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Pres. Ali holds Tuesday Edition NEWS talks with US Secretary of State AIETEUR

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July 26, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 29

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After 2 ½ yrs of pumping oil…

Exxon now required to

import equipment to cap blown-out oil well

- Min. Bharrat

Pres. Ali 'sells' Guyana cheap to access loans

...says country needs low-interest financing; shrugs off rich-nation status $105M training 30 workers on facility for breadline as AMCAR Timehri Prison closes Rosignol plant

'Guyanese catching hell in oil economy' ...Opposition says Govt. cost of living relief measures not working

EPA joins Exxon contractor in defending hazardous

facility at Houston

See story on page 8

Three Guyanese MPs convert to heroic warriors for EM and partners on full liability coverage for oil spill. Listen to The Glenn Lall Show @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Tuesday July 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

‘PPP a proven utensil of big oil’ T

he Government of Guyana has proven to be a utensil of oil companies, striking out a Motion that was intended to secure full liability coverage in the event of an oil spill.

This view was shared by Our Wealth, Our Country (OWOC)- a recently launched civil society group that has been lobbying for changes to be made to oil contract with ExxonMobil.

The group said, “The PPP Government has let down the nation once again in securing

- civil society group good governance, t r a n s p a r e n c y, a n d accountability in the oil industry. We say shame on the Government for acting as willing lackeys and utensils of big oil. Our Wealth, Our Country and Guyana deserves better!”

The body said it was baffled that the government chose to kill the Opposition Motion that was filed by the Shadow Oil and Gas Minister David Patterson. According

to OWOC, “The PPP Government should know that its posture in defeating the motion is not sticking it to the PNC, it is sticking it to the Guyanese people and nation, and prostituting our interests.”

It reasoned that while the former A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) party would have signed the “sellout” and “giveaway contract” and did not institute

A founding member of Our Wealth, Our Country, Mr. Danny Ramnarain addressing members of the civil society group.

appropriate safeguards for environmental protection, it has, as a responsible Opposition, a duty to be concerned about the safety of the nation as oil operators up production to high levels.

“Therefore, we applaud the PNC for filing this motion,” OWOC noted, adding that “The PPP must be concerned about its sordid record of doing everything to support the interests of the oil companies, and arraying itself against the best interests of the nation.”

The civil society body reasoned that the government has a responsibility to protect the safety and security of the entire country and was keen to highlight that in about five years time, once oil production reaches one million barrels per day, the risks for environmental harm would increase significantly.

To this end, the oil activist group argued, “A nationalist Government would want to stand on the side of the people to make the oil operators accountable and require them to provide adequate insurance coverage. You would least expect that your Government will take a position that essentially says, “we don't want full coverage protection in the event of oil spills.” We ask where else in the world would a Government take such an antinationalist position, showing callous disregard for the safety of the

nation, and the protection of fishing grounds and livelihood of farmers and others who operate close to the coastline, and are likely to be affected in the event of a spill?”

The group did not spare the Ministers that debated the Motion in the National Assembly on Thursday evening. It was the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat that led the a rg u m e n t s a g a i n s t t h e 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. OWOC said that the “spurious” arguments from the Government's side are disappointing.

Patterson's Motion, that was debated in the National Assembly late Thursday evening, 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 future oil development submissions.

In throwing this request (Continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 26, 2022

PAGE 03

After 2 ½ yrs of pumping oil…

Exxon now required to import equipment to cap blown-out oil well - Min. Bharrat

By Kiana Wilburg

I

n an effort to improve industry performance and the safety of operations in the oil sector, the Guyana Government has ordered ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) to keep a capping stack in the country.

This critical piece of equipment is placed over a blown-out well to stop or redirect the flow of hydrocarbons and to buy time for engineers to permanently seal the well.

Highlighting this key development which is now included as a requirement in E x x o n ' s Ye l l o w t a i l Environmental Permit was Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat.

He was at the time, making his contributions to the parliamentary debate held last Thursday on the opposition's motion for full liability coverage for oil spills.

The official assured that while government is supportive of an accelerated rate of exploration and development, it is not oblivious to the risks involved.

It is with this understanding in mind that measures have been taken to ensure Guyana is equipped with the tools needed to respond to any disaster a l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y, contended the minister.

With specific reference to Exxon's US$10B Yellowtail Project, he said the government was able to arm the country with key safeguards.

Minister Bharrat said, “Guyana is one of the few oil producing countries that will have a capping stack in country and that is included in the Yellowtail Permit.

Brazil and Trinidad don't have one in-country.

They pay subscription and it is in some other part of the world. We are also paying the subscription too. Even

though it will cost us a little more we believe we should go the extra mile and bring it in country.”

Minister Bharrat added that previously, the capping stack was held in Houston, h o w e v e r, “ We a r e establishing Guyana as a hub.”

On this note he said the capping stack would be made available for Suriname or Trinidad and Tobago to use if a major oil spill occurs as such a disaster could have far reaching implications for Guyana too.

“If we did not have that in country and it happens it would take over 10 to 15 days depending on the availability to get the capping stack here.

Having it here means we can deploy almost immediately,” the Minister stated.

It should be noted that in 2019, former Head of the Energy Department, Dr. Mark Bynoe had announced that a capping stack was one of the requirements attached to the Liza Phase Two

Environment Permit.

It had said that there should be the establishment of a Regional Capping Stack or other solution to ensure that a Capping Stack can be deployed within five days of a well control event with loss of containment.

This requirement has since been utilized and refined in the Yellowtail permits.

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat

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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

Fishing – what is what, who has it right?

We are working with clashing information on where things really stand with the fishing sector in Guyana. While we do so, the reality is that our fisherfolk are struggling to cope, keep losing ground, in their struggle to deal with what is their primary source of income to take care of themselves and their families. The simple fact is that fish catch is declining, and there is this conflict on what could be the cause of this devastating situation.

We start with the most recent information coming to light. In news releases concerning Exxon’s seeking the necessary permit from Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the wording in some of the related documentation provides a more than reasonable linkage between the whole range of the company’s activities and the downside effect on Guyana’s fishing sector, among a host of other marine related issues, all mostly negative.

As we see it, this establishes a compelling connection between what is occurring in our seas, and what is being experienced by our fisherfolk working traditional fishing grounds to make a living. In the briefest terms, their plight could be traceable to oil operations, and this is coming from the horse’s own mouth, Exxon’s documents. In view of the circumstances, it is reasonable to think, to expect, that the local EPA would have said something, taken some stand, done something. The least that should have come out of Guyana’s EPA saddled with all the obligations of an agency of the State, hence the people, was that it stepped forward and acknowledged the correlation between oil operations and fishing impacts. It would have helped to offer that work is going on, with developments intended to ease the situation of the fisherfolk. We think that its senior officers have a duty to do so, given the enormous importance of the local EPA in this time of huge oil discoveries, and announcements of intentions towards more accelerated activities.

Most unhappily for Guyanese, and with specific importance for Guyana’s fisherfolk, the local fishing sector, and the larger segment of consumers in society, this country’s EPA has been content either to hedge, stonewall, or retreat into telling silence. We struggle to put the best face on this, but it is now undeniable that the EPA has engaged in what is nothing less than an ongoing dereliction of duty, and grossly so. Why its people have seen it fit to conduct their sensitive responsibilities in this manner is open to all manner of speculation, with none of them favourable to the organisation, its leaders, or those controlling its leaders. The controllers would be none other than those possessing the necessary power and authority to muzzle and neutralise the EPA and its people standing guard over our interests. Clearly, this is bad and a problem of huge proportions. But it is not the whole story about what is happening to our fisherfolk, and the extents to which the PPP/C Government has moved to put on plasters that quickly peel off about what is going on with declining fish catch. The Minister of Agriculture made it his duty to stand before the Guyanese public and stoutly declare that, based on a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) study there was no relationship with declining catch of Guyanese fishers, and the operations of the oil companies in our waters. It was the kind of news that should have cheered many Guyanese hearts, except that the FAO itself rushed out with its own public position that, at best, left matters in the air, while making such even murkier. For its part, the FAO stated that what was done was a rapid study and as based on available data. By itself, that sounds like what was done could not get to the real facts on anything, which is why we believe that the FAO was quick to say count us out of these maneuvers. So, here it is that we have Exxon’s documents noting one thing, the Minister of Agriculture delivering another, and the EPA offering nothing. What is really what, and who is there for these suffering fisherfolk?

We think that the PPP/C Government could be ruled out as being on the side of Guyanese fishers.

America readying to refocus elsewhere – it must DEAR EDITOR, I discern some impatience and frustration on the part of Americans with Guyana, specifically its leaders.

Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch carried the - then opposition PPP on her back, and almost singlehandedly powered it back into office.

The handholding and cajoling continue less publicly these days. What I sense, though, is a weariness in the most visible and audible official American presence here.

I think that winds have shifted somewhat imperceptibly, which could signal a wee bit of trouble for arrogant, unheeding and slippery leaders in the PPP Government. A shift is on the way, and it has significance for governance in Guyana.

Iran links arms with the Russians; Saudis declare allegiance to OPEC+ (Russians again).

The Chinese benefit from the volatile mix, with only North Koreans missing, likely busy perfecting their next device.

Cumulatively, I recognise a seismic shift of oil influence from the long dominant, now beleaguered West, to the increasingly coalescing and muscular East, be such Middle East or Far East.

When I speak of West, I encourage thinking of America first, maybe only; with a glance at Europe having its usefulness. But there is this gathering of a mighty galaxy of adversaries arrayed in formidable strength against the U.S. Gradually and alarmingly, oil assets in

those woods, now increasingly an antiAmerican hood, diminish for American interests.

Using this as context, I think some regrouping and redrawing of the oil map is due for prime time moves.

Venezuelan oil features most prominently, and whenever that country is mentioned, I stop whatever I am doing and sit up.

I think that a slow, nuanced relaxation of sanctions is imminent, with oil imports being one of the early moves by America, which opens the door for other non-oil American big business interests rushing forward to tip their toes in rich Venezuelan pickings. Indeed, the Orinoco oil is heavy, but Chevron had pioneered the technology to refine it, with a spot of extra cost necessary.

Also, our neighbours oil infrastructure has suffered from severe degradation due to neglect, incompetence, too much government, theft, sabotage, and more. Lots of money waiting to be made in Venezuela, and I can only see America mending fences and restarting over there, while using some subtle language to shield its real necessities and objectives. Sanctions have clearly run their course, done their damages, and the signals of a thawing have bene seeping into the mainstream. As aside and parallel, peek at the change in Europe towards Africa’s fossil sources, which may ease climate change priorities.

With Canadian, Permian, North Dakotan, Latin

American, and Venezuelan oil, there would be more than enough production and reserves to counter those lined up eastward against my northern Uncle and cousins.

Guyana’s and Suriname’s oil would still have significance, but with other regional openings, this country’s government could be reduced to second tier importance in the bigger scheme of American interests. This does not mean abandonment at all, but I think we would be given freer rein to deal with our issues on our own terms.

Read me. It also frees up America to act appropriately to address the many governmental and leadership perversities embedded here.

As presented before, it is clear that America is concerned about corruption and inclusion here. Officials have hinted, raised concerns, pushed hard for changes, but without conspicuous success. Having been so instrumental in powering elements of democracy locally, there must be serious disappointment that matters standstill (or worse) in many areas. These include money laundering, political financing, regulatory implementation and enforcement, media matters, and genuine reforms in vital areas. I don’t think that the Americans have the stomach, the time, or the interest, to invest as they did in 2019-20 to lift this society out of the gutter, and to set on new pathways, since largely ignored. This is with due consideration of the presence

of now well-established Exxon, Hess, Baker Hughes, Schlumberger, and others of similar Stars and Bars stripes.

They can and will manage nicely.

I believe that the Americans are ready for a change of venue, atmosphere, and leadership; this directly results from both the PPP’s and PNC’s commitments to fighting the last war, rather than explore the new lease of peace.

Guyana’s current leaders could be squeezed for failures with their laundering friends.

Look at those Latin Americans making it into that Rogues Gallery called the Engel List (a blacklist). It’s for being corrupt actors here, and that was long before VICE News revelations. A look to Venezuela and slight shifts in posture could mean a lot here.

America ramps up its geopolitical and strategic interests to beat back its enemies gloating at its perceived weaknesses; the objective is to refocus and reprioritise over there, and be back on the ground floor where all that oil (and other business) is concerned.

Meanwhile, Guyanese get to romp and frolic in the mud which they know best.

Regarding how the multinationals react, that’s another story to unfold; but they can take care of themselves, and are in full control in the local environment.

On us governing ourselves, that is another story altogether.

GHK Lall

Are all of our leaders fully emancipated or still suffer from mental slavery?

DEAR EDITOR, From all, congratulations to the Government and members of the Private Sector are in order as it relates to the Building Expo opened last Friday.

It was both grand and propitious but for his propitious properties to be realized we require perhaps a sort of metamorphosis at the highest level.

On a close examination of the Address by Head of State, President Ali and to compare it the promises in the PPP Election Manifesto there are a scrutiny of the PPP manifesto promise there are some serious inconsistencies, which based on the experience of the current and previous administrations

suggest behind all of this secrecy and the suffocation of information to the public can hardly be surprised at the existing perception of nepotism and corruption.

A few days ago, notwithstanding the increase to 47.7 billion dollars in the 2022 budget, the Government is now seeking and no doubt with the one seat majority in Parliament would obtain the additional 44.4 billion dollars requested by the Hon. Minister of Finance.

The Economist and Financial experts can argue whether this massive fund in the second half of this year can lead to inflation or what have you is a matter for the experts.

Dear Editor, what is very

clear is that a truly caring Government would by now have announced that beginning the 1st of June, the salaries of all Policeman, Fireman, The Army, Public Servants and Pensioners would be doubled so that they can overcome the daily rising cost of living.

The Government must explain and our Labour Unions must also say why an aggressive action is not being taken to immediately double the wages and salaries of all Public Sector employees.

Instead we seem to have a President and Government wedded to not provide the details of how the vast sum available from our natural resources are being utilized, instead we have a ‘Father

Christmas’ approach of doling out funds as we would say in a “cas-cas” manner, particularly in a polarized society where the beneficiaries of this “cascas” distribution by Father Christmas seem to exclude some of those in greatest need.

Speaking with some ordinary Public Servants who enjoyed sitting and relaxing and savoring the ambience of the furniture and home at the Building Expo, their pain and dilemma were how can they enjoy these things when the cost of food and basic items for life have grown beyond the present budget.

As we approach the second anniversary of (Continued on page 5)

Tuesday July 26, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Govt. is ready – taking no chance with Monkeypox Brilliantly written book DEAR EDITOR, Director General Dr. Tedros produced in Denmark, but now, who are younger than What a nice thing to learn Adhanom Ghebreyesus. we’re working through 40, they don’t have any on indentureship that already, the Ministry of Further scrutiny details that PAHO. PAHO has been immunity against smallpox Health is in talks with PAHO there had been five deaths so talking to the manufacturer and against, obviously, and early Indian (Pan-American Health far as a result of the outbreak. and they are trying to secure monkeypox, because they Organisation), to acquire I add that there are only two doses for the Americas and have not benefited from that smallpox vaccines. We need other such health out of the allocation that they type of vaccination. So, with experience in Guyana to be pro-active and this sign emergencies at present, the are trying to secure, we would this circulation of these cases here is good indeed. Just a few days ago, the monkeypox outbreak was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). The classification is the highest alert that the WHO can issue and follows a worldwide upsurge in cases. It came at the end of the second meeting of the WHO’s emergency committee on the virus. The data now show that more than 16,000 cases have now been reported from 75 countries, and this is according to WHO

coronavirus pandemic and the continuing effort to eradicate polio.

On the local front, I commend Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, as he is again leading from a pre-emptive position. He stated that his ministry is working with PAHO to acquire smallpox vaccines to combat the possibility of a confirmed monkeypox case in Guyana.

In his exact statement, he emphasised that “We are working to acquire the vaccine that is being

Are all of our leaders...

From page 4 the PPP/C government in office and the observing of the anniversary of the end of formal slavery, a date most of greatest historical importance because it ended the most brutal form of inhumanity known in recent history.

At the same time, it opened the doorway to let in Immigrants from India, China and Madeira in what today is the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. If the Ali administration had any sense, any bit of compassion and even a modicum of equity, justice and decency they would have used these vast sums available at this time to double wages and salaries for all public servants and the pensions of the old without further procrastination.

Beyond that my plea is that our leaders demonstrate genuine patriotism, will set aside the current infantile attitude. and together renegotiate that ridiculous oil and gas contract so that all Guyana can be another prosperous Dubai and Saudi Arabia and so that we bequeath to this and succeeding generations a country that is prosperous, a

country that is peaceful and a country where we vindicate the suffering for those who are enslaved and we will be true to the sacrifices of the descendants of those hard working Immigrants and so fulfill the dreams of some of our early leaders for free education from kindergarten to University and for a good healthcare system, and have an energized Ministry of Sports and Culture so we can proudly boast of a Gold Medal or two at the next Olympics. And we will make a reality our Motto, One People, One Nation, One Destiny.

The big question is are all of our leaders and I repeat all, fully emancipated or still suffer from mental slavery?

As we see in some recent proposals, are we still susceptible to imperialist machinations and are slowly being recolonised if not reenslaved?

Hamilton Green Elder

benefit from some of those allocations.”

This is commendable and reflects professionalism and concern for the nation.

I remind all of us that those who are 40 years and younger are more at risk of contracting monkeypox, since they would not have gotten the smallpox vaccination. Why? The last smallpox vaccine administration was conducted in 1980, after it was declared to be eradicated by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Also, we need to know that because the Monkeypox virus is closely related to the virus that causes smallpox, the smallpox vaccine can protect people from getting monkeypox. Past data from suggest that the smallpox vaccine is at least 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.

The minister also expanded on this, explaining that “When we were doing the vaccination for smallpox, that gave you protective effect. If you were vaccinated for smallpox, it protected you against monkeypox because they are of the same family.

But, in most of the world, smallpox is now being eliminated, so the last set of vaccines that have probably been given was around the 1980s.” He really wants us to be aware that “…persons

going around, obviously, this younger population can be vulnerable. That’s what we’re seeing globally.”

My hope is that we will rally behind the Minister of Health, as we must be ready and at all times be prepared for a possible outbreak of the disease.

Too many lapsed during the fight against Covid-19.

This must not be repeated. I note that a series of workshops are underway, in the country, targeting the groups of people who are at risk of contracting monkeypox. I like the fact that the Ministry of Health is currently training persons on how to conduct monkeypox testing, and in fact, one of the local staff members is already engaged in training being conducted by PAHO for the Caribbean region. In summation, from the government’s perspective, “… we are equipping the system to ensure that we can detect any cases if ever that happens.”

We can do our part. We need to be mature and update ourselves with the relevant information. WHO is encouraging people to stay informed from reliable sources, such as national health authorities (our own MOH). Prevention is always the better route.

Yours truly, H. Singh

DEAR EDITOR, Marble, Grass, and Glass

by Sham Moteelall (XLibris, 2021) is an investigation of Indian indentureship (girmit labour system) through the author’s family roots. The writer, a Berbician who migrated and settled in Minnesota since 1970, narrates and describes his ancestors’ journey and their experiences and also that of their immediate descendants in Guyana. It is a family story from India, Guyana, and America with the latter being addressed briefly towards the end. It investigates the relatively little-studied experiences of the indentured labourers and their early descendants that were born and raised in British Guiana – recruitment (including kidnapping) of labourers, their experiences during the journey on board the ship, on the plantations, and after indentureship.

Although it is an account of his family travails in India, on board the ship, in the estate plantation, and life in post indentureship in Guyana, the narrative and description of indentureship is applicable to all societies where Indian indentured labourers were

taken.

Marble, Grass, and Glass is a brilliantly written piece of work with significant portion on recruitment of labourers. commencement of indentureship in 1838 (British Guiana).

(Indian Indentureship began in Reunion Island in 1828 and Mauritius in 1834, which was preceded by slavery of Indians in Reunion decades earlier. Recruitment of Indian indentured labourers ended in March 1917 and indentured Indians were freed by the British government on January 1, 1920). Besides the indentureship experience, it addresses the social and cultural life of indentured labourers on the plantations and post indentureship.

The book is a historical re-telling of events relating to all aspects of indenture and its aftermath. The work departs from the usual historical approach of dates and events. It is presented in a literary narrative prose describing scenes, events, episodes, conditions, the environment that make the readers imagine what was taking place. The writing flows nicely from sentence (Continued on page 6)

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Tuesday July 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

Conditions have now emerged for marginalised African and Indian Guyanese to realise their full potential DEAR EDITOR, Voices are being heard emanating from various corners across the ethnic and political spectrum in Guyanese society. At times favourable and unfavourable to government, the voices have to do with governance; that is to say, the structure and processes for decisionmaking, monitoring and evaluation, accountability, control and behaviour at the upper echelons of state and government. Governance influences the ways and means through which a government’s policies are implemented and achieved.

Guyanese welcomed

wholeheartedly, the ABC&EU countries’ strident involvement in the push for free and fair elections during the March to August 2020 period.

Notwithstanding the misplaced appeal by members of the coalition administration at the time, the ABC&EU countries, including CARICOM governments, doubled down and stepped up the pressure in the face of spurious allegations and attacks about political interference in Guyana’s internal affairs.

When one takes into consideration, the long view of the meaning and

significance of democracy, apart from an election, what we are yet to see is a push by the ABC&EU governments above and beyond elections in support of deepening of democracy against localised threats to their investments and their nationals here in Guyana.

In the circumstances, there should be no backsliding in respect to Guyana’s and America’s shared values and vital hemispheric and security interests. At the same time it should be made clear that neither do Chinese investments in Guyana nor functional cooperation

Brilliantly written book on indentureship...

From page 5 to sentence and paragraph to paragraph. There is an occasional grammatical error but overall it is well written.

It tells how and why indentured Indians came to Guyana? Who were the people brought here? What adversities and challenges they faced? How did they cope and overcame their difficulties through the 1970s.

The book is not a scholarly account with c i t a t i o n s , but Moteelall brings forth evidence in constructing careful accounts of all aspects of indentureship. He exposes the horrors of indentureship — with the girmityas suffering from similar experiences and fates of slaves.

Few accounts have so thoroughly related the broad history of Indian indentureship with facts and experiences. The methodology used in the writing is the oral accounts of ancestors that came from India that were obtained from family members who themselves received the accounts from their parents, grandparents, and other kins.

Most of it is anecdotal and empirical.

The work will be of particular interest to historians (of India’s history, Guyanese history, Indian Guyanese history, labour exploitation, and oral history – methods of gathering accounts), anthropologists (cultural studies, of Indian Guyanese culture and dialects, Indian cultural continuity and change, patriarchy, Hinduism, HinduMuslim relations, family life and marriage, rituals of birth and death, festivals, and religious texts, and traditions), sociologists (social and ethnic relations between Indians and Africans

in the segregated villages, migration, ethnicity, gender studies, patrilinealism, women contributions to development, role of Indian women in indentured labour and their resistance to sexual exploitation and domination, Indian gender relations within the family, power relations within the plantations), political scientists (India and Guyana’s freedom or liberation movements and resistance against British rule), and economists (the primitive economy of India and Guyana, the economic lives of the poor and labourers in both in India and Guyana, and how the contributions of indentured labour and the Indian peasantry transform the colony and brought about socio-economy change).

Recollection of life back home for most girmityas, except perhaps for several of the author’s ancestors, made it not so difficult to opt to settle down in Guyana making it their new home. The girmityas had aspirations for their lives – to obtain quick wealth from hard work and savings and to return to their motherland to purchase land for agriculture and cattle rearing and provide a decent home for their kinship.

Few returned to the motherland to achieve their dreams. But many of them have been able to do make progress in the colony. A large number of them died as paupers and their descendants are still struggling today although they would have been better off than their kins at that time in rural India. In spite of distance, their lives in Guyana were connected with their custodian socio-cultural life in the villages from where they came in India. The conditions for the labourers are no doubt an improvement

to their lives in then British India. The labourers and their descendants worked hard, managed to save money, bought land, and established a better life than if they were free in India.

The book consists of 19 chapters inclusive of conclusion, plus an introduction, prologue, and epilogue, totalling 331 pages plus another 10 in roman numbers. There is no central theme and no hero — just an account of all aspects of indentureship from life in India, recruitment process, conditions aboard the ship and on the colonies, sexual exploitation and abuses of females, and survival.

Although they were victims of sexual exploitation by white overseers and plantation agents, including Indian and Black men who overpowered them, they persevered to overcome their difficulties.

Their labour and sex exploitation would serve as a powerful mobilising force against British rule and the indenture system.

This book is, arguably, one of the most profound contributions to indentureship history in recent years published. It is brilliantly written by someone who is not an English or History major but an agronomist.

It is written in simple down to earth language making it readable by the schooled and unschooled. It is written for general readership. It is recommended for secondary schools and colleges on Guyana history and Indian indentureship.

The book is worthy for entry into recognition and honours like the Guyana Prize for Literature, The Booker Prize, and the Commonwealth Prize.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

between the two countries as exemplified in the Belt and Road Agreement pose a systemic challenge nor are they aimed at derailing Guyana/US shared values to the rules-based international order.

Guyana-US bilateral cooperation is critical in the light of real or perceived threats to political stability in Guyana as well as to public safety and security driven principally by racial and ethnic insecurity and divisive national politics.

It is as if help was extended to the country solely to ‘stop the steal’ of the 2020 election and then to drop the ball, leaving the newly-elected administration to ‘paddle its own canoe’ as it headed into turbulent waters.

Just about one month after the newly elected Aliadministration had assumed office, threats to our fragile democracy emerged with disturbances at Region Five and more recently, on the East Coast at Golden Grove and Mon Repos.

In the circumstances, it appears that the preferred approach by the ABC&EU governments is to leave the Ali administration alone with the right to be its own final judge in pursuit of its national policies and international treaty obligations. In other words, unlike their role following the 2020 election, the ABC&EU countries, seems to have adopted an ambivalent position as regards governance, leaving the Ali administration to tame those political forces who seem capable of transforming impulses of violence and an ideology of ethnic prejudices into action.

In any event, the moral and practical issues associated with any shape or form of western involvement to prevent heightened interethnic conflict in Guyana and boost good governance is too complex to be resolved without much debate and deliberation at the national level and with overseas partners.

In a society where disinformation and the lack of trust at the political level have long been its Achilles heel, the most evasive and unconquerable mission for decades has been national unity. Truth be told, since independence in 1966, every government has adopted a different approach to tackling this social and political phenomenon. None has succeeded so far.

Trust in politics is difficult to come by. According to Alan Clarke, a former British Conservative MP: “There are no true friends in politics. We are all sharks circling and waiting for traces of blood in the water.”

We have seen this phenomenon manifesting itself time and again in Guyana. A more recent example is the Vice News interview with VP Jagdeo where the APNU+AFC, though no friend of the PPP/ C, has scented, ‘blood in the water’ and has pursued the matter vigorously with a political agenda in mind.

The press commentaries about the Vice News interview aside, a more persistent narrative framed by the opposition is that the PPP/ C administration utilises the politics of race and ethnicity as a means of winning votes and staying in power. On the other hand, the PNC has been accused of playing the racial card as a means of keeping their supporters sensitised and mobilised in readiness for political action.

From all appearances, it is clear that the political opposition and its overseasbased satraps are feeding at the trough of race and ethnicity with a view to using it as a weapon to attack hoping that, in that way, they will succeed in achieving their goal whatever that may be.

Regrettably, it has not dawned on the political opposition that neither theoretically nor practically, racism cannot be fought with racism. Our own national experience, along with that of other nations have demonstrated that the road to political power by that method of struggle, just as it is through the ‘barrel of a gun’ is fraught with catastrophic consequences in ethnically divided societies such as ours.

The challenging and seemingly uncompromising political stand-off notwithstanding, it is always better to engage rather than disengage at the political level on the way forward on how best to open up a national conversation that would facilitate more listening rather than plenty of talk and a ‘willingness to sift the sanctified lies’.

The big question is; how can such a conversation emerge without a mutually acceptable level of trust being in place?

Engagement can take place at the political, parliamentary and grass roots levels. Engagement at the two

latter levels can lay the basis for engagement at the political level.

The outreaches and follow-up meetings between government and residents at Buxton and South Georgetown are examples of engagements at the grassroots level.

Then there is the pervasive influence of the business class. Make no mistake about it, that influence is strong at the top.

The Local Content law is more about greater opportunities for the business class rather than uplifting the economic and social wellbeing of the poor and marginalised. That is government’s responsibility not the business class’. At the same time, questions have been raised whether the rich in Guyana are doing enough to help the poor, and whether it is in their interest not to do so.

There is a view peddled by some, that it is fundamentally AfricanGuyanese who are marginalised or dispossessed and impoverished. To the contrary, those who have travelled around Guyana would know that there are large numbers of Amerindians, mixed race and Indo-Guyanese who are caught in the poverty trap just like the 1.1 billion around the world who live in extreme poverty today.

Experience has shown that individual actors would inevitably come into dispute with others about various things, and human nature being what it is, both would tend to think that they are in the right. This could lead to unnecessary and potentially destructive conflicts, that is why with such eventualities government is required to pass fair judgments and to back them up with reasonable and acceptable policies.

Unity in diversity should not be viewed only in relation to cultural and religious practices, it should also be framed in a political and ideological context having regard to Guyana’s national peculiarities.

The power and influence of African-Guyanese as manifested by their numbers in parliament and at the local government level has the potential of playing a constructive role for national development, how that power and influence are exercised is another matter.

Engagements about how to share our newly found wealth in a manner that, (Continued on page 16)

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Tuesday July 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

Yesterday our top leaders were summoned to meet the third most powerful person in the US Government- Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Accompanying President Irfaan Ali on the visit was: Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd and some other underlings. At the time of the writing of this Blunt, there was no official statement on the outcome of the high-level meeting, so we cannot comment on the substance.

We however, would be surprised if our leaders raised the issue of the abuse Guyana suffers at the hands of one of America's top corporations- ExxonMobil. We would not be surprised however, if they used the meeting to mollycoddle with Blinken, while ignoring concerns about Exxon's continuous flaring of gas here, the meagre royalty we receive for our oil; lack of full coverage insurance and a host of other issues.

As a child growing up, you anticipate with great pride your parents' return home from a trip. Guyanese don't even know when our leaders leave these shores, much less expecting anything good from their jaunts.

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Tuesday July 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

Authorities obsessed with oil revenues with no regard for environmental dangers - Goolsarran Chartered Accountant and former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran appears to be appalled with the government's approach to the oil and gas sector.

In his recent column published by Stabroek News, Goolsarran said that authorities seem obsessed with how much oil money the country can make and deposit into its Natural Resource Fund (NRF) all the while, remaining oblivious to the environmental dangers of this sector.

Goolsarran said recent global events would serve to remind citizens of how toxic oil sector emissions can impact the livability of the planet. In this regard, he noted that the temperature in several parts of Europe reached an all-time record high of 42 degrees Celsius,

triggering massive wildfires in France, Spain, Portugal and Greece and causing thousands of residents to flee their homes. The ferocious heat has also claimed the lives of over 1700 individuals.

With officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) describing the situation as “unprecedented, frightening, and apocalyptic,” Goolsarran said there can no longer be any denying that the soaring temperature is linked to global warming and climate change caused mainly by increases in greenhouse gas emissions through the burning of fossil fuels.

E x p o u n d i n g f u r t h e r, Goolsarran shared in his column that as of last Monday, the concentration of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in

the atmosphere was 419.04 parts per million, representing a 47 percent increase since the beginning of the Industrial Age and an 11 percent increase since 2000.

The Chartered Accountant said, “Here in Guyana, we are so preoccupied with and excited about the prospects of oil revenues overflowing the Treasury that we seem oblivious of the dangers ahead as regards the adverse impact the extraction and burning of fossil fuels has on the future wellbeing of the planet. The 11 billion barrels of crude oil discovered off Guyana's shore, when extracted and burnt, will release approximately 4.751 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.”

Despite being aware of

Chartered Accountant and former AG, Anand Goolsarran this, Goolsarran disappointedly noted that the Government is aggressively pushing oil companies to produce as much oil as possible. He said it is instructive that Exxon and

partners have been given the green light for accelerated production before the deadline for the Paris Accord on climate change reaches for switching to renewable sources of energy, even if it means sacrificing of longer term gains.

Kaieteur News previously reported that it was Hess Corporation's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess who disclosed that the Guyana Government, particularly President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, gave clear instructions for oil development at the Stabroek Block to be fast-tracked.

Hess said both Dr. Ali and Jagdeo are very pro-business while adding that their belief is that Guyana has a right to develop its resources.

Hess also noted that Ali

and Jagdeo have been very clear to the joint-ventures that they want them to be capital-disciplined, and environmentallyresponsible in their offshore operations. He said, so far the government has been a “very good partner” to the Stabroek Block partners.

Given the relationship between the two, Hess said the partners are keen to work towards helping Guyana with the management of its oil wealth.

In the meantime, the Hess Boss said that the Stabroek Block partners remain focused on fully understanding the exploration potential of the offshore resources in the Guyana basin, which he described as having industry leading production costs and world-class reservoirs.

EPA joins Exxon contractor in defending hazardous facility at Houston

T

he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has joined Exxon Mobil contractor, Schlumberger in defending the placement of a hazardous radioactive waste facility at Houston East Bank Demerara.

B o t h t h e E PA a n d Schlumberger filed separate affidavits defending the decision to place the facility at Houston after residents moved to the court seeking an injunction against the operations. The parties have held that the construction of the radioactive facility is in keeping with the legal and regulatory requirements of the EPA. The case is based on Fixed Date Application (FDA) by residents of Houston, Vanda Radzik,

Danuta Radzik and Raphael Singh who are requesting a court order to quash the EPA's decision to grant the US-owned onshore oil and gas company, permission to build the radioactive storage facility at Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Citing a host of grave health and environmental dangers, the residents claimed the authorisation granted by the EPA was done in absence of evidence, on whimsical and capricious grounds which are against the agencies own policies and without any legal foundation or authority.

During a presentation of oral arguments into the matter before High Court Justice Nareshwar Harnanan on Monday, the specific issue related to the EPA's

policy was raised. The judge has set September 23 at 3:00pm to hand down his decision. It was pointed out by attorneys for the applicant, Siand Dhurjon, Ronald Burch-Smith and Marlene Alleyne that while EPA failed to publish its decision to waiver Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Houston Facility, the agency, in the case of another radioactive facility at Coverden, EBD made sure the waiver was made public.

Just last week, the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) overruled the EPA decision to set aside the decision of the EPA that no EIA is required for the project.

Among other things, the attorneys held that decision of the EPA to grant the company permission to build facility in the absence of critical evidential information and by overlooking the need for such.

In a nutshell, the EPA said that it is within its right to grant Schlumberger

permission to build the facility at Houston for the storage/calibration of radioactive materials.

The agency said the right to grant waivers falls within the ambit of Sec. 17 11 of the EPA Act, which essentially provides the agency leverage to waiver the EIA in cases "'Where any activity by itself does not have a significant effect on the environment …”

In the meantime Schlumberger which is represented by attorney Nigel Hughes noted that under section 11 (2) of the EPA Act: “Where it is not clear whether a project will significantly affect the environment, the developer, in this case Schlumberger, shall submit to the agency a summary of the project which shall contain the information as required and the Agency shall within a reasonable period publish in at least one daily newspaper a decision with reasons as to whether the project will not significantly affect the environment, and therefore exempt from the

requirement for an environmental impact assessment; or may significantly affect the environment and will require an environmental impact assessment.

In the circumstances, the Exxon Mobil contractor through its lawyer contended that the obligation to publish a decision with respect to an EIA therefore only arises where it is not clear whether a project will significantly affect the environment. “ We r e s p e c t f u l l y contend that the grant of the construction permit and operational permit by the EPA to Schlumberger to operate its source calibration and storage facility is consistent with the Environmental Protection Act, and accordingly is not amenable to the orders being sought by the applicants in the Fixed Date Application,” oil contractor submitted in the document.

Vanda Radzik, Danuta Radzik and Raphael Singh who are said to be environmentalist have asked for an order of injunction to prevent Schlumberger from continuing any construction of the facility.

They are seeking a court order to forbid the EPA, its agents and servants from permitting or otherwise issuing an environmental authorization to operate a radioactive substance and

material storage and calibration facility at Lot 1 area x Houston Georgetown.

According to the information related to the case, seen by this publication on January 19, 2022, the EPA approved Schlumberger's application for permission to use, store and possess radioactive materials at its facility at lot 1 Area X , Houston without any inkling of a notice given to the public.

The EPA had previously advertised on 11th April, 2021, in the newspapers that Schlumberger wanted to construct a building to house the radioactive materials at lot 1 Area X , Houston, beside the East Bank Demerara public road and that the construction process would not require an environmental impact assessment.

Upon seeing, the notice dozens of residents of the East Bank formally objected to the waiver of the need for an environmental impact assessment into the construction process on the grounds that an EIA was inherently necessary and that radioactive materials should not be used and located in close proximity to schools, neighbourhoods, a main thoroughfare, the Demerara River, etc.

The EPA assured that this was only for the construction (Continued on page 9)

Tuesday July 26, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Where are the Cabinet records?

Each weekday a group of private citizens can be seen holding placards demanding a better oil deal for the country. They are to be commended for waging a heroic struggle.

But instead of calling for renegotiation of the contract, they should first be fighting for the records relating to the oil contract to be made public.

Among those records are the Cabinet records.

It is hoped that those records are still available. In 1992, a great many records were destroyed by the outgoing 28-year-old PNC government. By the morning of October 6th, 1992, the day after the historic general and regional elections, it became clear that the PPP/C was going to win the elections.

This was the first time that the ballots were being counted at the place of polls in almost 25 years. In previous elections, the army had commandeered the ballot boxes and taken them to a central counting station where fake results generated.

After the initial declared results showed that the PPP/ C heading for victory, riots broke out when it became clear that the country would

have a new government. A Quick Test – a statistical sample of results at polling stations – confirmed that the PPP/C was on the path to victory.

Immediately, public records began to be destroyed. Fires were lit in receptacles at both parliament and the Office of the President. A pandit was believed to be behind the destruction of most of the records which related to financial transactions.

Up to now no journalist or media house has asked the present PPP/C government whether it inherited the Cabinet records of the APNU+AFC government.

Those records would determine whether Cabinet ever deliberated on the Production Sharing Agreement signed with Esso, Hess and CNOOC. For such an important matter not to be discussed by the Cabinet would be unthinkable. But with the APNU+AFC, the unthinkable happened. The APNU+AFC attempted to benefit from rigged elections; it fired almost 7,000 sugar workers, many of whom had to wait months for their terminal benefits.

The Cabinet records into the signing of the oil contract should be made public if they are in the possession of the PPP/C. This would confirm the basis, if any of the decision to sign the contract.

One person has said that he was instructed to sign the agreement. Cabinet is merely an advisory body to the President and but it does make decisions which Ministers are then instructed to implement. A former petroleum advisor to President Granger has publicly said that when he told the President about the oil agreement, the President seemed surprised. So it is quite possible that President Granger may not have known about the agreement.

So from whence did the instruction to sign originate?

Was it made when President Granger was out of the country? These are important questions because they have a bearing on the legality of the contract. The PPP/C therefore should confirm whether it has seen any Cabinet record indicating that the contract was discussed.

There is supposed to be a Secretary to the Cabinet. This is mandatory under the

Dem boys seh...

Who shaking de jar?

Dem boys use to hear Glenn Lall seh dat when dem oil companies come to yuh country, dem does do two things: grease some ah dem politicians palms and keep de people divided.

Ah house divided can’t stand. When dem keep de people dem divided, de people does be fighting among demselves. De country does get weakened and dem oil companies does be able to fetch out we wealth.

Is de same thing with some ah dem people wah stirring trouble and racism in de country. Dem believe because dem get lil education dat dem suppose to be telling

yuh wat to do. But dem nah interested in you. Dem interested in demselves.

Dem shaking de jar and when dem shake de jar dem mekkin you and me fight one another. But dem nah getting affected. Dem hoping dat by keeping we fighting we gan become dependent pon dem.

Dem nah interested in peace, unity and development. Dem want keep we divided because when we divided dem is King and Queen because all dem know fuh do is stir up hatred and animosity.

But is me and you gat to live hay. Nuff ah dem gat dem foreign citizenship and green

card. Dem can pack up and leff easily. But we gat to stay hay and suffer.

Is de same thing with dem rich people in Guyana. Every time election come dem giving dem greasing both sides ah de stick. Yuh think is me and you dem protecting. Dem protecting dem self. Dem tekkin out insurance policy.

Dem living good with both sides. Dem gan win whoever win because dem playing both sides ah de fiddle.

Suh know who yuh listening tuh. Know who yuh following. Some ah dem leader only using you fuh dem own purposes.

Talk half. Leff half.

EPA joins Exxon contractor in defending...

From page 8 aspect of the undertaking by Schlumberger and that they would get a better opportunity to speak on the merits and demerits of the actual radioactive storage facility's operation when Schlumberger seeks an application for same.

It was noted then that under section 11 of the EPA Cap.20:05, any project that may significantly affect the environment requires an environmental impact assessment and such an assessment

requires publication in the newspapers of the intended project and consultations with the public.

In one of several affidavits to support their claim, the residents explained some of the efforts that were taken to prevent the EPA from granting permission for hazardous waste facility to be constructed.

Among the affidavits are documents signed by Mayor and City Council (M&CC) representative Celihsia Hall for constituency

15– residential areas stretching from Agricola to D'Aguiar Park.

Additionally, the councillor noted that Schlumberger operations are against the zoning required since the residential constituency was never rezoned to allow for industrial uses.

As such, she noted her support for the residents as they seek reliefs from the court to have the facility removed from Houston and placed in an area that is less hazardous to residents.

Constitution. The person holding that position is supposed to be a public officer and not an elected official. Given the sensitivity of the records, the Secretary to the Cabinet should be a citizen of Guyana. The Secretary to the Cabinet is responsible for preparing the minutes of Cabinet. Those records are public records.

If there is a record that the APNU+AFC Cabinet approved of the signing of the oil contract, then the PPP/ C should so indicate that such a record exists. This is all the more so since the deliberations of Cabinet are

considered as exempt from being made public under the Access to Information Act. However, the Commissioner of Information can allow for an exempt document to be made accessible to the public if it is considered to be in the public interest to do so.

If on the other hand, the PPP/C has not seen any record of the Cabinet minutes indicating that the Production Sharing Agreement was considered by Cabinet, then the PPP/C is duty bound, legally and morally, to launch a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the signing of

the contract.

This should be the first demand of the placard bearers. It is a tactical maneuver which places the onus on the government to come clean about the contract and to test its commitment to public transparency.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Monday May Tuesday July02, 26,2022 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

These are the ironies African Guyanese must internalise Last week the opposition introduced a Motion for the government to pay public servants one month after they receive their letter of appointment, instead of having to wait for three months. In what has to be a terrible irony for African Guyanese, the Motion was introduced by the A P N U + A F C parliamentarian who was the Minister of the Public Service, Tabita SaraboHalley.

There are two unbelievable dimensions to this act of the opposition. One is why when she was the minister she did not do it?

S e c o n d l y, w h y t h e

APNU+AFC government itself didn't do it in the five years it held power? This is infantile politics and incompetent strategising.

This Motion should never have been pursued for two reasons. It gives the PPP government an opportunity to pulverise the opposition.

Secondly, it lays bare before the eyes of the African Guyanese who support the PNC that their leadership is an ineffective outfit.

What the ruling party did with the motion was to embarrass the opposition.

The present Minister of the Public Service, Ms. Sonia Parag simply turned to Sarabo-Halley and asked:

“Why didn't you do it when you were the minister?” Ms. Sarabo-Halley could not answer and cannot.

The spin off from this humiliation is that it reinforces the belief in African Guyanese since the APNU+AFC lost the March 2020 election that their leadership is mediocre and shows no vision. But there is a third dimension to this Motion which was in fact a reincarnation of an identical performance of APNU last year. Both actions have been acts of self-destruction.

Sheron Duncan on behalf of APNU+AFC introduced an amendment in the House to change some of the

draconian aspects of the antimarijuana law. The ruling party used its majority to defeat it. Commonsense was at work on the part of the ruling party. When you were in power, you did not amend the law. Now you are out of office, you seek to amend it and it is amended through the support of the government benches.

You then automatically widen your support base by going to thousands of youths who normally smoke a joint and tell them that you fought for their right to legally smoke a joint.

The government MPs are either jackasses or mentally challenged people to vote for such an opposition Bill. The r e a c t i o n i s commonsensically grounded. When you were in power, you didn't do it, why must we give you the opportunity to shout from the roof top that you made it legal to smoke a joint?

We come now to the three months pay situation. It is the identical situation. The government benches voted for the requirement to pay one month after the beginning of work and you go onto the roof top and shout to public servants that you made it possible. Either the

ruling party legislators are jackasses or m e n t a l l y challenged. You did not do it when you Frederick Kissoon were in power but you want us to do it for you so you can ingratiate yourself m e d i o c r i t y. T h e P N C brought in the WPA and with public servants.

But there is a fourth sought a close alliance with dimension to the Motion. the AFC in 2011 and regained When Duncan introduced his those seats. It will lose more amendment, APNU offered than six seats in 2025 for two African youths not even a fundamental reasons.

One is African Guyanese half-baked apology for why the original Bill put on the know that the thinking of the Order Paper in 2016 never PNC is that it has a complete saw debate in the House thus hold on them and thus does never became reality. You not have to strategise to be an owe your supporters such an effective party. Secondly, the new generation of African apology.

It is the identical situation Guyanese knows that the with Ms. Sarabo-Halley. All PNC frustrated them with it took was a public statement many of the things it did not offering an explanation as to do when it was in power and why in her capacity as Public wants to use them for narrow Service Minister she did not purposes.

There will be more pursue the one month salary path and offer an apology. actions like the ones we saw Once the PNC continues with from Duncan and Sarabothis arid and jejune politics, Halley and they all will be self-destructive impulses self-destructive. The PPP will multiply and the PNC is does not have to weaken the going to face electoral PNC, the PNC is doing that devastation in 2025 if it itself.

(The views expressed in participates in the election. this article are those of the The PNC lost six seats in the 2006 elections because author and do not necessarily African Guyanese were reflect the opinions of this d i s i l l u s i o n e d w i t h i t s newspaper.)

30 workers on breadline as AMCAR closes Rosignol plant The Amazon Caribbean Guyana Limited (AMCAR) closed its Rosignol, West Bank Berbice branch putting on the breadline some 30 workers.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union in a press release said on July 25, 2022 the company informed that it had closed the plant.

“The GAWU which represents the plant employees was stunned by the decision.”

GAWU nevertheless said the company had for some time been complaining about challenges it had

encountered.

The Union said it was also aware that the company's principals were in contact with the Government to address some of the difficulties they were confronting.

“It was, therefore, shocking when the GAWU learnt that the AMCAR had decided to close its operations at this time.”

The 30-person workforce was informed simultaneously with the Union though the AMCAR has several obligations as per the Termination of Employment and Severance

Pay Act, GAWU noted. “For the workers, the news was a bombshell as they now have to seek elsewhere to secure a livelihood.

The GAWU stands with them in this difficult period.

The mostly female workforce is saddened by the Company's decision to terminate them more so as they were highly dependent on their earnings.

In the meantime, the Union has written the Company in respect of their obligations and is hopeful that a response will soon be forthcoming,” the release concluded.

Tuesday July 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Tuesday July 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

Elections fraud cases…

Prosecution wants to amend charges; consolidate matters T he prosecution for the case where several persons were charged for their alleged attempt to rig the March 2020 General and Regional elections has made two applications to the court seeking to have all the matters consolidated and to

make amendments to the charges.

The electoral fraud c h a rg e s w e r e b r o u g h t against, former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Keith Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Elections Officer

(DCEO), Roxanne Myers; former Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, and Opposition Member of Parliament, Volda Lawrence.

The other defendants include: A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC)

activist, Carol Smith-Joseph, GECOM's Information Technology Officer, Enrique Livan and GECOM Clerks, Michelle Miller, Sheffern February and Denise BabCummings.

On July 15, when the matter was called before (Continued on page 17)

Former CEO of GECOM, Keith Lowenfield

Former GECOM's DCEO, Roxanne Myers

Former Region Four RO, Clairmont Mingo

PNC Chairperson, Volda Lawrence

Enrique Livan

Michelle Miller

IT IS WITH DEEP SORROW THAT WE ANNOUNCE THE PASS OF THE LATE

D.O.B December 12, 1937

-

D.O.D July 24, 2022

Sheffern February

APNU+AFC Activist, Carol Smith-Joseph

Denise Bab-Cummings

Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 26, 2022

PAGE 13

Pres. Ali 'sells' Guyana cheap to ...says country needs low-interest access loans financing; shrugs off rich-nation status

By Davina Bagot “Everywhere I go people say oh you guys are rich, you have oil and gas.

I say no, no, no, hold a second. We are from a humble country of Guyana.

We are poor, we need help and we need concessional financing.”

These were the words of President Irfaan Ali last Wednesday evening, at launch of the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre.

Addressing a packed room, comprised of business executives, government ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and other top officials, the President was content to share that Guyana is a poor oil producing nation.

In fact, he told the gathering, “We need low interest financing, don't tell us that we are rich, no.

You classify us as low income, once concessional financing is there, we are very happy.” The President sought to explain that

development does not take place over night, but is likely to take a 'longer time'.

He said, “Let's not rush to this thing that oh we come from an oil producing country of Guyana and we are this rich country.

Don't fall into that narrative.

That narrative will selfdestruct.”

Instead, he reasoned: “development is a glide.

It's like a caravan, according to the guys in the aviation sector, they told me you know the caravan is very safe because it has longer gliding time, so if you are coming down, you have a longer time to decide how you are coming or how hard you are coming.

Similarly, development takes a glide. It's not a steep up…”

The Head of State's remarks come at a time when Guyanese across the country have been protesting for a renegotiation of the contract with United States oil major, ExxonMobil.

$105M training facility for Timehri Prison Having been allocated some $47.9 billion to boost public security from this year's budget, the Ministry of Home Affairs is looking to spend an estimated $105 million to construct a training centre at the Timehri Prison, located on the East Bank of Demerara.

The project which is expected to benefit inmates when it is completed will be opened for tender at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board office this week.

The ministry in its invitation for bids said that the process will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures specified in the Procurement Act 2003.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has facilitated a number of training programmes for inmates of the Timehri, Lusignan and Mazaruni prisons which are aimed at preparing them for re-integration into society.

Already over 800 inmates from all three prisons have been trained in a number of areas. Some of these areas include: anger management, entrepreneurship, carpentry, tailoring, culinary arts, joinery, barbering, and veterinary sciences.

At a graduation ceremony last month where over 130 inmates were trained in different fields, Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot had mentioned that the Guyana Prison Service has an obligation and mandate to provide prisoners with skills to facilitate their reintegration into society.

He noted too that effective rehabilitation programmes within the various prisons are important. According to Elliot, “Not only do they teach inmates a sense of self-worth but they also help inmates acquire new skills that apply to starting a new life following their release from prison.”

Based on the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) the country has with the oil company, Guyana is entitled to two percent royalty from its natural resource wealth. It also receives a 50 profit after ExxonMobil deducts 75 percent of the oil earnings to service the development costs.

The other 50 percent is shared with the operator the Stabroek Block, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), the local subsidiary of Exxon.

Both the People's Progressive Party (PPP) and the former A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition have been reluctant to renegotiate the deal, citing

the sanctity of contracts.

Experts in the field have however warned that Guyana may never see the promised benefits of the sector if the contract is not modified to rake in additional value for the country.

For instance, an independent report coming out of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial A n a l y s i s ( I E E FA ) h a s concluded that Guyana may never see the promised annual revenues from its oil sector, as the “one-sided” oil contract gives ExxonMobil and its partners the benefit, leaving Guyana and its people out of their fair share o f t h e w e a l t h .

The report by the body, titled 'Lack of Ring-Fencing Provision Means Guyana Won't Realize Oil Gains

President Irfaan Ali delivering his address (photo credit: Office of the President)

Before 2030s, if at AllLoophole Allows ExxonMobil-Led Development Team To Use Profits To Pay for More Oil

Exploration in Guyana' details that Guyana's failure to implement a “ring fence” provision has provided (Continued on page 16)

'It was never the intention to change the name of the police college' National Security Advisor, Gerry Gouveia has said it was never the intention for the Guyana Police Force to erase the name Felix Austin from its training college.

Kaieteur News understands that the change should have only catered for the inserting of the word academy in place of college, but someone at Eve Leary went a step further by radically erasing the name of Felix Austin. “There will be no name change. The police training facility will remain named after its first commissioner of police, Felix Austin,” Gouveia told Kaieteur News in an invited c o m m e n t o n M o n d a y.

Gouveia's comments run contrary to what the Guyana Police Force had publicly stated.

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

Since that post there have been a slew of criticisms, which seemingly caused a recanting of the decision. Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe was the first to raise concerns over the decision to change the name, saying that such a move will erase the history behind GPF and its training college. In a

- National Security Advisor letter to the editor of this newspaper, Slowe had written: “I asked myself whether this is a deliberate effort to erase or re-write the history of the Guyana Police Force, which recently observed its 183rd anniversary”.

Felix Austin was the first Guyanese Commissioner of Police after Guyana gained Independence in 1966 and Slowe stated that this was one of the main reasons why the “Police training school” formed in 1956 was renamed after him in 1987.

“The Police Training School gained the status of a college and was renamed the Felix Austin Police College on August 28, 1987, as a tribute to Guyana's first posti n d e p e n d e n c e Commissioner of Police”, Slowe wrote.

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

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

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

Director of GPF's Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), Mark Ramotar had related that the reason behind the decision was simply because the force is launching a new police academy, with an upgraded status, one that is accredited by the University of Guyana (Guyana). Ramotar added that the formation of the new academy is part of GPF's strategic plan to upgrade the education level of its ranks and ranks in training. This

National Security Advisor, Gerry Gouveia move, he said, was made possible by a five-year Memorandum of Agreement between the force and UG. The MoA was signed in 2021, with the purpose of refining existing programmes and developing new ones that cater for members of the force. The GPF had invited interested artists and designers to be part of a Logo and Slogan competition for the new police academy.

Competitors are being asked to submit a Logo and a Slogan design in PDF format for the “The Guyana Police Force Academy”. All Submissions must be sent in no later than 12:00hrs on Thursday July 28, via email to [email protected].

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

PAGE 14

Tuesday July 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

‘Guyanese catching hell in oil economy' ...Opposition says Govt. cost of living relief measures not working

A

part from the Parliamentary Opposition believing that the current cost of living crisis should be recognised as a matter of national importance, they are also concerned that the measures put in place by government are not reaching the citizens that need it most.

This was the argument by Jermaine Figueria, who during his speech in support of a motion to pay public servants one month after work, sought to get his concerns across about the high cost of living.

The Opposition had been trying to get a motion across to have Parliament debate a plan to address the high cost of living.

However, a letter from the Speaker Wednesday last, highlighted that the particular

motion could not be heard since it, “will result u n a v o i d a b l y, i n t h e incurrence of public expenditure thereby necessitating withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund.” The letter drew the opposition's attention to Article 171 (2) of the Constitution which “explicitly prohibits consideration by the Assembly of any Bill or motion, the effects of which would be to make provision for payment, issue or withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund, without the recommendation or consent of the Cabinet signified by a minister.”

The Constitutional provision, he said, is replicated in Standing Order No. 25 of the National Assembly and to that; the

Speaker said he erred in allowing the motion to be published.

Figueria nonetheless used his time on the floor to urge government to seek additional measures so that more citizens can benefit from what they are offering.

He said that the, “High cost of living is affecting every citizen in this country and the government must put measures in place to address it.”

He said that the government has indicated putting some measures in place, but questioned whether the measures have a trickledown effect and is benefitting who needs it most.

He said despite all the taxes the government said it has removed, including those on food items and services, citizens are still finding it

hard to access what they need at supermarkets.

“When you go to the supermarket with all of the taxes they have said they have removed, how is it that the average citizen is benefitting…?

How is it that this trickledown effect is benefitting the average citizen? It is not,” the parliamentarian responded to his own question.

He reiterated therefore, that “the government has to look at other measures where the people of Guyana will be the ultimate beneficiary of these reliefs that they are claiming is toward a relief program for the average Guyanese.” “People are catching hell in this country,” Figueria charged. He said that “People can't afford to buy a pound of sugar” and

that citizens want all types of t h e s w e e t e r, especially l o o s e s u g a r which is what the a v e r a g e Opposition MP Guyanese uses.

Figueria argued Jermaine Figueria that the public servant development in the country motion was very timely given the current climate. should be about the people With the high cost of living, and their lives should reflect citizens cannot afford to wait a developed society.

If the government is three months, he said. “Our supporters are being gravely s e r i o u s a b o u t c i t i z e n affected; your supporters are development, then they should agree that citizens being gravely affected.”

He thought it worrisome who give their labour should therefore, that government is be paid in good time.

Figueria told the House not earnestly addressing the that “The life of this extremely high cost of living (Continued on page 17) issues.

He said that

Meadow Bank wharf vendors being relocated to facilitate new police outpost

By Alliyah Allicock

S

ome vendors in the vicinity of the Meadow Bank Wh ar f w er e r elo cated yesterday to a more conducive area to facilitate the construction of a new police outpost there.

As reported, during a visit to the wharf last week Thursday, President Irfaan Ali had instructed the Guyana Police Force (GPF) ” to establish a permanent presence at the location to ensure the safety of those plying their trade and their c u s t o m e r s . Ye s t e r d a y morning some vendors from the area had reached out to this publication and reported that their stalls were being demolished by persons unknown to them. When Kaieteur News visited the

scene, more than five stalls were completely dismantled.

Frustrated and angry, some of the stall owners told this publication that they were never given any notice or told that their stalls were

going to be demolished.

One vendor had told this publication that when she first received the call about stalls being destroyed she immediately left for the wharf. According to her

The Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha during his visit yesterday at the wharf.

The Guyana Police Force yesterday preparing the new area where the vendors will be relocated. (GPF photo) when she got there, she saw some men destroying the stalls and so she informed the other vendors what was going on.

“When me first come out me hear the table breaking, and they were breaking up stalls

here, meh seh this is me table here and I seh nobody can't bruk this table hay because I sell hay and I get four children, the vendor said she told the men.

The vendors reported that nothing of this sort had ever happened to them before and so they were protesting for the relevant

Some of the stalls at the Meadow Bank wharf that were destroyed yesterday.

authorities to look into their plight. Following the demolishing of the stalls, this publication reached out to the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday for a comment as to where the instruction came from to have the stalls demolished. Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar (Continued on page 17)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 26, 2022

PAGE 15

‘Come clean on oil specialists hired under EPA World Bank grant' - Former EPA boss challenges Govt.

By Zena Henry

F

ormer Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Vincent Adams is not buying the argument that the agency has not scrapped the work conducted under the 2019 World Bank US$1M grant which sought to significantly upgrade their oil and gas management and oversight capacity.

In fact, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is challenging the agency and the government to make public the information regarding the “highly trained” oil and gas specialists hired under the grant. Adams expressed reservations towards claims made in Parliament by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat last Thursday since he insists that the project was booted after the change in administration. During his contribution against the Opposition motion for full liability coverage for oil spills, Minister Bharrat clarify that the EPA “never cancelled” the World Bank grant programme and that the department had in fact grew from three members of staff to 13 presently.

To f u r t h e r p r o v e t h e continuance of the programme, he said that the current government

even improved the capacity of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and has 24 hour physical presence on the FPSOs, despite this being a recommendation that was not adhered to under the last administration. Adams has nonetheless questioned the truth of the minister's information because while he claims that 13 persons are now employed in the agency's specific department, the World Bank programme catered for over 30 highly trained oil and gas professionals in petroleum engineering, geological engineering, waste management and the likes.

As such, Adams said “They (EPA) must show us where these 13 people fit into the specific positions; show us their qualifications and how they fit into the structure.” He reiterated that the World Bank grant came under a wider programme where the previous government secured a US$20m line of credit to empower various sections of the oil and gas oversight and management sectors. With his vast experience in oil and gas, and the only experienced petroleum engineer in the country at the time, Adams realised the mammoth task of preparing Guyana for its nascent energy sector and thus sought the grant to allow the EPA to set the

“tone” for other state agencies. He told the newspaper that the necessary work had been completed under the grant including the organisational chart, the various positions and qualifications necessary. But according to him, the new government dismissed the programme and even staffers that were previously permitted to seek higher learning in oil and gas education here and abroad were denied that opportunity.

Adams has argued however, that the 13 members the Natural Resources minister spoke of is grossly inadequate compared to what he understands the growing oil sector is in need of. He pointed out that “that 13 have nothing to do with the Plan which had positions for highly specialised petroleum engineers, for example. Which of them meet any of those qualifications? Let them show you which positions these 13 filled in the plan for which they are qualified. Besides the EPA has lost many of its best employees since I left and they are just sending their own people to fill positions at EPA,” the former CEO alleged.

He said from his information, the work environment has changed significantly and “the staff level is way down from the 120 when I left.”

Adams is also daring the

A cover of the WB/ EPA document for sustainable O&G development

government to make the information about the workers available since this newspaper had reported just a week before the minister made his announcement on the grant, that it contacted current EPA CEO, Khemraj Parsram seeking information on the said World Bank grant and was told that he was unsure about the availability of the document since it was not done during his tenure.

Since he was also out of the

country at the time, he promised to provide the requested information on his return. Adams believes the newspaper request, “caught them with their pants down, so they came up with this 13 member lie.”

He added that where the GNBS claim is concerned, “it is absolutely mind boggling and embarrassing, though not surprising, that they would even be suggesting that the GNBS will be (Continued on page 16)

PAGE 16

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Kaieteur News

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21 new COVID-19 cases detected, 5 persons in ICU

T

he Ministry of Health on Monday recorded 21 new COVID-19 cases across the country, taking the total number of confirmed

cases since March 2020 to 69,468. The Ministry via its daily dashboard data revealed that there are five patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 25

are in institutional isolation, 808 are in home isolation and two are in institutional quarantine. To date, 67,360 persons have recovered and 1,270 have died.

‘PPP a proven utensil of big oil...'

From page 2 out, the government's side argued that the Motion was meant to drive investors away; that it could increase the cost of an oil development; that no investor in their right mind would agree to such a policy and that it is normal for there to be risks in any development.

In addition, Minister Bharrat in setting the tone for the government's reaction to

the Motion, 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.

Our Wealth, Our Country is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that was launched on March 20 of this year, setting out to challenge the country's leaders to ensure citizens benefit from a better contract with oil giant, ExxonMobil. Since its launch, more than 500 persons joined the group.

Pres. Ali 'sells' Guyana cheap to access...

From page 11 Exxon an opportunity to reduce the country's share of profits.

According to the document, “Among the contract's weak provisions Guyana never imposed a “ring fence,” which means that the oil companies can charge the government for costs incurred for new development and pay for it out of the revenues from Liza Phase One, an oil field that commenced production in December 2019. A strong ring fence provision would have allowed ExxonMobil to charge only costs related to

Liza Phase One against revenues received from oil from that field.” The Institute went on to say that Guyana only received US$344 million in the first 16 months of production.

To date, ExxonMobil has received approval for four projects, including Liza One and Two, Payara and more recently, the Yellowtail development. In addition, the company also made several other discoveries, along with about four dry holes, of which the costs are being charged against the oil produced at the Liza One well. This, the report says, reduces Guyana's share

of the profits. IEEFA estimated that Guyana should receive upward of $6 billion annually by 2028 or sooner.

However, the organization believes that due to all of these new costs, Guyana will be shortchanged until the 2030's, if not longer.

In the meantime, the country's leaders are content with receiving less money from its oil and being a poor state so that its status at lending institutions is not upgraded. If the status is changed, Guyana will not be able to access loans at low interest rates.

‘Come clean on oil specialists hired under...’

From page 15 performing the functions of oversight prescribed in the EPA and World Bank Plan.”

He said “it is embarrassing that they do not even realise that the comparison of functions of the EPA and the GNBS are like night and day.

The EPA provides regulatory and oversight functions including on site presence, while the GNBS determines standards and has nothing to do with oversight for which the EPA/WB Plan was de-

signed.” These types of comments from the EPA are worrisome and expose the extent of its limited competencies in not even being able to understand its own basic functions and responsibilities, Adams charged.

The EPA has come in for a lot of criticisms after approving environmental permits for oil and gas operations that are said not to be in accordance with certain laws, rules and best international practices.

The agency had been criti-

cized for facilitating the oil companies ahead of Guyana's interest and one such example includes the EPA adjusting environmental rules to allow extensive flaring aboard the Liza One FPSO. The short space of time the agency is taking to give environmental approval for massive oil and gas development, without a solid pack of in-house oil and gas professionals has also seen the agency being called out.

Conditions have now emerged...

From page 6 like justice, must not only done, but seen to be done especially by those who, for one reason or another, feel disadvantaged.

Conditions have now emerged for African and Indian Guyanese who believe they are marginalised and caught in the poverty trap to realise their full potential. All those who fall into that social category and who are producers and manufacturers must be given technical assistance to formulate realistic and implementable

business plans and project proposals. Cumulatively, these plans and projects should be combined to realise a Black Agenda for National Development (BAND).

Strategic alliances should be sought with Indian producers and manufacturers for economic and social advancement.

Inter-communal engagements and exchanges should be encouraged with a view sharing experiences on how to start-up and grow a business.

And the communities

must select their own representatives and not have them parachuted from outside. Government should make targeted, accountable and fungible resources available on a first come first serve basis Undoubtedly, there will be inherent challenges, but with democratic formulation of appropriate policies and deeper social, cultural economic integration at the regional level much can be accomplished.

Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee

Tuesday July 26, 2022

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Antigua PM threatens to sue T&T over US$60m Clico debt (T&T GUARDIAN) - The Trinidad and Tobago Government is being asked to pay up US$60 million owed on Clico liability or risk possibly being sued by Caricom counterpart Antigua.

Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne yesterday called on T&T to pay up the sum as he noted a third letter on the issue will soon be sent to the T&T Government.

However, if T&T continues to treat the matter with contempt “then we’ll have no choice but to sue them,” Browne said.

He noted that T&T’s Government has been written to on the issue before and did not get a proper response.

Browne spoke about the matter on Antigua’s Pointe FM’s “Browne and Browne” radio show on Saturday and the story began circulating on social media yesterday.

Browne has been chairman of the subcommittee on insurance within the Caricom union since about a year ago. He said significant progress was made on the Clico-British American Insurance company (Baico) issue.

Barbados’ government agreed to pay US$37m for the assets of Clico International in Barbados. For Baico, some $9.3 million will come from St Kitts for the Nevis Island administration

bond and $8.2m will be collected from St Lucia’s pledged assets.

The sale of real estate assets to the various territories was agreed and it was even suggested the governments could buy them if they need them, he added.

Browne said litigation is also being pursued against Clico founder Lawrence Duprey and company and “possibly, we may eventually have to sue the Government of T&T because as you know, they had agreed to provide a settlement of US$100 million and they paid about close to US$40 million and the balance of US$60 million remains unpaid.”

Prosecution wants to amend charges; consolidate...

From page 12 Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts the prosecution led by attorney-atLaw Darshan Ramdhani, QC and includes Glenn Hanoman, Mark Conway, Ganesh Hira, Arudranauth Gossai, and George Thomas – made two applications to the court.

The State's team asked the court to consolidate the matters to have the elections fraud cases tried before one magistrate instead of three. In addition to the Chief Magistrate, some of the matters were assigned to Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and Senior Magistrate Leron Daly. As it relates to the second application, the prosecution wants to make some amendments to the current charges that were brought against the defendants.

Based on the two applications that were made to the court, Chief Magistrate McLennan adjourned the matter to October 6, 2022, when she is expected to rule on the applications in relation to making amendment to the charges. Notably, no date has been set for the magistrate to rule on the application seeking to consolidate the matters. The lawyers representing the defendants include: attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes, Eusi Anderson, Ronald Daniels, and Konyo Sandiford.

The charges the defendants face relate to misconduct in public office, conspiracy to commit fraud, forging a document and forgery.

Lowenfield was slapped with three counts of misconduct in public office and three counts of forgery, while Myers was slapped with two counts of misconduct in public office.

Mingo and Lawrence are facing a joint charge, which alleges that on March 5, 2020,

in Georgetown, with intent to defraud the public, they uttered a certain forged document, that is to say, a report purporting to be a true declaration of all votes cast in District Four for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional elections, knowing said report to be forged.

Mingo also faced another joint charge with Smith-Joseph. That charge alleges that on March 13, 2020, they uttered a forged document purporting to be a true report of all votes cast in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional elections, while knowing that the report was forged.

Smith-Joseph faces two individual charges which state that on March 13, 2020, at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, she conspired with Mingo and others to declare a fraudulent count of votes for District Four for both the general and regional elections. Additionally, Livan who was named in a USB flash drive scandal surrounding the tabulations of votes that happened on March 5, 2020, was slapped with one fraud charge.

February is facing two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud. Miller and Bab-

Cummings were both slapped with two fraud charges each.

It is allege that between March 2 and August 2, 2020, at Georgetown, Mingo, conspired with Lawrence, SmithJoseph, February, Livan, BabCummings, Miller and others to defraud the electors of Guyana by declaring a false account of votes for the elections.

In October 2021, Statements of Poll (SOPs) and Statements of Recount (SORs) were handed over to the defence along with other statements and video evidence and prior to that, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan had ruled on the mode of trial for the matters to be tried summarily, as opposed to indictably.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) had announced in August 2020, that they will be conducting a comprehensive investigation into the criminal conduct of the former GECOM officials and others, in relation to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and the events that followed. During the probe, several GECOM officials were arrested and placed before the court to face electoral fraud charges.

Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne “We have written to the Government of T&T and they have not even treated us with the type of respect that is

typical among countries and colleagues,” Browne said.

“So, we’ll be writing to them again, it’s probably

gonna be the third time and we hope that now their fortunes have improved, that they are benefitting from the increase in the escalation of fuel prices, that they’ll put some system in place to cover the rest of the liability.

If they continue to treat us with contempt, then we’ll have no choice but to sue them.” The T&T Government undertook a bailout of Clico after it collapsed in 2009 and it still working to recover that debt owed to it, estimated last year at $1.2 billion, via various arrangements, including the sale of Clico assets.

T&T Government officials were tight-lipped on the matter.

Tensions between indigenous and plantation owners in southwest Colombia

(Image: Northern Cauca Indigenous Council) (COLOMBIA REPORT) President-elect Gustavo Petro called on Colombia’s sugar association and indigenous to negotiate the use of land in the southwest Of the country. The Nasa people and the owner of multiple sugar plantations in the regions have been in an escalating conflict over land for days.

“Liberating Mother Earth” According to sugar plantation association Asocaña, the Nasa people “invaded” one of their associates’ plantations in

Padilla, a town in the Cauca province. According to the indigenous, they are “liberating Mother Earth” where their ancestors have lived for thousands of years.

The Nasa people accuse the sugar plantations of

damaging the environment by growing sugar cane instead of food. The indigenous’ cutting of sugarcane caused tensions with employees of the sugar plantation, which claims to own the land.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 26, 2022

PAGE 19

Pres. Ali holds talks with US Secretary of State President Irfaan Ali on Monday held talks with United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and other top US officials on a range of issues.

Up to the time of this newspaper going to press there was no official statement on the out come of the meeting by the Government of Guyana. On Sunday the Department of Public Information (DPI) had said that Ali and a delegation including the Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd and Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud, departed for Washington for a series of high-level engagements.

According to DPI at the invitation of the US Government, the delegation will meet with high-ranking US Government officials, including the Secretary of State and leaders of Congress and the Senate, to discuss a range of issues to further deepen bilateral relations between Guyana and the United States.

President Ali will also be a guest

speaker at several events hosted by the Atlantic Council and will meet with US business leaders, the DPI said. He has also been invited to speak at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Council of the Americas roundtable, among other events. The President and his delegation are also expected to meet with Guyanese living in Washington.

Meanwhile, also on Monday President Ali and his delegation met US Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Graves in Washington DC. According to a release by the Office of the President, Deputy Secretary Graves committed support to the Government of Guyana in the areas of banking, finance, and tourism as well as US private sector investment into Guyana. President Ali has committed to working closely with the Department of Commerce and other US agencies to facilitate US private sector investment in Guyana.

Both parties agreed to work closely to advance this agenda.

President Irfaan Ali accompanied by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and other officials on Monday met with United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and other top US officials in Washington

Guyana working with Int'l Community to tackle monkey pox – Min Anthony

G

u y a n a i s working with the international community using a coordinated approach to tackle the infectious monkey pox disease in light of the World Health Organisation's ( W H O ) r e c e n t announcement that it is now considered a global 'public health emergency'.

Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony said that more effort is needed to fight the disease as he reflected on the monkey pox dilemma.

“I think once the WHO has declared a public health emergency then that helps to galvanise the international community to have a coordinated approach on how they tackle the particular disease.

In this case there is need for a more coordinated international response to monkey pox,” said Dr. Anthony, during Monday's COVID-19 update.

Further, the minister

noted that Guyana has no cases of the viral disease.

W.H.O, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on July 23, 2022, overruled a panel of advisers.

The advisers could not come to a consensus declaring monkey pox a 'public health emergency of international concern' as the disease spreads rapidly in just a few weeks. During the W.H.O panel discussion an estimate of 16,000 cases in 75 countries were recorded.

A coordinated response by the international community will see member countries working together and investing resources to contain the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the government is taking the necessary steps to prepare for the disease.

To t h i s e n d , t h e government said the vaccines used for small pox has shown promising results, and will be used to immunise persons against monkeypox.

Since the monkey pox and small pox are a part of the same family of variola viruses.

In addition, the ministry recently established a steering committee in an effort to prepare for the monkeypox virus.

The committee sought guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to establish local guidelines. A document is in the works to define what monkeypox is, what are the clinical signs and symptoms, and how to conduct testing and diagnose the disease.

A technical incident team was also established to determine when a person is infected with the disease.

This consists of infectious diseases specialists and dermatologists, along with public health and laboratory officials. (DPI)

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 26, 2022

Tuesday July 26, 2022

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

ECB/RDC to host T10 cricket fest on Sunday The Essequibo Cricket Board in collaboration with RDC Region 2 will host a pre Emancipation T10 cricket fest on Sunday July 31st at the Anna Regina Secondary and Walton Hall Sports Club Grounds.

The seven area cricket committee comprising North, South, Pomeroon, Wakenaam, Leguan, East Bank, Bartica and Central Essequibo Cricket teams will be vying for top honours including trophies and cash incentives.

T h e Wi n n e r s t r o p h y has been sponsored by

Trophy Stall whose Managing Director Ramesh Sunich said he is delighted to be associated with the development of cricket in Essequibo.

It is the first time in almost 10 years that the teams will be playing together and among the players that will be on show are Ransford Beaton, Anthony Adams, Rovindra Parasram, Norman F r e d e r i c k ’s , N a r e n d r a Mandolall, Beesham Moses, Mahase Ramnarine, Bernard Lewis and Nathan Persaud. Sev-

eral teams will also battle in a floodlight softball competition and a female exhibition match.

The ECB will be having the draw of its raffle from which proceeds will go towards the restoration of the ECB hostel in Anna Regina.

Expected to attend the

CEO of Trophy Stall Ramesh Sunich presents the winning trophy to Elroy Stephney of the ECB.

Tuesday July 26, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you'll find that you're the missing puzzle piece that people need in every situation, Aries. Engage in light conversation in social arenas and feel free to turn your charm up full blast.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You may find that people want to do a great deal of talking but not a great deal of feeling today, Taurus. Go ahead and put your emotions on the back burner and let your mind take over.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You should be able to evaluate your emotions from a very neutral, detached perspective today, Gemini. Use this opportunity to take action based on what you feel.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) If you're talking about another person today, Cancer, make sure you aren't saying anything that would be upsetting if they were standing right there. Gossip may be running rampant.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) It's important for you to get outside and feel the wind blowing, Libra. Reconnect with nature and be aware of the four elements. Take deep breaths and fill your lungs with this energizing life force.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Make practical use of the thoughts you have synthesized over the last few days, Scorpio. Stretch your boundaries and extend your wisdom to the people around you. This is a day to take action. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) This is an important day for you to make valuable connections with others, Sagittarius. You'll find yourself engaged in fastpaced, witty conversations and debates from which you can learn.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) = It could be hard for you to get a handle on things today, Capricorn, as your focus seems to jump from one subject to the next without finding resolution for any.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You might find yourself a bit unfocused and confused about which way to go, Virgo. The baffled look on your face isn't helping anyone else figure out how to help you.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You might come across strong opposition today from someone who seems to want to cut straight through to your heart, Aquarius. In reality,

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) You might find yourself a bit unfocused and confused about which way to go, Virgo. The baffled look on your face isn't helping anyone else figure out how to help you.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Act on your instincts today, Pisces, and you won't go wrong. You may need to give up a bit of control and put logical thinking aside for the day. Let the wind take you where it wants you to go.

event are Regional Chairperson Vilma DeSilva, Regional Chairman Humace Oodit, Regional Executive Officer Susanna Saywack and President of the ECB Deleep Singh.

Admission is free and the first game bowls off at 9:30 hrs.

PAGE 22

Tuesday July 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games…

Guyana’s Table Tennis, Swimming contingents

arrive safely Shemar Britton, Joel Alleyne and Christopher Franklin, along with Natalie Cummings, Priscila Greaves and Thuraia Thomas arrived in Birmingham, England on Monday, July 25, for their participation in the Commonwealth Games.

They’re accompanied by Coaches Linden Johnson and Idi Lewis.

Olympian Chelsea Edghill and Johnathan Van Lange will meet-up with the team before they head into competition.

The men’s and women’s Table Tennis team event will

take place on Day One of the Commonwealth Games on July 29.

The games will officially open on July 28.

The full team reads: Men – Shemar Britton (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles), Christopher Franklin (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles), Johnathan Van Lange (Singles, Doubles, Team,

Guyana’s Table Tennis Team takes a photo op minus the likes of Chelsea Edghill and Johnathan Van Lange.

Mixed Doubles) and Joel Alleyne (Doubles, Team).

Women – Chelsea Edghill (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles), Natalie Cummings (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles), Priscila Greaves (Singles, Doubles, Team) and Thuraia Thomas (Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles). Swimming Guyana’s swimming con-

tingent also arrived at the Games Village on Monday, led

by Coach Sean Baksh. The swimmers present are Patrice Mahaica, Paul Mahaica, Aleka Persaud and Sekhel Tzedeq.

Paul Mahaica (50m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle) and Sekhel Tzedeq (50m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 100m

Backstroke, 100m Freestyle) will represent Guyana in the Men’s category.

For the Women: Patrice Mahaica is scheduled for three events (50m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle) while Aleka Persaud will be competing in four (50m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle).

In photo (L-R): Patrice Mahaica, Paul Mahaica, Coach Sean Baksh, Aleka Persaud and Sekhel Tzedeq.

GCB Under-19 Inter-County 2-Day Tournament postponed due to current rainfall The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 Inter-County 2-day tournament has been postponed due to unusual heavy and persistent rainfall for the past few days.

The tournament,

which got underway on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, was expected to be completed on August 2, 2022, and saw only two rain affected matches being completed at the LBI Cricket Facility.

Berbice defeated Ris-

ing Star XI by an innings and 31 runs in the first round while Demerara won first innings points against Essequibo in the second round.

The recommencement of the tournament will be announced later.

Tuesday July 26, 2022

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

19th Commonwealth Games starts on Friday in Birmingham Barbados represents West Indies in female t20 cricket The Guyana boxing team members and coaches after arrival in England.

Guyana will compete in seven sports at the 19th Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England from July 29 to August 8, while Barbados will represent the West Indies in female T20 cricket.

Thirty-two Athletes (18 men and 14 women) will represent the South American Nation in Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Squash, Swimming and Table tennis.

Guyana have amassed 16 medals inclusive of four gold at the Commonwealth Games since 1930 when the first such

event was held in August 1930 Ontario, Canada and named the British Empire Games.

Boxing: Middleweight pugilist Desmond Amsterdam will be first Guyanese to enter the Ring in Birmingham, a City 100 miles from London in England, when the Sport of Boxing commences at the 19th Commonwealth Games on Friday July 29.

Amsterdam, earlier this year, became the first Guyanese to win an American

Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Championship medal, when he claimed bronze in Ecuador.

Amsterdam, Colin Lewis and Olympian Keevin Allicock along with their Coaches Terrence Poole MS and Sebert Blake are already in Birmingham.

Squash: Squash will also be played on opening Day on Friday when Caribbean Junior Squash Champion Shomari Wiltshire along with the Khalil siblings (Jason-Ray

Canada-based Guyanese Ali struck 73 not out in ORSCA’s 15-over competition Canada-based Guyanese left-handed batsman Imran Ali struck a belligerent, unbeaten 73 to lead defending champion Sunshine to a commanding nine-wicket win over Brampton Gladiators in the continuation of the Ontario RoundArm Softball Cricket Association (ORSCA)/Imran Ali Real Estate 15-over knockout competition.

Playing at Hanover Public School ground in Brampton, Toronto, Ali slammed nine sixes and two fours to help team reached 115-1 in 11.4 overs replying to Brampton Gladiators’ 113 all out off 18.1 overs. Ali got support from his opening partner Ramiz Mohamed who hit 22 while the inform Riaz Kadir was with the consistent Ali on 18.

Earlier, Brampton Gladiators’innings only got some momentum from the veteran Muniram Karran who scored a patient 35 as Jeetendra Beharry grabbed three wickets for 13 runs from four overs while Ryan Dhoray and Khemraj Harinarain supported with two wickets apiece.

Details from the other games were not available but the quarter-final segment is set for August across the Greater Toronto Area.

Imran Ali

and Ashley) and Mary FungA-Fat will represent Guyana.

Team Guyana arrived in Birmingham yesterday to begin their quest for a podium finish.

The women’s and men’s Singles Preliminary Roundof-64 will be played on Friday July 29; the first day of competition at the Commonwealth Games. Jason-Ray Khalil (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles) and Shomari Wiltshire (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles) will compete

in the Men’s Category, while Ashley Khalil (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles) and Mary Fung-A-Fat (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles) will participate in Women’s competitions.

Cricket: For the first time female T20 cricket will be contested and Barbados, led by West Indies Women’s Captain, Haley Matthews and including superstar Deandra Dottin, who was rested in the Regional Women’s tournament

in Guyana, will represent the West Indies.

Barbados are in a tour group ‘A’ along with Australia, India and Pakistan and begin their campaign on Friday when they oppose Pakistan in a day/night game.

Australia and India face-off in the opening match earlier in the day.

The only other time cricket was a part of the Commonwealth Games was in 1998 when Barbados played in the Men’s tournament.

PAGE 24

Tuesday July 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

Bartica Summer Splash Regatta – Grass Track

Steven Nobrega takes Pro category, David De Nobrega is Novice champ as fans entertained Hundreds of grass track fans and supporters were entertained to the fullest on Saturday last when the Bartica Business Development Committee (BBDC) in association with Sean Jacobs brought off another of their multiple sporting events to mark their Summer Splash Regatta.

Contested at the Mongrippa Hill Facility, it was an entertaining day of action as the competitors, some of whom were in dare devil mode braved the slippery conditions brought on by the rain to entertain their supporters and fans.

The day’s action was well received as was the performances of the youngest competitor of the day, 9-year-old Lishon Lewis.

When the action was done and dusted, emerging as the Professional overall winner was seasoned campaigner in the Grass Track arena, Steven Nobrega who amassed 30 points because of winning all the Pro races.

Conroy Cox took the runnerup position six points adrift with the third place going to Bobby Rasul with 18 points.

The top three competitors in each category were all well rewarded in the various events.

David De Nobrega took the top spot among his Novices peers with a total of 28 points; Shaquan Sawh was second overall with 20 points followed by Leandro Adams on 16 points.

Bu it was the 85CC events which captured the hearts and applause of the fans on the day. This category attracted 14 and 15-year-old competitors with the youngest being 9-year-old Lishon Lewis who took the runner-up place in one of the events; he led for two of the four laps before eventual winner, Demetri Prowell took charge and won the event.

Prowell went on to take the overall winner trophy as close

to one million in cash and other prizes were handed out.

Sponsors of the event were Ansa McAl, Timmerman’s Mining, Shiek’s Mining, Sir’s Service Station, Le-Mya Welcome, Rats Mining, Xclusive Minerals, Ambrose Construction & Cleaning Service, Mark and Elda’s Sports Bar, Futu’s

Sports Bar, Pro Dental, Evvy’s Cakes and Treats, Wei Fung Restaurant, Tyree Outboard & Spares, W K Enterprise, Jamella’s Inn, Mark Scarder, Pandit & Sons Auto Spares, HML Logistics and Scarder’s Meat Centre.

Following are the full results of the day:

Steven Nobrega, Professional category overall winner.

Archway Snackette/Restaurant cycling action set for August 1 in Rose Hall

A

rchway Sackett and Restaurant will be hosting a cycle road race on August 1st in Berbice.

This event will commence at 08:00hrs in the vicinity of the Rose Hall Arch and proceeds to New Amsterdam.

On entering New Amsterdam, the event will carry along Garrison road, right onto Strand street, left over the Canje bridge to Number 51 Police Station, then returns to Rose Hall Arch for the finish. The event will be contested in

the senior, veterans, junior and female categories.

The top three finishers in the senior category will take home $100,000, $30,000, $25,000 in that order and a trophy while the fourth, fifth and sixth place will receive $18,000, $15,000 and $12,000 respectively.

The winner in the open veteran, over 50, juniors and female will pocket a trophy and $20,000, runner up $15,000 and third place $10,000.

There will also be 10 primes.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 26, 2022

PAGE 25

Companies continue to show support for Guyana Cup 2022

Sponsors representing Yellow Mine & Hydraulic Supplies, Auto Toy Store and Asif Auto Spares made their contributions to Kimbile Rajkumar (left) of Jumbo Jet Racing recently.

T

he ongoing battle to beat the weather continues as the rush to complete the track at Rising Sun Turf Club for the Sunday 14th August deadline is on. Preparations have been moving feverishly where over 400 loads of sand were delivered on site to raise the existing levels to ensure no rain water settles therefore creating a muddy experience.

Numerous companies have done site visits and witnessed the level of renovation and expansion that is being done to the venue.

Companies to the likes of Yellow Mine & Hydraulic Supplies, Auto Toy Store & Asif Auto Spares have

all pledged their support by sponsoring the Guyana Cup. The event has is being promoted heavily and most of the popular radio stations, through hundreds of banners, posters and stickers. With a campaign spanning the entire country the response thus far has been overwhelming and completion of the venue is paramount.

The gates are expected to open at 9am sharp with the first race carded to commence at 10am sharp.

With 8 races on schedule for the day, over $30,000,000GYD in cash is up for grabs with over 100 horses expected to compete. Patrons can

have total peace of mind as they enjoy a day of fun and excitement as their cars are safely parked in the internal car park that has been expanded to accommodate 1,000 cars.

A new access road was constructed to reduce the congestion at the main entrance.

Due to new regulations that are mandated by the Guyana Police Force, absolutely no coolers will be allowed to enter the venue and no glass bottles will be served at the 7 bars strategically placed around the venue.

Secure walkthrough lanes will be constructed at the entrance to

channel males, females, horsemen, VIP & VVIP comfortably through their security checks and searches therefore creating a hassle free experience.

Two ticket booths will be erected on north and south of the roadway for maximum accessibility to reduce the “bottle neck” as experienced in previous years. Internally there will be signs clearly demarking all access points to the various areas as their respective tickets permit.

The countdown continues to the biggest Horse Racing Event in the Caribbean carded for Sunday 14th August at the Rising Sun turf Club.

With the biggest purse ever to be won so this year the competition is expected to be stiff.

This event was made possible through our title sponsor Banks DIH and supporting sponsors Guinness, XM Rum, Smirnoff Vodka, Hop House 13, Johnny Walker, S. Jagmohan, A&R Security, Avinash Contracting, Auto Toy Store, Ramchan's Auto Body Works, Progressive Travel agency, Vals Construction, Air Services, Kings Jewelry World, K&P Project Management, JS Guyana, Aronco, BM Soat, Club Neutraal, Japarts, AJM Enterprise & Jumbo Jet.

Minister Ramson allocates $10m each to Westside Community Grounds Development

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Honourable Charles Ramson Jr, during a torrential downpour, addressing residents of Den Amstel during his outreach in Region #3.

M

inister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Honorable Charles Ramson Jr, pledged the sum of GYD$10 million each to the development of Crane and Den Amstel Community Centre Grounds following another step in his outreach to the areas over the weekend.

Following the consulting of residents and Regional reps in the areas located on the West Coast of Demerara, the Minister revealed the gesture to the gathering which will soon have their community grounds advanced.

Braving the elements inclusive of a minor thunderstorm on Saturday, the Minister disclosed

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Honourable Charles Ramson Jr, in discussions with residents of Crane while overlooking the community ground. The visit was part of his Region #3 outreach. that the amount has been earmarked for development of their respective grounds.

Ramson informed the respective inhabitants of the historic villages that the intended developmental drive of the two communal facilities is of utmost priority for His Excellency, President Irfaan Ali, and the

Cabinet.

The Minister further explained that the expansion, and overall improvement of community centres, and spaces, aligns with the enduring vision of President Ali's 'One Guyana' platform, which is centred on building a united nation.

Dialogue was also conducted, and undertaken by the Minister with the regional representatives on

the important projects that will be implemented and requisite timeline for their implementation.

The insistence by Minister Ramson Jr on the development of social spaces, grounds and parks, orients with the Government of Guyana's current dogma of fostering social cohesion in every fragment of our local humanity.

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19 Commonwealth Games starts on Friday in Birmingham

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Barbados represents West Indies in female t20 cricket

The Guyana boxing team members and coaches after arrival in England.

Members of the Guyana Squash team take a photo with the Games Mascot.

Bartica Summer Splash Regatta - Grass Track

p. 22 85CC overall winner, Demetri Prowell (right) in the company of 9-year-old Lishon Lewis (2 right) and the other competitors. nd

Steven Nobrega takes Pro category, David De Nobrega is Novice champ as fans entertained 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.