PAGE 4
Monday July 26, 2021
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor: SHARMAIN GRAINGER Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Return of the dragon - Amaila Falls Project Whatever this government wants, this PPP government gets. The controversial Amaila Falls energy-generating project is returning to Guyana, and looks like it is here to stay. This time, PPP leaders will most likely have their way. We show our cards: when government, any government, comes up with a project that makes sense for Guyanese, then we at this paper are for it. But, we can only be so, with the following conditions attached and made clear. We have nothing to hide, no hidden agenda, no axe to grind, and no fight to pick. But, if we have to engage in the latter, then we will. Because we are upfront, we ask this government to be the same way, not because we press for the clarity of convincing transparency. But in the interest of what is beneficial to the Guyanese public. The first Amaila Falls died, because it was wrong for Guyana. The then-PPP government hid too many vital things, deceived us about the quality of the people involved, and played games with the monies involved. Amaila Falls may have been a good thing in the making, but it started out with the wrong people and wrong political leadership, and ended up on the wrong side of Guyanese public works history. Men made millions for doing nothing, other than being a part of the game, and contributing to the political deceptions. Guyana wrote off its losses on that one, but now appears readying for a repeat. For now, the same ill-fated Amaila Fall project is back, and we wonder who the players will be that enrich themselves through more of the old trickiness, and new ones concocted to lead Guyanese down primrose paths, which almost always end up being those well-travelled paths littered with the skullduggeries of the politically corrupt and their willing cronies. We have early signs of how things are shaping up, and what just may be. In this reincarnation of the project (“Govt. looking for investor to help revive contentious Amaila project” KN July 25), the first government outlines are given expression. Through an Office of the President originated RFP (Request for Proposal), the word is that “Government wants a private partner to fund and develop the project” and which will “take one of two systems.” Both look reasonable on the face of things, but since this is government in Guyana, and project management in Guyana, with all the traditional political leadership calculations and shenanigans, we are watchful, if not suspicious. We make no bones about this, because of what has happened in the past with such projects in general, and with this one in particular. The first of the two systems is something called BOOT, which stands for Build-Own-Operate-Transfer. Sounds good on the surface but if it is genuinely only and thoroughly about those components with the cleanest people and cleanest conditions underpinning, and made clearest from the inception, then it just may work, and well, too. But, that part about “Operate” makes us pause for there is opportunity (loophole and premeditated arrangement) for this exhumed Guyanese project to turn turtle like a runaway minibus, and trap citizens with the pains. “Operate” could mean anything where the price for public usage of its output is staggering, but mandatory. There is what could be the start of our troubles. And when it is ready for that “Transfer”, we could be left with something not worthy of the scrap iron yard. Obsolete or unworkable or unpredictable, all come to mind. But it would be Guyana’s. The second system is Design-Build-Finance, again rather pretty when dressed up, even in this barebones fashion. In sum, the Guyana Government “would take over the project at commissioning date…and initiate repayment of the financing in accordance with contract terms.” That looks too much like a poisonous snake pretending to be a harmless snail. We are still to encounter any private partner, financing or otherwise, of this PPP government (or previous), where Guyana got value for money, where the questions never stopped, and satisfactory answers never came. This looks like more of the same. In a nutshell, Amaila redux will give Guyanese severe acid reflux.
City Hall, a place of more questions than answers DEAR EDITOR, I find it most perplexing as a rate-paying and law-abiding citizen of Georgetown as to how the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown are allowed to get away with completely ignoring, and honouring in the breach so many laws of this country whilst thumbing their noses at the authorities and citizens, doing so, for such a long time. For years now, the relevant authorities including the Local Government Commission have been requesting that the Georgetown Municipality provides them with their asset register, for which they have obdurately refused to provide. Why is this? Do they no longer have any assets to which they could create a register? Is everything gone? My question would be, what are the relevant officers/ departments who are responsible for the preparation of such a document doing? The Council has a full Internal Audit Department chockful with highly paid officers. Is it
not their job to create this register and prepare the Council’s accounts for external auditing? But they do no such thing. In fact, one has to wonder what they do. And what about the City Treasurer’s Department, why are they not participating in the creation of an asset register? So why is no one at the Council being sanctioned for the absence of something as important as an asset register all this while? Year after year, the Georgetown Municipality has been deducting from their nearly one thousand strong workforce, pay as you earn (PAYE) taxes but fail to remit them in a timely manner, the same with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions resulting in hundreds of employees being denied medical benefits. They deduct Credit Union dues and loan repayments and do not remit them resulting in employees being penalised. Why are the relevant authorities not taking stern action against the Council for such dreadful neglect? Had this been a private entity, they
would have been hauled before the courts and sanctioned. Former employees have to wait for years to receive the pensions and gratuities which they worked hard and long for and to which they are entitled whilst current employees particularly those new sinecures who are drawing down their super salaries without having to stir their stumps as they say. Could this be fair and just? I would like to know how the National Trust of Guyana, the Guyana Historical Society, the Tourism bodies etc. could have remained quiet and allowed the Georgetown Municipality to sit idly by whilst the world famous heritage building, the City Hall, deteriorated to the state it is in today. It is culturally barbaric, it is reckless and it is unacceptable that for decades Councillors and Administrators of the City just occupied the building without expending a cent on repairs or maintenance of this nineteenth-century Gothic Revival building. And no one has been sanctioned instead they are
being rewarded with the Central Government picking up the tab for what will be needed to save the building from collapsing. There are so many things the citizens shall never understand, such as the illegal parking meter fiasco that just slowly died away without anyone being sanctioned, the inhumane slaughtering of animals when someone made a mess of purchasing captive bolt pistols, the collapse of the Stabroek Market wharf which to date remains a death trap, the continuation of engaging expensive garbage contractors instead of the city purchasing its own refuse trucks and the city going back to refuse collection itself, the continued poor sanitation of the wet municipal markets around the city that are rat infested, hardly cleaned, poorly lit and whose customers are prone to robberies, the closure of the Day Care Centres without good reason or proper notice bring much hardship on many working mothers in the city, the abdication of the City Constabulary to provide (Continued on page 5)
GECOM must keep moving forward and prepare for Local Government Elections DEAR EDITOR, The nation is currently healing from the irregularities and woes of the General and Regional Elections (GRE) 2020. The GRE 2020 lasted a dreary five months and even before those five months, the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) had several run-ins with the laws and constitutional appointments. It has now been almost one year since GRE 2020 and we are still seeing the same antics from the opposition commissioners in their defence of the CEO, Mr. Lowenfield; DCEO, Ms. Mayers and RO, Mr. Mingo (the “inside men”). The most recent behaviour of the APNU commissioners doesn’t come as a surprise. A motion to remove the CEO, DCEO and RO was tabled about nine weeks from this date, 1st of June, 2021 to be exact. The debates for and against the motion were set for June 15, 2021, however, the three magicians from the opposition performed their infamous disappearance act and of course, a quorum wasn’t met. This magical act quickly became very predictable and annoying at the same time. The “inside men” were finally sent on leave on the 22nd of June as attempts to debate the motions continue.
Laughably, Mr. CEO clutched at straws and filed his own injunction to restrain two government commissioners from participating in the debates, which they initiated to have him and colleagues removed. Another virtual meeting was called on the 21st July (months after) in an attempt to debate the motion and vote and as you can predict, the APNU commissioners “walked out” and refused to participate. The United Republican Party (URP) remains a party for the people and more so for justice to be dealt out fairly. We are encouraging the
GECOM body to remain committed to pursuing the dismissal of the CEO, DCEO, and RO. The URP also encourages the APNU commissioners to desist from delay tactics as it only makes your collection seem weak in the eyes of people locally and internationally. We would like to see maturity in handling this process. Therefore, we call on you to face the music and more so embrace the facts on the failed rigging attempts on the GRE 2020. Stop trying to justify the actions of the three “inside men”. The United Republican
Party extends best health and strength to the Chairwoman of GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh. We expect another noshow from the APNU commissioners at the next meeting, hence the next procedure we anticipate is to adjourn the meeting and let the motion for dismissal pass. GECOM must keep moving forward and prepare for Local Government Elections under your leadership Madam Chairwoman. We thank you for your leadership from then and now. Yours truly, Dr. Josh Kanhai Chairman, United Republican Party (URP)
CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY NEED TO LIVE IN PEACE AND SHOULD NEVER BE HARMED BY THEIR GOVERNMENT DEAR EDITOR, GHK Lall conveys the truth that “Guyanese are crippled by a chronic fear which the PPP has taken to unprecedented heights.” I am very glad that he wrote this column because it brings a sense of relief. And, I urge others to come forward with their stories in calling out the PPP over such a human rights issue. The citizens of this country need to live in peace and should never be harmed
by their government. Further, I would like to point out that I am also a victim of the PPP. Yes, the PPP has recently harassed me and bullied me. The PPP is also determined to destroy me in silencing my voice over my letters where I continue to highlight the issues affecting our country. When in the opposition, the PPP welcomed my activism. Now that the PPP is in power, it is determined to shut my voice
down. I am a very fair speaker. The PPP does not like this. And to my fellow Guyanese, please be careful about who you hire to take care of your legal matters and other affairs in this political climate under the PPP because there are many who are influenced by the PPP strong men who aim to destroy citizens that they do not like. Yours truly, Dr. Annie Baliram
Monday July 26, 2021
THIS CONTRACT CAN AND SHOULD BE RENEGOTIATED DEAR EDITOR I do not see how the crumbs that ExxonMobil is giving Guyana through the ExxonMobil/Guyana oil contract will lift Guyanese who are living in poverty out of poverty as there is no job creation plan. This contract can and should be renegotiated. What if ExxonMobil says “no renegotiation”?I do not think that ExxonMobil will go down that route as Guyana can simply hold-off on giving authorisation to future oil
development by ExxonMobil. While Guyana may loose about US$400M per year in oil revenues, ExxonMobil shareholders will loose TENS OF BILLIONS IN US$ as its share price will collapse should Guyana put a hold on future oil developments. ExxonMobil will look out for its shareholder’s interest; the Government of Guyana should be looking out for Guyanese interests. Hence, it is in the best interest for the Government of Guyana to renegotiate (or at
least try to renegotiate) this lopsided oil contract so that Guyanese get a better deal. What about the claimed “sanctity of contracts”? Such sanctity of contracts can be repeal if it offends our senses as this lopsided oil contract does. ExxonMobil will renegotiate unless it wants its share price to collapse. The question is what is deemed a “fairly renegotiated oil contract”? Yours truly, Sean Ori
Is the onus for the restoration of normal US-Cuba relations solely on Cuba? DEAR EDITOR, By the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, the US Government assumed dominance of the Western Hemisphere and ipso facto the fate of Cuba came under US hegemony. True to form Sir Ronald Saunders writing in the KN of 7-18-21 titled, “Cuba could help US normalise relations’ ‘ echoed those sentiments and sought to lay the onus for the restoration of normal USCuba relations solely on Cuba. Sir Ronald lauded the television address by the
Cuban President on July 14 in which he made some concessions by selfcriticism in which he admitted the government’s shortcomings in handling shortages and other problems which played a role in the recent protests. The reference was to protests by thousands of Cubans across the island. Sir Ronald, a former Manager of the Guyana Broadcasting Service (GBS) in the 1970s, took pains to mention how the US
government valued freedom of speech by the media to be fundamental rights everywhere, including in Cuba. What was shocking was when Sir Ronald wrote that, “ In the almost 60 years of experience of the 13 EnglishSpeaking Caribbean countries as sovereign states, governments have learned to manage dissent and protests and to encourage media freedom as part of their democracies.” As a matter of fact during his broadcasting of the results on GBS radio of the
1973 election results in Guyana, Mr. Ronald Saunders (he was not a gallant knight then) repetitiv ely and gleefully reported “another electoral breakthrough” in PPP opposition strongholds when those elections were widely known to be rigged by the PNC. During the same 60 years that Sir Ronald wrote about, the PNC government denied newsprint to the opposition
run Mirror newspaper in the 1970s . Mr. Saunders never publicly condemned this policy as an affront to press freedom. In fact, Mr. Saunders used the state radio resources of GBS to stage on the scene broadcast from the home of Sir Shridath Ramphal, the Foreign Minister of Guyana, who later became his fatherin-law. While it is true as Sir Ronald wrote that all efforts to end the stalemate between Washington and Havana would depend on sensible negotiations, the burden lies overwhelmingly on Cuba to manage dissent with caution and pragmatism rather than by military force. The opening started by the Obama administration when he visited the island may yet lead to the Biden administration being able to get the US Congress to relax the decades old trade embargo. Yours truly, Sultan Mohamed
This company should now review its mode of payment to employees DEAR EDITOR, It has to be wondered, in view of daily robberies talking place, a lone female was entrusted with millions of dollars and sitting in a vehicle waiting to pay employees, unprotected. The company chose to pay employees by cash, then some form of security arrangement should have been made for the transportation of the cash. It seems this was not done. Instead
a lone female was tasked with the responsibility. So the company has lost millions and its employee not only brutalised but traumatised. The company should now review its mode of payment to employees working off its location. Quick work though by law enforcement has seen some suspects held. Yours truly, Shamshun Mohamed
City Hall, a place of more questions than... From page 4 service and protection in the City, the transformation of the Le Repentir Cemetery into a jungle and wildlife reserve and the creation of a monstrosity between Church Street and North Road close to
Vlissengen Road referred to as a ’Presidential Park’.
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
How is the City Council in the midst of a pandemic allowed to have heaps of garbage around the city particularly near to municipal markets? There are more questions than answers at City Hall. Yours truly, Magagula Jackson
We must rethink the future of our environment DEAR EDITOR, The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating: tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, while the number of undernourished people, currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could increase by up to 132 million by the end of the year. Millions of enterprises face an existential threat. Nearly half of the world’s 3.3 billion global workforce are at risk of losing their livelihoods. Informal economy workers are particularly vulnerable because the majority lack social protection and access to quality health care and have lost access to productive assets. Without the means to earn an income during lockdowns, many are unable to feed themselves and their families. For most, no income means no food, or, at best, less food and less nutritious food. The pandemic has been affecting the entire food system and has laid bare its fragility. Border closures, trade restrictions and confinement measures have been preventing farmers from accessing markets, including for buying inputs and selling their produce, and agricultural workers from harvesting crops, thus disrupting domestic and international food supply chains and reducing access to healthy, safe and diverse diets. The pandemic has decimated jobs and placed millions of livelihoods at risk. As breadwinners lose jobs, fall ill and die, the food security and nutrition of millions of women and men are under threat, with those in low-income countries, particularly the most marginalised populations, which include small-scale farmers and Indigenous peoples, being hardest hit. Millions of agricultural workers – waged and self-
employed – while feeding the world, regularly face high levels of working poverty, malnutrition and poor health, and suffer from a lack of safety and labour protection as well as other types of abuse. With low and irregular incomes and a lack of social support, many of them are spurred to continue working, often in unsafe conditions, thus exposing themselves and their families to additional risks. Further, when experiencing income losses, they may resort to negative coping strategies, such as distress sale of assets, predatory loans or child labour. Migrant agricultural workers are particularly vulnerable, because they face risks in their transport, working and living conditions and struggle to access support measures put in place by governments. Guaranteeing the safety and health of all agri-food workers – from primary producers to those involved in food processing, transport and retail, including street food vendors – as well as better incomes and protection, will be critical to saving lives and protecting public health, people’s livelihoods and food security. In the COVID-19 crisis, food security, public health, and employment and labour issues, in particular workers’ health and safety, converge. Adhering to workplace safety and health practices and ensuring access to decent work and the protection of labour rights in all industries will be crucial in addressing the human dimension of the crisis. Immediate and purposeful action to save lives and livelihoods should include extending social protection towards universal health coverage and income support for those most affected. These include workers in the informal economy and in poorly protected and low-
paid jobs, including youth, older workers, and migrants. Particular attention must be paid to the situation of women, who are overrepresented in low-paid jobs and care roles. Different forms of support are key, including cash transfers, child allowances and healthy school meals, shelter and food relief initiatives, support for employment retention and recovery, and financial relief for businesses, including micro, small and mediumsized enterprises. In designing and implementing such measures, it is essential that governments work closely with employers and workers. Countries dealing with existing humanitarian crises or emergencies are particularly exposed to the effects of COVID-19. Responding swiftly to the pandemic, while ensuring that humanitarian and recovery assistance reaches those most in need, is critical. Now is the time for global solidarity and support, especially with the most vulnerable in our societies, particularly in the emerging and developing world. Only together can we overcome the intertwined health and social and economic impacts of the pandemic and prevent its escalation into a protracted humanitarian and food security catastrophe, with the potential loss of already achieved development gains. We must recognise this opportunity to build back better, as noted in the Policy Brief issued by the United Nations Secretary-General. We are committed to pooling our expertise and experience to support countries in their crisis response measures and efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We need to develop longterm sustainable strategies to (Continued on page 6)
Monday July 26, 2021
Kaieteur News
Why has Trinidad and Tobago been singled out?
T
he decision of the government to allow a quota of 6,000 persons to attend the cricket matches is mindboggling. Even more perplexing is the targeting of Trinidadians, in the COVID-19 regulations published recently. Reports in the media indicate that the government is allowing fully vaccinated persons to attend the 3 T20 cricket matches to be hosted in Guyana and featuring the West Indies and Pakistan on July 31, August 1 and August 3. This is a crazy decision. To allow as many as 6,000 persons into a single venue, at a time when the pandemic is still raging, is simply incomprehensible. Many of the matches in Euro 2020 were hosted in empty stadiums in Europe even though the host countries have a greater percentage of their populations vaccinated than Guyana. The Tokyo Olympics is playing to empty stadiums even though the number of new infections per capita in Japan is far less than what is occurring in Guyana. In fact, Japan’s per capita death rate of more than five times lower than Guyana and its infections per every million of its population is almost five times less than Guyana’s. It would be interesting to know what metric formula the Guyana government used to decide to arrive at the decision to permit 40 percent attendance maximum for the cricket matches. It would be even more interesting to know on whose advice this decision was made. Cricket matches, involving the West Indies,
have all much lowered the COVID-19 infection and death rates because only limited spectators were allowed to see the matches at some venues, not all. When it comes to the pandemic, fortune does not favour the brave. And the government of Guyana has taken not a brave but a reckless decision to allow spectators at the matches, and at a time when the rate of infections remains high. While it is true that active cases are falling in Guyana, the positivity rate remains alarmingly high and in excess of 10 percent which is a measure of inadequate levels of testing. Therefore, the real number of cases may be far higher than what the numbers suggest. The number of persons dying spiked a few months ago and has been declining but it still way too high for comfort. In fact, the total number of persons who have died this month is far higher than December 2020, January 2021 and February 2021 combined. Active cases are declining. But are still more than three times higher than they were on January 4 of this year when the present surge began. And at that time, no public events were being allowed. Fully vaccinated spectators will be allowed up to a quota of 40 percent of the National Stadium’s 15,000 capacity. Therefore, as many as 6,000 have the opportunity to watch the matches. While as many as 6,000 can now assemble for each of the matches, the emergency regulations prohibit a few dozen persons from attending the cinemas or from going to
the creek or from going to wedding reception or even a wake. But if the hosting of the cricket matches was not cause enough for surprise, imagine the shock to read reports that persons travelling from Trinidad and Tobago, except children, will be required to be fully vaccinated. This requirement has been instituted as part of the civil aviation safety regulations. Why has Trinidad and Tobago been singled out for such special treatment? Surely, if Guyana wants to protect its citizens from imported cases of the coronavirus, a stronger case can be made out for similar impositions on persons from the United States, India, Britain, Brazil, Colombia and Indonesia, which are all experiencing a surge of cases. And in the Caribbean, Jamaica has a far greater number of cases and deaths than Guyana. It would appear that this regulation, by being aimed specifically at persons travelling from Trinidad and Tobago, is discriminatory and therefore in breach of Guyana’s treaty obligations under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. No special case has been established to justify this measure. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago should retaliate and demand that any Guyanese landing on its soil, whether transit or disembarking, should be fully vaccinated. As for the cricket, the West Indies Cricket Board should reconsider bringing any matches to a country, which since January has failed to make any meaningful
Dem Boys Seh…
Big boys going cricket! Dem big boys want watch bat and ball. Dem tired throwing line in de Boerarsarie. Dem only ketching kack-a-belly. Dem big fish swim away when dem see dem sour face. And dem seh Guyana done get shock out of de Olympics so dem nah gat no credit fuh get from watching dat. So dem want to see bat and ball at de Stadium. Dem accustomed during normal times to lavish food and drink whenever dem gat cricket. So is nat only de cricket
dem after but de food and drinks wah gan deh ‘bout. De only problem is Anand nah deh nah mo. And some of dem new boys hand tight. So dem wah looking fuh freeness gan gat fuh hope dat de Prezzie and de Vee Pee stock up dem booths good. Dem boys seh how dem big boys does feel like kings when dem sit down in dem balcony at de stadium and look pon de masses. It does mek dem remember de days when de Emperors used to be in de royal box watching dem gladiators tangle with dem lions.
Dat is why dem had to allow people fuh go to de matches. Because if people nah guh, dem can’t guh since even though dem is big ones, dem gan be considered spectators. If no spectators nat allowed, dem big ones can’t go to de matches. But dem boys seh every action gat wan reaction. And this action of allowing spectators gan get its own reaction – two weeks after de matches. Talk half and wait fuh de numbers pon de Ministry of Health scoreboard!
impact on the pandemic. (The views expressed in this article are those of the
author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
PAGE 9
Monday July 26, 2021
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
PAGE 16
Kaieteur News
Monday July 26, 2021
Monday July 26, 2021
GTT finally signs labour agreement for... From page 8 and 6% for October 2021 to September 2022. A formal indication of the second discussion was given and this led to the signing of the Collective Labour Agreement. Another negotiation is slated to commence in January 2022, for further increases. At the signing of the collective labour agreement was the Acting Chief Labour Officer, Michelle Baburam; GPTWU President, Mr. Harold Shepherd; GPTWU General Secretary, Eslyn Harris; GTT’s Director of Human Resources, Tianna Roberts and Finance Controller, Mark Singh. As a result of the signing of the agreement, Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton expressed that he is pleased that his Ministry was able to facilitate a negotiation that saw both parties finally agreeing after months of indifference. Last October, the Union wrote to the Labour Ministry requesting that it spearheads a negotiation process between the GPTWU and GTT. The process had commenced in
PAGE 17
Kaieteur News January 2021, but after months of discussions the company and the union were unable to agree on suggested terms by the other party. However, the Ministry recommended that the union and GTT continue the bilateral engagements. When the agreements resumed, the company and the union were still not in accord to both parties proposed terms. As such, the Labour Ministry had to facilitate another negotiation process. In May 2021, the process recommenced with the intent of bringing a resolution to the longstanding wages and salary disagreement. Minister Hamilton had even engaged with the management of GTT and the union, in a bid to foster a continuous negotiation. According to reports, GPTWU along with employees from the GTT have been lobbying the companies for years. It was reported that GTT had signed an agreement early 2016 with GPTWU but disregarded the agreement months after the agreement was signed.
Venezuela’s Maduro aims for dialogue with opposition in August CARACAS - (Reuters) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that he was aiming to begin a dialogue with the country’s political opposition next month in Mexico facilitated by Norway, a process he hoped the United States would embrace.In May the opposition changed strategy and indicated its willingness to return to negotiations to resolve the political crisis in OPEC member Venezuela.Maduro has overseen an economic collapse in onceprosperous Venezuela since taking
office in 2013, and stands accused by his domestic opponents, the United States and the European Union of corruption, human rights violations and rigging his 2018 reelection. Maduro denies the accusations.In June, top diplomats in Washington, Brussels and Ottowa said they would be willing to revise their sanctions on Maduro’s government if the dialogue with the opposition led to significant progress toward free and fair elections.“I can tell you that we
Opposition leader Juan Guaido and Pres. Nicolas Maduro are ready to go to Mexico,” Maduro said in an interview on the state-funded Telesur television network late on Saturday. “We have begun to discuss a complicated, difficult agenda.”Venezuela’s opposition, led by Juan Guaido, has accused Maduro of using previous rounds to buy time in the face of diplomatic and sanctions pressure by the United States and others . Guaido is recognized by
Washington and several other Western democracies as the country’s rightful leader. Opposition groups have said
t hey are willing to negotiate the conditions for presidential and parliamentary elections with Maduro’s government.Maduro, in turn, has said he wants the negotiations to focus on the lifting of U.S. sanctions targeting the financial and oil sectors. He added that the negotiations would include “all the oppositions,” a reference to opposition politicians who broke with Guaido’s call to boycott the 2020 parliamentary elections, which were won handily by Maduro’s ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela.
PAGE 18
Monday July 26, 2021
Kaieteur News
Billions in investments laying waste over...
FOR RENT Fully furnished 5 bedroom houseinLot1027 Eccles.Tel:639-9956. SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 We repair Fridge, Freezer, A C , Wa s h e r, D r y e r Call#231-0655/683-8734 Omar. Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine,Stove etc.Call Nick#630-1600.
Business:Hadfield Street,Garden of Eden. Residence:Meadowbank & Ogle.Contact Ray's Realty 627-9685. PROPERTY FOR SALE Kitty,Robb St,Charlotte, Norton,Betterhope, Enterprise,Zeelught & Adventure Essequibo.Ray's Realty:627-9685.
WANTED
FOR SALE
1 Male sales representative. Apply in person with written application-
Gas Station in working condition.Call:275-0367/ 683-7225.
To ARK Enterprise container house. Call 225-3580, for more information.
1 J e t B o a t $40,000,000.Call:695-1356/ 671-2486. 2&3bedroomhomes. Onderneeming, WBD,Tuschen,EBE H a s l i n g t o n , ECD.Whatsapp:673-6210/ 694-9793. Rottweiler Dogs male 1 year,female1year 6months,vaccinated.Call:6220015.
Wanted land to buy in Parfaithe Harmonie, Zeelugt or anywhere on the West Coast Tel# 673-7089/ 6421252 Wanted puri roti cook apply @ Shanta's 225 Camp & New Market st We l d e r s , S e c u r i t y, S a n d T r u c k D r i v e r s & Handyman.Contact 2235273/223-5274. 1Live in Nanny.Attractive salary.Call:637-4605. Grader Operator,China Railway First Group.Salary $7000-$8000 per day overtime is x1.5.Contact:6321122.
LAND FOR SALE C a r m i c h a e l street,Queenstown,Middle Road,Friendship,Garden o f E d e n , Ya r a k a b r a S o e s d y k e Highway.Contact Ray's Realty 627-9685. Residential lot at 33F BushlotW.C.B.1 acre.Land has all bearingfruit trees.Contact:672-6817.
M i n i b u s & Ta x i Drivers.Contact:225-3234/ 628-1183. One female secretary wanted.Age21& above.Tel:660-8905. One trainee refrigerator washer technician.Tel:6549711. Live in domestic(female) $25,000 weekly.Tel:610-3974.
From page 14 The lease agreement was submitted in 2019 to the GEA, but it was not until a year later after he rebuffed the ‘hostile takeover’ by one of his former executives who was acting on behalf of “high offices” that his troubles began with the energy agency.Separate yet somehow not isolated, Bess related that the GEA around the same time was refused entry into the Linden facility in order to mark a shipment of fuel that had been imported. Bess confesses that by this time, not only had the landlord collected 13 months rent after the purported altered the date on the lease, but he was then served with a notice to quit by the said landlord. He told this publication that he requested additional time since his facility had not been completed as yet, and further as a result of the global pandemic, there was still a significant amount of fuel in the storage tanks at the location. To this end, Bess said he was later informed by the landlord that permission had been given by the GEA head to have the fuel be bunkered on one of the company’s vessels to which he objected since his class of licence did not permit for that. “I didn’t go along with that because, me knowing the straight line that I have to walk on, it would just be another reason for me to be accused of breaking the law; they already looking at me.” According to Bess, “I was at the point where I would prefer him to take me to court if he has to make sure that the other facility is completed before I move the fuel,” he said. The landlord, according to Bess, subsequently agreed and allowed me to stay for three more months.” Bess posits that the landlord at the time had wanted to extract more rent from the company.These incidents together, according to Bess and the GEA, led to an investigation which unearthed the altered date. Police Investigate A police investigation was subsequently requested but that failed to yield dividends, since the police were unable to find any evidence to support the GEA’s contention that the date on the lease VACANCY
VACANCY FOR RENT Two bedroom apartment for a working couple.95 Middle Road.Tel:619-2800. Self-Contained rooms in Lodge for working Couple/ Single person $32,000 monthly.Light & water 1 month's security.623-0076.
Vacancy for two(2) dispatcher@Confidential Cabs.Contact:231-5784. Maid to cook & clean for East Bank Call 615-9132 One experience hair dresser.Contact Magic Touch Salon.95 Middleroad Georgetown.Tel:682-9463/ 225-6492.
Puri and roti maker,Cooks/ GrillChef,Counter Servers,Kitchen assistants.Apply at Beacon Cafe,225-9409. Technical Assistant and Pitmenforinterior location.Applicants must be experienced.Call:231-2250. Porter,Prep(Meat/ Ve g e t a b l e ) , C o u n t e r S t a f f , K i t c h e n Assistant.Apply:Bettencourt's Diner,call for information:231-1368/223-1938.
agreement submitted to the energy agency was in fact forged.The official, this publication was told, never turned up to provide police with any evidence or statement to support the GEA’s contention. According to Bess, this did not stop the Energy Agency from targeting the company.He said, this is his contention since not only did the police investigation into the date on the lease “yield nothing, the State Counsel at the time wrote GEA and advised them not to pursue any charges since there was no basis for any such charges and they went on further to say that the licence should not be suspended or revoked.”The SBF boss said this did not stop the GEA Head, Dr. Mahender Sharma, from filing private action in the court in relation to the licence and then on August 13, wrote to SBF in a notice of cancellation, requesting that he show cause why the licence should not be revoked. This was done, according to Bess who related that through his attorney, a formal response was provided to the GEA but was dismissed. Compounding the situation in what is another separate, yet seemingly connected event, Bess told this publication that prior to receiving a notice of cancellation letter from the GEA in August last, a shipment of fuel had already been ordered and part paid for. He said the shipment arrived on September 2, several days before the date indicated by the GEA for the date with which the cancellation would take effect—September 11, 2020.The fuel was not allowed to be cleared for discharge however, and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) even refused to collect taxes on the imported fuel. Court Action According to Bess, he had to write to the Prime Minister, the Minister with responsibility for the sector, pleading for permission to discharge his fuel given the liabilities that could be incurred.This was obtained, according to Bess who pointed out that the shipment was 791,000 litres of diesel of which he sold about half, or 416,000 litres to a bauxite company under the auspices of SBF International. In April this year, Bess was charged by the GEA in litigation filed by the Energy Agency’s Boss, Dr. Sharma, purporting that the sale of fuel was illegal.According to Bess, despite the fact that he has since constructed his own additional facilities, “the pending frivolous charges by the GEA are just being used to keep me from doing business because they have no basis whatsoever.” The Agency on Monday last had responded publicly to Bess, saying, “throughout
its tenure as a licence holder, SBF Petroleum Inc. and SBF International Inc. were written to by the GEA about various breaches of the Agency’s internal procedures and shortcomings in their operations.” The energy agency noted that in June 2020, after the GEA and Guyana Revenue Authority’s officers were refused entry to the Christianburg facility to conduct a marking exercise, the GEA wrote to SBF International Inc. about the state of its tenancy arrangements with the owner of the facility OMAI, requesting the submission of an updated lease as the one submitted in support of its application for 2019/2020 had expired. According to the GEA, OMAI, in a letter to the GEA signed by the company official, indicated that it had never signed any lease with SBF International Inc. for the period 2019/2020 and a subsequent investigation revealed that the lease submitted by SBF was altered. “At that time, the company had no other facility authorised to store fuel in the manner required for their operations. As a result, the Agency issued a “Notice Before Cancellation” to the company, detailing in full, the findings of the investigation, and giving them an opportunity to show cause why their licence should not be cancelled. On consideration of the submissions by the company, its licence was cancelled.” The agency in justifying its position was adamant that “the matter of the cancellation of the company’s licence is now the subject of litigation instituted by SBF International Inc. and Mr. Bess’ statements can be viewed as an attempt by him to have this, and other legal matters against him and his company, adjudicated in the court of public opinion rather than before the Courts of Law.” GEA was adamant, “all decisions taken with regard to the grant and cancellation of licences and institution of charges are done fairly, transparently and in accordance with the Guyana Energy Agency Act and Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations which govern the Agency” and that “the company SBF International Inc. and its Director Dorwain Bess have been charged separately with offences of wholesaling and importing of diesel without the required licences following investigations into their operations after the company’s Importing Wholesale Licence was cancelled in September 2020.” Bess on the other hand, contends, “the sad part is, the actions by these few elephants, the fighting, the feuding..., it is not just hurting me who has been unable to do any business for the past year, but they are hurt-
ing my employees; I often get calls from some of them saying Boss when we gonna come back to work and I honestly don’t know what to tell these people.” Bess—a naturalized US Citizen but hailing from Belladrum, East Coast Demerara—lamented, “It was never an easy road for me in this country.”Recounting his experience doing business in Guyana, Bess told this publication, “I don’t think I’ve ever brought a vessel into this country without having to fight tooth and nail to get the product released to me. Every shipment of fuel, there was a challenge.” He said too that there was even a time, “I would’ve had to report every movement of the vessel...I was basically on probation the whole time. I was under the microscope.” He had in February, last contesting the cancellation of the Licence by the GEA and requested that the court orders the decision to be quashed but this was met two months later by separate court action filed by the energy agency against Bess’ SBF International. Mind Boggling “What is happening here to me and my staff and my company by clearly what are the actions of a few persons is beyond mind boggling and sickening,” Bess maintains. He qualifies this position by juxtaposing the actions of the GEA against himself and business versus the treatment meted out to others in the industry and pointed to several businesses obtaining fuel licences without meeting the necessary requirements while he continues to face resistance for his efforts to meet all requirements. He pointed too to the recent public reportage involving illegal transactions involving large foreign companies where it was found that the country was being robbed of billions of dollars every year and that they are not penalised.“Me, who they say I change a date on the document, they got me stall up for a year, they got my workers suffering in this pandemic simply because of a date, which they say I changed...Can this be fair?” He was adamant, even if it were proven to be true that the date was in fact forged, at the minimum, it should attract a fine that he would be happy to pay and move on, “but it cannot be right to shut down a man’s business for a year now, leaving not only me but hundreds to suffer.” Bess has since exited the Omai facility and has already constructed another facility meeting all of the GEA’s requirements with vessels already certified to load at refineries.SBF International has since applied for licence renewal to the GEA, which has not been granted as yet.
Monday July 26, 2021
Kaieteur News
PAGE 19
PAGE 20
Kaieteur News
Monday July 26, 2021
Monday July 26, 2021
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Aaron Finch faces knee surgery as uncertainty over T20 World Cup captaincy looms “I’m extremely disappointed to be heading home,” Finch said. “This was considered the best course of action rather than travelling to Bangladesh, not being able to play and losing that recovery time. I will have the surgery if required and start the recovery process ahead of the World Cup.”A Cricket Australia statement added: “Selectors and the Cricket Australia medical team are optimistic Finch will recover in time for the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman, which commences in midOctober.” Finch will undertake two weeks of quarantine when he
ESPNcricinfo - Aaron Finch could be in a race to be fit for the 2021 T20 World Cup as he faces knee surgery after being ruled out of the remainder of Australia’s tours of West Indies and Bangladesh. Finch initially suffered the injury to his right knee during practice ahead of the T20I series against West Indies and aggravated it in the final match in St Lucia. He was subsequently ruled out of the start of the ODI series and the decision was taken on Saturday that he would now return home to Australia instead of continuing to Bangladesh.
arrives back in Australia which takes him up to the second week of August and leave around two months for him to be fit for the World Cup, although it remains to be confirmed when the squad will depart for the UAE. Alex Carey will continue as ODI captain for the deciding match of the series against West Indies on Monday with the selectors to decide on who will lead the T20I team in Bangladesh closer to the start of those matches on August 3. Due to the complexities around travel arrangements and biosecure bubbles, Australia won’t call up a
Monday July 26, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your philanthropic side may want to come out and do good works today, Aries. Your default mode is to care for others. This is fine, but make sure it doesn't deplete your vital life force. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today is a terrific day, Taurus, and you can get a lot accomplished using your quick mind and sharp wit. Information is flying quickly. Grab what resonates with you and discard the rest. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Why me? You may feel like you ask yourself this question more than anyone else, Gemini. Your life may seem like an intense roller-coaster ride that
never stops. CANCER(June21–July22) Your brain may buzz like a beehive today, Cancer. That's good. There is a great deal of information to process now. Have you been thinking about buying some new electronic equipment or small appliances for your home?
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Speak up today, Libra. Perhaps no one has heard your point of view in a while. More than likely, it's incredibly important for them to hear it. Just because people don't ask for your opinion doesn't mean that it isn't valid. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Someone has just turned on the fan and papers are flying everywhere, Scorpio. The pace is picking up and you're scrambling to pick up the pieces. Stay in close communication with others today, for this will be your saving grace. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) No one is going to cater to your needs today, Sagittarius, so get up and do things on your own. There's little sympathy from others, and strong opinions are a dime a dozen. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) No one is going to cater to your needs today, Sagittarius, so get up and do things on your own.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Don't automatically assume that you can work out all your problems alone, Leo. Just talking things out with others may help shed light on a situation that baffled you earlier.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You might be sidestepping in order to avoid a commitment today, Aquarius. Don't keep giving someone the runaround. Be strong and let people know your thoughts even if you think their feelings will be hurt.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Get up early and get working, Virgo. You have a lot of emotional and physical energy that should help you accomplish whatever you need to do. The planetary energy is on your side. Take advantage of it to say what's on yours.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You're at a dramatic climax in your monthly emotional cycle today, Pisces. It's quite possible that you will erupt like a volcano. Don't be ashamed about releasing these emotions. Your feminine and masculine natures are connected.
“I’m extremely disappointed to be heading home” Aaron Finch. (AFP/ Getty Images
replacement for Finch. They have two reserve players on the tour, but paceman Nathan Ellis and legspinner Tanveer Sangha only provide bowling cover. When Finch missed a T20I against India last season,
Matthew Wade led the side. Carey is not a certain starter in the T20I side unlike he is the one-day set-up. Other options could include the inform Mitchell Marsh or the experienced Moises Henriques.
In the short term Finch’s injury leaves Australia without another senior player on a trip where they are already missing David Warner, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis from a likely first-choice batting line-up. It will likely mean another chance to open for Josh Philippe who was used in the middle-order at the start of the West Indies series before going back to the top, the position he holds for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL, in the final game of the series, though, he made a duck. Throwing further forward to the World Cup, while there is optimism that Finch will be fit, it does open the possibility of Pat Cummins, the official vice-captain across formats, leading Australia at the tournament.
GAPLF 2021 Intermediates/Masters ... From page 25 Class – Women’s Open Raw). Copping the Masters Equipped trophy was 69 year-old veteran Frank Tucker (Kingsrow Barbell Club – Men’s Masters 3) with the Classic (Raw) trophy being presented to 72 year-old ‘Uncle’ Noel Cummings (RipHit Strength and Conditioning/66kg Class – Men’s Master’s 4); Cummings also achieved a new record. Full details in tomorrow’s edition.
Kieron Pollard frustrated ... From page 22 looking like his own self. It was a bit scratchy tonight, but that’s what you need in a game like this, someone to scrap, and they both scrapped well for us.” Australia had their chance to break the PooranHolder stand with still 65 required when Pooran was dropped at mid-off by Moises Henriques which would have given Starc more opportunity to attack the lower order in his remaining overs, instead of with just 23 needed when Holder was lbw. “It doesn’t help when you’re five down for not a lot. Wade and the bowlers did a great job to get us to a total,” Alex Carey, Australia’s standin captain, said. “We were back in the game, we took some early wickets again and the belief was definitely there. We created opportunities and we were in the game in that back end, unfortunately, we couldn’t quite close it out and it proves we were 20 or 30 short at least.”