Kaieteur News

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CCJ sanctions GGMC Saturday Edition NEWS for 'unfair' and 'unlawful' doling out of mining lands

AIETEUR

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

June 18 2022 - Vol. 16 No.23

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, quarry 75,631

Found commission had lied to operator about availability of mines

- Int'l Hasty approval for Exxon's lawyer pipeline may earn Guyana warns another white elephant project Govt. agencies, oil US$83.3M to fund companies submit 34MW of solar unverified data for power in Essequibo, transparency report Berbice and Linden

Private Sector minimum wage now $60K - Labour Union says, “We believe it when we see it.”

Persons living COVID-19 with HIV, Cancer restrictions into to get lifetime Guyana lifted public assistance

Foreign companies trying to beat Local - May see us ending Content Law up with a few - Jagdeo

Jagdeo unsure of final cost for gas-to-energy project, new price …hedging success to generate electricity on estimates Pres. Ali buses out a Bartica citizen for asking about our oil blocks, running to the Bank to borrow US$100M to build EBD Road, while allowing Exxon to keep $355MUSD they took out for cleaning up the ocean floor 20 years from now.

I love this country and these cake shop clowns! Listen to The Glenn Lall Show @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

GRA land transfer saga…

Private hotel developers should not trump national interest - Dr. Jerry Jailall O

il and Gas Governance N e t w o r k (OGGN) advocate, Dr. Jerry Jailall recently reprimanded the PPP/C Government over its decision to transfer prime plots of land meant for the construction of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)'s headquarters to private hotel developers.

In a letter to the editor, the OGGN advocate said he believes the needs of foreign investors should not trump the national interest.

The Guyanese-Canadian noted that GRA should be made a priority since it is the most important agency collecting revenue for the government.

“How do private hotels have priority over Guyana's needs? Why would the Government go out of its way to commandeer State land for private hotels by moving a national project?”questioned Dr. Jailall.

His comments come one day after Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo gave

assurance that GRA will now be given a plot of land at Ogle to build its headquarters.

While the Stateearmarked land at Pattensen for the GRA Headquarters had been transferred to hotel developer Pasha Global of Suriname, Jagdeo revealed that the two other hotels will also occupy the State land at Pattensen.

In his letter, Dr. Jailall said that the recent debacle of the GRA losing its land on which its new head office would have been built, raises concern about how State assets are doled out. He opined that the Government does not yet understand that transparency is important.

“It was the lack of transparency that put Guyana

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Guyanese-Canadian, Dr. Jerry Jailall in a mess when the PNC signed the bad oil contracts, which were kept secret,” OGGN affiliate stated.

He added that when government gives away national assets, it must release the documents showing the terms and conditions.

“We have no disclosures on the GRA land about whether it's a sale, a lease and what Guyana is getting. We also do not know what Guyana is getting from the deal in which the Enmore Packaging Plant was given to private interests.

The Packaging Plant was supposed to help the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) turn around its fortunes, yet the Government was willing to give that away to private interests.

We hear of three big new foreign companies coming in to cart away our gold, but do not have full disclosures of the deals,” explained Dr. Jailall.

During a press conference on Wednesday,

Jagdeo sought to address the questions surrounding the issue.

A c c o r d i n g t o Vi c e President, GRA has not been left out of Government's land allocation plans; it is just more profitable for investors to have some prime lands.

He explained: “We need to bring the hotels closer to the city…

We just decided that there will be three international hotels that will employ about 1500 to 3000 Guyanese there…

The GRA building can go little further on the Coast so that is the idea. It's not to take away the lands. Government services need to be accessible but we should not occupy all prime lands. We need rooms to host a proper convention.

We don't have enough accommodation for CPL. We need about 12 hotels and so that is not an attempt to deprive GRA.”

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 18, 2022

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Hasty approval for Exxon's pipeline may earn Guyana another white elephant project

I

nternational Lawyer, Melinda Janki has warned that an approval for ExxonMobil's pipeline to supply gas to two facilities at the Wales development site that is yet to be decided on by government, can saddle Guyana with another white elephant project, or one in which its people may never realize true benefits.

She listed her concerns and conclusions in a public document that was shared with this newspaper. In the lawyer's 13 page submission to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), she pointed out several matters regarding the Project Summary submitted by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Exxon's subsidiary, which will be undertaking the project.

On her opening point, the lawyer argued that the Project Summary states that EEPGL will be pursuing a 'Gas to Energy' project. She pointed out however that this is misleading and must be corrected as Exxon's proposed project will not deliver energy to the people of Guyana.

According to Janki, “Page 2 of the summary says that the gas is to be received by a 'planned power plant.' In other words the power plant does not exist. Without a power plant EEPGL's proposed project cannot deliver energy to the people of Guyana.

EEPGL's proposed project is a 'gas to shore'

p r o j e c t t h a t i s misrepresented as a 'gas to energy' project. This is a major misrepresentation that affects the ability of the public to exercise their rights under section 11(7) of the Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05.”

She added that since the power plant and the distribution infrastructure are not included in the application, the EPA cannot take them into account.

“This appears to be an attempt to split up the gas-toenergy project into smaller components to avoid the level of scrutiny the project requires under the Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05,” the lawyer reasoned.

It is against this backdrop that Janki explained that the power plant is unlikely to exist, leaving Guyana with another white elephant.

The International lawyer who is versed in matters pertaining to the safety of the environment, pointed out that any planned power plant would clearly have a significant adverse effect on the environment and would be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

As such, Janki explained, “There is no guarantee that the planned power plant would meet the requirements for an environmental authorisation. The EPA is not a rubber stamp for government or industry proposals. Therefore, planned power plant might never come into being. The

Reversing bus kills Pomeroon pensioner A pensioner of Upper Pomeroon, Region Two, was killed on Friday by a bus that was reversing within the Charity Market area.

The man was identified as Chooman Lall, 79, better known as 'Chun,' a resident of Dredge Creek Upper Pomeroon. Lall was a farmer and was reportedly walking along a street when he was struck down by the reversing minibus.

Eyewitness told this publication that the bus which was loaded with produce was driven by a resident also of the

Pomeroon area. This newspaper was told that the pensioner was picked up in an unconscious state by the driver and taken to the Oscar Joseph District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police have taken the driver into custody to assist with investigations.

International International Lawyer, Lawyer, Melinda Melinda Janki Janki

'planned power plant' might not obtain the necessary financing, might be prohibited as illegal, might never be built, might not be ready in time even if it is able to overcome the various obstacles.”

As a consequence, the lawyer posited that the regulator must consider these facts rather than proceed on the basis of speculation about a 'planned' power plant.

To further substantiate her position, she listed eight points describing each as a significant obstacle to the planned power plant. For instance, Janki contended that the government has not produced an updated economic study on the feasibility of the project, taking into account the changes in the global energy market, while citing too, that the domestic demand for the natural gas supply simply does not exist.

Killed by a reversing bus, Chooman Lall

- Int'l Lawyer

The lawyer said, “The evidence is set out in the World Bank's report 'Energy Markets in Latin America Emerging disruptions and the Next Frontier'. The report was published in 2017 and states that, “In countries such as Suriname, Guyana, Ecuador, Paraguay, and most of Central America and the Caribbean, natural gas demand is small or nonexistent.” The World Bank has not shown that demand has grown since 2017.”

She shared that the use of associated gas to supply energy is not economical, basing her argument again on decisions by the World Bank. “In August 2020 concerned citizens sent David Malpass, the president of the World Bank, a Request for Evidence that the use of associated gas for energy meets the requirements for 'economy' and 'efficiency' under the World Bank's Articles of Agreement. The

World Bank has so far been unable to provide the evidence requested.

Therefore it must be concluded that either there is no evidence that gas to energy project is economic, or the evidence that exists does not support gas to energy,” Janki said as she argued renewable energy as having greater economical benefits, compared to gas.

Importantly, the Lawyer also pointed out that the planned power plant will be owned and operated by the government of Guyana.

Therefore, she suggested that this can land the project into further uncertainty. She explained, “The Project Summary says that the power plant will be owned a n d o

perated by the Government of Guyana. If EEPGL is correct then the 'massive climate risks' that are being shunned by global investors would end up being imposed on the people of Guyana.

That may not be politically acceptable.

In light of the overwhelming economic and financial case against gas and in favour of r e n e w a b l e e n e rg y, n o government can guarantee that the planned power plant is viable.”

As a consequence, Janki asked that ExxonMobil say what its plan is should the power plant and associated infrastructure fail to meet requirements and gain approvals.

A 50-year-old man on Wednesday died after he lost control of a motorcycle while negotiating a turn along the Washer Pond Public Road, Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10.

He was identified as Shawn Deputron of 63 One Mile, Wismar Linden.

Deputron reportedly crashed the motorcycle around 05:30hrs.

Investigators learnt that Deputron was riding without a helmet at the time

of the accident. He was riding south, along the Eastern Side of the Washer Pond Road, and as he was about to negotiate a bend, Deputron lost control and slammed into a rail.

The impact flung him onto the road and he was knocked unconscious with bruises about his body.

Eyewitnesses picked him up and rushed him to the Mackenzie Hospital Complex where he died while receiving treatment.

Motorcyclist killed in Linden accident

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Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Glenn Lall’s tax fight A close listening to him confirms a few things. In the matter involving huge tax exemptions granted by the Government of Guyana to Exxon and its partners operating in Guyana’s oilfields, all he wants is for the fullest principles of fairness and what is just and equitable.

It is his expectation in this tax case he has filed in the High Court. The vision is for Guyanese, already burdened by poverty and now struggling with soaring cost of living realities, to get some balance in its relationship with the oil companies spearheaded by Exxon. A start could be made with getting closer to this elusive balance in this tax case brought in State court.

Whether one likes Mr. Glenn Lall or doesn’t is irrelevant. The same holds regarding his strategies and methods of carrying the fight and throwing down the gauntlet before obstinate local leaders and Exxon’s big American chiefs, He has neither flinched nor wavered from confronting the oil companies and their cohort of fellow oil operators in Guyana, their armies of public relations people, legal experts, and already bought out and muzzled, if not neutralised, Guyanese professional and civil society elites.

Certainly, it promises to be an uphill struggle, this tax case that he has filed, which looks like it is going to be the first of many of a similar or other kind. As one attorney has counseled, the court system must be utilised to the fullest to apply pressure to the Government of Guyana and its stubborn leaders, and the companies clustered around our oil and gas operations.

What is noteworthy, though it may have escaped the attention of many, is that there is nothing to be had for Lall himself in the tax case before the High Court. He has come to this point before the bar of justice to get justice for Guyana, not as a businessman, or as an owner of a newspaper and radio station, but as a citizen with all the rights and attributes that accrue to him from such.

If only there were more citizens like him, the oil companies (and those local politicians that secretly conspire with them) would not only be taught a lesson that they would not forget, but they would be first to retreat in the face of the unending wrath of the Guyanese people directed at them.

As we at this publication present this, we are not ignorant of the fact that patriotism has beaten a hasty retreat before the commercialism, tribalism, opportunism, and vandalism that have all become nothing but central features of our oil wealth.

I n t o d a y ’s c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e r e i s n o consideration, no space, for the type of oil nationalism that would benefit immensely the citizens of this country. It should be noted that we speak not of oil nationalisation, but of a mentality that is front and center about the kind of oil nationalism that embraces a place for foreigners and locals, and each with his fair and square share of Guyana’s oil bonanza. It must cease being this one-sided, feet upward, face downward deal that condemns this nation to a destiny of continued chronic poverty for the many.

This is what Glenn Lall is boldly fighting for, and leading the charge against those refusing to see it his way and give way, They include the Guyana Government and the Exxon-led consortium of oil companies. We cannot continue to be satisfied with being among the richest people on earth on paper.

We must not become complacent and be misled about having among the potentially highest GDP in the world, according to projections of experts. We have to put a stop to paying our fair share of taxes, while Exxon and its partners are the beneficiaries of massive tax exemptions that burden us still further.

If a citizen, any ordinary citizen, is barred from bringing his or her grievance before the tribunals of jurisprudence in the halls of justice, then who can do anything against incomparable governmental banditries?

What, then, is left to the regular citizen, acting on his own, in efforts to seek redress and level the scales, and in furtherance of what is the sacred right of every citizen of Guyana?

My stomach churned as I looked at Pres.

Ali trying to belittle GAWU President DEAR EDITOR, My stomach churned as I looked at the broadcast of the Enmore Martyrs commemoration activity on June 16, 2022 and saw our President Irfaan Ali attacking the GAWU President and in my mind all GAWU members.

While I understand the

President may not agree with the GAWU and that is his right, his attempt to belittle the GAWU was uncalled for. It appeared that the President maybe was highly incensed over the remarks but rather than tactfully and skillfully address it in a nimble manner his

attempt came across as juvenile and childish.

This was the second similar outburst by the President in the last days as I read a news report about his response to a question posed to him during his outreach to Region Seven.

I urge you Mr. President

to be more thick-skinned. It comes with the territory.

It does not shine a good light on you when you go around seeking to denounce people rather than providing constructive responses.

Yours faithfully Liebert Alleyne

Use of pastors to assist with school violence DEAR EDITOR Your Newspapers of 15th June 2022 carried an article regarding recent Violence in schools, however, amazingly the article quotes Minister Manickchand three times, yes three times, referring to her idea of using Pastors to assist and give some guidance to errant students with a view to assisting the hapless and seemingly helpless Head Teachers and staff.

Editor may be the Minister and her CEO are of the Christian Faith, but as a

Hindu and a taxpayer I am absolutely numbed by her comments (if reported accurately) as she seems to be pushing a “Christian- Centric” approach to the problems totally ignoring Hindus and other denominations to be brought on board to assist with these very difficult social issues afflicting our society where moral values seem to be almost lost.

I ask the Minister to issue an apology to Hindus and other religious denomina-

tions as it seems she has no use for them in her grand scheme, if she was incorrectly quoted then the Newspapers needs to make suitable corrections.

The time has long gone when we will tolerate in what is a secular country the use of Public Office to push ones religion and definitely not in Government owned Institutions including the Police Force, Army, Prisons and Ministries etc.

Furthermore, it is time that the Government issues clear

policy Guidelines to all headmasters, school Boards and all Government departments to ensure that no religious Bias is displayed by teachers and Administrators failing which upon verifiable complaint immediate disciplinary action will be taken.

I look forward to these letters being published along with a suitable response from the Honourable Minister and /or your esteemed Newspapers.

Yours sincerely Christopher Persaud

Inciting GuySuCo’s management DEAR EDITOR The late Sir Fenton Ramsahoye would rejoin repeatedly that ‘one of the things a man doesn’t know – is that he doesn’t know’.

This appears to be the case of the Guyana Sugar Corporation over the last two years.

One must sympathise fully with President Ali’s in bemoaning the disappointing productivity of the sugar industry in his reported encounter with ‘around 180 officials’. His point about ‘attitude’, ‘teamanship’, and the ‘right people’ is, and must be well taken, not only by the managers, but also by the Minister of Agriculture who should be asked to be more proactive; and the Board which needs to be more cohesive.

The President spoke about (future) sweeping changes. But he first needs to

be advised about earlier changes, which have depleted critical human resources capacity and reduced substantive institutional memory.

According to reports there has been an inordinately high turnover of various levels of staff in critical areas, incidence of which is reflected in the number of vacancy notices published.

The cumulative effect must well be that, however qualified newcomers are, there is an inadequately experienced work environment within which they can be as productive as they themselves would wish to be.

The President is right.

One must wonder about the length and depth of the induction programmes for so many newcomers.

His advice is on target: i.

“The same exercise conducted this morning at

the senior level I want to be conducted at the estate level and junior staff level” ii. “An organisation requires collective thinking and action” In the latter regard older managers may be reminded of the ‘Worker Participation’ model.

But when all is said and done there obtains the reminder that the industry is no longer seen as an employer of first choice – our fulfilling careers in an increasingly changing and competitive job market.

In such circumstances therefore, consideration needs to be urgently given to formulating a creative human resources development plan aimed at upgrading professional competencies, and certainly motivating high levels of performance amongst leaders and those they lead. In this regard the already insti-

tuted Performance Evaluation System should be conscientiously addressed.

So investment in equipment is hardly enough. Consider as priority the provision of relevant scholarships, and upgraded training – motivation towards belonging to the ‘sugar’ team!

The President should insist on seeing reports on the human resources activities at the end of each crop.

On the other hand, the submission of non-evidential complaints by subordinates against their supervisors should be strongly discouraged. TRUST is critical.

Stephen Covey’s ‘The Speed of Trust’ should be required reading for all the participants.

Regards E.B. John Retired Human Resources Director GuySuCo

First time voter questions for opposition leader Aubrey Norton DEAR EDITOR I will be voting for the first time in 2025, and am currently undecided on how I may vote. To assist in making my decision, please permit me to ask some questions to our opposition leader Aubrey Norton.

1. Please state why the people of Guyana should elect you as their next president?

2. Do you approve of U.S

politicians who have never visited Guyana criticize our government, especially since the Chairman of U.S foreign affairs actually visited Guyana and did not similarly criticize us?

3. How would you try to restructure the current Exxon oil deal, or would you accept it in its current form?

4. Do you support and have confidence in the police? Why do you think that

there were hardly any protests against police killings in the last coalition government? An Indian man was shot and killed last month by the police Ruimveldt, why do you think there were no protests and demonstrations in his killing?

5. Do you think your ancestors would approve of you celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s birthday - the descendant of their oppressors, and ignore birthday celebrations of local

stalwarts from your party like Amna Ally?

6. Did you misspeak, or do you still maintain that President Ali was bullying you when he publicly extended his hand to greet you?

7. Do you believe that you have the full and unconditional support of the entire PNC party, and the coalition?

8. You have done extensive (Continued on page 6)

Saturday June 18, 2022

Commissioner Alexander

and the SoPs

DEAR EDITOR, I was outraged that GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander can attempt to justify the non-production of the APNU/AFC Statements of Poll (SoPs) for certain parts of Region 4 (SN 2022-July-16).

I was never in favour of a total recount, see https:// www.stabroeknews.com/ 2020/04/05/opinion/letters/recount-only-the-polling-stations-for-which-mr-mingochanged-the-procedure/. It caused me to lose time I could have spent otherwise profitably during those 5 months of recount.

In conjunction with the rank dunce claim that 34 is a valid majority of 65, which caused my country to be stuff

for laughter among international colleagues, it was sufficient for me to rank it as malice aforethought. I had done my duty as a local election observer during the elections.

I was an unpaid volunteer, like all the other Transparency Institute (TIGI) directors, and had to expend my own resources to get to the ACCC counting centre for 7 am and endure the necessary GECOM protocols until often 7 pm. I did all that properly and thoroughly because I considered it my civic duty to let no skullduggery get away under my watch. As a GECOM Commissioner getting a salary, of which I never came close to getting half as much in my life, Mr. Alexander

owes us an apology for defending the non-production of the SoPs of the opposition party he represents on the Commission.

His further attempt to justify it based on the discovered errors of a former, now discredited GECOM CEO can be dispatched as specious on the grounds that two wrongs don’t make a right.

It is a perpetuation of the tit for tat mentality of both major sides of the political divide. A righteous person or organization must always do the right thing, no matter what wrong has been done it before. The right thing is to produce the SoPs and take the consequences. Spare us this prolongation of the agony.

Regards Alfred Bhulai

I agree and disagree with the Hon. VP DEAR EDITOR, Circumstances have prompted me to listen to what the Vice President actually says nowadays. It is an indication of my distaste for what this leader has done to Guyana, and to naïve, trusting, and gullible Guyanese.

So, I listened to him speaking in his recent press conference with a focus on foreigners exploiting the local banking system.

Now I have a problem in figuring out whether the VP is a national leader, a craven follower and partner of foreigners, or a dodgy game player. Regarding the foreigners bringing in ‘front money’, using that as startup funds, then quickly repatriating the initial cash, the VP had this to say: “I understand the concern, I understand.” Thank

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Kaieteur News

God for that; that he didn’t rage at question or questioner. He continued: “Like you go and invest in the US…they can do the same thing here.” I agree and disagree with the Hon. VP. Indeed, there is the freedom, opening, and invitation to do so -invest.

But the seed capital, the venture funds are not deposited into the system and borrowed against, then the underlying amount is withdrawn pronto and repatriated. The bank in which the overseassourced money is placed latches on to that, until the original loan has been honoured. The loan approved for a business returns a profit that could be returned to the home country, as part of a business owner’s decision based on several factors.

Among them is a better opportunity, re-bank locally the original withdrawal or loan,

and cover the cost of carry (if such was the case). Investors do that with interest rates and foreign currency; they go where there is the higher return, using the old standard of buy cheap, sell high, harvest still higher. As has been rightly touted, there is no better place to invest globally currently than beautiful Guyana. My difference with the learned VP is that the outside money that is used here leaves so quickly, and without that ‘show money’ staying on the books here. I am as one with the VP in his position of free capital flows across borders, to use my own words. Still, I insist that the basis for loans must remain, while profits only can go back. If and when the profits are so huge that they can liquidate debts, or maintain required ratios, then the rest is free to move. Editor, I also (Continued on page 6)

Environmental degradation by ExxonMobil continues unabated DEAR CHAIRMAN & BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EXXONMOBIL, ENGINE#1, HESS, CNOOC; Since 2016 ExxonMobil has been developing oil fields in the seas of Guyana, a country which has a long-standing “green state” vision and progressive agenda that has existed before and since the Rio Earth Conference and including the SIDS Programmes of Action and the Paris Climate Agreement.

This vision has existed and has been developed over many decades with successive governments and consistently advocated by Guyanese NGOs and Civil Society. Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples have conserved our world class tropical rain forests for millennia and Guyana has been awarded the prestigious #1" Best of Ecotourism” destination award. This sparsely populated country, under-educated and inexperienced in the Oil & Gas sector, is unable to combat the onslaught of the rapidity of the oil field developments and the proposed upcoming gas sector development.

The vast majority of Guyanese are unaware of or insufficiently informed of what these new Oil and Gas “developments” are, what is at stake and how their livelihoods and community resources and locations will be affected. These developments have serious consequence on both the environment and its multi-ethnic people as the multi-national fails to adhere to the environmental and legal regulations of Guyana. ExxonMobil is currently concentrating most of its future development in the oil and gas sector in this country located on the coast

of South America and which is part of Amazonia and the Caribbean Community. From the inception of the Liza-1 Oil Field Development, ExxonMobil has ignored concerns expressed locally and internationally in the following areas inter alia: 1. No parent company insurance 2. Controversial environmental and social impacts in Liza-1, Liza-2, Yellowtail oil field development permits.

3. Illegal and continuous gas flaring 4. Dumping of toxic waste water in the sea/ocean 5. Transporting of hazardous substances, toxic waste and radioactive sources from its off-shore rigs via ocean, river and road to related on-shore facilities (with no EIAs carried out) 6. Permits do not align with International best practice 7. ExxonMobil Guyana refuses to sign, put names of directors, address as per the regulations of the Guyana under its Environmental Protection Act Section 11 and its Regulations Section 17 8. ExxonMobil’s upcoming proposal for a pipeline development in the nascent gas sector is fraught with environmental irregularities, lack of genuine social engagement and documented issues related to affected citizens and communities; and 9. non-compliance with legal requirements.

The recent newspaper articles highlight some of the issues: The most immediate urgency is the proposed development of the Gas sector. On 20 April 2022, ExxonMobil submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) & Environmental Impact Strat-

egy (EIS) to the Environmental Protection Agency replete with non-adherence to the legislation, regulations and contracts:1. No consultation of primary stakeholders who live along the proposed pipeline route 2. No name of developer, ExxonMobil on the submitted documents, nor that of board of directors 3. No proof of ownership of land where proposed pipeline will be laid 4. No evidence of feasibility study as per 1794/2017 Petroleum Agreement 5. No professional Gender Analysis or Gender-related impact assessment or impacts on women specifically assessed 6. No evidence of compliance with Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) from any Indigenous Community 7. Evidence of draft documents in the technical reports.

These aforesaid written documents have prohibitive exclusion clauses 8. No Gas Leak Pipeline Management Plan or System in submitted EIA/EIS 9. No response to questions being asked.

On 18 June 2022 the prescribed period for comments as per Environmental Protection Act ends. Once this period ends ExxonMobil moves unto the permission stage with the abovementioned non-adherence to rule of law of Guyana. This would mean that the Gas sector would be ungovernable and unregulated. Guyana has no Gas Leak Management Plan nor System and ExxonMobil has full knowledge of this – kindly see attached letter signed and delivered to their local offices.

Immediate attention (Continued on page 21)

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Ukraine moves one step closer to EU membership (BBC NEWS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a press conference on the Commission”s opinions on the EU membership applications by Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in Brussels, Belgium, 17 June 2022Image source, EPA The European Commission has backed Ukraine’s bid to be given candidacy status to join the EU bringing it one step closer to joining the bloc. “Good work has been done” by Ukraine, but more is needed, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Ukraine must make “important” reforms - on rule of law, oligarchs, human rights and tackling corruption, she added. Candidacy status is a significant step to joining the EU. H o w e v e r, t h e w h o l e process can take many years.

The recommendation from the European Commission still needs to be signed off by the EU’s 27 member states, who meet to discuss it next week.

The French, German and Italian leaders have already backed Ukraine’s bid, but the decision must be unanimous.

Speaking from Brussels and wearing blue and yellow - the colours of Ukraine - Ms von der Leyen said Ukrainians were “ready to die” for the European perspective. “We want them to live with us in the European dream,” she said, adding that Ukraine had

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement in Brussels wearing yellow and blue Ukraine’s colours

shown its “aspiration and determination to live up to European values and standards”.

But it is conditional Ukraine has work to do, she said, to ensure international law is respected. The announcement comes a day after the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania visited Kyiv and backed Ukraine’s bid to join the EU - a big vote of confidence for Ukraine that today’s decision was inevitable.

Meanwhile in Russia, the Kremlin has been watching Ukraine’s efforts to join the EU very closely.

The development “requires our heightened attention, because we are all aware of the intensification of discussions in Europe on the subject of strengthening the defence component of the EU”, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters at his regular news briefing.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Russia would not oppose Ukraine’s accession to the

EU. “We have never been against it.

We have always been against military utilisation of Ukraine territory. As regards economic integration, that is their choice,” he told the St Petersburg economic forum.

Ukraine’s neighbours, Moldova and Georgia both ex-Soviet nations also applied for EU membership shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, concerned that other countries that were once part of the Soviet Union would be next. Ms von der Leyen announced support for Moldova - one of Europe’s poorest countries - to move to candidacy status, but not Georgia. “[Moldova] is on a real pro-reform, anti-corruption and European path,” she said.

“Georgia must now come together politically to design a clear path towards structural reform and the EU.” There are five nations that currently have EU candidacy status - Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey.

It seems that the President does not care about the poor but his big business friends DEAR EDITOR, I attended last night the Enmore Martyrs activity in Enmore. It was the first time I ever attended the activity and went there to hear the President. I wanted to hear from the President what plans he had for Enmore Estate as it seems that sugar was not coming back to our village.

I left the activity disappointed that the President did not even use one sentence in his speech to talk about his plans for Enmore. The Presi-

dent did not even speak about the sugar industry though he continue to talk about jobs and jobs. For all the talking about jobs, he did not even consider the people of Enmore to me.

All this talking about jobs is nice words but when people working and cannot eat does it really make sense at the end of the day. I want to let the President know that people wants jobs that they can live on the money they make.

People do not want to work

and still have to beg. Is this the country and people the President wants. It seems that the President does not care about the poor but his big business friends. I want to let the President know though that is the ordinary people not the businessmen who put him in power and it is the ordinary people who he will have to come back to. I hope the tears of we the people do not fall on him.

Yours truly Serojanie Sookraj

I agree and disagree with the...

From page 5 part company with the big jefe is when he offered this disclaimer: “when you run a country and an economy, you can’t make these prohibitions, if we do that then there is no reciprocity.” Our own citizens have been mistreated elsewhere in this region, and the VP speaks of “no reciprocity.”

He claims leadership adherence to that, which hurt us.

Our Guyanese businesspeople (the VP’s own private sector folks) have

complained bitterly about the lack of a level playing field, and the big man insists “no reciprocity.” Since we have currency limitations (like elsewhere), I wonder why those have not been explored and used. As much as I applaud the VP for his “no reciprocity” stance, I think that given what is going on in our local currency realm, and the stubborn state of the exchange rate that serious pain is being inflicted. With all the infusions (supply), the American dollar to

Guyana shouldn’t be so stubbornly high. As he should know, this wreaks havoc with foreign stuff bought locally. Prices, anyone? In closing I tender these additional two cents on “no reciprocity” and how it is endearing to hear from the VP. He, however, must not use that conveniently. That is “no reciprocity” is employed selectively for his favored, with the retaliatory for others.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

First time voter questions...

From page 4 outreach where you have visited many communities recently.

Have you visited any Indian villages or PPP “strongholds”? 9.

Do you have any proveable evidence that the PPP cheated at the last elec-

tion? And do you know of any country in the world, where the opposing political party managed to rig the general Presidential election? 10. Guyana may be unique in that it is the only country in the world, where all the superpowers (Russia, China, USA,

UK, India, Canada etc ) seem to favor one political party.

Assuming this to be true, how do you go about reversing this and avoid a similar debacle like 2020?

Regards Most Respectfully, Jhagroo Persaud

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

Plenty things are wrong in our society and daily we are confronted by them.

Firstly, our leaders, most of them seem unaware of their duty and responsibility to this nation and their constituencies.

At a recent news conference hosted by our Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, we heard 'guesstimates’ being presented as facts to justify the government's ambitious gas-to-energy project and his lack of knowledge on whether royalties oil companies pay to this country are recoverable.

Secondly, we have foreigners who are doing business here, hell bent on exploiting our locals and taking advantage of every conceivable loophole.

Their employment practices and treatment of locals leave much to be desired.

Then we have thieves and rapists ruining lives and leaving our citizens in trauma and pain. And amid all of this, we have citizens, some contented with maintaining the status quo, not willing to rock the boat and fight for what is rightfully theirs. Though things may seem bleak and hopeless; we must not give up or give in.

KN will continue to fight for our dear nation.

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

An overhead shot of a local quarry mining site.

CCJ sanctions GGMC for 'unfair' and 'unlawful' doling out of mining lands - Found commission had lied to quarry operator about availability of mines

A

n ongoing court battle between t h e Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and local quarry operator, Diamond Quarry Inc. came to an end this week with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ordering GGMC to grant licence to the operator exclusively mine in an area, it previously said had already been allocated.

Obviously, GGMC lied about the availability of mining pits as the CCJ uncovered that the reason for withholding the licence for Diamond Quarry Inc. could not be proven. Instead, the Court found that GGMC acted unfairly and unlawfully in the distributions of the plots.

As such, Guyana's Trinidad-based Apex Court dismissed the appeal that which GGMC brought against the operator and ordered the Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Newell Dennison to grant a quarry licence to the respondent, Diamond Quarry known locally as 'Diamond' for which the company had applied since 2014.

As part of the judgment delivered on Thursday GGMC is also required to pay Diamond's legal fees.

The matter began on 28 March 2014, when Diamond applied to the GGMC for a quarry licence for 848 acres of land in the interior of Guyana known as 'Monkey Jump'. Diamond had done

GGMC Commissioner General, Newell Dennison the necessary research to ensure that the land was not legally held nor

applied for by anyone.

On September 15, 2014, GGMC issued a cease-work order against Baracara Quarries Inc. called 'Baracara', because it was occupying a portion of Monkey Jump that Diamond had applied for. GGMC then published a Notice of Intention in the Official Gazette to grant a quarry licence to Diamond to which no one objected. GGMC assured Diamond that it would be granted the licence as soon as all the statutory documentation was submitted and verified.

These documents were submitted and GGMC told Diamond that its application

had been 'favourably considered.'

However, despite these assurances, GGMC, at a meeting on February 10, 2015, stated that many years earlier, Baracara had applied for the same land for which Diamond had applied and that the land would be divided between the two quarry companies.

Diamond approached the High Court of Guyana alleging that GGMC's decision to subdivide the land was grossly unfair and based on favouritism. The court agreed and ordered GGMC to quash the decision to subdivide the land; grant the licence to Diamond; and not grant a licence to the land to anyone else. GGMC appealed to the Court of Appeal which also allowed evidence from Baracara.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and affirmed the orders of the High Court except that it sent Diamond's application back to be considered by the GGMC. Baracara did not appeal this decision, but GGMC asked the CCJ to reverse the Court of Appeal.

In the judgment handed down on Friday, the CCJ found that the land for which Diamond had applied had not been applied for by

anyone else, but that GGMC had nonetheless decided to subdivide the land between Diamond and Baracara.

The Court considered that this was unfair and unlawful because the GGMC had created a legitimate expectation that it would grant the licence to Diamond and had not presented any compelling public interest for not doing so. In the circumstances, the Court considered that it was appropriate to restore the order of the High Court and to require the GGMC to issue the quarry licence to Diamond. The GGMC was also required to pay the costs of the appeal.

The case was heard by Justice Adrian Saunders, President of the CCJ and Justices Jacob Wit, Winston Anderson, Maureen Rajnauth-Lee, and Andrew Burgess also formed the panel.

Justice Winston Anderson delivered the judgment.

Attorneys, Hari Ramkarran SC and Mr. Kamal Ramkarran appeared for the appellant GGMC, while Mr. Edward Luckhoo SC, Mr. Timothy Jonas SC, and Ms. Eleanor Luckhoo appeared for the first respondent Diamond Quarry Inc.

Saturday June 18, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Was this an intelligence-gathering operation or impersonation?

The 1985 general and regional elections were the most incompetently rigged elections. The rigging was so inexpert that even the blind could have seen the gross irregularities and the manufacturing of the results.

Those results gave the PNC 42 of the 53 seats in the National Assembly. The PPP was handed a mere eight seats.

It remains something of a mystery why onto this day none of those who padded the ballot boxes and corrupted the results has ever come out and confessed to what took place. But such has been the loyalty of the riggers that none seem to have suffered from a guilty conscience.

Following the exposure of those elections, a court action was filed but the court ruled that the complainants needed to go via an election petition.

That effectively ended any legal attempt to challenge the results.

The PNC, however, was exposed for its election rigging. There was even a proposal made by then Dominica os Prime Minister to have Guyana suspended from the Caribbean Community but after Hoyte made some commitments, the leaders of Caricom at a special summit in Mustique opted not to go along with any sanction. n On polling day, Cheddi Jagan and a British journalist, Anthony Jenkins were assaulted at a polling station in Haslington, East Coast Demerara. Jagan was pushed down a stair by thugs summoned by a polling official and the British journalist was roughed up and had his clothing thorn.

But even after the bogus result was announced, the rogue PNC regime was not finished with Jagan. They had a motorcycle assigned to the tr a f f i c d e p a r t m e n t a t

Brickdam Police Station following Jagan s car wherever it was going.

There was no attempt at any secret surveillance; it was done openly and with the clear intention of political intimidation. In the political meetings which the PCD launched to protest the rigging, Jagan s security was beefed-up. Whenever he rose to speak from the back of an open pickup, two strapping security details would flank him. The memory of Walter Rodney s assassination was still fresh.

And therefore the PPP was taking no chances, especially considering the harassment which the opposition supporters were subjected.

The PPP was not the only party which suffered harassment. A well-known Lindener was reported to have also subjected activists of the Democratic Labour Movement (DLM) one of the seven parties which contested the poll to harassment.

Having police following the Opposition Leader is therefore not a novel political development in Guyana. It was also not unknown for this to be done openly and undisguised.

A video has surfaced of an exchange between the present Leader of the Opposition and two persons, dressed as policemen on a motorcycle. The Opposition Leader was overheard calmly enquiring as to why they were following him, especially since he had done no wrong.

One of the men was heard saying that they were only following instructions.

One senior official of the Guyana Police Force is reported to have said that he was not aware on any surveillance of the Leader of the Opposition. The Minister of Home Affairs has also

expressed the opinion that the trailing of the Leader of the Opposition was “untidy, unnecessary and useless”.

He made it clear that the government was not in the business of following people around like that. But of course, the government has no control over operational matters of the Special Branch.

There has been no attempt to identify who were the persons tailing the Leader of the Opposition, and if indeed these were members of the Guyana Police Force.

Merely having persons dressed like police does not mean that they were police.

What was even more interesting is that no attempt has been made by the media to investigate whether the motorcycles being used were indeed ones which are usually used by members of the Guyana Police Force. If the motorbikes being used were not standard police issued bikes, then the possibility exists that the persons following around the Leader of the Opposition could be imposters.

Such a development will throw a completely different complexion on the development. If, on the other hand, the personnel allegedly following the Opposition leader around, were from the Special Branch the section of the Guyana Police Force which deals with political intelligence then this was either an incompetent operation or one clearly intended to intimidate the Leader of the Opposition.

This development comes just prior to the announcement, by the President, of an international commission of inquiry into the 2020 general and regional elections. Are the security forces concerned that the Opposition may try to do

Dem boys seh...

De Vee Pee get overrule De President look as if he overrule de Vee Pee. De Vee Pee did claim how de guvament didn’t go ahead with de Commission of Inquiry into de elections because dem get fuh hear dat some ah de people who suppose to testify might refuse.

It was clear from dat statement dat de Vee Pee was not au fait with de legal implications of a COI. De COI Act does give to de COI powers to summon witnesses which akin to a court. Suh wat de Vee Pee

say did nat mek any sense.

If yuh get summon, yuh gat to turn up. So de excuse of de Vee Pee nah mek sense.

It did look as if he did backing out from holding de COI which both he and de Prezzie did promise two years ago. But de Prezzie nah bother with de Vee Pee and he excuses. De Prezzie go ahead and announce dat de COI gan be launched.

Dem Opposition mouthpieces gan now get dem day in court.

Dem bin seh how dem bin denied de right to bring for-

ward de evidence of irregularities.

Dem gan now get de chance fuh do suh! Dem nah gat no more excuse.

All dem wah bin skedaddling with de Statements of Poll gan now gat to produce dem. If dem can’t, den dem gan gat to explain.

And if dem lying, dem gan get expose.

De truth does set yuh free. But in dis instance, de truth can send nuff people to jail.

Talk half. Leff half.

something to abort the commission of inquiry, thus necessitating the close marking of the opposition political figures?

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Monday May Saturday June 02,18, 2022 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

That inevitable wicked omission in defense of Burnham It comes up all the time whenever Burnham's aficionados write and speak in defense of him. The abominable omission is always there, always in graphic form projecting its ugly mediocrity, always cynically disrespecting the oceanic, mountainous and tsunamic facts that have devastated and destroyed the mind, soul, psyche and body of so many hapless Guyanese.

A few weeks ago, I came face to face with the inevitable, wicked omission that has been buried so deeply in the hearts of the Burnhamite aficionados that they are unable to see that immense depravity they burden themselves with.

None of the emails of the admirers came from Guyana.

They were from the diaspora.

Interestingly enough all centred on the banning of important foodstuff under Burnham.

Two of the emails are from persons I have known

who are long gone from Guyana. I will quote from one of them' “Freddie you of all people who want people to buy local disparaging Burnham buy local campaign.” These emailsenders were referring to my recent column on Burnham. I did nothing of the sort.

In clarifying what I wrote in that article, a preface is necessary. These outputs of mine in the Kaieteur News will be in existence long after I am gone and subsequent generations would know how I felt about Burnham. I want them to know, I dislike Forbes Burnham intensely. I think Forbes Burnham was a terrible man that should have been removed by either the PPP or the WPA. Burnham refused to let me work in my own country in 1978 and in 1984 when I returned home from Grenada. The fatwa he applied to an innocent woman who never said a word about Burnham – my wife. Now for my take on the

inevitable, wicked omission.

Those who accept that Burnham was far-sighted, refuse to concede that he had no moral and legal mandate to go in the directions he went into even if theoretically those pathways would have been transformative. For the record, I support the following under Burnham from a theoretical perspective: 1- Replacement of foreign foods by local production 2- National service to give youths a chance of a successful future 3 - Multi-lateral schools 4 - Emphasis on hydropower These things were good but they had three inherent non-starters about them. (1) They were being implemented by a leader who had no mandate from half the population who hated him and saw another leader as the man who would have won the national elections. (2) Policies that had adverse

impact on the population were never conceived out of consultations with stakeholders. (3) The shape of many of the pathways had congenital flaws but Burnham insisted on them because of his outsized ego.

Let's discuss two of them.

First, compulsory National Service (NS) for UG students. The humane, decent and democratic thing to do was to phase out fee-paying.

So you announce to the nation that come the new academic year, UG would replace fees with compulsory NS. It meant you allow current fee-paying students to continue. In one swoop, Burnham coercively introduced NS. Who gave him the electoral mandate to do that?

Let's look at one instance of the democratic credential of the past PPP government.

School of the Nations requested the re-placement of CXC with Cambridge University's GCE system.

There was dialogue on the

matter with all c o n c e r n e d including parents.

My wife and I sat in the Frederick Kissoon audience next to the second most powerful man in the PPP government, a r i g h t - w i n g p o p u l i s t Dr. Roger Luncheon. He Trumpian hardliner. But he opposed the change and so has won four consecutive did I. But the government elections. He can say: “hate allowed the Cambridge me as much as you like, you have to beat me at the polls.” formula anyway.

Burnham did not win any Secondly, the food ban.

Burnham did not see the need election from 1968 yet he to dialogue with anyone. He shaped the way Guyanese arrogated to himself the right had to live.I have seen to determine which food s e v e r a l p r o m i n e n t should be embargoed. The Burnhamite aficionados on g r o w y o u r - o w n - f o o d - Zoom programmes and in the campaign was sensible but Vi l l a g e Vo i c e o n l i n e people hated Burnham for the newspaper wax lyrical about right reasons so they opposed the greatness of Burnham and many of the right ideas he in the same breath condemn every PPP government from had.

1992, including the Ali Non-compulsory NS and presidency, as undemocratic. food replacement should be returned. But the people and Well maybe one explanation t h e i r p a r l i a m e n t a r y is at work – race.

(The views expressed in representatives must be this article are those of the asked for their ideas. If they reject it then that is what author and do not necessarily democracy is all about. The reflect the opinions of this prime minister of Hungary is newspaper.)

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

US$83.3M to supply 34MW of solar power for Essequibo, Berbice and Linden

Power Technology] The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), through the Guyana-Norway arrangement, has approved up to US$83.3 million to be used to construct solar plants to supply 34 megawatts of power to Essequibo, Berbice and Linden.

In a recent press statement the IDB noted that the non- reimbursable investment will help Guyana promote its energy matrix diversification to avoid deforestation and face climate change.

The projects will be executed by the Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Program (GUYSOL). GUYSOL will invest in eight utility-scales photovoltaic solar projects totaling 33 megawatts peak (MWp), with associated 34 megawatt hour (MWh) energy storage systems that will be distributed across three areas in the country.

The eight projects will be done at eight sites: two in Region Two, three in Region 10, one in Region Five and two in Region Six. It was stated that 10MWp will be invested for the Berbice area, an 8MWp plant in the Essequibo system with a minimum of 12MWh battery storage and 15MWp plant connected to

the Linden system, with a minimum of 22MWh battery storage.

Notably, the programme will also support a stepchange to the digitalization of Essequibo and Linden electrical systems – which will move them from manual systems towards real-time, automated monitoring and control – improving efficiency, reliability, and stability.

The IDB noted that the projects will contribute to avoiding CO2 emissions, lowering electricity cost generation, and supporting a substantial transition to generation based on renewable energy sources.

Moreover, alongside the investment into infrastructure, the GUYSOL Programme will encourage diversity and inclusion in the maintenance and management of renewable infrastructure, developing local skills and apprenticeships with a focus on opportunities for women.

It was stated that by 2025, in line with Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), more than 265, 000 customers within the Demerara-Berbice I n t e r c o n n e c t e d System(DHIS) and Linden and Essequibo systems will

benefit from reinforced reliability of electricity supply, and modernization of systems.

Also, the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) and the Linden Electricity Company Inc. (LECI) will also benefit from the use of solar photovoltaic technology that will displace significant amounts of fossil fuels and reduce generation costs.

The IDB noted in its statement that the aforementioned operation is in line with Vision 2025 Reinvesting in the Americas: A Decade of Opportunities that was created by the international bank to achieve recovery and inclusive growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, in the areas of digital economy, gender and inclusion, and climate change.

Additionally, it was stated that the IDB has been supporting the Government of Guyana to develop the energy sector through financing of several renewable energy activities.

It stated too, that Guyana will now make a transformational leap towards decarbonization by expediting climate-resilient renewable energy in the electricity generation matrix.

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 18, 2022

PAGE 13

Foreign Companies trying to beat …may see us ending Local Content laws up in court with a few - Jagdeo With US$700M to be made annually through the protections and provisions offered under Guyana's Local Content Laws, government is now engaged with a battle with some foreign companies that could likely end up in court over those 'trying to beat the law.”

The revelation was made this past week by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who during a recent press engagement at the Office of the President, drew reference to the International Community's recognition of Guyana's Local Content laws but remarked, “we passed a local content law

and now a lot of people are trying to beat the law.”

These he identified as 'foreign companies' and suggested “we have a big battle with some of them trying to get to change the way they incorporate” a business, as an example.

A c c o r d i n g t o Vi c e President Jagdeo, there are some foreign companies in Guyana that are trying to use legal means to by-pass the preferences “we have given only to Guyanese.”

As such, Jagdeo was adamant “we have a strong position, (and) you may see us ending up in court with a few of them but we are not

allowing this to happen.”

Elaborating further, Jagdeo told members of the local media corps “…some of them are creating shell companies” and gave as example those principals “getting somebody who has never been to Guyana over the last 20 years ago; a grandfather might have been here and then coming in suddenly and helping to incorporate.”

According to the Vice President, “...they are trying to use every single provision, so we have a battle there and it is only with the support of locals we would be able to fully realize

Security guard shoots co-worker during car parking quarrel

The Ramada Princess Hotel where the shooting took place.

A

security guard on Thursday had to undergo surgery at a city hospital to remove a bullet from just above his knee after he was shot by his co-worker while they were on duty at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The injured security guard was identified as Junior Mohan, 30, and he was shot around 15:50hrs.

According to police, Mohan and his 27-year-old coworker reportedly had an argument over cars that were parked in the hotel's driveway.

They are both employed

by a security company based on Sherriff Street and were performing their duties together protecting the hotel when some cars reportedly parked in the driveway.

Kaieteur News understands that one of the men did not want the cars to be parked there, while the other, did not have a problem with it.

The two men reportedly began arguing over the cars and Mohan's colleague got annoyed with him.

Their argument escalated and the co-worker used his company's Glock 19 pistol to shoot Mohan.

The bullet reportedly struck to the leg just above

the knee. A police corporal who was also on duty at the hotel heard the shot and when he found out what had happened, he arrested the coworker and took away the gun.

Mohan was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he underwent surgery to remove the bullet.

Investigators have since taken statements from eyewitnesses who witnessed the shooting and have footage of the incident from the hotel's security cameras.

A 9mm spent shell has also been recovered from the scene.

Investigations continue.

these benefits.”

With this in mind, the Vice President sought to elucidate the rationale behind the moves on the part of foreigners saying “…just think about the carve-out, that a foreign company cannot rent any building except from a local for offices or for dwelling.”

He pointed too, to transportation services where companies such as Hertz which has found its way to Guyana would not be able to provide by itself.

The Vice President pointed to other sub sectors in such as security and cleaning services to be provided to the oil and gas sector under the protection of Guyana's local content

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

legislation.

Speaking to the quantum of benefits to be had which is in part motivating the

foreigners, Jagdeo said, “We estimate that business to be around US$700M per annum…”

PAGE 14

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

Persons living with HIV, Cancer to get lifetime of public assistance All persons in Guyana, who are living with Cancer,

HIV/AIDs or any other incurable and untreatable

diseases or with permanent disabilities, will now benefit

from the government's public assistance for a lifetime.

This was announced by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who on Friday said that this takes immediate effect right across the country.

“Public assistance will be provided to them for the rest of their life. They do not need to be subjected to any other medical or any other test going forward. This is something that has been very, very close to my heart and it indeed puts much into the hands of persons who have been living with disabilities,” the Minister said yesterday at the unveiling of the newly refurbished night shelter at East La Penitence.

For persons who need to access public assistance, Minister Persaud mentioned that they would no longer have to go before the Local Board of Guardians. “Its automatic because all they have to do is register with the National Commission of Disability and the ministry provides their application and they are onto the public assistance register,” she briefed.

It must be noted that if persons are registered with the National Commission on Disability or the Ministry's Public Assistance Programme, there is no need to re-register.

The Minister's announcement follows the President's declaration of a $100,000 cash grant for every child with a disability.

“So whether you are a child or an adult it captures

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud the entire spectrum of disabilities, physical and metal as well.

We want to ensure that those persons living with a disability understand the Government of Guyana's commitment to them and from the Ministry of Human Services level, our personal commitment for all persons living with a disability,” she related.

In addition to her announcement, the Minister added that they would provide across the country free support for people who need them whether it be wheel chairs, white canes, canes, hearing aids.

She stressed that these will be made available to persons living with a

disability at no cost.

Also announced by the Minister, is that the Ministry is planning to provide free training for persons living with a disability. “All they have to do is register with us, its training that includes ICT and it's a special ICT programme for those persons who are blind,” she explained.

With more initiatives in store for persons living with a d i s a b i l i t y, t h e H u m a n Services Minister disclosed too, that free transportation will be provided to school children living with a disability.

In addition, the Ministry will soon launch a 'pampers bank' for adults and children who require pampers and this will be provided at no cost.

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 18, 2022

PAGE 15

Private Sector minimum wage now $60K - Labour Union says, “We believe it when we see it.”

Labour unions particularly vocal over the adjustment of the $60,000 national minimum wage (NMW) remain unconvinced by President Irfaan Ali's announcement to honour the increase until a date is set for the new wages to be paid. During an address at the 74th commemoration of the Enmore Martyrs Thursday last; more than two years after discussions on the issue, President Ali informed that Cabinet had finally agreed with the recommendation of the tripartite committee, and is thus supporting the new increase.

Labour unions have however called out the President for falling short on announcing a date for the implementation given that the matter has been on the table for such a lengthy period of time. The General Workers' Union (GWU) which held its 13th consecutive weekly protest outside the Ministry of Labour yesterday, reiterating calls for the government to immediately adjust the wages and make it payable. GWU President Norris Witter told the Kaieteur

th

GWU on the 13 week of protest for the implementation of the $60,000 NMW. News that the union remains “unconvinced” by the President's announcement given the government's record of failed promises.

The GWU leader expressed delight at the announcement but charged that, “no time was given” for the increase to take effect. He said that if Cabinet agreed to the increase then the Minister of Labour must sign the necessary documents that gazette the new NMW. “When will this be done?”

Witter questioned, “next year, tomorrow, next week?” “They make promises and renege on it,” Witter continued, pointing to the

Public Procurement Commission (PPC) which he said was also promised, but more than two months later, the President is still to swear in the commissioners. On this matter, Witter said that the President again promised to swear in the members “soon” but that is yet to happen.

The issue at the core of the union's protest is the stagnation of the national minimum wage at $44,200 per month since January 01, 2017, Witter highlighted. “The impact of the stagnation is amplified by the escalation of the cost of living occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic and exacerbated by the Russia Ukraine

conflict, among other factors.”

The Federation of Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) in its contribution to the recent NMW announcement said it welcomes cabinet agreeing to the monthly adjustment, but, “…recognised that the President stopped short of announcing the date of implementation though we expect that this will be clarified in the coming days.”

FITUG said that it long shared the view that the present NMW was woefully inadequate and that it needed upward adjustment. The increase became even more necessary given the spiraling costof-living which have largely been

influenced by exogenous factors.

FITUG said that although it recognized the government's efforts to bring relief to citizens, “we contended that the improvement in the NMW would be more meaningful.”

With the implementation of the new wage, FITUG said it is hopeful that employers will be compliant.

“We would urge that the Ministry of Labour to undertake appropriate sanitization activities to ensure that both employers and employees are aware of the changes. We are also expecting that no employer will advance the cry that it must reduce its workforce to implement the new (Continued on page 23)

PAGE 16

Pomeroon logger feared dead after falling off Charity Wharf

The wrecked bus in the trench.

(A Guyana Police Force photo)

Man dies after driving into pothole at Bee Hive, ECD

A driver lost his life on Friday after he drove his minibus into a pothole along the Bee Hive Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and lost control.

He was identified as Romeo Machado, 42, of lot 58 Nooten Zuil, ECD. Machado met with the accident around 00:10hrs while heading home.

Traffic investigators learnt that Machado

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

was speeding east along the road when he drove into the pothole. He reportedly lost control and crashed into a light pole beside the road before ending up in a nearby trench.

Other motorists passing by stopped to render assistance and Machado was pulled from the wrecked minibus in an unconscious state. They rushed him to the city hospital and a doctor pronounced him dead on arrival.

A

3 1 - y e a r- o l d logger of Akawini, Lower Pomeroon, Region Two is feared drowned, after he fell off the Charity Wharf on

Thursday afternoon.

The man was identified only by his last name, Daniel, and is reportedly a father of three.

Kaieteur News

The Charity Wharf from where the logger fell.

understands that Daniel fell overboard into the Pomeroon River, between 18:30and 19:00hrs.

A search party is currently looking for him.

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 18, 2022

Jagdeo unsure of final cost for gas-to-energy project, new price to generate electricity …hedging success on estimates Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo trying to explain the feasibility of the Gas to Energy project.

R

ecent utterances from Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, regarding the Wales Gas-to- Energy Project has left the nation begging for a feasibility study into the multibillion US dollar facility, as the once touted 'no brainer' project is yet to have a final price tag attached, and offer a stable price for electricity.

When Jagdeo was questioned on Wednesday about the feasibility of the project by the Publisher of Kaieteur News, Mr, Glenn Lall, he explained that government is currently estimating how much it could gain from the venture, as no solid figure has been determined as yet.

The Gas-to-Energy project will encompass three major aspects, that is, the pipeline to transport the gas to Wales; the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility that will treat and separate the gas and the power plant to generate the electricity. So far, Guyanese have been told that the pipeline aspect, which is being pursued by US oil major ExxonMobil, will cost around US$1.3 billion.

Even this is expected to increase when Exxon closes critical contracts for same.

The costs for the other two facilities had not been disclosed, prior to Jagdeo's press engagement on Wednesday. In addition, the public was told that a fee would have been attached to the transportation of the gas but the VP has since clarified that the natural resource will be supplied free of cost.

It must be noted however, that the Guyanese public will be saddled with the debt for the Gas-to-Energy project over a 20 year period, to

repay the investments made.

The repayment will be done via their monthly electricity bills based on the overall cost for the venture. But since this cost has not yet been finalized, the cost of electricity too is still in limbo.

The VP shared, “We are doing estimates. We are saying US$1 billion dollars now for the pipeline. That is where we run the numbers.

So assuming it comes in at US$900 million, then if it comes in that will come down; the US$1.6 cents will come down to about US$ 1.4 cents so it comes down lower.

If it goes to US$1.1 billion, it may go to US$1.7 cents…that's just the pipeline part…then if you estimate the power plant and the NGL facility to be about US$700million… that will add another one point something cents per kilowatt hour.”

VP Jagdeo said that if one were to consider estimates for paying for the pipeline, NGL and power plant, it can come down as low as four cents to about five cents per kilowatt hour. He said this would be paid back over 20 years.

He was keen to note that while the five US cents per kilowatt hour may be the cost to generate the electricity, another five cents may be lost in the transmission and distribution of the power, which could take the final price for the sale of the electricity to about US$15 cents, after adding five US cents as profits for the company.

The VP boasted that even though these numbers have not been confirmed as yet, government will still be left with the other liquids from (Continued on page 23)

PAGE 19

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

224 small businesses benefit from $1B in loans under LCDS initiative U

nder the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) initiative, 224 Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) businesses were able to benefit from almost $1B in loans.

This was facilitated under the Micro and Small Enterprise Development and Building Alternative Livelihoods for Vulnerable Groups project which addressed two major bottlenecks – limited access to finance and limited technical and business skills – that constrained the development of MSEs and the ability of vulnerable groups to build alternative livelihoods in Guyana.

According to the LCDS 2030 report, access to finance was addressed through a credit guarantee facility where the project guaranteed at first 40 per cent, and later up to 70 per cent, of the collateral requirements for loans at participating financial institutions.

There was also a grant scheme to assist vulnerable persons with viable business propositions.

The Government also worked with participating Commercial Banks to lower their interest rates from a range of 14 per cent to 26 per

cent all the way to 6 per cent for any entrepreneur who was approved for a loan for their low carbon venture under the project.

In fact, it was stated that 224 loans were approved at a value of US$ 4,339,138 or approximately $ 908,422,000.

It was listed that the percentage of loans by sector were as follows: 46.9 per cent in professional and business services; 9.8 per cent in fruits and vegetables; 12.1per cent in agriculture and agro-processing; 15.2 per cent in arts and crafts; 5.4 per cent in manufacturing activities; 2.2 per cent in internet and computer based services; 2.2 per cent in eco-tourism; 1.8 per cent in sustainable forestry and wood processing; 0.9 per cent in entertainment, music and the performing arts, 1.3 per cent in aquaculture, 0.4 per cent in apiculture, 0.4 per cent in energy efficient transportation and logistics, 0.4 per cent in low carbon energy production/ distribution, 0.9 per cent in publishing and printing.

Notably, males represented 61 per cent of the loan beneficiaries and females, 39 per cent.

Moreover, 591 grants were

approved at a value of US$ 891,055 or approximately $184,002,830.

According to information from the report the percentage of grants by sector were as follows: 40.6 per cent in professional and business services; 22.8 per cent in agriculture and agro-processing;

16.2 per cent in fruits and vegetables; 6.8 per cent in arts and crafts; 4.7 per cent in manufacturing activities; 4.2 per cent in internet and computer based activities; 1.0per cent in apiculture; 0.8 per cent in sustainable forestry and wood

processing; 1.0 per cent in entertainment music and performing arts; 0.5 per cent in eco-tourism; 0.8per cent in publishing and printing; and 0.3 per cent in aquaculture.

For the grants, males represented 38 per cent beneficiaries and females represent 62 per cent.

Moreover, lack of skills was addressed through a training voucher scheme which enabled MSEs to obtain necessary skills at existing training institutions.

With this, it saw a total of 4,482 people being trained in several areas including: basic business management skills, record keeping, packaging and labelling, a special course aimed at female entrepreneurs, climate smart agriculture, sustainable forestry, p l u m b i n g , v i d e o g r a p h y, p h o t o g r a p h y, c o s m e t o l o g y, cookery, and craft.

Notably, a total of 2,101 jobs were sustained and/or created in low-carbon sectors by the loans and grants under the micro and small enterprise development project, whereas 1,217 jobs from grants and 884 from loans.

GPSU credit union members take Management Committee to court for ignoring petition

Continued infighting at the Guyana Public Service CoOperative Credit Union (GPSCCU) has seen three of its members taking the body's Management Committee to court over the non-compliance of a petition demanding a special general meeting to iron out matters plaguing the executive.

The Applicants, Mehalai Mc Almont, Keith Marks, Natasha Durant Clements, brought the matter before Justice Navindra Singh, June 10 last, demanding the Management Committee to show reason as to why they have not adhered to a petition signed by credit union members demanding the holding of the special general meeting.

In May last, Chairman of the GPSCCU Trevor Benn was voted out of his post by majority members of the Management Committee.

The vote came in the absence of Benn and according to him; he was never made aware of any issues that would have warranted his removal.

As such, Benn's removal was said not to be in keeping with rules and regulations of the credit union. The former chairman who seemed to have an overwhelming support from the credit union's membership was able to secure a petition with more than enough signatures to demand a special meeting to be

called by the Management Committee.

Instead, the Management Committee weeks later, voted in a new chairperson and disregarded the petition which called for the special general meeting in 14 days. At this special meeting members said they would vote on whether to recall the entire Management Committee or not.

F u r t h e r, w i t h o u t prejudice, the petition called for nine of the Management Committee members to never again be elected to serve in that capacity, among other things.

Recognising these and other issues plaguing the credit union, the applicants said respondents have clearly indicated their intention not to comply with the law that requires them to hold the Special General Meeting on the 25th day of June, 2022. They said that the time is elapsing and the respondents continue to maintain their disregard for the rights of the

Former Chairman, Trevor Benn and credit union members protesting his reinstatement. members and as such unless ordered by the Court, no Special General Meeting will be held on the 25th day of June, 2022.

If the respondents do not act in accordance with the Petition, the Members right to Petition and deemed a Special General Meeting will be lost and the said Petition rendered nugatory as no Special General Meeting will be held on the

25th day of June. If the Respondents do not act in accordance with the Petition, the Respondents will not be accountable to the Members of the Co-operative Society.

The court matter will be called on June 23. Trevor L. Benn, Patrick Mentore, Gillian Pollard, Rajdai Jagarnauth, Leslyn Noble, Ruth Howard, O. Saskia Eastman-

Onwuzirike, Charles Ogle, Arthur Gibbs, Karen VansluytmanCorbin, Kirwyn Mars, Jermain Hermanstyne , Adeola Griffith and the GPSCCU are the named respondents.

It was noted that failure to appear at the upcoming hearing could see an order or judgment made in their absence without further notice.

Saturday June 18, 2022

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Environmental degradation by ExxonMobil continues...

From page 5 Board members is needed before 18 June to stop this devolving into a Guyana Rule of Law/ Constitutional Crisis propelled by ExxonMobil actions and non- r e s p o n s e s .

We, the undersigned, speak on behalf of present and future generations of Guyanese, seek your intervention to prevent our beautiful green lush country Guyana from heading into instability due to ExxonMobil’s lack of adherence to environmental norms, social responsibilities & legal requirements.

Trust we will hear from you in time.

Thank you for your attention.

Kind regards, Elizabeth Deane-Hughes , Alissa T r o t z , Isabelle DeCaries, ,Jocelyn Dow, Arthur Thijm, Michael Adams , Sharmaine Narine P a m e l a F r a s e r, H o l l i s France Va n d a R a d z i k , J a n e t t e Bulkan Danuta Radzik, Nesha Haniff Jerry Jailall, Darshanand Khusial, Frederick Collins Karen de Souza, Nichola Joy Marcus, Halima Khan Susan Collymore,Wintress

White, Troy Thomas , C o l i n K l a u t k y, P a u l i n e Melville, Lisa Edwards, Abbyssinian Carto, Kathleen RodneyScott, Pauline E. Bullen, Luke Daniels, Alfred Bhulai, Charlene Wilkinson, Rod Westmaas, Juanita Cox, Melina Harris, Joel Simpson, Nigel Westmaas, Menakshi Babulal, Milton Grannum, Mos a Te l f o r d , Tr a c y Cholmondeley, Michelle Asantewa, Gilbert Sebastian, Ternace Peter Francis, Sharmela Mc Garrell MARY PERREIRA Ogela Paul, Datson Simon, Merle Melindar, Freda James, Bornes Bill, Gorothy Melville, Elizabeth Peters, Julita Daniel, Phillip Laurindo, Cleary Franciso, Jesson George, Kitron Pio, Cecleia Simeon, Alfy John., Lionel Lawrence, D e r e k Wi l l i a m s , M a r k Timothy Francis, Kevin Joannis, Miranda Aucustus, Bennet Nazio, Mary Mavis Pio, Vanhercel Frazer, Malcon Edwin, Marina Nazio, Manhota Aaron, Marla Williams, Aerman Aaron, Regis Cyprian, Anthony Skybar Elise Samuel , Austin Francis, Leo Benjamin, Bartholomen Juan, Phillip Pablo, Dee Hamilton, Inez

David, Sabita Singh, Noel Thomas, Ignatius Thomas, Denise Da Silva, Bertha Aaron, Randall Lewis, Elisue Alfred, Lily Willi a m s , Vi n c ent Baptisa Sabrina Ann Edwin, Iris Williams, Endalina Hilario, Francisco Pio, Mark Vittalis, Harvey Samuels, Sonita Hendricks, Fernand Martin, Robert Manoel, Fesha Evans, Lucy Robertson, Lucina Daniel, Francis King, Hawkins Issac, Matthias Luke, Desousa Gomes, Orlando Richards, Basco Romeo, Fabian Berchman, Linchino Bennette, Oscar Salvador, Mark Johnson, Doreen King, Dorothia Philip, Camelita Edmonson, Edna Alfred, Junita Pablo, Meriel Francisco, Rupert Adamson Edward, Mathison Abraham, Orlando Edwards, Verna Bernard, Francisco Pais, Melville Marks, Eula Marcello, Wa y n e M i g u e l , B y r o n Joseph,Ernest Moses, Florina Evans, Odette Skybar, Wanita Thomas, B r y a n J o n a , Vi n c e n t Fitzgerald Adams, Hubert Alban, Isaiah Williams, Solom Dwarka, Matthias Charles, Harold Augustine, Gloria Haramottoo, Sarujdai Persaud, Verleine Xavier, Rosita Andrew, Perita Pio, Sylvester

Gonsalves, Clarissa David, Gemma Seegobin, Alex Marco, Bagot David, Ian Hendricks, Desmond Aaron, Stanley Andrew, Shaneeza Jairaj, Edna Albert , Stepehn Salvador, Wilbur Caesar, Alehious Hendricks, Percival Anchieta, Ali Peters, David Williams, Earl Canterbury, Egbert Sandwell, Elvis Fitzgerald, Gillian Oaron, Denise Domingo, De Andrade Luz, Nicholas Thomas, Clyde John, Delfine Aaron, Mavis Andrew, Anthony Daniels, Velma John, Sighn Aaron, Eldon Benjami n , R i c k y Garcia., Augusta Salvad o r, C e c i l M a t h e s o n , Victoria Andrew, Kazan Thomas, Gloria Carter, Maurice Luke, Claver Xavier, Latoya Cypriano, Clement Canzius, Bertha Shortt, Melanie Nagalla, Clifford Clario, Leslie Moses, Denelta Cyril, Ruth Hancock, Douglas Courtman, B a r bara Yonettte, Rose Aaron, Cyril We l c o m e , Wa y n e Courtman, Cecil Campion, Dennis Aaron, Brenda Lewis Antonio, Edles Dos Santos, Va n e s s a L e w i s , J i l l i a n L a z a r u s , A m e e r A l l y, S e l i n a H a l l e y, P a t r i c k Thomas, Thomas Moses, Lynn Alfred, Julia John, Vanessa Harry , Gilbert

Berchman, Indira Budram, Xavier John, Shane Williams, Ermelinda Martin, Leon Timmerman, Latoy, David, Christopher Abraham, Arni Edward, N a s c i m e n t o Wi l l i a m s , Stanley Williams, Nelson Roth, Amanda Rajmangal, Borjina Stanislaus, Julia Simon, Jerome Martin, Miles Williams, Eon Nazier, Stanislaus Francis, Diaz S i m m o n s , F a i t h Xavier, Carlos Nascimento, Fabian Xavier, Travis Sebastian, J u l i a To r r e s s , E d m o n d J o h n s o n Yo u n g , R a , Fredericks, Arlene Peters, Norman Evans, Barnabas A b r a h a m , O v i d E r i g ot , Ignatius Thomas, Carl Fredericks, Noel Joseph, Deonista Samuel, Smith Skybar, Anginia Melville, J o h n s o n Yo u n g , B r i a n Nathan, Alanza De Agrella, Diana Daniels, Winston Nathan, Jim Calisto, Kendall Joseph, Augusta Salvador Steven Canterbury, Joh, Robertson, Diana Daniels, Brandon Calistro, Natasha Graham , Cynthia Prince, Nicola Dublin, Sharotte Aaron, Elsa Charlie, Norbet J o a n n y, E s t e l l e P e t e r s , Keterry Flemming, Gomes Samuel, Upton Aaron, Jeanette Stanislaus, Rodney Robin, Allan Ivor Andrew, Wilfred Edwards,

Cecelia Manoel, Murtala Glasgow, Alice Pablo, Leo John, Edith Albert, Tamar Bento, Wilma Robinson, Jane Peter, Parkinson Austin, Mottielall Denanauth, Glen Couchman, Cambridge Felix, May Toney, Robert Joseph, Anthony Lovell, Marcelyn Charles, Don Joe, Cora George, Rose Prince, Bryan Braithwaite, Harris Edwin, Barbara Banfus, Laticia Andrew, Austin Daniels, Mortimer Holder, Clario Xavier, Abalone Gomes, Fabian Be n n e t t , Ivan Paul, Leone Feliz, Timothy Baird, Gordon S c i p i o , R o y X a v i e r, Desmond Boucher, Lena Luke, Arlington Arthur, Lucinei Lewis, Cliff Edward Williams, Hope Mark, D a v i d F r a n c i s , Ve r n i t a Susanna Xavier, Lena Jeffrey, Brionna Garraway, Lee Francis, Evan Peters, Victoria Courtman, Iros Scipio, Levi Carter, Weston Trim, Rita Sonny, Juanita Gabriel, Lucy Felix, Mandie Marques, Aviola Joseph, Agafa Remy, Irenaeu, Martin, Allan Luke, Ellis Elliot, Wilfred Peters, Ruth Waithe, Adolphus Monica, Hendra King, Sue Banfus, James Paul, Ann Layers, Vivian Bill, Philip SkellikieM Roth King, Bruce James, Da Silver Moses, Sally Kaiser

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

LAND FOR SALE VEHICLE FOR SALE One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable & 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:649-0956.

Xtrail for sale PLL8166.

Call:624-0041 or 226-7012, Oronoque & North Road.

LFS in Sheriff & Campbell v i l l e . Te l : 6 5 6 - 1 0 3 3 .

PROPERTY FOR SALE One unfurnished 2 story at Block "B" Herstelling,size 110x63 L.S,51x30 P.S.Tel:+1437-237-5205/618-8996.

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design,Advertisements, Wedding decorations & Elderly grooming: Hair,Nail etc.Tel:626-7040.

Drawing of Building plans and Estimate, K.Lakeram buil ding contractor.Tel:216-0671/ 692-8464 whatsapp 622-0267.

FOR SALE CAT 215 excavator parts, steel trailor 16ft/8ft/2ft.Road painting machine.Tel:2750367/683-7225.

Tyre air compressor,2-excavator buckets.Dragline hammer 1 1/2 tons.Tel:275-0367/ 6 8 3 - 7 2 2 5 .

1 caterpillar backhoe $2.7M, Audi $1.7, TM Truck,Model M Truck, Cement Mixer Truck, front end loader,Mini Excavator, Daf Dump truck.

650-0402/652-0251.

1-3 bedroom house @ Blankenburg,Houselots@ Blankenburg,1 double lot @Tuschen.Contact:6500402/652-0251.

2 cyclinder diesel lister generator set.Tel:624-8428.

FOR RENT Unfurnish 2 bedroom apt in Herstelling & Providence.

Tel:604-6664/682-6238.

One concrete 2 bedroom bottom flat Charlestown from 1st July,2022.Preferable young couple $45,000 monthly.

C a l l : 6 6 9 - 3 4 0 1 .

3 bedroom upper flat at Belfield Housing Scheme E.C.D.Call:698-9625.

2 bedroom apartment located at 266 New Market St,parking space available.Call:633-1227.

WANTED Carri's in Campbellville fastfood cook with food handler's certification to work 1pm to 9pm.Call:2198801/672-9037.

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

1 female for general domestic/cooking,residing on W.B. D or W.C.D age 25 to 45yrs.

C a l l : 6 2 4 - 0 2 3 9 .

1 male store assistant.Must know to read and write, residing on W.C.D or W.B.D. Call:264-2524-8am to 4:30pm.

Experienced cashier & kitchen assistant.Apply at Hack's Halaal,5 Commerce St withapplication.

1 cook to work in Charity Essequibo.Contact:2235273/223-5274.

One cook for Interior in the Mazaruni.Tel:677-0869/6030 8 4 3 .

One experienced female Sales Clerk. Tel: 225-2313,2261 4 9 7 Seamstress, Tailor wanted.

Tel:691-1918 whatsapp.

1 cook age 25-35yrs,1 security guard.ID card & 2 references required.Contact:6503680/233-5481.

Maid needed.Contact:6499 3 5 9 .

Driver for canter truck,age 40 and over preferably Diamond & Grove.Call:644-5957.

Land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie or anywhere on the West Coast.Tel:673-7087.

Female counter clerk and waitress to work shift $20$25,000 wkly.Tel:610-3974.

One experienced male able bodied clerk.Tel:231-2029, 6 1 6 - 5 9 5 4 .

Female to take care of an elderly male,age 25-40 in Trinidad. Accommodations provided.Call or WhatsApp 1 8 6 8 6 8 3 1 5 2 8 .

VACANCY

LEGAL NOTICE

1 qualified nurse/nurse assistant. Attractive salary.Apply at C.Persaud Dental Lab & Clinic,14 Peter's Hall.E.B.D. Te l : 2 3 3 - 5 1 3 7 / 5 9 2 7 .

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATUREOF GUYANA C O M M E R C I A L JURISDICTION 2022-HCD E M - C I V- F D A - 3 6 6 B E T W E E N : G U YA N A WATER INCORPORATED, a company incorporated in Guyana under the Companies Act 1991 of the Laws of Guyana and having its principal place of business at. Vlissengen Road & Church Street, Bel Air, Georgetown Demerara Applicant -and-CURTIS SAVOURY Respondent NOTICE TO: CURTIS SAVOURY 113 Kuru Kururu East Bank Demerara. TAKE NOTICE that a Fixed Date Application, was filed against you on the 16th day of March, 2022 in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana at Georgetown, Demerara by GUYANA WATER IN C O R P O R AT E D, w h o s e registered office and principal place of business is at Vlissengen Road & Church Street, Bel Air,Georgetown Demerara,in which the Applicant claims: (a)The sum of $102,895.00 (one hundred and two thousand eight hundred and ninety-five dollars), being the sum due, owing and payable by theRespondent to the Applicant.(b)Interest in the said sum at a rate of 6% per annum and 4% thereafter until the full sum is paid; (c)Costs;(d)Such further or other Order as the Court may deemjust.UPON APPLICATION in person to Nigel Niles and/or Anansa Swain, Attorney-at-Law for the Applicant,whose address for service and place of business is at C/o Guyana Water Incorporated, Corporate Complex, Vlissengen Road and Church Street, Bel-Air, Georgetown, Guyana, Tele No. 592-2250471 ext. 2300/2302 Email:NigelN@gwi.gy and anansas @gwi.gy or the Supreme Court Registry, copies of the Fixed Date Application, filed herein, will be delivered or sent to you.AND TAKE NOTICE if you desire to defend this action you must forthwith within twenty-eight (28) days after the final publication of this notice, prepare an Affidavit in Defence in Form IOC prescribed in the Civil Procedure Rules 2016, serve it on the applicant’s Attorneyat-Law, Nigel Niles and/or Anansa Swain, Attorneys-atLaw for the Applicant, whose address for service and place of business is C/o Guyana Wa t e r I n c o r p o r a t e d , Corporate Complex, Vlissen gen Road and Church Street, Bel-Air, Georgetown, Guyana, Tele No. 592-225-0471 ext.

2300/2302 Email:- Nigel NQìgwi.gy and anansas@ gwi.gv and file it with proof of service at the Registry of

Log truck & TM 4x4 driver, porters,chainsaw operators.

Call Richard 609-7675/6741 7 0 5 .

One live in domestic,must be over age 30yrs.Call:603-1300.

Farm workers,maintenance/ semi-skilled,workers & labourers at P.S.G.C.S. Contact:621-6969/615-615-7784.

Female Cleaner for office.

C a l l : 6 4 2 - 9 8 2 3 .

One clerk for TSI Eccles office English & Math, grade 1 or 2.Call:615-9132 or email application to techserigy@ y a h o o . c o m Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area.Call:615-9132.

Delivery Clerk.Apply at: Lens 136 Sheriff Street,C/Vill next to buddys/pizza. Tel:2272486/226-3750.

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

LEGAL NOTICE LAND REGISTRSTION AREA: Plantation Industry PARCEL: 450 (former Parcel 125) BLOCK: 1 ZONE: East Coast Demerara Pursuant to section 31 of the land Registry Act, Chapter 5:02. take notice that the following Declaration of Title was made by Madam Nicola Pierre Commissioner of Title, on the27th day of August, 2021 in respect of the Parcel: 450 (portion of former parcel 125) . Block: I Of Zone: EastCoast Demerara, Part of Plantation Industry As shown on a final Plan by T.A.K Fisher Sworn Land Surveyor dated the 1 0th day ol’ May, 2022 and recorded in the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission as Plan No. 80324 and (Land Registry) Land Registration No. 2030/ 2022.APP NO 35/ 2019,NAME & ADDRESS OF AWARDEE Chandrapaul Hemrup of Lot 58 Industry Housing Scheme East Coast Demerara. DECLARATION OF TITLE OF PARCEL 450 (portion of former parcel 125). ACREAGE 0.086.

Dated the 10th day of June,2022.

FOR COMMISSIONER OF TITLE

Saturday June 18, 2022

Seaman disappears from LNG tanker headed to T&T (TRINIDAD EXPRESS) Ship’s officer Toni Jurisic has gone missing in the Atlantic Ocean, somewhere between the Gibraltar and Trinidad and Tobago, the international media is reporting.

Jurišiæ, 35, who lives in the port city of Split, disappeared from a ship owned by a Greek company on June 10. On cargo ships, a ship’s officer is responsible for ensuring the safety of cargo and the ship’s structure, as well as for checking the navigation equipment.

A tanker called LNGSHIPS ATHENA, is now in the Gulf of Paria and headed to Atlantic LNG’s facility in Point Fortin. The name of the ship was not revealed. The ATHENA came from Gibraltar, according to global maritime traffic data analytics provider

Marine Traffic.

The secretary-general of the Croatian Seafarers Union (SPH), Neven Melvan, confirmed the disappearance on Monday and that they are in contact with the family and the company. He said that the vessel in question is owned by a Greek company and is used for the transport of liquefied natural gas. He said that the search and rescue operation is continuing and that the ship has covered more than 200 miles in search of the missing Croatian officer. “Melvan said that the police are expected to conduct an onboard investigation once the ship has reached port,” Hina said, without clarifying which port the ship is expected to reach or when.

Ukraine moves one step closer to EU membership (BBC NEWS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a press conference on the Commission”s opinions on the EU membership applications by Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in Brussels, Belgium, 17 June 2022Image source, EPA The European Commission has backed Ukraine’s bid to be given candidacy status to join the EU - bringing it one step closer to joining the bloc.

“Good work has been done”

LEGAL NOTICE the Supreme Court at Georgetown, Demerara, not later than 4 days before the date fixed for hearing of the application, and you or your Attorney-at-Law must appear at the hearing.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you fail to file such affidavit and or if you fail to appear at the hearing, final judgment may be given against you notwithstanding yourabsence.AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that this matter stand adjourned before the Honourable Mr. Justice Gino Persaud on 18th day of July, 2022 at 10:00 am. Zoom ID: 733 558 9086, Password: Court3.Dated this 8th day of June, 2022

by Ukraine, but more is needed, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Ukraine must make “important” reforms - on rule of law, oligarchs, human rights and tackling corruption, she added. Candidacy status is a significant step to joining the EU. However, the whole process can take many years.

The recommendation from the European Commission still needs to be signed off by the EU’s 27 member states, who meet to discuss it next week. The French, German and Italian leaders have already backed Ukraine’s bid, but the decision must be unanimous.

Speaking from Brussels and wearing blue and yellow - the colours of Ukraine - Ms von der Leyen said Ukrainians were “ready to die” for the European perspective.

“We want them to live with us in the European dream,” she said, adding that Ukraine had shown its “aspiration and determination to live up to European values and standards”.

But it is conditional Ukraine has work to do, she said, to ensure international law is respected. The announcement comes a day after the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania visited Kyiv and backed Ukraine’s bid to join the EU a big vote of confidence for Ukraine that today’s decision was inevitable. Meanwhile in Russia, the Kremlin has been watching Ukraine’s efforts to join the EU very closely.

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

Govt. agencies, Oil companies submit unverified data for transparency report G

uyana has signed o n t o t h e Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global Standard to promote open and accountable management of natural resources but in its third report recently concluded for the country, both government and oil companies have been found wanting in their submissions to the accountability body.

Documented in that report, EITI (Guyana) observed that reporting templates signed by an authorized officer had been submitted for the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Guyana Gold Board, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited. These accounted for some $59.6B. It was found however, that the Guyana Geology and

Mines Commissioner (GGMC) submitted partially completed reporting templates accounting for revenues to the tune of some $2.13B or about three percent of the total extractive revenues.

According to EITI, the Ministry of Finance on the other hand, for its part submitted unsigned reporting templates for Troy Resources Guyana Inc. and Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) for a total amount of $3.89 B or six percent of the extractive revenues.

Notably, EITI found too that all reporting templates that were submitted by Government Agencies had not been certified by the Auditor General.

As it relates to the Oil and gas entities operating in Guyana, EITI noted that only three (3) oil and gas companies submitted their reporting templates signed

Private Sector minimum...

From page 15 NMW. Certainly, we believe, employers enjoyed an extended period of paying workers much less than they were deserving, and attempts to address this situation should not be used to reduce employment.”FITUG seeks nonetheless a careful analysis of the effects of the new NMW following its implementation to ensure that workers are not paid poverty wages, “and are able to meet the basis expectations of life in our rapidly developing country.”

To ensure Guyanese receive workable wages the GWU has submitted also that while the $60,000 increase is now being made; further consideration should be made for another increase to

$88,000 soon. Given the current economic environment, Witter said that the union recognizes government's initiative to pay part time workers $40,000 for 10 days of work and welcomes the relief gesture for citizens.

It was noted however that, “By this very initiative the government is also inadvertently admitting that the Minimum Wage should be somewhere in the vicinity of $80,000 per month, since that would be the salary for 22 days of the regular month of work. The GWU therefore recommends $88,000 per month as a reasonable interim adjustment which has already been activated by Vice President Dr. (Bharrat) Jagdeo.”

Jagdeo unsure of final...

From page 19 the NGL facility such as cooking gas, which will rake in additional revenue.

Lall however pointed out during the press conference that under the previous administration, the then Minister that was responsible for the generation of e l e c t r i c i t y, M r. D a v i d Patterson had said that the cost for the pipeline would be US$400 million, which has

since been tripled.

To this Jagdeo said, “Patterson could say $10, I could say $20 (but) it's when you go out to tender, right now we are going out to tender so we would know what the market gives us…you would put a notional figure like an engineer's estimate…but the only time you will know is when you actually put that out to tender.”

The Ministry of Finance on the other hand, for its part submitted unsigned reporting templates. by an authorised officer at management level, while three submitted unsigned reporting templates.

The revenues reported by Government Agencies in respect of companies which submitted reporting templates not signed by management amounted to $12.34B representing 99.26 percent of the total

reconciled revenue.

Additionally, it was found that Repsol Exploracion Guyana, S.A. submitted reporting templates without its audited financial statements.

EITI noted that the revenues reported by Government Agencies in respect of this company which submitted reporting

templates amounted to $73M representing 0.59 percent of the total reconciled revenues.

Notably it was underscored that none of the companies submitted reporting templates certified by an external auditor.

As such, EITI concluded that given the significance of the matters stated, “…it was not possible to conclude that the financial data submitted by reporting entities and included in this report, were subject to audits that have been performed in accordance with international standards.”

T h e E I T I framework—according to the local body—seeks to strengthen government and company systems, inform public debates, and enhance trust. In each implementing country, it is supported by a Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group (MSG), which comprises government

agencies, extractive companies and civil society o rg a n i s a t i o n s w o r k i n g together.

The Initiative was first announced at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 (the Earth Summit 2002) and was o ff i c i a l l y l a u n c h e d i n London in 2003.

EITI is currently being implemented in 56 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and America.

The EITI Standard sets out of the requirements which countries need to meet in order to be recognised first as EITI implementing country and subsequently assessed against the EITI Standard.

The Standard is overseen by the EITI Board, which comprises members from governments, extractive companies, and civil society organisations.

sweN rueteiaK

PAGE 24

Saturday June 18, 2022

LCDS 2030 sets strategic plan to bridge digital divide between Coast, Hinterland G uyana's Low C a r b o n Development Strategy (2030) has laid out a set of strategic projects which would be used to bridge the digital divide between coastal and hinderland communities.

This intention was first outlined in the 2013 version of the LCDS which highlighted the importance of digital infrastructure to Guyana's overall development as well as to the low-carbon vision that gave rise to the LCDS. Several initiatives were set out which have since been completed, including the expansion of Guyana's fibre optic capability, targeted support for call centers and Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs), and the c o m p l e t i o n o f telecommunications liberalisation. Other initiatives are in progress, including through the Hinterland digital access project.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e document notes that government will seek to bridge the divide between coastal and Hinterland communities by advancing programmes on: access and connectivity , expansion of the satellite network which provides part of the National Broadband Network, expansion of 4GLTE, and the expansion of the fibre optic network.

Service-oriented Government Programmes will also be pursued.

This will include a

national online portal to serve as a gateway to access digital government services, digitation of population, commercial and land registers; and electronic identification.

Expansion of data centres to support the provision of services provided by government agencies is also planned for execution.

During an interview on Guyana's Oil and You, Vanelda Harris, Representative of the Office of the Prime Minister and Member of the Multi-stakeholder Committee for LCDS 2030, was keen to note that the d i g i t a l transformation of the global economy is accelerating and therefore, Guyana needs to continuously advance the development of domestic capability to realise the immense new opportunities this transformation creates for the country.

In light of this, she said LCDS has allowed for a lot to be accomplished while setting the foundation for much more to be achieved.

Harris said, “Our digital infrastructure is very important for us now that we are an oil and gas nation.

It is critical that this is enhanced so that we can advance and ensure that our economy gets where it needs to be and keep up with the

rest of the world…”

Expounding further, she said fostering sustainable development in the Hinterland and vulnerable areas is one of the core priority outcomes of Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

Harris said a key

remote communities that might otherwise be excluded.

Harris said the project will provide the supporting capacity needed to create linkages to generate intersectoral benefits in areas such as education, health and business.

Kaieteur News

component in achieving such an outcome is the provision of public services and information via the deployment and use of new Information and Communications Technologies (lCTs).

She explained that the ICT Access and e-Services for Hinterland, Poor, and Remote Communities Project is still ongoing and aims to provide the necessary infrastructure, equipment, hardware, and software necessary to enable access to high-quality ICT, training and e-services in all parts of Guyana, with particular attention given to vulnerable groups and

understands that the goals of the project include the development of a digital knowledge-based society, enhancement of national e f f i c i e n c y a n d competitiveness, and the promotion of inclusive and sustainable growth and development.

Furthermore, Harris shared that Ninety Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) — which are twoway satellite ground stations with a dish antenna used to provide internet access to remote locations — were procured and installed in communities and villages.

Additionally, under the LCDS umbrella, 180 solar

COVID-19 restrictions into Guyana lifted A

s of today persons traveling to Guyana will no longer have to produce a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test to enter the country.

This was announced by the Ministry of Health who posted on their Facebook page on Friday that while that restriction will be lifted from today, persons 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated to enter Guyana.

Back in 2020, the year that the pandemic hit the country, several restrictions were put in place to curb the spread of the virus and ensure that Guyanese are protected. But following a reduction in COVID-19 cases and hospitalization in the country, the government earlier this year had lifted almost all of the COVID-19 restrictions

outlined in the Official Gazette.

The Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony earlier in the week had mentioned in one of his COVID-19 updates that if the cases are to increase again, hospitals across the country are already prepared and equipped to treat patients if the need arises.

The government's decision to lift the testing restrictions on international travel comes one week after the United States of America (USA) government lifted its own.

Not only the USA but countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Italy also lifted its testing requirement for travel in a bid to increase tourism.

Meanwhile, via its daily COVID-19 update, the Ministry reported that a 79year-old man from Region Six who was

partially vaccinated, is the country's latest COVID-19 fatality.

The Ministry stated that the man died on Wednesday and as a result of this, the country's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,245.

The Ministry via its dashboard reported that within the last 24hour period it has recorded a total of 85 new cases across the country, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 66,385.

The dashboard shows that two patients are admitted into the COVID19 Intensive Care Unit, 20 persons are in institutional isolation, 942 are in home isolation and two are in institutional quarantined. To date, a total of 64,176 persons have recovered from the virus.

systems were procured to provide the necessary energy to power the ICT equipment at the hubs and any a d d i t i o n a l equipment/appliances using the extra capacity.

Harris noted that with LCDS 2030, government intends to ensure ICT hubs will be established in 200 communities and villages. This has already started each hub will be equipped with printers and televisions, as well as 20 laptops and software. Also, under t h e p r o j e c t , consultancies were commenced to conduct a comprehensive capacity assessment of the National Data M a n a g e m e n t Authority (NDMA), map current ICT deployment and capacities in the public sector, and to undertake a multidimensional capacity assessment of public institutions that will offer eservices, identifying gaps and bottlenecks in the process.

Kaieteur News understands that several reports were completed too.

These include a Baseline Report focused on market research looking at Guyana's profile, education, health, business, and as-is analysis of technical infrastructure and regulation; a Technical Report looking at technology assessment,

design options for Guyana, commercial assessment of solutions, proposed Guyana solution, rollout phases, stakeholder analysis , business models, implication for legislation and policy development, and an implementation plan; and a E-Services Readiness Assessment Report on important service needs, status quo of eservices readiness today, vision of e-services offered by government agencies, and description of selected eservices.

ABOUT LCDS 2030 LCDS 2030 outlines how the Government of Guyana will accelerate economic growth and development in a non-polluting, low carbon way. It outlines how Guyana will utilize and monetize its natural resources such as its lush and pristine forests in a sustainable manner so as to combat the impacts of climate change.

The document also ensures the country's worldclass forests, biodiversity, water and marine resources are valued for the vital contribution they make to the health of the planet.

The current draft that was launched by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali in late 2021 is undergoing a period of consultation with citizens on how the nation can re-double its efforts towards achieving the outlined vision, the roots of which can be traced back to 2009.

Saturday June 18, 2022

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

We Stand United CC members excel at USA circuit

The We Stand United Cycle Club (WSUCC) duo Briton John and James Joseph who are both competing in the USA have continued to turn in stellar performances.

This past weekend, Saturday to be exact, both john and Joseph won their respective categories in separate races.

John, contesting the Lucarelli & Castaldi Cup at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY won an exciting Men Cat 1/2/3 contest, outspring countryman Jamual John (CRCA/ Foundation Elite Team). John won the event in 1:28:13. Similar times were awarded to

Jamual and 3rd placed Stalin Quiterio Cuello.

The race attracted 89nstarters with four not finishing the race. Briton John has also been recording stellar performances in the Floyd Bennett Series, Pro1/2 class.

To date, he has recorded first place and two second-place finishes.

Meanwhile, contesting the Pottstown Hospital Bike Race Series, 65-year-old James Joseph, competing in the Masters’ Men 55+ class, whipped the 26-man field, all younger riders than himself.

Joseph won an exciting

Briton John powering to the first place ahead of countryman, Jamual John (left) sprint home from 58-year-old Ramon Benitez, he was clocked at 43.35.446 to Benitez’s 43.35456, and another 58-year-old, Scott Stew-

ard settled for the third place in 43.36.077.

Attention will now turn to the Harlem Race Father’s Day race, this Sunday.

2022 OSCL...

Saturday June 18, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A heightened level of intuition and understanding of others might catapult you to the center of attention at a gathering, Aries. Knowledge combined with experience results in wisdom today.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Communication with friends who have traveled widely could have you hankering to make a future visit to a distant place that you've always wanted to experience.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Dreams or visions could put you in touch with deep feelings that you may not have been aware of before, Gemini.

This could enable you to release traumas from your past and give you a new sense of lightness.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Relationships of all kinds are likely to be strengthened by an increased level of understanding today, Cancer. Your thinking is greatly enhanced by your emotional intuitiveness.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Dealing with the ups and downs of other family members could be easier for you today than usual, Libra.

You're less inclined to be logical and more apt to identify with what other people feel.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today your mind is strongly influenced by feeling and intuition, Scorpio, so you'll be able to communicate especially well with others.

You might sense what they need to hear before. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You generally like to think of yourself as someone who faces life logically and rationally, Sagittarius, but today your intuitive side could prove a valuable resource.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your intuition is usually very strong, Capricorn, and your level of empathy enhances your relationships. Today, however, a burst of logic could enable you to see many things.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today your emotional intuition intensifies your mental abilities, Leo. Friends and family members are likely to grow closer to you.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your intuition is heightened almost to the point of telepathy today. Aquarius, you may be able to sense what others want and need even before they know it themselves.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Relationships with those closest to you, particularly friends and love partners, should be enhanced by an increased understanding of their emotional world, Virgo.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Getting in touch with your closest friends could bring about some intense communication, with many revealing some of your deepest concerns, Pisces.

From page 28 was more intense there as Enmore pulled off an exciting five-wicket win against Bacchus Ruff Riders. Riders made 98-6 from the 20-overs while Enmore got to the target in the 16th over. Mahesh Ramroop led the way for Enmore with 32 not out while skipper Shiv Persaud and Ameer Baksh had useful scores of 26 and 24 respectively. Azhadeen Amidon and Reynold Tim snatched two wickets apiece for Bacchus Ruff Riders. In their innings, Amidon also made an impression with the bat by stroking 43 as former Guyana youth cricketer Steve Ramdass picked up three wickets for 21 runs off his four overs, delivering for the victorious combination. The competition continues on Saturday.

CCG to be developed...

From page 29 information showcased in the design collective proposal was both impressive and inspiring. The winners have shown exceptional talent and promise, and aligned well with CWI’s vision to create a uniquely West Indian and world class cricket and heritage centre.” said Ricky Skerritt, President of CWI and Chairman of CCG. “It is a huge achievement and opportunity, yet a humbling experience to be selected the winners, even more so with the high standard of entries as was expressed by the client,” said Colin John Jenkins on behalf of the design collective (CJC+ Associates Inc., KSS Design Group Ltd and Melon Design Architecture). Within the next few months, Jenkins and the design collective team are expected to submit draft master plans to CCG and CWI for final design and costing approval.

Porto agree to sell Vieira to Arsenal in £34m deal (BBC Sport) - Porto say they have agreed to sell midfielder Fabio Vieira to Arsenal in a 40m euro (£34.2m) deal.

The Portuguese club released a statement saying Arsenal would pay an initial 35m euros (£29.9m) for Vieira with the rest in potential add-ons.

Vieira, 22, has yet to win a senior cap for Portugal but was voted player of the tournament at last year’s European Under-21 Cham-

pionship.

He provided a leaguehigh 14 assists in the Primeira Liga last season.

Vieira also scored six goals in 27 league outings as he helped Porto claim the top-flight title in Portugal.

He has been capped 21 times by Portugal Under-21s and will become the Gunners’ third summer arrival, following USA goalkeeper Matt Turner and teenage Brazilian forward Marquinhos.

Unfinished Business wraps up...

From page 31 to identify with grassroots initiatives in an attempt to further strengthen its appeal.

He noted that the brand will always support programmes of this nature, as it has developed a synergy

with the communities, adding, “We are a brand that listens to the streets, and the streets wanted this t o u rnament so we duly obliged given their overwhelming support during the previous tournament.”

PAGE 26

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

Mane to join Bayern Munich Narine leads Surrey to victory in deal worth up to £35m over Middlesex in Vitality Blast (BBC Sport) - Liverpool have agreed a 41m euro (£35.1m) deal to sell Sadio Mane to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

The Reds will get a fixed 32m euros (£27.4m) with an additional 6m euros based on appearances and 3m euros based on individual and team achievements.

Liverpool turned down two bids from Bayern before the two clubs settled on a move for the 30-yearold, whose deal with the Reds ran until next summer.

He joined Liverpool for £31m plus £2.5m in add-ons from Southampton in 2016.

Since then, Mane scored 90 Premier League goals for the Anfield club and finished last season with 23 goals in all competitions.

News of his departure follows Tuesday’s signing of Uruguay forward Darwin Nunez from Benfica for an initial £64m.

Alongside fellow forwards Mohamed Salah and

Sadio Mane scored 120 goals in all competitions for Liverpool (Getty Images)

Roberto Firmino, who are both 30, Mane has been integral to Liverpool’s success in recent years.

The trio helped the club win the Champions League in 2019 and then end a 30-year wait for the league title in the following season.

This has also been an exceptional year for Mane, who won the Africa

Cup of Nations with Senegal before helping Liverpool win the Carabao Cup and FA Cup and finish runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League.

Mane is expected to replace Robert Lewandowski at Bayern, with the Poland international set to lave the German club having been linked with a move to Spanish giants Barcelona.

(SportsMax) - An excellent all-round display from Trinidadian Sunil Narine propelled Surrey to a seven-wicket win over Middlesex in their Vitality Blast South Group fixture at the Oval on Friday.

Surrey won the toss and elected to field first, restricting Middlesex to 155-8 off their 20 overs.

Luke Hollman (31), captain Stephen Eskinazi (25), and wicketkeeper/batsman John Simpson (25) were the chief scorers against Narine (2-27 off fo u r overs) and Barbadosborn England all-rounder Chris Jordan (2-27 off four overs).

Narine then top-scored with 51 not out off just 29 balls, including two fours and four sixes, while engaging in a match-winning 73-run

Sunil Narine (Rex Features)

fourth-wicket partnership with England test batsman Ollie Pope (37 not out).

Opener Will Jacks earlier smashed a 20-ball 43 for Surrey who easily reached 158-3 off just 15.1 overs to secure victory.

Surrey, also the team of f o r m e r We s t I n d i e s white-ball captain Kieron Pollard, now lead the S o u t h G r oup with 15 points from eight games after seven wins and one no result.

Saturday June 18, 2022

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Bangladesh’s Tour of the West Indies…

US Open 2022: Scheffler and qualifier Hardy join US Open lead Windies likely to pack away visitors inside three days

(BBC Sport) - World number one Scottie Scheffler is in a tie for the clubhouse lead midway through round two of the US Open.

Masters champion Scheffler hit three birdies and an eagle in a three-under 67 to join fellow American Nick Hardy (68), on three under par at Brookline.

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick is one back after a 70, alongside Sam Burns (67) and overnight leader Adam Hadwin (72).

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and England’s Callum Tarren are in the late wave, heading out at three under.

A blustery Brookline Country Club in Boston made for tougher scoring conditions than on Thursday, with just eight players shooting under par scores from the early starters.

Brooks Koepka matched Scheffler’s round of 67 to sit on level par, and is well in touch given how tightly packed the field is.

Fitzpatrick, who won the US Amateur title at this course in 2013, had to battle hard to stay close after making three bogeys in a row on his back nine, but the Yorkshireman’s perseverance paid off with birdies on his 14th and 17th holes.

Although Fitzpatrick ended the day where he started it on two under, he remained just a shot off the lead and the score may look a lot better with the later starters tackling toughening conditions.

Chip-in sparks Scheffler into life Scheffler started his back nine at one over but followed a birdie at the 13th with a stunning eagle at the par-five 14th,

Brooks Koepka matched the best round of the early starters

chipping in from 55 yards out of the thick rough.

It was all the more remarkable given Scheffler had earlier duffed a chip from the fairway on the fifth hole, which ended up rolling back down the hill and further away than his initial shot.

The 25-year-old followed up with a birdie at the 16th and had chances on the final two holes to take the outright lead but was unable to hole the putts.

Scheffler is looking to continue an incredible season as he goes into the weekend chasing a second major and fifth tournament victory overall this year.

Koepka challenging as Mickelson goes home Koepka made an eagle on the same hole as playing partner Scheffler, but in a different fashion as he tamed the 616-yard monster with two muscular blows.

After a booming drive and a crunching iron shot from 271 yards, Koepka rolled in a 14-foot putt to perfectly illustrate the combination of sheer brute force and pinpoint accuracy needed to succeed at the US Open.

A back-to-back US Open champion in 2017 and 2018,

Koepka has a stunning record in this event, but he followed that eagle with a bogey.

At level par he will fancy his chances at the weekend, but one man who will not be competing is Phil Mickelson, who added a slightly improved 73 to his nightmare 78 on Thursday to finish on 11 over.

Recent LIV Golf signing Mickelson has finished second six times but never managed to win the US Open, and it may remain the one major to evade his grasp given the future difficulties he could face getting into the event.

The USGA, which runs the US Open, allowed LIV Golf players to compete this week but has suggested it may make it harder for them to do so.

Fellow LIV Golf competitor Dustin Johnson shot a three-over 73 to sit on one over alongside fellow former US Open champion Justin Rose, who also carded a 73, and US PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, who signed for a 72.

Belgium’s Thomas Pieters produced a remarkable finish as he birdied four of his final six holes to jump up to level par.

Pink Diamond Promotions forced to postpone Daddy and Me Competition The organisers of the inaugural ‘Daddy and Me’ competition which was scheduled for Saturday June 18, 2022, at the Transport Sports Club Ground were forced to postpone citing illness of a number of the participants as the major contributing factor.

The competition was set to showcase fathers and sons competing against their counterparts in different sports challenges, will now be held on July 24, 2022, at the same venue. Tickets bought for the original date will still be valid

for the new date and remains at a cost of $1000.

Warren Wilson, Founder of Pink Diamond Promotions said, “We are deeply saddened that we are unable to execute this project on schedule this weekend. We do apologise to the participants who have registered already and to those who have indicated their support in terms of attendance. We promise to make sure that for the new date we can get things up and running to have a great day of sports and challenging

events.”

This inaugural competition is still set to highlight fathers teaming with their sons in three categories, 7 to 9, 10 to 12 & 13 to 16, competing in several disciplines to be crowned champion. These events include tug-o-war, softball cricket, and obstacle courses.

The organisers are also encouraging other fathers to register and have now opened access to fathers and their daughters. For more info, contact 672-2719 or 657-8793.

Bangladesh are staring at the prospect of defeat inside three days after closing day two of the first Test on Friday at 50 for two in their second innings, needing 112 more runs to make the West Indies bat again.

West Indies were eventually dismissed in their first innings for 265 after tea, having started the morning at 95 for two.

West Indies Captain, Kraigg Brathwaite, anchored his side’s effort with a typically painstaking 400-minute knock of 94, supported by 63 from Jermaine Blackwood, the vice-captain taking a page from his leader’s operational manual as the contribution was the slowest of his 16 Test half-centuries.

For the Bangladeshis, forced onto the back foot after being routed for 103 just after lunch on day one, Brathwaite’s dismissal triggered their brightest period of play with the home side losing their last seven wickets for 68 runs.

While it was seamer, Khaled Ahmed, who initiated the slide by consigning the home skipper to his fifth ninety in Test cricket, Mehidy Hasan then stole the show in claiming four of the last six wickets to fall either side of the tea interval.

He also took a sharp catch at short extra-cover as Blackwood became the ninth wicket to fall in pursuit of quick runs.

However, Mehidy’s personal delight, and his team’s cautious satisfaction at limiting the West Indies first innings advantage to a still considerable 165 runs, quickly dissipated when senior opener Tamim Iqbal and Mehidy himself fell to Alzarri Joseph.

That left Mahmudul Hasan and Najmul Hossain to carry the fight into the third morning.

Despite his excellent century against the same opponents in Chattogram 17

Jermaine Blackwood drives through the offside.

(AFP/Getty Images) months earlier, the fact that the Bangladesh ‘think-tank’ felt it appropriate to send in Mehidy with more than half an hour ’s play available seemed a telling revelation on their own confidence, or lack thereof, in the resilience of the established middle-order batsman.

Not surprisingly, given that the pitch continues to offer some encouraging bounce and seam movement to the faster bowlers, Mehidy didn’t last long, essaying his favourite forcing back foot shot but only succeeding in offering a straightforward catch to Kyle Mayers at first slip.

Joseph had removed Tamim in his previous over, the experienced left-hander drawn to follow a delivery angled across him for wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva to take the catch diving in front of first slip.

Bangladesh’s precarious position was not for a want of effort from their bowlers.

With better support in the field and more judicious use of the available television technology, they could have significantly limited West Indies’ first innings lead.

Both Nkrumah Bonner, who resumed as Brathwaite’s

overnight partner, and Blackwood were reprieved by on-field not out decisions when replays showed they would have been ruled out if captain Shakib Al Hasan had opted to challenge both decisions.

Bonner, who contributed 33 in a 62-run third-wicket partnership with Brathwaite, also edged Khaled at catchable height past a stationary Najmul Hossain at first slip before eventually ended his resistance by bowling him off the inside-edge in the visitors’ only success of the morning.

The usually attacking Blackwood was even more pedestrian than his captain at the start of his innings with only three scoring shots off his first 43 deliveries up to the lunch interval.

None of this appeared to trouble the pair as they continued to plod along in the afternoon until Khaled, operating with the second new ball, got a delivery to jag back into Brathwaite and trap him so palpably lbw that not even the tantalising prospect of an 11th Test century just six runs away could prompt him into going for a review.

(NewAge Sport)

PAGE 28

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

England break ODI record with total of 498-4 in Netherlands

(BBC Sport) - In a particularly eye-catching start to Matthew Mott’s tenure as their new white-ball coach, Buttler pummelled 14 sixes and seven fours as the feelgood factor from England’s Test side spilled over to continental Europe on a day of team and individual milestones.

Dawid Malan (125) and Phil Salt (122) also both made maiden ODI centuries, off 90 and 82 balls respectively, as the Netherlands bowlers were smashed to all parts of the ground before England dismissed them for 266.

England’s total eclipsed the 481-6 they made against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2018, and surpassed the List A record of 496-4, scored by Surrey in 2007.

A total of 26 sixes rained down on the uncovered stands in Amstelveen, and fans assisted the Dutch players in searching for the ball every time it disappeared into

the forest which surrounds the ground.

Not all of them were found, with nine balls, at a cost to the Dutch federation of 130 euros a go, left unaccounted for during Buttler’s brutal assault.

Fittingly Buttler hit the runs for England to reach the record ODI total, with a six launched over deep mid-wicket off Shane Snater on a miserable day for the Dutch bowlers, with leg-spinner Philippe Boissevain’s 10 wicketless overs costing 108 runs.

L i a m L i v i n g s t o n e ’s cameo at the end of the innings was just two balls short of the fastest ODI half-century as he blasted his fifty off just 17 balls, finishing with 66 off 22 balls.

“Boring, boring England” sang the travelling fans in jest as Livingstone managed only a four off the penultimate ball of their innings which meant the tourists missed out on 500, but they were soon cheering again when he dis-

Jos Buttler now holds the record for the three fastest ODI centuries for England (Getty Images) patched the last one for yet another six.

The Netherlands’ response was decidedly more low key as wicketkeeper Scott Edwards made a defiant unbeaten 72 while Moeen Ali finished the pick of the attack with 3-57.

History makers…

This was the first occasion an ODI between the two sides had been played on Dutch soil, and it was an altogether different experience than the very first time an England XI

2022 OSCL: Mercenary continue winning ways

Reigning champions Mercenary continued to dominate proceedings thus far in the continuation of the 2022 Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) Regular Season 20-overs competition after marshalling to six wins from as many matches with the latest fixture on Sunday.

Against BetterHope at Ashtonbee Park, Scarborough, Mercenary churned out a 45-run win.

They batted first and rattled up a challenging 121-9 from the 20-overs while BetterHope only responded with 76 all out in the 15th over.

Extras was top-scorer (36) while Rakesh Ramoutar was the only batsman to reach double-figures for BetterHope with 13. Experienced bowler and Canadabased Guyanese, Bholonauth Sukhu, bagged 4-14 from four overs to help with the demolition job while the dynamic Avinash Sookdeo also accounted for four victims, but conceded 15 runs in his fourover display.

When Mercenary batted, Amit Rukhram made 26 while his sibling Avish chpped in with 24. Ashok Ramjaz and Shablall Mohabir took two wickets apiece.

Across at the adjacent Wexford venue, former

Rovendra Mandolall Guyana Under-19 batsman, Rovendra Mandolall slammed an entertaining 86 to spur Carr Tec to a comprehensive 139run victory against Essequibo Coast Cricket Club.

Carr Tec galloped to 1991 from the allotment of 20overs while Essequibo Coast Cricket Club only reached 60 off 14.3 overs in pursuit of the target.

The right-handed Mandolall, who played with a great degree of relentlessness, smacked nine sixes and five fours while his opening partner, Prabhu Balkarran, was also aggressive as he hit 67 and another ex-Guyana youth player, Eion Katchay, supported with 34 not out.

Kyle Ramsawak made 16 for Essequibo Coast Cricket Club as Monesh Bhoopaul claimed 3-11 from 3.3 overs while Rudy Bhoopaul

Zakir Khan (brother) snapped up two wickets for 12 runs from four overs.

Down in the West at Oakdale School ground, Caribbean Sensation surged to a comfortable six-wicket win over Fearless Titans. The Titans only mustered an inadequate 61 all out off 13.2 overs while Caribbean Sensation safely surpassed the total in the 15th over losing four wickets in the process.

Zakir Khan produced an excellent performance for Caribbean Sensation by snaring four wickets for just five runs from three frugal overs while Anand Balwant and Richard Driffield bowled well too to assist him with two wickets each. Only Sheikh Parsram with 17 offered a fight for Fearless Titans.

And at Dean Park facility in Scarborough, the action (Continued on page 25)

took to the field here.

A side featuring future stars Alec Stew a r t a n d Nasser Hussain suffered a humiliating loss to the Netherlands at the same ground in 1989 - struggling to bowl in the drizzle on a slippery coconut matting wicket in their pimple-soled training shoes.

The straw-coloured grass pitch carefully prepared by Benno van Nierop at the VRA

Cricket Ground over three decades la ter was hard, true and perfect for run-scoring on a day when the mercury touched 30C. Dutch skipper Pieter Seelar’s decision to bowl may have been made to look dubious in hindsight but England counterpart Eoin Morgan admitted he too would have bowled first and the early wicket of Jas o n R o y f o r o n e d i d provide early vindication.

After Roy departed bowled by his cousin Snater from the ninth ball of the innings - the Netherlands had further chances too. Snater spilled Salt at deep point off Bas de Leede on 40, then three balls l a t e r M a l a n o v e r turned a marginal lbw decision on review after he was struck on the pad by Seelaar reverse sweeping.

Seelaar, at least, was able to account for opposite number Morgan who, perhaps smelling some easy runs to ease himself back into form, promoted himself up the order only to fall lbw for a first-ball

duck.

Even by his own dizzying standards this was quite breathtaking hitting from Buttler, as he struck the ball so cleanly he seemed to be playing a different game to everyone else.

‘Feels like I’m in the form of my life’…

Fresh from a productive stint in the Indian Premier League, the 31-year-old is currently the best whiteball batter in world cricket, operating at the peak of his powers.

But t l e r ’s k n o c k w a s stunning. His century came off 47 balls, 150 off 65, as his fast hands and strong wrists proved destructive.

The Dutch bowlers simply did not know where to bowl to him, as their brains became scrambled in the carnage.

He offered two chances on 17 and 37 as Vikramjit Singh got finger tips on a high one and Musa Nadeem Ahmad shelled a more straightforward opportunity 20 runs later.

It would prove costly.

Inter School Mixed Team tournament reaches final stages

Parika Salem Secondary School team and their supporters that filled the entire stands.

Matches in the West Demerara /Essequibo Island Circle Tennis Sub- Association & AL Sport & Tour Promotions’ 56t h I n d e p e n dence Anniversary Inter School Mixed Team Tournament were played at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground, recently.

The event was coordinated by National Sports Commission (NSC)/Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport (MCYS), Sport Officer, Alistair Munroe.

The tournament saw Leguan Island Secondary, Essequibo Island Secondary and Parika Salem Secondary

all booking their place in the semifinals.

Leguan won the toss and entered the circle first as they made 65-3 off their 30 deliveries with Brian Samaroo (21) and Budhram Sharma (14) leading the way as Vergenoegen Secondary replied with 25-3.

Essequibo Island Secondary (Wakenaan Island) made 77-0, with Vickram Ramnarine (47) top scoring as Zeeburg Secondary were restricted to 39-1 in reply.

Parika Salem Secondary posted 74-0 with Shaul France top scoring (34)

a g a i n s t We s t D e m e r a r a Secondary, who replied with 47-1, with top scorers Malika Farley (13), Ta r i q u e A l l e y n e ( 1 2 ) , A m y P e r s a u d ( 12).

This programme was made possible by through supp o r t f r o m A n s a M c A l Tr a d i n g G u y a n a , G u y a n a Te l e p h o n e & Te l e g r a p h Co L t d , Te a m M o h a m e d ’s , D e p a r t m e n t o f Yo u t h MCYS and the NSC for providing the Technical Personnel.

The action continued on Friday at the Tuschen Community Ground.

Saturday June 18, 2022

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Warriors win fourth NBA Championship in eight years (Reuters) - The Golden State Warriors cemented their place as one of the NBA’s great dynasties with Thursday’s 103-90 Game Six win over the Boston Celtics sealing their fourth Championship in eight seasons.

The 4-2 Finals series win brought the Warriors a seventh championship, breaking a tie with the Chicago Bulls for sole possession of third place in the alltime winners list behind the Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, who both have 17 titles.

The Warriors are also the first team to win four championships in an eightyear span since the Bulls won six from 1991 to 1998.

Stephen Curry led the way for visiting Warriors with 34 points, seven assists and seven rebounds to claim his fourth title and first Finals MVP award.

“I’m so proud of our group,” an emotional Curry said after the win, adding, “... at the beginning of the season nobody thought we

would be here except everybody on this court.”

The triumph is a remarkable turnaround for the Warriors, who missed the playoffs in the past two seasons amid a torrent of injuries before defeating the Nuggets, Grizzlies, Mavericks and Celtics this year to claim the Larry O’Brien trophy.

“We were so far away from it,” Curry said.

“We hit rock bottom with injuries and the long road of work ahead and trying to fill in the right pieces and the right guys.

You can’t ever take this for granted because you never know when you’re going to get back here.”

With their backs to the wall, Boston raced out to a 12-2 lead with a threepointer by Jayson Tatum whipping the green-andwhite clad fans at TD Garden into a frenzy.

But the more experienced Warriors squad kept chipping away and a threepointer from Curry gave the visitors a 24-22 lead

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) holds up the Larry O’Brien Trophy after defeating the Boston Celtics in game six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden. (USA TODAY Sports) late in the first quarter.

A Boston turnover led to an Andrew Wiggins jam that capped a 21-0 run in the second quarter for the Warriors and the lead ballooned to 18 points when Draymond Green found Klay Thompson under the basket for an easy layup.

Leading 54-39 at half-

CCG to be developed as WI cricket high performance & heritage centre

time, the Warriors did not look back.

Curry knocked down a three-pointer from well beyond the arc to give the Warriors their largest lead of the night at 72-50 with six minutes to go in the third, pointing at his finger to show where his fourth championship ring should go.

Former Windies batsmen insists players must develop own fitness programs

CCG has announced the appointment of a design collective consisting of CJC + Associates Inc., KSS Design Group Ltd and Melon Design Architecture to design and develop a transformational high-performance, world-class concept master plan.

(CWI) – The Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG), home of West Indies Cricket, is entering the final phase for major development planning which will transform the ICC accredited facility into a truly state of the art cricket and cultural heritage centre.

Infrastructural work and rehabilitation are expected to commence later this year.

CCG will become a world class centre of cricket with linkages to several other smaller cricket academies across the region. CCG will be able to adequately host training camps and player remedial work as well as stage international matches at all levels. This will include an Emerging Players Academy and the construction of an

ultra-modern indoor/outdoor facility with several inputs for players’ preparation, including medical, training, fitness, and gym facilities.

“A strategic approach to master planning of the facility is well underway, and we are stepping into a new frontier as we seek to make CCG the ‘flagship’ where players from the grassroots to the international level can develop and hone their technical and mental skills. We envision the CCG of the future as a truly world-class facility with all the amenities,” said Nelecia Yeates, General Manager of CCG. Yeates added: “Fans attending matches at the ‘new CCG’ will also have an exceptional spectator experience.

We will leave no stone unturned as we hold firm to the commitment and belief that all islands of the Caribbean can be the birthplace of greatness in our sport, both on the off the field.”

As part of the redevelopment project for the 20-acre facility, CCG has announced the appointment of a design collective consisting of CJC + Associates Inc., KSS Design Group Ltd and Melon Design Architecture to design and develop a transformational high-performance, world-class concept master plan.

“We were hugely impressed by the quality of all the responses for our Request for Proposals. But the level of (Continued on page 25)

DEFENSE THE DIFFERENCE The young Celtics team tried to claw their way back but their c a u s e w a s n o t helped by 23 turnovers that led to 20 Warriors points, while they also lost the rebounding battle.

Celtics rookie head coach Ime Udoka was con-

fident big things lay ahead for his team.

“The future is bright and we’re just getting started,” he said.

W h i l e B o s t o n ’s d e fense was talked up coming into the series it was Golden State’s resistance that proved the difference.

T h e Wa r r i o r s h a d looked to be in big trouble early on in the Finals as poor shooting saw them trail 2-1 in the best-of- s e v e n s e r i e s , but they gave themselves a lifeline by tightening up on the other side of the ball. “ W h a t g o t t his team over the hump was our defense,” head coach Steve Kerr said.

It is the seventh title overall for the Warriors franchise, which was founded in Philadelphia in 1946 as one of the original members of the Basketball Association of America.

The Warriors also captured the league’s first championship in the ’46-47 season.

Talented West Indies batsmen have struggled with fitness (SportsMax) - Former West Indies batsman and Jamaica captain Nehemiah Perry insists the evident lack of proper fitness programs for several professional cricketers around the Caribbean remains unacceptable.

The topic of player fitness has been a hot-button issue in recent years, with a few cricketers failing fitness tests and others on occasions noticeably overweight. The issue is back in the spotlight following the recently concluded Women’s T20 Blaze where Jamaica were crowned champions.

Some critics have pointed to the lack of a regulatory fitness program for the regional, players but Perry insists it must also be an issue of personal responsibility.

“I don’t think enough work is being put into our cricketers and our cricketers are not properly monitoring themselves. They eat anything they want, they eat KFC, they eat Burger King, they eat Chinese, they don’t have a proper program,” Perry told the Mason and Guest radio program.

“A part of the program is nutrition. You have to be eat-

ing properly to be a top-class cricketer because your body is going to need it, because, it brings the best out of your body. Rehydration, you go to the beach, you swim, you do all of these things, you follow a specific program,” he added. “Players aren’t following that, they go on their phones and they go and sit in the dressing room and do nothing and then they go home and put on weight. How can you be a professional cricketer and a be putting on weight? You are not supposed to be putting on weight.”

PAGE 30

CPL 2022: Sammy appointed head coach of St Lucia Kings (ESPN Cricinfo) - Daren Sammy has been appointed head coach of St Lucia Kings for the 2022 edition of the CPL, taking over from Andy Flower, who was at the helm for two seasons.

Sammy, who has been with the team since CPL’S first edition in 2013 stepped down from captaincy last year. He was appointed the franchise’s “T20 cricket consultant and brand ambassador” for the 2021 season and worked with Flower as part of the backroom staff.

“St Lucia is and will always be my home, it was always part of the plan to lead the franchise after my playing days,” Sammy said.

“The time is now. I can’t wait to start this next chapter with this amazing franchise as we continue on our quest to win our first CPL title. Many thanks to the Kings franchise owners for the faith shown in me for this role. The journey continues.”

While Sammy has officially not confirmed his retirement from all forms of cricket, he has not played since CPL 2020, where he took Kings to

Daren Sammy stepped down from the St. Lucia captaincy in 2021.

the final for the first time in seven years.

He has since been appointed as the head coach of Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, and in June last year was added to the Cricket West Indies (CWI) board as an independent non-member director for two years.

After qualifying for the playoffs just once in seven seasons since the start of CPL, the Kings have turned a corner in the last two years making it to two successive

finals. However, they finished on the wrong side of the result on both occasions.

ESPNcricinfo has learned that Faf du Plessis, who led Kings last season, is likely to continue as captain this year as well.

The 2022 edition will kick off on August 30, and will take place in four countries - St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana. The Providence Stadium in Guyana set to host the final on September 30.

Immigration Department are Police HQ Inter-Department Table Tennis Champions

Outstanding players and officials including GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe, pose for a photo opportunity.

Members of the Police Immigration Department showed that they are not only good at processing passports and other travel documents as they don their table tennis gear and emerged victorious when the Police HQ interdepartment table tennis competition was held recently.

The competition which was held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, saw a number of departments participating.

The Immigration Department was all over their opponents as they won ahead of the Tactical Services Unit that placed second.

Saturday June 18, 2022

Kaieteur News

The Police Band Room finished in third place after they squeezed passed the IT Department in the playoff position.

The competition was coordinated by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Sports Secretariat in collaboration with the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA).

According to a release from the GPF, the competition is coined to unearth new talents within the Police Force.

The Table tennis competition which was a regular feature on the GPF rooster was not held for twoyears due to COVID-19

pandemic. The Immigration Department team was spearheaded by national player Corporal Nigel Bryan, Constable Sampson, Constable Romain, W/ Constable Anthony and W/ Constable Fraser.

Dharmapall Etwaroo of the TSU was awarded the Most Valuable Player prize while trophies were awarded to the winners and outstanding individual players.

The competition was graced with the presence of the GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe, and the GPF Sports Development Officer (retired) Deputy Superintendent, Colin Boyce. (Samuel Whyte)

Slingerz FC scores support from West Vybz Sports Bar West Vybz Sports became the latest sponsor for Slingerz Football Club after the Tuschen-base entity officially announced its alliance with the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) club on Friday.

The West Vybz Sports Bar emblem is also featured on the club’s uniform, with Javed Ali, Slingerz FC president, stating that they’re hoping to make this a feature for some of their sponsors.

Proprietor of the entity, Jai Balgobin, said West Vybz Sports Bar will continue its support of Slingerz FC, adding “we endeavour to embrace the club’s vision and we look forward to continuing our partnership.”

Slingerz FC’s president, Javed Ali, said they welcome the support from Balgobin, stating that “this is not a sponsorship, but more so a collaboration.

We want to work together with corporate Guyana because what we’re doing is

Kacey Pearson, member of the Slingerz FC received the sponsor’s cheque from Jai Balgobin, proprietor of West Vybz Sports Bar. bigger than football.”

West Vybz Sports Bar now joins Forrester’s Lumber and Building Complex as the businesses that are backing the club.

After a six-year hiatus, the former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League Champions made a winning

return, defeating Uitvlugt FC 3 – 0 on Wednesday.

The club will be in action Sunday when the WDFA STAG League continues at the National Track and Field Centre when they take on #1 AllStars from 20 hours in the final match of a triple-header.

CG United Women Super 50...

T&T beat Leeward despite Hector’s resistance

By Sean Devers Trinidad & Tobago made light work of the Leeward Islands in their opening game in CG United Women’s 50over Tournament, yesterday at Providence.

Set 133 to win after restricting the LI to 132-8, the T&T ladies reached 134-2 to win by eight wickets in sunny conditions.

Reniece Boyce, who hit four boundaries in her 56-ball 35 and Djenaba Joseph, who made 15 from 46 balls with two fours, added 71 for the first wicket in 16.1 over.

Djenaba Joseph, who scored 20 with two fours, Shenelle Lord, with 30 from 54 balls inclusive of five fours and Skipper, Anisa Mohammed, all contributed to the win.

Joseph was trapped LBW to Edwards with the score on 71 while six runs later, Joseph was bowled Skipper, Shawnisha Hector, the lone West Indies Women’s player from the Leeward Islands.

But Mohammad, with the experience of four World Cups, joined Lord and made an unbeaten 20 with two fours including

Anisa Mohammad the winning boundary to see her team to an emphatic victory to start their campaign for a 14th title, the first since 2017.

Earlier, Leeward Islands won the toss and batted on a good track with a fast outfield but with the score on seven, rain stopped play.

When play resumed, Kirbyina Alexander, who bowled nine overs on the trot, took 3-20 along with a wicket for Lee-Ann Kirby, reduced the LI to 13 - 4 in the 12th over.

He c t o r l o o k e d w a y above her mates in standard and was quickly on top of the bowling with some fluent stroke-play but fell four runs short of her fifty when she ran herself

Shawnisha Hector out.

Hector faced 60 balls and struck seven fours in her score of 46 and met her demise at 65-6, ending a 52run stand with Arsheena Freeman (3), who wa s soon bowled by Caniesha Isaac at 8 7-7.

Amanda Edwards who hit four fours in 29 and Rozel Liburd, whose unbeaten 31 included three bounda r i e s , a d ded 45 b efore Edwards was run out off the last the last ball of the innings.

The tournament continues today from 0 9 : 3 0 h rs at the same venue with defending champions Barbados facing-off with the new T20 Blaze Champions, Jamaica.

Kaieteur News

Saturday June 18, 2022

PAGE 31

Magnum Futsal Mini Championships…

Unfinished Business wraps up tonight

T

he National Park tarmac this evening will be a hive of activity when the M a g n u m To n i c W i n e 'Unfinished Business' Futsal Championship kicks off.

Back Circle and Gold is Money will take centre stage in the opening match of the one-day tournament at 20:00hrs. In the second contest, Sparta Boss engages Bent Street from 21:00hrs, in what promises to be another exciting fixture in their storied rivalry.

The winners of the respective matches will progress to the final. The losers will contest the thirdplace playoff. The winner of the mini championship will pocket $300,000, while the second, third and fourth place sides will walk away with $150,000, $100,000, and 50,000 respectively.

Edison Jefford, the coordinator of the tournament, said, “We are expecting a monumental night of action, the quality of the four teams which were the leading protagonists of the previously hosted Magnum Independence Cup cannot be questioned so that patrons can expect a thrilling night of entertainment in a secure environment.”

According to Jefford, “All systems are in place, as we aim to continue the narrative and objective of an incident-free tournament.

Despite the fact it's a one-day tournament, the environment has been prepared and branded to its traditional standard and quality which is not only reflective of the brand's overall eminence and personality but the growing importance of the programme.”

2022 Milo Secondary Schools Football Tournament kicks off today

T

he Petra organised M ilo under-18 Secondary Schools Football Tournament which was officially launched on Tuesday at the Ministry of Education Ground, kicks off today with the preliminary round matches.

With four matches on the card, the action commences from 12:30 hrs as St. Stanislaus College take on St. John's College in the opening match then West Ruimveldt Secondary battle Vergenogen Secondary from 14:00 hrs.

At 15:30 hrs Bishop's High School tackle Charlestown Secondary then Bladen Hall will oppose Carmel Secondary at 17:00 hrs.

The following day, the

preliminaries continue at the same venue from the same times mentioned earlier.

In the day's 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 with $200,000, the corresponding trophy and Silver Medals.

The Ministry of Education Ground will play host to the entire tournament.

Meanwhile, Magnum Brand Manager Jamal Baird, stated that the tournament would not have been a reality without the tremendous support of the spectators, adding that the brand has been embraced by the urban communities and continues (Continued on page 25)

Sparta Boss were bested in this edition of the Magnum Futsal Championship.

Bangladesh's Tour of the West Indies…

Windies likely to pack away visitors inside three days Brathwaite fell six runs short of a century (AFP/Getty Images)

Alzarri Joseph began the dismissal of Bangladesh batsmen in the second innings.

t r o Sp 2022 Milo Secondary Schools Football Tournament kicks off today

2022 Magnum Champion, Back Circle

Magnum Futsal Mini Championships…

On March 6, 2020, National striker Omari Glasgow (right) represented Annandale Secondary in a match against East Ruimveldt.

Unfinished Business wraps up tonight

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