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New Liza 1 permit Monday Edition NEWS paves way for Exxon to cap oil spill liabilities - former EPA boss says at $2 billion current document a “hoax” AIETEUR

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

June 06, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 22

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 67,085

Hess uses Stabroek Block oil to keep investors from fleeing - says partners drilling deeper to unlock more oil

Man shot dead at East Ruimveldt Fishermen High on cocaine taxi still waiting on the promised driver fakes 150 licences abduction from Suriname - conspires with friend to sell boss’ car

T&T strengthens laws to extract greater profits from oil and gas sector

Students being served ‘shine rice’ at Region Seven dorm - Manickchand orders probe as teacher says facility facing food shortage since October 2021

Kaieteur News

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Monday June 06, 2022

Hess uses Stabroek Block oil to keep investors from fleeing

By Kiana Wilburg To truly understand the premium quality of Guyana’s oil, one only has to hear the recent assertions of Hess Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess who participated at the Bernstein’s 38th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference.

The Hess boss explained that about three years ago, investors were not in agreement with their approach to constantly investing with no meaningful or significant

- says partners drilling deeper to unlock more oil dividend being returned.

They said out rightly to have their money returned and they will leave. But to keep them from walking out the door, Hess explained to them the crown jewel which they hold in their portfolio and how that asset is tied to one of the best oil contracts the world has ever laid eyes on.

Hess said, “ Three years ago, we were criticized for investing; a number of investors stopped investing and said just ‘give us the cash

back,’ but we convinced them using Guyana. We said look, ‘We have high returns specifically in Guyana and we are going to benefit from that investment because as we grow the resource we grow the cash flow.’

Hess then charmed his s har ehold ers w ith the economics attached to Guyana’s oil. The CEO said: “every ship at US$65 Brent adds US$1B a year to Earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization

( E B I TA ) a n d a s a consequence our cash flow is 25 percent compounded each year for the next five years and quite frankly with more ships, we can actually go out to 2030.”

He added, “Part of that strategy is also going down the cost curve, our cost per barrel goes down 25 percent to US$9 per barrel by 2026; our break even as a company will be US$45 Brent for 2026 and at the end of the day that cash flow growth

will compound where we are growing intrinsic value but also start to return cash along the way as well.”

With such outstanding financial prospects he told shareholders Hess is no doubt destined to grow dividends. He said too, that Guyana is an industry leading durability story given it’s over 25 discoveries in the block and the fact that the partners intend to drill 18,000 feet deeper to unlock more oil that has been trapped for ages.

With Guyana in its portfolio, Hess said production is poised to grow by 10 percent a year.

Hess and its co-venture partners currently have four sanctioned developments on the Stabroek Block.

The Liza Phase 1 development, which began production in December 2019 utilizing the Liza Destiny floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) with a production capacity of approximately 120,000 gross barrels of oil per day, recently completed production optimization work that expanded its production capacity to more than 140,000 gross barrels of oil per day.

The Liza Phase 2 development, utilizing the Liza Unity FPSO, began production in February 2022 and is expected to reach its

John Hess, CEO of Hess Corporation production capacity of approximately 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day by the third quarter. The third development at Payara is ahead of schedule and now expected to come online in late 2023 utilizing the Prosperity FPSO with a production capacity of approximately 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day.

The fourth development, Yellowtail, is expected to come online in 2025, utilizing the ONE GUYANA FPSO with a production capacity of approximately 250,000 gross barrels of oil per day. At least six FPSOs with a production capacity of more than 1 million gross barrels of oil per day are expected to be online on the Stabroek Block in 2027, with the potential for up to 10 FPSOs to develop gross discovered recoverable resources which total almost 11 billion barrels.

Guyana should be in control of its own clean-up money

…Economist says country’s interest must be separate from ExxonMobil

By Zena Henry Economic and Youth Policy Advisor at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Elson Lowe has raised his voice in support of Guyana controlling its own oil and gas clean-up money.

The youth advisor, in an interview with the Kaieteur News yesterday expressed his concern toward Guyana not ensuring that decommissioning money necessary for the removal of subsea oil production material is available for the work that has to be done some 20 years into the future.

Based on the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) ExxonMobil has with

Economic and Youth Policy Advisor, Elson Lowe Guyana, the company is allowed to extract incremental sums from profit oil for the Continued on page 17

Kaieteur News

Monday June 06, 2022

PAGE 03

T&T strengthens laws to extract New Liza 1 permit paves way for Exxon to cap oil spill liabilities at $2B greater profits from oil and gas sector

By Davina Bagot

- former EPA boss says current document a “hoax”

By Zena Henry The recently renewed Liza 1 permit seeks to put in place protection for citizens of Guyana and its environment as oil operations occur offshore.

Crude has been pumping from the Liza 1 Field since 2019, but its operation has come under much criticism g i v e n t h e c o u n t r y ’s environmental vulnerability due to limited insurance coverage.

Again, the document is being criticized for not offering the type of protection that is needed in case of a serious oil spill in the Stabroek Block.

The EPA announced days ago that it accepted Financial Assurance from Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—instead of Full Coverage insurance. They announced that the Permit ensured that EEPGL is held liable for all costs associated with clean up, restoration and compensation for any pollution damage coming out of the project.

They said that EEPGL must have a combination of Insurance that “cover well control, clean up and third-party liability as well as “a P a r e n t Company/Affiliate Guarantee Agreement which indemnifies and keeps indemnified the EPA and the Government of Guyana in the event that EEPGL and its Co-Venturers fail to meet their environmental obligations under the Permit.” However, “The financial assurance provided must be guided by an estimate of the sum of the reasonably credible costs, expenses, and liabilities that may arise from any breaches of this permit.”

Former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Vincent Adams

Former Head of the EPA, Dr. Vincent Adams

told the Kaieteur News that all this new language means is that ExxonMobil will be capping its liabilities at the US$2 Billion guarantee which was proposed by the company to cover any oil spill.

He said that while as EPA boss, the language that he ensured was placed in the Liza 2 Permit, and which was copied in all others

stipulate unlimited liability coverage comprising of insurance plus parent company guarantee to cover everything above the insurance and/or what EEPGL cannot cover, this new permit seems to provide room to cap the operator’s liabilities. “This is their first step in removing the current language that calls for unlimited/full liability coverage and replacing it with US$2 Billion,” Dr. Adams stated.

Where the permit speaks

to credible and legitimate costs, the former environmental agency head said that, “It is mindboggling that any cost resulting from a spill cleanup would not be legitimate, reasonable and credible.”

“All this means, for example, is that if there is a spill like the BP spill in the Gulf that cost US$70 Billion, Exxon will only spend a maximum of $2 Billion for what they deem to be legitimate, reasonable and credible costs; and Guyana will be stuck with the balance.”

Even the “ridiculous” $2 Billion cap is not g u a r a n t e e d , D r.

Adams warned. He said, “Pay careful attention to such words as the financial assurance must be guided by estimate of “legitimate costs” and “reasonably credible costs”.

The bottom line is that they are dastardly violating the Permit which pellucidly directs them to obtain unlimited/full liability coverage and they now appear to be hustling to change the current language with this scam, because they know someone may take them to court and they will lose.” Dr. Adams described the new Liza 1 permit as “a hoax buttered up with fancy words to confuse and con our people.”

G u y a n a ’s f e l l o w Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member state, Trinidad and Tobago, has progressed on amending its fiscal policy for the oil and gas sector, to ensure the country remains competitive and enjoys the benefits of its natural resources.

The Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Stuart Young, during the twin island’s Energy Conference, hosted at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain between May 31 and June 2, last provided an update on the policy being pursued.

According to the Minister, “In the 2022 National Budget the Minister of Finance announced that the Ministry of Finance in consultation with the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries would be undertaking a review of the fiscal regime for the upstream petroleum sector to ensure t h i s c o u n t r y ’s competitiveness , with emphasis on three main petroleum taxes, namely Petroleum Profits Tax, Supplemental Petroleum Tax and Royalty, both onshore and offshore, in the deep water and shallow water, for large and small producers.”

To this end, he explained that the process commenced by inviting proposals from stakeholders in the energy sector. Already, these proposals have been evaluated and an amended fiscal policy is being drafted for the country’s Cabinet consideration. “On completion of this process, it is intended to put in place a fiscal regime which maintains Trinidad and Tobago as a competitive and

T&T Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Stuart Young preferred location for upstream investment. We recognize the need to be a competitive province in a global energy environment where the fight for capital expenditure is becoming more difficult,” Young explained to conference delegates.

During the opening ceremony of the T&T Energy Conference, Prime Minister, Keith Rowley said that he will be going after better petroleum profits tax,

supplemental petroleum tax and better royalty rates, which will be applied to all onshore, shallow water and deepwater projects.

Expounding on this latest development, he said, “Unrealised potential is of no value to anyone, not to the resource owners that are the people of Trinidad and Tobago or to interested investors if that resource remains out of reach, undeveloped or unexploited.

Accordingly, Government has been in dialogue with upstream companies to expedite Final Investment Decision for known reserves.”

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

The United Kingdom Continued on page 17

Heavy rain forecasts for next 24 hours The Hydrometeorological Service is predicting frequent, continuous rain and thundershowers across the country within the next 24 hours.

In an advisory the Hydromet office said rainfall will measure between one inch (25mm) and four inches (100mm). Persons in low lying and flood prone areas are urged to be vigilant and cautious as these conditions can cause significant inundation and mudslides in hilly areas.

If you or someone you know is impacted during this rainy season, immediately contact your local authorities or the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 600-7500 or 226-1114 at any time.

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Monday June 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Why Exxon would not want a Vincent Adams at the EPA The people leading the way in Guyana for Exxon were shuddering and recoiling at the thought of a Vincent Adams.

They didn’t want him anywhere around the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), not even as a security guard, much less its head. He was too knowledgeable, too wise, too courageous, too Guyanese; the man was a bone in the throat, a pain elsewhere. So, Vincent Adams had to go, and the sellouts that we have for leaders in the PPP/C Government were only too glad to grovel before the dictates of Exxon and deliver his head on a platter to them.

Dr. Adams has publicly asserted, even attested, before that this was where he stood before Exxon on flaring, and what should be incorporated into the permit renewal. He met, spoke, and wrote about (in addition to flaring) round the clock monitoring by people who knew what they were about, had the facilities to do so, and the finances to oversee our offshore oilfields (by the way, are they really ours, given what is going on?). He met with adversaries and helpful people, spoke and wrote, about proper insurance and dropdead issues that had to be fixed prior to the issuance of any renewals and so forth. (Refer to the article “US$50 fine per ton of pollutant an insult to Guyanese” -KN June 3).

Clearly, the seniors at Exxon had to have had serious concerns over the obstacle that this man Adams represented.

And when the corporate captains in Texas have a problem, they take care of it with authority and finality. In brief, Dr. Vincent Adams, then Executive Director of the EPA possessed no utility to their interests, so he had to go.

Leaders in the PPP/C Government, already compromised and subservient to the exploitations and manipulations of Exxon, were ready to spring into action to kick out Vincent Adams, and they had the best excuse of all. He is more of a political figure, less a public servant.

Interestingly, PPP/C leadership worshippers, defenders of any and every failure of this government, and attackers of anyone who speaks against their betrayals and corruptions have been deafeningly silent when Dr. Adams comes out and says this was what went down. They are unable to do so, not when a roomful of local and foreign people was present. Not when a long document trail has been left. That is, unless that too has been deep-sixed, and made to disappear. Not when people are sensible enough to keep revealing records. They could run, hide, duck, and mislead with the usual foolishness about “Confidentiality” and “Most Secret” but once it has been documented, then all bets are off. Whatever the leaders of the PPP/C Government and their defenders put out are nothing but transparent fig leaves, the equivalent of fast-food drive-throughs. This is how they come across, as deceivers and tricksters, nothing but the worst of unscrupulous verbal fraudsters.

Where all this leaves us is with a permit renewal that shouldn’t have been without extracting our gram of flesh (insurance, money subsidy for our fishers). We would add that since Exxon is determined to flare at our expense, then let the increase tacked on be US$50, or anywhere north of that starting figure. It is no secret that Exxon has access to the technology, the sophisticated gas compressor systems, but it is extremely expensive. There is no need to spend that kind of cash on a place with the simpering, weak-kneed leaders we have, and the largely divided, indifferent citizens present.

In this instance of the Liza-1 permit renewal, it should be noted that the focus and emphasis are not on complete renegotiation of the oil contract, as welcomed as that would be, but chipping away bit by bit at some of the excesses that favour Exxon and its partners, while building a little block at a time the protections and corrections that this country so urgently need.

The closing position is this: If we couldn’t use the Liza1 permit renewal to get conditions of substance, when we had Exxon in a dependent situation, then there isn’t much more we may be able to get from it, thanks to this feeble, collaborating PPP Government.

The natural resources of Guyana belong not to the political class but to all Guyanese Dear Editor, Unlike Financial Representatives (MP’s), A.R.F. Webber and Joseph Eleazer, and other members of the Popular Party of British Guiana in 1920’s, the present government is very ready to hand over to extractors Guyana’s most precious assets. The oil giveaway scandal is still being exposed as the most unpatriotic agreement signed by any government anywhere on the planet in the history of mining.

Not only citizens, such as Mr. Glenn Lall, have exposed the lopsided giveaway of Guyana’s wealth to the oil company ExxonMobil and its partners, but financial experts long acquainted with oil industry have taken the same position.

About 14 days ago, the Guyana government announced another victory for the cabinet in its giveaway of Guyana’s gold deposits.

These have been worked with

big and small successes and failures by Guyanese for over a century. Even before the 1890’s, indigenous communities had found ways of recovering precious minerals from the earth giving rise to the well-known stories of “A City of Gold – El Dorado” in the Guyana interior.

In its triumphal announcement, the government assured Guyanese that it was handing over unlimited deposits of gold to some three foreign companies. In the words of Vice President Jagdeo these companies were each larger than OMAI. This development is an unqualified betrayal of the Guyanese people. Whereas it can be argued that our rulers did not sign an oil contract until 1999, this ignorance does not apply to gold and diamond mining.

The Chronicle newspaper of July 26, 1926 reports a speech by Honourable Joseph Eleazer, which is

summarized in the book “Buxton- Friendship in Print and Memory”. Eleazer at the time was Financial Representative (MP) for New Amsterdam. He recalled that the people’s representatives in the Combined Court (CC) had carried a resolution forbidding the executive from handing over lands bearing precious metals to foreign companies in preference to Guyanese. That was in the 1920’s. Today, in the 21st century we have a government and a political class that does not understand in theory or practice that the natural resources of Guyana belong not to the political class but to all Guyanese.

The WPA MP in the National Assembly in the second half of the 1980’s, while joining with environmentalists in campaigns against pollution of the rivers on which the indigenous people depend, moved a motion in the

National Assembly calling on the government to establish a Pork-Knockers Bank to solve the financing problems of pork-knockers or tributors.

The PPP supported that motion but the PNC Minister declared, “The porkknockers will disappear as the dinosaurs disappeared”.

Today, the PPP is importing monsters into the mining industry.

In his 1926 speech Eleazer explained how the diamonds of the Mazaruni River helped to avert an economic crisis in British Guiana by becoming a source of fairly well distributed popular earnings and by providing a market for the expanding rice industry.

Future writings will attempt to show, as others are doing, the serious misconceptions about government and development that fills the heads of those in the government who hold and exercise real power.

Yours Sincerely, Eusi Kwayana

The rung at the bottom of the ladder Dear Editor, The government recently announced relief packages to miners, rice farmers, fishermen, etc.

I do not know how these measures will help the ordinary person with the high cost of living which seems to be rising every few times you go to make purchases.

It started with vegetables.

After the flood and many losses, there were those who received compensations but the price of vegetables remained high and even got higher. These farmers lost nothing, in fact they gained.

Many persons did not receive the twenty-five thousand relief and it is said that there are persons who received

multiple times. The miners will not lose much and so too the rice farmers and fishermen, they are compensated.

And just like vegetables nothing will trickle down to the ordinary man.

Seven hundred thousand persons will feel and have to pay the price of high cost of living in this oil rich nation.

The remainder of the population will feel nothing because they are the farmers, fishermen and miners.

The government walks the villages, meet the people, listen to them but they do not eat at the table of the ordinary man.

Editor, why is this government perpetuating a practice that is corrupt and

only benefits a few?

There is this official somewhere in Region Three who is a rice farmer and who claimed seven million in losses which was never converted to rice cultivation.

There’s the man and wife that claimed three million each by going and registering losses in two different NDCs. There are ways to help the ordinary man but will the government listen?

If the government gives each household a sort of food stamp that’s worth say minimum two thousand dollars will this not be of some sort of help to the ordinary man who is not a farmer or miner or fisherman?

Let’s suppose we have

four hundred thousand household that will amount to eight hundred thousand dollars and for six months 4.8 billion.

How many billions have been spent and it has not touched the ordinary man?

And it does not have to be two thousand nor six months.

At least this will ensure that money is used for the purpose it is intended and not pocketed or misused and at the same time it benefits the ordinary man who is feeling it at his table.

Is anybody listening...and no it is not coming from the opposition.

Yours truly, Contributor

The Big Lie is antithetical to a democratic society, rule of law and the maintenance of good order Dear Editor, Political commentators, elected officials, legal luminaries and news anchors on major networks in the USA have all taken to referring to Donald Trump’s assertions that the US 2020 Presidential elections was rigged and that he had really won by a landslide as “The Big Lie”.

Trump and his collaborators employed this demonstrably false narrative to demand investigations and audits at state and federal level, to approach numerous courts, to attempt to use Congress, state governments and legislatures, and his VicePresident, as well as an

insurrectionist mob to prevent the certification of official results and to substitute questionable results to maintain him in office. Operationalizing the Big Lie generated absurd legal theories, criminal conduct and attempts at a cover-up which are on-going and under investigation by the US Congress, Justice Department and state authorities.

The arguments that the PPP/C, and others, used as an excuse for protests and violence, preventing the tabulation and declaration of official results, and demanding that President

Granger concede defeat and demit office before an official declaration had been made under threat of sanction from every direction were equally absurd and baseless in fact, reason and law. Their demands, openly backed by threats of sanctions and violence, for complete verification, transparency and credibility were farcical and an unprecedented assault on the Constitution and the rule of law.

But unlike in the USA where Attorney-General Bill Barr investigated and reported that the Big Lie was baseless, where sixty-five (65) courts rejected all claims of fraud and

a majority in Congress, and Vice-President Pence, insisted on upholding the Constitution and certifying President Biden’s electoral college victory in the face of adversity from an armed, violent mob hurling death threats, the Courts in Guyana demonstrated no such fidelity to our constitution.

I do not believe that the fact that all but one (7/8) of the political parties contesting the elections objected to, and frustrated, the tabulation of results for Region 4 and its declaration was any basis to overturn the results of an election (Continued on page 6)

Monday June 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

The huffing and puffing Norton will not succeed in wresting power through “kith and kin” politics Dear Editor, Aubrey Norton’s thinlyveiled threat “If not treated with respect, I’ll deal with Irfaan Ali… and that’s the bottom line “.

This is the recurrent theme underpinning every PNC leadership, beginning from Burnham’s collaboration with UK and USA to bring down the Jagan government, using the PNC-crafted X-13 Plan that forced Dr. Jagan to accede to restructured electoral systems that he was aware were inimical to his government and the nation, in a bid to save the nation from rampaging mobs that literally destroyed the city in February 12, 1962, that was precipitated by Burnham’s speech, in part: “Comrades, the fight starts now.

Tomorrow at 2 o’clock in the afternoon there is a demonstration organized by the Trade Union Congress…

No doubt the Riot Squad will be there. Do you still want to go? Comrades, remember that tomorrow Jagan’s army is coming down from Cane Grove and Windsor Forest.

Do you still want to go?”

(Wynn Parry Commission).”

This speech eventuated in the burning and looting of several businesses in Georgetown on Black Friday February 16,

1962. The Wynn Parry Commission described Burnham thus, “The real motivating force behind Mr. Burnham’s assault was a desire to assert him in public life and establish a more important and more rewarding position for him by bringing about Dr. Jagan’s downfall.”

Ralph Seeram wrote: “The incitement of the mobs by the opposition leaders, trade union, as well as the business class, culminated on Black Friday, February 16, 1962. The riotous mobs attacked the Electricity Plant, the Water Works, Parliament as well as Premier Jagan’s residence as well as the business that supported the budget. At the end of Black Friday 56 businesses were destroyed, 87 damaged by fire and 66 were looted.” Almost every PNC leader, down the corridors of Guyana’s history, instead of seeking to be part of the developmental paradigm of a PPP/PPPC administration, has instigated their supporters into violence and destructive programmes to gain power, converse to PPP’s actions when that party is in opposition – mainly through rigged elections. PPP leaders in government on the other hand, in attempts to

save the country from PNC violence and destruction, have several times acceded to conditions inimical to their own interests: A case in point is the truncation of Mrs. Janet Jagan’s presidency.

Every PPP/PPPC President has reached out to PNC leaders to join in collective endeavours in nation-building and had either been rebuffed, or goodfaith agreements were honoured in the breach.

This latest grandstanding

by Norton is a PNC norm.

However, even PNC supporters are becoming aware that their traditional leaders are failing them and are embracing educational/ empowerment/wealth and job-creational programmes by the Irfaan Ali-led administration that are intended to truly provide them with tools to attain for themselves “the good life.”

The huffing and puffing Norton will not succeed in wresting power through “kith and kin” politics anymore because, in Guyanese parlance “This time nah lang time” and their supporters have emancipated themselves from mental slavery.

Yours truly, Erin Northe

Norton is missing a crucial point: “H.E Irfaan Ali is the President” Dear Editor, Opposition Leader Mr. Aubrey Norton response that he was otherwise engaged to the recent request by the President to meet to further discuss the constitutional appointments is tantamount to gross disrespect to the highest office of the land.

The Opposition Leader is missing a crucial element in this whole scenario that is the simple

fact that H.E Irfaan Ali is the constitutionally elected President of Guyana. When a request is to be made by the President to meet, it is mandatory that you reshuffle all other prior obligations and attend that meeting. To do otherwise is a display of arrogance, pomposity, egotistical and smacks of hubris.

Yours Sincerely, Reggie Bhagwandin

PAGE 5

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT ALI Dear Editor, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Tuesday announced a $ 150,000 cash grant to the fisherfolk across the country. This news is commendable.

The PPP/C Government has done good for the Guyanese people. We are thankful.

Accompanying President Ali on Tuesday last, was the Minister of Agriculture Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha who assured the fishers that our Government is continuously exploring areas to assist all sections of the population.

This was welcome news because as a Guyanese I also stand to benefit from other timely government initiatives that seek to cushion the effects of the still present Covid19 pandemic and Russia/Ukraine war.

This announcement is also a fulfillment of a promise made by President Ali last year during a meeting with the fisherfolk in Berbice.

Whilst at that meeting, the Minister of Agriculture stated that the “PPP/C administration will never allow the sector to perish” and assured all that systems will be put in place to ensure fishers can be able to maintain their families.

The PPP/C Government has kept its promises to the people. They have already removed the taxes that burdened many sectors.

The Value-Added Tax that was placed on fishing materials and agricultural machinery is no more, much to the benefit of Guyanese.

I would like to thank the President Dr. Ali and the Minister of Agriculture the Honourable Zulfikar Mustapha for their thoughtful and timely intervention and for keeping their promises.

Sincerely, Alvin Hamilton

Bauxite, here we go again Dear Editor, I remember a long time ago we were told Guyana had the world’s best bauxite for furnace linings. I don’t know if it was assayed for value on the world market, and sold at its purity per ton for our 12/12 % royalty per ton.

We never got that from a Russian state company selling to its self, and never a profit.

Will this new company be operating the same system? We give same concessions and they ship for free. The company been here since 2018, so when full production starts what has the Government agreed on taxes and royalties?

The same question with the new gold

mines same benefits of the old.

All these startup companies should only receive these concessions max two years. As by then they are fully operating on their own and should pay the same taxes and get no concessions.

If they don’t like it, they can leave Guyana if they find a better country to do business with.

This applies to the current crop and trade within our laws and regulations such as selling through the Gold Board for its true value.

David Carpenter Citizen

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Monday June 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

Employment of youths can cut poverty and social ills Dear Editor, I applaud Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and the entire PPP-led Government for ensuring that the PPP promise of job creation is made a realisation for Guyana’s youth population.

I believe that there are thousands of strong, and vibrant young people that are looking actively for jobs, and want to be a part of the development of our country.

They are eager to put their creative juices to work. They want to earn a solid and meaningful salary to be economically inclined and start their futures on the right track.

So, this job drive is what Guyana needs and certainly in part what was promised to the electorate.

I read of hundreds of young people already gainfully employed in jobs in regions around the country

thanks to the government’s job initiative. For example, the successful applicants are attached to government ministries and agencies within the region and will work for 10 days per month, earning about $40,000. The move, I believe, will also see the government investing approximately $120 million into one of the region’s economy monthly.

This move also can cut poverty and social ills if the initiative continues to attract the masses. Young people will contribute to putting food constantly on the families’ table and the communities will see a decline in the numbers of out-of-school youths involved in crime and criminality.

If this initiative is placed hand-in-hand with the government’s educational drive, Guyana will further develop and grow from

strength to strength.

I believe that young people are thankful for the opportunity to work.

For Dr. Jagdeo to say that the government will do whatever it takes to ensure improvement in the livelihood of every citizen means a lot to the poorer classes of people.

I urge all to take advantage of these opportunities regardless of political affiliation, sex, gender, or social standing.

As the vice president is quoted as saying “This is not free money; you are working for the government now. I hope that you deployed well so that you can make the maximum effort in the ten days that you work. The income too although it is not too high it will help to offset some of the cost-of-living rise”.

Regards, Thomas Cole

The Big Lie is antithetical...

From page 4 particularly since the reasons given for their objection were spurious. The arguments that were advanced: 1) verification of the Statements of Poll (SOP) were incomplete and 2) that a spreadsheet used to aid in the tabulation of votes was somehow fraudulent and illegal are absurd and false.

The law does not provide for any political party or observer to verify any SOPs and they cannot possibly do so since they could not (did not) possess original SOPs to use or compare. Verification of SOPs is a GECOM-only exercise and, outside of the SOPs posted at polling stations, only GECOM’s Presiding Officers, Deputy Returning Officers, Returning Officers and Commission have access to original SOPs. Other parties have only carbon copies or digital ones.

Political parties, however, are permitted to make a list of the serial numbers of every SOP issued to polling stations everywhere and, it is clear that there were no issues there, and specific instances of errors in allocation or tabulation were not advanced, much less proven.

Moreover, the objection to the use of a spreadsheet (a calculating tool constructed of cells containing numbers which can be read horizontally and vertically) is irrational, irresponsible and not supported by law. Other Returning Officers and election managers, with access to a computer, routinely and necessarily use spreadsheets to aid in their work. It is clear, therefore, that the court action that was initiated was malicious and

frivolous, and merely a ruse to give the judiciary the opportunity to intervene and overturn a valid election result.

The fact that 7/8 political parties that contested the elections succeeded in disrupting the Returning Officer (RO), Mingo in the performance of his statutory duties, refused to witness the statutory declaration and walked out, cannot logically be construed as noncompliance by the RO and evidence that the results were not “publicly” declared, particularly since the remaining political party did formally witness the declaration. I confess that I find the justification advanced by the Chief Justice for vitiating the declaration for Region 4 to be confusing at best. A less charitable, and more qualified, observer than myself may find such actions to be arrogant and contemptuous of the Constitution and rights of citizens, and a possible explanation for the subsequent decisions to disallow two election petitions.

All the evidence produced so far has made clear that The Big Lie is antithetical to a democratic society, rule of law and the maintenance of good order.

New York University Law Professor, Melissa Murray, believes the Big Lie to represent “a persistent, existential threat to democracy” in the USA and I believe that it is not presumptuous to reason that it is also the case in Guyana.

Sincerely, Oscar Dolphin

Monday June 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Monday June 06, 2022

‘Guyana must aggressively pursue oil revenue’- Pres. Ali …says finances needed to combat climate change G u y a n a m u s t aggressively pursue the production of oil to gain the revenues the country needs to combat the effects of climate change.

This is according to the Head of State, Irfaan Ali who told the public yesterday that climate change matters cannot be addressed without proper finances. The President was at the time offering remarks at the National Park, where a walk organised by the Environmental Protection A g e n c y ( E PA ) , i n o b s e r v a n c e o f Wo r l d E n v i r o n m e n t D a y, culminated. This year, World Environment Day was hosted under the theme ‘Only One Earth’.

Ali said, “We cannot address climate issues unless we address the fundamental needs and wants of human beings. We cannot even

speak about climate change if we have people who are hungry, people who don’t have access to water, people who don’t have access to wages and earnings…”

He shared figures from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) which estimates that one in three persons globally does not have access to safe drinking water simply because the developing world lacks the resources it needs to grant those facilities. Additionally, the President shared that some 20 percent of the global population does not have access to adequate housing and one billion people of the global population lives in slums.

In this light, he said “We cannot have one world and one planet where more than half the people are without

water, without food, without food security. We cannot have one world and one planet if we have such grave inequality that exists in our world. We can’t have one world and one planet when more than 68 percent of our population is projected to live in urban centers; the stress that will put on small land areas will be enormous…that is the reality of the world we live in today that is why we have been consistently calling on the developed world to (honour) the pledges they made. We are far away from the US$100billion pledge that the developed world would have made to fight climate change on adaptation and mitigation measures.”

According to him, for adaptation alone, developing economies need around US$140 million annually to

cope with rising sea levels due to climatic conditions.

As a consequence he said “That is why developing countries like Guyana must take a balanced approach.

We must explore every possible revenue generating activity so that we can have the resources necessary for adaptation and mitigation but we must do so in a sustainable way.”

He urged that we must not live in a false reality but conscious of the global economy in which we must operate. “Whether you are an environmentalist, a Scientist an Economist, a social activist you cannot live in silos. We have to live within the construct of the global reality and that is why we are pursuing the growth and developmental path that is carved under the Low Carbon Development Strategy where we are

President Irfaan Ali giving remarks at the World Environment Day activity at the National Park.

(Office of the President photo) seeking to strike the balance.

Where we are seeking to ensure that sustainability is built on economic viability, sustainability is built on e n v i r o n m e n t a l s u s t a i n a b i l i t y, ( a n d ) sustainability is built in reducing inequality disparity and building balanced growth and equitable growth for the people of One Guyana.”

He said in some countries that have high deforestation rates, they were simply going after livelihood opportunities to ensure food stays on the table.

In this regard he pointed out, “We have already made it very clear that we cannot be blamed or we cannot be subjected to under development because of what took place by a few countries. We have a fundamental right to equitable development but in exercising that fundamental right we are saying to the world we will do it in a different way, in a sustainable way, in a way in which we secure the environment, in a way in which we keep that forest cover, in a way in which we continue to contribute to the global fight against climate change.”

In Guyana, the President said we have 425 kilometers of coastlands that must be protected to save lives, crops and safeguard livelihoods.

He therefore said the onus will be on the country to find more than one billion in adaptation funds to meet this singular need. “I ask all the specialists who speak every day to tell us how do we address this if we don’t address our revenue needs and don’t pursue aggressively the forms of revenue that must come,” Ali argued. According to him,

“We have to ensure we have energy security, we have to ensure we have food security, we have to ensure we have climate security but importantly in all of this we have to ensure we have economic viability.”

“You can preach all day to the developing world-go solar, go wind, go green hydrogen- what is the capital cost?...yes we must because it’s good for the planet, it is healthy for the planet but let’s be realistic, at the current capital cost how many developing countries can afford this transition and who is paying for this transition,” the President added.

While speaking to the United Nations Resident Coordinator to Guyana, Yesim Oruc, who was present at the event, President Ali said: “don’t tell us that the developing world must move to investing in renewable. That is not fixing, that is passing the buck to the developing world again that you must find money to fix the problem once more. That is not fixing the solution that is not fixing the problem. Tell us how to fix it. Tell us how we are going to raise the money.

Tell us how you are going to put more money into grants and concessional loans to fix this…and those in our society who are blindsided or short sighted to these realities must wake up, must wake up to the reality!

Nobody is going to come home to us here and find the resources to give you the best possible health care and the best possible education…the one world and one responsibility must not be divorced from the equality of treatment, the nondiscriminatory nature of the global system and the access to resources.”

Monday June 06, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The things a President say At an event held yesterday to observe World Environment Day, the President of Guyana made an astonishing statement. He said that we cannot address climate change unless we address the fundamental needs and wants of citizens.

This statement by the President turns the entire discourse, about climate change and its impact on development, on its head.

The acceptable position globally is converse to what the President is now saying.

The standing position in the international community is that fundamental needs of citizens will be affected unless the world addresses climate change.

The conventional wisdom is that climate change poses a threat to our existence.

The President went on to attempt to make the case that unless we address hunger, inequality, vaccine hesitancy, access to safe water, and the unfulfilled commitments to climate adaptation, we cannot speak about a “One Earth”.

When the United Nations Environmental Programme set the theme for this year’s World Environment Day, it decided on “Only One Earth”.

The use of the “one” was numerical. The President spun it to mean inclusive, thus allowing him to protest against the failure of world leaders to meet the US$100B needed for climate adaptation. In effect, the President sought to speak about a more inclusive world.

But notwithstanding, the President argument makes an interesting nexus. The President was suggesting that environmental concerns

have to be addressed in the context of economic and social concerns. Not many people will agree with him when he said that we cannot address climate change unless we address issues such as hunger, inequality and water scarcity. But people will agree that e n v i r o n m e n t a l considerations cannot be delinked from the economic conditions under which people live. This was one of the arguments which was made recently when persons agitated for the government to use Exxon’s application for the renewal of Liza-1’s environmental permit. Some of those persons wanted the government to consider more than simply environmental concerns when making the decision to renew; they wanted the government to use the application to wrest additional economic benefits.

Is this an ethical approach? Should nonenvironmental demands have been made as a condition for the renewal of the permit?

There is one view which states that only e n v i r o n m e n t a l considerations should inform the decision as to renewal.

That view was that there should be extraneous considerations: the application was for an environmental permit and only environmental issues should be considered.

The same school of thought, it was held that if the material environmental considerations have not changed, there can be no basis for not renewing. It was further argued that the demand to use the permit to

extract additional financial benefits amounted to economic blackmail. In other words, Exxon and its partners should not be to ransom by the insistence that in order to get the permit it has to improve the benefits the country receives.

The other view was that e n v i r o n m e n t a l considerations cannot be separated from economic considerations. It was pointed out for example that the health of our people will be affected should there be an oil spill. To take care of the people’s health, the country needs money. The livelihoods of tens of thousands will be destroyed in the event of an oil spill.

Environmental concerns have economic consequences.

Therefore, the two – economic and environmental – considerations cannot be separated.

The President’s address to the event held for World Environment Day makes the very link between the economic and the environmental. He said that you cannot address climate change without addressing the fundamental needs of citizens.

The same logic, therefore, can be used in relation to the renewal of the environmental permit – Guyana cannot address environmental concerns unless it addresses the material conditions of our people.

Yet, despite this position, the government has opted not to seek fairer economic terms in renewing the Liza-1 environmental permit. In other words, not only has the President turned the climate

Dem Boys Seh…

Green tun blue Deh had a man at one time who use to tek green seriously. Everything in de man office was green. He carpet bin green. He chairs bin green. Down to he pen bin green. People use to seh even he buckta bin green.

Den dem had another man who decide de whole country muss go green. He paint he official residence and he office building in green. He even had something he use to call de Green State. When he party

lose de election dem seh de man tun green, instead ah red.

Well we gat a new man now. He talking about greens in de market.

De mo he talk, de mo de price guh up. Yesterday de man tun up fuh a Green Walk.

But he tun de Green Walk into a blue mark and when de man start talk was like singing de blues.

But de man gat a green agenda. He plan fuh tun green spaces into grey spaces and brown spaces. Dem median

pun de east coast highway get concrete over, dem tun from green to brown. De same thing happen to Carifesta Avenue.

De man build a walkway as a safe place fuh people fuh relax. All de grass disappear and tun asphalt. Dem cars now parking near de walkway. Is one big car park get create. Is best he did leff de grass fuh grow.

With all dis happening, green going outta style.

Talk half. Leff half.

change debate upside down, he has also not applied his own logic to the process of renewing the permit.

According to the Second Vice President, the focus will be on getting a better deal in the future, and through revised Production Sharing Agreement guidelines. In other words, things will improve in the future.

Climate change, however, is not waiting on the future. If the President feels that the

world has to address inequality and hunger and water shortages before it can address climate change, he is in for a rude awakening. If he goes international with that message, he is going to embarrass himself further.

The future belongs to the oil companies. In the meantime, our people have been shortchanged by the agreement which has been signed by the APNU+AFC and which the PPP/C has

refused to renegotiate even though the opportunity to do so has presented itself on no less than four occasions.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Monday June 06, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Did this parliamentarian call for the burning down of Georgetown?

I

received a screen shot from a friend taken from a Facebook post by opposition parliamentarian, Ricky Ramsaroop.

I am reproducing what is on the screen shot: “Telford Layne, it looks like the opposition is a noun and not a verb. Ricky Ramsaroop, MP – Telford Layne, I will tell them…to do more verb…protest, burn down gt, etc.”

I got in touch with more than a dozen persons who confirmed that emanation t h r o u g h p e r u s i n g M r.

Ramsaroop’s Facebook posts. They informed me he uttered that advocacy that they saw on his Facebook page. The ethics of

journalism is to go to the source of the remark to ascertain if the advocacy was made.

I c a l l e d t h e parliamentarian. I did my professional obligation to him by informing him I was speaking formally in my capacity as a media operative and that I was taping him. Here is my exchange with the parliamentarian.

F K - I s t h i s M r.

Ramsaroop?

RR- Yes. FK - This is Freddie Kissoon. I am calling you officially, meaning in my capacity as a media person.

So I am telling you we are on the record. Professionally I

am telling you that instead of baiting you. Did you put a post on your Facebook that people should burn down Georgetown?

RR - I have no comment on this thing here right now, because there is a lot of things going on that I didn’t know about so I can’t comment on that right now.

F K - Yo u c a n n o t comment on a statement that has serious criminal implications for you? You cannot comment on that?

RR - Thank you very much Freddie, thank you.

FK - I am taping you, you know that (end of conversation).

Mr. Ramsaroop did not acknowledge or deny he made the advocacy. So it is left to readers to make their c o n c l u s i o n . I f M r.

Ramsaroop did not urge people to burn down Georgetown, why would he refuse to utter a denial to the media? His lawyer would argue that his refusal to comment does not mean he issued the inciting words. I think that is legally a sound position so I will not question it.

I have been informed that Mr. Ramsaroop has deleted the alleged inciting statement. I am not a forensic detective nor a lawyer so I don’t know if the police can still proceed even if the post is deleted. I believe forensic police can retrieve Facebook postings.

But wouldn’t the police want to see the actual posting? Many persons have it including this columnist. I would be happy to send the police the screen shot I have.

My cell is 614-5927 and my e m a i l i s fredkissoon@yahoo.com. I am also in receipt of another screen shot of another post

by Mr. Ramsaroop in which he used these words: “After I made that comment, I deleted it after I realize that it can be interpreted differently based on some comments I was seeing.”

If you call on people to protest then even the most brilliant person in the use of grammar cannot interpret that to mean to hurt people, pelt bricks, cuss down the police, etc. Protest can take the form of peacefully holding a placard. It could be

singing songs of resistance for passersby to hear. Calling for people to protest r is not a criminal offence. Telling people to burn Frederick Kissoon d o w n Georgetown c a n n o t b e interpreted any other way oad. Of course he wants his but advocating the use of fire fools to do it for him because he isn’t leaving the US to as a form of destruction. come to Guyana to do What do I believe? It is anything. my right to state what I Please contact me for a believe. From all the evidence I have gathered it video clip of black pudding appears to me that Mr. maan going crazy last week.

Ramsaroop made the post. I H e a p p e a r e d o n h i s cannot conceive how a Facebook page shouting: parliamentarian can tell “Deh seh Mingo rig and how p e o p l e t o b u r n d o w n he rig de statement ah poll.

Georgetown. Why would Oh gaad, ow meh gaad!” any politician want to go that This is just a piece of the madness that has overcome route?

We will wait to see what black pudding maan in that the usual suspects have to post. Why he ran mad? He say about Mr. Ramsaroop’s eat too much of the nice action. We know what the white pudding (yes white) lunatic fringe will say. They Massy Supermarket sells. like that kind of language.

(The views expressed in Remember a member of the this article are those of the lunatic fringe who lives in a u t hor and do not the US said on social media necessarily reflect the that the PPP will only listen opinions of this newspaper.) when you run them off the

Monday May 09, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Monday June 06, 2022

Students being served ‘shine rice’ at Region Seven dorm - Manickchand orders probe as teacher says facility facing food shortage since October 2021 Food shortage at the D.C Caesar Fox Secondary S c h o o l , Wa r a m a d o n g , Region Seven, has resulted in poor quality of food being served to the students in the dormitory.

As such, a teacher at the interior school has taken to Facebook to highlight the plight, in the hopes of the Ministry of Education (MOE) would intervene.

And the post has indeed caught the attention of Minister of Education Priya Manickchand who in a statement on her facebook page said an investigation will be conducted into the allegations. “I have seen the posts about D.C Caeser Fox Secondary (Warmadong) and if any of it is true, it is not the service we intend, provide funding for or will tolerate.”

Manickchand added: “This school and indeed all schools in Region Seven fall under the direct management of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Seven which is supervised by the Ministry of Local Government whose two Ministers Nigel Dharamlall and Anand Persaud have been made aware of the allegations.”

“I myself will vigorously investigate this claim with a view to making sure the

The food the students of D.C Caesar Fox Secondary School are being fed. [Photo credit, John Adams] children there are catered to the way this Government intends: to have their best interests served. If this wasn’t true I will also let you know,” the minister stated.

For his part, Chairman of Region Seven, Kenneth Williams in a statement said: “the RDC notes with grave concern and deep anxiety the concerns raised in relation to our precious students at DC Fox Secondary, Wa r a m a d o n g , U p p e r Mazaruni. A sufficient and proper diet is not a negotiable issue. The effects of poor nutrition on a child have now been widely documented and universally accepted. A child, poorly fed is incapable of receiving a sound education. The supply issues facing this institution are not insurmountable and must be fixed now.”

Williams said the DC Fox School is critically important to education delivery in the region and has been producing children of excellence throughout the years. “Preliminary investigations indicate that many issues are affecting the smooth and consistent delivery of dietary supplies to DC Fox Secondary.

These Issues include: perennial supplies and contract issues that cause unacceptable delays in the timely delivery of fuel, meat and greens; a budgetary allocation that might be inadequate for the school-

post Covid-19 e.g Returning students. Communication issues in relation to immediate and pressing issues at hand and timely responses to the issues.”

Williams said the entire Region must show “our collective support for the hard working teaching and auxiliary staff of DC FOX. They work with dedicated passion and care for the students without hesitation. Our students seek and need comprehensive, long term changes that will give them the assurance that they matter. Supplies are scheduled to be delivered

today (Sunday) but the system has to be improved without reservations. Every Stakeholder-RDC, Administration and Department of Education must agree to collectively fix the issues now. No more blame games. No more excuses,” the Regional Chairman said.

Meanwhile, teacher, John Adams, who is currently holding the position of Senior Assistant Master (SAM) stated in his post that the students in the dormitory are being fed “shine rice” and that they are only given the privilege of

eating meat one week per month. Adams questioned: “With $74.4 billion Guyana dollars budgeted for education delivery in this year ’s budget we are confused by the conditions the teachers, students, cooks and other ancillary staff at D.C. Caesar Fox Secondary School in Waramadong Village, Upper Mazaruni, Region 7 are still going through.”

He stated that “plain rice/shine rice” has been the food being fed to the dormitory students at the school for lunch or dinner on a daily basis. The teacher had first highlighted the issue in a post on April 1, 2022. With a picture attached to his post, Adams highlighted that this has been the food being given to the students after one week in a month of having meat as part of the menu.

According to him, since school reopened in October 2021, the food scarcity has been the problem at the dormitory. In that post he had stated too, that the food services supervisor at the school had explained to him that many food items that she request do not reach to the school.

Following his first post, he stated that a Community D e v e l o p m e n t O f f i c e r, attached to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Regional Councillors and other officials visited the school to find out if the information posted was true.

Continued on page 18

Monday June 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Monday June 06, 2022

A LESSON FOR GUYANA:

How oil and gas disrupted Ghana’s fishing industry Guyana, a new-comer to oil and gas production has been faced with challenges in its fishing industry, which leaders claim are not directly related to the offshore operations- namely the exploration and pumping of the country’s sweet crude. In other countries, that have been exploiting their resources for decades, a similar situation is plaguing the fishing industries and studies have concluded that the oil and gas production is

to be blamed.

During research, Kaieteur News found a 2015 report compiled by the University of Bergen, located in Norway. The study delved into the ‘Impacts of the Oil and Gas Industry on the Livelihoods of Men and Women Working in the Fisheries’ in Shama, Ghana, a coastal town some 20 kilometers east of Takoradi, where most of the oil and gas related activities were said to be taking place.

Oil and gas was discovered in Ghana around 2007 and by 2010, the West-African state began production.

The research done in Shama incorporated varying views of 42 informants- 28 men and 14 women. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in Ghana, estimated in 2019 that over two million people in Ghana, or around 10 percent of the population, rely directly on fisheries for their livelihoods, with more

Fishermen in Ghana gather to prepare for their next catch.

(Photo credit: Earth Journalism Network- Afedzi Abdullah)

than 200 coastal villages dependent on fisheries as their main source of income.

Importantly, “From the perspectives of fisher folk, it is posing great harm to their livelihoods,” the report cautioned. More specifically, the Norway University said it found that fishermen who operate offshore have been impacted directly and indirectly by the oil and gas industry there, due to a number of factors.

The fisherfolk interviewed said that changes were noticed in the types of fish caught and moreover the access to fish supply.

According to the study, “In Shama, some negative effects of oil and gas activities were manifested.

All the fishermen and fish traders interviewed emphasized the negative impact the oil and gas has had on their livelihoods.

With the exploration and production of oil and gas, Safety Exclusion zones (‘no go’ zones) have been demarcated where fishermen have been prohibited from fishing (BBC News, 2010).

According to an officer at the Naval Base, two distinct exclusion zones have been marked around each oil rig.

The first zone is a five nautical miles radius surrounding the oil rig. A naval ship lies on this mark.

The duty of the officers in this ship is to warn fishermen about the oil rig ahead and if possible to direct their steering course away from the rig.

The second exclusion zone is a 500 meter radius distance from the oil rig. A second naval ship lies on this mark. The duty of officers in this ship is to drive away and in severe situations, confiscate nets and other fishing equipment of

fishermen who refuse to adhere to the warning of the first naval ship.”

It said that the fisherfolk have participated in workshops and meetings organized by Tullow Oil, state agencies such as the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Naval Base.

Meetings and workshops usually involve education about the dangers of fishing around an oil installation.

Such meetings are attended by leaders of fishing communities (chief fishermen) who are expected to transfer the knowledge acquired from these meetings and workshops to their fishermen.

According to the naval officer, education is not limited to workshops and meetings. Fishermen are also educated by naval officers at sea, “On the naval vessel, we have a smaller life boat that we lower to be at the same height with the fisherman so that we can talk to them. There we educate them. We talk to them calmly,” a Naval officer told the University of Bergen.

The officer added that even though the awareness campaigns significantly reduce the number of fishermen who venture beyond the operations’ line, a few fishermen would still fish around the area. Media reports suggest that the naval base were seizing the equipment of fishermen who violate the law by fishing around the “no-go” zones.

Sometimes, the fisherfolk are even arrested.

“According to one of the crew members interviewed, there have been encounters where some friends of his had been beaten by naval officers who spotted them fishing close to the demarcated zones. The FPSO has powerful lights

which attracts fish. The attraction of fish into these ‘no go’ zones, according to an official at the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, can lead to the conservation of fish species especially those that are under threat of going extinct.

A naval officer attests to this, “Since fish are attracted to lights, a lot of fish is found around it. My colleagues and I sometimes stand around to admire the beauty of different species swimming around us”. The 1000 meter radius demarcated around the FPSO however forbids local fishermen from fishing around the FPSO. A fisherman complains; “My sister, I feel like if the oil had not come, things would have been much better. The fish that were scattered in the ocean are now concentrated at one place, around the oil platforms. The oil people are however preventing us from fishing around the rigs”.

Fishermen perceive this as resulting in a decline in fish catches,” the report explains.

On the other hand, the country is also faced with illegal fishing by foreign trawlers that add pressure on the existing fish stock.

However, the Norway University study said that an assessment of the impacts of oil and gas exploration and production on fishing by Tullow Oil emphasized three key areas including “Loss of access to areas around the FPSO during completions, installations and operations due to the presence of vessels, FPSO and safety exclusion zones; attraction of fish to the FPSO, due to the FPSO being stationary and acting as a fish aggregating device (FAD); and disturbance to fishing activities and damage to fishing gear from project support vessels and supply Continued on page 18

Kaieteur News

Monday June 06, 2022

Fishermen still waiting on the promised 150 licences from Suriname — Jagdeo says nothing has changed, Pres. Ali making phone calls to Santokhi

A section of the gathering at the meeting on Thursday.

By Malisa Playter-Harry Fishermen here are still to receive a definite word on the granting of their fishing licences to operate in Suriname waters.

At a meeting with fisherfolk at the Classic International Hotel last Thursday Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed that “nothing has changed” as it relates to the acquisition of the 150 fishing licences for Guyanese to operate in Suriname waters. According to Jagdeo: “we are having a difficult time” and the issue is being raised in the Parliament of Suriname.

About two months ago, the Vice President met with

fisherfolk at the said location and had stated that the government was having a challenging time with the issuance of the Suriname Coast (SK) licences. He had stated then, that operators in the Dutch neighbouring country were benefiting significantly financially by renting the licences to Guyanese fisherfolk at an exorbitant cost, and are therefore pushing against the initial agreement between the Guyana government and Suriname government.

Guyanese are currently paying US $3000- US $4000 to rent a Surinamese fishing licence.

The Vice President stated on Thursday that President

Irfaan Ali has been “making the calls himself to deal with this matter”. However, to date, there has been no movement. Recently, the Suriname opposition had pressed the Chandrikapersad Santokhi Government to provide answers in relation to the issuance of the 150 fishing licences.

“Mister President, have you or any of your ministers made concrete promises to the Guyanese side for 150 fishing licences? Suriname’s Opposition leader Rabin Parmessar (NDP) had questioned during the country’s Parliament.

In August of 2021, Guyana and Suriname Continued on page 18

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PAGE 16

Ramsammy calls for crackdown on abuse of tobacco - says lack of enforcement WANTED

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Kaieteur News

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Guyana has faced a number of challenges as it relates to the implementation of the Tobacco Control Act which was enacted in 2017.

During an interview with Kaieteur News, Chair of the Presidential Commission on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Advisor to Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy disclosed that the lack of enforcement of the tobacco laws is chief among the challenges. He explained that: “Guyana has introduced tobacco legislation some five years and counting now, but the problem we are facing is enforcement…”

Dr. Ramsammy went on to say that: “This is not an isolated issue as other parts of the world, particularly the developing countries encounter similar issues with laying down these regulations once they have enacted it. At present, Guyana has in place a very progressive law on tobacco but how progressive can the law be when it is only progressive on paper?”

Dr. Ramsammy revealed that as Chair of the Presidential Commission on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, the issue has become very concerning to him. He explained that this is due to the fact that tobacco use exposes the population to greater risks to NCDS, disabilities and death.

“Tobacco is very dangerous to the users of the product and by products such e-cigarettes and

hookahs, those who are exposed to tobacco use in any way at greater risk of developing a host of health issues and complications.”

As Chair of the Presidential Commission, Dr. Ramsammy said it is within his remit to push for the enforcement of the tobacco law. He disclosed the commission will be working to have the National Tobacco Control Council revived.

According to Ramsammy, since the enactment of the legislation, the work of the National Tobacco Control Council was never really established.

“The council was set up but it was not active for a long time but now we have discussions with the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony to get the council up and running so that better enforcement can happen,” Dr. Ramsammy said. Last week at the observance of World No Tobacco Day, the Health Minister’s Advisor released a statement to the press, warning against the unregulated use of tobacco and tobacco products In his statement, Ramsammy noted that the Presidential Commission on the Prevention and Control of NCDs urges the relevant authorities to pay attention to the growing importation, distribution and use of ENDS and ENNDS, including ecigarettes and hookahs and to enforce the Packaging and Labeling Regulations 2018 made in accordance with the Tobacco Control Act 2017.

“We urge the…relevant government agencies to

of laws hampering fight

Chair of Presidential Commission on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy. ensure that the applicable Articles in the Regulations are enforced,” Ramsammy said.

While the issue was highlighted on the local front, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report on how the tobacco industry is not only harmful to human health but it is also poisoning the planet.

The report titled ‘Tobacco: Poisoning our planet’ was released on May 31, 2022, World No Tobacco Day. According to the report, tobacco harms people’s health directly through use and exposure to second-hand smoke and through its negative impact on the environment.

It was stated too that tobacco’s impact on the environment occurs at various stages, including growing and cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal of tobacco

products – with each stage having negative implications for the environment, including the use of precious resources such as water and trees and the creation of pollutants through manufacturing.

Furthermore, the report highlights how tobacco use remains a lethal habit, with an estimated eight million people dying each year due to its use and added to the millions of lives being lost; the tobacco industry costs the world: 600 million trees, 22 billion tonnes of water and produces 84 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year. As it relates to the production and consumption of tobacco, which contributes to global warming, the releasing of 84 million tonnes of CO2 into the environment each year is equivalent of driving 17 million gasolinepowered cars each year.

High on cocaine taxi driver fakes abduction - conspires with friend to sell boss’ car A 30-year-old taxi driver, who is presently in police custody for faking his own kidnapping, is now blaming his abuse of cocaine for conspiring with another individual to sell his boss’ car.

He has been identified as Keshan Bhola of Section ‘C’ Block ‘Y’ Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and on Friday, he turned up at the Madewini Police Station located at Timehri and told police ranks that he was abducted by two men and a woman since Sunday, May 29, last and robbed of a car HD 2794.

Speaking with Kaieteur News, Police Commander of the East Bank district, Denise Griffith, said that when she heard his story, she questioned it right away. His wife had earlier reported that he was missing since June 1 and, according to Griffith, she had worked as police

prosecutor for 30 years and her experience was pointing her in the direction that he was lying.

Intense interrogation by her detectives made him buckle and he was forced to spill some of the truth. He admitted that he faked his own kidnapping. According to Griffith, Bhola changed his story two times while in custody and when he was handed over to ranks at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Eve Leary, he changed his story for a third time. The first story he told while in custody with East Bank investigators was that he had been kidnapped and robbed of the car owned by his boss. After detectives found out that he was lying, he told them another story.

Bhola claimed that he had gone to a “drug yard” in Grove, used cocaine and beers and fell asleep with the

car keys hooked on his pants waist.

When he awoke, the keys and the car were missing.

Bhola further alleged that he asked a shop owner where the car was and the man told him that two persons had stolen his car keys while he was asleep and drove away with the vehicle. He was then handed over to CID ranks at Eve Leary and he changed his story yet again. This time, he stated that he had conspired with a 45-year-old vendor of Grove to sell the car although it was not his.

However, he blamed cocaine for making him commit such an unlawful act.

In other words, he told the ranks that he was ‘high; when he made the decision.

Detectives have since located that vendor and he has been able to corroborate part of Bhola’s story. He told police that he had sold the car to

Keshan Bhola is in custody for faking his own kidnapping and selling a car that does not belong to him another individual.

Detectives are now trying to contact that individual while the two remain in custody.

Monday June 06, 2022

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Kaieteur News

HIV-positive man jailed for Rowley says T&T opposition ‘undermining’ Caricom raping girl, 9, in Jamaica (CMC) A High Court judge has sentenced a 46-year-old man, who was aware of his HIV-positive status when he raped a nine-year-old girl in March 2018, to more than 22 years in jail on Friday.

Justice Brian Cottle imposed the 22 years and ten months’ jail term on Cassell Lavia after a jury, on May 6, returned unanimous guilty verdicts on one count of unlawful sexual intercourse and two counts of indecent assault of the child.

The judge sentenced Lavia to two years and four months on each count of the indecent assault charges, but ordered that they run concurrent to the longer sentence. The High Court heard that on March 7, 2018, the child was on her way to the bathroom at her home, when Lavia grabbed her from behind while wearing only his boxer shorts and pressed the lower part of his body against her and started to gyrate.

Lavia stopped when another child knocked at the door. But the following day, the girl’s mother, who trusted the convicted man, went to

seek medi-cal attention and Lavia went into the child’s bedroom when she was taking off her school uniform.

He started to have sexual intercourse with the child and only stopped when another child came into the room. Later that same night, the court heard, Lavia kissed the girl on her lips and sucked her breasts and continued to sexually molest her. The next morning, Lavia told the girl not to report the matter to her mother.

But the child informed her father and her class teacher, who then reported the matter to the principal and the police.

During his interrogation, Lavia admitted interfering with the child, but said he had not penetrated her. He told investigators he knew he was unwell, and did not wish to infect the child with his illness. A doctor, who examined the child, reported no evidence of internal trauma to her private parts, but noticed that her hymen was missing and said this could be as a result of the child being poked with an object.

In mitigation, Lavia, who did not have a lawyer, told the court he was sorry, and apologised for his actions. “I do not know what you gonna sentence me or how many years you are gonna give me imprisonment,” he said.

The judge, in handing down the sentence, said he noted that Lavia did not benefit from a secondary education and had been working as a landscaper and gardener.

He said unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13 carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and that the crime committed on the nineyear-old child is a category one, or exceptional, offence.

The judge said the child’s parents had trusted Lavia to treat her as if she were his own, and that the accused had taken steps to prevent the girl from reporting the crime.

Justice Cottle said Lavia is infected “with a serious sexually transmitted disease” and that the victim impact report indicated he knew he was HIV-positive at the time of his crimes.

Guyana should be in control of its...

From page 2 decommissioning of oil wells within the Stabroek Block even before a cent is spent.

However, while industry norm does not permit the oil company to access the cleanup money in the manner it is currently, Guyana seems to be allowing the removal of the funds to be re-injected into the offshore project.

Guyana will eventually repay project financing as cost oil.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told media operatives at a press conference last week that the clean up funds are “fungible” and that he suspects Exxon is utilising the money in reducing their cost of borrowing. This he said is a productive use of the cleanup money. Lowe is among local and international commentators who believe however, that “We (Guyana) should have control of the decommissioning funds.”

He explained that uncertainty of future events would support any need for Guyana to manage its own clean up money to ensure that it is available when needed. The economist explained that while ExxonMobil is recognised as a strong company and one of the biggest names in the

global oil and gas industry, one can never be sure of what adverse possibilities can befall the agency.

He said that ExxonMobil has other oil ventures around that world, “what if they end up in a big scandal or they have an oil spill, like the (US$7B) Valdez spill, in some other part of the world?”

They may face financial difficulty and Guyana may be left without the money needed for cleanup, Lowe opined. He noted too, that any using of the cleanup money should be done by Guyana since it is the portion of oil sale that will be used to clean up the Stabroek Block, which remains property of Guyana after the operators are gone.

Lowe believes also that while Guyana should be in control of the money for cleanup, it should have started to put the sums aside at some point half way of the projects life.

He indicated that Guyana could have been utilising the cleanup money and increasing its value. “Maybe ten years later, we could have started putting the money aside.”

Money has time value, the Economist continued, and it would make no sense set-

ting it aside with the possibility of it not having the same value when time to be used. Lowe said that Guyana must resist exposing itself to vulnerabilities of counterparty risk, where the oil operator may be unable to fulfill its contractual obligations.

Lowe has insisted that, “the country’s interest must be separate from the corporation’s interest.” He believes that Guyana must do what it must to secure itself against whatever event that may arise with the operator over the two decade lifespan expected at the fields.

Director of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) Tom Sanzillo is among the first set of experts who sounded off against the unusual situation.

The international analyst is concerned that should ExxonMobil walk away from its oil venture; sell it, and especially to a weaker company, Guyana may be left with the huge bill to clean up the seafloor.

Sanzillo said it is against industry standards that ExxonMobil is receiving some US$3.2 billion as part of decommissioning costs to be deducted.

(TRINIDAD EXPRESS) PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley has accused the Opposition of using “xenophobic” statements to hinder The Immigration (Carib-bean Community S k i l l e d Nationals)(Amendment) Bill, 2022, which he said could potentially harm this country’s Caricom relations.

The bill was passed late Friday, without amendments, with 19 votes for and 11 against. Speaking earlier du-ring debate on the bill in Parliament, at the Red House, Port of Spain, on Friday, Rowley took particular issue with the contribution of Naparima MP Rodney Charles.

The PM said he was “sickened to the core to accept that that was a presentation in the Parliament in 2022 by a Member of Parliament, at a time when all we can do for ourselves in the Caribbean is try and pick up the pieces”. Rowley said the Opposition coming to the Parliament to ask for jus-tification for the bill, which was already happening in the Caribbean and has been ventilated at all levels, was “backwards”. He questioned the reac-tion of other Cari-com countries should they see an MP in the T&T Parliament “denigrating” the country’s attempts at the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME).

UNC effect on Caricom

PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley He said it was the policy of the United National Congress (UNC) to “undermine Caricom”, and recalled there was “pain” at the time of the collapse of the West Indian Federation in the 1950s. He later outlined some benefits to the Ca-rib-bean of a more unified Caricom, and said the Opposition showed that “nothing” had been learned. Rowley said the UNC had a habit of “annoying” other members of Caricom, and the Gov-ern-ment was being accused of trying to implement the bill at the wrong time.

The Opposition has contended that T&T citi-zens will lose jobs to a “flood” of Caricom nationals with the bill while many remain without jobs after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister said the UNC was putting T&T’s interests “at risk” in other countries as this country was bene-fiting from the Caricom movement

among other territories and do-mina-ting markets. This included produce and manufactured goods sold in other Caricom countries while T&T nationals were also able to migrate to those countries and benefit.

Rowley said T&T’s goods and produce could be boycotted in those markets and there would be an impact locally. He said one Caricom prime minister had said T&T’s goods domi-nated that market and “we have no problem with that”. However, Rowley said the PM said that while “we have nothing to trade”, there were people in that country who could be granted some access to T&T and also benefit. He recalled that T&T had committed to a unified Caricom, recalling the Chaguaramas Treaty, and said the Government was trying to legislate these actions.

“We are beneficia-ries, too,” Rowley said.

Rowley said the bill would not be “an open door” as is being claimed by the UNC, but would see a movement of skills. He said the movement would balance itself, and accused Charles of “a kind of wickedness” and of “misrepresenting some facts”. He said of the Carib-bean that “we are in this together”, and it was because of Caricom people not seeing themselves as together that neighbours were being viewed as “enemies”.

T&T strengthens laws to extract greater...

From page 3 recently slapped its oil companies with a one off windfall tax of 25 percent on all oil companies operating in that jurisdiction in order to also partake in the sweeping profits being had by the operators as a result of the escalating oil price on the world market due in large part to the war being waged between Russia and Ukraine.

As such, the US is looking to follow suit, having already hiked its royalty payable by oil companies there to above the 18.75 percent in December last.

Through a proposed legislation, namely the Federal Gas Tax Suspension and Windfall Profits Tax Act, government will suspend the federal gas tax – which currently stands at 18.3 cents per gallon – through December 31, 2023.

It was noted that to ensure the Highway Trust Fund is still robustly

funded, the suspension would be paid for through a new 50 percent tax on Big Oil’s windfall profits.

Meanwhile, British Columbia (B.C.), Canada’s westernmost province, appears to be following in the footsteps of the United States of America (USA) as it has announced that it will be increasing royalty rates to raise additional money annually for its people.

Kaieteur News understands that the changes came after it was found that the royalty system was failing the people of British Columbia.

This newspaper learned from the Vancouver Sun—a daily newspaper which dates back to 1912— that royalties had topped a billion Canadian dollars a year for almost a decade starting in 2000, largely from natural gas. Gas royalties then p e a k e d i n 2005/06 at CAD$1.92 billion, but by 2010 royalties had plummeted to

sometimes less than CAD$150M, even though gas production was rising.

In light of the deep losses, the government said a new minimum royalty rate of five percent will replace the old rate of three percent.

The new rate will be in effect while companies pay off costs of newly drilled wells.

Once that point has been reached, the royalty rates will slide between five to 40 percent, depending on the price of natural gas.

While governments across the world take such measures to ensure the benefits of the natural resources trickle down to its people, G u y a n a ’s l e a d e r s h a v e been holding onto the sanctity of the 2016 Petroleum Agreement in which it merely receives two percent royalty from oil proceeds, along with a 50/50 profit sharing split but not before 75 percent of earnings is deducted as cost oil.

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Monday June 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

Man shot dead at East Ruimveldt Fishermen still waiting on the promised...

Police on Sunday were alerted that there was a man lying in the street at Self Help Square, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and when ranks turned up at the scene they found out that he was shot dead.

Up to press time yesterday, the man’s remains were yet to be identified.

Police via its Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) reported that ranks had received the call around

03:05hrs. Crime scene experts who visited the scene described the dead man as an African male sporting dread locks.

His body bore a single gunshot wound to the left side abdomen and it was clad in a pair of ¾ pants, a multicoloured shirt, a blue hooded long sleeved sweater and a black toque on his head.

While processing the scene, detectives found a .40 spent shell some six feet away

from his body. A black and red Jordan haversack containing two bottles of Hennessey, two male colognes and body sprays, two knives and $18,860 cash were also found next to the remains.

Detectives are currently in the process of reviewing CCTV footage from security cameras mounted on nearby buildings and interviewing neighbours for pertinent information that can help them solve the case.

Pensioner found dead in cemetery after seen imbibing A pensioner on Saturday was found dead lying face down between two tombs at a cemetery located at Logwood Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) hours after he was spotted drinking rum.

He has been identified as 76-year-old Compton Lawrence of 120 Logwood Enmore, ECD. Lawrence was last seen alive around 13:00hrs on Friday drinking rum in the cemetery where he was found dead.

Around 07:30hrs the following day a

resident of the area was passing by the cemetery when he noticed Lawrence lying motionless between two tombs.

That resident reported the matter to police and it did not take long for ranks to arrive at the scene. Investigators observed that his remains bore bruises to the face. They took the body to the CC Nicholson Hospital for further observation before it was transported to the Jerrick’s Funeral Home awaiting an autopsy.

29 new Covid-19 infections The Ministry of Health has recorded 29 new Covid-19 infections on Sunday. One person remains in the COVID Intensive Care Unit.

Students being served ‘shine rice’ at Region...

From page 12 Adams shared that a survey was conducted and it was revealed that the information was in fact true. The teacher disclosed that the students had related to the officials that they are unsatisfied with the conditions of the dormitory and kitchen.

According to Adams, the team had promised to look into the matter however, he stated no improvement has been made thus far.

In a post on Saturday, Adams said, “This week the cooks at the dormitory kitchen have been getting trouble in preparing good meals because there is shortage of food stuff. They had no option but to cook what is available in the kitchen.”

While speaking with Kaieteur News on Sunday, Adams said, “So far no education officer called me to find out if it’s true...” According to Adams, the Regional Executive Officer, and the Regional Education Officer

know about the food issue at the school but nothing has been done. The teacher stated too that the food supplier has not been paid since February 2022, for the food stuff that was supplied to the school.

Moreover, Adams stated that another sore issue at the school is the shortage of diesel for the generator which supplies the school compound with electricity. “Last term there was no electricity for two months, February and March, due to mechanical problems. Now that the generator is working we expect electricity but there is no diesel or gasoline for the school to function as a learning institution,” the teacher added. According to him, it has been four days and nights since the school compound is in darkness and the officers in Kamarang have explained that they do not know when they will get fuel. Adams said, “Hon. Minister of Education I think it is time for you to intervene!”

From page 15 arrived at an agreement and the Guyana government had announced that 150 fishing licences will be granted to Guyanese fisherfolk, those licences were expected to be given to the fishermen, commencing in January of this year.

Meanwhile, the Vice President has announced that fisherfolk will receive a one-off cash grant of $150,000 and distribution will commence in July following a month-long verification process to begin shortly.

Chairman of the Guyana National Fisherfolk Organisation and the Upper Corentyne Fishermen Co-op Society, Parmeshwar Jainarine, expressed gratitude to the VP and the Min-

ister of Agriculture on Thursday but stated that while the grant is appreciated, there is an issue whereby many of the fisherfolk do not have an ID card. “…our biggest issue, a third of the members do not have ID cards, I am assuming the grant will be in cheque and we will have to go to the bank. Many don’t have passports…” he said. However, the VP noted that “we will find a way to get them the money, but they should also get ID cards” Jagdeo added that the process of distributing the cash grants to the fisherfolk will have to be implemented in a manner where “only the fishing people” will benefit.

“We gotta make sure the money goes to the people who

are actually fishermen.

We have to get all the names, yall have to look at the names and identify who is fishing and who doesn’t fish.

Every time we try to do these things, a few people act unscrupulously, and the party gets the blame. Only those who are eligible will receive the money,” Jagdeo said.

According to the Minister of Agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture has licences for close to 50% of fishermen, however for those who are not licenced, they “will come at the landing site and we will work along with you.”

Over $1 Billion will go to fishermen across the country through the cash grants.

A lesson for Guyana: How oil and gas...

From page 14 vessels transiting to and from Takoradi”.

Compensation When damage is done it might be logical to seek compensation. In Guyana, this may be available, once the damages can be proven, at least according to the country’s major oil operator ExxonMobil. But in Ghana, fishermen claim that they have not received compensation in any form both from the oil and gas companies or the government. According to the report “The only compensations received were that from a collision or accident at sea with an oil vessel. When an oil vessel accidentally collides with a canoe, the case is brought before a chief fisherman. An enquiry into the issue begins and the issue is settled. The time taken to settle the issue depends on the facts of the case. It could be settled after some days or sometimes several weeks.

Such cases are seldom taken to court. However, if one party is still dissatisfied with the chief fisherman’s verdict, the case is transferred to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and subsequently to the police station and processed to court. Both parties hire the services of a lawyer. If the oil vessel is found guilty, all the damages are compensated. If a canoe was damaged, the canoe owner is given a sum of money to buy a new one. If the destruction involved a net, then a net is provided.”

One fisherman told the University “Accidents do not happen regularly. However, I have a friend who was involved in an accident. His canoe and nets were totally destroyed. He was compensated by the oil and gas company”. Fishermen are however not compensated for the period of non-fishing activity.

There are some situations when fishermen are found guilty. The chief fisherman

narrates how one of his fishermen lost his case in court: “I remember an instance where I had to follow one fisherman to the High court. The fisherman didn’t give the right responses so he was found guilty. He was asked about the time he spotted the vessel approaching. Instead of saying that it wasn’t even up to a minute, he said he saw the ship about an hour before he began to move his canoe.

That meant he stayed there intentionally for the boat to get close. He did not receive any compensation”.

Destruction of the ecosystem.

The much contested issue of sea weeds (Saragassum) was also raised by fishermen, during the research period, but according to scientific evidence this may be a naturally occurring phenomenon.

According to Kraan’s (2009) study, Saragassum (or ‘green green’) has been in existence long before the recent discovery of oil and gas in 2007.

Kraan argues that, although various studies on ‘green green’ showed that its origin was natural, “ideas that it is toxic and waste and that it has non-natural causes remains persistent”.

Similarly, fisher folk in Shama attribute the presence and increase of sea weeds to the recent exploration and production of oil and gas.

According to a fisherman interviewed, sea weed entangle their nets and prevents them from catching fish. A 44 year old canoe owner in Ghana also claims, “The recent exploration of oil and gas is giving us a lot of problems including bringing sea weeds which is affecting fish catch.

These weeds get entangled around our fishing nets”. He further added that when nets get caught up with sea weeds, it does not only affect the amount of fish caught but also destroy their nets, which are expensive to replace.

The time spent in remov-

ing sea weeds also adds to the cost of fuel since more fuel is needed. The above mentioned issues affect the profit fishermen earn from fishing. Little is however being done by the government or oil and gas companies to alleviate the concerns of fisher folk through information about the ‘green green’ phenomena. This is therefore intensifying the already significant community resentment towards the oil and gas industry.

In Ghana, the danger of an oil and gas spill is especially chilling. Kosmos Energy, one of the oil and gas companies in Ghana, in December 2009 spilled toxic drilling mud around the Jubilee Field. A second incident occurred in late 2011 around the shoreline of the Ahanta West Region and fishermen spotted tar balls along their shores. “However, the authorities failed to initiate any cleaning of the waterfront and left it to the community to remediate the oil.

The authorities claimed that these tar balls which may look like oil do not originate from oil and gas production but actually originate from ships washing their balance water, or seepages from underground,” the report stated.

In the event of a major oil spill, fishing will however be difficult or impossible. Vessels and gear will be smeared in oil and fish catch will be spoiled. According to Badgely (2012), the government and oil and gas industries are still working on a compensation fund for fisher folk in the event of a major oil spill. Fishermen would therefore, for a period, be forced to suspend or temporary migrate to other coastal communities that have not been affected by oil spills. This will directly affect the livelihoods of fishermen and fish traders because it will prevent them from maintaining their fishing and fish trading livelihood.

Kaieteur News

Monday June 06, 2022

PAGE 19

$300M in fertilizer assistance for rice, cash crop farmers in Region Six Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo last week announced that $300M has been set aside for fertilizer assistance to rice and cash crops farmers throughout Region Six. He made the remarks during a meeting with farmers and residents at No.63 Village, East Berbice Corentyne. Additionally, a 20-25member committee of farmers will be formed to work along with the government from the procurement stage to the distribution stage of the fertilizer within the region.

Of the $300M, a total of $25M in fertilizer support will be directed to cash crop farmers. “…that committee would decide how we use the $300 Million, how we procure the fertilizer and how we distribute it so that is the main reason why I am here because we don’t want to come back here and hear from people again that some people got who didn’t deserve it, and others didn’t get, and so you are going to have an opportunity now to help us to better extend this help to others…” Jagdeo said. The Vice President also pointed out that fishermen who will soon benefit from the $150,000 cash grant will also have to partake in a verification process that will run for a month.

A total of $1 Billion in fertilizer support was earmarked by the government of Guyana for rice and cash crop farmers throughout the country following consultations

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing farmers at No.63 Village.

and representations made by people during travels to Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, Jagdeo said. “Many of the farmers have argued that the price of fertilizer in spite of the fact that when the PPP got into office, we removed the tax that APNU had put on fertilizer, the 14% VAT, but prices went up…oil and gas is the base for the fertiliser industry so every time crude oil goes up the price of fertilizer goes up,” he said.

Oil prices have made a steep jump from $28 in 2015 per barrel of crude oil to $120 per barrel, which

the VP said is due to the on-going war between Russia and Ukraine.

He added that when the oil prices make such a huge leap, the fertilizer price will also increase. Noting, that despite the removal of taxes on gasoline and diesel (from 50% to 0) “there is nothing that we can do because the price has gone up. So we recognise that fertiliser is a big input into agriculture and particularly in the rice industry, and if people have to spend more on fertilizer it will cut their profit margins so we wanted to do

something to help and that is why we set aside this sum of money.”

Jagdeo posited that food security and agriculture will be an integral part of the future for the country but that while the country is producing oil and gas, emphasis must be placed on the agriculture sector. “…we know that there is a future here for agriculture because we are the only net food exporter in the Caribbean...we know that the world will have seafood shortages, but this would be happening even

more for two reasons. One; the world population is growing and secondly; they are eating differently now, as income grows, people demand more and diverse types of more of the resourceintensive crops that are on the demand side”, he added. The VP noted that agriculture can be done in a scientific way to have greater output and as such, investments will continue with the expansion of shade houses, the implementation of vertical farming among other things.

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Kaieteur News

Monday May 09, 2022

Monday June 06, 2022

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Kaieteur News

‘Smart’ Haney beats Kambosos to become undisputed lightweight world champion AFP - Unbeaten American Devin Haney fought a “smart fight” to comfortably beat Australia’s George Kambosos on points yesterday and become the first undisputed lightweight world champion in modern boxing history.

Highly-rated WBC title holder Haney, a clear favourite, successfully defended his belt for a fifth time and in the process took the WBA, IBF and WBO straps off Kambosos with a unanimous verdict in Melbourne.

Victory made him the first undisputed lightweight champion since Pernell Whitaker in 1992 and the first in the four-belt era, which began in 2004.

Kambosos was undone

by Haney’s sensational speed, instinct and relentless left jab that frustrated the Australian who struggled to land enough big blows.

It was a defensive masterclass by the American, whose slick skills and tactical nous won the day in front of a 41,000-strong proKambosos crowd at an

electric Marvel Stadium.

All three judges scored in Haney’s favour, 116-112, 116112 and 118-110.

“This is a dream come true,” said Haney, who got a big boost on the eve of the fight when his father and lead trainer Bill was granted an 11th-hour visa after initially being denied entry to Australia over a threedecades-old drugs conviction.

“I knew this was a big moment, it would have hurt me to win this without my dad so I’m glad he was here in my

Monday June 06, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your self-confidence is likely to skyrocket today, Aries.

Good news about money could reach you while you're at home, causing family members to want to celebrate.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) It’s time to get in touch with the people in your neighborhood. By reaching out to the people you live near in a jovial and congenial way you build community spirit.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today could bring a lot of physical activity, possibly including workouts and dancing, as your energy, enthusiasm, and stamina are all high, Gemini. Life may be mentally demanding, too, but you can handle it.

CANCER(June21–July22) Children cross your path today for a reason. You might get caught up in their games and momentarily experience being a child again yourself.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Communication flows freely today. Land might be discussed. At some point you'll be reminded of someone from the past and experience a momentary wave of longing to see this person again. This won't last, however.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Expect to hear some great news from relatives or neighbors, perhaps involving money. You could hear this from more than one source, Virgo, so it's likely true. You might spend a lot of time driving around, mainly running errands but also seeking people who are in the know.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The forthcoming completion of a frustrating project could be moved closer by one intense burst of energy from you, Libra.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you might plan a trip, Scorpio, perhaps a longdistance vacation. You may be planning far in advance, but you love to dream about the possibilities now.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Some interesting insights could steer you in the right direction regarding a goal you've been working toward for a long time. You generally prefer logic to ESP, but today your intuition is so strong that it's difficult to resist.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Expect to spend a lot of time communicating with others, perhaps texting multiple friends at one time either individually or in a group chat.

At least one could end up being helpful to your professional life.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your health is likely to be glowing and your physical energy high, Aquarius.

You'll probably want to spend some of your time today working out or otherwise getting some exercise.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Intense communication throughout the day could bring you closer to a friend or lover. Conversations about a number of different subjects could increase your understanding of one another and leave you with a lot of wonderful memories of the day.

corner.

“I was comfortable,” added the 23-year-old. “I was sticking to the game plan to hit and not get hit. I fought a smart fight. I handicapped him of his best things.”

Victory in the 135-pound limit fight stretched his phenomenal record to 28-0 with 15 KOs while Kambosos, 28, suffered his first professional defeat in 21 bouts since making his professional debut in 2013.

The win elevates Haney to an exclusive club of fighters.

He is only the eighth boxer to hold all four belts from the major sanctioning bodies — WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO – - at the same time.

The seven others are Bernard Hopkins (middleweight), Jermain Taylor (middleweight), Terence Crawford (super lightweight), Oleksandr Usyk (cruiserweight), Josh Taylor (super lightweight), Saul Alvarez (super middleweight) and Jermell Charlo (super welterweight).

- Respect There was a rematch clause in the fight contract and Haney vowed: “I will be back”.

Kambosos, who stunned Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden in November to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO titles, was originally in talks to fight Vasiliy Lomachenko in his first title defence.

But the plans fell through when the Ukrainian opted to stay in his homeland after Russia invaded which opened the door to Haney.

“I have to change a few things and I will get him back later this year,” said Kambosos.

“I landed a few shots, but he had a smart game plan and did what he had to do to win.

He got the decision and respect to him.”

Haney’s dangerous left jab troubled Kambosos from round one as they sized each other up.

Kambosos landed a huge right in the second round, similar to the one that dropped Lopez, but Haney looked unbothered and continued jabbing to good effect.

Looking for a way inside, Kambosos was in constant motion but couldn’t produce any telling blows.

He finally found the target with a vicious left hook to the head at the death in round four, but Haney kept jabbing with Kambosos’s face showing wear with his left eye

Devin Haney comfortably beat Australia’s George Kambosos on points to become the first undisputed lightweight world champion in modern boxing history. swollen and red.

With the crowd roaring Kambosos on, the fight sprung to life in round nine with both men swinging, but it was a desperate final act by the Australian who knew he was facing defeat.

On a stacked undercard, Australian Jason Moloney knocked out Filipino Aston

Palicte in round three to claim the vacant WBO international bantamweight crown.

Earlier, the 43-year-old Australian Lucas Browne stunned New Zealand contender Junior Fa by flooring him twice inside two minutes of the opening round to take the IBF international heavyweight title.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Monday June 06, 2022

Reggae Boys Head Coach Paul Hall resigns Reports has stated that Reggae Boyz Head Coach Paul Hall has resigned his position.

Players demand resignation of JFF general-secretary after players left stranded in Suriname - reports

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portsMax Reports are emerging that Reggae Boyz Head Coach Paul Hall has resigned his position and the players have refused to move forward unless Jamaica Football Federation General

Secretary Dalton Wint tenders his resignation.

It is a position with which JFF President Michael Ricketts appears to agree.

Sportsmax.TV has obtained a Whatsapp voice note created Saturday night in which a player speaking on behalf of the team, is heard demanding Wint’s resignation and President Ricketts seemingly agreeing with the players.

“On behalf of the team, captain, vice captain, we are asking Mr Wint to resign.

That’s the only way we move forward. Can we get your word on that?” said an unidentified player.

A voice sounding like the

JFF president responded, “I am saying I agree.” “ Yo u a g r e e a s t h e president. Okay,” the player said in reply.

This latest fallout stems from a situation that developed in Suriname on Saturday night where the Reggae Boyz played to a 1-1 draw with the home side in their opening match of the CONCACAF Nations League.

After the match, the players came to the realization that they did not have a return flight to Jamaica for the return match on June 7. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Jamaica was to have shared a charter

flight with the Suriname national team back to Jamaica on Saturday night.

However, Jamaica is alleged to have failed to come up with their share of the cost of the flight.

The players are reportedly still in Suriname.

Calls to both JFF President Ricketts and General Secretary Wint went unanswered up to the time of publication yesterday.

It is unknown what arrangements are being made for the players to get back to Jamaica to prepare for their match against Suriname and their upcoming match against Mexico on June 14.

Kaieteur News

Monday May 09, 2022

PAGE 23

Quartararo wins Catalonia MotoGP, as Espargaro pays dearly for error AFP - France’s world champion Fabio Quartararo extended his lead in this season’s title race after winning the Catalonia MotoGP yesterday helped by an astonishing error by his closest pursuer Aleix Espargaro.

The Frenchman’s joy contrasted starkly to Aprilia rider Esparagaro, who had a nightmare of a race from start to finish.

Having started on pole he was passed by Quartararo on the first bend — a lead the 23-year-old Frenchman would never relinquish — and then as the race reached its climax he raised his arms thinking he had finished second only to realise there was a still a lap to go.

His misfortune allowed compatriot Jorge Martin to take second with his Ducati Primac team-mate Frenchman Johann Zarco taking third.

Quartararo increased his lead from eight points to 22

after nine rounds of the championship.

Little wonder he bore a broad grin on his face as he climbed off his Yamaha — who he committed to for an extra two years on Thursday.

“I am so pleased, this was an incredible race,” said Quartararo.

“I pushed hard from the start and kept it up to the finish.

“With this win and my second place in Mugello last Sunday these are two great results as I feared the worst beforehand.

“Life is good, we have worked hard.”

Martin was delighted with his second spot after a largely disappointing season.

“It has been a tough season so I am delighted with this podium finish,” said Martin.

“I thought I would find it hard to finish with one of my tyre’s giving me trouble so I just conserved my energy.

“Then I saw Aleix slowing and I thought he had a mechanical problem but then realised he had made a mistake.

“That was an unexpected bonus.”

- ‘Put my foot down’ Zarco too reflected on his good fortune, though, timely as it is expected he is set to extend his contract with Ducati-Primac.

“That was a bit lucky with what happened at the end of the race,” said Zarco.

“I did not expect that! I was very tired as the race came to a close. I saw him (Espargaro) raise his arms and there was little doubt in my mind maybe the race is over.

“However, I saw Martin was still racing at full speed so I put my foot down.”

Even better for Quartararo was neither of his Italian rivals who loom large in the championship standings finished.

Francesco Bagnaia —

Fabio Quartararo extended his lead in this season’s title race after winning the Catalonia MotoGP.

Rising star Glasgow and Guyana turn attention to Bermuda today after beating Montserrat

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oncacaf - MIAMI, Florida – The second round of matches in Group B of League B of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League continues, as Guyana hope to defend its firstplace spot on home turf when they welcome Bermuda to the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora today from 4:00pm.

The two nations meet for their fourth alltime encounter in a series where each has one victory over the other and have drawn once.

The most recent encounter came in an international friendly on June 6, 2019 at the National Stadium in Hamilton, with a 1-0 victory in favor of Bermuda thanks to a goal

by Donte Brangman.

The other two meetings came in Group B of the second round of qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Guyana won, 2-1, in the first ever encounter on September 6, 2011 in Georgetown and then two drew 1-1 on October 11, 2011 in Hamilton.

The Golden Jaguars return home after opening their CNL campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Montserrat. A freekick goal from 18-year-old Omari Glasgow equalized the encounter before the forward obtained the game-winner.

Bermuda played to a scoreless draw with Haiti. Goalkeeper Dale Eve had a matchhigh five saves to conserve the clean sheet and help his nation start their CNL debut in League B with a point.

who won the Italian MotoGP last weekend — slipped to fourth in the standings behind Zarco following his first bend exit.

Bagnaia’s Ducati came crashing to the ground after Japanese rider Takaaki

Nakagami fell and his helmet connected with the Italian’s bike.

Bagnaia slid across the track and took out Alex Rins on his Suzuki — fortunately all three were reported to be ok.

Bagnaia’s compatriot Enea Bastianini also finished his day early coming off with 17 laps to go pon his DucatiGresini, the Italian hitting his knees in frustration.

He remains third in the standings on 94 points.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Monday June 06, 2022

Nadal destroys Ruud for 14th French Open title, 22nd Slam

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ARIS, (Reuters) Rafael Nadal regained his aura of invincibility on clay yesterday by brutally crushing Casper Ruud to lift the French Open trophy for an incredible 14th time and widen the gap at the top of the men’s all-time list of Grand Slam winners.

Norwegian Ruud became the latest victim in a long line of challengers who have unsuccessfully tried to defeat the Spaniard in the Roland Garros final since Nadal won his maiden title on the red clay in 2005.

There was a sense of deja vu as the Spaniard, who t u r n e d 3 6 o n F r i d a y, completed a 6-3 6-3 6-0 thrashing on a balmy after n o o n in P aris to maintain his 100% success rate in the championship round at the claycourt major.

In the past 12 months Nadal contemplated retirement due to his battle with a chronic foot problem, was forced to spend six weeks on the sidelines after suffering a stress fracture on a rib in March and was unsure if he would be able to compete in Paris after

Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Norway’s Casper Ruud pose with trophies after the men’s singles final with former player Billie Jean King. (REUTERS/Yves Herman) struggling with his foot in Rome.

Rumours that the ‘king of clay’ was making his final appearance at Roland Garros kept circulating during the past fortnight.

“I don’t know what can happen in the future but I am going to keep fighting to try and keep going,” Nadal said in his victory speech on Court Philipp Chatrier, getting the afternoon’s biggest round of applause from the stands.

Despite all the trials and

tribulations he suffered in the build-up, no one could prevent Nadal from lifting the Musketeers’ Cup for a record-extending 14th time.

The win means Nadal is now halfway through the calendar Grand Slam for the first time in his career after also winning the year’s opening major at the Australian Open.

OLDEST CHAMPION Nadal passed fellow Spaniard Andres Gimeno as the oldest Roland Garros men’s singles champion. The

result once again demonstrated that even when he is less than 100% fit, he is still a mountain too steep to conquer on the red clay of Roland Garros.

The win also gave Nadal a record-extending 22nd Grand Slam title and put him two clear of world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Swiss Roger Federer in the men’s race for the most major titles.

He got a standing ovation as he walked onto the centre

court under overcast skies as a raucous crowd livened up the atmosphere with drums and trumpets.

The Spaniard, who has a statue erected in his honour at the claycourt arena in western Paris, kickstarted the party early for his fans.

The duo had never played a competitive match before Sunday, but they have hit together plenty of times at the Spaniard’s academy in Mallorca and Ruudearlier said he has never won a practice set against his idol.

That record remained unchanged yesterday.

BLISTERING START Nadal, who is 13 years older than the Norwegian, made a blistering start as he raced to a 2-0 lead with a superb forehand passing shot securing him the first break of the match.

But despite all his experience, there were still nerves for the Spaniard as he frittered away his early advantage with two unforced errors off his forehand and two double faults.

Nadal’s vicious top-spin forehand, however, soon found its range and he started applying pressure to Ruud’s backhand to secure a break

and canter to a 4-1 lead before securing the opening set.

Ruud raised his level at the start of the second, saving three break points to hold serve in the opening game and earned praise from his opponent when he charged down the length of the court to reach a drop shot and turned it into a winner.

The Norwegian soon broke Nadal to love to take a lead for the first time in the match.

The break seemed to galvanise Nadal.

The Spanish fifth seed wiped out his advantage in the next game and from a 3-1 lead in the second set Ruud did not win another game.

Nadal was now fully in the mood to put on a show and he put Ruud out of his misery on his second championship point with a backhand winner down the line, ending the contest in two hours and 18 minutes.

“We all know what a champion you are and today I got to feel how it is to play against you in the final and it is not easy,” Ruud said.

“I am not the first victim, I know there have been many before.”

Root leads England past New Zealand in 1st test at Lord’s LONDON (AP) — Former captain Joe Root gave his successor Ben Stokes the perfect start to his reign at Lord’s, carrying England to victory with a match-winning century to seal the first test against New Zealand yesterday.

Root walked away as skipper in April after five years and a record 64 games in charge but remains the t e a m ’s m o s t r e l i a b l e performer and produced a knock of 115 not out to set up a five-wicket victory.

In a decisive partnership with Ben Foakes, who made an unbeaten 32 in a stand of 120, Root shepherded the home side to a stiff chase of 277 with his first fourthinnings hundred.

By doing so Root became just the second Englishman to reach 10,000 test runs — following in the footsteps of his own predecessor as captain, Alastair Cook. The symmetry of their achievements does not end there, with both men exactly 31 years and 157 days old when they crossed the threshold.

It was Root’s 26th century, the same as West Indies great Sir Garfield Sobers, but he will be even more satisfied by its importance to the team.

“It had become a very unhealthy relationship to be honest, the captaincy and me,” Root said. “It started to really take a bad toll on my own personal health. I couldn’t leave it at the ground anymore, it was coming home.”

Root said he was there to “help England win test matches and be a side people enjoy watching and can be proud of.” England was marginal favorite as it resumed on 216-5, with 61 runs still needed and five wickets in hand, but the task still looked a taxing one.

With thick, grey clouds overhead and the floodlights glaring from the first ball, conditions were far from ideal for batting. A fragile tail, featuring at least three natural number 11s, also cranked up the responsibility on the overnight pairing of Root and Foakes.

But a game that has see-

sawed back and forth with a series of twists along the way was put to bed in unusually serene fashion.

Root was the key man and he was reliably measured as he converted an unbeaten 77 in understated fashion. However, Foakes deserves huge credit for the way he held up his end.

Having successfully shut out the Kiwi attack on the third evening, soaking up 48 balls for his nine runs, the Surrey wicketkeeper expanded his repertoire.

With boundaries at a premium he helped himself to two in the space of three deliveries from the dangerous Kyle Jamieson, punching him off the back foot towards third man before crunching an ondrive. Later, with the target dipping below 30, he rocked onto his heels and pulled Tim Southee between two fielders for four more.

Root moved into the 90s by drilling Jamieson back down the ground and then had a slice of luck when an under edge evaded both his stumps and Tom Blundell’s

England’s Joe Root celebrates scoring his century (100 runs) during the fourth day of the test match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s cricket ground in London, Sunday, June 5, 2022. (AP Photo/ Kirsty Wigglesworth) dive on its way to the ropes.

New Zealand had hoped to hang in and needed the second new ball to work

some magic for them.

However, it could not halt England’s scoring. Root started the 77th over on 98

runs in the innings and 9,998 in his career and pinged Southee to mid-wicket for a couple to bring up a proud double.

He punched the air in joy and pointed to the pavilion as the crowd showed their appreciation, with the winning line now just a few shots away. Root finished the job in a blaze of glory, taking Southee for three boundaries in an over as he wrapped things up with a merry swing through mid-wicket.

Stokes praised Root’s winning performance.

“Joe and I are very close, we’re not just work colleagues,” Stokes said.

“To see him walk off there, leading the team to victory, seeing the emotion of pure joy and happiness to win a game for England in his first game after stepping down as captain was amazing.”

Scores: England 141 (Crawley 43, Southee 4-55) and 279 for 5 (Root 115*, Stokes 54, Jamieson 4-79) beat New Zealand 132 (de Grandhomme 42*, Potts 413, Anderson 4-66) and 285 (Mitchell 108, Blundell 96).

Kaieteur News

Monday June 06, 2022

PAGE 25

Queenstown Tigers claim third-place trophy in ESCL’s tournament Q

u e e n s t o w n Ti g e r s defeated Ravens Sports Club by 59 runs and in the process claimed the 2022 Essequibo Softball Cricket League (ESCL) over-40, 20-overs trophy last Sunday at the Affiance Number 1 ground, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, the Tigers roared to a competitive 134-5 from the reduced 10-overs affair, while Ravens, in reply, only reached 956 at the conclusion of the game.

The reduction of the overs was due to rain.

Leading the way for

Queenstown Tigers was Lloyd Inniss with an entertaining 63 while Sergie Ferguson chipped in with 19. Trevon Smith grabbed two wickets for 16 runs from his maximum two overs.

When Ravens Sports Club batted, Laxmikant Narine, a former senior Essequibo InterCounty batsman, scored 52.

Inniss displayed his all-round capability by grabbing four wickets conceding only 13 runs in his two-overs outing, while Shawn Hubbard took two wickets for four runs also from two overs to assist player-of-the-match Inniss.

The winning team collected

$20,000 and a trophy and Ravens pocketed $5,000.

Recently at the same venue, Caribbean Cricket Club beat Sunrisers Masters to win the championship.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the ESCL Wakeel Layne thanked all six teams for their participation while he acknowledged the support of the sponsors and all who would have contributed in a variety of ways to make the 2022 edition a success.

In 2021, the competition was inaugurated with Invaders Masters emerging champion but did not participate in 2022 due to personal reasons.

Queenstown Tigers Motielall Deonarine, left, receives his trophy from Chairman of the ESCL Wakeel Layne.

Meet record 10.83 for Thompson-Herah as Paulino, LaFond also secure wins in Rabat

Elaine Thompson-Herah cruised to victory in the 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Rabat.

SportsMax - Elaine ThompsonHerah was a happy camper after cruising to victory in the 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Rabat, Morocco yesterday. The Tokyo Olympics 100m champion clocked an easy-looking 10.83 that was a new meet record, eclipsing her own meet record of 10.87 set back in 2017.

“I feel amazing about the race today.

This is my third time in Rabat and I’m super excited about the new meeting record of 10.83,” said the fastest woman alive while promising more of the same when she competes in Rome on Thursday, June 9. “For the next event in Rome, I’m following the same process and keeping up the same pace.”

Meanwhile, Marie Jose Ta Lou of

the Ivory Coast produced a late surge to overtake Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison, crossing the finish line in a season-best 11.04. Morrison also ran a season best 11.22 for the final podium spot.

The Women’s 400m was an allCaribbean affair that was won by the Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino, who timed her finish to perfection storming past Jamaica’s McPherson and Barbados’ Sada Williams at the top of the final straight to win 50.10. “I am happy to get this win here in Rabat. It is an important achievement for me and for my country, especially in the eyes of the world,” the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist said afterwards.

“The race was quick, but I managed

More Paris heartbreak for Gauff as Mladenovic, Garcia win doubles

to cross the line first. I trained well and this helped me to do my best. For me, my participation in Rabat is good preparation for the world championship.”

McPherson, who went out hard, had little left down the home straight and was overtaken by Williams, who clocked a season best 50.74 for second place while McPherson also ran a season-best time, 51.37, despite fading badly over the final 50m of the race.

Dominica’s Thea LaFond produced a late winning jump of 14.46m to win the triple jump competition ahead of Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts, who had a season-best 14.43 and Slovenia’s Neja Filipic, who produced a lifetime best of 14.42m for third.

France’s Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic pose with trophy after winning the women’s doubles final against Cori Gauff and Jessica Pegula of the U.S. (REUTERS/Yves Herman)

Cori Gauff and Jessica Pegula of the U.S. on a break in play during the women’s doubles final against France’s Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic. (REUTERS/Yves Herman) PARIS, (Reuters) - French pair Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic recovered from a set down to beat Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula 2-6 6-3 62 yesterday and lift the French Open women’s doubles title for the second time.

For Gauff, it was a second final

defeat in less than 24 hours, after the 18-year-old lost in straight sets by top seed Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s singles final.

Garcia and Mladenovic won the title in 2016 and for the latter it was a fourth women’s doubles crown at Roland Garros after also triumphing in 2019 and 2020 with

Timea Babos. She now has six major doubles titles including the Australian Open in 2018 and 2020.

The Americans, who had lost only one set en route to the final, were broken at the start but quickly recovered to race into a 3-1 lead.

Mladenovic sunk a volley into the net to give them a 4-2 advantage

and another break put Gauff and Pegula in control, sealing the set when Garcia sailed a forehand long on the second set point.

The French duo, playing their second tournament together this season after reuniting and losing in the second round at the Australian Open, fought back to go 4-0 up in

the second and they secured it with a Mladenovic smash. Gauff, the youngest doubles finalist in Paris in 21 years, could do nothing to stop their opponents’ run as the French earned two early breaks to storm to a 4-0 lead. They clinched victory with a Garcia smash on their third match point.

rts Spo Spain’s Rafael Nadal bites the trophy to celebrate winning the men’s singles final against Norway’s Casper Ruud. (REUTERS/Yves Herman)

Omari Glasgow of Guyana scored the game-winner in a 2-1 comeback victory over Montserrat on June 4, 2022. (Concacaf)

Rising star Glasgow and Guyana turn attention to Bermuda today after beating Montserrat

Nadal destroys Ruud for 14th French Open title, 22nd Slam

England’s Joe Root, right, and England’s Ben Foakes, left, leave the pitch as England win by five wickets on the fourth day of the test match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s cricket ground in London, Sunday, June 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Joe Root leads England past New Zealand in 1st test at Lord’s Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.