Kaieteur News

GWI spent K NEWS $89 million in parties for two years AIETEUR

Sunday Edition June 06, 2021

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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President Ali at Saipem launch…

Govt. will run procurement and local content audits on Exxon Foreigners living like Kings, Guyanese living like beggars!

Construction workers join in protest to demand renegotiation of all foreign contracts. You too can join every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in front your homes; you can send the pictures via social media or WhatsApp #622-2222

SOCU to investigate GWI US$9M water treatment contract Palm Court shooting… Relative says suspect driving around with car every day p.

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Saipem launches fabrication yard in Georgetown

Let me tell you what’s happening in this land.

These foreign people fetching away our wealth, living like kings while Guyana is left to starve, living like beggars! Guyanese, we are the richest country on earth per capita as I speak. We have wealth that can make Guyana greater than America overnight, but we are not benefitting from it. We can’t fix the sewage system in this country – it is stinking all over; we have a run down and a stinking city. The salaries being paid to our citizens can’t even pay some p e o p l e ’s r e n t . T h e pensions we pay to senior citizens can’t even buy Pampers for them. Our citizens are driving old reconditioned cars and donkey carts, living in black outs morning, noon and night, drinking dirty water. Some of us can’t afford to bury the dead in this country. We can’t even patch the potholes on our roads, much less

pave them. We can’t fix the kokers and the drains to avoid flooding and disaster.

Guyanese wearing rubber slippers and cork ball on their feet.

We g o t p e o p l e begging all over, we got people thieving all over – some of them ah riding motorbike and snatching umbrella fuh put lil food on their children’s table, while the foreign people who fetching away our wealth living like kings and queens, drinking champagne and fine wine. They are taking our wealth, building cities with skyscrapers, building highways and railways, driving Mercedes Benz, Lamborghini, wearing Gucci, Nike and Louis Vuitton. Yes, dem living the life, building their countries with me and you money! Our gold, diamond, timber, bauxite and now our oil. Now, what a beautiful Guyana this is!

A message from Glenn Lall Publisher, Kaieteur News.

Oil companies must ensure Guyanese - Pres. get jobs or “it will not go down well” Ali Listen @11am, 4pm Don’t take us back to slavery days, renegotiate those lopsided foreign and 7pm on Kaieteur contracts, so we can get our fair share of our natural resources Radio 99.1/99.5FM

Kaieteur News

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Sunday June 06, 2021

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

How badly do you want it?

How badly do you want it? The ‘you’ in that crucial question refers to Guyanese leaders, in fact, all of us Guyanese, as put to leaders and the nation by a recognised oil expert (“Guyana should have say in all oil companies’ spending - TT expert, Anthony Paul”, KN June 1). The underpinning of that question is how much it means to us to get things right, by doing it right, which means that we want to be involved every step of the way, and in every aspect of the oversight and operations of our oil wealth. There can be no other way, and that must be non-negotiable, part of our standing demand and way of life, if we are going to come anywhere close to obtaining something of significance from our oil and other natural resources gifts.

As Mr. Paul said, “…Going forward, Guyana can say ‘We want to participate in every single contract’.” This means that our authorised state entity would be fully immersed with incoming foreign investors, not as an observer, but to “operate as a partner…part of the approval process for work plans and budgets.” That makes for perfect sense, and it projects an empowered Guyanese presence and involvement in the high strategies and the nitty-gritty of the management of this oil, and other sectors. What we have had is disastrous on the mere face of it, and when there is drilling down, matters only become worse.

It is the position of this paper that, for too long and too feebly, our leaders have been content to be passive, and accept whatever trickle, whatever handout, whatever charity is given out to this country. What is even more insulting, and discouraging, is that some of our leaders take pride in telling citizens that they should be content with what has been finalised, because it is so good. If and when we think this cheap, possess minds that are this limited, then any brightly coloured baubles will do to keep us happy and quiet. It is why one foreign company after another has come here to exploit our riches, while taking advantage of us, but leaving us poorer when the hog of the nation’s wealth is continuously carted away.

Foreign owners and foreign shareholders are enriched, because the going is so good in Guyana. Because any heavily inflated costing is delivered to us as done deals, with Guyana being responsible for the billions in expenses. The bottom line of foreign corporations is sweetened, shareholders rejoice. We don’t know the substance or the accuracy of those hundreds of millions and billions in charges, because we are on the sidelines. We are uninvolved and, from all indications, our leaders are unconcerned. It is as if they can’t wait to absorb more of the financial poundings that come with the expenses and invoices, of which we have no clue.

It is why, therefore, we identify closely with what Trinidadian Anthony Paul strongly recommends. We must be involved in every aspect of the contract operations and fulfillment, from the beginning and planning and work programmes. Only then, would Guyana be in a position to sign off on plans, what is said that we owe, what is our portion of the expenses, the discoveries, and all of what was really involved in the exploration and production and budgeting (and real money story) for this oil and gold and the rest.

But there is another side to the question we posed in the caption and very first sentence of this writing. To refresh, the question is: how badly do you want it? That is, with pointed reference to, and meaning for, our leaders. We take it to another place and ask the same question: how badly do you want it? In this instance, the ‘you’ means the foreign companies rushing to invest here in the brightest mecca (and investment play) on the planet. Those who hem and haw should be scratched immediately, as not being serious, not having what it takes, not meeting the money and net minimums that we have in mind.

This truth must be faced: For every foreign company interested in being a part of Guyana’s investment horizon and national consideration, but not ready to deal on our terms (as full-fledged partners). There are a dozen, if not a score, of other foreign entities that would give their right arm to sit across the table from us, listen to us, and work with us to

Don’t renegotiate the contract, cancel it DEAR EDITOR, Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP) adds its voice to all those calling for an immediate cessation of the contract with ExxonMobil and of all oil and gas production. In particular, we wish to give our full support to the recent case filed by Guyanese nationals, Quadad de Freitas and Dr. Troy Thomas against the oil giant ExxonMobil’s three projects, Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, and Payara. We join all those in the scientific, financial and legal worlds, who are calling

not for a renegotiation of the contract, but rather for a cancelling of the contract and a bold decision to leave the oil and gas in the ground.

The documentary, ‘Carbon Bomb,’ released in October 2020, exposes the nefarious r e a s o n s b e h i n d ExxonMobil’s oil projects in Guyana. ‘Carbon Bomb’ is available on YouTube and should be watched by every Guyanese. Insiders tell the story of ExxonMobil’s financial crisis and how Guyana became a pawn in the game of the beleaguered oil giant’s desperate attempts

carve out what is beneficial to both sides. That is yet to happen, because our leaders have caved in and compromised the prospects of this nation, by not driving the hard bargains that say this: do it our way, or don’t come here.

Our leaders have to have the will. They must be ready to

to stave off financial disaster, as it colluded with the World Bank to turn Guyana into the “world’s latest victim of the oil curse”. It is no secret that oil companies are facing huge challenges as the world moves out of the fossil fuel era.

Unfortunately, due to the ineptitude, short-sightedness and greed of the APNU+AFC regime, Guyana signed up for one of the very worst deals in the history of the oil and gas industry, and the current government is running with it.

Furthermore, and this is the main argument for pausing and changing our direction - Guyana has missed the era of oil bonanzas. It’s over. Oil prices are plummeting because the climate crisis is forcing everyone to turn to clean energy alternatives and reduce their dependency on fossil fuels ASAP. As a result, ExxonMobil is in serious financial crisis and its lucrative deals in Guyana are not so lucrative after all, but are being used as window dressing to deceive (Continued on page 6)

deal strongly with foreigners, and then deal straight with Guyanese. They have not done so. And at the end of it all, matters come back to this: how badly do you want it?

Meaning, both our leaders and those from the outside who come to explore and prosper.

Sunday June 06, 2021

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Kaieteur News

Guyana’s real history is not taught DEAR EDITOR, David Brigbhukan, Advocate for Climate Justice, wrote about the flooding and plight of the farmers of Black Bush Polder (BBP), SN 30th May, 2021.

I used to visit BBP with my dad from childhood. They were cash crop farmers and dirt poor. My dad constantly had to support people financially. BBP had poor but the humblest and kindest folks. They toiled so hard and then the huskers from the towns would come and buy their vegetables for next to nothing and then made a ton of money reselling in the big markets. We had to make sure we visited in the hot weather.

One time, we were there and the rain came down, a tractor had to brace our car to get out from the street back to the main road. These people are the diehard supporters of the PPP who has never given them much for their hard work

and labour all these years.

Many people from BBP are now in South Ozone Park...they own/live in million-dollar (US) properties.

Few if any has repatriated to Guyana when the PPP is in power and most prefer to move to Florida than return to Guyana today even though their “party” is back in power. Those in Government should ask themselves why.

Gokarran wrote the following in the comment section...

“I always repeat the story my Mamoo told me. A former police with the Special Service Unit, he was picked up at 4am at Eve Leary, along with a full truckload of police, ALL INDO-GUYANESE, all heavily armed and taken to BBP to watch over the bulldozing of houses of farmers who could not pay their rates and taxes.

They arrived at 6am. The

Call for sexual misconduct allegations against Paul Slowe to be investigated and more to be done DEAR EDITOR, As a follow up to our letter earlier this week for an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Senior Superintendent Fazil Karimbaksh, we are further calling for an independent investigation of the allegations of sexual harassment brought against the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Paul Slowe.

We reiterate that the many recent reports of sexual misconduct including rape and sexual exploitation committed by serving members of security forces and these most recent allegations against men in high authority are cause for great concern.

We also reiterate our calls for a thorough and far reaching review of policies and practices, which are a contributing factor towards sexual and gender-based violence in Guyana’s security forces, for sexual harassment legislation to be drafted and enacted as soon as possible and for policies against sexual harassment to be swiftly introduced into all public and private sector workplaces, agencies, labour unions,

schools, faith based organisations, sport organisations, media and educational institutions, NGOs and CSOs. Pamela Nauth & Gaitrie Shivsankar (Help & Shelter) Ayo Dalgety-Dean (Blossom Inc.) Susan Collymore & Halima Khan (Red Thread) Dr. Pauline Bullen (Director - Institute of Gender Studies) Joel Simpson & Mishka Puran (SASOD) Rev. Patricia SheerattanBisnauth (CEO - Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation) Omattie Madray (ChildLink) Danuta Radzik Alissa Trotz Vanda Radzik Josephine Whitehead Carol Inniss-Baptiste Vidyaratha Kissoon Sherlina Nageer Janette Bulkan Nicole Cole Karen de Souza Joy Marcus Vanessa Ross Wintress White Christian Vargas Charlie Tokeley

old lady and her husband had just returned from the farm for breakfast.

They go to work even before dawn. When the police and bulldozer men announced their mission, the old lady begged them to wait a bit while she cooked “baigan choka” (an East Indian type of stew made from eggplant) and roti and fed all of them. And then they moved on the street and watched the bulldozer proceed to do Burnham’s bidding.”

Stories like these make my heart weep and all of those who have endured ethnic atrocities in Guyana need to tell their stories and I mean everyone, irrespective of race and/or creed.

Guyana will never heal until present day leaders make perpetrators of heinous crimes accountable. Some of these very perpetrators are parading as senior statesmen/ women and are demanding respect and a heroic place in our history. This is simply

because Guyana’s real history is not taught.

Politicians only harp on the parts that suit their agendas and purposes.

Neither party; the PPP or PNC has shown any interest in revealing the true and sordid history of our past.

They peddle their own distorted, myopic versions.

Who will do this job?

Who will teach the presentday generation and future ones about the struggles and sacrifices of our ancestors?

The newspapers are letting us down.

Each is pursuing their respective agendas. For example, why none of them remembers that May 26 is the Anniversary of the Wismar Massacre? Why has none of them seen it fit to investigate

as to why this specific date was chosen by the PNC government and why has the PPP not seen it fit to address the atrocity of making May 26, a day of celebration rather than a day of shame in the annals of Guyana’s history?

Many are preaching about Unity yet few seem serious as then we will see them demonstrate in their actions.

“Hammie” Green is a great example in this.

He is seen writing and lecturing to others. He is an elder and has tons of experience in matters of politics and Government; yet this is akin to an abusive father lecturing to his now abusive son on how bad it is to abuse the wife of said son when he, the father has never ever accepted his abusive

behaviour and his role in making his son abusive nor have apologise to his victims, which includes the very son he berates.

Burnham must be jeering at Cheddie wherever their souls are today. I wonder what is Dr. Jagan’s answer to the present-day plight of his die-hard supporters as they live in floodwaters and watch all their labours wash away or die.

Those who bailed out and fled to other parts like South Ozone Park are counting their blessings a million times today. At least they do not have to watch their backbreaking efforts literally float away or die before their very own eyes.

Yours truly, N. Sahadeo

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Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

What qualification does one need to Increasing protection for boys EDITOR, the ideas of masculinity that jobs to the child. Some contribute/discuss/debate issues of DEAR The relationships that, frame their victimisation as predators even tend to go as Journal of WEI Business children have with their being one of weakness. far as offering to adopt the national importance? the and Economics (this is an families, has an enormous Families have an important child and provide them DEAR EDITOR, I usually ignore politicians who demonstrate absurdity when they speak or write. However, I am hardpressed to respond to a politician or someone who appears to be a politician within, Mr. Shawn Simmons – whose letter was carried in Kaieteur News on June 5, 2021.

Mr. Simmons, instead of contributing in any meaningful and substantive manner to the debate or the subject matter – he instead sought to question my credentials. Mr. Simmons appeared to have enquired as to who I am and what qualifications I hold and from his description – he visited my LinkedIn profile as well.

But if he so did, I am wondering why was he dishonest to state that he did not find which university (ies) I studied with, or maybe it was a case where he did not look thoroughly; or he was being deliberately mischievous – which would not be surprising given who he seems to be.

So, for Mr. Simmon’s information and whatever its worth, I did my first Master’s Degree with Edinburgh Napier University, which is ranked (globally) in the top five percent World University Rankings or in the top 100. It is also among the top 10 universities for graduate employability in the United Kingdom. I studied with the University of Cambridge as well,

which has global rankings. In addition, if my credentials were not authentic – I would not have been awarded a US$5,000 tuition waiver sponsored by the InterAmerican Development Bank to participate in an Executive Training Course in Macrofinancial policymaking in emerging economies with another highly prestigious university in the United States, Columbia University. I am currently doing another Masters in Accounting and Finance through London School of International Business and the University of Chichester, another university of international standing – ranked among the top 30 universities in the United Kingdom (national rankings produced by the Guardian University Guide, 2021).

With respect to my PhD studies, I am doing a PhD in development studies concurrently through published works with Edinburgh Napier University, a route to a PhD available only to employees and alumnus of the university. I should mention, too, that last year I participated in an international academic conference (my first international academic publication) with the West East Institute (WEI) International Academic Conferences on Business, Education, and Social Sciences which is held annually at the Harvard University Faculty Club in Boston. The paper I presented was published in

annual international academic conference, which I intend to participate every year going forward and have my work published in the WEI Journal of Business and Economics).

Having said that, Mr. Simmons is out of his depths because one does not need a specific qualification to contribute, comment, discuss or critically analyse any issue of national importance.

Further, I am well aware of the profiles of the professors whose writings I have challenged and like I usually tell my students, to be a critical thinker, one has to have a mind of their own and ought to be able to examine critically complex issues. Not because someone is regarded as distinguished and holds five degrees it means what they say is gospel. It doesn’t work like that.

Finally, the fact that Mr. Simmon’s did not address my argument in any meaningful and substantive manner is not an unusual style by Guyanese politicians of a certain political entity. In other words, it is not an unusual practice by some politicians in Guyana that when they do not have anything of substance to say or contribute on an issue – they resort to attacking the person. Look at the quality of the budget (2020 & 2021) debates in the National Assembly, for example.

Yours faithfully, J.C. Bhagwandin

...Don’t renegotiate the contract, cancel it From page 4 panicking shareholders into believing that the company is healthy and solvent. As Nikki Reisch, Director of the Climate and Energy Programme for the Washington DC based Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), points out, “gas is so worthless that Exxon would rather burn it than capture it and sell it.

Guyanese people need to wake up to what is happening before it’s too late.” In May 2020, CIEL issued a press release calling on ExxonMobil to heed international environmental pollution warnings and cease flaring immediately. The statement clearly stated that “The flaring, which far exceeds levels authorised by the Guyanese government, releases greenhouse gases and toxins, threatening the global climate, the local environment, and public health.”

Back then, CIEL’s president, Carroll Muffett, said that the volume of natural gas flared after only six months of oil production “put Guyana

among the top 10 gas-flaring countries in the world.”

CIEL is now among a number of international organisations giving their full support to the most recent legal case filed by de Freitas and Thomas to stop the oil giant. OVP congratulates these two courageous citizens and Guyanese patriot, Melinda Janki, who is leading the legal team. We are proud that Guyana is now leading the way towards a saner future, since as Muffett points out, this case is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and “part of a rising tide of action by citizens worldwide who are going to courts to accelerate action in response to the climate crisis”.

In relation to the current case, Mr. Muffett highlighted a startling fact, that more than 90 million tonnes of greenhouse gases will be emitted directly from Exxon’s three projects and that this “is tantamount to burning more than 260,000 hectares of Guyana’s forests or practically removing close to 80 percent of Iwokrama, which comprises

371,000 hectares of forest”.

Only those with myopic vision and totally lacking in foresight can advocate taking us down this path of national suicide. Given the facts outlined above, can anyone say that leaving the oil in the ground is an extreme position? Or is it simply a rational and courageous one, that will ensure the preservation of the incredible wealth and resources that this country has been blessed with. I ask my fellow Guyanese: is it not better to leave the oil and gas where it is - at the bottom of the ocean, and remember that wise age-old adage, “All that glitters is not gold”.

Our politicians boast that they are promoting and developing a green economy but sadly, they don’t seem to have the faintest clue about how to achieve that goal. This is tragic because it is a goal that would most certainly secure Guyana’s prosperity and place in this brave new world.

Gerald A. Perreira Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)

role to play in the life experiences, which they have and in their development into adulthood. While we live in a patriarchal society that places value on the young male child, we also live in a society that views all children as second-class citizens and treats them accordingly. This directly places children at risk of all forms of abuse and there are many factors that contribute towards sexual violence against children.

Amongst these, poverty, neglect and lack of education can often combine and create circumstances that make children more vulnerable to abuse.

Focused protection of young boys is often neglected in familial and State interventions as they are seen as not being as vulnerable to sexual violence as girls. While sexual abuse against girls is often reported at higher levels, sexual abuse of boys is far more common than is regularly acknowledged. Part of this has to do with lower reporting rates of boys given

role to play in breaking down many of the toxic ideals that impact the ways in which they raise and protect boys. The gendered way of raising children continues to result in creating unsafe environments for young boys where they are groomed to be both victims and perpetrators of violence.

Over the years, there have been several cases reported to ChildLink that have demonstrated the way in which sexual predators have preyed on not only vulnerable children, but also their families. Families that are impoverished and have low educational levels are less inclined to question the motivations of those they believe are trying to offer them and their child a better life.

Predators are aware of this fact and will often choose to groom family members first through gifts and money before making their interest in the child known. This interest can often take the form of them offering mentorship and

“better” lives in order to get unfettered access to them.

These factors demonstrate how important it is that families develop an environment of protection around young boys. This means moving away from the idea that boys must fight their own battles and do not need protection. The stereotype of the alpha male needs to be challenged as its maintenance has disastrous impacts on the self-esteem and behaviours of young boys and men as those who have been abused feel significant shame at not being able to protect themselves. State interventions surrounding children’s freedom from violence would also have to address the social and economic factors that often come together to make them more vulnerable to abuse.

Akola Thompson Blue Umbrella Consultant (To report or seek counseling, please call 914/ 227-0979/227-2023/2333500)

Keep retired, ex-policemen away from Police Service Commission DEAR EDITOR, With all of the hullabaloo concerning the Police Service Commission (PSC), it also underscored the need for this body to be staff with civilians and other law enforcement professionals, but not retired or ex-policemen, since persons coming out of this service may act vindictively and prejudicially against lawmen or women who they would have interacted with during their terms of service in the Guyana Police Force and may have an axe to grind.

The retired policemen should only be advisors and not members of the Commission. However, the PSC Chair Mr. Paul Slowe has revealed himself along with his chosen biases based on his actions and inaction. This entire matter stemmed from legal proceedings filed in the High Court by Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus, who complained that he is being bypassed for promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, even though he was recommended for promotion by the Commissioner of Police. Investigations would reveal that when Slowe was the Commander in Berbice, he had issues with Brutus.

In response to Mr. Slowe’s recent tirade against President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Slowe placed himself under the

microscope and has revealed his known innate biases, rather than his selfproclaimed independence and professionalism. The President has rejected Slowe’s accusation of ‘interfering’ and so now he has to produce evidence to back his claim. Then he has to find further proof that the charges against him, of fraud and sexual assault, are untrue.

Additionally, we have learned that Mr. Slowe has publicly aligned himself with opposition members of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul, Roysdale Forde, attorneys Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman, Geeta ChandanEdmond and Amanda Walton Desir to institute proceedings against the Government of Guyana. To accuse President Ali of trying to influence him in favouring certain offices of the Police Force when Slowe’s term as PSC chairman ends in August 2021 is ludicrous. Why would the President need to do any such things when it is the President that appoints the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioners of Police, which are the most senior ranks of the Force?

The PSC is responsible for the promotion of gazetted ranks up to Assistant Commissioner of Police, which all fall under the Deputy Commissioners and

Top Cop. Back in July 2018, then Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, did inform former President David Granger, that he had hangups regarding Paul Slowe’s possible appointment to head the Police Service Commission. Jagdeo actually said that Slowe “… had ‘baggage’ which may cause him to be biased in carrying out his duties.”It seems that Vice-President Jagdeo was accurately far-sighted, and had his warnings been heeded by Former President, David Granger, maybe the present charges of fraud and sexual molestation would not have been hanging over the head of Slowe.

In trying to besmirch the Head of State early in his presidency, Mr. Slowe’s anger stemmed from him being charged with eight others (retired senior ranks) jointly for fraud by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for an alleged conspiracy to defraud the GPF of some $10M. Mr. Slowe should get up and face his conscience and look deep within, he knows the truth of this matter, but like many others who would rather spew venom to distract the public from the real issues, he continues to fight a losing battle.

Sincerely Halim Khan

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Kaieteur News

Fellow Guyanese, we are all losing one million dollars every month that goes by with this oppressive Exxon contract.

We have no full coverage insurance from the oil people. Furthermore, this country does not know the interest rate we are paying on the $20B loans for Liza, I, II and Payara, and we do not even know how much they are taking out for clean-up cost.

This contract is worse than any oil contract in the last 100 years.

It must be noted however, that the contract allows for renegotiation. But our leaders, all of them, are not in favour of renegotiation!We need that contract to be renegotiated!

We cannot sit back and allow this contract to throw us back into slavery or have us continue to look like beggars to the world. But we cannot win this fight in isolation; we all have to do our part to demand that the contract is renegotiated.

Moreover, I, Glenn Lall, the publisher of this newspaper, am calling you out of your homes and offices or wherever you are at 9am tomorrow to gaff, only for five minutes, with your neighbours, friends and colleagues about the renegotiation of the contract. Drivers can also toot their horns from 09:00 – 09:05 hrs in support.

You can snap a few photos and post them to social media, and even send a few to my Whatsapp (624-6456) so that the world can know and see that together we are demanding the renegotiation of the Exxon contract.

Let's continue to do this every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until we overcome.

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Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

SOCU to investigate US$9M water treatment contract

T

he Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has been called in to investigate suspected financial irregularities at the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and among them is a US$9M contract for a water treatment chemical called SeaQuest.

These financial irregularities allegedly took place while the coalition government was in power, under ex-boss, Dr.

Richard Van West-Charles.

Informing media operatives of the development is the current Managing Director (MD), Shaik Baksh, who also detailed that a forensic audit of the company is currently ongoing.

During a GWI press conference held on Friday, he pointed out that there was a questionable water chemical contract which cost Guyana some G$1.8B over a four-year

period, or almost US$9M. According to Baksh, the money was used to solesource the water purification product, SeaQuest, through a middleman, from the manufacturer, an American company called Aqua Smart Inc.; the product is a trademarked combination of chemicals used to reduce or separate the iron content from the water as part of the purification process.

“They have a middle

company doing the procurement and then mixing, batching the product and transporting it to all Regions.

So a middle man was there sourcing (the product) from Aqua Smart and this was sole sourcing,” the GWI boss told reporters.

Baksh said that by doing this, the then management of GWI breached all the tender processes, both at GWI and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

Moreover, related Baksh, the GWI Board of Directors did not approve for the company to sole-source the chemical but the then management went ahead and did so.

“I just want to quote what the Board said, ‘the board agreed that there was not sufficient grounds to waiver public procurement and did

Ex-Boss of GWI, Dr. Richard Van WestCharles.

not approve the request for sole-sourcing’,” said Baksh.

He added that the move to disregard the board’s nonapproval for sole-sourcing the SeaQuest is “totally unacceptable and certain steps (to investigate) have been taken.”

Baksh pointed out too that an internal auditor has found that the middle company that was used to source the SeaQuest had been “double-charging” in the batching, mixing and transportation of the chemical.

“Huge sums of monies were involved there,” he related.

Apart from the controversial water chemical contract, Baksh noted too that there are other financial irregularities that have popped up under the previous management.

He revealed that the current management was forced to send home a clerk after it was found that the individual had signed off transportation invoices with “fictitious charges.”

He added that the former management was in approval of the fictitious charges too.

Another finding, according to Baksh, was the questionable delivery of goods to the various Regions. He explained one instance where the clerk was signing on behalf of the regional authorities for the delivery of goods, but the internal auditor could not find any evidence that they were delivered.

Baksh continued that despite no evidence of delivery being produced, “claims were made and invoices were done for payments to be made.”

The GWI boss further revealed that it was discovered that the then management were involved in contracts splitting which is prohibited under the National Procurement Act and GWI’s tender rules.

Contract splitting is the practice of artificially breaking up the purchases of goods and services to bring total expenditure below organisational and legislative thresholds in order to avoid formal procurement rules.

Baksh also made mention of an irregularity where a contractor was overpaid some $89.9M for a Vlissengen Road pipe project.

GWI’s Managing Director, Shaik Baksh.

He explained that the cost of the project was some $123M but the then management paid the contractor $114M which is 93% of the total cost of the contract.

Despite being paid the cash, Baksh said that only 11.2% of the pipe line was completed and the “performance bond has expired.”

As result, related the MD, a manager was dismissed and GWI had no alternative but to take the contractor to court.

The matter is still ongoing.

These revelations came to light after GWI made a decision to retrench some 157 workers after the current management reasoned that the company is unable to sustain all of them.

A total of 76 employees have already received their dismissal letters.

It was reported that the coalition had doubled up GWI’s staff from 600 employees to over 1,300. Van WestCharles, during a recent press conference along with former Minister of Housing and Water, Annette Ferguson, had called on GWI to reconsider its decision in sending home the workers.

He claimed that the decision to employ more staff was to reduce outsourcing by doing the projects with in-house staff.

This plan, he contended would save the company from spending large sums of money on contractors.

However, according to Baksh, during five years under Van West-Charles’ tenure the company made no money and was on the verge of total collapse before August, 2020.

Sunday June 06, 2021

Saipem launches fabrication yard in Georgetown Saipem America, a company which specialises in ship fabrication, had its opening ceremony yesterday afternoon. The event saw investors and members of the private sector, as well as President Irfaan Ali, attending to take part in the ceremony and gain an insight on the company’s intentions and its presence here in Guyana.

The company has been contracted by Exxon Mobil, the U.S oil giant, to assist in the fabrication of ship parts and all other assets for the offshore vessels.

Ms. Shonette Rayside, the country’s local Human Resource lead, said that Saipem has opened a door of local content opportunities for Guyana, with the fabrication yard – located in Water Street, Georgetown –contributing to local content by employing local Guyanese in its various departments. This in turn would help to create employment, develop local skills and capabilities as well

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President Irfaan Ali as transfer knowledge. She went on to say that Saipem will collaborate with local suppliers, which will strengthen local entrepreneurship and create socioeconomic value. She mentioned that the company, since being awarded the con-

tract for Lisa One, started with one Guyanese employee. An internship programme was then launched and attracted four more employees. Since being awarded the contract for Lisa Two and Payara, the training of more local employees was needed as well as the engagement of more local sub-contractors. She said that the second internship programme was launched in 2019 and expanded the need for local employees, increasing the local employment rate to 63%. Rayside further stated that Saipem has hired approximately 43 Guyanese to assist operations, dispersed around the office, fabrication yard, and logistics base. In her closing remarks, she advised Guyanese to get educated in order to grab hold of opportunities. She said that the success of Saipem is highly dependent on the efforts of Guyanese.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, in (continued on page )

Dem boys seh...

Showing cause or tallying to de cause?

Dem boys seh how de Prezzie young and he gan mek mistakes. He is still youthful and he trying to do de best and to de best of he abilities.

So he gan mek one and two mistakes but what is important for any person is dat dem learn from dem mistakes.

But he mek a beef stake rather dan a mistake yesterday. Deh gat certain things which as a statesman, yuh don’t do.

It does mek yuh look bad in public.

Yesterday was World Environment Day and de Prezzie issue a Statement for de day.

But de person wah write dah statement clearly nah understand dat when a President issue a message on behalf of de nation, is on behalf of every Guyanese.

And therefore, it should not mek reference to any po-

litical party. De Prezzie statement yesterday brag about what previous PPP/C governments do. Dat is inappropriate language for a message dat going international. Is a pity Daphne Rogers and Vic Persaud nah around fuh teach lil protocol.

De use of inappropriate language however is a bug which spreading throughout de government. Last month, de Department of de Environment (dem boys bin think this place close down) issue a statement in which it attempted to upbraid de parliamentary Opposition, the APNU+AFC. It talk about how de APNU+AFC gat no regard fuh de truth and engaged in an attempt to deceive. Den it went on a political rant itemising de lists of failures, which de Coalition committed

in relation to de environment. Reading dat, yuh woulda think dat de Department of de Environment deh pon de political platform or is an extension of Freedumb House.

Dat is not de role of a government department.

Dem type of statements have to be issued in de name of a Minister or political figure not by public service workers. Dem government department can provide de information but dem nat supposed to get entangle in partisan attacks.

Dat is grounds for dismissal. Dat is cause for de Prime Minister to ask whoever issue dat statement to show cause why he or she should not be disciplined.

Talk half and nah hold yuh breath for Uncle Mark fuh do so!

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Sunday June 06, 2021

CPA launches probe into suicide of student, 15 The Ministry of Human Services through the Childcare & Protection Agency (CPA) has launched an investigation into the death of a 15-year-old student of a city school, who committed suicide at her home, this past week.

According to a release from the Ministry, the incident prompted immediate intervention from the CPA which has since conducted a virtual counselling session via Zoom with the children of the school. Minister of Human Services, Vindhya Persaud, expressed her concern over the incident in a statement following the

incident.

“I am very disturbed that a school going child will take her life. We know that the parents are deeply affected by the loss of this child and we would like to extend our deepest sympathies from the Ministry and to offer our support,” Minister Persaud said.“From the moment we heard this, we reached out to the school and her classmates and we provided counselling for those who have been seriously affected. We will work with the parents and all those involved because this is a very, very tough time for them,” she added.

In addition to the virtual

counseling, Director of Children Services and Head of CPA, Ann Greene, addressed the students and encouraged them that they too will experience difficult situations in life, but using a permanent solution for a temporary problem is never the way to go. Greene promised the students that she will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to determine what really led to the girl ending her life.

“I gave them that promise and we’ve started the process to find out because you see, she’s gone too soon and there is need for the remaining students to get

closure,” she said.

The intervention by the Ministry seeks to assist the students to cope with the tragedy by providing necessary psychosocial support at this time.

Assistance of psychosocial support to deal with the loss will also be given to the immediate family. Immediately following the virtual meeting, one student visited the CPA and benefitted from a one-onone counselling session.

The CPA has since visited the girl’s father who is very distraught at the moment and puzzled as to what could have caused his daughter to take such an action.

CPA Director, Ann Greene.

Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Palm Court Shooting…

Relative says suspect driving around with car every day Two months has passed since Ricardo Fagundes, better known as ‘Paper Shorts’, was gunned down in front Palm Court and according to a relative, the prime suspect is driving around with a car every day.

Fagundes was murdered on March 21 of this year around 22:00hrs minutes after he stepped out of the popular bar located on Main Street. An autopsy had revealed that he was riddled with more than 20 bullets.

Ranks from the Major

Crime Unit (MCU) based at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary are working on the case. They had issued a wanted bulletin for Rondell Bacchus also known as “Killa” who later turned himself in but investigators had found nothing to pin Bacchus to Fagundes’ killing and they were forced to let him go.

In recent developments however, investigators reportedly told Fagundes’ family members that there is (Continued on page 60 )

Murdered, Ricardo Fagundes.

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Eighteen cases disposed of as April session of Demerara Criminal Assizes ends Eighteen cases were disposed of during the April session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes. This is according to statistics on the criminal session composed and released by the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) yesterday.

The DPP Chambers noted that the session started on April 6, 2021 and came to an end on Monday, May 31, 202I. According to the information, during the assizes, a total of 329 cases were listed to be heard.

However, Justice Brassington Reynolds and Justice Sandil Kissoon disposed of 18 matters.

According to the release, the Office of the DPP presented 17 in the High Court of Demerara, while the other was nolle prosequi.

Of the 17 cases presented, 11 were for the offence of murder while six were for sexual offences. In the 17 cases, there were five guilty pleas, six convictions, four not guilty verdicts by jury and two formal verdicts of not guilty. The other matter was discarded of by the DPP. State Counsel Tyra Bakker, Seeta Bishundial, Nafeeza Baig and Sarah Martin prosecuted eight matters before Justice Brassington Reynolds. Of those, two were for the offence of murder and six were sexual offence cases.

In one murder matter presented

by Ms. Bakker and Ms. Bishundial, the accused pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. In the other one, the jury found the accused guilty of the

lesser offence of manslaughter and he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

In the Sexual Offences Court, State Counsel Nafeeza Baig and Sarah Martin completed six cases. In three of the cases, the accused were acquitted, while the other three accused were all found unanimously guilty.

Two of them were sentenced to 20 and 18 years imprisonment respectively; the other one awaits sentencing on the June 17, 2021.

Meanwhile, State Counsels Lisa Cave and Tyra Bakker presented nine cases for the offence of murder before Justice Sandil Kissoon. In one of these, the trial Judge upheld a nocase submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty. In another, the jury returned

a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

In four other cases, the accused all pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

In two of those cases, one accused person had two separate trials; in the first trial, he was indicted for the offence of murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve 30 years before being eligible for parole. In the other trial for which he was indicted for three crimes, murder, attempt to commit murder and discharging a loaded firearm with intent, he was again sentenced to life imprisonment on the first count for murder and 20 years each on the other two crimes. The 20-year sentences will run concurrently.

The other two accused before Justice Kissoon were sentenced re-

spectively to life imprisonment and 15 years’ imprisonment for murder.

The first accused was sentenced to life with eligibility for parole after serving 25 years. In another trial in which two accused were indicted jointly, the trial Judge upheld a nocase submission for the number one accused while the jury unanimously found his co-accused guilty of murder. He will be sentenced on June 9, 2O21. In another one trial, the accused who was indicted on three counts of murder was found unanimously guilty on all counts and will be sentenced on June 16. Another matter is pending.

Further, the release said that the DPP nolle prosequi one matter because the complainant in a written statement indicated she did not wish to proceed.

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UNAIDS urges world leaders to adopt bold political declaration on HIV - Significant strides made in reducing AIDS-related deaths

T

he United Nations programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS) is urging world leaders to adopt a bold political declaration on HIV at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), high-level meeting on AIDS, which will be held in New York and online next week, and to commit to achieving a new set of targets for 2025 to end AIDS by 2030.

According to a Press Release issued by UNAIDS, four decades after the first cases of AIDS were reported, new data from the UNAIDS show that dozens of countries have achieved or exceed the 2020 targets set by the UNGA in 2016, evidence that the targets were not just aspirational but achievable.

Adding that, a report shows that countries with progressive laws, policies, and strong and inclusive health systems have had the best outcomes against HIV. In those countries, people living with and affected by HIV are more likely to have access to effective HIV services, including HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (medicines to prevent HIV), harm reduction, multimonth supplies of HIV treatment, and consistent quality follow-up and care.

Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, said. “High-performing countries have provided paths for others to follow, their adequate funding, genuine community engagement,

rights-based and multispectral approaches and the use of scientific evidence to guide focused strategies have reversed their epidemics and saved lives. These elements are invaluable for pandemic preparedness and responses against HIV, COVID-19 and many other diseases.”

The reports disclosed that the number of people on treatment has tripled since 2010, in 2020; 27.4 million of the 37.6 million people living with HIV were on treatment, from just 7.8 million in 2010.

The rollout of affordable, quality treatment is estimated to have averted 16.2 million deaths since 2001.

Additionally, deaths have fallen in large part due to the roll-out of antiretroviral therapy, while AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 43% since 2010, to 690,000 in 2020.

However, progress in reducing new HIV infections has also been made but has been markedly slower by a 30% reduction since 2010, with 1.5 million newly infected with the virus in 2020 compared to 2.1 million in 2010.

The report underscores that countries with punitive laws, that do not take a rightsbased approach to health punish, ignore, stigmatise and leave key populations, which make up 62% of new HIV infections worldwide on the margins and out of reach of HIV services.

“For example, almost 70 countries worldwide criminalise same-sex sexual relationships. Gay men and

other men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, people in prison, and people who inject drugs are left with little or no access to health or social services, allowing HIV to spread among the most vulnerable in soci-

ety.”

The Caribbean situation According to the report, from 2010 to 2020 AIDS-related deaths in the Caribbean have declined by 51% during the same ten-year period, and (Continued on page 57)

The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima.

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Contracts inked to commence infrastructural works in several Regions

Permanent Secretary, Prema Ramanah-Roopnarine signed on behalf of the Ministry in the presence of the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall and the Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud.

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development on Friday inked several contracts to the tune of $650M to commence infrastructural works in several Regions.

According to the Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud, the contracts inked includes the rehabilitation of five Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) buildings across the country: $11.9M issued to Leguan NDC in Region Three; $5.3M to Black Bush Polder NDC in Region Six; $5.4M to Canefield/Enterprise NDC in Region Six; $4M issued to No.

52/74 Village in Region Three; and $8M to Aberdeen/ Zorgen-Vlugt in Region Two. Additionally, $48.3M was issued to Esplanade Park in Region Six; $38.5M to Byderado in Region Seven; $120M for the rehabilitation of Haags-Bosch Municipal landfill in Region Four; $78.8M issued for the Leachate Treatment Facility and an additional $329M was allocated to Haags Bosch landfill.

The Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, stated, “The signing ceremony is a significant one since it signals government’s commitment to

the enhancement of communities through solid waste management and that the intention is also to improve economic livelihood by engaging local contractors when undertaking community enhancement projects so as to spread the resources around.”

Additionally, Persaud cautioned the contractors to ensure value for money, stressing that the government is keen on ensuring projects are infrastructurally sound. He also pointed out that contractors will be blacklisted for shoddy work, adding that the NDCs would be engaged to act as watchdogs of project works in their communities.

Sunday June 06, 2021

Dear Reader, in light of the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our publisher, with you in mind, has taken the decision to extend our weekly review of some of our major stories in their entirety.

SUNDAY EXXON CONTRACT HAS CLAUSE TO RENEGOTIATE …BUT PROVISION MANDATES ‘ONLY WITH WRITTENAGREEMENT’ BYALL PARTIES “GOVT. STILL OWES THE PEOPLE OF GUYANATHE OBLIGATION TO RENEGOTIATE THAT CONTRACT AND DON’T LETANYBODYTELLYOU THAT CONTRACT IS NOT RENEGOTIABLE.” The Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with the lead operator of the Stabroek Block — ExxonMobil — and their partners, Hess Corporation Inc. and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC), provides that the heavily criticised agreement can in fact be renegotiated.

The provision obtains at Article 13.2 of the PSA but comes with the caveat — the renegotiations and happens only with a signed written agreement between all of the parties involved. According to that provision in the PSA, commonly referred to as the contract, “This Agreement shall not be amended or modified in respect except by written agreement entered into by all the parties which shall state the date upon which the amendment or modifications shall become effective.”

Former Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, during a radio interview on Friday, pointed to the provisions and suggested the fact it exists in the PSA, is indicative of the fact it can be renegotiated.

According to Dr. Adams, “since way back in 2016, I was on the front page of the newspapers calling for a renegotiation of the contract.”

He was adamant, “nothing has changed my mind.” In fact, he posits, “to me anyway the government still owes the people of Guyana the obligation to renegotiate that contract and don’t let anybody tell you that contract is not renegotiable.”The former EPA Director insists the contract spells out provision for renegotiations and said, “If it was not the intention that it can’t be renegotiated, that

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clause would not be there.

He reminded nonetheless of the caveat calling for a written agreement by all parties involved to say, “…the parties must have to agree to renegotiate, I would love to see government tell Exxon(Mobil) we want renegotiation.”

The matter of renegotiating the agreement with ExxonMobil has been available by the David Granger administration on the advice of his then Petroleum Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal, much to the consternation of many within his fold.

According to Dr. Adams, “when I hear people say we can’t renegotiate, that’s absolute nonsense.”

He was adamant, “it’s in there, the clause was put in there because there’s a possibility that it could be renegotiated, don’t let anybody fool you and tell you that it can’t be renegotiated because we sign it.”

A number of key political figureheads from across the administrations have in the past-adumbrated varying positions when it comes to the renegotiation of the PSA with ExxonMobil’s Guyana Subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), and its partners.

In February last year, the Former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, under whose auspices the 2016 PSA was inked, said “The Government of Guyana believes in the sanctity of contracts and given all circumstances, sees no justification to the suggestion that the 2016 Petroleum Agreement is an improper contract.”

At the time, former President, David Granger, was of t h e v i e w “ o n c e international contracts have been engaged in, there is no question of removal or renegotiation of those contracts.”

He had adumbrated the position, “we will move forward and ensure that we continue to get the best advice before we engage in any other negotiations.”

His second in command at the time, Joseph Harmon—now opposition leader—had told the local press “let me say from the outset that when we came into office, we made it clear that we respect the sanctity of contracts.”

Former President now Vi c e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e P e o p l e ’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the Irfaan Ali administration, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, is on record saying contracts are sacrosanct, must be

respected and that the US Oil Exploration Company, ExxonMobil, has a right to make money on its investment.

On the sidelines of a January 2020 campaign rally at Anna Regina in Essequibo, Region Three, Reuters had reported that President Ali informed that an Ali-led PPP/ C government would “keep the Exxon contract intact” but review and push for renegotiation of others signed after 2015.

The article quoted Ali as saying that Exxon was a pioneer investor here and “a different case” which he would not look at for a renegotiation, should he become president. “Exxon was a pioneering investment,” Reuters quoted Ali as saying.

“But those that came after that time they were not pioneering, so they have to be examined in totality,” he added.

Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Attorney-at-law Charles Ramson Jnr., who had taken a break as a parliamentarian to pursue oil and gas studies, had also voiced the position he will not advise his party to renegotiate the Stabroek PSA because of “contract sanctity.”

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has in the past skirted the question of whether Guyana was getting a fair share of its revenue from its oil deals, to instead say, that what Guyana gets is already dictated by the contract and that, “We have to work with them and to make the best of them.”

MONDAY 10 YEARS AFTER US OIL SPILL…SCIENTISTS FIND OIL & CHEMICALS IN 91 SPECIES OF FISH; US$71B SPENT ON CLEAN UP; GUYANA IS STILL TO HAVE FULL INSURANCE A decade after BP and its partners spent US$71B to clean up the catastrophic 2010 oil spill at the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico, a study was conducted by marine scientists with the University of South Florida (UFS) to ascertain the effect of the spill on the marine life in the area.

The scientists sampled more than 2,500 individual fish representing 91 species from 359 locations across the Gulf of Mexico. Interestingly, their study found evidence of oil exposure in all of them, including some of the most popular types of seafood.

According to the study done in 2020, the highest levels were detected in yellow fin tuna, golden tilefish and red drum.

The study that was published in “Nature Scientific Reports,” represents the first comprehensive, Gulf-wide survey of oil pollution launched in response to the Deepwater Horizon spill. It was funded by a nearly US$37 million grant from the independent Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to establish the Center for Integrated Modeling and Analysis of Gulf Ecosystems (C-IMAGE), an international consortium of professors,

post-doctoral scholars and students from 19 collaborating institutions.

Over the last decade, USF scientists conducted a dozen research expeditions to locations off the United States, Mexico and Cuba examining levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the most toxic chemical component of crude oil, in the bile of the fish. Bile is produced by the liver to aid in digestion, but it also acts as storage for waste products.

“We were quite surprised that among the most contaminated species was the fast-swimming yellowfin tuna as they are not found at the bottom of the ocean where most oil pollution in the Gulf occurs,” said lead author Erin Pulster, a researcher in USF’s College of Marine Science.

“Although water concentrations of PAHs can vary considerably, they are generally found at trace levels or below detection limits in the water column. So where is the oil pollution we detected in tunas coming from?”

Pulster says it makes sense that tilefish have higher concentrations of PAH because they live their entire adult lives in and around burrows that they excavate on the seafloor and PAHs are routinely found in Gulf sediment. However, their exposure has been increasing over time, as well as in other species, including groupers, some of Florida’s most economically important fish.

In a separate USF-led study, her team measured the concentration of PAHs in the

liver tissue and bile of 10 popular grouper species. The yellowedge grouper had a concentration that increased more than 800 percent from 2011 to 2017.

Fish with the highest concentrations of PAH were found in the northern Gulf of Mexico, a region of increased oil and gas activity and in the vicinity of the Deepwater Horizon spill that gushed nearly four million barrels of oil over the course of three months in 2010. Oil-rich sediments at the bottom where much of the oil settled are resuspended by storms and currents, re-exposing bottom-dwelling fish.

Oil pollution hot spots were also found off major population centers, such as Tampa Bay, suggesting that runoff from urbanized coasts may play a role in the higher concentrations of PAHs. Other sources include chronic low-level releases from oil and gas platforms, fuel from boats and airplanes and even natural oil seeps— fractures on the seafloor that can ooze the equivalent of millions of barrels of oil per year.

“This was the first baseline study of its kind, and it’s shocking that we haven’t done this before given the economic value of fisheries and petroleum extraction in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Steven Murawksi, professor of fisheries biology at USF, who led the international research effort.

Despite the detected trends of oil contamination in fish bile and liver, fish from the Gulf of Mexico are tested (Continued on page 26)

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From page 25 rigorously for contaminants to ensure public safety and are safe to eat because oil contaminants in fish flesh are well below public health advisory levels. Chronic PAH exposure, however, can prevent the liver from functioning properly, resulting in the decline of overall fish health.

These studies were made possible by BP’s 10-year, $500 million commitment to fund independent research on the long-term effects of the Deepwater Horizon spill administered by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative.

This year marks the end of that funding.

“Long-term monitoring studies such as these are important for early warning of oil pollution leaks and are vital for determining impacts to the environment in the case of future oil spills,” Pulster said. (Source: https:// www.usf.edu/news/2020/ first-gulf-of-mexico-widesurvey-of-oil-pollution-infish-completed-10-yearsafter-deepwaterhorizon.aspx) THE DEEPWATER HORIZON SPILL Deepwater Horizon oil spill, also called Gulf of Mexico oil spill, is considered one of the largest marine oil spills in history, caused by an April 20, 2010, explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig—that was located in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 41 miles (66 km) off the coast of Louisiana—and its subsequent sinking on April 22.

The Deepwater Horizon rig, owned and operated by offshore-oil-drilling company Transocean and leased by oil company BP, was situated in the Macondo oil prospect in the Mississippi Canyon, a valley in the continental shelf.

On the night of April 20, a surge of natural gas blasted through a concrete core recently installed by contractor Halliburton in order to seal the well for later use. It later emerged through documents released by Wikileaks that a similar incident had occurred on a BP-owned rig in the Caspian Sea in September 2008. Both cores were likely too weak to withstand the pressure because they were composed of a concrete mixture that used nitrogen gas to accelerate curing.

Once released by the fracture of the core, the natural gas traveled up the Deepwater rig’s riser to the platform, where it ignited, killing 11 workers and injuring 17. The rig capsized and sank on the morning of April 22, rupturing the riser, through which drilling mud had been

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Kaieteur News

injected in order to counteract the upward pressure of oil and natural gas. Without any opposing force, oil began to discharge into the gulf. The volume of oil escaping the damaged well—originally estimated by BP to be about 1,000 barrels per day—was thought by U.S. government officials to have peaked at more than 60,000 barrels per day. The total estimated volume of leaked oil approximated with plus or minus 10% uncertainty, including oil that was collected, making it the world’s largest accidental spill.

CLEANUP EFFORTS The petroleum that had leaked from the well before it was sealed formed a slick extending over more than 57,500 square miles (149,000 square km) of the Gulf of Mexico. To clean oil from the open water, 1.8 million gallons of dispersants—substances that emulsified the oil, thus allowing for easier metabolism by bacteria—were pumped directly into the leak and applied aerially to the slick.

Booms to corral portions of the slick were deployed, and the contained oil was then siphoned off or burned. As oil began to contaminate Louisiana beaches in May, it was manually removed; more difficult to clean were the state’s marshes and estuaries, where the topography was knit together by delicate plant life. By June, oil and tar balls had made landfall on the beaches of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. In all, an estimated 1,100 miles (1,770 km) of shoreline were polluted.

AFTERMATH AND IMPACT Economic prospects in the Gulf Coast states were dire, as the spill affected many of the industries upon which residents depended. More than a third of federal waters in the gulf were closed to fishing at the peak of the spill, due to fears of contamination.

A moratorium on offshore drilling, enacted by former U.S. Pres. Barack Obama’s administration despite a district court reversal, left an estimated 8,000–12,000 temporarily unemployed. Few travelers were willing to face the prospect of petroleumsullied beaches, leaving those dependent on tourism struggling to supplement their incomes. Following demands

by Obama, BP created a US$20 billion compensation fund for those affected by the spill. A year later nearly a third of the fund had been paid out, though lack of oversight allowed government entities to submit wildly inflated claims, some unrelated to the spill. By 2013, the fund was largely depleted.

Numerous investigations explored the causes of the explosion and record-setting spill. The U.S. Government report, published in September 2011, pointed to defective cement on the well, faulting mostly BP, but also rig operator Transocean and contractor Halliburton. Earlier in 2011, a White House commission likewise blamed BP and its partners for a series of cost cutting decisions and an inadequate safety system, but also concluded that the spill resulted from “systemic” root causes and “absent significant reform in both industry practices and government policies, might well recur.”

CONCERNS FOR GUYANA The findings by the marine scientists have also caught the attention of local industry experts who related to Kaieteur News that they should serve as a wake-up call for Guyana which is pursing massive oil projects in the Stabroek Block without full coverage insurance. This newspaper has reported on several occasions that Guyana is yet to receive official documentation or any piece of evidence for that matter to say that ExxonMobil would stand the costs for clean up and restoration programmes, following any oil spill from the Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, and Payara projects.

In the absence of full coverage insurance, stakeholders have expressed deep concern about the billions of dollars in expenses Guyana would be left with following any irreparable damage that follows from an oil spill.

What has also left stakeholders in a deep state of worry is the fact that Guyana has no independent study on the potential harmful

effects on its marine life from an oil spill. There is also no provision in the Production Sharing Agreement for the Stabroek Block which ensures ExxonMobil would undertake to do such a study and provide compensation should Guyana be affected in this way.

TUESDAY GUYANASHOULD HAVE SAY IN ALL OIL COMPANIES’ SPENDING – TT EXPERT, ANTHONY PAUL When the Stabroek Block deal was released in 2017, several international experts cringed upon noting the alarming loopholes the Coalition Government left unaddressed.

In previous articles, Kaieteur News had quoted international energy lawyer, J. Jay Park, as saying that Guyana is supposed to have a say in the approval of the budgets these oil companies draft.

It is the same as if a mother drafts a shopping list on how her daughter is supposed to spend $60,000 on groceries for the home. Naturally, the mother is supposed to have some say over what her daughter would purchase for the home, which supermarket she would go to so they can get the most value, and how many of the items she should get. The mother is supposed to have a say, after all, she is paying for it.

But this is not taking place in Guyana’s case. Park found that Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil gives the country no say over what the operator budgets to spend on the Stabroek Block.

This is in spite of the fact

that Guyana will be footing the bill. The contract only gives the country the right to audit. One can also say that this is the same as the mother allowing her daughter to spend on whatever she wants, whether it is $60,000 or $1M and the daughter saying, “If you have a problem, you can check all my receipts. The cost for the items is on par with international prices.”

The lawyer noted that the absence of legal approval for ExxonMobil’s budgets is actually an odd feature in the Guyana-ExxonMobil PSA; He is not the only one who shares this view.

In agreement with him is Trinidadian expert, Anthony Paul.

During an interview on Kaieteur Radio’s Show Guyana’s Oil and You, Paul categorically stated that Guyana should have the power to influence how the oil companies spend the money and not only the power to audit what is already expended.

In fact, the petroleum consultant said that Guyana should be able to do this for all oil companies.

He noted that several opportunities still exists for this to happen. “…Going forward, Guyana can say ‘We want to participate in every single contract’.” This means that any investor coming in, Guyana will present an entity that it owns which would operate as a partner with that investor. The company representing Guyana’s interest would be part of the approval process for work plans and budgets.”

The Trinidadian added, “It will also give Guyana the opportunity to influence many other things. Because the state company is involved, you will also have more information available to access which can be shared with the citizenry.”

HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT IT? Paul said that the partnership arrangement he proposed is just one of the many ways Guyana could have a say on budgets and work programmes. But the million-dollar question remains: “How badly do your leaders want it?”

Paul said whether Guyana decides to increase its authority over oil companies’ budgets is dependent on how the leadership of the country feels.

He also noted that one of the challenges Guyana will face is the type of advice it will receive on these matters.

Because of the lack of funding to get the required experts, Paul noted that Guyana would

be in receipt of advice from non-governmental organisations and development associations, which focus on anticorruption.

The Trinidadian expert said while this is important, the focus of these organisations tend to be, “Let’s avoid opportunities for corruption” rather than “let’s strengthen systems to prevent it.”

“So in recent times, governments like Guyana have been advised to not have state companies for oil because it is an avenue for corruption. That is true but countries that have done well in oil and gas, including Norway, have had state companies with an interest in every block. Why do they do that? Because they are not only able to oversee what is going to be spent and have a say, but they are also able to learn the business.”

The Trinidadian noted that Guyana could improve its position significantly. He said, however, that it is only doable to the extent that the government has the ability of understanding what the country deserves and the confidence to ask for it.

POPULAR MEDIA PERSONALITY, MONDALE SMITH, SUCCUMBS TO COVID-19 Popular media personality and ‘chef,’ Mondale Smith, has died after being infected with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. His death was confirmed by officials of the Ministry of Health (MoH) Monday.

The former journalist was last week admitted to the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal after he developed serious complications as a result of the disease. Smith reportedly died while receiving treatment and is listed among the country’s recent COVID-19 deaths.

Earlier this year, Nameela Henry, another well-known media personality passed away as a result of the disease too.

Smith, who was 44 at the time of his death, was known for his jovial and resilient persona. He was a former news anchor at Prime News and former journalist for several news entities including this publication. He is formerly the owner and Chief Chef of Chef Mondale’s Kitchen and former Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education.

The news of his death sent shock waves throughout (Continued on page 27)

Sunday June 06, 2021

From page 26 the country Monday, as hundreds of persons took to their social media pages to express their sympathy to his loved ones. Some even uploaded their last moments spent with Smith and stories about Smith.

The Guyana Press Association (GPA) in expressing condolences remembered Smith for his “versatility and love for journalism.”

“He was known for his many stand-ups and for going after stories that showed the reality we lived in,” the GPA highlighted.

Smith’s journey in the local media industry started in the early 1990s when he worked at the Guyana Broadcasting Authority.

According to the GPA, there he produced as well as hosted radio programmes.

The Education Ministry in extending condolences and prayers to his family and friends, said that Smith’s presence and contribution to the Ministry would not be forgotten.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry Monday announced that four more persons who tested positive for COVID-19 have died. Their deaths have now increased Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll to 389. This publication was informed that Smith’s death was not included in the daily update.

According to the M i n i s t r y, t h e l a t e s t fatalities are an 83-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and three men – an 81-year-old from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), a 65year-old from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and a 30-yearold from Region Nine ( U p p e r Ta k u t u - U p p e r Essequibo). All four persons died over a twoday period (May 29 and 30) while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

Further, the MoH via its daily COVID-19 dashboard recorded 42 ne w infections, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 16,952.

A breakdown of new cases per Region shows that Region Six leads with 22 new cases, Region Four with 11, Region 10 with three and Regions One, Three and Seven with two each.

The dashboard also shows that 23 patients are in the COVID-19 ICU, 102 persons are in institutional isolation, 1,916 in home i s o l a t i o n a n d nine are quarantined institutionally.

To date, 14,522 recoveries

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have been recorded.

WEDNESDAY DIRECT EMISSIONS FROM THREE STABROEK BLOCK PROJECTS EQUIVALENTTO BURNING OVER 260,000 HECTARES OF GUYANA’S FORESTS – CIEL PRESIDENT President of the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Carroll Muffett is of the firm conviction that the most recent constitutional case filed by two Guyanese against ExxonMobil’s three projects—Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, and Payara— is crucial to protecting the health of current and future generations.

During a recent interview, Muffett noted that the case which was filed by Quadad de Freitas, a 21-year old Indigenous tourist guide from the Rupununi region, and Dr. Troy Thomas, a university lecturer and former president of the anti-corruption organisation Transparency Institute Guyana, highlights that more than 90 million tonnes of greenhouse gases will be emitted directly from those three projects alone. To put this into perspective, Muffett said it is tantamount to burning more than 260,000 hectares of Guyana’s forests or practically removing close to 80 percent of Iwokrama, which comprises 371,000 hectares of forest.

Muffett stated, “In the Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) Guyana submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Government of Guyana estimated that Guyana’s forests store up to 350 tonnes of carbon per hectare.

Assuming the government’s estimate is accurate, then the direct emissions from the

operation of those three wells alone would be equivalent to burning 260,000 hectares of Guyana’s forests.”

He added, “…It is important to recognise that the direct emissions from operating the wells will be dwarfed by the carbon dioxide emitted when the oil and gas they produce is burned.

Those emissions will affect Guyana, its people, and the planet no matter where in the world they are released.”

The CIEL President said too that one ought to bear in mind as well that the case filed by the two Guyanese have not taken into consideration, the emissions released from flaring due to the Liza Destiny’s gas compressor being plagued by faults. Thus far, ExxonMobil has flared more than 14 billion cubic feet of gas since starting operations at the Liza Destiny vessel in 2019.

Furthermore, Muffett said the case is critical as it is supported by a strong constitutional provision, which vests an explicit responsibility in the State to ensure current and future generations are able to enjoy a healthy environment. Also

striking about the case, the CIEL President articulated, is the fact that it contains exhibits in the form of government documents and quotes from officials such as Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, which all acknowledge the clear and present danger that is climate change.

Ultimately, the case which is the first of its kind in the Caribbean, finds itself as part of a rising tide of action by citizens who are going to courts to accelerate action in response to the climate crisis, Muffett stated.

CASE BACKGROUND According to the case, which lists Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC, as a representative for the State, the High Court is being asked to determine whether ExxonMobil’s operations violate the Constitutional right of current and future generations to a healthy environment.

The case Kaieteur News understands refers to the overwhelming scientific evidence of the devastating effect of greenhouse gas emissions, pointing out that oil and gas production are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Guyana is particularly vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels while ocean acidification threatens the Guyanese livelihoods that depend on healthy marine ecosystems.

The case cites Guyana’s international obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement in support of its claim for declarations that emissions from oil and gas production make the environment more harmful to health and wellbeing in violation of Article 149J of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a healthy environment and

requires the State to protect the environment for present and future generations.

Article 149J specifically states that: (1) Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to his or her health or well-being. (2) The State shall protect the environment, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures designed to – (a) prevent pollution and ecological degradation; (b) promote conservation; and (c) secure sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

The case also seeks to protect children, young people and future generations who bear a disproportionate burden in having to live with the effects of climate change.

The legal team consists of Ms. Melinda Janki and Mr. Ronald Burch-Smith, with support from Richard Lord QC at Brick Court and Joshua Jackson of Cloisters in the UK. PPP/C-nominated Commissioners table motions for dismissal of Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) nominated Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have tabled motions for the immediate dismissal of Chief Elections Officers (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers and Region Four Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont Mingo.

The three officials, who are currently before the court on charges related to electoral fraud, have been cited for a series of grave violations connected to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and for their defiance of the instructions

by the GECOM Chair, Claudette Singh to use the recount figures for the final result of the elections.

According to documents seen by this newspaper, Commissioners of the ruling PPP/C government, Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Manoj Narayan have tabled three separate motions Tuesday at GECOM’s statutory meeting detailing the basis by which their requests for the dismissals should be made.

Kaieteur News understands that Chairman of GECOM, Justice (R’t) Claudette Singh has since dispatched letters to Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo for them to show why the Commission should not act against them.

As it regards, Lowenfield, the motion for his dismissal notes, inter alia, that the CEO failed and/or refused and/or neglected to ensure due adherence and compliance of the statutory elections process in accordance to Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) by the Returning Officer for Election District Number Four, Clairmont Mingo, an election officer under his control and supervision, during the process of adding up the votes recorded in the Statements of Poll for the said District.

The motions also claims that the CEO failed and/or refused and/or neglected to ensure that the process of ascertaining the total number of votes cast in favour of each list of candidates for Election District Number four by adding up the votes recorded in the Statements of Poll was done “with dispatch” and without “inordinate or undue delay”.

The document outlines a series of instances by which the CEO acted in breach of (Continued on page 28) Flaring on the Liza Destiny FPSO

PAGE 28

From page 27 his duties; and failed and/or refused and/or neglected to provide proper and lawful directions, instructions and guidance to the officers and employees of the Secretariat in the performance of their statutory duties. The motion also detailed what was referred to as Lowenfield’s open defiance of court orders in his “active pursuit to fraudulently declare” the APNU+AFC coalition as winners of the March 2, 2020 Regional and General Polls.

The motion points to the CEO’s preparations of a final report pursuant to Section 99 of ROPA containing all of the unverified votes as declared

by Mingo in which he declared the APNU+AFC the winners despite the injunctions granted in the Reaz Holladar case and the existence of the interim injunction restraining GECOM from declaring the results pending decision of Chief Justice Roxane GeorgeWiltshire.

In another instance, the document outlined that the CEO was found in breach by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in relation to the recount report submitted on the 23rd June, 2020 “when he took it upon himself to himself to invalidate such votes as he considered ought to be invalidated.”

“By the aforesaid conduct, actions and omissions of the CEO, he has not only violated but has discarded the oath of office which he has taken to faithfully discharge the duties of his office and to act fairly and impartially in the discharge of those duties.

The foregoing actions of the CEO cannot be reasonably seen as acting impartially and fairly,” the motion states.”By the aforesaid conduct, actions and omissions of the CEO, he has caused a loss of public confidence and public trust in the electoral process …” the document outlined adding that the CEO is currently facing criminal charges being prosecuted by the Guyana Police Force in respect of his numerous infractions of the law.

Regardless of the outcome of those charges, the Commissioners said, GECOM must take all necessary steps and action and dismiss Lowenfield, pursuant to Article 162 (I) (b) of the Constitution to restore and ensure impartiality, credibility, transparency, public confidence and public trust in its institution.

As it relates to Myers, the Commissioners contend that she aided and abetted the CEO in his refusal, failure and neglect of his duties in the

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statutory process. The documents specifically points to the process of ascertaining the total number of votes cast in favour of each list of candidates for Election District Number 4. In the motion, the PPP/C Commissioners note, inter alia, that the DCEO aided and abetted Lowenfield in his failure or refusal to ensure that the electoral process was conducted “with dispatch” and without “inordinate or undue delay” and when he deliberately failed to ensure the correct tabulation of the Statement of Poll in relation to the votes for Region Four.

While the document cites Myers for aiding and abetting Lowenfield in the functions of duties on several occasions, it referenced incidences where she acted questionably on her own volition.

According to the motion, the DCEO acted on her own volition when she facilitated a meeting on March 5, 2020 with a candidate of the contesting party, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karen Cummings at the GECOM command centre at Ashmin’s building. It noted too that Myers acted on her own volition when she instructed police officers to remove Commissioner Sase Gunraj and others from the building on March 5, 2020.

This, according to the Commissioners, caused the loss of public confidence in the electoral process.

Meanwhile, as it relates to Mingo, the motion points to his orchestration of the attempt to rig the elections in favour of APNU+AFC. Among other things, the document calling for Mingo’s dismissal notes that without any lawful authority or proper justification or excuse, the RO deliberately failed, refused and neglected to ascertain the total votes cast in favour of each list in the district by adding up the votes recorded in favour of the list in accordance with the Statements of Poll as is required by the Section and instead, he whether by himself or those acting with his authority or under his direction, sought to use in the adding up process, figures.

In the interim, the letters dispatched by the GECOM Chairperson asked the officials to show cause why they should not be dismissed

by June 15, 2021. In the letter to Myers seen by this publication, the GECOM Chair detailed that the motion was moved by Commissioner Bibi Shadick and seconded

by Commissioner Manoj Narayan at the statutory meeting of GECOM Tuesday. “ As a consequence, I

have attached a copy the motion for your perusal and kindly request that you provide a response in writing on or before June 15 , 2021 to show cause why such action should not be taken against you,” the Chair stated.

THURSDAY EXXONMOBIL GIVENANOTHER BLOW AS SMALL HEDGE FUND WINS ANOTHER BOARD SEAT Engine No. 1, the small hedge fund that dared to challenge ExxonMobil over the past few months on its weak response to climate change, has dealt the oil giant another blow as it Wednesday won another seat on the Board of Directors.

This was disclosed by ExxonMobil after it updated the preliminary results for the election of directors at its annual meeting of shareholders held on May 26, 2021.

Kaieteur News had initially reported after the elections that the preliminary results of ExxonMobil’s elections saw two of Engine No. 1’s four nominees being elected to serve. That has now increased to three with Alexander Karsner, former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Engine No. 1’s board nominees elected last week were Greg Goff, former Andeavor/ Tesoro CEO, and Kaisa Hietala, former head of renewable fuels at Finnish refiner Neste.

Re-elected ExxonMobil Directors are Chairman, Darren Woods; Michael Angelakis, Susan Avery, Angela Braly, Ursula Burns, Kenneth Frazier, Joseph Hooley, Douglas Oberhelman and Jeffrey Ubben.

Since December last, Kaieteur News had reported that Engine No. 1’s challenge for board seats was rooted in its dissatisfaction with ExxonMobil’s emissions output. According to Bloomberg, the oil giant’s annual emissions from its operations are set to increase from 122 million metric tons in 2017 to 143 million metric tons in 2025. The investment firm was also concerned about the company’s decisions, which have led to its declining fiscal health.

In a statement to industry stakeholders, Engine No. 1 had said, “Investors increasingly want to see companies focused on the long-term and ExxonMobil is no exception. We believe that ExxonMobil’s Board needs new members who have proven success positioning

energy companies for today as well as tomorrow, and who are sufficiently independent from the current Board to ensure a clean break from a strategy and mindset that have led to years of value destruction and poorly positioned the Company for the future.”

While ExxonMobil has recently taken incremental steps to improve its performance in the face of financial and shareholder pressure, Engine One said it is of the firm belief that a reactive short-term approach is no substitute for a proactive long-term strategy that addresses the threats and opportunities facing the company in a changing world.

Taking this into consideration, among other factors, the new investment firm had proposed four independent nominees – each of whom it said brought a differentiated skill set that made them uniquely suited to help the Board chart a new value-creating path, including better long-term capital

discipline, strategic planning, and management incentives.

KN’S PUBLISHER BEGINS PROTEST FOR RENEGOTIATION OFALL FOREIGN CONTRACTS Kaieteur News’ Publisher, Glenn Lall, has started a public demonstration to get the authorities to renegotiate all foreign contracts.

Lall was joined by members of his staff Wednesday as they held placards and stood in front of the Kaieteur News, Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown office, in a peaceful protest calling for all contracts to be renegotiated in a manner that favours Guyana and its citizens.

The Publisher, who has been an advocate for renegotiation of the contracts, called on other Guyanese to join in the action.

To this end, he has called for citizens to leave their homes and places of work and stand on the road for five

minutes to talk about the renegotiation of the contracts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 09:00hrs.

Additionally, he has asked all drivers to show their support by blowing their horns during the five-minute period.

“No more should we as a nation allow these foreigners to drive Mercedes Benz and Jaguars, fly in private jets, live the lives of kings and queens in their countries with our wealth while the citizens of this country are driving old cars, rented cars, company cars, riding bicycles and donkey carts. It is time we wear Gucci, Nike and Louis Vuitton just like them and not rubber slippers and cork ball,” the publisher said as he alluded to the fact that many foreign companies continue to benefit from Guyana’s vast wealth and mineral resources.

He noted that with the kind of wealth that Guyana has, all its citizens should be better off. However, according to Lall, for the living conditions in the (Continued on page 29)

Sunday June 06, 2021

From page 28 country to get better, the citizens must stand up and demand better – better contracts with these foreigners.

“We have a lot of foreign gold companies in this country raking in billions (of dollars) and throwing the ‘cush, cush’ at us. We have Exxon in this country that throw US$20 billion in loans on us and our leaders don’t know the interest rate Guyana is paying on that. No Guyana!

No! Don’t let that happen to us! Don’t sit back quietly and allow them to take us back to slavery,” the Publisher stressed as he pointed out that almost all the African and Asian countries are living in extreme poverty after the oil companies raped and robbed them of their resources.In addition, Lall said there are instances, where the activities of the oil companies continue to affect human life long after exploration would have ended.

“The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has affected human life. A study has shown the harmful effects years later. Thousands of unborn babies have been affected and 91 species of fish are still dangerous for human consumption. As of today, the chemical level of the fish is 8,000 times higher than usual. Still Guyana has no insurance,” Lall pointed out.

He revealed further, “US$71 billion is spent on that country (Gulf of Mexico) to clean up and they say they are still cleaning. Guyana will never see US$71 billion and the oil will finish…when that happens who will suffer the cost brothers and sisters, you and I will have to plant rice and cut cane to pay.”

At present, Lall noted that meetings are being held with oil companies for the Yellowtail project. But according to him, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, and President, Irfaan Ali, are keeping those meetings a secret.

“They are planning to throw on us the mother of all evils, the Yellowtail project and they are using the COVID-19 restrictions to keep us away from participating or having a say,” he said calling for Guyanese to take action.

“My fellow citizens let us not allow them to entrap us like Ghana, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea and other countries. We are living in the 21st century, all the tricks, games, skullduggery and thievery can be seen, just Google it.

If we don’t get a renegotiation, Guyana will face worse situations than these countries. Stand with me and help in the struggle

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for better for us and the generations to come,” Lall added.

FRIDAY EXXONMOBIL QUITS 80 % STAKE IN GHANA ACREAGE TO FOCUS ON GUYANA, OTHERS America’s king of oil exploration, ExxonMobil Corporation, this week relinquished its majority interest in Ghana’s Deepwater Cape Three Points block located offshore. This news was confirmed with Reuters, Bloomberg and other international media agencies Thursday.

Preba Arkaah, a spokesman for Exxon in Ghana said via correspondence, “ExxonMobil is prioritising near-term capital spend on the most advantaged assets with the lowest cost of supply in the portfolio including developments in Guyana, Brazil and the U.S. Permian Basin.”

ExxonMobil had acquired the rights to explore the Deepwater Cape Three Points block in 2018. The U.S. based company held an 80% interest in the concession, while staterun Ghana National Petroleum Corporation held 15%, and GOIL Offshore Limited held five percent.

According to the Petroleum Agreement between Ghana and ExxonMobil, the oil giant had agreed to pay the country several types of taxes including 10 percent of the gross production of crude oil as royalty.

Over in Guyana, ExxonMobil via its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), operates the Stabroek Block that spans 26,800 square kilometers, more than 18 times the size of the block that was held by the oil giant in Ghana. The Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) insulates the Stabroek Block operator to be exempt from various types of taxes. Even ExxonMobil’s income tax, and that of its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC/ NEXEN, is paid on behalf of the State.

Since bringing the Liza Phase One Project into operation in December 2019, EEPGL is set to bring Liza Phase Two on stream next year, with the third development project called Payara set for 2024.

The American explorer is already in the process of securing regulatory approvals for its fourth project called Yellowtail, poised for start-up in 2025 and

which will produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day.

Production from this project is expected to last at least 20 years.

The production facilities to be installed include subsea equipment attached to the seafloor as well as processing equipment on the ocean’s surface known as a Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

The subsurface equipment is expected to be installed at approximately 1,700 – 1,950 m of water depth. The main pieces of kit in the subsurface include the following: production tree, production manifold, flowlines, risers, and umbilicals.

The subsurface umbilicals, risers and flowlines are commonly referred to as SURF. Building on the previous Stabroek Projects, EEPGL said Yellowtail would be designed to demonstrate continuous improvement in environmental performance.

EEPGL in this regard said it routinely strives to make improvements in environmental performance through emissions controls, technology enhancements and process improvements.

Expounding further, the subsidiary said in 2020, the FPSO Liza Destiny experienced unanticipated technical challenges and unplanned gas flaring during its start-up and commissioning process.

As a result of the foregoing, EEPGL said it conducted comprehensive root-cause analyses of these issues and evaluated potential improvements to gas handling systems, sparing philosophy and execution procedures. The company assured the EPA that it plans to take significant steps to incorporate the lessons learned from the commissioning of the Liza Destiny into future projects, including Yellowtail.

UN LAUNCHES NETWORK TO HELP ALL COUNTRIES COMBAT CORRUPTION The United Nations (UN) Thursday launched the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities, geared towards empowering all countries with practical solutions and tools to track, investigate and prosecute corruption.

The network was launched as a complement to existing frameworks and in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly’s first-ever Special Session against corruption. That session began on June 2 and comes to an end today.

Following the launch, António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations said that the network is a step in the right direction while adding that it will enable law enforcement authorities to navigate legal processes through informal cooperation across borders. Guterres said it will also help to build trust and bring those guilty of corruption to justice.

He was also keen to thank the Government of Saudi Arabia for funding and launching the Riyadh Initiative to create the Globe Network during their G20 Presidency last year, and called on all governments to make full use of the network.

The Secretary General also encouraged further efforts to eradicate corruption as he stressed that it is a serious crime that betrays people and democracies.

The official said, “It steals trillions of dollars from people all over the world – usually from those most in need, as it siphons off resources for sustainable development.” The Secretary General further noted that when powerful people get away with corruption, people lose trust in their governing institutions. He opined too

that democracies as a result are weakened by cynicism and hopelessness.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Guterres said countries all over the world were roiled by huge antigovernment demonstrations while adding that corruption was one of the protestors’ main grievances. “We can be sure those protestors are watching closely now, as trillions of dollars are invested in recovery,” expressed Guterres as he added, “Turning the tide against corruption is essential if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, promote peace and protect human rights.”

The official said, “We must reinvigorate political commitment to fight this crime.

We must also strengthen international cooperation to recover stolen assets, and prevent those responsible for corruption from finding safe havens for themselves and their funds.”

The Secretary General concluded that ending impunity for corruption, and returning stolen assets to their owners, are important steps towards a new social contract based on trust, integrity and justice.

SATURDAY SIX YEARS LATER, GUYANA HAS ALMOST ZERO INSTITUTIONAL, HUMAN CAPACITY TO MANAGE OIL INDUSTRY – SITUATION BENEFITS OIL COMPANIES, HARMS THE COUNTRY – DR. MANGAL Having found oil since May 2015, Guyana finds itself in a position today where it has almost zero institutional and human capacity to manage the growing industry. Sadly, such a conundrum only benefits oil companies and harms the

country. Expressing these sentiments recently was former Presidential Advisor and International Petroleum Consultant, Dr. Jan Mangal.

On his LinkedIn Platform, Dr. Mangal said he shared this perspective with the InterAmerican Dialogue (IAD).

The organisation had asked the consultant to say, if he believes a new auction system for oil blocks would improve Guyana’s industry.

Dr. Mangal was keen to note that transparent auctions are the best way for countries to benefit from their natural resources. He noted however, that Guyana is a clear example of how one can forfeit massive wealth by avoiding transparent processes for the disposal of state assets. In this regard, he was referring to the Kaieteur and Canje Blocks that were awarded by the Donald Ramotar administration, mere weeks before the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

“If these two blocks had been auctioned instead after the Stabroek announcement (in May that there was oil), Guyana could have garnered a much larger share of the revenue,” expressed the former Presidential Advisor.

Although the future award of blocks should be via auctions, Dr. Mangal told IAD that there are strong arguments not to award any more blocks. He said many would challenge the need for Guyana to produce more and more oil when this has a clear impact on global warming.

Dr. Mangal asserted that Guyana needs to focus on increasing its share of revenue from the Stabroek block, instead of trying to produce more oil in other offshore concessions. He said the same goes for the Canje and Kaieteur blocks.

He said these awards can be rescinded and the blocks properly auctioned off, thereby increasing Guyana’s revenue without needing to produce more oil from new blocks. Dr. Mangal said, “The objective is not to produce as much oil as possible, but to get a fair share of what is produced, to produce a prudent volume (considering tradeoffs such as climate change) and to ensure the revenue is not squandered…”

To complement this, the International Consultant said, Guyana would need much more than a petroleum commission. He said it would also need a comprehensive framework, with new bills, laws, policies, regulations and associated institutions.

Unfortunately, the country remains relatively miles away from getting all of these safeguards in place by yearend.

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==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

Perhaps, I’m the only Guyanese entitled to be hate-filled Two dramas played out in this country for 19 consecutive months – the 2018 no-confidence vote (NCV) and the attempted rigging of the March 2020 election.

For 19 months, this country was riveted by ugly emotions, political hate, ethnic intolerance, ideological inflexibility, and exposure of the inherent character flaws of people.

In all of this, stood little me; bewildered at the people who hated the PPP so passionately that they let emotional rage and psychological deformity shape their being and in the process almost destroyed Guyana. In all of this stood little me, perplexed at the irony of my life. If anyone should have rejected the NCV and accepted the rigging of the March poll it should have been me.

Here is a little fact that has philosophical implications for understanding the nature and shape of the Guyanese psyche.

The only person in Guyana who had logical, philosophical and psychological reasons for wishing the PPP to lose the NCV and the March 2020 election was me.

Those organisations and prominent citizens had no reason to hate the PPP. Isolate these people and study their individual history and you will see the PPP in its 23 years in power never even blew a strong wind in their direction to knock them off

their feet much less lifted a finger to harm them. Where is the factual basis for hating the PPP thus their attitude to the NCV and the rigging of March 2020?

Let’s contrast my life with them. Twice I almost lost my life. A miasmic substance was thrown on me. Three strategically placed PPP activists were charged in what has to be one of the most incompetent and comical trials in Guyana’s jurisprudence. One was found guilty and sentenced to six months.

He never served a day in jail. He was given a fairly important state job since the PPP returned to office.

I was attacked on the stroke of midnight at the nightly vigil some of us held outside parliament for one year. My attacker fled to a waiting vehicle of a senior superintendent of police who later became a security strategist for the PPP. The PPP government unleashed the GRA on me. I was constantly harassed by the GRA’s head Khurshid Sattaur.

It was so overbearing that one day, Adam Harris, my then editor at Kaieteur News, called Sattaur and said the following words I will always remember, “Why are you going after Freddie who can’t even buy a proper bench.”

Sattaur demanded property taxes from someone who has no meaningful assets. Chris Ram did the seven-year tax return for me.

My assets were so meager

that I ended up paying $72,000 in property taxes, a record in Guyanese financial history for someone of my modest income. Before he died, he apologised to me saying he was instructed to go after me.

But I still want my $72,000 back.

Two of Guyana’s top lawyers submitted their report to the Ombudsman that found that I was illegally dismissed from UG in 2011. In that same year, my wife was pressured out of her job at GOINVEST. She and I lost monies due to us. Guyana owes me and my wife. We would like to have what we were legally entitled to.

Mark Benschop and I spent three nights and days in the Brickdam lock-up for traffic violations that carry no prison term and carry the highest fine of $7,000 at the time.

A well-known PPP leader put up on the internet lesbian photographs and claimed one of the women was my daughter. It was a sick fiction against a young, innocent woman.

Each year under the PPP administration the Chronicle and Guyana Times carried a combination of 200 letters (believe it or leave it, but yes, 200) on scandalising me. I would have won hundreds of libels had I taken those two newspapers to court.

The son of then PPP General-Secretary, Donald Ramotar, drove his SUV on the bridge of my nephew’s home, breaking his bones in

several places. He was incapacitated for one year.

In the presence of Mark Benschop, Ramotar’s son treated the investigating traffic rank as if she was his servant.

Benschop highlighted the accident on his blog and Ramotar called and threatened him. My home was number two going east from CARICOM. The Ministry of Works started with number one in a trench-clearing exercise,

completed the entire range and skipped my part. I saw a private letter to Kaieteur News in which Ralph Ramkarran, then a big name in the PPP wrote. Guess what he requested?

I could go on but I will stop here. Those who hated the PPP during the NCV and 2020 election never received a scratch. As for me, I don’t hate anyone. I love my country. My conscience and philosophy compelled me to

Frederick Kissoon support the constitutionally valid NCV and oppose election rigging.

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

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Sunday June 06, 2021

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Coronavirus: A lockdown now may not be the best solution; these evidence-based options may be more viable

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center We are experiencing the worse phase of the pandemic thus far and there are numerous opinions on the best way to address the current situation.

One popular suggestion is for a total lockdown of the country with the hope that it will enable us to regain control of the spiralling numbers of infections and deaths.

There isn’t a worldwide consensus on lockdowns since evidence has shown that it can be another form of devastation if it is poorly timed and implemented in systems that cannot support it.

Given the evidence and our current situation, my concern is that a lockdown may not sufficiently control the spread of COVID-19 to get us ahead before our economy is devastated and more lives are lost.

There are however, solutions that science has shown to be effective and may be the best way for us to take our destiny in our own hands and get ahead of COVID-19, instead of locking down and having to play “catch-up” when we re-open.

COVID-19 and its affinity for indoors A 2021 systematic review of studies on COVID-19 spread, reported a low pro-

portion of global SARS-CoV2 infections occurring outdoors (<10%) and higher odds of indoor transmission (18.7 times) compared to outdoor transmission.

Experts are even convinced that outdoor COVID19 transmission may be less than 1% and this was demonstrated in Ireland where evidence showed only 0.1% of COVID-19 infections occurring outdoors.

In Guyana, we have enough active cases that will facilitate continued indoor spread for a projected period if we were to lockdown as most of the population will have to be confined indoors.

My concern is that we may see a rise in cases initially if there is a lockdown and this is a counterproductive move given the alternative options available to us.

Vaccination will take us ahead of the Pandemic My understanding is that Guyana should have sufficient vaccines for its population before the year is out.

Countries with high vaccination rates have been able get ahead of the pandemic and substantially reduce deaths and infections from COVID19. If we are proactive and get vaccinated ASAP, we can achieve the target of at least 80% vaccination coverage and get ahead of the pandemic before the year is out.

Locking down will only stall this window of opportunity and may hamper the vaccina-

tion drive sufficiently to leave us in this pandemic for the next year or more.

A wise person will look at countries with high vaccination rates like the U.S, U.K, Israel, etc., and realise that they can contribute to a similar situation in Guyana by getting vaccinated ASAP. Ivermectin works!

A recent meta-analysis of the effectiveness of Ivermectin showed that 95% of the 57 studies reviewed indicated a positive effect when Ivermectin was used to treat COVID-19 patients especially when it was used early.

My clinical experience with using Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients has also been excellent. It has a strong safety profile and it is a far better option to explore to help control COVID-19 infection and death rates before considering a systemic lockdown.

Avoiding the ‘4Ds’ Last week, I presented the evidence on the effectiveness of COVID-19 control by

avoiding the following ‘4Ds’: · Draft · Density · Duration · Dimension The data is clear that in closed spaces, one’s risk of acquiring COVID-19 increases with the duration they spend in the space, the smaller (dimension) the space, the more populated (density) the space is and, the lack of airflow and fresh air (draft) in the said space.

Locking down will increase our chances of being exposed to the ‘4Ds.’ However, with careful planning, we

can carry out our daily lives and prevent a lockdown once we design our interactions in open settings that are larger, less crowded, has good airflow, and we minimise the amount of time we are close to others in the such settings.

In addition to these evidence-based solutions, there is also evidence of the negative mental health, cardiovascular and socio-economic effects of lockdowns that cannot be ignored and must also be taken into consideration given the long-term risks they pose to those affected.

So, after reviewing the

Dr. Zulfikar Bux evidence, I do think that there are risky, adverse options available that can lead us out of the pandemic in a more efficient and effective way than choosing to lockdown. What do you think?

Sunday June 06, 2021

==CONSUMER CONCERNS==

By Pat Dial Two weeks ago, the Pomeroon Trading Company’s executives met the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, to discuss the expansion of their coconut development project.

This occasion brought to mind the extraordinarily creative activities of this able Minister and secondly, the development of the Coconut Industry.

Minister Mustapha is one of the most knowledgeable persons in Agriculture in Guyana and has the commitment, skills and energy to revolutionise Agriculture in Guyana.

For example, as soon as he assumed office as Minister, he addressed the problem of the long owing debt by Panama of several hundreds of millions of dollars to the rice farmers.

Though the payment of this debt would have brought foreign exchange to the country, the previous Administration said the contract between Panama and the rice farmers was a private one and they could not be involved.

The rice farmers felt abandoned.

Minister Mustapha succeeded in having Panama admit their debt with promise to pay. Simultaneously, the Minister addressed the ailing Sugar and Rice industry; rice production increased and

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The coconut industry is again growing into a profitable future

hundreds of sugar workers were again gainfully employed.

He has embarked upon the process of making GuySuCo once again a profitable company and has been stimulating, resuscitating and reviving the other agricultural segments.

He has been engaging his counterparts in other countries and the Diplomatic community to try to craft mutually beneficial agreements relating to Guyana’s exports.

When Minister Mustapha assumed office, he pointed out that Coconut was the third most important agricultural industry after Sugar and Rice and committed himself to developing it.

Coconut as an industry was first introduced and developed by Indian indentures.

At the end of their indentureship, a few enterprising persons in all three counties rented, leased or purchased land which they put under coconut cultivation.

From their experience in India, they were well acquainted with the many uses of coconut which was used as a food, to make confectionary and the making of oil. Until the 1970’s most of the cooking oil consumed in the country was coconut oil.

The main company which produced refined coconut cooking oil was Wieting &

Richter.

The coconut estates were overwhelmingly family owned and when the family died, retired or emigrated coconut production contracted and this led to the importation of foreign cooking oils.

Simultaneously with the importation of foreign cooking oils, a successful propaganda campaign was carried against coconut oil as being dangerous to health and the demand for coconut oil diminished. It is only within the last ten years that the truth about coconut oil began to be exposed.

Now, coconut oil, among many people worldwide, is preferable to olive oil.

The demand for coconut oil is steadily growing and the industry has begun to revitalise and Pomeroon Trading Inc. characterises that revitalisation.

The main shareholder and investor in the company is Mr. Duncan Turnbull, a Briton, who is Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Jared Kissoon is his Operations Manager and they spoke to the media about their company. “We started planting three years ago,” said Mr. Turnbull in describing their venture, “Right now we are doing a seedling nursery.

We always start with a seedling nursery because we want to do seedlings ourselves. We want to control the quality of the seed and

the health of the palms . . . we’ve been able to establish relationships with the farmers of the Pomeroon and have a team of Agronomists who go around hand selecting the seed nuts from the trees that are of the right age and have all the visible and desirable characteristics.

The nuts are then cleaned, sorted and planted in the nursery.”

The Operations Manager, Mr. Kissoon, gave further information about their project; he said they are involved in intercropping with crops like

passion fruit, bananas, turmeric and ginger. They are also cultivating the 3-year dwarf variety of the coconut for the production of coconut water and are also exploring a joint venture with a company from Trinidad and Tobago with the aim of exporting.

They are exploring the retail and export market in a holistic way and have found the local market a good learning place.

The company intends to acquire more land and to establish a modern processing facility. Minister Mustapha

complimented the company on its investment so far and assured interested persons that there would soon be unveiled a plethora of new opportunities in other segments of Agriculture.

The coconut industry has a great future not only in oil production, the demand for which is growing exponentially, but in its by-products.

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

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Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Lessons from a Lashpreneur !!!

The equipment of an eyelash extension technician Hey lash babes, this week we’re gonna learn a little about the equipment/ materials used to give u those beautiful lashes.

Eyelash Extension Tweezers Eyelash extension tongs are one of the most important tools for the lash tech. They must be precise, thin, made of stainless steel and antimagnetic.

To avoid limiting your possibilities, and especially to make your life easier, get at least the following types of pliers: curved pliers type S (to insulate the lashes with a curvature), straight pliers type 1 (to be used when applying the extension), pliers type F (the compromise between a straight pliers and

a curved pliers), Extra Curve pliers type S + (the essential to easily isolate the lash that receives an extension), pliers type X. Good quality eyelash extensions For better results, it is important to use good quality extensions. You should choose your eyelash extensions carefully according to your customers’ goals and expectations.

Those extensions will be the proof of your professionalism and above all of the attention you pay to your customers.

Good quality eyelash extensions are those that effectively retain their curves

and do not bend easily while maintaining a very natural look.

An eyelash brush Another essential tool for the professional eyelash extension equipment is the eyelash brush. It separates the lashes, which makes it easier to apply extensions later on. When you apply adhesive on eyelashes that are not well separated, it can lead to disaster.

An eye make-up remover Before applying eyelash extensions, it is important that natural eyelashes are clean.

To make sure, you need to use a special eye makeup remover. A suitable product is

Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège: The taste of Royalty in a bottle Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège is a balanced cognac, expressing 200 years of Hennessy’s know-how. The fruit of nature’s uncertainties, this unique blend has tamed the elements to craft and embody the original concept of cognac. The emotion awakened by the pleasure of tasting it continually reveals new facets of its personality.

The savoir-faire of the Maison Hennessy is fully expressed in this balanced cognac: the selection of eaux-devie, aging and assemblage. A cognac of remarkable consistency and vitality, Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège conveys all of the savoir-faire of the Hennessy master blenders who have ensured the continued success of this harmonious assemblage for 200 years. Be sure to enjoy responsibly, this special selection that is distributed

by Ansa McAL.

essential because the skin around the eyes is particularly sensitive. It is important to remember that if oil or mascara remains on the lashes before application, the glue used for extensions will not cure.

Patches for eyelash extensions Patches are essential for the practice of eyelash extension. They allow you to isolate the lower lashes while protecting the lower eyelids.

Above all, you should choose models that adapt to any shape of the eyes. They are easier to apply and save you a lot of time.

An adhesive to maintain lash extensions A special glue is used to hold the extensions in place.

But you guessed it, not all glues are equal. Choose your glue according to its setting time and price. The faster the glue sets, the better it is.It should be remembered that the performance of an adhesive also depends on the environment in which it is used.

Floyd Mayweather vs Logan Paul Special Exhibition Fight to air on E2 Floyd Mayweather Jr. steps throught the ropes once again as he takes on YouTube personality Logan Paul in an eight-round exhibition bout today at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The fight will be aired on E2 Channel.

At the introductory press conference back in May, the 2020 International Boxing Hall of Famer and the social media personality were having fun with each other.

Things turned ugly in a hurry when Paul’s younger

brother, Jake, got into a heated confrontation with the boxing great in the bowels of Sunday’s contest. Jake took Mayweather ’s hat, and security intervened quickly to try and separate them, which upset all parties involved and led to Mayweather wanting to get a piece of Logan.

Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) ended his legendary career with a 10th-round stoppage of UFC star Conor McGregor in August 2017 to retire undefeated. The 44-

year-old competed in one exhibition bout when he went to Japan and violently k n o c k e d o u t k i c k b o x e r Te n s h i n Nasukawa in the first round on New Year’s Eve in 2018.

Paul (0-1) returns to the sweet science for the first time since losing via split-decision to fellow social media personality KSI in November.

Many are doubting Paul’s chance to succeed. Who doesn’t have that mindset?

The 26-year-old from Ohio.

Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

28 Surprising Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar is a kitchen staple that has several impressive health benefits.

It also has a ton of different beauty, household, and cooking uses. These include cleaning, washing hair, preserving food, and improving skin function.

You can also use apple cider vinegar in all sorts of recipes, including salad dressings, soups, sauces, hot drinks, and more.

Here are 28 ways to use apple cider vinegar.

1. To lower blood sugar Apple cider vinegar is claimed to help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.

Some studies have shown that consuming vinegar after a high carb meal can improve insulin sensitivity by as much as 34% and reduce blood sugar levels significantly.

However, if you’re taking medication to treat diabetes, you should check with a healthcare professional before taking apple cider vinegar.

2. To help you feel full Apple cider vinegar is sometimes recommended as a weight loss aid. This is because it may help you feel full.

Some short-term studies have shown that consuming apple cider vinegar may help you eat fewer calories, lose weight, and reduce belly fat, if that’s your goal.

However, its long-term effects on weight loss are unknown and likely to be small unless a person also makes other dietary and lifestyle changes (2Trusted Source).

3. To preserve food Just like other types of vinegar, apple cider vinegar is an effective preservative. In fact, people have used vinegar as a pickling agent to preserve foods for thousands of years.

It works by making the food more acidic, which deactivates its enzymes and kills any bacteria that may cause spoilage.

You can find many recipes online for how to preserve or pickle food using apple cider vinegar.

4. As a deodorizer Apple cider vinegar is known to have antibacterial properties. Because of this, it’s often claimed that apple cider vinegar can eliminate bad smells.

There isn’t any research to back up these claims, but you can try it out by mixing 1 part apple cider vinegar with 1 part water to make a deodorizing spray.

This makes a natural alternative to odor neutralizers.

You can also mix the apple cider vinegar with water and Epsom salts to make a foot soak, like this one. This may help get rid of unwanted foot odor by killing off odorcausing bacteria.

5. To make a salad vinaigrette One easy way to use apple cider vinegar is to make a simple salad dressing, like this one.

Homemade salad dressings can be much less processed than store-bought ones, and they’re often tastier, too.

6. To make an all-purpose cleaner Apple cider vinegar is often a popular choice for a natural alternative to commercial cleaning agents.

This is because of its antibacterial properties.

Mix 1 cup of water with half a cup of apple cider vinegar, and you’ll have a natural all-purpose cleaner.

However, it’s worth noting that although vinegars, including apple cider vinegar, can kill some bacteria, they aren’t as effective at killing harmful bacteria as commercial cleaning agents.

7. To soothe a sore throat Gargling with apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy for sore throats.

It’s anecdotally thought that its antibacterial properties could help kill off the bacteria that could be causing the sore throat.

H o w e v e r, t h e r e i s n o evidence to support its use in this way.

If you try this at home, make sure you mix the vinegar with water before gargling.

This is because apple cider vinegar is very acidic and has been known to cause throat burns when consumed undiluted.

8. As a facial toner Anecdotally, apple cider vinegar is claimed to help remedy skin conditions and provide graceful aging support.

As such, many people like to use apple cider vinegar to make a skin tonic.

The general recipe is 1 part apple cider vinegar to 2 parts water. You can then apply this to your skin using a cotton pad. However, if you have sensitive skin, you may want to make a more diluted solution by adding more water.

There’s an insufficient amount of research supporting the safety of using apple cider vinegar for this purpose.

9. To trap fruit flies Fruit flies can be pests, and it’s really easy to use apple cider vinegar to make a cheap fruit fly trap.

Simply pour some apple cider vinegar into a cup, add a few drops of dish soap (so that any trapped flies sink), and you’re good to go.

10. To boil better eggs Adding vinegar to the water you use to boil or poach eggs can help you produce consistently good eggs. This is because the protein in egg whites firms up more quickly when exposed to a more acidic liquid.

When you’re poaching eggs, you want the egg whites to firm up as quickly as possible so the eggs keep their shape.

Using vinegar when boiling eggs can also speed up the coagulation, or clotting, of the egg whites.

This can be useful if the shell cracks while the egg is being boiled.

11. As a marinade Another way to use apple cider vinegar when cooking is to make a marinade.

In fact, apple cider vinegar is a popular ingredient in many steak marinades. This is because it gives meat a nice sweet-and-sour flavor.

Combine it with wine, garlic, soy sauce, onion, and cayenne pepper to give your steak a delicious flavor.

12. To wash fruits and vegetables Pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables can be a concern for many people.

That’s why some people like to wash their fruits and vegetables in apple cider vinegar. The hope is that it’ll remove more of the chemical residues than water alone.

Although it’s not entirely clear whether it will remove more pesticides than simply washing with water, it may help kill any dangerous bacteria on food.

For example, washing foods in vinegar has been shown to remove dangerous bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella.

13. To clean dentures You can also use apple cider vinegar to clean dentures.

Although there’s no consensus on the best method to clean them, it’s thought that the residues left by apple cider vinegar could be less harmful to the skin in your mouth than other cleaning agents.

Your Greatist growth starts here Whether you’ve got wellness goals in mind or want to just have some fun, we’ve got classes for you. Find a course that fits on Greatist.com.

LEARN MORE 14. In the bath For the same reasons people like using apple cider vinegar as a homemade facial

toner, they also like using it in the bath.

If you want to try it, add 1–2 cups of apple cider vinegar to your bath water and enjoy a soak in your tub.

Be sure to dilute the vinegar adequately. A larger proportion of vinegar might irritate your skin.

15. As a hair rinse An apple cider vinegar hair rinse is said to remove product buildup, detangle, and add shine to your hair.

Try mixing 1 part apple cider vinegar with 1 part water and pour the mixture over your hair. Leave it in for a few minutes before washing it out.

If you have sensitive skin, try doing this with a weaker dilution first, since the vinegar is quite acidic.

16. As a dandruff treatment Massaging diluted apple cider vinegar into your scalp may help get rid of dandruff.

It’s unclear how effective this is, but the theory is that the acid in the vinegar could help stop the growth of the fungus Malassezia, which may contribute to dandruff.

17. In a sauce Apple cider vinegar can be a great ingredient for a tangy sauce for your food.

Try adding it to tomato-based sauces to give them a fuller flavor.

18. In soup Adding vinegar to soup can help bring its flavors to life.

If your favorite homemade soup tastes a little bland, try adding a little vinegar to it at the end. Add it gradually and taste as you go until you reach a flavor your enjoy.

19. As a weed killer Another great use for apple cider vinegar is as a homemade weed killer.

Spray undiluted vinegar on unwanted weeds in your garden to get rid of them. You can also try mixing it with soap and lemon juice to see if that makes it more effective.

20. In homemade cakes and candies Apple cider vinegar is a popular flavor and texture enhancer in baking, especially when making vegan treats that can’t include eggs.

It can also add extra flavor to homemade candy and caramels, like in this recipe.

21. In a hot drink For an alternative to hot chocolate or warm tea, mix 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons lemon juice into 12 oz (355 ml) hot water.

22. As a mouthwash Apple cider vinegar is often said to be a useful alternative to commercial mouthwashes.

Its antibacterial properties may help with bad breath, although there aren’t any studies examining how effective it is.

If you try apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash, make sure you dilute it well with water (the usual amount is 1 tablespoon for every cup, or 240 ml, of water), since the acidity of the vinegar could damage your teeth.

23. To clean your tooth brush To have really clean teeth, it’s worth considering how clean your toothbrush is.

Given that apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties, you can use it as a homemade cleaner for your toothbrush.

To make your own toothbrush cleaner, combine half a cup (120 ml) water with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons baking soda. Mix well, then leave the head of your toothbrush in the mixture for 30 minutes.

Make sure you rinse your brush well with water before you use it. Otherwise, the acidity of undiluted vinegar could damage your teeth.

24. To treat acne

Dabbing small amounts of diluted apple cider vinegar onto pimples is anecdotally claimed to be a good way to get rid of them.

However, undiluted apple cider vinegar is strongly acidic and putting it directly onto your skin can cause burns.

25. To get rid of warts As with acne, apple cider vinegar is claimed to be a natural agent for getting rid of warts. It’s likely effective for removing warts from skin, due to its acidic nature.

However, be aware that this method is very painful, and some people who’ve tried it have required a local anesthetic.

26. As a natural deodorant Wiping your underarms with diluted apple cider vinegar is said to be a homemade alternative to commercially produced deodorants.

That said, although it’s popular in some circles, it’s not clear how effective this is.

27. As a dish detergent Rinsing your dishes in apple cider vinegar could help kill off any unwanted bacteria and keep them clean.

Some people add it to their dishwater, while others put it in their dishwasher.

28. To get rid of fleas Apple cider vinegar may help prevent your pet from getting fleas.

It’s thought that spraying a mixture of 1 part water and 1 part apple cider vinegar onto your pet will create an environment that fleas won’t want to hang around in.

Takeaway Apple cider vinegar is an extremely versatile household item that has a ton of different uses. It can be a cheap and easy way to tackle many problems around your home. (https:// w w w. h e a l t h l i n e . c o m / nutrition/apple-cidervinegar-uses)

Sunday June 06, 2021

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Sunday June 06, 2021

Junior page

By Elena Kefalogianni Zack lives on a small farm in rural Nebraska with his father, Scott. Chickens run around freely, horses eat hay in the stable, pigs roll in the mud, and cows “moo”.

The summer sun shines on Zack’s black eyes and warms his skin. Zack watches Scott milk Tunia, the mommy cow, who has a pink bow on her head. Tunia sees Zack and licks his face; Zack giggles. Scott carries the buckets of fresh milk inside the house and into the kitchen. Today he’s going to make cheese pie from the older milk that he has stored for cheesemaking.

“Mommy Tunia, you remind me of my mommy, Marie. Daddy said she got really sick one day, but that her presence lives with us in our flower garden,” says Zack.

“Moo,” says Tunia.

“Will you take me to see the flowers?” asks Zack.

Tunia lowers herself to the ground, and Zack hops on her back.

Behind the stable, there is a flower garden full of purple poppies. Tunia lowers Zack down, and he starts to smell the poppies.

“Do you like them, Tunia? They were mommy’s,” says Zack, and Tunia nods.

“Zack, come inside; dinner is ready,” calls Scott to Zack from the kitchen window.

“Bye, Tunia,” says Zack and then runs to the house.

He sits on the chair and stares at his plate. His tummy is growling.

“Eat,” says Scott. “This pie is from Tunia’s milk that has turned into cheese.”

Zack touches his stomach. He drinks his orange juice. “I’m not hungry, Daddy.”

“You need calcium to grow,” says Scott.

“But my tummy hurts when I eat it,” says Zack. “I want Mommy.”

“If you’re not going to eat again, go to your room,” says Scott, and Zack walks away with tears in his eyes.

“That’s not nice!” Scott drops his fork when he hears a voice.

“What did you say?

Zack?” Scott starts looking around.

“I said that’s not nice!”

Scotts hears the voice again coming out of his plate. He

lowers his eyelids.

“Who is this?” Suddenly, Scott sees his cheese pie moving. “Oh, my God! Help, help!” he yells and starts smashing the cheese pie with his hand.

“Wow, you almost got me there,” says a voice. A fairy emerges dressed in blue and with shiny orange wings.

Scott pushes his plate away. “Who are you?” he asks, looking at the fairy in disbelief.

“I’m the Foodfairy! I help parents who have kids with food intolerances,” says the Foodfairy.

“And, are you really magical?” asks Scott.

“Yes.” “Then bring Marie back.

That’s all we need,” says Scott pointing at his wife’s picture on the wall.

“I’m sorry; I don’t have the power to do that. That’s not what I’m here for,” says the Foodfairy.

Scott gets up. “Then what are you here for?”

“To help you with Zack and his lactose intolerance,” says the Foodfairy and takes out her rainbow magic wand.

Scott stares at it. “See, my magic wand has colours from all kinds of food.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t need your help with my son. Go away,” says Scott.

“Oh, yes, you do. Yes, you do,” says the Foodfairy.

Scott opens the window.

“Leave.”

“You need my help because Zack can’t have dairy products. He’s lactose intolerant, which means he can’t digest the lactose in Tunia’s milk,” says the Foodfairy.“You don’t know Zack; he’s a naughty boy who doesn’t eat his food.

He’s been naughty since we lost Marie,” says Scott.

“That’s not true. Zack is sad that he lost his mother, but he has you, the farm, and Tunia. If you made his food lactose free, his tummy wouldn’t hurt, and he would eat again.” The Foodfairy flies off the kitchen window to the farm and lands next to Tunia. “Come on, follow me.”

Scott runs behind the Foodfairy. The Foodfairy takes out her magic wand, taps it on Tunia’s back three times, and a slice of cheese appears. Scott’s mouth drops. “Now that is lactose-

free cheese, and Zack can eat it.”

Scott takes the cheese from the Foodfairy’s hand.

“And how am I supposed to do that without your magic?”

“Oh, that’s easy. There’s a process for taking out lactose from milk. Just follow the directions in this book,” says the Foodfairy throwing her magic wand in the air to make a book appear.

The book lands on Scott’s hand. “I don’t understand. Are you going to leave me?”

“Yes, I have to go help someone else now.” The Foodfairy starts to fly away.

“You’re a good father, Scott; go find Zack now.”

The Foodfairy disappears, and Scott returns home, holding the slice of cheese. He goes upstairs to Zack’s room and knocks.

“Hello, Zack, are you there?” Scott enters the room and finds Zack’s head buried to the pillow. “Hey, buddy.

Can I talk to you?”

“Daddy, I can’t eat Tunia’s food anymore. It makes me sick. I’m not lying,” Zack cries.

“I know Zack… I should have believed you the first time you told me. I’m sorry.”

Scott hugs him. “Look, I used a process to take out lactose from Tunia’s milk; that’s what upsets your stomach.” Scott shows Zack the slice of cheese.

“Did you hurt her, daddy? Please don’t hurt her; I love her.” Zack looks into Scott’s eyes.

“Of course not. Someone helped me do it,” says Scott and gives Zack the cheese.

Zack looks at the slice of cheese. He hesitates. He slowly takes a bite, then gobbles the rest. “That’s delicious!” says Zack.

“I promise eating dairy won’t be painful anymore,” says Scott.

Zack jumps out of his bed. “Can I eat ice-cream like all the other kids now?”

“Yes! Should we make some?” asks Scott.

Zack nods. “Vanilla and strawberry, please.”

Zack and Scott head downstairs into the kitchen and find a big ice-creamer maker sitting in the middle of the kitchen counter. It’s wrapped in an orange bow just like the Foodfairy’s wings.

Black, Pink, Purple & Green Craft Foam Sheets White Poster Board or Cardstock Scissors White Glue Googly Eyes Black Marker & Pencil FREE FISH template Steps to Make this Foam Fish Craft with Fish Craft Template 1. Begin by printing the FISH template and cut out the template elements.

2. Trace the body of the fish and fin onto purple craft foam and set aside.

3. Cut the stripes off the fish template. Trace stripes onto green craft foam and cut out. Set aside.

4. Trace the seaweed onto green craft foam. Cut seaweed out and set aside.

5. Glue seaweed onto white poster board or cardstock. Glue the body of the fish in the middle of the card slightly overlapping the seaweed.

6. Add the green stripes to the body of the fish.

7. Glue the fin onto your fish.

8. Use a black marker to add detail to the fins.

9. Add a few more

details: Add a googly eye Cut a small rosy cheek from pink craft foam and glue in place

Draw on a black smile or cut one from black craft foam and glue in place Draw bubbles above your fish

RY

OET

FUN

P ITH

W

Do what is right Many times I find that I want to know, When I have to deal with something That I feel is important to me, How to do what is the right thing.

Then I know I have to remember The things that I was told, By my parents and teachers, To act in the way that I should.

But there are some times that I find That I have to act on my own; Then I try to forget what is best for me, And do what is right for everyone.

by Uncle Roy

Fill in the squares so that each digit from 1 to 4 occurs exactly once in each row and column. Greater-than and less-than signs indicate the relationship of the two adjacent squares. There is only one solution, and you can find it without guessing.

Kaieteur News

Sunday June 06, 2021

TEEN TIME

Inculcate proper values on which to base your life

Apart from the principles which must be adopted to make your life proceed in the right manner, you need to inculcate the values necessary for proper living. Values are what we believe in, the things we stand for and against, the things that give direction and meaning to our lives.

As a young person, at the brink of the period when what you do will affect your entire future, you have to decide in good time the values which will direct how you will conduct yourself, and deal with the persons and things around, so that you are prepared mentally,

psychologically, spiritually, and even physically, to withstand the pressures that you will meet that will be acting against your own ambitions, in your achieving the things you want to do, and the way you want to be.

Without this direction in your life at the outset of your gaining some sort of independence from your parents and the other guides in your life, you will find yourself as in a boat without a rudder to guide it, and drifting through life subject to all the dangers which the world will undoubtedly thrust in your way.

You have to develop a

personal value system by which you will be able to deal with all these pressures through your attitude, through your behaviour, and through the choices you make as you face the various experiences as you move through life.

We set out below a set of these values that have always been cherished and promoted by the honorable and successful people, and you will do well to emulate and practise them: Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, Justice, Faith, Hope and Charity have been among the best and are termed the Cardinal Virtues.

Added to these are: Courage, Wisdom, Generosity, Respect for others, Courtesy, Openmindedness, Self-control, Love, Appreciation, Service, Excellence, Potential, Patience, Persistence and Decisiveness.

Spend the next week to think on these, check how these have impacted on your life, and see how you can include those you feel are missing into your own behaviour.

We shall be dealing with some more in the next issue.

Suguru The heavy lines indicate areas, called cages, from one to six squares in size. Fill each cage with unique digits, counting up from 1. So for example a 2-square cage contains the numbers 1 and 2; and a 6-square cage contains the numbers from 1 to 6. Adjacent (touching) squares, even ones that touch diagonally, may never contain the same number.

PAGE 45

POETS’ CORNER YOUR’S IS THE CHOICE You can go forward or you can go keep back, You can see the sky as blue or black; You can be vital, alert or depressed, You can experience the worst or the best.

Yours is the choice, you decide what you’ll be, What kind of person others will see; You manage the show, to yourself you assign The role you will play, whether you fade out or shine.

Fate is a myth, neither hostile nor kind, It’s all in that wonderful thing called the mind; So take the high road, and become your best, Develop personal values, and you will pass life’s test.

Add value to your life by adopting system by which you can be your best in every situation.

TELL IT TO UNCLE ROY Uncle Roy is again appealing to our readers to make a contribution to this column by either giving a feedback on what is published, asking for some help with some personal problem, offering some advice to fellow teenagers, or sharing the news of what is happening in his/her community.

Please send your contribution to roypaul2002@yahoo.com

Solutions to last week’s

Sudoku

Bridges

PAGE 46

12 tips to help you lose weight 1. Do not skip breakfast Skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight. You could miss out on essential nutrients and you may end up snacking more throughout the day because you feel hungry.

2. Eat regular meals Eating at regular times during the day helps burn calories at a faster rate. It also reduces the temptation to snack on foods high in fat and sugar.

3. Eat plenty of fruit and veg Fruit and veg are low in calories and fat, and high in fibre – 3 essential ingredients for successful weight loss. They also contain plenty of vitamins and minerals.

4. Get more active Being active is key to losing weight and keeping it off. As well as providing lots of health benefits, exercise can help burn off the excess calories you cannot lose through diet alone.

5. Drink plenty of water People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. You can end up consuming extra calories when a glass of water is really what you need.

6. Eat high fibre foods Foods containing lots of fibre can help keep you feeling full, which is perfect for losing weight. Fibre is only found in food from plants, such as fruit and veg, oats, wholegrain bread, brown rice and pasta, and beans, peas and lentils.

7. Read food labels Knowing how to read food labels can help you choose healthier options. Use the calorie information to work out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance on the weight loss plan.

8. Use a smaller plate Using smaller plates can help you eat smaller portions. By using smaller plates and bowls, you may be able to gradually get used to eating smaller portions without going hungry. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it’s full, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full.

9. Do not ban foods Do not ban any foods from your weight loss plan, especially the ones you like. Banning foods will only make you crave them more. There’s no reason you cannot enjoy the occasional treat as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance.

10. Do not stock junk food To avoid temptation, do not stock junk food – such as chocolate, biscuits, crisps and sweet fizzy drinks – at home.

Instead, opt for healthy snacks, such as fruit, unsalted rice cakes, oat cakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn, and fruit juice.

11. Cut down on alcohol A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate. Over time, drinking too much can easily contribute to weight gain.

12. Plan your meals Try to plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the week, making sure you stick to your calorie allowance. You may find it helpful to make a weekly shopping list. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/12-tips-tohelp-you-lose-weight/

Kaieteur News

Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Sunday June 06, 2021

PAGE 47

Forty years on, new UNAIDS report gives evidence that we can end AIDS F

our decades after the first cases of AIDS were reported, new data from UNAIDS show that dozens of countries achieved or exceed the 2020 targets set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2016—evidence that the t a rg e t s w e r e n o t j u s t aspirational but achievable.

This is according to information released by UNAIDS. The report shows that countries with progressive laws and policies and strong and inclusive health systems have had the best outcomes against HIV. In those countries, people living with and affected by HIV are more likely to have access to effective HIV services, including HIV testing, preexposure prophylaxis (medicine to prevent HIV), harm reduction, multimonth supplies of HIV treatment and consistent, quality follow-up and care.

“High-performing countries have provided paths for others to follow,” said Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Their adequate funding, genuine community engagement, rights-based and multisectoral approaches and the use of scientific evidence to guide focused strategies have reversed their epidemics and saved lives.

These elements are invaluable for pandemic preparedness and responses against HIV, COVID-19 and many other diseases.”

Globally, the report shows that the number of people on treatment has

more than tripled since 2010.

In 2020, 27.4 million of the 37.6 million people living with HIV were on treatment, up from just 7.8 million in 2010. The roll-out of affordable, quality treatment is estimated to have averted 16.2 million deaths since 2001.

Deaths have fallen in a large part due to the roll-out of antiretroviral therapy.

AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 43 percent since 2010, to 690,000 in 2020.

Progress in reducing new HIV infections has also been made, but has been markedly slower—a 30 percent reduction since 2010, with 1.5 million people newly infected with the virus in 2020 compared to 2.1 million in 2010.

The report underscores that countries with punitive laws and that do not take a rights-based approach to health, punish, ignore, stigmatise and leave key populations—which make up 62 percent of new HIV infections worldwide—on the margins and out of reach of HIV services. For example, almost 70 countries worldwide criminalise same-sex sexual relationships. Gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, people in prison and people who inject drugs are left with little or no access to health or social services, allowing HIV to spread among the most vulnerable in society.

The Caribbean situation According to the report, from 2010 to 2020 AIDSrelated deaths in the

UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima.

Caribbean declined by half (51 percent).

During the same 10-year period, new HIV infections in the Region decreased by 28 percent. In 2020 members of key population communities [i] and their sexual partners accounted for 60 percent of new infections.

Forty percent of new infections occurred among the remaining population. [ii] As of the end of 2020, 82 percent of people living with HIV in the Caribbean were aware of their status. Twothirds (67 percent) of all people living with HIV were on treatment. Fifty-nine percent (59 percent) of people living with HIV in the region were virally suppressed last year.

Dr. James Guwani, Director of the UNAIDS Caribbean Office, noted that

most countries in the Region stepped up around financing treatment and transitioned to providing HIV treatment to all diagnosed people.

However, increased focus is needed on combination prevention and psychosocial

support for people living with HIV. “Forty years into the AIDS response, we know that our challenge is about far more than testing and treatment,” Dr. Guwani said.

“We need to do a better job at addressing the social determinants that lead to new infections, delayed diagnosis and poor adherence.”

The new Global AIDS Strategy and High-Level Meeting on AIDS COVID-19 has shown the fragility of the health and development gains made over the past decades and has exposed glaring inequalities.

To get the world on track to end AIDS by 2030, the global AIDS community and UNAIDS have used an inequalities lens to develop an ambitious and achievable strategy with new targets to reach by 2025. Ending inequalities requires HIV responses that can reach the populations currently being left behind.

If reached, the targets

will bring HIV services to 95 percent of the people who need them, reduce annual HIV infections to fewer than 370,000 and AIDS-related deaths to fewer than 250,000 by 2025.

This will require an investment of US$29 billion a year by 2025. Each additional US$1 of investment in implementing the global AIDS strategy will bring a return of more than US$7 in health benefits.

UNAIDS urges the United Nations General Assembly to commit to the targets in a new political declaration on HIV at the fifth United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS, taking place from 8 to 10 June 2021.

“The world cannot afford to under-invest in pandemic preparedness and responses,” said Ms. Byanyima. “I strongly urge the United Nations General Assembly to seize the moment and commit to taking the actions needed to end AIDS.”

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Kaieteur News

Sunday June 06, 2021

Sunday June 06, 2021

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Kaieteur News

Sunday June 06, 2021

Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Oil companies must ensure Guyanese get jobs or “it will not go down well”- Pres. Ali

By Kiana Wilburg When it comes to local content commitments from oil companies, President, Irfaan Ali, has zero interest in flowery words.

The Head of State put all oil companies on notice yesterday that he is looking for action, categorically stating that oil companies must ensure Guyanese businesses have equal access to contracts in the Sector “or it will not go down well.”

The President made this declaration among others during his impassioned presentation at the opening of Saipem Guyana’s Offshore Construction Facility at Water Street, Georgetown. The opening of the facility represented a major milestone for Saipem America Inc., which is one of ExxonMobil’s prime contractors. The oilfield contractor has been the main provider of subsea cables and associated structures for ExxonMobil’s offshore Guyana projects, namely, the Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two and Payara Projects.

President said he immediately reminded the investor that the openness companies can enjoy here is certainly not offered by other oil producing States. The President alluded to the fact that in Trinidad and Tobago for example, companies cannot even buy land.

But this is possible in Guyana.

Ali said, “...We have an open position – there is no discrimination but we will have to ensure that, in this openness, Guyanese own the facilities to be rented and Guyanese own the opportunities to invest in those facilities. I made it very clear and I am very transparent in what I President Irfaan Ali During his feature address, the President spoke extensively about his Government’s position on local content and ensuring the interest of Guyanese are well protected. In this regard, he recalled that an investor who recently examined Guyana’s draft Local Content Policy deemed it to be tough. The

UNAIDS urges world...

From page 15 new HIV infections in the region decreased by 28%.

In 2020, members of key population communities and their sexual partners accounted for 60% of new infections, while 40% of new infections occurred among the remaining population. As of the end of 2020, 82% of people living with HIV in the Caribbean were aware of their status, 67% of all people living with HIV were on treatment, and 59% of people living with HIV in the region were suppressed virally last year.

Dr. James Guwani, Director of the UNAIDS Caribbean Office, noted that most countries in the region stepped up around financing treatment and transitioned to providing HIV treatment to all diagnosed people. However, increased focus is needed on combination prevention and psychosocial support for people living with HIV. “Forty years into the AIDS response, we know that our challenge is about far more than testing and treatment. We need to do a better job at addressing the social determinants that lead to new infections, delayed diagnosis, and poor adherence.” Dr. Guwani said.

The new Global AIDS Strategy and High-Level Meeting on AIDS “COVID-19 has shown

the fragility of the health and development gains made over the past decades and has exposed glaring inequalities. To get the world on track to end AIDS by 2030, the global AIDS community and UNAIDS have used an inequalities lens to develop an ambitious and achievable strategy with new targets to reach by 2025. Ending inequalities requires HIV responses that can reach the populations currently being left behind.”

If reached, the targets will bring HIV services to 95% of the people who need them, reduce annual HIV infections to fewer than 370,000, and AIDS-related deaths to 250,000 by 2025. This will require an investment of US$29 billion a year by 2025, each additional US$1 investment in implementing the global AIDS strategy will bring a return of more than US$7 in health benefits.

UNAIDS urges the UNGA to commit to the targets in a new political declaration on HIV, at the fifth UNGA highlevel meeting on AIDS, taking place from 8th to 10th June 2021.

“The world cannot afford to under invest in pandemic preparedness and responses, I strongly urge the United Nations General Assembly to seize the moment and commit to taking the actions needed to end AIDS,” Byanyima added.

(Continued on page 60)

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Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

==GNBS IN FOCUS==

Implementing standards to support Eco-System restoration Yesterday, June 05, Guyana joined other countries to celebrate World Environment Day under the theme: “Eco-system restoration.”

Ecosystem restoration addresses the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded or destroyed, as well as conserving the ecosystems that are still intact. The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) possesses a range of environment related standards, which can support the protection of the environment, and more specifically help to mitigate adverse impacts on eco-systems.

These standards include the GYS 250: 2003 ISO 14031:1999 Environmental management - Environmen-

tal performance evaluation – Guidelines, GYS 207:2002 Interim guidelines for industrial effluent discharge into the environment; and the GYS 229:2004 Methods of sampling and testing for water and wastewater for microbiological and chemical elements. These standards provide guidance and requirements on environmental factors, which can affect the health of ecosystems.

Healthier ecosystems, with richer biodiversity, yield greater benefits such as more fertile soils, bigger yields of timber and fish, and larger stores of greenhouse gases.

Meanwhile, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has

developed a management system standard that is implemented by establishments worldwide to reduce their impact on the environment - ISO 14001: 2015/2nd Rev Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use. Locally, companies can consider implementing this standard.

ISO 14001 standard defines the requirements to develop and implement an environmental policy and objectives to reduce environmental pollution and monitor the impact of operations on the environment. It helps organisations to take into account legal and other requirements to which they (Continued on page 64)

Sunday June 06, 2021

PAGE 59

Kaieteur News

Guyana records 2 additional COVID-19 deaths

The Ministry of Health in its Saturday’s COVID-19 update stated that an additional 158 persons have become infected with the virus.

These new cases were registered from 1,278 tests.

Unfortunately, they confirmed two additional deaths, taking our COVID-19 overall death toll to 405. The two victims are both from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), a 76year-old female and a 41-year-old-man. They both died while receiving attention at a medical facility on Friday June 4, 2021. The death toll now stands at 7 for the month of June.

The new cases recorded are documented in Region One, six cases; Region Two, two cases; Region Three, 18 cases; Region Four with the highest total of 65 cases; Region Five,

three cases; Region Six, 16 cases; Region Seven, one case; Region Eight, four cases; Region Nine, seven cases; and Region Ten with 36 cases.

Of the almost 2,000 active cases, 18 are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), four cases are in institutional quarantine, 106 persons are in institutional isolation and 1,738 people are in home isolation. Overall, there have been 15,350 recoveries. The total number of cases has climbed to 17,617.

COVID-19 is increasing, stay safe by taking some simple precautions: physical distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, washing or sanitising your hands and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue. Do it all!

PAGE 60

Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Oil companies must ensure Guyanese...

From page 57 am saying and you don’t have to second guess me.

Logistics, it is not scientific work – it should easily go to Guyanese.”

The President continued, “Don’t tell me I need a foreign logistics firm to tell me how to do brokerage services or how to clear something at the airport or how to hire taxis and do rentals in the industry and then the very logistics companies will come here and do the work themselves.”

He added, “It will not go down well. Don’t second guess me, I am telling you openly, whether you are a subcontractor or not, it will not go down well. You will push us to change our policy.”

The President said when it comes to local content, the very essence of what is required by the phrase is very clear—if Guyanese have the capabilities and are competitive, they have to be given the opportunities. He said too that investors should find it not only essential but part of their own internal value to collaborate with the local private sector so as to build lo-

cal capacity and create opportunities for Guyanese.

GENERATIONALWEALTH The President also proffered that investment in local content cannot only be about job creation. The President said this is not to take away from the commendable efforts

by Saipem to train and hire Guyanese since fabrication is a crucial aspect of the oil industry. He noted however that he wants to see generational wealth created.

“How do we create 1,000 new entrepreneurs? How do we create opportunities for generational wealth? I am not only asking for this in the oil and gas sector, I am saying to you that this can only be created if you use the resources from this sector to open up and strengthen other aspects of the economy…whether it is agro-processing, mining, rentals, owning hotels…,” the Head of State said.

Ali noted that the Government is acutely aware of the fact that it has to play its role in this area too. He said that this is where the Government has to invest in creating the environment and the opportunity through education,

training and development, land and home ownership, and small business development. He said too that it will require members of the private sector joining forces to create opportunities. The President said, “(Members of the) private sector need to come together, build synergies, build consortiums and go after the opportunities so you can give us something to fight with you for…”

Further to this, the President said it is critical that Guyanese learn to be bold thinkers and examine the business opportunities that are available nearby. In this regard, he referred to Suriname which is in the process of building its capabilities after finding significant oil offshore. The President said, “…We have a first jump, a lot will happen in Suriname. But what are we doing to ensure we can provide some of the business solutions? We have to think boldly, what are we going to do to go after that?”

Overall, the President said that the approach to local content must realise transformation not just in oil and gas, but across all sectors.

Relative says suspect driving...

From page 13 someone who they believe is the prime suspect. One of the relatives told this newspaper that they would see “that main suspect driving a car around the city every day with police escorts and taking photos with top politicians of the country.”

The individual disclosed that investigators hinted that more are involved in the crime and updates to them will be provided as the investigation unfolds. They also reportedly disclosed to the family members that they are pursuing certain leads and it would take a while for them to wrap up the entire investigation. Despite the promises, the relative disclosed that they have lost faith because it seems as though the police will never arrest the main suspect because he is a very wealthy and influential individual.

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, had told this newspaper in late April that investigators were following leads

but did not comment any further. On the night Fagundes was murdered, he was socialising with his best friend, Roger Khan and others. He had reportedly stepped out close to 22:00hrs to move Khan’s pick-up closer to Palm Court’s entrance but as he was approaching the vehicle, two men rushed out from a heavily tinted white Toyota Fielder and riddled him with bullets.

Fagundes dropped to the ground and the men re-entered the car and fled the scene. Khan had since revealed that he was the intended target that night. They were reportedly dressed alike and was almost same height.

A burnt-out white car matching the one used in Fagundes’ murder was discovered hours later that same night abandoned at a location along the Linden/Soesdyke, Highway, East Bank Demerara. Investigators have been unable to verify whether it was the same car used.

Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Saipem launches fabrication yard in Georgetown

PROPERTY FOR SALE

VEHICLES FOR SALE

Massey Ferguson Tractor( Foreign used). MF165$1.5M, MF 135-$1.1M, Pickup Ford Ranger-$1.1m, F150-$1.2M. 682-5230, 6154414.

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Repairs and servicing, refridgerator, treadmill, washing machine, stove, pressure pump, filtration system dryer, deepfryer etc 694-9733 BUILDING CONTRACTOR HOUSE PLANS ESTIMATE BUILDERS CONSTRUCTION CALL 649-7114 guybuildersco@outlook.com

1-(2) story house 3 1/2 bedroom. 9 street Cummings Lodge. Tel# 622-8748/6843561. Negotiable PENPAL

Male seek intelligent female, age 25-40, for marriage. Only serious callers are welcomed. Call: 603-9085.

FOR RENT 1-2 bedroom fully furnished apartment- 237 Gorden St.Kitty, $190,000 monthly.

Water included. Contact 6967163.

Furnish apt one bedroom,two bedroom, three bedroom, Providence and Diamond Tel#604-6664, 6826238, 216-2299.

Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc.Call Nick#630-1600.

REPAIRS AT LOW COST: F R I D G E S , A I R CONDITIONER,WASHING MACHINE,FREEZER,SALE OF AC'S. TEL#6294946,225-4822.

Keep Clean Powerwashing buildings and yards lawn scaping. Tel# 216-2951,6721680.

Customs house brokerage service. For Motor vehicles i n d u s t r i a l equipment,barrels. Registered broker asycuda certified.661-3043.

WANTED Wanted one experienced Gold Smith, Jacobs Jewellery and Pawn shop 16 Pike street Kitty Tel#622-4970

Wanted one 50 by 100 transferable land to buy. Contact 697-9626.

Live- in domestic must know to cook and live in waitress salary start at $20,000 - 25,000 weekly Tel#610-3974 One male and female able bodied clerks. Tel# 225-2313 & 226-1497.

One male able bodied clerk.

Tel#231-2029 & 616-5954.

FOR SALE

Toyota Allion PMM 7380 for sale. Cash $1,000,000. Call: 667-1375/666-5634.

Den Amistel W.C.D and Palace Deleon,cross street Werk-En-Rust, Waterloo street.Contact 649-8159.

Shares in Regent Street Property @8am. Tel# 6537628.

LAND FOR SALE

Land for sale in Parfaite Harmonie. Tel# 681-1210.

Female Domestic daily for house keeping $3500.Daily wardrobe $10,000 empty wayer barrel $5000. 6825230, 615-4414.

Have your LFS in Parfaite,Tushen,Farm, Eccles,Providence,Uivulght,ZealughtCash- Call: 666-2326.

Male seeks common law wife, 18-38. Light house work. Salary $80,000 monthly. Call: 695-0331.

VACANCY

For Accounts clerks and Carpenters. Apply in person to Alabama Trading on Robb Street.

VACANCY

Two upholsterers and a frame builder needed.

Please contact 227-3660.

Must have NIS and TIN number.

Hotel Attendants.Call: 2277714 & 223-3448.

Filter/ Machinist, Welder fabricator, Mechanic & Male cleaner. Apply in person at: Technical Services 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles.

Security officers male and female 18 years and above.

Contact 223-4172,632-0101 or 632-0909.

Maid to cook and clean. Call: 615-9132.

Diswasher apply to Shanta’s.225 Camp & New Market street.

Workers for P.S.G.C.S cleaner, labourers and maintenance workers Contact 621-6969/ 615-7784 serious inquiries only

From page 9 his remarks yesterday, stated that the activity is a demonstration that Guyana is open for business and that there is confidence once again in Guyana and its Government.

He said that it is a demonstration of how Guyana’s oil and gas industry will be one that will be a model in the world and will be developed as a hub in the Guianas basin. He also wished the workers and VACANCY Clerical assistants live-in accommodation available for out of town applicants covid vaccinated persons only.223-7500.

One clerk for Eccles office English & Mathematics, Grade 1 or 2. Email application to techserigy@yahoo.com.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 25-45, Car/Van licence.

Call 642-9823.

DRESS MAKING

Classes in designing/sewing.

As a career/hobby canadian trained tutor.Contact Sharmie 657-4578.

members of Saipem well and explained that they have a partner in the Government of Guyana, as yet another natural resource is developed. The Minister also noted that with this partnership, benefits for Guyanese must be ensured.

He encouraged all other investors to partner with the government in order to ensure these benefits arrive to all Guyanese. He further mentioned that local content will not be taking anything away from investors but will only help the Government to enrich the lives of Guyanese with the new resource. “We have our work cut out too, because while we have a strong local content in place and possible legislation to ensure that benefits arrive, we as a government need to build capacity,” stated Vickram in his address.

The President of Saipem America, Giorgo Martelli, addressed the gathering after a brief introduction. Martelli expressed his gratitude towards the government as well as Exxon Mobil. He said that this is not a mere 100 meter sprint, but a 10,000 meter race in which Saipem works under the radar and builds continu-

ously. He mentioned that the new fabrication yard has given the company a chance to show organic growth and to build step by step. He stated that, “We work in 60 countries and have seen a lot of oil and gas and energy developments and choose fabrication to drastically increase the level of contribution from the local industry.” He said that fabrication requires a high level of skills and requires you to build something that hasn’t been there before.

Martelli explained that fabrication requires an induced industry as well as other services that have to develop at the same time. He stated that with the hundreds of offshore workers, 15 Guyanese are on the most sophisticated vessel offshore and are learning quickly. Martelli thanked Exxon Mobil for entrusting Saipem with such a big baton as well as the government for assisting Saipem. In his closing remarks, he mentioned that from Monday, the locally recruited yard manager, Laurence Mangar will be taking over and thanked everyone far participating in the opening.

Sunday June 06, 2021

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Kaieteur News

Fire set at New Amsterdam Psychiatric Hospital …seven inmates hospitalised; nearly a dozen escape

S

even inmates of the National Psychiatric Hospital in New Amsterdam, Berbice, are presently hospita lised at the

New Amsterdam Hospital with burns and other injuries to their bodies, after a fire was started in one of the wards of the institution by another inmate.

Police sources have also confirmed that nearly a dozen other inmates escaped following the incident.

Based on reports, the fire started sometime around 20:00 hrs. in the ward where hostile inmates are housed – those inmates/patients are said to be those that were remanded or sentenced to the

AG requests stay of CJ’s...

From page 2 both elected and non-elected members of the National Assembly.

In his capacity as Opposition Chief Whip, Jones had approached the High Court seeking, inter alia, an order to have Parliamentary Secretaries, Sarah Browne and Vikash Ramkissoon, removed from the National Assembly.

In her decision last month, the Acting Chief Justice

(CJ) deemed the appointment of Browne and Ramkissoon unlawful given that they were part of the PPP/C list of candidates but were not extracted to sit as Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Government’s side of the House.

The Chief Justice stressed therefore that the two “cannot be elected and non-elected members at the

same time.”

“I have concluded that the third and fourth respon-

dents [Browne and Ramkissoon] are not lawful members of the National Assembly since their membership is by virtue of their appointment as Parliamentary Secretaries and I so declare,” Chief Ju stice (Ag.) had said.

Further in her decision, Acting Chief Justice GeorgeWiltshire explained that the Parliamentary Secretaries,

who are regarded as junior ministers, can have voting rights if they are extracted from the list of elected members.“…[But] because they were not extracted from the list of candidates, they are not eligible to vote in the National Assembly,” the CJ had determined.

institution from the court.

Police sources said that the fire w as started with a

lighter.

Regional Chairman, David Armogan, last evening disclosed that the fire was tamed and the police were at the scene conducting investigations.

Ranks are also on the hunt for those that escaped.

Just recently an inmate was killed and another injured during a brawl in the same ward of the institution.

The Regional Chairman had said then that efforts would be made to beef up security.

An inmate holds on to the bars at the ward while the fire burns in the background.

PAGE 64

Sunday June 06, 2021

Kaieteur News

Implementing standards to support...

From page 63 subscribe and information about significant environmental aspects.

The implementation of this standard can enhance the operations of businesses through guided improvements to reduce their negative impacts.

With an environmental management system, businesses can reduce energy consumption resulting in reduced bills, waste and ultimately demonstrate to their customers that they are operating responsibly.

The EMS is a “tool” that enables organisations of any size or type to control the impact of their activities, products, or services on the environment.

Additionally, the standard aims to establish preventive

controls to mitigate the effects of accidents and emergencies on the environment and to have businesses operate in an environmentally friendly and energy efficient environment.

The standard helps to support environmental protection and prevention of pollution in harmony with socioeconomic needs.

At the GNBS, we firmly believe that the theme chosen to commemorate World Environment Day 2021 should not be taken lightly, but it should point us in a direction of care for our local surroundings and the ecosystems lying within. We can also work to restore our environment in many ways – for example, through actively planting or by removing pressures so that nature can recover on its

own.

Finally, it is estimated that between now and 2030, the restoration of 350 million hectares of degraded terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems could generate US$9 trillion in ecosystem services.

Restoration could also remove 13 to 26 gigatons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The economic benefits of such interventions exceed nine times the cost of investment, whereas inaction is at least three times more costly than ecosystem restoration.

For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 2190064/65/66. You can also visit the GNBS Facebook and Instagram pages for regular updates.

Sunday June 06, 2021

PAGE 65

Kaieteur News

‘I was just focused on my technique’ - Fraser-Pryce was not expecting record 100m time

Jamaica sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

SportsMax - Despite once again re-writing the record books, Jamaica sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce admits she was not expecting to clock such a fast time.

Yesterday, at the JAAA Destiny Series, in Kingston, Fraser-Pryce ran the fastest women’s 100m time since Florence Griffith-Joyner set the world record 33 years ago.

The multiple-times Olympic and world champion stopped the clock at 10.63, moving her second on the list of the fastest times in history.

The time, which obliterated her previous national record

...Máximo urges patience Sunday June 06, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) An unexpected visit from a gloomy or depressed person might have you feeling a little disconcerted, Aries.

Don't try to be too cheerful.

It's more important to be a good listener.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today represents the start of a period of endings and new beginnings in your career. You might be leaving an old job for a new one or advancing to a new position with your current employer.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Unexpected contact with a lover, relative, young person, or close friend could leave you feeling exhilarated and optimistic about the future.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your sense of adventure is in full swing today, Scorpio.

New and unusual pastimes, travel to exotic places, meeting new and interesting people - all should be on your mind.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Events beyond your control may necessitate repairs to your home or yard, and some may seem overwhelming, Gemini. Don't panic!

CANCER (June 21–July 22) A rather unsettling communication could cause you to dwell on the negative side of whatever you learn.

Don't fall into this trap. The positive side will become more apparent as the day wanes.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Unsettling developments regarding money could cause some upset, but they'll be resol ved by day's end. You could lose and find your wallet or bank errors could prove to be its fault and not yours.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A fortunate change of circumstances in a friend's life could have a positive impact on your life, Virgo. This situation could involve a lot of adjustment, not to mention hard work.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Sudden personal or professional change could come your way, Sagittarius. Perhaps you will get a new job opportunity. Perhaps you will meet someone who will change your life.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You might contemplate a change of residence, or at least a change in household.

Someone could move out or move in. Travel might be on your mind.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Better communication should pave the way for personal and professional advancement, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may feel a little upset and somewhat depressed by a temporary separation from a loved one. As a result, you might throw your energy into creative projects. The results could show a power and intensity that you don't usually expect.

From page 70 experienced team, players that play in the premier league as well. They have the chance to qualify for the last round and it’s a good experience for us, especially for our young guys. Game by game they will improve, I am sure that the guys will answer well in the medium term.”

The team held a training session yesterday afternoon at Warner Park, the same venue for the St; Kitts match and their final game next week Tuesday. Because of the covid-19 restrictions here in St. Kitts the team is not even allowed to use the pool or the gym as the National Task Force is very strict with movements around the hotel which is nil and outside of the hotel which is the same.

From the rooms it’s to the eating area and back; then to the buses for training and back.

...Burns ton frustrates From page 71 routine stumping. That reprieve came shortly before the arrival of the new ball.

Ollie Robinson, who had led England’s attack with 475 on Wednesday only for his debut to be overshadowed by the re-emergence of racist tweets, gave Burns valuable support during a seventhwicket stand of 63.

But the new-ball brought about his downfall for 42, when he top-edged a hook off Southee to deep fine leg.

Burns was then missed again when, 12 shy of a century, he edged Wagner only for Southee to drop the second-slip chance.

Scores: New Zealand 378 and 62 for 2 (Latham 30*, Robinson 2-8) lead England 275 (Burns 132, Southee 6-43) by 165 runs.

of 10.70, is only bettered by Griffith-Joyner’s 10.49.

“I was just making sure that I had a good run before the National Championships, because I don’t have any more races before that. I was just looking forward to putting in a solid race,” Fraser-Pryce said following the event.

“I was focused on getting my technique and everything together ahead of the national championship. So, in terms of the 10.6, I really wasn’t expecting it to be honest and

maybe that was a good thing,” she added.

Heading into her final Olympics, Fraser-Pryce had insisted that she would prioritise running fast times, having already won several gold medals. The race was the athlete’s fourth over the distance this season, having opened with a fourth-place finish at the Diamond League meet in Gateshead. In Doha last week, she recorded the then 3rd fastest 100m time this season after crossing the line first in 10.83.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 66

Sunday June 06, 2021

Egan Bernal, the 2021 Giro d’Italia Champion, Tests Positive for COVID-19

A

FP/Bicycling.co m - Colombian Egan Bernal is isolating with mild symptoms after contracting COVID-19, less than a week after he won the three-week Giro d’Italia cycling race, h i s p e r s o n a l communications team said on Friday.

Bernal and his girlfriend Maria Fernanda Gutierrez took a coronavirus test before traveling home to Colombia from Monaco “and have just been informed of the test results in which both are infected with the virus,” the cyclist’s press

team said in a statement.

Bernal’s team Ineos Grenadiers said, “He has displayed mild symptoms but is in good health.”

The 24-year-old will stay in quarantine in Monaco, his European base, before returning “to Colombia once his isolation period is over to mark his Giro d’Italia victory in his homeland.”

Neither he nor Gutierrez have shown any signs of “complications,” Bernal’s press team added in the statement.

Bernal dominated the first two weeks of the Giro,

before holding off a spirited late push from Briton Simon Yates and Italy’s Damiano Caruso in the final few days.

He burst onto the scene in 2019 by winning the Tour de France, cycling’s most prestigious race, even beating his Ineos teammate and then-reigning champion Geraint Thomas into second.

In doing so he became the first Latin American to win the race and at 22 was the youngest champion since 1909.

Bernal’s press team said all the “events and tributes” planned for his return home

had been postponed until he is given the all clear to leave quarantine.

His victory was greeted w ith great fanfare in Colombia, which has been gripped with deadly antigovernment protests since A pril 28 and is als o struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite his young years, Bernal is already Colombia’s most successful cyclist of all time, surpassing Nairo Quintana who won both the Giro and Vuelta a Espana, but never finished higher than second at the Tour.

Egan Bernal.

(Sara Cavallini - Getty Images)

Kaieteur News

Sunday June 06, 2021

PAGE 67

Leclerc on pole for Azerbaijan after crashes halt qualifying

B

A K U , Azerbaijan (AP) — Charles Leclerc has his own recipe for pole position in Formula One this season.

A street circuit, an unexpectedly fast Ferrari and a crash.

Leclerc won the pole for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when a crash stopped qualifying for the second round in a row. Last time it was Leclerc’s own car in the wall in Monaco that stopped his rivals from beating his time.

In Baku, Yuki Tsunoda and Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz played the deciding role.

Leclerc set a time of 1 minute, 41.218 seconds early in yesterday’s third session. Championship leader Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were just starting their late flying laps when Tsunoda hit the wall and then Sainz crashed his Ferrari right behind Tsunoda.

It brought an immediate end to the session and put

Leclerc on pole for the second consecutive grand prix. He hasn’t won a race since September 2019.

Even though he retained his starting position at his home track in Monaco two weeks ago, repairs to his car were not completed in time and he did not race. The pole spot was left empty on the grid.

“It feels good, it feels better than Monaco, though it still doesn’t feel as good as a pole position should feel, just because of the red flag,” Leclerc said. “We definitely did not expect this type of performance so it’s looking good for the future.”

Leclerc arrived in Baku expecting to fight McLaren or be “even a little behind” rather than a challenger to title contenders Hamilton and Verstappen. He’s sixth in the standings and already 65 points behind leader Verstappen after his bizarre Monaco weekend.

But for the second consecutive race, Verstappen and Hamilton didn’t get a chance to challenge Leclerc.

Tsunoda’s crash brought out the fourth red flag of the qualifying session and stopped their charge.

“To be honest, we didn’t expect to be as competitive as were this weekend until now,” Leclerc said.

Hamilton was .232 off the pace in second — a rebound after Mercedes had struggled to match Red Bull and Ferrari in practice.

Verstappen took third, .113 back. Both could only speculate if they could have taken the pole from Leclerc.

“I can’t say that I would definitely have been quicker than Charles, but there was definitely time left on the table,” Hamilton said.

Verstappen called the session “stupid qualifying” and rued his lack of a slipstream on the long straight.

Red Bull and Mercedes have spent the week bickering over what Hamilton has called Red Bull’s “bendy” rear wing — it flexes at speed to reduce drag — and then Red Bull accused Mercedes of having

its own questionable front wing.

Ferrari sidestepped the debate entirely and won the pole, though Leclerc doubted he can convert that into a win Sunday. “I think it’s going to be difficult to keep these two behind me,” he said.

Mercedes’ lack of pace Friday had sparked speculation that even reaching the final qualifying shootout would be a challenge. In the end, Hamilton was shocked at how much his car had improved, but teammate Valtteri Bottas only qualified 10th.

The Finn has less than half of Hamilton’s points after five races and has yet to beat Hamilton this season.

“We definitely weren’t expecting that because we’ve been struggling all weekend. You can definitely see it. We continue to have difficult discussions in the background and challenging one another and just never taking no for an answer,” Hamilton said of the

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco, right, is congratulated by Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands after taking pole position during the qualifying session at the Baku Formula One city circuit. (Maxim Shemetov, Pool via AP) turnaround.

“We’ve moved around and made so many changes over these two days, just chasing your tail has been so difficult.

We r e a l l y w o r k e d overnight and between the sessions and I’m really proud of everyone for keeping positive and to be up there and to be so close to these guys is a great start.”

Pierre Gasly of Red B u l l ’s s i s t e r t e a m AlphaTauri was a surprise fourth, two thousandths of a second behind Verstappen.

No such luck for

Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Pérez. The Mexican driver was fastest across the three practice sessions and was expected to challenge for pole but instead was a disappointing seventh.

Lance Stroll and Antonio Giovinazzi both went off at the same corner in the first qualifying session before setting a time, and Daniel Ricciardo crashed in the second session. The Australian is in his first season with McLaren but has finished behind teammate Lando Norris in four of five races so far this year.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 68

Sunday June 06, 2021

Brazil wins World Cup qualifier amid drama off the pitch SAO PAULO (AP) — Amid a possible player revolt, Brazil beat Ecuador 2-0 on Friday to win its fifth consecutive match in South A m e r i c a n Wo r l d C u p qualifying.

Brazil now leads the round-robin tournament with 15 points, four ahead of second-place Argentina. It appears all but certain that Brazil will qualify for one of the four direct South American spots for Qatar 2022.

Gabriel Barbosa had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half before Richarlison opened the scoring in the 65th minute with a powerful shot from close range. Neymar assisted on the first goal and added the second from the spot in added time. The penalty was awarded after a video review, which also allowed Brazil’s No. 10 to take a second chance after being stopped by goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez.

Both goals were celebrated with the entire team around coach Tite. All players escorted Tite to the dressing room after the match.

Drama has been brewing around the team since Brazil agreed to host Copa America. Team captain Casemiro suggested Friday that the players don’t want to be at the tournament at home while Brazilians are still dying in large numbers from COVID-19. More than 470,000 Brazilians have died so far from the coronavirus.

Copa America was originally scheduled to be co-hosted by Colombia and Argentina. Colombia was forced to withdraw because of social unrest and Argentina last week declined to host the continental tournament because of a worsening of the pandemic.

Tite’s post-match news conference was highly anticipated after rumors swirled during the day that he could resign before Copa America begins. The coach avoided giving details of what is to come, but did not rule out leaving the job.

On the eve of the match, Tite admitted that his players had discussed with the president of the Brazilian soccer confederation whether or not they should

Richarlison’s goal on 65 minutes helped Brazil maintain their 100% record in qualifying. (Getty Images)

play the continental tournament. A final answer on the issue is expected after the match against Paraguay on Tuesday.

“I am doing my job normally. I always do. I am at peace with myself,” said Tite, who was wearing a mask during the entire news conference. “My adversities are very little in comparison

with other people.”

Supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro have called for Tite to resign. The Brazilian president has defied social distancing policies, saying lockdown measures kill more than the virus.

Asked whether he could leave the job next week, Tite replied: “You can raise any hypothesis, I only ask you to be careful. I will express it when it matters. Not now.

This was a tough match against Ecuador.”

Casemiro said after Friday’s win over Ecuador that “the players’ position is very clear. More clear than

this is impossible for now.”

“We want to speak after the match against Paraguay because we don’t want to lose our focus,” Casemiro said. “This is the World Cup for us.”

The midfielder added any decision “will come from all” Brazil players.

Local media has reported that Brazil’s Europe-based players were leading a push against playing in Copa America.

Ecuador defender Robert Arboleda added that national team captains were discussing their participation in the South American championship, which is

scheduled to be played June 13-July 10.

“There’s a lot of people dying and something must be done. For us players it is hard to go to a hotel because people with the virus could give it to us and then we can infect the whole squad,” he said, without answering whether he and his team will play in the tournament.

The next South A m e r i c a n Wo r l d C u p qualifiers will be played on Tuesday: Paraguay is up against Brazil and Colombia takes on Argentina. Also, it’s Ecuador vs. Peru, Venezuela vs. Uruguay and Chile vs Bolivia.

Coco Gauff into French Open fourth round, close to clinching Olympic spot

Teenager Coco Gauff reached the last 16 of the French Open for the first time.

Brazil’s Neymar, right, celebrates with Brazil’s Lucas Paqueta after scoring his side’s second goal on a penalty kick against Ecuador during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Friday, June 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

N

BC Sport - Coco Gauff is into the French Open fourth round and very close to an Olympic spot as well.

Gauff, the 17-year-old, No. 24 seed, was up 6-1 on 13th seed Jennifer Brady when a tearful Brady retired after a consultation with medical personnel yesterday.

Gauff, after playing 19 minutes, gets No. 25 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia on Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals.

The winner of the match gets American Sloane Stephens or Czech Barbora Krejèíková, both unseeded, for a spot in the semifinals.

Gauff will clinch the

fourth and final U.S. Olympic women’s singles spot if Stephens does not win the French Open.

Sofia Kenin, Serena Williams and Brady previously clinched Olympic places. Of those three, only Williams has yet to commit to the Tokyo Games.

Kaieteur News

Sunday June 06, 2021

PAGE 69

Female Guyanese trio graduate with honours from Essex County College

Shamika Marcus certificate

- Shamika Marcus (Business Administration), Alexzandra Austin (Physical Education), Alina Austin (General Science)

By Franklin Wilson in St. Kitts with the compliments of the GFF and Industrial Safety Supplies Inc.

T

hey have a few t h i n g s i n common, they are all footballers, ambitious and pursuing excellence in academics with the hope of helping to empower other females as they consolidate and build their respective lives.

On Saturday last, the Essex County College located in North New Jersey, USA churned out three more Guyanese scholars in, former Foxy Ladies Football Club Captain Shamika Marcus along with the Austin sisters, Alexzandra and Alina who are formally from Bartica but now reside

in the Bahamas.

The 24 year old Marcus earned a Degree of Associates of Science AS – Business Administration, 22 year-old Alexzandra completed her Degree in Physical Education with 20 year-old Alina earning a Degree in General Science.

All the ladies graduated with honours in their respective fields.

Marcus will be, from September, attending Bryant & Stratton College in upstate New York on a Soccer scholarship and will be pursuing the completion of a degree, while Alina is set to pursue, Mechanical Engineering.

Both sisters have been playing football since their Primary School days in Bartica but when they were very young they left Guyana

for the Bahamas with their mom and dad, Eon and Jeanette Austin where Guyana’s leading Referee Dianne Ferreira-James and family also reside.

Elder sister, Alexzandra informed Kaieteur Sport that they are in touch with Ferreira James who also hails from Bartica and is like a family friend.

Alexzandra shared: “I was only 7 years old when I left and my sister 5; she doesn’t remember much but I still remember living on 7th Ave and my grandparents on sixth. I remember walking to St. John’s with my cousin.

My sister was still in Future Builder’s then.

Since we left at a young age, we never played for clubs. But, when I was 15 I believe and we went back, my dad (Eon) held a mini

Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce celebrates with the time board.

(Earl H. Bailey Twitter)

summer camp and we kicked around there and I played on the beach.”

Alexzandra revealed that she is a utility player but her coaches prefer her playing central defence or right wing, while Alina also plays center defence, midfield or as a forward.

Covid-19 would have curtailed their playing at College but the duo would have played in the Bahamas, Alexzandra suited up for Barca FC and Chelsea, while Alina played for Chelsea.

She also informed that they had a Champion’s League there.

It has always been the desire of the sisters to come back and try out for the ‘Lady Jags’ but the finances involved in getting here has always been a challenge for them.

Despite, that wish is still very much on the cards and as Alexzandra said, “Hopefully some time I can get a chance to go home and try out.”

Alina’s wish is, “I would come back to build up clubs and youth centers.”

Alexzandra revealed that she is a FIFA Referee in training apart from being a Referee Instructor in the Bahamas, following the footsteps of Guyana’s greatest, Ferreira-James.

“I’m very well associated with Dianne, one of our very well-known Guyanese Referees.

Hopefully I can come back and help develop the Referee/Player system in Guyana and build connections from home to other Coaches.

Since I coached and

played in the Bahamas, I’ve met Coaches from America and England so if I could, I would use those resources.”

With regards to young girls and females pursuing education and sports, Alexzandra advises, “Take your education and passion for sports seriously and so many doors beyond sports will open up for you! Most importantly don’t ever give up! Even if the odds are stacked against you or doors are closing, God will open a door bigger and better than those before.”

Alina says, “It’s not easy, but if you keep working hard and trust in God, He’ll guide you to where you need to go.

Just because you didn’t end up somewhere you wanted to be, doesn’t mean that’s the end. God has something bigger for you.”

‘Give Evin a go’ - former WI wicketkeeper Hendricks would love to see hard-hitting lefthander audition for Test opener spot

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce runs world’s fastest 100m since Florence Griffith Joyner

N

BC Sports Two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce clocked the world’s fastest women’s 100m in nearly 33 years yesterday and re-established herself as the favorite for a third gold in Tokyo.

Fraser-Pryce, the Jamaican who won the 2019 World title coming back from childbirth, clocked 10.63 seconds at a meet in Kingston, according to local

reports and a live timing website.

That’s the fourth-best time in history. Only Florence Griffith Joyner went faster — 10.49, 10.61 and 10.62, all in 1988.

Fraser-Pryce bettered the national record of 10.70 that she shared with 2016 Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah.

Now 34, Fraser-Pryce bids this summer to become the first woman to win one individual Olympic track

and field event three times, plus the oldest woman to win an individual Olympic sprint title.

Going into yesterday, the Olympic favorite appeared to be 21-year-old American Sha’Carri Richardson, who clocked 10.72, 10.74 and 10.77 so far this spring.

Thompson-Herah ranks third in the world this year with a 10.78. Fraser-Pryce trailed both of them coming into yesterday with a 10.84 from last week.

Evin Lewis SportsMax - Former West Indies wicketkeeper, Jackie Hendricks, believes Cricket West Indies (CWI) selectors should consider looking at hard-hitting left hander Evin Lewis as a Test team opener.

The 29-year-old Trinidadian-born batsman, who idolizes another big hitting left hander, Chris Gayle, has had some success in the shorter formats of the game, but, unlike Gayle, is yet to play a Test match for the West Indies.

Lewis has scored 1791 runs in 54 One Day International (ODI) matches, at an average of 37.31, with a high score of 176. In 35 T20 Internationals, the batsman has managed 989 runs with a strike rate of 155.74 and an impressive high score of 125.

The batsman, who also has 1229 runs in 22 First Class cricket matches, and a century

scored while representing the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the regional four-day competition, has not played the format since 2017.

“I’ve always thought the selectors were a little short-sighted for not given him a go in the Test matches,” Hendricks told the Mason and Guest Radio program.

“I’ve been impressed with how he plays in the 50 overs. He is not a real hitter, he plays his shots very well, he always gets into position and so on. So, I’m disappointed that he is not thought about for the team,” he added.

Recently, there have been calls for the selectors to consider widening the pool of available Test players but considering some of the players that do very well in the shorter formats.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 70

Sunday June 06, 2021

Three 4-day cricket games to be held for best - ‘Franchise players to train from Guyanese players in July this week at LBI indoor nets’

By Sean Devers

S

ince being a p p o i n t e d National Coach in 2012, 38-year-old former Guyana pacer Esuan Crandon has won five consecutive Regional FirstClass titles in the six-year history of CWI’s Professional Cricket League.

The five times defending Champions were dethroned in 2019/2020 tournament by Barbados after it was aborted with two rounds remaining due to the outbreak of the global pandemic in March of 2020.

The Bajans beat Guyana by 235 runs at Providence to take an unassailable lead after eight rounds.

The Guyana Jaguars have resumed preparations and Coach Crandon informed that most of the Academy players, CWI Central contracted players and the Regional contracted players were involved in last week’s sessions at the Providence Stadium.

“We started back training last week but due to the consistent heavy rainfall we were restricted to strength and conditioning work and fielding drills.

We were hoping to get

the use of the pitches at the back but that facility will not be available for use next week due to the rain,” said Crandon, who was appointed West Indies Assistant Coach in January 2019 for the home series against England.

The Berbician, who took 90 wickets from 38 FirstClass matches with a best of 7 - 1 2 5 a g a i n s t T & T, informed that the Providence Stadium, where the Jaguar’sFranchise players were training, would be closed off from this week due to the rain and preparation for the Pakistan’s matches there.

“They also need time to prepare for the three International T20s between West Indies and Pakistan (July 31 to August 3) so from this week we wouldn’t be training there. We have to revert to the LBI indoors nets and do gym work,” informed Crandon, who captured 29 wickets from 28 List ‘A’ games.

The former left-handed batsman and right-arm pacer, who has 14 wickets and 71 with the bat in 18 T20 games, said he is not aware of any senior regional cricket scheduled for the rest of the year, but revealed there are plans to have three 4-day

Crandon also Coached the West Indies women’s team.

Guyana Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon. matches involving the best players in Guyana, sometime in July.

The pandemic is in its second year and Crandon explained the process for the Jaguars return to training. “ We h a v e a d o p t e d Cricket West Indies return to outdoor training protocols and guidelines. We started with small groups of four.

Players are not allowed to associate with players from other groups. They have designed areas on arrival at the venue. Players’ temperatures are tested on arrival and they are asked a couple medical questions before commencing training.

Our normal training days are four days per week; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Four players in a group. We utilized the length and breadth of the stadium

where groups are separated,” said Crandon who played his last First-Class match in 2011.

Guyana has named their 15-man squad for the next four-day Franchise but Guyanese players outside of those selected can still be picked on a pay-to-play format.

Among the key players who missed last week’s sessions were Skipper Leon Johnson who is expected home tomorrow, pacer Nial Smith and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul who were selected in the 30-man

Test squad but failed to make the cut when the squad was reduced to 17 and Shimron Hetmyer and Sherfane Rutherford who are in Abu Dhabi participating the Pakistan Super League.

The 24-year-old Hetmyer has been picked in the West Indies T20 Squad, while fellow left-hander 22year-old Rutherford is not in Guyana’s 15-man squad but could be selected for his Country.

Crandon who also Coached the West Indies Women team, said he thinks that the pair being involved

in the PSL could be a good thing.

“I honestly think it’s a good think for both Hetmyer and Rutherford to be playing cricket in the UAE. The more playing time these guys can get at the moment is better,” Crandon posited.

“I’m pleased with the work ethics thus far. The players have all committed to lifting the fitness level and improve their fielding skills,” concluded Crandon who first began Coaching while playing for Rose Hall Youth & Sports Club in Corentyne Berbice.

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Qatar 2022

Máximo urges patience as rebuilding process for ‘Golden Jaguars’ will take time

Nathan Moriah-Welsh lines up to send the ball inside for Guyana against St. Kitts on Friday afternoon at Warner Park. (Franklin Wilson photo)

By Franklin Wilson in Antigua with the compliments of the GFF and Industrial Safety Supplies Inc. Following Guyana’s loss to home team St. Kitts and Nevis and the end of the nation’s quest to advance to the next round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying competing in Concacaf, Guyana Football Federation Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach

The ‘Golden Jaguars’ getting warmed up before the St. Kitts & Nevis clash on Friday evening last. (Franklin Wilson photo)

Márcio Máximo is urging all to be patient as the rebuilding process has only just commenced.

Whilst the team was in Antigua on a brief training camp ahead of coming to St. Kitts & Nevis where Guyana final group F match would be played on Tuesday against Puerto Rico, Máximo had announced that a new era had commenced with the younger generation of players being used to rebuild the GFF

senior brand.

Making his debut for the senior team was Osafa Simpson a member of Guyana’s Under-20 side who would be celebrating his 19th birthday in September.

“It’s a process you know, I think we should maintain because now, our game against Puerto Rico is preparation for the Concacaf Gold Cup. To motivate the players because I am sure we are going in the correct

way, there is no other way for us. We don’t buy experience in the supermarket, only when you play. Sometimes you would have defeats, nobody is happy but it’s all part of the process.”

He shared that there were some good moments on the St. Kitts match and they will continue to improve the team step by step, game by game. “St. Kitts have an (Continued on page 65)

Kaieteur News

Sunday June 06, 2021

PAGE 71

Georgetown Domino Association Trophy Stall supports Independence Softball Cup mourns sudden passing Faye Joseph Trophy Stall has thrown its support behind the We C a r e C o m m u n i t y Services and Promotions inaugural Independence Inter-Region Softball Cup. The competition which is set to start today will see teams in regions 3, 4, 5, and 6 vying for supremacy.

Trophy Stall handed over the first place trophy to the organisers at a simple ceremony held on Friday at its Bourda Market location.

Carmeletta Gomes who presented the trophy on behalf of the entity wished the teams well and said they are looking forward to an

exciting and successful competition.

A Representative of the o rg a n i s i n g c o m m i t t e e expressed gratitude to Trophy Stall and other sponsors.

The Independence Softball Cup will be played in region 6 at the Lochaber ground, in region 5 at the Bush Lot Sports Club Ground, region 4 at the Strathavon Sports Ground and in region 3 at the Zeeburg Sports club ground and games get under way at 09:00hrs. According to the organisers, the competition will be played on a knock

England’s Rory Burns (L) celebrates his century on the fourth day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on Saturday.

AFP - Rory Burns hit a gutsy century to help England recover from a collapse on the fourth day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s yesterday.

England were in danger of following-on but Burns’ 132 meant they avoided that embarrassment, although a total of 275 all out was still 103 adrift of New Zealand’s first-innings 378 that featured debutant opener Devon Conway’s

New Zealand’s Tim Southee bowls during his 6-43 against England in the first Test at Lord’s on Saturday.

out basis and the two top teams will advance to the playoff stage.

There will be over $200,000 in cash and trophies to be awarded to the winner, runner-up, man of the series, best bowler and batsman in the tournament, man of the match in the final, for the most sixes hit in the final and man of the match in all the games.

The competition will be played under strict covid guidelines and fans will not be allowed at the venues.

For further information teams can contact Wecare on 647-7507.

Burns ton frustrates New Zealand after Southee strikes in 1st Test

remarkable 200.

Veteran paceman Tim Southee led New Zealand’s attack with 6-43 in 25.1 overs to secure yet another place on the Lord’s honours board after his 10-wicket haul in 2013.

But the Black Caps would have been in an even stronger position had they not reprieved Burns on 77 and 88 in the first of this twomatch series.

Burns was still nine runs shy of his third Test century when he was joined by last man James Anderson.

But their entertaining stand of 52 delayed the tea interval before Southee had Burns, in sight of batting for the whole innings, caught behind to end a stay of nearly eight hours that saw the Surrey left-handed opener face 297 balls including 16 fours and a six.

Anderson’s presence encouraged Burns, 91 not out when joined by the No 11, to go for his shots, including an extravagant slog-swept six off left-arm quick Neil Wagner.

New Zealand, after the whole of Friday’s third day had been washed out, dismissed England captain Joe Root with the very first

ball of the day when he edged a fine delivery from the towering Kyle Jamieson to Ross Taylor at slip.

England lost three wickets for no runs in 21 balls during a middle-order slump.

Burns, watching the collapse from the other end, had started the day on 59 not out.

It him a further 133 balls to score the 41 runs he required to get to a hundred but England were grateful for his resilience.

New Zealand were without left-arm spearhead Trent Boult, who only arrived in England on Friday following family leave.

But on a sunny day, seemingly ideal for batting, t h e Wo r l d Te s t Championship finalists still took four wickets in the morning session with Southee removing Dan Lawrence and debutant wicketkeeper James Bracey for ducks.

Burns had made 77 when he was stranded yards down the pitch by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner only for wicketkeeper BJ Watling, on his last tour before retirement, to miss the (Continued on page 65)

Georgetown Domino Association (GDA) is mourning the sudden passing of its former President of the GDA, former President of the Guyana National Dominoes Federation (GNDF), former executive member of the World Council of Dominoes Federation (WCDF), Mrs. Faye Joseph, who died Friday 4th, 2021.

Mr. Lyndon Boston, President of the GDA in his statement informed, “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my colleague, mentor, family and dear friend. She had served as President of both GDA and GNDF and also elected to the WCDF to further strengthen ties locally and internationally in the domino fraternity.”

“Faye has made an indelible mark on which we are today and we will keep her legacy of great service, personal relationships and outstanding stewardship alive and well, we the

Faye Joseph former GNDA President

executives will honour her with a great home going ceremony fit for a queen.”

When news of her sudden demise reached the fraternity, there was an outpouring of sadness and grief as fellow domino captains, players, supporters,

family members pledged support to keep her legacy alive.

Mrs. Joseph is survived by her five sons and two daughters.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.