Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR NEWS

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

6 years after oil discovery...

Govt. now moving

Friday Edition July 30, 2021 - Vol. 23 No. 31 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 74,444

to update 36 year old petroleum laws

In absence of ring-fencing provisions, new oil finds - Int’l mean little for Guyana Expert Venezuelan women trapped, killed in fire Parliament unable to debate Exxon flaring until October Woman recounts how Thieves empty fridge stocked for reputed husband was workshop breakfast killed with his own knife

City Mayor says Public Works Ministry should settle its $300M tax debt

We Guyanese

demanding 50% Renegotiated not 2%

Gas-to-energy project...

EPA acted outside its powers, current EIA process is improper - Environmentalist @11:00hrs on BOOT arrangements on projects is takingKaieteur Radio off your clothes without you knowing it 99.1/99.5FM

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Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

GEA Inspector recorded soliciting ‘deal for friend’ still on the job

A

senior fuel inspector attached to the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) who was caught on a recording, directing a client looking to purchase a large quantity of fuel to not use his preferred choice continues to remain on the job.

Kaieteur News was reliably informed yesterday by sources in the GEA that

GEA Head, Dr. Mahender Sharma.

there was a discussion with the accused senior inspector where his version of the events was related to the GEA’s senior hierarchy.

This publication had recently reported that the senior fuel inspector, in the recording, could be heard telling the potential client not to use the dealer who the client was negotiating with but rather to use another dealer who he would recommend instead. The inspector was heard saying, “what you were doing all the time is purchasing fuel from a company who is not licensed by the GEA. I know you would not be aware of that.”

GEA, which has jurisdiction over the issuance of the different classes of fuel licences used in Guyana such as Import, Transport and Sales, has been recently embroiled in controversy over the issuance of fuel licences to companies not meeting the legal requirements. To this end, the client had sought clarity, since he was doing business with two other companies based on recommendations.

He queried of the i n s p e c t o r, “ … j u s t f o r informational purposes, I got two other individuals that I use in the same capacity that I do business with (name of company withheld), somebody put me on to them, I just have a number that I call.”

In response, the GEA Inspector told the client that the dealer (name withheld) is licensed to sell fuel. Kaieteur News has since been informed that this is not the case, since the person in question only has a licence to transport fuel and not sell. In recommending another

company, he insisted that the company that the client initially wanted to do business with was not licensed to sell fuel. The client then confessed, “I don’t know per se who is licensed and who is not,” to which the inspector repeated the names of two companies, which he claimed were licensed to sell fuel by the GEA. As the client sought further information, the inspector responded, “I got a guy who normally deals with fuel in that area so I will call him and I will give you a call.” According to the client, “I would really appreciate that,” at which point, he was reassured by the inspector, “yes, I will do that, you don’t worry.”Investigations by this publication had revealed that the GEA officer heard on the recording was in fact sacked by the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) for alleged corrupt practices. A senior official familiar with the CANU sacking, outlined that the man’s contract with that agency was, “terminated and that says a lot.”

Additionally, it was pointed out that the actions for which the GEA official is now being accused of, “is not surprising at all.”

The GEA in a formal response to the initial publication recently, had said, “Its Officers are not permitted to recommend any particular dealer to the public but rather to provide information as to the legal status of fuel dealers.”

This publication has since formally requested clarification from GEA into the status of any investigations of disciplinary measures taken against the officer in light of the recent reportage but none has so far been received.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 30, 2021

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Gas-to-energy project ...

EPA acted outside its powers, current EIA process is improper - Environmentalist

By Carlos Gonsalves

T

he Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) undertaking of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited has been, at times, irrational and improper and does not comply fully with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1996.

This is according to the written submissions that were sent to the EPA as part of the public consultation process for the proposed gasto-energy project by Ms. Simone Mangal-Joly, a distinguished Guyanese environmentalist.

In her written submissions, Ms. Mangal highlighted a number of concerns relating to various aspects of the gas-to-energy project.

The most crucial of these concerns relate to a misuse of the power conferred upon the Environmental Protection Agency by the Environmental Protection Act 1996 and include: the approval of the site for the NGL plant which appears inconsistent with the relevant law; the fragmentation of the gas-toenergy project into multiple projects by the EPA that each individually requires an EIA; the refusal of the EPA to grant the general public

access to the Project application; and the attempt of the EPA to filter or limit public input and query during the consultation process.

The latter two concerns highlighted will be discussed in detail in a subsequent article as the focus of this article is on the first two concerns.

NGL plant site approval inconsistent with the law Ms. Mangal’s first point of contention in her written submission states that, “According to the Government of Guyana’s public releases and EEPGL’s Project Description, the project site will be the Wales Estate, which will also host associated downstream industries.

The establishment of an industrial estate requires an Environmental Permit and will certainly require an EIA given the planned cluster of heavy polluting industries.”

She further opines that since no application for an Environmental P ermit is in sight for the proposed project location, it is improper for the EPA to embark on an EIA for the N G L subcomponent of the gas-to-energy project and asserts that by undertaking an EIA, t h e E P A “ i s d e m o n s t r a t i n g p r e l i m inary support for EEPGL’s application, which

is procedurally unfair as an EIA has not been submitted to support development c o n s e n t f o r [ Wa l e s Development Zone] and no public hearing has been held as required by the Act.” In defense of her

issued by the Agency.”

In concluding that it is improper for the EPA to e n t e r t a i n E E P G L’s application in this circumstance, she concluded that the Central Government had declared that it had

Guyanese environmentalist, Simone Mangal-Joly. p o s i t i o n , t h e environmentalist cites Section 14 of the Environmental Protection Act, which specifies: “a public authority shall not give development consent in any matter where an environmental authorisation is required unless such authorisation has been issued and any development consent given by any public authority shall be subject to the terms of the environmental authorisation

a p p r o v e d t h e Wa l e s Development without first obtaining an environmental permit for same.

The fragmentation of the gas-to-energy project Ms. Mangal’s second point of contention relates to the fragmented approach taken by the EPA to the conduct of an EIA. She opines that the Act does not permit an Applicant, Applicants, or the EPA to dismember a project into subcomponents and

embark on EIAs for those subcomponents as though they were stand-alone projects.

She further highlights that this is mandated in Section 11(5)(a)(1) which indicates that an EIA must address the “whole project”, that is, its full impact footprint: “Every environmental impact assessment shall contain the following information (a) a description of the project, including in particular (i) the geographical area involved and the physical characteristics of the whole project and the land use requirements...”

E E P G L’ s p r o j e c t summary states inter alia that, “the power plant and further distribution is not included in the scope of this application, except for its consideration when ad d r es s in g cumulative impacts for the Project.”

Ms. Mangal notes that the Act does not permit the EPA or any other party to use the develope r a s a criterion for defining the scope of a project and that the litmus test for determining a project s c o p e i s w h e t her the component can exist on its own, which the NGL plant obviously cannot.

It is further highlighted that the plant would accept and process gas and must be able to operate in a steady state between supply intake and demand & waste

outflow as the EEPGL is not stock piling dry gas or natural gas liquids.

Therefore, without a clearly defined offtake, she asserts that the EEPGL must stop the flow and flare offshore as the NGL plant cannot function without the outflow to the demand component.

Consequently, she again asserts that the Project Scope must encompass how the NGLs will be moved offsite to their market destinations as the port and transport network would have to be considered part of the project, because the NGL plant cannot operate without them. The demand segment is part of the “whole project.”

This aids Ms. Mangal in concluding that, “In exercising discretion outside of its power for defining a project scope, the EPA has acted contrary to the Act’s requirement for the “whole project” to form the subject of an EIA. The EPA cannot jettison the power plant and the N G L’ s d e m a n d s i d e infrastructure into a separate EIA process and treat with them as “cumulative” impacts of distinctly different projects.”

She notes that, “this defeats the purpose of an EIA as set out in the Act. Consequently, both the project description and scope are woefully deficient.

The current EIA process is futile.”

Parliament unable to debate Exxon flaring until October T

he National Assembly has on its agenda, a motion calling for government to intervene through various means, including amendments to the Liza I and Liza II permits, in addition to having the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) demand compliance with regards to ExxonMobil Guyana and its routine flaring in the Stabroek Block. However, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, in an invited comment, yesterday told this

publication, that the motion referred to was proposed by an Opposition Member, namely Shadow Minister with responsibility for the Oil and Gas Sector, David Patterson, and as such cannot be proceeded with until after the recess which begins on August 8.

Parliament will emerge from its annual two-month recess on October 8, after which time the motion could be proceeded with.

According to Isaacs, the next two sittings of the National Assembly are reserved for government’s business,

m e a n i n g g o v e r n m e n t ’s proposals on the parliamentary agenda would be dealt with as a priority.

He explained that after the next two sittings, the following session would be reserved for private members, or members of the political opposition, at which time Patterson—the mover of the motion—would indicate whether he would still wish to proceed with the debate on the vexing issue.

The next two sittings are scheduled for next Tuesday and one other before going into recess.

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs Patterson in his motion, premises his demands on the fact that, inter alia, “the Liza 1 Permit (Clause 3.6) expressly prohibits flaring and venting; with exceptions

Shadow Minister with responsibility for the Oil and Gas Sector, David Patterson. being made for “tank flashing e m i s s i o n , standing/working/breathing losses” and “flaring related to the startup of the FPSO, (Continued on page 23)

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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

Vaccination and Themistocles’ Two Goddesses Themistocles, one of the leaders of the ancient city-state of Athens in the early years of democracy, understood something fundamental about the exercise of the free will of the people in a time of crisis. The saying that came to be emblematic of his approach to the challenges in that regard was, “I come accompanied by two goddesses: Persuasion and Compulsion.”

Those two goddesses, Persuasion in particular, no doubt have their hands full in coming to the aid of political leadership the world over as, in the midst of the global crisis that is the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy and outright refusal present the most significant hurdle in keeping the global populations safe. The world over, governments are battling what must be a frustrating admixture of mindless religious superstition and rabid political rhetoric both enabled by an increasing complex infrastructure of misinformation spanning mainstream and social media, all to convince citizens that not only the multiple COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, but even now, that the basic concept of vaccination is.

The political strain of vaccine resistance is fairly easy to spot, transmitted primarily by opposition politics, whether it’s Joseph Harmon here in Guyana, Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Trinidad and Tobago, or virtually the entire Republic establishment in the United States of America. The rationale for political opposition to vaccination has been as protean as the virus itself, ranging and changing from public procurement ‘concerns,’ to vaccine efficacy, to the issue of vaccination as potential infringement on personal freedom – and this without irony from lawmakers who themselves were first in line to be vaccinated at the expense of the state.

The religious strain of the anti-vaccination is more subtle, and often only apparent in its manifested outcomes – for example, multiple stories about super-spreader events last year had to do with churches defying lockdown orders and holding massive gatherings only for the infections to be discovered after. A Pew Research Center study earlier this year showed that vaccine hesitancy among Americans was significantly higher in religious populations, evangelical Christians in particular, than non-religious populations.

According to one article on the study, published on analysis website, TheConversation.com, “Those who identify as Christian nationalists believe they are God’s chosen people and will be protected from any illness or disease. This proves problematic when it comes to vaccinations. A study earlier this year found Christian nationalists were far more likely to abstain from taking the COVID-19 vaccine. It builds on research that found Christian nationalism was a leading predictor of ignoring precautionary behaviours regarding coronavirus. Christian nationalists tend to place vaccinations within a worldview that generally distrusts science and scientists as a threat to the moral order. This was seen in the response of many on the religious right to guidance on masks and social distancing as well as, now, vaccines.”

All that said, it should be also conceded that the protean nature of COVID-19 itself has not been precisely helpful in presenting science as a consistently credible champion against the disease. The Delta variant of the virus has had public health officials the world over, the US in particular, backtracking on their guidelines and information when it comes to vaccination, masking and capacity for transition.

According to one CNBC article, Chief Medical Advisor to the White House, Dr. Anthony Fauci, considers the Delta variant to be virtually a new virus: “Fauci said the CDC reversed its mask guidance on Tuesday — recommending that fully vaccinated people go back to wearing masks indoors in places where there are high transmission rates — because Delta is now the dominant strain in the U.S. In May, when the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people could ditch their masks, the more transmissible Delta variant only represented about 1-2% of infections in the U.S.” Against this backdrop, the numbers of infections keep rising, vaccines continue to be unevenly distributed in

The gas-to-shore project could become another white elephant!

Dear Editor, The self-anointed oil experts in Guyana, bolstered by a few locals who are just graduates in the field of Oil and Gas but with no proven work record in the industry, have publicly promoted a project to a non-discerning, gullible popu l a c e . J u s t imagine the head of the Geology and Mines Commission, with no training and experience in oil had advised the then Minister of Natural Resources in 2011, on the ramifications in a pitiful contract with a company that had never drilled for oil before.

The result of this gas to shore sojourn will most likely produce a list of questionable expenditure accompanied by disappearing money while promoting this illconceived and potential white elephant. Guyana has been a success story in poor economics where stealing and other forms of corruption bore enormous wealth for some.

In some countries, several oil and gas projects have been self-destructive.

In less than a decade, the European Union has spent

€440 million on gas pipelines that have either never been completed or are likely to fail, according to new research published on Monday (22 February).

In total, nearly €5 billion in EU taxpayer money was spent since 2013 on 41 gas projects such as pipelines or import terminals known as “Projects of Common Interest” (PCIs), according to the study by Global Witness, an international NGO. Of that amount, an estimated €440 million was splashed on seven gas projects that have either failed or have been put on hold, says Global Witness. Guyanese are either reluctant or fear repercussions in expressing their trepidations on this project, and any analysis contradicting those in authority are deemed inimical and a ‘no brainer.’

In Europe, most of that sum – over €430 million – was spent on the BRUA pipeline, aimed at connecting Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria to gas reserves in the Black Sea. Research for offshore gas in the Black Sea economic zone of Bulgaria and Romania has been a hot topic in the past, but in the case of

Bulgaria, work is at a complete standstill. Designed to ease Europe’s reliance on Russian gas, BRUA aims to carry 1.75 billion cubic meters of gas in its first phase, with a cost estimated at €479 million. A section of the pipeline was completed in November 2020, but it is located entirely in Romania, but it has not reached neither the Black Sea nor the country’s neighbours.

Investors are now worried that BRUA will not transport gas from the Black Sea, after Exxon – which had been leading the largest portion of the project – announced it wanted to sell its license.

HERE ARE OTHER SIX FAILED GAS PROJECTS 1. The Portugal-Spain 3rd gas interconnection (cancelled). EU subsidy: €97,359 2. The Midcat gas pipeline connecting France and Spain (cancelled). EU subsidy: €6,253,708 3. The Poland-Czech Republic gas interconnection (shelved). EU subsidy: 1,360,868 4. The Pince-LendavaKidrièevo gas pipeline (no activity since receiving EU funding in 2014). EU subsidy: €344,500 5. The Austria-Czech

Republic gas interconnector (halted). EU subsidy: €41,993 6. The Eastring gas project linking Slovakia to the Bulgarian-Turkish border via Romania and Hungary (indefinitely postponed).

In most of these projects, EXXON which was a major partner has decided to sell its share and focus primarily on Guyana. On face value and in financial terms, this should bode well for Guyana and its citizens, but it is far from the truth because of the ill-fated contract signed by the APNU+AFC government.

That contract which was hidden from the public for more than a year has not only doomed the country’s development prospects but is likely to condemn its residents to a life of persistent and never-ending poverty.

Therefore, we are calling on ExxonMobil to renegotiate the contract and increase the two (2) percent Royalty to at least eight (8) percent. This will allow ExxonMobil to take its knee off the necks of all Guyanese and allow them to breathe.

Yours faithfully Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine, New York

The Mayor of Georgetown is out of order Dear Editor, The Mayor, Ubraj Narine, and his band of councillors are at it again. This time, they have agreed, at an Extraordinary Statutory Meeting, held July 28, 2021, to seek an injunction to prevent the decision of the Local Government Commission, to appoint another officer, Ms. Candace Nelson, as Interim Town Clerk and revert Ms. Sherry Jerrick to her substantive position; Assistant Town Clerk. Once again, they will fail. Here’s why: First, the Local Government Commission did not act beyond the scope of its authority; the Commission has powers to act on any and all Human Resource and related matters within the entire local government system, in Guyana. Further, the Local Government Commission Act 2013 is very clear on the powers and authority of the Commission.

Also, Sections 118, 119 and

120 of Chap 28:01 speaks to the rights of the Commission.

Second, the action taken by the Commission was not disciplinary; it was regulatory.

From all indications, and the contents of letters sent by the Commission on its decisions to the council that body is seeking to regulate, as it has powers to do, the staffing arrangement at the city council. Also, acting positions were not meant to be permanent. Under the act, a council can only appoint deputies to act in positions; the Commission appoints officers to positions substantively; Chap 28:01, section 122, is clear on these issues. Third, Ms. Sherry Jerrick as Assistant Town Clerk (her substantive position) would suffer no loss because she is an Assistant Town Clerk, substantively.

Finally, how can anyone get an injunction to prevent an action, or a decision that

favour of rich countries even as significant sections of their populations resist vaccination, and the virus continues to mutate into even more infectious variants. As the world prepares for a next wave of coronavirus infections, world leaders will likely find themselves in a position where the Goddess of Persuasion might have reached the limits of her capacity, and her sister, the Goddess of Compulsion might very well need to spread her influence.

has already occurred or taken and implemented? By way of letter the Commission appointed Ms. Candace as Interim Town Clerk on July 28, 2021; at this moment, there is no injunction, Ms. Nelson is Interim Town Clerk. However, before, the foregoing facts are considered, it is important to point out a few procedural errors, in the action taken by the council today, at that extraordinary meeting: 1. If the Commission has appointed Ms. Candace Nelson, as Interim Town Clerk, on July 28, 2021, then Ms. Sherry Jerrick could not properly occupy the Town Clerk’s chair to carry that Extraordinary Meeting, today. She was no longer the Town Clerk (Ag). The Meeting was not properly constituted because she did not carry, nor did she delegate anyone to carry that meeting.

If the meeting was not properly constituted, then its decisions are deficient and cannot be carried out by the administration.

2. If the former Town Clerk (Ag) received her letter from the Commission informing her that she was reverted to her substantive position, Assistant Town Clerk, on July 28, 2021 and still carried that statutory meeting, on that very day

then she has acted unlawfully and should be disciplined by the Commission because she flouted their authority and acted as an imposter. She should know better.

3. According to Chap: 28:01 only the Town Clerk can sign legal documents for the council. If Ms. Jerrick is no longer Town Clerk (Ag), and she is not, then who will sign the court documents, for the council seeking an injunction to prevent an action that has already occurred?

It worries me as a young Guyanese is that the Mayor comes from a political party that shouts democracy and good governance. How can we have good governance when the Mayor, the Chief Citizen, is attempting to disregard the authority of a statutory body- the Local Government Commission?

Today, at that Extraordinary Meeting, the Mayor has issued orders to the acting Chief Constable to prevent the Interim Town Clerk from assuming her office. Frankly, the Mayor is embarrassingly out of order; his orders/ instructions are ultra vires.

Little wonder that the nation’s capital is in such an untidy and unhealthy condition.

Yours truly, Anthony Subner

Friday July 30, 2021

The national interest or self interest Dear Editor, I notice a creeping change occurring in those making certain moves, those who used to scorn such moves, while vilifying the movers. I identify this post-2020 elections phenomenon of people, exclusively from the opposition PNC, abandoning ship, and enthusiastic about anticipated welcoming reception, while jumping the political fence. It is where the goodies are, the best personal returns. At one time floor crossing here was worse than cross-dressing, even double crossing. Not anymore, not when oil money is involved.

Recently, longstanding senior PNC stalwarts have engaged a public throwing up of hands, articulating of despair, and distancing from the party of their birth, youth, essences and visions.

Unsaid, but neither unsuspected nor unknown, are their next steps. That is, their new political alignment, and rationales for doing so.

Those are kept underground, along with possible incentives prompting separations from the old political fold. What matters is that they are good for PPP

recruitment posters, PPP statistics, and wound the PNC further.

What is happening is that diehards have assessed the terrain and their opportunities for personal enrichment, and conclude that there is only one way, one channel, for their ambitions to materialise.

It is through the VP. All decisions of this kind are approved by the big kahuna himself; now comes the new waves of bharatistas. For the right people-those up once high up in the PNC, highprofile, specifically complexioned, and very hungry-the red carpet unfurls rapidly, smartly. This is a win in the PPP column, a loss in the PNC’s, good for crossover supplicants, and good for cosmetics and numbers. It is also good politics, and there is none better than the VP to instigate and incentivise those once on the enemy side of the political and racial partition. I take my hat off to the Great Leader: he expands the circle of captives bound hand and foot to him. He has more studying the landscape, calculating their reception, and gearing for the plunge.

After all, the VP has the alltime best nectar: oil money.

And it is his to dole out as he sees fit, in the form of jobs, welcome and presence, and tilting the political odds in his favour.

I am thinking how and who to compare the mighty VP to in all of these covert and overt movements. From where I come, his behaviour would be considered poaching, a fighting offense. But here such fall by the wayside, as more and more adversaries find out to their delight, compliments of the erudite VP. It is about oil, money, ascendancy, and continuity.

For any of those, men and women have sold lovers, saviours, and souls ultimately. It startles that all this (floor crossing) that was once disdained and dismissed as the worst of betrayals has now transformed into honour, and democratic right, too. It is just the New Guyanese World Order. Oil order. Oil money trumps party loyalty, tribal supremacy and any lingering political cult deity.

PPP loyalists must be having fits.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Why punish persons for not taking the ‘optional’ COVID-19 vaccine?

Dear Editor, From the inception citizens were told that taking the COVID-19 vaccine was optional.

I assume government was convinced that with its alacrity to procure the vaccines, citizens would have been equally eager to accept the jabs.

But the vaccine hesitancy reality kicked in soon after the vaccination campaign got underway. This became evident by the limited uptake, despite the swift inclusion of the age groups. Persons, it would seem, have been furnished with too much negative information that they sacrificed the privilege of being vaccinated on the altar of being infected to the point of death. Many of the unvaccinated are dying, the Health Ministry has warned.

But both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated will continue to die due to reasons unrelated to COVID-19.

What should not happen, however, is government’s endorsement of the decision by some private businesses to force their employees to be vaccinated or stand the cost of proving weekly that they are COVID-19 negative.

Many of these already underpaid employees can barely face the prevailing high cost of living. But these employees and other citizens

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as well should not be facing such a dilemma, especially when they are told the vaccine is ‘optional.’

Wear masks, take the other necessary precautions, are the measures mandated for the vaccinated and unvaccinated alike. What’s the problem now with following these guidelines?

Who decided that this newest machination is the way forward?

Based on the facts presented thus far, the fully vaccinated are no longer at risk of becoming severely ill thus the ones who are dying are those who are unvaccinated by choice. If persons have chosen to not be vaccinated, how dare the government and the private sector join forces to oppress persons into subjection?

Yours faithfully Curious Contributor

GECOM should take note of St. Lucia’s elections Dear Editor, Results of elections held in sister CARICOM country, St Lucia, on Monday of this week indicate a victory for the opposition. A clean victory, acceptance by the incumbent, democracy alive and well. It

is hoped our own elections body take note of how an election is run with results declared within days of the poll. Needless to say, anything more.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Preservation of our Culture Dear Editor, It is good to see that someone else remembers one of our old songs that seems to have faded quietly away.

The treasure of our country lies not only in the tangibles like our vast pristine forests, fertile soil, gold and oil, but very importantly in the rich culture - in the songs, stories and dances that were sung and told and danced, weaving a beautiful picture of this land and its people.

Sadly, quite a few of these

cultural treasures - and I’ll focus here on our songs appear to be forgotten. I was therefore pleasantly surprised to see the song “Demera-ra-ra Oh Demerara-ra” mentioned in Mr. Green’s letter of July 28.

I wonder how many people here now have heard about that song and actually heard it sung? There are many more like that, to name a few: Berbice Gal, Sun-ahgo down, Way down Demerara, Jane and Louisa.

Now about the words that

were quoted.

If my memory serves me correctly, the words sung were “when you see Demerara with she ‘royal blue’ and gold;’ however, I could be wrong. I write solely because I remember this and other little-known folk songs that are seldom, if ever heard. In an effort to preserve this essential part of our culture, recordings should be made and played so that these treasures may not be lost.

Sincerely, Joan Collins

Ethic balance in security forces should also apply in other vital sectors Dear Editor, I was taken aback when senior members of one of our security forces reported that a meeting hosted by the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, indicated that they should seek to ensure that there is ethnic balance in the Security Forces.

This said matter came up over 50 years ago before an international panel. I, among others, argued then and today, that if the State apparatus believes in utility and necessity for ethnic balance then such a philosophy must permeate and saturate all aspects of our society.

We can begin with the use and allocation of State lands for forestry and mining. Let me hear a clarion call from the minister for ethnic balance in this area. Next, licences for the importation and sale of pharmaceuticals, allied goods and equipment. Third, the importation and sale of groceries and food stuff.

Next, ethnic balance for licensing for firearms, etc.

The importation of motor vehicles and heavy equipment. Awarding of multimillion contracts for large infrastructural works.

In all the above, there is substantial ethnic imbalance, which we now take for granted. As is the case above and many other areas, AfroGuyanese constitute less than three percent of those controlling the above significant sectors and services. The question dear editor is, therefore, why should at this time a minister

of government raise the ugly spectre of ethnic balance in the only area, where only one particular ethnic group, thanks to our colonial experience still constitutes the majority?

Further, the truth is only one of our ethnic groups for many generations found comfort in the security forces.

The irony is this, there is no evidence that any government set out to throttle ethnic balance in our security forces. And we had an excellent Commissioner of Police, in the person of Commissioner Balram Ragubir, and in the military, we’ve had Colonel Clarence Price and Major Gen. Joe Singh, all men of excellence.

Why this matter is being raised again is, of course, another matter and I hope that the president will arrange lessons to deal with our history and the consequences of our colonial experience, so that these clumsy missteps are avoided by his ministers, which unfortunately are not useful in a society that is polarised and yearning to be unshackled from the unhappy aspects of experiences. Let

people go into areas, profession, jobs, trades, in which they are comfortable and derive happiness and satisfaction.

Last week, I found a photograph of my scout group, Queen’s College on a visit on Empire Day 1949 to the Governor on the grounds of Government House. The group consisted of 26 boys, an Englishman, Captain Harold Knobbs, the Principal of Queen’s College and the Scout Master, a British man, Captain Kenneth Maudsley.

In that group, there was only one Indo-Guyanese youngster. Tried, as I did, I couldn’t persuade some of my Indo-Guyanese buddies to put on a uniform to join either the scouts or the cadet corps.

The minister’s recent call is either insensitive or, behind it, some ulterior motive to control every aspect of life in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

Editor, I hope that your reporters will obtain an explanation from the minister as he pursues his mantra for ethnic balance in the police and other Forces.

Hamilton Green

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GOAL initiative commendable, could benefit more with reliable internet service to hinterland Dear Editor, First of all, let me begin by commending the PPP/C administration on the GOAL scholarship programme initiative. Long overdue; scholarship awardees can study in the comfort of their homes without the hassle of leaving their homes and families to achieve a quality education. However, only those on the coast of Guyana will be able to benefit fully from the GOAL initiative; online delivery of education calls for good internet service which is severely lacking in the hinterland regions.

The ICT hubs installed in the various villages in the hinterland under the previous administration have some limitations, which will not be conducive to online learning.

Firstly, the ICT hubs have limited bandwidth and, therefore, scholarship awardees will not be able to access reliably their programmes of choice, which will often involve video tutorials, Zoom chats, etc. which calls for fast internet.

Secondly the ICT hubs, which are mostly powered by solar have inadequately sized battery banks, which leave

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Kaieteur News

the hubs susceptible to power outages.

Satellite internet is an option, but the actual installation costs coupled with monthly fees and data caps make this prohibitive for those living in the hinterland.

Then, there are the cell phone service providers, GT&T and Digicel, which provide mobile data services, but neither have complete coverage across the hinterland. And in those areas that do have coverage the data service is often quite poor and unreliable. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however.

Many homes in Lethem, Tabatinga and Saint Ignatius in Region Nine have been getting relatively good quality internet. How is this so? Innovative entrepreneurs have been sourcing internet service from nearby Brazil and are then selling it to customers at relatively affordable rates. Now, I am made to understand that if relay towers of suitable height are built at predetermined sites in remote villages, then the internet service from Brazil can be extended to these villages and will be

faster and more reliable than that being supplied by the local ICT hubs. This, in turn, will alleviate many of the internet-related problems being faced not only by university students, but by children going to primary and secondary schools, as well as teachers and other public and private sector employees doing online studies.

Of course, investments such as relay towers and accompanying equipment are very costly undertakings and as such, the government should look at subsidising the operations of those entrepreneurs desirous of extending internet services to far flung areas. The government can even look at building their own relay towers and tap into the Brazilian internet market.

Until then, initiatives such as the GOAL programme will continue to be just an elusive dream for the majority in the hinterland, and the educational gap between those persons on the coast and those in the hinterland will continue to widen significantly.

Sincerely, S. Fredericks

Guyana needs more shore bases Dear Editor, Oil and Natural gas development is expected to contribute significantly to the Guyanese economy in the coming years.

The exploration, drilling, and extraction of oil and gas offshore in deep water needs a lot of onshore support services of which Guyana lacks required capacity.

Currently, there are only one or two companies providing onshore services to the offshore oil industry in Guyana.

These two bases cannot meet the current total demand, and the duopoly results in higher-than-normal charges to service the oil companies.

In terms of fees, information reveals that the two shore bases charge substantially higher fees for its 110 miles shipping distance from East Bank to locations in the Stabroek block given that the alternative would be to go to bases in Trinidad some 400 miles away. The Guyana fee structure considers what oil companies would pay for shipment of goods from Trinidad some four times the journey to the offshore base.

More bases could, therefore, potentially lead to lower costs. And Guyana needs more on shore bases to meet the current and increasing demand of the oil companies as oil production is being ramped up from the current 120K BPD to six times that amount in four years and double that amount five years later. So, more shore bases are definitely needed. And more

bases lead to competition that would inevitably lead to lower prices for services. In addition, large amounts of money would be spent in the billions of dollars creating jobs, putting money in the tax coffers, and raising GDP benefitting the total economy.

The two shore bases are on the East Bank, very close to the busy Georgetown area.

Both are constrained by space requirements and the East Bank Demerara is congested and has traffic issues. The government should, therefore, encourage construction of shore bases on the West Bank or West Coast and other locations away from the overcrowded city. Exxon should also give preference to use shore bases away from the heart of the city.

A shore base is currently being constructed at Versailles, West Bank by Tristar. It is the only fit-forpurpose shore base in Guyana. Government should offer all the support Tristar needs to expedite construction to quickly get the shore base operationalised.

The same should be done for other shore bases; a consortium is putting up a shore base on the mouth of the Demerara River and should also be supported.

More shore bases result in jobs creation.

It is understood that Tristar ’s base is being designed to international standards and will be specific to the oil and gas industry and

its needs which emphasise safety of operations.

Moreover, Tristar is 100 percent owned by Guyanese whose interests and patriotism is towards Guyana, particularly in uplifting communities on the West Bank that were neglected since 2016. Tristar is owned

by Krishna Persaud whose roots is in West Demerara.

More shore bases on the West Bank or West Coast or elsewhere would lead to an end of the duopoly.

Competition among bases that would result in: 1) lowering cost of doing business in the Guyana oil industry; 2) hundreds of millions of dollars of investment that would create hundreds if not thousands of jobs; 3) use of local contractors in construction and operations that in turn would lead to integration in the oil and gas supply chain of local companies; 4) greater local content in the oil business - aligned with government’s policy; 5) highvalue work that is currently undertaken in Trinidad would be shifted to Guyana; 6) substantial socioeconomic benefits to the West Bank and West Coast Demerara region; and 7) resuscitation of economic activities and commerce in the Wales area that has been negatively impacted by the closure of the sugar factory; revival of business in the West Demerara region, among other benefits.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Is it 2021 or 1202 at the Passport Office?

Dear Editor, I recently attempted to have my family’s passports renewed in Georgetown.

There I was three kids and wife in tow, turning up early at the Central Immigration Office only to be told that they are only serving 100 persons per day, and I would have to return. I want my fellow Guyanese to brace themselves for this part: when I inquired if I could pre-book my appointment to avoid having to clash with others, I was told there is currently no such system in place.

Editor, one does not have to understand the logistics behind preparing and managing three small children for a visit to any public office

to marvel at this asininity. In the modern age of smart phones, tablets and other smart devices, in the middle of a global pandemic that advises against large gatherings, the entity responsible for the issuing and renewal of this important travel document has not found it strategic to allow persons to book spots online/ in advance to avoid being turned away at the gate.

I reside in Georgetown and have my own transportation; I can only imagine what goes through the minds of those who have to travel long distances to be turned away for such a silly reason.

Perhaps it is time the

subject minister with oversight over the immigration office conduct an audit of its procedures to unearth this and other areas of opportunity. Even if they were writing your name in a book with the following day’s date on a page, it would be better than turning up and hoping you win the admission lottery.

Such a small, practical move can avoid creating disgruntled citizens and bring some semblance of fairness and orderliness to the way business with the public is conducted. We can fix these issues and pump oil simultaneously.

Yours sincerely, Shazaam Ally

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

All over the world, countries are taking firmer and stronger action with their precious resources.

The South African gas-to-shore project is currently challenged in court over EIA deficiencies.

The Norwegians toughened their oil industry rules. Even in America, the Biden White House has signalled a more demanding climate change posture, with fossil fuel companies having to step up their game.

What has happened to Guyana?

Why is Guyana’s President, Vice President, and Natural Resources Minister all silent and content with how things are with our oil?

Surely, goat can’t bite our leaders this bad?

PAGE 07

Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

6 years after oil discovery....

Govt. now moving to update 36 year old petroleum laws M

ore than six years after G u y a n a discovered crude in commercial quantities, coupled with repeated promises by consecutive administrations, to update the nation’s archaic laws governing the industry, moves are now afoot to finally achieving that objective.

Minister with responsibility for the Petroleum Sector, Vickram Bharrat, is slated to, on A u g u s t 3 — n e x t Tuesday—present to the National Assembly, the Petroleum (Exploration And Production) (Amendment) Bill 2021.

The Bill is aimed at amending the nation’s 36year-old petroleum laws, namely the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 1986.

Following the first reading of the Bill in the House by the Clerk of the National Assembly—having

been presented by Bharrat on behalf of the administration for a first reading—the 65 Members of Parliament are then given a minimum of a week before debating the proposed legislation and voting on same, or refer the proposal to a special select committee.

The intention to lay over the proposed legislation is documented in the official Order Paper for the next sitting of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The Irfaan Ali led administration had in October last—two months a f t e r t a k i n g Office—committed to reforms and the strengthening the Government’s regulatory infrastructure for the oil and gas sector.

These include, according to President Ali—at the time—the revamping the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act, establishing a Petroleum Commission, and updating other legislations

pertinent to the management of the oil and gas sector, namely Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 1986.

“All of these things have to be done institutionally before we even think about [accessing oil funds],” the President had said at the time.

The President had also noted that that once the legislation and Fund are in place, the government would then move to establish the Petroleum Commission.

The moves to better manage the sector through updated legislation comes on the heels of two new discoveries of crude in the Stabroek Block bringing the estimated reserves to well over the already proven nine billion barrels of oil equivalent.

That news was met with elation on the part of the government which immediately signalled that the discovery could potentially see the

development of more oilfields than previously envisioned and the potential need for additional floating, production, storage and offloading vessels in order to service oil fields.

The announcement was made by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana L i m i t e d (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—on Wednesday and said the oil company’s drilling activities at its Whiptail-1 well encountered 246 feet (75 meters) of net pay “from high quality oil bearing sandstone reservoirs.”

It reported too that “drilling is also ongoing at the Whiptail-2 well, which has encountered 167 feet (51 meters) of net pay in high quality oil bearing sandstone reservoirs.”

As such, the company in making its announcement iterated that drilling continues at both wells to test deeper targets, and results will be evaluated for

Head of State, President Irfaan Ali

future development.

Subject Minister, Bharrat, in a subsequent public missive said, “It gives me great pride as the Minister of Natural Resources with responsibility for the Petroleum Sector and on behalf of the Government of Guyana, to announce Guyana’s 21st and 22nd Offshore Oil Discovery at the Whiptail-1 and Whiptail-

2 Wells within the Stabroek Block offshore.”

He was adamant that government welcomes these new discoveries offshore Guyana and reinforces its commitment to the sustainable exploration and development of Guyana’s oil and gas resources.

“This we commit to do with the highest level of (Continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

Friday July 30, 2021

PAGE 09

HOW NOT TO SPEND AN ENJOYABLE EVENING G

oing on a weightreduction diet is not a Guyanese thing. Guyanese love to eat.

Just take a drive by any of the many fast-food services that abound in Guyana and you would think that you are in the United States.

A few years ago, I recall being in the drive-through at a fast-food restaurant. My crowd was big.

When you offer to take out a young lady in Guyana, she likes to walk with a company.

It is like if she needed a bodyguard. It is also a way of saying to your date that nothing extra special is going t o h a p p e n .

Well, my date wanted to make that point more than ordinary because she walked with her entire family. I had plans for a quiet evening but when we left her home with family in tow, it was clear that not only was the evening not going to be quiet but that it would cost me a hell of a fortune to feed all those mouths.

I received an early warning of how things would turn out for the rest of the evening when one of the sisters said, “I don’t know why I allowed you to talk me into coming. I did not get to eat my dinner.”

Now, when you pick up someone and that is what you h e a r, y o u k n o w t h a t regardless of which part of the world you are in, that dinner has to be on the menu for the night. My problem was what was going to come after the dinner.

The second mistake I made was in trying to be friendly

Dem

boys seh...

with everyone. They all took a liking to me, which eventually meant that they began to dominate the c o n v e r s a t i o n .

The third mistake I made was in asking “Where you guys would like to go?” Huge mistake on my part! One of the things that you always learn about situations like these is to take command of the situation, dictate the terms of engagement or in other words “call the shots.”

There was a chorus calling for a visit to a fast-food restaurant.

I began to perspire even though the evening was cool.

I had no intention of spending the rest of my evening buried among a group of persons whose company I could care little about, except for my date.

And worst of all, I certainly did not look forward to spending my precious time in a fast-food restaurant.

But I had gotten myself into this jam and I had to get myself out of it. So I decided that we were going to the fastfood restaurant, yes, but we were not going inside. We would use the drive- through.

As I entered the lane, I saw a vehicle in front of me. The guy at the wheel was leaning out of his window trying to speak into the intercom. He kept leaning and talking, then pausing. After a while, I wondered whether he was having a friendly chat with the other person.

Eventually, I drove up and waited for the prompt. There was no reply. I said, “Hello?”

No reply. “Hello, Hello!” No

r e p l y .

One of the persons in the back shouted, “The phone-thing is not working, you have to d r i v e a r o u n d . ” So I drove around. The car in front of me was placing his order. He paid for his order and then settled in his seat. I waited for him to move off.

He did not. At least two minutes passed and still his order was not collected.

I wondered what was taking so long. After about 10 minutes, I realised why. This guy only had one other person in the vehicle but judging from his order, he must have been feeding a wedding fete.

The guy collected about 10 boxes, and only two drinks.

I began to get nervous considering my crowd. I felt my wallet for assurance. It felt puffy. Luckily, the US dollar exchanges for $200 to one.

But I was still worried because at least one member of my party had indicated that she did not eat for the entire evening.

Just before the guy in the car moved off, he dropped the bill that he had received in the lane.

He must have loved his car a great deal that he preferred to litter rather than bring the bill into the car or he may have just been showing off to show that having placed such a big order, he did not need to even look at the bill.

My turn came and I proceeded slowly to the window. A lady with a lovely smile greeted me, “Good evening, what would you like to order, this evening,” she

De numbers falling but it gan rise after de big matches!

Dem boys hoping dat dem wah plan fuh watch cricket tomorrow gan get ask to wear a mask during de match and keep it on. Is downright recklessness of de guvment to allow suh much people in de National Stadium and still restricting people from going to wedding and wake-house.

But is suh we leaders does operate. Dem does do wat best fuh dem and fuhget bout de small man. Right now all dem small man thinking about is when de envelope with de $19,000 gan meet dem area.

Dem nah understand dat is how de government controlling dem. Dem get excited about de $19,000 while dem oil companies digging 19 billion US dollar pon we and we children fuh pay fuh de rest of we lives.

But is suh Guyanese like roll. We does allow dem politician fuh do wah dem want because we prefer dem fuh mess up dan de Opposition to rule. And it does go de same way when de now Opposition in power.

Is time Guyanese wake up and tell dem politician dat wah dem doing is wrong. Yuh can’t gat cricket match when yuh now trying fuh get de COVID under control. Nuff people lining up early marnin fuh dem second doses because dem hear is only a small amount come and so dem rushing before it done.

But nuff others nah even going fuh dem fuss dose and dat is why, there is all this talk bout making vaccinations mandatory.

Talk half and wait fuh de numbers fuh rise after de cricket!

asked. Before I could answer, a chorus broke out from b e h i n d m e . ”We change our mind; we

don’t want fast-food anymore, we would like to eat Chinese food.”

(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

Friday July 30, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The USA and Guyana: Psychic breakdown

T

he population of India and China each has a billion more people than the US. Countries like Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan and Nigeria have numbers close to the US. But the sociological aberrations and amazing consistency of physical violence that take place in the USA do not occur in those countries.

The US is the richest country in the world with a high level of democratic functionalism but yet its sociology is extremely worrying to the world.

Whether an Asian, gay, Black or Hispanic person from any political party becomes the next US president, the psychological deformities that are so prevalent in American society will certainly not disappear.

The American society has disturbing problems and

that adjective is a mild one.

What I am writing here about the US is mediocre stuff compared to the brilliant books by brilliant minds that analyse the deep psychic conflicts that has engulfed the American population.

A simple Google search will guide you to the literature.I believe there isn’t any methodology you can use to compare the US and Guyana. That is a scholarly impossibility. But the one strand that stands out for me between the two countries is psychic breakdown.

I believe there is collective psychic problem in Guyana and it shapes this society in unpleasant, uncaring and pessimistic ways. The difference with Guyana and the US is that the US is an extremely rich, resourceful land. The wealth in the US society is so prodigious that it has the

resources to employ people to attend to you when you enter a public institution.

Take security. Once you zigzag in the US on the roadway, the traffic cop will stop you.

They are everywhere.

You zigzag in Guyana and a pedestrian or a cyclist will get killed and the victim could have been saved if a traffic rank had detected the misbehaviour before.

In the US, despite its psychic breakdown, citizens get service. The American society is older and richer and things have fallen into place.

The mentality of American people is determined by modern thinking. Our psychic laceration runs deeper than Americans’.

No legislator in the American society would be so crazy to announce that only five types of

professions can sign a pension form.

No American legislator would stay silent if one of their constituencies told them that as a woman, she was turned away from getting service from a public institution because her dress was sleeveless.

In Guyana, like in the US, the psychic collapse is not a fault of the politicians.

Politicians from the PPP, PNC, AFC, WPA, who held power have come and gone and the frightening sociological deformities continue. I don’t blame the politicians only for the psychological mess this country has been in the past 45 years.

Guyanese politicians cannot be blamed for the way motorists drive in Guyana.

In a small, obscure land with a tiny driving population, this country has the worst drivers in the world. One of the big differences between distraught American society and disturbed Guyanese society is that a frightening

Frederick Kissoon degeneracy will affect just an infinitesimal number in the US while in Guyana, a substantial number of the population is impacted.

Two examples should suffice. If you are a teenager in the US, living in New York and that State says to post a parcel to Alaska, you must show proof of address, then if you never receive a mail, you have a problem.

But that teen can travel to a nearby State that does not have that restriction.

This is because the US is a federal country with each state having its own laws.

In Guyana, the general post office in downtown Georgetown serves the population of the capital and its extension, which is about 100,000 persons.

If a teenager is sending a

parcel to her mother in the interior and she’s got no proof of address, she can’t send it.

The second example is a social disease that is expanding. Each Sunday night, about 50 motorcyclists start out from Movie Towne’s sprawling car park with their exhaust modified to make loud noise.

They go east on both highways disturbing thousands and thousands and thousands of schoolchildren studying, old, sickly people sleeping and hard working citizens who have to work the next day.

Why this would not happen in the US? The motorcyclists in the US have large spaces where people do not live to do their stunts. In Guyana, they do it in the heart of communities.

Remember GTT was given permission by Movie Towne to hold a Caribbean music show right in the heart of Liliendaal, Pattensen, Turkeyen, Cummings Lodge and Industry.

Many persons with heart problems probably died the same night.

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

Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Property Manager, security guard charged for restricting journalist from entering Richmond Ville A property manager and a security guard were on Wednesday hauled before a Magistrate where they were

charged for unlawfully restricting the movement of journalist, Leroy Smith.

The defendants, Dhan

Shyamraj, 41, of 28 Third Street Industry, East Coast Demerara, and Deron Wishart of Mocha, East

Bank Demerara, made their first court appearance in the D i a m o n d / G r o v e Magistrate’s Courts before

Magistrate Sunil Scarce.

Wishart told the court that he is a security guard employed with Sheriff Security Service and is posted in Richmond Ville Housing Development, while Shyamraj informed the court that she is selfemployed and performs the functions of property manager within the Richmond Ville Housing Development after being hired by Luxury Reality Inc. earlier this year.

Shyamraj and Wishart were jointly charged under the Kidnapping Act, contrary to Section 6, Chapter 10:05.

They were not required to plead to the indictable

Property Manager, Dhan Shyamraj. charge which alleges that on June 15, 2021, at Richmond (Continued on page 23)

Journalist, Leroy Smith.

Kaieteur News

Friday July 30, 2021

PAGE 13

Cabinet still to address legal issues with gas pipeline - Nandlall G

overnment continues to press ahead with its much vaunted gas-toshore energy initiative but the legal aspects surrounding the onshore aspect of the project are still be addressed at the level of Cabinet much less be taken, if needed, to the National Assembly.

At least this is according to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, during his most recent ‘Issues in the News’ broadcast.

Nandlall used the opportunity of highlighting some of government’s signal achievements during its first year in office, to lament that while “the pipeline is being worked on, the legal issues are being addressed to ensure that the rights of our people, the proprietary rights

of the people.”

He qualified his assertion by outlining that this relates to “wherever the pipeline runs, the law will address any issues that may arise out of that programme or that initiative.”The Attorney General in his brief disclosure cautioned, “I don’t want to say much at this point in time, I suppose we will discuss that a little later when it goes to Cabinet and it’s approved at that level.”Minister Nandlall’s lamentations were had even as government invites proposals from private interests to participate in the development of the project.

In its invitation for partners on the US$900M gas-to-shore energy project, the Ministry of Natural Resources affirmed that Government has finalised

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

the Wales Development Zone (WDZ) as the termination point for the pipeline from the Liza Area in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana and as such is seeking private investors or a consortium to be part of

the project.

The Ministry in its invitation noted too, that the decision on Wales was taken after extensive evaluation of multiple sites with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EEPGL). The

Wales Development Zone (WDZ), it said, has been identified as the termination point for the pipeline from the Liza Area in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.

The WDZ encompasses over 14,000+ acres of land of which approximately 1,300 acres will be set aside for heavy Industry/gas-related investments.

The project, according to stakeholders, is expected to see some 27 kilometres of pipeline being buried from the Crane, West Coast Demerara (WCD) location to Wales, in addition to some 200 plus kilometres of pipeline from the Stabroek Block where the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel is located.

According to the administration, WDZ will be

the location for the termination of the gaspipeline measuring over 225 km from the Liza Area.

Additionally, it will involve the establishment of a gasprocessing plant (GPP) and a natural gas liquids facility (NGL) capable of producing at least 4,000 bbl./day, including the fractionation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).The private partners will also be expected to take part in the operations of the establishment of a power plant to generate 150 MW, with an additional 150 MW as a second phase, in addition to the establishment of an industrial park comprising industries that can utilise gas, steam and/or electricity.

Interested parties have been given up to August 29 to submit proposals.

Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Suriname strikes oil a day after Guyana Oil and gas firms, TotalEnergies and Apache Corporation, have discovered more oil off the coast of Suriname.

The most recent discovery occurred at the Sapakara South-1 offshore well at Block 58, where previous oil discoveries in Maka Central, Sapakara West, Kwaskwasi, and Keskesi were made.

The Sapakara South-1 discovery which encountered 30 meters net pay of oil was made four kilometers southeast of the Sapakara West-1 discovery and was drilled in a water depth of about 850 meters.

Commenting on the find, Kevin McLachlan, Senior Vice President Exploration at TotalEnergies said, “We are pleased by this

new successful well at Sapakara South-1, very similar to the one announced in Keskesi earlier this year.

These repeated positive results confirm our strategy which targets large resource volumes at low development costs.”

He also noted that “as the operator of the prolific Block 58, this encourages us to continue our effort, jointly

with our partner, to add to the resource base while conducting the appraisal operations designed to prove a commercial oil development.”

The drilling operation, which sees TotalEnergies, the operator, holding a 50% working interest alongside Apache’s 50% working interest, will continue with the Maersk Valiant drillship.

Upon completion of the Sapakara South -1 well, the drillship will move approximately 45 kilometers to the north, to drill the Bonboni prospect, before returning later in the year to flow test Sapakara South-1.

Apache said the discovery marked another important step toward a commercial oil development

in the southeast portion of Block 58, with Apache’s President and CEO, John J. Christmann IV, saying: “ We a r e v e r y encouraged by the initial appraisal, having confirmed 30 meters of single, blocky sand that is full to base with black oil. These are the characteristics necessary to accelerate development in this area of Block 58, which has high prospect density.

We are excited to explore the northern portion of the block at Bonboni and look forward to continuing our appraisal program, including a flow test of Sapakara South-1 before year-end.”

The Guyana/Suriname Region has in the past few years been a hotspot of successful offshore oil

exploration, and the Region which currently has only one production unit - Exxon’s Liza Destiny in Guyana will in the next few years have several new FPSO units deployed to develop the discovered resources.

TotalEnergies last month selected Malaysian FPSO specialist Yinson to conduct preliminary Front-End Engineering Design (“preFEED”) for an FPSO to be installed at Block 58 in Suriname.

The news of the new Suriname discovery comes just a day after Exxon said it had made another discovery in its Stabroek Block in Guyana, adding to the nine billion barrels of oil equivalent found in Guyana in recent years.

National Law Enforcement Team formed to tackle the trafficking of firearms and ammunition Permanent Secretary, Ms. Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas and Minister of Home Affairs Hon. Robeson Benn.

O

n Tuesday, the Minister of Home Affairs Hon. Robeson Benn formed a National Team that will focus on priorities of the National Action Plan for the Firearms Roadmap in respect to trafficking of firearms and ammunition.

The National Team has unanimously decided that updating the Firearms Act and relevant norms and regulations, developing and the enhancement of training in surveillance firearms detection at the port and border crossings, enhancing domestic software to facilitate intelligence gathering, information exchange among national and regional law enforcement entities and crime mapping, and to update national weapons inventories as the top priorities for the National Action Plan for the Firearms

Roadmap.

The meeting was held virtually with a joint side event by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the United Nations Development Programme’s South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNDP SEESAC).

UNLIREC and UNDP S E E S A C ’s s i d e e v e n t featured the implementation of two regional documents – the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap and the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap. The Caribbean Firearms Roadmap serves as a renewed effort in curbing gun crime in the Caribbean.

Additionally, Minister Benn and Research Officer, Ms. Jasmin Louisy

participated in the United Nations Seventh Biennial Meeting of States on the Programme of Action to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

Minister Benn also concluded that Guyana appreciates the opportunity to participate in this significant initiative, and encourages other Caribbean countries to get on board.

The team comprises of: Permanent Secretary, Ms. Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas; Crime Chief, Mr. Wendell Blanhum; Research Officer and UNLIREC’s Focal Point, Ms. Jasmin Louisy; Foreign Service Officer II at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Sosheena Parmanand; Inspector of Police at the Criminal Investigation Department, Mr. Richard Frank; Assistant Superintendent at the (Continued on page 22)

Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

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Kaieteur News

Friday July 30, 2021

In absence of ring-fencing provisions, new oil finds mean little for Guyana

I

n l i g h t o f ExxonMobil’s recent announcement that more oil was found at the Whiptail-1 and Whiptail-2 wells in Stabroek Block, an international financial group has come forward to expose what this truly means for the people of Guyana.

According to the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), more discoveries in the Stabroek Block only mean little for the citizenry given the absence of ring-fencing provisions in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) governing the block.

Kaieteur News along with several regional and international stakeholders have stressed since 2015, the importance of having this provision in the PSA as it would prevent ExxonMobil from deducting expenses associated with other projects against a producing field.

This is currently taking place with the Liza Phase One Project. In the absence of a ring-fencing provision, ExxonMobil and its partners are deducting costs associated with the Liza Phase Two and Payara Projects against the Liza Phase One Project. In doing so, the already small profit to be split with the Guyana gets even smaller.

In a report titled: “Lack of Ring-Fencing Provision Means Guyana Won’t Realize Oil Gains Before

- int’l expert

IEEFA, Director of Financial Analysis Tom Sanzillo.

2030s, if at All” by IEEFA’s Director of Financial Analysis, Tom Sanzillo, the devastating effects of failing to have this provision are highlighted.

In the 14-page document, Sanzillo notes that ExxonMobil has already received approval of the Payara field and even made discoveries at Yellowtail, Longtail, Uaru, Redtail, M a k o , Tr i p l e t a i l a n d Whiptail in the Stabroek Block. Sanzillo noted however that all of the associated costs are being charged against the Liza Phase One Project thus reducing Guyana’s share of the profits.

By IEEFA’s estimates, (Continued on page 23)

Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Strengthening Caribbean’s food systems crucial in face of COVID-19 - Agri Minister

M

inisters of Agriculture and other officials from around the

world participated this week in a Pre-Summit for the United Nations Food Systems Summit.

Due to the ongoing global pandemic, COVID19, the Pre-Summit was held virtually and saw the

participation of over 50 countries.

While delivering remarks, Agriculture

Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, said that in order for countries to ensure safe and nutritious foods remain accessible, food availability, utilisation, and stability must be holistically addressed.

Expounding on this front, the Minister said, “The current food system makes ‘ultra-processed’ foods readily accessible, appealing and affordable, displacing more nutritious foods.

Expanding the nontraditional agricultural subsector is therefore critical for diet diversification and enabling equality in availability and access, especially for rural populations…”

Following the onset of the current global pandemic,

flood damage in Barbados and other islands in the Eastern Caribbean. Also, Guyana and Suriname have experienced unprecedented flooding that resulted in tremendous loss of crops and livestock.

With this in mind, Minister Mustapha said actions to reposition the Caribbean’s agriculture must be taken while adding that this should include strengthening linkages between the agri-food, tourism, and health sectors; establishing public-private partnerships in local food production and processing; implementing climate-smart technologies and transitioning towards digital agriculture.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha

the Minister was keen to note that greater emphasis has been placed on building Guyana’s resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stress. Minister Mustapha also told Pre-Summit participants that systems are being put in place to confront such threats thus safeguarding the livelihood of farmers and fishers in the country.

“COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of our food production and distribution systems and exacerbated other challenges such as Climate Change. Guyana must confront these threats to the livelihood of farmers and fishers by making its food systems more climateresilient,” Minister Mustapha said.

CARICOM’S POSITION The Caribbean Region is amongst the most vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change impacts and has been identified as the second most hazard-prone Region in the world.

Just recently, economies and food systems were impacted by the eruption of a volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which affected Barbados and other neighbouring islands, while hurricanes left wind and

He said too, that financing for mitigation and adaptation to climate change has become more critical today than ever before and is necessary to protect and transform Caribbean food systems. The Minister was keen to note that support from international financial institutions, and bilateral partners will be critical to ensuring a more resilient agricultural sector through financing, technology and creating an enabling global environment.

According to the Ministry, the Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit served as the preparatory meeting for the culminating global event which is being held in September 2021 by bringing together diverse actors from around the world to leverage the power of food systems to deliver progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a shared vision for people, planet, and prosperity.

It will consolidate all of the substantive work of the Summit into a common vision and set a tone of bold ambition and commitment to action.

Furthermore, the PreSummit will deliver the latest evidence base and (Continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

Friday July 30, 2021

PAGE 19

Venezuelan women trapped, burnt to death Scenes from the fire yesterday.

Dead, Maria Alejandra Patiño Benjamin.

Dead, Maria Lina Texidor Alonso.

Guyana Fire Service photos from the fire scene.

Two Venezuelan women yesterday morning perished in a fire at an apartment building located at Lot 136 Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown.

They were identified as 25year-old Maria Lina Texidor Alonso and 44-year-old Maria Alejandra Patiño Benjamin.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was informed of the fire around 08:45hrs at the Vizion Hotel and Apartment buildings. The apartment building that was on fire is the second building from the road in the yard.

Kaieteur News was told that the firefighters had difficulty gaining entry into the building due to the fact that the apartments were heavily grilled. As a result, the firefighters had to break the grill door and the wooden door.

An onlooker related to this publication, while the firefighters were struggling to gain entry into the building, screams for help could be heard from some distance because the two women were trapped inside.

It was initially believed that a third victim also perished in the fire, however, Fire Chief, Kalamadeen Edoo, later confirmed that the male

who was trapped in the apartment building managed to escape, without any injuries.

The Fire Chief also informed reporters that when the firefighters gained entry, the women’s charred remains were discovered. One of the women was found lying on the bed and the other was found at the back of the apartment in the bathroom.

The GFS in a release noted that the top floor of the building was severely damaged while the ground floor suffered water damages leaving a total of thirteen persons homeless. However, up to press time the origin of the fire was unknown and the investigation into the fire in ongoing.

Moreover, Kaieteur News was told that Alonso and Benjamin shared an apartment together. Benjamin’s relatives told this publication that she had informed them that she will be moving back to Bolivar City, Venezuela, where she’s from due to domestic issues.

The woman’s relatives also noted that she is a businesswoman and a mother of two. According to them, the woman usually sends items from Guyana to sell in Venezuela.

One remanded, another placed on bail for exposing genitals

A

Placed on bail, Clyve Lewis.

Linden man was on W e d n e s d a y remanded to prison for allegedly raping a minor, while another was placed on $200,000 bail for allegedly exposing his genitals.

Both men appeared virtually before Magistrate, Wanda Fortune, in the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

Thirty-three-year-old Quincy

Skeete was not required to plead to the indictable charge that was read to him. He was charged for sexual activity with a child contrary to Section 16 (3) (a) of the Sexual Offence Act, Chapter 08:03.

Magistrate Fortune remanded Skeete to prison and the matter was adjourned to August 5, 2021.

In another matter, fifty-sevenyear-old Clyve Lewis, was placed

on bail for allegedly exposing his genitals.

Lewis was charged for exposing genitals contrary to Section 28 (2) (b) of the Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 08:03.

The charge was laid indictable and he was not required to either plead guilty or not guilty to the offence. Lewis is expected to make his next court appearance on August 18, 2021.

Remanded, Quincy Skeete.

Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Report finds global climate change lawsuits have doubled since 2015 Paris Agreement

By Carlos Gonsalves

U

K - b a s e d researchers have recently said in a new report released in July that climate-related litigation has soared globally since 2015, with governments and private firms facing unprecedented challenges over their emissions.

The report, entitled “Global trends in climate change litigation: 2021 snapshot” has revealed that “globally, the cumulative number of climate changerelated cases has more than doubled since 2015. Just over 800 cases were filed between 1986 and 2014, while over 1,000 cases have been brought in the last six years.”

The research highlights the climate change litigation trends since 1986 and found that there has been a total of 1,841 climate change related cases heard across 13 courts in 40 countries between 1986 and May, 2021.

Of this figure, almost 55 percent or approximately 1,013 cases were filed since 2015, the year of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5° Celsius

above pre-industrial levels.

Additionally, it pointed out that the number of cases challenging government inaction or lack of ambition in climate goals and commitments continues to grow, with 37 ‘systemic mitigation’ cases identified around the world.

Of the 1,841 ongoing or concluded cases of climate change litigation from around the world, 1,387 were filed before courts in the United States, while the remaining 454 were filed before courts in 39 other countries and 13 international or regional courts and tribunals (including the courts of the European Union), the report found.

The report notes that cases were filed for the first time in Guyana and Taiwan, as well as the East African Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights and that most cases have been brought against governments, typically by corporations, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals.

Litigation that may weaken or undermine mitigation or adaptation

Cover of the report (July 2021 report)

efforts is also a growing phenomenon, according to the report.

This may include cases that have an intentional goal of opposing climate action, or cases that may not have such opposition as their main objective but may nonetheless result in delays or rollbacks of climate action or policies. Some of these

cases may challenge the way in which climate action is carried out or its impact on the enjoyment of human rights, and can be seen as part of a new wave of ‘just transition’ litigation.

In a quantitative review of the outcomes of 369 decided cases found that 58% of cases (215) had outcomes favourable to

climate change action, 32% (118) had unfavourable outcomes, and 10% (36) had no discernible likely impact on climate policy.

It was also found that 68 cases challenged the adequacy of climate action that concerned direct acts or omissions by government, while 25 cases focused on challenging government authorisation for third party activities.

The use of human rights arguments in climate cases continues to rise as 112 human rights cases have now been identified globally, with 29 of these cases filed in 2020 and a further five, up to May 2021.

Ninety-three (93) of these cases have been brought against governments and 16 have been brought against companies. Positive judgments have been delivered in 25 of these cases and negative judgments in 32 (with other cases pending or settled).

Beyond the numbers, an unprecedented number of key judgments with potentially far-reaching impacts were issued in the past 12 months, including cases decided by the apex

courts of Ireland, France, Germany and Pakistan.

The report states that it is expected that climate change litigation will continue to g r o w, r e f l e c t i n g t h e increasing urgency with which the climate crisis is viewed by the general public: “We also expect the range of claims and defendants to continue to diversify, reflecting an increased understanding of the role that multiple actors will need to play in the transition to a net-zero global economy.”

Additionally, it was stated that “Also anticipated is a continued rise in litigation against governments and major emitters that fail to adopt serious long-term strategies underpinned by concrete plans and short-term emissions reduction targets (including for acts and omissions up and down their value chains).

Entities that act inconsistently with commitments and targets, or that mislead the public and interested parties about their products and actions, are also likely to continue to face increased volumes of litigation.”

Thieves empty fridge stocked for workshop breakfast

T

hree persons between Thursday and Friday allegedly broke into the meals kitchen of the Nappi Primary School located in Nappi Village, Region Nine and emptied a fridge that was stocked for a workshop breakfast.

So far, two suspects, a 20-year-old and a 16-year-old, have been arrested while police continue to hunt for the third person.

According to police, the thieves are accused of stealing, two whole chickens; one pack of sausage; one knife; one cutlass; one bottle cooking oil; one bottle nut butter; and two litres of squeezed lime juice, all valued at a total of $11,820.

The police report detailed that the items were purchased to make breakfast for participants of a workshop, which was scheduled to be held at Nappi Primary School last Friday.

The fridge was stocked with the items on Thursday by the organisers and at the end of the day, they secured the building for the following day.

On Friday July 23, 2021, about 06:00 hours, one of the cooks returned to the school to prepare breakfast for the participants.

This is when the woman discovered two boards from the northern door were pried open and braced to the door.

As a result, an alarm was raised and further checks were made for the ingredients – she then realised that ingredients and utensils were missing.

The matter was reported and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) launched an investigation, which led to the arrest of the two suspects who are held in custody.

Efforts are being made to arrest another person who may have conspired to commit this act. Investigations are ongoing.

Friday July 30, 2021

EU urges Cuba to free ‘arbitrarily detained’ protesters HAVANA - (Reuters) - The European Union is “very concerned about the repression” of protests in Cuba and urges the government to release all arbitrarily detained protesters, the EU said yesterday in its strongest statement to date on the matter.

Summary trials have begun for those detained in unprecedented protests nationwide over shortages, power outages and a lack of freedoms on July 11, amid a deep economic crisis that has been exacerbated by the pandemic and U.S. sanctions.

Rights groups have reported around 700 people detained, including several minors. The government has not given its own figures yet but denies that anyone was detained simply for protesting, rather on charges of public disorder, vandalism, contempt of authorities and other offences.

“We call on the Cuban government to respect the human rights and freedoms enshrined in universal Human Rights Conventions,” the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said in the statement.

It came three days after the foreign ministers of the United States and 20 other countries including a handful of EU member states

EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell condemned the mass arrests.

“We urge (the government) to release all arbitrarily detained protesters, to listen to the voices of its citizens, and to engage in an inclusive dialogue on their grievances,” Borrell said.

The EU has avoided public confrontation with Cuba over human rights issues ever since in 2016 signing a new agreement to normalize relations that no longer sought to coerce the Communist-run Caribbean island into democratic reform. The deal was part of a broader Cuban detente with the West.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on Tw i t t e r h e “ s t r o n g l y rejected” the EU statement, which he criticized for not mentioning the “genocidal U.S. blockade” for which the government largely blames the country’s hardships.

Some of Havana’s allies like Mexico and Russia have reacted to the protests by denouncing the U.S. trade embargo, and the Organization of American States had to postpone a special meeting on Cuba due to disagreement among member states over its treatment of the matter.

Haiti’s new PM pledges to hold elections soon after slaying PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - (AP) — Haiti’s newly installed prime minister, Ariel Henry, held his first press conference on Wednesday where he pledged to hold elections as soon as possible following the slaying of President Jovenel Moïse.

Henry said the government’s mission is to hold free, honest and transparent elections with a large voter turnout as he stressed the need for security.

He also said he wants to fight unemployment and reestablish confidence in the country’s judicial system, adding that he has been meeting with civil society leaders and others since being sworn in on July 20.

“The discussions up until now are difficult but constructive,” he said, without offering any details or taking any questions.

Henry stressed the importance of reconciliation and unity, adding that he wants a new model of

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Prime Minister Ariel Henry government: one that is transparent “and above all, free of corruption.”

The press conference, which lasted less than 10 minutes, was held just hours after Henry met with a new Cabinet behind closed doors. He only briefly mentioned the investigation into the July 7 attack at Moïse’s private home in which the first lady was seriously injured, saying

that those responsible need to be brought to justice.

At least 26 people have been arrested in the killing, including 18 former Colombian soldiers and a top police official who served as general coordinator for Moïse’s security detail.

Authorities are still searching for other suspects including a former rebel leader, an exHaitian senator and a Haitian Supreme Court judge.

Woman recounts how reputed husband was killed with his own knife “I thought I was going to die because he kept pelting stabs at me,” were the words of the 29-year-old woman who was arrested in relation to the death of Anthony Pakamram, her reputed husband, earlier this week.

According to reports, Pakamram, a construction worker of Providence, East Bank Demerara, was killed on Sunday afternoon at Lot 3 Old Road, Providence with the very knife, which he had armed himself with while he and his reputed wife were arguing.

News had surfaced that the woman had stabbed her husband once to the neck during the argument but she has since claimed that she cannot recall inflicting the fatal injury. In fact, she believes, that it could be case that her abusive lover had fell on his own knife after he had allegedly wrestled her to the floor.

During an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, the traumatised mother of three said that during that horrifying ordeal, she never thought she would have survived.

The woman said that she was asleep when her reputed husband stormed into her room. The loud entrance startled her and immediately after, he allegedly launched his attack.

She claimed that he had pinned her down on the bed and tried to stab her. In an attempt to save herself, she held onto his hand which had the knife, and a scuffle erupted between them. She related that, as she was fighting for survival, he wrestled her to the floor beside her bed.

The woman continued claims that she did know what happened next but can only remember that he fell over and started to groan. She noticed him bleeding and reportedly panicked soon after.

Her account was partly highlighted in a police report sent out on Monday.

The report stated, “In the melee, the suspect then heard the victim groan and saw him bleeding from his neck.”

Kaieteur News was told that the man had assaulted the woman one day before he died and had even threatened to finish her off the following day.

The deceased, Anthony Pakamram.

On Saturday night, while a group of persons was drinking in front her premises, Pakamram reportedly came and demanded money, which he had given her a few days earlier. She did not give him the money and he reportedly slapped her several times in the presence of friends and family.

Her family members reportedly intervened and there was an altercation between him and them. In the interview with the woman yesterday, she disclosed that it was during that altercation that he allegedly threatened, “To finish her off the following day”.

The family members had reportedly banned him from the yard and warned him not to return.

On Sunday, however, he returned and despite being warned by her father and another relative who was present not to enter the yard, he managed to do so.

It is believed that he persuaded his seven-yearold daughter to open the gate for him.

The woman’s relatives who were present at the home told Kaieteur News that he walked straight through the kitchen and stormed into the room where his wife was.

Meanwhile as investigations continue, investigators have released the mother of three on

$100,000 station bail. They disclosed that the file pertaining to the matter has since been sent to the Director of Public Prosecution and police are awaiting advice on a way forward.

Since learning about her release, it is alleged that the dead man’s family stormed the woman’s premises threatening to burn it down.

The United Bridge Builders Mission (UBBM) who has been working along with the woman for some time now has since taken the woman to a safe place.

The CEO of UBBM, Bonita Montaque disclosed that since the horrifying incident, the woman has not been sleeping and eating as she is still in shock. The CEO added that she is presently undergoing counselling and psychotherapy.

Montaque shared too that the woman had told counsellors that, “at least on 12 occasions,” he had attempted to take her life.

“Sometimes, he would attack with a knife and on one occasion, he even threatened to poison her,” said the UBBM CEO. During the week, this media house too reported that Pakamram years back attempted to burn the woman alive.

In her interview, she stated that that incident occurred on January 1, 2012.

He had already thrown the kerosene about her body but she claimed, he was not finding a match, and with that, she managed to escape.

The mother of three explained to Kaieteur News that the two have been together since in 2010 and their relationship has been rocky from then on. She noted too that Pakamram was a controlling and aggressive person with a substance abuse habit.

UBBM which is a nongovernmental organisation that assists victims of abuse and domestic violence is calling on the Guyana Police Force to be vigilant when dealing with these cases.

Just recently, ranks of the Force benefitted from domestic violence lecture.

There they were lectured on the types of domestic violence, cause and effects of domestic violence and how police should respond to these matters.

PAGE 22

Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Stuck on a boat with no food, no money and no clean drinking water are three Trinidadian workers who have not been paid by their employer for months. Their current situation is so extreme that these men will need help to get back home because it seems as though their employer might have abandoned them.

Stranded on a cargo vessel currently docked at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation’s (GNIC) wharf located in Charlestown, Georgetown, are Junior Alex, a cook, Kevin Paul, a welder and Nigel Lashley, a crane operator.

The men were recruited by a company to work on the cargo vessel and had signed a contract with one of the owners of the company.

Alex said that they were sent to Guyana on a plane. He arrived on April 4,, 2021, while his colleagues Paul and Lashley arrived on April 28.

Kaieteur News understands that a short while after they had arrived in Guyana, the owner they had signed the contract with “had a fallout” with his partner.

As result, the man who employed them is no longer part of the company; however, they felt secure that things would go well for them because it was his partner who had signed their work permit.

The men began to work, but things went from bad to worse after the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) halted the vessel.

MARAD had reportedly inspected the vessel and found that it was not fit to travel.

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prior to the inspection of the vessel; they were paid one month’s salary and had sent that money home to their families but were never paid anything since then. Alex related that it seems as if they were abandoned. Food supplies and drinking water stopped arriving on the vessel. Their pocket money dwindled until they had no more.

The men reportedly reached out to their employer

requesting their salaries that they are owed but talks with him fell through. Kaieteur News understands that the men are not being paid because the man they had signed the contract with is no longer a part of the company.

Left without any money, no food or water the men decided that they wanted to return home and out of frustration asked their employer to pay their airfare in order for them to return to Trinidad.

According to the

workers, their employer refused to do so and now it seems they fallen into a trap and are now stranded miles away from their loved ones.

One of the men broke down into tears while speaking to this media house. He explained that he is not worried about himself but for his two daughters back home in Trinidad.

He has not sent home a penny in four months and is worried about their living conditions and grocery supplies.

Health Ministry records two more COVID-19 deaths Yesterday, the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported that two more persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease have passed away.

As a result of this, the country’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 535.

According to the Ministry, the latest fatalities are that of a 65-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and 67-year-old woman from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). Both persons died on Wednesday while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

Further, the MoH via its daily COVID-19 dashboard recorded 57 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 22,372.

The dashboard also revealed that 15 patients are admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 62 persons are in institutional isolation, 786 in home isolation and four in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 20,974 have recovered from the virus.

...National Law Enforcement Team formed From page 14 Immigration Department, Mr. Troy Benn; Officer Commanding Ordinance at the Guyana Defence Force, Captain Stephen Castor; Group Leader at the Customs Au-

thority, Mr. Ramond Young; Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Natasha Backer; and Technical Officer at the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, Mr. Ron Marks.

Guyana has committed to

the Development for the Roadmap for Implementing the Caribbean Priority Actions on the Illicit Proliferation of Firearms and Ammunition across the Caribbean in a sustainable manner by 2030.

...Govt. now moving to update From page 8 compliance and transparency to ensure that the benefits from this sector improve the lives of all Guyanese.”

ExxonMobil Guyana announced its first discovery in

2015 when it hit pay dirt in the Stabroek Block at its Liza I wells and has since made a record 21 more commercial discoveries. Production from the Stabroek Block began in December 2019 and continues

to date with a second Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel—the Liza Unity—set to arrive in Guyana later this year to commence production from its Liza II discovery.

...Strengthening Caribbean’s food systems From page 18 scientific approaches from around the world; strengthen coalitions of action; and mobilise new financing and partnerships.

Through the Pre-Summit, the UN Food Systems Summit has reaffirmed its commitment to promote human rights for all and ensure everyone; everywhere has the opportu-

nity to participate. The event is open to all, with a small inperson component in the context of COVID-19, complemented by a vast virtual programme and platform.

Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

...Property Manager, security guard charged for restricting From page 12 Ville Housing Development, a gated community located at Providence, East Bank Demerara, they unlawfully restricted the movement of Smith. However, the police prosecutor made an application for the matter to be tried summarily rather than indictably. The application was granted and the charge was re-read to the duo – they both denied the charge.

According to the facts of the charge, on the afternoon of June 15, 2021, Shyamraj and

Wishart reportedly prevented Smith from entering the Richmond Ville Housing Development despite being aware that he lives in the said gated community.

The matter was reported and based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar AliHack, S.C, Shyamraj and Wishart were charged.

Magistrate Sunil Scare granted the defendants bail in the sum of $50,000 each and the matter was adjourned to August 11, 2021.

...In absence of ring-fencing provisions, new discoveries From page 16 Guyana should receive upward of US$6 billion annually by 2028 or sooner but, because of all of these new costs, which neither ExxonMobil nor the government is disclosing, IEEFA’S Director of Financial Analysis posits, “Guyana will be shortchanged until the 2030s, if not longer.”

Sanzillo also stressed that the recent announcement of a discovery at the Whiptail site may help ExxonMobil’s stock price but said one ought to be aware of the reality that it ultimately reduces Guyana’s profits.

He said, “The lack of contract protections means that every time Guyana announces it has received more revenue, it is actually being short-

changed.”

From a global perspective, Sanzillo said Guyana ought to pay attention to the fact that the oil and gas industry is facing stiff competition and lower growth expectations.

On this note, he said Guyana selling more oil in an overcrowded market would be “risky business” as it may never see the promised annual revenues in the billions of dollars.

When the foregoing issues are placed alongside the fact that the true costs of ExxonMobil’s projects, its new discoveries, and its dry holes remain unknown, Sanzillo alluded that the Stabroek Block deal essentially leaves the people of Guyana in a dark abyss of worrisome financial risks.

...Parliament unable to debate From page 3 emergencies or during periods of maintenance.”

According to Patterson, ExxonMobil Guyana has routinely been engaged in flaring in direct contravention of the terms of the Liza 1 Permit issued and acknowledged, and as a result, has caused, and is causing substantial damage to the environment and the credibility of the Liza 1 Development Project.

He notes in the motion too that calculations based upon reported Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)— ExxonMobil Guyana—production data shows that zero flaring, except for the small amount allowed for pilot flaring, may be achieved by reducing oil production by approximately 15,000 barrels per day.

Patterson observes in the motion that according to Clause 13.1 in the Liza 1 and Liza 2 Permits, EPA “reserves the right to review and amend the conditions attached to this Permit.”

As, such, Patterson in the motion has signalled

an intention to call on the National Assembly to not only express its dissatisfaction at the flaring imbroglio, but to ensure that all reasonable measures have been taken or are being taken to prevent the flaring of gas as currently exists, and which is “reported by EEPGL to be 16 million cubic feet, per day (mcfd) at the designed maximum safe oil production limit of 120,000 barrels oil, per day (bopd).”

Patterson by way of the motion is also calling on the administration to direct ExxonMobil Guyana to abide by the terms and conditions of the Liza 1 Permit issued on June 1, 2017, and to request that the EPA “takes all reasonable measures to ensure compliance including, EEPGL achieving zero flaring at the Liza 1 Project through reduction of oil production rates.”

Alternatively the “suspension of same Liza 1 Permit if zero flaring is not met, until it is satisfied that all reasonable and lawful efforts are being made to ensure that there is no flaring of gas as has occurred over the past several weeks.”

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Kaieteur News

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Friday July 30, 2021

City Mayor says Public Works Ministry should settle its $300M tax debt

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a y o r o f Georgetown, Ubraj Narine has reminded Minister of Public Works, Hon. Juan Edghill that his Ministry owes the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) over $300M and should settle its debt.

The reminder came in a statement from the Mayor on Wednesday in which he rejected remarks made by the Minister at the commissioning of the new Owen and McDougall Streets in Kitty, Georgetown on Tuesday.

“Mayor Narine continues to express his concern that there is too much politics being played with the citizens of Georgetown. He wishes to encourage the Minister to meet with the Council and work together as partners in the maintenance and development of Georgetown,” the statement said.Edghill had criticised the management of the city by the M&CC and accused it of throwing its responsibilities over to the Ministry of Public Works.

He said that the Ministry took up the task of renovating the Owen and McDougall Streets though it

should have been M&CC’s responsibility.

“In the real construct of things, Central Government is to take care of the main thoroughfare; Government is to take care of internal roads. So, if you put it this way, this road that we’re commissioning is a road that the City was supposed to be doing and, it’s because they’re not doing it, we had to step in and do these kinds of work,” Edghill said about the $39.5 million project.

Edghill also said that due t o C i t y H a l l ’s p o o r management during the recent rainy season, the Central Government was forced to take over management of the city’s pumps and koker.

The minister further stated that, “M&CC is doing nothing and the people suffering. But at the same

time, we have to tell City Hall, up your game! People are paying taxes; you are getting government subventions; you have to provide some amount of service to the people of the city.”

However, in a statement on Wednesday, Mayor Narine rejected the Minister’s position on the matters stating that M&CC has enjoyed a good working relationship with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to ensure the pumps are in working order to supplement the work of koker attendants employed by the municipality.

The Mayor said too that should the Ministry pay the over $300 million it owes, this sum will greatly assist the Council in the execution of its duties.

Minister of Public Works, Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill

Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine

Friday July 30, 2021

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Wanindu Hasaranga leads the way with four-for as Sri Lanka claim 2-1 series win ESPNcricinfo Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga terrorised batters right through his four overs, Dasun Shanaka picked up two wickets through the early middle overs, and Dushmantha Chameera kept the pressure on with the new ball and at the death, to reduce a severely depleted India batting order to 81 for 8 in their 20 overs.

Against the worst XI India fielded (they were forced to dip into their net-bowling reserves in this game, after Navdeep Saini was injured in the last match), Sri Lanka produced perhaps their best bowling and fielding performance of the series.

This was a worn, turning, surface, so 81 wasn’t as

modest a total as it might read.

Still, Sri Lanka’s batters chased it comfortably, getting home with 33 balls and seven wickets to spare. This was their first T20I series victory since 2019, and their first ever against India in a bilateral series.

Hasaranga runs riot India had already been dented twice when Sri Lanka’s best bowler came to the crease. Shikhar Dhawan had edged Chameera to wide slip in the first over, before offspinner Ramesh Mendis got Devdutt Padikkal lbw in the fourth.

Then came Hasaranga, who was celebrating his 24th birthday, to deliver perhaps the definitive over of the innings. Fourth ball, he hit

Sanju Samson in front of middle stump with a fast legbreak, the batter not bothering to review after clearly missing his acrossthe-line shot.

Two balls later, Hasaranga slipped in a straighter one that bounced a bit, and hit Ruturaj Gaikwad’s pads with a delivery that would have clipped the top of leg stump.

Later, he was just as effective against India’s long tail, having Bhuvneshwar Kumar caught at extra-cover, then Varun Chakravarthy at short midwicket. He finished with figures of 4 for 9 from his four overs - the best of his career.

Shanaka turns the screws in the middle overs

Friday July 30, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Technology is highlighted for you today, Aries. It could be that you install a new phone or computer system, which will make life just a bit easier.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You're a social creature, Taurus, and today you can expect to attract a lot of attention.

You're feeling good and looking even better - and don't think that people don't notice!

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You have a romantic soul.

Today your thoughts are on love and romance. You may be thinking of that special someone in your life, grateful that you've found each other.

CANCER(June21–July22) You have a romantic soul, Gemini. Today your thoughts are on love and romance. You may be thinking of that special someone in your life, grateful that you've found each other.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You have hidden talents that may be revealed to you today, Leo. Perhaps collaboration with someone new has you doing things you never thought you could. Perhaps you discover a talent for writing, graphic design, or money management.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You're a kind, caring individual, Virgo. Today your concern for others may be so strong that you take steps to do something concrete to save, if not the world, at least a few of the individuals in it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you may develop a deeper understanding of what's really important to you, Libra. You may be surprised by what you discover.

The material means far less to you than the spiritual.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your life is likely to enlarge today, either through a new group affiliation or people you meet. You may be invited to a party where a whole world of new and exciting events opens up to you.

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You'll learn this today as good fortune puts you in the right place at the right time.

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Change is in the air for you, Capricorn, and you need only be receptive in order for it to come about.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you may wake up and realize that there is serious room for improvement, Aquarius. If decorating isn't your strong suit, why not call in the professionals?

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You tend to keep to yourself, Pisces, but today you could be inspired to join a group activity. Perhaps some friends have invited you to come out for drinks. Or maybe a neighbor asked you to consider joining a neighborhood organization.

India were understandably cautious after Hasaranga’s first over had left them 25 for 4, but even with batters attempting largely safe shots, Shanaka managed to wangle out two wickets to turn India’s toporder collapse into a crisis.

He took an outsanding return catch, throwing himself to his left to intercept a lob from Nitish Rana, after the batter had pushed at a slower ball too early. Later in the innings, he bowled a bouncer at Rahul Chahar, whose attempted ramp shot went high into the air for wicketkeeper Minod Bhanuka to get under. Shanaka finished with 2 for 20 from his four.

Chahar gives India a sniff - Even on a turning pitch, this always felt like a indefensible score. It was thanks to Chahar, and the big spin he generated with his legbreak, that the chase was even slightly interesting. He took a return catch off Avishka Fernando in the final over of the powerplay, then later turned one past the bat of Minod Bhanuka to get him lbw.

His third wicket was from a topspinner that Sadeera Samarawickrama was late on, and let clatter into his stumps.

Chahar finished with 3 for 15 - the second-best figures in the game.

DDS takes Sri Lanka home again - Both the last two

...Tokyo Olympics: What to look From page 28 men’s doubles final. The men’s singles semi-finals will also take place, with Novak Djokovic, chasing a Golden Slam this year, up against Germany’s Alexander Zverev.

Karen Khachanov of the Russian Olympic Committee will do battle with Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta to find out who will make it through from the other half of the draw.

High hopes for Australian duo - Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell could make it an Australia one-two in the women’s 100m freestyle final.

McKeon set a new Olympic record of 52.13 seconds on Wednesday and will go out in lane four next to her dangerous compatriot Campbell.

That is one of four finals on Friday, with Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa expected to take some stopping in the 200m breaststroke final after clocking an Olympic record time of 2:19.16 this week.

Medals will also be up for grabs in the men’s 200m backstroke final and the men’s 200m individual medley.

Wanindu Hasaranga is congratulated by his team-mates after Sanju Samson’s dismissal © Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images matches were made for Dhananjaya de Silva’s style of T20 batting, with modest totals to chase.

He ensured he stuck around until the winning run

came for the second night in succession, remaining 23 not out off 20 balls.

Hasaranga was at the crease with him, having hit 14 off nine.

Kaieteur News

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Friday July 30, 2021

America’s new teenage gymnastics prodigy takes all-round gold in Tokyo as Simone Biles watches on from the stands

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ailOnline - A new teenage American gymnastics prodigy was crowned Olympic champion on Thursday (yesterday), in the eye-line of the one who had found the suffocating weight of expectation too much.

Moments before 18year-old Sunisa Lee performed the concluding floor routine which took her to gold, she looked into the area of seating where Simone Biles had spent the competition. No words came down from there. Lee was alone, taking the hopes of her nation into 90 seconds of cartwheeling gymnastics.

She delivered, surpassing the performances of the two Russians and a Brazilian who had threatened US supremacy in the women’s individual allaround final which goes back to 1992.

For a second night of w o m e n ’s c o m p e t i t i o n , American drama almost obscured a British achievement of historic proportions.

As Lee approached the floor, Jessica Gadirova was quietly stepping up to perform a concluding vault which saw her become the first British representative to make the top 10 in this

America’s Sunisa Lee took gold in the all-round women’s gymnastics in Tokyo. (Getty Images)

competition.

It was courageous of Biles to be there. ‘It means a lot to me just to have her in t h e a r e n a . S h e ’s a n inspiration to me,’ Lee said.

Yet the 24-year-old’s state of distraction was painful to behold.

Having initially shouted encouragement to competitors of all nationalities — gymnasts who would not have held a candle to her, had she competed — Biles spent a lot of the time lost in her phone.

She did not seem to be watching some of the performances of Lee and

Jade Carey, who stood in for her and finished ninth.

Lee competed on the edge, taking risks in an allout effort to fend off the Russians and the Brazilian Rebeca Andrade, who led after the first discipline.

Her Olympic hopes flashed before her eyes in the split second she fractionally lost her balance on the beam, while executing a third spin.

It was testimony to her upper body strength that she recovered from that moment.

The gold hinged on it.

Gadirova fell from the beam during her own routine. Yet within minutes,

she was waving into the camera.

‘It is quite cool to become the first one to do it,’ she said of her top-10 finish.

‘I was a bit annoyed I had the fall on the beam but I tried to perform the best I could.’

Her sister Jennifer finished 13th. The Gadirovas, who urged each other on in the same group of performers, remain one of the delights of Team GB. For America, Lee provides a welcome new narrative about diversity and inclusion.

The 18-year-old is from

one of the American Hmong communities, who entered the US as refugees during the Vietnam War in the 1970s.

‘The Hmong community are the most supportive people ever and I just feel like many of their people don’t reach their goals,’ Lee said after taking gold. ‘I don’t know why this is. But I want my people to know that you should follow your dreams. Don’t give up on your dreams.’

Hers is also story of perseverance. In June last year, she broke her foot and has struggled so much to

recover from that she even felt pain when stepping out to compete on Thursday.

Down in the postcompetition mixed zone, conversation ranged through all this, to the pride in her felt by her father, paralysed in an accident in 2019, and how she has dealt with online abuse.

There was too much delirium washing around down there to ask how Lee might avoid the kind of pitfalls that have made this such a torrid time for Biles.

Hopefully, gymnastics will learn.

Lewis Hamilton-Max Verstappen collision: Red Bull’s penalty request rejected BBCsport - Red Bull’s request for a reassessment of the penalty given to Lewis Hamilton at the British Grand Prix has been rejected

by Formula 1 officials. The Mercedes driver was judged “predominantly to blame” for a first-lap collision with title rival Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.

Hamilton received a 10second penalty. Stewards in place for this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix ruled there was no significant additional evidence to take into account. Verstappen, 23, crashed out of the race, while Hamilton recovered to take a dramatic victory.

The decision leaves Verstappen with an eightpoint lead over Hamilton, 36, in the championship heading into this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, the last before a three-week summer break for F1.

Mercedes “welcomed” the decision but called the appeal and the documents submitted “a concerted attempt by the senior management of Red Bull Racing to tarnish the good name and sporting integrity of Lewis Hamilton.”

What did Red Bull argue? Red Bull presented a series of pieces of information they regarded as new evidence to the hearing, including the GPS data from the cars showing their positioning.

They also presented similar data, car speeds and simulation information of Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the manoeuvre in which the Mercedes driver passed for the lead with two laps to go.

Red Bull used the Leclerc pass to argue Hamilton would have made contact in that move too - if

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen came together at the British Grand Prix. (REUTERS) he had been on the same line at the same speed as he was in the Verstappen incident.

And they claimed Hamilton needed to brake 23m earlier than he actually did to make the corner.

Their aim was to establish ground rules following the collision for the rest of the season, as the title battle between the two men reaches a climax. Red

Bull also wanted to understand how the decision was made after such a major accident.

Verstappen suffered an impact of 51G when he hit the barriers at the 190mph Copse corner and was taken to hospital for tests. He was released later that evening uninjured, apart from bruising and aches and pains.

Why was the case

rejected? To reassess the case, the stewards would have had to deem the evidence to be “new, significant and relevant”; that it had been “discovered” rather than created, and been unavailable at the time of the decision.

They ruled that there was no element unavailable to the parties seeking the review at the time. And they

said the GPS data submissions were “created based on evidence that was available at the time of the decision”.

The stewards said they “noted with some concern certain allegations” raised by Red Bull. They refused to c o m m e n t f u r t h e r, a n d Mercedes also declined to address what Hamilton had been accused of by Red Bull.

Friday July 30, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Belinda Bencic.

Edgar Su/Reuters

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euters, Tokyo Belinda Bencic could become the first woman to clinch a singles tennis gold for Switzerland after she booked a place in the Olympic final with a hardwon 7-6(2) 4-6 6-3 victory over Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina on Thursday (yesterday).

Standing in front of her in Saturday’s title match will be Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who knocked out Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-3 6-1 in a onesided contest. On the men’s side, 20-times major champion Novak Djokovic eased into the last four with a commanding performance a g a i n s t J a p a n ’s K e i Nishikori but world number

Friday July 30, 2021

Olympics-Tennis-Bencic, Vondrousova to vie for gold as Djokovic eases into semis two Daniil Medvedev bowed out with a 6-2 7-6(5) loss to Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

Bencic was in tears after she closed out a nervy battle against the 20th-ranked Rybakina, who squandered multiple leads during a topsy-turvy semi-final on Centre Court.

The win will ensure a tennis medal for Switzerland for the fourth Olympic Games in a row, while Bencic will have a chance to be the first player to win a singles gold for the country since Marc Rosset won the men’s Olympic final in 1992.

“I mean my emotions right now are too high. To have the medal, for me it’s the greatest thing ever,” the

24-year-old told reporters.

“To be here as an athlete, for the Olympics, it’s amazing and also to have a medal, it’s something I dreamt off and I didn’t think it will become reality.”

The Swiss on Thursday also became the fifth player to make the finals in both singles and doubles tournaments since tennis’s return to the Olympics in 1988, after American sisters Venus (2000) and Serena Williams (2012), Chile’s Nicolas Massu (2004) and Briton Andy Murray (2012).

Bencic and partner Viktorija Golubic beat Brazilian pair Laura Pigossi and Luisa Stefani 7-5 6-3 in the women’s doubles semifinal. Djokovic will next

play Germany’s Alexander Zverev – who beat Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-1 – for a place in Sunday’s final.

In their first meeting, Karen Khachanov edged Frenchman Ugo Humbert 76(4) 4-6 6-3 in a closelyfought match to book a spot in the men’s semi-finals against Carreno Busta.

Carreno Busta’s victory ruled out an all-Russian semi-final and the Spaniard said his match against Medvedev was one of the best of his career.

In men’s doubles, Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig secured an Olympic medal for Croatia by beating New Zealanders Marcus Daniell and Michael Venus 6-2 6-2 for a place in final.

Novak Djokovic celebrates after beating Kei Nishikori.

Edgar Su/Reuters

Swimming-Double gold joy for American men, Chinese women

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okyo - Caeleb Dressel won the blue riband m e n ’s 1 0 0 m freestyle as the United States celebrated two gold medals in the Tokyo pool on Thursday while China’s women responded with two golds, and a world record, of their own in another thrilling day of swimming.

Alongside Dressel’s triumph in the marquee event, fellow American Bobby Finke clinched the 800m freestyle with an impressive late surge. China gained their first gold in the Tokyo pool with Zhang Yufei winning the women’s 200m butterfly and then she returned to the pool to help her team upset the favored Australians to win the 4x200m freestyle relay, setting a world record along the way.

Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook took gold in the men’s 200m breaststroke, also thanks to an incredible late surge to the finish. World champion Dressel powered to victory in an Olympic record 47.02, finishing six hundredths of a second ahead of Rio winner Kyle Chalmers of Australia, with Russian Kliment Kolesnikov taking bronze.

Dressel went into the race as favorite and led from rising star Kolesnikov at the

USA’s Robert Finke after winning the men’s 800m freestyle final. Marko Djurica/Reuters turn before holding off a strong finish from Chalmers to touch first. It was Dressel’s fourth Olympic gold but his first in an individual event having picked up two relay medals in Rio and the 4x100m freestyle relay in Tokyo.

“I wasn’t worried about anything at all … it means a lot, I knew the weight was on my shoulders,” said Dressel.

“It’s a really tough year, it’s really hard. So, to have the results show up, It really came together, so I’m happy,” Dressel said.

Zhang Delivers - In the 800 free, Finke pulled off a surprise win ahead of Italian world champion Gregorio Paltrinieri, who led all the way until the 750m turn when German Florian Wellbrock moved in front for the last length.

But Finke then made his

late move and powered home in a time of 7:41.87.

We l l b r o c k f a d e d b u t Paltrinieri did not, the Italian, who had been a doubt for the Games due to illness, touching 0.24 seconds behind Finke to take the silver.

Ukraine’s Mykhailo

Romanchuk took the bronze medal. Finke said he had to push hard when he saw Paltrinieri was clawing his way back towards the finish.

“I noticed when I was about 10 meters out that he was catching a little ground and that was all the motivation I needed,” said the American.

Paltrinieri was the clear favorite last year before suffering with “mono,” or mononucleosis, and its tiring effects. “I didn’t know how it would go, so being here on the podium, I wouldn’t have bet a euro on it. I wouldn’t have bet on it two weeks ago,” he said.

China’s biggest gold medal hope Zhang delivered in style — taking control from the outset as she set an Olympic record of 2:03.86 to improve on her silver from

t h e 1 0 0 m b u t t e r f l y.

Americans Regan Smith and Hali Flickinger took silver and bronze to win the country’s first medals in the women’s event since Sydney in 2000.

Zhang was soon back in the water and medalling again as part of the victorious 4x200m Chinese team, which left the Americans and highly-rated Australians trailing in their wake.

Australia had been the fastest qualifiers, and with double Tokyo gold medal winner Ariarne Titmus in their team were the heavy favorites to follow-up on their 4x100m gold.

Zhang kept China in front on the penultimate leg before handing over to Li Bingjie, who did well to hold off six-times gold medallist

Katie Ledecky in the final meters as the United States had to settle for silver.

In the men’s 200m breaststroke, Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands led at the 150m turn and was inside world record time as he fought with Finland’s Matti Mattsson.

Stubbletly-Cook was third on the last turn, 1.2 seconds adrift of the lead, but then delivered an astonishing final lap to secure the country’s fifth gold medal in the pool so far and the first for their men.

Kamminga was second, adding to his silver in the 100m breaststroke, with Mattsson taking bronze. The gold was the first in men’s breaststroke for Australia since Ian O’Brien in Tokyo in 1964, also in the 200m.

Tokyo Olympics: What to look out for today Sportsmax - Today sees the start of the Olympic athletics schedule and the first tennis medals will be won in Tokyo. The men’s 10,000 metres final will be staged on the first day of track and field action at the Olympic Stadium.

There will be an allCroatia men’s doubles gold medal match at the Ariake Tennis Park, plus no doubt more drama to come in the

pool. Stats Perform picks out some of the standout events to look forward to.

Cheptegei favourite for first Track gold - Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo both have the chance to become the first athlete from Uganda to win an Olympic gold medal in the men’s 10,000m final.

Cheptegei, the 2019 world champion, is well fancied in the last event on

the track on Friday, while his compatriot Kiplimo could become the youngest man to be crowned champion at the distance at the age of 20 years and 258 days.

Yo mif K ejelch a o f Ethiopia and Canadian Mohammed Ahmed also have high hopes of making it onto the podium. Other events to look out for are the start of the women’s 100m, men’s 400m hurdles and

men’s high jump, along with the women’s 800m and women’s triple jump.

Croatia guaranteed doubles gold - One guarantee on Friday is that Croatia will add a gold and silver medal to their tally at the Tokyo Games. Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig will face compatriots Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the gold medal match in the (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

Friday July 30, 2021

Rose’ all-round blitz hands Jacklow Crazy Pomeroon U-15 title A fine all-round performance by Zandon Rose handed Jacklow Crazy XI 64-run victory over host Macaseema in the final of the Pomeroon Cricket Committee Under 15 T20 competition which was contested on Sunday last at Upper Pomeroon.

Jacklow Crazy XI won the toss and batted first scoring 166 all out in 19.1 overs. Rose struck 62 while Kevin Benjamin made 30 not out and Adiri Browne 20.

Justin George claimed 2-16 in two overs.

In reply, Macaseema were bowled out for 102 in 14.1 overs with Renaldo Smith scoring 25, Justin Gorge 16 and Renaldo Cassiemero 14. Rose grabbed 4-17 in 3.1 overs; Harold Demattos had 2-14 in two overs and Zadaine Edwards 2-21 in four overs.

Rose was named man - of -

Jamaica boxer Brown fails in bid to claim Olympic medal Ricardo Brown and Satish Kumar

Harold Demattos - MVP and Best Batsman the – match.

Individual awards were given to MVP and best batsman - Harold Demattos, best bowler - Renaldo Smith and best fielder - Ronaldo Cassiemero. Jacklow Crazy XI were undefeated in the entire competition, winning all six games.

Former Essequibo batsman Devon Ramnauth who was among the sponsors

PAGE 29

expressed gratitude to the teams and everyone involved in making the competition a success, especially President of the Pomeroon Cricket Committee, Mr. Ernesto Demattos and his Board members.

Other sponsors were Danesh Besessar, Carl Courtman, Arshad Insanally and Rockerz family.

S

portsmax Jamaican SuperHeavyweight, Ricardo Brown, came up short in his bid for a medal as he lost in a first-round bout to India’s Satish Kumar, by split decision. Four judges scored the fight in favour of Kumar and one scored it for the Jamaican.

Brown, popularly known as ‘Big 12,’ had a slow start, losing the first round on all the judges’ scorecards and never really recovered from

there.

He showed more intent and tried to pick up the pace in rounds 2 and 3 but ultimately didn’t do any significant damage as Kumar, who fought a more technical fight, was able to come away with the win.

Kumar, a two-time Asian Championships bronze medalist, was cut on the forehead after an accidental clash of heads in the 3rd round but kept his composure, and avoided

Shooting: Tears of joy as San Marino becomes smallest Olympic medalHow much do Olympic stars winning get for winning gold, silver and nation Renaldo Smith receives the best bowler of the competition prize

T

Bronze medalist Alessandra Perilli of San Marino reacts.

Reuters/ Ann Wang.

(REUTERS)

Zandon Rose accepts his Man-of-the-Match prize

bronze medals at Tokyo Games he Sun – The prize money for athletes who land medals at Tokyo 2020 has been revealed.

But it’s bad news for Team GB winners, who have so far claimed five golds, seven silvers and six bronzes.

The Independent claims British Olympic medallists such as Tom Daley get NOTHING for making it on the podium. In comparison, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee shells out around £27,000 for a gold medal, £16k for silver and £10k for bronze.

But that’s nothing when it comes to other countries who tend to win fewer medals.

Malaysian athletes get £17k for bronze, £52k

some potentially devastating right hands from Brown, to seal victory and advance to the quarterfinals, one step closer to an opportunity at a medal.

He will next face reigning world and Asian Champion Bakhodir Jalovov of Uzbekistan tomorrow.

Brown, 31, was a bronze medalist at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, and was seeking to become J a m a i c a ’s 1 s t b o x i n g medallist at the Olympics.

for silver and £173k for gold. Meanwhile, Hong Kong pays £115k for bronze, £230k for silver and £461k for gold.

But Singapore hands out the most, giving £205k for bronze, £266k for silver and an eye-watering £533k for gold. However, individual Olympic committees are in turn well paid by organisers. The International Olympic Committee will pocket a staggering £2.8BILLION from television rights.

American TV outlet NBC alone has spent £5.5bn to broadcast all summer and winter Olympics up to 2032. And Tokyo 2020 alone is estimated to be at least an £11bn event in itself.

T

okyo: Tokyo 2020 served up another slice of history on Thursday (yesterday) when San Marino became the least populated country to win an Olympic medal at the Summer or Winter Games.

Alessandra Perilli clinched bronze in the women’s trap shooting, becoming the first person to win an Olympic medal for the microstate of around 34,000 inhabitants. San Marino replaced Bermuda as the record holder, two days after Flora Duffy won the island nation’s second medal, but first gold, in the women’s triathlon.

The tiny nation based in northern Italy also became the least populous country to win a medal in the summer or winter games, a

record previously held by Liechtenstein, who have won 10 Winter Olympics medals.

“We had two sleepless nights. We watched everything live and as soon as we knew that she had won a medal we were in tears,” Perilli’s father Claudio told ANSA. Perilli, who finished fourth at the 2012 Games in London, went one better nine years later, finishing behind gold medallist Zuzana Stefecekova of Slovakia and USA’s Kayle Browning, who took silver.

“During the final, when the fifth shooter went out, I thought, I don’t want to be one more time in fourth place, so I have to make it,” said the 33-year-old. “This is the first medal for me and for my country. We are a small country but very proud.”

Kaieteur News

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Friday July 30, 2021

69 year-old Frank Tucker squats 182.5kg-402lb. Franklin Wilson photo

GAPLF 2021 Intermediates/Masters Championship

Past and future athletes showcase power

T

he oldest and y o u n g e s t competitors at l a s t S u n d a y ’s Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) Intermediates and Masters Championships, 72 year-old ‘Uncle’ Noel Cummings and 14 year-old Romeo Hunter were both record breakers as the past and future of the sport was on show.

Even with covid-19 regulations and restrictions being adhered to by the organiser at the Saint Stanislaus College Auditorium including no fans being allowed, the athletes were fully pumped up and combined to set 20

Cidell Patrick is good for 227.5kg501.6lb.

Franklin Wilson photo

Kelvin Moore’s 3rd attempt at 200.0kg-440.9lb is solid. Franklin Wilson photo 22 year-old Puneshwar Ramjit powers up 237.5kg-523.6lb. Franklin Wilson photo

new records.

The intermediate athletes were part of the Federation’s Novices championships held in April this year. Their consistent and disciplined

training since, brought the desired rewards and they have now set their sights on the senior championships, the Federation’s marquee event, later this year.

20 year-old Enrique Stoll deadlifts 212kg-468.5lb.

Franklin Wilson photo

Ramnaraine Ragoobar.

Franklin Wilson photo

Randy Halley squatting 212.5kg468.5lb. Franklin Wilson photo

Kaieteur News

Friday July 30, 2021

CAC Bodybuilding Championships

PAGE 31

“I’m in the best shape of my life”

- Campbell; supported by GOA, Space Gym and Fitness Express

By Calvin Chapman Multiple-time Central American & Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding championships medalist, Emmerson Campbell has gotten a boost from the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Space

Gym and Fitness Express a h e a d o f t h i s y e a r ’s competition which will be held in San Salvador, El Salvador from August 12-16.

The four-time local Mr. Physique champion, who is the embodiment of selfassurance right now, shared with Kaieteur Sport that he is very happy and thankful for the continued support from the three entities.

He explained that bodybuilding takes a lot of time and dedication and he hopes to maintain a relationship with his sponsors as good as his focus on adding the Gold medal to his silver and bronze that has already been earned from the CAC Championships.

In terms of his progress, Campbell revealed that he is “… way ahead of schedule.

I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m more conditioned, I’m bigger, harder, I’m fuller

and more confident now.”

T h e s e a s o n e d campaigner shared that he believes he has the right formula now and paid tribute to his wealth of experience being an active competitor throughout the years for that, “Everything is on track. It is unreal the progress I’ve made from since I’ve started my preparation for competition. It was a bit easier this time around as well because I’ve learned from the past what works and what doesn’t and where to take short cuts.” “ I ’ m definitely competition ready and poised to claim that elusive Gold medal to complete the set.

I’m 100% positive that once I maintain my health and fitness, I will do well at this year’s competition.”

The Law 28 Fitness certified fitness instructor and Stabroek News Reporter is among six other athletes that have been picked by the Guyana Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation (GBBFF) with much confidence and optimism to represent the Golden Arrowhead well.

The other athletes making up team Guyana to the CAC Bodybuilding championships are Kerwin Clarke, Rosanna Fung, Yannick Grimes, Roger Callendar, Darius Ramsammy and Nicholas Albert.

The GBBFF also looks forward to having its President, Keavon Bess, lead its delegation along with at least one coach to ensure that the athletes are taken care of.