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AIETEUR NEWS

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Supermarket thieves

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Thursday Edition June 23, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 25

- abandon Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 15-year-old readership yesterday, look-out in car 79,809 >>> See story on page 17<<<

Exxon taking back royalty paid to Guyana

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>>> See story on page 3<<<

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…‘arrangement’ also reduces taxes due to GRA

Royalty is a percentage of total production on any commodity, paid to the owner of the resources.

Royalties are free and clear from any costs whatsoever.

Jagdeo gives a conflicting and sketchy explanation, one week after he was asked if Royalties are being (Listen to The Glenn Lall Show recovered by the oil companies. @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday June 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 23, 2022

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Exxon taking back 2% royalty paid to Guyana …‘arrangement’ also reduces taxes due to GRA

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) under its Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with government, is robbing Guyana in more ways than one, a contention agreed to

by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press engagement at Office of the President on Tuesday when he described the arrangement as ‘lopsided.’

While differing on the ways with which the defects can be remedied, the Vice President also sought to bring clarity to a looming issue, namely whether EEPGL—ExxonMobil Guyana— can recover the two percent royalty it is supposed to pay to the country, on every barrel of oil ‘produced and sold from the Stabroek Block.’

Confronted with the issue recently, Jagdeo told reporters he did not want to venture a position he would have to walk back on in future and further, it should be a matter best dealt with by the technical people, namely the Guyana Revenue Authority and lawyers. On Tuesday last, however, the Vice President during an almost two-hour long press engagement, used the occasion to venture an answer, therein providing some clarity but in the process leaving more questions than answers.

DEFINITIVE ANSWER? The question had previously been posed to the Vice President by this publication and on Tuesday, he said, “now I can answer definitively because I have talked, I have spoken (sic) to GRA on the tax side so because the royalty is not cost deductible but it is GRA, based on our laws, are GRA tax deductible but they don’t come out of the cost bank so the contractor has to pay from its share, the two percent royalty to the government.”

This, however, translates to a dilemma, since the first part of the Vice President’s answer that under the Laws of Guyana, the royalty is listed as a tax deductible for tax purposes. What this means is that the royalty is a tax-deductible expense for EEPGL. This means that the royalty is paid out of E x x o n M o b i l G u y a n a ’s expenses—this much is

Royalty is a percentage of total production on any commodity, paid to the owner of the resources. Royalties are free and clear from any costs whatsoever.

Shadow Minister with responsibility for the oil and gas sector, AFC’s David Patterson

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during his press engagement on Tuesday

EEPGL’s-ExxonMobil Guyana’s-Financial Statement of Profit and Loss and other Comprehensive Income for 2020 and 2021

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton

AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan

corroborated in EEPGL’s own financial statements which outline royalty being paid as an expense. A royalty payment in the oil or gas process is a percentage of production paid to the owner of the resource, minus production costs. Royalties are free from costs and charges.

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS Under the PSA, expenses are recovered by the company out of the 75 percent of oil produced that is set aside as ‘cost oil’ for which recoverable amounts are to be paid. The PSA, does not in any way spell out that royalty is not recoverable, which based on the provisions of the contract, EEPGL recovers its expenses that include the royalty paid to Guyana.

Additionally, the taxes that are supposed to be paid to the GRA, calculated on the income on the oil operations is conversely lessened. This since, the amount of income on which the taxes are calculated on to be paid, is less, since EEPGL’s royalty expense is in fact tax deductible.

As such, it would mean that ExxonMobil Guyana

not only takes back the royalty it has been paying to Guyana but the amount calculated as owed to GRA lessened and inherently forgone to the oil companies operating the Stabroek Block.

The Vice President’s assertions, together with recent statements by ExxonMobil, still leave unanswered questions since the law dictates that the royalty be considered a tax deductible expense by Jagdeo and Exxon also claims the amount is paid being from the oil companies’ after tax share.

Jagdeo said, “…the contractor has to pay from its share, the two percent royalty to the government” while ExxonMobil asserts in word that the royalty is being paid from its share of profits, its financial lists it as an expense.

CRESCENDO The explanation as proffered, suggests that Guyana in fact earns more than ExxonMobil, since after cost oil—up to 75 percent of gross production—is deducted to meet recoverable and other operational expenses, the (Continued on page 17)

Guyana turns to Brazil’s Petrobras to sell its oil Guyana has turned to Brazilian state-controlled oil company Petrobras to offload its latest lift of crude from the Stabroek Block as part of its share of earnings from the oil operations there being led by Esso Exploration and Production Limited. While there have been no reports recently, both Petrobras and international media outfits including Reuters have confirmed the sale.

The sale would represent the first shipment of oil cargo to be marketed there for refining domestically, the company told Reuters.

The first one millionbarrel cargo of crude was loaded last week from the Liza Destiny and departed on Monday last onboard the Bahamas-flagged tanker Cascade Spirit, according to reports. The vessel plans to discharge in Brazil at month’s end, according to a Refinitiv Eikon data report.

With the start of a second floating production facility in February, Guyana now sells two light and sweet oil grades with plans to pump up to 360,000 barrels per day (bpd) this year.

Since January, Mataripe,

an independent refinery operated by Acelen and backed by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala, has bought two cargoes of Liza crude that marked Brazil’s first imports of Guyanese oil.

“The selection of crude grades varies depending on economic scenarios, trying to identify those that can meet domestic and international demand of refined products aiming at greater profitability for Petrobras,” the company said confirming the sale.

With two FPSO vessels expected to be in operation this year, it is anticipated that there will be 94 lifts from the Stabroek Block, 13 of which will be Government lifts.

This forecast according to Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, who in presenting the National Estimates for this year had said deposits into the Natural Resources Fund for this year is expected to come in at about US$957.6 million, comprising some US$857.1 million earned from the Government lifts of profit oil, and an additional US$100.5 million from

royalties.

In his January report, Dr. Singh had noted that from the commencement of oil production in December 2019 to the end of 2021, there were 69 lifts of oil exported from Guyana, of which nine were for Government. In March 2020, the US$54.9 million proceeds from our nation’s first lift of crude oil were deposited into the Fund, followed by the first royalty payment of US$4.9 million at the end of April 2020.

The Fund received US$185.4 million from four lifts of profit oil and US$12.9 million from royalties for the period March 2020 to December 2020.

In 2021, the Fund received US$357.2 million from Government’s share of profit oil, and US$52 million from royalties, and at the end of the year, the Fund’s cumulative balance stood at US$607.6 million.

That amount has since been earmarked as budget support with all of the earnings had from 2019 to the end of last year being injected into this year’s annual spending.

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Food security - a miracle in the making or a magicians trick

G

uyanese have been hearing about Food Security almost from the first day that they were able to understand a word of English. It is this same Food Security that came in for much talking up during the recent Investor Agri Expo in Guyana that was attended by regional heads of government. Every leader present had his or her say, felt good about themselves, made a good impression, and then the curtain came down.

Now we wonder what will follow next relative to delivery on commitments made, and fulfillment of promises and the big visions articulated. Everybody has to eat to exist, but the reality is that too many in this country and the wider region do not live with, or enjoy, this thing bandied about by politicians called Food Security.

The reality is that in societies that have a history of, and were built on, agricultural activities too many have to do without food on a daily basis; they live in a state of food insecurity. It could be in the quantity of food that they and their families have before them to partake of, or the quality of what is there, and which represents all that they can manage.

This is worrying, particularly in the instance of Guyana, which has so much rich agricultural lands. It is mystifying that this country has a $6 billion food import bill, and that staples such as ground provisions, fruits and vegetables, and greens can be so expensive, as to be out of the reach of those on the lower end of the economic ladder. As a nation, we have been talking boldly about Food Security in some from or the other since the days of Burnham, and we are still in the same shaky boat, with lack of cooperation, foreign tastes, and fighting at the regional level over who is monopolising certain areas and the need to level the food playing field.

One of the more recent developments concerned some give on tariffs between Guyana and Trinidad. Openness, access, and mutual movement have all been applauded, so there is waiting to see how far this goes, and how much it means for both societies. Trinidads Prime Minister spoke of his readiness to lead with transportation to assist in eliminating barriers and bottlenecks that interfere with improved Food Security results. We may, after all this talking and all this time, see some limited progress to make affordable food supplies accessible by more regional citizens.

The fact that citizens on the bottom end of the scale have to skip a meal, or partake of a lesser quality of food (due to finances), is both an insult and an embarrassment.

In the case of Guyana, with all of its land and its plentiful newfound oil riches, the embarrassment is more pronounced. We can make loud and pretty speeches about the fastest growing, and largest, GDP numbers in the world, but if our poor people cant get enough to eat on a daily basis, then we are not making fools of them, but of ourselves.

National leaders must stop playing politics, and going about their visions and missions in a piecemeal, haphazard manner. There has to be a broad strategic thrust that is comprehensive and inclusive, if we are going to make good on this promise of Food Security. Instead of a hop, skip, and a jump approach, Guyanas leaders should challenge experts in the agriculture field to come up with a fully fleshed out programme that has substance and which accelerates plans and moves to achieve this elusive national and regional Food Security that currently has its moment under the sun.

Instead of politicking, grandstanding, and showboating, our leaders must come up with what has as its core features, a solid structure, a scheme of incentives, easy land allocation, people who know what they are doing, emergency backup, and a ready outlet for the outcome of the efforts of our farmers. With all the rich talk of infrastructure and GDP and being the next Dubai, we must come down to earth and take stock. No citizen should be hungry in this society. No child should want for food. And no family should be without basics.

Elections 2020 CoI - it must lead to higher ground DEAR EDITOR, We are gearing up for a Commission of Inquiry (COI) on our 2020 elections. Everyone is for it, but I doubt that all would be excited about the outcome(s). As much as we will skewer old wounds, and create new ones, I am for a COI, even in the unilateral way it came about, which already signals trouble ahead. I am for one with expansive terms of reference, the kind of scope that peers in many corners, examines all players, identifies all wrongdoers, and tables all openings on the way forward.

I am dissuaded that we will reach there.

Listening to recollections and convictions of that damaging 2020 elections season, one thing becomes apparent immediately: the other side cheated, but not those making such claims.

I stop because the point should register. My point is simple: in this town, there are no innocents on most matters. Certainly, not on elections, which have always stood as the passport to plunder the public treasury for five years, while reassuring citizens that no such thing is taking place or that if it does, it is to benefit those being robbed.

While we desire to get to probe the 2020 elections and related shenanigans, I ask myself if the lining of our stomachs is tough enough to absorb the truths about the

last elections specifically, and elections generally. I return to the possible scope (ToR) of the COI, if it is expansive enough, and opens the door widely enough to drill down deeply enough, then I guarantee that we will not like what comes up about what brings us down during nationally savaging times.

For, relative to elections, any one of them, what thorough and competent postmortems of them are bound to reveal is the ugly reality, the harrowing truths, about each one of us. This is whether we voted or not or whether we never wrote a word or never stood up to utter a sentence, in defense of, or support for a side. This is what it distils to -one side or the other; the rest are mere shadows on the national stage.

Conspirators, sometimes; pretenders, most of the time; nothing, but bit players all the time.

The rawness of our elections is the rancidness and acute illness of this society.

It is not temporary. Inevitably, any elections inquiry boils down, and flares up, into PPP and PNC. Automatically, that leads to Indian and African.

This is what we will get, and I don t care how well the final language is nuanced.

Such sweetness doesnt diminish our racial bitterness; or a way out of the quicksand that traps us, bogs us down.

Unintentionally, I just reduced this upcoming COI to

its essences in two words: racial bitterness. That is, racial hatred, racial barbarousness, racial weakness, and racial visions of racial supremacy.

I challenge anyone from now: peel back the layers of testimony when done, and the documentation when officially reported, and it is where all truths reside. It speaks to you and me, all of us. Remember: there are no innocents, no outsiders, no exceptions. On this, I am absolute.

It is why there is cheating, and its fertile sister named claims of cheating. It is why men cheat before a single clean vote is cast, why they trick on the day itself, and how they continue to justify ever after.

The claims and counterclaims have been tiring, lack any ring of appealing duration where helping this nation extract itself from the gutter is concerned.

The truth is that we linger there, and find it inspiring. A few stalwarts keep trying to bring some honesty, integrity, dignity to this process but are blanketed out by those hearing only their own drums. So, we persist on the same road, ignoring the ongoing self-destructions.

Still, I think we can benefit from this COI. If there is possibly something to be had, we could use its scorching, limited, fruitful and fruitless, conclusions to lead us forward to what we really need.

But we must be frank with

ourselves that we insist on not leaning upon what dont do us any good, other than to keep the racial pot boiling at fever pitch. What we need is basis, starting point, launching pad to get to that place about learning of each other, understanding one another, and then reconciling differences. It is less of who did wrong and who did more of it; but of how we can do right with more of us for such an uphill fight. But first, there has to be a sober and tempered meeting of minds about if such is really part of our visions.

I have some hesitation as to whether we are capable of such demands on our well dug in, well-set positions. If not, we stall, no matter how much this COI delivers.

I pause on whether we really want something like reconciling and unifying, besides talking from one side of our mouths about those. At bottom, a COI must do more than furnish fodder for more blaming.

It must have as its sole objective taking to never travelled before higher ground.

In Guyanas Age of Oil, we cut the ground from under our feet, when we remain such committed enemies. Oil should be our glue, catalyst, energiser.

But it cant be, not when elections are our unraveling.

The COI may lay bare that, but what after that?

Sincerely, GHK Lall

On the brink of being re-enslaved DEAR EDITOR, Over the past few days, I have had conversations with young Guyanese between 20 and 40 years old.

They have recognised the rape of our natural resources, particularly gold, oil and gas.

Some read the excellent editorials and articles found in both the Kaieteur and Stabroek News.

They recognised that there are fast becoming part of a growing underclass and that they are slowly but surely being re-colonised, meaning that we are on the brink of being re-enslaved by the same people and attitudes that had our ancestors labour on the cotton and sugar plantations as slaves and indentured labourers.

History has shown that everywhere the colonisers were successful. Thanks to the cooperation, complicity and connivance of a small group of leaders in Africa and Asia, but particularly in the

African sub-continent.

So in Guyana, we have ambiguous statements by the PPP administration on the question of whether Exxon is recovering the 2% royalty from an oil block. What a wonderful place!

Will anything come out of the request by Leader of the Opposition and PNC Leader, Mr. Aubrey Norton to ask President Ali to require Vi c e - P r e s i d e n t Jagdeo to offer his resignation with respect to a suspicious but familiar sounding arrangement with a certain Mr. Su, Mr. Jagdeos tenant and neighbour and erstwhile friend? Just read the article “Guyana for Sale.”

Mr. Aubrey Norton is in order, when he made that request public, but young Aubrey must speak to the old political Gurus, like myself, to know that in the PPP, present and past, the General Secretary is the real Boss.

End of story.

Greed, averse and hunger for power are all-consuming.

In Guyanas so called democracy, these traits are ever present, so Mr. Su will be sued. Three cheers for a slothful judicial system.

The Administration appoints the wife of the former Minister of Home Affairs, who was posted to a Diplomatic position while a dark cloud of concern hovered over his head.

In a truly democratic society, the Head of an Integrity Commission should be one whose credentials and connections are impeccable.

Young Leaders may ask the Elders about that interesting person.

So the Commissioner of Police will investigate the circumstances that allowed the clumsy trailing of Mr. Aubrey Norton recently.

I am an optimist so lets wait and see, but just before writing this letter, I spoke with

a 32 year old technician from the Private Sector who came to make a delivery at my home and he didnt have an answer, when I said to him that, at his age, many of us were in the forefront fighting to end imperial exploitation.

He had no answer why there were not many of his age group fighting against this exploitation of our natural resources by a new breed of imperial masters supported by certain Guyanese Leaders.

I pointed out to him that I had put on the battle gear to win our Independence and that no matter what he may have heard of Forbes Burnham, had he been around the likes of Mr. Su and the likes of the giants of the gold and oil magnets could not, be as it appears to be calling the shots to a rather subservient administration purporting to speak on behalf of the people of Guyana.

Hamilton Green Elder

Thursday June 23, 2022

A Tale of Two Roads DEAR EDITOR, All things being equal, it appears that there is little or no fussing and fighting between government and the parliamentary opposition in respect to governments interior and coast-land road expansion programme.

Roads are the arteries through which the pulse of a countrys economy can be felt. They link producers to markets, workers to jobs, students to schools, pensioners to post offices the sick to hospitals and the dead to the cemeteries, crematoria or cremation sites.

Roads are vital to any countrys development agenda. They contribute significantly to the geographic re-balancing of the economy, reducing economic inequalities generally and between town and country specifically.

In this regard, Guyana is no exception.

If there are two particular roads that should reflect unity of purpose, at least conceptually, between the Government of Guyana and the Parliamentary Opposition, notwithstanding their disagreements on governance issues, they would be the road that was once known as the Del Conte Road and the recently inaugurated Linden to Mabura to Lethem Road.

Soon after the PPPs election victory in August 1961, the newly elected Cheddi Jagan government successfully secured assistance in the form of Contractor Finance.

Tenders were invited to construct a 30-mile long road on the right bank of the Essequibo River from Parika to Makouria. The road was to be linked by a ferry crossing to Bartica.

According to the Parliamentary Debates Official Report of the 5th Sitting of the Senate December 7, 1961, Mr. HJM Hubbard who at the time, was Minister of Trade and Industry moved a motion for the suspension of the Standing Orders to allow the Senate to proceed with the First and Second Reading of a Bill: LOAN (CONSORCIO EMPRESAS GRUPO DEL CONTE) BILL A Bill entitled: An Ordinance to authorise the Governor to issue Bonds in connection with the construction and financing of the ParikaBartica road.

Proceeding with the second reading of the Bill, Mr. Hubbard stated, “This is to me a very proud day, because it has fallen to my lot to initiate in this Senate a measure which will commence work on the fulfill-ment of a dream which Guianese have cherished since the beginning of

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time. It is my proud duty to move the Second Reading of a Bill, which provides for financial arrangements to allow a com-mencement to be made on the exten-sion of our road facilities. The Government is anxious that action should be taken to finalise the transaction to enable a start to be made on the construction of the Parika-Bartica road which will be financed as a result of this Bill.”

Minister Hubbard explained: “When the decision was taken that this road should be built, tenders were invited with a view to having the con-tractors participate in the financing of the operation. Bids were received and, having regard to cost, competence and the availability of contractor’s finance, government decided to award the contract to Consorcio Empressas Groupo Del Conte.

Mr. Hubbard continued: “The road which is to be built will link Parika with Bartica because the road will run from Parika to a point opposite Bartica, and there, a ferry built in our own shipyard in British Guiana will carry the passengers across and the quantities which will justify expensive and extensive mining operations. The great hinterland will lie at their feet after a journey which is not too difficult or too long”.

Continuing his presentation, Mr. Hubbard said, “Imagination is needed to see that our future lies in the interior and is, therefore, welcome. I would, however, like to point out that though the aim of this Bill is commendable government needs to be extremely careful in utilising a foreign concern.

Mr. Hubbard further explained; “Consorcio Empresas Grupo Del Conte is a Concern which has had ex-

perience in road building in Peru, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic and, so far as technical advice available to the Government is concerned, we are advised that they are competent to do the job. But also they have agreed that payment for the work should extend for a period of 10 years and that in satis-faction of the work they will accept bonds issued by the Government of British Guiana and bearing interest at the rate of 4 percent. This arrangement therefore arises out of our necessity to find finance in a form which is acceptable to us and the financier. The Bill, which it is my privilege to move, seeks to authorise the transaction and to provide that the interest earned should be free of income tax as is customary with loans which we float nowadays.”

The Bill was passed in the Senate without any amendments.

On December 8, 1961, the then British Governor, Sir Ralph Grey assented to Ordinance No. 42 of 1961 authorising the issuing of bonds in connection with the contracting and financing of the Parika to Bartica Road in favour of Consorcio Empressas Groupo Del Conte.

At first, The United Force sought to throw cold water on the project by referring to the political situation in Venezuela, issues related to financing, due diligence and the need for a public debate on the project. When all that failed, they sought to persuade the Del Conte Group not to finance any project under the Jagan government.

Three months later, in February 1962, opposition political parties including the PNC led by Forbes (Continued on page 6)

Benns illogical ban DEAR EDITOR, The recent pronouncement made by the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Robeson Benn after the happenings at the concert dubbed “Baderation”, has erupted much conversation and rightfully so. The Minister is quoted as saying, “I have to say here and now, that no artiste like “Skeng” will ever come again into this country, will not come again into this country under the signature of any person from the Ministry of Home Affairs or from the Guyana Police Force, will not come on a public stage. If they want, they can go into a private club and behave as badly as they want. We will not sign off on any such artiste or any artiste who has a record of promoting vulgar and lawless behaviour including the firing of gunshots in public places”.

It must be noted from the outset that “Baderation” was one of a series of concerts endorsed by Minister Benns friend in the Cabinet, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. Thus, these are very strong words expressed on the subject and they have raised a number of questions of which the answers are yet to be provided. It must be noted that Minister Benn had expressed similar views before and wanted similar actions to be executed on artiste

and music he didn’t find favour with. In 2013, the minister heard a calypso which was in his view, “abusive, and libelous or rather slanderous,” playing on the radio, and he went into the National Communication Network and demanded a copy, where an alleged ban on the song was made. He later indicated that there was no formal discussion in Cabinet to ban any of the years anti-government calypso songs. The question therefore is, was this action against Skeng by the Minister, birthed from a formal discussion and decision of Cabinet? Or was this a knee jerk, personal opinion of the minister and not a policy decision?

The public has a right to know. The minister further went on to describe the music as disgraceful. He made it clear that such music does not have a place in Guyana due to its lack of positive influence and message. I wonder, does he share similar views about violent movies shown at Cinemas and on the television? In agreeing that our society should promote more music that have positive messages, it is equally important for the minister to know, that music also highlights and exposes the realities of the society in which one lives. Minister Benn should first ask his Minister of Culture at Cabi-

net, what was being done specifically, to nurture new talents in clean music as of June 2022. Furthermore, it seems quite obvious that the minister was unaware that the very songs/music of the artiste which he condemns, and claims should have no place in Guyana, were being played daily, weeks in advance on several popular national radio stations, television and on several social media platforms, with much larger audiences than was present at the concert. Minister Benn, what prevented the larger society from moving to violence or violent behaviour since the entire country heard the same music? The same type of music and particularly from the very artiste “Skeng” is still being played after the minister’s statement and is apparently enjoyed by men in uniform that come under the portfolio of Minister Benn, as was seen most recently on social media, where firemen were having some fun and frolic. Editor, is the artiste to be blamed and held responsible for the happenings at the concert or the behaviour (Continued on page 18)

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A Tale of Two Roads...

From page 5 Burnham, the UF led by Peter DAguiar and the TUC mounted street demonstrations against the budget introduced by Dr. CR Jacobs PPP Finance Minister. By February 16, looting and destruction by fire of business places erupted in downtown Georgetown. The Del Conte Road project was torpedoed following the elections in 1964 that brought the PNC/ UF coalition to office.

Forty-nine years later, at a flag raising ceremony held at the National Park in May 2013, former President Donald Ramotar announced: “We are keenly examining the possibility of reopening the Del Conte trail via a road link between Parika and communities close to Bartica.”

He went on to say, “When constructed, the road has the possibility of opening up thousands of acres of new lands for agricultural cultivation thereby increasing food production and securing greater economic opportunities for farmers, while providing a much needed road link to areas formerly only accessible by river.” (G/C 30.5.2013) In its 2020 Election Manifesto under the theme Infrastructure Boom - Building For The Future, the PPP/C declared, The PPP/C government will initiate work on several transformative infrastructural projects that will include the Parika to Rockstone Del Conte Road and link to Bartica.

In his address at the 56th Independence Day rally at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast President Ali declared: “… understanding the need to access new areas of growth and to open

up new lands for new opportunities, we have commenced work on surveys and clearing the alignment for Timehri Sand Hill, Bartica road links [and] the Parika Goshen roadway …”

Two weeks after, government announced it was negotiating a US$100M loan through the IDBs Programme to Support Climate Resilience Infrastructure Development to upgrade the East Bank Demerara (EBD) road - between Grove and Timehri. (K/ N9.6.22) This should be a no brainer, since International Financial Institutions (IFIs) are known to lend more for roads than education, health social services and public security combined. And while roads bring economic and social benefits, they also bring social costs such as deforestation, air pollution, noise, residential displacement, accidents due to speeding and additional police presence.

On May 21, 2022, PPP/C Government officials along with the British High Commissioner turned the sod for the Linden to Mabura Road which, according to S/N; …will lead to a fully paved highway all the way to Lethem and open up massive business opportunities with Brazil. The project is the first link of the highway between Linden and Lethem and is the first segment of the approximately 450 kilometres thoroughfare. (S/N 22.5.22) The K/N (22.5.22) for its part, described the Linden to Mabura Road as; …the Caribbean Development Banks (CDB) single largest project to date that it; marks its largest geographic footprint. and

will bolster trade and commerce to unlock the vast opportunities in linking Guyana with Brazil.

Funding for the project is of great interest. Of a total cost of US$190m, the CDB will contribute US$112 million as a loan, a £50 grant (US$66m) will be provided by the UK while the GOG will provide US$12M, most likely as counterpart funds.

The PPP/C in its election manifestos (EM) has been consistent in pushing for the Linden-Lethem Road i.e.; For the economic development of the southern parts of the country and create opportunities for trade with neighbouring regions of Brazil (1997 EM); Improving the road to Brazil to deepen regional integration and improve access to Guyanas interior (2006 EM); To further enhance continental opportunities with our neighbours making Guyana a more attractive destination for investors seeking to penetrate the continental market (20011 EM); And, To intensify cooperation with Brazil to ensure a paved Linden-Lethem Road is completed to serve as a critical artery to many hinterland communities and mining areas while providing linkages between the two countries (2015 EM). Guyana now stands on the edge of a great tomorrow consistent with an appropriately designed Road Investment Strategy and its long-term vision for Guyanas roadways. In this respect, the Ali administration appears to be doing things differently from the haphazard methods of those who preceded them in the 2015-2020 period.

Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday June 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

In any decent nation, accusations such as those made against VP Bharrat Jagdeo would have seen the Head of State acting swiftly to get to the bottom of a matter that is severely embarrassing and discrediting his administration.

In fact, in any decent economy, earnest efforts would have already been made to investigate all loopholes, accusations and giveaways to uncaring oil companies and other so-called investors who come to plunder the country’s resources while giving very little in return.

Oil companies and dishonest businessmen need crooked government officials to rob citizens. The Chinese said it themselves in the VICE News report; they would be worried if Guyana was not corrupt.

What this means is that anytime a foreigner comes to a country and is acting outside of the law and what is moral, they are not doing it in isolation, our leaders are facilitating these illegalities.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Thursday June 23, 2022

‘Self-defence’ is an issue to be decided by the jury - DPP

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Hack Ali SC is defending her decision to send a murder trial to the High Court amid criticisms by a sitting judge who discharged the matter earlier this week.

In a statement issued on We d n e s d a y, t h e D P P explained that the reason for

her decision to commit former murder accused, Marlon Garrett to stand trial in the High Court. In fact, she claimed that the case is one of self-defence and selfdefence should be an issue for the jury to decide. Garrett was acquitted on Tuesday after High Court Justice Sandil Kissoon determined that the evidence against the

accused had been insufficient for him to be guilty for either the offence of murder or the lesser count of manslaughter.

The judge noted that based on the evidence provided to the court, the matter should not have even made it to the High Court after it was pointed to him that Garrett’s committal to

stand trial in High Court was based on the directive of the DPP herself.

Justice Kissoon nevertheless emphasised self-defence is a complete defence; therefore, the young man should have been acquitted a long time ago. The judge stressed that 22-year-old man had been incarcerated by the State over six years without an iota of evidence against him. He noted that based on the Caution Statement (CS) Garrett gave to police when he was 17 years-old, he was attacked by an unidentified man armed with a cutlass and he defended himself. Justice Kissoon also chided the prosecution over the fact the case was committed to the High Court in the face of an absolute “lack of evidence.”

However in her response, the DPP issued a statement citing “grave concerns,” over the “unfortunate comments,” made by the trial judge at the trial of Marlon Garrett. The DPP explained in the statement, that the victim died from perforation of the heart which was caused by a stab wound that was one of 4 incised wounds inflicted on him by the accused.

She explained that Garrett stated in a caution statement that he did stab the deceased and that he did it because he was attacked by

Former murder accused, Marlon Garrett.

DPP Shalimar Hack Ali SC

the deceased. According to the DPP, the accused alleged that the deceased attacked him with a cutlass. The DPP explained: that “No cutlass was found at the scene but he stated that he armed himself with a knife which he used to attack the deceased. There was evidence that he had a knife. According to the post mortem report, the deceased died from perforation of the heart which was caused by a sharp pointed instrument of at least 6 cm in length.”

“The accused admitted that he stabbed the deceased.

There was no evidence that he was attacked other than his mere oral statement,” Ali Hack added in the statement.

According to her in the circumstances, the evidence in this case raised the issue of self-defence. She stressed that “self-defence is an issue to be decided by the jury.”

“The jury is the judge of

the facts of the case. The trial judge is the judge of the law,” the DPP said in the release.

Garrett was indicted for murder over the September 11, 2016, stabbing of an unidentified man that took place at Robb and Bourda Streets. In May, the man opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when his case came to the High Court for the first time.

However on Tuesday, during his 2nd appearance before the High Court, Attorney, Ravindra Mohabir submitted a motion to have his indictment quashed on the grounds of lack of evidence.

After careful consideration, Justice Sandil Kissoon who was presiding over the case, determined that the prosecution was not sufficient and ordered the release of the man who had pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

US$10M extra funding for Commonwealth Small Island Developing States Commonwealth Secretariat secures US$10 million in extra funding for Small Island Developing States as Cambridge Collaboration pays dividends.

The Commonwealth S e c r e t a r i a t ’ s groundbreaking collaboration with Cambridge University has unlocked more than US$10 million of private financing for Small Island Developing States, despite the project only being halfway through its research phase.

According to a Commonwealth Secretariat release, sixty percent of the Commonwealth’s 2.5 billion population is under the age of 30. The Commonwealth Charter is explicit on the importance of placing young people at the heart of decisions affecting their future, including on climate change and sustainable development. The

Cambridge collaboration brings young people together with political leaders and world leading experts to generate and stress-test new policy ideas ahead of implementation. As part of the project, teams generate funding templates for Small Island Developing States to attract new investment in project designed to promote young participation and sustainable development.

Of the recently secured US$10 million, US$5 million will be provided by Simplilearn across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to provide 10,000 young people with digital training.

The remaining investment will come from GOQii as part of their effort to promote healthy lifestyles among young people, announced earlier this week, and from Pop India who will invest in youth connectivity and jobs in the Caribbean region.

This investment

represents a near 50-fold return on investment for the collaboration, which has more than a year remaining until the research is complete.

In its own investment announcement, GOQii thanked Secretary General Patricia Scotland and praised the Cambridge collaboration “for attracting sustainable development in Small Island Developing States, which will underpin our efforts” The Secretary-General said, “Attracting finance for Small Island Developing States to engage young people in shaping their sustainable futures is a major challenge.

I am delighted that our collaboration with Cambridge University is already bearing fruit and unlocking finance for the states, which most need it.

We will look to take this work from strength to strength.”

Thursday June 23, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The COI does not prejudice an election petition

T

he issue of consul tations for a Com mission of Inquiry (COI) does not arise. Commissions of Inquiry are fact-finding bodies. There is therefore no need for any consultation in establishing a fact-finding investigation into the General and Regional Elections of 2020.

What will be the objective of having consultations? And how can the Opposition which stands accused of attempting to benefit from the rigging of the elections be part of any consultations about the elections. This is like asking an accused person to pick his own jury.

The APNU+AFC has never demanded that a COI be held into the elections. So why are they so suddenly interested in consultations on the COI for the 2020 general and regional elections?

One person within the ranks of the Opposition party has made it clear that the truth can only be known through an election petition and not through a COI. Another has said that the establishment of the COI is an attempt to thwart the elections petition.

An election petition however is concerned with the validity of the election.

The CCJ noted that via an election petition, the High Court can declare that the number of valid votes cast for a list of candidate differs from the number of votes upon which seats in the National Assembly were allocated and can also order fresh elections in whole or in part.

The government, however, cannot be blamed for the

fate of the election petitions.

It was not the government, which failed to properly serve notice on one of the respondents to the election petition.

A COI goes much further than an election petition.

A COI can investigate issues beyond the validity of votes, including identifying persons who may have been culpable in thwarting the democratic will of the people.

Perhaps, it is this potential aspect of the COI, which has triggered fears within the Opposition.

The hosting of the COI does not prejudice the election petition case, which is presently before the CCJ. A fact-finding investigation cannot invalidate or validate the elections. The Opposition therefore should not fear that the COI will validate the elections results.

In relation to the election petition, the CCJ will determine whether the hearing of the election petition can proceed.

This is strictly a legal matter. In the meantime, the holding of a COI does not in any way thwart any future hearing of the election petition case. Indeed, the findings of the COI may be used by the Opposition to bolster its case in any election petition.

The holding of the COI also allows the Opposition an opportunity to provide the public with evidence that first, as it claimed, its Statements of Poll establish that it won the elections.

It was a member of the AFC who said that the Recount process would have established that the Coalition

won the elections. It did the opposite. The APNU+AFC can use the COI to make the case that it won the elections.

The COI will also provide the Opposition with the chance to provide the evidence that the dead and migrated voted. The COI provides a much better forum for its witnesses to show that there were massive irregularities in the elections.

If the PPP/C can be blamed for anything, it is its prevarication in launching this COI. The President himself during his inauguration address promised a forensic probe into the elections.

A COI allows the Opposition far more scope for presenting its case, than a forensic probe. The Opposition therefore should not be complaining. But everyone knows the real reasons why the Opposition is likely to not want a COI. The Opposition will continue to harp about an election petition. It will do so while conveniently disregarding its own failures to properly bring such a petition before the High Court.

Recently, there was an attempt to have GECOM conduct a review of the elections.

But those bringing this matter before GECOM failed to recall that this issue of a review was ventilated during legal arguments before the CCJ. The CCJ had said then that neither GECOM nor the Court of Appeal could trespass on the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court to hear an election petition. The CCJ had said that the Chairperson

Dem boys seh...

Dats wat friends are for A friend in need is a friend indeed. Nuff times when yuh deh bad, is only yuh friend does come to yuh rescue.

Dats wat friends are for.

As de lyrics of de song goes: “Keep smiling, keep shining Knowing you can always count on me, for sure That’s what friends are for For good times and bad times I’ll be on your side forever more That’s what friends are for.”

Some friends come with benefits. But a friend who is

only a friend because of the benefits is no friend at all.

Last Sunday, a man lose he good friend. He talk how de friend abuse de friendship.

Well is mostly yuh friends and yuh other loved ones wah does stab yuh in yuh back.

Dat is de way of de world.

Dem boys know wat it is to lose a dear friend. Even though yuh vex with dem, yuh does miss dem company. In yuh lonely hours, yuh does remember de good times yuh bin had together and yuh

does lang fuh dem times fuh return.

We all does need someone to lean on. And dere is no better shoulder to support yuh burdens dan dat of a friend. As Bill Withers did sing: “Lean on me When you’re not strong And I’ll be your friend I’ll help you carry on...”

But as de saying goes, once bitten, twice shy. Sometimes de best ah friends does gat to part.

Talk half. Leff half.

of GECOM was right to note that GECOM lacks the legislative authority and machinery to adjudicate on elections irregularities.

The COI now provides an avenue for a fact-finding investigation into the elections, including the so-called ir-

regularities. But the Opposition will most likely find an excuse not to take up this offer.

(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

Thursday June 23, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The reason why the 2020 election was controversial H

ere are the words of longs t a n d i n g G E C O M Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, in the newspaper recently: “Those statements of poll (SOPs) are no longer a source in relation to who won or lost the elections.

Their relevance and usefulness in that regard were nullified by the recount that produced statements of recount that were relied on for the purpose of declaring the results.”

There is a huge fault in that observation that actually renders it a comical outlook.

The flaw is so conspicuous that any school child can pick it up. But before we point it out, a word about the characteristics of Homo sapiens is relevant. By the time a person’s thought patterns are formed, that person knows human characteristics make a long list, one of which is selfishness.

Any victory in a game of cricket, soccer, basketball, etc., becomes controversial if a captain or coach decides to be wicked and make a damning accusation which has no basis. Any beauty competition can descend into chaos if one of the losers decides to be mischievous and mouth off a nasty fiction.

In an age of social media, the ensuing controversy can become tsunamic.

Let’s quote Alexander once more: “This situation has moved me to pen this letter of factual clarification to provide those who are interested in the facts, and ultimately the truth, with information that may aid them in their search for the truth.” In Guyana, facts, truths, values, mores, standards, etc., since March 2020 have all become what beauty is – residing in the eyes of the beholder.

To d a y i n s u r r e a l , irrational Guyana, people who are into hatred, into demonising others, into

racial preaching, into political wickedness, proclaim facts and truths that are into pathetic fact, repellant fictions. Just pick up the newspapers and you see writers proclaiming their love of humanity, and embrace of democracy and they are the biggest inciters whose fictions are overbearing.

One of the most sickening characteristic of Guyanese society is that those who advocate Guyana to stop racial preaching and begin racial healing are themselves contributors to the deteriorating racial landscape. This double standard is not just an episodic appeal, it is a daily output. Just read the editorials and letters in the press.

We come now to the facts, the real facts, the objective facts which may not be facts for those who do not want to accept the realities that are inescapable in the world around us. The

reason why Mr. Alexander says the SOPs are not important any longer because the statements of recount have rendered them outdated is because there was a recount. But there should never have been a recount.

There was no need for a recount of the March 2020 votes because there was no incident that made a recount necessary. The system worked on polling day, the voters were transparently cast, the votes were transparently counted, the observers performed credibly.

A recount was made into a reality because one of the captains, one of the coaches, one of the beauty contestants refused to accept the results of the process, refused to accept the outcome and instigated a controversy. We come now to a second recount. There wasn’t one.

Why? Because after the first recount, there were plans to reject its outcome.

This columnist has written twice on information provided Frederick Kissoon b y t r u s t e d election. We did not have a confidential sources in the APNU+AFC fortress recount of several national that after the recount showed elections that was held in a PPP victory, the stratagem C A R I C O M a f t e r t h e was for the three PNC Guyanese poll in March commissioners to resign thus 2020. Why? Because losers postponing an official accepted the result. Last GECOM meeting to declare Sunday, President Macron became a minority president the result of the recount.

W h y t h a t d i d n o t after his party lost a happen? The Secretary of parliamentary majority.

State, Mike Pompeo made a There was no recount. Why? phone call to Guyana. There Because Macron accepted was no second recount. The the result.

You can administer the rest is history. The SOPs of the March 2020 general smoothest sport contest, elections in Guyana is a beauty contest, general piece of paper that is viewed election, etc. However, if with trepidation by those selfish souls want to create trouble, they will and who lost.

That paper is the key to controversy will be born. It is understanding why a recount easier to create a controversy was unnecessary and why than kiss the palm of your the recount was a stratagem hand.

(The views expressed in to reject what was on that this article are those of the paper.

The SOPs revealed and a u t h o r a n d d o n o t to this day still reveal that the necessarily reflect the A P N U + A F C l o s t t h e opinions of this newspaper.)

Thursday June 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Thursday June 23, 2022

Heavy rains lash several hinterland communities - flooding streets, forcing residents to evacuate homes Scores have been forced to evacuate their homes as massive floods hit Kwakwani, Upper Berbice, Region 10, Mahdia, Region 8 and a number of communities along the Cuyuni River, Region Seven.

Last year, these and other regions across Guyana suffered after the country recorded the highest amount of rainfall in decades. As the country is currently in its May/June rainy season, the floods have returned and while many are scampering to higher grounds, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in a release stated that government ministers will be visiting to affected areas t o d e l i v e r, f o o d a n d

sanitation hampers. Kaieteur News correspondent in L i n d e n , Va n e s s a Braithwaite, reported that flood victims of Kwakwani are evacuating their homes and moving to higher grounds as the water continues to swell in the Upper Berbice community.

Calls are even being made for them to permanently evacuate and not return as the flood-prone areas such as Lamp Island and the Waterfront are hit severely on a yearly basis during the seasonal rains. As of Tuesday, she reported, community leaders related to her that there is need for urgent help. Regional Councillor representing the district, Elroy Adolph,

Flood Scene from Mahdia, Region Eight (Photo Credit: Harley Joseph)

Flood Scenes from Kwawani, Upper Berbice, Region 10

e x p r e s s e d h i s disappointment that since the flooding started in May, no response has been made by the Civil Defense Commission.

“I’m calling on the CDC for assistance, the nursery school teachers and children cannot go to school if they have to use cars, because the cars will have to stop work down at the Waterfront, and if they don’t have boats, they won’t be able to go across from the Crushing Plant to the Waterfront so we need assistance from the Education Department as well,” Adolph told Braithwaite. He stated that the floodwater in some areas is as high as six to eight feet.

“So you could imagine, the volume of water that is in the area coming down from the upper part of the Berbice River, rain is falling every day, last night we had a pretty long shower of rain, some people already move to their relatives in the Kwakwani Park, while some do not have place to go as yet, they are seeking higher ground, so I

Scene from Eteringbang, Region Seven

am appealing to the CDC to see what assistance they could render to the folks in the Lamp Island area,” Adolph related to the Kaieteur News.

In the interim, the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) is reportedly trying to assist as much as possible but currently, there (Continued on page 16)

Scene at Cumang (Photo Credit: Roxana Da Silva/Guyana South America)

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 23, 2022

PAGE 13

Sod turn for US$300M Vreed-en-Hoop shore base facility

O

n Tuesday, the sod was turned for the US$300 million Vreeden-Hoop Shorebase Inc. (VEHSI) which will sit on 400 hectares of coastal land.

The VEHSI is being constructed by NRG Holdings Incorporated, a 100-percent Guyaneseowned consortium along w i t h H a d i ’s Wo r l d Incorporated, National Hardware Limited and ZRN Investments Incorporated are the Guyanese investors involved in the project.

They have partnered with Jan de Nul Group, a Belgian engineering and construction firm which offers marine services, offshore service, civil engineering, environmental management activities and project development.

The sod-turning exercise which took place at the project site, Plantation Best,

We s t C o a s t D e m e r a r a (WBD) signals the commencement of the construction of a US$300 million facility for oil major ExxonMobil Guyana to provide shore base services to its upcoming US$10B Yellowtail development offshore Guyana.

Notably, several vessels are already in Guyana’s waters to commence the first phase of the project with a December 2023 deadline for completion.

One of the main vessels, the Zheng He, will facilitate the deepening, widening and dredging of the access channel, as well as land reclamation.

It also includes an offshore terminal, dry dock facility and fabrication yard spanning 65 hectares.

Once the first phase is completed, the second phase which involves deepening the dredging of the access

Officials at the sod turning event on Tuesday. [Azruddin Mohamed photo]

canal and expanding reclamation will come on stream.

Both projects are

expected to be completed by 2024.

The local investors are confident that this

transformational venture will among other things; significantly reduce the cost of shipping, while creating a

springboard facility that will aid in the development of other local service provision companies here.

Man charged for killing co-worker Ramps Logistics says denied content certificate who refused to drink with him - PSClocal expresses concerns about bundling of contracts Seon Russell, the man accused of fatally shooting his co-worker late last month, was on Tuesday remanded to prison after being charged with murder.

Thirty-five-year-old Russell called ‘Basha’ of Aliki, Essequibo River, made his first court appearance in the Bartica Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Crystal Lambert, where the charge was read to him.

Russell was not required to plead to the charge which alleges that on May 28 at Tiger Creek, Essequibo River, Region Seven, he murdered 29-year-old Rohit Hansraj called ‘Master’ of Wakenaam, Region Three.

After he was remanded to prison, Magistrate Lambert then adjourned the matter to July 14, 2022.

Kaieteur News had reported that the father of two was killed following an argument, which he had with the suspect. The men were employed with Toolsie Persaud Logging Company as operators and were very good friends.

Police in a statement had reported that around 14:00hrs that day, Hansraj, along with two other workers, was consuming alcohol at the area, when the suspect approached one of the other workers and accused him of “looking” at his wife.

According to police,

Remanded, Seon ‘Basha’ Russell Dead, Rohit ‘Master’ Hansraj Hansraj had intervened and managed to get the suspect to return to his cabin. The suspect, shortly after, returned with a shotgun and he and Hansraj got into a heated argument which then t u r n e d d e a d l y. P o l i c e revealed that the suspect discharged a round from the firearm, which struck Hansraj to his upper left shoulder area.

One of the dead man’s sisters, Lilowti Hansraj had related to this publication that Hansraj’s wife who was at the scene told them that on the day of the shooting, the suspect who was already in an intoxicated state had approached Hansraj to drink with him.

She learnt that Hansraj had refused to drink with the man and had asked him to go to his cabin and sleep. The man continued to ask her brother to drink with him but he still refused. It was because of his refusal, the suspect became angry at her

brother. According to the woman, the man started to curse Hansraj and allegedly threatened to kill him and everyone who was at the scene.

After threatening them, the suspect left and returned shortly after with a handgun pointing it at Hansraj. “He come and point the gun to my brother and said he don’t bluff, and she (Hansraj’s wife) said when he point the gun, she scream and then he fire the shot straight to my brother chest,” Lilowtti stated.

After the incident, Russell had reportedly escaped from the scene and subsequently, a wanted bulletin was issued for him.

Hansraj, who was described as a very friendly person, leaves to mourn his twoyear-old and five-year-old sons and other relatives.

Tr i n i d a d i a n - o w n e d Ramps Logistics Guyana Inc has complained that it was denied a local content certificate.

The company in a statement on Wednesday said: “The recently passed Local Content Act stipulates that a company must have a local content certificate to operate in the Guyana Energy Sector. Ramps Logistics Guyana Inc. has followed all the required guidelines to apply for this Certificate and was denied.

Against that backdrop, we are hosting a press conference to share information that has recently come to hand in the matter that is relevant to all companies and investors seeking to invest in Guyana”.

According to statement Ramps said it is a leading provider of freight forwarding and supply chain management services. “For over 30 years we have been offering transportation and logistics solutions. Our customised technology and solutions support the way our customers want to do business, wherever they are in the world.

Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in a statement highlighted its concern over the bundling of contracts in the oil sector, thereby hindering local businesses from participating in tenders for

Chairman of the PSC, Paul Cheong

the provision of services or goods. On Wednesday, the business body in a statement stated its support for the Government of Guyana’s intention to take strong action against entities found attempting to evade the Local Content Law. This issue has been highlighted several times since the approval of the legislation in December last y e a r, a n d s u b s e q u e n t gazetting of the Law. According to the private sector body, “The PSC is concerned by the ongoing practice to bundle contracts which often limits local businesses participating in the value chain. The Commission will continue its advocacy to ensure that the Local Content Law aids the utilization of Guyanese goods and services and supports skills development,

and the training and employment of citizens.”

It added that it recognizes the commitment shown by the Government to ensure that Guyanese benefit from the oil and gas industry, but notes that the onus is also on the business community to support implementation of the Act. To this end, the PSC called on local businesses to get registered with the Local Content Secretariat at Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown and share their experiences regarding local content.

Several businesses have been complaining about foreign companies taking advantage of the Local Content Law by bundling contracts to ensure they do not benefit. Today, Ramps Logistics Guyana will host a (Continued on page 17)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday June 23, 2022

‘I wasn’t given a hearing’ Legal advice is being sought on the motion to suspend eight opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) for the ruckus, they created in the National assembly late last year.

The motion is set to be tabled at the next sitting of the National Assembly.

A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Parliamentarian, Ganesh Mahipaul told Kaieteur News on Tuesday, that while he is yet to receive confirmation on the decision from the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges, he already reached out to his lawyer for advice on the matter. Mahipaul is among seven other APNU+AFC MPs; Sherod Duncan, Christopher Jones, Vinceroy Jordan, Annette Ferguson, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Maureen A. Philadelphia, and Tabitha Sarabo-Halley who will be suspended.

The motion to suspend expected to be tabled in the National Assembly is as a result of a decision made at the level of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee following the ruckus which was caused in the House at the December 29, 2021, during the passage of the Natural Resource

APNU+AFC Parliamentarian, Ganesh Mahipaul.

Fund (NRF).

The NRF Bill 2021 was passed in the National Assembly amid chaotic inHouse protest by the Opposition a Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) MPs. Last January, the names of eight opposition parliamentarians were submitted and considered by the committee for disciplinary action to be meted out.

Earlier this week, Kaieteur News was reliably informed that the committee had come to a decision to sanction the eight MPs. However, Mahipaul is adamant that the decision that was taken provides a

basis for a legal challenge.

He explained that this is due to the fact that he believes that he was not given a fair hearing over the allegation made against him by the Privileges Committee.

He continued: “I had received a letter from the committee which stated that I was being accused of ‘grave misconduct,’ and ‘wrongdoings’ and that I should write to the committee to show cause why I should not be disciplined. I responded to the letter asking for specifics of this grave misconduct and wrongdoing that I was alleged to have committed because these are wide and ambiguous terms…

However, I am yet to receive a response from the committee and now through the Kaieteur News I have learnt that a decision was taken to sanction myself and other opposition MPs.” The APNU+AFC MP told Kaieteur News that this is grounds for litigation. He noted while he is yet to receive official word from the committee, he is already looking to challenge the matter in a court of law.

He said, “A number of things played out here one [1] is that I was not afforded an opportunity to plead my

case in keeping with the constitution and laws of natural justice and two [2]; the committee in itself may have been operating from a place of conflict and bias, since the very people who brought the accusation, deliberated and made the decision to suspend…”

“The accusers were judge, jury and executioner…this matter should not be dealt in the like m a n n e r. I t s h o u l d b e challenged in before a court of component jurisdiction or by an impartial tribunal…” added Mahipaul.

In the meantime, Kaieteur News understands while no date has been set for the motion to be tabled in the National Assembly, the Privileges Committee has recommending that four of the MPs Philadelphia, Halley, Jordan and Ferguson be suspended for six sittings of the House while the others are to be suspended for four consecutive sittings.

Last December, when Minister, with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, was invited by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir – to deliver his remarks on the Bill – the opposition MPs erupted with chants, “No thieving Bill must pass!” as they slammed

- MP Mahipaul to legally challenge decision to suspend Opposition MPs

the bottom of their plastic water bottles to their desks in rhythmic fashion and some of them even took the mace from the Speaker Desk.

Following the chaotic display, recommendations were made for the MPs to be taken before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee and face disciplinary action.

Government Chief Whip and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, had called for the Opposition MPs to be cited for the “gross misconduct.”

Teixeira in tabling the motion cited Standing Order 32 which states “(2) Any Member desiring to raise a matter under this Standing Order shall first obtain leave of the Speaker who will determine whether the Member is entitled to raise the matter as a question of privilege.

The Minister noted that the events of December 29 will go down in the annals of the Guyana Parliament as disgraceful and that in the age of technology the evidence of the conduct of the Opposition is indisputable. She argued that the space between the government side and the opposition in any parliament

is considered a “safe zone” and that was breached.

“The safe space and any entrance without permission is interpreted as an act of aggression and a threat to the safety of the members of parliament…These events that transpired in this House, the stealing and the damage to the mace of Parliament, deliberate (and) willful damage to the equipment of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the control communication room, the assault on a member of staff, the repeated disregard for the Speaker and the authority of the Assembly require stern measures. As a consequence, so I brought and sought your leave and received your permission to bring a privilege motion…,” Teixeira said.

The motion, which was not circulated prior to its reading, said that the APNU+AFC coalition MPs conducted themselves in a “ g r o s s l y, d i s o r d e r l y, contumacious and disrespectful manner and in p a r t i c u l a r, r e p e a t e d l y disregarded and disrespected, ignored the authority of the Assembly and the Speaker thereby committing contempt and breaches of privilege.”

Opposition takes protest to OP over Su revelation Leaders and supporters of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) and the Alliance For Change ( A F C ) o n We d n e s d a y protested the Office of the President (OP), demanding that Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo vacate his office and an independent investigation be conducted into the allegations leveled against him in a damning Vice News report.

I n t h e Vi c e N e w s documentary, the VP’s friend Su Zhi Rong is heard telling the undercover journalists that Jagdeo collects bribes to get business done in the country.

Speaking to reporters during the public demonstration was AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Juretha Fernandes who insisted that the allegation cannot be merely swept under the rug. “When allegations are laid against leaders within our country, it is our duty as citizens to demand an investigation into the matter. We cannot accept that this should just be swept under the carpet.”

Opposition supporters demand that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo vacate office to pave way for an independent investigation (photo credits: Sherod Duncan) The MP pointed out that in no other part of the world does a person exonerate themselves from an allegation by claiming “based on this, I have been cleared”. Also on the protest line was Opposition members of Parliament Sherod Duncan, Christopher Jones and Tabitha SaraboHalley.

Duncan argued that Jagdeo “must go”. He said,

“This kind of corruption that is endemic with the PPP, it must go. We have had enough of it and we will take no more. We cannot have this, we know what Jagdeo entails we have two terms of it and then they have come back now with all of this.”

Further, he reasoned that the VP is yet to explain to the nation what exactly he meant when he said that his Chinese friend ‘has all the support’

and ‘handles all the business.’

Jones confidently told reporters, “It says in that documentary that the Vice President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is involved in corrupt practices in which he takes bribes in order for people to get business contracts etcetera in this country. That in itself will serve as a deterrent to any investor wanting to

invest in any country because unlike the PPP, many investors abroad don’t like to be involved in corrupt practices and be involved with corrupt governments.”

Meanwhile, SaraboHalley shared, “The PPP has no real interest in ensuring good governance. They have no interest in being anti corrupt…my take on it is that there is not going to be any movement from the PPP

without public pressure.”

She also pointed out “when the man said, he was trying to get Jagdeo to decide whether or not he’s gonna take the bribe, Jagdeo did not (object) at that point and said you know what, what are you talking about, I’m not interest in this. This is not what I’m about, this is not what I came here for…he said no Su will handle that.

(Continued on page 16)

Thursday June 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Thursday June 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

One more COVID-19 death, 107 new cases LAND FOR SALE LFS in Sheriff & Campbell v i l l e . Te l : 6 5 6 - 1 0 3 3 .

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CAR RENTAL

An unvaccinated 85-yearold woman from Region Two is the countrys latest COVID-19 fatality.

This is according to the Ministry of Health, which o n We d n e s d a y r e p o r t e d

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area.Call:615-9132.

Experienced driver.Apply in person Wieting & Richter, Water St Georgetown.

taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 66,695.

The dashboard data shows that two patients are admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 22

persons are in institutional isolation, 831 in home isolation and one is in institutional quarantine.

To date, a total of 64,591 persons have recovered from the virus.

Heavy rains lash several hinterland...

Opposition From page 12 floods, even as some grocery attention will be paid to Reare no shelters available for shops were almost covered. gion Seven, Region Eight and takes protest the affected residents. Last Kaieteur News was told that Region 10, where many comyear, the residents took up several small communities munities are flooded”, CDC in the schools but with within Mahdia have also suf- stated. According to the to OP over... shelter the resumption of face-to- fered. Shop owners lost hun- CDC, 200 households were

Aidan's Car Rental.Tel:6281 1 8 3 . From page 14 That suggests that there is something going on.”

The MP added that Jagdeo must say how much rent is being collected by Su monthly, as she believes this is one way in which the bribe WANTED monies can be transferred.

1 cook to work in Charity The Vice News documentary Essequibo.Contact:223- premiered on Sunday in 5 2 7 3 / 2 2 3 - 5 2 7 4 . which the Chinese friend and Land to buy in Parfaite businessman, Su Zhi Rong is Harmonie or anywhere on heard in the interview accusthe West Coast.Tel:673-7087. ing Jagdeo of allegedly acFemale counter clerk and cepting bribes for large develwaitress to work shift $20- opmental projects undertaken $25,000 wkly.Tel:610-3974. in the country. Jagdeo has denied the allegations and has 1 experienced kitchen assis- since signaled that he will take tant age 35-45yrs 6-3:00pm, legal action against the Chi$20,000 Mon-Sat. Con- nese businessman and also tact:656-9351/619-1640. promised to evict him from his Female to take care of an eld- property. erly male,age 25-40 in Trinidad. Accommodations WANTED provided.Call or WhatsApp 1 8 6 8 6 8 3 1 5 2 8 . Experienced cashier and 1 general cook/general counter person. “Apply kitchen assistance to work in @Shanta’s 225 Camp and Market Sts. kitchen,preferably from the New East Bank.Call:667-8441.

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VACANCY

that as a result of this, Guyanas COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,249.

Meanwhile, in its upd a t e d C O V I D - 1 9 d ashboard, the Health Ministry recorded 107 new infections,

face learning, this would not be possible. At least one couple has reportedly decided to squat on the road, since no shelter is available.

One resident said, “We just decided to move before the water catch me so we will stay at the road corner here.”

While another added, “Water just coming and coming all the time so I have to move up higher”.

Mahdia hard hit Across in the Region Eight town of Mahdia, residents are also battling severe flash flooding as the creeks overflowed their banks. Photos and videos posted on the various social media platforms showed how devastating the flood is for the Mahdia residents. Streets were swallowed up in the

dreds of thousands in stocks while residents scampered to higher grounds as water levels rose at a rapid pace. The story was no different for the Cuyuni, Region Seven district, only this time some of the residents were better prepared.

The mining communities of Eteringbang and Cumang were flooded severely last year and when some residents saw the waters rising over the weekend, they began to moving to higher grounds. Shop owners from Eteringbang, however suffered losses and a few residents are still trapped as buildings are almost covered with water.

Meanwhile, the CDC reported on Wednesday that special attention will be these regions. “To this end, special

affected by the severe floods in Region 10, mainly in the areas of Kwakwani , Rockstone, and Speightland.

Another 180 and 15 farms were inundated in Region Nine.

Additionally, related the CDC, parts of Region One, Region Three, Region Five and Region Six are also underwater. To offer support to the affected residents living in these areas, CDC highlighted that the government through its respective agencies will deliver food and sanitation hampers, purification tablets and collapsible onegallon bottles.

Officials from the Ministry of Health will also be out in the fields to deal with any flood-related or water borne disease.

Thursday June 23, 2022

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Opposition calls for broad-based approach to determining election CoI ToR - says GECOM still relevant body for review The Opposition Coalition has reiterated its firm position that any review into the contentious 2020 General Elections should be conducted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM. However, in light of the recently announced presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the contentious 2020 election, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is demanding that the government, Opposition Coalition and CoI Commissioners collectively determine the Terms of Reference (ToR) to guide the process and ensure some sense of fairness regarding the review.

The PNCR, during a press conference yesterday said that neither the party, nor its Coalition partners was consulted regarding the President’s decision to hold the CoI or to identify those serving on the Commission, despite the impact the review could have on all those concerned. The party sees the announcement by President Irfaan Ali to host the COI as a distraction interfering with the judicial process relating to the election petition which was filed by the Opposition post 2020 polls.

PNCR’s executive member, Rear Admiral Gary Best said that the party recognises the CoI as interference in the judicial process of the election petition and a distraction to the issues in the public

sphere. “The fact that there is a commission of inquiry which is under the hands of the president and at the same time, the president’s party is to be investigated in a judicial process and the process of the CoI, to us that speaks to the fact that only one side will be preparing the evidentiary processes for the CoI. So, we therefore suggest strongly to the president and to the commissioners that in the interest of fairness and justice, the government and the Opposition should determine, along with the commissioners what are these TORs…” Best pointed out that it is important to recognize that GECOM is the body responsible for conducting elections in Guyana. The party is interested therefore in the review

by GECOM of its internal affairs and the court taking its natural course regarding the election petition. He added that, “The setting up of a COI is a clear attempt to hoodwink the Guyanese public by introducing a process which is of

less judicial value than the very election petitions. It is important to note also, that a COI is not a court of law. Our own Commission of inquiry Act allows for hearsay evidence, it allows for accusations of misconduct being made without any built-in rules of natural justice or procedural fairness to safeguard the rights and interests of people who might be so affected.”

In the case of the election petition, Best said, it is a legal process in which evidence is considered and the decisions of the Court are binding in law and on the parties to it. “Obviously, the PPP’s intention is to smear the character and reputation of persons who would be averse to them in the election petitions. Therefore, a COI cannot provide any judicial finality to the Guyanese citizens on electoral malpractices during the 2020 General and Regional Elections. The Petitions can and will (do that),” the PNCR member stated. The Rear Admiral reminded that the

Exxon taking back 2% royalty paid to...

From page 3 remaining 25 percent profit is then split 50/50 after which Exxon pays the royalty from its share of profit. Its Financial Statements for the past two years (2020 and 2021) however, does not corroborate but instead lists royalty as an after expense collectively with other recoverable costs such as Exploration, Production and Exploration Costs to be deducted from the total revenue in order to arrive at the entity’s comprehensive profit for the year.

The crescendo on Tuesday regarding the nature of the royalty payment comes on the heels of a barrage of uncertainty that had been expressed by senior leaders of government. These include, Jagdeo who, last week, three years after Guyana began producing oil, was unable to provide clarity saying instead, “I don’t want to venture public positions that I may have to walk back on at some point in time so I will be

a bit cautious on this,” he told the newspaper.

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton was also asked to weigh in on the state of affairs this past week and he too was unable to provide a definitive response. According to Norton when asked, “If it is royalty, it cannot be recoverable,” and was adamant, the Stabroek block PSA doesn’t make royalty recoverable.

Former Minister of Infrastructure, and current Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, David Patterson also told the Kaieteur News that the two percent, “is not supposed to be recoverable.” He was of the view based on his understanding of the PSA, Guyana’s two percent royalty is not supposed to be recovered by the oil company.

UNAWARE Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and former Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, submits that during the Coalition

government’s handling of the PSA, there was no provision in the document for Exxon to reclaim the two percent royalty. As such, he said he is “unaware” that the payment is recoverable. Ramjattan added too that if the oil company is in fact reclaiming the royalty, it “goes against the contract”, in his view.

Winston Jordan, who was Finance Minister under the last administration, had told the Kaieteur News, “absolutely not,” that the two percent royalty is not recoverable by the oil companies. He even mentioned that the oil company itself has stated that the two percent royalty is coming out of its profit.

Additionally, this publication had reported that in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) instead of the companies paying royalties out of their share of profit oil, the weak oil contracts (PSAs) left that country actually making those payments on behalf of the foreign oil company.

People’s Progressive Party is a party to the election petition and the COI and that the President cannot be a judge and jury in his own cause. As such, the party reiterated that the constitutional GECOM body should conduct its own independent review.

Outside of this, Best said that the Coalition has nothing to fear from the CoI. He said that the CoI is supposed be looking into the general elections process and he believes persons from all political parties could be called to offer evidence. But if it should be suggested that the COI is to look into the wrongdoings of the Coalition’s action of 2020, then obviously, it becomes a witch hunt.

Best said the Coalition is prepared to attend the COI and vindicate itself of the accusations against it while providing evidence on wrongdoings that it is aware of.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) in a public missive also restated its position that

GECOM should be conducting its own internal review as the apex electoral institution concerning the 2020 Elections. The party said, instead it notes President Irfaan Ali artfully filling the breach by naming members of a COI into election events.

“The AFC would like to reiterate that the call for an internal institutional review was directed to identify flaws and weaknesses in the system, operations, and human resources of GECOM. Every institution of such high constitutional rank and to which huge sums of public monies are allocated must have, at minimum, an attempt at this self-introspection.”To shy away from this self-examination is most irresponsible, and an unnecessary damage to the credibility of an almost shattered GECOM. The AFC believes that the presidential COI also started off on the wrong footing since there was no attempt at consulting the Opposition on the

matter, including the constitution of its members, the terms of reference, and the timeline in conducting its work. “This consultative, inclusive approach would certainly have engendered a modicum of acceptability and legitimacy of whatever final report it will produce, plus a participation in the Commission’s work by a greater number of Guyanese,” the AFC said.

The party is hoping nonetheless that the Commission comes up with a profound set of recommendations which will ensure that GECOM produces free, fair, and credible elections in future, and that its internal operations, system and human resources be examined thoroughly to identify flaws and weaknesses.

The party urged also an early determination of the Election Petitions presently in the Court system. It charged the government to not use the CoI to delay nor displace the Petitions in any way.

Supermarket thieves nabbed in bushes hiding from police - abandon 15-year-old look-out in car

A

15-year-old lookout was aban doned in a car on Tuesday by his adult accomplices after police ranks nixed a burglary attempt at the New Era General Supermarket located at Farm East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The two accomplices ages 20 and 25 did not get far, in their attempt to escape, but were eventually captured by the ranks while hiding out in some bushes close by. According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), ranks on the East Bank Demerara were able to foil their burglary plans around 05:00hrs. The Providence Police Station reportedly received a call from an unknown person around 04:15hrs, informing them that some thieves were breaking into the supermarket.

Ranks were dispatched to the location and they snuck up on a red Toyota Fielder Wagon parked in front of the building and caught a 15year-old boy sitting in the front passenger seat by surprise. At the time, ranks captured the look-out, his accomplices had already escaped with some tools they had stolen from the supermarket, leaving him behind in the car.

It is believed that they might have seen the police approaching the teen and decided to run away. Luckily for ranks, the men did not get far and had stashed their bodies along with the stolen items in some nearby bushes. Ranks began to comb the area and quickly discovered their hiding place and recovered the tools. After the arrests, investigators learnt that they were

residents Grove, EBD. Footage from the supermarkets security camera was obtained and showed that the thieves had gained entry into the supermarket by climbing up a metal scaffold erected on the southern side of the building.

They then used an inner stairway to get to the third floor where the tools were stored and carted away the items.

During the interrogation, the suspects implicated an employee of the supermarket as their inside man. They alleged that three other individuals were involved in the plan to steal from the supermarket. Ranks have made checks at their homes but they could not be located.

Police have since released the juvenile but have kept the adults in custody as investigations continue.

Ramps Logistics says denied local content...

From page 13 press conference as it claims it has been denied a certificate to tap into the benefits of the oil sector.

Last month when the Ministry of Natural Resources held its first consultation on the Local Content Law, subject Minister Vickram Bharrat put oil companies on notice that the Government of Guyana will not tolerate the shortchanging of citizens in

their own country after it was brought to the attention of the administration complaints of unfair competition and other issues in the industry.

One of the issues highlighted by the Minister was the bundling of contracts.

He explained that local businesses have complained that oil companies have been bundling services for catering, security, garbage collection and other technical off-

shore support systems as part of one contract. This, Bharrat said, has been posing significant challenge to locals, as they are burdened to offer a service they are not registered to. In fact, this often lends to the oil company failing to achieve the local content targets. To ensure that the breach of the fresh law is not the outcome, the Minister urged that the practice be stopped.

PAGE 18

Thursday June 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

Victoria teen died of multiple injuries, not drowning-autopsy

A

post mortem exami nation (PME) con ducted on the remains of 19-year-old Simon Jones formerly of Victoria, East Coast Demerara revealed that he did not die by drowning.

It was reported by the police earlier this month that Jones allegedly drowned while attempting to swim across the Ekereku River located in the Upper Mazaruni area.

The post mortem report which was shared with this

publication by the young mans relatives stated that he died of multiple injuries.

Relatives now believe that there is more to Jones death.

One of his uncles told this publication yesterday that before Jones body was discovered in the river, what the family learned was that he was involved in an altercation with a man from the area.

Confirming the post mortem report was Commander of Region Seven,

Deon Moore who also related that investigation into the teens death is still ongoing.

Kaieteur News understands that following the result of the PME report, two persons were detained for questioning but were later released from police custody.

It was reported by the police that Jones was seen alive on May 27 about 23:30hrs attempting to swim across the river from the right bank to the left.

On May 31, about 10:00 hrs,

three miners from the area who were traversing the river, observed the body of the deceased floating close to the left bank of the river.

Upon seeing this, the police were summoned who subsequently retrieved the teens body.

According to police reports, no marks of violence was seen on his body. Jones who leaves to mourn his family and the entire Victoria community was a member of the Victoria Kings Football Club.

From page 5 of the firemen? Who was responsible for security at the respective entrances of the concert venue? Were the police not paid to be present at the venue as is known for such mega events? How is it possible that men with loaded guns were allowed to discharge rounds in the air on cameras streaming to the world but have not yet be charged? This always happens when the PPP is in government, the country becomes less safe and the underworld flourishes. What is equally concerning is that this concert was kept a short distance away from the headquarters of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.

Were the military personnel stationed at those headquarters not hearing gunshots?

These are seemingly signs of the military leadership deficit engineered by the PPP to undermine the social fabric of the society. Not only were the lives of the concertgoers endangered, but also the artiste and his team. Again, I ask, who should be blamed? What sanctions did the promoters face, does anyone know? I am sure that Skeng was not at the gate of the venue working as a security. Hence, is this the best way to address our own societal challenges of increased crime, violence and corruption in the country, by shifting blame on a visiting Caricom national?

Minister Benns approach reminds me of this Malcom X quote, “I have no mercy or compassion in me for a society that will crush people and then penalise them for not being able to stand up under the weight.” One just has to recall the infamous “no child left behind” policy implemented by Benns friend in Cabinet- the minister of education, whose policy directives instructed principals of schools to promote children who could not read or write to a higher class.

Those policy directives also relegated the decades old pass mark criterion for promotion from one class to the other, irrespective of the

learning challenge. Under the Manickchand rule, a childs promotion from one class to another was made automatic, even when he/she had an explicit learning deficit. This degree of foolishness at the policy level by the PPP will continue to hurt Guyana for a long time Minister Benn. In 2022, arguably a large percentage of those who were victims of that PPP policy went to the “Skeng Baderation” concert and Minister Benn wanted them to behave in a certain way. It would be a good thing for Mr. Benn to enquire of the minister of education whether the acting top cop was also a victim of her no child left behind policy. The helplessness of the security on that night said a lot to the world. Is it ok to say that violent and salacious lyrics undermine public morality and promote crime without empirical evidence? If the answer is yes, would a performance ban on an artist be the best solution? Artists are known to have many songs; do we ban the artiste or ban him or her from performing that particular song/ s at a concert? One could argue that adult concertgoers should have the freedom to decide for themselves what sort of lyrics they wish to enjoy, rather than having Mr. Benn decide for them in a free society? How will this ban play into the Minister’s own governments efforts to foster a more robust regional integration system within the legal framework of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas? Isn’t this move in itself undermining our very own efforts in helping to create a true Single Market and Economy across the Caribbean to bolster intraregional trade of goods and services?

If minister Benn needs a focus, he could well enquire of his minister of youth, sports and culture, about what is being done or not done to promote culture in a holistic way in Guyana. When the culture ministry endorses concerts named Stink & Dutty and Baderation, it is embracing a brand, and I dare say one that is known to the PPP. The con-

cert promoters are all passengers in the culture ministers excursion bus. Thus, the Jamaican artiste must not be the fall guy, the minister of cultures friends already made their money at the gate. In effect, this emotional outburst of a decision to ban, undermines the agency and freedom of expression of artists and adult concertgoers. It undermines Caricom law that guarantees to Caricom nationals the freedom to provide and receive services across regional borders. So a Jamaican service provider, be it an artiste like Skeng and the likes, a lawyer, banker, musician, etc, is entitled to provide his or her services to patrons in other Caricom countries. The Caribbean court of justice, our final court, has ruled on this matter In the Cabral Douglas case in which Jamaican dancehall artiste Sparta Lee (Leroy Russell) was denied entry in a sister Caribbean state. The CCJ found that Sparta Lee, who was to headline a festival, was a service supplier under Caricom law.

Furthermore, the CCJ made this even more pellucid in the Shanique Myrie case, in which a Jamaican was deported from Barbados. The court said: “It is clear, therefore, that in certain approved sectors, nationals of a member State who supply these services must in principle have the right, freely to enter any other member State in order to ply their trade; but… also nationals of a member State desirous of receiving such services in another member State must be allowed to enter the latter State in order to receive that service without being obstructed by unreasonable restrictions.”

It is my considered view that Minister Benns decision to ban the Jamaican artiste is illogical and is a zero-sum game. Before that artiste came to Guyana, there was no report from Jamaica which said that when he performed at concerts, he got gun salutes or there were widespread robberies at the events. Secondly, the same artiste went to Trinidad and performed within 24 hours of leaving

Guyana and there were no reported gun salutes and or widescale robberies at the event at which he performed.

The aforementioned clean report was achieved, against the known crime situation in Trinidad and Jamaica which is pronounced. It is in this context that I consider the pronouncements made

by Mr. Benn about the Baderation concert as absurd.

Truth be told, it is Minister Benns installed acting top cop and the promoters for the PPP that failed to provide proper security at the venue that need sanctioning. No one else should be blamed.

Did the artiste tell the promoters to sell alcohol to patrons in glass bottles that can easily be used as a weapon?

Mr. Editor, Minister Benn and his government must firstly identify what are the problems the society is experiencing that would lead to the levels of degeneration we saw at the Baderation concert. I did point out above that one of the issues was the irrational education policy which promoted delinquency and I dare say we have the same minister of education in place in 2022, with a focus on hairstyles. A second issue is the apartheid era, with special planning economic policy employed by PPP in 2022. We live in a special “One Guyana”, where certain groups will get killed easier at any time by the police and will continuously be a suspect. Minister Benn is banning Skeng, but having police officers that should have been at the concert gate to stop guns and robberies, spying on the Leader of the Peoples National Congress as he goes around Guyana. This is counterproductive. Too much time has passed for this regime to fix the real problems in education, agriculture, fishing, housing, good governance and the economy. Stop this selective blaming of others for the PPPs policy shortsightedness.

Respectfully, Jermaine Figueira, MP Shadow Minister of Culture Youth and Sports (Guyana)

Dead, Simon Jones

Millions affected after deadly floods hit India and Bangladesh (NEW DELHI CNN) - Millions of people across India and Bangladesh have been affected by raging floods and landslides that left more than 100 people dead and entire communities devastated.

The South Asian nations, home to more than 1.3 billion people, have been particularly badly hit by the rains, prompting some of the worst flooding in the region in years, as extreme weather events become increasingly frequent due to the climate crisis.

In India, at least 48 people have died since June 14, after heavy rains battered the northeas t e r n s t a t e o f Assam, according to its disaster management authority, triggering landslides and causing river banks to swell. More than 5.5 million people have been affected in the state alone, the authority added.

Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Tuesday visited one of the 1,687 relief camps, housing more than 260,000 displaced people in the state.

“Our Govt will soon launch a portal for the affected people to register their livestock loss and other damages caused by floodwaters,” he wrote on Twitter. “A flood relief package too will be announced shortly.”

In the nearby state of Meghalaya, at least 25 people have died since June 9, with 11 still missing and 22 more injured, according to state of-

ficials.

Video broadcast on local television showed people in affected cities wading waist deep in muddy water and streets turned into rivers, with vehicles submerged underwater. In neighboring Bangladesh, flooding-related incidents, including electrocutions and landslides, have killed at least 22 people, according to officials.

As many as 4 million people, including 1.6 million children, have been stranded by the flash floods, according to UNICEF. “Children need safe drinking water right now.

Preventing deadly waterborne diseases is one of several critical concerns,” Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, said in a statement Monday.

The downpour has caused catastrophic flooding in the northeastern Sylhet region, local officials said.

“The flooding is the worst in 122 years in the Sylhet region,” Atiqul Haque, Director General of Bangladesh’s Department of Disaster Management, told Reuters on Monday. Health facilities have been inundated in Sylhet, while children were at heightened risk of drowning, according to UNICEF. More than 36,000 children have sought refuge in overcrowded shelters, together with their families, UNICEF said.

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 23, 2022

ExxonMobil drilling Banjo-1 Well in search of more oil

United States oil major, ExxonMobil through its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has commenced exploration activities at another site in the Stabroek Block, in search of more sweet crude.

On Monday, EEPGL started drilling activities at the Banjo-1 Well site, using the MODU Noble Sam Croft. The drilling activities are expected to wrap up by August 15, 2022. The oil company in a notice published in Kaieteur News said 25 vessels would provide support services for the operations.

The well site is situated approximately 93.4 nautical miles or 173 kilometeres from the Coast of Guyana and covers an area of 0.29 square nautical miles.

Already, ExxonMobil has discovered close to 11

billion barrels of oil within the Stabroek Block.

According to the schedule of exploration activities for the oil giant operating in the Stabroek Block, the company is currently engaged in an aggressive 25 well exploration campaign that begun back in June of last year.

That drilling campaign is expected to last until the end of 2025.

This is in addition to a separate 12 well campaign that had begun back in December 2020 in the Stabroek Block and ended earlier in 2021.

Outside of the loaded Stabroek Block, Exxon is also engaging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to commence two separate 12 well drilling campaigns in the Canje and Kaieteur oil blocks. In fact, the Environmental

Assessment Board (EAB) will host a public hearing today (Thursday), where members of the public who raised concerns over the waiver on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the drilling activities will be heard.

For the Canje Block,

Exxon is hoping to commence its drilling campaign in the fourth quarter of this year and wrap up in the first quarter of 2025. Hundreds of tons of waste will be generated on a monthly basis as Exxon’s subsidiary EEPGL, embarks on this project. The Canje

PAGE 19

The Noble Sam Croft drillship

Block is located offshore, in deepwater of Guyana, southeast of the Kaieteur Block, and north-northeast of the Stabroek Block.

Meanwhile for the Kaieteur Block, this exercise, once approved, would start in 2022 or 2023 and conclude by the first

quarter 2027.

Kaieteur News understands that the project will generate hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. The Kaieteur Block, which spans 13,500 km2, holds a gross, estimated prospective resource of over 2.1 billion barrels of crude.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Afghanistan quake: Taliban appeal for international aid (BBC) - The Taliban in Afghanistan have appealed for international support, as the country deals with the aftermath of a devastating 6.1 magnitude earthquake.

More than 1,000 people have died and at least 1,500 were injured, a local official said.

Paktika province in the south-east has been the most affected. The UN is scrambling to provide emergency shelter and food aid.

The rescue efforts are being hampered by heavy rain and hail.

The deadliest earthquake to strike the country in two decades is a major challenge for the Taliban, the Islamist movement which regained power last year after the Western-backed government collapsed. The earthquake struck about 44km (27 miles) from the city of Khost and tremors were felt as far away as Pakistan and India. Witnesses reported feeling the quake in both Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, and Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

“The government is working within its capabilities,” Anas Haqqani, a senior Taliban official, tweeted. “We

hope that the International Community & aid agencies will also help our people in this dire situation.”

The number of people stuck under rubble is unknown. Health and aid workers have said the rescue operation is particularly difficult because of the heavy rain.

In remote areas, helicopters have been ferrying victims to hospitals.

The UN and aid agencies in neighbouring Pakistan are assisting with the humanitarian effort, which includes deploying medical teams and providing medical supplies.

One humanitarian aid agency, Intersos, said it was ready to send an emergency medical team consisting of two surgeons, an anaesthetist and two nurses.

Most of the casualties so far have been in the Gayan and Barmal districts of Paktika, a local doctor told the BBC. A whole village in Gayan has reportedly been destroyed.

“There was a rumbling and my bed began to shake”, one survivor, Shabir, told the BBC. “The ceiling fell down. I was trapped, but I could see the sky.

Thursday June 23, 2022

Thursday June 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite arrives in Guyana for GFF-DBU partnership Barcelona FC and Danish National team forward, Martin Braithwaite, is here in Guyana on his first assignment as the Goodwill Ambassador of the capacity building partnership between the Danish Football Association (DBU) and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), which has been facilitated by UEFA Assist and Concacaf.

Braithwaite, 31, has a strong connection with the Land of Many Waters through his father, who is Guyanese. The Barcelona forward, who is in Guyana

from June 22-26, has amassed 60 caps for the Danish national team, including selection for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Euro 2020.

“The visit of a player of Martin’s calibre and standing underlines the significance of the partnership between the DBU and the GFF, and the importance that both organisations place on delivering real impact on the ground to develop football in Guyana,” said GFF President Wayne Forde. ‘“We are extremely excited to welcome Martin to Guyana

and we look forward to working with him in the future as we continue to build on this strong, close relationship with our Danish partners,” Forde added.

Braithwaite was introduced to the media yesterday as the Goodwill Ambassador of the DBU-GFF partnership.

Today, he will visit tourist attractions in Georgetown, pay a courtesy call on Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr., visit the proposed D’Urban Park site which will host the GFF’s

planned national football stadium, before rounding off the day with a novelty futsal match at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

On June 24, the former Middlesborough and Toulouse player will visit the place of his father’s birth in Charlestown and participate in the launch of the UEFA Assist/DBU Women’s Development League at the OFF National Training Centre.

Before heading home to Europe, Braithwaite will also take time out to visit a grassroots football tournament and watch the GFF Blue Water UI5 Girls’ Development League at the GFF National Training Centre.

Uitvlugt defeat...

Thursday June 23, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You'll notice that your emotions are coming to a monthly climax today, Aries.

Don't be alarmed but do be cautious about lashing out at people for no reason. You may feel on edge.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is a terrific day for you, Libra, and you'll find that there is a great deal of power at your disposal. This is a day of new beginnings. You have the opportunity now to start over.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Extremes is the name of the game now, especially for you, Taurus. Today the emphasis is on action. You're the one to call to get the job done.

You won't wait another second to simply go for it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The fire is raging today, so be careful, Scorpio. Try not to be too impulsive in your actions. Your natural tendency may be to lash out against others without really thinking about the consequences.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Be adventurous and strike out into new territory, Gemini. Be a pioneer. Work to make some new discoveries in the world. Today isn't a day to worry about consequences.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Go for the gold, Sagittarius.

Today marks the beginning of the rest of your life. Treat it with respect. You may be on a crusade and your combative instincts could be working overtime.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Certain situations may be difficult to deal with today as they take an emotional spin, Cancer. You're getting anxious.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may feel as if someone is poking you today, Capricorn, urging you to get up and get moving. Don't be surprised if someone seems to be picking on you for no reason.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You should find that the general mood of the day is favorable to your personality style, Leo. Take this opportunity to present more of your thoughts and ideas to the world.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) This is a great day for you to get up on stage and make your presence known, Aquarius. Let people know that you're the leader of the pack.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) The fog has lifted and you're ready to take off, Virgo. The dreaminess you may have experienced lately has been nice, but now it's time to get moving again.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) This is a good day to add spark to your life, Pisces. If things have seemed boring and stagnating lately, you may need to infuse a bit of excitement into the situation.

From page 22 Charlestown Secondary will complete the day in a showdown which starts at 18:30 hrs.

Once the weekday fixtures are completed the tournament continues on June 25 & 26 with the other playing dates being July 2, 3 and 6, while the finale is billed for July 10.

The Championship team in this tournament will win $300,000 along with the 2022 Milo 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.

GFF President, Wayne Forde, presents a custom Golden Jaguars top to Barcelona forward, Martin Braithwaite.

PAGE 22

Thursday June 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

2022 Milo Secondary Schools Football Tournament…

Uitvlugt defeat Ann’s Grove to advance - Two more matches on today Yesterday afternoon, the 2022 Milo Secondary Schools Football Tournament entered its second day with two matches on a heavy Ministry of Education (MOE) Ground, which was set that way by torrential rainfall.

The Petra organized event was able to contest the two scheduled matches despite a late start. In the opening match, slips, slides and goals were the order day as Uitvlugt Warriors produced a marvelous performance to win 5 – 3 against Ann’s Grove.

Not taking away from the opposition’s effort, they performed with heart on the soggy outfield, but it was Rockliff Adanson who made sure the West side team reigned supreme. Andason scored in the 30th, 36th and 54th minutes, while supporting strikes came from

Uitvlugt’s Rockliff Adanson (L) and Germaine Cummings.

Germaine Cummings (31’) and Morris Gershom (64’).

Isaiah Alphonso was the main contributor for Ann’s Grove with a brace as he drew first blood as early as the 3rd minute and completed the run with a 47th minute goal. Between those times, Uitvlugt piled on three goals before Alphonso’s teammate, Naron Jerrick, logged a successful strike in the 43rd minute, but Uitvlugt ensured no other

goal was added to their custodian’s sheet. Up to press time, the match that followed between North Ruimveldt and East Ruimveldt had begun. Meanwhile, the tournament From page 20 resumes today at the same venue as Golden Grove go head to head with Buxton Secondary from 17:00 hrs, while the fixture between Dolphin Secondary and (Continued on page 21)

Thursday June 23, 2022

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Padma Bridge – Dream Fulfilled - Friendship Test Series

West Indies name unchanged 13-member squad for 2nd match ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) Men’s Selection Panel has named an unchanged squad for the second Padma Bridge – Dream Fulfilled - Friendship Test match against Bangladesh. The match will be played at the Daren Sammy Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia from June 24-28.

West Indies have a 1-0 lead in the Series, presented by Walton. They won the first match by seven wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday.

Kemar Roach was named the Player-of-the-Match in the opening contest. He had match figures of 7-74 – including the match-winning 553 in the second innings. This took him to 249 wickets in his career, joint sixth alongside the legendary Michael Holding, on the West Indies alltime list of wickets-takers. He is also the leading West Indies bowler at eighth position in the latest ICC Test Match bowling rankings.

Lead Selector the Most Honorable Dr Desmond Haynes said: “It was a very good victory in Antigua. The team played really well and must be feeling really confident heading into Saint Lucia

for the second match. We have a group of players who are very disciplined and are giving 100 percent. Great credit to our bowlers who worked really hard in the first Test match. We can’t take Bangladesh lightly, they also bowled really well and were quite disciplined. I know we will try our utmost to win the second match.”Haynes added: “Kemar is a legend. He has done really well for West Indies. He made a great start to his career, then had some injuries, then he worked his way back and is our leading bowler. He’s among the best in the world. I am very pleased with his performances, not just on the field, but the way he had been guiding the younger players and the way he has been interacting with the other members of the team.”

Fans can purchase tickets via the new WINDIES TICKETS service presented by Mastercard, at www.tickets.windiestickets.com.

Tickets start at just US$6/ EC$15 for mounds access with US$15/EC$40 for seats.

Children under 16 and senior citizens can get tickets for half price. In addition to being able to choose and pay for

WI Bangladesh Series logo

your seats in advance, the service allows fans to save their purchased tickets to their device for ticket scanning at the venue, avoiding the need for queues and travel to the box offices. Fans registered for the WI Insider fanmail and on the WINDIES TICKETS service will receive

promotional discounts when they buy tickets online for games in the Caribbean.

Fans can watch live on ESPN Caribbean and listen to live radio commentary on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel.

FULL SQUAD Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain) Jermaine Blackwood (Vice Captain)

Nkrumah Bonner John Campbell Joshua Da Silva Alzarri Joseph Kyle Mayers Gudakesh Motie Anderson Phillip Raymon Reifer Kemar Roach Jayden Seales Devon Thomas Match Schedule for Padma Bridge – Dream Ful-

filled – Friendship Test Series, presented by Walton June 16-20: 1st Padma Bridge – Dream Fulfilled - Friendship Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua – West Indies won by 7 wickets June 24-28: 2nd Padma Bridge – Dream Fulfilled Friendship Test at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia. Local start time 10am/ 9am Jamaica

PAGE 24

Thursday June 23, 2022

Kaieteur News

CG United Super50 Cup

Matthews, Kyshona Knight & Alleyne shine as Bajans advance to 3rd successive final

By Sean Devers Defending Champions Barbados beat Trinidad and Tobago by nine wickets in their rain affected CG United Super50 Cup semi-final at Providence yesterday to advance to their third consecutive Final.

T&T, aided by 53 extras, were bowled out for 133 in 31.2 overs after a heavy shower resulted in the game being reduced to 33 overs.

The ladies from the Twin Island Republic, hunting their 14th title since winning their first one in 1977 lost four wickets for 15 runs.

Lee Ann Kirby hit the game’s only six and a four in her 74-ball 41and along with Leandra Ramdeen (10) featured in face-saving 50-run ninth wicket stand.

Pacer Aaliyah Alleyne, who triggered the slide, captured 4-31 while Skipper Haley Matthews again contributed with both bat and ball; bagging 3-20 for Barbados who galloped to 137-1 in 30.2 overs.

After Kycia Knight, who reached the boundary three times in her 50-ball 32, fell to Ramdeen before Matthews and Kycia’s twin, Kyshona,

Kyshona Knigh drives during her half-century yesterday.

(Sean Devers photo)

joined forces to see their team home.

The 24-year-old Matthews executed an array of imperious shots and reached the boundary twice in her 80-ball 53, while the left handed Kyshona Knight, hit seven fours and effortless six from 45 balls in her undefeated 49.

Matthews, who featured in an unfinished 76-run second wicket stand with Knight, clipped T&T’s Skipper and fellow West Indies player Anisa Mohammed for four with one run to win.

Earlier, in dark and gloomy conditions at Providence, Trinidad and Tobago opted to bat on a good track and after 2.4 overs with the score on 21 without loss, heavy showers halted proceeding.

Reniece Boyce, who square drove a full toss from Bruce for four, was on nine and with her was Racheal Vincent on one against wayward opening spells from the Bajan pacers as Aaliyah Alleyne and Shanika Bruce

who together conceded 15 wides. When play restarted in glorious sunshine, the overs were reduced to 33.

The T&T openers carried the score to 27 before Bruce (5) was bowled by Alleyne as four wickets tumbled for 15 runs.

Alleyne, bowling straight and fast, bowled Vincent (1), Britney Cooper (5) and trapped Shenelle Lord (17) LBW to leave T&T on ropes at 42-4 in the eight over.

Mohammed (9) and Kirby put together 21to take the score to 63-5 before Matthews removed Mohammed.

The charismatic Matthews then removed Kirbyina Alexander (1) and Kamara Ragoobar for a duck.

But Kirby and Ramdeen produced important runs before Kirby fell to Sharika Selman to end the innings.

Barbados with three titles in the format, will battle the winner of today’s game between Guyana and Jamaica in Saturday’s final.

Allyene grabbed a 4-for today for Barbados at Providence.

(Sean Devers photo)

The 6ixty - Chris Gayle ambassador...

From page 23 vote for when the batting team get a “Mystery Free Hit”.

Chris Gayle, who played 483 times for West Indies across all formats, is an ambassador for the new competition, and said: “The 6ixty is a brand new format that brings cricket fans closer to the action.

“It’s powerful, it’s fast, it’s my type of cricket.”

Pete Russell, the CPL’s CEO, said: “This is a hugely exciting moment for both CPL and Cricket West Indies as we create a tournament that will see cricket fans brought closer to the game.

“There will be world-class men’s and women’s cricketers

taking part in a fantastic event for the Caribbean and this combined with cuttingedge innovations, signals a great moment for all fans of West Indian cricket.”

The 6ixty overlaps with the second season of The Hundred, which runs from August 3 to September 3, with a number of high-profile West Indies internationals signed up to play in England and Wales.

Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine all landed big contracts in the men’s edition of The Hundred, while Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin are two of the star names of the women’s draft.

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 23, 2022

PAGE 25

CWI Professional Cricketers Draft for 2022-23 sees Windward Islands Volcanoes bring new players into their camp ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) hosted the Professional Cricketers Draft for 20222023 on Friday, which took place over two rounds via a v i d e o c a l l w i t h representatives from all six Territorial Board Franchises.

Each team had 13 retained players and then drafted two players to complete their 15member squads for the forthcoming 2022-23 season to compete in the CG United Super50 Cup and the West Indies Championship.

Two key picks saw allrounder Justin Greaves and wicket-keeper Tevyn Walcott being chosen by the Windward Islands Volcanoes. Both have played first-class cricket for the Barbados Pride. Greaves was also a member of the Emerging Players team which won the CG United Super50 Cup back in 2019.

The other franchises all picked players from their home territories. Barbados Pride selected off-spinner Chaim Holder and batter Zachary McCaskie; Guyana Harpy Eagles chose experienced left-handed batter Vishaul Sigh and

allrounder Antony Adams; Trinidad & Tobago Red Force selected for batter Jyd Goolie and allrounder Tion Webster; Jamaica Scorpions picked right-arm pacer Gordon Bryan and newcomer Khari Campbell, a left-arm fast-medium bowler; while the Leeward Islands Hurricanes added allrounder Karima Gore and uncapped keeper Daren Benta. Greaves made his international debut for the West Indies against Ireland in the CG United ODI Series at Sabina Park, Jamaica in January. He has so far played 29 first-class matches and 29 List A matches with a highest score of 114. Gore previously played for the United States of America at the international level. The 23-year-old has played 16 ODIs and eight T20Is but is yet to make his first-class debut.

The six franchises will now continue their preparations for the upcoming season and Regional Tournaments. The CG United Super50 Cup is planned to return in November where defending champions the Trinidad &

Tobago Red Force will attempt to retain their title their title and the Sir Clive Lloyd Trophy, named in honor of the great captain who led West Indies to the World Cup triumphs in 1975 and 1979. The Barbados Pride were crowned champions of the 2021-22 West Indies Championship, when they won in Trinidad earlier this month, to retain the Headley/Weekes Trophy named in honour of West Indies legends George Headley and Sir Everton Weekes.

FULL SQUADS: Barbados Pride: Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Dominic Drakes, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Akeem Jordan, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Ramon Simmonds, Shamar Springer, Jomel Warrican. 2022 Draft Picks: Chaim Holder, Zachary McCaskie Guyana Harpy Eagles: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Tevin Imlach, Akshaya Persaud, Nial Smith, Demetri

The 6ixty - Chris Gayle ambassador for new white-ball format in the Caribbean

PA Sport - Another new white-ball cricket format has been unveiled, with The 6ixty set to launch in the Caribbean in August.

Branding itself as “Cricket’s Power Game”, the 6ixty is a men’s and women’s competition that comes with a raft of innovations – much as the England and Wales Cricket Board’s flagship competition The Hundred did when it launched last summer.

It will take place at Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis before this year’s Caribbean Premier League and will essentially be a T10 competition featuring the CPL’s six men’s franchises and three women’s franchises.

However, the joint venture between the CPL and Cricket West Indies will have major new rules, which aim to “make the game even faster paced and action packed”.

These include each team only having six wickets, 30 balls being bowled from one end before switching to the other end and a team member being removed from the field if the overs are not bowled within the allotted time.

Among the more novelty rule announcements is each batting team being given two powerplay overs, but with the

Chris Gayle

chance to unlock a third to be taken at any stage by hitting two sixes in the first 12 balls.

And fans watching on will also be able to (Continued on page 24)

Cameron, Anthony Bramble, K e v i n S i n c l a i r, L e o n Johnson, Ronsford Beaton.

2022 Draft Picks: Vishaul Singh, Antony Adams Jamaica Scorpions: Brad Barnes, Carlos Brown, John Campbell, Akim Fraser, Nicholson Gordon, Leroy Lugg, Kirk McKenzie, Jamie Merchant, Marquino Mindley, Paul Palmer Jr, Javor Royal, Aldaine Thomas, Alwyn Williams. 2022 Draft Picks: Gordon Bryan, Khari Campbell Leeward Islands Hurricanes: Rahkeem Cornwall, Devon Thomas, Colin Archibald, Keacy

Carty, Jeremiah Louis, Jahmar Hamilton, Kieran Powell, Terrence Warde, Sheeno Berridge, Daniel Doram, Ross Powell, Kofi James, Damion Williams.

2022 Draft Picks: Karima Gore, Daren Benta Trinidad & Tobago Red Force: Darren Bravo, Imran Khan, Jason Mohammed, Uthman Mohammed, Khary Pierre, Shannon Gabriel, Terrance Hinds, Jeremy Solozano, Isaiah Rajah, Anderson Phillip, Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Keegan Simmons. 2022 Draft Picks: Jyd Goolie, Tion Webster Wi n d w a r d I s l a n d s

Antony Adams Volcanoes: Sunil Ambris, Alick Athanaze, Keron C o t t o y, D a r e l C y r u s , Kenneth Dember, Larry Edward, Kavem Hodge, Johann Jeremiah, Shermon Lewis, Daurius Martin, Preston McSween, Nicklaus Redhead, Jerlani Robinson.

2022 Draft Picks: Justin Greaves, Tevyn Walcott

Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite arrives in Guyana for GFF-DBU partnership Spo

rts

Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite and family members pose for a photo op.

Matthews, Kyshona Knight & Alleyne shine as Bajans advance to 3rd successive final

Barbados skipper Haley Matthews had 3-20 before making 53 at Providence today. (Sean Devers photo)

Padma Bridge - Dream Fulfilled - Friendship Test Series

Windies name unchanged 13-member squad for 2nd match Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.