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Gas plant explosion NEWS at Texas highlights dangers of Wales project AIETEUR

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Monday Edition June 13, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 23 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 71,099

'BOOT arrangement is a debt trap' …Economist urges Govt. to use oil money to fund capital projects

Cop arrested for killing of Golden Grove youth

...Police Complaints Authority to investigate case

Missing woman found hanging out on Kitty seawall Yog Mahadeo knocks Govt. Hopkinson debunks claims of pressuring staff to over lack of transparency falsify project documents in GRA land transaction

Citizens urged to resist Govt. abuses through court actions ...Int'l lawyer says litigation is best form of resistance until Guyana gets constitutional reform

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Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

'BOOT arrangement is a debt trap' …Economist urges Govt. to use oil money to fund capital projects

By Davina Bagot The PPP/C Government is quick to utilise the Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) finance model to undertake major capital projects, a situation where contractors take on the responsibilities listed leaving users-in this case Guyanese-

to pay for the utilities provided which is later transferred to the country.

However, one economist has warned that these arrangements have the potential to sink Guyana in more debts, even as he suggested that government make use of its newest source of income, oil revenue, to

fund its capital projects.

Tarron Khemraj, a United States Professor of Economics and also a born Guyanese made these points while appearing on a recent Globespan 24x7 broadcast.

The discussion was centered on 'The Impact of Guyana's O i l Wi n d f a l l o n P o o r Guyanese' and was

Guyanese born Professor of Economics in the United States, Tarron Khemraj

moderated by Trinidadian, Shalima Mohammed and also featured Dr. Terrance Blackman, an Associate Professor of Mathematics in New York.

Khemraj explained: “it might be better to use some of the oil funds to outright finance some of the big capital projects instead of

going into let's say a BOOT arrangement. A BOOT arrangement is a de facto debt right because the project contractor has to find the financing, market terms then you get the contract and supplies you the good, but what happens if the private contractor can't, the revenue is drawn out of the Guyana economy to finance the debt, that private contractor's debt.”

He added that because citizens will need the services being provided by that contractor, government will not be able to sit back and allow the contractor to fail which means that the shortfall will be supplied by Guyana. For instance, he said, “Can the government sit back and say okay your gas to shore energy, your natural gas power plant go belly up?

It can't, because the citizens will still need electricity so you are locked to this. It is a duplicitous debt so some level of optimal mix of using internal finance and oil finance will have to be arrived at.”

The Berbice Bridge is an example of a BOOT arrangement that Guyana currently has. It must be noted that despite the fact that the bulk of the money invested in the Berbice Bridge came from state-run National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Dr. Ranjisinghi 'Bobby' Ramroop, the best friend of Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo is the largest shareholder. The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has 10 percent shares in the bridge, NIS has 20.2 percent, Hand-in-Hand Fire Insurance has 10, New GPC has 20 percent, Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. has 20 percent and Secure International Finance Co.

Limited owns 20 percent.

In 2018, it was reported that the privately-owned Berbice River Bridge was facing a major problem of maintenance, or lack thereof, of its pontoons, with the then Government recommending the company to seek ways to raise financing.

Since being commissioned in December 2008, there has been little or no maintenance of the pontoon which floats the bridge, with concerns raised by former board member and chairman, Bert Carter, and others. Back then, the NIS Chairman, Dr. Surendra Persaud, informed government of the maintenance issues. It was reportedly pointed out that the bridge was facing a financial shortfall and could not maintain the pontoons.

Former Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, in confirming the state of affairs, said then that after Government was informed of the developments, a team of engineers from the Demerara Harbour Bridge was dispatched to Berbice.

The construction of the bridge under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, while widely welcomed, was heavily criticized because a few investors were allowed almost total control, though putting up only a fraction of the almost US$40M used to build it.

More recently, government was seeking to enter into another BOOT arrangement with a Chinese company for the Amaila Falls Hydropower project. In this arrangement, Guyana would have been exposed to dangerous risks, while the contract's investment would have been secured. However, Jagdeo recently said that the (Continued on page 8)

Kaieteur News

Monday June 13, 2022

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Citizens urged to resist Govt. abuses through court actions ...Int'l lawyer says litigation is best form of resistance until Guyana gets constitutional reform

I

t has proven difficult for citizens to stop the government from making decisions they are against, particularly in the runaway oil and gas sector which has now become the gem of Guyana's economy.

International lawyer Melinda Janki has thus urged Guyanese to flood the court with litigation to show the government and private companies that they will not tolerate their concerns being bypassed.

Janki was speaking at an Avaaz webinar a few weeks ago when she weighed in on

avenues that citizens could utilise to demand their participation in the management of the country's resources. Janki was very keen on the little power the current political structure offers. She indicated that unless Guyana's “toxic” political system provides greater control to its people, they will be stuck with one or the other of the main political parties which operate in a winner takes all system.

What citizens currently have are two main political parties, with a third made up of persons from the other two

parties. Without “constitutional reform”, she said Guyana appears basically struck. To force attention, Janki said citizens must bring on political pressure to show that they are not happy with what is happening. She said citizens have to lobby the government and be very public about their actions. And when that does not work, the lawyer said to get the court involved.

On the matter of law, Janki underscored the importance for more judges within the system as well as the need for judicial training

Guyana borrows US$44M more from World Bank ...money will be used to boost education access, TVET

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved some US$44 million for Guyana Strengthening Human Capital through Education Project.

The project will focus on expanding access to quality education at the secondary level, as well as improving technical and vocational training (TVET) to meet the needs of the labour market, the Bank said in a press release. The funding aims to prepare Guyanese citizens to excel in emerging sectors of the economy including climate-resilient agriculture, low-carbon technology, and digital development.

"Guyana is investing heavily in its citizens, with education and vocational training playing a key role as the country is at a key juncture of its growth," said Diletta Doretti, World Bank Resident Representative for Guyana and Suriname. "This project complements other education initiatives that the World Bank is supporting, as the government is working to ensure that more people can acquire the needed skills to benefit from the ongoing economic transformation."

Activities under the project are expected to benefit at least 60,744

students and 2,128 teachers and principals at the secondary level. At the TVET level, a minimum of 600 students and 140 secondary and postsecondary TVET trainers will benefit from professional development activities. The project will support the piloting and national rollout of a new curriculum for grades 7-9, which emphasizes environmental stewardship and climate change, integrated into social studies and science for grades 7 and 9.

The project will also finance textbooks for grades 7-11 to support the rollout of the new curriculum and the urgent need for learning recovery following the pandemic.

Increased support for teachers and principals is also envisioned under the project. This includes training teachers on the new curriculum and how to teach students with different needs - including students with disabilities. Other interventions include the coaching and mentoring of teachers to support continuous professional development and the development and implementation of an

instructional leadership and managerial programme for principals.

In light of the learning losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, project activities will include establishing an early warning system to help teachers and principals identify and support students at risk of dropping out.

General secondary schools will also be built or rehabilitated to improve the learning environment for students, as well as improving infrastructure, climate resilience and access to education for all students.

The project will also support technical and vocational training, which will include transferrable skills to equip students for a changing labor force, including digital competency skills. It will strengthen the enabling environment for TVET and improve the quality and relevance of training options.

The project includes encouraging apprenticeship, a digital platform providing information on training opportunities, and the preparation of a new TVET policy that will set the direction for the sector's medium- to long-term development.

o n j u d i c i a l r e v i e w, constitution and administrative matters, as these she said, are fairly new to the local courts. Janki has four court cases relating to illegalities within the local oil sector, one involves the prevention of unauthorised flaring at the offshore FPSO in the Stabroek Block.

Kaieteur News publisher Glenn Lall also has an oil related case to make ExxonMobil pay its fair share of taxes. Other oil related cases were filed with University of Guyana professor Troy Thomas winning his challenge against a 20-year operating permit approval when the law only permits five.

“Outside of existing cases, I think it is really important that people bring more court cases and challenge wherever there are grounds for illegalities; and challenge the actions because that does actually have an

Attorney-at-law Melinda Janki impact in sending a clear message that we would not tolerate unlawful actions.”

Therefore, Janki continued, institutions in country as well as the private sector will want to do what's right to avoid being sued and ending up in court. “So, it is really important that people show that they are prepared to go to court to enforce the law.”

The court ruling in

Professor Thomas' case essentially brought the environmental permit for oil operators in conformity with the law. He too believes that citizens must increase their use of the legal system, highlighting that his court victory paved the way for citizens to challenge oil companies over other environmental infractions.

An order granted by Justice Jo Ann Barlow in 2020 effectively reduced Exxon's environmental permit to the correct time as prescribed by law.

More recently, former finance minister Winston Jordan also promoted the legal avenue as a course to hit (Continued on page 9)

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Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Guyana, ExxonMobil and taxes

I

t was American Founding Father and statesman, who gave us the memorable, “In this world nothing can said to be certain, except death and taxes.” In view of what is happening in Guyana today, taxes are causing the death of us, and by a thousand cuts. Successive Governments of Guyana, and American oil giant, ExxonMobil, are responsible for this terrible tax state, and we denounce them all for what this unconscionable tax regime is doing to Guyanese.

The previous APNU+AFC Coalition Government gave away to Exxon Guyana’s whole tax book. It left us with nothing to get from Exxon and its partners, not a single tax dollar that we can collect from the company. We can linger and lament over that, it is what we will be doing forever, if we don’t hold leaders accountable.

The PPP/C Government took office, with all these promises from the lips of its powerful leaders, about what they were going to do to make things right for the expectant citizens of this poor, limping society. Then they stopped dead, with nothing occurring past the promises made so earnestly, the many hopes they stirred in Guyanese.

Taxes is one of the sweet, rich low hanging fruits that must be plucked by leaders ruling today. Yet, on each occasion that the opportunity arose, they skulked away like fearful curs, so feeble they were in confronting Exxon to get some relief for Guyanese. They had to target the billions in taxes that Exxon does not pay, but which every Guyanese does.

Guyanese could use the ease from paying less income taxes, well below that almost one third of the low wages and salaries that they work for. In a country like this, where outsiders are boasting in rushing showers of words about their rich prospects in Guyana, citizens should not be paying any taxes, but they do.

They do when they buy most things, and it is called VAT, which represents another burden on all Guyanese, especially the poor ones.

Our VAT should be much less, or not at all, but that is not in the cards, because Exxon has already gobbled up all the taxes that could have been freed up to make the lives of citizens here more manageable. It is the same story, sell a house or a car, and there is the likelihood that some may have to sell another asset to pay off the taxes that are heaped on them. This is what infuriates deep down, given the injustice, the imbalance of what is going on here, so normal here, with ExxonMobil ruling our rulers.

Exxon pays no taxes, but Guyanese must. Exxon’s and Hess’s and CNOOC’s investors are further enriched from Guyana’s oil riches, while the whole host of Guyanese are impoverished. That is, except for the cronies of the leaders in the PPP/C Government, their friends and families, who feast on this oil bonanza, while ordinary Guyanese live with daily famine.

This is not anymore of what is even one-sided or lopsided, but it is more than that, in the graveside that Guyanese find themselves locked into, with this tax regime, through which Exxon and company plunder and pillage this land. When today’s PPP/C Government had moments to put the brakes on Exxon’s runaway oil train, and make the company’s leaders come to their senses, the government failed. Payara is the first poor example of pathetic leadership, the Yellowtail Project the second, and the renewal of the permit for Liza 1, the most recent.

In sum, these represent not just the cowardliness of PPP/C Government leaders before the ruthlessness of Exxon.

It also incorporates the compromise state in which they exist, and from which they lead this society. They are not alone because there is a Coalition Opposition that can’t even find its feet, and which is still struggling to decide what it is all about.

Every time that we think of what Exxon is allowed to get away with in the taxes that it does not pay, we recoil. Since our leaders refuse to fight for us, then we will have to prepare to take the fight to Exxon. Exxon must pay its fair share of taxes on Guyana’s oil.

Volatile situations in schools require appropriate pre-emptive interventions DEAR EDITOR When the situation in any school reaches the point where teachers have to abandon classes in protest, there is dire need for intervention by the authorities, parents and teachers in a tri-partite arrangement. Are we heading for copycat situations in the USA where students take guns and other weapons to school and some of them use them? This situation needs to be addressed urgently.

Region Two, where I live has seven secondary schools and one cannot envisage teachers being scared of students enmasse and deserting the school. Is this an urban, inner city problem where the culture and socialisation are different from rural areas?

Whatever it may be, it is a scary problem that needs attention (mind you, everywhere has model students who do not pose problems and this is not about them).

I have taught 12 years in Guyana, 18 in Belize, one in Grand Turk (T&CI), one in USA and 5 in Canada at primary, secondary and tertiary level institutions and never encountered a situation as happened in Georgetown last week where teachers had to abandon classes in protesting students’ behaviour. My experience has exposed me to the best schools where students are highly competitive to the ones with at-risk students with behavioural problems who are poor, from single-parent families and gang affiliated, but teachers and administrators, including myself are always in control.

We need different manypronged approaches to control new and emerging problems, rather than chalk and talk and corporal punishment

both of which are outdated.

In a letter of mine, published in the newspapers of July 11, 2015 titled PLEASE REVAMPAND MODERNISE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, DR. ROOPNARINE, one of the nine suggestions I made was, “Appoint trained counsellors in all schools for behavioural and vocational guidance. Staff should also get Counselling when necessary.” Counselling referral forms should be filled and given to the councillor who should make the necessary intervention, including parent meeting.

Councillors should be proactive and check with teachers to become cognisant of issues that need addressing.

Additionally, have proper security, including abled security guards, surveillance cameras and screening students as they enter the school compound. Also, do not permit cell phones in classrooms as this leads to various issues including cheating at tests/exams. Liaise with the police for quick responses when summoned.

When I taught at RESA (Rockford Environmental Science Academy) in Illinois, USA, there was a police officer in the school for students that the teachers could not handle, and a room called the “Think Tank” where such students were kept in and supervised until their parents arrived.

Moreover, have co-curricular activities (aka extracurricular activities) such as clubs—chess, table-tennis, volley ball, cricket, football, dominoes, debating, choir, art & craft, etc. — and make it mandatory for students to be a member of at least one club,

for several years, as part of the credits for graduation.

Many of us learnt to play chess and other games in school clubs and some of us could not wait for the dismissal bell to run out and take our place on the volleyball court, while others kicked football, etc. These activities are for both physical and physical conditioning, as well as life skills.

For affective influence, invite religious and community leaders to deliver motivational speeches to the students regularly. Instill in them that other people are poor, hungry and suffering and that they should make optimum use of their opportunity. Invite also role models, rehabilitated drug addicts and exconvict, single-parents who succeeded to share their experiences in an effort to inspire students.

Furthermore, have remedial classes for struggling students and use various methodologies for achievement. Differentiated Instruction, the Multiple Intelligences approach to learning, the taxonomy of cognitive learning (recall, application, evaluation etc.) should be implemented by all teachers, some of whom need professional development. We cannot discount the fact that there are late developers, change of family circumstances, change of attitude and other factors that can cause students to improve academically and behaviorally.

There should be alternative/positive discipline. In Belize, students are issued with a Demerit/Merit Card on which demerits are crossed off, on one side, whenever there is a specific infraction,

for example, no homework or disruptive in class. Five demerits result in a detention, 15 in a suspension (which can be in-school), 25 which is the maximum can lead to expulsion after the school board meets.

In between, there is counselling and parent conferences in an effort to modify undesirable practices/ behaviours. On the obverse side of the card, students are given merits, which are also marked off and rewarded for accumulated merits with gifts, certificates, etc. The merits/ demerits of each student are recorded in a notebook by the homeroom teacher in case there is loss or damage to the card.

Implement a zero-tolerance policy for bullying (which can lead to fatal retaliation and mental issues) and gang affiliation such as signs, tattoos and association.

Convene regular Parents’ Day in which parents, some lacking parenting skills, meet and are involved in good parenting practices such as monitoring and guiding their children.

From experience I know that parents of delinquent students hardly ever attend these sessions, but some do and it is worth the effort.

We as guardians of our children cannot sit idly by and see that they go astray, then throw up our hands in resignation, belly-up, point fingers when we need to act responsibly.

We have to be proactive instead of continuing to be reactive.

Sincerely, Karan Chand Educationist M.Ed., Educational Leadership

If you can vote like a boss then you must work towards becoming your boss by getting employed today!

DEAR EDITOR, Youths no longer can complain about not having a job. The PPP/C Government is making it easy for them to find and keep a job either temporarily or permanently.

They are going to every region and declaring that the government is committed to creating jobs for young people.

I want to say seize the opportunity to become employed and get valuable experience once it comes your way.

Do not listen to the politicians because most of them are emplo y e d o r h a v e businesses to fend for their families while many young people are survivi n g o f f o f t h e strength of their parents or otherwise.

Yo u m u s t b e t h e change you want to see in this world! It starts with a sim p l e a p p l i cation process with little o r n o a c a d emic qualifications and the possibilities are endless.

I think the government

is doing the right thing with this entrepreneurial and job drive for young people.

This can help Guyana to bolster the economy therefore stimulating and exp a n d i n g t h e e c o n omic growth rates.

Any responsible adult will tell you the same.

When it comes to education and supporting programmes to bolster youths and their development, politics has to take a back seat for me because I know the

struggle to find meaningful employment before in Guyana.

I know the struggle to have bills to pay and live in Guyana s o I i m p l o r e young people of working age to take this g o l d e n o p p o r t u n i t y offered by the PPP Government.

If you can vote like a boss then you must work towards becoming your boss by getting employed today!

Yours truly, Alvin Hamilton

Monday June 13, 2022

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Kaieteur News

An attempt to erase the legacy of the Coalition Government because of political immaturity DEAR EDITOR, Sometimes it bothers me to comprehend the level a few Political Leaders will stoop to propagate lies to confuse the minds of Guyanese.

On Friday, May 27, 2022, the media reported on the recommissioning of water taxis

by Mr. Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works for regions 5 & 6, of which free transportation for schoolchildren and pensioners will be provided.

It is necessary for me to factually remind the public with relevant information on the origin of the “water taxis”, introduced and commissioned by the Coalition Government in August 2018 for the residents of Mahaica-Berbice and East Berbice-Corentyne Regions, more particularly to students, nurses, teachers, and pensioners.

When the Berbice River Bridge was commissioned on December 23rd, 2008, many commuters complained of the high costs of vehicular fares. However, despite the p u b l i c o u t c r y, t h e t h e n People’s Progressive Party Civic government, failed to address the issue.

Editor, the APNU, while in Opposition in 2014, tabled a motion by Mr. Joseph Harmon, which called on the then Ramotar’s administration to lower the tolls for the Berbice Bridge Crossing.

The motion was successfully passed after the debates. However, during the debates, then Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, was very adamant in opposing the calls for fare reductions. He declared, “I will

not reduce the toll.

I will not reduce the toll to any person in Guyana until, by economic modelling and defining; we can determine that it would be a benefit to the 2 (Berbice) Bridge Company and the shareholders and the people of Guyana as a result” (Stabroek News, May 17, 2014).

Leading up to the General and Regional Elections in May 2015, the Coalition promised that Berbicians would benefit from a reduction in toll once elected to Government. As faith would have it, the Coalition did ascend to the seat of Government.

The Coalition Government engaged the Board of Directors and Management of the Berbice Bridge Company to commence discussion on reducing the tolls.

This was refused!

In 2016, through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the Coalition Government engaged the services of private speedboat operators, to provide “free transportation services” to residents, operating at peak hours in the morning and afternoon periods.

On completion of the assessment, to determine its feasibility; approval was granted for two speedboats to operate, where the costs were absorbed by the government.

The Coalition Government was lauded for this initiative.

It brought relief to commuters and revitalised the economic activities of small businesses once operated in the New Amsterdam and

Rosignol areas when the Transport and Harbours Department provided ferry services.

The Transport and Harbours Department management frequently reviewed the water taxi services. Then, in early 2017, under the leadership of then Minister David Patterson, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure decided that Transport and Harbours Department should consider having “water taxis” to own and operate.

So, the process started, and designs were proposed to both Ministers Patterson and Ferguson.

During the consultations on budget 2017 with the Ministry of Finance, the presentation was made, and the sum of $20M was provided in the budget for the building of two water taxis.

On August 30, 2018, the then minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (Ms. Annette Ferguson) commissioned the two water taxis. At the commissioning ceremony, the then Regional Executive Officer for Region 6, Ms. Kim Stephens, Mr. Basil Blackman, Chairman of the Advisory Council, Management of Transport and Harbours Department, RDC officials, Councillors for the Region six (6) Municipality and others were in attendance.

At the commissioning ceremony, the Coalition Government announced that Nurses, Teachers, Pensioners, and schoolchildren would travel “free of cost”, and other categories of travellers were made to pay

$140.00 travelling cost.

In October 2018, the Berbice Bridge Company announced a 420 per cent bridge toll increase. Coalition Government vehemently rejected this through Minister David Patterson at that time.

Editor, it will be reasonable and fair for me to share an extract from Minister Patterson during a Press Conference hosted by him in October 2018, “I will not be approving any toll increases for the Berbice River Bridge crossing, and that is our position on that.

We will be seeking legal advice from the Attorney General Chambers on the legal implications on what is the power and authorities under this act.

I want to give all assurances to all the commuters in Berbice and regions 5 and 6, that the Government will do all that is necessary to ensure that commuters can contin u e to use the bridge safely and without any particular undue harassments or toll” (Department of Public Information, October 16, 2018).

After that, the Management of the Berbice Bridge Company eventually agreed on the terms proposed by the Coalition Government. Ironically, in November 2018, the Management of the Berbice Bridge Company filed a Notice of Application on both Ministers David Patterson and Basil Williams in their respective Ministerial portfolios.

As far as I am aware, this matter is still pending in the High Court.

On taking office in Au-

gust 2020, without any justifiable reason, the Ministry of Public Works pulled the water taxis, returning hardship and challenges to those who benefitted from the services. Editor, what do you say about these actions?

During recent outreaches in, residents enquired from the Vice-President why the water taxis were not in operation. Unfortunately, he did not provide a positive response.

On Friday, May 27th, 2022, without any shame, Mr. Edghill turned up to recommission the very water taxis which the Coalition Government already commissioned in August 2018.

What point is the PPP/C regime trying to prove?

The people of MahaicaBerbice and East BerbiceCorentyne Regions are very aware of which administration brought them the much-desired relief. Mr. Edghill and his Government owe the people of Mahaica-Berbice and East Berbice-Corentyne Regions an apology for ceasing the operations of the two water taxis. The big unanswered question is, how cynical it was to recommend something already commissioned using

the same equipment, in this instance, the two water taxis?

Editor, lest we forget that the PPP/C regime governed for twenty-three years and never had the vision nor foresight to put measures, such as water taxis, to assist the ordinary people in Mahaica-Berbice and East Berbice-Corentyne Regions.

Instead, they had placed an additional burden on many families when they installed the bridge and removed the ferry services as an option for the public.

The PPP/C continues to show its pettiness in every regard. Rather than building on what they had inherited from the Coalition Government, they dismantled and, in all attempts, to erase the Legacy of the Coalition Government because of their political immaturity.

It is time the PPP/C regime desist from playing politics with the lives of our people and move forward in governing this nation for the benefit of ALL Guyanese.

Yours in service, Annette Ferguson, MP. Former Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure

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Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

Walter Rodney’s 42nd Anniversary comes at a time when the masses of Guyanese are grounded in poverty DEAR EDITOR, Monday June 13, 2022, Guyanese as well as the diaspora commemorate the 42nd Anniversary of the Assassination of Walter Rodney. Most people who knew Walter knew him for his street activism, very few knew him as a family man and of the love his family bestowed upon him.

I met Walter Rodney in February 1979, when he and two other field activists were doing some groundwork in East Ruimveldt. I had returned to Guyana three months earlier after spending 7 years in Latin America. When Walter came to my home I was carving a map of Africa. We

spent some time talking, I related my experiences in Latin America which was a world of Revolution and he in turn spoke of the class nature of Guyanese society and the dynamics of the Guyanese struggle.

The next time Walter visited my home he came alone and I took him around to meet with my neighbours in California, at that time East Ruimveldt was considered the heartland of the People’s National Congress (PNC).

Walter knocked at every d o o r, a t f i r s t p e o p l e expressed some apprehension but Walter’s simple manner in which he

spoke instantly persuaded people that he was on the side of the Downtrodden.

Sometime after we ventured into Warlock and deep into the PNC heartland. Walter Rodney brought out of East Ruimveldt some committed youngsters who became the ‘BRIGADE’ the distribution Unit of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

Walter would invite me to his home where I met his wife Patricia and kids.

I mentioned this because very little has been said of Rodney’s family, the hurt and pain they suffered. I was moved to tears when I visited Patricia on the night of June 13. I met Fr. Malcolm

Rodriguez there, myself and other members of the BRIGADE from East Ruimveldt at the home, which was raided by the political police under the National Security Act. It rained heavily that night, and in the morning, we saw a heap of yellow paper that said Walter Rodney was blown beyond recognition in an attempt to blow up the Georgetown prison.

Linden Forbes Burnham, the Maximum leader of the PNC was desperate and since before the assassination of Fr. Bernard Darke on July 14, 1979, had warned the WPA to make their wills and of his sharp Steel.

Wa l t e r spoke of Burnham’s intention to impose on Guyanese a new constitution that would invest him with all the power of an old-time King during a meeting at Bourda. On August 22nd he said that Burnham wanted so much to become King but the only King he could become was “King Kong”, the crowd

burst into laughter and the chant that followed was “Who must go?”, “King Kong must go!” Burnham cracked up and let loose his dogs of war. 75 days after Walter ’s assassination, Burnham passed his draconian “New People’s Constitution” over the bodies of many...followed by an unprecedented wave of migration.

Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the PPP had faded into the background and again regained their lost ground.

Walter Rodney was deemed an Adventurer and in Indian communities, people were reminded of what the PNC would do to their families.

The body of the 60s was resuscitated but the great Betrayal of the Guyanese nation was to follow when the PPP gained power, the promise made to the Guyanese nation to rewrite the Guyana Constitution.

Which the PPP deemed “the concoction of a mad dictator” and had even boycotted the

parliamentary session on October 6, 1980. Once in government, the PPP under the guise of a Constitutional Reform Commission expended well over GYD$2B. 30 years later, Guyanese continue to be ruled over by a dictatorship, with the return of the PPP to office despite all the mealymouthed talk of one Guyana, we see the oil/gas wealth being given away to the PPP and their cronies. I have written once again to remind President Ali that he came to government on the basis of fairness and not selectivity.

The commemoration of Wa l t e r R o d n e y ’s 4 2 n d anniversary comes at a time in which the masses of Guyanese are grounded in Poverty and the undermining of our democracy by way of the continued rule of our country for 42 years by a constitution that was imposed on Guyanese and for which Walter Rodney lost his life.

Yours faithfully, Desmond Alli (General Secretary of the GUA)

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

The idea is to not become second class citizens in your own country. In economic terms, it means if you are not a producer, you are a consumer. And consumers need money to buy from the producers.

Socially, this means the widening of the poverty gap between the haves and the have nots since the controllers of the economy are not interested in ensuring every citizen directly benefits from the various natural endowments.

The consumers have no way of getting into the resource economy. They remain unattended to and uneducated in their natural right to have betterment. And they say it is not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country when leaders are allowing outsiders to hog benefits; doing exactly what failed oil states did.

There are too many examples of where Guyana will end up if she doesn't shape up with her blessings.

Guyanese must decide whether they want to be another oil project left in the dust of global oil giants or whether they will snatch their destiny.

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Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

Global food import bill will hit record US$1.8 trillion this year ...FAO says in new report T

he global food import bill is on course to hit a new record of US$1.8 trillion this year, but higher prices and transport costs rather than volumes account for the bulk of the expected

increase, according to a new report released last week by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). “ Wo r r y i n g l y, m a n y vulnerable countries are paying more but receiving

less food,” FAO says in its latest Food Outlook. The global food import bill is projected to rise by US$51 billion from 2021, of which US$49 billion reflects higher prices, the FAO said. Least Developed Countries

(LDCs) are anticipated to undergo a 5-percent contraction in their food import bill this year, while sub-Saharan Africa and the group of Net FoodImporting Developing Countries are both expected to register an increase in total costs, despite a reduction in imported volumes.

“These are alarming signs from a food security perspective, indicating that importers will find it difficult to finance rising international costs, potentially heralding an end of their resilience to higher prices,” the report notes. “In view of the soaring input prices, concerns about the weather, and increased market uncertainties stemming from the war in Ukraine, FAO's latest forecasts point to a likely tightening of food markets and food import bills reaching a new record high,” said FAO economist Upali Galketi Aratchilage, lead editor of the Food Outlook.

FAO has proposed a Food Import Financing Facility to provide balanceof-payment support to the low-income countries most reliant on food imports as a strategy to safeguard their food security.

Animal fats and vegetable oils are the single biggest contributor to the higher import bills expected to be reached in 2022, although cereals are not far behind for developed countries.

Developing countries, as a whole, are reducing imports of cereals, oilseeds and meat, which reflects their incapacity to cover the increase in prices. Issued

twice a year, Food Outlook offers FAO's reviews of market supply and demand trends for the world's major foodstuffs, including cereals, oilcrops, sugar, meat and dairy and fish. It also looks at trends in futures markets and shipping costs for food commodities. The new edition also contains two special chapters examining the role of rising prices for agricultural inputs, such as fuel and fertilizers, and the risks the war in Ukraine poses for global food commodity markets.

Takeaways World production of major cereals is expected to decline in 2022 for the first time in four years, while global utilization is also seen down, for the first time in 20 years.

However, the use of cereals for direct food consumption by humans is not anticipated to be impacted, as the decline in total use is expected to result from lower feed use of wheat, coarse grains and rice. World wheat stocks are set to increase marginally in the year, mostly due to anticipated build-ups of inventories in China, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

World maize output and utilization are forecast to hit new records, associated with greater ethanol production in Brazil and the United States of America as well as industrial starch production in China.

Global consumption of vegetable oils is predicted to outpace production, despite expected demand rationing.

While meat production is expected to decline in

Argentina, the European Union and the United States of America, global output is forecast to expand by 1.4 percent, led by an 8-percent foreseen increase in pig meat production in China, reaching and even exceeding the level before the dramatic spread of the African swine fever virus in 2018. World milk production is forecast to expand more slowly than in previous years, constrained by falling dairy herd numbers and lower profit margins in several major producing regions, while trade may contract from the elevated level of 2021.

World sugar production is expected to increase after three years of decline, led by gains in India, Thailand and the European Union. Global aquaculture production is forecast to increase by 2.9 percent while that of capture fisheries will likely expand by 0.2 percent. Reflecting rising prices of fish, total export revenues from fisheries and aquaculture products are anticipated to climb by 2.8 percent, while volumes seen dropping by 1.9 percent.

Food Outlook offers deeper dives into major agricultural commodities, in particular wheat, maize, rice, the oil crops complex, as well as dairy, meat, fish and sugar.

Agricultural inputs and the future Along with rising food prices – with the FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) near its all-time high and prices of several staples having registered large run-ups in the past year – the (Continued on page 16)

'BOOT arrangement is a...

From page 2 c o n t r a c t o r, C h i n a Railway First Group was having difficulty in financing the project. He explained that the contractor had as late as April 22, last, written to the government “saying that they are having a hard time doing the BOOT (Build, Own, Operate Transfer) contract and they want to shift to an EPC (Engineer, Procure, Construct) plus finance” option instead.

One transparency advocate who resides in Canada, Dr. Jerry Jailall has concluded that this development may be a

blessing in disguise given the burdensome risks Guyana would have carried in the BOOT arrangement with the Chinese.

For instance, if the falls run dry due to climate change, or if the 23 square kilometres reservoir is unable to feed the hydro plant, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) would bear the incurred liability. Secondly, Guyana will be responsible for political force majeure, that is, if the government changes its mind about the project, it would still have to pay the Chinese contractor for its investment.

The third risk Guyana will

stand, along with China Railway, is 'other force majeure'. This relates to damage to the plant, by unforeseen circumstances.

Two other risks will be borne

by GPL if the Amaila Falls project fails to meet the electricity demand.

The Amaila Falls Hydropower project was pegged at US$700M to hopefully deliver 165 megawatts (MW) of electricity upon its c o m p l e t i o n .

Under the BOOT arrangement Guyana would have, in 20 years' time, take over ownership of the project.

Monday June 13, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The duty to consult Unlike what many people may feel, the concept of meaningful consultation is underdeveloped within constitutional law. And unlike what some have tried to do, it is not simply a matter of transposing principles of administrative law to constitutional law.

The PNC/R plans to challenge President Ali’s appointments to a number of commissions, including the Integrity Commission and the Police Service Commission. It is expected that the principal ground for the challenge will be the President’s failure to satisfy the requirements of “meaningful consultations.”

The requirements of “meaningful consultations” are defined in the Constitution. A meaningful consultation requires that the persons responsible for consultation has to first identify the persons or entities to be consulted, write to these persons or entities indicating the subject matter of the consultation/s; and give a date for the intended decision on the subject of the consultation. The second set of requirements require affording those to be consulted a reasonable opportunity to express an opinion on the subject of the consultation. There is no specified requirement for any curriculum vitae of persons likely to be considered for appointment. There are no specified requirements for the persons responsible for seeking consultation to provide reasons or

justification for any choice.

Case law on meaningful consultations remains an underdeveloped area of constitutional law. This accounts for the over reliance on administrative precedents.

But there are dangers in doing so. Administrative case law, concerning the need for meaningful consultations, usually involves challenges brought by parties directly affected or likely to be affected by a decision.

Constitutional challenges, on the other hand, tend to involve parties not directly the subject matter of consultations. As such, one has to be cautious in importing principles from administrative law to constitutional law.

Reg. V Brent LBC [1985], for example, concerned the non-fulfillment of mandatory procedural requirements of the Education Act. The Court held that the failure to comply with the laid down requirements invalidated the subsequent decision.

The so-called Sedley principles were proposed during arguments in that case.

They were to the effect that the consultation must take place at a formative stage, that the proposer must give sufficient reason for the proposals, that the proposer must provide adequate time for consideration and response; and that the response must be conscientiously considered in arriving at a final decision.

The above principles

were proposed in order, it was argued, to make the consultations fair. But Guyana’s Constitution does not speak to fairness in appointments to Constitutional Commissions.

The President of Guyana is not required to be fair in his decision, only to engage in meaningful consultations, as defined by the Constitution.

Consultations can be meaningful without arriving at a fair outcome. It is for this reason that Guyana’s Constitution does not require that the President provide justification of reasons for his proposed choices.

Similarly, in R V Secretary of State for Social Services [1986], the Court laid down its understanding of the mandatory consultations under the Housing Benefit Scheme: “The essence of consultation is the communication of a genuine invitation to give advice and a genuine receipt of that advice; to achieve consultation, sufficient information must be supplied by the consulting to the consulted party to enable it to tender helpful advice; sufficient time must be given by the consulting to the consulted party to enable it to do so, and sufficient time must be available for such advice to be considered by the consulting party…” The Court did not make any reference to the need to justify any decision.

It was further held in that case that, “Where insufficient consultation is alleged, the challenge is to the vires of the

Citizens urged to resist Govt. abuses...

From page 3 government's speed when they do not adhere to citizen's request. He told the opposition to up their game by using the Parliament and the courts to register their disapproval of the way the country is being run. The former min-

ister said the opposition must flood the Parliament with motions and questions to demand answers from the government. And when they continue to behave nonchalant, limit or remove participation from the House to force a sit down since foreign support-

ers of democracy will not allow the government alone to sit in Parliament and run the country. Jordan said that the courts may be overloaded, but opposition must utilize these avenues as they provide official records of the struggle.

Dem boys seh...

Let’s talk facts!

De fact is dat half ah we pickney dem failing Common Entrance every year.

Leh we have a fact-based solution to dat problem.

De fact is dat violence in schools is one old prablem. Is nat new. Nuff pickney getting beat-up and bully at school every day. Leh we fix dat prablem.

De fact is one of every five school children don’t carry lunch to school or don’t have money to buy lunch.

Dem does bare dem chafe till afternoon. Leh we nah run away from dat fact.De fact is some children can’t

attend school because dem can’t afford bus fare and de school too far fuh dem fuh walk.

Leh we fix dat problem before we start building more four lane highways. De fact is dat some ah dem schools in de hinterland wah giving out school meals sharing shine rice. Leh we fix dat prablem.

De fact is dat if some children nah go to extra lessons dem can only pass wind rather dan pass dem exams. Who parents nah gat money fuh lessons, cork duck. Leh we fix dat prablem.

Nuff ah dem teacher nah finishing de syllabus in normal times much less now dat de COVID interrupt teaching.

Leh we fix dat prablem fuss before we start talking bout progress in education.

De school passes at CXC moving like yo-yo. It going up and down. Certain schools guarantee to do well but dem odder schools nah performing up to standard.

Let we fix dat before we start borrowing more money from de World Bank.

Talk half. Leff half.

statutory instrument; accordingly, the correct test is whether there has been sufficient consultation, rather than whether the consultation process fails to satisfy the test now known as “rationality,” formerly the “unreasonable” test in Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223, CA. Where there is a statutory duty to consult, there remains a requirement of procedural fairness (as opposed to a fair outcome).

The President of Guyana therefore need not make a decision that is fair; all he is required to do is to satisfy the procedural requirements of consultation.

In R (Moseley) v Haringey LBC [2014], Lord Reed held that, “Meaningful public participation in this particular decision-making

process, in a context with which the general public cannot be expected to be familiar, requires that the consultees should be provided not only with information about the draft scheme, but also with an outline of the realistic alternatives, and an indication of the main reasons for the authority’s adoption of the draft scheme.”

A simple reading of this decision may suggest that for the formal and procedural requirements for consultation to be met that the persons or entities being consulted must be provided with the main reasons for a proposed decision. The above case however involves public participation in decision-making as distinct from consultations in making of appointments to constitutional bodies.

The contexts are different. In the case

considered above, the consultees were directly affected or likely to be affected by the decision. In the matter of consultations for appointments to constitutional commissions, there is no direct impact on the consultations on appointments to constitutional bodies. It cannot be equated with public participation in decision making, thus highlighting the dangers of wholesale transposing of principles of administrative case law to constitutional law.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Monday June May 02, 13,2022 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Young Rodney admirers must deluge Clive Thomas with these questions These were my opening words in my Tuesday, June 7, 2022 article: “I once wrote on this page that as soon as you completed your analysis and 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 amount of times I had to relegate to a later date completed articles because of intervening factors.”

I had to switch gear last week. Today I am switching gear again. I completed my article for today since last week. It analyses the reasons PNC leader, Aubrey Norton, gave for initially refusing to shake the President's hand.

Then reading the newspapers early Saturday morning, I

came across an item in which the remnants of the WPA will be holding a public event in celebration of the assassination anniversary of Walter Rodney (June 13) with featured speaker, Dr. Clive Thomas.

Shock and anger are poor words to describe my reaction on reading the news item. I reflected on how poor the quality of humans is in this world we live in. Before we go to the questions attendees must ask Dr. Thomas and the title of the talk today, an important, extremely important piece of information, needs to be publicised for every human in this world who follow trends in Guyana.

Here it is. There has only

been one year from 2015 when the WPA got into power that there was an event to celebrate the assassination a n n i v e r s a r y o f Wa l t e r Rodney that was not sponsored by the WPA. That year was 2017.

Here is what I wrote in my Wednesday, June 13, 2018 column about that sordid affair: “Last year, the invitation to the event listed the sponsors as Friends of Walter Rodney. Who were his friends that organised the gathering? For example, present co-leader of the WPA, Rupert Roopnarine was not there in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The question which the WPA ignored is why the WPA did not host the event. And if it could not, why did a group named WPA Overseas not do the job?”

So today, the WPA will host the event. There was no anniversary celebration in 2018, 2019, 2020. In those years, the WPA was part of the Government of Guyana. I attended the ones in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Clive Thomas was only present in

2017. Before we move to the questions, a word about the name of the speech Clive Thomas will be delivering.

It is opportunistically titled, “Revisiting the Buxton proposal.” Not one PNC and AFC minister while in government has ever used that term and they still don't.

Not one editor or journalist has ever used that term. Not one letter-writer in any of the four dailies has used those words. Not one academic, in and outside of Guyana has used that term.

Please see my column of Thursday, October 7, 2021, “The Buxton Proposal: Subliminal ethnic instinct.”

The Buxton proposal is an invention of Clive Thomas that he has used in his weekly Stabroek News column. He uses it to refer to the statement of Henry Jeffrey that he, Clive Thomas, has popularised. It was Jeffrey that originally suggested that the government must make cash grants to Guyanese from the poorer classes.

Even Jeffrey who made the original thought does not

write about the Buxton proposal.

No one in Guyana knows what the Buxton proposal is except Clive Thomas.

What all other persons Frederick Kissoon in and out of Guyana refer to is cash grant a multi-racial entity? What from oil revenues. That is the is the current structure of the way people in the other oil WPA? How many members rich economies refer to the are in its executive and of advocacy. One is simply those, how many are Indians, stumped in understanding Amerindians and of mixed what cash grant from oil race? revenue has to do with 3 - Under the Buxton. chairmanship of GuySuCo, Those young Guyanese 7000 sugar workers were who admire Walter Rodney retrenched. Even if the must look Thomas straight in industry had to be closed, the eyes today and ask him why did the workers have to many questions some of go to court to get their which include the following: financial entitlement?

1 - Finally in 2015, 39 4 - Can Thomas, years after the birth of WPA Guyana's long-standing as a political party, the WPA scholar, tell Guyanese what finally got state power with the essential differences three of its leaders securing between the PNC and PPP strategic places in the power are and why WPA joined the structure. Can Thomas PNC and not PPP? enumerate the transformative (The views expressed in policies of the WPA when in this article are those of the power, May, 2015 - June a u t h o r a n d d o n o t 2020? necessarily reflect the 2 - Is what left of the WPA opinions of this newspaper.)

Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

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sweN rueteiaK

Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

Monday June 13, 2022

PAGE 13

Gas plant explosion at Texas highlights dangers of Wales project A

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Texas USA on Wednesday last burst into flames, leaving nearby residents rattled over the possible negative impacts they can be exposed to.

No injuries were reported and it is understood that investigations are still ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion. The plant is expected to be offline for about three weeks as technicians hurry to restart operations, amid a shortage of supplies on the global market. One media outlet indicated that the blast at Freeport LNG's export terminal on Texas' Quintana Island was reported around n o o n . H o w e v e r, w h i l e authorities have said that the fire and “release” from the explosion were swiftly contained, residents who live near the facility fears they will be kept in the dark. A reporter from Common Dreams- an organization established in the US since 1997- spoke to a few of the citizens who underscored that they have been living in fear while the business owners have been getting rich.

"This is terrifying," said Melanie Oldham, founder of Citizens for Clean Air and Clean Water in Brazoria County, where the Freeport LNG facility is located.

"We've been afraid of a disaster happening ever since Freeport LNG started exporting gas. We shouldn't have to live in fear just so gas executives like [company

A screenshot of the explosion taken from a video uploaded by a resident who lives near the Texas Gas Plant.

CEO] Michael Smith can get rich."

"This is dangerous business," Oldham added.

"What kind of air monitoring are they doing out there? Will they even be able to tell what the explosion released? And will they tell us? Thankfully it looks like none of the workers or anyone else was injured or killed. We may not be so lucky the next time there's an explosion at this plant, or any of the polluting facilities surrounding us, for that matter."

"I saw it blow up from my job site—biggest fireball I've ever seen," said one Freeport resident. The facility is one of the largest LNG export plants in the United States, exporting about two billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas per day, about 15 percent of the nation's LNG exports.

Harold Doty, who lives on Quintana Island, warned that "there is still no emergency action plan for that plant" despite Wednesday's explosion.

"Originally, the plant said

that people on the island should go to the beach and have the Coast Guard pick them up in boats," said Doty.

"Freeport LNG really doesn't care about us. This is not the first fire. There are often fire alarms at the plant that I can hear from my house. I can never get any explanation when I call, so I've quit calling."

The explosion at the gas terminal comes at a time when Guyana is rushing to setup its own LNG plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara in partnership with oil giantExxonMobil.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project has already been submitted to the local a u t h o r i s i n g b o d y, t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Notably, this document has said that Guyana will not be immune to gas explosions at the site, listing the activity as a likely event.

But even though US$1.3 billion will be expended to merely set up the onshore and

offshore pipeline works for the facility, along with other ancillary works, Guyana has no insurance from the developer, should such an event occur. In fact, Exxon has not even submitted a Gas Leak Management Plan to the EPA for considerations to be made in the permitting process. Instead, Exxon has promised to have the document ready about a year before the plant starts its operations at Wales. In addition, the Gas to Energy P r o j e c t M a n a g e r, M r.

Friedrich Krispin has indicated that Exxon and its partners will not walk away from any accidents, but will help Guyana should an unfortunate event take place at the proposed facility.

According to him, “Responsibility is something that lawyers tell us not to talk about…because there are a lot of interesting legal ramifications with responsibility but the one thing I can tell you is; I can say from 35 years of experience and I can say

from knowing the history of a 140 years of this corporation we don't walk away from incidents, issues, accidents etcetera, we make sure that we take care of things, we make sure that we clean up where we left, we make sure that we clean up the environment if there is an incident and we make sure that things are left very much like we found them.”

When he was pressed further to say when a document would be signed, specifically to secure an insurance policy to cover any mishaps, Krispin said he could not respond. “Unfortunately I can't speak to that it is something the legal

department is working through. They have commitments with the government of Guyana and I have read some of them stuff but I can't speak on their behalf but I am sure that they are always gonna do the right thing,” he shared.

ExxonMobil can reclaim all costs expended on this venture from Guyana's oil revenue, in keeping with the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). This means that Guyana will be paying for the project, even though the returns are not definitive. Government hopes to generate some 300 megawatts of power through this venture, even though no feasibility study has been done.

Wales GTE project ExxonMobil is aiming to start construction works as soon as possible, after receiving all necessary authorisations, with a target date of August 2022 for the start of NGL Plant site preparation, which is expected to be completed in approximately three years.

The pipeline system is targeted to be ready to deliver (Continued on page 15)

PAGE 14

Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

No procurement commission 74 days after parliament approved members ...Mahipaul calls out President Ali for “stifling transparency”

By Zena Henry

O

pposition Member of Parliament and Public Accounts Commission member (PAC) Ganesh Mahipaul has called on President Irfaan Ali to immediately swear in members of the important Public Procurement Commission (PPC) after the National Assembly unanimously approved five names to fill the body since April 13 last.

It has been 74 days since the House gave absolute approval for Attorney-atLaw Pauline Chase, Economist Joel Bhagwandin, Rajnarain Singh, Berkeley Wi c k h a m a n d D i a n a Rajcumar to function.

Mahipaul is thus questioning government's hold up, given the critical role the PPC plays in terms of transparency and a c c o u n t a b i l i t y. T h e Opposition MP reminded that the PPC is the legally recognised body responsible for the oversight and review

President Irfaan Ali

Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul

of all procurement systems within the country which includes the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board ( N P TA B ) , M i n i s t e r i a l Tender Boards and Regional Tender Boards. It is the body where contractors can go to seek redress if they believe that there was an error or inconsistency within the bidding process that caused

them to be affected.

The Procurement Act 2003, Mahipaul pointed out, speaks to bids going to the most responsive or lowest bidder. If a bidder feels aggrieved that they were overlooked for whatever purpose, they may protest the matter; ask questions, ask for an investigation. However without the PPC, this is currently not possible and

contractors have been complaining bitterly to the opposition. Mahipaul said what is currently in place in the case of the NPTAB is that an ad hoc body called the Bid Protest Committee is set up by the NPTAB to hear the complaints of the aggrieved contractors. The problem with that is contractors would be complaining to the same people about the way they would have conducted the tender process. This method cannot be seen as a fair hearing because this ad hoc Committee “does not enjoy the confidence of the people making the complaint,” Mahipaul asserted.

From the standpoint of a lawmaker, he said he is concerned that for so long, the President has not done what is constitutionally correct by swearing the identified individuals and charged that by his inaction the President is stifling transparency. He insisted that the names did not enjoy a two-thirds vote or less, but absolute support of the

Cop arrested for killing of Golden Grove youth ..Police Complaints Authority to investigate case

Shot dead by police, Quindon Bacchus

T

he Police Complaints Authority (PCA) will commence investigations today into the killing of 23-year-old, Quindon Bacchus Friday last at Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD) by a police officer.

At least this is what the Force related

to the media on Sunday via its Corporate Communications Unit (CCU). The CCU stated, “The file (case file) will be sent to the Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority tomorrow (Monday) to conduct a thorough investigation”.

The Force's move to let the PCA investigate the matter came after a section of the media shared a video on its Facebook page from a security camera that captured the officer firing bullets while chasing Bacchus. Based on the footage seen, it appeared as if the policeman and Bacchus were speaking with each other at a car parked at the corner of a street, within the Haslington c o m m u n i t y. J u s t a s s o m e schoolchildren were passing by, shots rang out. While the children ran for cover, an individual, presumed to be Bacchus was seen running away from the car with another man (cop chasing behind). A group of men was also seen running behind the two men.

Police had reported on Friday that its rank had shot Bacchus around 14:30hrs during a sting operation. It was alleged that ranks had learned that Bacchus had an illegal gun to sell.

Arrangements were made for an undercover cop to purchase the gun

from him. The undercover cop allegedly showed up to do business but while Bacchus was allegedly handing over the weapon, someone reportedly blew his cover.

Police alleged that after Bacchus realised that he was caught in a sting operation, he shot at the cop. The policeman reportedly returned fire and Bacchus ran away and jumped into a yard where he shot at the rank again.

The policeman alleged that he took cover and fired back again and this time, Bacchus was struck to his body and he fell to the ground. An injured Bacchus was picked up and rushed to a hospital where he died while receiving treatment.

According to reports, Bacchus was shot six times.

Family members, had reportedly claimed that while identifying his body, they noticed what looked like a gunshot wound to his head as well. They have since ventured out into streets protesting for justice. Through a lawyer, Darren Wade, Bacchus' family publicly called on the Force to conduct an impartial probe into the death and requested that they be allowed to witness his autopsy. The family also wanted to know if any wanted bulletin had been issued for him before.

Parliament which means that Guyanese support the swearing in of the PPC by virtue of the support of their representatives. Mahipaul continued that other laws have been passed under contentious circumstances, but the government found the means of activating them.

For instance, he pointed out, the Natural Resources Fund was passed under very usual circumstances, but the President gave his assent the very next day. Here it is that the essential PPC was unanimously voted on and

two months later, the body is still not functioning.

Mahipaul told the newspaper that he refuses to believe that President Ali is deliberately acting in a manner to exclude the guardrails of transparency and accountability. He said he refuses to believe that the President is afraid to activate the Commission because he has something to hide and is fearful of what the Commission might unearth.

The Opposition MP imparted however, that if the President (Continued on page 15)

Missing woman found hanging out on Kitty seawall The missing woman, Kayren Felix, 25, who had disappeared on Saturday, June 4, after leaving her male's friend home in taxi has been found alive and well sitting on the seawalls at Kitty Georgetown.

Speaking with Kaieteur News on Sunday, her sister, Elizabeth Felix said that they located her during the morning hours on Saturday.

Elizabeth related that after the media had reported that she was missing, they received a call from an anonymous woman. The individual reportedly told them that while heading to work, she had spotted the missing woman alone on the seawall. “We acted right away and we headed to the location and saw her sitting there”, related Elizabeth.

“When she saw us, she ran away”, the sister added.

They pursued and caught up with her and managed to get her home. However, the sister said Felix has been acting strangely since her return. “She has not uttered a word to us since her return, she ain't telling us nothing”, highlighted Elizabeth. This was the first time that Felix had disappeared without informing her family and they were worried for her safety.

She had left her Fellowship, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home around 15:00hrs, together with her sister and another female relative on Saturday

Found, Kayren Felix.

June 4 and travelled to the Georgetown. They were drinking a few beers at the Stabroek Bus Park when Felix received a phone call around 19:00hrs from the male friend inviting her over to his home located at “Yarrow Dam”, opposite the Ruimveldt Police Station and beside the Rubis Gas Station.

She had met the individual via social media and was going to meet him for the first time. Her sister accompanied her to the house and returned to the bus park to wait for her.

Around 21:00hrs, she called her sister and informed her that she was returning to the bus park but never showed up. The male friend had told police that he placed her in a yellow wagon (taxi) after she left his home. Although she has since been found, Felix is yet to disclose what had happened to her during the time she was missing.

Kaieteur News

Monday June 13, 2022

PAGE 15

Hopkinson debunks claims of pressuring staff to falsify project documents - says he has proof to show

F

ormer Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Two, Rupert Hopkinson is refuting allegations levelled against him during last Monday's proceedings at the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee(PAC).

The former REO said too that he has evidence to substantiate that the allegations are indeed untrue.

On Monday, former Regional Engineer for Region Two Latchman Singh told the PAC that staffers of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) were pressured into falsely certifying projects as completed, under the guidance of Hopkinson. His response was in relation to questions surrounding the PAC's examination of the 2017 Auditor General Report. Singh was among Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) officials appearing before the committee to testify on why they signed off on documents without verifying that works on the projects were completed.

Singh reported that in his case, when concerns were raised about what was happening, those in higher authority insisted that he follows their instructions. He recounted one time when he was pressured by his superiors to prepare final

payments for a contractor and they would verify that the works were completed.

Singh said, “At that time, the structure of the Works Department in the region was in terms of monitoring and evaluation was the Senior Superintendent of Works and the two Regional Engineers, who would either do measurements or prepare payments.

In this particular case, the Senior Superintendent of Works, who is present here, did the measurements and returned to give his findings.”

“He indicated to both of us that the works were yet to be completed, missing items from the bills of quantities.

On that note we communicated with the contractor that he needs to complete the works before we could execute payments,” Singh added.

In response to the allegations, Hopkinson told Kaieteur News not only is Singh lying but he has evidence to prove that this is so. According to Hopkinson, it was not surprising to him that the Region Two officials in trying to exonerate themselves at the PAC hearings made the false claims.

Hopkinson explained that, “this is not the first time the very officials falsely verified the completion of a

No procurement commission 74...

From page 14 continues to act in the manner that he is by not swearing in the PPC commissioners, he would have to believe that the Head of State is indeed avoiding the implementation of proper transparency and accountability systems and that he is part and parcel of the complaints, the Opposition Coalition has been receiving form contractors about the procurement system.

He said that the PPC must be able to execute its responsibility in monitoring and reviewing the functioning of the Public Procurement Systems in accordance with law and such policy guidelines as may be determined by the National Assembly. He said this would address the concerns of contractors and suppliers who complain

about being sidelined and about how unfair they are being treated by Tender Boards. “The PPC is a body established under our constitution to address their concerns. Today will mark 74 days since the unanimous approval of the National Assembly but the President is yet to swear in the Commissioners. What is causing this delay?”

Mahipaul said the President must tell the nation what the holdup is, or swear in the o ff i c i a l s i m m e d i a t e l y.

Government MP and PAC Member, Gail Teixeira had said that with the process used, “I think we have found some very good Guyanese to be able to take on this responsibility and continue the work of the former PPC.” President Ali recent swore in members of the Integrity and P u b l i c S e r v i c e Commissions.

Former Regional Engineer for Region Two, Latchman Singh. project and forwarded the document for my signature.”

He continued, “These very officials were previously caught and the money was repaid.

I have records also to show that the very engineer, whose transfer I requested in writing tried to circumvent the procurement process by preparing no bills, only

engineer's estimates for about ten different projects while I was on leave. I forwarded a letter to Auditor General and others which can be used as verification and proof.”

The Former REO said that the PAC has since been contacted and advised that while he is out of the jurisdiction, he still is available to make comments virtually. “They know how to contact me.

The Permanent Secretary, and the current REO, Region 2 were also provided with this information,” Hopkinson added.

When the PAC met last Monday, Singh's allegations were met with sympathy from some members of the PAC including Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira who defended public servants whom she claimed are prevailed upon by those higher up to commit wrongdoings.

33 new COVID-19 cases; two persons in ICU The Ministry of Health on Sunday reported 33 new Covid-19- cases with some two persons in the Intensive Care Unit.

In recent weeks, Guyana has experienced a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Former REO of Region Two, Rupert Hopkinson.

However Opposition representative and PAC Ganesh Mahipaul made it clear that the engineer was still liable for signing off on documents even if he was

pressured into doing it.

“When we in the PAC accept such notions that are being put to us, the gentleman indicated about not knowing certain things, giving instructions by REO. And they had to do it and what's not.

The point I am making sir, is that when we seek to justify our answers by those statements… there is this perception as though they had to do it because they were singing for their supper.”

“We have to accept that they did the wrong thing by putting their signature there.

Regardless of what are the circumstances… the wrong thing was done.

Signature is not supposed to be put on a document if you cannot verify the work,” Mahipaul contended.

APNU hails AFC for successful national conference The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has extended congratulations to the Alliance For Change (AFC) on the successful staging of its 7th National Conference on Saturday.

“We specially wish to congratulate Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan for retaining his position as Party Leader.

Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, has already called Mr Ramjattan to offer his personal congratulations,” the APNU said in a release.

“Our compliments also extend to Cathy Hughes (as the newly-elected Chair), to 'Ricky' Ramsaroop (as the newly-elected Vice-Chair), to Sherod Duncan (as the newly-elected General Secretary), and to the AFC's entire new National

Executive Council. APNU looks forward to collaborating with Leader Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan and the party's entire new executive in a spirit of cooperation, consensus, and mutual respect.

APNU lauds the decision of the delegates at yesterday's National Conference to recommit to the APNU+AFC coalition ideal. This decision will add impetus to the joint efforts of our parties to rescue Guyana from the ravages of the PPP government and ultimately to defeat it at the next national election.

Once again, our congratulations to the members and delegates of the AFC and to its newlyelected Leader and executive,” the release stated.

Gas plant explosion...

From page 13 rich gas by end of 2024, and the NGL Plant is targeted to be operational by mid-2025.

The Project has a planned life cycle of at least 25 years.

The Project will involve capturing associated gas produced from crude oil production operations on the Liza Phase 1 (Destiny) and Liza P has e 2 (U nity) Floating, Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, transporting

approximately 50 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd; 1.4 million standard cubic meters per day [MMsm3/d]) of rich gas via a subsea pipeline and then an onshore pipeline to a natural gas liquids processing plant to treat the gas to remove NGLs for sale to third parties, and ultimately delivering dry gas meeting government specifications for use at the Power Plant.

PAGE 16

VACANCY

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Factory workers male & female.Apply to R.P's Enterprise area "k" Le Ressouvenir E . C . D . Te l : 2 2 0 - 2 8 1 8 .

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Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Male & Female to work interior location,must be over age 18.Call:603-1300.

Global food import bill will hit record US$1.8 trillion this year...

From page 8 agricultural sectors are exposed to supply limitations due to rising input costs , in particular for fertilizers and fuels, that could spur further food price rises. High food prices are typically a boon for producers, as farm profits rise.

However, rapidly rising input costs – associated with rising energy costs and export restrictions on key fertilizers imposed by major players in the sector – are more than offsetting that, and if protracted, this would raise concerns about whether supply responses can be both quick and sufficient.

“The spike in the price of i n p u t s r a i s e s q u e s t i ons about whether the world's farmers can afford to buy them,” Josef Schmidhuber

and Bing Qiao of FAO's Markets and Trade Division note in their special chapter on the dynamics of high input prices.

Farmers may reduce input applications or switch to crops that are less input-intensive, which would not only lower productivity but also have negative effects on exports of key foodstuffs to the international markets, adding to the burden faced by countries highly reliant on imports to meet their staple food needs.

This also applies to major exporting countries, the report adds, noting that, for instance, some North American farmers are shifting from maize to soy, which requires less nitrogen fertilizer.

The Global Input Price In-

dex (GIPI), a new tool introduced by FAO in 2021, is now at an all-time high and has risen even faster than the FAO Food Price Index over the past 12 months. This points to low (and falling) real prices for farmers, despite the higher prices faced by consumers.

That, in turn, stymies incentives for them to step up production in the future. For that to happen, however, either the GIPI has to fall or the FFPI has to rise even further – or a combination of the two. For now, and based on current conditions, the situation does “not augur well for a market-led supply response that could conceivably rein in further increases in food prices for the 2022/23 season and possibly the next,” the report says.

Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

Yog Mahadeo knocks Govt. over lack transparency in GRA land transaction W The Plantation Pattensen Liliendaal East Coast Demerara land which was taken back from GRA.

hile the government remains silent on its reasons for taking back a piece of prime property from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and giving it to a foreign hotel developer, concerns have been raised over the lack of transparency surrounding the transaction.

In an invited comment to Kaieteur News, businessman and civil society advocate, Dr. Yog Mahadeo said that his main concern about the transaction is the lack of transparency surrounding it.

His comments come days after it was revealed that the land at Plantation Pattensen, Liliendaal East Coast Demerara allotted to GRA to build its permanent headquarters had been taken back and given to a private investor and hotel developer, Pasha Global. While the government has not put out a statement as yet detailing its reasons for transferring the land to the hotel investor, Dr. Mahadeo asserted that the “government must be

transparent in its undertakings.” “…the public concern is over the continued lack of transparency in this and other deals. While one can argue for or against GRA's needs, the clear disrespect for the taxpayers and the electorate is stunning. And it is not the first time that the administration is doing this,” Dr. Mahadeo said.

He noted that, “while in opposition, the current government opposed many of the things they now embrace - the oil contract, the corrupt and secret deals, lack of transparency, lack of feasibility studies, dictatorial decision making, and cronyism - these are now apt adjectives for them in Government. They are now the loudest defender of the oil contracts and effectively doling out contracts and deals to suit a handful.”

He opined that while he believes ultimately, “the dealers in Government will surely give an alternative space to GRA, the lack of transparency will remain

another blot on our country's image.”

In the meantime, Dr. Mahadeo said the current layout of the GRA's headquarters creates an immense weight on ordinary people who have to seek GRA's services due to security and other issues.

Further, he said one can hardly ignore the political gamesmanship involved in the history of the rented Camp Street headquarters.

“From GuySuCo to Clico, Clico to NIS, then tenanted by GRA - in each of these transactions, the taxpayers paid and are

paying for the huge and consistent political missteps,” Dr. Mahadeo said.

GRA has been renting facilities to accommodate its headquarters. The tax office headquarters went from the Guyana Post Office building downtown to Albert and Charlotte Streets then to the former Clico building on Camp Street where it currently is, without a permanent place to work out of.

Back in 2017, GRA had secured a 50-year lease for the controversial investment site, to build its headquarters. The land located at Plantation Pattensen, Liliendaal, ECD which was reportedly taken

Businessman and civil society advocate, Dr Yog Mahadeo

away from GRA, was originally intended for the construction of a multimillion dollar investment, sporting a luxury hotel and several other facilities. The venture fell through when the overseas investor breached its agreement with a local businessman.

Back then, GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia had told members of the media that

the building which currently houses the GRA headquarters and almost 900 employees is no longer sufficient. Earlier this year, GRA was in the process of inviting bids to commence construction of the building but before the revenue authority could have gone through with it, it was revealed that the land was transferred back to a hotel dealer.

Woman remanded for murder of female security guard

T

wenty-year-old Shemika Gibson, of North East La Penitence, Georgetown, was on Friday remanded to prison for the murder of a 21year-old security guard of East La Penitence Squatting Area.

Gibson appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly. She was not required plead to the indictable charge which alleges that on June 6, at East Ruimveldt Squatting Area, Georgetown, she murdered Davidson, a mother of two.

Senior Magistrate Daly remanded Gibson to prison and the matter was adjourned to June 21, 2022.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported that Davidson was murdered around 10:24hrs on the day in question 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

Deceased: Carol Davidson was involved in a fight. On Monday, June 3, around 10:00 hours, Davidson 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 Davidson 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 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 were all apprehended by police, and the 20-year-old woman was subsequently charged with the capital offence.

Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Monday June 13, 2022

Monday June 13, 2022

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Kaieteur News

T&T beat Leeward Islands by 36 runs Trinidad and Tobago earned their first win of the tournament in a nervous battle with the Leeward Islands.

Being sent in to bat first, Trinidad and Tobago were staring a batting collapse head on.

At one stage they were 365, their entire top-order back in the dugout courtesy Tif-

fany Thorpe and Rozel Liburd, who picked up two wickets each.

However, a 53-run sixth wicket partnership between Lee-Ann Kirby and the debutant Djenaba Joseph, resuscitated life back into the innings.

This partnership ensured their total crossed 100, giving their bowlers a decent target

to defend. Kirby was run out for 26 off 25 balls (3x4) and Joseph ended on 23 off 44 balls (2x4). Thorpe had figures of 4-0-10-2, while Liburd had 4-0-14-2.

Jenison Richards and interim captain Saneldo Wi l l e t t w e r e t h e o n l y Leewards players to reach double figures as the Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a go

bowlers were consistent in their line and lengths.

Richards struck two fours on her way to a 32-ball 24, while Willett also struck two fours in 19.

Spinners Karishma Ramharack 4-1-4-3 and Steffie Soogrim 4-0-17-2 had the Leewards caught firmly in their web, as they led Trinidad and Tobago to victory.

All-round Shadab Khan fashions...

From page 22 attack carried an intrigue in itself, and debutant Shahnawaz Dahani swiftly delivered. After a breezy start from West Indies, Dahani drew Kyle Mayers into a slash that found Imam at

point. Soon after, Shamarh Brooks was coaxed into chopping one on to his stumps.

At the other end, the luckless Hasan Ali took a wicket, only for the third umpire to find he had overstepped. But he wouldn’t be denied for

long. A hook from Shai Hope found Khushdil sprinting across the boundary to pluck one out of thin air, giving Hasan a wicket his confidence sorely needed.

West Indies had a few partnerships midway, but Paki-

Monday June 13, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Sometimes, it's amazing to see how your relationships can spin so easily out of control, Aries. Today you may have to deal with a lot of tension within your group.

You'll almost feel as if no one understands the situation.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) As the dawn of another quiet and peaceful day appears, Libra, you will be in the best disposition to observe and appreciate the lightness of things. Life can seem so beautiful on some days.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You sometimes have difficulty making up your mind. You don't always know exactly what you want.

Today, Taurus, you'll be at peace with yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You will find a clean page on the agenda today, Scorpio.

You should try to think only about yourself. This will allow you to meditate about your life and be at peace with yourself. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You will wake up today on cloud nine, Sagittarius. Your morale is at a peak. You will feel totally free and be able to clearly perceive the essentials of life.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Sometimes we all feel a little lost, Gemini. We often want to move mountains and use all our energy and enthusiasm to try to do so.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You have a natural ability to accomplish a great deal rather easily, Cancer. But today you may feel snowed under with projects. Things around you might be moving quickly.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your day has finally come, Leo. You have your own vision of life and you like sharing it with others. You're far from thinking that you're any sort of new messiah.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Today you'll have the strange feeling that something is floating in the air.

The time is right to try to understand the different needs of your family circle.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The The astral energy will have you reminiscing all day long over childhood memories, Capricorn. These memories will take you to the houses and places where you were raised.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You love interacting with people others might consider eccentric. You can't help it. You're simply attracted to them. You will probably encounter one of these people today, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You have always tried to build up your health using traditional methods, and you take great care of yourself.

stan kept stubbing them out before they became any kind of menace. Shadab was the chief architect of this kind of preemptive strike. Keacy Carty was undone by a gem of a legspinner that Mohammad Haris behind the stumps was quick to react to, catching the batter out of his crease, while a loose shot from Rovman Powell found Zaman at long-off.

The only reason Pakistan might have had to put their victory celebrations on hold was a feisty counterattack from Hosein, who breathed some hope into the West Indies camp when he smashed Mohammad Nawaz for two sixes in an over.

Shadab was smashed for one too off the first ball of the next, but he wouldn’t be kept quiet for long, coming back to deceive him with a wrong’un, with Haris reacting sharply behind the stumps once more to whip the bails off.

That knocked the stuffing out of the West Indies side, who, despite enjoying plenty of success in phases of play this series, never really did enough to merit an outright win on the tour. Pakistan managed to cash out in the heat, while with World Cup qualification becoming an uphill task, West Indies found themselves left out in the cold in Multan.

Scores: 48 overs Pakistan 269 for 9 (Shadab 86, Imam 62, Pooran 4-48) beat West Indies 216 (Hosein 60, Shadab 4-62, Hasan 2-29) by 53 runs.

Root, Pope centuries fuel England fightback...

From page 24 Trent Boult to Tim Southee, who allowed the ball to squirm through his hands as he raised them high above his head in a failed bid to make a tough catch.

Within touching distance of his ton, Pope whipped Boult through mid-wicket for four and reached his milestone with a comfortable drive for two.

Joy and relief were etched on Pope’s face as he soaked up the crowd’s applause and received a warm embrace from Root after his 14th first-class hundred.

Root enjoyed a stroke of luck to reach his century with a miscued cut that flashed past his stumps before he waved his bat triumphantly. Pope’s innings came to an end when, in the first ball after changing his damaged pads, he mistimed a pull off Boult and was caught by the diving Matt

Henry. Stokes crunched Kyle Jamieson for a six amid a flurry of boundaries before the New Zealand bowler limped off with an apparent injury to match his bruised ego.

Stokes’ 33-ball cameo finished on 46 when he slogged once too often off Michael Bracewell and Boult held the catch. Ben Foakes successfully overturned a caught behind decision after the review showed he hadn’t touched Henry’s delivery. Foakes, who enjoyed another moment of good fortune as Will Young spilled a catch off Southee, went on to finish 24 not out.

It was the peerless Root’s day and he reached 150 for the 13th time in Tests with a gorgeous flick to the boundary.

Scores: England 473 for 5 (Root 163*, Pope 145, Lees 67, Boult 3-89) trail New Zealand 553 (Mitchell 190, Blundell 106, Anderson 3-

PAGE 22

Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

All-round Shadab Khan fashions 3-0 sweep of West Indies ESPNcricinfo - A sensational all-round performance from Shadab Khan sealed a commanding 53-run win for Pakistan, and a 3-0 series win

to give their World Cup qualification hopes a major fillip.

The 23-year old came in with the hosts in a spot of bother at 117 for 5, serving as both

anchor and slogger through various stages of the second half of the innings, before a four-wicket haul with the ball brought the visitors down.

The 269 that Pakistan put up in the first innings might briefly have seemed like a few runs short when West Indies

began brightly, but in the absence of in-form middle-order batters to shepherd the innings through, they found the Pakistan bowlers a touch too good to handle.

For once, Pakistan lost the top order early despite an 85-run opening stand be-

Shadab Khan hit 86 with the bat, and took four wickets with the ball. (PCB)

Nicholas Pooran roars after picking up his maiden international wicket. (PCB) tween Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq. It thrust significant responsibility on the middle order, with Shadab Khan stepping up to the mark, as his 78-ball 86 helped Pakistan to a defensible 269.

West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran was the surprise architect of the hosts’ middle-order collapse, getting significant spin and bounce as his first four ODI wickets left Pakistan tottering at 117 for 5. The game was also suspended by an unexpected dust storm on a hot day in Multan, leading two overs being sliced off the contest.

Pakistan chose to bat first, with a more cautious Zaman prioritising time at the crease over his trademark truculence.

The first third of the innings was spent with the two turning the strike over and minimising risk, and aside from an early drop from Shai Hope that reprieved Imam, the openers looked fairly comfortable.

Pooran, who had before today bowled just three balls in ODI cricket, brought himself on, and in his third over, yorked Fakhar to provide his side the breakthrough. Following that, Hayden Walsh Jnr stunned Multan next over by trapping Babar Azam in front, with a successful West Indian review sending him back for 1.

Three further quickfire strikes from Pooran - including two in three balls - dismissed Imam, Haris and

Mohammad Rizwan, as Pakistan suddenly looked vulnerable to being bowled out early.

But Shadab and Khushdil Shah strung together an 84run partnership, coming either side of a dust storm that briefly reduced visibility at the ground to almost none.

When the players returned, the sixth-wicket pair upped the tempo, and though Khushdil never quite moved into top gear as he is so lethally capable of, it was Shadab who was having the more telling impact on the innings.

And when Akeal Hosein breached Khushdil’s defences, the responsibility on Shadab only rose; and so did he to the occasion.

He brought up his halfcentury the following over, shepherding the strike with the responsibility of a frontline batter and the artistry of a modern death-overs game management specialist.

Shadab found regular boundaries, and for a brief time, might have entertained thoughts of a maiden international hundred before a perfect yorker breached his defence as he tried to lap it over fine leg.

However, by then he had 86, and against a West Indies batting line-up reeling from the second game, Pakistan took momentum with them at the halfway mark.

In the absence of Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s new-ball (Continued on page 21)

Monday June 13, 2022

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

UFC 275: Zhang Weili sends Joanna Jedrzejczyk into retirement with brutal spinning backfist KO Yahoo Sports - Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk put on one of the greatest fights in UFC history on March 6, 2020, in Las Vegas at UFC 248. More than two years later, they met again on the main card of UFC 275 in Singapore and put on another classic.

After a fast-paced first round in which Zhang’s wrestling controlled the battle, Zhang caught Jedrzejczyk with a spinning backfist during a flurry. Zhang’s forearm landed squarely on the side of Jedrzejczyk’s face and she did a face plant.

Zhang Weili delivered an incredible finish and is now next in line to fight Carla Esparza for the title.

Referee Marc Godard immediately called it at 2:28 of the second, giving Zhang the win and the next title shot at champion Carla Esparza.

Jedrzejczyk, a former strawweight champion, removed her gloves and announced her retirement.

“She was such a huge part of the growth of women’s MMA and it was incredible to have her be a part of this

bows on Jedrzejczyk but Jedrzejczyk, like she’d shown throughout her career, kept battling and didn’t quit.

They immediately got after it again in the second. As they were in the midst of a wild exchange, Zhang missed a shot. As Jedrzejczyk loaded up to throw, Zhang spun and caught Jedrzejczyk on the

Zhang Weili (left) of China knocks out Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland with a spinning back fist in a flyweight fight during the UFC 275 event at Singapore Indoor Stadium on June 12, 2022 in Singapore.(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) company,” UFC president Dana White told Yahoo Sports. “We will all miss her!”

They came out quickly in Round 1 and were firing shots at each other. But un-

like their first fight in which it was nearly entirely stand-up fighting, Zhang took the fight to the ground.

She got into mount and was dropping powerful el-

IPL rights value breaks record on auction day one, USD 13.44 million per match bid so far

The value of a single match in the IPL is now more than the value of a single match in the Premier League. (Arjun Singh/BCCI) ESPNcricinfo - An IPL game is now worth a record INR 105 crore (USD 13.44 million) making it - in terms of value per match - the secondmost lucrative sporting product in the entire world, behind only the NFL (USD 35.07 million*). This figure may actually rise considering the eauction for the T20 tournament’s media rights, which began yesterday, continues.

The combined sum bid so far is INR 38,850 crore (USD 4.97 billion) - that is INR 21,090 crore (USD 2.7 billion) for Package A (TV rights for

India sub-continent) and INR 17,760 crore (USD 2.27 billion) for Package B (digital for India subcontinent); it is already 2.38 times or 138% higher than the 2018-22 IPL rights deal, bagged by Star India in 2017 for $2.55 billion.

These numbers are based on there being 74 games per season in the next five-year rights cycle starting in 2023. As it stands, the IPL has overtaken the Premier League, whose value per match, as per the 2022-25 rights, is listed at USD 11.34 million**. Doing away with the process of closed bids, the IPL put its media

rights up for sale for the first time through an e-auction. In an e-auction, bids are filed through an online portal managed by an independent company. The highest bids across all categories are flashed on screen - simultaneously and live - but names of the bidders are not disclosed to ensure rivals don’t bump up prices. For this auction, the IPL set a minimum base price for each of the four categories and asked bidders to list their price on a per match basis. For Package A the per match base price is INR 49 crore (USD 6.3 million).

side of the head to end it in stunning fashion.

“I was very, very calm and relaxed for this,” Zhang, another ex-champion, said in the Octagon after the win. “I knew i wasn’t fighting Joanna. I was fighting myself.”

It wasn’t such a happy finish for Jedrzejczyk, who said she didn’t expect Zhang

to be as fast or as strong as she was. Jedrzejczyk has lost two in a row and three of four and, at nearly 35, said it was time to move on to something else.

“I’m retired, guys,” she said, fighting back tears. “I love it so much. … DC, Dana, I’m so sorry I let you guys down.”

PAGE 24

Monday June 13, 2022

Kaieteur News

Windies Test legend Walsh meets GCA’s female players at Providence On Saturday last the GCA Smalta Female Youth Programme continued with the players and coaches visiting the Providence Stadium to view the CWI CG Insurance Female T20 Blaze matches Barbados v Windward Island and Guyana v Jamaica.

The players also ben-

efited from an interactive session with the West Indies Female Cricket Coach Courtney Walsh and Physio Neil Barry Jr. Also present were GCA officals Deborah McNichols President of the Malteenoes Sports and President of the GCA Neil Barry Snr, who played for Guyana and also scored a century for

Montserrat in Leeward Islands tournament.

Coach Walsh, who also has the record for most Test wickets by a West Indian (519), indicated that he was very excited to see the amount of aspiring young females that are part of the programme and spoke to the young ladies on the opportunities that are

Walsh and GCA president Neil Barry at Providence on Saturday.

available in the sport and the importance of team work and commitment. The Jamaican Walsh is the first bowler to reach 500 Test wickets and emphasized the importance of fitness and the need for the young athletes to gather as

much knowledge of the game as these areas are critical for their success.

He also introduced the CWI Female cricket team Physio Neil Barry Jr. to the athletes and challenged them to engage the Guyanese

Physio who is also a strength and Conditioning coach as much as possible to aid in their development.

Neil Barry Jr. also spoke briefly to the athletes on the importance of physical fitness and health. (Sean Devers)

Root, Pope centuries fuel England fightback against New Zealand AFP - Joe Root swaggered to a majestic 163 not out and Ollie Pope hit his highest Test score of 145 as rampant England reached 473-5 against New Zealand at close of play on the third day of the second Test.

Replying to New Zealand’s mammoth first innings score of 553, Root and Pope took full advantage of a docile pitch with a blistering run-spree at Trent Bridge yesterday.

Thanks to the pair’s commanding displays, England are in position to match or pass New Zealand’s total in a Test that could be destined for a high-scoring draw with two days left.

Freed of the oppressive shackles of the England captaincy after handing the role to Stokes earlier this year, Root was in vibrant mood as he unfurled his full array of strokes in his 27th Test century.

Needing only 116 balls to reach his fastest Test ton, Root has picked up where he left off at Lord’s with a second successive century.

His match-winning 115 not out led England to a thrilling five-wicket victory over the Test world champions in the opening game of the three-match series.

Bolstering his case to be regarded as England’s greatest ever batsman, Root’s

Joe Root consoles Ollie Pope after he fell for 145. (Getty Images) fourth Test century this year took the 31-year-old into rarefied air.

He passed Pakistan’s Younis Khan and India’s Sunil Gavaskar during his innings to become the 12th highest run-scorer in Test history.

“He’s England’s greatest.

Watching him do what he’s doing at the moment, it’s amazing. A joy to be a part of,” Pope said of Root.

Pope’s second Test century came after he was handed a surprise promotion to number three by England captain Ben Stokes at the start of the series.

It was Pope’s first Test ton since scoring 135 not out in South Africa in January 2020.

The 24-year-old’s England place has been in doubt at times due to shoulder injuries

and a lack of form.

But, batting in a position he had never previously occupied for England or Surrey before the first Test, Pope repaid the faith of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

“It was very special. My first home hundred. It was an amazing feeling. It hasn’t been an easy ride, so it’s nice to be batting out there,” Pope said.

“I know I’ve got the game for this level. It’s just about trying to be consistent as possible. A new role can provide that opportunity.”

Alex Lees compiled his highest Test score of 67 to set the tone for England’s prolific day, which featured 383 runs in total. - Majestic Root Just before lunch, Root escaped when he top-edged (Continued on page 21)

Kaieteur News

Monday June 13, 2022

PAGE 25

Verstappen rides luck to Red Bull one-two in Baku as Ferrari implode

Red Bull's Max Verstappen crosses the line to win the race. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/Pool)

BAKU, (Reuters) - Max Verstappen rode his luck to an unchallenged first Baku win yesterday, opening up a commanding championship lead after Ferrari's challenge imploded at the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix.

The Dutchman eased across the line 20.8 seconds clear of Sergio Perez who, ordered not to fight Verstappen, completed a onetwo for Red Bull.

George Russell kept his record of finishing every race this season in the top five with third for Mercedes.

Ferrari's miserable afternoon ended after 20 of the race's 51 laps.

Charles Leclerc, who is leading the team's challenge and had started from pole, pulled into the pits from the lead with his Ferrari spewing smoke to chalk up his second retirement from three races.

His team mate Carlos Sainz had pulled to the side of the track 10 laps earlier with a hydraulic failure.

"Today we had incredible pace in the car, we could look after the tyres and chip away at it," said Verstappen, all too familiar with the heartbreak of retiring from the lead, having crashed out while running first in Baku last year.

"A tiny bit lucky with the retirement but the car was quick today."

'IT HURTS' The win was Verstappen's fifth from eight races this year and made him the sixth different Baku winner from six races.

He extended his overall championship lead to 21 points over Perez, winner in Monaco two weeks ago, who has moved up to second.

Leclerc, who has won two races this year but none since

the third of the season in Australia, slipped to third, 34 points adrift of his Dutch rival."It hurts, we need to look into it so it doesn't happen again," said Leclerc who left Australia with a 46-point lead over Verstappen.

Leclerc had gone into Sunday's race determined to make good on his fourth successive pole after being unable to convert top spot into victory at the last three races.

But he was on the back foot from the off, losing the lead to second-placed starter Perez into the first corner.

He did not appear to have the pace to match Perez and was instead busy fending off Verstappen.

But an opportunistic pitstop under a virtual safety car period, triggered by Sainz's failure, allowed him to jump back into first until his car's demise eventually dashed his hopes.

Verstappen, meanwhile, had moved past Perez, who was bidding to become the Baku race's first repeat winner. Red Bull instructed the Mexican not to resist and the Dutchman inherited the lead when Leclerc retired.

"In this place anything can happen ... we managed to get a one-two, so that's a great team result," said Perez who took the point for fastest lap.

HAMILTON IN PAIN Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton finished fourth but was nursing an aching back, the result of the porpoising, or bouncing, plaguing his Mercedes.

Kevin Magnussen triggered another safety car when his Haas ground to a halt. China's Guanyu Zhou also retired his Alfa Romeo with a technical issue. Both

Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the race alongside second place Red Bull's Sergio Perez and third place Mercedes' George Russell. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed)

teams use Ferrari power units.

Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris engaged in an intra-team McLaren battle, with the under-pressure Australian crossing the line eighth ahead of the Briton.

Canadian Nicholas Latifi picked up two penalties, for a starting grid infringement and ignoring blue flags, and finished last.

All-round Shadab Khan fashions 3-0 sweep of West Indies

Akeal Hosein tried to keep West Indies alive, before Shadab had him stumped. (PCB)

Shadab Khan hit 86 with the bat, and took four wickets with the ball. (PCB)

s t r o Sp

Courtney Walsh with the GCA ladies and youths at Providence on Saturday.

Windies Test legend Walsh meets GCA's female players at Providence Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.