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AIETEUR Gunman robs NEWS

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

Wednesday Edition

3, escapes in couple's car

June 15, 2022 - Vol. 17 No. 25 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 74,135

- police recover vehicle hours after

Oil Company holding Berbice Block had no employees in 2019 - EITI Report

Consortium bids Dredge $200M higher owner than engineer's dies after estimate to mining pit construct abattoir collapses

Change ! e m o c t s mu

Norton has to consult with AFC to pronounce on taxing oil companies As Exxon ramps up World Bank urges production…Guyana to be wary of

environmental consequences,

overheating the economy

Public pressure forces review of Exxon's drilling campaign in Kaieteur, Canje oil Blocks Joe Biden says, drill and pay your fair share of taxes.

The Glenn Lall Show @11:00hrs Our govt. says drill baby, drill and pay NO taxes.ListenontoKaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Don’t rush through planning of mega-projects

T

A representation of the Wales Gas-to-Energy Project.

he Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) in its quarterly report is urging that careful planning be implemented as the country embarks on a number of US billion dollar projects.

One such mega-project that is expected to commence this year is the gas-to-energy project. One aspect of the project, that is, the laying of the pipeline to transport the gas from the

- Engineers’ Association Liza Field in the Stabroek B l o c k t o t h e Wa l e s development site is expected to cost some US$1.3 billion.

Another aspect of the project to be pursued by government will see a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant being constructed to treat and separate the gas which will then be used to generate some 300 megawatts of electricity.

In its report, the engineers quoted an Oxford Professor, Bent Flyvbjerg, who said rushing through decisions for an early construction start can result in failures for such ventures.

According to Flyvbjerg: “Front-end planning needs to be thorough before deciding whether to give the greenlight to a project or stopping it. But often the situation is the exact opposite. Front-end planning is scant, bad projects are not stopped, implementation phases and delays are long, costs soar, and benefits and revenue realisation recedes into the future.”

The Professor explained that project delays are a sore issue for these massive ventures which cause cost overruns and benefit shortfalls.

In this regard, he said, it is especially important to not use this as an excuse to fast track construction. “The key

lesson here is that in order to keep costs down, implementation phases should be kept short and delays small. This should not be seen as an excuse for fast tracking projects, that is, rushing them through decision making for early construction start.”

Mega-projects are defined as complex projects costing US$1 billion or more which attract significant public attention due to their outsized socio-economic impact.

In Guyana, the association reminded that we are on the cusp of undertaking at least two notable mega-projects which are within this range; namely the gas-to-energy project at Wales and the Amaila Falls Hydropower project.

“Megaprojects are new to Guyana, and in many respects, they are a consequence of our recent economic good fortune, a factor which will spawn many more mega-projects in the coming years.

Considering their complexity and their troubling rate of failure, it would be wise for us to learn the lessons from megaprojects implementation worldwide to reduce the likelihood of encountering the same problems,” GAPE says in its report.

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Oil Company holding Berbice Block had no employees in 2019 - EITI Report

In Guyana’s third report to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an international watchdog that allows citizens to track revenues remitted to the State from the oil and mining sectors, the spotlight was placed on the employment records of o n s h o r e a n d o ff s h o r e petroleum explorers.

Of all the companies listed, however, only one entity reported no employees for the 2019 reporting period. That company is ON Energy Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian firm, CGX Resources Inc. On Energy holds the Berbice Block for which it signed an agreement with the State on February 15, 2013.

The report notes that CGX has 30 male and eight female Guyanese employees. No expatriates were on its payroll for 2019.

For ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), the Stabroek Block operator reported 52 males and 29 females, all from Guyana being part of their permanent staff along with 109 male foreigners and 15 female expats. Total workforce at the time of the 2019 reporting period was therefore 205. (The chart

attached to this article shows a breakdown of other oil companies’ employment of locals and foreigners by gender).

According to CGX’s website, the company has a 62 percent stake in ON

Map showing the location of the Berbice Block along with two others (Demerara and Corentyne which are also held by CGX)

Energy Inc. which received the Berbice Block which spanned at the time, 1,566.2 km2.

Back then, the Berbice Block was also adjacent to a portion of the Corentyne that stretched from offshore to

onshore. On the two onshore concessions, ON Energy completed a geochemical sampling programme and a 2D seismic programme, to fulfill the minimum work obligations, plus drilled three exploration wells which were assessed to be dry-holes.

On February 12, 2013, the Government of Guyana issued a new Berbice Petroleum Agreement to ON

Energy, comprising both Berbice and the onshore portion of the Corentyne Block, thus increasing the size of the acerage to 3,295 km2 . Under the terms of the new Berbice deal, during the initial period of four years, ON Energy had an obligation to conduct an airborne survey comprising a minimum of 1,000 km2 and either conduct a 2D seismic survey comprising a

minimum of 100 km2 or drill one exploration well. Four years later, the company contracted Exploration Te c h n o l o g i e s I n c . , a Houston, Texas based geochemical survey company, to conduct a geochemical survey. The field survey started on October 27, 2018 and was completed on November 4, 2018. A total of 317 sample points and 49 blanks were taken. The survey covered a total area of approximately 391 km2.

In 2020, ON Energy submitted its proposed 25 percent acreage relinquishment which is required by the Berbice Petroleum Agreement and is awaiting the government’s agreement and final instruments to formally move into the second renewal period of the agreement which will last three years.

On February 4, 2022, the company, through ON Energy Inc. notified the government that, given the focus on the Corentyne Block (which delivered an oil discovery at the Kawa-1 well) along with operational considerations and investment priorities, ON Energy Inc. is unable to drill an exploration well on the Berbice Block in 2022.

It proposed that seismic acquisition on the block be shifted to commence in January 2023.

Continued on page 8

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 15, 2022

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

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

EDITORIAL

New AFC leadership must take a stand for oil

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he AFC has new leadership in the person of attorney at law, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, a veteran contributor on the Guyana political scene (KN June 12). Both the new leader and his party must live up to its name.

The Alliance for Change (AFC) must be about that change, and nothing else. The Alliance For Change must be about real change to this horrid oil deal that we have with ExxonMobil and its group of grasping oil pirates and ravaging buccaneers, like the plunderers and destroyers of old.

It used to matter to us that one of the AFC’s own, the signature of Mr. Raphael Trotman (also an attorney-at-law), is the one who signed on behalf of the Coalition Government and left us in this pathetic and powerless state. We can continue to do so, and beat an empty drum, which serves no purpose, leads to none of the meaningful developments and tangible results that this country needs so urgently.

Instead, we prefer to focus on today, and what is before us, in terms of what has to be done, and who can lead the way in getting it done, by wringing some meaningful benefits from Exxon.

This is where the AFC and its new leadership slate, led

by Mr. Ramjattan come into play, and must feature heavily.

This nation must know where the AFC and Mr. Ramjattan stand in the clearest of terms, the strongest of postures, regarding Guyana’s oil deal with Exxon. We are hoping that the AFC leader would reach out to PPP/C Government leaders and get them to appreciate the absolute necessity of getting more for Guyana from its oil wealth.

What we have here, and what we live with, is a crime. It is possibly the worst of corporate and political leadership crimes in this country, maybe even the world over. So, we must move to correct it, step by step, and piece by piece. It is that or nothing, and this we make abundantly clear to the AFC and Mr. Ramjattan.

He and his group will earn our kudos, if they come out swinging for Guyana, and don’t hold back any punches.

Guyanese need such leadership, and Mr. Ramjattan must demonstrate that he has it.

An important aspect of Mr. Ramjattan’s leadership vision must be a willingness to engage all of his counterparts in the PPP/C and PNC so that they can present a united front to make a stand for Guyana for Guyanese.

When Guyana is divided, then the foreign oil companies easily overrun us, and conquer us.

When the Opposition, taken as a combined unit, is lacking in spirit and strength, then the PPP/C Government is tempted, and feels empowered, to play games with Guyanese, and the future of this country.

Our citizens are hurting, particularly those on the lower end of the economic ladder. We can talk forever and a day about the sanctity of oil contracts, and the unbreakable, ironclad nature of them. But the attorney in Mr. Ramjattan must know that ways have to be found to overcome that obstacle by taking Exxon’s power and using it against the company. Instead of going head-on against the terms and conditions of the lopsided contract, we urge him to go around it, and nip at it, from its heels to its backsides to its weak spots.

There are weak spots that should have been exploited, there are some that have yet to be tapped.

When our leaders can find the courage and character to come out for citizens for this oil wealth, then Exxon cannot stop us. Citizens will not have grounds to look to their left and then right, and be held to ransom by our divisions, be enfeebled by their political loyalties.

This would be about fighting for Guyana for all Guyanese.

These are the reasons that we press new AFC Leader, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, to link arms with the PNC’s Mr. Norton, and the PPP/C’s Dr. Ali and Dr. Jagdeo, so they all can go forward shoulder to shoulder in leading the charge against Exxon and its kind. They must call out citizens to come out and carry the fight to Exxon for more for us.

Why is the NPTAB so controlling?

DEAR EDITOR, As it is known I am an ‘Old Head’ in the Security Industry and in tendering. My experience is enormous and having been around for a long time in the security industry, business and general commerce, I have seen a lot of things and understand a lot of things. I find it strange that upon delivering a tender document sealed and all, in the tender box, we are now being stopped from taking a photograph as evidence that the documents are being dropped in the box at so and so time.

After someone’s tender document disappeared from the box ‘as they alleged,’ I instructed my staff that when-

ever they deliver a document in the box to take a photograph or two. Why would they at the ministry stop the taking of photographs? I was made to understand that other representatives of companies were also taking photographs of their deposits. In my opinion, this is great insurance and evidence of depositing the documents.

Should the document not be available upon the opening of the box, photographic evidence would be there to prove it was deposited.

I believe that this instruction to stop the photographing of the deposits is not wise and causes people to become suspicious that there may be some kind of a skullduggery

being cooked up. I had a case a number of years ago where our entire document disappeared from the box. When I spoke to the then chairman of the central tender board, he doubted that there could be any kind of corruption, deceit or favouritism. The fact is, that gentleman was a real gentleman and I know that he would never get himself involved in such despicable activities.

There was a fellow at that time who believed that the government at that time owed him all the government security contracts. He also had many friends in high places with connections. He was always known to be manipulative, dishonest, tricky and one who never paid PAYE taxes and

NIS was the achieved culprit.

I do not want to lament more on this but to ask that the Ministry of Finance which supervises the NPTAB should pass an edict where people have the right to photograph their envelopes being deposited into the tender box. It is a simple request and as one who has been around for a long time and knows so much, I think I am in the right, to be very suspicious of persons especially if they would stop such a petty thing as taking photographs.

Over to you Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh.

Sincerely Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan Snr.

A PUBLIC DIS-SERVICE DEAR EDITOR When will public servants cease to embarrass their leaders, themselves and professionals who know better, as well as those related to the increasing number of foreign institutions in this country?

Why for example, should we be continually embarrassed by such offerings as the following VACANCY Notices: a) 1. Manager, Training and Development 2. Student Affairs Officer 1. How could the Ministry of Public Service be led by the Permanent Secretary to believe that for the ‘managerial’ position, a Diploma would be an acceptable qualification, ‘PLUS seven years work-

ing experience (at no specific level) in a communication oriented job preferably in a training organisation’?

2. Student Affairs Officer The numbering suggests that Officer is lower in the job hierarchy than Manager; but the requirement of a First Degree only is considered so acceptable as to more than compensate for just ‘one (1) year working experience (at whatever level?) in a training organisation’.What a reflection on the competency of the related functionary of this Ministry – presumably a ‘Contracted Employee’! b) But perhaps the more egregious embarrassment is the invitation by the Ministry of Health for the

outdated position of Principal Personnel Officer but then this Ministry has to comply with the constipated arrangement obtaining in Guyana’s Public Service for the last three decades – an embarrassment for the leadership of a country aspiring to set examples for its Caricom partners, who all have long promoted the concept and function of Human Resources Management.

Our National Budget of 2022 shows this category of public servants as follows: GS11 - Principal Personnel Officer – 12 GS 9 – Senior Personnel Officer – 19 GS 6 – Personnel Officer II – 10

GS 5 – Personnel Officer I –8 Then there are CLERKS – unqualified and untrained?

It would be instructive to learn of the respective professional qualifications and experience requirements of this retarded job structure.

Why, with all the scholarships and other funded developmental programmes, there is minimal recognition that suitably qualified human resources management practitioners could better contribute to the prospec-

tive ‘human development’ espoused by the Administration?

Regards E.B. John Retired Human Resources Director

The GRA land matter, the tip of the iceberg DEAR EDITOR, I noticed the revealing articles in SN and KN dated June 13 where a founder/ leader of the Article 13 Group spoke of the startling development with the land once earmarked for the Guyana Revenue Authority. It is snatched away.

Remarkable, indeed, and more so, because that land formerly identified for Guyana’s leading revenue collection agency (and much more) is for a foreign hotel developer. Incredible!

It is incredible that this PPP Government and its agents, acting pursuant to leaders’ dictates could so debonairly shove aside a potent state entity like the GRA in favour of outsiders.

Guyanese collecting money for the state according to law and as such, and they are kicked out to free space for foreigners to make money through us. If it was a standalone development, maybe (just maybe) it may have been rationalised, perhaps overlooked. But not with similar goings on, but which remains largely beyond

the appreciation of the mass of citizens.

As one example only, there are two foreign financial institutions that have taken the fullest advantage of our corrupt culture to benefit handsomely at our expense.

Their foreign corporate parents grant a loan to the Guyana subsidiary, which serves as seed money-venture capital to land attractive prospects in booming, opportunity-riddled Guyana.

One of the biggest targets right now is land, for land offers the groundwork for many visions to capitalize on the Guyana dream. Foreigners dream, while we live with these ongoing nightmares, the latest being this GRA to hotel land caper.

The parents’ loans are repaid aggressively, so there is nothing of substance on the books here, no real asset base in Guyana. Foreigners buy cheap chips in the Guyana game, readying to convert them into fabulous multiples of the original investment, and cash-in at the Guyana casino. It is a sure thing, no losers, except lowly

Guyanese. The President has of late toned down his vocals about Guyana being the next Dubai, maybe he is sounding out this one: Guyana is the next Las Vegas. I remind him of Atlantic City, plus how the mafia took over Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, the savvy foreigners familiarise themselves on how to work Guyana’s system-politicians, professional elites, and public servants-and compromise it.

They are approved for prized plots of land for any enriching objective. Some of the pros that are recruited for the local money game are recognizable members of Guyana’s legal fraternity, who front for them to get things done, with well-paid monthly rewards for their collaborations in plundering this land.

Leaders have not thought out, or put their arms smartly enough, around what is happening right under their noses.

Where are they when there is so much selling out and giving away of Guyana’s prime assets?

They can’t be this nonchalant with our properties when

foreigners are involved, but so stingy and squeezing when Guyanese say do the same for us, help us. Compare this to the reality of Guyanese. To get a parcel of land requires joining lines; or having lines to the right people to avoid waiting forever and futilely in lines.

I am loathed to express our stupidity, easy corruptibility, but we go about matters in reverse.

Locals come first, should have pride of place, which is a hallmark of citizenship globally. As a national community always moving elsewhere, we have to wait our turn and bide our time, after paying our dues (I did). The same must be the norm here with first preference being the first birthright of citizenship.

How is it that the bureaucracy and rules only apply when less-connected Guyanese are involved?

Could the VP help?

Moreover, our financial watchdogs sit on their hands, our regulators are neither seen nor heard, and those who do show are part of the (Continued on page 5)

Wednesday June 15, 2022

With no constituency, WPA’S advocacy for power sharing will lead to gridlock in Cabinet DEAR EDITOR The leadership of the WPA is shameless. According to a Demerara Waves report headlined “WPA ready to form broad anti dictatorial movement to push for power sharing should first put their house in order. This is a mouse which is roaring in Guyana’s politics. Who are what does the WPA represent?

Absolutely nobody or nothing except a few letter writers .They have no broad based membership constituency. They are not even capable of attracting a crowd for a public meeting at Bourda Market.

They want power sharing based on what? What is their political strength to give them equality or proportional representation in a cabinet?

Nothing, at least the AFC despite its small size and the

perception that they are “dead meat” has the courage to hold a congress and elect their leaders at a democratic forum.

Why hasn’t the WPA done similarly? The glaring answer is the WPA is the worst possible alternative as Forbes Burnham so appropriately labeled them.

Power sharing will not work in Guyana. The bickering that goes on in public will be moved to the secrecy of the cabinet which will be gridlocked. The public would not know what is going on because cabinet meetings are secret. Additionally, neither the WPA nor the PNC have the ability to manage money or agriculture. The WPA and PNC will be a humbug.

Guyana will be doomed with such a power sharing concoction.

Yours sincerely Sultan Mohamed

The GRA land matter...

From page 4 game.

One doesn’t need advanced degrees to appreciate the costly lapses in our vigilance regime, the glaring inconsistencies, in how most sectors are policed, and how some are allowed to pass through bureaucracy and scrutiny, and then prosper richly from all their exploits that remain largely unhusbanded. Somebody has to care, some Guyanese with seniority and standing should, at least, want to correct matters like these, so that we Guyanese enjoy a level playing field. I nominate the President and VP. When we should have a clear

advantage, we are not even in the running. Recall the GRA, reduced to almost a squatter.

My last thought is how much influence is peddled and how high, how much money is passed, and how many are involved. I know, a dozen questions pretending at one.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

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Kaieteur News

Post-independence mega projects proved costly to the nation DEAR EDITOR Independence Day has come and gone; so, after 56 years of dumping British Colonial rule the most salient question remains: Is Guyana and its people better off today? The answer is NO. After centuries of European colonial rule, post-Independence Guyana has failed in its quest for truly becoming a democratic and politically stable nation. Guyana’s Independence saw the establishment of 28 years of PNC dictatorial rule and Party Paramountcy and the abolition of colonial institutions including the highest Court in the land -The Privy Council.

Some say that the Sam Hinds six months sojourn as president was a sham and Jagdeo’s12-year rule has emanated vindictiveness and spitefulness against his alleged opponents and the marginalization of the second largest ethnic group in the country.

His autocratic rule has led to highly questionable financial ventures including the $US 220 million Skeldon

Sugar factory which has become a white elephant, the US$ 45 million ill-fated Amelia Falls Hydro Project and the US$ 45 million Fiber Optic cable from Brazil which never materialized.

The same can be said of the Yarrowkabra Glass Factory, the Mazaruni Hydro and the Power Barge purchase under the PNC. These investments should have yielded huge benefits to the taxpayers, but instead, they have cost them hundreds of millions of dollars.

Many believed that the amount of money spent on the projects embarked by both the PNC and the PPP should have transformed Guyana and move it from third world state status to first world nation status.

The public is of the opinion that these botched projects could not have occurred under colonial rule.

Today, Guyana is not only the third poorest country in the hemisphere after Haiti and Nicaragua, but it has also become a fourth world country and is drifting towards a fifth

world status.

It must be remembered that at the time of Independence, Guyana had the highest per capita income in the Caribbean and in terms of real wages, Guyanese had more actual spending power than today. Their actual purchasing power has diminished to such low level that many cannot feed their children or send them to school. Guyanese are much poorer today than they were many years ago, due largely to the rampant corruption by public officials and the vindictive and arrogant behaviour of the leaders of the two major political parties.

Guyana’s horrible oil contract clearly illustrates this point as the best analysis of such colossal failures is being done by the private media, which is considered the fourth estate and which the government hates.

It is said that Kaieteur News is perhaps the most hated newspaper by governments, past and present because its publisher Glenn Lall has been doing an excellent job in exposing the govern-

ment give away of the nation’s mineral resources, especially its oil possessions.

We are asking the nation to support Mr. Lall in the struggle for a better oil contract and for a better Guyana.

His struggle for a better Guyana is everyone’s struggle, and we have no doubt that he will succeed.

So, instead of forging a new post-independence order that will lead to the control our resources, today’s crop of political leaders weak and selfish and they are not only filling their pockets, but they are also padding the pockets of the oil conglomerates at the expense of our children and grandchildren.

Regards Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 15, 2022

WPA recommits to political solution for Guyana DEAR EDITOR Monday marked the 42nd Anniversary of Walter Rodney’s assassination.

WPA joins the Rodney family and associates in remembering the contributions of our brother to Guyana, the Caribbean, Africa and the wider world. His contributions were enormous and wide-ranging, and they continue to have resonance four decades after his life was ended by a Guyana government and State that had descended to the lowest depths of dictatorship and autocracy. On this 42nd anniversary, we ask Guyana to remember so that we do not forget—historical memory is a vital tool in making sense of the present. We also ask Guyana to reflect on whether we have returned to the dictatorial government and State against which

Rodney fought.

Looking back, WPA remembers with pride the six years Brother Walter spent in our party’s ranks. It was a period of bravery, heroism and intense resistance against the rapid deterioration of our Independence covenant. But it was simultaneously a period in which we demonstrated to Guyanese that we could co-exist as a nation regardless of our social and ethno-racial differences. Rodney and WPA gave Guyana both a blueprint for confronting dictatorship and an example of what a truly liberated Guyana could look like.

Walter Rodney’s and WPA’s greatest contribution to Guyana, therefore, was the demonstration to our Guyana that through struggle another more humane and more pro-

gressive world was possible.

Rodney led us in showing Guyana another side of itself.

That we did so via individual and collective sacrifice in the context of a broad and inclusive movement remains the envy of some in our midst today who daily seek to reduce Rodney’s contribution to the “them versus us.”

WPA salutes the thousands of Guyanese dead and alive who answered Rodney’s call for People’s Power in the face of dictatorship –they were and are true patriots of freedom who did not betray Rodney on the frontlines when he needed them most.

Much has changed since June 13, 1980. The dictatorship of that era was eventually defeated in 1992. WPA remembers with pride the dogged movement of “Rodney after Rodney” that

refused to be assassinated after the prophet was taken away from us. While Brother Walter was not there as we crossed that line, his teachings and example continued to inspire the anti-dictatorial movement that survived his brutal assassination. The 1992 victory of People’s Power over dictatorship was replete with the fingerprints and footprints of Walter Rodney. The real heroes of the 1992 moment were the fighters who fought alongside Rodney and who continued the struggle after he was removed. Walter Rodney Lives was more than a slogan—it was a living affirmation of Rodney and the ideals of the movement that he joined and inspired.

As we confront the present, WPA looks on with amusement as some in our

midst attempt to school us on what Rodney would have done if he were alive today.

We see those attempts for precisely what they are—the enlistment of Rodney as validation of narrow, partisan agendas. Unfortunately, 42 years after Rodney’s demise, the Guyanese State has come full circle. Out of the ashes of the dictatorial State that was overcome by the struggles and example of Rodney and the WPA and the movement it spawned came the Criminalized State that took root under the PPP (1992-2015) . That State has now morphed into a full-blown dictatorship.

It is apt to remember that Rodney’s resistance was not simply against one party or the other; it was against the obscenity of dictatorship in all its forms regardless of race and party. Rodney did not fight against one party or race or class. In that regard, Guyana can call on the antidictatorial praxis of Walter Rodney as the country contends with this newest form of dictatorship.

Walter Rodney could not in 1980 anticipate an oil-producing Guyana—it was not on the horizon. But he grappled with some of the dynamics that now accompany the Oil and Gas era. From geopolitical machinations to dictatorial governance to ethnic fracturing and dominance to persistent poverty, Rodney helped prepare us for the overriding challenges we face today. It is therefore in Rodney’s memory that WPA recommits itself to the twin struggle to reduce poverty and end the current dictatorship.

The struggle for bread and justice resonates today as it did five decades ago when Professor Clive Thomas planted the formulation in the national consciousness.

While WPA respects the struggles for better oil contracts and other related issues, we situate ourselves in the struggle for the Guyanese people to benefit directly from the oil revenues.

This stance is driven by both our Emancipation and Independence promises to lift the poor and powerless out of the damaging cycle of poverty.

We can never be a truly independent and democratic country if we do not break the back of institutional poverty.

WPA, therefore, recommits its energies to the ideals of the Buxton Proposal. Our struggle for a Universal Basic Income and for Cash Transfers to households remains at the top of our agenda in the coming period.

In our view, the reduction of poverty is one of the greatest gifts we can give to Walter Rodney to ourselves as a nation.

WPA is not surprised that

since coming to office in 2020 the PPP has fast-tracked the government and State in the dictatorial direction. The manner in which it came to office in the wake of the disputed 2020 election and its agenda of domination coupled with its willingness to stretch the limits of the Majoritarian Winner-TakesAll system in the context of ethnic division provide fertile grounds for dictatorship. The willingness of some of the Guyanese elites to succumb to the pressure of political expediency also played a pivotal role in clearing the way for the current dictatorial order.

Faced with dictatorship, the people have no option but to resist. It is against this background that WPA calls for a broad anti-dictatorial movement similar to the one built in the Rodney era. Such a movement should be multiparty, multi-racial and multiclass.

WPA is prepared to help build that movement. Our objective in this regard is not just the offending party, but most importantly against the offending political order.

From the ‘Rodneyite’ perspective, an anti-dictatorial movement must not simply exchange one party for the other as we did in 1992, but it must strive to erase the conditions under which dictatorship thrives.

WPA also takes this opportunity to recommit itself to a political solution as the ultimate defense against foreign domination and domestic ethno-racial domination.

Towards this end we renew our support for power sharing and shared governance.

We urge the leaders of the two major parties to find ways to prepare the country for this eventuality.

For us in the WPA, power sharing is not about one party sharing the power of the other party, it’s about all parties sharing the collective power of the people of Guyana.

While WPA feels that electoral democracy is an essential ingredient in building a democratic order, it does not see it as the only means to a multi-ethnic democracy.

Finally, WPA recommits itself to the regional integration movement—a commitment to which Rodney was unwavering. We condemn the opportunism and growing insularity in some sections of the society that threaten to tarnish our country’s principled embrace of Caribbean unity and development over the years. Despite its oil resources, Guyana cannot achieve real development outside of a pan-Caribbean development.

Regards Working People’s Alliance

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Norton has to consult with AFC to pronounce on taxing oil companies Governments in the United States and other oil producing countries around the world have moved to induce a one-off tax for such companies that have been operating and enjoying increased profits as the cost for oil continues to surge on the global market, largely owing to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Locally, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has confirmed that it is the citizens that forced those countries to slap the one-off

taxes on those companies, arguing that this could not be replicated in Guyana since, “we are bound by a PSA (Production Sharing Agreement) with very specific terms on the taxation side.”

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton on the other hand could not definitely say whether he agrees with this policy for the oil companies operating in Guyana, since he must first consult with the Alliance For Change (AFC)

on this.

On Tuesday, during the Opposition Leader’s weekly press conference, he was asked by this newspaper to weigh-in on this important fiscal strategy, which could rake in more revenue for Guyana.

According to him, “The government had a glorious opportunity to improve or to work to get more for Guyana. They didn’t utilise that opportunity. My own view is that they should have and they didn’t and if they

didn’t, I don’t see them increasing any taxes, etcetera.”

The Opposition Leader was referring to the Liza One Permit renewal, in which experts had advised Guyana to use to get better value for its oil. After explaining that government missed a chance in keeping with the contract to get a better deal, he shared, “there is a lot of space for the government to act to ensure that we benefit more”.

When Norton was pressed by this newspaper to say whether the party supports the one-off tax as instituted in other countries, Norton said, “I believe essentially that the coalition has to review the present

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton speaking at his press conference on Tuesday. situation and then make its position clear. In the PNC, we have a group that is looking at oil, we will engage the AFC and then the APNU+AFC will make a clear pronouncement on the policies and approaches we intend to implement as it relates to the oil and gas sector.”

Oil Company holding...

From page 3 On February 21, 2022, the Ministry of Natural Resources informed ON Energy that it must drill one commitment exploration well and acquire seismic on the Berbice Block prior to the expiry of the Berbice petroleum prospecting licence and associated petroleum agreement in February 2023.

The company said it will seek further dialogue with the ministry regarding this guidance.

The United Kingdom recently slapped its oil companies with a one-off windfall tax of 25 percent on all oil companies operating in that jurisdiction in order to also partake in the sweeping profits being had by the operators as a result of the escalating oil price.

Notable, the US is seeking to move in this direction as well, having already hiked its royalty payable by oil companies there to above the 18.75 percent in December last.

D e m o c r a t i c Congressman from the State of California, in the US, Adam Schiff announced two weeks ago that the new legislation to lower gas Continued on page 14

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 15, 2022

PAGE 09

MOH unable to account for millions in spending for 2017, 2018 PAC hears…

- Committee recommends records be digitised

N

otwithstanding millions being invested into the Ministry of Health (MOH) every year – the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was on Monday informed that the ministry has been storing documentation on spending in cardboard boxes – which have caused difficulties in locating documents for spending that occurred in 2017 and 2018.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Monday came under scrutiny by the committee where several questions were posed to Malcolm Watkins, the Permanent Secretary (PS) for the MOH and key officials of GPHC. They were asked questioned pertaining to the procurement of drugs for the hospital, among other issues.

The officials were questioned on the contracts that were awarded to six suppliers who received payments totalling over $603M, but did not fully honour their obligations, since millions in supplies were outstanding.

PAC member, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo asked, “Could you say why this happened and what the current status is, and did the contract with the ministry allow paying before the items were delivered?”

In response, the PS stated that approximately $600M was reconciled of the stated sum.

In response to why it had happened, he referred the question to the then PS, Ms. Colette Adams.

Due to the fact that Adams is no longer the PS for the ministry, she answered the question based on her recollection. She told the PAC that some of the suppliers, particularly those overseas, had asked for payments upfront. She added that due to the fact that she does not have the documents on hand, she is unable to provide a full answer to the committee.

Dr. Maha d e o t h e n further inquired if the contract had a clause for the suppliers to be paid before they delivered to which Adams responded, “In some contracts, like the overseas suppliers contract, might have had

The PAC meeting in session on Monday.

those clause.”

As such, the committee requested that the contract with the clause in relation to the aforementioned be shown to the committee.

The current PS then disclosed that they do not

Health Ministry Permanent Secretary, Malcolm Watkins have the contracts in their possession but requested a week to provide same.

To t h i s e n d , t h e committee was then informed that several attempts were made to locate documents for the year in question, but all efforts have proven futile.

Watkins said, “We are having difficulties locating documents pertaining to these years [2017 and 2018] and at this stage, I would like to ask for some time to follow up with you on the status of these documents.”

In response to additional q u e s t i o n s f r o m PA C members, Malkia Idal, the Principal Assistant Secretary-Finance (PASF) stated that time is needed to locate the vouchers. She added that the PS and the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, are aware of the situation as it relates to where the vouchers are stored.

T h e PA C w a s a l s o informed that all of the vouchers for the spending of the GPHC are kept at the MOH. PAC member Ganesh Mahipaul then questioned what measures have been put in place to ensure that there won't be a reoccurrence of vouchers being difficult to locate.

In response, the PASF

said, “We have added an additional room and we have ventured out where we have the plastic containers so we are no longer using cardboard boxes because some of the vouchers would have been damaged by water or rot, so some areas are torn.

But we have an additional room and plastic storage containers so the vouchers are more safe now. So we have put those measures in place.”

To this end, PAC Chair, Jermaine Figueira, intervened and stated that with regard to the documents being stored in plastic containers, the committee had previously advised agencies to not only have a hard copy of documents but also a softcopy.

A s s u c h , h e recommended that the agency scan the documents and create a digitised copy as a backup.

Similarly, PAC member Juretha Fernandes added that the agency should also digitise copies of the documents they have stored as well as those to come in the future.

PS Watkins stated that the recommendation has been noted and that transitioning into having soft copies of documents is on the ministry's agenda.

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday June 15, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Six changes in political dynamism, the PNC leader needs to internalise PNC, leader Aubrey Norton said recently that he wants to bring back the PNC to the glorious days of Forbes Burnham. Please see my column of Saturday, May 28, 2022: “There were no glorious days of the PNC under Forbes Burnham.” When you read the reasons below for Norton not wanting to shake the President’s hand, then Norton is telling Guyanese here and in the diaspora that Burnham had a perfect government of an impeccable governance system.

Here are the reasons: 1 - Cannot treat with the president as if it is business as usual 2 - Acts of discrimination by the government 3 - Government continues to sack people it believes are associated with the previous government 4 - Discrimination against citizens when distributing aid 5 - The people of Guyana are not being served in a non-partisan way 6 - The government is disrespectful The banalities in each statement denote serious lack of leadership qualities of Norton.

Every opposition party in the world sings this

very song. Which elected government in the democratic world escapes Norton’s fulmination? The democratically elected government of Israel has lost its parliamentary majority.

Forty percent of the parliamentarians in the ruling party in the UK voted against the sitting prime minister in a vote of noconfidence recently. There is an imminent parliamentary election in France in which the opposition parties are making similar claims as Norton did.

The Swedish government recently survived a no-confidence motion by one vote.

Many policies implemented by President Trump are still on the books in the Biden administration. In Trinidad, the opposition and ruling party are locked in battle. In India, accusations against Modi government are far more serious than the one Norton makes against Ali presidency.

Which government in the world is so steeped in perfect governance that it makes the Ali presidency look autocratic? The problem with Norton is that during his campaign for the leader position in the PNC, he became the darling of the lunatic fringe

(TLF). They feted him on their social media shows and he was given widespread coverage in an opposition online publication named Village Voice.

Norton became trapped in the kind of discourse he surrounded himself with in these situations. He won the battle against Harmon but he is operating in the mode of TLF. He is playing to the TLF gallery. The reasons offered for the refusal to shake the president hand are jejune, poor and also self-defeating.

In a situation where there was mass retrenchment as what Norton’s party, the APNU+AFC, did to the sugar workers; police brutality against protestors; attack on a mainstream media house; arrest of opposition lawyers, then a refusal of a handshake is understandable. To offer broad and generalised reasons as Norton did is infantile and unworkable.

What he has done is to box himself in.

From here on, Norton is trapped. He can no longer shake the hand of the President because to do so is to concede that the complaints he composed to justify the snub of the President no longer exist within the political economy of the country.

This should have been one of the great lessons of politics that Norton should have internalised as a leader. Do not box yourself in by making definitive statements about the future. The future is not for any human to see.

The dynamics of politics is extremely complex. Little, unknown Guyana is one of the world’s most complex polities. In Guyana, political predictions come close to being impossible.

Every manifestation of Norton’s political deportment since he took over the leader position of his party is characteristic of a

Frederick Kissoon street fighter unable to make the transition to diplomatic, multilateral, multi-faceted, multi-pronged activism. The essential fault in Norton’s leadership is that his analysis of Guyana’s present day sociology is outdated.

First, “mofyaah/slo fyaah” is gone for a number of reasons too ponderous to outline here. Secondly, the younger African population is living under different times from 1997, the era of “mo fyaah/slo fyaah”, which they don’t know about. Thirdly, the police and army no longer have a Winston Felix and Edward Collins. The police force today is not going to tolerate street gangs burning buildings.

Fifthly, the mood of the general population is to wait and secure the benefits of an oil economy. Sixthly, only a tiny section of the population takes TLF seriously. Only Norton does. For example, last year, black pudding “maan” used a bullhorn to broadcast to people in Victoria, urging them to undermine the government. The only person with him was a homeless woman who stood behind him robotically saying: “Yes, yes.”

Finally, the PNC is not the powerhouse it was in recent years. Norton may soon find out he is a one-man army.

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

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Wednesday June 15, 2022

As Exxon ramps up production… World Bank urges Guyana to be wary of

environmental consequences, overheating the economy G i v e n E x x o n M o b i l ’s aggressive approach towards unlocking more oil in the Stabroek Block which already holds almost 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources, the World Bank is now warning Guyana to be wary of the environmental and economic consequences that come with an accelerated pace of development.

The financial institution has been one of the nation’s key development partners since the discovery of oil back in May 2015.

Over the years, it has spoken glowingly about the nation’s potential to be a model State with oil and gas as well as the significant revenues that will come. In 2019, under the David Granger administration, it had provided the nation with a US$20M loan to put the right systems in place that w o u l d h e l p w i t h e ff e c t i v e

management of the oil bonanza.

But since assuming office, the PPP/C administration has placed a hold on the funds. The new government said it will reassess how funds have been spent already and determine a new agenda that is in line with its approach and goals for the sector.

In an updated economic review of the nation, the World Bank said Guyana, the country that is poised to be the fastest growing economy in the world fuelled primarily by the expansion of oil output, must be mindful of its approach to managing the sector.

The World Bank was keen to note that the real challenge will be for Guyana to transform this new found oil boom into a better standard of living for citizens.

In this regard, the financial institution said poverty reduction will depend on the performance of the non-oil economy through job creation, including those linked to public investment projects and

local content for the oil sector, as well as the redistribution of resource revenues.

The bank said, “For long-term pro-poor growth, and in line with the country’s new national development strategy, more

efficient and effective public service delivery is essential. This is particularly the case in areas like health, education, and digital connectivity, which improve human capital.”

It added, “Sound and transparent management of oil revenues will be critical to avoid increased polarisation and further erosion of already weak institutions and governance. Reforms to support private sector growth are also critical...”

The lending agency further stressed that Guyana must, now more than ever, be mindful that it is highly vulnerable to oilrelated shocks, both to price and output.

As regards spending of the oil money, the World Bank said the two-year-old oil producer needs to

be wary of overheating the economy. It said there will be great temptation for increased spending as the money flows in. The bank cautioned that the nation must spend according to the effectiveness of its systems to monitor and control wastage and ensure efficiencies.

In parallel, it said Guyana must be aware of the fact that increased production brings a high-risk of devastating environmental consequences. These include massive oil spills and flaring which releases toxic chemicals into the environment.

In closing, the financial institution said the nation has to demonstrate that it is making decisions with these risks in mind, especially as the world moves rapidly into a transition from fossil fuels.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 15, 2022

PAGE 13

Consortium bids $200M higher than engineer’s estimate to construct abattoir A single bid has been submitted to construct and install an abattoir in Region Five, a project which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture. Of interest is the fact that the bid is $200 million more than the engineer’s estimate to build the facility. According to the

engineer’s estimate, the cost to build the abattoir is $470,604,640.

The bidder, which is a consortium consisting of R. Kissoon Contracting Services and Hookmally, submitted a bid of $651,143,247 to the National Procurement and

Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office to execute the works.

The Ministry in its invitation for bids (IFB) stated that having received financing from the InterAmerican Development Bank’s (IDB’s) funded Sustainable Agricultural

Tucville rapist…Lawyer wants psychiatric not psychological evaluation for his client The lawyer representing convicted rapist, Thurston Semple, 38, a taxi-driver of Lot 5A, Tucville Terrace, Georgetown, has requested that a psychiatric evaluation be conducted on his client rather than a psychological evaluation.

With the request of attorney-at-law, Everton Singh-Lammy, Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in the Demerara High Court, deferred the sentencing to June 28, and ordered that a psychiatric evaluation be conducted.

Semple had denied that between February 24 and February 25, 2021, at Tucville, Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration with a 30-year-

- sentencing deferred to June 28

Convicted rapist, Thurston Semple old Venezuelan woman without her consent. He had also denied that on the same day and at the same location,

he caused the said woman actual bodily harm.

On Friday March 25, after two hours of deliberating, a mixed 12member jury returned with two guilty verdicts, finding Semple guilty of battering and raping the woman who at the time was a sex worker.

The case was prosecuted by State Counsel, Nafeeza Baig, Muntaz Ali and Latifah Elliot.

Justice SewnarineBeharry had deferred Semple’s sentencing and ordered that a psychological evaluation be conducted on him. She had also ordered Continued on page 22

Development Project (SADP), the Government of Guyana is planning to use part of the funds to facilitate the “construction and installation of abattoir and other related infrastructures in Region Five.”

The IFB had stated too that the period for the construction and installation of the abattoir will be 12 months.

The Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, had revealed that the abattoir will be built to international standards. “We need an abattoir that meets international standard, ISO standard, and if we want to export, we have to have an abattoir that is good, that is

recognised international standard and that is why we are building that state-ofthe-art one,” he had explained.

Earlier this year, at the presentation of the national budget, it was disclosed by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, that the government intends to build a swine abattoir at Garden of Eden on the East Bank of Demerara and an abattoir at Onverwagt in Region Five.

“In 2022, Government will partner with the private sector to develop a modular swine abattoir at Garden of Eden to expand the production of pork and pork

products. This facility will encompass betterstandardised production systems and biosecurity, and benefit over 600 farmers.

Also, Government will facilitate the establishment of a modern abattoir at Onverwagt for beef and beef products, which is expected to be completed by 2023.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, p a s t u r e development will be a priority for the resuscitation of the dairy industry. The establishment of these facilities will be supported by the requisite certification processes and traceability capacity which would allow Guyana to access regional and international markets,” Dr. Singh had said.

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Wednesday June 15, 2022

Council must ensure contractors, agencies adhere to city bylaws The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is being urged to use its authority to ensure that contractors and agencies involved in building construction within the city adhere to the city bylaws.

This comes even as officials of the Georgetown council complained about

the regular flouting of the city bylaws by ignoring the need for engaging the City Engineer ’s Department before embarking construction projects within the city.

Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, and a team f r o m t h e G e o rg e t o w n M&CC have since engaged

– PM Phillips Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, on the matter.

During a recent discussion with the Prime Minister, the Municipality was encouraged to use whatever authority it has to

From left: Mayor Ubraj Narine, Deputy Mayor, Alfred Mentore and Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, engaged in discussion about the city bylaws. force contractors and agencies to comply with the city bylaws.

The remarks were made by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore, who bemoaned the construction of drains and revetment work without consultation with the City Engineer’s department.

During the discussion, the Deputy Mayor revealed the officers of the Council are faced with a predicament in this regard.

He said that there are instances when the Council makes its decisions but its members are called directly by state officials on behalf of well-connected persons and

ordered to act counter to those decisions.

Mentore said that the matter is made worse by the Local Government Commission (LGC) when it fails to act on the decisions of the Council to discipline officers who act contrary to the regulations.

In his remarks, Mayor Narine highlighted the work on Vlissingen Road next to the Guyana Defence Force Base – an area that he says has technical challenges due to the pump station being located nearby.

Narine explained that the drains being constructed are narrower than what existed, and no consultation was

done with the Council on the construction.

The Mayor also highlighted the work being done on Camp Street in front of GRA which has already shown signs of compromising the surrounding drains.

The Mayor stated that the Council is not antidevelopment but promotes collaboration to ensure all stakeholders are involved to avoid unnecessary inconveniences to the citizens of Georgetown.

Last January, Mayor Narine pointed to the need for new building codes in the city.

Back then, the City Continued on page 22

Norton has to consult with AFC to...

From page 8 prices and to bring immediate relief to Americans struggling to pay the out-ofcontrol prices at the pump by instituting a suspension of the federal gas tax.

Schiff, at a press conference to announce the move, said that “for months now, a combination of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, ongoing supply chain issues, and price gouging by the oil companies have been steadily driving up the price of gasoline to more than US$4.50 a gallon nationwide and more than US$6 a gallon here in Los Angeles.”

According to Schiff, “in spite of this volatility, one thing has remained the same: Big Oil’s skyrocketing profits.”

He posited, “this is exploitation, plain and

simple, and it’s unacceptable to all of the people who are having to spend hundreds of dollars more every month just to go about their daily lives, at a time when so many are already struggling to make ends meet.”

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

It was noted that to ensure the Highway Trust Fund is still robustly funded, the suspension would be paid for through a new 50 percent tax on Big Oil’s windfall profits.

According to Schiff, “we can help bring down the cost of oil by suspending the gas tax and paying for it with a windfall profits tax on oil companies.”

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Public pressure forces review of Exxon’s drilling campaign in Kaieteur, Canje Oil Blocks The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be holding a public hearing at the end of the month at the Roraima Duke Lodge to address appeals submitted with regard to the entity’s decision to forego the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL’)s — E x x o n M o b i l Guyana—latest proposed 12-well campaign.

The decision to hold the public hearing has since been communicated by the EPA, and relates to two separate 12-well drilling campaign’s proposed by ExxonMobil Guyana for exploration ventures in the Kaieteur and Canje Oil Blocks.

According to the EPA, the decision was taken in accordance with the

Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05, which stipulates that public hearings be conducted into all appeals submitted against the EPA’s decision not to require an EIA for the project.

“The Public Hearing will involve representations from the appellants, the developer, and other key stakeholders,” the EPA notice said.

It was noted that, “ t h e r e a f t e r, t h e E A B (Environmental Assessment Board) will deliberate on the findings and prepare a report with its decision confirming or setting aside the EPA’s decision.”

As it relates to the works proposed for the Canje B l o c k , EEPGL—ExxonMobil Guyana—in its application to the EPA had noted that the drilling of the wells is

expected to commence in the 4th quarter of 2022 with the conclusion of the proposed drilling campaign expected by first quarter 2025.

According to ExxonMobil, based on the water depths in the Canje Block, multiple dynamically-positioned drill ships would be used to drill the wells.

“The Canje 12-well Programme aims to gather data on the reservoir characteristics, hydrocarbon presence, pressure, and temperatures.

If the presence of hydrocarbons is discovered, wells will be tested to establish the limits of the reservoir,” ExxonMobil said. According to the proposal, once the proposed drilling operations are complete, the exploration well will be permanently

Roraima

Stabroek

Canje Demerara Orinduik

Kanuku

Georgetown Corentyne

Kaieteur

7 Prospect Area

3

Kaieteur 12 Block

#

4

Adjacent Block

1

5

2

6

Prospect Areas for Proposed Kaieteur 12 Block Well Exploration Kaieteur EA&MP

A map outlining the Kaieteur Oil Block

1

2 4

Stabroek

5

6 3

Legend Prospect Area Relinquishment Area Exploration Drilling Area Adjacent Block

The Canje Oil Block

plugged and abandoned.

It was noted that the Project will generate hazardous and nonhazardous wastes and as such, “all waste streams for the Project will be managed in accordance with a Comprehensive Waste Management Plan (CWMP) Exploration and Appraisal Drilling proposed for the Canje Block will be similar to previously executed Exploration and Drilling Campaigns undertaken by EEPGL.” Given the similar nature of the work programme, EEPGL did outline that: “The potential impacts from the project are related to physical, biological, and socioeconomic values.”

The EPA’s screening had found that “there are no significant environmental impacts” but during public consultations held,

numerous concerns were raised that must, according to law, be addressed by the regulatory body.

The EPA had said, the project impacts has been deemed to be negligible to low, short-term and localised and as such, an EIA was not required. At the time, the only demand had by the EPA was for EEPGL to prepare an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to outline the measures that will be put in place to mitigate the impacts associated with the project.

As it relates to the Kaieteur Block, it was noted that based on the water depths in that location, multiple dynamicallypositioned drill ships would be used to drill the wells.

“The Kaieteur multi-well programme aims to gather data on the reservoir characteristics, hydrocarbon presence, pressure, and temperatures. If the presence of hydrocarbons is

discovered, wells will be tested to establish the limits of the reservoir.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e productivity of wells and the oil or gas properties present will be tested,” ExxonMobil Guyana said.

That project too, according to ExxonMobil Guyana, will generate hazardous and nonhazardous wastes and that all waste streams for the project will be managed in accordance with a CWMP. The EPA had found at the time that, “the Project will not have a significant environmental impact, providing all proposed embedded control mechanisms and practices are implemented.”

As such, it was determined by the regulatory body that an EIA was not required, since objected to by members of the public, and this will now have to be addressed.

Wednesday June 15, 2022

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Home Construction Assistance Facility launched in Region 6 - dozens registered and pre-qualified on the spot

By Malisa Playter-Harry Through the Ministry of Housing and Water’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), the Home Construction Assistance Facility Programme was on Tuesday launched in Region Six – in the compound of the Regional Democratic Council in New Amsterdam and at the Classic Hotel boardroom in Skeldon.

Following the launch, which is the third in the country, thus far, dozens of individuals became eligible for financial support from banking institutions partnering with the ministry for the programme. The prequalification was done on the spot at the locations where hundreds turned up to access the service.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, while addressing those who turned up, stated that the initiative which was crafted by President Irfaan Ali was done in an effort to assist in reducing the financial burden currently faced by people in the region and countrywide, “in a sense of being unable to

access loans for one reason or another.”

On May 16, 2022, President Ali announced the initiative and also mentioned that there will be a removal of VAT on specific construction material.

Through the programme, individuals, who have been allocated a house lot by the government or would have inherited their land, are eligible to apply to Republic Bank Limited and the New Building Society (NBS) – the banks that are partnering with the government on the initiative – by providing their land titles or proof of ownership documents.

Added to this, the minister said, “You obviously have to have your job letter and pay slip so that we can ascertain your income and if you are married, you must walk with your marriage certificate so our partnership with the bank for approval will be making it easier for you, less tedious and on the spot approval process. Once you have all your documentation, once you satisfy the checklist, on the spot, the bank will be able to pre-qualify you.”

Confessed ‘cook killer’ remanded

Murdered female cook, Miriam Edwards

Confessed ‘cook killer’, Keron Hope (Photo Credit: GPF)

Keron Hope of Middle Walk Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Wednesday remanded to prison for allegedly killing a female cook at Kumung Kumung Backdam, Puruni River, Region Seven.

The cook has been identified as Miriam Edwards, a 25year-old woman of Lethem, Region Nine. Hope reportedly confessed to killing her between June 8 and 9 and had led police to her remains. He made his first court appearance at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court where Magistrate Crystal Lambert read the murder charge to him.

Hope was not required to plead to the indictable charge and will make his next court appearance on June 30, 2022.

According to reports, miners at Kumung Kumung Backdam had captured Hope after they realised Edwards was missing and her camp and was ransacked. He was tied up and later handed over to police when ranks arrived to conduct an investigation. He had reportedly confessed to killing her during a robbery. The suspect then led police to where he had dumped her remains. According to police, her body was located just a short distance away from her camp.

An autopsy later revealed that she was strangled and struck to head with a heavy object.

Minister Collin Croal interacting with housing staffers

A section of individuals who came out with their documents in hopes of qualifying for the Home Construction Assistance Facility Programme.

Minister Croal further noted that with the services the programme offers, financial hurdles such as the requirement to pay down a percentage to the bank in order for one to start off the bank process will not be necessary. Instead, the land owned by the individual will be used as equity by the banking institutions so that the prospective homeowner can qualify for the loan.

“The difference here is that while you also have to satisfy your ownership of the land, is that the land can be used as equity. So in essence, the land will be used by the bank; that is your safety net, the ministry through CH&PA will suffice as the guarantor and with that initial sum, you have to find, can be put now towards the full loan,” Croal explained.

Currently, the programme

offers three house models within the price range of $7M, $9M and $12M. Applicants, it was revealed too, will be given the opportunity to see the designs and based on their income, the most appropriate will be chosen.

“Although you may aspire for the $12M, the fact remains that your circumstances may not qualify you for that, you still

have an option of the $9M and the $7M so think wisely in terms of what you would like for yourself,” the minister advised.

A total of 25 registrations were done on Tuesday in New Amsterdam with seven persons pre-qualifying for loans at NBS to kick off their home building and ownership process. Dozens more were registered and pre-qualified in Skeldon as well.

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Wednesday June 15, 2022

Education Ministry to host series of intervention to help curb violence in schools The Education Ministry is set to embark on a series of intervention as a method of curbing the incidents of violence among secondary school students.

In separate incidents last week, the police were called in because teachers and students of the Campbellville Secondary School in Georgetown were traumatised after a fight between students broke out and later a ‘gang-related’ incident disrupted the entire school.

In another incident, the police were called into the Lodge Secondary School and an air gun was found in a student’s bag.

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Dr. Marcel Hutson told Kaieteur News on Tuesday that the Ministry of Education is taking a holistic approach to the issue and rolling out an action plan which will see the security and psycho-social needs of students addressed.

“The recent issues of violence in schools have us really perturbed ...but we are in a place, where we are

Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson engages students of the Lodge Secondary School, following the recent incidents of violence at secondary schools.

A screen capture of a fight between two secondary school students. dealing with it swiftly. We have already drafted an action plan which will see teachers, parents, our security forces, religious leaders and the wider community involved in helping to steer these young people in the right direction,” he said.

Dr. Hutson noted that while the school fights and gang-related incident were appalling enough to be a

cause for concern, there are several issues that led up to the violent behaviour.

“For one, there are a lot of students who lack guidance and need counselling to address certain negative behavioural patterns. We started to engage professional counsellors to get them in the schools to conduct some sessions with those students… We have also

reached out to community leaders to see where they can put in the work to help the children,” Dr. Hutson said.

According to the CEO, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, will this week, meet with religious leaders, such as pastors and

people of influence, where she will seek to secure their commitment to go into schools and provide mentorship to students.

Following a discussion o n Tu e s d a y, M i n i s t e r Manickchand disclosed to members of the media that

she is speaking to some pastors to be able to go into schools and do some consistent work not just a check and talk on morals but to be almost a mentor to schools.

Manickchand asserted Continued on page 22

Gunman robs 3, escapes in couple’s car - police recover vehicle hours after A lone gunman on Monday, ran off the streets, pounced on three persons sitting in front of a supermarket at Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara and then drove off with a couple’s car.

Kaieteur News has been able to confirm that Region Three police investigators were able to locate the vehicle hours after on Tuesday morning abandoned at Rasville, Roxanne Burnham Gardens.

The robbery was captured on the supermarket’s security camera and showed a lone gunman dressed in an orange jersey, a black cap and a black three quarter pants pouncing on three persons sitting outside. Those individuals were identified as a woman and her husband – the owners of the car – and the female owner of the supermarket.

A c c o r d i n g t o investigators the robbery took place around 21:00hrs.

Based on the security footage obtained, the gunman came running from the roadway and pounced on his victims.

He snatched the man’s cellular phone first before attacking the women. One of them – the business owner – ran inside the supermarket while he raided the man’s

A photo taken of the car after it was recovered.

wife’s pockets.

He reportedly stole $20,000 in cash from her and then ran straight to their car – a red Toyota Allion, which was parked in front of the supermarket, opened the door and drove off.

The woman was seen running behind him shouting for him to stop but he continued driving.

She related to this newspaper, that when he attacked her, she had begged him not to hit or harm them in anyway and is grateful that he did not shoot them.

Speaking with Kaieteur News, Commander of the district, Mahendra Siwnarine, told this

newspaper that his ranks received information that the car was reportedly abandoned at a location in Rasville.

The information was channelled to police after a photograph of the stolen car was published on Facebook by a media house.

Based on photos seen by this newspaper of the recovered car, it appeared as if the gunman had driven it through a muddy area.

The owners of the vehicle related that the only thing that was missing from the car was their bass speaker box.

Up to press time, police were still trying to locate the suspect.

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Minister Edghill tours IndianOil in New Delhi

M

inister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, who is currently leading a delegation to

India, was given a guided tour of a section of IndianOil, “The Energy of India,” located at Tikri Kalan, New Delhi.

According to a government release, the Minister was joined by a delegation from Guyana’s High Commission in India.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill was given a guided tour of IndianOil

Information from its website states that “IndianOil is a diversified, integrated energy major with presence in almost all the streams of oil, gas, petrochemicals and alternative energy sources.”

The company boasts of having highly trained staff, state-of-the-art equipment and operates with cuttingedge technologies, while

also operating in line with world best practices, qualityconsciousness and transparency.

Prior to the tour, Minister Edghill met with India’s Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy, Shri R.K. Singh.

As both Guyana and India aim to further strengthen bilateral ties, India has also committed to

giving Guyana support as the country ventures into the area of Natural Gas, power generation and renewable energy.

Minister Edghill is currently on an official visit to the Republic of India for the launch ceremony of the new ferry vessel for the Northwest District. That event takes place today in Kolkata, India.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 15, 2022

PAGE 21

IMF head impressed by resilience of caribbean in face of deadly COVID-19 (BARBADOS TODAY) Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva has given Barbados and other Caribbean countries a passing grade for how they have been able to withstand the ravages of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Ahead of her arrival in B a r b a d o s Tu e s d a y, Georgieva warned of “a crisis upon crisis” that has already started to affect the region, while giving the assurance that the IMF stood ready to offer assistance where possible.

Georgieva, who is on her first visit to the Caribbean as head of the IMF, told Barbados TODAY she was “impressed by the exceptional resilience that the people of the Caribbean and their economies have shown over the past couple of years”.

“The region was hit very hard by COVID-19, especially by the ripple effects on tourism and the disruption to supply chains, and how this has damaged people's livelihoods.

Despite this shock, the people of the region stood tall, and their economies have begun to rebound,” she said.

She acknowledged that Barbados and other Caribbean states were now faced with “another set of difficult challenges”, which she said were adding to an already burdened region. “ U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h i s region—like so much of the world—faces yet another set of very difficult challenges—what I have been calling 'a crisis upon crisis'.

Before we have even fully emerged or recovered from the pandemic, the economic repercussions of the war in Ukraine are reaching far beyond Europe, dragging down growth and pushing up inflation.

For many countries, there is also the problem of high debt, in part reflecting necessary spending on the pandemic response,” she explained.

“Added to this is the existential threat of climate change, along with more frequent and intense natural disasters – something people on the islands and coasts know all too well.

These are formidable challenges and, while we have our work cut out for us, I have confidence in the famed spirit and strength of the Caribbean people, and our

ability to tackle these issues together,” she said.

Her comments come as the country receives one last approval from the IMF for a final draw down from the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) under the four-year Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme that began in October 2018.

Following an IMF mission last month to discuss the implementation of the BERT plan, a staff-level agreement was reached on the seventh and final review under the EFF arrangement.

This means that after the review this month, SDR 17 million or about US$23 million will be made available to Barbados.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley is expected to make a decision in coming weeks on whether she will enter into another IMF programme.

During her visit this week, Georgieva is expected to meet with policymakers and student leaders from the University of the West Indies (UWI) to hear some of their views and perspectives on a range of related issues. She is scheduled to have discussions on how the Caribbean R e g i o n a l Te c h n i c a l Assistance Centre (CARTAC) can contribute more to regional efforts to promote economic opportunities and resilience amidst the global recovery.

Georgieva, who said she was grateful for the invitation from Prime Minister Mia Mottley to visit Bridgetown, is also expected to engage in a high-level panel discussion examining the building of resilience and sustainability in the Caribbean.

She told Barbados TODAY the IMF remained committed to helping Barbados and the rest of the region to meet the challenges head on.

“The IMF is your steadfast partner and friend.

We are deeply committed to collaborating and engaging with countries in the region and lending a helping hand to meet the challenges ahead – be it through our policy advice or financial support, or by helping to strengthen the capacity of the region.

By working together, I am firmly convinced that we can build even more resilient and inclusive economies that will benefit everyone in the Caribbean region,” she said.

The accident scene

Woman hospitalised after Canje public road accident

A

28-year-old mother of two is currently hospitalised at the New Amsterdam Hospital in a serious but stable condition after she lost control of the car, which she was driving on Tuesday along the East Canje public road.

Injured is Nazema Bhikham of Adelphi, East Canje, Berbice.

The officer-in-charge of traffic in Region Six, Mr. Raun Clarke, confirmed

that the accident occurred at approximately 14:15hrs.

Bhikham, who was driving a Toyota Raum, PRR 6475, was proceeding north on the western side of the Rose Hall, Canje public road when she lost control of the vehicle and careened into the eastern side of the drain.

Kaieteur News understands she was trapped in the vehicle when residents rushed to her assistance. However, while

The injured Nazema Bhikham they attempted to remove her, the woman began to scream in pain and medical assistance was summoned.

She was removed subsequently and taken to the New Amsterdam

Hospital where she remains a patient.

The woman was reportedly on her way to pick up her children from school when the accident occurred.

Ecuador police arrest protest leader Leonidas Iza (BBC NEWS) Police in Ecuador have arrested the leader of the country's biggest indigenous group after a day of protests calling for lower fuel prices.

In a tweet, police said Leonidas Iza of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie) had been detained near the capital, Quito.

They did not specify what charges he faced.

On Monday, demonstrators across Ecuador set up roadblocks in protest at the government's economic policies.

Highways across the country were blocked with piles of burning tyres, trees and mounds of earth to cut off access to Quito.

The protesters' list of demands include reducing the cost of fuel and price caps on agricultural goods.

Ecuador is currently grappling with

Leonidas Iza has spearheaded the protest campaign rising levels of inflation, unemployment and poverty. Since 2020, the cost of diesel has almost

doubled while the price of petrol has also increased sharply. A $6.5bn (£5.3bn) financing deal negotiated between Ecuador's government and the International Monetary Fund during the height of the coronavirus pandemic is due to come to an end later this year.

The police said Mr Iza had been arrested in Pastocalle, about 20km (12 miles) south of Quito, on suspicion of unspecified "offences". Pastocalle has been at the heart of the demonstrations called by Conaie.

The police added that Mr Iza was in custody awaiting a court hearing. Mr Iza said on Monday the protests would continue until President Guillermo Lasso responded to the group's requests. Conaie confirmed Mr Iza's arrest and called for a "radicalisation" of the demonstrations in response.

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 15, 2022

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F

or the year so far, ap proximately 25,866 persons have contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease across Guyana. Out of that number, women account for the most with 14,462 of them being infected between January 1 and June 13.

The number of women who contracted the virus this year is almost the total that got infected for the entire of last year. With some 33,222 new COVID-19 cases recorded for last year, 17,827 of those persons were women while 15,395 were men. For this year too, a total of 11,404 men contracted the deadly disease.

As reported, local health authorities had started to see a spike in cases by the end of December which got even worse in January and February. Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and other health officials had attributed the increase in cases to the easily transmissible variant called Omicron which had caused cases to rise globally at that time.

It was later confirmed that this had caused the spike in

Education Ministry to host...

From page 18 too that violence has always been present in schools but she reasoned that with more advanced technology available the situations are now more publicised.

As such, she said the Education Ministry will not turn a blind eye and operate like it is not happening.

“First of all, I don’t think it’s something we should pretend is non-existent. Secondly, I don’t think it’s something we should become paralysed in fear about. So, getting the police involved, getting welfare involved, there are other people who could possibly influence the young people we’re talking about,” Manickchand said.

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Guyana after samples were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing.

The new variant did not only cause a spike in cases but hospitalisation and deaths in the country increased as well.

Further, of the 25,866 cases recorded, the majority were detected in Region Four followed by Region Three.

A breakdown of the cases shows that for the year so far, 13,962 persons got infected from Region Four, 3,023 from Region Three, 2,311 from Region Six, 1,528 from Region Nine, 1,240 from Region 10, 1,121 from Region Two, 956 from Region Five, 825 from Region One, 637 from Region Seven, and 263 from Region Eight.

Meanwhile, via its daily COVID-19 report, the Ministry of Health on Tuesday revealed that an 88-year-old woman from Region Four and a 94-year-old man from Region Three who contracted the virus have died.

As a result of this, the country's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,242.

From the Ministry's dash-

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She also pointed out that students, who are exhibiting bad behaviour often come from “broken” homes where a male figure is absent.

Manickchand expressed hope that the pastors can now step up and play the fatherly role or mentor these children.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has engaged the Guyana Police Force to conduct regular visits and searches at secondary schools.

In response to the situation, on Monday, Commander of Regional Division #2 Essequibo Coast, Shivpersaud Bacchus announced that the residents in partnership with the Police Force and policing groups in the region are tackling youth violence through programmes created to keep youths meaningfully occupied.

He said that there are 11 youth groups in the region which are part of the youth initiative programme where they get engaged in learning trades.

He then explained that depending on the seriousness of the situation at schools, the police are alerted but the welfare and the parents must be present before the police can engage because of protocol that the police must follow before acting on a school report.

board data, it shows that within the last assessed 24hour period, a total of 83 persons have tested positive for the virus, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 66,009.

The dashboard stated

that two patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 17 persons are in institutional isolation, 789 are in home isolation and two are quarantined institutionally.

To date, a total of 63,959 persons have recovered.

Council must ensure contractors...

From page 14 Mayor noted that need for improved building codes in the city has been a point of discussion for some time now, however, with massive development already ongoing and even greater development on the horizon, the issue is taking on new importance.

The current building codes are considered wantonly insufficient in giving the M&CC authority to properly mandate and enforce the proper measures in the construction of buildings.

“It can be rectified if we work on it right now; we can rectify it before it gets worst.

It will help us because a lot of major buildings going up, construction is happening and a lot of the investors are here. We can have a round table discussion to come to some kind of consensus,” he said.

Added to this, the Mayor recently noted that the Central Housing and Planning Authority indicated that it depends on the City Engineer’s department to approve plans before making its decisions and encouraged the engineer department to ensure that all plans satisfy the Municipal requirements before forwarding them to the CH&PA.

Lawyer wants psychiatric not psychological...

From page 13 that a probation report be prepared in his favour.

However, last Friday, when

the matter came up, Semple’s lawyer asked that a psychiatric report be prepared in favour of his client rather than a psychological report that was previously ordered by the court.

It should be noted that a psychiatric assessment is more specific, as it focuses on mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders.

On the other hand, a psy-

chological evaluation looks at attitude, emotions, thoughts, and behaviour.

Notably, there are media reports of Semple’s past indiscretions.

Reports indicate that Semple was charged for allegedly engaging in sexual penetration with a woman without her consent on August 31, 2017, at Quamina Street, Georgetown.

Also, on January 12, 2018, Semple was charged for allegedly tying up two sex workers on separate occasions and having sex with them.

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

Dredge owner dies after mining pit collapses A dredge owner was on Monday killed after one of the walls of a mining pit collapsed and buried him at Micobie Backdam, Region Eight.

He has been identified as 64-year-old Donald Gouveia, also called Danny of Surbryanville, Georgetown.

According to police, the pit which measures some 70 feet deep collapsed around 12:00hrs.

Gouveia and his workmen were working in the pit when the tragic incident occurred.

Investigators learnt that the dredge owner was at the time operating as a “jet man” (a worker who controls a high-pressure hose to cut and wash the land), when the

The dead dredge owner, Donald Gouveia, aka Danny western side of the pit began to cave in.

As the land fell, he and his workers started running for safety. While some made it to safety, others were partially covered but

Gouveia was not so lucky.

Those who made it to safety assisted their colleagues out of the thick mud but when they found Gouveia, he was unconscious.

They immediately rushed him to the Micobie Health Centre. The health centre referred him to the Madhia District Hospital but when he arrived there, a doctor pronounced him dead.

His remains have since been flown out to the city.

Many have since expressed their disbelief at the tragic news, especially those he did business with.

One individual via Facebook stated, “I had only seen him last week at the store, so sad, I cannot believe this.”

PAGE 25

‘Hair thieves’ remanded to jail

The three alleged hair thieves, from left, Keron Williams, Trevon Williams and Marlon Campbell who were remanded to prison on Monday.

Three men were on Monday remanded to prison for allegedly stealing some $5.4M in false hair – braids and weaves.

The defendants were identified as three 29-year-old men – Marlon Campbell, a seaman; Keron Williams, and Trevon Williams, a security guard.

According to police, the men who are all residents of Annandale South, East Coast Demerara (ECD) made their first court appearance at the Vigilance Magistrate Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

They were charged with break and enter and larceny. They pleaded not guilty to the charge and are expected to make their next court appearance on June 23, 2022.

Campbell, Keron Williams and Trevon Williams are accused of breaking into a businessman’s bond on June 3, last, at Fourth Street Annandale and stealing boxes of the hair braids and weaves.

Investigators were able to recover some of the stolen hair from a woman’s home located at the Strathspey Squatting Area.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

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From page 31

From page 33 31

PAGE 28

Nestle's Brand Manager, Rajinda Lall, makes a brief point during his remarks at the launch.

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

Milo Secondary Schools U18 KO Football Tournament officially launched - kicks off Saturday at MoE Ground

T

he Petra organised Milo under-18 Secondary Schools Football Tournament was officially launched yesterday at the Ministry of Education Ground, where it officially kicks off with the preliminary round matches on Saturday.

During the launch that was attended by players and representatives of 24 participating teams, brief remarks were made by Directors of Petra, Troy Mendonca and Marlon Cole, Nestle Milo Marketing Manager, Rajinda Lall and Petra representative, Jackie Boodie.

Medonca disclosed that he believes now is an opportune time to resume with football in schools and across the grassroots level. He was very appreciative of the title sponsor, Beepat's, through their Nestle Brand, and also thanked the teachers who took their time to prepare the teams for the event.

Lall said, “Nestle under its Milo brand along with Beepat's is proud to resume sponsorship of the Milo Under-18 Schools Football Tournament which came to an unexpected halt in 2020 owing to the corona virus. I know this is a highly anticipated tournament as our youths can't wait to be back on the field after two years of lockdown and for us, its signals some return to normalcy.”

“Nestle and Beepat's are always happy to be part of youth development in sports as tournaments of these nature provide a platform where our athletes can represent our country at a senior level.” Lall then wished the teams, best of luck, as they vie for bragging rights in the event.

On Saturday, the action commences with the preliminary rounds from 12:30hrs as St. Stanislaus College take on St. John's College in the opening match t h e n We s t R u i m v e l d t Secondary battle Vergenoegen Secondary from 14:00hrs. At 15:30hrs Bishop's High School tackle Charlestown

Secondary then Bladen Hall will oppose Carmel Secondary at 17:00hrs.

The following day, the preliminaries continue at the same venue from the same times mentioned earlier. In the opening match Ann's Grove tackle Uitvlugt then North Ruimveldt battle East Ruimveldt, Golden Grove go head to head with Buxton Secondary in the third match while the winner of matches 1 and 3 will complete the day.

Other playing dates for the tournament include June 25 & 26, July 2 & 3, July 6 and the finale is billed for July 10.

The triumphant team in this tournament will cart off with $300,000 along with the Championship Trophy and Gold Medals to outfit the entire team, while the second place finishers cart off $200,000, the corresponding trophy and Silver Medals.

Third place team will have to settle for $100,000, the third place Trophy and Bronze Medals while fourth place cart off $75,000 and a Trophy.

The top individual performances that will be rewarded are Most Valuable Player, Highest Goal Scorer, Best Goalkeeper and Most Disciplined Team.

After the launch, the team representatives attended the team briefing while each of the 24 teams received two official soccer balls and a nestle branded soccer ball from the Petra organization.

The schools involved include: Annandale Secondary, Ann's Grove Secondary, Bishop's High, Canje Secondary, Carmel Secondary, Charlestown Secondary, North Ruimveldt S e c o n d a r y, F r i e n d s h i p Secondary, Golden Grove Secondary, Lodge Secondary, M a r i a n A c a d e m y, N e w Central High, President's College, Buxton Secondary, West Ruimveldt Secondary, St. John's College, Bladen Hall Secondary, Dolphin S e c o n d a r y, Tu c v i l l e , Uitvlugt Secondary, Queen's College and Christianburg Secondary.

Wednesday June 15, 2022

2022/23 Concacaf Nations League…

Haiti stun Jaguars 6 - 0, take unassailable Group lead Haiti have put their foot down and assumed a firm lead of Group B in the League B edition of the 2022/23 Concacaf Nations League last evening.

Battling at the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Haiti won 6 - 0 in a match that didn't see a goal until the 38th minute when Alex Christian scored.

Second half doubles from Mondy Prunier and Carnejy Antoine then pushed Haiti's victory beyond doubt.

Like the first match between the two sides on Saturday last, Haiti scored twice first but Guyana put forth a better performance in the first half of this match as they held the former League A team to 1 – 0 in the first half.When the second half commenced, it didn't take long for Haiti to make it a two-possession game when Prunier scored in the 48 minute.

The very next minute, Guyana was plunged deeper into misery as Kelsey

Benjamin picked up a second yellow and was red carded, leaving Guyana with 10 players.

Haiti eventually took advantage of the shortened opposition and piled a third goal on to the tally with a goal from Simonsen Jeppe Friborg who scored in the 63rd minute.Prunier got another successful strike with 76 minutes on the clock to push the score line to 4 – 0 before Antoine made his presence felt. He struck in the 87th and 89th minutes before the regulation time whistle sounded to confirm the victor's three points.

Haiti now command the Group with 10 points while Guyana have six points.

Montserrat and Bermuda match that was scheduled to unfold yesterday in Bermuda was postponed. Montserrat have three points while Bermuda have one point.

For Guyana, they have until March 2023 to prepare for their remaining matches against Montserrat and Bermuda.

T&T stun Bajans as Jamaica take...

From page 32 (11) fell to Carena Noel to leave Guyana on 19-2 in the sixth over.Lashuna Toussaint struggled to get the ball away before hitting back-toboundaries and along with her Captain Shemaine Campbelle offered fight.

Campbelle hit Jannillea Glasgow for consecutive boundaries in the eleventh over to bring up the Guyana 50.Qiana Joseph struck at 543 when Toussaint (16) edged her to the Keeper to bring Shakibi Gajnabi to join her Captain.

But with the score on 64, with Guyana needing 24 from 42 balls, Gajnabi (2)

charged Fletcher and missed an irresponsible drive and was bowled as Guyana lost their fourth wicket.

But Campbelle was still there and playing intelligently while Tremaine Smartt pulled Fletcher for four and drove Noel past midon for another boundary and along with Campbelle saw their home.Campbelle ended on 29 from 30 balls with three fours while Smartt finished on 13 from 12 balls with two boundaries.The 50 overs format is scheduled to start tomorrow with 10 consecutive matches being played at the Providence

stadium.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 29

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 30

Slingerz FC signals return to Guyana's helm - sets sights of CFU Club Championship

Former National Football Champion, Slingerz FC, has signaled their return with their focus zoned in on once again rising above the competition and surging back to the helm of football in Guyana.

The club which operates under the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA), since its start in 2013, has had an impressive lineup of accolades and feats in such a short time.

At the launch, a 19member team was named by former Slingerz player and head coach, Vurlon Mills, and includes: Sean Adonis, Prince Forde, Kevin Dundas (C), Quincy Adams, Jerome Harrigan, Shakim Welcome,

Simeon Moore, Clevon Murray, Clive Nobrega, Vincent Chidera, Kevin Small, Hector Hasserton, Ricardo Harry, Dexroy Adams, Matrim Martin, Samuel Garden, Neron Barrow, Delon Lanferman and Deon Alfred.

The ceremony was attended by President of Slingerz FC, Javed Ali, WDFA President- Trevor Wi l l i a m s , E x e c u t i v e members of the club along with the representative of the first sponsor for the Slingerz Te a m B u s , F o r r e s t o r Concrete.

Ali said, “It's safe to say Slingerz is back. It feels good to be back in football. It's a great pleasure to witness the

reintroduction of Slingerz FC to competitive football in Guyana. I think together we shared in this exciting prospect for the continued development of football in Guyana.”

“We think the future of football in Guyana requires the GFF and each club to make its maximum contribution. This re-launch is a testament to our commitment and doing our part. We see the need for competition in development and preparation of Guyana's National Team, as it allows for the professional players that are always ready for international games.”

He continued: “Guyana football needs to reduce the

dependence on two full professional teams which is the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force to ensure that more players receive a monthly income to dedicate their day to day activities to football.”

Ali made the call to corporate Guyana to support football in Guyana and also Slingerz FC who are working toward earning a fixture in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championships.

The WDFA President was happy to see the return of Slingerz FC to their Regional Association and believes Slingerz alongside Alpha United have certainly raised the level of football in

Guyana. He urged more entities to invest in football to assist in the development of the sport.

Tonight, Slingerz FC springs into action in the

Slingerz FC President, Javed Ali

WDFA Men's Senior League at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, when they play Uitvlugt in the feature match of the double header from 20:00hrs.

Chien Gittens registers century in Canada Versatile all-rounder skipper Nicolas Sanichara Chien Gittens struck an put up a fight with 26.

Gittens returned with the impressive, unbeaten hundred (101*) last Saturday ball to complement a brilliant in one of the fifth-round all-round performance by matches in the 2022 Ontario capturing two wickets for Softball Cricket League four runs from three frugal (OSCL) Regular Season 20- overs, while former Guyana under-19 and Canada player overs competition.

Representing Canadian Shiv Seeram also with two wickets Legends, the right-handed Gittens cleared the boundary on ten occasions while he reached it five t i m e s a s C a n a d i a n L e g e n d s reached a daunting 215-2 from the 20overs against Essequibo Coast Cricket Club.

Chien Gittens When Essequibo Coast CC batted at Ashtonbee Park, they only conceding responded with 89 from 18 two runs from two overs. overs.

Meanwhile, Gittens Another hard-hitting stated that he was happy to batsman Morrison Edwards make a big impression in his made 34 to support the second season in North rampant Gittens while America and would aim for opener Mike Kadir chipped more success. in with 29. Essequibian Over the years, Gittens Kenny Ramsawak grabbed represented various teams in two for 25 from four overs. both Guyana and Canada, In Essequibo Coast while he featured in USA as Cricket Club's innings, well.

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Jonny Bairstow celebrates after scoring a 77-ball hundred.

(AFP/Getty Images)

NOTTINGHAM, England (Reuters) -Jonny Bairstow blasted a matchwinning 136 from 92 balls to lead England to a remarkable five-wicket, second test victory over New Zealand on Tuesday, clinching the threetest series.

New Zealand were bowled out for 284 before lunch, setting England a target of 299 to win -- the highest ever to claim a test victory at Trent Bridge.

It was a challenging target but England reached it in just 50 overs after Bairstow and skipper Ben Stokes (75 not

out from 70 balls) made hay in front of a packed crowd.

The match set the record for the most boundaries in a test match with 250 in total, including 24 sixes.

England were 139 for four at tea, having lost leading batsman Joe Root for three, with the game in the balance.

But then Bairstow and Stokes ripped the New Zealand attack apart in devastating fashion, hammering 102 in the first nine overs after the interval.

Stokes was hampered by a knee injury, but with

Ben Foakes hugs Ben Stokes after the latter hit the winning runs. (Getty Images)

Kaieteur News

Blistering Bairstow blasts England to series victory over New Zealand

Bairstow taking the lead, their partnership was worth 179 runs in 20.1 overs.

Bairstow flew to his century in 77 balls -- the second fastest test century by an England player, one ball slower than Gilbert Jessop's record against Australia at The Oval in 1902.

"It was great fun, one of those things when you get in

PAGE 31

Trent Boult fist-bumps Jonny Bairstow after dismissing him. (Getty Images)

that mood, just go with it. Do or die, so you've got to do," said Bairstow.

The Yorkshireman finally departed to a standing ovation after he was caught behind off Trent Boult, having hit seven sixes and 14 fours.

Stokes and Ben Foakes took care of the remaining 27 runs to soak up the cheers of a

crowd that had been given free tickets for the match.

The win was a vindication of the positive approach taken by skipper Stokes and new coach Brendon McCullum -himself known for aggressive attacking cricket.

"Today was set up perfectly for how we want to go about it, run into the

danger rather than back away or stand still," said Stokes.

New Zealand were left to ponder how they had lost the match after making 553 in their first innings but their decision to attack Bairstow with short pitched bowling after tea -- and to stick with that approach while he peppered the stand -- will (Continued on page 27)

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 32

GC Insurance T20 Blaze... T&T stun Bajans as Jamaica take title on net run rate - Guyana win under lights to finish 4

By Sean Devers A 19-run upset win by Trinidad and Tobago (with no chance of winning the CG Insurance T20 Blaze title) against double defending Champions Barbados turned the tournament on its head yesterday and provided Jamaica with an opportunity to win the tournament on net run rate of 2.171.

Jamaica, who won the first two T20 Blaze tournaments in 2012 and

Natasha McLean (cricket.com.au)

th

2013, needed to win their final game against the Leewards by a very wide margin since a close win would still give Barbados the title.

T&T opted to bat on a track that was starting to keep low and led by an unbeaten 22 from Rachael Vincent, 22 from Britney Cooper and 20 from Skipper Anisa Mohammed, reached 108-7.

Aaliyah Williams (3-12), Matthews (2-25) and Shakera Selman (2-30) bowled for Barbados whose four-match winning streak was broken when after they were restricted to 89-7 when their 20 overs expired.

After Kycia Knight (5) was removed by pacer Lee-Ann Kirbyat 12-1, Matthews and Kyshona Knight were looking well set before off-spinner Kamara Ragoobar got rid of the prized scalp of Matthews (18) and Alisa Scantlebury (2) in her first over.The quick

demise of the 24-year Matthews (the leading run scorer in the tournament) and Scantlebury triggered the panic button as the run rate dipped.

When West Indies offspinner Mohammed dismissed Knight (23) and Aaliyah Alleyne (26) and Barbados never really recovered and sank to defeat.

The Bajans were still on top as the second game began but Natasha McLean blasted nine fours and three sixes in her 54-ball 84.

And along with Skipper Stafanie Taylor whose pugnacious 51 with five fours, powered Jamaica to 170-5, the highest total in the low scoring tournament.

Saneldo Willett and Amanda Edwards had two wickets each.

The ladies from Reggie Country then restricted the Leewards to 46-3 to win by 124 runs, needing to limit the Islanders to less the than 120 runs to get a superior net run over the Bajans whose net run rate was 1.428.

S h a w n i s h a H e c t o r, unbeaten on 17 and 16 not out

by Saneldo Willett, the daughter of Elquemedo

Kaysia Schultz

Shemaine Campbelle

Willett, the first Test player from the Leewards, shared the best partnership of the innings.

In the Evening game under lights, the host invited the Windwards to bat and limited them to 85-7 and only Skipper Afy Fletcher (26), Japhina Joseph (21) and

Stafanie Taylor (ICC Cricket.com)

Glendeen Turtin (12) reached double figures as Kaysia Schultz took 3-13 for Guyana who replied with 86-4 to win by six wickets with 21 balls to spare.

Mandy Mangru (3) was LBW to Pear Etienne at 4-1 before Sheneta Grimmond (Continued on page 29)

Bird racing Back injury sidelines Yasir competition Ali from West Indies Tests set for Sunday at Lusignan The batter sustained the injury during Bangladesh's practice match against CWI President's XI

T

he Dead Squad Bird Racing Family will be hosting its first annual Father's day bird racing competition scheduled for the Sunday at the Lusignan Bird Ground.

Fans are urged to come out and witness an epic morning of quality and transparent bird racing.

Races are set to kick off at 5:50hrs with a 10 minutes interval between races. This competition will feature a maximum of seven races which will include a total of 14 quality birds. The draw for these races were concluded electronically which resulted in the following: 5:50 hrs Suresh Mootoo vs Sewdat Sukhu

6:00hrs Ansil Stewart vs Maheshwar Dhanraj 6:10 hrs Sunil Goriah vs Saheed Sultan 6: 20 hrs Raymond Dhanraj vs Parmanand Balram 6:30 hrs Devanand Singh vs Vijay Persaud 6:40hrs Shanil Ram vs Vijay Persaud.

At Dead Squad we are proud to say that our mission is to make a difference within the lives of others through bird racing. All monies gathered from this event will be donated towards charity. Come out and support us on this journey as we take the bird racing culture to its pinnacle.

All winners will be walking away with amazing trophies and other special prizes.

ESPNcricinfo - A back injury has ruled Yasir Ali out of Bangladesh's two-Test series in the Caribbean, which begins later this week in North Sound. The 26-

Yasir Ali filled in for Shakib Al Hasan in New Zealand and South Africa.

(AFP/Getty Images)

year-old batter is suffering from discogenic back pain on the lumber spine, according to the team's physio Bayjedul Islam.

"Recovery from such

injuries take about two to three weeks' time.

Therefore, he will not be available for the Test series," Islam said.

Yasir had sustained the injury during the first day of Bangladesh's three-day practice match against the CWI President's XI on June 10.

Yasir has played five Tests so far, scoring 196 runs at an average of 24.50.

Filling in for Shakib Al H a s a n , Ya s i r d i d a n impressive job in New Zealand and South Africa earlier this year, but then Shakib's return against Sri Lanka kept him out of the team.

The absence of Mushfiqur Rahim, though, could've opened up a spot for Yasir had he been fit. The Bangladesh selectors have not named a replacement for Yasir, which has depleted their batting line-up even

further.

Only Nurul Hasan, who returned to the Test side on the back of heavy scoring in the domestic competition, looks like a viable option at No 5. Mosaddek Hossain, who also returned to all three squads for the West Indies, however, hasn't shown much form during his appearances against Sri Lanka last month.

The first Test against West Indies starts in North Sound on 16 June while the second Test begins on 24 June in St Lucia.

Bangladesh Test squad: Mominul Haque, Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mosaddek Hossain, Ebadot Hossain, Shohidul Islam, Rezaur Rahman Raja

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 15, 2022

PAGE 33

Meusa withdraws from Olympiad Chess Team - Ethan Lee named as replacement The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) has named a replacement for its Olympiad Team to Chennai, India in July 2022.

Candidate Master We n d e l l M e u s a , w h o recently won the National Open Chess Championship, indicated his withdrawal from the team to the GCF's management and as such nineteen year old Ethan Lee will be the replacement member in the Open Category to compete in the W o r l d C h e s s Championships.

President of the GCF, Frankie Farley, was next in line to fill the replacement but opted out of playing as he himself will be representing the federation as the Delegate for the FIDE Congress which

takes place at the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad.

The FIDE Congress is held every two years to coincide with the Olympiad and here the new President of FIDE is elected.

Lee, who had won the National Junior Qualifiers recently and came second in the Junior National Championship, gained the 7th highest points, behind Farley, in the Grand Prix selection system for the open category.

Farley also stated that the opportunity given to Lee was well deserved and that Ethan will gain much experience in the international arena. Lee will be going as the reserved player replacing Roberto Neto.

Neto will now be playing

Ethan Lee

on Board 4, with CM Taffin Khan, FM Anthony Drayton, Loris Nathoo on Boards 1 to 3, respectively.

Andrew Wiggins steps up in pivotal Game 5 win as Warriors take 3-2 series lead over Celtics Yahoo Sports - SAN FRANCISCO — Finally, someone other than Stephen Curry stepped up for the Warriors.

Andrew Wiggins caught fire for Golden State in a 104-94 Warriors win over the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals Monday at Chase Center.

The Warriors are one game away from their fourth title in eight years. It would also be their seventh championship all time, which would put the Warriors alone in third all time and break a tie with Michael Jordan's Chicago

Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins dribbles against Boston Celtics center Al Horford in Game 5 of the 2022 NBA Finals on June 13, 2022 at Chase Center in San Francisco.

(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Bulls. Game 6 is at 9 p.m. ET tomorrow, Thursday in Boston.The back-and-forth game saw runs of no 3pointers, then stretches of nearly impossible consecutive makes and all that still amounted to abysmal shooting from distance. It didn't matter for the Warriors, though.

Wiggins finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds.

Wiggins missed all six of his 3-point attempts, though.

Klay Thompson had 21 points, including five triples.

Curry was 0-for-9 from 3-point range, his first game since November 2018

without a triple. It was the first postseason game of his career without a 3-pointer.

Draymond Green fouled out for the third time this series after a slightly better offensive night. Green had eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Jordan Poole hit another buzzer-beating triple from a few steps inside midcourt to end the third quarter. Poole had 14 points off the bench.

The Celtics missed their first 12 3-pointers of the game, then hit eight in a row — an NBA Finals record — which coincided with their (Continued on page 27)

Other members of the team, are the players in the Women's Category, Sasha Shariff, Pooja Lam, Jessica Callender, Anaya Lall and Nellisha Johnson with National Instructor Davion Mars as team captain for the Open Category and Head of Delegation, Jaishree Lam.

Wendell Meusa

Slovenian Grand Master, G e o r g M o h r, w i l l b e preparing the team prior and during the Olympiad by providing coaching services as granted by FIDE. He will be the team captain for the Women's Team.

Chennai, the venue for the Chess Olympiad, the first ever to be held in India, is

referred to as the chess capital of India. It is a 382 year old city boasting a rich culture with historical and traditional places and modern medical and engineering amenities.

The GCF wishes the entire team best of luck and urges them to perform their best.

Milo Secondary Schools U18 KO Football Tournament officially launched - kicks off Saturday at MoE Ground Team reps flank the Petra Director, Troy Mendonca, Nestle Brand Manager, Rajinda Lall, and Petra rep, Jackie Boodie at the launch of the 2022 Milo Under-18 Secondary Schools Football Tournament.

2022/23 Concacaf Nations League…

t r o p

S

Haiti stun Jaguars 6 - 0, take unassailable Group lead

The Slingerz FC President and Executive members were on hand to receive the sponsorship from Forrestor Concrete.

Slingerz FC signals return to - sets sights of CFU Guyana's helm Club Championship GC Insurance T20 Blaze... T&T stun Bajans as Jamaica take title on net run rate - Guyana win under lights to finish 4

p. th 22

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