Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 01, 2022

KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: SHARMAIN GRAINGER Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Dr. President, charity begins at home CARICOM has a target of 25% reduction in food imports by 2025, three years hence. In dollar terms, the objective is for a US$5B reduction in the food import bill. We think that is a laudable goal, and the wish is for CARICOM to experience every success in reaching the bar set, if not surpass it. Our own Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali currently holds “the lead responsibility for Agriculture, Agricultural Diversification and Food Security” under the CARICOM umbrella, where that 25% (US$5B) reduction level by 2025 is a major pursuit (“Regional commitment vital in achieving 25% reduction in food imports by 2025 -Pres Ali CARICOM Secretary-General lauds positive discourse”, KN February 6).

From all indications, Guyanas President was his usual self, and in good form, as he talked up a storm along the lines for which he has become notorious in his home country. “It is either we are serious about this or we are not serious about this -we have to decide. This is not an individual country trying to achieve something. This is us as a collective body. This is about us being successful together…we cannot advance this if the commitment and full participation is not there.” That was well said, but even as we say that, we have to wonder if the President and his inner circle of chaperones ever pause to listen to what he is made to say publicly, and the rank contradictions with his domestic postures and programmes. For here is Guyanas leader, and the present leader of CARICOMs import reduction vision speaking about a shared effort, a unified commitment, and a togetherness approach to achieve a worthwhile target involving food import bill and its lessening. On the other hand, here we are in Guyana at this time, totally torn as a society, vulnerable to our foreign exploiters at the national level, and ruthlessly preyed upon from every direction and corner, and he spearheads a political group that relishes rushing ahead recklessly on its own. For emphasis, as Guyana is ripped to shreds mercilessly by a consortium of calculating and craven foreign oil companies, the President is proud that he and his group aid and abet, in numerous ways, what the foreigners extract out of this country, while leaving us poorer, more divided, and more hostile to each other. The words that President Ali uttered so sensibly in the context of the reduction of the food import bill are not seeing anything remotely resembling the togetherness (as a region) that he calls for before the CARICOM audience, but going in the opposite direction in his own backyard when oil is concerned.

When we need most urgently to reduce significantly Exxons suffocating financial vise on us, and unity and togetherness are at a premium, the same President is silent, absent, and reticent. In fact, it is more accurate to assert that he and his government have been more than hesitant about a unified front to confront our oil tormentors and enslavers, both have been resistant to such an idea about a unified assembling and thrusting for better, and for more. Another contradiction in the Presidents public posture about fullness of commitment and participation is that when his government had the occasion to make a decent difference with reducing cost of living burdens for the average and less than average Guyanese, it let the opportunity slipped through its hands, by doing so poorly for the poor people of this country. As the President ought to know, charity begins at home, and while it is good to preach to our CARICOM neighbours, it would be more meaningful to apply the same standards right here in the homeland, where the poor and struggling are scraping to get by with food basics spiralling beyond their grasp.

Guyanese poor and struggling could use, would welcome, a reduction in the intensity of their plight where food is concerned.

The proposed monthly market hubs are too little, and looks like a loser from the inception. Considering all this, we detect that President Ali is a walking, talking, grinning sensation where vagueness is concerned, and a practicing, failing, dismaying illusion when substance is involved.

Food is one such substance.

Monkey wrench in Amaila Falls Hydro Project might be blessing in disguise DEAR EDITOR, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed that the China Railway Group Limited(CRGL) which was selected for the contract is unable to finance the construction of the roughly US$1 billion Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP). CRGL has written to the government requesting that it considers a different model of financing and this may now require retendering for the controversyridden project. Our investigative journalists need to go to work. Why is this company backing down? Why did the other Chinese company back down from the Demerara Bridge project and the runners up had to take over the contract?

The VP of all things told a recent press conference that CRGL had advised that they are “having a hard time doing the BOOT (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer) Contract and they want to shift to an EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) plus financing, where the government finances the project and

they will be the contractors.”

My church folks would say that is God sending us a message, or the devil is trying to defeat us. But in Guyana, one man alone decides what is good for the whole country in all things.

He is some peoples little “god.” I usually say, “none of us is as smart as all of us,” and “none of us is as strong as all of us,” but in Guyana we have one such “super man” who thinks only what he thinks is real, and everybody else is less. At the Press Conference, Tom Sanzillo, a real Director of Financial Analysis for Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), was criticised. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was criticised for giving advice to Guyana. Never mind thats the group we run to for bailout when we get into financial troubles.Anyone who gives advice for improvement is criticised by this thin-skinned Government.

The Amaila Project had a false start and was scandal ridden. How did the procure-

ment process produced a result where a man who never built anything got the contract for building an access road for Amaila? The PNC Coalition killed Amaila and as soon as the PPP got in their “god” resurrected this highpriced project.

We now have the opportunity to rethink our energy mix. Mr. Bhulai, a Guyanese nationalist, has made a good case for solar energy as our best, cheaper alternative. We must give serious consideration to solar energy. Also, the Government never responded to the question of how teeny tiny Barbados would be able to produce 178MW of power that will cost $100 million, and Guyana is spending almost a billion for the same amount of power (KN, “US$100M to produce 178MW from solar, hydrogen in Barbados,” Feb 23, 2022).

The KN article stated, “The Government of Barbados will in the near future be realising some 178 megawatts of electricity using hydrogen and solar energy at a cost of some US$100M while in Ethio-

pia, that country will soon realise 6,500 MW of hydro power electricity at a cost of just over US$600,000 per MW. In Guyana however, the Irfaan Ali Government is pursuing a hydro electrical project at Amaila Falls for a revised cost of US$700M which would work out to some US$4.2M per MW for a 165MW plant to be built by China Railway First Group.”

Can the Government respond to this? This Government delights to do high-cost projects. If the Government would use all the available leverage points to review and renegotiate the oil contracts, they would have been able to obtain enough money to finance all their energy projects instead of begging companies to do BOOT (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer). Pray for smarter leaders to emerge in Guyana.

It s our wealth and our country, and we need leaders who care and will fight for the national interest, not the rights of oil imperialists.

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

Post-elections violence of 1997 caused me to realise my Indianness DEAR EDITOR, In response to Freddie Kissoons request for an understanding of my Indianness, I would have to say that I did not really know I was Indian until I returned home to Guyana in 1997.

Sure, I grew up on the Corentyne with my Indian Muslim family and attended school and had mostly Indian friends because the primary and secondary schools I attended had a majority of Indian pupils. I grew up in Rose Hall Village and was aware of Africans, Chinese, Portuguese and dougla people and was aware at a certain level of cultural and racial differences and was also aware of the race riots of the 1960s.

Any awareness of myself as Indian, I took for granted.

Perhaps, this was partly youthful innocence and, partly, an underdevelopment

of a political consciousness.

There was certainly no demand from anyone for an explanation about who I was.

When I emigrated to the United States in the mid-70s, fleeing the PNC dictatorship like thousands of others, it was the start of a 20-year journey in foreign parts. I lived, studied and worked in the US, the UK, and the Cayman Islands. These are first world countries peopled mostly by whites. I consider my time abroad as a success.

I experienced no overt or adverse prejudices because of my ethnicity. I believe I was treated fairly and would even go so far as to say that my ethnicity perhaps played a positive role in landing me a job in the UK because of affirmative action policies.

Again, I was never called on to explain myself vis a vis my ethnicity. It was never an

issue. It was my return to Guyana in 1997 and the terror of the post elections violence that erupted in the city streets that shocked me into the realisation that I was Indian.

The African Guyanese mobs were chanting and calling out for the “coolie”.

I had been aware of the anti-Indian racism that drove the Burnham dictatorship but had left and left it behind, and this return was my baptism of fire, so to speak, and it made me realise fully who I was and what this meant for me in my very own country of birth. It was that shock, after years of living peacefully abroad a m o n g s t r a n g e r s , t hat brought me up sharp and started me on my investigation into my heritage, took me on a journey of discovery into my culture and ethnicity, and helped shape my political

consciousness about myself, my people and what this means in the context of our country. In short, I needed to try and make sense of the situation where I and every other Indian Guyanese was and continue to be targets for African Guyanese violence and violations.

My Indianness is not just a personal understanding of myself but extends to that wider humanity whereby one cannot help but feel empathy and compassion for anyone in your community who is wronged and unjustly treated.

I share a DNA not only of biology but of history and culture with my Indian community. This is perhaps the only surety of ourselves that we ever have about who we are.

Sincerely, Ryhaan Shah

Beriberi and “white mouth,” existed long before the PNC DEAR EDITOR, I remember in the old days, we were told nancy stories.

This came to mind when I read todays, Friday May 27, 2022 Peeping Tom. Whoever wrote it is full of imagination and I sense an effort to demonize Burnham.

I am an ordinary man and I worked as an ordinary chauffeur and doing other things to earn a living.

I will not attempt to respond to the many bits of inaccuracy in that article but refer to just a few for the records. First, the grow more

food campaign was initiated by the British Government to cope with the pressures as a result of World War II. Burnhams words were Produce or Perish in addition to the Feed, Clothe and House (FCH) Campaign.

Second, beriberi and “white mouth,” existed long, long before the PNC and UF

took office in 1964 and disappeared during the PNC term of office.

The granting of land in the North-West to Rev. Jim Jones, an American Pastor, who delivered a sermon at Sacred Heart Church was a smart move by the PNC to have large numbers of (Continued on page 5)

Wednesday June 01, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Guyana’s participation at the 9th Summit Americas was self-evident DEAR EDITOR, If anyone had any doubts about Guyanas participation in the 9th Summit of the Americas to be held from 6-10 June in the United States those doubts have since been put to rest by President Alis confirmation on May 22, 2022, that Guyana will attend. There are some antecedents to this decision.

Following a meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Belize from 1-2 March, 2022 a communique was issued declaring publicly that, CARICOM will not attend the Summit if Cuba were excluded and/or if a Mr. Guaido was invited. The US government was so informed.

On April 20, 2022, Christopher Dodd, Special Adviser to the US President for the Summit held a virtual meeting concerning the Summit with President Ali. This was part of the Biden administrations lobbying effort to encourage Guyana to attend the Summit.

Soon after invitations had been issued to CARICOM Heads of Government, consultations were initiated on the question of participation, the agenda and farming out of the seven topics to Heads as Lead Presenters. But the fundamental question that had to be settled was the issue of attendance in the light of the US governments decision to exclude Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

On May 11, 2022, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines wrote to John Briceno, Prime Minister of Belize and Chairman of CARICOM stating, I urge my colleagues in CARICOM not to attend the Summit. I realize that it is a difficult decision, but, our American friends have left us with no other credible, principled and practical choice.

We may yet have to persuade them to alter their posture.

Indications are that PM Gonsalves appeal was ignored by some of his col-

Beriberi...

From page 5 US citizens in an area being claimed by Venezuela and we know from history that if you trouble or attempt to dislodge US citizens, every American government based on the Munroe doctrine would deal promptly with such adventurers.

But the fact is that Jim Jones had started to export vegetables grown at Jonestown to the Caribbean.

I generally enjoy Peeping Tom, and the Kaieteur News but this one today 27th of May, 2022 is obnoxious and inaccurate.

Regards, Eric Moseley, MS

leagues. While it is clear that some will attend, others will stay away. The end result being a divided CARICOM once again.

Whether those CARICOM governments who are holding out are doing so as leverage to wrest some economic or financial concession from the host, or, to fulfill an unfulfilled commitment or simply as a matter of principle is anyones guess.

The 9th Summit has on its agenda topics such as; A green future and clean energy; Fostering youth participation in politics; Economic prosperity, Democratic governance; COVID 19 recovery and pandemic resilience; Migration; and Transforming the western hemispheres digital Infrastructure.

It is expected that Guyanas delegation led by the President, and may comprise of the Vice President, and ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Health, Home Affairs, the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister and other officials.

It is interesting to note that three stakeholder fora for dialogue have been included in the Summits programme of activities, these include, the Fourth CEO Summit of the Americas, the Sixth Young Americans Forum and the Ninth Civil Society Forum. It is envisaged that governments will facilitate participation of representatives from the local business community, youth organizations and civil society.

As far as Guyanas attendance is concerned, there should have been no second guessing whether or not it would have been at Los Angeles.

The thrust of the Irfan Ali administrations foreign

policy was laid down in the PPP/Cs 2020 election manifesto. Unlike the more expansive sections treating with critical and relevant foreign policy issues in previous manifestos, the 2020 manifesto captures in just two brief paragraphs what portends to be an incoming PPP/C government foreign policy priorities. Under the head Securing our Sovereignty/ Strengthening our International Relations, the PPP/C declared inter alia in favour of strengthening bilateral ties with our neighbours and friendly countries and multilateral organizations.

While Venezuela is one of Guyanas three neighbouring countries, having regard to the attitude of the US towards the Maduro administration and given the fact that the controversy is now with the ICJ and the limited thrust of the Ali administrations foreign policy, these elements combined, indicate that it would not be in Guyanas interest to advocate in favour of Venezuelas participation at the Summit at this point in time.

In the light of US foreign policy towards the Ortega administration in Nicaragua and looked at through the prism of Guyanas extant foreign policy, Nicaragua would not qualify as a friendly country, therefore, it would be foolhardy were Guyana to push, much less call for Nicaraguas participation at the Summit.

And while Cuba is not a neighbouring country, it certainly qualifies with high marks as a friendly country to Guyana at both the bilateral and regional levels.

In its 2015 election manifesto, the PPP/C; Acknowledged the invaluable assistance of the Cuban government to the development of our human resources; continue to take ad-

vantage of scholarship offers and develop with Cuba a mutually beneficiary tertiary education training programme, particularly in the area of post-graduate medicine.

And while Cuba may not be interested in attending the Summit so long as Venezuela and Nicaragua are excluded, given the historical antecedents and extraordinarily high degree of functional cooperation between Guyana and Cuba, it was generally expected that Guyana would have adopted a firmer and principled stand, particularly with respect to Cubas exclusion from the Summit. In an effort to appease the countries who have threatened not to attend the Summit, signals are emerging of an intent to consider inviting Cuba to attend but not at the level of Presidents nor Foreign Minister. This palliative is bound to be rejected.

The long-standing controversial US-Cuba relations aside, Guyanas attendance should be viewed as a expression of realpolitik and the superiority of its primordial interests that has dictated its participation at the Summit.

While the ideological factor should not be discounted, at the bottom line is GuyanaUS relations. This became obvious in the light of the strong backing the PPP/C received from the US on the eve of the March 2020 election, during the March - August 2020 attempt by the APNU+AFC to thwart the will of the electorate and following the assumption to office by the Ali administration.

For a host of reasons, save the 1962- 1992 period while the PPP was in opposition, the stormy relationship following the July 2014 episodic feral blast, and questions about the ABC&Es role in the 2015 election, the USA

would, nevertheless, qualify as one of the countries with whom Guyana has, over a number of years, enjoyed friendly and cordial relations.

Under the Ali administration, Guyana/US relations reached a high point. This was first demonstrated just a few weeks after the new administration assumed office when it signaled its support for Mauricio Claver-Carone, the US candidate for the post of President of the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

Momentum in the relationship was further buttressed by a two-day visit to Guyana in September 2020, by the then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who, while in Georgetown, sought to stir controversy in respect to Chinas role in Guyana in particular and the Caribbean in general.

During Pompeos visit, he reaffirmed the US governments support for Guyanas sovereignty particularly in respect to the controversy with Venezuela. His visit saw the signing of an MOU for Private Sector Investment in Infrastructure; a Shiprider Agreement; a donation of US$2m in equipment and patrol boats; a MOU on Growth In The Americas Initiative; and US$5m to help with the resettlement of Venezuelans in Guyana. Pompeo also expressed appreciation for Guyanas statements of support in respect to the democratic values and principles as per Venezuela through the OAS and the now defunct Lima Group.

Prior to Pompeos arrival, VP Jagdeo at a press conference held on September 16, 2020 had assured, “We have grave concerns about democracy anywhere where it is violated including in Venezuela.”

And in a statement issued on the occasion of Pompeos

visit President Ali was quoted as saying; “We support the need for free and fair elections in our hemisphere. With urgency, we believe that democratic values and principles should be respected in Venezuela as well.”

In March this year, following the change of administration in the US, Barbara Feinstein, US Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for the Caribbean and Haiti paid an official visit to Guyana. According to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Georgetown, the DAS visit underscores the continued importance the US places on the US/Guyanese partnership.

It is obvious that the DAS in her conversations with stakeholders did raise the Guyana Democracy, Human Rights and Governance Assessment for USAID, an independent federal government agency that receives policy guidance from the Secretary of State.

This appeared to be the case because VP Jagdeo at a press conference following Feinsteins visit, reported that he had assured the DAS that, We are going to work with the international community and all the parties including the APNU in the parliament to strengthen the laws surrounding the conduct of elections to remove discretion and the room for capricious behaviour by any election official.”

And at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of USAID and Peace Corps, President Ali declared that the objective of the Guyana-US strategic partnership, the values and principles with the US organizations; ... is to understand where the country is heading, and for us together, to develop the vehicle that will take (Continued on page 6)

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Wednesday June 01, 2022

Reply to Freddie to Question on ‘Indianness’ DEAR EDITOR, Freddie penned that he hasn’t discovered his ‘Indianness’ and requests from me (and others) an explanation of what it is” (May 15). ‘Indianness’, as a concept, is no different from say Africanness or Blackness, Irishness, Italianness, Turkishness, Ukrainianness, Germanness, etc. – an inner feeling and pride in one’s ethnicity and cultural background that members of the group experience. There is a special feeling one gets about being a member of one’s ethnicity that is hard to describe. I did not understand and consciously subscribe to the concept of ‘Indianness’ until a couple years after I entered university (1977) as a

16-year-old and began learning theories in social sciences and humanities – sociology, anthropology, history, political science – while pursuing a degree in Bio-Chemistry.

In Guyana, ‘Indianness, like Chineseness and Portugueseness,’ etc., was silenced and repressed during the period of the dictatorship.

Unlike during the authoritarian years in Guyana, in democratic America or Canada, one is free to promote and adhere to one’s ethnic identity – Blackness or Indianness or Irishness. The Whiteman does not deny anyone his or her identity in America; it was suppressed a hundred years ago but not today. In Queens alone, where some 300,000 Indian Caribbean people and

half a million other Indians are settled, there are over 200 ethnic groups with each celebrating identity with parades and cultural expression.

‘Indianness’ is in vogue and cheered by mainstream politicians of other ethnicities who celebrate with Indians their various festivals and national days. One is born into an ethnic group. In my case, I am born an Indian and in Guyana, making me Indian, Guyanese, West Indian, Indo-Caribbean, and Caribbean – multiple identities. I can’t suppress any of them in favour of another. A people can’t deny race or ethnicity or nationality who when Indian Guyanese or Indian Trinis travel abroad, they are not viewed as Guyanese or

Trinidadian. They are seen as Indian and so labeled, defined, and treated (with hostility or embrace). As an illustration, Freddie is perhaps the most ‘non-ethnic’ person in Guyana; he does not subscribe to ‘Indianness’ and he champions the interests of countless non-Indians. Yet those very non-Indians see him as an Indian and treat him with odor from time to time.

When Indian Guyanese and Trinis were denied purchasing of homes (from Italians, Irish, Germans) in Richmond Hill, Queens during the 1970s and early 1980s, it was not because they were Guyanese but because the (sellers) viewed them as Indians who were not welcomed in their white neighbourhood (of course, Indians are now embraced by all ethnicities) because of educational achievements and acquisition of enormous wealth - the ‘most educated’ and highest income group in the US).

When Indians were attacked by the ‘dot busters’ (Hispanics, African Americans, and Italians) during the 1980s and 1990s in New Jersey, it was not because of nationality or even religion, but race; both Indo-Caribbeans and South Asians were targeted. Being Guyanese or Trini or Jamaican, did not grant the Indians reprieve from violence. When Indians were beaten (driven out of) at Wismar, Linden,

Agricola, Georgetown, West Berbice and other locations, it was on account of their ‘Indianness’ or race. The perpetrators of the violence didn’t ask them which party they supported. In fact, Indian supporters of AFC, WPA, and PNC were also violated.

When I entered university in 1977 in Harlem and went to participate in Caribbean Club activities and meetings at CCNY, I was not welcomed.

Other Indo-Caribbeans and I were treated with hostility and contempt and told “You are not one of us. You are East Indians, not West Indians (defined as Black)”. The feeling of Blackness was on display and nothing was wrong with it. Afro Caribbeans were proud of their identity and told us we are not one of them.

Naturally, a feeling of ‘Indianness’ emerged. So we had to form our own student organization, Indo Club.

As I learn from my studies in sociology and practical experience, a people (race or ethnic group) define themselves and are defined by others. That is a law of nature or reality; it is so everywhere including in the US. As I learn in studies in anthropology, the group embraces and or subscribes to certain values or culture (music, cuisine, music, arts, language, traditions, customs, clothing, etc.) that distinguish them from another group. They are

proud of who they are as well as their values and community or group or organization affiliation. Identity stays in you and is transferred into lineage; one can deny it but others label you based on physical appearance.

If there is a civil war or an act of injustice against my group, like an election rigging to deny my group political power in a polarized nation, people will expect me to support my group against the riggers or violent elements. Off course, if my group is perpetrating acts of injustice against members of another group, decency requires that I take a position against such acts (especially rigging election). I must point out that invoking or expressing pride or adhering to values of my ethnicity (brought by my ancestors from India) does not deny that of others (‘Africanness’, for example) who don’t belong in my ethnicity, and I also embrace those not from my ethnicity or of mixed ethnicity who subscribe to my cultural values. We must respect and embrace all regardless of ethnic ancestry and cultural values. No one should attack or violate another on account of ethnicity like what happened in West Berbice in September 2020. Such behaviour must be condemned.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Increase in garbage collection DEAR EDITOR, I am kindly asking you to please raise this matter of importance for us poor pensioners of West Coast Demerara to the relevant authority.

Puran Brothers is taking advantage of us poor pension-

ers by increasing garbage collection fee from five hundred dollars to six hundred dollars per week as of this week without any reason given. We are paying rates and taxes and paying twenty four thousand dollars per year

for garbage collection. Now we have to pay six hundred dollars per week. Please do something for us poor pensioners.

Thank you for your help.

Regards, Ramesh Ramsarran

Guyana’s participation at the 9th...

From page 5 us there.

The aforementioned events characterize the current nature of Guyana/US relations and should be placed in the context of a long-standing assurance that; “The US is ready to partner with Guyana especially when big decisions are to be faced on moving forward in future prosperity.”

The cosy Guyana/US relations notwithstanding, it should be borne in mind that alarm bells were rung earlier in the day when the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper in a editorial published on March 16, 2022, headlined Foreign Policy lesson in Ukraine War said, Pursuing a principled foreign policy isnt always easy and has, at times, been costly to Jamaica. But over

the long run, it has proven more beneficial and afforded us more respect and greater influence than at the periods when we have surrendered to the whims of transactional relations. In the latter circumstances, you are liable to be thrown under the bus.

Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee Former Minister of Foreign Affairs

Wednesday June 01, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Every rose has its thorn The President went to a Demerara Bank event and painted a rosy picture of the countrys agricultural prospects. He painted such a rosy picture that he even said that Guyana is planning to plant flowers to reduce imports of fresh flowers.

I wish him luck. The conditions on the coastland are not suited for the planting of the type of flowers which are imported by local florists.

But certainly the upper regions of the country, with moister air and colder temperatures are ideal. But with the high cost of air freighting produce from the interior, it will be a challenge for those interested in the production of fresh flowers.

The situation is therefore not as blushed as the President may feel. Others have tried and failed.

The same thing which is likely to happen when it comes to imported fruits. The President spoke about plans to plant berries and grapes, the former on mined-out sandpits.

I have no doubt that it is possible for someone to cultivate a few vines of grapes and berries but I would be surprised if Guyana can commercially cultivate them.

If that were possible, you can bet our former British co-

lonial masters would have already done so. Since the 19th century studies have established the difficulties of growing temperate crops in tropical conditions.

But the President would not have been the first to believe that certain foreign crops can be grown commercially locally. Even the late William Demas, the former President of the Caribbean Development Bank, had fallen victim to the belief that it was possible for the Caribbean to commercially grow strawberries, grapes and even English potatoes. It never happened.

But at least Demas had the foresight to recognise that the Caribbean needs to look beyond import substitution to import replacement that is encouraging greater production and consumption of indigenous fruits.

The President made a point about farmers forming consortia coming together of individuals or companies into one entity. But if the President or his advisors truly understood the nature of land ownership in Guyana, he would appreciate why the conditions do not exist for this to become a trend.

Too many of our farmers cultivate small acreages and too many of the large farmers have too much land. The spa-

tial distribution of land does not lend itself to the development of consortia. Most small rice farmers, for example, exists crop-to-crop. Some are successful and others are not.

It would amount to a huge risk for them to join with other farmers in a partnership.

In plugging for the establishment of farming consortia, the President pointed to the poultry sector where a group of farmers have come together to experiment with the planting of soya which is used in feedstock. The point that the President was implicitly making was that without these local poultry producers coming together, they would not have been able to embark on such a venture.

He is correct. But that is not the whole story. He did not mention that the governments indirect support for the project amounts to G$887M in infrastructure development roads and storage and drying facilities.

The investment is justified in the cause of self-sufficiency of the poultry sector.

Guyana is aiming to produce all its poultry feedstock needs as well as hatching eggs.

The Brazilians are waiting in the wings to capitalise.

They are likely to produce the bulk of Guyanas corn and soya needs since in northern

Dem boys seh...

According to de dictionary!

De leader of de opposition gat to be careful how he mekkin nomination fuh de post of CJ and Chancellor. Is nat he role fuh do duh. But he can express a choice but is nat he role fuh mek any suggestion.

According to de English dictionary (nah ask me which one): suggestion mean an idea of plan put forward for consideration. And according to de same dictionary: consultation mean de action of formally discussing or consulting. If yuh check de meaning of consulting, it mean: having discussions with some-

one before making a decision.

Since is Prezzie, who gat fuh mek de decision, it means is de Prezzie who gat fuh have de discussions with de Opposition. Suh dem nah gat no role fuh de Opposition fuh mek any suggestion.

But dem boys remember after de CCJ bin mek a ruling, de den President seh he gat a right fuh nominate somebody even though he is de one doing de choosing.

So de opposition leader gat to be careful when he mekkin public comments. He done seh who he support for CJ and Chancellor. But dem

boys remember de story of de man wah bin hope fuh part de Red Sea. At one time, he had a meeting with dem PPP boys. But dem had differences during de meeting and he get up and walk out and tell dem, “I done with yall.”

Dem PPP boys tek dat fuh mean dat he resign and dem accept de resignation.

Suh de opposition leader gat to remember who he dealing with. Dem might want say he already give he views and dat constitutes consultations.

Talk half. Leff Half.

Health Ministry records 135 new COVID-19 cases On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health via its daily COVID19 dashboard revealed that within the last 24 hours, a total of 135 new cases were recorded across the country.

The new cases, which were recorded from 1,396 COVID-19 tests, have brought the total number of

confirmed cases to 64,763.

According to the dashboard data, the new cases were detected in Region Four 69, Region Three 23, Region Six 21, Region Two nine, Region 10 five, Region Seven three, Regions Five and Nine two each and Region One one.

The dashboard also

shows that three patients are still in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 27 are in institutional isolation, 622 are in home isolation and five are quarantined institutionally.

Additionally, a total of 112 persons have recovered within the last 24 hours.

Brazil there is usually only one crop per year, while in the Rupununi there can be two crops.

Presently, it is a big gamble. Farmers stand a better chance of winning at the slot machines in our local casinos than of being successful in the fields.

The agricultural sector is in a deep crisis. Sugar is in deep distress. Rice production fell last year by more than 100,000 tonnes. Rice farmers are taking a big gamble every time they go to crop. If it is not floods, it is paddy bugs.

The rosy picture painted by the President about agricultures future in Guyana is not going to excite local farm-

ers. They live the difficulties in the sector every day. The President is daydreaming if he believes that agriculture has a bright future.

But if the President believes that, then he should have used the opportunity of his address at the Demerara Bank event to question why capital is so expensive in Guyana. The President should have a review done of the cost of capital in Guyana.

But that will never happen because the banking sector has powerful friends in the government. It is ironic that the President should go to a banking event and announce that those farmers interested in transitioning to aquacul-

ture would have the initial capital investment funded by the government. Is this not crowding out the banking sector from a business opportunity, the same banking sector which the President says must be responsive and responsible to national development?

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

Wednesday June 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Wednesday June 01, 2022

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

EPA renews Liza 1 permit hours before midnight

By Renay Sambach Hours before the environmental permit for the Liza Phase 1 project expired, Guyanas Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has renewed it for another five years for Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limiteds (EEPGL) Exxon Mobil Guyana.

The initial permit officially expired at midnight on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

The Liza 1 Oil field in the Stabroek Block first began pumping oil in December 2019 after hydrocarbons were found in commercial quantities in 2015. The field is being produced by a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessel the Liza Destinywith an installed capacity of 120,000 barrels per day.

Just last week during a

webinar, international lawyer, Melinda Janki, had called on the EPA not to renew the permit until a better deal is forged for Guyana.

Janki had recommended for a new EIA going forward based in part on the fact that Guyana does have very strong laws in relation to EIAs. She lamented, however, “Those laws are not being implemented or enforced.”

The international lawyer had argued that the Liza I Permit should not be renewed, as the operations pose grave harm to the environment. Not only that but she also made reference to the miniscule “gains” from the companys current operations, which far outweighs the damage being caused in the same process.

Other industry experts have advised Guyanas regu-

lator to ensure the document is used to secure a better deal for Guyana. For instance, Tom Sanzillo, Director of Financial Analysis for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), during the recent webinar, had said that the EPA should use the Liza 1 permit renewal as leverage to address the numerous shortcomings in the oil contract signed with ExxonMobil in 2016.

Notwithstanding the experts advice, the permit was renewed with a few changes underscored.

According to the EPAs statement, the key provisions that were made to the permit are as follows: flaring, financial assurance, monitoring and grievance mechanism.

As it relates to flaring, the EPA stated that the new permit “strictly” prohibits” routine flaring and venting and

that it specifies that flaring is only allowed during commissioning, start-up and special circumstances. Added to that, the EPA increased the US$30 charge for per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) emitted as a result of flaring in excess of permitted periods to US$50 per tonne of CO2e.

For the financial assurance provision, EPA stated that the renewed permits ensures “that EEPGL is held liable for all costs associated with clean up, restoration and compensation for any pollution damage which may occur as a consequence of the project.”

It was stated too that the oil company is also required to have financial assurance, which includes a combination of insurance which it was stated must “cover well control, and/or clean up and third-

party liability on terms that are market standard for the type of coverage.”

Also, there is a Parent Company/Affiliate Guarantee Agreement which protects and keeps indemnified the EPA and the Government of Guyana in the event of an environmental disaster and EEPGL and its co-venturers fail to meet their environmental obligations under the permit.

However, it was stated that the financial assurance provided must be guided by an estimate of the sum of the reasonably credible costs, expenses, and liabilities that may arise from any breaches of this permit. Notably, liabilities are considered to include costs associated with responding to an incident, clean-up and remediation and monitoring.

In relation to monitoring,

Kemraj Parsram, Head of Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency the permit makes provision for the targeted monitoring of the effects of waste discharges from the (Continued on page 22)

PAGE 22

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The sleeping intruder, the watermelon he ate, and the lighter the pastor found in his kitchen (Photo Credit: Pastor Motie Singh) “Devon” is seen on the floor fast asleep. Singh said he also spotted a smoked out “ganja spliff” and a lighter close to his stove.

“I then decide to hunch him to wake him up but the man nah wake up,” the pastor told Kaieteur News.

After the man was not responding, Singh realised that the “thief man” was “high”.

Singh then called the police and together with his male family members, they decided to tie-up the “thief man” while he was still asleep.

“We seh leh we tie he up, cause the police coming and if he see them, he might want to behave bad and suh we decided to take precaution,” explained Singh.

It is while they were bounding him up that the “thief man” woke up from his slumber and reportedly asked the pastor, uncle wah yuh doing in me house?

“The man wake up and seh, uncle what you doing in me house and me tell am budday, you deh in me house,” the pastor said amidst a chuckle.

The police, he said, showed up minutes later and took “Devon” to the lock-ups because they found that he had broken into the pastors house. He reportedly gained entrance inside via the front

window by removing a board from the pastors house.

Kaieteur News understands that the “thief man” has since been placed before the court and charged for the offence he committed.

EPA renews Liza 1 permit hours before...

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water, bilge water, cooling water and grey water.

Also, the permit requires the submission of the effects of these discharges every six months and EEPGL is required to submit safety case information, including a risk assessment prior to the drilling and development of wells.

For the other key provision, the EPA highlighted in its statement that EEPGL is enjoined to establish and maintain a grievance mechanism in keeping with the World Banks Approach to

Grievance Redress in projects. It was stated that this was done to ensure that complaints from individuals and communities who may be affected by the project are receiv ed and addressed.

There is also a requirement for reporting same and actions taken to address the grievances to the EPA. Moreover, in its statement, the environmental agency was keen to note that the renewal was in keeping with the Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05 and also

with its careful consideration of EEPGL compliance with the first permit. Additionally, EPA stated that from the knowledge and experience gained during the course of the project, “the renewed permit specifies further conditions and standards which will ensure that all environmental and social safeguards are taken for the protection of human health and the environment.” The full text of the renewed environmental permit for the Liza Phase 1 project is available for download on the EPAs website at www.epaguyana.org.

Wednesday June 01, 2022

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Rose Hall, Baramita, Den Amstel Police Stations slated for reconstruction With the sum of $4.9 billion allocated to strengthen the Guyana Police Forces assets this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs is planning on using part of that sum to facilitate the reconstruction of police stations in Regions One, Three and Six. During the opening of tenders on Tuesday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office, it was revealed that the Baramita, Den

Amstel and Rose Hall Police Stations will be reconstructed this year for an estimated cost of $179 million. Also the Ministry is looking to rehabilitate the Ruimveldt wharf for an estimated cost of $54 million.

Notably, bids were opened for the supply and delivery of six electric vehicle charging stations. This is a project being undertaken by the Guyana Energy Agency.

Below are the companies and their bids:

Ministry of Home Affairs Reconstruction of Baramita Police Station, Guyana Police Force

Rehabilitation of Ruimveldt Wharf

Construction of 300m light-duty revetment at Uitvlugt Estate

Murder of Health Ministrys driver…

Gunman confesses to killing wrong person

Reconstruction of Rose Hall Police Station

Reconstruction of Den Amstel Police Station

Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) Construction of 100m heavy-duty revetment at Uitvlugt Estate

One of the security guards arrested on Friday last for the murder of the Ministry of Healths driver has reportedly confessed to killing the wrong man.

The dead man, Collin McPherson, 23, was shot four times on Thursday last by a lone gunman in front of his D-field Sophia, Georgetown home.

According to police, he was hanging out with some friends when a gunman approached on a bicycle and opened fire.

Police had moved to arrest two security guards on Friday at a house located at Chester Field, B-Field, South Sophia, Georgetown, after an eyewitness came forward with information.

Kaieteur News was told that the suspects are brothers and police ranks were forced to release the elder brother after the younger one was identified as the killer.

The information that police received led them to a theory that McPhersons killer had shot the wrong man.

While grilling the security guard, he reportedly cracked under interrogation and admitted that he had indeed shot the wrong person.

It is being alleged that the suspect attempted to murder his target earlier that day over a misunderstanding they had.

Kaieteur News understands that the grievance between the two was over a suitcase of stolen clothes.

While the suspect was al-

Gunned down in front of his home, Collin McPherson. legedly trying to shoot his target, he managed to escape.

However, the suspect found out later that night that his enemy was hanging out at McPhersons home.

His target had reportedly gone there to chat with McPherson and his friends and was reportedly relating to them that the suspect had tried to kill him.

However, the evening chat was reportedly interrupted by a gunman (allegedly the suspect) who pulled up on a bicycle.

Realising that the suspect came to kill him, the target reportedly ran away and as he was doing so, he heard gunshots but did not stop or look back.

The next day, he returned to the scene and learnt that McPherson had died, supposedly in his place.

Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Procurement of security services from June to December 2022

Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Supply and delivery of six electric vehicle charging stations for the GEA

Regional Democratic Council of Region 10 Construction of Muritaro Health Centre

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Trini PM vows to conduct comprehensive...

From page 2 Tobago or to interested investors if that resource remains out of reach, undeveloped or unexploited. Accordingly, Government has been in dialogue with upstream companies to expedite Final Investment Decision for known reserves.”

Dr. Rowley continued, “As regards potential and undeveloped resources, the Government has been soliciting proposals from upstream operators on the incentives required to stimulate activity for the exploitation of these resources.”

To that end, the politician said the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, is conducting a comprehensive review of the country’s oil and gas taxation

regime to ensure Trinidad and Tobago “remains an internationally competitive hydrocarbon province.”

The politician said the review encompasses capital allowances, petroleum profits tax, supplemental petroleum tax and royalty, both onshore and offshore, in shallow water and deep-water.

In addition to this, he said, “As we move to identify new resources, we have to manage available resources.

Management of our hydrocarbon resources has not been without challenges.

A combination of COVID19, low commodity prices and technical issues have setback levels of both oil and gas production.

However, with the ease in the pandemic and new activity, both oil and gas produc-

tion are set to rise.”

With new production coming on stream in 2022 and 2023, Dr. Rowley said gas production is projected to increase from present levels to 3.2 trillion cubic feet by 2024.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister said gas supply between 2024 and 2027 will be tight before improving in 2028 with the coming on stream of mega projects, such as the Manatee and Calypso.

The PM was keen to note, however, that the key to a sustained gas industry will be the exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources as well as access to cross-border natural gas resources.

With the foregoing in mind, the Prime Minister told delegates in attendance that the outlook for oil production is promising.

Wednesday June 01, 2022

EPA ‘bending over backwards’ to allow...

From page 3 abusing the approval given to operate in the Liza 1 development project.

The Guyanese scientist has been calling on citizens to challenge Exxon breaches by way of litigation. He said it is the only way that Guyanese might be able to get better terms of agreement from the country.

In 2020, Dr. Thomas was among citizens who mounted a successful legal challenge against the EPA. The EPA had granted EEGPL a 24 year- environmental permit to conduct exploration activities in the Liza Phase 1 project. The permit is by law only valid for five years.

An order, granted by High Court Justice Jo Ann Barlow, effectively reduced Exxon’s environmental permit from

20+ years to five – the correct time as prescribed by law.

This is not his only act of litigation against the State. At present, Dr. Thomas is named as the applicant in a case, which challenges the State for allowing Exxon and its partners to cause irreparable damage to the environment.

In the meantime, an examination of the Liza 1 development environment permit shows a number of requirements by which the oil operators are liable of complying with.

The document, among other things, speaks to restrictions on flaring.

Flaring has been allowed to continue from the inception of operations in December 2019, resulting in a cumulative flared amount in excess

of 15 billion standard cubic feet to date.

Further, the permit provides water quality management as well as waste and material management As it relates to water quality management, the permits states, inter alia, that the permit holder, in this case EEPGL, cannot discharge any pollutant contaminant in coastal waters or within 12 nautical miles.

But reports have indicated that the discharge rate of 100,000 barrels per day listed in the EIA of the current Liza Phase 1 pollutes Guyana’s ocean.

The issue could prove perilous for the ecosystems of marine life and the fishing industry, but no one knows exactly how detrimental the impact is.

Wednesday June 01, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 01, 2022

Andy Cameron accepts the winning prize from Christina Hussain.

Wendy Beharry presents the player of the match trophy to Andy Cameron.

PAGE 27

Underdog skipper Amit Ramnarine collects the runner up prize from Aliyah Budhnarine.

Councillor Surujpaul pleased with Tourney turnout, pledges support Councillor Khemaj Surujpaul said he was pleased with the turnout of the teams at the Wakenaam Neighbourhood Democratic C o u n c i l ( N D C ) Independence dominoes competition which was contested on Sunday last at

Carlosh Sports Bar, Good Success.

Surujpaul stated that the teams showed a high level of discipline in the closely contested affair. Surujpaul, who is also the chairman of the Wakenaam Cricket Committee said he wants to

see more such tournaments and would like to call on the business community for support. He said the NDC will continue to support the development of sports and will work closely with the relevant sporting bodies to ensure its success. Police, led

by Andy Cameron with 18 games emerged victorious in the competition.

Police marked 68 games while runner up Underdog made 66 and third place Pensioners scored 64.

Cameron was voted manof-the-match and he was well

supported by Dhipchand Bandan with 14 games and Egbert Johnson, 12.

Keval Persaud top scored for Underdog with 16 games while Vickram Ramnarine m a d e 1 5 a n d Vi k r a j Ramdhanie chipped in with 12. Anil Ramrattan scored 16

games for Pensioners while Shafdar Ali made 12 and Ackbar Ali claimed 11.

The winning team collected a trophy and $30,000 and the runner up took home a trophy and $5000. Cameron pocketed a trophy and $5000.

EDFA Stag Beer...

Wednesday June 01, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your dreams could be vivid, pleasant, and full of information to help you make a decision. New and exciting contacts could come into your life today, Aries, possibly proving helpful in showing you ways to increase your income.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Yo u s h o u l d f e e l especially warm and loving today toward just about anyone you meet, Libra.

Good news about money may have caused you to feel especially positive.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today you're likely focused on sex, romance, and committed relationships.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Scorpio, you should be looking beautiful and feeling especially positive, warm, and loving - attracting people of all kinds to you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you should be glowing with good health, energy, and stamina, and be doing well at work, whether career, volunteer work, or a personal project.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Creative inspiration could come from deep within today, Sagittarius. Visions, dreams - anything that excites your imagination - could bring ideas for new projects.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Love and romance are likely to be tops on your agenda today, Cancer. You're feeling especially warm and loving now.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Group activities prove beneficial on several levels, Capricorn. You might project powerful warmth and love for all life. You're feeling especially optimistic about the future.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Important enterprises centering on your home could take up a lot of your energy over the next few days, Leo. Many people might come and go from your life.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You might find yourself in the public eye at some point today, Aquarius. This is fine since you're looking and feeling great.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Some absolutely wonderful news could come your way, Virgo, possibly about career or financial success, perhaps involving positive changes in your neighborhood.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) If you've considered a career in publishing, Pisces, this is the time to go for it.

It's also a great day to enroll in law school, an advanced degree program, or any field of higher education.

From page 29 and Haslington engage battle from 16:00 hrs while Victoria Kings battle Ann's Grove in the feature at 18:00 hrs, both at Golden Grove.

This past weekend the action continued with three of the four scheduled matches being contested.

Over at Buxton, Melanie crushed Haslington 4 – 0 with first half goals coming from Shaquan Thomas (9th minute) and Colin Henriques (16th minute) along with second half goals from Samuel Cockfield (51 s t m i n u t e ) a n d Te s h a w n Gordon (62ndminute).

The second fixture between Airy Hall and Buxton Stars was postponed due to a power outage.

Play resumed the following day at the same venue as Buxton United and Ann's Grove battled to a heated 1 – 1 stalemate. Ann's Grove drew first blood as early as the second minute but the equaliser was imminent from the experienced opposition. In the 30th minute the scores were once again leveled when Morris Barnes found the back of the net.

In the other encounter, former National striker Anthony Abrams added more goals to his tally as Dynamic FC outplayed Victoria Kings, 2 – 0. After a goalless first half, Abrams struck in quick succession to gain the upper hand as his team comfortably held on until the regulation time whistle.

Abrams' goals were scored in the 75th and 79th minutes.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 28

Wednesday June 01, 2022

Representatives of the clubs pose with their cricket balls after the presentation.

BCB/Shimron, Nirvani Hetmyer Cricket Fund 2022 - West Berbice clubs receive cricket balls

C

ricket clubs in the We s t B e r b i c e sub-association of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last week received cricket balls from the proactive board under the BCB/Shimron and Nirvani Hetmyer Cricket Development Fund.

BCB President, Hilbert Foster, visited the sub association for the 65th time of his four years presidency to hand over the balls to the clubs in the sub association.

Foster in brief remarks noted that the Hetmyers came on board in 2021 with the BCB to host the developmental fund and in 2022 increased the sponsorship from $1m to $1.5m as they were very impressed with the work of the board.

The Hetmyers have committed to funding the

programme as long as Foster remains the head of the board as they have full confidence in his vision for the game in Berbice and the way how their funds are used.

Foster noted that about ninety clubs in the county will receive a box of balls.

This is the second time for the year that West Berbice clubs benefitted from donations of balls. The clubs had earlier in the year received a box of balls under the Faizal Jaferally Developmental Fund for West Berbice while first division clubs late last year had carried home one million dollars worth of white balls under the Patron Fund.

Clubs in the area over the last four years had also benefited from donations of cricket gears, stumps, water pitchers, rain coats, bicycles,

school bags, catching cribs, educational materials, trophies, medals and a large pitch covers among others.

Foster also used the opportunity to update the clubs of some upcoming developmental projects including a mini academy for fifty youths in the area, a comprehensive inter secondary school coaching programme , gears for schools and youth aged tournaments for schools.

He also disclosed that the BCB will have its own grass cutting machine shortly as the massive developmental drive of his administration continues.

Representatives of the clubs expressed thanks to the board and the Hetmyers for the timely and much welcomed donation.

Meanwhile, the clubs which included Cotton Tree,

DEdwards, Achievers, Police, Bath, Bush Lot United, Shieldstown, Rainbow Generation and Blairmont Remnants joined their counterparts in rejecting the planned resignation of Foster as President effective from July 31.

The clubs approved a

resolution moved by two of their representatives, stating that under the current leadership Berbice cricket has moved to the highest l e v e l e v e r a n d developmental programmes are unmatched anywhere in the West Indies. One delegate informed Foster that if he leaves, a lot of club

officials in the county will follow him out of the door.

The motion was passed with the support of all twelve clubs present voting yes. The BCB President, like he did in the Upper Corentyne area, expressed thanks to the clubs for their confidence in his leadership but made no commitment to carry on.

French Open: Gauff sets up semi-final with Trevisan (BBC Sport) - American teenager Coco Gauff says her recent high-school graduation was tougher than reaching the semi-finals of the French Open for the first time.The 18-year-old swept into the Roland Garros last four with a 7-5 6-2 win over fellow American Sloane Stephens.Gauff combined her studies with competing on the WTA Tour and graduated before the tournament started.She said: "Was graduating tougher?

Yes because I know how hard it was to do school and play tennis on the road."

Gauff, who made her debut on the WTA Tour aged

Cori Gauff of the U.S. in action during her quarter final match against Sloane Stephens (Reuters)

14, added: "Other players in general get out of sight with life and we think tennis is the most important thing in the world. It is not."So getting my high-school diploma meant a lot to me."Gauff won

the French Open junior title in 2018 - the same year Stephens finished runner-up to Simona Halep in the women's singles final.

She broke Stephens, 29, at the end of a tight first set

and then took command of the second to set up a semifinal against Martina Trevisan.Trevisan, 28, also reached the last four at Roland Garros for the first time after overcoming Leylah Fernandez 6-2 6-7 (37) 6-3.

The Italian, who is ranked 59 in the world and is named after Martina Navratilova, spent four years away from tennis to battle an eating disorder.In a blog in 2020 she explained how she had to be "re-educated to eat" having "closed myself in my cocoon" when her father was diagnosed with a degenerative disease.

"I'm happy on the court," she said after Tuesday's win.

"I'm doing what I love. So my past is the past, and it helped me to be in the present, to be what I am right n o w. " Tr e v i s a n s t a r t e d confidently against Fernandez - the 19-year-old 2021 US Open finalist - who struggled with a foot injury.

Fernandez, seeded 17, saved a match point in the second set, winning the tiebreak comfortably, only for Trevisan to recover her poise in the deciding set.

The world number 59 has found momentum having won her first WTA title in Rabat the week before the French Open.

Mominul Haque steps...

From page 32 being discussed. We have to take a well thought out decision. We cannot make someone a captain on a whim."

Shakib has had numerous stints as Bangladesh's Test captain in the past, first leading the side in a game against West Indies in 2009.

He captained the team for six more matches in the first half of 2010, and more Test in A u g u s t 2 0 11 a g a i n s t Zimbabwe, before falling out of favour with the then BCB chief Mustafa Kamal. Shakib then took over the Test captaincy once again in December 2017, replacing Mushfiqur Rahim. Shakib held the role for nearly two years, till he was handed a one-year ban from all cricket in 2019 for failing to report a bookie's approach.

Incidentally, Shakib's future in Test cricket has been a topic of discussion in recent months, with the allrounder going back-and-forth on his commitment to red-ball cricket.

In February, Shakib had reportedly asked the BCB for some time off from Test cricket, but was nonetheless selected in the squad for the tour of South Africa. Shakib, though, suggested that he was "jaded", and requested a break from international cricket, which the BCB eventually granted him.

However, that wouldn't be the end, as Nazmul publicly questioned Shakib's commitment to his country, and following another round of meetings between the allrounder and the BCB boss, Shakib was included in the tour of South Africa.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 01, 2022

PAGE 29

Political uncertainty forces relocation of Pakistan vs West Indies ODIs (ESPN Cricinfo) Pakistan have relocated their home series against West Indies from Rawalpindi to Multan. The decision has been taken in light of political uncertainty in Islamabad - the country's capital, adjacent to Rawalpindi. The fixtures and schedule, however, remain unchanged, with the three ODIs, which are a part of the Cricket World Cup Super League to be played on June 8, 10 and 12.

The games were originally slated for Rawalpindi, but the PCB had kept Multan as a back-up option, with former Prime Minister Imran Khan

potentially planning protest rallies in the capital over the coming days.

The original protest rally took place on May 25, but there remains a significant possibility of further such rallies over the coming days.

Multan remained the only viable option, with Lahore and Karachi's pitches being relaid, and the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar undergoing renovation work.

Multan is situated in southern Punjab, and among the hottest cities in the country, with temperatures in the high 40s expected on matchdays. Pakistan has never hosted elite cricket at

this time of year due to the summer heat, with nearly all high-level competitions including domestic season played during the winter and spring months between September and April.

During the summer months, the PCB has mostly held its training camps in northern side of the country mostly in Abbottabad, which is located in the hilly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and experiences relatively milder weather. Last year, the PCB had made an attempt to host women cricketers camp in Multan but had to call off the camp due to extreme heat.

The games will start at

BCB express condolences on passing of Foster's mother

T

he executive committee of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) would like to express their deepest sympathy to our President Hilbert Foster on the death of his Mom, Esmee Claudette Foster.

Ms. Foster died after a prolonged illness on Sunday and the BCB would like to reassure our hardworking President of our full support during this difficult time. Mr. Foster continued to fulfill his official duties, despite fully knowing the end was very close for his beloved mother.

He has a unique place in the manual of

Esmee Claudette Foster

BCB President, Hilbert Foster Berbice cricket as she produced two presidents of the BCB, who together have played a major role in the development of the game. Her eldest son served as the BCB President between 2008 and 2014 while Hilbert has served from 2018 to now.

We are fully aware that our President has taken the death of his mom very hard and it is our sincere prayer that Jesus will bless and comfort the family especially her sons Keith, Alex and Hilbert during this difficult time.

The funeral of the late Esmee Claudette Foster will take place on Thursday June 2, at the St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church from 2pm.

EDFA Stag Beer Men's League continues this weekend Even though the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) has suffered minor setbacks at the hands of inclement weather which has caused a few games in the Stag Beer Senior Men's League to be postponed, they are continuing to surge ahead with any avenue offered.

This weekend the competition continues at the

Buxton and Golden Grove Grounds with two double headers.

On Saturday, June 4, the Victoria Scorpions lock horns with Mahaica Determinators from 16:00 hrs then Buxton Stars tackle Melanie from 18:00 hrs, both at the Buxton venue.

The following day, Sunday June 5, Airy Hall (Continued on page 27)

Anthony 'Awo' Abrams

Captains Nicholas Pooran and Babar Azam pose with the T20I trophy (AFP/Getty Images) 4pm in the afternoon to mitigate the weather conditions. Pakistan will carry out their training camp in Lahore from June 1-4, before the squad moves to Multan on June 5. West

Indies will arrive in Islamabad as planned on June 6 and will travel to Multan on a charter flight.

The ODIs have been carried over from the series scheduled last December,

when only the three T20Is took place, a Covid outbreak in the West Indies camp forcing the postponement of the ODIs. There will be no biosecure bubble for the series.

Blake runs season's best 10.05 for second at Ostrava Golden Spike (SportsMax) - 2011 100m World champion Yohan Blake ran a season's best 10.05 for second in the Men's 100m at the Ostrava Golden Spike, at the Municipal Stadium, in the Czech Republic, on Tuesday.The race was won

by Great Britain's Reece Prescod in a personal best 9.93 while fellow British teammate and former Kingston College sprinter Zharnel Hughes was third in the same time as Blake.

J a m a i c a n To k o y o Olympic finalist Candice McLeod ran a season's best 50.38 for second in the Women's 400m behind Poland's Natalia Kaczmarek

Former Guyana player Hanif slams unbeaten century in Canada

F

Yohan Blake

who ran a personal best 50.16. Another Polish athlete, Anna Kielbasinska, was third in 50.38, equaling her own personal best.

Puerto Rican Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn sped to 12.56 for victory in the Women's 100m hurdles ahead of Poland's Pia Skrzyszwoska who ran a personal best 12.65 and the USA's Nia Ali (12.69).

It was a Caribbean 1-2 in the Men's Javelin as

Grenadian 2019 World Champion Anderson Peters continued his fine form this season with a throw of 87.88m to win ahead of Trinidadian 2012 Olympic Champion Keshorn Walcott (84.77m). Germany's Julian Weber was third with 83.92m.

Cuba's Maykel Masso won the Men's Long Jump with 8.14m ahead of the Czech Republic's Radek Juska (8.11m) and France's Augustin Bey (8.00m).

Faye Joseph Memorial Domino

Tourney on this weekend On Saturday June 4, the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue will come alive as the Georgetown Dominoes Association (GDA) in collaboration with The National Sports Commission (NSC) will be hosting the Faye Joseph (past president of the GDA and the Guyana National Dominoes Federation GNDF) Memorial Dominoes competition.

During her tenure at the helm of the GDA, Faye sponsored many tournaments including the traditional mother's and father's day competitions which grew the game tremendously. Faye served as a role model and motivated many as Guyana won the World Council male three-hand title. Her astute leadership impressed many and persuaded the business community to lend support which was instrumental in Guyana hosting the World Council tournament.

Faye got involved in dominoes in 2008 when the rendered support to the national female team that competed in the World Council of Dominoes Federation tournament in Antigua. The team went on to win the three-hand title.

In 2010, Faye provided financial support for the team to defend their title in St. Lucia and she subsequently formed the Blue Bird club and started to play competitively. Faye went on to represent Guyana

Wednesday June 01, 2022

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at the World Council Tournament held in 2012 in Orlando and also turned out for her country in 2014.

She sponsored a number of local teams for tournaments in Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbados and in 2015 she was elected President of the GNDF. Faye continued to impress and in 2019 she was elected as one of the Vice Presidents of the World Council of Dominoes Federation.Faye took the game to another level with her leadership skills and practiced zero tolerance to indiscipline. She was also remembered as a strong woman who was always willing to assist players and teams. She has left a rich legacy.

She will be remembered as a big thinker, who actualised the thoughts. She led Guyana into participating twice in the Spanish League. Her Benevolence to those in need was unmatched. Her positivity was another great hallmark. Simply she was a woman for all seasons.”

When news of her sudden demise reached the fraternity, there was an outpouring of sadness and grief as fellow domino captains, players, supporters and family members pledged support to keep her legacy alive.

Games will commence at 17:00hrs (5:00pm) on Saturday and will take the form of two (2) rounds of aggregate thereafter two-in-

Former GNDF President, the late Faye Joseph one-out to the finals which will conclude on Sunday starting at 13:00hrs (1:00pm). There will be an early bird registration which commenced on Monday last with the registration fee being $12,000 up until Friday and thereafter $15,000 will be rigidly enforced.

The Minister of Sport, Hon. Charles Ramson and Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, will be in attendance to declare the games officially open. This is a country-wide open tournament in which all teams are invited to participate.

Prizes for this event are $300,000, $150,000, $75,000 and $40,000 for first, second, third and fourth, respectively and are accompanied by trophies and a Lien Trophy. The MVP will pocket $20,000. All GDA rules will be in effect.

ormer Guyana first-class wicketkeeper/ba tsman, Azib Alli Hanif, struck a brilliant unbeaten 106 to spur Masters to a comfortable 64-run win over Aces Cricket Club in the opening round of the Ontario Round Arm Softball Cricket Association 20-overs competition on Sunday.

Playing at Dumbarton High School ground in Pickering , O n t a r i o , the right-handed Hanif clobbe red 12 sixes and three fours as his team r e a c h e d a respectable 206-7 f r om the 20-overs.

Aces Cricket Club, in reply, reached 143-7 when the 2 0 - o v e r s r a n o u t .

Hanif, who hails from Berbice and represented Guyana i n 1 0 m a t c h e s , g o t s u p p o r t f r o m Salman Khan with an entertaining 46 laced with five sixes and three fours and Azam Haniff with 21.

Richard Ramcharran grabbed three wickets for 24 runs from four overs while Khemraj Rama

Imtiaz Abjal

collected 2-43 in his fourovers.

When Aces Cricket Club batted, Imtiaz Abjal hit a belligerent 93 which counted eight sixes and six fours.

Ameer Khan took 3-35 from four overs, delivering for Masters.

Details from the other games were available, but the competition is set to continue on Sunday across various venues in the Greater Toronto Area.

Azib Alli Hanif

CWI pays tribute to David Holford, former West Indies allrounder Cricket West Indies (CWI) today paid tribute to David Holford, the former West Indies allrounder who passed away on Monday in his homeland Barbados. He was 82. As a leg spinner and lower middle-order batsman who played 24 Test matches between 1966 and 1977.

His finest hour came during the Lord's Test of 1966 when he made a magnificent unbeaten century, as part of a historic partnership of 274 with his cousin Garfield Sobers. In just his third Test innings, Holford made 105 not out to help save West Indies from danger of 95-5 in the second innings. His best bowling figures were 5-23 against India in the first innings which helped set-up a victory at Kensington Oval in 1976.

He was also captain of

Davild Holford Barbados and led them to the Shell Shield title, and briefly played for Trinidad and Tobago. After retirement Holford held several roles in the game. He was President of the Spartan Club, Director of the Barbados Cricket Association, West Indies Selector and Manager of the West Indies team.

Ricky Skerritt, President of CWI paid tribute.

Skerritt said: “David Holford epitomized the values of cricket both on and off the field, and was the quintessential West Indies cricketer and ambassador.

As a player he was a top quality allrounder and captain who gave his utmost at all levels. As an administrator, team manager and pitch curator he demonstrated his ongoing love for the game by his vision and dedication. He had a hand in the development of several young players across the region, not just in cricket but in several other fields of endeavor. David's legacy is therefore one of service and dedication to Barbados and West Indies cricket. CWI hereby extends our deepest condolences to his wife, Marva, and all family and friends.”

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Sterling: Man City forward attracting interest from Bayern Munich and La Liga (BBC Sport) Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling is attracting interest from Bayern Munich and leading clubs in Spain amid uncertainty over his future.Sterling, 27, won his fourth Premier League title with City this season.

But he started the finalday win over Aston Villa on the bench, in addition to both legs of the Champions League semi-final defeat by Real Madrid.

With just one year left on his contract, Sterling now has a major decision to make about his future.

City have already signed two forwards ahead of the new campaign, Erling Haaland from Borussia

Dortmund and Argentine Julian Alvarez from River Plate, and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has

stated the club expect to sign at least two more players this summer.

It is understood Sterling's

Raheem Sterling and Pep Guardiola

situation is likely to be addressed in the middle of June, once his international commitments with England in the Nations League are over.

Sterling has no interest in becoming a bit-part player and retains the desire to improve and play a

meaningful role in winning more honours.

He also knows playing regularly is the best way of ensuring he retains his England place for November's World Cup in Qatar.

City are likely to sell at least one forward player, with

Brazilian Gabriel Jesus heavily linked with Arsenal in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Poland striker Robert Lewandowski has said his "story is over" at Bayern Munich as the 33year-old seeks a move from the German champions this summer.

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Hope's unbeaten century sets up West Indies win (ESPN Cricinfo) - Shai Hope's 11th ODI century studded West Indian domination in the first of three ODIs against Netherlands in Amstelveen.

On a blustery day with sheets of rain that reduced the game to 45overs a side, West Indies made light work of a 248 chase, as they got home with 11 balls to spare and seven wickets in hand.

There were also bruising halfcenturies from Shamarh Brooks and Brandon King.

The tone of the chase was set early as Hope and Brooks added 120 for the first wicket. While their approach wasn't explosive in the T20 sense, they kept reeling off enough to always stay ahead of the asking rate. Then there was a stutter when seam-bowling allrounder

Logan van Beek picked up two wickets off successive deliveries.

First, he sent back Brooks by taking an excellent return catch and then had Nkrumah Bonner lbw with an inducker.

When Nicholas Pooran, the captain, departed for 7 three overs later, Netherlands may have sniffed an outside chance of winning. That is when Hope and King decided to extinguish any such hopes with an unbroken 116-run stand to seal the deal.

Despite the loss, it wasn't all doom and gloom for Netherlands as they fought hard to construct an innings that centred around rookie opener Vikramjit Singh and Max Dodd.

They added 63 in 12 overs to set a solid base. Then they had little

Shamarh Brooks contributions from every member of the top order, without any substantial score. It wasn't until Teja Nidamanuru, the 27-year old India-born allrounder, top scored

GFF pledges to increase M-FAP funding for members The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on Saturday signaled its intention to increase funding for its Members Financial Assistance Programme (MFAP), in light of the 25 percent increase to the FIFA Forward 3.0 funding mechanism announced at the 2022 FIFA Congress in March.

The two areas that will likely receive more funding t h r o u g h M - FA P a r e competitions and infrastructure, in particular the maintenance and upgrading of football g r o u n d s . T h e M - FA P increase will be factored into the GFF's 2023 budget and presented at an Extraordinary Congress later this year, alongside the result of the recently announced revision to the GFF statutes, which is being conducted at the request and under the guidance of FIFA and Concacaf.

The GFF membership, meeting for its annual congress at the GFF National Training Centre in

Providence last weekend, also signed off on the GFF's 2021 financial report, audited by Ram and McRae. The report will be shared with the Government of Guyana and published on the GFF website.

“We are determined to increase the funding for our p i o n e e r i n g M - FA P programme,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

“This will mean more financial resources, as well as technical and logistical support, for our members across Guyana, so that they can accelerate their efforts to stage competitions and improve playing conditions for all.”

“The GFF is committed to good governance, transparency and a c c o u n t a b i l i t y, ” F o r d e continued. “We see the auditing, member approval and publication of our financial report as a key pillar in strengthening the image of sports governance in Guyana and delivering on our mandate.”

The new FIFA Forward

3.0 programme will see an increase of 25 percent in f u n d i n g , g i v i n g F I FA member associations – including the GFF – access to funding of around USD 8 million over the four-year period from 2023, as long as specific criteria are met.

T h e G F F ' s M - FA P system operates along similar lines, requiring strict criteria to be met for its members to receive full funding and support quotas.

The increase in M-FAP funding will enable a stronger focus on the maintenance and upgrade of football facilities across Guyana, as well as the staging of more youth and senior competitions for male and female football.

“We understand that our members need support to deliver this quantity of football,” Forde said.

“Through M-FAP, we are able to ensure the football community has everything required to rapidly increase participation in the sport across all age groups for male and female players.”

with 58 on debut that they managed to get to a respectable position.

Nidamanuru faced just 51 balls and struck three fours and two sixes in his knock.

This helped Netherlands post 240 for 7, which was then readjusted to 248 via the DLS method. As the chase went on, it became increasingly evident that they were well short.

The second and third ODIs will take place on June 2 and June 4 respectively. Despite the win, West Indies are currently 10th and outside the direct qualifying zone in the ODI Super League that serves to identify seven direct qualifiers plus the hosts - for next year's 50overs World Cup in India.

Netherlands are last, with just two wins in 11 matches so far.

Brandon King

Benzema named Champions League Player of the Season Karim Benzema

(Reuters) - Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has been named the Champions League Player of the Season after a stellar 2021-22 campaign where he finished as top scorer, UEFA said on Tuesday.

France international Benzema, 34, won the competition for the fifth time as Real beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final, having netted 15 goals in 12 games including hat-tricks against Paris St

Germain and Chelsea in the knockout stages.

Benzema's team mate Vinicius Junior, who scored the only goal in the final in Paris, was n a m e d t h e t o u r n a m e n t ' s Yo u n g Player of the Season. read more The duo were also named in the Team of the Season alongside Real midfielder Luka Modric and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who played a

s t a r r i n g r o l e in the showdown at Stade de France.

Runners-up Liverpool were represented by defenders Trent AlexanderArnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson as well as midfielder Fabinho.

PSG striker Kylian Mbappe, Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne completed the lineup.

Mominul Haque steps down as Bangladesh Test captain Mominul Haque has resigned as Bangladesh's Test captain, following the team's series defeat at home against Sri Lanka.

ESPNcricinfo understands that Mominul, who has led the side in the longest format since October 2019, was being weighed down by the pressures of captaincy, and as a result was struggling with the bat as well; he has averaged just 16.20 in

2022, with 162 runs from six matches. Overall, Bangladesh won just three Tests under Mominul's leadership, losing 12 and drawing two."When you play well, even if the team doesn't win, you are still in a position to motivate them. I felt that captaining a side is tough when I am not scoring and team is not winning.

I think it is best to quit the captaincy.

"I feel I should focus on my batting. It wasn't a hard decision. A captain has to contribute otherwise it

brings a lot of pressure. The board president told me to stay on but I don't want to be the captain. " Though Bangladesh began 2022 with a historic victory against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui, they lost four of their next five Tests, falling to series defeats against both South Africa and Sri Lanka. It is understood that following the loss in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Mirpur last week, Mominul met with the BCB president Nazmul Hassan,

indicating his wish to step down from the captaincy in order to focus on his batting.

Shakib Al Hasan is among the names being considered to replace Mominul, but a full-time captain is yet to be named.

"I am not concerned about Mominul's captaincy. I didn't hear anything from the coaches too. He is not getting runs, which is always a worry for a batsman. Mominul is going through a mental crisis. I told

him immediately after the Dhaka Test that we believe in him," Nazmul told Daily Star .

"I also heard Shakib's name is in discussion for Test captaincy. Shakib used to be captain in all three formats but now I have to know what is he available for? He cannot make last minute decisions about his availability when he is the captain.

"We have to discuss with him first. There are also other names (Continued on page 28)

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GFF pledges to increase M-FAP funding for members

The GFF membership met for its annual congress at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence last weekend.

t r o Sp

BCB express condolences on passing of Foster's mother

Shai Hope

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