Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR Oil company hikes NEWS

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

pay for foreigners, but blanks locals

Tuesday Edition June 07, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 22

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 69,642

...GAWU says situation another assault on local oil sector workers

Exxon & partners to walk away with tax-free US$8.7B profit in 2022 ...Guyana to get less than US$1B in profit, royalty

Boat captain found dead in fuel tank Jailed, Princess Williams.

Woman gets three years for attempting to extort $10M from ex-boyfriend with rape allegation

Mechanic charged for allegedly killing wife

Woman, 21, beaten, stabbed to death ...police arrest four suspects

Dead, Carol Davidson

Guyana must define clearly what oil companies can recover...T&T stakeholders urge Protestors at an African Oil & Gas Conference in London want oil companies to

compensate for damages and losses,pay off all Africa’s debts and end Oil colonialism in Africa. Guyana, look out, we are heading right there! Listen to The Glenn Lall Show @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Woman, 21, beaten, stabbed to death ...police arrest four suspects Woman, 21, beaten, stabbed to death by gang Twenty-one-year-old Carol

Davidson, a security guard of East La Penitence Squatting Area, was on Monday beaten and stabbed to

death allegedly by three females and one male who are presently in custody.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported that Davidson was murdered around 10:24hrs at East Ruimveldt Squatting Area, in the vicinity of Brickdam Secondary School Bridge. According to the police, on June 5, as a result of an old misunderstanding, Davidson was involved in a fight.

On Monday, around 10:00 hours, Carol was imbibing alcohol with a group of friends in a yard in the vicinity of Brickdam Secondary School Bridge, when the suspects: three females ages 20, 28 and 29, and a 28-year-old male, all of North East La Penitence Squatting Area, entered the yard and attacked Davidson with several pieces of wood.

A scuffle ensued and Carol was dealt several lashes about her body by the suspects. In an attempt to flee the assault, Davidson ran around the house but the suspects pursued her. According to the police, one of the suspects was seen with a knife in her right hand, while they ran out of the yard making good their escape.

Kaieteur News understands that Davidson was found lying face down on the ground with a stab

Dead, Carol Davidson. wound to her chest. She was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was seen by a doctor who pronounced her dead.

Davidson's body was taken to the Memorial Garden's Mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination. The four suspects, who were all apprehended by police, are presently in custody at East La Penitence Police Station assisting with the investigation.

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Tuesday June 07, 2022

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Exxon & partners to walk away with tax-free US$8.7B ...Guyana to get less than profit in 2022 US$1B on profit, royalty G

uyana is no doubt the crown jewel of Hess Corporation's global asset portfolio.

With just a 30 percent working interest in the Stabroek Block, the American company is set to collect US$2.6B in tax-free revenue for 2022.

S p e c i f i c a l l y, H e s s Corporation's CEO, John Hess was pleased to make this revelation during his participation at the Bernstein's 38th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference.

During an almost onehour discussion that was focused mostly on Guyana, he said the company received three lifts of one million barrels of oil from the Stabroek Block, which has two ongoing projects, Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two. In the second quarter, he said the lifts will increase to seven and in the third and fourth quarters, eight liftings each.

The Hess Boss said, “We

have over a US$100 barrel price.

We are therefore going from US$300M of incremental cash flow from Guyana to US$700M in the s e c o n d q u a r t e r, t h e n US$800M in the third and US$800M in the fourth. So that is a rate of change just for this year.

So people used to say in the past 'Why invest in Hess, just wait for the production to come on in Guyana'. Well guess what? It is on. And then that continues to compound at US$1B a year in incremental cash flow as each ship comes on.”

Hess disclosed that the third ship for the Payara development comes on stream in 2023 with the Yellowtail project coming into production two years later.

He said a fifth ship will get sanctioned for 2026. “So this is our rate of change ahead and that is why it (Guyana) is such an incredible cash flow story and it is unequaled in the business.”

Hess Corporation's CEO, John Hess Wi t h t w o F l o a t i n g Production Storage and Operating (FPSO) vessels in production this year, Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh had said during the reading of budget 2022 that there will be 94 lifts from the Stabroek Block, 13 of which will be Government lifts.

From this, it is estimated that deposits into the Natural Resource Fund for 2022 will

Body found on Self Help Square identified as Madewini man

T

he man who was found dead in East Ruimveldt with suspected gunshot wound has been identified as 49-year-old Dexter Ly n c h , a v e n d o r o f M a d e w i n i , Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

Lynch was identified by his 59-year-old brother on Monday, police reported.

On Sunday, police were alerted that there was a man lying in the street at Self Help Square, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Police via its Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) reported that ranks had received the call around 03:05hrs.

Crime scene experts who visited the scene reported that the man's body bore a single

gunshot wound to the left side abdomen. 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 H e n n e s s e y, t w o m a l e 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. So far, no arrest has been made and investigation into the case continues.

total US$957.6 million, comprising some US$857.1 million earned from the Government lifts of profit oil, and an additional US$100.5 million from royalties.

By Kaieteur News' calculations, Exxon's subsidiary and operator of the Stabroek Block, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is poised to walk away with US$3.9B and while CNOOC will get US$2.2B this year.

It therefore means that Exxon and partners will walk away with tax-free

US$8.7B profit in 2022.

Meanwhile, Guyana must pay the company's share of income taxes for 2022 from its projected US$957.6 million revenue.

Projects for the Stabroek Block continue to be sanctioned at breakneck speed as the companies intend to take advantage of the absence of ring-fencing provisions in the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).

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 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.

Guyana's Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers).

ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is the operator and holds 45% interest in the Block.

H e s s G u y a n a Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25% interest.

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

The Vice President a proven hero for Exxon

I

f ExxonMobil searched the world, it could not find a better chief counsel than Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President of this small, poor nation called Guyana.

In fact, Exxon hit this rarest of rare human resource bonanza in that it got two for one in the presence of Supremo Jagdeo.

The company not only got a matchless lead counsel, it also got an unequalled public relations guru in Guyanas Vice President.

Having hit it huge with our oil prize, Exxon came in for the additional bonus of another gold medal: the top Guyanese political leadership prize of Bharrat Jagdeo.

We say this because on each occasion that Vice President Jagdeo open his mouth, there is very little that he says that favours the interest of Guyana. Rather, Mr. Jagdeo goes the other way, and speaks mouthful after mouthful in advocacy of, on behalf of, in support of, this American oil behemoth, ExxonMobil.

Truth be told, when the record is examined, it is noted that for every word that Mr. Jagdeo utters about Guyana, he has a round dozen more to articulate about Exxon, or the company, or the investor(s), or some other such camouflage expression. When this nations Vice President ought to be committed heart and soul, body and spirit, to wage war for the Guyanese people, he instead puts on his armour, straps on his helmet, pulls on his jackboots, and brandishes his sword in the endless and ruthless warfare that he declares against Guyana, and all under the flag of the company called Exxon. Dr. Jagdeo is a better soldier for the company than Darren Woods. Mr. Jagdeo is more passionate for Exxon than Alistair Routledge, the companys resident Viceroy in this backwater place.

Indeed, the Guyanese Jagdeo, in all of his sayings and doings, and his representations and protections, for Exxon comes across as more American than the Americans themselves.

Look at the record of this outstanding Guyanese leader, its oil champion, and whenever he has to stand in defense of the hopes and dreams of his own fellow citizens, his horse always somehow stumbles to its knees. Bharrat Jagdeo is then transformed into a pale shadow of the angry, impatient, and scornful man that he has registered before Guyana and towards his fellow Guyanese.

But, on the other hand, he dresses for battle when the mere mention of the name Exxon comes into play, in any conversation, any report. Then is when he comes to swift attention, standing erect, and with the crispest of salutes, as he reports for duty to the company.

Say what is wished about the man and leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, but he has earned his spurs for Exxon, and his medals received from them. Look at his chest, and it is decorated with ribbons and jewellery, the honours bestowed upon him by the grateful executives and board members of Exxon for his furious, and always victorious, exploits on their behalf. He gave them Payara. He then upped the ante and brought home (not to Guyana) but Exxon the fourth project, Yellowtail.

And when the going got tough, he showed the rough side of his character, and made sure that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a rubberstamp state entity at his beck and call signed off on the coveted Liza-1 Permit renewal (no full insurance, clearing for flaring, and clean-up money backing). Already one Exxon partner is talking up a storm about approvals for a fifth project later this year, and a sixth one next year. This is the unshakeable confidence the oil companies have in Mr. Jagdeo, the guarantee that he represents.

Whatever is ones regard for Bharrat Jagdeo, this one thing must never be forgotten, it must always be said: he delivers and in trumps for ExxonMobil. He should be in the running for Exxons agent of the decade, perhaps its best of all time. It is one that he has earned and is fully deserving of the recognition.

As we reflect on all the wonderful things that our Vice President of Oil has done for Exxon, we wonder how much better Guyana would have been if he had placed a quarter of his energies and devotions for Guyana, and not Exxon.

PPP Govt. and some Guyanese common conduct DEAR EDITOR, I observe the President and Vice President making the rounds and sharing rounds of good cheer, and I remember wishfully some of the things that many of us in the diaspora used to do. There are some common threads in what the PPP Government does today, which aligns closely with the behaviour of overseas-based Guyanese who mostly continue in the same way today. I should know because it had its pluses, but also rammed home to me the reality of this poor society across many segments of its vast expanse.

In times past, there was the annual trek back to the homeland, and the festivities began at JFK. At home, nobody was left out, not fellow traveller, not villager, not neighbour, not stranger.

I knew what it was to be a pork-knocker back in town, and a sailor arriving onshore (there were no oil rigs then).

Whoever was around partook, was made to feel welcome, a hand extended: a drink, a raise, a pack of smokes for adults; for the children it was ice-cream and sweets and whatever else caught their fancy in the public places, while the music blared, liquids

flowed, and good cheer roared. It was almost always in December; then it was back to the cold, blue yonder, the canyons and challenges and contests of Wall Street. Oil companies were ever part of the mix to be studied and stripped apart, with capitalism watched, benefited from, and understood to its soul. This was what financed the mainly annual profligate sojourns here. It was good while it lasted, and for those fortunate to be within hand reach, the arc of holiday time.

After all of that, I always asked myself quietly and insistently, in the times after, what am I doing? What difference is this making, other than a momentary blip on someones day? These handouts, and they were nothing but (no matter how kindly viewed) what do they tell me?

Editor, what do they tell me and the rest of Guyanese, be they of the diaspora, or of local settlers, including government and opposition leaders and members? I can speak for myself only. The little good cheer, the charity by another name, of one individual (and most likely planeloads of them) only went so far, and then it was back to the grind of wanting and not

having; of struggling and not managing; of fearing and not knowing what tomorrow brings. This is what brings me to todays PPP Government and its leaders.

Fishermen and farmers, who were flooded out, have been handed cash. The disabled and those dependent on sugar have been temporarily sweetened.

Those are all good and I cheer. But what about the many that are down and out, and outside the range of the Presidents and Vice Presidents interest, hence no attention and awards?

Surely, they are also due some benevolence from this PPP Government, some magnanimousness from both President and Vice President? It cannot be so skewed, so piecemeal, so calculated in the limits of its cash infusions, the exclusion from the One Guyana enclosure of which I hear so much. There must be a vision and a programme (many of those) that are so cogent that they are cohesive, with none left out, not one left behind. There are just too many of those in our midst, and the thought pains, because of our new times, this new oil age.

I know enough to know

that there are multitudes of Guyanese who have no one, have nothing, get nothing, not even the passing relief, and do somehow exist. The out of sight and out of consideration forgotten Guyanese. The ones that everyone know are out there, are hurting, and know not what to do about their predicaments. A little hand for a loaf, money for medicine, a shirt given to a stranger, they are all nice and psychically exhilarating, but after then what? What about those who didnt even get that bit of fleeting respite? From any source, grateful and gracious citizen or a government that find it in itself to be understanding, caring, encircling?

I leave with this: a government, a president, a Vice President, of a nation is not a visitor, a diaspora member, a sailor, a pork-knocker.

The latter cohorts deal in the moment, the personal thrill, the sense of self-satisfaction. A government and leader(s) should be, must be greater and grander than the sum of all those. I dont know if this makes sense, stirs anyone, but I took the time and did have the heart to share publicly.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Seeking persons to interview on Jonestown Massacre DEAR EDITOR, I am conducting an ongoing research for a forthcoming documentary film on Guyana s Massacre that occurred in Jonestown on November 18, 1978. Part of this research includes an examina-

tion of saviours account.

I am particularly seeking to interview Guyanese who were living in the area, who later permanently migrated from the area, who still live in the area, and who might have had contact with Jim Jones and even witness the tragedy on camera. If you or someone you know has had a similar

unsettling encounter during the Jonestown Massacre that you would like to share, please reach out to me to speak about setting up an interview that could be featured in an episode on The Wayne Lyttle Unsolved Documentary Crime Watch. The deadline for interview ends on Sunday 12th June, 2022. You

can contact me using email address infothejournali st.gy@gmail.com or telephone number 689 - 9317.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely, Wayne Lyttle Unsolved Documentary Crime Watch Executive Director/Producer

An unparalleled development course DEAR EDITOR, The PPP/C in its Manifesto in 2020 made a commitment to provide 50,000 jobs for Guyanese by 2025 and has since embarked on many mega and small business initiatives which will not only ensure that this bears fruit but will launch the country on an unparalleled development course.

Many thousands more jobs will be created when many of these mega projects come fully on stream, the groundwork is already laid.

This is in stark contrast to what the Coalition did from 2015 to 2025, when thousands of Guyanese, some 35,000, were thrown under the bus and had to endure severe deprivations including hunger whilst those in the Coalition enjoyed not only humongous salary increases but buttered this with massive corruption,

rape of the Treasury and the selling out of our oil patrimony. We must not lose sight of this ever.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Guyana is once again developing at an alarming and unprecedented rate and the recent announcement by Vice President Dr Jagdeo is just another of the visionary initiatives which will bring immediate relief to 10,000 unemployed persons across the country. Thousands are already employed. The Vice President made it clear that these are not temporary jobs but part-time ones which will go on indefinitely. This initiative alone will cost the Government nearly $5 billion annually but this Government has never flinched when it comes to improving the lives of Guyanese. It never attaches cost to this determi-

nation. Let those who criticize this Government calculate the multiplier effect this one project will have on the economy. The spending will not only further improve the lives of Guyanese but will create additional jobs. Many such economic projects are already effected and dividends seen.

But apart from the economic benefits, this project will improve the quality of government services delivery being offered across the country. These jobs will play a significant role in this regard.

Therefore, it is not only about creating employment but it is about improving the lives of all Guyanese in terms of service delivery. Many times people complain about the poor quality of service delivery at some of our government agencies and this initia-

tive indeed will go a long way in bringing immediate relief.

Despite these benefits, the Opposition Leader attempted to malign this initiative when he questioned the qualification of those who will be employed. Mr. Norton should try to be a responsible Opposition leader but he has so far displayed ignorance of his role and is bent on sowing mischief and discord. Dr. Jagdeo gave him a fitting reply when he told Berbicians that, the qualification is that they are Guyanese, they do not have any other qualifications to get the jobs. Is this Nortons patriotism? It boggles the mind that the Coalition destroyed thousands of jobs and is still embarking on a mission to willfully obstruct the employment of Guyanese. The (Continued on page 5)

Tuesday June 07, 2022

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Kaieteur News

A CLASH OF VISIONS DEAR EDITOR, Three events of international significance caught my attention recently.

The first has to do with a February 21 newspaper report that the European Union (EU), through its Global Gateway Project has earmarked €150 billion or US$170Bln. for investment and development in Africa to counter Chinas influence and its Belt and Road Initiative in the continent.

According to reports, the funds will be used to bolster Africas manufacturing, transport infrastructure, green energy, sustainable food chains, health and education sectors.

In response, African leaders while not rejecting the EUs development assistance package have called for a shared vision of partnership rather than aid.

Between 2000 and 2019, China extended US$153Bln. in the form of loans to African governments as well as funding to state-owned enterprises.

China has budgeted US$300Bln. in B&RI over the next three years as assistance to the industrial sector, digital innovation, health, education, culture, peace and security.

Ever since the Russia/ Ukraine war, the EU has transformed itself into a functional geo-political entity. The unity and speed with which the EU has responded to Ukraines appeals for economic and financial sanctions against Russia as well military support is mind-boggling to say the least. Also, the war has driven the EU to rapidly adjust its foreign policy focus in respect to Africa and other developing nations and regions which they had neglected, notwithstanding

An unparalleled...

From page 4 PNC and the AFC were the architects in destroying Guyanas economy. The Coalition is adept at taking away bread and butter from the people. Guyanese beware of the Coalition, its an ill wind that brings no good.

Yours sincerely, H. Yusuf

they were considered to be Europes old stomping ground but where China and Russia made considerable diplomatic, trade, economic and military inroads.

In late December 2021early January 2022 in what appeared to be a coordinated foreign policy among G7 richest nations, an announcement was made of a Build Back a Better World Initiative (B3BWI) aimed at investing in five to ten large infrastructure projects around the world in an effort to counter Chinas B&RI. To kick-start the G7-sponsored B3BWI, projects were identified for Ghana and Senegal. Visits were paid by top US officials to Ecuador, Panama and some unnamed countries in Asia to consult with governments in those countries about prospects for B3BW infrastructure projects.

The B3BWI is aimed at narrowing a US$40 trillion infrastructure investment gap that developing countries will need to fill by 2035 and to provide an alternative to Chinas B&RI. In the meantime, while the G7 countries as are aiming to catch up with Chinas B&RI, China has already made a 21st century Great Leap Forward by entering into B&RI agreements and rolling out projects in over 156 countries in almost every continent of the world.

Guyana and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) treating with the B&RI in 2018.

The second matter has to do with the recent diplomatic furore over Chinas expanding reach to the Pacific islands including the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor.

Soon after the new Australian government assumed office, the newly minted For-

eign Minister was dispatched to Fiji from where she signalled Australias anger with Chinas outreach in Australias backyard.

According to newspaper reports, the Pacific Islands visit by the twenty-man Chinese delegation led by Foreign Minister Wang was aimed at consolidating mutual trust, expanding practical cooperation, deepening peopleto-people contact building a closer community with a shared future for China and the Pacific Islands.

While in Fiji, the Australian Foreign Minister declared Australias believe in true partnerships that wont erode Pacific priorities nor one that doesnt come with strings attached nor imposes unsustainable financial burdens on countries.

The ministers comments bore a striking resemblance to those issued two years ago by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his two-day visit to Guyana in September 2020.

Pompeo is reported to have said, “China s investments come with strings attached but the US brings foreign direct investment that is clean.” He went on to state: “We dont operate the way other regimes do, who might show up with money and then demand political retribution, or worse yet, engage in activity that is corrupt.”

The Georgetown-based Chinese Embassy was quick to respond. Firing back on all cylinders the embassy stated: China attaches no political strings in bilateral pragmatic cooperation, including which

bring tangible benefits to countries and peoples in the region. This is an objective fact that anyone without prejudice will admit.

The third matter that drew my attention was President Bidens remarks last month in South Korea where he was reported as saying, The US would respond militarily if China attacked Taiwan.

Later, the US Secretary of State in an effort to walk back on his Presidents remarks stated: “China is a serious long-term challenge but the US does not want a new Cold War”.

Blinken went on to state: “China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it. Beijings vision would move us away from the universal values that have sustained so much of the worlds progress over the past 75 years.”

Herein lies the kernel of geo-political tensions in the world today. In our globalised, multi-polar world, no one ideology should prevail. The key question now is how to improve international relations and to pursue policies that recognise different values, cultures and to know more about each other as nations.

If there cannot be an acceptable level of convergence on these matters among industrialised and developing countries, then the least we could do is to work towards the prohibition of all (Continued on page 6)

When will the right time come DEAR EDITOR, No substantive Chancellor for seventeen years and still the right time hasn’t

come.

When will the right time come?

Shamshun Mohamed

INDIANNESS defined DEAR EDITOR, As a diaspora Indian Hindu growing up in Trinidad, my Indianness is defined by the social constructs that cultivate my mind and shape my Atma [Soul), i.e, how to think, behave and how to assimilate by keeping the Vedic culture intact and alive.

Indians originating out of Bharat and domiciled in Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname and other places have become more sensitised to their identity than those Bharat Indians due to their social construct.

Indianness is having a feeling for one s own music, sports, politics, cuisine and dress codes. Indianness is defined by behaviour and thinking and pride in every facet of life.

In politics when the Indian based party DLP lost the Trinidad elections, I felt upset feelings that cannot be explained.

As I recall getting up in 6am in the morning and turning that radio dial to hear Indian music and bhajans is like, I drank a booster vitamin.

Having my Vedic flag and offering jal [spiritual water]; I feel reenergised for the day.

In sports, I remember climbing up a tree with my radio to listen to Rohan Khanai bat for the West Indies Team and that brings a certain pride and joy to my Indianness.

On weekends in years gone by, many others and I usually look forward to going to an Indian movie or show that added a personal Indianness to me.

My Indianness becomes stronger when threatened by enemy forces who want to define my ethnicity or my identity. When I celebrate Diwali, Phagwah and Indian Arrival Day, the Atma is satisfied.

The wearing of a sari is as beautiful in making a statement for the Indian race and Indian womanhood.

When an Indian is insulted because of their race and way of life and does not feel upset then that is a cloned Indian who is grounded in someone else’s roots. Since this article was provoked by Freddie Kissoon who wants to know what is Indianness, it reveals to me that his upbringing was more “Creolised than Indianised” from growing up in Georgetown. Freddie (Continued on page 6)

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Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years available from June 11 Children between five to 11 years will now be able to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, with Guyana receiving 52,800 doses of Pfizer vaccine from the Government of Spain on Monday.

The vaccines which arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport would see some 26,400 children across the country being inoculated.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony at one of his recent COVID-19 updates had stated that “these are special formulation, these are not the regular vaccines that we have been giving, this is a special vaccine made by Pfizer especially for this age category.”

Children in this age cohort are set to be administered 1/3 of an adult dose.

The minister in a press briefing following the arrival of the vaccines said that it is important to get children vaccinated because it will reduce their chances of becoming severely sick. He shared that out of the 65,000 cases recorded in the country, children account for one third of that.

The minister announced that from this Saturday, they will be starting the rollout of the vaccine at the National Culture Centre tarmac. Importantly, parental consent will be needed.

(From left) Ambassador of Spain, Fernando Nolgales Alvarez handing over the shipment of vaccines to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony who was joined by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand. (Photo credit: DPI) Following this exercise, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the vaccine will be then rolled to other parts of the country.

In the fight against COVID-19, Guyana was able to source a number of vaccines for persons 12 years and older. Already booster shots are made available for persons 18 years and older and persons 12 to 17 years who are being administered the Pfizer vaccine.Meanwhile, via its daily COVID-19 update on Monday, the Ministry via its dashboard reported that within the last 24 hours, they

have recorded 22 new cases across the country. The new infections now bring the total number of confirmed cases to 65,294. According to the dashboard, two patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care

Unit (ICU), 30 persons are in institutional isolation, 881 are in home isolation and two are in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 63,143 persons have recovered from the virus.

A CLASH OF VISIONS...

From page 5 weapons of mass destruction; ending the arms race; abolition of foreign military bases; nuclear disarmament; respect for the right of people to sovereignty and independence; respect

for the territorial integrity of states; non-interference in the internal affairs of nations and peaceful coexistence between states with different political systems.

Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee

INDIANNESS defined...

From page 5 may find it difficult to feel Indianness as his ATMA is compromised. This does not mean that he is unretrievable.

Case in point is the Honourable Kamal Mohammed of Trinidad who was one of the main founding fathers of the Black based party [PNM] in Trinidad and who was next in line to become Prime Minister upon the death of Dr. Eric Williams.

The honourable gentleman was told by PNM - affiliates and specifically by the President of Trinidad, Sir Ellis

Clarke: ‘YOU CANNOT BE THE PRIME MINISTER OF TRINIDAD, THE COUNTRY IS NOT READY FOR AN INDIAN. Kamal was hurt as his ATMA was affected. All his political life he was a strong supporter of the PNM. Kamal retaliated by telling Muslims that they must support the Indian based party [UNC].

If the 1964 WISMAR MASSACRE does not affect Freddie Kissoon as an Indian, he cannot feel Indianness.

Most importantly, my name also defines my Indianness.

Vassan Ramracha

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Daily we read and hear stories of the suffering of Guyanese across the length and breadth of this country, while our leaders make empty promises of 'good life; one Guyana and securing the lives of the nation's people'.

Over the past weeks, the reality of poverty in this oil-rich, but mismanaged country has not escaped our attention at this newspaper. When we read how desperate were the circumstances of the three children who perished in the fire at Mocha and then seeing pictures of schoolchildren being fed plain rice and pepper, one cringes in hurt for this country.

Seemingly with no plan, no vision, no proper programme for poverty alleviation, the Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo every day is busy running around the country promising citizens part-time jobs and cash grants.

And while the initiative in and of itself might not be bad, the unstructured, discriminatory manner in which these things are being rolled out does not inspire any confidence that our leaders care about us.

And so the poor remains with us, desperate and disadvantaged with no leader.

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Guyana must define clearly what oil companies can recover ...T&T stakeholders urge T

he failure to have the right legal controls in place to get the best out of oil and gas audits has cost the people of Trinidad and Tobago millions of US dollars over the years. Some of these mistakes, they are still paying

for today.

In light of this, industry stakeholders of the CARICOM State stressed the need for Guyana to be vigilant when auditing oil companies' bills and implement mechanisms that would guard against abuse.

On the sidelines of the recently concluded Trinidad a n d To b a g o E n e r g y Conference 2022, stakeholders sought to impress upon this news agency, that petroleum cost auditing is a technical function requiring

specialised knowledge and expertise.

They explained that multinational oil and gas companies have the resources to employ ample financial advisers, accountants, and lawyers.

Meanwhile, most developing-country tax authorities suffer from weak capacity owing to a shortage of skilled staff. In many cases, it was explained that those agencies have yet to develop sector-specific knowledge to detect and mitigate cost overstatement; even as they work to simultaneously keep up with an industry that is constantly

changing. In essence, the capacity imbalance between oil companies and governments makes it profoundly difficult for revenue administrators to control costs.

One way of bridging the gap, they said, is for the two year-old producer to review and strengthen laws that determine the treatment or eligibility of costs to be recovered by oil companies.

With such a tool, they argued that auditors would be armed with a key legal tool to protect government revenues from abuse. “Of course this is a matter of policy, but it is vital that Guyana gets this right. This loophole has cost

us over US$200M in taxes and we are not even producing at the scale Guyana is; even the incentives we give out have opened a door to massive abuse that we cannot close to this day. Guyana has to do this right or it can lose way more than we did,” one stakeholder shared.

It was in May the Government of Guyana had signed a contract for a fourmonth review or audit of ExxonMobil's expenses between the years 2018 to 2020.

Importantly, the audit will cost Guyanese some US$751,000. This is a (Continued on page 13)

Tuesday June 07, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Did the system fail you or did you fail to keep up with the system?

“Back in the day when yuh pass yuh school-leaving examinations, yuh could count on securing a decent job with one of the small companies they had around at the time… that is if you knew somebody inside.

For back in the day, it did not matter whether yuh passed or yuh failed the school-leaving, yuh catching your tail unless yuh knew somebody who was either somebody or knew somebody that knew somebody.

They had some fellows who used to have things easy. They werent rich but they came from the right family, the sort of family that knew people who could open doors, narrow as they were.

Some of these same fellows attained prominence but not on merit because when they see bright boys who used to cut dem tail in school, they turn away because they know that them bright boys deserve the job that the fellows have and they deserve to be scrounging like so many others.

But so is life eh! Some men become real big because they born into the right connections.

Some poor guys study hard and found that whatever doors were opened for them, they had to push first with their knees.

Many poor people used this as the excuse. They say that how the system against them.

How the system discriminates against them.

They claim how they fail school-leaving because the system did not want them to go and get clerk work.

But when it comes to exam, the system fair. They did fail.

They shame fuh admit it but good as they were, they were not good enough.

They fail and since they did not have the right connections, they had to start from scratch.

Some of them end up at scratch. After a while, they forgot their dreams. They forget they did want become clerk in Bookers or civil service.

They decide to settle wherever they were, hoping that the boss man remember them at Christmas and when they get old that the company gon pay them a pension on which they can pass their remaining days.

They didn t cater for something called inflation and nationalisation. When the nationalisation thing start, dem boss man decided that it was time to begin to ship out their money.

They kept the company going, hoping that the nationalisation thing would pass, but they kept shipping out their money.

They send dem pickney outside too and meantime, the poor man find that things getting harder and harder.

Instead of waiting for

pension, the poor fellow trying to figure out whether he gon live to ninety because the way the inflation going, he gon have to work all he life because he cant even afford to pay for the coffin.

The poor man sitting down pining away hoping that business gon pick up so that the boss man dont have to send he home. But things didnt pick up. Things start to go down… and fast too.

Meantime, the boss man has one foot in and one foot out.

He is living in two countries, six months outside and six months inside.

At least when he comes back, he does bring a tin ah sardine, which the poor man had to hide to eat. It was when he sat for all those hours doing nothing waiting for things to get better that he does wonder about the schoolleaving certificate and why he did not pass.

Up to then, he still saying they cheat him that he make the grade and if they did not rob he and all dem other boys, he would have a big job like them middle class boys who used to play all day and ended up in good jobs and driving Holden motorcars.

Some of he friends encourage he to try he hand at porkknocking.

They say it have good money. When he see dem boys they always have money and spending it too on liquor and women.

Dem boys seh...

From fuss to last Guyana become de fuss country in de Caribbean to give de vaccine to children 511 years old. But yuh can bet dat while Guyana get age over dem odda countries in de Caribbean, we can end up falling behind.

Dem odda countries can start after we and end up passing and leaving we behind. And yuh want know why?

Dem boys done predict how nuff ah dem parents nah gan send dem children fuh de vaccine. Dem gan claim how

children nat getting de virus.

And dem gan be wrang.

Because de Big Man talk how one third of all de COVID positive cases in Guyana was children. Dat would mean dat 20,000 children get infected.

So dis prove wah dem boys been claiming all along: dat de fastest way to spread a virus is to get it into de school system. And it might explain why dem had a spike in cases one month after school reopen.

Dem schools can become super-spreaders. But dem

same parents wah does send dem children to school every day nah gan want dem children fuh get de juk.

COVID nah gan disappear dis way. And when yuh think schools woulda open during de August holiday, we hear how dem teachers tired. Tired doing wat?

Now dat de country want dem fuh push in a lil extra wuk fuh dem children, some ah dem claiming dem tired. But dem nah bin tired staying home.

Talk half. Leff half.

But that sort of life was not for him. He wanted to work in office. He settle for the storage bond but perhaps one day his children will not have to do like he did. Only thing is that now the examinations change. Is no longer school-leaving. It has another name, and some of

these children writing fourteen and fifteen subjects.

They dont need dem big jobs that they can get with dem certificate but it is dem who will get it. Not he pickney.

This time is not the exam that cheating. Is the system. The more you try, the harder it gets.

Good thing he hold on to his

two cents work. It still better than nothing which is what he had most of his life!”

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Monday May Tuesday June02, 07,2022 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Handshake refusal: The PNC should look for a new leader

I

once wrote on this page that as soon as you completed your analysis and get ready to send it to the newspaper, the item goes on the backburner because some controversial intrusion is always coming up.

I cannot count the number of times I had to relegate to a later date completed articles because of intervening factors. Today's intended article was on the pantomime in the AFC with the press getting it badly wrong by concluding David Patterson is challenging Khemraj Ramjattan for the leader position.

Anyway, that column will have to give way to today's piece – Aubrey Norton's disastrous refusal to initially shake the hand of the President of the Republic.

But something may come up after today that may further delay the description of the pantomime.

There is no precedent in Guyana for what took place last Thursday at the residence of the British High Commissioner, the occasion being the Queen's birthday.

The video clip has gone global. Countless numbers have seen it. Mr. Norton ignore the outstretch hand of the President. The video

shows the persistence of the President, and the subsequent change of mind

by Norton.

The President told the Stabroek News that Norton refused to shake his hand and that he told Norton to shake his hand because both of them are mature people. But who says Norton is mature?

What Norton did was puerile, contemptuous, indecent and unethical.

From Forbes Burnham to Desmond Hoyte to Robert Corbin to David Granger, none of them in their capacity as Opposition Leader would have stooped as low as Norton did. None of the large

figures in the PNC hierarchy would have done that. Top politicians do not do that. I could see an ordinary member of parliament refusing to shake the hand of a minister but not the President.

I have known Vincent Alexander all my life – we were born a block away from each other in Wortmanville. I can say with monumental definitiveness – Vincent Alexander would not have embarrassed himself so s t u p i d l y. W h a t i s t h e analysis?

First, Norton is proving his detractors right both inside and outside the PNC. He was elected by minority voting. Half the delegates did not cheer for him. A vastly popular leader would have attracted more votes than Norton got last December when he beat Joseph Harmon.

Secondly, like Robert Corbin, Norton has spent too long a period as street agitator.

He cannot make the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n e a s i l y.

Norton, Alexander and many others did not greet Corbin's triumph with enthusiasm.

There were always perceptions before Corbin became leader that he was seen as the PNC's street fighter.

A fate that destroyed society's acceptance of Hamilton Green.

Norton has become the

object of that same perception.

O f c o u r s e , victimhood is justified in this context Frederick Kissoon because growing up in politics seeing how Norton operated that image is N orton's main planks are the not without validity. Thirdly, lunatic fringe (TLF) and the Norton is playing to a urban and rural street people.

In refusing to shake the constituency he knows best – the streets. He knows that he President's hand, Norton is will not be accepted by the playing to those galleries. He usual suspects (TUS), the knows TLF and the street Creole middle class (CMC) people will cheer him on and the political nouveau shouting: “dat is we boy, show Granger how fuh deal lumpen (PNL). with de PPP.” Those strata embraced But that is a selfand respected Granger. This explains their psychological destructive mistake. Norton devastation when he lost the and the PNC cannot survive 2020 election their constant through their collaboration refusal to condemn and with two dimensions of debate Granger's attitude to society only. What about the the 2018 no-confidence vote different tiers of the Black and the five month election middle class, the educated scandal and their shameless, Black youths, the business relentless vendetta against communities among the the Ali presidency even mixed race and the Afrotargeting his wife (see my business people?

Norton has survived the two columns on this post-Granger criticism of Dr. targeting: Wednesday, May 18, 2022, “Peeping Tom on Richard Van West Charles the Stabroek News” and because PNC die-hards Friday, May 27, 2022, “Can thinks Dr. Van West Charles r e p l a c e m e n t t h e o r y belong to the Burnham era circulating in the US be that has long gone.

But as Norton drifts from applied to Guyana?”). one mistake to another, the For the reaction of how long knives in the PNC will these strata will deal with Norton see my column of get him; certainly after 2025.

(The views expressed in Friday, December 24, 2021, this article are those of the “PNC election results 2021, a u t hor and do not Part 2: Norton faces colour necessarily reflect the and class.” Norton knows there is no embrace coming opinions of this newspaper.) from TUS, CMC and PNL.

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Oil company hikes pay for foreigners, ...GAWU says situation another but blanks locals assault on local oil sector workers The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers' Union (GAWU) has described the non-payment of a salary increase to Guyanese workers by an oil and gas support company as “another assault” on the rights of

locals within the sector.

The GAWU informed that a named oil and gas support company recently increased wages for its expatriate staff but has blatantly refused to do the same for Guyanese. The

labour union said it understands that while the increased cost of living would have promoted the wage increase for the foreign workers, it is reportedly being said that any such increase for Guyanese would

be an unnecessary “favour”.

In a public statement, GAWU said that it is widely recognised that workers and their families are facing serious constraints arising from the substantial hike in the cost of living.

Notwithstanding efforts by policy makers to provide breathing room, the ascension of prices remains steep for many important and essential commodities and

services. In this regard, some enterprises have sought to alleviate their workers burdens by approving pay rises as they recognize the importance of their employees.

“Undoubtedly, it was against that background that a well-known foreign-owned oil sector company decided to improve pay rates for its employees. Dismayingly, the GAWU Oil and Gas Branch

was informed that the increases were only approved for that company's expatriate staffers.” GAWU said that the locals on the other hand, who comprise a significant proportion of the workforce, were excluded from that company's consideration.

According to GAWU, “The workers said they heard rumblings that the locals did not require any pay rises.

They said from what they learnt their foreign bosses felt that their earnings were more than adequate, and a pay rise would represent essentially a favour.” The (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 07, 2022

PAGE 13

T&T not relying on - Rowley int'l funding alone says for green initiatives Recognising the urgency for the transition to a green e c o n o m y, w i t h g l o b a l temperatures expected to rise, Trinidad and Tobago will not be relying on international bodies to fund projects geared towards this development, but instead the twin-island republic through its central bank will be pursuing a low carbon economy.

This is according to the T&T Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley.

The Prime Minister during the opening of the country's Energy Conference, hosted at the Hyatt Regency between May 31 and June 2, last made the disclosure. The Energy Conference this year was focused on the shift to a green economy themed '“Leveraging the industry's strengths for the energy transition”.

To this end, Dr. Rowley made the point that the transition to a green economy is not “inexpensive” as he alluded to a Bloomberg report which determined that in 2021, global investment in the lowcarbon energy transition totaled US$755 billion”. By its estimates, total energy transition expenditure will need to triple in the coming years to get on track for net zero by 2050. The Prime Minister explained that Trinidad and Tobago alone will need about US$2 billion to meet the nationally determined contribution. In this regard, he pointed out, “As is the case for many developing countries,

Trinidad and Tobago cannot achieve carbon neutrality without significant international financial assistance.

T h e U N h a s acknowledged the fact that the achievement of targets by several developing countries is conditional on foreign financial assistance. The United Nations Environment Programme has projected that developing countries require US$300 billion a year by 2030, and US$500 billion by 2050 to adapt to the effects of climate change.

H o w e v e r, f i n a n c e f o r mitigation and adaptation has been a major issue. In 2009, developed nations agreed to provide US $100 billion per year to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, this target has not been met and to the extent that funds were made available, they did not find their way, in any volume, to small island developing states.”

In this regard, Dr. Rowley shared that the Central Bank of Trinidad and To b a g o , t h r o u g h i t s membership in the Network for Greening the Financial System and other international arrangements for collaboration, will play a key role in the financing of the country's energy transition to a low carbon economy.

“As a Government, we have taken a pragmatic approach to energy t r a n s i t i o n . We h a v e undertaken the dual responsibility to optimize

our hydrocarbon resources for the benefit of our citizens as well as taking action to reduce our carbon footprint.

In our estimation, there is no conflict between investing in renewables and in hydrocarbons as over time renewables can liberate oil and gas for export markets, and also create a diversified energy mix,” the Prime Minister urged.

While T&T has taken a decision to ensure renewable and safe energy is incorporated to meet the global requirements rather than depend on financing from developed countries to fuel the transition, quite the opposite can be said for Guyana.

In fact, only on Sunday, the President, Irfaan Ali spoke against the failure of the developed countries to keep their pledge to support states that desperately needed the finances to pursue the transition.

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

Guyana must define clearly what...

From page 8 discounted price from the US$1 million that was being sought by the consortium to undertake the review.

The consultancy was awarded to VHE Consulting, which is a registered partnership between Ramdihal & Haynes Inc; Eclisar Financial; and Vitality Accounting & Consultancy Inc. The Local Consortium is supported by International firms- SGS and Martindale Consultants for the 'Cost Recovery Audit and Va l i d a t i o n o f t h e Government of Guyana's

Profit Oil Share'.

Government has come in for some considerable backlash for the short timeline it has given the companies to conduct the audit. It should be noted that the audit timeline is in stark contrast to Ghana and Kenya for example, where the authorities there retain the right to complete audits of companies' cost recovery bills within seven years.

In Peru, the time limit for audits is a minimum of four years. Even in the USA, audits are allowed to be completed within a

minimum of three years.

International agencies such as Oxfam America have warned that even a threeyear deadline would not be suitable for Guyana given its technical deficiencies.

Natural Resources Minister, Vi c k r a m B h a r r a t h a s nonetheless expressed every confidence that the contracted consortium can get the job done.

He said that the results of the said exercise would also be publicised while adding that any issues found would with overstated costs would be reclaimed.

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 t r e a t m e n t , t h e nondiscriminatory nature of the global system and the access to resources.”

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley delivering the key address at the country's Energy Conference.

Ali was at the time speaking at the National Park, where a walk was 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'.

PAGE 14

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Statistics Bureau, FAO undertaking food insecurity survey

T

he Bureau of Statistics and the F o o d a n d Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have collaborated to collect, analyse and disseminate data on the

prevalence of food insecurity in Guyana.

This will be done at the individual and household levels, utilising the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) methodology, which

will be incorporated into the Bureau's Labour Force Survey.

The Kaieteur News only recently reported on a Caribbean COVID-19 Food Security and Livelihoods

Impact Survey which was launched by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to rapidly gather data on impacts to livelihoods, food security and access to markets. The survey has shown that Guyanese are adopting negative measures to cope with the ongoing difficulties associated with accessing food. The survey was implemented by the World Food Programme with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and four rounds of the survey have been completed since the beginning of the pandemic.

It was reported that findings during the February 2022 survey highlighted that citizens are adopting negative coping strategies to make ends meet. “More people are skipping meals and eating less preferred foods compared to April 2020.” Lowest income households, it was said, were most likely to resort to negative coping strategies, with 94 percent reporting to have depleted savings, 64 percent reduced spending on other essential needs, and 52 percent sold their productive assets.

“Food insecurity has further increased since April 2020. It is estimated that 58 percent of respondents from Guyana are moderately or severely food insecure which is higher than the regional average,” the survey found. The lowest income households have the highest severe food insecurity rates. While 58 percent of respondents continue to be worried about getting COVID-19, another 35 percent of citizens are also increasingly worried about meeting their food and other essential needs.

Meanwhile, the Stats Bureau said that in the intended, it has taken a coste ff e c t i v e a p p r o a c h t o produce food insecurity statistics. The data collected will help Guyana to identify existing food insecurity, track progress towards global goals, and inform

decision-making and humanitarian responses that can alleviate hunger, the States Bureau said in a release.

Many countries across the world have adopted this methodology due to its simplicity and reliability to produce results using a set of eight questions about experiences related to food access. This methodology was developed by the FAO to measure the prevalence of food insecurity in a given population and this informs Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 2.1.2,

Bureau were trained recently to utilise the FIES methodology to collect data.

Also, the FAO provided twenty-five (25) android tablets to support the data collection exercise and will work with Statisticians at the Bureau to compute the indicators for Guyana for the first time.

FAO Statistician for the Caribbean, Maxime Luciéné noted that “the granular data of the FIES will not only allow a comprehensive understanding of the food insecurity situation of Guyana, but will offer to

Representatives of the Bureau and the FAO display the tablets, which were provided. which estimates the proportion of the population facing moderate or severe difficulties in accessing food.

According to Deputy Chief Statistician (Ag), Bureau of Statistics, Mrs. Vanessa Profitt, “the FIES survey module has been incorporated into the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the second quarter of 2022. The inclusion of this module into the ongoing survey allows for the gathering of information useful for the assessment of Guyana's progress towards achieving SDG 2 as well as to reveal the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food access."

Forty field staff from the

decision-makers an excellent opportunity to take targeted measures to combat food insecurity due to the difference between gender, ethnicity, region or rural versus urban areas.”

M e a n w h i l e , FA O Representative in Guyana, Dr. Gillian Smith highlighted that Guyana is on an ambitious development pathway to transform the agriculturefood system, and food security coupled with resilient production systems are a vital part of this vision.

“FAO has tremendous expertise in these areas and continues to provide technical support to Guyana (Continued on page 22)

Field staff of the Bureau during a recent training.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 07, 2022

CHEC to hand over 'milking cow' CJIA project month end A

lmost a decade after the sod was turned for the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA)–Chinese contractorChina Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is expected to officially hand over the airport to the Government of Guyana (GoG) – June month end.

This is according to Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill. Earlier this y e a r, d u r i n g a p r e s s conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the minister had disclosed that the deadline for the additional works at CJIA is set for June 2022.

When contacted on Monday for an update on the progress of the works being undertaken by CHEC, Minister Edghill said, “We expect the Chinese contractor to hand over the airport at the end of June 2022 and as far as I'm aware, this is on track.”

Edghill is reported in the media as saying that the CJIA project with Chinese contractor, CHEC, remains at US$150M: $138M from the China Exim Bank and $12M from the consolidated fund – taxpayers' money.

The minister had cited that the additional works being undertaken by CHEC are at no cost to Guyana, but through negotiations with the government which the contractor agreed to do at their own expense.

The additional works being done by the Chinese contractor includes the superstructure, corridor and curtain wall. Notably, while the contract cost with the Chinese contractor remains at US$150M, the government is undertaking several multi-million upgrades to the airport which were separated into three parts.

CJIA's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ramesh Ghir had disclosed that the spending being done by the government is separate from the ongoing modernisation works being undertaken by CHEC. The additional spending by the government has increased the amount of money spent on the airport which falls way below

-Edghill

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill. expectations and international airport standards.

Minister Edghill had blamed the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition for causing more monies to be spent on CJIA. During an interview on National Communications Network (NCN), the Minister had highlighted that the additional spending and modernisation of the CJIA is owed to works outside the amended Coalition contract to which the Government has acquired the contractor to undertake and separate works that they are doing.

A D D I T I O N A L SPENDING The government signed a $513M contract last year with construction company CALCO for the construction of a new building attached to CJIA's terminal building.

Ghir had explained that the new building will house a conference room, offices for the airlines and the other support agencies as well as storage bonds for the dutyf r e e s h o p s a n d concessionaires.

In September 2021, Edghill's Ministry awarded a contract for US$2M to a local company named Total Solutions for the supply of two additional air-bridges for CJIA, some US$ 350,000 more than what was paid for the other air bridges.

Edghill had stated that

the government money funded the additional air bridges expense. Kaieteur News had reported that according to the minister, “The air bridges are being funded by the Government of Guyana and that is as a result of the agreement made with the APNU/AFC, when they ended up with two air bridges and then we had to get a supplementary from the Parliament, Government of Guyana, to buy the other two.”

Some other projects at the airport that the government is funding are: $38 million for an international apron and the taxiway Charlie; $23M for the rehabilitation of the existing roof at the airport; construction and rehabilitation works of the VIP Lounge and new and existing commercial buildings of the airport at an estimated cost of $612M; $518M runway which comes with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and $420 million which was approved by the National Assembly for a baggage handling system for the renovated airport.

Also, the airport's CEO had mentioned that within a decade a second terminal will be needed at the renovated international airport – which will see more monies being pumped into the project.

BACKGROUND The airport expansion contract was signed in 2011 under then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, and the sod was turned on March 23, 2014, under the truncated presidency of Donald Ramotar.

When the David Granger administration took over in 2015, it said that the very defective plan needed adjustments.

The then Minister of Public Infrastructure, Patterson, said that upon assumption of office, the APNU+AFC administration found that only seven percent of the work was completed. Even with the sub-standard work, former (Continued on page 22)

PAGE 15

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

WCB lad dies four months after accident F

our months after being struck down on the Lovely Lass Public Road, West Coast Berbice by taxi driver Joseph Warde, seven-year-old Jayden Cheefoon, a Grade Three student of Latchmansingh Primary School has died.

Regional Police Commander, Kurleigh Simon in charge of Region No.5 confirmed that Cheefoon died between Thursday 2nd June and Friday 3rd June 2022.

He said that a post mortem would be done soon to determine the cause of death.

Following the accident, which occurred on the 13th of February 2022, Cheefoon was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital and was released on 28th April, 2022.

The child since his release from hospital was confined to bed and had lost weight.

His parents had hoped for a full recovery however, his condition d e t e r i o r a t e d instead.

The driver of the car which struck the boy down was arrested and r e l e a s e d o n station bail shortly after the accident and a file that was sent to the c h a m b e r o f t h e Director of Public P r o s e c utions had returned with the advice not to charge the driver.

The driver had told police that on the day of the accident, the boy made a sudden dash from behind a parked car, into his path.

Commander Simon has

Woman gets three years for attempting to extort $10M from ex-boyfriend with rape allegation

P

rincess Williams, 20 of 3127 Block T h r e e , Providence, East Bank Demerara, was on Monday found guilty of attempting to extort $10M from her exboyfriend by claiming that she would make a police report saying that he attempted to rape her.

On February 12, 2021, Williams made her first court appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly. On that hearing, the young woman had pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that between January 4, and January 7, 2021, at Georgetown, with intent to extort from Kenrick Thomas $10M, she threatened to accuse him of attempting to rape her.

The matter was adjourned for sentencing and Williams was remanded to prison.

However, when she made her second court appearance,

Williams obtained legal representation and she requested to change her plea, this then led to the matter going to trial.

The matter was tried before Magistrate Rhondell Weever in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts, who on May 6, ruled that the court is satisfied with the evidence that was put before the court and as such, she found Williams guilty of the extortion charge.

According to the facts of the charge, Williams and Thomas shared a four-month relationship.

On January 4, 2021, Thomas invited Williams to his home. While at Thomas' home, he asked Williams to engage in sexual intercourse and she consented.

Afterwards, an argument ensued, and the relationship ended.

The court heard that Williams later contacted Thomas and sent him a voice note in which she claimed that he tried to rape her and if

Jayden Cheefoon following the accident.

Jayden Cheefoon

since said that when the post mortem is completed, another file will be sent to the DPP for

advice.

The investigation remains open and active at this stage.

Mechanic charged for allegedly killing wife Jailed, Princess Williams.

he didn't pay her the sum of $10M, she would report the matter to the police.

Thomas reported the matter to the police and an investigation was launched.

Williams was later arrested and charged with extortion.

Moreover, Williams is before the court for attempting to escape from lawful custody. According to reports, the day after Williams was found guilty of the extortion charge, while at the East La Penitence Police Station, she complained of feeling unwell.

As such, she was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to seek medical attention.

It was stated that after being looked after, Williams asked to use the washroom, and while doing same, she escaped from the washroom.

An alarm was raised and she was later found at Thomas and Lamaha Streets, with a cloth wrapped around her hands hiding the handcuff.

Clarence Farley who was arrested last Thursday in Berbice for the alleged killing of his wife, Omega Ault, was Dead, on Monday remanded to Omega prison after he was charged for her death.

Ault Farley, a 40-year-old mechanic of Lot 18 Crane V i l l a g e , We s t C o a s t Demerara (WCD) made his first court appearance yesterday at the Vreed-enHoop Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Faith McGusty where the indictable charge was read to him.

Farley was not required to plead to the charge which alleges that between May 23 and 27 last, at Lot 18 Crane Village, WCD he murdered 41-year-old Ault.

Magistrate McGusty after remanding Farley to prison adjourned the matter to June 27, for

Remanded to prison, Clarence Farley

report.

Kaieteur News had reported that the decomposing body of the 41-year-old teacher was found on May 27, around 17:00hrs by her brother. According to police reports, he reportedly did not hear from her for some time and stated that she was not responding to his phone calls. Worried about his sister's safety, he decided to pay a visit to her home where he made the gruesome discovery.

Police noted that Ault was living with her husband, Clarence Farley and their threeyear-old son and that the couple was encountering problems in their marriage. It was reported to the police that earlier that week, Farley had taken their son to Ault's sister in Diamond, on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and informed her that he was going into the backdam. He was not seen after then. After the woman's lifeless body was discovered, a wanted bulletin was issued for Farley, who was nabbed at a hotel in Berbice last week. A post mortem examination conducted on the remains of Ault revealed that she died as a result of brain haemorrhage and multiple traumas to the

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 07, 2022

PAGE 17

Boat captain found dead in fuel tank The boat where Hopkinson's body was found.

The body of a twentyeight-year-old boat captain was found in a fuel tank onboard a vessel at Adventure on the Essequibo Coast, early Monday morning.

The body was positively identified as that of Saigon Hopkinson, a resident of Lot 71 East Potaro Road, Bartica.

According to police, the body was found at around 08:00hrs at Shurland Fuel Depot at Adventure on the Essequibo Coast.

Kaieteur News was told that the 75ft. long metal boat departed Bartica at around midnight on Sunday. The vessel, which was powered by three, 60 horse power engines, reportedly arrived at Adventure at around 05:30hrs on Monday.

A police source who spoke to this publication said

that Hopkinson was at the time onboard the vessel with two sailors. Since the men had to wait for the boat to be loaded, Hopkinson reportedly instructed them to get some rest. However, around 08:00hrs on Monday, when they woke up, they noticed the boat captain was not around.

They then made checks around the boat at which point Saigon's body was discovered in a fuel tank on the vessel. Police were alerted and subsequently retrieved the body of Hopkinson. No mark of violence was reportedly seen on the man's body. The body was escorted to the Suddie Public Hospital where an official pronouncement of death was given by a doctor on duty.

Buxton carpenter electrocuted while constructing stairway Police on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) are currently investigating the death of a 30-year-old carpenter who was allegedly electrocuted while constructing a wooden step at a house in the village.

The dead man has been identified as Conrad Spencer of Lot 10 Company Road, Buxton who met his demise on Sunday. Police in a statement said that around 09:30hrs Spencer was at Lot 6 Joseph Street Buxton, erecting a wooden step when tragedy struck. While in the process of cutting a wood with an electrical saw, Spencer reportedly came in

Dead, Conrad Spencer

contact with a live wire and was electrocuted.

Spencer was barefooted at the time of his demise, and was observed lying motionless next to the workbench with an electrical saw alongside him and his body facing upwards, the police report revealed. Upon examination of his body, investigators stated that on his right hand, he had what appeared to be burnt marks around the elbow area.

Spencer's body is presently at the Jerrick's Funeral Home where a post mortem is expected to be conducted. An investigation has since been launched.

Dead, Saigon Hopkinson.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Part-time workers earning more than some public servants ...FITUG calls out Govt. for not approving national minimum wage

A

s conversations on the rising cost of living and increase to the paltry $44,200 minimum wage rage on, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has called out the government for failing to increase the salary of the mostly privately employed persons, while offering the same salary to part time workers for less days of work.

The FITUG has questioned the logic behind government's move to pay part-time workers $40,000 for 10 days of work, while ordinary workers are being paid $44,200 to perform an entire month's tasks.

In a public missive, the FITUG said it remained “perplexed” as to why there has been no move to increase the minimum wage despite the “unanimous” support of those involved. It said that the hardships citizens are facing as a result of increased cost of living, is widely known. “We are convinced that the present national minimum wage can hardly be seen as adequate. Even the Government through its

recently launched part-time jobs programme has taken cognizance of this reality.”

Highlighting publications in the media where government announced that workers will receive $40,000 for 10 days work, FITUG said, the idea, “…contrasts with persons at the national minimum wage working for no less than 20 days to earn $44,200.

he did indicate, according to the June 05, 2022 Stabroek News, that “…the private sector had views on this issue.”

Indeed, we do recollect the private sector's views,” the FITUG asserted. They said that “The December 16, 2021, Guyana Chronicle quoted Private Sector Commission Chairman, Mr.

Outside of this, the FITUG sought to ascertain the cause for further consultations toward increasing the minimum wage when that proposal was “unanimously” supported.

President Irfaan Ali had said that Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton would be tasked with providing a comprehensive report on the views of stakeholders r e g a r d i n g t h e implementation of the new national minimum wage to the Cabinet.

“Though the President did not outline what form the consultation would take nor whom would be consulted,

Paul Cheong as saying “We had a meeting… and we agreed on the $60,000.” He was further quoted as saying, “A lot of the companies already pay that and more as the minimum wage, and employees need to be comfortable. For those who are below it, it will be a good boost to their income. It's small, but people need to be comfortable to perform properly enough”.

Arising from that decision, the private sector's representatives on the National Tripartite Committee (NTC) would have expressed their support (Continued on page 23)

Oil company hikes pay for...

From page 12 workers told GAWU that they were simply appalled that their employer would engage in such demeaning thoughts. Additionally, some employees who have been there for several years to date, have not received any rise in pay despite continuing to perform c r e d i b l y, t h e U n i o n informed.

The GAWU said that the local employees are at a loss for their exclusion.

“They shared with us that their foreign colleagues earn substantially more than them but inexplicably, their salaries were insufficient thus necessitating the pay rise. The workers were perplexed that if it was that the foreigners were receiving inadequate pay it did not take any serious examination to understand their situation.”

The GAWU said it is deeply disturbed by the actions of the foreign enterprise. “It represents yet

another assault on Guyanese workers in the oil sector… and further illustrates the need for the sector to be organized.” The workers' representative said that many foreign owned companies have adopted stringent anti-union policies and have sought to quell any efforts by workers to become unionized.

“This is not surprising given the exploitative practices perpetuated by some enterprises in the sector. Some firms we have heard have sought to assure their workers that they have their interest at heart.

This, of course, is a misnomer as only their bottom line is what really matters and workers becoming unionised, seemingly represents a threat to profitability. It is indeed a disheartening situation,” GAWU lamented.

G AW U r e c e n t l y highlighted a number of grim cases where workers were injured doing oil and

gas jobs and sent home without compensation.

GAWU said that oil and gas workers were being sent home for merely asking questions about safety equipment. The labour union had highlighted too that while companies within the sector were touting large sums of money for related jobs, they were actually paying workers at the current minimum wage of $44,200 but fluffing the salary with benefits that many of the companies pay out at their own discretion.

GAWU had told this newspaper also that while some companies were not telling workers to not join unions outright, they were creating an atmosphere where such representation is unwanted. On a sadder note, GAWU said that oil and gas workers were refusing to report or make complains against the companies at fault for fear of being blackballed within the sector.

PAGE 19

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

War in Ukraine quickens inflation, increases poverty in Caribbean - new ECLAC report The Economic Commission for Latin

America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) released a new

policy brief today that analyzes the war in Ukraine's

economic and social effects on the region and provides recommendations to countries on how to address them.

According to the United Nations regional organization, the region's economies face a difficult scenario in 2022 in an external context of u n c e r t a i n t y, i n f l a t i o n (particularly in food and energy), and a deceleration of economic activity and trade.

According to ECLAC's report entitled Repercussions in Latin America and the Caribbean of the war in Ukraine: how should the region face this new crisis?, the region confronts domestic contexts marked by a sharp economic slowdown, rising inflation and a slow and incomplete recovery of labor markets, which will increase poverty and extreme poverty levels. As a result, 7.8 million people are forecast to join the 86.4 million others whose food security is already at risk.

The document – which was presented at a press conference by the Commission's Acting Executive Secretary, Mario Cimoli – emphasizes that the current situation should not be seen as an isolated phenomenon since its effects meld with those caused by more than a decade of accumulated crises: the international financial crisis, economic tensions between the United States and China, and the pandemic.

In that context, the study indicates that after the economic expansion seen in 2021 (6.3% growth in regional GDP), the region will notch average annual growth of 1.8% in 2022 (as ECLAC stated on April 27) and is seen returning to the slow growth pattern exhibited from 2014 to 2019 (just 0.3% annual growth on average, with the resulting decline in GDP per inhabitant).

Progress on vaccinations, fewer restrictions on mobility and the reopening of schools will drive a recovery in labor participation levels, especially among women, who were the most affected in this regard, having left the labor market in greater proportion to men during the pandemic.

The combined effect of greater labor participation and a low pace of growth, and therefore of job creation, is expected to lead to an increase in the

unemployment rate in 2022.

The economies of Latin America and the Caribbean began to experience an increase in the inflation rate in 2021. While the region's annual inflation amounted to 6.6% by the end of 2021, it had risen to 8.1% by April 2022, and many central banks anticipate that inflation will remain high for the rest of the year, the document adds. Taking the effects of slow growth and accelerated inflation into account, ECLAC forecasts that poverty and extreme poverty will rise above the levels estimated for 2021.

The incidence of regional poverty is seen reaching 33.7% (1.6 percentage points above the value projected for 2021), while extreme poverty is seen rising to 14.9% (1.1 percentage points more than in 2021). This outcome reflects the sharp increase in food prices. These levels are markedly higher than those seen before the pandemic and entail another setback in the fight against poverty, the report underscores.

The document adds that higher commodity prices, the increase in transportation costs and disruptions to international supply chains will affect the region's goods exports. In December 2021, ECLAC projected a 10% increase in the value of regional exports of goods and a 9% increase in the value of imports. However, the price increase for several of the main products that the region buys and sells abroad raises the projection for 2022 to a 23% expansion, both for exports and imports. Progrowth fiscal and monetary policies will be needed to respond to the current scenario and stimulate sustainable and inclusive growth.

ECLAC proposes continuing to use fiscal policy as a central component of development policy, which requires strengthening public revenue to increase fiscal space. It is necessary to reduce evasion, reorient tax expenditures and bolster the progressivity of the tax structure. To contain inflationary pressures, which are fundamentally driven by supply-related factors, monetary policy must utilize the broadest possible spectrum of available tools.

This necessitates combining the use of the monetary policy rate with macroprudential and foreign exchange instruments, with

the aim of tackling inflation while minimizing the negative effects on growth and investment.

What is needed without delay is to sustain the welfare of the poorest sectors, the organization warns. Food security must be a priority.

Thus, international trade in food and fertilizers should not be restricted since doing so would accelerate inflation and hurt those who are poorest. Officials must also consider measures such as maintaining or increasing food subsidies, implementing agreements with producers and marketing chains to contain prices of items in the basic food basket, and reducing or eliminating tariffs on imports of grains and other basic products.

In the medium term, agricultural and industrial policies are needed to strengthen support for agricultural production while also increasing efficiency in the use of fertilizers, prioritising biofertilizers.

Industrial policy is key to reducing dependence on fertilizer imports in the medium term.

Meanwhile, with regard to energy security, it is essential to make progress on renewable sources and regional energy integration.

In the current context, fuel price stabilisation mechanisms are needed along with targeted and temporary subsidies for the most vulnerable population groups and the productive sectors geared towards the domestic market, the report emphasises. Cimoli concluded the presentation of the report by saying: “Latin America and the Caribbean face new geopolitical scenarios.

The breakdown of globalization may lead to different regional configurations that will define their policies based on sovereignty objectives in defense, energy, food and key industrial sectors, from those involving the highest technology to those of widely used inputs, like fertilizers.

In the face of the regionalization of the global economy, our region cannot continue to act in a fragmented way. It is necessary to increase the role of regional coordination in crisis response, formulating and implementing responses

by Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole, or its integration blocs.”

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 07, 2022

PAGE 21

RDCs inhabit holding on to public funds instead of remitting to Treasury - PAC hears R

e g i o n a l administrations across Guyana have been in the habit of withholding public funds in bank accounts instead of remitting the monies to the consolidated fund or Treasury at the end of the year.

This issue was highlighted during the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC)'s review of expenditure of the Regional Administration of Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) for the years 2017 and 2018 on Monday.

According to the Auditor General report for the years 2017 and 2018, millions of dollars collected in the region, from the rental of equipment, buildings and toll fees, are routinely placed into three Republic Bank accounts. These monies were garnered from activities within the region-- outside the budget that the region receives from the Government.

The Auditor General Reports has raised red flags where a total of $21 million was paid in advances to over 350 persons in the region from 1995 to 2018. It was also revealed that these advances were made to employees for transportation, meals, salary advances, miscellaneous works, activities and celebrations but these are already covered in budgetary allocation.

Members of PAC noted that the funds maintained in separate accounts from budgeted sum make it susceptible to abuse and corrupt use.

However, Finance Secretary, Mr. Sukrishnalall Pasha explained that there is nothing in law that prohibits the regional agency from holding the money outside of the consolidated fund.

He said, “they can use it for activities within the regions; to be on the safe side I would want to consult with the Attorney General for clarity but based on my reading there is nothing prohibiting an agency from holding the funds outside of the Consolidated Fund.

Pasha continued, “The general rule is that the unused sums should be placed back into the consolidated fund but there is an exception the exception is if there is activity that allows for those funds to be held outside of the consolidated then the region is allowed to do so. The constitution was not too

explicit on this…”

PAC Chair, Jermaine Figueira explained that the issue is not an isolated one; a number of regions had been holding unused public funds in banks accounts instead of remitting the monies to the Treasury.

“This is not an issue with Region two only; it has been happening with multiple regions…The audit office notes that similar practices were found in Regions Nine and Six… So we definitely the Attorney General's Chambers to come in and give us some understanding here so that we could have some conclusion on this matter.”

As such, Figueira noted t h a t t h e PA C w i l l b e forwarding the issue to the office of the Attorney General for clarity and guidance.

Several members of the PAC were nevertheless convinced that the region was using revenue generated, apart from annual budget allocations, as a slush fund.

PAC member Ganesh Mahipaul was particularly perturbed. He noted from his understanding that all unused public funds should be returned to consolidated fund at the end of every year.

Mahipaul was among those who sought more clarity on what the funds were used for.

In response, Regional Executive Officer, Susanah Saywack, told the PAC that the decision on how the monies are used is done between herself and the Regional Chairperson, Vilma Desilva.

Saywack said the monies were used to help people in the region; to replace laptops, assist with medical care and relocation of staff.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira was the first to put on record that the monies seem to be used outside of the purposes intended amounting to a “slush fund.”

Teixeira said among the major issue is that the monies are not declared as revenue at the end of the year and then form part of the regional budget.

She said too that the monies are not turned over to the Consolidated Fund as is expected, which also raises serious concerns.

“Persons have been delinquent too in having taken advances and not reimbursing and those persons are liable for charges of some kind,” Teixeira stated.

The meeting of the PAC on Monday reviewed the expenditure of Region Two.

PAGE 22

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Last prayer: Nigerian church massacre survivors recount ordeal WANTED

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- An attack on a church in one of Nigeria’s safest states is dominating conversations about security and government priorities nationwide.

(ALJAZEERA) - Mass had just ended. The choir was singing the closing hymns, waiting for the priest to proceed out of the church when the first gunshot rang out.

Seconds later, another gunshot followed.

By then the wardens at the entrance were scrambling to close the doors of St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, 343km southwest of Lagos.

But they could not do so in time before gunmen came in and orchestrated an onslaught on the parishioners, eyewitnesses told Al Jazeera.

The incident took all of 20 minutes, Andrew, a 20-yearold survivor who asked for his last name to be withheld, said. He and his mother were crouched beneath a seat and survived without injuries.

“I ran to my mum and held her by the hands and [was] screaming Keep your head down!,” he said. “Between the next 15 to 20 minutes, the gunshots just would not stop. It just kept going and going.” Okechukwu Confidence, whose cousin died in the bloodbath, was in the nearby Ojo Oba market when the attack happened and saw it all play out. The 35-year-old claims the attack was carried out by four gunmen.

“They trekked in with bags in their hands, [no one] knowing that those bags were [filled with] guns,” Confi-

dence told Al Jazeera. “The first person they shot was the boy that sells candy at the gate. After that, they went in and started shooting sporadically at everyone before they threw three dynamites.”

He claimed the attackers hijacked a car nearby before fleeing the scene.

At least 50 other people were killed in the attack, including children. But survivors and residents of Owo, one of the largest towns in the southwest state of Ondo, say there could be as many as 80 victims. In the aftermath of the attack, there was a flurry of condemnations from religious and political leaders. State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu described the attack in a tweet as “vile and satanic”.

President Muhammadu Buhari called for investigations and said “The country shall never give in to evil and wicked people.”

A statement issued by the Vatican read: “Pope Francis prays for the victims and the country, painfully affected at a time of celebration, and entrusts them both to the Lord so that he may send his spirit to console them.”

An intelligence failure No organisation has claimed responsibility for the incident, the latest in a series of targeted civilian attacks across parts of Nigeria.

Attacks like this are rare

in the southwest region and even more so in Ondo, widely believed to be one of Nigerias more peaceful states. The Nigeria Security Tracker, released by the Council on Foreign Relations, reported that at least 2,968 people were killed by armed groups in the first quarter of 2022 across the country. Eighty-six percent of those deaths were in northern Nigeria. Locals are attributing the attack to pastoralist herdsmen, who have been involved in recurring conflicts nationwide with farmers for years, due to competition for diminishing vegetation exacerbated by ethnic and religious differences. Ondo has been caught up in this conflict. These incidents led to the establishment of a statebacked regional vigilante outfit, Amotekun, to complement security forces in the six states of the region: Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. But there have been other speculations as to the cause of the attack. Last week, an explosion at a cultural festival in the central state of Kogi left two dead. Nigerian newspaper The Cable reported that the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for the attack. In 2012 and 2014, Boko Haram attacked prisons in the state.

Kogi, a state with a large land mass, is bordered by nine

other states as well as the federal capital, Abuja. Experts believe that ISWAP may now be expanding from Kogi into Ondo. “In terms of what it portends, Ondo shares boundaries with Kogi, which has experienced up to four ISIS attacks within the past month. I think it is something we should be on the lookout for,” said Confidence MacHarry, the lead security analyst at SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based geopolitical risk advisory.

“It is significant because it is likely an intelligence failure that has led to this,” MacHarry said. “Terrorists have been trying to attack at least for three to four years, to launch a large-scale operation. Yesterdays incident happened because security agencies let their guards down.”

Getting ready for my shot Responses to attacks across the country have been slow, with very few arrests made or any prosecution, given Nigerias underequipped and understaffed security forces, as well as a slow judicial system.

And as Nigeria heads to the polls next year, security has dominated conversations among the politicians and citizens, but the latter say it has not been duly prioritised by those aspiring for the presidency.

CHEC to hand over 'milking cow' CJIA project month...

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the contract.

However, he had not shared whether the contractor spent more than the contract sum. Sharma further said that the former APNU+AFC government would have decided whether to penalise the company for “breach of contract”.

The previous govern-

ment had also stated that it would not spend a cent more on the project, but that was not the case as a change order seen by this newspaper indicated that the administration made at least one additional disbursement of GY$6.8M for the “extra time delay and costs for the prolongation of the project” by

807 days. The order also indicated that it was a payment, not for the first, but the third claim made by the contractor.

As the country awaits the completion of the project, which falls way below expectations, taxpayers are still obligated to repay a loan of US$138M to China, which forms part of the contract sum.

Statistics Bureau, FAO undertaking food insecurity...

From page 14 to ensure access to safe and nutritious food for a healthy and empowered population,” she added.

Guyana has significantly advanced its food security and nutrition agenda by achieving the World Food Summit (1996) and Millennium Development Goals (2015) hunger targets. Further, the country continues to improve its standing through advocacy and implementation of CARICOMs Regional Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan and Twenty-five by 2025 Strategy – Reducing CARICOM's Agri-food Imports.

While Guyana is self-suf-

ficient in food, fish and meat, and food energy supply to meet the population's recommended food energy requirements, there is need for improved access to nutritious food to achieve the goal of adequate food security. The implementation of the FIES is a pathway that places the country a step closer to realizing food systems transformation and the right to adequate food for its people, eventually marking a return to the position of “the breadbasket of the Caribbean”.

Reliable data on food and agriculture are key to understanding the level and severity of food insecurity in a country. According to the

2020 report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, SDG 2, which aims to end hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030, has veered off course due to several drivers such as climate extremes, conflict, and the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, countries need highquality data to measure their progress towards this goal. A 2021 regional overview of food security and nutrition showed that estimates revealed that 4 out of every 10 people in Latin America and the Caribbean – 267 million – experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2020, 60 million more than in 2019.

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

Tropical Storm Alex lashes Bermuda area with wind, rain (AP) - Bermuda shuttered its schools, businesses and government agencies as Tropical Storm Alex brushed past the British overseas territory on Monday after killing three people in Cuba and deluging parts of Florida.

The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season had grown to near hurricane force late Sunday, reaching 70 miles per hour, but weakened Monday as it raced past north of Bermuda.

In Florida it flooded

streets and left drivers stranded in some cities over the weekend while in Cuba, it killed three people, damaged dozens of homes and knocked out electricity in some areas, authorities reported. .

The US National Hurricane Center said Alex maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour and further weakening was expected by Tuesday.

It was centred about 220 miles northeast of Bermuda

by Monday afternoon and was moving to the east-northeast at a brisk 29 mile per hour.

Forecasters said it could drop 1 to 2 inches of rain and generate waves of up to 20 feet.

More than 800 customers already were without power, and at least three American Airlines flights were cancelled, authorities said.

Bermuda’s government Twitter account said crews were clearing downed trees from roads.

Part-time workers earning more than...

From page 19 for the improvement of the national minimum wage in January, this year, FITUG posited. The NTC comprises representatives of the labour movement, the business sector, and the Government offering, in our view, an adequate forum for the exchange of views on this matter.

The FITUG said nonetheless, that it would seek to play an

active role in the consultations to be convened by Minister Hamilton.

“Given our massive economic expansion undoubtedly there is a need to ensure the current rising tide lifts all boats and that Guyanese workers can seek to have a decent living.

Indeed, President Ali himself has committed to such and, we believe, at this time the national minimum wage

should be revised speedily.”

Apart from the fact that the part-time workers will receive double the amount, the privately employed workers get, they will also receive, in some cases, more than what public servants receive.

The lowest paid public servants currently operate with a $60,000 ceiling for a month's worth of work. After 20 days of work, part time workers will receive $80,000.

The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season had grown to near hurricane force late Sunday, reaching 70 miles per hour, but weakened Monday as it raced past north of Bermuda. - Contributed photo.

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After silencing critics, Briana Williams looks ahead to Jamaica’s National Senior Championships SportsMax - When Briana Williams finished ninth in the 100m dash at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon on May 28, she could not have imagined the wave of negative reaction that was to follow on social media.

After a successful indoor season during which she ran a new lifetime best of 7.04 while finishing fifth in the 60m final at the World Indoor Championships in Serbia in March, Williams and her coach Ato Boldon turned their attention to preparing to compete in Jamaica’s National

Senior Championships at the end of June with the intention of making Jamaica’s team to the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene in July.

Apparently, the heavy workload had taken its toll and Williams, who won gold in the 4x100m relay at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, was clearly not at her best.

Following the run in Oregon, social media blew up with toxic narratives. She was not progressing fast enough. She needs to leave Boldon. Other Jamaican women had sur-

passed her now.

Those criticisms stung and were partly behind her decision to travel to Jamaica to compete at the JAAA/SDF Jubilee Meet at Jamaica College in Kingston on Saturday.

There, she ran a wind-assisted 10.91 (3.4m/s) in the preliminary round and then returned for the final where she ran a season’s best 10.98 which went a long way toward silencing the armchair coaches.

“I definitely did,” said Williams while speaking with Sportsmax.TV after her trium-

Tuesday June 07, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Some exciting activities could take place in your neighborhood today, Aries.

You'll definitely want to find out more about what’s going on. If possible, you may go with some close friends or a romantic partner.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Romance is front and center today, Libra, as you're probably feeling especially passionate. This is a great day to plan an intimate evening with a lover, if possible.

Make use of candles, muted lights, and soft music.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Your business and financial interests definitely get a big boost today, Taurus, perhaps through contacts with friends. Career matters are skyrocketing.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You're likely to be feeling especially romantic today, Scorpio. If you're currently involved, plan an intimate evening at home with your lover. If you aren't involved, anything goes. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you might find that your social life takes a definite turn for the better.

You could receive more than one text or call that piques your interest, Sagittarius.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Love and romance are apt to be your primary focus today, Gemini. If you're currently romantically involved, expect a wonderfully intense evening with your special someone.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today dreams, visions, and intuitive insights enrich your innovative side and interactions with others.

Don't hesitate to put your ideas into motion, Cancer.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Business and money matters may seem too good to be true, Capricorn.

Success and good fortune in these departments are definitely indicated for you today.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A neighbor or relative you haven't spoken to for a while might contact you out of the blue, Leo. Make the time to talk, as it could open up doors for you that you wouldn't normally expect.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You should be feeling especially passionate today, Aquarius, so don't be surprised if you can't get sex and romance out of your mind. If you're currently involved, schedule an intimate evening with your lover.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Virgo, your working life and income are likely to be enhanced today through the influence of people who live in distant states or foreign countries.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Long-buried emotions from the past, some of them pleasant and some in need of release, could well up from your subconscious today, Pisces.

phant performance on Saturday night.

“We don’t always have perfect races. Last week (Oregon) wasn’t my best. I wasn’t feeling my best but I am glad I got this meet in, was able to have a prelim and a final and finish healthy with a new season’s best.”

In truth, following her performance at the Prefontaine Classic, Williams did begin to doubt herself.

However, those doubts were quickly extinguished by Coach Boldon.

“Well, I only had Prefontaine that was really bad. After the race, I was like ‘Oh My God, what’s going on? I am putting in the work’, but my coach said just trust the process. The work is there in training; you just have to wait. Everyone has their time, and we will not always have the best races,” she said.

“I would love for people to actually understand that we’re human beings and we’re athletes and we go through a lot and one bad race, we bounce back into a good race and we move forward.”

In fact, Williams believes that despite what the naysayers believe, she has been having a really good season.

“This season has been going well so far, especially indoors, my first full season indoors, 7.04. No one at 19 has done that and just to be the youngest at the World Indoor Championships and to place fifth really meant a lot,” she said. “After indoors I went

Anderson Peters...

From page 26 who expressed that better performances from him are not far away.

“I put in the work, the feeling is right there, I am not worried. I have a great coach and a good team.”

Great Britain’s Daryll Neita won the women’s 100 in 11.19 (0.8m/s) over Tynia Gaither of the Bahamas (11.23) and Imani Lansiquot who ran a season’s best 11.26 for third.

Son leads South...

From page 30 for Chile, but his promising foray into the box only resulted in a weak shot turned aside by Kim Seung-gyu.

Son, the 16th South Korean to hit the century mark in international caps, eventually gave the 42,000 fans something to cheer about with a gorgeous free kick from just outside the box to seal the win.

straight into training, heavy training, and I think that was where I was feeling it, at Prefontaine.”

Now with that disappointing performance clearly behind her, Williams is now firmly focused on being at her best for Jamaica’s National Senior Championships from June 23-26, when she will face off against some of the fastest women in the world with the aim of booking a ticket to Oregon in July.

To do that she will face as deep a field as she has ever faced in Jamaica. In addition to the usual suspects, Elaine Thompson-Herah, ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce, who will compete despite having a bye to Oregon as the defending 100m champion and Shericka

Jackson, Williams will come up against an in-form Kevona Davis, Natasha Morrison, Remona Burchell, Natalliah Whyte, Kemba Nelson and Shockoria Wallace all of whom have been having strong seasons.

Notwithstanding the depth of talent, the Olympic gold medallist said nothing will change in how she prepares for the fierce battles ahead.

“Never, it is always the same. It is always a hot field and I always perform my best when the time is right,” she said.

“I know that trials will be hard. Everyone is running fast. That is how it’s supposed to be. I am looking forward to trials.”

PAGE 26

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Anderson Peters, Britany Anderson, Yohan Blake score impressive victories at 2022 FBK Games in Hengelo SportsMax - Grenada’s Anderson Peters and Jamaica’s Britany Anderson pulled off impressive victories at the 2022 FBK Games Hengelo in The Netherlands yesterday.

Yohan Blake was also a winner in the men’s 100m while quarter-miler Christopher Taylor ran an encouraging season-best while finishing second in the 400m.

In damp and cool conditions, Peters was on fire in the men’s javelin throwing an impressive new meet record of 90.75m to secure yet another victory this season. The winning throw was the third best mark this season behind Peters’ own world-leading throw of 93.07m in Doha on May 13 and Jakub Vadlecjh’s 90.88m at the same meet.

Peters said that despite the weather conditions, he was happy to be able to throw 90m once more.’

“This feels good to throw a 90-plus. I was worried about the circumstances, this is too

cold for me. It was windy and sometimes rainy. My hands were so cold that I had no feeling in it, the first throw,” he said, adding that there are things he needs to improve upon ahead of the world championships in July.

“Normally, I like to throw my best throw at the first attempt. I have to improve the amount of 89-plus throws.

Today at the FBK Games Hengelo, the crowd was lovely. The battle between me and Weber was great. We like to see who is the best man of the day. Looking forward to defending my title at World Champs.

The Grenadian led all throwers with his second throw of 88.70m but Germany’s Julian Webber, with his third throw of 89.54m, a personal best, took the lead before Peters responded with his winning fourth-round throw to remain unbeaten this season.

Webber’s mark, however, helped him secure second

place, just ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott. The 2012 Olympic champion uncorked a seasonbest throw of 89.07m for third place.

Walcott said he enjoyed the competition.

“It was a wonderful competition, amazing results. We pushed each other, if the other performs, you need to answer,” he said.

“I am having a really good season so far. We did not expect it, but when the rain stopped, the results came.

The crowd really lifted up our results, it was so wonderful all the cheering.”

Meanwhile, Anderson, the rising Jamaican sprint hurdler, was also in fine form running a season best 12.51 (0.4m/s) to defeat a talented field that included reigning world champion Nia Ali, who was second in 12.69 and Tonea Marshall, who ran 12.70 for third.

“My plan was to come here and keep my technique over the hurdles and to have

Anderson Peters, Britany Anderson, Yohan Blake score impressive victories. fun,” she said afterwards.

“I am happy with my season’s best here and the fun is racing. I love being on the track to race. My next race is in Rome and I hope to improve. I go step by step.”

Bahamian Devynne Charlton equalled her season best 12.88 while finishing fifth behind fourth-place finisher Tia Jones (12.71).

Taylor, running in his 400m season debut clocked 45.45 to finish second behind the USA’s Vernon Norwood, who overtook the Jamaican down the stretch and held him off to win in 45.28.

Trevor Stewart of the USA was third in 45.93.

Blake won the blue-ribbon dash in 10.11 (-0.3m/s). Despite a look of disappoint-

ment when he saw the time, the 2011 world champion, was well clear of the field. Kyree King of the United States ran 10.23 for the runner-up spot while South Africa’s Emile Erasmus finished third in 10.25.

“The crowd is amazing (but) the conditions are not the best now,” said Blake, (Continued on page 25)

Tuesday June 07, 2022

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Bowlers, Ibrahim Zadran, Coco Gauff’s ranking to career-high 13th; Nadal up to 4th Rahmat Shah help Afghanistan seal ODI series Ibrahim Zadran scored his maiden ODI hundred against Zimbabwe. (AFP/Getty Images)

ESPNcricinfo - Ibrahim Zadran scored his first ODI century and shared the highest second-wicket stand against Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe, of 1 9 5 r u n s w i t h Rahmat Shah, to ensure a successful chase of 229 and a series win for Afghanistan, with a game in hand. This victory takes Afghanistan to 90 points from 11 matches on the World Cup Super League table and, if they sweep the series 3-nil on Thursday, will put them in second place on the points’ table and in a good position to secure automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup. Zimbabwe, on the other end of the table, remain in 12th place with only three wins from 14 matches.

While the 60-run gap between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in the first match illustrated Z i m b a b w e ’s s t r u g g l e s when chasing, the eightwicket difference in this one emphasised their batting problems overall.

Even when setting a total, Zimbabwe appear a quality batter or two amiss and have been unable to build big partnerships.

In this match, half-centuries from Innocent Kaia and Ryan Burl bookended their innings, but they only had one partnership over 50 runs and two others that threatened, but were stymied before they could cause significant trouble for Afghanistan.

Kaia and Craig Ervine put on 47 for the second wicket, after Regis Chakabva was dismissed for a second-ball duck before Kaia and Sikandar Raza posted 67 for the fourthwicket.

A middle-order collapse of 5 for 26 left Zimbabwe fac-

ing a total below 200 before Burl and Blessing Muzarabani shared 46 for the ninth wicket to push their score into competitive territory.

Kaia, playing in his second ODI, scored a career-best 63 and displayed a strong range of strokes all around the ground. His proactive approach against spin and positive footwork was the hallmark of his innings, although it also turned out to be his undoing. He was well-set when he advanced down the track against left-armer Fareed Ahmed, who saw him coming and dropped it short.

Kaia top-edged and Rahmanullah Gurbaz took a good catch to end his innings.

That wicket caused a domino effect. Two overs later, Milton Shumba tried to play a fuller Fareed delivery off the back foot, missed and was out lbw on review and two overs after that, Raza tried to cut Mohammed Nabi over short third-man but hit the ball straight to him. Donald Tiripano played Rashid Khan onto his stumps to give the legspinner his second wicket after he removed Wessley Madhevere in his first over and Tendai Chatara was caught at extra cover as he tried to hit Nabi over the top.

On 177 for 8, Zimbabwe were in trouble but an enterprising stand between Burl and Muzarabani ensured they batted through the overs and upped the ante at the end.

Burl and Muzarabani rotated strike well and scored 19 singles and eight twos in their 63 deliveries together.

Burl only breached the boundary three times, twice in successive balls off Fareed for four and then a slog over

cow corner for six. His 50 came off 58 balls.

In the end, it was not enough to trouble the Afghan line-up, who swatted away a small target with few obstacles.

They raced to 17 off the first two overs before Gurbaz was given out lbw by a delivery that nipped in from Blessing Muzarabani. He reviewed but was unsuccessful.

Ibrahim was completely unaffected by the departure of his opening partner and continued flicking deliveries off his pads off a wayward Tendai Chatara, whose first three overs cost 21 runs, and pulling anything short. He also took on spin and sent Burl to the long-on fence and brought up his fifty, off 59 deliveries, off Raza.

Ibrahim could have been out in the next over, when he edged an attempted cut off Tiripano to Chakabva, but the wicketkeeper could not hold on. At the other end, Rahmat, who had showed off a collection of drives, went almost unnoticed to fifty off 71 deliveries.

With almost no pressure from the Zimbabwean attack, Ibrahim and Rahmat were able to rotate strike freely and had the required run-rate well under control.

Ibrahim brought up his hundred with a rare cover drive, off the 120th ball he faced. Rahmat could have followed, but with 18 runs to get, chased a wide delivery and nicked off, to fall for 88. Ibrahim hit the winning runs for Afghanistan, with 33 balls to spare.

Scores: Afghanistan 229 for 2 (Ibrahim 120*, Rahmat 88) beat Zimbabwe 228 (Kaia 63, Burl 51*, Fareed 3-56) by eight wickets.

PARIS (AP) — American teenager Coco Gauff rose to a career-best No. 13 in the WTA rankings yesterday after her runner-up finish to No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the French Open.

Gauff, an 18-year-old from Florida, jumped 10 spots by getting to her first Grand Slam final before losing to Swiatek 6-1, 6-3 on Saturday.

Gauff had never been past the quarterfinals at a major tournament. She made it to the finals of singles and doubles at Roland Garros.

Her doubles partner, Jessica Pegula, moved into the singles top 10 for the first time, going from No. 11 to No. 8, thanks to her run to the quarterfinals. Like Gauff, the 28-year-old from New York lost to Swiatek, who has now won her past 35 matches in a row. Last year’s French Open champion in singles and doubles, Barbora Krejcikova, lost in the first round of singles this time — only the third woman in the professional era to exit in the first round at Roland Garros a year after earning the trophy — and dropped from No. 2 in the rankings to No. 14. She pulled out of the doubles event two days later, saying she tested positive for COVID-19.

The French Open’s effect on the rankings for both the WTA and ATP will hold sway longer than usual, because the two professional tours have announced they will not award points this year for

Poland’s Iga Swiatek, right, holds the trophy after winning the final against Coco Gauff of the U.S., left, in two sets, 6-1, 6-3, at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Saturday, June 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Wimbledon, which starts on June 27.

That was in response to the All England Club’s decision to bar players from Russia and Belarus from the grass-court Grand Slam tournament because of the invasion of Ukraine. Rafael Nadal’s 14th French Open title, and 22nd Grand Slam trophy overall, lifted him one place to No. 4 behind topranked Novak Djokovic.

Nadal beat Djokovic in the quarterfinals along the way to the final, where he overwhelmed Casper Ruud 6-3, 63, 6-0 on Sunday and became, two days after his 36th birthday, the oldest man to win the

singles championship at Roland Garros — all despite needing pain-killing injections for a chronic problem in his left foot.

Nadal has won both of this year’s major titles so far, including the Australian Open in January, but his ranking is hurt by his lack of activity over the past 12 months. He played only two matches between the end of the 2021 French Open and the end of last season because of that foot, then missed more time this year because of that issue and a rib injury.

Ruud went up to a careerbest No. 6 from No. 8 by reaching his first Grand Slam final.

Messi conjures up five-timer in Estonia friendly AFP - Lionel Messi scored all the goals in Argentina’s 5-0 friendly win over Estonia in Pamplona, Spain on Sunday.

Messi joins a select club comprising only Juan Andres Marvezy and M a n u e l Moreno to score five in a game for Argentina.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or scored from the spot in the eighth minute, then added four more in the space of half an hour (45, 47, 71 and 76 minutes).

His quintet extended his record tally of goals for his country to 86.

Lionel Scaloni’s side are unbeaten in 33 matches, the last loss a 2-0 defeat to Brazil in the semifinals of the 2019 Copa America.

At the World Cup finals in Qatar later this year Argentina are drawn with Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.

Lionel Messi scored all the goals in Argentina’s 5-0 friendly win.

PAGE 28

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Pooran praises Windies Neymar strikes from penalty spot to see off Japan batting after 3-0 series sweep over the Netherlands Japan’s Wataru Endo shoots at goal before Kyogo Furuhashi misses a chance to score. (REUTERS/Issei Kato)

SportsMax - West Indies white ball captain Nicholas Pooran had high praise for his batsmen unit after the team’s 3-0 series sweep of the Netherlands last week at Amstelveen.

Shamarh Brooks (167 runs from three games), Shai Hope (161 runs from three games) and Brandon King (159 runs from three games) were all among the top five run-scorers in the series.

The Caribbean side comfortably chased targets in the first two games reaching 2493 in the first game and 217-5 in the second game before posting 308-5 in the third contest and batting their full quota of overs in the process.

“Batting 50 overs was one of the goals we set before the series and we achieved that in the last game,” Pooran said in an interview on Sunday.

The Windies had three centurions in the series with Shai Hope, Shamarh Brooks and Kyle Mayers all reaching three figures, something Pooran says is a good sign going forward.

“I think the batsmen are settling in nicely and taking

West Indies white ball captain Nicholas Pooran.

their opportunity,” he said.

“It’s always important getting multiple batsmen scoring centuries.

It’s very important for a team in terms of getting a big score or a score to actually defend.

It shows that the batsmen are hungry for runs and willing to spend time in the middle to get those big runs,” Pooran added.

Pooran, who was on his first assignment as the West

Indies official ODI skipper, said the inexperienced squad made the series triumph more special.

“I felt it was a really good one for us. It’s a new team and I felt like we bonded really well.

We spoke about learning on the job and taking this opportunity,” he said.

Pooran and his team’s next assignment will be a three ODIs against Pakistan in Multan on June 8, 10 and 12.

T20 Blaze to light up Providence with exciting West Indian female talent from today CG Insurance Super 50 follows from June 16-25 The Guyana Cricket Board, on behalf of Cricket West Indies, is hosting the CG Insurance Super 50 and T20 Blaze Tournament with action from today June 7 to June 26, 2022 at the Providence National Stadium. The Two-format Tournament will involve the participation of several current West Indies players and young promising regional players, including Stephanie Taylor (West Indies Captain) from Jamaica, Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin from Barbados, and our very own Shemaine Campbell, Shabika Gajnabi, and Mandy Mangru, who recently returned from their cricket assignment in New Zeeland.

The Super 50 format was initially scheduled to bowl-off

before the T20 Blaze. However, due to unfavourable weather conditions, challenges arise in securing venues fit for play based on the initial schedule, which prompted a more appropriate schedule.

Given the fast-drying conditions at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, it was decided that the T20 Blaze matches will be played first at this venue with the CG Insurance Super 50 stepping in providing that weather conditions become more favorable for play.

The first T20 Blaze will be played today June 7 at the Guyana National Stadium.

The teams on show are: Leeward Islands vs Windward Islands at 10:00hrs Barbados vs Guyana at

14:30hrs Jamaica vs Trinidad and Tobago at 19:00hrs The CG Insurance Super 50 will be played from June 16, 2022, to June 25, 2022.

The Guyana squad for the CG Insurance Super 50 and T20 Blaze Tournament comprises Katana Mentore, Sherica Ca m p b e l l e , Plaffianna Millington, Kaysia Schultz, Kumarie Persaud, Ashmini Munisar and Lashuna Toussaint, and West Indies players Shemaine Campbell (Captain), Shabika Gajnabi (Vicecaptain), Cherry-Ann Fraser, Tremayne Smartt, Erva Giddings, Mandy Mangru and Sheneta Grimmond, an official release from the Guyana Cricket Board informed.

(Reuters) - Neymar’s penalty 13 minutes from time earned Brazil a 1-0 win over fellow World Cup qualifiers Japan at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Monday as the Paris St Germain striker moved to within three goals of Pele’s all-time national scoring record.

The forward coolly slotted the ball past Shuichi Gonda to hit his 74th goal in 119 internationals after being frustrated on several occasions by the Japanese goalkeeper in front of a rain-soaked crowd of 63,638 fans.

Brazil’s win came off the back of their 5-1 thrashing of South Korea on Thursday as Tite’s side prepare for their assault on the World Cup in Qatar in November.

The visitors threatened early, with Lucas Paqueta hitting the post inside the first two minutes when he latched on to Neymar’s instinctive backheel pass inside the area.

Fred fired over from distance soon after and Raphina forced Shuichi Gonda to save with his feet

Neymar in action.

(REUTERS/Issei Kato)

before Neymar’s firmlystruck, curling effort from outside the area was palmed to safety by the goalkeeper after flying through a crowd of players.

Gonda was on hand again to keep out the visitors three minutes before the end of the half, with Pacqueta slipping the ball through to Neymar, but the Paris St Germain man was denied.

Neymar continued to probe, seeing a shot blocked by Endo’s head eight minutes after the restart, while Ko Itakura made a perfectly timed intervention to put himself between the Brazilian

striker’s volley and the Japan goal.

The pressure eventually told, however, with Neymar at the heart of the action once more.

The 30-year-old’s initial effort was well saved by Gonda but as s u b s t i t u t e Richarlison attempted to collect possession he was brought down by Endo and referee Alireza Faghani pointed to the spot.

Neymar sent Gonda the wrong way to score for the ninth time in five a p p earances against the Japanese and move closer to eclipsing Pele’s long-standing mark.

WSUCC James Joseph continues fine showing in the USA We Stand United Cycle Club’s James Joseph continues to turn in stellar performances on the USA Circuit.

This past weekend, the former Olympian copped respective first and second-place finishes in races on Saturday and Sunday.

Competing at the South Mountain Cycle and Café Criterium on Sunday at Bob Rodale Fitness Park, Trexlertown, PA on a one-mile

course with a steady grade, Joseph, contesting the Men 65+ class 20 miles race won the top podium spot in a time of 23:06.1.

Second was Doug O’Neill (Orca/demo’s Wonder Wheel) with Patrick Geilleau (Team Somerset).

On Saturday, Josep h competed in the 2022 ShopRite® Nutmeg State Games Criterium, a USA Cycling Connecticut State

Championship Event. Battling in the Men Master 6 0 + c a t e g o r y, J o s e p h crossed the line in second place behind Michael Sernyak (Body Over Bike CC), and Patrick Gellineau of Team Somerset took third place.

Joseph disclosed that he continues to feel excellent and will continue to keep the Golden Arrowhead flying with pride.

Tuesday June 07, 2022

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Warriors answer in Game 2, top Celtics 107-88 to even Finals SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Just like in Game 1, the Golden State Warriors took command with a big third quarter.

Unlike Game 1, they finished the job.

The NBA Finals are now tied, after the Warriors turned a close game into a rout with a third-quarter masterpiece.

Stephen Curry scored 29 points, Jordan Poole connected from just inside of midcourt to cap the pivotal period and the Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 107-88 on Sunday night in Game 2.

“I thought everybody was more engaged,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after his team improved to 5-0 after a loss in these playoffs. “It’s pretty obvious. Just our level of force and physicality was ramped up quite a bit, and it had to be.”

Poole finished with 17 points for the Warriors, who outscored Boston 35-14 in the third quarter to turn a twopoint halftime lead into a 23point edge. And when the Warriors then scored the first six points of the fourth, the Celtics waved the surrender flag and emptied their bench.

“We said we needed to play with desperation,” Curry said. “That’s what we did.”

Golden State also got 12 from Kevon Looney on 6-for-

Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins, middle, shoots against the Boston Celtics during the first half of Game 2 of basketball’s NBA Finals in San Francisco, Sunday, June 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn, Pool) 6 shooting, and 11 apiece from Andrew Wiggins and Klay Thompson. Jayson Tatum scored 21 of his 28 points in the first half for Boston.

Jaylen Brown added 17 for the Celtics, but fought through a 5-for-17 shooting night, and Derrick White scored 12.

Just like in Game 1, a huge run decided everything. The Celtics went on a 48-18 run in the second half to decide the opener. The Warriors didn’t wait that long in Game 2, going on a 43-14 burst from late in the first half until early in the fourth quarter to turn a tie

game into an absolute runaway. Game 3 is tomorrow, Wednesday, in Boston.

Curry had 14 of his points in the third, making three of his five 3-pointers in the quarter. Boston was 4 for 15 in the quarter, got outscored 21-6 on 3s and let the Warriors turn five turnovers into 11 points.

“Steph was breathtaking in that quarter,” Kerr said.

The Celtics turned a 15point third-quarter deficit into a 15-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 1, but that wasn’t happening again Sunday.

Boston coach Ime Udoka

Concacaf Nations League 2021/2022…

Weather forcibly reschedules Guyana’s match with Bermuda to today - to host Haiti on June 11 The weakening effects of Tropical Storm Alex continued to haunt Bermuda since the inclement weather caused by the storm forced the postponement of the Golden Jaguars versus Bermuda, Concacaf Nations League (CNL) match that was scheduled for yesterday, Monday, June 6.

Guyana will now meet the visitors in their second League B, Group B match today (Tuesday), June 7, at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, from 16:00 hrs.

The Jaguars also enter the contest as the group leader with three points which were recorded from their opening victory against Montserrat.

The other two teams in the group, Haiti and Bermuda, are tied on a point each after battling to a stalemate while Montserrat are yet to get off the mark.

Montserrat and Haiti will contest the other Group B match today from 17:00 hrs at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Meanwhile, on Saturday evening, a well-deserved victory from a hard fought Golden Jaguars unit was a remarkable way to commence their campaign in the Dominican Republic.

The odds were against the Guyanese who faced Montserrat in the first match and pulled off a come-frombehind victory to win 2 – 1.

That win came from a memorable performance up front from Omari Glasgow whose double was enough to give his side the edge.

Montserrat went ahead in the 21st minute compliments of Adrian Clifton and finished with the upper hand at the end of the first 45 minutes.

A one possession lead is

never a comfort in the football arena, which was proven when Glasgow found the equaliser in the 61st minute from a free kick.

With the scores levelled, Glasgow found another successful strike in the 70th minute which tipped the scale in Guyana’s favour.

In the fixtures to come, Jaguars play host to a tough Haitian team on Saturday, June 11, from 16:00 hrs then they retake the Haitian challenge on Tuesday, June 14, in the Dominican Republic from 18:00 hrs.

June 14 has been marked as the final playing date for the June window of 2022 with the tournament billed to resume in March 2023 with the penultimate and final days of the Group stage.

Only the winner of each Group advances to the next round.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, right, shoots against Boston Celtics center Al Horford during the first half of Game 2 of basketball’s NBA Finals in San Francisco, Sunday, June 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn, Pool) even picked up a technical in an effort to show his displeasure with things, including whistles or lack thereof, to no avail.

“I just let them know how I felt throughout the game in a demonstrative way, on purpose, to get a technical,” Udoka said.

Poole provided the exclamation point as the third quarter closed, taking a pass in the final seconds, dribbling over the midcourt stripe, creating a bit of space and letting fly.

Swish.

Curry greeted him with a smile and a hug, the fans at Chase Center leaped to their feet — if they weren’t there

already — and the outcome was pretty much decided.

And for the first time, the crowd in the Warriors’ new building finally saw the Celtics lose. Boston entered the night 4-0 in the Warriors’ 3-year-old home, the only team to have won its first four games in the arena. But giving up 33 points off 19 turnovers meant that streak had no chance of continuing. “We have to take better care of the ball,” Tatum said.

The Celtics were bidding to join only two other teams — the 1993 Chicago Bulls and 1995 Houston Rockets — on the list of clubs that swept

two road games to open the finals. Those Bulls and Rockets went on to win the championship, and 31 of the previous 36 teams to open with 2-0 leads ended up celebrating a title.

All is not lost for Boston.

The Celtics need to only win their remaining home games to become champions, though that won’t be easy against a Warriors team that has won at least one road game in an NBA-record 26 consecutive playoff series.

“It is what it is,” said the Celtics’ Al Horford, who had 26 points in Game 1 and was held to two points Sunday.

“On to Game 3.”

Ronaldo brace leads Portugal to big win over Switzerland LISBON, (Reuters) Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal swept to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Switzerland in their UEFA Nations League clash at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Sunday.

William Carvalho and Joao Cancelo were also on the scoresheet as the hosts wasted numerous opportunities to inflict more humiliation on the visitors, who suffered their biggest defeat since losing to Germany by the same scoreline in 2008.

Portugal have four points from their opening two Group A2 matches and are ahead of second-place Czech Republic on goal-difference. Switzerland are on zero after backto-back losses and are now winless in their last four encounters since they qualified for the World Cup in Qatar.

Carvalho opened the scoring when he reacted quickest

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts. (REUTERS/Pedro Nunes) to the loose ball when Ronaldo’s free-kick was parried, before the latter bagged a quickfire brace to extend his record tally of international goals to 117.

Ronaldo should have had a hat-trick when he wasted two excellent opportunities before halftime, the first a

barely believable miss from six yards, but it was left to Cancelo to score the fourth for Portugal in the second half.

Portugal host Czech Republic in their next fixture on Thursday, while Switzerland entertain Spain in Geneva on the same evening.

PAGE 30

Tuesday June 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Lusignan Golf Club returns Guyana to compete in committee for second term the FIBA Centrobasket U15 Championship Lusignan Golf Club returned the committee for a second term.

The Executive of the Lusignan Golf Club was returned, with minor changes, for a second term at the c l u b ’s A n n u a l G e n e r a l Meeting Sunday, signalling broad approval for the organisation’s direction.

R e t u r n i n g President Patanjilee Persaud told members that the previous year had seen a far better financial situation thanks to increased activities, including a successful Guyana Open, and

more green fees from the diaspora and expatriates.

However he warned costs for maintenance of the grounds were up 25% year on year mainly due to fuel increases, and a prudent approach to spending would be advisable.

Persaud thanked the club staff for their hard work, especially in addressing the instances of heavy rainfall.

He also acknowledged the

contributions of outgoing committee members Anasha Ally (PRO) and Captain Patrick Prashad.

The other members of the executive are Vice President Paton George, Treasurer Maxim Mangra, Secretary Chet Bowling, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Rabindranath Persaud, Captain Videsh Persaud, Ground Superintendent Mike Guyadin and PRO Wiliam Walker.

Son leads South Korea past depleted Chile in World Cup tune-up

The Guyana Basketball Federation (GABF) has shortlisted twelve U15 players for the upcoming FIBA Centrobasket U15 Championship scheduled to be played in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, from June 18 to 22, 2022.

The Guyana delegation will comprise of the following and will depart Guyana on June 16, 2022: Players: (last name listed first) 1.Tracey Giovanni Bartica 2. Easton Yaneil - Linden 3. Leacock Ezeke - Linden 4.Fiedtkou Marion Georgetown 5.Griffith Ezekiel Georgetown 6.Howard Kalani Georgetown 7.Carter Stephen - New Amsterdam 8.Pydana Cayden - New Amsterdam 9.Saul Ezekiel - ECD 10.Grant Dejaun - ECD 11.Phillips Keron Aroaima 12.Sampson Hayden Kwakwani Head Coach: Lugard Mohan and Team Manager: Troy Alex Graham.

The official draw was held

Lugard Mohan is the Head Coach. at the FIBA Americas Regional Office in Miami, USA on June 1, 2022. The national teams were previously placed in pairs taking into account their Nike Youth Ranking position. Then the teams and their spot were drawn to define the matchups. Here’s how the groups aligned: Group A: 1. Costa Rica 2. Mexico 3. Dominican Republic 4. Turks and Caicos Group B: 1. Panama 2. Guyana 3. Bahamas 4. Puerto Rico The competition will be

held at the Fernando “Rube” Hernandez Colosseum. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Semi-Finals, while the rest will compete for the 5-8 spots in the classification round.

In the Semi-Finals, the top two teams from each group will face the second team of each opposing group (1A vs 2B and 1B vs 2A). The SemiFinal winners will qualify for the gold medal game, while the losers will play for third place and the bronze medal.

The three best teams at the end of the tournament will qualify for the FIBA U16 Americas Championship in 2023.

Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association turns in good performance at NAFMA Nationals in the US

Son Heung-min celebrated his 100th international match with a picturesque goal from a free kick.

AFP - Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min celebrated his 100th international match with a picturesque goal from a free kick yesterday as he led South Korea to a 2-0 victory over 10-man Chile in a tune-up for the World Cup. The East Asian country’s other Premier League player, Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers, scored South Korea’s other goal at the Daejeon World Cup Stadium.

South Korea survived some dicey moments early on, turning the ball over deep in

their own zone as Chile pressed forward.

But Hwang broke through on 12 minutes, with a well-struck right-footer finding the top right corner past Fernando de Paul.

Chile then fought back with a few dangerous chances past the half-hour mark.

Marcelino Nunez and Diego Valencia each just missed the net with close-range attempts.

Just before halftime, Benjamin Brereton Diaz nearly levelled with a low shot that rolled wide of the left post.

Chile failed to build on that momentum in the second half, with defender Alex Ibacache sent off following a second yellow card on 52 minutes.

Despite being a man down, the visitors pushed hard for an equaliser, with a Brereton Diaz header nullified by an offside call at the hour mark. Son almost doubled South Korea’s lead on 66 minutes but his low left-footed attempt from the left side of the box rolled just wide of the far post. Seven minutes later, Brereton Diaz tried to respond (Continued on page 25)

The Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association turned in a very creditable performance at the recently held NAFMA Nationals Championship in Atlantic City New Jersey on the 27th and 28th of May, 2022.

The GMMAKA team travelled from Guyana on May 24 with a small group of five and won a total of fifteen awards in various categories.

Ma s t e r Lloyd Ramnarine, head of the association, attended the first event on the 27th of May and was nominated and received a Legacy Martial Art award for his outst a n d i n g c o n t r i b u tions to the discipline.

The following day, the real combat had begun, where Master Ramnarine took his students to demonstrate their skills gathered throughout their train-

ing. The number of awardees is as follows: Seth Dial won a total of four awards, 2nd in Traditional Kata, 2nd in Open Form, 3rd in Weapon kata, and 1st in Sparring, followe d b y C h a i t r a m Haripershad, who also won a total of four awards, 1st in Traditional Kata, 1st in Open F o r m , 2 n d i n We a p o n Kata and 2nd in Sparring.

Next in line is Parameshwar Haripershad who won a total of three awards as listed, 1st Weapon Kata, 1st in Open Form, and 2nd in Traditional Kata.

The final competitor, Zafar Ramnarine, won a total of three awards, 2nd in Traditional Kata, 2nd in Open Form, and 2nd in Sparring.

Master Lloyd Ramnarine expressed amaz e m e n t at his s t u d e n t ’s p e r f o r m a n c e and great determination

during their Martial Arts display.

He praised his students and commended them to contin u e t h e i r hard work and passion to achieve great success in the future.

The Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association would like to extend special thanks to the Atlantic Marine Supplies Inc. and Howard Restaurant and Bar for their support in making this event possible.

Special thanks were expressed to the supportive parents and members of our Association team for their contributions.

Anyone interested in joining any of the association’s branches across Guyana, can message on WhatsApp on 698-6727, 681-1701, 6020591, 689-9288, or 698-7456.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 07, 2022

PAGE 31

Shepperd's recovery - Director an inspiration of Sport T

he continuing recovery of n a t i o n a l volleyball player Kristoff Shepperd should be an inspiration to others Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle said following a visit to the home of the national athlete last Saturday.

Ninvalle paid a visit to national athlete Kristoff Shepperd at the Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara residence to check in on the youngster's progress following a serious motor vehicle accident back in February in the vicinity of Mandela and Homestretch Avenues.

On February 7th, Shepperd was the driving a car, with passengers National Table Tennis Champion and Olympian Chelsea Edghill and Nickasie Lewis that collided with a truck as he was navigating onto Mandela Avenue from Homestretch Avenue.

The injuries sustained from the accident placed Shepperd in the Intensive

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle during his initial visit on Feb 11 at the GPHC when Shepperd was in intensive care.

Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital where doctors had listed his

condition as 'critical' but stable.

The other two were

fortunate to not suffer serious injuries.

The Director of Sport had visited the injured player in hospital on February 11th and had assured family members that Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the National Sports Commission would remain committed to every step of his recovery.

While, not fully recovered, Ninvalle said he was enthused at Shepperd's progress, will, determination and commitment to prayers.

The DoS also credited the excellent support group led by the player's sister, mother and father who has showered him with the love and care that has b e e n o n e o f the key ingredients to propel the recovery.

“His story is inspiring and should be a lesson to everyone that where there is a will there is a way.

It shows what support and prayers can do in helping one to find the will to rebound from serious trauma and tragedy.

Pleasing turnaround! Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle during last Saturday's visit with Kristoff Shepperd at his home in Mahaicony as they share a light moment.

He is not out of the woods as yet but has come a very far way and has promised that he will be back on the court,” Ninvalle said.

The Director of Sport reiterated the pledge of the Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Jr that the young volleyball player's recovery is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and National Sports Commission.

Shepperd is one of the country's more popular volleyball players and has represented Guyana at various youth and senior tournaments.

The flamboyant player, a former student of the St Rose's High School, also served as a 2018 Youth Parliamentarian of Guyana, where he served as the Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs.

France held by Croatia in Nations League BBC Sport - Defending champions France have one point from two Nations League games after being held by Croatia in Split.

Didier Deschamps made 10 changes from the side who threw away a lead to lose 2-1 to Denmark on Friday.

They looked on course for victory when Adrien Rabiot's cool finish from Wissam Ben Yedder's ball gave them the lead.

But Andrej Kramaric scored a fine penalty after the video assistant referee awarded him a spot-kick following a foul by Jonathan Clauss.

France now face an uphill battle to reach next year's Nations League finals after throwing away two leads in five days.

Croatia had chances to win the game but Nikola Vlasic was denied by goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who was making his competitive debut, and Luka Sucic dragged a shot wide.

France handed first competitive starts to Arsenal pair Matteo Guendouzi and William Saliba and Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku.

New Aston Villa signing Boubacar Kamara came on for his France debut in the second

Andrej Kramaric waited for goalkeeper Mike Maignan to move before rolling the ball into the net. (Reuters)

half.

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric won his 150th cap for Croatia.

The other game in Group A1 -

Austria v Denmark - was delayed because of a power failure.

Results from Monday 6th June 2022 matches: Croatia 1 – France 1

Latvia

1 – Liechtenstein

0 Belarus 0 – Azerbaijan 0 Slovakia 0 – Kazakhstan 1 Andorra 0 – Moldova 0

Iceland 1 – Albania 1 Israel P - Football Union of Russia P Match postponed - Cancelled Austria 1 – Denmark 2