July 20, President Joe Biden, in language usually used by leaders of small island states, told the American people, “Climate change is literally an existential threat to our nation and to the world”.

Small states must welcome the US to the Club.

Climate Change has long been an existential threat for their people for decades. But they received little more than lip service as hurricanes, droughts and flooding hit them year after year.

President Biden announced an investment of $2.3 billion to help adapt to Climate Change and global warming. That money is for Americans only. It is to help “communities across the country build infrastructure that is designed to withstand the full range of disasters we've been seeing up to today -– extreme heat, drought, flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes”. And, just to help “millions of people suffering from extreme heat at home”, the President is working with his team “to deploy $385 million right now” to pay for air conditioners in homes and to set up “community cooling centres in schools where people can get through these extreme heat crises”.

It is good that America has the resources to so instantly respond to the suffering that Climate Change is causing; developing countries, especially small island states, don't have that capacity.

The US is the second largest contributor to the global CO2 emissions that cause Climate Change.

In 2020, its CO2 emissions was 14%, second only to China which holds the dubious number one position at 29%. India produces 7%.

Therefore, between these three countries, they are responsible for 50% of all CO2 emissions.

But the US has been the

greatest CO2 emitter for a century, and so the longest and biggest contributor to the world's current circumstances.

To be fair to President Biden, he came into office determined to change the situation. His job was made tougher by the four years of encouragement given by former President Donald Trump to Corporate America, which made huge profits from activity that emitted 416,738 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2020 – the highest global figure in that year.

A Climate package that Biden put to the US Congress was thwarted by Republicans.

The President complained publicly that, “Not a single Republican in Congress stepped up to support my climate plan. Not one.”

Countries in Western Europe, which, over the past three decades, have done more than any other region in the world to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, have suffered greatly in recent weeks.

A blistering heatwave engulfed Spain and Portugal as wildfires destroyed vast s t r e t c h e s o f We s t e r n European forestland.

Temperatures rose to an unaccustomed 104 degrees Fahrenheit. In southwestern France a wildfire raged for days, ripping through 1,000 hectares of pine trees, prompting the evacuation of 150 residents from their homes.

In Britain, an “amber” alert — the second highest of three levels — was issued, indicating that the extreme heat will have a “high impact” on daily life and people. A British climate official said there was every chance of a new British record, beating the highest recorded temperature of 101.7 Fahrenheit recorded on July 25, 2019.

And, it's all expected to get worse, according to Wo r l d M e t e o r o l o g i c a l Organization spokeswoman Clare Nullis. She said, it has also been “a very bad season for the glaciers”.

Last week an avalanche killed 11 people. It was triggered by the collapse of the largest glacier in the Italian Alps, due to unusually warm temperatures. More than 1,500 persons have already died from the effects

Sir Ronald Sanders of the heat.

Given all this, the Europeans would be right in pointing fingers at the world's largest polluters who are causing their current grief.

Maybe now, with so many people in Europe and the US feeling the pain of Climate Change, the pressure will build on their governments and legislatures to do what small island states have been urging for decades – save us all by curbing the causes of Climate Change.

There really is no time left.

At the 2015 Paris Accord, it was agreed that rising temperatures could not, in any circumstances be allowed to rise beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels. It is now at 1.1 degrees.

As President Biden told his citizens on July 20, “Climate change is an emergency”.

He promised that “in the coming weeks, I'm going to use the power I have as President to turn these words into formal, official government actions through the appropriate proclamations, executive orders, and regulatory power that a President possesses”.

The world must wish him well.

The problem, which small states have long warned is threatening their existence, has started to strangle people in the big countries. Like COVID-19 – it knows no boundaries, respects no power, and does not discriminate between rich and poor.

Now perhaps President Biden might get greater success in the US, and then, perhaps, China, India, Japan and Canada will intensify and accelerate their own actions.

Dare we hold our breath?

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador to the United States of America and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

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COVID-19: Infections are spreading again, get enough sunlight!

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Emergency Medicine Specialist

W

e are seeing an increase in infections from COVID-19 again and based on trends, it seems more likely to be from the BA.5 (Omicron 5) variant.

This variant is the most infectious thus far but does not seem to be as deadly as the earlier variants.

However, your risk of becoming infected is likely to be higher than previously with how this variant is behaving.

Today, I will share with you some interesting evidence coming out from studies that show how important of a role sunlight has been playing in preventing complications, deaths and transmission of COVID-19.

Evidence for sunlight against COVID-19 There has been many studies coming out showing populations with higher sunlight exposure having less COVID-19 deaths and transmission.

An interesting one published in the British Journal of Dermatology,

shows how researchers from the University of Edinburgh compared all recorded deaths from COVID-19 in the continental US from January to April 2020 with UV levels for 2,474 US counties for the same time period.

The study found that people living in areas with the highest level of exposure to UVA rays -- which makes up 95 percent of the sun's UV light -- had a lower risk of dying from COVID-19 compared with those with lower levels.

The analysis was repeated in England and Italy with the same results.

One explanation for the lower number of deaths, which the researchers are following up, is that sunlight exposure causes the skin to release nitric oxide.

This may reduce the ability of SARS Coronavirus to replicate, as has been found in some lab studies.

Previous research from the same group has shown that increased sunlight exposure is linked to improved cardiovascular health, with lower blood pressure and fewer heart attacks.

As heart disease is a

known risk factor in dying from COVID-19, this could also explain the latest findings.

Different ways sunlight may help decrease COVID19 effects While there needs to be further analaysis and research to confirm the

effects of sunlight on COVID-19, the evidence thus far is compelling and should be practiced given the

little to no effects that sunlight exposure poses.

The following are ways sunlight seems to benefit against COVID-19 · Reduces transmisssion by destroying viral particles when they are exposed to UV rays · Converts Vitamin D to

its active form when our skin is exposed to the sun.

Vitamin D is the most essential vitamin in fighting

a g a i n s t respiratory illnesses · Causes nitric oxide release which antagonizes SARS COV2 replication · Reduces

Dr. Zulfikar Bux Emergency Medicine Specialist

cardiovascular disease which is associated with higher death rates in patients with COVID-19

Ensure you get enough sunlight If we look at the data, countries that have winter and less sunlight, had higher mortality rates from COVID-19 than those without winter and more sunlight.

Even in Guyana, Region 4, where the population is more indoors and tend to be exposed less to sunlight, had higher infection rates and deaths when compared to regions where the population are outdoors and are more likely to be exposed to the sun.

The best sunlight is the midday sunlight and 10-30 minutes of it daily is more than sufficient.

So, as we enter into this new wave, do ensure you get your daily required sunlight even if you are infected or not. It wouldn't hurt and may be the act that save your life.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

This Day in 4 2 y l u J y r Histo Compiled by Zena Henry

Guyana’s Finance Minister assures NRF safe in US Federal Bank Guyana is still a developing oil Dollars and held by the Bank as part of the producing nation and less than a year ago Fund.” amended its Natural Resource Fund (NRF) The minister had noted that the Bank of law. The country for the first time had a NRF, Guyana (BOG) as the Operational Manager and monies from the oil and gas sector are of the Fund oversees it according to the directly paid into that account, held in a Operational Agreement and Investment United States Federal Reserve Bank.

On July 24, 2020, then Minister of Finance Winston Jordan reassured Guyanese that there is no need to be fearful of the lodging of the country’s oil revenue – the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) – in the United States Federal Reserve Bank. Persons had expressed reservation with the placement of Guyana’s NRF in a United Statesbased bank, given that there were threats of sanctions due to the political and electoral impasse in Bank of Guyana Governor Dr. Gobin the country at the time. Minister Ganga (left) and Minister Winston Jordan informed that the placement Jordan after the signing of the operational of the Fund in a U.S. Bank is advantageous for Guyana, as it mostly management MoU for Guyana’s first NRF reduces inflation, helps with interest earnings, and according to law, it must be Mandate. Therefore, BOG is directed to placed in a US bank. The NRF Act Section 21 submit quarterly financial reports on the (1) states: “Petroleum revenues shall be Fund to the Ministry of Finance, which in directly paid into a bank account turn must present an annual report on the denominated in United States of America (Continued on page 51)

Nelson Mandela visits Jamaica When Nelson Mandela stood to address Jamaicans on Jamaican soil at the National Stadium, his first words were, “This is the happiest day of my life!” The date was Wednesday, July 24, 1991, and perhaps only the excitement and euphoria of the visit of American President Barack Obama to Jamaica in April 2015 can be compared to this historic moment.

Mandela and his wife, Wi n n i e , r e c e i v e d a n overwhelming welcome from Jamaicans, and were ushered into a full day’s schedule of activities: the unveiling of a plaque naming Mandela Park in his honour in Half-Way Tree, an address to the House of Representatives and Senate at Gordon House, a wreath-

laying ceremony at National Heroes Park, a luncheon with CARICOM heads of government at Vale Royal.

To start his day, the then African National Congress (ANC) president attended a ceremony at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, where he received an honorary doctorate degree.

(Continued on page 52)

Nelson Mandela (second from left) and his wife Winnie, are escorted by Jamaica Prime Minister Michael Manley (left) after their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport, July 24, 1991

US court orders White House to release 200 The Kellogg–Briand Pact, renouncing war as an instrument tapes in notorious Nixon Watergate scandal The Senate Watergate Committee voted Committee on the Judiciary additional of foreign policy takes effect unanimously on July 24, 1974 to subpoena investigation authority to probe into the

U.S. Pres. Calvin Coolidge (seated left) signing the Kellogg-Briand Pact, January 1929, Washington, D.C. (Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.) Kellogg-Briand Pact, also called Pact of Paris, (August 27, 1928), came into effect on July 24, 1929. It is a multilateral agreement attempting to eliminate war as an instrument of national policy. It was the most grandiose of a series of peacekeeping efforts after World War I. Hoping to tie the United States into a system of protective alliances directed against a possible resurgence of German aggression, the French foreign minister, Aristide Briand, first suggested a bilateral nonaggression pact in the spring of 1927. The U.S. secretary of state, Frank B. Kellogg, prodded by the American “outlawry of war” movement and supported by those who were disappointed at the failure of the United States to join the League of Nations, proposed that the pact be converted into a general

multilateral treaty, which the French accepted.

As a result of Kellogg’s proposal, nearly all the nations of the world eventually subscribed to the Kellogg-Briand Pact, agreeing to renounce war as an instrument of national policy and to settle all international disputes by peaceful means. The signatories allowed themselves a great variety of qualifications and interpretations, however, so that the pact would not prohibit, for example, wars of self-defense or certain military obligations arising from the League Covenant, the Monroe Doctrine, or postwar treaties of alliance. These conditions, in addition to the treaty’s failure to establish a means of enforcement, rendered the agreement completely ineffective. (Source: Britannica)

over 200 White House tapes and documents matter. related to its investigation. The committee Several major revelations and egregious acted less than 15 hours after winning presidential action against the investigation statutory authority from Congress to seek later in 1973 prompted the House to help from the Federal courts in obtaining the commence an impeachment process against material. Senator Sam J. Ervin Jr., the Nixon. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that committee chairman, h ad expressed hope that “the White House will manifest its recognition of the fact that the committee engaged in a legal and constitutional activity” and accept and comply with the subpoena. The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal in the United States involving the administration of U.S. President Richard Nixon from 1972 to Watergate Complex, 1974 that led to Nixon’s Washington DC resignation. The scandal stemmed from the Nixon administration’s continual attempts to cover- Nixon had to release the Oval Office tapes to up its involvement in the June 17, 1972 government investigators. The Nixon White break-in of the Democratic National House tapes revealed that he had conspired Committee headquarters at the Washington, to cover-up activities that took place after the D.C., Watergate Office Building. After five break-in and later tried to use federal perpetrators were arrested, cash found on officials to deflect the investigation. The them at the time connected to the Committee House Judiciary Committee approved three for the Re-Election of the President. articles of impeachment against Nixon for Investigations led the U.S. House of obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and Representatives to grant the U.S. House contempt of Congress.

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Protestors lash out against Jagdeo’s claim that ‘more oil money not a good thing’ the country must be made public so as to confirm who is truly benefitting from the statement made by Vice country’s oil wealth.

President, Bharrat Jagdeo On Thursday, another protestor suggested indicating that more oil money that the VP speak with the Ministers of Health for the country is not a good thing, has not and Education to understand the needs of the only sparked interest among economists in country before making such statements.

Guyana, but protestors who have been Additionally, he spoke to the critical need for demanding changes to the Exxon contract. better drainage and other infrastructural On Friday, protestors against the deal needs in the country. marked eight consecutive weeks of On Tuesday, protestors held placards unrelenting calls for a renegotiation of the stating: “Dishonest politicians are a national deal. problem”, “the Opposition is dumb, deaf and One protestor who did not state his name blind”, “Exxon must return to the table and said that Guyanese have been suffering to our politicians are all blood suckers”. make ends meet, specifically pointing to the One protestor also spoke against the oil high food prices, causing some parents to be giant, ExxonMobil, being in control of the unable to pack their children’s lunch kits, yet, government and the Environmental Dr. Jagdeo seems to believe that more Protection Agency (EPA). He argued that it is revenue from oil will drive up inflation. the oil company that has been controlling its According to the protestor, “Children go own operations, while the government and to school every day with an empty lunch kit the EPA must simply fall in line. and this man, Mr. Jagdeo is telling people that Vice President Jagdeo, who is this country doesn’t need money. This man is spearheading the development of Guyana’s an embarrassment, not only to Guyanese but oil and gas industry, believes that calls to halt to the entire Caribbean. How can you go the developments at present, in order for the about telling people you don’t need more country to realise a larger share of its oil money?” revenues sooner, would not benefit the He said that despite the VP’s claims of country. more money not being beneficial to the In fact he argues that this could introduce country, the government has nonetheless added inflationary pressures to the country’s been approving oil project after oil project d o m e s t i c e c o n o m y . J a g d e o ’ s “building an empire on our backs.” The disclosure was forthcoming protestor said the books of as he addressed guests at the annual Guyana Scenes from this Manufacturing and week’s protest Services Association (GMSA) dinner, which was held on July 12, last, at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara when he proffered this explanation.

H o w e v e r, t w o economists have since argued that this statement is grossly misleading to the Guyanese public.

The economists, Elson Lowe and Ramon Gaskin, both believe that wise management of the resources garnered from the oil and gas sector can be beneficial to the country.

Gaskin for instance shared a number of areas in which he believes the natural resource funds should be used, that will not drive up inflation.

In economics, inflation is a general increase in the prices of

By Davina Bagot

A

goods and services in an economy. When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; c o n s e q u e n t l y, inflation corresponds to a reduction in the purchasing power of money According to Gaskin, “It is my opinion that when this so-called oil money comes into this economy and to the people, the money has to be spent in a certain way. Not all of it has to be spent on infrastructure.

Not all of it has to be spent on projects in the budget.”

Topping his list as a priority, Gaskin noted that more money from the oil and gas resources can be used to service the country’s present external debt. The recent Bank of Guyana (BoG) quarterly report indicated that in the first three months of the year, the state took on an a d d i t i o n a l US$124.4 million in debt, bringing the total to US$3.248 billion.

Mr. Gaskin is confident that if the government makes use of these five points, more money from the oil and gas sector would not land the country into a financial crisis. However, he insisted “if you take all this money and start spending like you wild, like a drunken sailor, it will be inflationary and the reason why the Vice President can say he doesn’t want this inflation is because he doesn’t have a proper plan in mind on what to do with this money.”

He argued that if the Vice President had a proper management plan for the natural resource funds, the money would not become inflationary. “He should know that if he plans it properly, it will not be inflationary and I have to disagree with the Vice President on this matter. It is not true that if you get more oil money, it would be inflationary,” the economist concluded.

Similarly, Elson Low, the Economic and

Youth Policy Advisor to the Opposition Leader, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in political Science and Economics from a United States College, Amherst, said more earnings from the oil and gas sector will not necessarily cause inflation. In justifying his response, Low explained, “the NRF holds Guyana’s oil funds offshore, that is to say, outside of the Guyanese economy. Jagdeo appears to be making the comment about inflation as if all the additional funds in the NRF (if more revenue were available earlier) would immediately be spent. That would indeed cause inflation.”

To this end, he told this newspaper that the VP’s attitude is concerning as it does not take into account saving for future generations.

The protest action calling for a renegotiation of the contract will resume on Monday at the Houston public road, East Bank Demerara from 10:00am to 12 noon.

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Including fruits in your diet to help manage your weight

By Davina Bagot

A

lthough fruits contain more sugar than most whole foods, such as vegetables, they can serve as a great start to help you lose weight.

I did some research before I started working on this piece to ensure I share the best possible information with my loyal readers.

Healthline, for example, indicated that several studies have found an association between fruit intake and weight loss. In fact, one research observed 133,468 adults over a 24-year span and found that fruit intake was associated with greater weight loss over time.

A smaller study conducted in 2010 found that obese and overweight dieters who increased their fruit intake experienced greater weight loss. Not only that, but another study found similar findings that followed 252 women over 20 months. This research found that those who ate more fibre had a lower risk of gaining weight and body fat than participants who ate less fibre.

You may be wondering how fruits, though containing a high sugar content, can still aid in weight loss; the magic they also

contain is loads of fibre, a nutrient that works to help you lose weight.

Healthline explains that fruits contain natural sugars, very different from the added sugar we a re u s e d t o , typically found in processed foods. It goes on to share the different health effects of the two.

For one, added sugar has been found to be associated with a range of potential health problems, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease. On the other hand, it was noted that fruits contain a mixture of fructose, glucose and sucrose.

When taken in large quantities, fructose can be harmful and may contribute to issues like obesity, liver disease and heart problems.

For this reason, many people looking to eat less sugar mistakenly believe that they need to eliminate fruit from their diet. However,

it’s important to distinguish between the massive amount of fructose found in added sugars and the small amounts found in fruits. Additionally, the high fibre and polyphenol content of fruits reduces the rise in blood sugar caused by glucose and sucrose. Therefore, the sugar content of fruit is not an issue for most people when it comes to health or weight loss.

Now that I’ve hopefully convinced you that fruits are indeed a magical wonder, I’ll share a few that you can use to help you lose weight and how you can enjoy them.

APPLES Remember the old saying our grandparents thought us ‘an apple a day can

keep the doctor away’? Who knew this was actually a health fact! Everyday Health, another credible website I browsed quoted Atlanta-based Kristen Smith, RDN, spokesperson for Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and registered dietitian for Piedmont Healthcare who says apples are high in fibre but low in calories, which, like many fruits, makes them a wise food choice if you’re trying to lose weight.

“Foods with increased fibre can help slow digestion and keep you feeling satiated for longer periods of time,” Smith says. “For optimal satiety and fibre intake, keep the skin on.”

One medium-sized apple provides 4.37 grams (g) of fibre, which offers 16 percent of the daily value (DV), along with 96.4 calories, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Smith recommends topping your favourite salad with apple slices, dipping them in Greek yogurt as a snack, or adding Continued on page 52

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

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Steadfast in his mission to serve humanity…

Guyanese-born pastor and philanthropist, Dr. Mark Steven Vasconcellos is a ‘Special Person’ known for leading several philanthropic projects. He US-based Guyanese, Dr. revealed that much like his calling Mark Steven Vasconcellos is a to the Christian Ministry he feels Christian minister and ‘called’ to serve the people of Guyana particularly the poor and needy of the society.

“I was always learning. I This week’s ‘Special Person’ through US-based non-profit, learned from an early age from Victory his International, teams up my parents to serve others. annually with a local charity, Project Life, to provide medical Our home was always aid and other supplies to the the home of hospitality. citizens of Guyana.

For the past 10 years, the two As a child, I served in the charities have combined efforts to church that’s why I am so lend support to the local health sector by helping to provide encouraged to see young citizens with dental health, eye care outreach as well as muchpeople serving in needed basic drug and medical the church today.” supplies. The humanitarian efforts of the two non-profits serve prisoners, the elderly, orphans, children, and dozens of Guyanese organisations, groups, and churches. On the work front, Dr. Vasconsellos is the founder and pastor of All Nations Church—one of the most multicultural community churches in Raleigh, North Carolina (NC), USA. Dr. Pastor Vasconsellos Vasconsellos is also qualified in shares from the Word of God this department. He noted that among his list of credentials, he is philanthropist who continues to for exemplary living for the sake the holder of a Master’s Degree lead successful mission trips of others in Miami, FL. and Doctorate of Ministry from around the world. His main goal is I n h i s h o m e t h e S o u t h e a stern Baptist to spread the ‘Gospel of Peace’ c o u n t r y — G u y a n a , D r .

T h eological and perform small acts of Vasconsellos has been Seminary in Wake kindness for Forest, North In the company of representatives of Project Carolina.

Life and Victory International following the In fact, he told presentation of a specialty wheelchair to a this publication that 5-year-old cerebral palsy patient in Guyana his decision to plant a church in Raleigh, NC came as a result of his desire to create a space where culturally different people can find a common space to worship.

“In America, there are lots of churches but what we see a lot of in places like Raleigh where I live is that there are lots of churches with a h i g h concentration of whites or there are some churches that have a lot of blacks. So I saw

By Rehanna Ramsay

others.

So notable is his service to o t h e r s t h a t i n 2 0 0 5 , D r.

Vasconsellos received the “Ambassador for Peace” award

t h e need for a church where everyone regardless of race or cultural background can come to worship,” Dr. Vasconsellos said.

The concept and appetite for diversity are not in isolation as he explained that his upbringing was quite culturally infused. He is of Guyanese/Venezuelan parentage and spent part of his childhood in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

CULTURALLY INFUSED The All Nations Church founder grew up in Caracas, Venezuela after his parents immigrated to the land of his mother’s birth. He was nine years old when the family decided to move away from Guyana – where he was born.

He said, “My parents, John Jerome Vasconcellos and Rubia Elena Bolton Vasconcellos, immigrated to Venezuela, the b i r t h p l a c e o f m y mother…Adapting to a totally different environment in terms of language, customs, culture, food, music, etc., at that age was challenging; however, when you

Dr. Mark S. Vasconsellos is pictured with his wife, Karyn are young, it’s easy to adapt.” The experience of that transition taught Dr. Vasconsellos—the youngest of seven siblings—that the challenges of life make you stronger and a better person.

He noted too that as the youngest of the children, he was able to glean from the life experiences of his older siblings and his parents. “I was always learning. I learned from an early age from my parents to serve others. Our home was always the home of hospitality. As a child, I served in the church that’s why I am so encouraged to see young people serving in the church today,” Dr. Vasconsellos added.

Service to the people so resonates with Dr. Vasconsellos that some of his favourite quotes include the popular quote by Mahatma Gandhi: ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,’ the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said: ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’

(Continued on page 38)

From left: Dr. Vasconsellos stands alongside two pastors who were ordained at All Nations Church: Pastor Joel Beckham and Pastor Philibert Meyor.

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Guyanese-born pastor and philanthropist, Dr. Mark...

From page 37 Moreover, as a pastor and minister of the Gospel, Dr. Vasconsellos cited a verse from the Bible, that is, Mark 10:45 which states” “For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many.”

In this regard, Dr. Vasconsellos noted that he sees himself as doing nothing more than continuing the work to serve God and people, especially, the people of Guyana.

LIFE EXPERIENCES I n t h e m e a n t i m e , D r.

Vasconsellos noted that he continues to count his blessings.

He said that he is blessed to have met his wife Karyn, a native of Jamaica. The couple got married in 1995. In 1997, their son Peter was born. Dr. Vasconsellos said that Peter was named after his brother, Capt. Peter A. Vasconcellos, a pilot who died in Guyana in a plane crash in 1983. Before entering a life of C h r i s t i a n M i n i s t r y, D r.

Vasconsellos worked in many areas including banking, management, and business. He shared that after migrating from Venezuela to Miami, Florida, USA, in his twenties: ”I graduated from MiamiDade Community College with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice, and then subsequently graduated from Florida

International University with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice (with a Minor in International Relations.”

As a result, he secured employment with the federal government.

Pastor Vasconcellos was once employed at the Florida Department of Corrections as a sergeant instructor, and the School of Justice and Safety Administration at Miami-Dade College, where he was an Instructor and Training Advisor (TA).

“Also, I have worked as a Real Estate agent, before serving in pastoral ministry,” he related.

Speaking on the greatest highlight of his life, Dr. Vasconsellos graciously pointed to the opportunity of being able to plant All Nations Church, in Raleigh, NC, where he had been serving as the International pastor for the last 10 years.

He said serving, teaching, training, mentoring, and learning are the best part of his job. The church leader is also grateful for God’s grace, as he continues to fulfill his mission in

the church and to his family. He is particularly grateful to have been able to survive cancer which is currently in remission.

In May 2021, after serving in Guyana, Dr. Vasconcellos returned to Raleigh and received a shocking diagnosis that he was ill with stage four lymphoma; a type of cancer.

He successfully underwent treatment for the disease and is still here by God’s healing mercies.

He noted, “At times life can be

The Vasconsellos family on a visit to the White House during Barack Obama’s Presidency

Sunday July 24, 2022 Helping to lead a march in Raleigh, NC, with the President of the NAACP (Raleigh/ Apex Branch), the day of George Floyd’s memorial service in NC.

challenging, during those times, I remember those who ran the race well before me, as a form of encouragement, to keep running with endurance. My wife Karyn and my son Peter keep me strong in wanting to live a life that is exemplary.” Through his work in the Ministry, Dr. Vasconsellos has led successful mission trips to Brazil, England, Canada, Mexico, India, Israel, Jamaica, France, N e p a l , B e l g i u m , Vi e t n a m , Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, and a number of other locations.

He noted, nonetheless, that nothing beats being able to serve the people of Guyana, “especially children, the needy, the elderly, the church, and prisoners.”

SERVING GUYANA Speaking about Guyana, Dr. Vasconsellos noted that there is something special about giving back to the land of his birth.

Some of the highlights of serving in Guyana, he said is “seeing a child’s face light up because they receive a gift for example a toothbrush.”

He continued “…Then it breaks your heart when it’s time for them to receive a dental procedure (e.g.: filling or extraction), and they begin to cry.”

In another case, he recalled going into a prison and having a prisoner say to him, “‘this is the first time in 20 years that I felt hope since in prison.’”

He recounted yet another instance in which a person who had been struggling with their eyesight, expressed gratefulness after “you are able to arrange for them to receive eyeglasses.”

The pastor also expressed gratitude for being able to serve the elderly at the Palms Geriatric home in Georgetown, the Guyana Institute for the Blind, and the Joshua’s Children Home.

He said, “I enjoy being able to encourage them and listen to their

stories and taking gifts for every child, it keeps me going.”

“Sometimes the little things of life can make a huge difference to someone who is struggling in life and needs encouragement or help.

Sometimes I enter a situation thinking, I’m here to help, failing to realise the person I am helping is a greater blessing to me. Their stories a r e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a l , ” D r.

Vasconsellos added.

VICTORY INT’L As the founder and CEO of Vi c t o r y I n t e r n a t i o n a l , D r.

Vasconsellos is dedicated to his mission to serve humanity. He explained that the international work has focused on Guyana for the last 10 years.

“I have had the opportunity to visit all the prisons in Guyana, except Mazaruni, homes for the e l d e r l y, s e v e r a l s c h o o l s , orphanages, conduct dental, medical, and eye care outreaches, conduct theological training, and other areas of assistance to the people of Guyana,” he said.

According to him, most of the work in Guyana is done through Project Life, a local non-profit organisation, based in Georgetown, under the theme: ‘Helping the Needy and Serving Humanity’.

Besides Victory International, Dr. Vasconsellos is attached to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the USA, the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), and Rotary International.

To this end, he asserted, “I believe my greatest achievement is being a servant of the Lord, and an Ambassador for Christ. Serving the Lord is not glamorous, but it’s rewarding, and having the perfect example as a model life that the Saviour, Messiah, and Lord, provided, makes me want to glorify his name with an everlasting impact on the Kingdom of God.”

Sunday July 24, 2022

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== Cuisine Culture ==

… s e b i v d n a d o o f t a e r Fo r g is the place to be

’ N I B A C E ‘ TH

By Renay Sambach

F

resh on the block is “THE CABIN” offering customers’ great vibes and especially good food.

THE CABIN is located on Mandela Avenue in the capital city, just in front of the East La Penitence Post Office and next to the Rubis Gas Station.

It is opened Tuesdays t h r o u g h Sundays from 15:00hrs u n t i l there are “no more custom e

rs.”

Speaking of the business with this publication recently, 31-year-old, Delon Anthony Moffett explained that “The business existed before my association, with much goodwill under the stewardship of owner Shannan Green.”

Moffett, a former student of St. Stanislaus College, revealed that he had migrated to the United States to pursue a degree in Business Management at the Monroe College, located in New York. After his first semester, he switched to Public Accounting and returned to Guyana in 2015 after completing studies.

He decided that he wanted to venture into the food business and the rest is history.

The name “THE CABIN”, he said, was inspired by the design of the bar and the wood theme.

Currently, THE CABIN offers mainly barbequed meats, like chicken, pork, fish, prawns, and C a l a b r e s e . H o w e v e r, h e revealed that there are plans apace to expand and develop a more diverse menu that would include things like seafoods, wild meats, and a variety of curries – one of my fav dishes of all time.

However, one of the m o s t popular items o n T

HE CABIN’s current menu is barbequed pork. Also, Moffett revealed, “Our parcel of prawns and bangamarie, with carrots, red onions, and a splash of white wine is also a hit with the customers.”

To access any of the mouth-watering dishes at THE CABIN, you need only dial + 1(592) 634-1750 to get the process moving.

According to Moffett, his support has encompassed a wide cross-section of society.

He said this includes: “The young and not so young, politicians from both sides of the divide, local celebrities but mostly close friends and family.”

The CABIN offers a friendly atmosphere where patrons can enjoy dominoes, which is super competitive yet lots of fun.

“We will introduce other games as we expand our facilities – Games like snake and ladder, ludo, cards, chess, and even scrabble. With the development of our facilities in the near future we intend to host brunches and private events as well,” he added.

Moffett explained that his long-term goal is to develop THE CABIN into a premier entertainment destination – a bar and grill with an atmosphere that is different from what is being offered presently.

“I want the Cabin to be remembered for its vibrant atmosphere,” he said, adding, “Our vision for what the business could grow into was and remains our focal point as we expand.”

In sharing his views on what can be done to boost

small businesses locally, he stated that workshops for small businesses would be a good start. Moffett also mentioned that access to finance and other resources would also be beneficial.

“These resources could then be utilised to develop existing small businesses and create others,” he said.

Additionally, he noted that young entrepreneurs are often the diversifiers in business. He said, they come with innovations and creativity that most seasoned businessmen and women shy away from especially in a culture where people are often opposed to change and new approaches.

To share any useful information, please can contact me via email: naesambach@gmail.com or phone number: + 1(592) 694-1862

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Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

PanJam: The SteelBand Jamboree SLATED FOR

TODAY Founder of PanJazz Concerts, Reon Miller

T

The concerts are usually a fusion of steelpan and jazz, he creators of PanJazz Concerts have announced however, this year will be more inclusive, and will also the 2022 edition of the annual event dubbed include a clash with the two top Guyanese steelbands – the “PanJam: The SteelBand Jamboree”, slated for Guyana Police Force Steel Orchestra and the Caribbean today, July 24, 2022, at the Georgetown Club.

Airlines Parkside Steel Orchestra.

This edition is said to have an exciting twist to the This, he said, is the main highlight this year. “For the first already enthralling concept, and will include a fusion of half, we’re going to have a string band with local artists Caribbean genres of music - Soca, Reggae and Chutney, singing soca, reggae and chutney hits. And for the second featuring local artists. half, two large steel bands will be set up side by side on two Founder of PanJazz, Reon Miller said that patrons can different stages, performing local hits and they’re going to be look forward to 10 times the excitement this year, as the team going tune for tune backing local artistes who will be would have built on the success of the previous years, to performing with them. This I believe will be the most enhance the experience for 2022. exciting part this year,” he disclosed.

PanJazz was created in 2018, while Miller was a law Since this concept was created to pay school fees, Miller student at the University of Guyana, as a fundraising idea to attend the Hugh Wooding Law School. Being one of G u y a n a ’s p r o m i n e n t Saxophonist Roy Stewart pannists, he decided to performing with h o s t a co n cer t th at the steel band at headlined steelpan music, last year’s concert mixed with jazz instruments. The success of that concert saw the birth of the unorthodox brand ‘PanJazz Concerts‘ created by Miller, under which he has been hosting the event annually.

“When I started in 2018, I was pretty young, but from feedback I received, I was doing pretty well, so I continued and the support kept growing over the years. I believe that is credited to the fact that there is no yearly steelpan event in Guyana that focuses on the steelpan experience like PanJazz would. The ones we have are mainly focused on involvement with bands and soloists competing, but PanJazz focuses on an experience for the audience. And that is the selling point, since there is a huge fanbase for steelpan music in Guyana,” Miller said.

said that after the completion of this year’s event, he hopes to launch the PanJazz Scholarship where other pan players will be assisted with their education from part of the proceeds from the concerts. “Now that I have completed my studies, it’s only fair that part of the proceeds go to someone else who plays steelpan, to pay their school fees too. That’s what I wanna do. Other than that, the goal of PanJazz is to bring an exquisite steelpan experience to the Guyanese public that they can appreciate and enjoy, and always look forward to on a yearly basis,” he said.

The event this year is sponsored by Kabisa, Gupta Distributors, Career.gy, Roje’s, Au Moyeu M&M Snackette, Virtual Solutions Guyana, Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport and Potsalt Media & Communications.

Sunday July 24, 2022

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Kaieteur News

West Indies vs India to show on E2 channel between Allergies and Lessons from a Lashpreneur !!!

How to spot the difference

Be sure to catch this week’s viewing of the West

irritation

By Latoya Zephyr In our dream world nobody is allergic to adhesive, and everyone who wants a beautiful set of lash extensions can have just that. Irritations and allergies are, unfortunately, very much a reality. The symptoms are similar, so trying to differentiate between the two can be nervewracking, especially when you do not have any previous experience and don’t know what to expect. It is always best to consult a doctor when medical related issues are involved, but the following guidelines can aid you in assessing the severity of the situation, eliminating irritation, and identifying allergies.

WHAT IS AN ALLERGY? An allergy is an immune response in which the body overreacts to an allergen (like pollen, peanuts, or in this case the cyanoacrylate in lash adhesive). Red, puffy eyes, itchiness, and swelling may be signs of an allergy to the adhesive, but symptoms vary from person to person.

In the case of allergies, symptoms will last until the adhesive is removed, and can worsen with time and exposure. Each time someone is exposed to an allergen their reaction worsens. This is because our body’s immune system is constantly adapting and building up antibodies to fight off the allergen.

The more someone is exposed to an allergen, the stronger and more dramatic the reaction.

TREATING AN ALLERGIC REACTION If your client thinks they are experiencing an allergic reaction to the adhesive, and not just an irritation, they can take an antihistamine medication to help the symptoms subside. If the antihistamine works you can be confident that it was an allergic reaction.

You should also remove the extensions and advise them to see an eye doctor as a prescription for a topical steroid may be needed.

WHAT IS AN IRRITATION? Symptoms of irritation can be similar to that of an allergy,

which makes it very difficult to distinguish between them.

Irritations usually stem from the fumes given off as adhesive cures. Individual gas molecules of cyanoacrylate leave the adhesive and can cause red puffy eyes and make the sclera (the white part of your eye) red, stingy and itchy. Irritations usually don’t last longer than 24 hours and should get better as time passes. The exception to this is seasonal allergies. Lash extensions can contribute to the symptoms of seasonal allergies when an individual already has sensitive, irritated eyes.

LIMITING IRRITATIONS The easiest way to limit an irritation is to limit the amount of fumes your clients are exposed to. Doing so can also help you tell if their reaction is an allergy or irritation. If you can ensure that you used proper techniques and followed safety procedures, irritations should be limited and less severe.

1. Use the least amount of glue possible. This will make it so you and your clients are exposed to less fumes. Plus, it will also help the base blend more seamlessly with your clients’ natural lashes for a more natural looking lash line.

2. Use the Nano Mis-

ter often! The Nano Mister helps cure (set) the adhesive.

The sooner you can cure the adhesive the better. This decreases the amount of fumes given off. It’s a good idea to mist during the appointment, and at the end before the client opens their eyes. Your client might find it quite soothing as well.

3. Remind your client to keep their eyes closed during application. It’s important to be transparent in the lash application process. Tell your clients about how long it should take and let them know why it’s important to keep their eyes closed. If they understand, they are much more likely to follow your instructions.

4. Clients who wear contacts should remove them before their appointment.

Eyes are very sensitive so it is still possible for irritations to occur even when following all of the guidelines. Take your clients’ concerns seriously, but don’t assume that it must be an allergy. In most cases it is only an eye irritation and will subside in a few hours.

Ensuring that you are confident with the distinction between these two situations will make it easier to soothe a stressed client and help you provide a clear plan of action.

Indies vs. India cricket match which started July 22, 2022

and continues until August 7, 2022 on the E2 channel.

Enetworks to air House of Dragon from Game of Thrones From August 15 to 19, 2022, Enetworks will air Dracarys, the spinoff special from Game of Thrones on Cinemax starting at 10PM. The series will tell the story of the Targaryen civil war that took place about 300 years before events portrayed in ‘Game of Thrones.’ You don’t want to miss this.

Jaxx International Grill invites you to Brunch Let this and every Saturday and Sunday be a weekend of a difference.

Break out of the monotony and introduce your

tastebuds to some of the most delectable cuisines of the world at Jaxx International Grill’s brunch event. Enjoy the island vibes, unforgettable

Guyanese hospitality and create new memories with family and friends today. Jaxx International Is the place to be today. See you there!

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

THE

Court Journal

PAGE 47

Cops with criminal intent?

The Court will decide

By Renay Sambach

Renay Sambach

Shot dead by a policeman, Quindon Bacchus

Remanded for murder, Kristoff DeNobrega

Committed to stand trial, Sherwin Peters

Killed, Orin Boston

PAGE 48

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

Turmeric: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, and More!

By Dr Rajeev Singh Introduction: Turmeric (Curcuma longa) belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and is one of the most valuable herbal medicinal plants.1 Turmeric is also referred to as Indian saffron due to its brilliant yellow colour.2 Turmeric contains a yellow pi g m e n t c a l l e d curcumin or diferuloylmethane, which is the principal ingredient responsible for its medicinal properties.1,3 Turmeric is distributed throughout subtropical and tropical regions of the world. It is extensively cultivated in Asian countries, especially in China and India. It grows up to a height of one meter and has a short stem.1 N u t r i t i o n a l Va l u e o f Turmeric: There are more than 100 components present in turmeric. The major component present in the root is a volatile oil consisting of turmerone.

Other colouring agents like curcuminoids are also present in turmeric.

Curcuminoids contain curcumin demethoxycurcumin, dihydrocurcumin, and 5’methoxycurcumin, which are natural antioxidants.

Turmerone, arturmerone, and zingiberene are the components responsible for the aroma of turmeric. Turmeric also contains a great amount of ˜-3 fatty acid and ˜-linolenic acid (2.5%).2 In 100 grams of turmeric, the nutrients found are:4

Table 1: Nutritional value of turmeric4 Also Read: Multani Mitti: Uses, Benefits & More!

Uses of Turmeric: Turmeric is known to possess many medicinal properties like: · Antioxidant · Antidiabetic · Hypolipidemic (cholesterol-lowering) · Anti-inflammatory · Antimicrobial · Antivenom · Hepatoprotective (liver-protecting) · Nephroprotective (kidney-protecting) · Antifertility · Anticoagulant1 Also Read: Reetha: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, and More!

Benefits of Turmeric: 1. Benefits of turmeric for heart diseases: Turmeric exhibits cardioprotective (heartprotective) effects mainly due to its antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiplatelet, and cholesterol-lowering activities. Turmeric’s cholesterol-lowering effect could be attributed to reduced cholesterol intake by the intestines and enhanced cholesterol conversion to bile acids in the liver.1 2. Benefits of turmeric for the digestive system: Constituents of turmeric have protective effects on the gastrointestinal system. According to a study, the intestinal spasm was inhibited by sodium curcuminate, a constituent of

turmeric. Another component of turmeric called ptolymethylcarbinol enhanced secretin, bicarbonate, gastrin, and pancreatic enzyme secretion. As per an animal study, turmeric was effective in preventing the formation of ulcers that might be induced by factors like stress, alcohol, indomethacin (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), reserpine and pyloric ligation (a condition that leads to gastric acid accumulation in the stomach) by increasing gastric wall mucous in animals when exposed to these gastrointestinal insults.5 Turmeric stimulates bile secretion, hence improving the body’s ability to digest fats. This aids in better digestion and elimination of toxins

from the liver.5 3. Benefits of turmeric for the oral cavity: Turmeric is helpful for preventing tooth decay and is used in the preparation of toothpaste due to its astringent (causes the contraction of cells to reduce bleeding from minor abrasions), antibiotic, and antiinflammatory activities. It destroys bacteria responsible for the development of cavities and also helps tone the gums.5 4. Benefits of turmeric for the eyes: A cataract is an eye disease caused by the oxidation of the lens in your eyes. The internal consumption of turmeric reduces the oxidation of the lens. Hence, it is helpful in cataracts. It is also useful to relieve eye pains.5 5. Benefits of turmeric for the respiratory system: Turmeric is effective in arresting nosebleeds, clearing the sinuses, and restoring a quicker sense of smell.

Turmeric can also be used to manage cough, sinusitis, and dyspnoea (difficulty in breathing).5 6. Benefits of turmeric for infertility: According to an animal study, extracts of turmeric exhibit an antifertility effect on an animal model. These extracts completely inhibit the implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall.

Curcumin is also known to inhibit sperm motility and can also function as an intravaginal contraceptive.5 7. Benefits of turmeric for menstrual problems: Turmeric regulates menstruation and reduces the intensity and pain of periods. Turmeric also reduces the risk for amenorrhoea (absence of mens t r u a t i o n ) a n d u t e rine tumours. Turmeric is also a

mild uterine stimulant.5 8. Benefits of turmeric for infections: A variety of bacteria, disease-causing fungi, and parasites are inhibited by turmeric extract and the essential oil of Curcuma longa.

The aqueous extract of turmeric exhibits antibacterial effects. The growth of several bacteria like staphylococcus, lactobacillus, and streptococcus are suppressed by curcumin. Ether and chloroform extracts of turmeric exhibit antifungal effects. Turmeric is also known to possess antiviral properties. All these properties of turmeric help to fight against infectioncausing microbes.5 9. Benefits of turmeric for detoxification: Detoxification is the process of elimination of toxic substances from t h e b o d y. T h e a c t i v e c o n s tituent of turmeric, curcumin, can bind with heavy metals like lead and cadmium and decrease the toxicity of these metals.

Turmeric is also effective in dealing with poisoning and the purification of blood.5 10. Benefits of turmeric for the skin: Turmeric helps purify and nourish the blood leading to healthy and glowing skin. It is effective in managing skin diseases like acne, eczema, etc. due to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It also helps in preventing premature ageing.

Turmeric is also a constituent of sunscreens and cosmetics.5 11. Other benefits of turmeric: Curcumin is reported to be a powerful scavenger of oxygen-free radicals. The antioxidant property of curcumin is comparable to

that of vitamin E, and C. Curcumin can significantly inhibit the generation of reactive oxygen species. The derivatives of curcumin, such as bisdemethoxycurcumin and demethoxycurcumin, also contain antioxidant properties.

Pre-treatment with curcumin has been shown to reduce oxidative stress caused due to ischaemia (a condition in which is there is restricted blood flow in a particular body part).1 Also Read: Urad Dal: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, and more!

How to Use Turmeric?

Turmeric can be taken as a supplement or utilised as a spice. Turmeric can be incorporated into your diet by adding it to various foods like: · Soups · Scrambled eggs · Roasted veggetables · Smoothies · Rice · Milk6 Turmeric is available in different forms like: · Powder · Stick · Liquid · Paste, etc.7 Side Effects of Turmeric: Turmeric has been established safe for use. However, despite this safety record, there have been some side effects. When taken in excess, the following side effects have been reported: · Diarrhoea · Rashes · Yellow stools · Headache · Nausea · Increase in the levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase Alkaline phosphatase is an important enzyme that is associated with the presence of liver, bone and other diseases.

Lactate dehydrogenase is an enzyme that is indicative of any tissue damage or disease.8 P r e c a u t i o n s t o Ta k e With Turmeric: The right dose of turmeric for you depends on your overall health. It is essential to talk to your physician before taking turmeric.

Although the risk of side effects and drug interactions are unlikely, it is recommended that you stop consuming turmeric if you experience any ill effects.

Turmeric might cause bloating, and it is also advisable to avoid turmeric if you have gallbladder disease. (https:// p h a r m e a s y. i n / b l o g / ayurveda-uses-benef itsside-effects-of-turmeric/)

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

PAGE 49

Don't be left behind, IDB is helping to build small businesses' capacity

By Zena Henry

Zena Henry

This 'Rastaman' is a well-known small operator that sells out of his vehicle on Vlissengen Road.

A small craft vendor

The SBB provides assistance to all small business operators.

PAGE 50

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

ings... t s re ture e t n I rea C

T

he members of the Triatominae, a subfamily of the Reduviidae, are also known as conenose bugs, kissing bugs (so-called from their habit of feeding from around the mouths of people), or vampire bugs. Other local names for them used in The Americas include barbeiros, vinchucas, pitos, chipos and chinches. Most of the 130 or more species of this subfamily feed on vertebrate blood; a very few species feed on invertebrates.

They are mainly found and widespread in the Americas, with a few species present in Asia, Africa, and Australia.

These bugs usually share shelter with nesting vertebrates, from which they suck blood.

In areas where Chagas disease occurs (from the southern United States to northern Argentina), all triatomine species are potential vectors of the Chagas disease parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, but only those species that are well adapted to living with humans (such as Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius prolixus) are considered important vectors. Also, proteins released from their bites have been known to induce anaphylaxis in sensitive and sensitized individuals.

Lifecycle Triatomines undergo incomplete metamorphosis.

A wingless first-instar nymph

PAGE 51

Triatominae hatches from an egg, and may be small as 2mm.

It passes successively through second, third, fourth, and fifth instars. Finally, the fifth instar turns into an adult, acquiring two pairs of wings.

Ecology All triatomine nymph instars and adults are haematophagous and require the stability of a sheltered environment, where they aggregate.

Most species are associated with wild, nesting vertebrates and are named "sylvatic" triatomines.

These live in ground burrows with rodents or armadillos, or in tree dwellings with bats, birds, sloths, or opossums.

Few species (5%) live in human dwellings or in the surroundings of human houses (peridomicile) in the shelters of domestic animals, these are named "domestic" species.

Many sylvatic species are in process of domiciliation

(i.e. "semidomestic").

Behaviour Most triatomines aggregate in refuges during day and search for blood during night, when the host is asleep and the air is cooler.

Odours and heat guide these insects to their hosts.

Carbon dioxide emanating from breath, as well as ammonia, short-chain amines, and carboxylic acids from skin, hair, and exocrine glands from vertebrate animals, are among the volatiles that attract triatomines. Vision also serves triatomines for orientation.

At night, adults of diverse species fly to houses attracted by light.

Adults produce a pungent odor (isobutyric acid) when

disturbed, and are also capable of producing a particular sound by rubbing the rostrum over a stridulatory sulcus under its head (stridulation).

Epidemiology Domestic and sylvatic species can carry the Chagas parasite to humans and wild mammals; birds are immune to the parasite. T. cruzi transmission is carried mainly from human to human by domestic kissing bugs; from the vertebrate to the bug by blood, and from the bug to the vertebrate by the insect's feces, and not by its saliva as occurs in most bloodsucking arthropod vectors such as malaria mosquitoes.

Triatomine infestation especially affects older dwellings. One can recognise

the presence of triatomines in a house by its feces, exuviae, eggs, and adults.

T r i a t o m i n e s characteristically leave two kinds of feces like strikes on walls of infected houses; one is white with uric acid, and the other is dark (black) containing heme.

Whitish or pinkish eggs can be seen in wall crevices.

After having had a blood meal, the insects sometimes show a limited mobility and can be identified easily.

Insecticide treatment Synthetic pyrethroids are the main class of insecticides used to control triatominae infestations.

Insecticide treatment is more effective on nonporous surfaces, such as hardwood timber, fired bricks, and

plastered walls, than on porous surfaces such as mud.

A single treatment with insecticide typically protects against triatomine infestation for a year or more on timber walls vs. 2–3 months on adobe walls.

Wettable powders, suspension concentrates, and insecticide paints can improve treatment effectiveness on porous surfaces.

Rates of insecticide resistance among triatomines are fairly low due to their long lifecycle and low genetic variability, but some instances of resistance have been reported, particularly among Triatoma infestans populations in Bolivia and Argentina.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Kaieteur News

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Including fruits in your diet to help manage your...

From page 36 them to oatmeal for natural sweetness.

Whole oranges, not the canned juice!

Often times, we tend to reach for a box or can of juice, believing that we’re grabbing a healthy drink, but we aren’t! I was at a health event organised by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) a few years ago to cover an event when I learnt that most canned juices contain just over 30 grams of sugar, which is equivalent to the total amount of sugar one needs per day! I was able to confirm this on a number of websites and you can too.

This does not mean we are not to use fruit juices, it means that if we make our own, it can avoid the excessive sugar intake.

Heart.org said men should consume no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams or 150 calories) of added sugar per day. For women, the number is lower: 6 teaspoons (25

grams or 100 calories) per day. Just think about what you would be doing to your body with all that extra sugar you would get from the other foods you would consume!

Nevertheless, I will snap out of this overdrive against sugar and share with you my research on oranges.

Everyday Health notes that a medium-sized orange provides 3.14 g of fibre, or 11 percent of your DV. “Avoid orange juice and eat a whole or cut-up orange instead,” Dr. Smith says. “Also, oranges are packed with vitamin C, which offer several health benefits, like boosting your immune system, helping your body make collagen, and aiding with iron absorption.”

According to the USDA, a medium-sized orange has 69.7 mg of vitamin C, 77 percent of your DV. Mangoes Another super-fruit that you can find in Guyana, perhaps right in your yard, is mango. This delicious fruit

offer that no-sugar fix you want, and they can even help improve your metabolism and lower inflammation.

Everyday Health also said that a small, short-term study published in April 2017 found that mango lowered blood pressure and helped with blood sugar regulation, both of which play a role in metabolism. It also improved inflammation markers, the research noted.

And of course, they offer a nice helping of weightsupportive fibre. In one mango, you get 3.31 g of fibre, which is about 12 percent of the DV, per the USDA. You may peel and cut into slices and enjoy with salt and pepper for that Guyanese taste, or simply use without.

Avocadoes Avocadoes or what we call pear in Guyana, is a great fruit that helps keep you feeling full longer. Half of an avocado provides 4.55 grams of fibre, or nearly 16 percent of the DV, notes the USDA.

A study published in April 2019 in Nutrients showed that overweight and obese participants who ate avocados as part of a meal felt less hungry after six hours compared with those who’d eaten a low-fat, highcarb meal.

After cutting a ripe fruit carefully, you may throw the pieces into a blender for a green smoothie to enjoy. The texture of the avocado creates a creamy, thicker drink, like a milkshake, and you can add in all sorts of nutritious standouts, like banana and Greek yogurt to enjoy a tastier treat.

Bananas “Bananas often get badmouthed for being ‘too high’ in carbs,” says

Saginaw, Michigan–based dietitian Kelsey Lorencz, RDN. Because fruit is full of n a t u r a l s u g a r, w h i c h translates into carbs, it’s a common myth that it can contribute to weight gain, she adds. People on a lowcarb diet like keto are often advised to avoid fruits like bananas.

“In reality, part of the carbohydrates from bananas are in the form of the fibres pectin and resistant starch.

Both of these can actually help regulate blood sugars, not spike it,” says Lorencz.

This type of starch earns that label because it is resistant to digestion, previous research notes, and that’s a good thing, because it functions like fibre and slows

digestion — which keeps you full for longer, and also keeps blood sugar steady so you maintain energy. That can keep you from a blood sugar slump that has you reaching for a sweet treat to perk back up.

Everyday Health says there’s a reason these are a such a go-to ingredient for smoothies, and I completely agree! They blend well and add that tropical flavour to any mix.

For added weight loss, throw in a small handful of nuts to your blender.

Research has found that nuts can aid in weight loss, mainly because they help keep you full for longer, thanks to their healthy fat and protein content.

Williamsburg...

the United States and stayed for about three years before returning home. Since her return the woman said that she has been living with her daughter and grandchild.

Their home is situated along the public road and, according to Sukhdeo, while the buzzing traffic can get a bit loud during the day, she has grown accustomed to it.

Describing the residents of the community as hospital, the woman made it clear that “It's nice living here.” Williamsburg is considered a “melting pot” community since its population is a fusion of people, from different ethnic backgrounds and culture, with the common goal of enhancing their way of life.

From page 23 lil cook-up, you can go to the Rose Hall Market and get something…” she explained.

To maintain herself and her daughter, Aunty Julie, said that she works three days per week at the Ramoo's Funeral Home, which is also a nearby business place. While she is desirous of being able to do more, the woman said that she is grateful to be earning a monthly income.

But since times are hard especially hard these days, the woman said that “Me put in for single parent money and me na get, me put in at

Whim and me put in here (Rose Hall) and me na get nothing and nobody na come around to say nothing…”

In the meantime, the woman said that she has acquired some old tyres which she plans to place in her backyard to plant some vegetables and fruits for personal use and maybe eventually to sell on a small scale to earn an extra dollar.

I also got to engage yet another resident, 64-yearold Lynette Sukhdeo who I met at her home. The woman, who was born in Williamsburg and spent most of her life in the village, said that she had migrated to

Nelson Mandela visits Jamaica...

From page 34 Then it was off to Parliament, where Michael Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica at the time, offered Jamaica’s “limited” resources to the ANC to help build a democratic system in South Africa after the ravages of apartheid.

He said while the country couldn’t offer financial assistance, it could gladly lend assistance in the areas of political organisation, arrangement of restitutional law, training of cadres for government and training of professionals. “We may have little money,” The Gleaner quotes Manley as saying, “But we have abundant human skills and inexhaustible will to be your partners in building a free, unified, democratic South Africa.” He also told Mandela: “When you set foot on our soil, we’re welcoming one of the great symbols of courage and heroism in our time.” A motion was brought before Parliament, and agreed on by Manley and then leader of the Opposition, Edward Seaga, to support the anti-apartheid struggle. The final event was a concert/rally held in the night at the National Stadium to honour

Mandela and his wife.

Noteworthy was the turnout of Rastafarians, who swarmed street sides along with other onlookers to get a glimpse or touch of the iconic African leader. This had not been witnessed since the visit of Emperor Selassie to Jamaica.

Parents were hoisting children on their shoulders and over the heads of other onlookers in an effort to allow them to see the South African freedom fighter. Before Mandela’s arrival to the stadium, three persons were shot by police after unrest caused by persons in the bleachers trying to jump the fence to get on to the field. There were unconfirmed reports that one person died of the two men and one woman shot. At the concert, Mandela was invested with the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the highest honour a non-national can receive, by then acting Governor General Edward Zacca. There were also addresses by some CARICOM heads of states, and performances by some of J a m a i c a ’s t o p - r a n k e d m u s i c i a n s .

(DigJamaica.com)

Guyana’s Finance Minister assures NRF...

From page 34 NRF to Parliament. It was said that the US dollar is the reserve currency used by almost every country and Guyana has trading relations with the United States as the domestic currency is also related to the U.S.

currency.

The Natural Resource Fund Bill 2018 was passed in the National Assembly with minor amendments on January 3, 2019.

The Bill was first tabled in November 2019. (Guyana state media)

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 53

Kaieteur News

PAGE 54

e Morning Finn Goldberg Turned Into A Goldfish

By Eilidh McKenzie Finn Goldberg was a regular nine-year-old boy. He liked to watch cartoons in the morning, he handed his homework in on time (usually), and his favourite thing to do in the whole world was play football in the park with his friends. When he looked in the mirror as he brushed his teeth one night before he went to bed, he saw that his hair was blond and fluffy and his skin was pale and freckled, just like it had been every other day of his life so far.

The one peculiar thing about Finn, however, was that the only thing he ate was fish. Fish fingers, fish nuggets, fish burgers.

Absolutely anything- as long as it was made of fish.

Nobody could remember how this strange situation had started, only that it had, and now Finn absolutely could not, under any circumstances, never in his life, eat anything that wasn't fish.

One seemingly normal Friday morning, after a night of exciting dreams about winning the World Cup, Finn woke to the sound of his alarm going off, which he slammed the snooze button of just as he usually did. But something didn't feel right.

His skin felt rough and scaly, and he felt incredibly thirsty like he could really use a big glass of water. Or a nice long bath. His hair felt dry too, with none of its usual fluff.

Do you know what else? Finn thought to himself as he pushed off his duvet and got out of bed. I don't even feel like playing footie today. I think I'd much rather go for a swim.

As he made his way to the bathroom, Finn also noticed he wasn't walking the way he normally did. He was more… wobbling. Like he wasn't used to walking on solid ground, or he had never had legs before now.

And when he looked in the bathroom mirror, he got the biggest shock of his entire life.

“Arghhh!” he yelled.

The image staring back at Finn was not the one he recognised from when he had been brushing his teeth the previous night. His blond hair had changed to strawberry blond, and his skin was the colour of a tangerine.

There were strange lines starting to appear on the sides of his neck, and as he turned on the tap to wet his toothbrush, he had the overwhelming urge to stick his head under the faucet.

“Are you alright, Finny?” Mum asked when he wobbled his way into the kitchen for breakfast. He sat down at the table while Mum prepared it for him.

She hadn't seemed to notice anything strange about Finn's appearance, so he assumed he must have imagined it. The lighting in the bathroom must have been broken. There was no way he could have changed appearances like that so suddenly… right?

“I'm fine,” he replied uncertainly.

When Mum placed his breakfast down on the table in front of him, Finn immediately knew something else was wrong. His stomach flipped and turned unpleasantly, which it had never done before. Even the smell, which he usually loved, was making him feel really sick.

“Mum, I can't eat this,” Finn said.

“What do you mean?” she asked curiously.

“You love fish-on-toast. It's your favourite!”

Finn shook his head. “I just can't eat it. It's like… if I were to eat one of my friends. It's awful.”

His stomach began to feel worse as he pondered what this all might mean. He had never felt like this about eating fish before.

What was happening to him?

Finn really began to panic now. “Mum, I think there's something wrong with me. Why

don't I want to eat fish anymore?”

Mum chucked, in that I-know-better-thanyou way that mums always do. “I've been telling you for ages that if you don't stop eating fish you'll start to turn into one. It looks like it's finally starting to happen,” Finn was absolutely terrified. “Mum!” he wailed. “I don't want to be a fish! I want to be a boy!”

“Perhaps you're turning into a goldfish,” she suggested unhelpfully. “You are looking a little orange this morning,” Finn began to wail even louder.

“You know what you have to do if you want to stop the transformation from happening, don't you?” Mum asked.

Finn stopped crying and shook his head.

“You have to eat something that isn't fish,” she revealed. “That's the only way to break the spell,” Finn was really scared. He hadn't eaten anything other than fish for longer than he could even remember. But he didn't want to be turned into a goldfish forever, so he knew what he had to do.

“Mum, please, you've got to help me. Get me something non-fishy to eat, quickly!”

And so Mum began to frantically rummage around the kitchen cupboards. It was hard to find something in the house that didn't contain fish, but she eventually pulled a long-forgotten box of cereal from the depths of the cupboards and passed it to Finn.

He didn't even bother to reach for a bowl and spoon or some milk. He simply reached into the box, grabbed a big handful of cornflakes, and shoved them into his mouth, then kept munching until he had scoffed the whole box.

“Goodness me!” Mum exclaimed.

Finn could sense the magic inside him reversing. His arms tingled and the lines on his neck stopped itching. His insides stopped its flipping like it was thanking him for eating something different, not at all like he expected to feel if he ever ate something that wasn't fish.

“How do you feel?” Mum asked.

“Actually…” Finn began. “I think I liked cereal more than fish. Could I have some more again tomorrow?”

“Of course,” Mum said. “Now you better hurry up and get in the shower, or else you'll be late for school.”

Finn bolted upstairs so fast he didn't notice the strange objects poking out from the bin.

There was a box of temporary strawberryblonde hair dye, and an empty bottle of washoff fake tan.

Mum smiled to herself as she began gathering up all the fishy food in the house and putting it in the bin, covering her secret purchases so Finn would never know what she did. After all, her plan had worked.

Mum was an absolute genius.

Y H POETR FUN WIT THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS THE BEST There are times when it happens by Uncle Roy That I have to tell others About something that has happened To myself or a sister or brother.

This thing that I have to tell Can make me look bad or good, And I have to make up my mind To tell a lie or the truth as I should.

Then I must always remember That the truth is at all times the best, As, whenever I cheat and tell a lie, It will always end in a big mess.

We know that honesty is the best policy In all the things we do and say, So tell the truth at all times, And you will always be in the right way.

Sunday July 24, 2022

Junior page Supplies paper plates large crafting sticks masking tape pink, green, and black tempera paint paintbrush cotton swabs How to Assemble the Watermelon Craft for Kids Begin by flipping the paper plate over so the bottom is facing up.

Paint the center of the paper plate with pink tempera paint as shown.

Next, paint the rim of the paper plate with green tempera paint.

Allow the paint to dry completely.

Once the paint has dried, use a cotton swab dipped in black tempera paint to add the seeds!

Once the black tempera paint has completely dried, fold the paper plate in half.

Open the plate and use masking tape to attach a large craft stick for the handle of the fan.

Adults can use a stapler around the outer rim of the

plate to seal the edges of the plate shut.

Now you're ready to cool down this summer with this easy and fun Paper Fan Watermelon Craft!

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

TEEN TIME

Make a positive effort to identify the principles to guide your life

W

e mentioned last week the basic principles that every human being needs to fulfil their life's purpose.

One of the most important of these is fairness, the idea of which is universal, and out of which our whole concept of justice and equality is developed. One can see evidence of even young children having this sense of fairness, although there are vast differences in how it is defined and achieved.

Those that will prove to best guide your life are:Fairness – a sense of justice; a proper balance of conflicting interests achieved by subordinating one's own feelings, prejudices and desires in the interest of the good of others.

Honesty – dealing in truth in every aspect; fairness and

straightforwardness of conduct; uprightness of character; adherence to a standard of what is right and proper.

Integrity – the ability and willingness to live according to the values that one has adopted as his mode of behaviour; firm adherence to a code of moral values; the quality or state of being completely undivided.

Human dignity – the quality or state of being worthy, honoured or esteemed; sincerity in manner and appearance.

Growth – process of progressive development in all aspects of one's life; persistent effort at self-improvement.

To l e r a n c e – s y m p a t h y o r indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own; capacity of a body to endure or become less responsive to an insult or other expression different from one's

own.

Peacefulness – state of being devoid of violence or force; calmness or state of being untroubled when confronted by conflict, agitation or commotion.

Respect for nature – high regard for natural things, inculcating a desire to live a life which is attuned to nature's cycles; conservatism in dealing with or using the creatures and things that nature provides.

Loyalty – quality of being unswerving in allegiance; faithfulness to a person, cause, ideal, custom, product or institution to which fidelity is due.

It is absolutely necessary that all young adults at this stage in their lives can see the need to adopt and maintain these principles so as to make their lives fulfilled and the best they can be.

PAGE 55

Honesty Sometimes the truth we are tempted to hide, Due to our guilt or just simple pride; Even an exaggeration may lead to a lie.

Those that are affected may break down and cry.

When honesty and truth we try to avoid.

Relationships are most often destroyed; Though our intentions are not to distress.

The only solution is to genuinely confess.

If we continue dishonest ways, we shall never gain trust, For healthy relationships it's an absolute must; When we have done wrong, we should be honest and frank.

People will appreciate, and in the end they will thank.

Identifying the principles to guide your life will ensure that you fulfil your ambitions.

t Tell i

to

Hello, readers, Uncle Roy is again asking all of you to try in some way to make a contribution to this page, and thus to the welfare of you and your fellow readers. This contribution can take any form that you feel would be valuable – an account of what is going on in your community and country, any advice you would like to pass on to your fellow teen readers and, on a broader level, any comment or recommendation you would like to make to your fellow Guyanese.

Please remit same to my email – roypaul2002@yahoo.com, and be assured that your worthwhile contribution will have a prominent place on our page.

Suguru

Fill in the squares so that each digit from 1 to 7 occurs exactly once in each row and column.

Greater-than and less-than signs indicate the relationship of the two adjacent squares. There is only one solution, and you can find it without guessing.

Twin samurai sudoku

Futoshiki

Solutions to last week’s

PAGE 56

Dandruff Treatment

What Are Dandruff Treatments?

Dandruff Shampoos Home Treatments for Dandruff When to See a Doctor for Dandruff Treatment What Are Dandruff Treatments?

Dandruff treatments are ways you can get rid of or control itching and flaking on your scalp.

The first two to try are brushing your hair and using a dandruff shampoo.

Brush your hair from your scalp down with steady, firm strokes. This carries the oil away from your scalp, where the buildup of it and skin cells can cause dandruff. Moving it along the hair strands helps keep your hair shiny and healthy.

Dandruff Shampoos Not all dandruff shampoos are alike. Some have different active ingredients, such as: Coal tar preparations (Denorex Therapeutic Protection, Neutrogena T/Gel, Scytera) Pyrithione zinc (Selsun Blue for Itchy Dry Scalp, Neutrogena T/Gel Daily Control Dandruff Shampoo, Head & Shoulders) Salicylic acid and sulfur (Sebex, Sebulex) Salicylic acid (Neutrogena T/Sal ) Selenium sulfide (Dandrex, Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength, Selsun) Ketoconazole (Extina, Nizoral A-D, Xolegel) You may need to switch between types of shampoos if one type controls the dandruff at first but later loses its effectiveness.

And if you decide to try a shampoo that has coal tar in it, you'll need to use care. Coal tar treats dandruff by making the skin cells on your scalp die and flake off more slowly, but there are things you should know: Some people have an allergic reaction to it.

It can change the color of lighter-colored hair, fingernails, skin, and clothes.

You'll need to keep it away from any cuts, broken skin, or infections, as well as your eyes.

It can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight -- you should stay out of the sun for 24 to 72 hours after using it.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn't use it.

How to use dandruff shampoos When shampooing: Rub the shampoo into your scalp well.

Leave the shampoo on your head for 5 minutes, or as directed.

Rinse thoroughly. Any leftover shampoo may irritate your skin.Once your dandruff is under control, you may be able to use dandruff shampoo less often.

Home Treatments for Dandruff Aside from dandruff shampoos, a few other things may help control it. For example, managing your stress could help with flaking, or you might try some of these natural treatments.

They're either moisturizing or they might be helpful against bacteria or fungi: Coconut oil. Start by rubbing 3 to 5 teaspoons of this into your scalp, then wait an hour and shampoo your hair.

Aloe vera. Rub a bit into your scalp just before you shampoo your hair.

Apple cider vinegar: Mix a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar with a quarter cup of water, then pour it over your scalp.

Leave it in for at least 15 minutes, then rinse your scalp well.

Aspirin. Crush two aspirin and mix them with your shampoo, then shampoo your hair. Let it sit for 2 minutes then rinse it out.

Baking soda. Wet your hair, then put baking soda on your scalp. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it out.

Lemon juice. Rub 2 teaspoons of lemon juice into your scalp, let it sit for a couple of minutes, then rinse. Follow that by mixing another teaspoon of lemon juice mixed with 1 cup of water and pouring it over your scalp.

Olive oil. Rub several drops of olive oil into your scalp, cover your hair with a shower cap, then sleep on it. In the morning, shampoo your hair.

Some studies have shown that tea tree oil, a by-product of the Australian tea tree, may help with dandruff, but more research is needed.

In some cases, it can irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction. h t t p s : / / w w w. w e b m d . c o m / s k i n - p r o b l e m s - a n d treatments/understanding-dandruff-treatment

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Sunday July 24, 2022

‘Beads & Cuffs’

By Allyiah Allicock

...FOR THE STYLISH AND ECCENTRIC AT HEART

“Young entrepreneurs are the ones who will spearhead the rise of economic growth in this country with their perseverance and drive and, given the opportunity to do so, will take Guyana to the heights of sustainability and global inclusivity.”

Some pieces in her cuffs jewellery collection

Y

oung Berbician, Tyra McAlmont certainly did not sleep on the creative talents she was gifted with. As such, she is now the owner of a handmade jewellery business called ‘Beads & Cuffs’. This emerging venture offers a wide range of handcrafted jewellery to suit just about any occasion.

Tw e n t y - t w o - y e a r - o l d McAlmont, who is a second year University of Guyana physiotherapy student, during a recent interview said that ‘Beads & Cuffs’ all started mid last year after she received a jewellery making kit from her mother.

With some free time on her hand as a result of the pandemic, she decided to make something good out of it and put her skills to test.

“The concept for Beads & Cuffs came when I received a jewellery making kit from my mom for my birthday last year.

This was in the middle of the pandemic and I was beyond bored.

And since I love everything crafty, I said why not try jewellery making,” she shared.

McAlmont, who is proud of being part of the business arena related that apart from her much appreciated clients, her biggest support came from her family, more specifically, her mother, sister, a friend and her late grandmother. “They have been with me from day one, giving advice and constructive criticism along the way, as well as assisting with funding, material sourcing from as far as the motherland (Africa) and getting the word out there,” she emphasised with pride.

To sum it up, they too are the driving force behind the operation she holds today.

Before things got to where it is though, McAlmont recalled that the biggest challenge she had to overcome was to get out of her comfort zone to get things done.

McAlmont, who describes herself as a quiet person, said that the thought of having to confabulate with anyone outside of her comfort zone was crippling. “But I made the step and here I am today,” she proudly stated.

The young woman who wants to continue making a meaningful contribute to society said that her long term goal for Beads and Cuffs is for it to be more than a local name. She wants it to surpass the confines of the country. This, she hopes to achieve by creating one of a kind pieces of jewellery that can have sentimental value to her customers.

McAlmont, who has her mind set on achieving her outlined goals, is of the view that “Young entrepreneurs are the ones who will spearhead the rise of economic growth in this country with their perseverance and drive and, given the opportunity to do so, will take Guyana to the heights of sustainability and global inclusivity.”

In order to contribute to the country’s economic

Some pieces in her beads jewellery collection

growth, the young woman mentioned that more must be done to give w a y t o y o u n g entrepreneu rs and small businesses.

Optimist ic that there is more that can be done to boost small b u s i n e s s , McAlmont noted that reducing the tax on certain items, providing efficient services that deal with the validation and certification of small business, revising of loan plans or grants and creating a platform where persons desirous of starting a business can be properly informed, are just some of the ways that the relevant authorities can render assistance.

To learn more about what Beads and Cuffs has to offer you can contact McAlmont on Facebook – Beads & Cuffs, Instagram – beadsandcuffs, WhatsApp – (592) 653-7800 or via her website at https://sites.google.com/view/be adsandcuffs/home?authuser=0.

Young entrepreneur, Tyra McAlmont

Sunday July 24, 2022

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Govt. shoots down full coverage liability Motion on oil spill…

Guyana, Region remain in grave danger

By Davina Bagot The governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) late Thursday evening used its one seat majority in the National Assembly to destroy an Opposition Motion, filed by Member of Parliament (MP) David Patterson, seeking full liability coverage in the event of an oil spill. This move, however, has left not only Guyana and its people in grave danger, but also the rest of the Caribbean Region.

This is according to Patterson, who on Friday, during an Alliance For Change (AFC) press conference shared his reaction to the government’s reason for shooting down the Motion.

Patterson’s submission to the House was seeking to n o t o n ly in clu d e f u ll unlimited liability coverage for oil spills and other disasters related to petroleum production, but also direct the Government of Guyana to conduct an independent analysis on the possible ill effects of an oil spill, and present this report to the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources to be used as a reference for all other future oil development submissions.

Patterson said, “What was troublesome to me was the comments coming out of the government. One Minister called the Motion trash, and I’m quoting here palpable, non-issue and another person called the Motion calling for coverage to protect our people antidevelopmental, and its fearmongering and that the Opposition was trying to create mischief by the sense of highlighting these issues.”

Given the government’s decision to not require full liability coverage, Patterson who functions as the Shadow Oil and Gas Minister in the House said that the country and the region at large is now left at the mercy of the oil giant, ExxonMobil.

During the debate in Parliament, the MP pointed to the need for Guyana to secure full liability coverage, especially since Exxon has clearly indicated it will only cover “legitimate” and “reasonable” costs when such an event takes place.

To this end, Patterson argued, “besides the callousness of this statement, it is a clear demonstration of

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat says provisions are in place to prevent oil spills, respond and contain such occurrences the company’s intention to battle in court as to what is a “legitimate” and “reasonable” cost. Sadly Mr. Speaker, we have no grounds to stand on in such an instant of a spill, since there is no baseline study of the existing environmental condition to evaluate damages above that baseline.”

He pointed out that Indigenous and other coastal communities would be exposed to grave danger by simply allowing ExxonMobil to insert the words “legitimate” and “reasonable” in the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), which have clearly indicated in the Yellowtail document for example, that in the event of a medium scale oil discharge there is a 40 percent chance that the entire coastline of Regions One and Two will be impacted.

“Mr. Speaker, if such an oil spill occurs, months, years even decades after such an oil spill, Indigenous riverain villages closest to the Atlantic,” could be impacted, the former Minister underscored, as he warned the government that these families would be forced to go to Court to prove that the damages are reasonable and legitimate.

As such, he closed off his presentation by indicating, “you can’t wait fuh tek candle light fuh see things at night when you can see them in the broad daylight.”

The Opposition MP was sure to note as well that the ramping up of production activities will exponentially increase the probability of an oil spill. Such an emergency, Patterson warned, to address clean-up and restoration of ocean and beaches throughout the Caribbean and South American coastlands, could lead to economic bankruptcy. But the troubles for Guyana

would not end there. The country’s fishing industry, he said, could be obliterated while aquatic vegetation could also be destroyed all while Guyana could be forced to battle lawsuits from neighbouring countries, due to potential damages.

Government’s response Even though these specific dangers were highlighted, the government’s side was determined to not let the Motion succeed.

It was the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat who led the arguments against the Motion. Also contributing to the debate from that side of the House were Sanjeev Datadin; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar and Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn.

Minister Bharrat said that the administration is aware of how devastating an oil spill can be, hence, provisions have been made to ensure such an activity does not occur. Even if it does, he assured that the oil company has been required to import a capping stack to lay on standby, in the event of such an occurrence. A capping stack is a piece of equipment that is used to place over a blown out well as a cap to prevent further damage that may have been caused.

In providing a legal perspective, the PPP’s Sanjeev Datadin said, “Unlimited insurance presupposes that it matters not what takes place, the insurance coverage will exist. So whether it is one dollar, $1 billion, $100 billion, there would be that coverage. Now perhaps the honourable member can look into what would be the cost. Can you imagine going to an insurance company for

coverage that you don’t know how much it’s likely to be? So this becomes an assessment of risk, risk that is unlimited…”

Additionally, he said that there are two “undesirables” when it comes to unlimited insurance. According to him, “it makes the project itself expensive, it is likely to slow down the pace of growth, thereby affecting jobs and revenue to the country. Not only does it cost us revenue to pay for this policy, this unlimited insurance, not only do we have a cost incurred for that, but we actually lose revenue because we are going to go slower. It makes projects that would otherwise be acceptable and financially viable to be no longer financially viable.”

Secondly, Datadin noted that such an insurance coverage would take small companies out of the equation, as they would not be able to afford such insurance.

Meanwhile, Minister Benn during his contribution to the debate said that including full coverage insurance is completely impossible. In fact, he told Patterson that filing such a Motion in the House was a waste of time. He argued, “It is normal in any development for there to be risks. It is normal for any undertaking for those risks to be assessed…it’s completely impossible and so in fact that complete discussion is a complete waste of time and the honourable Member Patterson should be ashamed of himself…”

The final contributor from the government’s side

Opposition MP, David Patterson argues for full liability coverage in the National Assembly

was Minister Indar who argued that the Motion seeking full liability coverage was meant to drive investors away from Guyana. “…What this document intends to do is show you the extremes of what can happen. This, what they have drawn, is the example of the extremes…I suspect and I believe that this motion is designed to chase people out of this country.

Literally chase people out of this country.”

He went on to say that, “Any person that runs a business in their right mind frame and sense would never commit to an unlimited liability. The reason being is how do you calculate unidentifiable costs? How in the world does a company do that, to calculate those costs?

How do they account for that in their books on a yearly basis?”

A lesson from Nigeria

The Hague Court of Appeal on January 29, 2021 ordered the Nigerian subsidiary of energy giant; Shell, to provide compensation for oil leaks in the Niger Delta that damaged the lands of farmers in villages of Oruma and Goi back in 2004 and 2005. Industry stakeholders who followed the matter for years have said that such a ruling is one that Guyana should pay keen attention to, since it is yet to obtain full coverage insurance for ExxonMobil’s operations offshore Guyana.

The Hague Appeal Court ruling was deemed a victory for environmentalists and especially the Nigerians, whose lands were polluted by the oil. Donald Pols, Director of one of the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, Friends of the Earth, hailed Continued on page 71

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Sunday July 24, 2022

Guyana on dangerous footing…

Exxon keeps racking up multi-billion $$$ bills – Fmr. Finance but country continues to have no say Minister

By Kiana Wilburg ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is moving at “lightning speed” with its exploration and development programme in the Stabroek Block. In fact, plans are already at an advanced stage for its Yellowtail Project, the fourth to be developed offshore to produce 925 million barrels of oil in a 20 year timeframe.

Just recently, one of its prime contractors, SBM Offshore, disclosed that it secured financing to the tune of US$1.75B from a consortium of 15 banks to build Guyana’s largest oil ship called One Guyana which will operate in the Yellowtail Project. But the most critical question that all citizens should ask is, “What say did we have in all of this since it is the country that will ultimately be handed this bill?”

This very question is what former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan says needs to be addressed with a sense of urgency.

During an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, Jordan said it is imperative that Guyana has a say to ensure it is not being cheated on these costs and that the most economical

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan approach is being taken.

The former Finance Minister said, “These people, SBM went out and got a consortium of banks to put together a loan of US$1.7B for the One Guyana vessel that will service the US$10B Yellowtail Project. Now that bill is going to be put to us, that is a bill Guyana has to pay. Yet, Guyana has no one tracking the expenditure, no one that was involved at this preliminary stage in the putting together of the financing but that bill will come to the government as part of the expenditure to be recovered from Yellowtail.”

He added, “Nowhere along the chain do we have a Government of Guyana representative to intervene.

So we are just being presented with massive bills,

just bills upon bills and we don’t know how Exxon is accounting for these expenses through these one million barrel takes (from the Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two Projects). We don’t know what costs would end up being carried over to other projects. We are

barely being told by Exxon certain things but otherwise we are in the dark.”

The economist is of the view that a continuation of such practice, especially since Exxon has indicated that 10 more oil ships are expected, only puts Guyana on dangerous footing.

It was only three days ago that SBM, the Dutch shipbuilder for Guyana’s floating, Production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) said it expects to draw the US$1.75B loan in full, phased over the construction period of the One Guyana FPSO.

The Dutch firm said the financing will become nonrecourse once the FPSO is completed and the precompletion guarantee has been released. Non-recourse financing, for those who may not be aware, is a type of commercial loan requiring Continued on page 71

World Bank O&G support project advocates social accountability, citizen involvement

By Zena Henry Citizens play a critical role in advocating and helping to make public institutions more transparent, accountable and effective, as recognised in the World Bank Group’s Strategic Framework for Mainstreaming Citizen Engagement (2014).

As such, the Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project, which is currently being “refined” by the government, sought to support the development of platforms for social accountability and dialogue necessary to inform and give Guyanese citizens an opportunity to provide input and feedback, among other things, on Guyana’s oil and gas legislation; oil and gas revenue management and

A scene from the NRF bill fiasco

environmental and social impact management.

According to the document, the project would allow for support to the development and consultation on “Green Papers” for various pieces of legislation, support the engagement of project beneficiaries in the

p r e p a r a t i o n , implementation, and monitoring of all project activities, stakeholder engagement (through the support of initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), and the implementation of a well designed communications

strategy – at the regional and national level. To reflect this approach, the Project also sought “to monitor citizen engagement throughout project implementation through a beneficiary feedback indicator,” with a report on the beneficiary feedback which would have been required by the third

year of the implementation.

The proposed World Bank Project also sought to contribute to enhancing the predictability, credibility and accountability of the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana as the project proposes to support capacity building of key institutions

with responsibility for the Oil and Gas (O&G) sector in Guyana. “Stronger, more capable institutions are in turn expected to deliver credible, predictable and accountable O&G sector management and oversight.

As such, the proposed Project is in line with the World Bank’s updated Governance and Anticorruption (GAC) a g e n d a a n d i s complementary to other World Bank projects such as the Caribbean Extractive I n d u s t r i e s Te c h n i c a l Assistance (EITA) and the Guyana Financial Stability and Development Policy Credit (DPC) which similarly contribute towards enhanced governance outcomes.” The Caribbean EITA advisory service, for example, supports the Continued on page 71

Sunday July 24, 2022

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WEEK IN REVIEW SUNDAY WORLD BANK SLAMS GUYANAOVER LAX OVERSIGHT OF EXXON’S OPERATION A recent report by the World Bank has criticised the Guyana Government’s offshore oil production arrangement with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)— ExxonMobil Guyana—based on safety, environmental concerns and inadequate payment and has since downgraded its rating of the country’s oversight of the project.

The report dated March 2022, documents the World Bank issuing an interim report that found the country’s rating had slipped from “Moderately Satisfactory” to “ M o d e r a t e l y Unsatisfactory.”

According to the World Bank, while grant activities have been designed to help Guyana boost staff, experts, training and analysis at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Finance, this came to a halt at the end of 2021.

This is despite the fact that grants made to the country were expected to support work through 2024.

Meanwhile, flaring pollution and other risks continue.

Back in 2019, the World Bank had approved a US$20M loan for Guyana to build its oversight capacity but this was never taken and, according to government officials, the administration is still in the process of refining its priorities before approaching the International Financial Institution again on the loan.

Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat told Kaieteur News last Monday that ministry teams are still working on “refining” and bringing the US$20M loan facility on par with the current government’s priorities for the oil sector.

He suggested that, that work should be completed soon.

The line of credit sought to strengthen various aspects of the oil industry, including support for cost oil audits and other fiscal areas, environmental monitoring and skills training for locals.

The fact that Guyana is yet to utilise the US$20M to build capacity, together with the fact it shied away from an additional US$1M grant to build the capacity of the Environmental Protection Agency, another of the key agencies in the oversight mechanism had seen the

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

former head, Dr. Vincent Adams, positing “there seems to be a worrying trend.”

Dr. Adams is adamant that Guyana has missed another meaningful opportunity to build capacity in its oil and gas industry, since like the still to be refined, World Bank US$20M loan, when the country also failed to utilise another US$1M. One Component of the World Bank ‘Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project’ totalling some US$5.5M, would have seen agencies such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Department of Energy (DoE), among others, receiving “on-the-job training” in reservoir engineering and geology.

This would have allowed for the State to be provided with independent third-party technical expertise needed to analyse estimates of oil and gas resources, assess and conduct economic and fiscal modelling to help forecast oil and gas revenues, and support the cost audit of existing Production Sharing Agreements, among other things.

Another aspect would have seen millions going towards supporting the immediate technical needs at key institutions. It was reported at the time, that Guyana lacked the necessary human resources to address critical and immediate technical needs within prime institutions responsible for the sector.

As such, one subcomponent of that loan also sought to address gaps “through the direct engagement of external expertise to support the Department of Energy, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Ministry of Finance, the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Petroleum Commission,” which is yet to be established.

The Bank said that given its experience in oil and gas projects, it found that capacity building is most effective when it is based on tangible on-the-job training and learning by doing approach.

“Therefore, this activity will allow for the hiring of oil and gas experts as advisors to provide general technical opinions, commercial advice, policy analysis, review of key documents, and other contributions, but more importantly, to deliver on-thejob training and peer mentoring, working closely with the government staff to transfer knowledge and build long-term capacity to manage

the oil and gas sector.”

PROPER DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM NEEDED TO PROTECT NATION’S OIL WEALTH – WORLD BANK In offering Guyana the opportunity to access expert advice toward the proper management of the local oil and gas sector, the World Bank has highlighted the need to have good data management systems in place as a key variable toward protecting the nation’s oil wealth. This is documented in the US$20M ‘Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project’ line of credit appraisal document. The line of credit was secured by the previous government and was supposed to directly support the government and its agencies to management various aspects of the nascent oil and gas industry, but the money remains untapped as the current administration continues to refine the project.

Of the US$20M, US$4.1M was scheduled for the building up of the country’s ‘Petroleum Data Management’.

The Bank highlighted that as exploration activities ramp up in Guyana, “the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is being overwhelmed by the large volumes of oil and gas information and data – seismic surveys, well logs/reports, field data/tapes, samples, maps, geological models, etc.”

The Bank said, these are being generated and shared by companies as required by their contract/license but “GGMC simply does not have the facilities, the personnel or the equipment (hardware and software) to copy, analyse/ interpret, verify, preserve/ store and provide secure access to this data.”

It was explained that, “Petroleum data is extremely valuable because it allows the (Guyana government) GCRG to understand its resources and manage and plan the orderly evaluation and development of those resources.” As such, under petroleum management, the World Bank credit sought to finance the establishment of a new National Petroleum Data Repository in Guyana, from conducting a needs assessment, to the acquisition of needed hardware and software, to the collection and storage of existing data such as core samples, well reports, field tapes, seismic reports, among others. “This activity will also contemplate the training of the team, appointed by GGMC that will

An example of a FPSO control room where operations data is collected be responsible for the data management,” and, once established, the Petroleum Commission and the GGMC will be among key beneficiaries.

Former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head, Dr. Vincent Adams stressed the need to ensure proper data management of petroleum information. Just a day ago, he told the Kaieteur News that he too had made efforts to improve Guyana’s handling of oil related data as well as the access to the oil related content.

Adams claimed that apart from the untapped US$20M loan, he too had secured a US$1M grant to directly improve capacity at the EPA. He explained that key focus areas involved monitoring and accessing pertinent information needed for oversight purposes.

This, he said, meant that representatives of a highly skilled 36-member Petroleum Unit, that was formed under that project would have had to provide “24/7” monitoring aboard the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels offshore, and that Guyana would have been able to scrutinise for itself, all that is taking place in the oil fields.

By being onboard the FPSOs, Dr. Adams continued that the country would have had first hand access to the data being generated thus reducing the country’s dependency on the oil companies to provide information on oil reserves and other technical data. He explained that the country’s trained representatives would have to be onboard the FPSOs in the control room receiving the information as the oil companies do. Dr. Adams explained, however, that having proper access to data, with a proper management system allows for important decisions to be made by its relevant users. He confirmed that with the necessary data, Guyana would be better able to

forecast oil revenues and estimate reservoir values among other determinations.

In 2018, when former Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced the availability of the World Bank line of credit, he told members of the press that the country had no local content, “SWF [Sovereign Wealth Fund], Petroleum Commission Bill, Petroleum Fiscal Regime legislation and plus we don’t have people to draft them. So, under this loan, we have to bring people to help us draft these pieces of legislation.”

MONDAY EXXONMOBIL SEEKS PERMIT TO DRILL 35 NEW WELLS IN STABROEK BLOCK …EXACT LOCATIONS NOT IDENTIFIED, EPA ORDERS CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), the local subsidiary of ExxonMobil, has submitted an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to launch another 35 well drilling campaign in the resource rich Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.

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 that EEPGL- the Stabroek Block operator- is acting on behalf of itself and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Petroleum Guyana Limited, and Hess Guyana Exploration Limited in seeking an Environmental Authorization to carry out the activities.

Notably, “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.”

The Stabroek Block is located approximately 200 kilometers offshore in Guyana waters, where EEPGL has conducted substantial exploration and development activities to date. If discoveries are found at particular locations, Kaieteur News understands that subsequent wells could be drilled in the vicinity of such locations to further assess the commerciality of the discoveries. As such, EEPGL outlined that its priorities and schedules could therefore change.

The oil company said it will continue to submit the well information necessary to obtain approval for an Environmental Permit from the Guyana EPA. 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.

ExxonMobil Guyana made it clear that “This schedule is preliminary and could be influenced by new discoveries, determination of the need for sidetracks, and/ or well tests—all of which could extend the drilling period for the Project. The same factors could also influence the locations and sequence of subsequent wells.”

The company added (Continued on page 65)

Sunday July 24, 2022

From page 64 that the process of drilling these wells will be very similar to the process followed during prior EEPGL exploration drilling campaigns and may include mobilization, drilling, ancillary processes (possibly including sidetracks, well tests, and/or vertical seismic profiling), and demobilization. Exxon has not yet determined the order in which the wells will be drilled as specific features and activities for each well are still being finalized. It noted that the details will be finalized and provided to the EPA in advance of the spudding activities.

EEPGL currently has six drill ships operating offshore Guyana: the Stena Carron, the Stena DrillMAX, the Noble Bob Douglas, the Noble Tom Madden, the Noble Don Taylor, and the Noble Sam Croft. The wells could be drilled by any one of these six drill ships. The oil company disclosed that all of the drill ships are fully equipped for such drilling operations.

Further, if a well test is determined to be warranted for the Project, the well would likely be temporarily plugged and abandoned to enable the return of a drill ship to re-enter the well and complete the well test at a later date. Once exploration/appraisal drilling activities are complete, the wells will be plugged and abandoned.

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.

POORLY MANAGED O&G SECTOR RECIPE FOR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL TROUBLES- WORLD BANK WARNS Guyana has been a natural resources-dependent country for decades, but it never established resource management and planning

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prevention and response capacity, among others.”

Notwithstanding, based on experience in resource-rich countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States, Chile, Botswana, several Gulf countries, Norway and others, the Bank said that positive impacts on overall poverty levels are achievable while mitigating risks, with good governance, investments in the quality and capacity of public and private institutions, investments in skills and technological capacities, efficient and transparent revenue collection and management, and sound macroeconomic and fiscal management policies.

TUESDAY Guyana’s Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo tools such as a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), the World Bank’s ‘Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project’ document stated.

The Bank is urging a different trend in relation to the oil and gas industry as it warns that poor management of the sector often results in economic and social troubles for countries. Recent oil discoveries here have however prompted Guyana to pursue the establishment of a wealth fund which was passed into law last year under the Natural Resource Act of 2021.

The World Bank, the Institute of Petroleum, the University of Calgary and the Commonwealth Secretariat were among the partners and supporters that worked with the country on its initial document which was assented to under the David Granger –led administration.

The Bill was passed on January 3, 2019 with minor amendments, and assented to on January 23, 2019, until the new government passed the new wealth fund act.

The Resource Fund is supposed to finance public investment, stabilize public expenditure and among other things, safeguard wealth for use by future generations.

“The successful implementation of the arrangements specified in the Bill would allow Guyana to deal with the macroeconomic challenges of managing an increase in natural resource revenues (the so-called “Dutch disease” or “natural resource curse”),” the Bank said, since the law specifies the institutional arrangements to manage the resource fund.

Apart from the technical assistance that is required for both the Ministry of Finance

and the Central Bank of Guyana for the implementation of the requirements, the World Bank also noted the need for institutional capacity building to ensure good oversight that allows maximum oil related funds to be generated.

As such, the US$20M line of credit is still available to assist Guyana to improve its institutional capacity to oversee and manage the oil and gas sector; which according to the Bank is limited in the various relevant government ministries, commissions and other departments.

“There is a large capacity gap at administrative and technical levels responsible for the management and oversight of Guyana’s nascent O&G sector. This includes a shortage of O&G experts in the relevant ministries and departments,” the Bank noted. It related in its county context that at the time, the Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), responsible for regulating the O&G sector in Guyana, had only eight people trained in O&G, a relatively small budget, and is being overwhelmed with the requirements of processing/ interpreting increasing volumes of valuable petroleum data. Similarly, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is beleaguered by the complex and outdated environmental licencing and permitting process and is limited by a mismatch between its actual human, financial, technical (equipment/laboratories) capacity and the broad mandate it has been assigned under the Environmental Protection Act. As a new oil and gas -g as well as significant investment in environmental damage

JAGDEO DETERMINED TOACCELERATE EXPLORATION EVEN IF IT MEANS GUYANAGETS LESS In a recent Reuters article titled, “Guyana races against the clock to bank its oil bonanza”, Vice President Bharat Jagdeo, is quoted as saying that the Government of Guyana wants to accelerate oil exploration to develop the economy speedily – even if it means Guyana gains less.

Notwithstanding calls from sections of society to not licence any new projects for development just yet, the Vice President is reported in the media on different occasions, pushing the oil companies to go faster. According to the Reuters article, Guyana is putting its foot on the gas to exploit its vast oil reserves, even if that means sacrificing some longer-term gains. The Vice President said, “We want to accelerate exploration so we can develop the economy as fast as possible” adding, “We will probably get less, but we might be able to get faster development.”

Last Tuesday at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) mid-year dinner, Jagdeo had stated that Guyana needs to develop its oil and gas resources as quickly as possible before the world decarbonizes.

He argued that calls to halt the developments at the present in order for the country to realise a larger share of its oil revenues sooner, would not benefit the country, as it could introduce added inflationary pressures to the country’s domestic economy.

According to Vice President Jagdeo, “if we don’t keep a steady stream of investments in the oil and gas sector to open up the reserves

to prove it and to take it out as quickly as possible before net zero kicks in, and the demand goes down then we’ll run out of momentum.”

Earlier this year, at the opening of the International Energy Conference, Jagdeo noted that despite there are shortcomings in Guyana’s regime with regard its structures, frameworks and regulations in place for the industry, the developments in the industry must continue in an accelerated manner.

The VP is reported as saying, “we have been trying to evolve the regime; because the pace of development has been rapid.” As such, the Vice President was adamant, “…we have to, at the level of the government, try to keep the regime evolving at a pace where we don’t become a humbug on the development of the industry and slow down the pace.”

Guyana has signed onto a lopsided Product Sharing Agreement (PSA) with American oil giant, ExxonMobil, subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), along with partners Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited.

Under the PSA, the oil companies are able to recover up to 75 percent of the gross monthly of oil, in order to pay overhead expenses including the payments for the developments.

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

Coupled with the fact, the oil companies have already discovered in excess of 11 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil, there are now plans to have at least 10 FPSOs in place—one every year after 2027. The argument is that with all of the development costs paid off, it would mean less expense for the oil operations and as such more profit to be split theoretically increasing Guyana’s share.

Since Liza discovery in 2015 on the prolific Stabroek Block, which spans more than six million acres in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – the consortium led by EEPGL, have made a plethora of finds.

EEPGL is the operator of the country’s richest oil block. The consortium has made five discoveries for 2022 in the Stabroek Block. The partners in the Stabroek Block currently operate two producing fields namely the Liza I and II locations being produced by the Liza Destiny and Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessels. The Stabroek Block partners was pumping 120,000 barrels of oil

per day (bpd) at the start of 2022 and plans to hit 360,000 by the end of the year.

ANY NATIONAL OIL COMPANY MUST BE LEAN, CLEAN, WITH STRONG PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT – OIL EXPERT URGES If established, what can a National Oil Company (NOC) do for Guyana in the most useful manner over time? This is perhaps one of the key questions the oil producing state must consider, says one of the world’s leading authorities on NOCs, Dr Valérie Marcel.

In an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, the expert on national oil companies, and petroleumsector governance, was keen to note that the drivers for establishing a NOC are different today from 10 or even five years ago. Dr. Marcel, the Project lead for the New Producers Group, a South-South knowledgesharing network of 30 emerging oil and gas producer countries (Guyana included) said the threshold to justify that investment of public funds is also higher. Dr. Marcel said, “In an energy transition, it is important to think about how the mandate of the NOC can adapt to a world of declining value of petroleum assets. What can the NOC most usefully do for Guyana over time? That is the key question.”

She added, “Marketing of the state’s share of crude is one useful role in the medium term - provided it has the necessary capacity (not a given as it has taken years to develop those skills in other NOCs).”

The industry expert proffered as well that another might be to leverage the petroleum operations to increase access to clean energy for Guyana. In the medium term, Dr. Marcel said it can be a passive upstream player. She said however, “It would be taking on a lot of risk as it would be committed to contribute to the costs of development of the fields without a guaranteed return on investment over time.” In all cases, Dr. Marcel said any NOC for Guyana needs to be lean and clean, with minimal costs and strong parliamentary oversight.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo during several press conferences this year, explained that the government is weighing the pros and cons of developing a NOC, stressing that the traditional model (where the State owns the company (Continued on page 66)

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From page 65 and gets involved in the exploration and development of oil and gas) is not likely to be the intended route for the country. Should it settle on establishing such an entity, he indicated to the media that Guyana would play a passive role where a strategic partner, one with deep pockets and experience in the deepwater play, would be able to take the bulk of the risks. The former Head of State and now Policy Advisor for Oil and Gas said a decision on the way forward would be announced in September, the same time the country is expected to host its first oil blocks auction.

Kaieteur News previously reported that development partners such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had advised against the country having a NOC, saying there was no business case for one. Other stakeholders such as former Petroleum Advisor to the coalition regime, Dr. Jan Mangal and Co-Director for Energy at Americas Market Intelligence (AMI), Arthur Deakin agreed with the IMF. They believe Guyana would be off on the wrong foot as it lacks the expertise to truly maximize the benefits of such an entity as well as the governance systems to keep corruption at bay. Vice President, Jagdeo has nonetheless assured that the government has a team of experts it is seeking guidance from while adding that the best decision would be made for Guyana.

WEDNESDAY SEVEN YEARS ON… GUYANA STILLTO 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

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2nd 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.

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…”

The former Minister’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 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 longterm 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 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.

U.S URGES GUYANA GO AFTER ASSETS OF MONEY LAUNDERER — LAUNCHES TWO-DAY WORKSHOP ON ASSET RECOVERY When 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 replacement agency.

Observers believe this US-led 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 Heath-Retemyer 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 like Guyana.” Lynch 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 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 nonconviction-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.

THURSDAY GUYANA BEING FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY IN THE WORLD NOTHING BUTAMIRAGE -DISMAL NON-OIL GROWTH TELLS THE TRUTH- FORMER FINANCE MINISTER With two oil ships, namely the Liza Destiny and the Liza Unity in operation and

Former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan producing approximately 300,000 barrels a day, Guyana’s growth rate is forecast to jump from the initially projected 47.5 percent to 57.8 percent. This was recently noted by Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh who has also stated that Guyana’s pace of development and production makes it one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Many institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and even the Caribbean Development Bank have agreed with this perspective.

However, former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan has categorically stated that he is one who does not fall into this category. For him, the mantra that Guyana is supposedly the fastest growing economy is nothing but a mirage, adding that the real truth can be found in an examination of the dismal performance of the non-oil economy. Speaking on the management of the economy while a guest on GlobeSpan24X7, Jordan said, “Over the last two years, the government has literally destroyed the tax base and it is now in a scenario where it has run out of options in an economy that is supposedly the fastest growing in the world but that is a mask.”

Jordan said in 2020 when the economy grew by 43.5 percent buoyed by a full year of oil production, the non-oil economy contracted by 7.3 percent.

“So it would have declined from 5.2 percent in 2019 to a negative 7.3 percent even though the overall growth of the economy was a positive 43.5 percent,” expressed the economist.

He further noted that in 2021, growth was 20.9 percent while the (Continued on page 67)

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From page 66 non-oil economy’s growth was pegged at 6.1 percent.

“So you will have to compare the 5.2 with the 6.1. This year, the economy is supposed to grow 57.8 percent and the non-oil is projected to grow about 7 percent but that will have its own challenges because rice, sugar performed dismally at half year. So those non-oil figures will have to be reviewed,” expressed the former Finance Minister.

FIRST QUARTER REPORT According to Bank of Guyana’s 2022 first quarter report, the rice and sugar industries experienced declines in production by 53.1 and 47.7 percent, respectively.

The institution explained that the substantial decline in the production of rice can be attributed to the effects of the flooding in 2021, which prevented farmers from sowing all available lands for the first crop of 2022 along with higher input costs.

Kaieteur News understands that sugar production decreased as a result of the halt on grinding at the Uitvlugt sugar estate, caused by mechanical issues, which impacted production, as this estate was responsible for 25 percent of output.

NOTE TO READERS With respect to stats provided by the former Finance Minister for 2021, Kaieteur News’ perusal of the Bank of Guyana records showed that the Guyanese economy registered real oil and non-oil Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 19.9 percent and 4.6 percent respectively, despite the devastating mid-year floods that affected the agriculture sector and the gold industry.

It should be noted as well that during the 2020 period, many sectors such as rice and forestry were hard-hit due to lock-down measures and restrictions that followed from the COVID-19 pandemic.

35-WELL STABROEK BLOCK CAMPAIGN… EPAWEAKENS REGULATORY DISCIPLINE FOR EXXON’S BENEFIT -APPROACH SPELLS DANGER FOR GUYANA – FORMER EPAHEAD The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ruled that a 35-well exploration drilling campaign that US oil giant ExxonMobil has applied for will not, by itself, significantly affect the environment. However, the former head of the EPA, Dr. Vincent Adams believes that this decision could spell danger for Guyana.

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He presented his reasons during an exclusive interview with this publication on Tuesday evening. To begin with, Dr. Adams pointed out that a Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) for the project has been ordered by the EPA, but this study is usually included in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which points out the dangers that can be caused as a result of a specific project, as well as point to mitigative measures.

Importantly, the former Executive Director for the regulator body explained that the EPA’s decision to merely order a CIA is not enough for such a rigorous campaign to be pursued. In fact, this new campaign may entail the highest number of wells to be drilled to date by the developer in one project.

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 programme and production operations; The Payara Development Project well drilling programme, installation, and start of production; Ongoing exploration/appraisal well drilling operations in the Stabroek Block covered under a 25-well campaign approved on October 1, 2019; The Yellowtail Development Project well drilling programme and installation operations; and two 12-well campaigns in the Kaieteur and Canje oil blocks for which environmental authorisation is currently being sought.

The cumulative impacts of a project, as explained by Environmentalist, Simone Mangal-Joly, has to do with a project developer considering ongoing or potential projects to occur within the district of that planned development.

For instance, she said, “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.”

To this end, Dr. Vincent Adams has argued that the new campaign must be subject to an EIA, as the EPA does not have information to

determine the significance of this development. For one, he reasoned that each new reservoir that is drilled contains different pressures.

As such, he explained that Exxon would not know what to expect at the new locations to be drilled. “It’s dangerous because we don’t know the characteristics of the well.

The EPA claims that these impacts are known but this absolutely cannot be so! They (EPA) said that the impacts would be local, but do they think that the pressures beneath the surface care about staying local? When Exxon goes to punch a hole into a new reservoir, they are now going to find out what is there, so they themselves don’t know.”

The EPA in a notice to the public shared that, “It has been determined that the proposed project/activity, by itself will not significantly affect the environment. The reasons for this decision include: the impacts from the proposed project/activity will be temporary; and the impacts from the proposed project/ activity will be localised.”

However, the former Agency head is of a different view, arguing that the impacts of exploration wells pose the highest risk due to the developer launching into new zones. To this end, he told Kaieteur News that an EIA would be the best decision in the interest of ensuring safety of the environment.

FRIDAY DUTCH MANUFACTURER SECURES US$1.75B LOAN FOR GUYANA’S FOURTH OIL SHIP Dutch manufacturer, SBM Offshore was pleased to announce on Thursday that it has completed the project financing of the ONE GUYANA floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel— Guyana’s fourth and largest oil ship—for a total of US$1.75 billion.

SBM said the project financing was secured by a consortium of 15 international banks. The company said it expects to draw the loan in full, phased over the construction period of the FPSO. The Dutch firm said the financing will become non-recourse once the FPSO is completed and the pre-completion guarantee has been released.

Non-recource financing, for those who may not be aware, is a type of commercial loan requiring only repayment based upon proceeds generated from the project.

Kaieteur News understands that the FPSO

The ONE GUYANA hull on its way from China to Singapore ONE GUYANA builds on the experience to date of FPSOs built for the country by SBM. These include Liza Destiny, Liza Unity and Prosperity. As such, the design is based on SBM Offshore’s industry leading Fast4Ward® programme that incorporates the c o m p a n y ’s n e w b u i l d , multi-purpose hull combined with several standardised topsides modules.

SBM said the FPSO will be designed to produce approximately 250,000 barrels of oil per day, will have associated gas treatment capacity of 450 million cubic feet per day and water injection capacity of 300,000 barrels per day.

Additionally, the FPSO will be spread moored in water depth of about 1,800 metres and will be able to store around two million barrels of crude oil.

The project is part of the Yellowtail development which is the fourth development within the Stabroek block.

Kaieteur News previously reported that Yellowtail is expected to cost US$10B, will include six drill centres and up to 26 production and 25 injection wells.

In the Stabroek Block, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, an affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation, is the operator and holds a 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Meanwhile, Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds a 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds a 25 percent interest.

To date, the partners have discovered 11 billion oilequivalent barrels. The company anticipates up to 10 projects on the Stabroek Block to develop this resource.

OVER $48B IN OIL RECEIPTS TABLED FOR SECOND QUARTER Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh on Thursday presented notification receipts to the National Assembly of all petroleum revenues paid into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) during the period April 2022 to June 2022.

In the second quarter, the country received $4.3B for royalty paid by ExxonMobil and its partners in the Stabroek Block. That sum was for royalties due in the first quarter of 2022. Also, $21.3B was received for the payment of profit oil earned from the Liza Unity vessel and executed on April 25, 2022. Finally, $22.6B was deposited into the NRF. This was profit oil payments from the Liza Destiny Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel executed on May 3, 2022. In all, the deposits totalled $48.2B. The receipts were also published in the Official Gazette on July 18, 2022.

Minister Singh said the foregoing reaffirms the PPP/ C Government’s commitment to greater accountability and transparency in the management of Guyana’s oil resources.

He recalled that the NRF Act 2021 came into operation on January 1, 2022, replacing the illegitimate APNU/AFC NRF Act 2019.

Minister Singh reminded as well that one of the key amendments to the legislation is that the Finance Minister could face up to 10 years imprisonment if he fails to disclose the receipt of any petroleum revenue received by the government in the Official Gazette within three months of receipt of such monies.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which recently concluded the 2022 Article IV mission to Guyana in May-June of this year, had

commended the PPP/C Government on the amendments made to the NRF Act. IMF Staff also said that the recent amendments to the 2019 Natural Resource Fund Act set clear ceilings on withdrawals from the fund for budgetary spending and promote transparency in the management and use of oil resources.

IMF Staff also praised the authorities’ thorough review of the 2019 NRF Act and its restraint in using any oil revenues before the passage of the amendments.

The PPP/C Government he said will continue to manage Guyana’s oil resources in a clear and transparent manner to the benefit of present and future generations.

SATURDAY GOVT. KILLS MOTION SEEKING FULL LIABILITY COVERAGE FOR OIL SPILLS Exactly 154 days since a Motion seeking full liability coverage for oil spills was first presented to the National Assembly by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), David Patterson, a four hour debate was finally allowed by the Speaker of the House, Mazoor Nadir on Thursday evening, which ended in the Motion being thrown out by the governing side.

Patterson took the spotlight from 20:16hrs to present the Motion that sought to not only include full unlimited liability coverage for oil spills and other disasters related to petroleum production, but also direct the Government of Guyana to conduct an independent analysis on the possible ill effects of an oil spill, and present this report to the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources to be used as a reference for all other (Continued on page 68)

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From page 67 future oil development submissions.

Four members on the Opposition’s side, inclusive of Mr. Patterson, Annette Ferguson, Amaza WaltonDesir and Vincent Henry all stood in defense of the Motion, while from the government’s side, it was the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat that led the arguments against the Motion.

Also contributing to the debate from that side of the House were Sanjeev Datadin, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar and Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn.

Patterson, the Shadow Oil and Gas Minister in the House engaged in a brief squabble with the Speaker over what he described as the emasculation of his Motion, referring to the fact that 13 of his 20 clauses were removed, while two were amended.

Nevertheless boasting that he was confident in the successful passage of the Motion, Patterson grounded his arguments on Guyana’s projection to rapidly increase oil production within the next five years’ time.

He told the National Assembly, “Oil production in offshore Guyana is expected to increase rapidly, tripling from what is guessed to be its current rate of about 300,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) to close to 1 million bopd in the next few years; and Mr. Speaker, I say guess, because, unlike the Coalition which adhered to its moral responsibility of full transparency to our people, the PPPC’s modus operandi is to dodge and hide information that belongs to the people.”

To this end, the former Minister of Public Infrastructure reasoned that there will also be additional threats of oil spills off Guyana’s coasts, bringing his Motion of liability coverage into focus.

He was keen to point out in his presentation that “the emergency response and cleanup of the British Petroleum Macondo oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have so

far cost more than $70B USD and still counting, but inexplicably, the Vice President of Guyana (Bharrat Jagdeo) has been waffling all over the place changing his tune from a $2B insurance from Exxon, to parent company assurance, to now peddling a piddly $600M insurance coverage which is less than one percent of the cost of the Macondo spill.”

On the Opposite side of the room, Minister Bharrat said that the administration is aware of how devastating an oil spill can be, hence provisions have been made to ensure such an activity does not occur. Even if it does, he assured that the oil company has been required to import a capping stack to lay on standby, in the event of such an occurrence. A capping stack is a piece of equipment that is used to place over a blown out well as a cap to prevent further damage that may have been caused.

In providing a legal perspective, the PPP’s Sanjeev Datadin said, “Unlimited insurance presupposes that it matters not what takes place, the insurance coverage will exist.

So whether it is one dollar, $1 billion, $100 billion, there would be that coverage.

Now perhaps the honourable member can look into what would be the cost.

Can you imagine going to an insurance company for coverage that you don’t know how much it’s likely to be? So this becomes an assessment of risk, risk that is unlimited…”

Additionally, he said that there are two “undesirables” when it comes to unlimited insurance. According to him, “it makes the project itself expensive, it likely to slow down the pace of growth, thereby affecting jobs and revenue to the country. Not only does it cost us revenue to pay for this policy, this unlimited insurance, not only do we have a cost incurred for that, but we actually lose revenue because we are going to go slower. It makes projects that would otherwise be acceptable and financially viable to be no longer

financially viable.”

Secondly, Datadin noted that such an insurance coverage would take small companies out of the equation, as they would not be able to afford such insurance.

Meanwhile, Minister Benn during his contribution to the debate said that including full coverage insurance is completely impossible. In fact, he told Patterson that filing such a Motion in the House was a waste of time.

He argued, “It is normal in any development for there to be risks. It is normal for any undertaking for those risks to be assessed…it’s completely impossible and so in fact that complete discussion is a complete waste of time and the honourable Member Patterson should be ashamed of himself…”

The final contributor from the government’s side was Minister Indar who argued that the Motion seeking full liability coverage was meant to drive investors away from Guyana. “…What this document intends to do is show you the extremes of what can happen.

This, what they have drawn, is the example of the extremes…I suspect and I believe that this motion is designed to chase people out of this country. Literally chase people out of this country.”

He went on to say that, “Any person that runs a business in their right mind frame and sense would never commit to an unlimited liability. The reason being is how do you calculate unidentifiable costs? How in the world does a company do that, to calculate those costs?

How do they account for that in their books on a yearly basis?”

Patterson in his final arguments said he was astonished at the responses of his peers in governments, but made it clear that he will continue to file more motions on the subject.

At exactly 12:03 am on Friday, the debate finally concluded with the Speaker ruling after a vote in the House, that the Motion was defeated.

USE OF QUACK DENTISTS IS A DANGEROUS...

From page 16 such thing as fashion braces.

Braces are an orthodontic treatment done to correct dental and medical issues".

The Dental Council enjoins patients to use qualified

and registered dental practitioners and has issued a list of Dentists, Dentexes and Dental Technicians which could be accessed at 'official gazette.gov.gy/images/gazette 2022'.

This problem could be fundamentally addressed by the Dental Council and practitioners issuing a reasonably priced and affordable schedule of charges for various procedures; the Police warn-

ing or prosecuting unqualified/unregistered persons who advertise the provision of dental services; and the Dental Council and the Ministry of Health mounting a comprehensive programme of dental education for the public.

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

Sunday July 24, 2022

PAGE 69

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox Local businesses must also be allowed to develop DEAR EDITOR, We as a nation must be careful as to how quickly we allow foreign businesses to expand within our borders.

The primary risk being that our local business startups and developing businesses will be less competitive given the early stages of the country’s development. Our

business owners must be given the opportunity to raise their quality and service to meet and surpass international standards before we invite stronger competitors to enjoy the growth we are experiencing.

Without such a cautious approach, local businesses will never reach their full

potential during this growth period in our country’s history. Having a few strong foreign companies present in each sector will allow local competitors to see what is expected by tourists, and it will also give our people the impetus to implement higher standards within their businesses. Starbucks is a

Disappointed Speaker/PPP did not allow Motion on corruption allegations against VP DEAR EDITOR, Our World Our Country is disappointed that the Speaker of the National Assembly, a former PPP Minister, has turned down an Opposition Motion seeking to address the corruption and bribery allegations against Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in relation to the recently released Vice News undercover report. The Opposition PNC said the motion was “a definite matter of urgent public importance.”

While the VICE report has not named any examples of specific wrongdoing, the allegations made of generalised corruption and a “pay to play” scheme is enough to warrant a need for the VP to clear his name.

The VP himself and President Ali had both said they welcome some type of Commission of Inquiry into the allegations. It is, therefore, baffling that the

ruling PPP did not support the motion or seek to advise the Speaker that they are okay with having the matter discussed in our Parliament.

OWOC believes that the Parliament is a good forum to discuss such a motion.

Disallowing the PNC motion smacks of disrespect for the Opposition which represents almost half of the country. In light that the PPP did not support the PNC motion, it now raises the question of what does the party have to hide, and whether it prefers to have these VICE allegations simmer and detract from its development agenda.

The PPP should note that allegations of corruption were largely responsible for the PPP losing the 2015 election.

Allegations of corruption at the top level of our Government is a cause for concern and the nation would have expected that the PPP

with its “One Guyana” slogan would have taken the opportunity to clear the name of one of its top leaders, and sending a signal that all allegations of corruption would be taken seriously.

In our new oil economy, Guyana has membership and is committed to the principles of the Escazu Agreement and the Extractive Industries Transparency International (EITI) requiring good governance, transparency, and accountability.

The Government side has lost a great opportunity to demonstrate to the nation that it takes allegations of corruption seriously.

It’s our wealth and our country, and all Guyanese deserve to know if there is corruption at the highest levels of our Government.

Without the parliamentary discussion, a question mark remains.

Our World Our Country

Rise above Partisanship DEAR EDITOR, I listened to recent contributions in parliament and reactions. People have become cynical after watching the behaviour and listening to comments of politicians as publicly displayed in parliament.

Opponents, the sycophants, public at large ridiculed mathematical errors (not the judicial error that 33 is not a majority of 65 – that was idiocy) and eating curried duck, missing the message of skyrocketing cost of living and the suffering endured by the extreme poor (some 40%) who can hardly afford three meals. The public interest is not given a priority.

Every member of parliament says they are acting or doing things in the national interest and pursuing measure to help the poor and with national development.

But an objective analysis and my engagements with the

public reveal otherwise. Every MP (from both sides) and Minister says he or she is honest but the public views several of them as corrupt and dishonest and on the take.

In parliament and in the public, both sides seek to score political points on each other rather than address the problems facing the nation.

Both sides need to rise above partisanship. Instead of critiquing all the time, the opposition should act responsibly — propose concrete realistic proposals to address nagging problems.

The opposition cannot unjustifiably disrupt parliamentary proceedings and appeal on race. One does not have to be perennially confrontational to be effective.

And the government should give consideration to ideas presented by the opposition.

Government and governance are not only about the ruling

party or the winners take all, but the opposition as well and the public. When the public makes a case for policies and assistance, the government responds.

The country needs to rise above political partisanship and legislate and allocate resources for the welfare of people. The public expect the opposition to oppose and put pressure on the government but these must purposeful with achievable goals.

Pressure must be peaceful not the kind of violence unleashed at Mon Repos a month ago. Parliamentary proceedings are expected to be acrimonious but must not be disrupted as in attempts to remove the mace, blowing whistle to drown out reading of bills, calling staff or members house coo…. or house nig….., etc. Parliament must function with respect.

Members are expected (Continued on page 72)

great example for the local coffee shops. We as a Nation would also benefit from broadening our horizons by looking beyond the USA and also consider strong brands from Europe and Asia. During my travels around the world, Vietnamese coffee has always been heralded as one of the best tasting coffees. Chinese tea houses are also world renowned. No one would doubt the reputation of an English tea shop or the peaceful experience of a Japanese tea garden. These are experiences that speak to both locals and foreigners.

Our country is also known for the wide variety of fresh tea offerings and their medicinal benefits.

Our format of sales may be somewhat rustic in nature, but the quality of our products are amongst the best in the world. This growth period offers an excellent opportunity to develop the presentation of our offering and couple it with the peaceful nature of our environment. Sipping a cup of tea while watching the diverse bird population that only the tropics can offer, is an excellent peaceful

experience that all can enjoy. Imagine the joy of a foreigner walking into a local tea garden and saying, “Ma’am may I please have a cup of your organically grown lemon grass tea, sweetened with your world renowned Demerara sugar, preferably the Enmore crystal if available. Please also add a touch of your organic milk from your grass fed cows?”

Then the hostess politely responds, “Of course you may have a cup Ma’am, it would be a pleasure to have you as a guest”.

We must remember, the objective of prosperity is to allow for our citizens to not only make a better living, but to also have a more enjoyable and fulfilling life experience.

Many major Hotel brands are also investing, but these hotels also had their humble beginnings. Our local hotel owners should also be allowed to reap the benefits of national growth. Creating more bed and breakfast locations will provide more business ownership opportunities for our citizens.

The risk of allocating all of the growth in rooms/ accommodations to strong

foreign brands is that it may result in capping the growth of the local hotel business owners. Foreigners do prefer what they are used to experiencing in their own homelands, but we must provide an opportunity for them to also experience excellent Guyanese hospitality that both they and locals can afford to enjoy. If you speak with the man and woman in the street I am sure they will tell you that they would prefer to own a business that meets and surpasses international standards instead of working for one owned by someone from a different culture with different values. This is the culture of our country and we must continue to embrace it and enable it to flourish.

Those who we invite to partake in our growth must share the values of our Nation and also respect our way life. Then we will be able to continue our growth trajectory without harming the culture of our Country.

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

Guyana Parliamentarians - It’s...

From page 6 mismanagement to blame, not them, how can you be allowing this?.

Parliamentarians you can fight back with being the home team, the oil companies have invested lots of money in one basket called Guyana, you now have them where you want them, seize the opportunity to re-negotiate, if they are large and you can’t fight like elephants then fight like piranhas biting little pieces every day. John Hess said Guyana is a democratic country, since the majority of Guyanese wants renegotiation, then renegotiate as democracy means majority, use their own words against them. Use the strength of the oil companies, which include bribing government officials against them, bribing elected officials is a crime, charge them even if you have to go as high as Darren Woods, John Hess and Xia Qinglong (CNOOC), let them get a taste of Guyana’s Justice System since they like Guyana so much.

So, parliamentarians take the fight on, there will be risks, but remember Guyanese who work in your name to move this country daily, take risks all the time, driving on bad roads, working in unsafe conditions, business people risk being robbed etc., but they still battle on to make a living, show them you can fight like them.

Carl Greenidge said he had nothing to do with the oil contract, Winston Jordan is now coming out criticising the oil contract, these men have already started their path to redemption. Those of you who are trying to shut Kaieteur News down, desist from doing so, KN is our voice, beware of God’s wrath on those who silence the voices that speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, you need redemption now, lay off KN. Parliamentarians this fight has now gone beyond fair share, this is now a battle of Good over Evil for the soul of Guyana, staying silent or being neutral is no longer an option, you must take a stand

now when it matters, not apologising later on when it’s meaningless.

Those who take the righteous path, God will walk with them, if you take the fight to the oil companies and they come after you, I will stand up for you, so too will Glenn Lall, I have confidence in his integrity, as well other Guyanese will support you.

Parliamentarians you will be there for a long time to come either as ruling party or opposition, you’re the last line of defense, stop torturing the Guyanese people with the current nonsense. REDEEM yourselves take the fight to the oil companies, fight for Guyana, yourselves, your families, your friends and all Guyanese, the prize waiting for you is enormous, you will get your redemption, you will live and leave with your grace and dignity intact plus the hundreds of billions of US dollars. Remember if you do nothing, you will face the wrath of fed up citizens, like the corrupt leaders of Sri Lanka.

R. David

PAGE 70

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

Cement and steel drive likely...

WANTED

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

Looking for one housekeeper/ Cook that can make vegetarian, Indian Meals. Hasp: +1 647855-3040 or call 692-5327 1 Experienced Driver/SalesCAR RENTAL man to work on water delivAidan's Car Rental. Call: 225- ery canter. Must be living on 3234 / 698-7807. the West Coast Demerara Tel: 662-9341.

FOR RENT SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design,Advertisements, Wedding decorations & Elderly grooming: Hair,Nail etc.Tel:626-7040.

Specialized Repairs/Service Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Pressure Pump, Stove ,Treadmill, Dryer, Filtration System, Deepfryer Ect.6949733.

Need your clothes to wash or house to clean? Call 223-4246 / 683-7902 (Any cleaning) Are you looking for a Part time driver to do your errands Call 223-4246 / 668-9020

One three-bedroom house in Ulverston Berbice. Contact 650-5626.

Two Story Building With 4 Bedroom/Parking Located at Happy Acers E.C.D Tel: 6817001, 699-7539, 676-7463 WA: 347-278-0020.

Property for o over 50 staff with parking Saffon street bottom flat apartment building providence contact: Ray's Re- One Maid/Helper, Must be able to wash, cook & clean. alty 627-9385 Ability to work flexible hours if required. 7 am to 4: 30 pm.

FOR LEASE Call645-5008.

For Lease - 27.6 acres of land in Berbice for agricultural use. Experienced Utility operaters (must have valid driver's liContact 650-5626 cense) and crewmen for pit wanted for mining operation.

Call: 697-2533

LAND FOR SALE FOR SALE

Experienced-Domestic Required Please call or Whatsapp 649-5005.

Female Caregiver 30-60 Years for elderly female on weekends. Must be fully Vaccinated. Call 650-5496.

Males&Shop Attendant(Must know how to cook) For interior, Live in domestic for Georgetown Call: 632-5459/ 6615992.

Cook for Fast food Restaurant located in Madhai Attractive Salary.Accommodation Provided Call: 601-1479 / 603-2695.

Friendship, East Coast 85x213 Garden of Eden, Coldingen Moblissa (Highway) 10 Acres Contact:Ray's Realty 627-9385

1 Foreign used TM-500 Engine-Fuel Pump.Tel:663-0239.

Assistant cook & one assistant Male or Female ,$25,000 & $18,000 wkly Call: 633-1902.

Female bartender to work in the Interior between ages 2030 years old.Call:662-6254.

Female cook for a cook shop in the interior. between 35-35 years old. Call: 662-6254.

Mini Bus & Taxi Drivers, Printing Equipment & Paper work and keep. Call: 2253 Hole paper. AB Dick Print3234 / 698-7807. ing Machine Tel: 233-2725/ PROPERTY FOR SALE One male able bodied 233-2439/ 674-9114. clerk.Tel:231-2029,616-5954.

Honda Accord in very good 1-(2) story house 3 1/2 Male and female receptionist condition for sale. contact bedroom,9st Cummings Lodge.Tel:622-8748/652-3158 experienced in Georgetown 650-5626 30yrs and over.12 Henry St negotiable.

Werk-en-Rust 225-9211.

Acetylene bottles and Qxygen bottles. Call: 627-5043 Peter's Hall (Residential & Live In Family, Husband for Business) Croal Street for / 228-5655 Driving, Mechanic, Welding business contact: Ray's Realty & Fabrication Free living Used Cars different Model. 627-9385 quarters. Call 227-1813 Call: 225-3234 / 698-7807.

TO LET

WANTED

Commercial Spaces Enmore Mall, ECD.Top floor 275 x 25 ft., Parking available for 25 cars Call Richard 609-7675/ 674-1705.

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

One new single room apartment, 2 double room apartment Eccles Over pass area Contact: 227-1813

Handyman for odd jobs and watchman. Housing provided for family in Ulverston Berbice. Contact 650-5626.

Experienced taxi drivers (Hire 3 Bedroom Apartment in car License) at Princess HoAlbertown, Fully Furnish. tel. Call: 616-5419/265-7075/ 265-7076.

Call: 225-3234 / 698-7807.

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

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

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 2350. Car & Van License.

Call:642-9823.

VACANCY Cook/Baker, Pitmen, Servicemen and Technical Assistant for interior location Applicants must be experienced. Call 231-2250.

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Experienced cashier, cleaner and counter person.Apply @ Shanta’s 225 Camp & New MarketSt. Experienced Handyman, Porter below 40 years. Apply with written application at Keyfood McDoom Village.

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Security,Room attendant, Receptionist and Deskstaff 2545 years old .233 South Road Lacytown,tel:225-0198.

Vacancy- Lorry Drivers & Porters Contact: 650-0979.

"Sales Person. Commission Only.

4 CXC 1or 2 in Math and English Required. Contact 650-5626" Cook/Baker, Hauler operator & Servicemen for interior location Applicants must be experienced.

Call 231-2250.

Salesperson must have passes in English & Math. Apply at Christine's Fashion on Lombard St with application.

Maid, TM 4X4 & Log truck driver, Porter can call: 6097675/ 6741705.

Heavy Equipment Servicemen for interior location. Applicants must be experienced with proof of qualifications. Beginners need no apply. 231-2250.

1 Security , 2 Chefs at Guyana Hibiscus Restaurant 91 Middle St, North Cummingsburg Tel:231-5867 Accounts Clerks Must have QuickBooks knowledge & Accounting experience Tel: 609-2995 :survival.humanresources@gmail.com Inventory / Data entry clerks Te l : 6 0 9 - 2 9 9 5 E m a i l : survival.humanresources@gmail.com Western union CSRS CXC Mathematics and English required- 18 and older. Tel: 609-2995 Email: survival.humanresources@gmail.com Bond clerks / Porter- Survival Shoppingcomplex Te l : 6 0 9 - 2 9 9 5 E m a i l : survival.humanresources@gmail.com Drivers- Requirements: Valid Drivers license (with motor lorry) Tel:609-2995Email: survival.humanresources@gmail.com Poultry/ Livestock farmer- one family to live in and work at Soesdyke, Linden highway Contact: 609-2995 / 621-4992 Chrome Construction Hiring Grader, Excavator, roller Operators & Truck driver for interior / Urban Road works Call: 679-5617 Chrome Construction Hiring One experienced Office assistance (Preferably female) Call: 679-5617

From page 20 required to build your foundation.”

As the president made this announcement, screams of excitement erupted from in the crowd.

But President Ali did not end there. He further noted that every other category of home ownership which includes young professionals and middle income will also receive cement to build their foundation. Ali said, “To persons building homes from $6M to $25M, we will give two slings of cement.”

Earlier this month, Kaieteur News reported that President Mohamed Irfaan Ali has signalled his government’s intention to head back to Parliament for more funds to support ‘cash giveaways’ and immediate infrastructural works for communities across Guyana.

Ali told reporters, “I want people to understand, I want to work with people. I will come to every community. I will come to every door. I want to work with people. I was in ‘South’ (South Ruimveldt) and immediately, there are things that have to be done, right away.”

To support this initiative, Ali made it clear that his government will need more cash and is already making preparations to get that money from the National Assembly. He said, ‘I have already asked the Minister of Finance to immediately work

on a supplementary provision”.

Last Thursday, Senior Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh tabled in the House, a Paper for Supplementary Provision totalling $44,794,011,175. A whopping $21 billion alone will go towards housing development.

Once that extra cash is approved, Ali promised that his government will continue to dole out handouts and other forms of assistance to citizens across Guyana. “I will go in Buxton, I will go in Canje, I will go in the Rupununi, wherever it takes, because I want to work with every single Guyanese, every single group,” Ali told reporters.

The government had already set aside a total of $5B in this year’s budget to mitigate the effects of the rising cost of living. Recently, government handed out cash to sugar workers, children living with disabilities, hinterland residents, farmers, among others. Millions were also used to compensate vendors, whose stalls were looted during a violent protest at the Mon Repos Market on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). It is unclear if the entire $5B has been expended; however, in a recent press conference held

by Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, he assured that there is still cash available from the allocation.

Company showcases...

From page 19 plastic trash from the streets.

“Yes we are thinking about setting up a factory here… We don’t think that Guyana produces all the plastic that will be used to build a ton of these houses but we can import the plastic, the garbage from other countries and introduce a whole recycling system in the Caribbean where garbage is generated in those countries and we could turn them into houses, health centres, classrooms, industrial storage facilities and imagine a Guyana where you can collect three tons of plastic off the street for housing and you pay people for it,” De Armas shared.

It reportedly took three tons of plastic to construct the house on display at the expo. De Armas also

explained the industrial process of turning plastics into durable homes that are fire retardant and cool to live in. It begins with the collection of the plastics which is then crushed and heated until it gets thick before adding several additives to make it strong, durable and fire retardant.

The heated plastic with the additives is then added into moulds to make the bricks, beams and other materials needed to assemble a house.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has since signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Atlantic for the construction of some these houses here in Guyana and, according to De Armas, persons interested can obtain one through CH&PA.

Sunday July 24, 2022

PAGE 71

Kaieteur News

Third J’can consents to extradition in int’l money laundering case (JAMAICA GLEANER) One of the three Jamaicans implicated in an alleged “sophisticated” international scheme that laundered more than US$6 million in drugtrafficking yesterday abandoned his plans to contest his extradition to the United States.

Seivwright Affleck, of a Portmore, St Catherine address, had indicated in May that he would be challenging the extradition request, but yesterday, when he reappeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, his legal representative, Samoi Campbell, indicated that he has consented to be extradited.

Senior Parish Judge LoriAnne Montague subsequently signed the committal order for the extradition after Affleck signed the consent form.

Affleck and two other Jamaicans are alleged to have acted as money couriers and

are among 19 persons who have been implicated in the scheme, which had been under investigation since 2016 by law enforcement personnel across multiple borders, including Jamaica, the United States and Colombia, among others.

The other Jamaicans – St Devon Anthony Cover, of Manchester, and Dennis Rowe, of Kingston – waived their rights to an extradition hearing when they appeared in court in May.

The Jamaicans were indicted in the US on charges of laundering of monetary instruments and aiding and abetting.

Cover is alleged to have delivered US$268,000 to undercover police or a confidential informer. Rowe is said to have handed over US$606,000, while Affleck reportedly delivered US$650,000.

Each of the defendants reportedly played different roles – money couriers,

Exxon keeps racking up multi-billion $$$...

From page 62 only repayment based upon proceeds generated from the project.

Kaieteur News understands that the FPSO will be designed to produce approximately 250,000 barrels of oil per day, will have associated gas treatment capacity of 450 million cubic feet per day and water

injection capacity of 300,000 barrels per day.

Additionally, the FPSO will be spread moored in water depth of about 1,800 metres and will be able to store around two million barrels of crude oil. In the Stabroek Block, EEPGL is the operator and holds a 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Meanwhile, Hess Guyana

Exploration Ltd. holds a 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds a 25 percent interest. To date, the partners have discovered 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

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

World Bank O&G support project...

From page 62 governments so that EITI and wider oil and mining sector policy reforms are informed with international good practices.

Natural Resource Minister, Vickram Bharrat informed the public last week that the government is still working to “refine” this World Bank project which offers Guyana a US$20 million line of credit to support the growing O&G sector.

The project was conceived under the previous administration.

While the document sought to put mechanisms in place to increase citizen involvement in protecting the sector, the government has come in for a lot of criticism as to why it has not accepted the help that the World Bank has offered in overseeing and managing the capital intensive industry. The lack of citizen input in managing

the oil and gas sector is one reason Opposition members say they, for instance, fought so fiercely against the passage of the Natural Resources Fund (NRF).

On Thursday last, the government voted to suspend eight Opposition parliamentaria n s who sought to prevent the passage of the legislation by disrupting the proceedings and eventually removing the mace, the symbol of the House’s authority.

The passage of the NRF bill is currently being challenged in court as to whether the bill was properly passed given the removal of the mace.

The thrust of the Opposition’s concern, however, is that the NRF bill had not received enough consultation. During debates on the bill, Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones rose

to request that the Speaker refer the bill to the special select committee for further debate and consultation. He stated, “Comrade Speaker at this late hour, as it relates to this Natural Resources Fund bill it has come in for sharp criticisms from political parties, churches, etc., essentially calling for the government to delay the passage of this bill so as to allow wide consultation so that all of the Guyanese society could have the opportunity to contribute to this bill. Comrade Speaker I believe that this bill is beyond us in this House, it speaks about the future of generations.” The document was nonetheless passed by the government with its voting majority.

The government side has so far used the initial oil and gas earnings to support budgetary spending for this year.

money brokers, drugtrafficking organisation (DTO) suppliers, and business owners.

According to the indictment, throughout the five-year probe dubbed Operation Thin Ice, approximately US$6 million in Colombian drugs proceeded through banks in the Caribbean, the US, and Europe.

Approximately US$1 million was seized from corporate bank accounts and other investigative activity.

Investigators also traced or seized nearly 3,000 kilograms of cocaine – with a street value of more than US$90 million – to the moneylaundering organisation.

This includes approximately 1,193 kilograms of cocaine seized at sea, 60 miles south of Jamaica, in July 2019, as well as 1,555 kilograms of cocaine snared in nine scrap-metal shipping containers at the Port of Buenaventura, Colombia, in March 2019.

Black Market Peso Exchange The money-laundering

network, which operated primarily in Barranquilla, Colombia, allegedly launders drug proceeds through intermediary banks in the US, Europe, and the Caribbean through the use of the Black Market Peso Exchange (BMPE) method.

The BMPE is described in the indictment as a method by which narcotic traffickers used a third party to sell their proceeds in the US for pesos in Colombia.

“In a common BMPE conspiracy, a BMPE broker will identify a South American business person, who imports goods from places such as the US, China or Panama, and will offer the South American business person an opportunity to pay the debt owed to the exporter in the foreign country at a significant discount compared to making the payment through a South American bank,” an investigator explained in the indictment.

A business person who agrees to participate will, in turn, hand over payments for

the imported goods in the form of pesos to the BMPE broker, who would then contact a DTO and organise for the exchange of the pesos for narcotics proceeds in the US. According to the indictment, after the pickup, the brokers would then arrange to forward the proceeds to the exporter in the US, which is often accomplished by remitting the proceeds through a third party.

Law enforcers from Jamaica, the US, Colombia, Canada, Spain, and other countries successfully infiltrated the organisation and obtained hundreds of recorded communications involving the defendants via telephone calls, text messages, wiretap interception, and in-person meetings.

Money-laundering conspiracy and laundering of monetary instruments charges attract a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to US$500,000, or twice the amount involved.

Guyana, Region remain in grave danger...

From page 61 the ruling as a needed victory “for small communities hurt by huge companies.”

It was the Netherlands chapter of Pols’ organisation, which had taken the civil case to court back in 2008.

During the trial, Friends of the Earth lawyers had told the Dutch court that leaking pipes were caused by poor maintenance and inadequate security and that Shell does not do enough to clean up spills.

The Hague Court of Appeal held the oil multinational liable for the spills that spewed oil over a two-mile radius in the two villages as the company could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the leaks were caused by damage done by oil thieves rather than its own negligence.

According to Nigerian law, which was applied in the Dutch civil case, the company would not be held responsible if the leaks were

as a result of saboteurs.

In addition to compensating the farmers, the Hague Appeal Court also ordered that Royal Dutch Shell must fit a leak-detection system to a pipeline that caused one of the spills. The amount of compensation paid to three farmers in the villages was to be established at a later date.

Gulf of Mexico oil spill It was reported in 2020 that more than $71 billion has been spent for clean-up activities, following the British Petroleum (BP) Macondo oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

A report by a United States news agency, NOLA.com, revealed that the vast majority of the tab – about $69 billion – has been picked up by BP, while the remainder has been split among Transocean, which owned the Deepwater Horizon, and BP’s drilling partners, Anadarko and MOEX. However, BP’s tally could

still rise. A number of large business claims are still pending in federal court. The company’s settlement with individuals who filed medical claims immediately after the accident requires BP to pick up costs well into the future.

And more recent lawsuits filed by hundreds of individuals with lateoccurring health effects are still pending.

BP also agreed to pay $4.9 billion to five states over 18 years for economic and other non-natural resource losses, and another $1 billion for claims of more than 400 local government entities.

T h e o i l c o m p a n y, British Petroleum, had a blowout a mile under water, which sent oil and gas surging up to the Deepwater Horizon exploration rig, setting it on fire, sinking it and even killing 11 crew members.

The well leaked for 87 days, pouring at least 3.19 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

PAGE 72

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

Russian missiles strike Odesa one day after grain export deal agreed (CNN) - Russian missile strikes have hit the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa, just one day after Ukraine and Russia agreed on a deal that would allow the resumption of vital grain exports from the region. Serhii Bratchuk, a spokesman for the Odessa military administration, said two missiles hit the infrastructure of the port and two were shot down by Ukraine’s air defense.

At least six explosions were heard in Odesa, according to Ukrainian member of parliament Oleksiy Goncharenko. It comes one day after ministers from both Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement — brokered by the

United Nations and Turkey in Istanbul — to allow grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports aimed at easing the global food crisis sparked by war. “That’s all you need to know about deals with Russia,” Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas added on Twitter. The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said the bloc “strongly condemns” the attack. “Striking a target crucial for grain export a day after the signature of Istanbul agreements is particularly reprehensible & again demonstrates Russia’s total disregard for international law & commitments,” Borrell wrote Saturday on Twitter.

HEAT WAVE

By Haimnauth Cecil Ramkirath It’s not the same sun of our childhood days, when it warmed our hearts, made strong sinews and bones, healed bruises on knees, and watched with glee our frolic and fun.

What have we done to provoke the sun?

Some days the fire in its eyes reaching the ground, burning forests, melting roads and bridges, blasting towns.

Where’s that shield, pristine through the ages, to guard against this seething wave of torment, sapping the vitals of humans and beasts, as we implore the heavens to open the gates

with a flood of relief?

People jumping into the ocean, rivers, and lakes at high noon.

Who would not delight in a splash when the air a boiling cauldron?

Who would object when some bare it all, when every undergarment feeds fire on skin?

What dreaded face the sun will show in a hundred years?

Will we ever learn, will we mend our ways?

There’s hope that the effulgent orb from which life springs, will guide the hearts and minds of human beings, and show again the face that warmed our childhood days.

Rise above...

From page 69 to disagree but not view each other as enemies. They must work together for the larger interests of the country.

The failure of opposition and ruling MPS to work together is a disservice to the country when there are so many critical challenges to address.

Passing a bill is not a victory

for the ruling side but a victory for all of Guyana.

And the ruling side must be willing to listen and consider inputs from the opposing side.

That is how we rise above partisanship and get better governance.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

New Providence...

From page 5 April 26th, 2022, “like a thief in the dark,” filling up of the canal was resumed.

Several residents converged at the scene with torchlights and their phones to record the skulduggery in process.

The next day we once again approached the NDC with the video taken and demanded that they show us proof of the ownership claimed by the perpetrators and any action taken by them to address our complaints.

To date no proof was

provided. On May 3rd, 2022 a letter was dispatched to the NDC by our association demanding answers but we are yet to receive a reply. This letter was copied to the following: 1) The Minister of Public Infrastructure 2) The Minister of Local Government 3) National Drainage & Irrigation Authority 4) Guyana Lands & Surveys Dept Yours sincerely, Kamini Bulkan

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

==GNBS IN FOCUS== CONSTRUCTING WITH STANDARDS IS THE BEST APPROACH

G

u y a n a ' s construction sector is steadily expanding with the introduction of new techniques and building materials to fast-track major housing and infrastructural projects.

At the International Building Expo 2022, being hosted under the theme: “A new frontier for building a One Guyana” this weekend, manufacturers have a wide range of new and traditional materials on display to contractors and homeowners.

Also, an exhibitor at the event is the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) seeking to promote the use of National, Regional and International Standards which are related to the products and services used in the building and construction sector.

To promote resilient and quality buildings, bridges and other structures, the GNBS has twenty-one (21) related construction standards.

These inc lude the Specifications for hollow clay blocks, steel nails, ready mixed concrete, cement, galvanised steel barbed wire, load and non-load bearing concrete masonry units, concrete sewer, storm drain and culvert pipe and chain link fence fabric, among others.

The implementation of standards and the use of materials which adhere to these standards guarantee sturdy structures which can stand for many years.

As it relates to building and construction standards, ASTM International is a key partner of the GNBS. ASTM International is a standards development body recognised worldwide for the d e v e l o p m e n t o f thousands of standards used in industry today, and it has developed some key standards to ensure structures constructed are resilient to adverse occurrences and changes in nature.

These standards can be adopted and utilised locally by manufacturers, contractors and engineers.

The GNBS is also responsible for promoting and selling the National Building Code of which there are 10 sections focusing on various aspects of building and construction.

The sections include the

Use of Guyanese hardwoods in construction, plumbing, foundation and excavation, high rise buildings, the design and construction of septic tanks and associated secondary treatment and disposal systems.

It is crucial for contractors and engineers to adhere to these construction guidelines as many buildings are being erected either from the ground floor or upwards, and if unable to withstand a relatively mild natural phenomenon such as a tremor or storm, the potential for injuries or deaths due to damage is greater.

Further, the layout and designs of any building foundation must be well prepared, using the right grade and size of steel and concrete materials.

It is risky to construct without consideration of available standards and guidelines.

It would only be a matter of time before the safety, financial and other implications show up.

Aside from ensuring the structural integrity of buildings, it i s a l s o important to consider the quality of electrical, plumbing and other fittings that will be installed.

The GNBS monitors electrical fittings and equipment using 31 mandatory national standards which helps to prevent substan d a r d items from reaching c o n s u m e rs. i o n a l l y, t h e b u r e a u certifies PVC pipes which are also used in r e s i d e n t i a l a n d commercial structures.

Homeowners and contractors are urged to utilise the approved electrical fittings and equipment and certified PVC pipes.

To learn more about available standards, services and programmes of the GNBS, be sure to visit our GNBS booth at the International Building Expo 2 0 2 2 . O ff i c e r s o f o u r Marketing, Communications and other key departments will be there to help you make the best choices when constructing your home, office or any other structures.

For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 2190065, 219-0066 or WhatsApp: 692-4627

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Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

Sunday July 24, 2022

PAGE 75

Kaieteur News

Jonas Vingegaard all but seals Tour de France after Wout van Aert wins penultimate day time trial

The Telegraph - Jonas Vingegaard will win the Tour de France after finishing second to his Jumbo-Visma teammate Wout van Aert in the stage 20 time trial to Rocamadour.

Van Aert won the 40.7km time trial from LacapelleMarival in a time of 47 minutes 59.86 seconds, 19 seconds faster than Vingegaard, who needed only to ride defensively given his sizable cushion over Tadej Pogacar, but instead attacked the stage and was fastest over the first half.

He then faded, almost running wide on a descent late on, but his second place was enough to confirm him in yel-

low ahead of today’s ride into Paris, his advantage over Pogacar now three minutes and 34 seconds.

Geraint Thomas finished fourth on the stage, behind Pogacar in third, to confirm his third place overall, ensuring the podium was rounded out by two former Tour winners.

It is a first overall Tour crown for the 25-year-old Vingegaard, coming in an edition of the race that set out from his home nation of Denmark three weeks ago.

Vingegaard, second to Pogacar last year, wrestled the yellow jersey off the Slovenian when the UAE Team Emirates man suffered a crisis on the Col du Granon

in the second week of the race, and successfully defended it through the Pyrenees as he was able to mark every move Pogacar made.

It means that JumboVisma, who lost one of the prerace favourites Primoz Roglic in the second week and have only five riders left, head to Paris boasting the yellow, green and polka-dot jerseys.

Van Aert - who became the first man to win a Tour time trial in the green jersey since Bernard Hinault in 1979 - cannot be caught in the points classification, while Vingegaard is top of both the general classification and the king of the mountains compe-

tition.

This was a third stage win of the Tour for Van Aert, who has taken victory from a breakaway, an uphill sprint and now a time trial, as well as excelling in the mountains to help Vingegaard to victory.

“I’m emotional,” the Belgian said. “Winning this Tour de France as a team is really special. The day was like a dream scenario. Jonas is such a strong guy but also a good guy. I want to thank all my team-mates and the whole team for this special three weeks. It’s unbelievable.

“I’m super tired after the three weeks. I gave it all today. I want to win races and today I hoped to take the

Finals set for...

Sunday July 24, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today your brain is supercharged, Aries. If you've been thinking about doing some writing or have put off analyzing a particularly tricky problem, this would be the perfect day to get started.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The celestial energy signals a pleasant change for you today, Libra. Finally, the overpowering emotions that have been surging from your relationships will subside.

You are now beginning a more contemplative phase.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) With today's planetary energy, you'll find yourself a little more extraverted than usual, Taurus. You'll finally be able to say what you really think about things.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you're unstoppable!

You're a very hard worker by nature, and with the current planetary alignment you'll be able to accomplish even more than usual.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is a good day to devote time and thought to spiritual pursuits, Scorpio. Do something inspirational that instills a sense of wonder deep in your soul. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A new phase in your life is beginning, Sagittarius. The previous phase could be interpreted as having taught you to be serious and devoted to professional responsibilities.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Discard those items from the past for which you really no longer have use. As much as you like to surround yourself with objects of sentimental value.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today's aspects might clear up some rather sketchy ideas about your professional future, Capricorn. If you long for a change, such as daring to undertake a more artistic pursuit.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Intimacy will be in the air over the next few days.

Loved ones suddenly want to spend more time with you, and you'll want to invite friends over every night! By all means, do.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You have acquired some sound confidence in yourself, Aquarius. Now it is time for you to show everyone else by actually putting it to use in your life.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Feeling unusually adventurous, Virgo? You're often motivated by your idealistic expectations, and the planetary configurations today .

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today's planetary energy should compel you to commit certain acts of self-affirmation that are needed to define your territory and protect your rights.

From page 79 to today’s final after Kristian Jeffery retired with the score 1-1. Joseph had lost the first game 5-11 before he won what turned out to be final game, 11-9.

Meanwhile, results from Friday Evening’s matches are as follows: Larissa Wiltshire beat Ashley DeGroot 11-2, 11-2, 13-11 Nyron Joseph beat Michael Alphonso 5-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 Abosaide Cadogan lost to Victoria Arjoon 11-9, 7-11,117, 9-11, 4-11 Taylor Fernandes beat Kirsten Gomes 11-5, 11-8, 112 Akeila Wiltshire beat Rebecca Low 11-6, 11-7, 11-4

Colin Elcock...

From page 80 access to a board, [which] could be established to supervise the enacting of the legislation, with representatives from the Ministries that will be directly involved, civic society, horse owners, trainers, and regional bodies.

The private tracks will then have to apply for affiliation and once they satisfy the requirements could join and run their [events] under supervision from stewards appointed from the Mother Club”, Elcock said.

Jonas Vingegaard in action during the stage. (Getty Images) stage and also to see Jonas secure his yellow. He’s got

such a big heart and he’s done that. It’s special.”

Leclerc on pole in France...

From page 76 said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who felt Hamilton had extracted more from the car than could have been expected.

Double world champion Fernando Alonso qualified a strong seventh for Renaultowned Alpine with Yuki Tsunoda eighth for AlphaTauri.

Sainz and Ferrari-powered Haas driver Kevin Magnussen qualified ninth and 10th but both will drop to

the back, promoting McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon into the top 10.

“Obviously because of the penalty, the target was to get to Q3 (the final phase) and give the tow to Charles, which I think I did pretty well — I think it was pretty nailed — and I’m happy for the team,” said Sainz.

McLaren boss Andreas Seidl said the session showed his team had made a clear step up with their car upgrades.

PAGE 76

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

Miller-Uibo creates history with maiden 400m triumph at World Championships SportsMax - Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo made history when she won the Women’s 400m title at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene on Friday.

Miller-Uibo sped to a world leading 49.11 to win her maiden world title, with the Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino (49.60) and Barbados’ Sada Williams

(49.75) coming second and third to complete a Caribbean sweep of the medals.

In the process, the 28year-old Miller-Uibo became the first woman in the history of Track & Field to complete the world event wheel.

“Congratulations to Shaunae on winning the 400m at the World Championships!! She is the first woman

in history to complete the world event wheel. World youth, world juniors, indoor world champion, 2xOlympic champion and now world outdoor champion!” said her coach Lance Brauman in an Instagram post.

The process started all the way back in 2010 when Miller-Uibo ran 52.20 for gold at the World Junior Champi-

Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo won the 400m at the World A thletics Championships in Eugene.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo

onships in Moncton, Canada.

A year later, she won gold at the World Youth Championships in Lille, France with a 51.84 performance.

The third piece of the puzzle was completed in 2016 when Miller-Uibo sped to 49.44 to win the first of her back-to-back Olympic gold medals.

After years of wondering if she’d ever achieve this unprecedented feat, the year 2022 saw her finally complete the puzzle.

It started at the World Indoor Championships in Serbia

in March where she 50.31 to win gold and ended at the World Championships in Eugene on Thursday where, af-

ter silver medals in 2015 and 2019, the Bahamian superstar finally won an elusive world title to complete the wheel.

Leclerc on pole in France with Verstappen alongside (Reuters) - Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc received a boost from team mate Carlos Sainz that helped him beat Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen to pole position at the French Grand Prix yesterday.

Spaniard Sainz, who already knew he would be starting at the back today due to engine penalties, ‘towed’ Leclerc in his slipstream at Le Castellet’s smooth-surfaced Circuit Paul Ricard.

The extra speed made a difference.

“It was a great lap. I’ve struggled all weekend to put a lap together and I managed to put it,” said Leclerc, who is second overall but 38 points adrift of Verstappen in the standings after 11 of 22 races.

“I also had the help of Carlos and that was amazing teamwork, because without Carlos it would have been much more close,” added the Monegasque.

“So huge thanks to Carlos and I hope that he can join us back in the fight for the win tomorrow.”

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez

qualified third while Mercedes’ seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton will start his 300th grand prix from fourth.

The pole was Leclerc’s seventh of the season and 16th of his career.

Every race at Le Castellet since the southern French circuit returned to the calendar in 2018 has been won from pole.

Leclerc’s time of one minute 30.872 seconds was 0.304 quicker than Verstappen but Ferrari will have both Red Bulls chasing one car and Sainz will be unable to provide further assistance on what could be a hot and windy afternoon.

DIFFERENT CONCEPTS Ferrari are seeking their third win in a row, and fifth of the season, after Leclerc triumphed in Austria two weeks ago and Sainz the weekend before that.

“I think we were lacking a bit in qualifying, just general grip,” said Verstappen.

“It was a bit more tricky than I think I would have hoped but overall I think we

still have a decent race car and hopefully tomorrow will come into our favour. We’re quick on the straights so we can use that tomorrow.”

Team boss Christian Horner said Verstappen might have been a 10th, or a 10th and a half, closer without Leclerc getting the tow over the single lap.

“We’ve got two very different concepts of attacking this racetrack this weekend,” he added. “Ferrari are running a little bit more downforce, we’re a bit more trimmed out.

It’s all about tomorrow.

“We’ve got two versus one which is always an interesting strategic dynamic.”

Mercedes had hoped to take the fight more to the top two teams but in the end the second row was the closest they could manage.

McLaren’s Lando Norris split the Mercedes drivers by taking fifth place on the grid, ahead of Hamilton’s team mate George Russell.

“At the end the overall package is just not quick enough, we can see that,” (Continued on page 75)

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 77

Sydney McLaughlin shatters 400m hurdles world record again at track worlds

NBC Sports - Sydney McLaughlin broke the 400m hurdles world record for the fourth time in the last 13 months, clocking 50.68 seconds to complete her trophy case with her first world championships gold medal in the event.

She shattered her previous record from a month ago of 51.14.

Since June 2021, she brought the world record down from 52.16 to 50.68. She is nine tenths of a second faster than the second-fastest woman in history, countrywoman Dalilah Muhammad, who took bronze behind Dutchwoman Femke Bol in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday.

McLaughlin, 22, became the second-youngest track and field athlete in history to own the three biggest accolades in an individual event — Olympic gold, world title and world record. Only Ethiopian distance runner Kenenisa Bekele held all three at a younger age.

McLaughlin supplanted Usain Bolt as the second-

youngest person to complete the triple by a matter of days.

McLaughlin also matched Edwin Moses‘ feat of breaking the 400m hurdles world record four times over a career, though Moses needed seven years to do it.

What’s next for McLaughlin? Likely a spot in today’s women’s 4x400m relay final should the U.S. qualify and should she want to race one more time.

Then, perhaps, a switch to the flat 400m. McLaughlin’s legendary coach, Bob Kersee, said that she is going to eventually turn to that event and chase that (37year-old) world record, perhaps after this season, NBC Sports analyst Ato Boldon said last month.

Earlier Friday, Michael Norman became the first American to win a global title in the 400m since LaShawn Merritt in 2013. Norman, the world’s fastest 400m runner in the last Olympic cycle yet fifth in Tokyo, earned his first individual global medal. It’s the first time since 2007 that the U.S. men sweep the 100m,

200m and 400m golds at an Olympics or worlds.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas added her first world title to her two Olympic gold medals in the 400m, clocking 49.11 to distance Olympic silver medalist Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic by .49. No Americans made the final.

Kara Winger extended a historic meet for U.S. women’s throwers, becoming the first American to win a world championships medal in the women’s javelin. Winger, a 36year-old who plans to retire after this season, moved from fifth to second on her sixth and final throw.

American Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu led the qualifiers into today’s 800m final.

All of her top challengers also advanced out of the semifinals, including Olympic silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain and two Americans: Olympic bronze medalist Raevyn Rogers and two-time world bronze medalist Ajeé Wilson.

Olympic Champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn leads six Caribbean women into sprint hurdles semis at World Championships Jasmine Camacho-Quinn

SportsMax - Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Brittany Anderson and Megan Tapper all looked comfortable as six Caribbean women safely advanced to the semi-finals of the 100m hurdles at t h e Wo r l d A t h l e t i c s Championships in Eugene yesterday.

Anderson, who won h e r f i r s t J a m a i c a n n ational title in June, was first up and comfortably advanced to the semi-finals with 12.60 to win heat one.

There was also a major casualty in the first heat as

defending world champion Nia Ali of the USA failed to advance after clipping the ninth hurdle and falling to the track.

Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico was next up, running 12.52 to win heat two ahead o f B a h a m i a n world indoor silver medallist Devynne Charlton (12.69).

Jamaican 2015 world champion Danielle Williams finished second in heat three with 12.87 to advance. Nigeria’s Tobi

Amusan cruised to a new national record 12.40 to win the heat.

Costa Rica’s Andrea Carolina Vargas ran 13.12 for thir d i n h e a t f o u r to advance.

Ta p p e r, bronze medallist at the Olympics last year, ran 12.73 to finish second behind American A l i a A r m s t r o n g ( 12.48) in heat five and progress.

World leader and world record holder Kendra Harrison of the USA ran 12.60 to win heat six and advance.

Sydney McLaughlin smashes the world record in the 400m.

PAGE 78

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

West Indies will want more than near misses as India flex their bench strength ESPNcricinfo - Big picture They lost the first ODI, and that result meant they had suffered seven successive defeats in the format, but West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran said after the match that it “definitely [felt] like a win” for his side.

You could understand why. West Indies had not only lost their previous six games, but had lost the bulk

of them comprehensively: by 120 runs and 53 runs against Pakistan, and then with 55 balls remaining and a whopping 176 balls remaining against Bangladesh. In five of those six matches, West Indies failed to bat out 50 overs.

Against India on Friday, West Indies batted out their full 50 overs, and came within one hit of pulling off only their

third successful chase of a 300-plus target in ODIs. There were positives with the ball too; at one stage, India had looked like they would get past 350 with ease, but West Indies pegged them back admirably, taking five wickets and conceding just 83 runs in the last 15 overs.

As impressive as that performance was, though, West Indies were at close to full strength, and playing at home against an India side lacking the bulk of its first-choice

On Friday, Shreyas Iyer completed 1000 ODI runs for India in only 25 innings. (Associated Press)

players. For all the pride Pooran showed in his team’s performance on Friday, he and his team-mates will want desperately to put wins on the board. And they’ll be wary of false dawns. This run of defeats, after all, began with West Indies scoring 305 in a narrow loss in Multan.

In the spotlight Shai Hope has been among ODI cricket’s most consistent run-getters in his time, but, as his 7 off 18 balls in the first ODI showed, those runs can sometimes come at a pace that’s a throwback to an earlier age. Of the 16 highest run-getters in ODIs since his debut, Hope has the lowest strike rate (74.86), with only one other batter in that top 16 - Tamim Iqbal - striking at below 80. He plays an important role in this West Indies line-up, however, and they will hope he can make a crucial contribution when he plays his 100th ODI today.

Shardul Thakur has an ODI economy rate of 6.63. Of all the bowlers to have taken at least 20 wickets since his debut, only one - Oshane Thomas - has done worse on that front. Thakur brings other things to the table, though, and his display on Friday summed him up. He came to the crease with only nine balls

left, and hit a last-ball boundary that turned out quite useful given India’s narrow margin of victory. And while he was India’s most expensive bowler in terms of economy rate, and only sent down eight overs, he also picked up two key wickets, both of which owed something to his gambler’s instinct of willing batters to go after him. It was, like many of his performances, imperfect but not without its merits. But can he do more? And might he need to do more to keep out other contenders for the No. 8 role, particularly with Deepak Chahar now well on the road to recovery from the back injury that ruled him out of IPL 2022?

Team news It seems unlikely that West Indies will make any changes given how close they came to victory on Friday, with performances coming from numerous members of their XI. Jason Holder, of course, will remain unavailable having tested positive for Covid-19.

West Indies (probable): 1 Shai Hope (wk), 2 Kyle Mayers, 3 Shamarh Brooks, 4 Brandon King, 5 Nicholas Pooran (capt), 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Akeal Hosein, 8 Romario Shepherd, 9 Alzarri

Joseph, 10 Jayden Seales, 11 Gudakesh Motie.

Ravindra Jadeja sat out the first ODI with a knee injury, and the BCCI has confirmed that he will miss Sunday’s match as well. India don’t often make unforced changes when a series is still alive, so expect them to retain the same XI from the first ODI, though the fitness status of Axar Patel - who went off the field on Friday with what appeared to be a hamstring issue - is as yet unknown.

India (probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Shreyas Iyer, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Sanju Samson (wk), 6 Deepak Hooda, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Mohammed Siraj, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Prasidh Krishna.

Pitch and conditions The pitch for the first ODI was a curious beast: flat and exceedingly so for long periods, but there were also phases when run-scoring was a little trickier with the old ball stopping on the batters.

It resulted in an interesting contest between bat and ball, and conditions should remain similar on Sunday. The weather is expected to be clear, with a maximum temperature of 31°C.

GSCL Inc to host Ofimak Office Supplies T20 tourney registration commences Tuesday The Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc will be hosting the inaugural Ofimak Office Supplies T20 tournament in August.

The competition will be played in the open, over 45 and female categories using the white balls (big ball).

Registration for this tournament will commence on Tuesday and forms can be uplifted at Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, 69 Seaforth Street Campbellville.

The winning and runner up teams in the open and over 45 divisions will take home

$75,000 and $25,000 respectively along with trophies, while the winner in the female segment will pocket $40,000 and the runner up $20,000 and trophies.

Teams are asked to note that only round arm bowling will be permitted in the open division.

The organisers are optimistic that the tournament will be successful, following a prolong break in the sport due to covid and teams are asked to register soonest; no entrance fee is required.

The organisers indicated

that they are looking to stage matches in Georgetown, East Bank Demerara, West Demerara and East Coast Demerara, dependent on the availability on the venues in those areas. Regal Stationery and Computer Centre is the sole distributor for Ofimak Office Supplies in Guyana.

Teams can contact Nicholas Boodhoo on 654-1143 for more information on registration. The competition is set to bowl off on August 21, while the GSCL Inc Prime Minister’s T20 Cup 6 will also be launched on this date.

Sunday July 24, 2022

PAGE 79

Kaieteur News

GCB Names National Under-15 team

‘It’s how we want to play cricket’ Dave Mohabir will lead the King says WI took plenty of positives team supported by Vice going forward despite loss to India

Captain Romario Ramdeholl

Guyana’s Under-15 Captain Dave Mohabir

Durwin La Rose

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has named the Guyana Under-15 team which will participate in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under15 Tournament 2022. This tournament is scheduled for Grenada from August 18, 2022 to August 28, 2022.

The GCB’s Junior National Selection panel chaired

by Mr. Andre Percival selected the Under-15 team which presents a superb blend of skilled players. Dave Mohabir, the brother of Alvin Mohabir (the captain of Guyana’s Under-17 team) will

lead the national team. He will be ably assisted by Romario Ramdeholl. The other players are: Shane Prince, Zandon Rose, Durwin La Rose, Dhanesh Persaud, Arun Gainda, Adrian Hetmyer, Navin Boodwah, Arif Khan, Razam Koobir, Nicholas Lovell, Sohail Mohamed and Jonathan Mentore.

The standbys are: Omrion Smith, Mikle Sharma, Nicholas Hall, Thierry Henry, Elis Ramdat and Enrique Mickle.

The manager is Elroy Stephany and Coach Latchman Yadram.

Arun Gainda (2)

Dhanesh Persaud (1)

GCB U-19 2-Day Inter-County cricket

Day 2 of 2nd round washed out without a ball bowled

Consistent rain forced officials to call off the second day of the GCB’s second round under-19 two-day Inter-County cricket match at the LBI ground yesterday.

At the end of the first day Essequibo were struggling on 26-6 in their second innings after making 70 in their first innings after Demerara, who took first innings points after being dis-

The covers remained on the pitch for most of the at the LBI ground yesterday.

missed for 96 as 26 wickets fell on the opening day.

The tournament is being contested on a bowlerfriendly pitch and a heavy sand based ground, espec i a l l y t o t h e We s t e r n side of the ground, making hitting fours hard work.

H o w e v e r, w i t h the other grounds unavailable due to the rainy season, LBI,

although far from ideal, was the only venue available.

The Guyana team is expected to depart these shores on August 7 for St Vincent where this year’s Regional U-19 threed a y tournament will be held.

After a break today the next game is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. (Sean Devers)

SportsMax - West Indies batsman Brandon King believes there is plenty of encouragement to be drawn from the team’s batting performance despite a 3 runs loss to India in the first One Day International series on Friday.

King made a crucial 54 from 66 balls as the Windies attempted to chase down India’s total of 308. Despite eventually falling short of the target, the performance was one of the team’s best in several ODIs, particularly on the back of a poor showing against Bangladesh.

In addition to King, Kyle Mayers added a half-century, while the lower order pair of Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd added a valuable 53-run partnership, which got the team close. King himself formed part of two half-century partnerships, the first with Shamarh Brooks, then Nicholas Pooran.

“We always believe that

Brandon King

if we bring a game down to the final five overs we have guys that can chase down a total. Shepherd and Akeal showed that today (Friday), we were always in the game.

We would have liked some of the early wickets not to fall so we could have some batsmen at the end but that’s part of cricket,” King said.

“It’s just our batting formula and how we want to play cricket. I think bringing down the game to the last ball, chasing 300 plus, was very good for us, another day we would have gotten over the line.”

The West Indies will attempt to level the series when they play India in the second ODI today.

Fraser-Pryce urges fans to be mindful of what they say to athletes SportsMax - Five-time world 100m champion ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce has urged fans to be mindful of the things they say to athletes when things aren’t going well.

“Jamaicans have a shortterm memory. You’ll do a great thing this year and come back and not have a good year and they want to beat you down to the ground,” Fraser-Pryce said to over 8,000 fans who tuned in to her Instagram live on Thursday.

There have been many instances where athletes have had a good year and, because of injuries or other troublesome circumstances, have failed to produce those performances consistently in the years after.

“It’s a whole lot they have to deal with so you have to be careful with your comments sometimes, because sometimes you make some comments and some of the athletes take them to heart and dwell on them,” FraserPryce said.

“You have to big up the athletes. Every year is not the

Five-time world 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. same…it’s not easy so, when you see the athletes out here representing you must know it takes a whole lot of work and they’re going to have good times and bad times,” she added.

Fraser-Pryce used her teammate and 200m gold medallist Shericka Jackson as an example. At last year ’s Tokyo Olympics, Jackson failed to advance

out of the heats of the 200m and, a year later, she is the world champion and fastest woman alive at the distance.

“Last year, Shericka didn’t run the 200m, and I know she cried and she came back and look, 21.45.

She went back and put in the work, so you just have to understand that everything is a process and it takes time,” Fraser-Pryce said.

PAGE 80

Sunday July 24, 2022

Kaieteur News

Colin Elcock will not participate in Guyana Cup, calls for proper horseracing rules to be in place Renowned horse-racing owner, trainer, and enthusiast Colin Elcock has officially confirmed his non-participation at the impending Guyana Cup Horse Racing Meet, citing a paucity of legitimate and accredited statutes, as the primary basis for his stable’s absence.

According to Elcock, while the reasons for his nonparticipation in the muchhyped meet are numerous, the absence of established rules, regulations, and practices, under the ambit of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority to govern the privately coordinated championship, is the paramount reason for his non-participation.

He elucidated, “Colin Elcock horse racing stables will not be featuring at the Guyana Cup Horse Race Meeting in August this year.

There are a number of reasons for example the promoter clearly states they are a private racing commission with private in-house rules. This

stable has no issue with the organizer choosing this route and the sponsors who support this event. Please note horse racing is serious business governed by a host of international rules.”

The 2022 edition of the Guyana Cup, which is being coordinated by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee, is slated for August 14th at the Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice.

The tournament is presently the marquee event on the horse racing calendar.

Elcock further expounded, “Horses have to be properly classified by competent and independent stewards. The list has to be published at least one month prior to the event.

To date, we haven’t seen such information, the distances for the race have to be published around the said time frame. To date, none of that was done.

Horses take about six weeks minimum of training to get fit for the event, so what distances trainers are currently

GAPLF to field team at 36th Annual FESUPO Classic Power-lifting Championship

T

he Guyana Ama teur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) is preparing to field a team to the 36th Annual FESUPO Classic and Equipped Power-lifting and Bench Press Championship slated for 6th to 11th September 2022 in Cacador – Santa Caterina, Brasil.

Team Guyana will be selected from among 26 shortlisted Athletes comprising the preliminary nominations.

The Shortlist features a contingent of young athletes, which includes first-timers Keisha Abrigo and Shelly Gomes.

Among the seniors a r e B j o r n Wi l l i a m s , Wasim Mohamed, and Romario Gonsalves.

Guyana’s preparation was initially toward the IPF/ NAPF Regional Powerlifting Champio n s h i p s s c h e d uled for the period August 14-20, 2022 in Panama City, Panama.

However, Guyana’s participation has been re-

directed to its regional group, hence the South America Championship.

Guyana enjoyed a successful championship at its last FESUPO outing in Uruguay in 2019.

The main hurdle to Guyana’s participation at this juncture is resources.

The federation has solicited financial and material support from both the public and private sectors and is hoping for favorable responses to its requests to make participation possible.

In the meantime, the athletes continue to prepare in anticipation of participation.

Guyana’s team will be prudently selected, well prepared, ready, and eager to proudly represent the Golden Arrowhead as they have done in the past.

The GAPLF anticipates a successful showing of its athletes and is appealing to potential sponsors to ensure their participation.

Colin Elcock training for. I would add that the meet is being run under the rules of the promoter, who has a number of horses running in the various races, so there is no independent authority to represent the other owners. My final take [is that] we are witnessing an international Gymkhana with a big music festival in the evening.

Please be reminded this stable has the record wins in the Guyana Cup of four to

date.” Probing why there is a lack of regulation and legislation in place to govern the sport, Elcock disclosed, “There are regulations in place for governing the sport of horse racing supervised by a body called the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. I served in every capacity over the years minus being the President. It’s a revamped Demerara Turf Club racing rules done by the late Marcel Crawford (SC) and registered at our law courts with over five private tracks including the government-owned facility Port Mourant Turf Club. They have all signed onto this document but for some strange reason, only two tracks are running races under the Guyana Horse Racing Authority rules and regulations. Most of the private tracks are not interested in horse racing legislation. So it results in cheating and confusion.”

As explained by Elcock, the resistance to implementing the established rules and

regulations under the ambit of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority is an intentional act by private race tracks and organizers, who view this action as financially beneficial in their bid to create a successful meet.

He avowed, “My last paragraph indicated that cheating takes place. Tracks feel if they compromise the rules they will attract more entries. The organizers, on the other hand, tend to fool the sponsors that everything is above board when it’s blatant cheating with Horse’s age, names, class, etc. so their races could be deemed a success.

There is no proper registration in place including Stud books and Mare return forms etc.”

Quizzed if the government via its various ministries, should be a financial sponsor of the competition given the lack of legislation in place, and the fact that the event is being coordinated privately and not under the auspices of the racing authority, he af-

firmed, “Based on the above, it would be a great embarrassment and could be deemed dishonest on the government and sports ministry side to be part of a private promotion with private questionable rules for taxpayers’ money to be used. That’s my opinion.”

Elcock declared that the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr should be applauded for his attempts to regulate and institute further legislation to administer the sport. He further noted that the implementation of sound legislation is the logical step forward in what is required to develop the sport.

“Credit must be given to the Minister of Sports, the Honourable Charles Ramson Jr to show this initiative in regulating horse racing in Guyana. Only through legislation owners and trainers could have a say in this sport moving forward.

As the governing commission which will have full (Continued on page 75)

Forrester Lumber Yard confirms their support for Guyana Cup 2022 Leading lumber retailer, Forrester Lumber Yard, has pledged their support for the 2022 edition of the Guyana Cup. They have been instrumental in sponsorship over previous years and continue to contribute to the upliftment and sustainability of Horse Racing.

The management was offered the opportunity to reserve a specially designed VVIP elevated deck equipped with all the services required for the upper echelon experience. The deck is expected to provide an elevated aerial of the track with an ideal view for the concert that is expected to start at 6pm. The area will be totally cordoned off with their personal waitstaff, cleaners and security. The access for the VVIP ticket holders would be hassle free with a newly designed car park located on the infield.

Forrester Lumber Yard has diversified tremendously over the years and is poised to make their mark in the rapidly growing civil and building industry. The company is approximately 26 years old with over 100 employees at their Stewartville, West Coast Demerara location. The business has five large bonds and from selling lumber, he has

Representative of the Jumbo Jet Organising Committee, Kimbile Rajkumar (left) collects the sponsorship from employees of Forrester’s Lumber Yard. added a huge hardware sec- for some time now. The orgation to cater for the building nizers are really going the exneeds of the people in the tra mile this year especially community. The company has after the track was in such bad stated that the goal of the shape after the two-year gap business is to provide em- in racing. I could imagine how ployment for the young resi- difficult it may be to fund the dents of Stewartville and to restoration work for the track develop the human resource and field under these weather of the community. conditions, so I decided to When contacted, com- show my support for this uppany CEO Andrew Forrester coming Guyana Cup. My enindicated, “We have been an tire team is extremely excited avid supporter of Guyana Cup to attend this year, some for

the horse racing and the rest geared up for the live concert from 6pm.”

Only a few weeks away from the biggest Horse Racing Event in the Caribbean the JJTRC has already started their much anticipated Guyana Cup Road Show that rolled into Stabroek market carpark on Friday 21st.

On Sunday 14th August at the Rising Sun Turf Club the competition will be stiff with over 100 horses set to enter the 8 races for over $30,000,000 in cash prizes. Get there before noon to avoid the rush and remember indoor parking is available for over 1,000 cars.

This event was made possible through Kris Jagdeo Contracting, title sponsor Banks DIH and supporting sponsors Guinness, XM Rum, Smirnoff Vodka, Hop House 13, Johnny Walker, S. Jagmohan, A&R Security, Progressive Travel Agency, Auto Toy Store, Vals Construction, Air services, Anand Ramchan’s Auto Body, Kings Jewelry World, K&P Project Management, Asif Auto Spares, Yellow Mines, Avinash Contracting, JS Guyana, Aronco, BM Soat, Club Neutraal, Japarts, AJM Enterprise, Forrester Lumber Yard & Jumbo Jet.

Kaieteur News

Sunday July 24, 2022

PAGE 81

Snr. CASA National Play-offs

Finals set for today at Heyliger slams 147 for VP Boys in Canada GT Club from 9:30am Former Guyana youth player Dillon Heyliger hit an electrifying 147 to fire VP Boys to a resounding 171run win over Apollo at Glen Forest Public School ground, Mississauga, Toronto in the continuation of the 2022 Canadian Premier Softball Cricket League Regular Season 20-overs competition last Sunday.

The right-handed Heyliger struck 12 sixes and nine fours as his team raced to a gigantic 303-3 from the

Nyron Joseph face-off Michael Alphonso. (Sean Devers photo)

By Sean Devers Before a handful of spectators yesterday morning, with rain pounding on the roof of the Squash Courts at the Georgetown Club, five matches were completed, while Kristian Jeffery retired at 1-1 in the final match on the penultimate day of Senior National Play-offs.

The tournament is being used to select team Guyana for the upcoming Senior CASA Squash tourney in August in Jamaica.

The two finals will be contested this morning with Larrissa Wilshire and Ashley DeGroot matching racquets in the Women’s category, while the Men’s will see Nyron Joseph facing-off with Michael Alphonso.

Ye s t e r d a y , A k e i l a Wiltshire was beaten by her sister Larissa 11-6, 5-11, 8-11,

Michael Alphonso will play in today’s Final. (Sean Devers photo)

Ashley DeGroot will play in today’s Final. (Sean Devers photo) 5-11 in a keen contest with the elder sibling starting well by taking the first before Larissa, who is also the sister of Caribbean U-19 Champion Shomari Wiltshire, won the next three to take the match 3-1.

Rebecca Low was then beaten by Abosaide Cadogan 3-11, 6-11, 11-4, while Taylor Fernandes lost to Ashley DeGroot 3-11, 11-5, 11-5, 8-11, 8-11 in another entertaining match.

In the Men’s division, Michael Alphonso beat Nicholas Verwey 11-4, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8 as Verwey, the grandson of National Squash Coach Carl Ince, won the third game to keep his hopes alive. However, Alphonso took a tough fourth game to take match 4-1.

Nyron Joseph advanced (Continued on page 75)

20-overs, while Apollo was left faced-down at 132-7 when the 20-overs ran out.

Heyliger, who has been representing Canada at the highest level also over the years, got support from another Canada-based Guyanese Amit Rukhram who hammered an authoritative, unbeaten 98.

Rakesh Gobardhan also chipped in with 20 as Kyhman Sohai snapped two wickets for 54 runs from four overs.

In Apollo’s innings, Imtiaz Hosein displayed fighting spirit with 87.

Shamsudeen, a Guyaneseborn and who also represented Canada, returned with the ball to snatch 3-16 from four tidy overs. Nigel Persaud was also successful by claiming 2-28 from his maximum four overs as well.

The competition continues today with a series of matches across the Greater Toronto Area.

Dillon Heyliger

Mohammed Siraj bounced out Shai Hope.

(Associated Press)

rts o p S

A representative of the Jumbo Jet Organising Committee, Kimbile Rajkumar (left) collects the sponsorship from employees of Forrester’s Lumber Yard.

West Indies will want more than near misses as Forrester Lumber Yard confirms their support for Guyana Cup 2022 India flex their bench strength

Gold medallist Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller-Uibo poses after winning the women’s 400 metres final alongside silver medallist Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino and bronze medallist Barbados’ Sada Williams REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Miller-Uibo creates history with maiden 400m triumph at World Championships 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.