Kaieteur News

K

President, NEWS Opposition Leader at odds on conditions for dialogue AIETEUR

Sunday Edition March 07, 2021

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Investigation reveals SOL Guyana Inc. avoided payment of $1.2B in taxes GRA uncovers massive abuse of tax exemptions for fuel; wants defaulters prosecuted of woman Videomega’s ‘clarification’ Relatives who died at GPHC contradicts Hughes’ hospital file police claims of playing no role report over belongings missing phone might have evidence between deceased and nurse in $6M contract awards -ofsayconflict

Exxon insists it remains in compliance with Environmental Permit Govt. drafting Parliament ERC to host legislation to focused on National not future Conversation establish Border past, - little said about oil, Patrol Unit more on 2020 elections at month end

Take lessons from the Saudis, Surinamese and Russians The Russians and Saudis, two oil competitors, are closing ranks to increase oil production. Both are attempting to get richer from their oil. Closer to home, the Surinamese are exercising prudence. Their leaders are working to obtain the best deal for their people by ensuring that their oil is exploited on their terms only. Their handling of their oil wealth provides a blueprint for our leaders.

The Saudi, Surinamese, and Russian oil leaders are acting sensibly.

Unfortunately, there is no such level-headed approach in Guyana. The PPP/C administration is impervious to advice. It can afford to act this way because it faces an Opposition which is acting deaf and dumb when it

comes to the oil and gas sector.

Guyana’s know-it-all Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, went on radio and said that it was his personal position that Guyana’s oil must be exploited as rapidly as possible because he has personal doubts about the future of fossil fuels. Who does Mr. Jagdeo think he is fooling?

Everyone knows that Mr. Jagdeo’s personal view is the only one that counts in the PPP/C government.

Instead of being a fortune-teller, he should learn from the Saudis, Surinamese, and Russians.

They are providing the blueprints and the wherewithal needed to maximize the returns for people and country from their oil resources.

ExxonMobil now believes Stabroek Block has more than 18 billion barrels …to get in excess of 20% rate of return on Guyana spending Exxon in 10th gear to clean out our oil. Listen to

Kaieteur Radio @ 11:00hrs on 99.1/99.5FM to find out!

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Sunday March 07, 2021

ExxonMobil had flared early January; claims it lasted less than hours

By Kemol King

A

lesser-known fact about ExxonMobil's Liza Phase One operation at the Stabroek Block is that it experienced an equipment

malfunction, which caused massive flaring early in January. That makes the current issue the third – not second – equipment malfunction, which resulted in flaring above pilot level – the minimum levels of

flaring required to maintain a safe operation.

It was January 13 that the issue was encountered.

Conservationist, Annette Arjoon, had posted a photo of flaring at the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage

and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, showing a dark plume of smoke floating upward. ExxonMobil had reported it to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

When Kaieteur News reached out to ExxonMobil's local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) for a comment, Government and Public Affairs advisor, Janelle Persaud, was quick to state that there has been no routine flaring since the gas compressor was fixed in the month prior.

ExxonMobil had finally reported in December 2020 that it managed to fix its defective equipment, which brought an end to flaring of millions of cubic feet of gas per day for an entire year.

ExxonMobil did not consider this routine.

“There has been no routine flaring on the Liza

Flaring on January 13 (Photo: Annette Arjoon's Facebook)

Destiny since the gas compressor was fixed,” she said. “However, on January 13, there was an unexpected

temporary outage of a piece of equipment on the vessel, which was returned to (continued on page 8)

High Court to sell off errant rice millers' assets to pay off farmers

M

ore than three years after the High Court would have found Turhane Doerga, Vijay Doerga, Ruimzeight Rice Processors, Ruimzeight Rice Industries Ltd. and associated Rice Exporters Inc. failed to pay their debts owed to rice

farmers, a decision has since been taken to dispose of the company's assets in order to make good on the payments.

The decision has since been formally published in the Official Gazette, where it was noted that even since the judgment in favour of rice farmer Jeetlall Ramraj was obtained in November 2018 the debtor has failed to pay as ordered.

Jeetlall has since successfully requested that the debtor's property be sold in order to satisfy the judgment debt.

The High Court at the time—presided over by Justice Simone MorrisRamlall—ordered the defendants in the matter to pay Ramraj $12.4M with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum from July 4, 2017 to September 13, 2017 and thereafter at the rate of 4 per cent until fully paid.

The identified assets now up for sale include trucks, dust collectors, industrial compressors and transformers, industrial conveyors with accompanying motors, rice graders, shelters and air filters among others.

Jeetlall Ramraj, a rice farmer for more than 20 years, had in the past lamented that while the court ordered Turhane Doerga and

Rice farmer, Jeetlall Ramraj the other four individuals and entities to disburse payments to the tune of $12.4M for paddy supplied, a payment is yet to be made.

This subsequently led to protest action by a number of rice farmers claiming to be owed in excess of $50M. Doerga had previously denied owing anyone “a single cent” and claimed that the protest action by the farmers was politically motivated.

It was alleged that Doerga paid part of the money owed to Ramraj and had some $12.4M outstanding which led to the matter being taken to court.

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 07, 2021

PAGE 03

Investigation reveals SOL Guyana Inc. avoided payment of $1.2B in taxes - GRA uncovers massive abuse of tax exemptions for fuel; wants defaulters prosecuted

A

n investigation that was recently launched by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has uncovered damning instances where major oil importers abused access to exemption letters, thereby leaving the State losing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

President, Irfaan Ali; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall; and Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh were informed of the status of this probe last week by the Authority via a letter.

In the letter seen by Kaieteur News, the tax body said that for several years, it had engaged in the practice of allowing major oil

companies to import and enter tax-exempted fuel for various businesses who benefitted from partial or full exemptions on fuel.

In so doing, GRA said that oil companies are required and expected to, inter alia, deliver the full exempted quantities imported and entered to all such beneficiaries, which the beneficiaries are expected to utilize for the intended purposes.

In 2017, GRA's Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, had instructed the Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) to make visits to the beneficiaries' places of business to ensure this was being done. Much to his disappointment, LEID

officials discovered that the import and clearing of fuel through the Permission for Immediate Delivery (PID) system was flawed since oil importers was utilizing exemption letters to clear fuel without regard to whom it was destined for, i.e., whether the fuel was fully exempted, partially exempted, or subjected to tax.

Upon a request for explanations, it was noted that the oil importers' excuse was that the fuel were held in so-called “virtual tanks” for delivery to the beneficiaries when needed.

In correspondence seen

by Kaieteur News, President, Nandlall and Dr. Singh, were informed that “This explanation shows distinctly that there were

GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh

commingling and the oil importers were abusing the system whereby not all exempted fuel cleared by the importer was being acquitted by the beneficiary, thereby allowing the oil importer to benefit from increased cash flow by not

paying the government on the required basis.”

The tax boss informed the officials that he thereafter instructed LEID and the Customs and Exemptions Tax Office to commence reconciliation exercises between the fuel

High court dismisses application to stop disbursement of budgetary funds

J

ustice, Nareshwar Harnanan, on Friday refused to grant conservatory orders requested by Mr. Roysdale Forde, SC, who, on behalf of his clients sought to restrain the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, from disbursing funds to several constitutional agencies, in keeping with estimates in the Appropriation Act 2021 (Act 5 of 2021).

The effect of the ruling is that Minister Singh is legally free to disburse funds to these agencies in keeping with the Appropriation Act 2021 (Act 5 of 2021).

Additionally, owing to various reasons, including the contention by Attorney General Nandlall that the Notice of Application should have never been brought, Justice Harnanan granted costs in favour of the Attorney General in the amount of $200,000.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Ganesh Mahipaul This ruling of Harnanan relates to a Notice of Application filed along with a Fixed Date Application, both filed on February 22, 2021.

In the Fixed Date Application (the substantive action), Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Ganesh

Mahipaul, joined several other persons to challenge the constitutionality of the amendments to the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. The Notice of Application was filed in an effort to maintain the status quo of the budgetary allocation until the contentions in the Fixed Date Application are heard, and a decision rendered.

In his application, Mahipaul had contended that the move to amend the FMAA is unconstitutional in that the government is seeking to exercise a certain level of control over the constitutional agencies, which are supposed to free from any control of the executive.

He claimed that Judicial Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, Te a c h i n g S e r v i c e Commission, Public Service Appellate Tribunal, Public Procurement Commission,

Guyana Elections Commission, Office of the Ombudsman, Ethnic Relations Commission, the Supreme Court of Judicature and Parliament Office among the constitutional entities that would be affected by the amendments.

He was therefore seeking a declaration that the inclusion of the constitutional agencies as budget Agencies under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act Cap 73:02 is inconsistent with the independence assured to those constitutional agencies in the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

According to Mahipaul, the expenditure of each of the constitutional agencies ought to be financed as a d i r e c t c h a rg e o n t h e Consolidated Fund, determined as a lump sum by way of an annual subvention and is disbursable out of the said fund without an Appropriation Act.

He noted that such expenditure cannot therefore form part of the estimates to be included in any Appropriation Bill and or Act, as it would be unconstitutional.

In a document to support his application, Mahipaul had explained that the National Assembly passed the Fiscal Management and A c c o u n t a b i l i t y (Amendment) Act, which was assented to by former President, David Granger, on August 5, 2015, which outlined a procedure for the request of constitutional agencies for funding, to be considered directly by and only by the National Assembly instead of the Executive micro-managing the activities of those agencies.

According to the applicant, the FMAA established for the first time, a legislative foundation for the independence of the (continued on page 14)

importers and fuel beneficiaries beginning with the major beneficiaries, namely, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Bosai, Aurora Gold Mines, Rusal and in late 2020, on Exxon. All three major oil importers, SOL, Rubis and GUYOIL, were involved.

GRA noted however that SOL's involvement was to a greater extent.

GRA was keen to note that, coming out of the probe, the results were startling. In all cases, the trend was observed where some of the major oil importers would have imported and entered the fuel at duty free rate using the beneficiaries' tax exemption letters, but failed to deliver the full quantities to the beneficiaries, as (continued on page 14)

PAGE 4

Sunday March 07, 2021

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

What budget debate?

It should have come as no surprise to Guyanese budget watchers that the 2021 national budget was done and delivered four days early. We are surprised that the budget debate and process, or what passed for those, lasted so long, since it became extremely clear that the clashing members of Guyana’s National Assembly could barely stand the sight and sound of each other; as a primer, it does not bode well for things to come.

The 2021 budget process and embedded budget debate, if it can be called that, were forgettable from the ugly barbarism that happened in the earlier stages, and from which there was not much way of determined recovery and improvement. As far as we are concerned, not even a pretense at corrective efforts for higher standards was attempted by our lawmakers, many of whom now stand as confirmed lawbreakers. This year’s budget season was not merely simply forgettable, it was also memorable. It was memorable for what should have taken place, but didn’t; where matters under review and the associated individual and group conduct never rose from the lip of the gutter, or out of the lips of those who call themselves parliamentarians without a trace of embarrassment or remorse.

When accumulated, serious questions could be raised as to the credibility of the process, the quality of the debates, and both the quality and credibility of the honourable members involved. They dishonoured themselves, and tainted all of us with the quality of the final result. The first question we put before the public is this one: did the Guyanese people receive their money’s worth for the trust and confidence they placed in their elected representatives?

Here is a second: Did Guyanese, regardless of political persuasion, through honest and sustained effort, obtain full measure from those they voted for, who turned out to be nothing other than coarse and the most common class of agents?

In answer to both questions, we say a loud and resounding: NO! The times and circumstances and the staggering sums involved, called for-nay, demanded-probing, intense, and tireless debating. All were largely lacking, thunderously inaudible, glitteringly unseen. Instead, and for the most part, there seemed to be a pro forma display of interest, a lackluster manifestation of spirit, in the things and areas that should have mattered, that do mean something to all Guyanese. While citizens waited for deep and keenly debated engagements (locking of horns) on the material issues, they were treated to, and were forced to settle for what amounted to which side and which member could urinate farther than the other across the aisle. This was the vulgar absurdity to which Guyana’s national budget process and debate was reduced to, and with the grandest of satisfactions.

The 2021 budget process boiled down to this: position taken, point proven, matter over; there were few, if any, innocents.

Indeed, the budget interval concluded four days early.

But that is not a feather in anybody’s cap, something to bring preening, or one over which the sensible and deep thinker could be proud. For what was observed, and where any unbiased review leads, is that the sum of the budget deliberations was the torture of going through the motions, keeping up appearances, fixing an eye on the clock all the time, and planting a foot outside the door. They couldn’t wait to get away from each other, so revolting they had become in the presence of each other.

In some respects, the deplorable kept repeating itself though interruptions and suspensions, walking out and drowning out. The opposition cannot be spared here, though there is more than enough madness and blame to coat each and every member of the house several fold. The opposition cannot forget (we do not allow it to) that some 217,000 Guyanese citizens voted for it. Its members must remember that each has, in letter and spirit, a constitutional, political, and personal obligation to step forward and deliver on every occasion; the ingredients of good governance mandate that it does so, which it is yet to do. The PPP did so for 28 years under the grimmest of circumstances. Yet here we are, with only just over a half year into the new government, and the opposition is a shadow of a shadow.

If that was budget debating, then rum-shop belligerencies are preferable DEAR EDITOR, The budget passing was foregone. Also foregone were the rollicking ruckuses that marred what was supposed to be intense debates on the budget: underpinnings, peculiarities, projections, positives, and negatives.

That was what I expected from all parliamentarians, but

particularly those in the opposition.

Instead of profoundness from all, there were cheap shots galore (literally); there was the superficial amid the stormtossed; and, of course, the inevitable boisterous protests, departures, and suspensions all obscured anything resembling the

The opposition has a role, the leading one, to apply unrelenting pressure to bring exposure to the government of the day, through the shortcomings and mysteries of the national budget. This was barely executed in periodic drips and drabs.

It is termed holding the feet of the government to the fire. It must feel the higher and higher temperatures without letup.

This, too, was missing in action, with the budget process, with Guyana at large being worse off for it.

The opposition efforts were so futile and impotent that when it should have been asking the hard pointed questions and insisting upon clear answers, it was content to resort to dramatics and cleverness, which served no conceivable purpose. It gave the PPP government numerous free passes, of which we single out only a few of them that were not tabled.

First, what was underlying the increase in funding for the First Lady’s office? Second, what is the rationale behind the budgeted numbers for the Childcare Protection Agency?

Third, how about more insights into the proposed funding of the national budget, and the degree of borrowings? And

thoughtful, the in-depth, and the sagacious.

If that was budget debating, then rum-shop belligerencies are preferable; and if that was political sensibility, then I settle for senility. Some things became obvious. The PPP members were expressive in the venomous and the vengeful;

I detected payback for either the 60s, or those 28 years, or the last five. The PNC (all of its colours, contours and components) exemplified the frustrations and aggressions that flow from their limitations, the shorthandedness of its parliamentary powers.

(Continued on page 6)

fourth, what are the rationalizations behind the slew of bigticket items? This is part of what holding government accountable means at its core.

Guyanese are the ones who will be saddled with the immense debt loads; they deserve the kind of light that comes from inspired and inspiring representation from the opposition. This was not evident, as it was not delivered; citizens did not get any of that from the opposition. The PPP government was only too delighted to push the opposition’s buttons, and go along with what was a total charade. In truth, it was part vaudeville, and in many parts of parliamentary porn. The latter is one aspect of the 2021 budget that will live in infamy, and inseparably in the memory of many.

We have all been condemned to be eyewitnesses to verbal spit bubbles within a pandemic driven physical bubble with what took place in parliament and this so-called budget debate. It was a long sad interlude; this country could be in for longer, much sadder times.

Sunday March 07, 2021

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

This man is unfit to be part of civil society’s functionalism DEAR EDITOR, I wrote a KN column on March 2 entitled, “What is the TUC’s position on the March 2020 election?” I was prompted to write the piece because Lewis indicated that his published position in the print media was his own and he didn’t sign in his capacity as TUC’s General Secretary.

My adumbration was academic and not one adjective, I repeat, “one” adjective was used in any capacity whatsoever to describe Lewis’s character, face, antics, etc. There was nothing personal in that column. Any school boy can Google it and see the difference between my article and Lewis’ response to same in a KN letter last Friday.

I was referred to as a degreed dunce, a catfish, a nincompoop and idiot, terms used more than once in his missive. Any Guyanese in and out of the land who has read just one percent of my thousands of columns since 1988 would know that this type of language doesn’t bother me. It never did given my background in Wortmanville, South Georgetown. It never

bothered me because I know this is what people do.

When I saw Lewis’s vulgarity on display, I called my editor in chief. I asked her to compare the polemical/ academic contents of my column with the sordid descent of Lewis. She asked if I want to reply, I said yes, so here am I. The main thrust of this missive here goes in three directions – one is the graphic race hate that Lewis preaches.

Secondly, the acceptance of his leadership by trade unions in Lewis’ faction called the TUC as opposed to the other half, FITUG. Thirdly, how the Catholic Bishop of Guyana can have a civil society association with a character that is before the courts on criminal charges that involves the assault on an elderly woman.

Let’s start with race hate.

Every Guyanese Indian that denounced the PNC and AFC for rigging the 2020 election

is anti-African for Lewis. But the one incident that should have brought the ERC into play was Lewis’s reply to Vishnu Bisram on Vice President of the US, Kamala Harris’ attitude to her father.

It doesn’t appear that the ERC has a research arm. Any human, in any part of the world who reads about the life of one of the most pronounced global faces – Kamala Harris – cannot fail to miss the non-existence of her father in her life.

She doesn’t mention him at all. And in not one major speech has she mentioned him while extolling the virtues of her mother all the time. Her father left the family when Harris was a very little girl and that was the end of the relationship. A simple Google search could inform Lewis of these facts.

All Vishnu Bisram did was to convey those facts to Lewis in a letter directed to Lewis in this newspaper. In

one of the most obnoxious examples of race baiting, he accused Bisram of being antiAfrican and racist. He accused Bisram of leaving Harris’ father out of the picture because he is a Black man. Bisram left out Harris’ father because it is Harris herself who doesn’t bring her father into the picture.

Interesting to note that Harris is married to a White man and her sister’s first child is fathered by a White man. The point here is that the Harris family is happily multi-racial.

Lewis in every reply used the fiction of me being anti-Black.

Not in one article, I repeat, “one” article I have accused Lewis of being anti-Indian.

The second direction has to do with the trade unions that are under the umbrella of the Lewis-run TUC. Some of these unions are; the teachers’ union, the public service union, and the two UG unions. All three have Indian members. How could these

unions continue to associate with their administrator who writes all the time on race hate? How could they associate with a man who wrote that the president should have cancelled the election of March 2020? What respect this man has for the constitution as a trade union leader?

Finally, the Bishop of the Catholic Church. He was seen in a photograph with Lewis when with the TUC, the Catholic Church, and two other organizations formed a

civil society grouping. When I see the Bishop, I will tell him in no uncertain terms how I feel about his association with Lewis. I now ask the Bishop with extensive honesty running all over me; what values to Guyanese society he expects Lewis to bring, given Lewis’ role in the election controversy, his race baiting, his land-grabbing controversy and his criminal charge for assaulting a woman half his size?

Sincerely, Frederick Kissoon

PAGE 6

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

...If that was budget debating, then From page 4 Overall, it was not of the personally sublime, nor the austerities of a National Assembly engaged in the intricacies of a full-blown national budget debate. It was part riot, part exhibition, and all the domestic abuses that now characterize countless Guyanese homes.

In our national home, our

honourable members relished cursing and profaning each other, while not caring that they did both of the same to the entirety of the population.

Editor, it would have been so much more inspiring to read of the same dogged fervency in our budget debate that the coalition brought to the fore during the eternal and infernal elections

of last year. If this was what was fought for, then it might be better if we are graced with a Spanish-speaking parliament; I believe that few miss my thrust. If this was what the PPP was so focused on, disciplined for during that same dismal elections graveyard, when it was of marshalling all assets to push to the end, without ever losing sight of the paramount objective, then it would have better if it had no representation in parliament, so disturbing were its own contributions, and the ready zeal to mix it up, and reduce issues and atmosphere to a vulgar affair. Naturally, the government had just as enthusiastic competition.

Editor, I have gone past standards for the children and regard for women and elders in how we conduct ourselves. I have left behind what could and should have been those stirringly unalterable elements of our budget debate: piercing scrutiny; embarrassing exposés of gaps and illogic; and spirited defences and always overpowering oratorical brilliance from both sides, among other grandness. Guyana had to settle for coarseness, shallowness, and fatuousness.

When the numbers and their supporting rationales should have taken center stage, there were mostly exhibitions in namecalling, finger pointing, and physical abusing (even stealing allegedly). It is not a bad bargain for duty-free concessions, other tax-free privileges. This is how elected men and women face themselves and those who put them there.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 7

PAGE 8

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Relatives of woman who died at GPHC hospital, file police report over belongings - say missing phone might have evidence of conflict between deceased and nurse Relatives of the late Venesha Lewis, who died along with her baby, last week, yesterday filed a report with the police at Central Police Station over her missing belongings. Kaieteur News had reported that following Lewis’s death, her cellphone, gold earrings and approxi-

mately $20,000 was missing from her belongings that were left at the New Amsterdam Hospital after she was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Relatives were willing to let that go, but just days ago, they were informed that a

nurse who had been attending to Venesha at the New Amsterdam Hospital was one of the persons that she had an exchange of words with on social media.

The woman’s brother, Leon Lewis, explained to reporters, “we didn’t concern for the phone at first, but af-

ter we learned that the phone had information that shows a relationship between the nurse and Venesha, that is when we started to push for the phone.”

He disclosed that in a murder that occurred on September 6, 2020, at Albion, the victim is the nephew of one of the nurses that reportedly attended to Lewis. ”The guy that did the killing is Venesha’s brother-inlaw, but they (nurse and Venesha) had exchanged some words on Facebook, but now they delete everything with that on Facebook,” he said. He added that the nurse along with other relatives had issued threats to Venesha in the past when they attended court hearings for the murder case and one of the threats were, “One of yall gon drop in my hands one day.” Leon Lewis said it is reason enough to deduce that what occurred to Venesha Lewis may have been a deliberate act and as such, he believes that it should be investigated by the police. Hence, a report was filed.

Meanwhile, the brother told Kaieteur News that the Regional Health Officer for Region Six, Dr. Vishalya Sharma, had visited their home at Williamsburg and

Deceased – Venesha Lewis.

apologized for what took place; she however did not provide any answers to the relatives as it relates to what might had happened at the institution she supervises, he said.

He added that they inquired about the phone from the RHO, but she indicated that she forgot it. Lewis said they spoke to Regional Chairman, David Armogan, sometime after and he told them that the phone, money and Venesha’s earring were found, but when they spoke to the RHO again to retrieve it, they were told that the phone could not be found.

Lewis said when the RHO visited, she picked up her cellphone and appeared to have spoken to someone by the name of Mr. Khan, who she told, “Please put Venesha Lewis’ phone in my office drawer.” ”All of a sudden the phone gone missing again,

but we need that phone, my sister was trying to tell us something because she sent a pic of the nurse that she had the exchange with,” he said.

Meanwhile, mother of the dead woman, Claris Cecil, said it has been difficult coping with their deaths. She said that Venesha held the fort in their household after her husband (Venesha’s dad) was not working for months. She said her daughter provided for the household and still took care of her children that have been left behind. ”I lost my big daughter, she was healthy. Me husband na work for months and she use to provide food in this house. Me daughter look after we and she children them too,” she said.

The final rites for Venesha and her daughter are expected to be performed today, they will be buried at the Rose Hall Town Cemetery.

ExxonMobil had flared early January...

From page 2 normal operations less than two hours later.”

ExxonMobil has not said the cause of the malfunction, which occurred on January 13.

It is unclear whether it is linked to the current issue, which was announced on January 29, which also caused flaring to return to above pilot levels.

The defective gas compressor has been fully repaired, according to a Thursday update from Production

Manager, Mike Ryan. A new compressor has also been ordered and will be available closer to the end of the year, Persaud had told Kaieteur News.

ExxonMobil has insisted that it has at all times been in compliance with its permits.

“It is important to note,” Persaud to ld Kaieteur

tain other non-routine activities.

Otherwise, flaring is maintained at pilot levels, which is less than 1 percent of the produced gas. Relevant government regulatory age ncies

News, “that flaring is a necessary safety control pro-

Mines Commission have been and continue to be notified of our offshore activities through comprehensive daily reports.”

cess conducted to consume excess hydrocarbons during shutdown, start-up and cer-

such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and

Sunday March 07, 2021

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

President, Opposition Leader at odds on conditions for dialogue Dialogue between President, Irfaan Ali, and the Opposition Leader (OL), Joseph Harmon, on matters pertinent to Guyana’s development, may not transpire anytime soon as the two continue to butt heads over the issue.

And while David Patterson, Shadow Oil and Gas Minister and Opposition Member of Parliament, announced that the Opposition is willing to work with the Government, President Ali, has made it explicitly clear that he will not meet with Harmon for dialogue until the opposition leader retract his previous utterances on the ‘illegitimacy’ of People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

President Ali reiterated his position on Thursday last, while responding to ques-

President Irfaan Ali tions on Government’s collaboration with the Opposition.

“I am saying to you now that the Leader of the Opposition needs to recognize the government with the President and I don’t want implicit

recognition, he must go out there publicly and say, the government is legitimate and he recognizes the government, the president, and then let’s talk,” the Head of State responded.

The OL on the other hand

Exxon insists it remains in compliance with Liza One Environmental Permit ditions, as in this case where the gas injection system is temporarily unavail-

US oil giant, ExxonMobil, continues to insist that it remains in compliance with the Environmental Permit for its Liza Phase One project, amidst reports that it is presently flaring illegally on the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO).

“Let me assure you, we are very clear of what our obligations and commitments under the permits and licences under the operation of the project and we are certainly

fully within those limits. We have not exceeded anything.

We have a very sound system that allows us to track what are those commitments and we are absolutely certain we are well within those,” says Exxon’s Country Manager, Allister Routledge, at a press conference on Thursday.

The claim that the company was in breach of the permit had emerged from the Former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams.

Exxon announced in January that it would be flaring above pilot levels at the Liza Destiny FPSO and later announced that it was flaring 16 million cubic feet of natural gas daily as it sought to carry out repairs to its damaged gas compressor.

But Dr. Adams is of the strong conviction that oil company should not be flaring that amount of gas with a damaged gas compressor.

Exxon’s Country Manager, Allister Routledge.

While he noted that both the permit and the Liza One Environmental Impact As-

sessment (EIA) allows for flaring in non-routine con-

able.

Section 3.6 of the Liza Permit says that, “Routine Flaring and Venting are prohibited on the FPSO (excludes tank flashing emission, standing/working/ breathing losses.)”

The provision continues to state, “Routine flaring does not include flaring related to FPSO startup, emergencies/process upsets and maintenance events.”

It is under this bracket that ExxonMobil places its current increase in flaring.

Dr. Adams however opined that Exxon continues to operate at its full capacity of 120,000 barrels of oil per day so it cannot be considered a non-routine condition.

in a subsequent statement, offered his “considered rejection” of President Ali’s notion.

He deemed the President’s assertion an “absurd proposition” and a mere continuation of the obstinacy in refusing to engage in dialogue.

Nevertheless, Harmon detailed that he is prepared to meet with the President in the best interest of advancing the cause of the Guyanese people.

Harmon stated, “It continues to be clear as day that the PPP regime and President Ali has no interest in genuine consultation and dialogue; he has no interest in all Guyanese who he claims to represent; he has no interest in One Guyana. He is purely and adamantly concerned only with being in power and less than half of Guyana who represent the PPP supporters.”

The OL maintains that Guyana’s constitution sets no pre-conditions for consultations for dialogue between the President and the Leader of the Opposition.

Although the election process finally came to an end

Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon

on August 2 last, after a fivemonth impasse, which required a CARICOM Supervised Recount to confirm that the PPPC won the March 2, 2020 Elections fair and square, statements emerging from Coalition Opposition, and Harmon himself, continue to suggest that the government is “illegal” and “illegitimate.”

Taking it a step further, the party filed two elections petitions in the High Court to challenge the results, despite the widely publicized election being deemed “free, fair and transparent” by a host of in-

ternational electoral observers – one of those petitions has since been dismissed.

The aforementioned formed the basis of President Ali’s contention that it would be an impossible feat to have cordial relations with a regime you do not consider legal.

Nevertheless, Harmon continued in his statement, “Mr. Ali and his handlers in the PPP can decide whether they want to put the country first, as I am prepared to do, or they wish to continue with their discriminatory, partisan and isolationist approach.”

Dem boys seh...

Tek warning!

Dem boys read how T&T – yes de once oil rich and mighty T&T - had to borrow US$150M to help combat de effects of de COVID-19 pandemic.

Who would ah think dat dis country, which was once de richest country in de Caribbean Community could a reach a stage where it gat to borrow money fuh help deal with de fallout from de virus.

Is not no small amount dat dem borrow. Is almost de same amount of money wah Jagdeo bin tek fuh build de

white elephant at Skeldon. Is about US$50M less dan what Guyana get last year from oil.

Dat is why dem boys telling Guyanese to tek warning.

Yuh better tek warning. Tek warning, yuh better do good.

Let yuh light shine bright…. so the song goes.

Glenn Lall been warning all of awe about what can happen to Guyana if we don’t be careful with oil.

One man seh it was he personal opinion dat we should pump de oil as quickly as possible in de shortest

possible time. De next couple of days, de quick and fast pumping, became official policy.

And we know that wit dem big boat wah dem bringing here, half we oil gan done in a short time and wah gan happen den?

Tek warning? Look at what happening to Trinidad.

Dem oil almost done and dem gat to go with begging bowl in hand fuh loan, fuh combat COVID. Talk half and take warning!

PAGE 10

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

FRONT PAGE COMMENTS RECAP As we continue our mission to enlighten you about issues of importance to this nation, we at Kaieteur News, have been publishing a series of front-page comments in hopes of having our leaders take the necessary actions in order to realize the desired outcome.

Today, we recap the front-page comments that were published during the past week.

This is a golden opportunity to Time to end abuse of public funds! senses and insult the dignity cedent, especially for the present ruling cabal who may SUNDAY unite our leaders MONDAY of allAndGuyanese. if no Guyanese is be tempted to believe that, We support any efforts, which are made to unite Guyanese, including those at the political level, in order to wrest meaningful concessions from ExxonMobil. In this regard, it comes as a pleasant surprise to hear the former Minister of Infrastructure and a leading light in the Alliance For Change (AFC) say that, “We are ready for a better deal.”

However, such sentiments have to be backed by action. \The Opposition Coalition, of which Mr. Patterson is a key figure, has been silent and evasive when it comes to speaking out against the giveaway of the Kaieteur and Canje Blocks. It has also been extremely re-

served in demanding a renegotiation of the Production Sharing Agreement between the government and Exxon.

It has not been vigorous enough in its opposition to flaring or the pollution of our fishing grounds, or about the absence of adequate insurance to cover oil spill liabilities.

Nonetheless, we hope that the call for a united front against Exxon is publicly echoed by his colleagues within the AFC and by his partners in A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

We also encourage all Guyanese to demand that their political leaders forge a common and united front for a better deal from the oil companies, and for the reclaiming

of the Kaieteur and Canje Oil Blocks.

The going has been hard and heavy but Kaieteur News has been tireless in leading the way for a united front.

We have done so because

we know that the oil companies are adept at co-opting politicians and then dividing the population, as they fetch away the country’s wealth.

The ball now rests firmly in the court of the APNU+AFC to show that it is serious about a united front.

This is a golden opportunity to unite our leaders and to demand a fair deal for our fabulous resources.

We want a better deal.

We want it now!

COVID -19 death toll moves to 201; 43 new cases discovered Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 201 with a 57-year-old male succumbing to complications as a result of the disease yesterday.

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH) the patient who contracted COVID-19 died while receiving care at a medical facility in Region Four.In the interim, the MOH recorded 43 new cases of the disease, taking the overall confirmed cases to 8,772.

According to the Ministry of the new cases, there are 11 cases in Region Three; 25 in Region Four; two in Region Seven; One in Region Nine and Four in Region 10.

Further, the Ministry noted that there are seven persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); 40 in institutional isolation; 419 in home isolation and 11 in institutional quarantine.

A total of 8,106 persons have recovered, so far.

The expenses the former Minister in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, is alleged to have incurred on one trip, may tempt one to believe that this was in relation to a return trip to the Far East.

But Annette Ferguson only went to Wakenaam, and that near million dollars was only for this visit.

The expenses assault the

disturbed by this level of extravagance, we at this newspaper are offended and outraged.

We are sickened because we know where there is smoke there is bound to be fire.

And there may be many more similar circumstances, involving others, which are yet to be unearthed or which may never be known.

It sets an unhealthy pre-

apart from approving contracts to firms o wned by

their children, they can engage in similar abuse of public funds.

On every occasion that public officials, including elected officials, are allowed to escape sanction for financial extravagance, it means less will be available for our policemen, our nurses and our teachers.

CAT WILL EAT OUR DINNER FRIDAY Guyanese leaders and peoples are focused on attacking and humiliating each other, while Venezuelan leaders are focused on our land and treasure.

The Venezuelan high command keeps harassing Guyana (and indirectly Exxon) with incursions by ship and aircraft.

On the other hand, Guyanese leaders are con-

sumed with lowering the boom on their opponents, with things that should not be on our front burners.

This newspaper has repeatedly called for the highest priority to be given to skillfully and cleanly managing our natural resources wealth.

Instead of heeding this advice, our leaders laugh at us, since they prefer to engage in political jousting.

They are comfortable insulting and cussing out each

other, instead of focusing on what is more important: being vigilant against both Exxon and Venezuela.

We are inviting problems by our petty divisiveness. It is just a matter of time before troops cross our borders. We will be caught off-guard. Our biggest job, according to the PPP/C, the PNC, and AFC, is to ‘buse’ down one another and get even with each other.

If we continue this way, cat is sure to eat our dinner.

ERC to host National Conversation at month end With the current Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) set to expire next month, it will be hosting its second National Conversation on improving ethnic relations in Guyana on Saturday March 20, 2021.

The ERC first introduced the National Conversation in December last year in collaboration with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and the University of Guyana (UG).

The main goal according to the Commission was to have frank and open discussions to capture different views on factors that impede ethnic harmony and recommendations for the compilation of a report, which was to be submitted to the National Assembly and relevant stakeholders for implementation.

The first one was held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the same

practice will be kept for the second. It will be hosted from 9:00 hrs. to 16:00 hrs. on the given date via the ZOOM application for those who wish to participate.

It will also be live-streamed on the ERC’s Facebook page.Both, President, Irfaan Ali, and Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, were invited to address the opening session at the last National Conversation. Presentations were also given by the ERC’s Chairman General Bishop, Reverend Dr. John Smith; Mikiko Tanaka, UN Resident Coordinator and UG’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Paloma MohamedMartin.The conversations are being held following two years of racial tensions subsequent to the passing of the no-confidence motion in 2018 and the harrowing five-month election saga, which escalated the situation.

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

W

ith 18 discoveries to date and another five exploration wells planned for the near future, ExxonMobil Corp. is now revising the potential oil reserves in the Stabroek Block, to be at least 18 billion barrels of oil—double the proven nine billion barrels already discovered.

This, according to Neil Chapman,

Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil’s senior vice president of upstream operations, during a recent webcast where the company’s executive elucidated on the ramping up of operations in Guyana even as its production globally is projected to remain ‘flat’ at least until 2025, he told the Investor’s Day 2021 webcast on Wednesday last.Chapman told ExxonMobil investors, “we expect the potential of the basin to be more

than double what we’ve already discovered,” or more than 18 billion barrels of oil.

According to Chapman, it’s possible that 10 Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, “will be needed to develop the resource we’ve discovered so far.”

He noted that production in the Permian Basin in the United States is expected to be ramped up 700,000 barrels of oil per day by

Sunday March 07, 2021

2025, “assuming favorable market conditions” using eight rigs—down from 57 rigs that was being used during the past year.

This projection, according to Chapman, has had to be revised downwards from the initial planned production of one million barrels of oil from 2024 in that basin.

Contrasting the US and Guyana (Continued on page 52)

Sunday March 07, 2021

Last Friday, the House Committee of Supply approved the $353.8 billion national budget –the largest budget the country has ever passed. It was said that these billions of dollars would catapult the country’s economic recovery, and improve the performance of critical sectors that were severely affected by COVID-19 shockwaves.

Being the largest budget Guyana has ever seen, Kaieteur News had high expectations for the National Assembly, during the five

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

days of debates (February 22March 1), to comprehensively address how the government will prudently manage Guyana’s lucrative oil and gas sector.

However, what Kaieteur News witnessed in the dome of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) during those five days were the 65 Members of Parliament (MPs) allocating significant time to recall the events of the protracted March 2020 elections.

This was done in the absence of how it intends to manage the oil and gas sector.

The only three MPs who had allocated time in their presentations to address this sector, was the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall; and Opposition Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, David Patterson.

Bharrat, during his presentation, sought to upbraid the former coalition administration for their “poor management” of Guyana and its resources. But he was quick to bring up and be extensive about the details and events

of the March 2020 elections, in which the APNU+AFC failed at rigging.

When he turned to the subsection of the oil and gas sector, the Natural Resource Minister incorrectly stated to the assembly that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the coalition, had approved a 14 billion flaring cap for ExxonMobil. This 14 billion cap was recently debunked by Exxon itself.

Notwithstanding this, Bharrat indicated that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) government will nurture

the sector in collaboration with its investment partners to ensure that it benefits from the sector.

The Minister also spoke very briefly on the Local Content consultations that are currently ongoing; the PPP/ C intentions to embark on the gas-to-shore project; as well as its intentions to correct the flaws in the Liza One Permit.

This permit is set for renewal next.

Being the chief law man of the country, Kaieteur News had expected AG Nandlall to highlight key measures the

government intends to take to reform the decades-old oil and gas legislation. However, when the AG spoke on this sector, all he indicated was the government’s intention to retain the international consultant to draft legislation for the petroleum sector.

Meanwhile, Opposition MP Patterson criticized the PPP/C government for allowing Exxon to flare, despite the fact that this allowance was granted by the former administration. He even criticized the government on the (Continued on page 53)

PAGE 14

Burglars vandalize three Linden churches - Steal clothes, cologne gift set, fans, sound system It seems that a gang of burglars might be targeting churches in Linden, after three were vandalized between Tuesday and Saturday last week. Missing from the places of worship are amplifiers, speakers, electric fans, a cologne gift set and several pieces of clothing.

The members of the respective churches had turned up to clean the buildings at different hours on Saturday when they discovered the items missing.

The first to be discovered burglarized was the McKenzie Baptist Church, located on Wismar Street,

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

McKenzie. Members arrived around 6:30Hrs and noticed that a window in the washroom area was removed.

Upon further checks they realized that keyboard power cord valued $5000 along with a bag which contained several pants and shirts were missing.

The members told police that the church had to be burglarized sometime after 20:30Hrs on Friday evening.

They recalled that there was a choir practice on Friday which ended at that hour.

Everything was intact and the building was secured and locked-up before the choir

members went home.

The second church, Prayer Worship located at Lot 6 Crabwood Street, McKenzie, was found burglarized around 08:45Hrs on Saturday. Missing were six electric fans, an amplifier worth $30,000 and two fiveinch speakers valued at $30,000 as well.

It is believed that burglars may have entered the building sometime after 19:00Hrs on Thursday, at least this is according to its members who said that they had visited the building that day for a prayer service and had left everything in its place.

The third church, according to police was the Flourishing Place Apostolic Ministry Jubilee Center located at Richmond Hill, Mackenzie Linden. This church was found vandalized around 09:10Hrs.Its members told cops that they found a window and a door located on the eastern side of the building vandalized. Upon further checks discovered that a cologne gift set, a $40,000-amplifier and an audio mixer worth $30,000 were stolen. As with the other cases, members reported that they had left everything intact after their last church activity.

Boat capsizes in Corentyne river; occupants swim to shore Several persons are counting their lucky stars, after they managed to survive a boat mishap that occurred in Corentyne River yesterday morning about 15 minutes after midnight.

Kaieteur News has been informed that the incident occurred some four miles from Orealla Village.

Gordon Herman, 45, a farmer, of Anora Point, Orealla, along with his father, Kelvin Herman, 74, also a farmer, of the said village and two others were in a 22-foot wooden boat powered by a 15HP Sail brand outboard engine heading to Corriverton.

Based on reports, the boat was captained by Gordon Herman, while another vessel,

a barge, reportedly owned by a businessman of Springlands, was heading in the opposite direction to Orealla. The barge reportedly had a small light in front guiding its path and according to Captain Herman, while he was heading to Corriverton, he saw the light coming in his direction and he continued to signal his light toward the captain of the barge that he is coming towards his boat, but within minutes he felt a hard impact on his boat.

Shortly after his boat capsized, and they all went over board and had to swim to the shore.

They sustained minor injuries and the boat and engine were recovered.

Investigation reveals SOL Guyana ...

From page 3 required. In the case of GGDMA, $482M worth of fuel was not delivered along with $53M for Aurora, and $61M for Rusal.

In late 2020/early 2021, it was noted that ExxonMobil was also a beneficiary. In this regard, GRA said that evidence so far reveals that as early of 2015, the system was being abused by SOL Inc., whereby exemption letters were utilized to clear fuel while the full quantity was not delivered to Exxon. With the exception of Exxon, which is now awaiting final decision on $2.6B cleared and not delivered, all amounts have been paid, the tax body said.

The tax body was also keen to inform the senior government officials of one of the more recent cases involving SOL and Bosai.

For the period January 1 to September 30, 2020, it was noted that a total quantity of 34,554,080 litres of Gas Oil was imported and duly entered by Sol Guyana Inc. using both of Bosai company's tax exemption letters with references LT02-2020 406 and LT02-2020 417.Of this quantity, certified records submitted by SOL Guyana Inc. and Bosai company revealed that only the accumulated quantity of 20,691,379 litres was delivered to the beneficiary. This meant that the balance of 13,862,701 litres should have remained in SOL's possession. To this effect and based on the incontrovertible evidence obtained, the Revenue

Authority demanded the forgone Excise Tax in the sum of Six hundred and six million, nine hundred and seventyeight thousand, three hundred and sixty-three dollars ($606,978,363) on the 13,862,701 litres of Gas Oil which was imported, duly entered free of Excise Tax and was not delivered to Bosai company to be utilized for the intended purpose.

In an email dated November 27, 2020, GRA said that Sol Guyana Inc. accepted the liability. However, it further alleged that in past periods, notably during 2018-2019 the company supplied in excess of 24 million litres of duty paid diesel at duty free price to Bosai company without exemption letters.GRA pointed out however that the alleged quantity (24M litres) stated when reconciled was found to be only 20.3M litres, clear evidence that Sol Inc., does not keep adequate records of acquittals. It was further noted that tax officials are currently examining Bosai's Exemption records to see whether the company acquitted fuel from other importers in 2018 and 2019, since they were in receipt of exemptions during the period claimed.

Taking the foregoing into consideration, the tax body wants to examine ways of having SOL prosecuted and the relevant taxes and interests recovered in light of the abuses committed.

GRA believes that the Attorney General should have a say on the way forward too.

High court dismisses application...

From page 3 constitutional agencies of Guyana and give them complete control of their finances.

He said that the National Assembly then passed Constitutional Amendment Act, No. 1 of 2016, which was assented to by Granger on the January 11, 2016, in which the Parliament Office was added as an entity listed among the

constitutional agencies.

Mahipaul noted however that the National Assembly recently passed the Fiscal Management and Accountability Amendment Bill of 2021 assented to on February 9, repealed Section 80B (1) to (4) of the FMAA which were amended by the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act of 2015.

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Sunday March 07, 2021

==The Unexpected Inevitable ==

The murdered Bharrat Dass

Brothers struggle to make ends meet after the brutal murder of their father

By Shervin Belgrave

W

h e n a murderer took the life of their father, four brothers, almost instantaneously, found themselves struggling to make ends meet.

However, they are not fazed by their circumstances since they believe that if they stand together, they will overcome the odds.

At least this is what their father taught them ever since they were tots.

Poised for resilience, much like his father is 20year-old, Rajgendranauth Dass, who recently reflected on his father's demise and shared the plans he and his brothers have for the future.

The father, 43-year-old, Bharrat Dass, was last year brutally murdered. And though several months have passed since that tragic day, the boys have, every day since then, been living in a type of agony that even they cannot explain.

Rajgendranauth recalled quite vividly that November 6, 2020 morning, when he

“

He was taken away from us at the wrong time; it was not supposed to be now. Things were now looking promising for us as a family; it was like life was going to be great for us again, but I guess destiny had other plans. – Rajgendranauth Dass

”

The Dass brothers pose for a photo when they were much younger found his beloved father lying on a blood-soaked cardboard behind the New M a r k e t S t r e e t , Cummingsburg Medicare Pharmacy.

His father was working there as a night watchman and had reported for duty around 17:00 hrs. the previous day.

Rajgendranauth on the other hand, would usually leave home every morning to sell hot dogs in front of the

Rajgendranauth (second from right) and his three brothers at their father's funeral

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

On November 6, just before setting up his hot dog cart, he decided to check up on his father who was working close by.

The time was 05:30 hrs. and he did not have to walk far, in fact just a few blocks, but when he arrived, "something didn't look right," he recalled. His father was not in the guard hut located in front of the

building and so the young man called out to him a few times. He got no answer.

This prompted the young Dass to enter the yard. He felt compelled to walk straight to the back stairway of the building and there he saw what would turn out to be his father's bloodied anatomy lying motionless on a piece of card board. “I shook him and he opened his eyes,” Rajgendranauth recalled. “He opened his

eyes and I asked what happen?”

"He could barely speak," Rajgendranauth remembered, “and all he managed to say was 'dem boys beat me and rob me'.”

Bharrat Dass, according to his son, followed up those words by telling him to 'check the security cameras…the cameras have everything.'

Rajgendranauth, after finding his mortally wound father, alerted others who helped to rush him to the GPHC. However, the young

Bharrat Dass and his wife Hemwattie Singh have perhaps united in the Great Beyond

man would soon be faced with the stark reality that his father had uttered his last words. Bharrat Dass passed away five days later.

D o c t o r s t o l d Rajgendranauth and his three brothers that their father had died from brain haemorrhage due to blunt force trauma to the head. He was robbed and beaten to death. Police managed to find a suspect who is currently in the custody of the state.

Although a suspect has been held, it has served as no recompense to his four sons – L a l t r a m , 2 1 ; Rajgendranauth, 20; Lakeram, 16 and Kenard, 14.

“We are broken by this tragedy,” Rajgendranauth said, “he was taken away from us at the wrong time; it was not supposed to be now.

Things were now looking promising for us as a family; it was like life was going to be great for us again, but I guess destiny had other plans.”

But although fate has dealt a brutal blow to the Dass' brothers, Rajgendranauth insisted that although they are broken by their father's death, “with Allah's help, we will stand together as brothers and overcome our struggles. You see our dad was a man of faith and he taught this to us, not only by preaching, but he was a living example.”

This, he said, their father instilled in them ever since their mother, Hemwattie Singh, passed away in January 2009. “She was infected with leptospirosis (continued on page 50)

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Fadehya King

This week's dazzling beauty is Miss Earth Guyana 2019, Fadehya King. One of her favorite quotes says, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”

Her photograph was first featured on Missosology Guyana.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Sunday March 07, 2021

King of the steel pans… Guyanese musician,

Rudy 'Boyzie' Bishop continued the conversation on his childhood.

According to him, his parents, particularly his mother, Urie Bishop, was so strict about ensuring her children had a solid Christian upbringing that they attended Mass at St. James - the -Less Anglican Church, at least three times a week.

“She was a strict Anglican woman who took

By Rehanna Ramsay

T

he alluring symphony of the steel pans is what drew Rudy Bishop into a musical career, one, which he dedicated most of his 75 years on earth.

Today, Mr. Bishop, who is known by many in his close circle as “Boyzie,” is passionate about the art as the day he started playing the steel pans - a skill that brought him recognition at home and abroad.

Coming from the most meager of beginnings, he said that the steel pans brought him a satisfied life, one that he could not have imagined even if he tried.

At the peak of his career, Mr. Bishop graced the stage of renowned venues like the Apollo Theatre in New York and opened shows for several well-known Caribbean bands and singers including Byron Lee and the Dragonaires and the renowned Grenadian calypsonian, “The Mighty Sparrow.”

His work earned him respect, locally and internationally. Fact is that Mr. Bishop holds several accolades for his service, including the Medal of Service, Sunshine Award and Hero Award.

His work locally comprised building steel pan bands for various schools and organizations throughout the country, and i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y, h e entertained many distinguished audiences across North America, the Caribbean and Russia.

He told Kaieteur News that having already made his mark as a renowned pannist, he is more focused now on leaving a musical legacy for the younger generation to follow.

And although this week's 'Special Person' is now in what many would call his “golden years,” he reassures that he still has a lot more to add to the development of the socio-cultural facet of the nation. At present, he wants to continue training and putting together steel pan camps for as many communities and schools as possible.

“At my age I still have more to contribute to the music and social welfare of the people,” Bishop told this publication during a recent interview.

MEMORY LANE Obviously, proud of his accomplishments as a musician, Bishop, during a trip down memory lane, disclosed that not only had he come from a very humble beginning but his family was one of the largest clan in Pike Street, Kitty.

“We were so big that almost every house on the Street had a Bishop,” he said reminiscent of his youth.

“I had 13 siblings; we were a poor family but very religious. Both my parents ensured we attended church and went to the Anglican school,” he said as he

is a 'Special Person'

“I remember the band was playing musical renditions to tunes that I knew and so I began humming along,” he said with a glimmer of fascination in his voice.

According to the musician, this was the first time he witnessed the “El Tora Steel Band” in action.

been working to resuscitate “ I have the band and take the social venture to another level, so by the time COVID-19 is over, we can do much greater work.

”

care of the house and children; ensured that we went to school and got involved in the work of the church, while my father, Clarence, was a carpenter by trade, but he sold greens on a donkey cart for many years to help support the family,” Bishop said.

He noted that his mother had planned on having him follow the footsteps of his father once he had finished school before something else caught his attention— the steel pans.

According to him, it was on the way to one of the weekly choir practice at the church that the sound of the steel pans caught his attention. He noted that it was either he had never heard or paid attention to the sound before but on this particular day, it gripped him.

So instead of going to choir practice, the young Bishop found himself wondering down a slim alleyway to investigate the alluring sound.

“It was so captivating for me as a youngster that I would leave for choir practice and end up there in the alleyway, among some other youths, who like myself, were watching the guys play,” he said.

Bishop recalled that he could catch the band almost every day because they were training for a competition.

“I would stand for hours and watch the band as they played. They were prepping for the Christmas Road Tramp,” he said, recalling the moment he was invited to join the band.

“Archie, the arranger of the band was becoming increasingly frustrated because the bass player kept forgetting the notes. I was standing there watching them all the time and whenever they left I would jump on the pans and practice…so I volunteered to fill in for the bass guy. Archie asked me “you sure you could play?” and I said yes.

I was confident and he handed me the sticks. Well, the rest of the story you could say was history. I got into my first steel pan band,” Bishop stated.

He noted that it was not long after that he became a permanent member of the band and played his first solo. “It was a popular 1963 tune, called, Sparrow come back home, sung by the

Mighty Sparrow,” recalled Bishop.

He told Kaieteur News that he remained with the band for two years until P e t e r D ' A g u i a r, t h e Guyanese businessman renowned for the D'Aguiar Park brewery beverage fame, started a band of his own.

“I joined D'Aguiar's band in Charlestown along with some other steel pan players. I was still a youth living with my parents so I took the opportunity to travel all over the country and play,” he said, adding that he later joined a band controlled by a popular public servant named Victor Thomas.

“That band was called the Texacons and playing for them helped me develop the confidence to join the Bell Boys, “he said that the Bell Boys band quickly became popular which made way for them to “play out” at weddings, parties and other public events. By then, he (continued on page 49)

Young Acolytes Symphonic Steel Orchestra members practice in the basement of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in 2012. (Bryan Pace/for New York Daily News)

Blast from the past: 'The Atlantic ymphony Orchestra' in their prime

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 07, 2021

PAGE 19

Jagdeo is contradicting himself T

he APNU+AFC had denied approval of the sale to Republic Bank of the local assets of Scotiabank, a Canadian owned financial institution. The excuse, which was used then, was that that sale would have given Republic Bank a too dominant role in the country's financial sector.

This column has questioned whether the permission of the Bank of Guyana was needed for the sale of one financial institution to another. It would appear to be against the principles of the free market for regulatory approval to have been needed.

This column had noted that the sale of one bank to another is a normal market transaction. The State should not interfere but should limit itself to protecting against certain forms of financial concentration, such as monopolies, but this should not become a pretext to frustrate normal mergers, sales and acquisitions.

Scotia's decision to sell had caused questions to be asked as to why when Guyana was set to become the leading economy in the Caribbean, Scotiabank was pulling out of the country.

Scotiabank obviously does not share the same enthusiasm as the former government did about the future of Guyana's financial sector.

The “chicken feed” royalties, which ExxonMobil and company are giving to Guyana was never going to be an incentive for Scotiabank to stay in what is, by international standards, a miniscule market. And it was most instructive that Scotiabank had decided to maintain a presence in Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o , Jamaica, and in the Dominican Republic. But not in oil rich Guyana!

The Governor of the Bank of Guyana had another

concern. He was worried about the market dominance, and concomitantly the implications for fair competition, now that Republic Bank is poised to acquire most of the regional assets of Scotiabank.

In his estimation, if this acquisition goes through, Republic Bank would become “too big” and control just more than half of the banking sector. Now Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, had parroted the same concerns about concentration in the financial sector.

The regulator, the Bank of Guyana, denied permission for Scotia, to sell its local operations to Republic Bank, the intended buyer did not mount a legal challenge to the Governor's and the government's assertion that such permission was needed.

It should have. The Financial Institutions Act (FIA) requires permission from the Bank of Guyana to enter into a merger or amalgamation with another bank or to transfer the whole or substantial part of its assets in Guyana. Republic Bank was buying out Scotiabank. There was no merger, amalgamation, or transfer of assets The fear of market dominance in the financial sector must not become an excuse to impose restrictions on the sale of banks to other banks. Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, who is now a Vice President, was arguing that the total assets of the country's entire financial system cannot finance the investment that is needed for oil exploration and production.

But this should be reason for Jagdeo to want a strong player to drive financial sector growth. The small banks in Guyana really cannot play such a role; they are too minuscule. Guyana needs a large player in the banking sector just as it needed a major hotel brand

to boost its hospitality sector.

Now Jagdeo appears to be contradicting himself.

While recalling that the PPP/C government had adopted a less than liberal approach to the financial sector, by limiting the number of banks earlier because of the failure of some financial institutions, he is reported as announcing a rethink of licensing new commercial banks. These new banks, which are likely to be considered, will be the very banks, which has signed an agreement to buy the local assets of Scotia.

S t r a n g e l y, J a m a i c a suffered financial losses as a

result of the balkanization of its financial system – another way of saying that these losses were on account on the fragmentation of its financial system into a number of small banks.

But is this not the very notion, which will result from the granting of new commercial banking licences? Will the country's financial system not be further fragmented?

Jagdeo is of course clueless as to the cause of the past implosion in the Jamaican banking system.

This resulted not from balkanization, but in the first instance, in the 1990s from

problems in the economy, and after 2008 from the runon effects of the global financial crisis.

The financial crisis of 1996 has nothing to do with sequencing financial reforms, as Jagdeo would have us believe. It resulted from a combination of slow growth, poor investments, and the high real interest rates.

All the making of poor economic policies and management.

The later crisis was as a result of the degree of the island's financial inter-connection to financial markets, something that countries like

Guyana did not have to worry about.

It is now quite convenient for the PPP/C administration to now decide to issue new licences to new financial institutions, even though this may fragment the very system which Jagdeo claims is undercapitalized, even though a major player, Scotia is scooting.

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

Kaieteur News

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Sunday March 07, 2021

Small states diplomacy pays dividends on 'de-risking'

By Sir Ronald Sanders

I

t was an odd law into which to place it, but new and welcome directives on 'de-risking,' which has plagued Caribbean countries, has become law in the United States.

The law in which the h elp f u l d ir ectiv es ar e embedded is the ''William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021'' (NDAA). It was vetoed by former President, Donald Trump, and it should, at that point, have died. But for the first time in Trump's presidency, the Congress mustered the two-thirds majority needed to overturn his veto.

Tr u m p ' s v e t o h a d nothing to do with 'derisking.' It was directed mainly at the bill's removal of the names from military facilities of Confederate officers.

A significant

US Congressional Round Table. (Left to Right) Sir Ronald Sanders, PM Gastin Browne, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, PM Allen Chastanet. (Photo taken in November 2019.)

number of Trump's supporters come from the former confederate states.

Section 6215 of the NDAA, which deals with Financial Services De-

Risking, is the result of painstaking work by the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, and his instructions to me, as Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States, to leave no stone unturned in engaging the U.S. Congress and

particularly the House Banking Committee, to draw attention to the harmful – if unintended - consequences of de-risking for the Caribbean's banking system.

Browne is the lead CARICOM head of government for financial services.

The Chairperson of the Committee is the formidable Maxine Waters, representative in the House for California's 43rd district.

Throughout the latter half of 2019, she was bombarded by approaches from Antigua and Barbuda in written and personal presentations, explaining why de-risking

by U.S. global banks was depriving Caribbean banks of crucial correspondent banking relations, and threatening to cut-off the region from participation in the global trading and financial system.

In early 2019, banks in some CARICOM countries had lost all their correspondent banks, and institutions in other states were tenuously holding on to only one. All this had arisen because of U.S. regulatory directives to its banks

Sir Ronald Sanders concerning money laundering, financing of terrorism and the mythical but popular view that Caribbean countries were 'tax -havens' and their banks were awash with dirty money.

The facts told a different story. In the 10 years up to 2019, US$26 billion has been imposed worldwide as fines for non-compliance with money laundering, but not one bank was located in the Caribbean.

Little attention was paid to the reality that all the banks in CARICOM countries and all their assets and transactions do not total five percent of the assets and transactions in the world.

Therefore, in the unlikely event that all five percent of financial transactions are dirty in some form or another, it stands to reason that the countries and banks, responsible for the remaining 95 percent of assets and transactions were (continued on page 48)

Sunday March 07, 2021

Dear Reader, in light of the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our publisher, with you in mind, has taken the decision to extend our weekly review of some of our major stories in their entirety.

SUNDAY NATURALRESOURCES MINISTRY PLAGIARIZED TARGETS FROM GHANA’S LOCAL CONTENT REGULATIONS – WENT AGAINST ADVICE OF LOCAL CONTENT PANEL – DID NO INDEPENDENT GAPANALYSIS – SOME COPIED MEASURES UNSUITABLE FOR GUYANA Research conducted by Kaieteur News has found that the targets contained in the draft local content policy were not based on data gathered from an independent gap analysis. The sliding scale targets used by the Natural Resources Ministry were plagiarized in many parts from Ghana’s regulations. The plagiarism was so extensive that even a mistake in Ghana’s regulations was copied.

According to Guyana’s draft policy, the government is proposing that over a period of three to 10 years, oil companies should increase their use of Guyanese in various aspects of their petroleum operations.

Specifically, the draft document notes that in the initial years, Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for onshore, offshore, Liquefied Natural gas facility, and detailed engineering gas gather facilities should see 20 percent, 10 percent, 10 percent, and 20 percent use of Guyanese respectively.

Ghana’s regulations have the exact words and numbers.

With respect to the supply of pipelines, Guyana’s draft document notes that there should be a 10 percent usage of locals at startup, 40 percent in three years, 55 percent in five years, 75 percent in seven years, and 100 percent in 10 years. With the exception of the proposed requirements in the areas of three and seven years, (the only new features in terms of columns added to Guyana’s draft policy), Ghana’s regulations makes the exact demands. It leaves one to wonder whether Guyana expects to have a pipe mill in 10 years, making oilfield pipelines.

Furthermore, Ghana’s Regulations contain a mistake under the category Marine Operations and Logistics Services. The document says that Ghanaians should be able

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to supply “Driving” or ROV or submersible operations.

Instead of “Driving,” it is supposed to be “Diving.”

Even this was copied and placed into the draft policy.

(ROV stands for remotely operated vehicle. This equipment is a type of underwater robot.)

Additionally, some of the areas plagiarized from Ghana are unsuitable for Guyana as it is expected to be achieved over a 10-year period with high local content levels. One area that was already flagged in this regard during the first round of consultations is having locals supply 100 percent of the steel pipes, plates, flat sheets, and ropes needed in the sector in 10 years’ time. Other unsuitable areas with high local content targets that are plagiarized and being proposed include Logging while drilling (LWD), Production or drilling service, 3D Seismic data acquisition services, Well overhauling or stimulation services, Well crisis management services, and extended well test or early production Services including provision of floating or jack up production unit.

Also listed are services regarding the installation of subsea packages, reservoir services, mooring system services, hoop-up and commissioning of marine installation services, provision of floating storage units, and supply of Glass reinforced epoxy (GRE) pipe.

While the Natural Resources Ministry copied all of the categories of work from Ghana’s regulations and increased some of the targets, it is critical to note that these specified targets were not part of the recommendations of the Local Content Panel. That body was appointed in August 2020 by President, Irfaan Ali. The panel included Guyana’s Advisor on Borders, Carl Greenidge; Trinidadian Expert, Anthony Paul; Businessman and Chairman of the panel, Shyam Nokta; Certified Fraud Examiner, Floyd Haynes; former Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Carvil Duncan; and TT’s former Energy Minister, Kevin Ramnarine.

In the 35-page report of the panel, no specific targets were provided since it had no data to work with from a gap analysis.

The panel’s report simply acknowledges that targets for employment and certain levels of procurement would be in the nation’s interest.

It is unclear why the

Natural Resources Ministry would produce a draft policy that is not i n k e e p i n g with the recommendations of the President’s Advisory Panel.

Equally troubling is the fact that its targets are not informed by the realities on the ground.

COMPANY OWNED

BY CATHY HUGHES RECEIVED $6M IN CONTRACTS FROM MINISTRY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS – APPROVED AT LEAST ONE PAYMENT TO COMPANYAS MINISTER Public Affairs Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy has publicized that former Minister of Public Telecommunications and Alliance For Change (AFC) Senior Executive and Member of Parliament, Catherine Hughes had her company, VideoMega Productions Limited receive over $6M in contracts from the ministry, which she presided over.

The documents, which were seen by this publication even show Hughes in one instance appearing to have personally approved a payment, with her signature, as Minister.

Notably, in 2019 Kaieteur News had reported Hughes categorically denying using her office or participating in the decision-making process that led to the award of a contract to Videomega Productions for the production of ads for the oil and gas sector. The contract awarded to her company was done on behalf of the Department of Energy at the tune of $832,200 and the company itself had said that the Telecommunications Ministry does not handle the daily operations. Hughes also contested that there was no conflict of interest given that the she did not preside over the Department of Energy.

Further, it was stated that in any case, she had no knowledge that the contract was even issued.

However, new information shows that the total sum of contracts awarded to the company has been revealed to be some $6M, which was allocated under the Telecommunications Ministry Cathy presided over. In one instance, a particular document shows Hughes appearing to have signed off on an invoice payment of $119,670 to the company, for boosting the Ministry’s Facebook Page from January 2018 to June 2018. It was this invoice upon which Hughes’ signature apparently

appears giving approval.

In addition to the payment, in 2016, the company received $1.13M in payments for ads; in 2017 $1.4M in payments for ads; in December 2017, $68,400 for “Community ICT Hub- ICT in Education (Transfer of footage) (Collation of Video Footage MOPT)” in July 2018 $2.33M for “Community I C T R o a d S h o w, 2 0 1 8 Te l e v i s i o n & R a d i o , Caribbean ICT Radio Show, 2018- Advertising Ress Ads, Caribbean ICT Road ShowCamera-ready Artwork”, Berbice Advertising “Caribbean I C T R o a d S h o w, 2 0 1 8 Television Commercial- 45 secs “and even an interview with Hughes herself, “Caribbean ICT Road S h o w, 2018Television 33 secs” and “Caribbean ICT Road S h o w, 2 0 1 8 - 3 3 s e c s Radio”; and $956,519 for Publishing of Advertisements for “ICT Planning Officer- 8x3BW, ICT Education Officer8 x 3 B W, I C T B u s i n e s s Analyst-8x3BW, Technical Admin. Assistant – 10x3BW”.

This publication contacted Hughes Saturday for commentary on the recent revelations to which she responded that this paper had already reported on the issue and she had addressed it. It should be noted that there has been no prior reporting in the most recent revelations. “For the record,” Hughes added, “I ceased to be a member of staff of Videomega when I took up the appointment of Minister of Public Telecommunications. On all my reports to the Integrity Commission, I reported my interest in Videomega.”

The ex-Minister was asked about the instances in which she signed off on some of the invoices and if when she “ceased to be a member of staff,” she gave up proprietorship of the company. However, up until press time, the AFC Senior

Executive failed to provide a response.

MONDAY ‘SPANISH’WOMAN RAPED, SODOMISED, BATTERED AS NEIGHBOUR RUSHED TO GET HELP – COPS PELT CLOTHES ON HER, RELEASE RAPIST HE SAID, “YOU WILL BE MY 24TH VICTIM.” CONTENT WARNING: This story contains graphic depictions of sexual violence.

“I felt as if my life was leaving my body, but I could not leave my three children motherless, so I kept fighting to survive. I had to escape alive.”

Those were the words of a Venezuelan woman, 30, who was on Wednesday last, raped, sodomised, and battered, as neighbours watched on in horror.

Helpless, weak, traumatised and in severe pain, she called out for help but patrol ranks tossed her clothes at her and released the suspect.

As she sat down with Kaieteur News reporters/ translator Sunday to tell her story, her eyes filled with tears as she recounted being lured into a trap by a man she now calls a “monster”.

The woman said that she was standing not too far from a club located at the corner of Robb and Cummings Street, Georgetown smoking a cigarette. Around 22:30 hrs, she said an acquaintance pulled up beside her in a small grey car. She detailed that she had met him a few times before in the club, and noted that he seemed to be a nice person.

“We exchanged greetings and he offered me a job (sex work),” she said.

“I agreed,” she continued and “He invited me to his house. I was a bit skeptical to go at first but he insisted and I entered the car and left with him.”

The woman said that they did not chat much during the journey but he had tried to

touch her while driving.

“I told him ‘No, that is not my job.”

She started to become a bit suspicious. Nevertheless, she brushed her feelings aside since based on previous conversations; he presented himself as a decent individual.

“He said that he was a bachelor with no kids, and his family lived overseas”.

She did not know where they were heading, but recalled entering a street with some heavy duty machines parked at the entrance.

“There were also trees there as well; it looked like some grape trees,” she described.

They drove for a while, she related, and then arrived at his house.

“His yard was really big, and there were some construction materials (blocks, cement, etc.) in front of his white, wooden house.”

She explained that she entered and sat down in a chair, where she lit another cigarette to smoke, while he went to prepare his room. He reportedly returned shortly after and told her to accompany him. She said she followed but while entering the room, noticed two knives placed on a table and became a bit nervous.

“He told me to get naked but before doing so, I requested my payment and he gave $10,000,” recounted the woman.

She mentioned him paying her, after which she undressed and told him to lie down, to which he responded, “No, you lie down on the bed and take off your bra.” The woman said she complied and they began to have sex.

During the act, however, she recalled him becoming sadistic towards her.

“The condom broke and I told him stop. He asked ‘Why?’ and I said I only have one more condom, and if that break we cannot continue, I will have to leave.”

The woman said he agreed and they continued for a while, but that things started to turn ugly.

She recalled being tossed on the bed while he took off (Continued on page 22)

PAGE 22

From page 21 the condom and went outside in a rage.

She became scared, she recounted, and sat up on the bed where she attempted to pick up her clothes, but the man returned with a knife.

“He grabbed me by the hair, placed the knife to my neck and said ‘You ain’t leaving here till I done, you can’t take my money and ain’t do wa I tell you’.”

The man began raping and sodomising her brutally at knifepoint, she recalled.

“He pushed me to my knees and forced his penis into my mouth.”

As the woman broke down in tears, she recalled that he told her ‘If you bite my penis, I will stab you in the neck’.

“He repeatedly raped me until I became weak and I couldn’t take it anymore.”

She pleaded with him to stop, she said, but he slapped her and told her to ‘shut-up’.

“I begged and I begged, I said I cannot go on anymore, I need water, to continue, I am thirsty.”

It was at this point, the woman said, he stopped and left to get the water. She recalled grabbing her clothes soon after and using her fist to punch through the louvre windows in his bedroom.

With clothes in her hands, she jumped through and fell on her back, the woman recalled.

“I got up and ran but he came after me with the knife, held me by my hair and dragged me through his yard,” she said in tears.

The woman relayed that he attempted to stab her, but that she held onto the knife.

Her hands were slashed along with other parts of her body. She recalled that as she battled for survival, her attacker said these words: “I will kill you. You will be my 24th victim. I have done this many times before, and you will be no different.”

She begged him, she said, “Please don’t kill me! I have my children, please don’t!”

The man reportedly continued to slash her while saying, “I don’t like Spanish women and I will wipe them out.”

Somehow, she said, the knife fell out of his hands and he resorted to crushing her head with a concrete block that was nearby.

“I couldn’t give up. I kept on fighting and managed to dodge the blow, and ran a short distance away before he attacked me again.”

This time, the man jumped on top of her and began pounding away mercilessly, she told reporters.

Her screams, she recalled, alerted neighbours who came

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

out, but as they tried to intervene, he shouted “This me woman! Y’all stay out of this!”

They watched on, she related, as he choked and punched her repeatedly to the face.

“I felt as if my life was leaving my body, but I could not leave my three children motherless, so I kept fighting to survive. I had to escape alive.”

She recounted garnering enough strength to slide out of his grip, making one last attempt to escape.

She ran and, in desperation, she jumped over a fence and collapsed.

A woman, she recalled, upon seeing her condition, ran to get help.

Coincidently, a police patrol was passing by in relation to another incident in the area when that woman summoned them. The patrols ranks stopped.

“I couldn’t see properly because my face was bloodied but upon seeing policemen, I begged ‘Please help me! Please help me!”

While begging, she recalled looking back and seeing her attacker coming behind.

She said the fear and trauma caused her to get up off the ground and run towards the policemen, grabbing onto someone’s hand.

“I was picked up and placed to sit down in a chair, while the police entered his yard. I saw them speaking with him, and it appeared as if they placed the handcuff on his hands.”

The ranks returned shortly after with few pieces of her clothing and tossed them at her, she explained.

“They instructed me to get dressed, and an ambulance subsequently arrived,” she said.

The last thing she recalled seeing at the scene before losing consciousness was her abuser being released by police. He walked to the ambulance door, looked at her and laughed.

She was discharged from the hospital a few days later, and has since lodged a report at the Alberttown Police Station.

According to a medical, she showed this media house, the woman sustained a fractured rib along with multiple concussions to the head.

There were also notable cuts and bruises to her body, along with multiple black and blue marks to her eyes, face and neck.

Based on what Kaieteur News was told by her friends, this was the third time they observed the said individual

abusing women from the Venezuelan community.

“Two had fallen into his trap but had escaped with minor bruises,” they said.

The woman has since published her story on Facebook, warning other women like herself to be on the lookout for what she sees as a sexual psychopath.

SURINAME WILL GIVE PREFERENCE TO OIL COMPANIES THAT TEACH COUNTRY TO OPERATE OIL BLOCKS Governments around the world make big money when they award oil and gas contracts by open, competitive bidding processes. And that is the route the Surinamese government took when it announced in November 2020 that it has eight oil blocks up for auction.

The eight blocks on offer total over 13,524 km2 of unexplored, but “highly

prospective” acreage in the Guyana-Suriname basin. This is the same basin where ExxonMobil and its consortium of oil companies have made 18 discoveries, totalling to in excess of nine billion oil equivalent barrels.

When asked to give some insight on the bidding process, Rudolf Elias, the Chief Executive Officer of Suriname’s state oil company, Staatsolie, revealed that it gives preference to those oil companies that propose to make it an operator in 10 year’s time.

Elias had shared these and other details during his debut on the Kaieteur Radio programme, Guyana’s Oil & You, on February 4, last.

There, the CEO boasted that despite Staatsolie’s strict, fixed collections such as its 6% royalty, and 36% revenue collections and its 20% participating interest, the state oil company has seen a “huge interest” from international oil companies

looking to secure the eight blocks.

Further, Elias pointed that oil companies would have to handle all exploration costs, while Staatsolie only jumps in when it comes to the developmental phase of the project. This provision is unlike Guyana, which handles all costs oil companies, including exploration, developmental and production costs “But what we said this time,” the CEO explained, “because it is not in our deep, deep water, but it is between water that is zero and five meters and 75 meters, you can work with a jack up. But we said we will also add a lot of value towards the company that will teach us how to become an operator in the oil field in the offshore business, in the shallow offshore.”

He went on to add, “So, they [oil companies] get all the data that we have. They should come up [with] the programme and if a company

comes up with a programme and says that [it] will drill two wells in the coming two years and we will get you to be operator in ten years, [and] we will build your capacity, then they will be the ones that get the block. This is more or less how we will do that.”

Capitalizing even further on its opportunities, Staatsolie has been studying a large shallow water acreage offshore Suriname, for which it has amassed a wealth of data. On its website, the staterun oil company explained how its work in the near shore areas. Though not yielding material discoveries, it has already done enough to confirm the “potential” of oil in the coastal area.

Kaieteur News had reported on how data amassed about certain areas could increase the value of the acreage. It is for the same reason that Guyana has been urged by industry experts to ensure it publishes data on (Continued on page 23)

Sunday March 07, 2021

From page 22 relinquished blocks as soon as possible.

Impressively, Suriname could rake in hundreds of millions of dollars in signing bonuses for the shallow water block(s). It has already started to do so for its blocks since ExxonMobil’s continued de-risking of the Guyana-Suriname basin.

For instance, Total agreed to pay Apache US$100M for a 50 percent stake in the 1.4 million acre Block 58. That amounts to more than five times the paltry US$18M Guyana took from ExxonMobil for the 6.6 million acre Stabroek Block.

As has been reported in Kaieteur News, the Donald Ramotar administration had ignored the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) when the regulator advised that the government could facilitate competitive bidding acquiring Guyana’s oil block ‘C’, after at least four oil companies had shown interest in the area. Two of the interested companies were Repsol from Spain, and Royal Dutch Shell from the Netherlands, both major international players in oil and gas, as announced by a source.

Many have criticized Guyana’s contract with ExxonMobil as lopsided and unfair to the people of Guyana. Global Witness had even calculated that the poor terms would cause the country to lose US$55B over the life of the contract. It has criticized Guyana’s leaders for the part they played in the signing away of the massive concession to the multinationals, ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC. Despite facing international and local condemnation, neither of the major parties has shown interest in securing better terms for the people.

ExxonMobil has even boasted that it has received assurances from the parties that the contract will remain intact, and that its projects will be allowed to move forward.

TUESDAY SERIAL RAPIST ARRESTED! – WAS CHARGED 3 TIMES IN 2018 FOR RAPING 3 SEX WORKERS, TYING UP 2; ALSOALLEGEDLY PREYED ON SCHOOLGIRLS – HAD ALLEGEDLY MOLESTED RELATIVE The taxi-driver who is accused of raping, sodomising and battering a Venezuelan woman was

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previously charged for raping three sex workers.

The man, 36-year-old Thurston Semple of Tucville Terrace, Georgetown, was Monday morning arrested and is presently in police custody in relation to allegations levelled by the Venezuelan woman.

Kaieteur News had reported that the 30-year-old woman managed to escape the hands of the suspect after she jumped through a front window of his home.

However, Semple reportedly came after her and repeatedly battered her in his yard.

According to neighbours, both Semple and the woman were naked and even though they shouted at him, they were scared to approach him since he was armed with a knife.

The woman had told Kaieteur News reporters that she was brutally raped and assaulted at the hands of Semple. When Kaieteur News visited the area Monday, neighbours shared graphic details about countless times, which they saw Semple allegedly carrying women to his home late at nights. Loud screams, they said, would usually follow.

According to the residents, they are afraid of Semple since he always manages to get bail. They also observed that none of the previous incidents was as horrific as the case involving the Venezuelan woman.

There were also media reports of Semple’s past indiscretions.

According to reports, on January 12, 2018, Semple appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for allegedly tying up two sex workers on separate occasions and having sex with them.

The first charge alleged that between November 30, 2017, and on December 1, 2017, at Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration of a woman without her consent.

It was also reported that between January 3, 2018, and January 4, 2018, at Georgetown, he sexually assaulted another woman.

The charge was laid indictably and Semple was not required to plead to the charge.

According to reports, Semple picked up the sex workers on separate occasions and took them to his home, where he agreed to pay them $10,000 each for performing sex acts on him.

However, after the sex acts with the sex workers, Semple tied their hands and feet, placed them in his car and took them back at the location

where he met them without paying for their service.

The Chief Magistrate McLennan had granted Semple bail in the sum of $400,000.

Kaieteur News had also reported that a few months before that incident, Semple was charged for escaping from lawful custody, but that charge was dismissed by Magistrate Dylon Bess in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

That charge had alleged that on August 31, 2017, while being in lawful custody at the Agricola Police Outpost, pending investigation of an alleged rape and robbery, he escaped lawful custody.

The Magistrate had told the court that the prosecution was unable to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt citing that insufficient evidence was led by the prosecution team. He added that the accused was also charged under the wrong section of the law.

Semple was committed to stand trial in the High Court during May 2018, for the rape of the two sex workers. However, while he was still out on bail, weeks after he was committed, he was slapped with another rape charge.

According to reports,

on August 31, 2017, at Quamina Street, Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration with a woman without her consent.

Semple was not required to plead to the indictable offence.

According to the facts of that charge, on the day in question, Semple met the woman who is said to be a sex worker at Palm Court and carried her to a hotel where he had sex with her against her will.

The woman then went and reported the matter to the police and the defendant was arrested for the offence. However, even though the police prosecutor objected to bail being granted to the defendant citing that he was recently committed to stand trial in the High Court, the Magistrate granted Semple bail in the sum of $100,000, with the condition that he lodge his passport at the court and stay away from the virtual complainant until the completion of the Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

Additionally, according to a source, Semple is in the habit of picking up schoolgirls and sexually assaulting them. This publication was also told that he sexually assaulted his

relative who died shortly after.

OVER HALFA BILLION CUBIC FEET OF GAS FLARED SINCE JANUARY – INT’L LAWYER SAYS EXXON IN BREACH OFAGREEMENT ExxonMobil has flared more than half a billion cubic feet of gas since a mishap occurred with its gas compression equipment late in January. This added to more than 12.4 billion cubic feet of gas flared last year, taking the total to about 13 billion cubic feet of gas.

International Lawyer, Melinda Janki, told Kaieteur News that ExxonMobil, the operator of the Liza, appears to be in breach of the petroleum agreement.

“The Petroleum Agreement clearly states that Esso and partners must reinject any associated gas that they do not use or sell,” Janki said. “They are not allowed to flare it. They are not using the gas. They cannot sell it on the market because nobody wants to buy associated gas. But they are not re-injecting it, they are flaring it. Esso and partners appear to be in breach of the Petroleum Agreement and that is a very serious matter.”

“Under basic contract law, Esso and its partners are liable

for all the damage they have caused to Guyana and the Guyanese people by this breach of contract,” Janki said.

She opined that the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, should insist that ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess and CNOOC, compensate Guyana for the damage they have caused by flaring the gas.

“His job is to protect Guyana not ExxonMobil,” Janki said.

ExxonMobil’s Country President, Alistair Routledge, had told reporters during a February 8 press engagement that the company has been producing at about 120,000 barrels per day at the Liza Phase One operation since the mishap occurred, causing flaring of about 16 million cubic feet per day.

The company’s defective equipment is currently undergoing repairs in Germany. According to a February 23 engagement, all rework and reassembly of the flash gas compressor has been completed. A February 26 update from ExxonMobil’s Government and Public Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud, noted that the compressor was being installed for testing. Persaud was supposed to provide an (Continued on page 24)

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From page 23 update last night, but informed reporters at the time that it was delayed.

In addition to repairs on the defective compressor, ExxonMobil has ordered a new compressor, which it expects to be available closer to the end of the year, according to Persaud.

“Technical experts are finalizing recommendations for scope of repairs and potential upgrades to the discharge silencer,” Persaud said on Friday.

It is unclear when the equipment will be reinstated.

Routledge had given Kaieteur News an estimated time of reinstatement of eight weeks. However, at the time, the equipment had not even reached Germany for a diagnosis. ExxonMobil has not given a revised timeline.

It has been three weeks since that engagement.

GOVT. TO RETAIN INT’L CONSULTANT TO DRAFT LEGISLATION FOR PETROLEUM SECTOR – AG According to Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government would be retaining the services of an international consultant to draft a collection of legislation for the emerging oil and gas sector.

The Attorney General made this announcement when he laid out the PPP/C Government’s legislative agenda in the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) Monday. He indicated that the legislations would regulate the new and emerging sectors, while at the same time revamping “archaic legislations to complete a new and modern legal framework for Guyana.” Furthermore, he said that every area of economic activity would be targeted for legal reforms.

In the housing and hospitality sector, a regime of legislation dealing with zoning, urban planning, condominiums and town houses will be addressed.

Minister Nandlall said in the health sector, approximately 25 pieces of legislation have been identified to be dealt with. This includes a new Public Health Act, a new Mental Health Act, Organ Transplant legislation, a new Food and Drug Act. The Agriculture Sector would see a Food Safety and a Food Security Act being endorsed to ready Guyana to export agricultural products.

Meanwhile, at the level of Local Government, the Solid

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Kaieteur News

Waste Management Bill would be completed soon and public consultations will be held in this regard.

In addition to the Hire Purchase Bill, which was referred to the parliamentary select committee, an AntiDumping Bill, a Movable Property Security Bill and an E-Transactions Bill are currently in draft.

“This latter Bill is to prepare the public sector to engage in E-transactions and for payments to be made for Government services by means other than cash and cheque,” AG Nandlall said.

In order to strengthen the country’s ability to protect its borders, Minister Nandlall said a Bill is being drafted for the establishment of a Border Patrol Unit, which will supplement the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force in securing and protecting Guyana’s borders.

Similarly, in the legal sector, a raft of legislation will be promulgated, including a new Arbitration Bill, a new Juvenile Justice Bill, a Bail Bill and Sentencing Guidelines.

“And of course, a slew of Amendments will be done to our election laws, to make the electoral process more credible and transparent and to hold the staff of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to a higher standard of care. This year will also see work starting on constitutional reform. The Constitutional Reform Committee of the National Assembly will remain the main vehicle by which these reforms will be driven,” AG Nandlall added.

Additionally, the Legal Affairs Ministry would be reviewing the Procurement Act not only to strengthen the public procurement process but to create a more level playing field to accommodate small contractors.

The AG said within a few

months, the Judicial Service Commission would also be up and running. A new and modern Public Service rule is also to be worked on to further protect the interests of public servants.

This year will also see the appointment of the Law Reform Commission, which will have as its first task the revision of the current laws of Guyana and to produce a new consolidated volume of those laws.

WEDNESDAY ANOTHER WOMAN COMES FORWARD, CLAIMS SHE WAS ABDUCTED, BRUTALIZED

BY SERIAL RAPIST – WAS BEATEN INTO SUBMISSION, DISFIGURED, ENDURED 7-HOUR TORTURE “HE DISFIGURED MY NOSE FOR LIFE,” SHE SAID. Beaten into submission, disfigured and forced to endure seven hours of torture were the claims made by another woman, who was allegedly abducted and brutalized by serial rapist, Thurston Semple, 37.

Semple, a taxi driver, is currently in police custody for raping, sodomizing and battering a Venezuelan sex worker on Wednesday last, at his Lot 5A, Tucville Terrace, home.

Following his arrest on Monday, online media platforms rushed to publish his photo, which according to another victim, made her “tremble.” That victim, another Venezuelan woman, reached out to Kaieteur News Tuesday where she shared her horrifying experience of allegedly being abducted and tortured both physically and sexually by Semple.

Her exact words were “Looking at his photo on Facebook made me tremble, I had to rush down to where

he was held just to make sure that it was the same animal that disfigured me for life.”

The woman recalled that she had left her house on July 30, 2020 to visit a female friend at “Hotel Nova,” located at the corner of Cummings and Robb Streets, Georgetown, the same area where he picked the Venezuelan sex worker.

She remembered exiting the hotel at around 20:30 hrs., when a grey 212 Toyota motor car pulled in front of her: “The driver yelled out ‘Taxi’.”

“I was heading home, so without hesitation I walked up to the car and explained to him (in my broken English), that I wanted a taxi but I don’t know the directions.” The woman said that she then requested of him to call her commonlaw-husband (a Guyanese man) for the address and directions. Semple she claimed had agreed and she gave him the phone number.

“He called and appeared as if he was indeed speaking with my husband and taking the directions, I didn’t know he was faking it.”

She recalled that Semple disconnected the call and said, ‘Yeah, let’s go.’

At first, she went on to explain, the routes that Semple took appeared similar to the location where she was heading. However, recounted the woman, Semple suddenly began heading in a strange direction.

“I became nervous, and shouted at him, ‘Hey, que paso.

What happen to you? Where you going? I don’t live that side’,” she narrated.

The victim said that the look on Semple’s face transformed, “He stopped the car, pulled out what looked like a gun, pointed it at me and said ‘shut up’.”

Fearful for her life related the victim, “I complied and he continued driving until we arrived at his house. I pleaded ‘Please, what are you doing?’ but he ordered me to exit the car, walk towards his house, scared that

he would shoot, I obeyed.”

As they entered his house, Semple she claimed, locked the door, armed himself with a knife and ordered her to take off her clothes.

She reportedly refused and Semple allegedly held her at knifepoint instructing her to have anal sex with him.

“I said no and I begged,” she said.

It was at this point, remembered the woman that Semple allegedly took out his phone and recorded a short video claiming that she had robbed him.

“He ended the video and said ‘if you ever go to the police after I finish with you, I will show them this video that you rob me and they gon believe me not you’,” said the victim.

After recording the video, she said that Semple unleashed a brutal assault and beat her into submission.

“He cuffed me to the nose, and face repeatedly,” she detailed.

The woman said that she fought back with him and they tumbled down in his room but Semple resorted to biting her.

“He bit both my breasts,” she added, “and beat me some more. I tried to fight back again and this time he bit onto my nose.”

The woman recalled feeling as if her nose was bitten off and became weak. “I was bleeding from the bites and from my nose and as I tried to recover, he gave me some more blows, I could not fight any more.”

The victim, told Kaieteur News that as she collapsed, she begged Semple one more time to let her go.

Realizing that she could not fight back with him, she explained, Semple began to torture her sexually until about 03:00 hrs. the following day.

“I was a mother of new born baby at the time and my breasts was filled with milk, but Semple with brute force used his hands to squeeze it out,” she detailed.

“He even shoved his hands up my already injured nose,” she said “causing it to bleed more.”

“I begged him to stop and give me something to stop the blood from flowing, but he said no and said that he wants me to perform oral sex on him just like that.”

The woman said that he continued to sodomize and rape her repeatedly until he was pleased.

“I was thirsty, weak, battered and bruised but yet with the knife he forced me afterwards and ordered me to do it as if I was his woman,” she recalled.

Satisfied, she recounted, he attempted to sleep but she pleaded with him once again to let her go because she has a newborn child waiting on her at home. Semple, she claimed, told her to get

dressed and enter the car. She did as she was told and a little after 3am that morning he dropped her to point and left her there.

Luckily she was able meet a good Samaritan, another taxi driver, who dropped her home.

There she related to her husband what had transpired and he rushed her to the hospital. Her husband also took her to the Alberttown Police Station to lodge a report.

The victim said the ranks tended to her, but the female rank they ordered to take her statement did not speak Spanish.

“We waited for a while and my husband became annoyed at them and said that he will take the matter into his own hands,” she said.

A week later, she said that Semple trailed her to a location. He reportedly sent a friend of his with a message, warning her that should she take the matter any further, she will land in big trouble.

“I was fearful, how did he find me, how did he locate me, I have my sister in Georgetown. I didn’t want him to do the same thing to her, so I never followed up the case,” she said. Seeing Semple’s photo, Tuesday, the woman said she was prompted to come forward and not only share her story but testify against him so that he will never be able hurt someone else.

Thurston Semple was previously charged in 2018 for allegedly tying up two sex workers on separate occasions and raping them.

Those charges read that on November 30, 2017 and December 1, 2017 respectively, Semple engaged in sexual penetration of a woman without her consent.

It was also reported that he sexually assaulted another woman on January 3, 2018.

Semple has never been convicted and was out on bail.

Note: Anyone who may have been a victim of Semple’s, can feel free to contact the nearest Police Station or Kaieteur News on telephone numbers 2258473, 624-6456, 689-1219.

GOVT. STANDS BY “PLAGIARIZED” LOCAL CONTENT TARGETS – WANTS GUYANESE TO COME UP WITH “REALISTIC” ONES IN ABSENCE OF STUDY Following independent research, Kaieteur News exposed on Sunday that the targets being proposed by the Natural Resources Ministry (NRM) in the draft (Continued on page 25)

Sunday March 07, 2021

From page 24 Local Content Policy, were not informed by a gap analysis. Instead, most of the targets, including an incorrectly spelt category of work, were plagiarized from Ghana’s Local Content Regulations.

In a missive to the press, the Ministry sought to defend the plagiarism of targets that were crafted for an African country with 30.42 million people. The Ministry said it is essential, for one to be aware that the upstream oil and gas sector has a particular language that mirrors certain standardized characteristics and predefined roles that are common across the industry worldwide. It said, “While the sector is new to Guyana, the Ministry believes it wise to not re-invent the wheel and further complicate the description of these services.

In the interest of clarity and hence, ensuring compliance and reduce loopholes in our local content regulations, job descriptions and services must be both pellucid and unambiguous. Therefore, to ensure the latter is attained, the language must be kept consistent.”

Even if this is the case, the Ministry still failed to say why it copied categories of work/ services to be supplied to the oil industry in the exact order as listed in Ghana’s regulations, along the exact target numbers for start up, and even spelling errors. In Kaieteur News’ Sunday publication on this matter, it was exposed that Ghana’s Regulations contains a mistake under the category Marine Operations and Logistics Services. The document says that Ghanaians should be able to supply “Driving” or ROV or submersible operations.

Instead of “Driving,” it is supposed to be “Diving.”

(ROV stands for remotely operated vehicle. This equipment is a type of underwater robot and in some instances is accompanied by a diver.)

With respect to the suitability of some categories of work for Guyana, it should be noted that many have questioned the appropriateness of some areas that were copied from Ghana without thought for what Guyana’s industry vision or needs are. One case that was highlighted during the first round of discussions held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre was the plagiarized category of steel plates. The draft document proposes that this be solely supplied by locals in 10 years.

This was flagged by ExxonMobil Guyana’s Head,

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Alistair Routledge, who questioned how this would be possible when Guyana is not a producer of steel. During that very discussion, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, said that the category and targets were “pulled from somewhere.”

Kaieteur News also found other areas of work that may not be suitable or appropriate for Guyana, including Logging while drilling (LWD), Production or drilling service, 3D Seismic data acquisition services, Well overhauling or stimulation services, Well crisis management services, and extended well test or early production Services including provision of floating or jack up production unit. Also listed are services regarding the installation of subsea packages, reservoir services, mooring system services, hoop-up and commissioning of marine installation services, provision of floating storage units, and supply of Glass reinforced epoxy (GRE) pipe.

In its response, NRM said, “in the interest of time and the urgency in having a robust local content policy in place, which would then serve as the principal driver of the legislative framework, the Ministry has opted for the broad-based consultation process.” Further to this, the Ministry said, “The idea is for stakeholders to come up with both realistic and pragmatic targets. To date, this consultative process is ongoing…”

Interestingly, the Ministry is hopeful that Guyanese would be able to come up with realistic targets in the absence of a needs assessment. Such a study would provide critical data on the demands of the oil industry in a five-year period, the human resources that would be needed locally to fill the gap, and the cost to get this done.

While it acknowledges that the foregoing assessment is crucial in crafting the local content policy and that one was not done, the Ministry still claimed that, “The Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Natural Resources has worked with both international and local professionals in crafting the content of the policy and the establishment of realistic and realizable targets, over the different phases of development for the petroleum sector and subsector. These targets are set from the current trend of development in Guyana and projects from similar economies that have set a path of local content benefits over various periods of time.”

No shred of evidence was provided to support this.

Further, Dr. Jagdeo had said during the first round of consultations that the targets were pulled from somewhere.

Furthermore, Kaieteur News had exposed that in Guyana’s draft policy, the government is proposing that in the initial years, Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for onshore, offshore, Liquefied Natural gas facility, and detailed engineering gas gather facilities should see 20 percent, 10 percent, 10 percent, and 20 percent use of Guyanese respectively.

Ghana’s regulations have the exact words and numbers.

The Ministry of Natural Resources did not explain why the “international professionals” it consulted provided the same targets as those in Ghana’s Regulations for Guyana with a population of less than 800,000 people.

While the Natural Resources Ministry copied all of the categories of work from Ghana’s regulations and increased the target numbers in some areas, it is critical to note that these specified targets were not part of the recommendations of the Local Content Panel. That body was appointed in August 2020 by President, Irfaan Ali. The panel included Guyana’s Advisor on Borders, Carl Greenidge; Trinidadian Expert, Anthony Paul; Businessman and Chairman of the panel, Shyam Nokta; Certified Fraud Examiner, Floyd Haynes; former Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Carvil Duncan; and TT’s former Energy Minister, Kevin Ramnarine.

In the 35-page report of the panel, no specific targets were provided since it had no data to work with from a gap analysis. The panel’s report simply acknowledges that targets for employment and certain levels of procurement would be in the nation’s interest. The Ministry is still to explain why it produced a draft policy that is not in keeping with the recommendations of the President’s Advisory Panel.

Equally troubling is the fact that its targets are not informed by the independent assessments of experts as regards the realities on the ground.

OILADVOCACY GROUP BANKING ON OIL REPORTS FOR INDEPENDENTANALYSIS – SAYS RELYING ON EXXON IS LIKE ASKING A FOX TO COUNT CHICKENS The Oil & Gas Governance Network (OGGN)

awaits the publication of oil reports dating back to the beginning of oil production.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, had committed during a February 9 press conference that the government would make the reports available to the press.

Three weeks later, the press does not have access to these reports and Kaieteur News has been given the royal run around in its attempts to access them.

“We need the production data to make the proper calculations,” OGGN said in a comment shared with this newspaper. The oil & gas governance pressure group, like other transparency advocates, is banking on the reports to make accurate calculations of Guyana’s royalty and profit share from the sale of its crude. Dr. Jagdeo had encouraged reporters to request the documents, but OGGN noted a recent Kaieteur News report, which pointed to the law requiring the publication of its crudes.

Article 42 of the Natural Resource Fund Act states “The Minister shall publish on the website of the Ministry and generally make available to the public… (c) The monthly reports within seven working days after they have been submitted to the Minister by the Bank…”

OGGN insists that it should be the Guyana government that releases the reports, rather than having the public rely on ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

“Asking Exxon to help with the calculation is like asking the fox to count the number of chickens in the coop,” it said.

The group noted that the most recent oil report dates back to January 2020. The report was published by the Ministry of Finance, under the previous administration.

Former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan’s ‘Report on Petroleum Production and Revenues’ states, “These reports will allow the public to monitor deposits in, and withdrawals from, the NRF so as to ensure that petroleum revenues are being managed according to the provisions of the NRF Act 2019.”

“Such transparency is important,” the Former Minister’s report had stated, “given the magnitude of revenues that will be generated from this resource.”

The detailed report included information on production, sales and Guyana’s entitlement, and transfers to the NRF.

THURSDAY HIGH RANKING VENEZUELAN OFFICIAL PROPOSES INCLUDING ESSEQUIBO IN CONSTITUTION - POWERFUL COMMISSION DISCUSSES VENEZUELA’S NEXT MOVE WITH MILITARY LEADERS - VENEZUELA TO CONDUCT MILITARY ACTIVITY IN ESSEQUIBO - REINFORCES REJECTION OF ICJ’S JURISDICTION IN BORDER CASE The National Assembly of Venezuela is expected to consider a proposal to include the Essequibo region, referred to as ‘Guayana Esequiba,’ in the country’s Constitution.

The amendment, if made, would see the country declaring that there is no dispute over the region, which it purports to have sovereignty over.

The proposal was made by lawmaker, Hermann Escarrá, who was, earlier this year, placed as Chair of the new ‘Special Commission for the Defence of the Guayana Esequiba Territory and Territorial Sovereignty.’ The powerful Venezuelan Commission was formed in January by one of several resolutions passed by the country’s National Assembly, following a decree by President Nicolas Maduro to fulfill his vow to “reconquer” the Essequibo.

The proposal would see the country amending articles 10 and 11 of the Venezuelan Constitution, Escarrá said, “in order to ratify that the Essequibo territory is ours.”

The National Assembly said that two more legislative proposals are being considered, one of which is called the ‘Sovereignty Law’ requested by Maduro himself.

Escarrá’s proposal for a constitutional amendment is one of 100 proposals and recommendations he submitted to the National Assembly on Tuesday, February 23, for the execution of his Commission’s mandate for the “defence of the Guayana Esequiba.”

A release from Venezuela’s National Assembly stated that Escarrá stressed the Commission’s discussions on the confidentiality of the some of the proposals, which relate to Venezuela’s foreign policy.

Escarrá said that the Commission would be meeting on the following day, February 24, with the Military High Command, a group constituted by the Minister of Defence and the Commanders of various Venezuelan military departments. The purpose of the meeting, he said, is to discuss the actions to be taken regarding the Essequibo territory.

On the following day, the Assembly said that the meeting took up over four hours with discussions centered on “possible geostrategic actions” to be taken “in defence” of the Essequibo region, at the country’s Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas.

“Fundamental issues were discussed such as the updated geostrategic and geopolitical interpretation of containment,” Escarrá said, “as well as the proposals of each of the components of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), which the commission will support in a very determined way. Not only in what has to do with very current proposals in the Essequibo area, but also with what has to do with the effort of national unity and national conscience that must be developed in the country…”

“At the historic meeting, other issues were addressed, such as the presence of the (Continued on page 26)

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From page 25 US oil company ExxonMobil in the area, in addition to the possibility of talking with the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, to present your views directly.”

Venezuela’s National Assembly also reported Escarrá as announcing an “activity to be carried out in Essequibo with the Bolivarian National Armed Forces.” It did not reveal the nature of the intended activity.

The Venezuelan National Assembly said that in the few days following the February 24 meeting of the Military High Command, a document would be prepared and delivered to the Parliaments of Guyana, England and the Netherlands.

Neither Guyana’s Parliament nor its Government has announced any such correspondence.

On February 26, Venezuela announced that it responded to an invitation from the President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to attend a virtual meeting on the preliminary ruling of December 18 that the Court has the jurisdiction to settle the controversy over the territory. The Venezuelan Government said that it confirmed its participation as a courtesy, not as a party to the procedure, and reaffirmed Venezuela’s position that it does not recognize the Court’s jurisdiction to settle this matter. It prefers direct negotiations with Guyana.

“Venezuela reiterated that there is no basis of jurisdiction for this case given that it has never given its consent,” Venezuela’s Ministry of Information said.

The Ministry also reported denouncing the “instigation and undue interference” in the controversy, of energy transnationals “over such a vast territory full of biological diversity and natural resources, which threatens planetary life, peace and regional security.”

US JUDGE SLAPS EXXONMOBIL WITH US$14.2M PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL FLARING - FOUND COMPANYVIOLATED ENVIRONMENTALLAWS MORE THAN 3,600 TIMES While Guyana continues to give ExxonMobil much leverage to ignore its laws and pollute its airspace with toxic chemicals that are released from the burning of 16 million cubic feet of gas per day, nononsense American environmental groups are showing the world that they

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refuse to allow such practices to go unpunished.

On Tuesday for example, ExxonMobil Corporation was slapped with a US$14.25M penalty by U.S. District Court Judge, David Hittner, for polluting Texas communities via illegal flaring at its sprawling 3,400-acre Baytown complex, which houses a refinery and chemical plant. Tens of thousands of people live within three miles of the said complex.

The matter, which was taken to court by Environment Texas and Sierra Club, is one that ExxonMobil fought for 11 years with a series of legal manoeuvrings.

The oil giant did not want to take responsibility for the violations of the Federal Clean Air Act on 3,651 days over a period of eight years.

It should be noted that this is the second ruling to be handed down on this case.

The first came after Judge Hittner had held a three week trial in 2014 and ruled that the oil giant should pay an almost US$20M fine. The Judge had found that Exxon was responsible for the pollution from the Baytown complex between 2005 and 2013, as alleged in the lawsuit initially filed in 2010 by the Sierra Club and Environment Texas.

ExxonMobil, which quickly flexed its legal muscles, rushed to the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss the penalty. It succeeded in this regard but the Court of Appeals still ordered Hittner to determine which violations of the Clean Air Act specifically caused harm to members of the organizations living near Exxon’s Baytown operations.

In his new opinion, Judge Hittner, found that the environmental groups had proven at trial that thousands of instances of illegal flaring and unauthorized releases of pollutants causing smoke, chemical odors, ground-level ozone, and respiratory problems were “fairly traceable” to injuries suffered by their members. In support of his penalty assessment, Judge Hittner pointed to the fact that Exxon had committed more than one violation every single day for a period of eight years.

“We are extremely pleased that Judge Hittner has, once again, assessed a civil penalty against Exxon that is larger than any penalty ever imposed in a Clean Air Act citizen enforcement suit,” said National Environmental Law Centre senior attorney, Josh Kratka, part of the legal team representing Environment Texas and Sierra Club.

Also commenting on the victory was Neil Carman, Clean Air Programme Director for Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter. He said, “Exxon’s Baytown refinery-chemical complex is the largest polluter on the Houston Ship Channel impacting the air quality of hundreds of thousands of citizens. Exxon Baytown still needs to clean up its act and do more to create cleaner air in the Houston area.”

The groups are represented by the National Environmental Law Centre; attorney David Nicholas of Newton, Massachusetts and Houston attorneys Philip Hilder and Will Graham.

Sierra Club has approximately 24,000 members in Texas who are protecting parks and wildlands and building a clean energy future to protect human health and natural resources.

Environment Texas advocates for clean air, clean water, and preservation of Texas’ natural areas on behalf of approximately 5,000 members statewide.

SIXTH FPSO BY 2027 -EXXON SAYS FIRST SIX COULD WIPE OUT HALF OF GUYANA’S PROVEN RESERVES It was only a few weeks ago that Kaieteur News reported that ExxonMobil and its joint venture partners, Hess and CNOOG, are in full speed to consider its fifth production development in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, even though they have yet to complete the Field Development Plan for their fourth intended development.

In fact, the second and third developments are yet to

be on stream.

Now, the companies have announced plans to have the sixth production development in the Stabroek Block on stream by 2027. That addition, according to one of Exxon’s Senior Vice President, Neil Chapman, could develop between “40 to 50 percent” of the nine billion barrels of oil discovered to date.

In simple terms, those six Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels could wipe out half of Guyana’s proven reserves in the Stabroek block.

This planned pace of development appears to be in keeping with plans the company announced to have a total of 10 FPSOs operating in the Stabroek block.

Chapman told investors Wednesday at the company’s Investor Day 2021, “We will continue to work closely and in partnership with the Government and anticipate their support to maintain future development pace consistent with what we have demonstrated to date.”

An analysis done by Kaieteur News determined that it is highly likely that ExxonMobil will wipe out the proven reserves of the Stabroek Block in less than two decades.

Using a simple projection of production numbers based on public statements by the company and its JV partners, Kaieteur News found that ExxonMobil could wipe out the proven reserves by 2036.

Rystad Energy, an energy research and business intelligence company, projected mid-2020 that ExxonMobil will be able to place one FPSO offshore Guyana every year for the next

10 years.

If these projections are accurate, the 10th vessel will start producing in 2031.

By the end of the first year, after the 10th FPSO is placed, ExxonMobil would have wiped out 4.14 billion barrels of oil, leaving a little over three billion barrels left.

In the following years, it will produce about 730 million barrels of oil in each year. By 2032, there would be 2.32 billion barrels left. By 2033, that would be reduced to 1.6 billion barrels.

By 2036, there would be nothing left.

FRIDAY PATTERSON PROPOSES LAND USE POLICY FOR OIL SECTOR & STATEOWNED SHORE BASES Shadow Oil Minister and Member of Parliament (MP), David Patterson, Thursday proposed a motion in the National Assembly, to form a multi-agency taskforce for the formulation of a land use policy for the oil sector, and mandate that all future shore bases be state-owned, but leased to private operators.

The motion was seconded

by Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones.

Patterson brought the motion on the premise that there is an enormous and growing need for shore bases to service the needs of the local industry. The Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYBSI), does not have the capacity to handle Guyana’s shore base needs, and certainly will not be able to handle the growing need on its own.

ExxonMobil is already producing oil at the Liza

Phase One operation, and has three more on the way. Liza Phase Two and Payara have been approved, and are scheduled for first oil in 2022 and 2024 respectively.

ExxonMobil intends to submit a field development plan (FDP) for the fourth intended development, Yellowtail-1, by the end of the year.

The former Public Infrastructure Minister said that while additional shore bases are needed, they must be developed as part of a macro-development plan, and not solely driven by the demand forces of the sector.

He is of the view that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), and other relevant agencies should undertake a holistic land use and zoning policy, with key considerations made to facilitate industrial activities of the oil sector.

Patterson’s motion would require the multi-agency task force to present a report to the government within six months of the motion’s passing in the National Assembly.

“Be it further resolved,” the motion said, “that the Government advices the taskforce that it is the preference of this National Assembly for future onshore bases be in the counties of Berbice and Essequibo to ensure parity in development of the oil and gas industry and the equitable development across Guyana for the benefit of all citizens.”

This is due to the fact that there have been complaints about intentions to erect chemical warehouses and other oil industry facilities (Continued on page 27)

Sunday March 07, 2021

From page 26 near residential areas. This has posed a concern for Guyanese people who want to ensure that there is no adverse environmental effect of oil operations on their lives.

For instance, the residents of Houston had protested the establishment of facilities near their community, despite the area being zoned as residential by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA).

There have also been concerns about the buildup of traffic caused by the location of certain facilities, since as Patterson noted, facilities in the RuimveldtMcDoom area have caused a buildup that poses inconvenience to residents and travellers.

The motion would also seek to have Government advice ExxonMobil to suspend its Request for Information (RFI) pursuant to the establishment of shore bases, until the taskforce makes the policy available.

ExxonMobil had recently published the RFI looking for contractors who can supply shore base facilities to the industry to pick up the needs of future projects.

MAGISTRATE REMANDSALLEGED SERIAL RAPIST TO PRISON Alleged serial rapist, 37year-old, Thurston Semple, of Lot 5A, Tucville Terrace, Georgetown, was Thursday slapped with his fourth rape charge, and remanded to prison.

Semple, a taxi-driver, who is no stranger to the courts, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleged that between February 24, 2021, and February 25, 2021, at Lot 5A, Tucville Terrace, he engaged in sexual penetration with a woman, without her consent.

The police prosecutor made objections to bail being granted to Semple, citing the fact that he was previously charged for raping three sex workers and was committed to stand trial in the High Court for two of the charges.

The prosecutor also added that if Semple is granted bail, he might cause harm to the witness, since after this incident occurred, another woman came forward with similar allegations against him.

However, Semple told the court what the prosecutor

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said is a ‘lie’ and that he was arrested for a domestic violence allegation. He said for some reason or the other, he was charged with rape. He also stated that he has no knowledge about the other cases that are being levelled against him.

Kaieteur News had reported that on February 24, 2021, around 23:30 hrs. at Robb and Cummings Streets, Georgetown, the woman was standing on the road smoking a cigarette, when Semple drove up beside her and offered her a job. It was reported that the woman agreed to have sexual intercourse with Semple for $10, 000. After the agreement was made, the woman got into Semple’s car and he reportedly took her to his home, where they had sex.

However, Semple and the woman later got into a misunderstanding, which allegedly caused him to remove the condom from his penis. He reportedly armed himself with a knife, then allegedly raped and sodomized the woman at knifepoint. The woman managed to escape from Semple by breaking and jumping through the louvre windows at the front of his house. It is alleged that Semple then came after the woman and repeatedly battered her in his yard. An alarm was raised and neighbours managed to intervene.

The police was called in and an ambulance subsequently arrived on the scene. The woman was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she was hospitalized for three days. She reportedly suffered a fractured rib, lacerations to the face, and multiple cuts.

Semple was later rearrested and subsequently charged with rape. However, Semple has not yet been charged for allegedly battering the woman.

Additionally, the investigation is ongoing into the allegations made against Semple by another woman that he allegedly abducted, raped and battered. Chief Magistrate McLennan, remanded Semple to prison

and the matter was adjourned to March 11, 2021.

According to reports, during August 2017, Semple was charged for escaping from lawful custody, but that charge was dismissed by Magistrate, Dylon Bess, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

That charge had alleged that on August 31, 2017, while being in lawful custody at the Agricola Police Outpost, pending investigation of an alleged rape and robbery, he escaped lawful custody. The Magistrate had told the court that the prosecution was unable to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt, citing that insufficient evidence was led by the prosecution team. He added that the accused was also charged under the wrong section of the law.

Kaieteur News had also reported that on January 12, 2018, Semple appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, for allegedly tying up two sex workers on separate occasions and having sex with them.

The first charge alleged that between November 30, 2017 and on December 1, 2017 at Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration of a woman, without her consent. It was also reported that between January 3, 2018 and January 4, 2018 at Georgetown, he sexually assaulted another woman.

Semple was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

It was reported that Semple picked up the sex workers on separate occasions and took them to his home, where he agreed to pay them $10,000 each for performing sexual acts on him. Following this, Semple tied their hands and feet, placed them in his car and took them back at the location where he met them without paying for their service.

The Chief Magistrate,

McLennan, had granted Semple bail in the sum of $400,000.

Semple was committed to stand trial in the High Court during May 2018, for the rape of the two sex workers.

However, while he was still out on bail, weeks after he was committed, he was slapped with another rape charge.

According to reports, on August 31, 2017, at Quamina Street, Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration with a woman without her consent.

He was not required to plead to the indictable offence. According to the facts of that charge, on the day in question, Semple met the woman who is said to be a sex worker at Palm Court and carried her to a hotel, where he had sex with her against her will.

The woman then went and reported the matter to the police and the defendant was arrested for the offence. Even though the police prosecutor objected to bail being granted to the defendant, citing that he was recently committed to stand trial in the High Court, the Magistrate granted Semple bail in the sum of $100,000 with the condition that he lodge his passport at the court and stay away from the virtual complainant until the completion of the Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

PRODUCTION WOULD HAVE TO BE AT “ZERO” TO BRING FLARING DOWN TO PILOT LEVELS – EXXON If ExxonMobil Guyana wants to reduce the 16 million cubic feet (mcdf) of natural gas being flared daily at the Liza Destiny vessel down to pilot levels, the oil giant would be forced to cease production said its Production Manager, Mike Ryan.

Those comments came in direct response to claims made by Former Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams.

The staunch advocate for the environment

had said that the company is only giving the country a slew of excuses so that it can continue with its reckless endangerment of the environment. According to Dr. Adams, ExxonMobil can very well slash its production so that it can reduce its flaring to the required pilot level of one million cubic feet of natural gas daily or less. He had also said that if this cannot happen, then the company should shut down its operations.

Specifically, Dr. Adams had calculated that the oil company would only have to cut production by 15,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), thereby moving it from 120,000 bpd to 105,000 bpd.

Dr. Adams had assumed with his calculations that some components of the malfunctioned gas compressor system were still in operation to allow approximately 95 million cubic feet of gas per day to be reinjected. Based upon the gas to oil production ratio, calculations would show that reducing the production rate by only 15,000 bopd to 105,000 bopd would reduce the flaring by 15 million cubic feet of gas per day, one million for allowable pilot flaring.

But the issue is not so simply fixed says ExxonMobil’s Production Manager.

While he noted that the gas compressor system is rather “complex and technical,” he explained what the process entailed.

Ryan elucidated that as the oil, water and gas is brought to the surface, it first goes to the separation train of high, medium and lowpressure separators. Once there, he said the gas of high and medium pressures go to the high and medium compressors where the majority of the gas is either being compressed, re-injected or consumed.

But when it comes to the low-pressure stream, it cannot be compressed without the flash gas compressor “no matter what

the production level is,” he stated.

“And so comments to that effect of reducing the 15,000 are not correct. I understand it is a little technical but in order for us to get back to pilot flare levels, we need that flash gas compressor or we need to reduce production to zero,” the Production Manager detailed “and that is just the fact.”

What is strange, according to Dr. Adams, when ExxonMobil initially encountered issues with the gas compressor, it had no qualms slashing production.

In fact, production was reduced to 30,000 bpd to allow for the very compressor to be repaired.

But now, the company seems headstrong on its stance to not lower production with the latest justification being that the country is badly in need of revenue due to the COVID19 pandemic.

And even though, the company is in agreement that it would require shutting operations temporarily to get flaring back to safe levels – calls it out rightly rejected – the Production Manager made it clear that ExxonMobil’s focus right now is getting the gas compressor machine repaired and back to Guyana.

IMPORTANCE OF PILOT FLARING With pilot flaring at one million cubic feet of gas per day or less, ExxonMobil is able to conduct safe operations at the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. However, in this instance, ExxonMobil had reported that with the gas compressor for the vessel being under repairs in Germany, as such, it is forced to flare 16 million cubic feet of gas per day.

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Coronavirus: Actions that may help us to exit this pandemic before it’s too late

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center Countries all over the world are scrambling for vaccines to vaccinate their population against COVID19. The case numbers are beginning to drop, especially

in countries with higher vaccination rate.

There seems to be a similar trend in case numbers in Guyana. However, we cannot relax now, as this is the most vital part of the war against the pandemic.

What we do for the next three months or so, will determine if we can exit this

pandemic sooner or if we will have to continue the battle for the foreseeable future.

Today, I will share what I think we all need to do in the next 100 days to ensure we get out of this pandemic sooner.

Get vaccinated as soon as your turn reaches The Government has

committed to ensuring that there are enough vaccines for everyone in 2021.

This will be a significant achievement but the end users (us) need to ensure we all take our vaccines as soon as it’s available.

The vaccines are useless in cold storage and can only be beneficial when administered to us.

We therefore need to keep updated with vaccine schedules that will be published in the media and ensure we get our jab as soon as our turn reaches.

The longer we take to get our vaccine, the higher our chances of getting COVID-19 and helping the virus to mutate and spread to others.

If we cannot get more than 75 percent vaccination rate, then we will be stuck with this virus for the foreseeable future. So please help spread the word and ensure you and everyone you know get vaccinated.

Continue to practice the 3Ws Until we exit this pandemic, we will have to continue to practice the 3Ws —- Wear your masks, Wash your hands and practice proper hygiene and Watch your distance by avoiding crowded spaces when you are out in public.

These measures are important now more than ever as they will prevent the virus from spreading and

mutating further into strains that will render the vaccines ineffective.

We basically need to buy enough time until everyone (more than 75 percent of the population) is vaccinated and these measures are the best way to buy time in this pandemic.

Avoiding delays as much as possible We are at a critical juncture in this pandemic.

The virus needs more of us to mutate and increase its spread and we need buy enough time to avoid this until sufficient numbers of people are vaccinated.

The more time we give the virus, the likelier it will mutate into vaccine resistant strains, which will keep us in the pandemic longer.

It is therefore very important that we tighten the screws and shut this virus out by being very strict with the 3Ws for the next three months and get vaccinated as soon as your turn reaches.

The longer we take to do this, the more likely we will be facilitating the work of the virus and giving it a chance of becoming a permanent fixture in our lives.

What lies ahead if we get complacent?

Brazil is seeing a surge in cases and experts predict that they will soon see about 3,000 deaths daily.

They have associated this

Dr. Zulfikar Bux surge with the Brazilian P1 mutated variant, which is also infecting those who were previously infected.

Their vaccination rate has been slow thus far and experts are concerned that their medical system will be overwhelmed leading to more loss in lives.

If we are not careful and get complacent, the mutate strain can easily spread through borders and cause a similar rampage here.

We therefore need to be more responsible than ever especially in the next 100 days or so. Let’s make this the final phase of the war against the virus. Get vaccinated as soon as possible and strictly adhere to the 3Ws for the next three months.

If we do this well, I do believe that we can overcome COVID-19 in 2021.

Kaieteur News

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>>> ENCOURAGING EVENTS, DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS <<<

Social Protection installation, neighbours speaking, and COVID-19 vaccines

By GHK Lall

I

t is a struggle this week to find the positive, the little lights that encourage amidst the disturbing developments. I leave alone the heaviness that comes from specifics of a violent serial sexual predator around, cash for political cronies, and continuing oil dodges by governing leaders. I sift through our situations to gather the few encouragements around.

A thrill came from the announcement from the Hon. Minister of Social Protection, Dr. Vindya Persaud, that arrangements are in place, so that those who need help in our society will feel the

benefit of helping faces, and helping voices and presences when they come with nothing and looking for something to ease their agonies.

Those that come to government offices usually have nothing and nobody. The poor, the strapped, and the elderly most of the time have no connections to call for some influential intervention in their struggles.

They have no standing before anyone; and when citizens are trapped in such circumstances, and come to government offices with their hands outstretched, they are neither given the highest priority nor treated with the best courtesy.

For these reasons, I was delighted to read that the Hon. Minister of Social Protection installed Boards of Guardians for the Fort Wellington and Mahaicony communities. These boards have responsibility to interact with

members of the public, who have nowhere else to turn. To quote, Minister Persaud, “we have to learn how to speak with them when they come to us for help.”

As we all know, brush off or chilly reception is more the norm. I think that this sets a platform on how to make people get back on their feet with dignity. I laud Minister Persaud and her people for this initiative, which I think should be replicated across the country. It can only help, definitely raise standards.

The neighbours who came out in the wake of that horrifying rape development involving a 'Spanish woman' were also found to be positive. They spoke out during and in the aftermath of that dangerous individual's activities, which wreaked havoc on the helpless.

As is coming to light, neighbours have been abused or attacked for their efforts. This strengthens the tendency to mind one's own business and keep to self

(not getting involved), while keeping quiet.

The situation, however, got so frequent and so unnerving that they could no longer hold their peace.

When we all maintain a wall of silence, behind which we shelter, then what we have all done is issue an open invitation for the worst that our society has to offer to do as they please.

As we know from long experience the worst can include violent criminals, white-collar public servants, and white hat politicians. When we allow them to get away with murder, it is just a matter of time before we are the next victims.

More neighbours should come out and speak out when violence rages in their communities, and more citizens speak up when a different kind of violence is inflicted by leaders (of every stripe and from every cranny) on our society.

Then, there was news that COVID-19 vaccines had arrived,

with more on the way. That is most encouraging.

By my count, subject to correction, we have a total of 205,000 vaccines to be here shortly, with 3,000 compliments of Barbados, 20,000 from the Chinese, 80,000 as part of India's vaccine diplomacy, and 102,000 promised by the World Health Organization, which I think is good for that delivery. I thank and commend the Honourable Minister of Health for publicizing how those 102,500 full doses of the vaccine are to be distributed, which started with our frontline workers.

That was a good and essential step. Next up is the elderly, as extracted from the pension rolls of the Ministry of Social Protection.

It all sounds like a solid plan and a laudable one. My hope is that the actual distribution will be above board and beyond criticism.

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

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Young Entrepreneur on the Move

: l l e v o L a l Akee

The 21-year-old entrepreneur: Akeela Lovell

to n io s is m a n o n a m o w g A youn y c a g le 's r e h t o m r e h continue

By Sueann Wickham

I

t is becoming increasingly clear that since Guyanese are in love with exercising their palates, opting to start a food business is almost always a safe bet.

So, like many other young persons who have taken a chance in the food business, our featured entrepreneur, Akeela Lovell, embraced the catering/baking side of things.

By doing this, the 21-year-old is hoping to continue her mother's legacy in baking, but with her own “fancy touch.”

Lovell has pioneered her own catering/baking business under the name “Akeelabakes_,” hoping to deliver baked goodies that will bring delight to the taste buds of all her consumers.

But sharing details about her taste of success, Lovell was eager to reflect on the journey to establishing her own business.

In an exclusive interview, Lovell stated that several key factors led to her journey, the first being her mother. “She always saw potential in me and trained me to be as great as I am today,” Lovell confessed recently. In fact, her mother once specialized in baking cakes and even conducted baking classes, and Lovell was always in the kitchen, excited to render assistance.

She also attended her mother's baking classes to perfect the craft, and then fully dived into her creative experiments.

The 21-year-old, who is also a teacher at the ISA Islamic school, said that her first leap to kick-

entrepreneurs like myself, I consider “ Young to be fresh meat. They come with an open mind. They think out of the box! Most young entrepreneurs are creative, and they put their all into creating new things. starting Akeelabakes_ was on January 31 of last year. She started making lunch packages comprising of several baked goods, which she shared with her colleagues and students and got great reviews. “...After trying my lunch packages and having so many great reviews from them it made me want the entire country to taste my creations,” she added. It was also her students who helped her with an official name for the business.

However, to her dismay, as soon as she started her business there was the onset of the COVID19 pandemic. This was in early March and Lovell was forced to halt her operation for a short period. Despite that challenge, she quickly adapted to the “new normal” and decided to push ahead.

She resumed operations, taking every necessary precaution. “I sanitized often, I wore my mask while working, and I used gloves. Everything I could do to keep my customers safe I did it,” Lovell related.

T h e y o u n g entrepreneur recently boasted of a high demand for some of

”

her mouth-watering edibles, such as doughnuts, chicken puffs, cheese pies, and of course, those cinnamon rolls! She also started experimenting with Oreo rolls and blueberry rolls, and the word is these were a huge hit since they connected with the palate in the most delicious way.

Further, Lovell stated that, of recent, her support base has extended internationally. “My support base has reached so far that even persons out of Guyana have been placing orders for their family members and having surprise deliveries done, and paying through Western Union,” Lovell

Some of her mouth-watering creations

shared.

But with all the support she has received, Lovell firmly believes that she owes all the credit to her mother. Growing up, she bore witness to her mother constantly

putting off her amazing talen t of baking to look after her children.

At one point Lovell said that she (continued on page 47)

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o c a n a u G

g ts in s... re ture e t In rea C

T

he guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is a camelid native to South America, closely related to the Llama.

Its name comes from the Quechua word, huanaco (modern spelling wanaku).

Young guanacos are called chulengos.

Guanacos are one of two wild South American camelids, the other being the Vicuña, which lives at higher elevations.

CHARACTERISTICS

Guanacos stand between 1.0 and 1.3 m (3 ft 3 in and 4 ft 3 in) at the shoulder, body length of 2.1 to 2.2 m (6 ft 11 in to 7 ft 3 in), and weigh 90 to 140 kg (200 to 310 lb).

Their colour varies very little (unlike the domestic llama), ranging from a light brown to dark cinnamon and shading to white underneath.

Guanacos have grey faces and small, straight ears.

Guanacos are one of the

largest terrestrial mammals native to today's South American.

Other terrestrial mammalian mega fauna to weigh similar to or exceed guanaco include the tapirs, the marsh deer, the whitetailed deer, the spectacled bear, and the jaguar.

Guanacos have thick skin on their neck, a trait also found in their domestic counterparts, the llama and in their relatives, the wild vicuña and domesticated

Sunday March 07, 2021

(Lama guanicoe) alpaca. This protects their neck from predator attacks.

Bolivians use the neck-skin of these animals to make shoes, flattening and pounding the skin to be used for the soles.

In Chile, hunting is allowed only in Tierra del Fuego, where the only population not classified as endangered in the country resides. Between 2007 and 2012, 13,200 guanacos were legally hunted in Tierra del Fuego.

HEMOGLOBIN LEVELS Guanacos are often found at high altitudes, up to 4,000 meters above sea level, except in Patagonia, where the southerly latitude means ice covers the vegetation at these altitudes.

For guanacos to survive in the low oxygen levels found at these high altitudes, their blood is rich in red blood cells. A teaspoon of guanaco blood contains about 68 million red blood cells – four times that of a human.

GUANACO FIBRE Guanaco fibre is particularly prized for its soft, warm feel and is found in luxury fabric. The guanaco's soft wool is valued second only to that of the vicuña.

The pelts, particularly from the calves, are sometimes used as a substitute for red fox pelts, because the texture is difficult to differentiate. Like their domestic descendant, the llama, the guanaco is doublecoated with coarse guard hairs and a soft undercoat, the hairs of which are about 16–18 µ in diameter and comparable to the best cashmere.

POPULATION AND DISTRIBUTION Guanacos inhabit the steppes, scrublands and mountainous regions of South America. They are found in the altiplano of Peru, Bolivia and Chile, and in Patagonia, with a small population in Paraguay. In Argentina, they are more numerous in Patagonian regions, as well as in places such as Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. In these areas, they have more robust populations, since grazing competition from livestock

is limited. Guanaco responded to forage availability, occupying zones with low to intermediate food availability in the breeding season, and those with the highest availability in the non-breeding season.

Estimates, as of 2011, place their numbers at 400,000 to 600,000; 466,000–520,000 in Argentina, 150-200 in Bolivia, 66,000 in Chile, 100 in Paraguay, 3,500 in Peru. A small population introduced

by John Hamilton exists on Staats Island in the Falkland Islands, with a population of around 400 as of 2003.

Guanacos live in herds composed of females, their young, and a dominant male.

Bachelor males form separate herds. While reproductive groups tend to remain small, often containing no more than 10 adults, bachelor herds may contain as many as 50 males.

When they feel threatened, guanacos alert the herd to flee with a highpitched, bleating call. The male usually runs behind the herd to defend them. They can run at 56 km (35 mi) per hour, often over steep and rocky terrain. They are also excellent swimmers. A guanaco's typical lifespan is 20 to 25 years.

Natural predators of the guanaco include pumas and the culpeo.

MATING SEASON Mating season occurs between November and February, during which males often fight violently to establish dominance and breeding rights. Eleven-anda-half months later, a single chulengo is born. Chulengos are able to walk immediately after birth. Male chulengos are chased off from the herd by the dominant male around one year of age.

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==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

The secrets of some people that have to remain untold until…

I get queries each year from people wanting to know about this or that person or event. Many emails would contain useful information about things, places, events and people long, long ago, some of which have never been published and cannot be published for fear of libel.

The examples are many and space would not allow for just one percent. I got an email from a Guyanese living in London who was a close colleague of a certain controversial and racist trade unionist. I was given information about the betraying things that this trade unionist had done in the past that remain secret up to this day.

The information is very detailed, and I was advised to contact three well-known persons, all of whom are in advanced age.

I only got hold of one of them who is quite known in trade union circles and showed him the email.

I simply do not have the time or resources to follow up on many of the things I receive, and in several instances, information is hard to come by because many of the folks are of advanced age in foreign lands. I was told that there is a former newspaper vendor nearing his nineties who lives in Annandale, who has knowledge of many

racially driven acts of Eusi Kwayana when they were both young.

It turned out the man no longer lives in Annandale and resides in Lusignan.

I am not going to repeat the racial indiscretions about Kwayana in the 1960s that the gentleman described. I leave it at that for now. For me Kwayana is an iconic failure but these things need to be recorded.

A caveat is in order. Many politicians in those days were the Indian version of Kwayana.

Once I am alive and writing, I will record history.

The coming generations need to know their country’s history. Of course, you have to avoid the path of libel when you write about those who are still alive. Nothing in Guyana is more ubiquitous than libel writs. You can find more libel writs in Guyana than the national flower – the Victoria Regia.

Before I move on, there was a libel judgment handed down recently that is of immense value to the media and political society. It just passed by without being highlighted. Justice, Gino Persaud, denied then Minister, Annette Ferguson, an injunction against the Guyana Times and then Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. Every

Guyanese should read his delivery. It is based on sound philosophical judgment of the right of a society to know in circumstances where that knowledge is important for society. Space is not available, but I will return to it in a future column.

Back to the recording of history. Those who are alive will sue for the exposure of the grievous wrongs they have committed.

Those who did many such wrongs and who are dead, the present generation needs to know about their misdeeds. Former Chief Justice, Ian Chang, is dead.

Former GRA Chief, Khurshid Sattaur, is dead. Former army boss, Godwin McPherson, is dead. Many of the lieutenants of Burnham and Hoyte who violated people’s rights are dead. Of course, Hamilton Green is alive.

I don’t have a problem with people publishing prodigious eulogies about eminent Guyanese; that is their right.

As a social activist for over 50 years, a media operative for over 32 years and an academic for over 40 years, I know things about my country that must be passed on to the coming generations. I will write because I know that is my obligation to history and my country.

I will end with a little encounter. I was at the northern entrance of Movie Towne waiting for Charandass Persaud, who was coming from Berbice. I was standing at the entrance when a car with a young man and young woman drove up and stopped.

The gentleman greeted me, identified himself as the son of the late GRA boss, Khurshid Sattaur, and said he was happy that I wrote about

his father, telling me he had nothing against me.

I them requested $72,000 from the young man.

I told him his father owed me that. In his episodes of victimization of me, he left all the white-collar workers in Guyana and all the UG lecturers and demanded that a poor soul like me pay property tax going back seven years.

Christopher Ram did the work for me for free. I ended up paying GRA $72,000. I could

Frederick Kissoon not have afforded it and it was wrong what Sattaur did to me.

His son has promised to pay.

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

Kaieteur News

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Count Wisely One day, king Akbar asked a question in his court that left everyone in the courtroom puzzled.

As they all tried to figure out the answer, Birbal walked in and asked what the matter was. They repeated the question to him.

The question was, “How many crows are there in the city?”Birbal immediately smiled and went up to Akbar. He announced the answer; he said there were twenty-one thousand, five hundred and twenty-three crows in the city. When asked how he knew the answer, Birbal replied, “Ask your men to count the number of crows. If there are more, then the relatives of the crows must be visiting them from nearby cities. If there are fewer, then the crows from our city must be visiting their relatives who live outside the city.” Pleased with the answer, Akbar presented Birbal with a ruby and pearl chain.

Moral of the Story Having an explanation for your answer is just as important as having an answer.

Sunday March 07, 2021

Junior page

BAT CRAFTS WHAT YOU DO:Paint a toilet paper roll and let dry. Or, leave it unpainted.

Push the middle of the roll down at one end, to create two points.

Cut the roll into a point at the other end.

Snip a set of bat wings out of black construction paper.

You can use the template here.

Cut two slits into the paper roll and slide the bat wings inside.

Make a face with construction paper, googly eyes and/or markers.

FUN WITH POETRY

The things that make me happy

by Uncle Roy I feel so nice when I eat Ice cream, cookies and fruit cake, Chocolate, candy and other sweets, As well as burgers, pizza and milk-shake.

I also get very happy When I celebrate my birthday Go to the park, seawall and creek, And enjoy Christmas and other holidays.

But the thing that makes me feel the best, And makes me proud indeed, Is when I try to help someone, Or give them something they need.

I start by doing more work at home, Then try to make my family feel good; Next I am kinder to all my friends, And help my neighbours in any way I could.

Sudoku

WHAT YOU NEED: ·* TOILET PAPER ROLL * CONSTRUCTION PAPER *BLACK OR BROWN PAINT *SCISSORS *BAT WING TEMPLATE

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 07, 2021

TEEN TIME

P

eople often feel that, because there is nothing really exciting happening to them at any one time, they cannot enjoy life.

The fact is that real enjoyment of life does not come from thrills or extraordinary events. One can derive the greatest pleasures from the simple things around at any time – a walk in one’s neighbourhood, observing the beauty of nature in the trees, the birds and animals, even the people going about their everyday tasks.

Of course, we all know the joy we feel when we join with family members and friends in various activities which can be most uplifting to our spirit.

The list can be endless if you tax your own mind to come up with things to do.

One of the ways in which you can increase your happiness is to be content with what you have. Each of

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Strive to be Happy

us at any given time must have what is needed to make us happy if we only appreciate it, and do not lust over what other people possess.

Your own health and talents, the love of your family, how you are being successful at what you are doing, no matter how small this may appear, all these can make you feel contented.

Happiness is a choice, and you can be happy in any circumstances if you have a contented mind.

This must thus prove to you that your happiness is mostly under your own control, although this can be enhanced by other factors, such as having a good job and career, which will take care of your financial needs, and moreover make you feel worthy through the contribution you make to the organisation for which you work, as well as to society as

Choose to be Happy

by Roy Paul (Uncle Roy) To every man born on this earth Of whatever strain or level he be, He must bear his share of pain and strife, And struggle to grow and achieve prosperity.

So let not the hardships you suffer Take away from the joys that are your due, In whatever condition you find yourself, Happiness is but yours to choose,

a whole.

Contributing voluntarily to some community effort can also provide this result.

This means that you should not always directly pursue happiness, but it will be just as successful to engage in habits associated with this feeling.

One very important factor, and maybe the most effective, that will go beyond all others in your achievement of a happy life

SlitherLink

is spirituality. When we earnestly indulge in prayer to the Almighty in giving thanks and asking for the things we need, we can be assured that happiness will eventually come about.

This can be augmented by meditation, which has been found to help in the ability to focus on what we need in our lives, and so produce results that can lead to well-being in our spirit, as well as our mind and body.

In a Slitherlink Puzzle, you connect horizontally or vertically adjacent dots to form ameandering path that forms a single loop, without crossing itself, or branching. Thenumbers indicate how many lines surround each cell. Empty cells may be surrounded byany number of lines (from 0 to 3).There is one unique solution, and you should be able to find it without guessing.

You may find it helpful to make small x's between dots that cannot be connected.

We need only to look around; To see so much to make us glad, They are the things we need to do, To glean all the happiness that could be had.

We first must take time to socialise, With our loving family and friends, Giving priority to our mate and kin, And working together to secure our ends.

Celebrating our wins, enjoying our work, Giving service to those with less, Exercise, diet and bodily care Together will keep us blessed.

Then above all we must strive To serve and thank the Lord, Have hope and faith in His good grace, And live according to His word.

When we appreciate that our happiness is ours for the taking, and not dependent on other people or things, we will keep working to make it a reality.

TELL IT TO UNCLE ROY I would like to inform our readers that the Uncle Roy email address is temporarily unavailable.

So please send any contributions you would like to make to this page to roypaul2002@yahoo.com

Solutions to last week’s

Bridges

Hex Sudokus

Solution Hint

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Kaieteur News

Barefoot Chardonnay dares to hypnotize with delicate apple and soft peach aroma The Barefoot Chardonnay which is distributed by Ansa McAL Trading Limited is not only one of the classiest wines on

the market, but this sultry palate teaser carries a brassy colour that makes it more alluring than other Chardonnays.

A good clue to the substantial body of this wine is that when you swirl the wine in your glass, the legs fall slowly and irregularly.

Further to this, the Barefoot Chardonnay is known for having a hypnotizing aroma of apple and soft peach. It’s not strong, but gentle and refreshing. For first timers to this refined wine, you should know that you would not be able to smell it upon pouring, but if you hold the glass to your nose, a mesmerizing whiff of the subtle aromas would be sure to fill your nostrils. A deep inhalation may even reveal more spiced flavors like nutmeg. Interestingly, you won’t notice any burning from the alcohol, despite its 13% alcohol content.

Furthermore, one can expect that this selection will taste on the palette the way it smells in the glass. There’s a bit of citrus on the finish, just as there should be. It’s also creamy in the mouth with a touch of acidity. It should be noted that you may notice a bit of a nutty flavor, but most people won’t find this flavor dominant. In fact, all of the flavors are very subtle, so the dominant flavors tasted will vary as much as each individual’s palette.

In addition to the foregoing, the Barefoot Chardonnay brings tempting

flavors to every bottle, with notes of crisp, green apples, citrus and sweet peaches while being accented with hints of honey and vanilla.

If you are curious about enjoying this selection at dinner parties or just with a meal at home, you should know that it pairs perfectly with meaty fish (cod) and shellfish (lobster, shrimp, crab, scallops) and subtly flavored poultry and pork dishes. It can also be served with mild, buttery or creamy dishes.

Do Enjoy and remember to drink responsibly!

Sunday March 07, 2021

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Akeela Lovell: A young woman...

From page 33 was furious that her mother was not truly letting the world see her baking talent b e c a u s e o f h e r responsibilities. Eventually her mother was able to fully unleash her craft, an undertaking that Lovell hopes to see live on through her fledgling business.

Her long-term goal is to one day open her own bakery even as she continues to create new things to tantalize the palate.

She is driven by her belief that, “Young entrepreneurs like myself, I consider to be fresh meat. They come with an open mind. They think out

of the box! Most young entrepreneurs are creative, and they put their all into creating new things.”

“Young entrepreneurs,” Lovell said, “have pushed society to not just stick to the 'know' but to take the leap of faith and be innovative and creative in all that they do.”

Additionally, to give young entrepreneurs like herself more exposure and opportunities, Lovell thinks that communities can endeavour to have an exhibition at least once per month to help advertise new small businesses and build their customer base. This sentiment has been echoed

by other young persons who have taken a leap of faith and started their own business too. And even the sceptics, with enough talent, can find their way.

Lovell recounted that she was never a person that would "go for it" and “take risks” or even believe in herself for that matter. She was always the person that needed motivation and reassurance of her ability to do something.

But a year later, basking in well-deserved success, Lovell is a confident young entrepreneur on the move and is definitely one to look out for this year.

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Sunday March 07, 2021

Small states diplomacy pays dividends on...

From page 20 l a rg e t a x h a v e n s a n d purveyors of illegal financial services.

Changing this image of the Caribbean, laying out the evidence, and making solid arguments were all necessary, particularly for a U.S. Congress confronted with a multitude of domestic and global issues on an hourly basis. In Maxine Waters, the Caribbean region found a tough but decisive person, skeptical but willing to listen and to examine the evidence.

The Caribbean effort that was spearheaded in Washington by Antigua and Barbuda, strongly supported

by Belize and St Lucia, culminated in a Congressional Round Table in November 2019, chaired

by Waters and attended by Gaston Browne, St. Lucia Prime Minister, Allen Chastenet, and Ministers from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Jamaica.

Waters had invited to the m e e t i n g s e n i o r representatives of major U.S. banks. as well as other members of the House Finance Committee. A full and frank discussion ensued.

At the end of it, Waters and her Congressional colleagues promised action.

Deal making in the U.S. Congress is more art than science. It results in matters inserted in a law where it may seem to have no relevance. But that is the trade for support that occurs.

In the result, the promised action was delivered in the NDAA. Among the matters that the law stipulates as guidelines are: providing vital humanitarian and development assistance and protecting the integrity of the international financial system are complementary goals; access issues are a concern for other underserved individuals and entities such as those sending remittances from the United States to their families overseas and certain domestic and overseas jurisdictions that have

experienced curtailed access to cross-border financial services due, in part, to derisking; the financial exclusion caused by derisking can ultimately drive money into less transparent, shadow channels through the carrying of cash or use of unlicensed or unregistered money service remitters, thus reducing transparency and traceability, which are critical for financial integrity, and can increase the risk of money falling into the wrong hands; and antimoney laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, and sanctions policies must ensure that the policies do not unduly hinder or delay legitimate access to the international financial system for underserved individuals, entities, and geographic area.

Those were the very points, which were put f o r w a r d b y t h e representatives of small Caribbean states who can be pleased that one of the law's fundamental directives is that “policies that encourage financial inclusion must remain a priority.”

The NDAA is a small but significant step by the U.S. Congress and especially by the House Banking Committee, led by Congresswoman, Maxine Waters. It was a big leap for small Caribbean countries and a triumph for their diligence and diplomacy.

Much work remains to be done but an important pathway to rectifying and balancing de-risking has been opened. Amid the ravages of COVID-19, it is welcome good news.

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own.)

Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 07, 2021

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King of the steel pans… Guyanese musician,

Rudy 'Boyzie' Bishop...

From page 18 said the band had garnered a reputation of its own to open for major musical acts coming to Guyana.

The pannist recalled specifically the show with the renowned Jamaican ska, calypso and soca band, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires; for it was then “Boyzie,” his childhood nickname he had developed, became popular in musical scene.

Bishop then played in several other bands leading up to joining a steel orchestra called the Skylarks which was popularized in the 1960's until they finally broke up after performing at Guyana's independence day celebrations on May 26, 1966.

ATLANTIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The musician said that by then he had matured and was looking to play a more refined classical music.

He said, “The guys had a falling out and we said we wanted to do something more sophisticated. Pan Am North Star had just collaborated with Winifred Atwell to produce Ivory and Steel, a mixture of piano and steel pan music. That is what I wanted to do to capture the atmosphere of blending classical music with the modern music.”

As such, the band often met at the seawalls and practiced with the sound of the ocean in the background.

Bishop took a cue from his surroundings and called them 'The Atlantic Symphony Orchestra.' The name stuck and the orchestra went on to win several competitions participating in several notable local and regional events.

By 1972, the band had won a competition for best arrangement in the first Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) and was chosen to perform the winning piece for the documentary that was

Mr. Bishop at the 49th Anniversary of the band in New York.

produced afterwards.

Ta l e n t a n d s h e e r determination propelled them forward into becoming the undefeated national champion of the Steel Band Competitions from 1975 to 1981. Shortly after, the Brazilian ambassa d o r s a w t h e m perform and invited Bishop to carry the band to Brazil.

Following his initial trip, Bishop organized a contingent of 45 persons –musicians and members of the National School of Dance, led by Guyanese dancer, Daphne Rogers.

Playing in major cities like Rio de Janeiro, Bella Horizante and Sao Paulo, they captivated audiences at every performance including those at the world famous Coco Cabana beach.

The tour of Brazil lasted three months.

Next, the orchestra was invited to tour the USSR and participated in the Tchaikovsky Festival in Moscow in Kiev, Lenin Grad and other cities in Russia.

They were later featured at New London Theatre in England, where they played for a special function to honour the captain of the West Indies and Guyanese Cricket hero, Clive Lloyd.

The Atlantic Symphony Orchestra had made a name for themselves and soon they embarked on an American leg of their tour, making special appearances at the United Nations General Assembly, the Beacon Theatre on Broadway and Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the Mayor of New York. The Orchestra also appeared in other cities in the USA including performances in Washington DC, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Chicago.

He said a high point of their tour was being invited to spend a day at the home of t h e l e g e n d a r y b o x e r, Muhammad Ali, and having a cameo in a self titled documentary “A day in the life of Muhammad Ali.” It was on this tour that the Orchestra made its first recording of two longplaying albums entitled “On Tour,” and “Christmas Festival.” Three more dynamic albums followed – “Weekend Party,” “Through the Ages” and a “Touch of Class,” all of which can now be had on CD and Audio Cassette.

Then the orchestra, at the invitation of the then Mayor of Ottawa, Marian Dewar, left the United States to tour Canada. They made a special guest appearance at the Canadian House of Parliament.

NEXT GENERATION The band later dispersed after they flew to the USA

for a United Nations function and could not return after part-sponsor, Guyana Airways, folded, leaving the band holding return tickets in the name of an airline that no longer existed.

Bishop said that some of the members married and settled down in the US, while the others got help from family to return home.

He however, continued to work and put together a steel band in Brooklyn called the Young Entertainers.

He said that it was a J a m a i c a n p a s t o r, w h o discovered the young entertainers online. He contacted Bishop to do something similar for his increasingly restless young church members and 'The Young Acolytes' was born.

The Acolytes made a name for themselves all across New York City and Bishop received two

Mr. Bishop performing with his band at the famed Apollo Theatre, during amateur night in 2011.

Rudy Bishop holds one of his many certificates of recognition

citations from the area assemblyman for his community work and for spreading the 'Gospel of the Pan.' The Young Acolytes Symphonic Steel Orchestra, headquartered in St. Stephen's Lutheran Church on Newkirk Avenue in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

Bishop said that he trained hundreds of teenagers to play the pan, and says virtually all of these students have gone to college — many of whom returned to perform with the group.

These days, Bishop, who is back on his home soil, remains more focused on the resuscitation of the legendary band and assisting members of his community through the work of his social venture, the Camptown Youth, Sports and Culture Organization.

The group has continued to do outreach work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, providing hampers to the elderly and the less fortunate.

The musician is also hoping to take his social work and music to the next level after COVID. He is looking to collaborate with private and public entities to train some youths in the art of playing steel pans.

“I have been working to resuscitate the band and take the social venture to another level, so by the time COVID19 is over, we can do much greater work,” he said of his future plans.

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Sunday March 07, 2021

Videomega's “clarification” contradicts Hughes' claims of playing no role in $6M contracts award R

ussell Lancaster, the Managing Director of Videomega Productions Limited, the company owned by former Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, which was said to have received over $6M in contracts from her M i n i s t r y, h a s o ff e r e d “clarification” on the matter, which however contradicts Hughes' claims that she played no role in the granting of the contracts.

Kaieteur News had reported on the issuing of the contracts, which were supplemented by documents distributed by Public Affairs Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy. The documents had shown an excess of $6M being paid to the company and Hughes in one instance appearing to have personally approved a payment, with her signature, as Minister.

Notably, in 2019, the exMinister categorically denied using her office or participating in the decisionmaking process that led to the award of an $832,000 contract to Videomega for the production of ads for the oil and gas sector on behalf of the Department of Energy.

Hughes had contested that there was no conflict of interest given that she did not preside over the Department of Energy. Adding to that she had claimed that in any case,

she did not know that the contract was even issued.

In a statement on his Facebook page, and sent as a letter to the press, Lancaster claimed the media failed to investigate adequately, resulting in the publishing of stories not substantiated by hard evidence.

“As Manager of Videomega Productions since 2015, I have had the opportunity to be privy to the transactions that have taken place between the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and our Company over the period in question, and I can state categorically that Videomega Productions did not receive in excess of $6 million as has been stated by the media over the past few days, and again in an editorial in the Kaieteur News on March 3 2021,” Lancaster outlined.

He said that there is a context that is pertinent to preventing the misconception that there was an underhand attempt to place government funds in “the private hands” of Videomega and ultimately Hughes. In his statement, he said that upon him taking over in 2015, Hughes relinquished all day-to-day activities to concentrate on her duties as Minister. This publication had also reported on Hughes claiming that she stopped being a “member of staff” of the company when she took public office.

After seeing Lancaster's statement, this publication contacted him to query whether Hughes still had proprietorship for the company and if her proprietorship was given up when she took office in 2015.

The question was also posed to Hughes last week, but no response was given.

Lancaster said that Hughes is no longer the proprietor of the company as it was transferred to him some two years after she became Minister. This publication requested to see documents showing the transfer of proprietorship from Hughes to Lancaster, but he stated that he could not provide them at the moment and he would have to consult with Hughes.

This contradicts Hughes' claims that she played no role in the awarding of the contracts, since she would

have been the proprietor of the company for two years following her being sworn in as Minister and the contracts were awarded between 20162018.

M o r e o v e r, e v e n a s Lancaster stated that the proprietorship was transferred to him, but in his statement, he only identified himself as the Managing Director. He also affirmed that Hughes is currently a director within the company, leaving concerns as to whether she ever stopped being a “member of staff” as she had claimed or what her precise role in the company was during her tenure as minister.

In his statement, Lancaster suggested that it was Hughes' lack of familiarity with her role as government minister, that would have resulted in her

From page 16 and had suffered a heart attack,” Rajgendranauth recounted. At the time, he s a i d , “ We w e r e o n l y kids…but old enough to understand that it was a tragedy for dad.”

“He was not a wealthy man, he did not own a house but, together with our mom, he was able to make ends meet,” Rajgendranauth added. When she died, he recounted, his father did not only lose a loving companion but a dependable spouse.

“My elder brother was 10 at the time, I was nine, Lakeram five and Kenard only 18 m o n t h s o l d , ” Rajgendranauth shared. But instead of going crazy or taking another wife, Rajgendranauth said that their father instead chose to raise them as a single parent.

“He worked multiple

jobs…he was a watchman, a gardener, an excellent cook, a food vendor, a cleaner; he did all this to make sure we were fed and clothed,” the young man said of his father.

“Our baby brother, he would leave him with our aunt and head to work at night and return in the morning, spend some time at home and then head out again to do other jobs,” said Rajgendranauth, who remembers with admiration his father's resilience and dedication.

“He placed us first, before himself,” he said. But a c c o r d i n g t o Rajgendranauth, “when my brother and I got older, and that was recently, we started to work and assist him with the bills of the house.”

Rajgendranauth said he became a gold smith, while his older brother became

skilled in the construction field. With the three of them earning, they were able to live comfortable lives complete with paying their house rent and taking care of their brothers who are still in school. “Our father even had plans that with three of us on board, we were finally going to build our own home and live a happy life,” he remembered.

As fate would have it, Bharrat Dass passed away before he and his boys could have made their plans a r e a l i t y. N e v e r t h e l e s s , Rajgendranauth noted that even though his father's murder has proven to be an immense set back to the family, he and his brothers would remain united and achieve what their father had set out do.

“Whatever we do now will be in honour of him,”

Rajgendranauth said. Since their father's death, he said, “our uncle and aunts had been supporting us for three months but they have their own lives and family. So we have to fend for ourselves.”

Rajgendranauth said that their main priority now is to make sure that the younger brothers are able to complete their schooling. This Rajgendranauth hopes to see to fruition with his older brother, Laltram, who interestingly enough was able to father a son in time to make Bharrat Dass a grandfather, before his passing.

“Although he has his own responsibilities,” Rajgendranauth said of his older brother, “we have decided to stick together and have faith like our dad had taught us so that we can overcome our struggles.”

Directing Manager of Videomega Productions Limited, Russell Lancaster

Former Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes role in assigning business to her own company: “While the Minister may have been naïve in her actions, and that is understandable seeing that she was new to the arena and had come from a private sector background where things happen quickly, she should certainly not be accused of graft, which seems to be the distinct impression being peddled.”

In summary, in 2016 the company received $1.13M in payments for ads; in 2017 $1.4M in payments for ads; in December 2017, $68,400 for “Community ICT Hub-ICT in Education (Transfer of footage) (Collation of Video Footage MOPT);” in July 2018, $2.33M for “Community ICT Road Show, 2018-Television & Radio, Caribbean ICT Radio

Show, 2018-Advertising Ress Ads, Caribbean ICT Road Show-Camera-ready Artwork,” Berbice Advertising “Caribbean ICT R o a d S h o w, 2 0 1 8 Television Commercial-45 secs” and even an interview with Hughes herself, “Caribbean ICT Road Show, 2018-Television 33 secs” and “Caribbean ICT Road Show, 2018-33 secs Radio;” and $956,519 for Publishing of Advertisements for “ICT Planning Officer - 8x3BW, ICT Education Officer 8x3BW, ICT Business Analyst - 8x3BW, Technical Admin. Assistant – 10x3BW.” Lancaster stated that Videomega merely acted as an advertising agency for Hughes' Ministry adding that “it is a well-established fact” that advertising agencies receive a 15 percent commission for ad placements and that is what Videomega would have received.

At the time however, during the Granger administration, the Department of Public Information was responsible for the placement of government ads.

Additionally, the records provided also indicate that the services provided by Videomega did not only cover placement, but also some aspects of production.

Hibernia woman Brothers struggle to make ends meet... dies after slamming into parked car

A

2 6 - y e a r- o l d woman is now dead, following a fatal accident on the Hibernia Public Road, Essequibo Coast, yesterday afternoon.

The deceased woman has been identified as Simona Williams, a resident of Good Hope, Essequibo. At the time of the accident, Williams was with her boyfriend, Terry Samuels, a traffic rank presently attached to the Suddie Police Station.

Sometime around 11:30 hrs. yesterday, the couple left for Anna Regina in motorcar, PMM 5509. While returning home, an argument ensued between Williams and her boyfriend.

According to reports reaching Kaieteur News, the woman reportedly

grabbed hold of the steering wheel during the argument, and pulled it to the left.

Samuels then pulled it back to the right, which resulted in the vehicle losing control.

The car then collided with motorcar, PPP 4196, which was parked on the eastern parapet of Hibernia Public Road. According to police, Simona received injuries to her left wrist, and was taken out of the car by public-spirited citizens.

She was then escorted to the Suddie Public Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival. The body is now presently lying at hospital's m o r t u a r y, a w a i t i n g a postmortem examination, while her boyfriend has been placed under close arrest, assisting with investigations.

Sunday March 07, 2021

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Kaieteur News

Remaining Elections Petition destined to fail – AG In a 22-page document submitted to the High Court, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC., explains that “the three pronged attack,” launched against the March 2, 2020 elections outcome has, inter alia, failed to discredit the constitutionality of the elections laws or the lawfulness of recount order, which led to the triumph of the ruling People’s Progressive

Party Civic (PPP/C).

In short, the AG said that the remaining Elections Petition before the High Court is doomed to fail.

Previously, the AG and his legal team had successfully challenged the validity of first petition on the failure of the opposing parties to execute service on the main respondent, (former President, David Granger) within the legal time limit.

>>>GNBS IN FOCUS<<<

Consumer Protection – Provided by the GNBS through its services During this month, Consumer Protection Bodies such as the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), the Competition Consumers Affairs Commission (CCAC) and the Department of Consumers Affairs under the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, will collaboratively organize a number of activities as they commemorate World Consumer Rights Day on March 15. These activities will engage and educate consumers across the country on their rights and responsibilities during the purchase and use of goods and services. This year, the occasion will be observed under the theme “Tackling Plastic Pollution.”

Since its establishment in March 1984, the GNBS has been protecting consumers through the services it offers.

The GNBS has been at the forefront in the protection of consumers through facilitating the development of standards. The organization also acts to make many of these standards compulsory. Compulsory Standards provide technical requirements, which are enforced by various regulatory agencies including the Bureau, to protect the health and safety of consumers. Labelling standards are prime examples of compulsory standards.

Consumers are also protected through the verification of weighing and measuring devices used in trade such as scales, masses, measures and fuel pumps. Accuracy and fitness for use are established when these devices are verified by the GNBS, and this prevents consumers from being cheated when making purchases.

Meanwhile, through its Product Compliance Programme, the Bureau monitors a number of products including household electrical appliances, cellular phones, gas stoves, electricity metres and tyres to ensure compliance with requirements of National Standards. Substan-

dard products are held for corrective actions, are confiscated or destroyed by the GNBS to prevent distribution to consumers.

The Bureau is gradually expanding its capabilities to offer testing services, which ultimately protect consumers.

Testing services offered by the GNBS include the testing of gold jewellery and concrete (hollow) blocks for quality.

With quality, consumers get value for money.

To increase consumer confidence, products are certified by the GNBS to National Standards, and the National Standards Mark is affixed, which tells consumers that these products have been inspected and tested, and comply with the requirements set out in the respective standards.

Business support services offered by the GNBS are ultimately intended to protect consumers. These services assist companies to implement management system standards such as the Quality Management System (ISO 9001) and the Food Safety Management Standard (ISO 22000). The implementation of these standards ensures that consumers are satisfied with products and services they procure and allows safe foods to be made available for consumption.

Finally, the GNBS offers protection to consumers through education and information. Utilizing print and electronic media, the Bureau issues timely advisories and warnings concerning defective or unsafe products and services. Other opportunities to share useful consumer information include lectures, workshops, outreach visits to the outlying Regions, and participation in exhibition and trade fairs.

For further information, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0062.

Please visit our website: www.gnbsgy.org and like our Facebook page: gnbsgy

In that petition, petitioners Claudette Thorne and Heston Bostwick asked the court to determine among other things, questions regarding whether the elections have been lawfully conducted or whether the results have been, or may have been affected by any unlawful act or omission and in consequence thereof, whether the seats in the National Assembly have been lawfully allocated.

In this case however, petitioners Monica Thomas and Brennan Nurse contended that the elections were unlawfully conducted and/or that the results, (if lawfully conducted), were affected or might have been affected by unlawful acts or omissions.

In his response to the petition, Nandlall explicated that in this case, the applicants’ contentions are set out on the basis of three issues: whether Section 22 of the Elections Laws Amendment Act is unconstitutional and the recount Order 60 is invalid, null, void and of no effect; the re-

turning officers electoral district declaration could not have been set aside; and GECOM’s actions were unlawful and encroached upon under Article 163 of the Constitution.

Outlining a plethora of legal authorities and examples by which the petitioners are failing to prove their case, AG Nandlall explained that the lawyers from the opposing side have failed to rebut the constitutionality of Section 22 of ELAA of 2000 or established that Order 60 was in any manner whatsoever ultra vires or unlawful.

Further, the AG noted the Elections Petition purports to be filed pursuant to Article 163 of the Constitution of Guyana and the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act and there is absence of the material facts in the case and no foundation being laid in the petition to establish any grounds upon which the March 2, 2020 elections can be vitiated.

Nandlall stressed that Article 163(1) of the Constitution

Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, SC. speaks to the jurisdiction of the High Court to determine questions relating to membership of the National Assembly and elections.

Further, he noted that it cannot be disputed that the conduct of March 2, 2020 elections is not being challenged by the petition.

“This petition, therefore, falls within the second category of challenge, that is to say, that an unlawful act or omission has affected or may

have affected the elections results.

That unlawful act is Order 60 and the recount process, which flowed therefrom… A petition that challenges an election on this latter ground must not only establish that the challenged act is unlawful but that it has or may have affected the results of the elections,” Nandlall said in his submissions.

Added to that, he said that it is already submitted that Order 60 and the recount process are valid and lawful.

“Secondly, this petition fails to establish any satisfactory evidence that the said order 60 and recount process have affected or may have affected the result of election.

All that the recount process did was to recount ballots case on voting day,” Nandlall continued.

According to him there is no evidence before this court impugning those ballots so as to discount them from being recounted. He submitted too, “There is no evidence of (Continued on page 52)

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Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Guyana seeks consultant to rewrite archaic …restricts information sharing Oil & Gas laws to a “need-to-know basis”

Guyana’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is gearing to hire a consultant for the development of the legal and regulatory frameworks for the country’s Oil and Gas Sector—a project to be completed in 24 months, commencing in July.

The project, according to the request for expression of interest by the Ministry, is being financed through a loan from the World Bank.

According to the request, the objective of the assignment is for the consultant to provide legislative drafting services, inclusive of on-the-jobtraining, in relation to the development of the legal and regulatory framework for the oil and gas sector to MNR, and the Petroleum Commission (PC)—the sector Regulator—once established.

According to the scope of work identified for the

successful consultant, is the undertaking of a, “comprehensive review of Guyana’s existing legal and regulatory framework…such review to include and maximize upon existing institutional, legislative and regulatory analysis and revision documentation.

Additionally, the consultant is expected to support the MNR in detailing the legislative and regulatory instruments required to update and establish Guyana’s governance, management and oversight of the upstream, mid and downstream oil and gas sector, so as to establish a modern and competitive framework.

This, in addition to the development of a prioritized legislative agenda and implementation action plan.

The consultant will also be expected to support the

Attorney General’s Chambers in the review assessment and drafting necessary to ensure that the legislative and regulatory instrument are finalized in good order for presentation to the National Assembly, and for passage into law.

“Provide for the transfer of knowledge, including onthe-job training and review workshops, for selected personnel from the MNR, PC, Attorney General’s Chambers and other ministries/agencies as identified by the MNR, on legal aspects of the petroleum industry.”

The request by MNR also demands that the successful consultant, “provide overall support to the client for the process of cohesively updating and establishing a modern and competitive governance, management and regulatory framework for

the upstream oil and gas sector, including the detailing of institutional functions, roles and responsibilities, operational coordination mechanisms, and systems of operational checks and balances for the institutions charged directly with the sector oversight, and particularly the functions to be discharged by the MNR and the PC.” Additionally, the consultant will be required to provide “ad hoc legal advice on matters arising from the MNR’s governance and management of the petroleum sector as requested by the Client.”

While there has been no clear indication on the part of the Ministry as to the cost of the consultancy, the funds would be utilized from a US$20M loan that had been secured from the World Bank.

It was noted however, that the Consultant will be selected in accordance with the “Quality-And-Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the procurement Regulations.

Under the Terms of Reference (ToR) prepared for the consultancy, the consultant will be hired for a period of 24-months with an agreed schedule of hourly or daily rates.

The ToR also dictates that it is expected that a major part of the work will be conducted in the Consultant’s office, with regular visits to MNR and is expected to be “on call” basis and be available for audio or videoconferences when required.

It was noted too, that in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the related ongoing travel restrictions, “the Consultant and the Client will develop distancefacilitating engagement alternatives to the in-country requirements until such time as the remainder of the

original in-country time requirements may be safely carried out as per prevailing health standards.”

The Consultant is expected to be present in Guyana for at least 35 per cent of the 24 months duration of the contract.

Notably, under the ToRs the Consultant and/or its employees are expected to keep confidential all information that they receive, directly or indirectly, from the Authorities, its agencies or ministries, and any other stakeholder, as well as all copies or analyses that it makes, or have been made by third parties, on the basis of such information.”

According to MNR’s rules, the consultant will use the material obtained exclusively for the purpose of preparing deliverables relevant to the assignment and will only permit access to the material to persons within their organizations on a needto-know basis.

ExxonMobil now believes...

From page 12 operations, Chapman said that the partners working in the Stabroek Block envisions even more production from the Stabroek Block than in the Permian Basin at about 750,000 barrels per day from five FPSOs by 2026.

This, in addition to a planned sixth Guyana project, scheduled to begin producing by 2027 from the Stabroek Block.

Notably, Chapman in his presentation underscored that the Guyana projects aim also to deliver a more than 10 per cent rate of return, “and potentially more than 20 per cent, at an oil price less than $35 per barrel.”

A rate of return references the net gain or loss of an investment over a specified time period, expressed as a percentage of the investment’s initial cost.

ExxonMobil and its partners in the Stabroek Block—Hess Corp and China’s National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC)—have

so far claimed to have invested some US$20B so far in the Stabroek Block.

Oil prices have since rebounded to US$70 per barrel with an upward trajectory in prices in light of OPEC’s decision to limit global production.

Chapman in his presentation also committed the company’s operation to reach a target of zero flaring by 2030, confirming routine flaring for at least another nine years.

ExxonMobil currently in Guyana operates the country’s offshore Stabroek block, which produced the country’s first oil in December 2019.

The block ramped to peak first-phase output in the fourth quarter of 120,000 barrels of oil per day although two additional projects are under development that will begin production in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

Those projects will utilize FPSOs with capacities of 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

Remaining Elections Petition...

From page 51 any variation between the first count which took place at the end of the poll and the count which took place under Order 60. Indeed even if it is found that the recount and Order 60 are unlawful there is still no evidence that either or both of them materially affected the results of the elections”.

As such, the AG concluded that the current petition is destined to fail.

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Govt. drafting legislation to establish border patrol unit Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall on Monday last announced that the government is currently drafting a Bill to facilitate the establishment of a border patrol unit.

During his budget presentation, Nandlall said “From a defence point of view, in order to strengthen our ability to protect our borders, a Bill is being drafted for the establishment of a Border Patrol Unit which will supplement the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force in securing and protecting our borders.”

Guyana’s borders are po-

Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, SC. rous, and this has resulted in a particularly unmanageable (Continued on page 56)

Man chopped, robbed during home invasion A resident of Buzz Bee Dam, Craig, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was yesterday chopped to his head, beaten and robbed during a home invasion.

Recovering from the chop wound and nursing injuries to his body is Eyon Campbelle, 45.According to police, Campbelle’s one-flat concrete home was invaded around 02:30Hrs. Campbelle told police that he was startled out of his bed by footsteps in his bedroom.

When three men armed with a gun and cutlass confronted him.

The men, he told investi-

gators, demanded that he hand them cash and other valuables. Campbelle reportedly complied and gave them $350,000 but they asked for more.

Campbelle told them, reported police that he had no more money and they chopped him to his head.

They lashed him several times to his body with the cutlass as well. The men then took away his cellphone, a Samsung J2 Core valued $35,000 and carted off with a DVD player and a 42-inch Sony flat Screen TV. Police are currently on the hunt for the suspects.

Chinese national robbed in front of Supermarket Two men pounced on a Chinese national yesterday, and robbed him in front of the Awei Supermarket located at Vryheid lust, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Awei Huo Die, 39, the owner of the business was attacked around 02:00Hrs just as he was about to enter the compound.

Huo Die told police that he was out earlier that evening and had just returned

home. He claimed that the suspects were at the time passing on the Vryheid Public Road when they walked up to him. They hit him several times while relieving him of $500,000 in cash and his cellphone worth $80,000. After they escaped, police were summoned and checks were made in the area to locate the suspects but they could not be found.

Little said on oil wealth...

From page 13 decision to land the gas-toshore plant at Wales.

He emphasized, however, that the coalition willingness and support “on presenting a united position so that jointly we can address the alleged inadequacies in the Contract and any other documents including the Environmental

Permits.”

Notably, the other 63 MPs from both government and opposition sides said very little, and in some cases nothing at all, on how the government should manage this sector—which, if managed at best, could transform the lives of all Guyanese and generations to come.

PAGE 53

PAGE 54

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Bandits invade pensioners’ home, pull one out of bed, steal cash Two bandits armed with a knife on Thursday last, used a ladder to invade the home of an elderly couple and robbed them of their pension money.

The victims are Bisnauth Persaud, 83, and his wife Nandanie Persaud, 73. The couple’s home located in 21st Street, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was invaded sometime after 03:00Hrs. Nandanie recalled that she was enjoying her sleep when

she was suddenly hauled out of her bed by a strange individual. The man, she described, was slim, had on a dark coloured vest and his face was masked.

“He shook me and said ‘Go check your husband, go check your husband’,” Nandanie recounted.

She explained that her husband, Bisnauth was at the time sleeping in another room.

Realizing that man may be a bandit, Nandanie said that she became scared and taught

that he had killed her husband.

“I got up and rushed over to his room” she continued, “only to see another man standing over my husband with one hand in the air as if he was about to hit him”.

As she was about to enter the room, Nandanie said that her husband called out for her three times.

“He was alive and instead of entering I turned around and ran towards the door”.

Nandanie told reporters

that the man who had pulled her out of the bed tried to grab her but she dodged and made it to the door.

“I open the door and ran down the stairs hollering thief, thief, thief, thief”.

The alarm she raised reportedly alerted neighbours and they rushed out their houses to assist the elderly couple.Nandandie remembered one of the bandits running out of the house and scaling a fence making good his escape. She reentered the

house and headed to her husband’s room again but the other bandit had disappeared.

Her husband, she explained, because of his age cannot walk properly so she helped him out of the house as the neighbours assisted in summoning police.

When cops arrived sometime later, they noted that there was a ladder placed to the window of her husband’s bedroom. It is believed that the bandits used that ladder to gain entrance to couple’s

home.Police observed too, that the bandits had already removed a TV from the wall along with a DVD player but was forced to drop them after Nandanie raised the alarm.

The bandits, however, did escape, with the couple’s pension money which totaled $50,000 in cash.

Nandanie also said that an additional $10,000 was missing from a table. She claimed that she had set aside that money to pay her light bill and purchase cooking gas.

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 07, 2021

The Court Journal

By Renay Sambach As we continue diving into Guyana’s Judicial system, and the different aspects of the court, today I will share some details about the Sexual Offences, Drug Treatment and Children’s Courts.

Each court, as you would realize, was established to deal with a specific area, with the idea of changing the atmosphere from a regular court room.

Oh! Before we move on, I must update those who have been following this page that last week, much to my surprise, the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court took action against those touting there. Indeed, I am motivated to keep sharing even more with you, even if the action taken was not prompted by the revelations of The Court Journal (but I highly doubt it though). For those who missed last week Sunday’s article on touting in the legal system, you can read it here: https://www.kaieteurnewso nline.com/2021/02/21/touti ng-an-unlawful-act-thatcontinues-to-flourish-inthe-legal-profession/.

Now back to the topic of the week.

SEXUAL OFFENCES COURT With the sensitive nature of sexual offences, the Sexual Offences Court was created with the alleged victims in mind, and to protect them from any further trauma from seeing the accused while testifying.

The court’s victimfriendly features have been aiding with the successful prosecution of rape cases.

The Sexual Offences Court was established on November 13, 2017, and the court is housed in Court Six of the Supreme Court and represents the commitment of the judiciary to be responsive to the concerns raised in society about the conduct of trials of sexual offences cases.

The court is equipped with audio-visual devices to aid the testimony of witnesses. There are two screens in the courtroom that provide the complainants with a more suitable setting to face their alleged perpetrators.

Since the specialized court came into operation, a number of trials have been disposed of and several persons have been convicted for sexual offence crimes.

The court has a panel of eminent judges, including, Justice, Simone MorrisRamlall; Justice, Joanne Barlow; Justice, Navindra

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Sexual Offences, Drug Treatment and Children’s Courts

Singh; Justice, James Bovell-Drakes and Justice, Brassington Reynolds, whose functions are rotated.

Before the Sexual Offences Court was established, a large number of sexual offences cases were nolle-prosequi (dismissed), mainly because the alleged victims were unwilling to testify before the High Court.

Reports indicated that the average length of a trial is four days. The longest, so far, has been eight days and the shortest three days, and if the process is not handled carefully, it can pose secondary trauma to the victims.

Due to the sensitive nature of sexual offences cases, the victims are often terrified of reporting their experiences to the police.

For those who report their matter and the alleged perpetrators are charged, the case usually moves at a slow pace through the court system. When the matters do reach the court, most victims may decline to continue with the matter due to the time it takes and how traumatizing the experience can be.

As a result, the sexual offences courtroom is equipped with two screens which help to provide the complainants with a more suitable setting to face their alleged perpetrators.

With this purpose-built facility in operation, jurists have reported that more sexual assault victims are finding the courage to seek justice via the courts.

During the proceedings, judges are required to take the evidence manually but there is a built in recording system operating in the court as well.

As promised, during May 2019, a sexual offences court was established in New Amsterdam, Berbice and during September 2019, another sexual offences court was established in Essequibo to the tune of $17.4M. DRUG TREATMENT COURT On October 21, 2019, Guyana opened the doors to its first ever Drug Treatment Court (DTC).The DTC was established to combat the growing issue of drug users and criminal offences related to the abuse of drugs. The court is housed in the once Court Seven courtroom, along with another room of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, that was refurbished for just under $1M. As a result of hard work and the determination of

The opening of the Drug Treatment Court in Georgetown.

members of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana, the Organization of American States-InterAmerican Drug Abuse Control Commission (OASCICAD) and the National Anti-Narcotics Agency of Guyana, the court came into existence.

A c c o r d i n g t o information from the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana, a Drug Treatment Court is a specialized court for persons with substance use disorders like ‘drug addiction.’The DTC is a problem solving court that seeks to address the needs of each participant in the court programme, including their drug use and the criminal behaviour associated with it.

Rather than imprisoning persons with drug offences, this court gives them the opportunity to enter longterm treatment and agree to court supervision. With the help from the OAS-CICAD and the United States (US), five Magistrates were trained to operate in the DTC. The training was done in the US by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

How a Drug Treatment Court operates?

A c c o r d i n g t o information from the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana, in order to be eligible for the Drug Treatment Court, a person must be an adult who has been charged with a minor criminal, drug, or related offence, must be likely to be re-offend, and must be experiencing serious substance use disorder.

On a plea of guilty or being found guilty by a magistrate for certain specified offences, the offender is provided with an option of a custodial sentence or to enter a treatment programme as an alternative to incarceration.

Participation in the programme is voluntary. The programmes are basically to prescribe treatment which is tailored to the needs of the participant.

Some of the key interventions of the DTC are educational sessions, one-toone counselling, group counselling, drug testing, treatment recovery plan, reintegration postgraduation plans.

In Guyana, we have the Phoenix Recovery Centre, the Salvation Army and other such organizations that are well equipped to provide the recovery plans. The Supreme Court works with its stakeholders to ensure the

success of the DTC.The DTC team comprises of largely magistrates, state councils from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the defence attorney or legal aid attorney who will represent the offender, a probation officer; a representative of the approved substance abuse providers, a case manager and such other persons as the court may direct.

The team is tasked with conducting the initial assessment of eligible participation and to provide updated information to the court regarding the participant. Once a participant signs a written agreement to participate, which will be fully explained to him/her, they’re required to comply with same.

If a participant fails to complete the programme, his or her case will be processed in the traditional criminal justice system.

The Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana had stressed that the DTC programme requires a lot of commitment from participants and dedicated case supervision from the drug treatment court team.

This may require participation for many months to help the person maintain long-term recovery strategies. Furthermore, there will be frequent and random drug tests so as to ensure that persons stay clean. Participants must attend court frequently so they can be monitored and encouraged to make and maintain their recovery.

The programme is designed to give structure to participants’ lives and to support their recovery. It was noted that participants are not alone in their steps to recovery from their drug addiction.Members of the court help participants in their progress towards recovery and hold them accountable for lapses in improvement.

In addition, participants who successfully complete the DTC programme may

receive a light sentence such as a fine or community service, or have their underlying criminal charge dismissed or have no conviction recorded.

Upon successful completion of the programme, there is a graduation ceremony by which time the participants will be rehabilitated and prepared for reintegration into their community where they can meaningfully contribute to society.

Unlike traditional courts, DTCs take a collaborative approach to justice. The Magistrate, Prosecutor, Defence Attorney, Social Worker, Police Officer, Treatment Provider and Mental Health specialists work together with each participant to seek solutions for his or her benefit.

CHILDREN’S COURT With the passing of the Juvenile Justice Act, the first C h i l d r e n ’s C o u r t w a s commissioned on October 31, 2018, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The children are among the most vulnerable members from society.

The establishment of this Children’s Court manifests the importance which the Cooperative Republic of Guyana attaches to the principle of the best interests of the child.

The establishment of a Children’s Court is essential to ensuring that the objectives of the Juvenile Justice Act are advanced and achieved. It is vital to ensuring a more rehabilitative and restorative system of juvenile justice. It is essential to promoting the best interests of our children.

The Children’s Court was in the pipeline since 2004, after the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government tabled its first report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

The two Magistrates that underwent extensive training to hear matters in the Children’s Courts are Dylon Bess and Annette Singh.

The committee then

made a number of recommendations urging that they be implemented as early as possible.

Some of those implementations, include raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 years; and ensuring that those below the age of majority not be tried as adults, but be given adequate special protection.

According to reports, the law provides children below 18 with free legal advice.

The law provides a humane alternative to the tense formal court setting, and remands and incarceration for young law breakers.The Children’s Court was designed to assist in helping youths and to avoid them from falling deeper into the life of crime.

One of the aims of the court is to divert juveniles from the formal court procedure, which will be an asset when it comes to dealing with delinquents.

Some of the procedures put in place to restore and deal with juveniles, who commit offences, can range from apology to compulsory attendance to some vocabulary educational centre; or compensation to the victim in an amount to which the juveniles’ family can afford.

Additionally, the DPP, the Prosecutors and the Police officers can consider warnings and referrals to avoid juveniles from going to court.

However, the DPP must conduct pre-charge screening before a juvenile is charged and placed before the courts. The DPP must give a written consent to any private individual who wishes to institute charges against a juvenile.

Instead of sentencing a juvenile to imprisonment, it is advised to ensure rehabilitation, eradication and reintegration into society.Before ordering a custodial sentence, the court must review pre-sentencing reports that must be prepared by the Chief Probation Officer.

PAGE 56 FOR SALEFOR SALE

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FOR RENT

Sunday March 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Govt. drafting legislation...

From page 53 influx of Venezuelan refugees, numbering in the thousands.

The need to monitor the borders is even more pronounced, now that Venezuela is escalating tensions with its claims over the Essequibo region.

In addition to a proposal to include Essequibo in Venezuela’s Constitution, a powerful Venezuelan lawmaker named Hermann Escarrá has announced that Venezuela intends to carry out military exercises in the region. Escarrá, who is the

Chairman of Venezuela’s ‘Special Commission for the Defence of the Guayana Esequiba Territory and Territorial Sovereignty’, met with the country’s military commanders and Defence Minister on February 24 to discuss the country’s next move.

Sunday March 07, 2021

Ganja train may leave Jamaica behind - Shaw The Gleaner - Jamaica may be left behind because it has failed to seize the opportunities of the emerging medical marijuana industry, Anthony Hylton has said.

The opposition spokesman on industry, competitiveness, and global logistics has described the performance of the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) as disappointing.

Hylton’s characterisation of the agency tasked to establish and regulate Jamaica’s legal ganja and hemp industry resonated with Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Audley Shaw.

“I agree with you,” Shaw said in response to Hylton during Thursday’s sitting of the Standing Finance Committee that examined the 2021-22 Estimates of Expenditure.

“If we don’t move, and move with alacrity, this train is going to leave us,” Shaw said, noting that there were markets as far as Israel that wanted Jamaican cannabis.

“There is no question that the CLA has been suboptimal in its performance,” Shaw

said.

However, the industry and investment minister told his colleagues in Parliament that the CLA was now undergoing a review, and important changes were now taking place at the public body. He said that a new chairman and board had been approved by Cabinet a few weeks ago and the authority would be recruiting a new chief executive officer shortly.

“One of the things that has been holding back the CLA is the absence of formally approved export regulations. That is now about to be completed,” Shaw told Parliament.

“It has gone through all of the systems, including the AG’s (attorney general) office.”

Shaw said that the draft export regulation was now with the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel.

Well-known advocate for the local cannabis industry, LeVaughn Flynn, is the new chairman of the CLA. Flynn said recently that the CLA must be a regulator that is efficient and facilitatory of commercial expansion.

FIU uncovers $27B in suspicious transactions Trinidad Guardian - A total of 1,831 Suspicious Transaction and Suspicious Activity reports worth $27 billion were received over 2019 to 2020 by the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago - the most it has received in its 10-year history.

The increase has been attributed to increased fraudulent activity - including resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and demonitisation of the cotton $100 notes.

However, there was an 88 per cent decrease in Suspicious Transaction/ Activity reports on suspected terrorism financing, apparently due to the collapse of the ISIS terrorist group.

The information came from the FIUTT’s report for October 2019 to September 2020. It was laid in Parliament

by Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who spoke on it.

In the reporting period between 2019-2020, the FIUTT adjusted its supervisory activities due to the challenges of COVID-19.

The national efforts to reduce the potential impact of the pandemic led to the temporary closure of

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Kaieteur News

business in high-risk sectors such as private members’ clubs, vehicle sales and real state. But supervisory and monitoring activities continued with the necessary adjustments.

For this reporting period, 329 entities registered with the FIUTT - bringing the total number of registrants to 3,337 at September, 2020. This represented a 10 per cent increase from the previous reporting period.

During the reporting period in the area of financial intelligence - and for the first time - it was noted that the FIUTT received a total of 1,831 Suspicious Transaction Reports/ Suspicious Activity Reports (STR/SAR).

This was the most it has received throughout its ten years of existence. This represented an 80 per cent increase from the previous reporting period.

Also, during the reporting period, the FIUTT noted a 141 per cent increase in (STR/ SAR) submissions from financial institutions and an 80 per cent increase in the submissions from listed businesses, compared to the previous year.

FirstCaribbean donates US$500 000 to regional COVID vaccination effort Bridgetown – Barbados is among ten countries across the region which will get a major boost to their coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programmes as a result of a US$500 000 donation from CIBC FirstCaribbean.

A media statement said the donation to national vaccination programmes is being made by the bank through its charitable arm the FirstCaribbean International ComTrust Foundation, and will support the purchase of vaccines in Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica,

St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

“Additionally, the bank is providing a separate contribution of US$250 000 to cover the cost of vaccinating members of its 2 500 staff who wish to avail themselves of the vaccine in those countries, bringing its total contribution to the regional vaccination effort to US$750 000,” the statement said.

Chief executive officer of the bank and chair of the foundation Colette Delaney, in announcing the donation, said: “Vaccination remains one of the key weapons in the

arsenal against COVID-19 and we are delighted to assist governments and public health officials in ensuring that everyone who wants the vaccine can have access to it.” She said the global community and medical experts have made great strides in the past year in response to COVID-19 and they noted that an effective vaccine was “critical to protect individuals, families and communities and reopen our economies”.

The CEO noted that public health officials “advise that as many people as possible must be vaccinated

to achieve a level of immunity that makes the spread of the virus from person to person unlikely”. “As a result, the whole community becomes protected – not just those who are immune.”

Delaney praised the “brave men and women working on the frontlines all across the region to stem the spread of the disease and now who are ensuring the smooth roll out of mass vaccination campaigns”.

She also praised the staff of the bank, many of whom remain on the frontlines serving clients “even under very difficult circumstances”.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday March 07, 2021

Sunday March 07, 2021

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Kaieteur News

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY! In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecency in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

SUNDAY We thank the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, for admonishing Members of Parliament (MP) for their poor conduct, which brought dishonour to the highest legislative office in the land and the people of Guyana.

We thank her for showing Speaker of the House, Manzoor Nadir, how it’s done.

And we thank the Speaker for finally finding his voice.

MONDAY Cathy Hughes should en-

sure taxpayers are fully reimbursed with the $6 million she signed away to Videomega Productions, before she musters the audacity to chat to anybody about corruption and holding the PPP/C accountable.

See Matthew Chapter 7, Verse 5 TUESDAY There are too many reports of officers of the Guyana Police Force handling abuse matters with insensitivity. Too many reports of corrupt officers letting abusers go because they are friends with

him; because they don’t think the matter is serious enough; because they think is “manand-woman” story; because the woman has complained

law.

WEDNESDAY As we report another brutal rape and abuse of a woman by a serial rapist, we dream

too much; because they have received a “freck;” because they are abusers themselves.

Whether victims are immigrants, sex workers, children or wives of abusive policemen, the GPF’s corrupt

of the precedent that would be set if punishments for sexual offences were harsher, and if the justice system worked for all victims

behaviour cannot continue if this country is to progress.

Law and order hinges on the propensity of our police to follow and uphold the

of sexual assault. We toy with the idea that serial rape could

be one of those crimes punishable by the death penalty.

THURSDAY The Opposition seems intent on wasting this country’s time for the next five years.

If Opposition Leader, Jo-

seph Harmon, thinks he can lord over a corrupt group, taking home fat salaries and benefits while being an incompetent Opposition,

he must not realize that he is pushing APNU+AFC’s chances at re-election further and further away.

SATURDAY This is the transparency the PPP/C promised the people of Guyana.

They were always secretive with contracts in their prior 23 years in government.

What else could we expect?

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Sunday March 07, 2021

Sunday March 07, 2021

‘Holder has lost the art of captaincy’ - Former WI opener believes Super50 more evidence selectors should go with Brathwaite

Jason Holder

SportsMax - Former West Indies opener turned pundit, Philo Wallace, believes the poor performance of the Barbados Pride in the recent regional Super50 tournament provides even more evidence that selectors should stick with Kraigg Brathwaite as captain for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, as Jason Holder has ‘lost the art of captaincy.’

Brathwaite received plenty of plaudits for leading an understrength Windies squad to an unexpected 2-0 Test victory in Bangladesh earlier this year. Brathwaite, who had been axed as vicecaptain the series before, was

Sunday March 07, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Expect some changes in your household today, Aries. You could finally be making some repairs or remodeling or redecorating.

It's also possible that someone could move in or out.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You're a sociable person with a gift for small talk and interesting discussions.

Today you will find some amazing information that will keep your conversations fascinating for months.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Sudden, positive changes in your financial condition could come your way. This could be an increase in income or involve some kind of windfall.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You could be planning a major journey of some kind.

It may be a long vacation or travel to foreign countries, or it could be an intellectual or spiritual journey into new schools of thought.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You're practical and down to Earth, Leo. Today your intuition is more active than usual. You might receive some powerful messages from the higher planes that open up new doors for you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Travel by air seems possible today, Virgo. The appeal of foreign countries may be too strong to resist.

If you don't have a passport, you'd better apply!

PAGE 61

Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The Universe is encouraging you to listen today, Libra. This isn't a day for polemic speeches. It isn't a day to try to win others over to your point of view.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Sudden opportunities for advancement may come your way today, Scorpio.

Innovative ideas may have paved the way for you, so your skills and abilities are appreciated now.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) New and expansive ideas for investing time or funds could make a big difference to your future income. Today you feel especially in control of your life.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A relationship that may have in the past been based primarily on intellectual interests may take a sudden turn toward romance. If you aren't careful, this could turn into an obsession!

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) If you've been feeling under the weather, expect to feel stronger today than you were before. Your enthusiasm is up and new ideas are flowing into your brain.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) reative projects may take on a new intensity now. New ideas and visions may appear out of nowhere. Whatever you're working on could have new meaning for you and others. Your physical energy is driven by your efforts to express yourself.

put in charge of the squad after regular captain Holder was one of 12 players to optout of the tour after citing health and safety concerns.

Since then, the debate has raged fiercely on both sides regarding whether the panel of selectors should return Holder to his original position or stick with the momentum achieved by Brathwaite in the unexpected win. Wallace falls firmly in the camp supporting the latter.

“I believe that there is a shift with what Brathwaite did in Bangladesh, something happened in Bangladesh that brought a 2-0 victory for the West Indies and 2-0 defeat for Bangladesh at home,” Wallace told the Mason and Guest radio program.

“Kraigg Brathwaite and that management team did something right. The head coach said he saw a difference in attitude. He saw a different type of vibe with the guys.

Are we going to kill that vibe as we return to Antigua? Or are we going to rekindle that vibe and take it into the Sri Lanka series,” he added.

“Jason has lost the art of captaincy. There are no tactical moves. We just saw a Super50 competition he captained six games and we lost 5. We had a team 87 for 8 and we could not crush them. The captain who is 6ft 6’ could not take up the ball and bowl three devastating yorkers and bowl out the team for under 120. That is what we call leadership, you take it up and you do it yourself.”

...GFF opens “M-FAP” From page 62 intended to support the proper running of the GFF Academy Training Centres, and other development competitions and activities.

Regional Association will also receive funding for their Senior Men and Women leagues and Boys and Girls competitions.

“M-FAP is a watershed moment for the development of football in Guyana and for the empowerment of our entire membership – it has the potential to transform the game forever,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

“This rulebook spells out what funding is available and how our membership can apply for support in areas such as the day-today running of a regional association, ensuring there is adequate equipment for training and development activities, enhancing grounds and staging Competitions. We are very attentive to the needs of our members and have developed the MFAP programme to meet those needs and mitigate the challenges that have stymied progress at the regional associations in particular,” he said.

The aim of the initiative, announced in full at the 2020

GFF Ordinary Congress, is to democratise funding from the FIFA Forward programme and to give members access to greater financial support, while retaining the power to tailor that support to their own specific needs.

“This programme was built with save guards to ensure that every member is afforded fair and equitable access to resources. However, in order to be a part of this pioneering funding programme, all members must adhere to strict compliance rules and regulations to ensure the effective and efficient use of funds,” Forde said. “This will be closely monitored by the GFF throughout as part of our efforts to enhance the good governance of football across Guyana.”

All funding requests and activations must be managed in strict compliance with M-FAP regulations and GFF oversight protocols, in line with FIFA’s own structure for ensuring the proper, accountable and transparent use of financial support.

More details about the M-FAP initiative can be found in this animated video on the GFF’s Facebook page.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 62

Sunday March 07, 2021

India tops England by an innings and 25 runs, books WTC spot

A

HMEDABAD, India (AP) — India routed England by an innings and 25 runs inside three days in the fourth and final test yesterday and booked a place in the world test championship final against New Zealand.

England, trailing by 160 runs, capitulated for 135 in the second innings against the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin (547) and Axar Patel (5-48)

within two sessions on the third day to lose the series 31.

“Well, we’re obviously happy to win the series, but there are always things to improve,” India captain Virat Kohli said. “Now, we can accept and admit that we are in the WTC final. It did become a bit of distraction for us in New Zealand, but we took it one game at a time since.”

Dan Lawrence (50) fought a grim battle to score

a half century before Ashwin, who finished the series with 32 wickets, clean bowled him to clinch India’s 13th successive test series win.

India was bowled out for 365 before lunch and built a lead of 160 runs. No. 8 batsman Washington Sundar was left stranded on 96 not out after India lost the last three wickets within five balls after it resumed on 2947.

“The last three games

have been testing for us but credit to India, they’ve outplayed us,” England skipper Joe Root said.

“We’ve got to improve individually and become a better side for this experience … and good luck to them in the final.”

Axar and Ashwin mesmerized England’s top order yet again with the new ball on a turning wicket.

Ashwin began the England slide by claiming the wickets of Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow off successive deliveries in his first over.

Crawley edged a simple catch to the slip and Bairstow got his third score of zero in the last four innings when he offered a tame catch in the leg slip off the next delivery.

Root (30) also looked shaky against spinners before Ashwin — bowling round the wicket — had him lbw off a delivery which didn’t spin and caught the England captain off the back foot.

Dom Sibley was the only unlucky batsman to get dismissed when he swept hard against Patel as the ball ballooned to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant after striking hard on the knee of Shubman Gill fielding at short leg.

Lawrence delayed the inevitable, hitting six boundaries off his 112-ball knock, before both Indian spinners wrapped up the game in the last session.

Earlier, Sundar missed out on a maiden test century but featured in yet another century partnership with Patel (43) before India lost three wickets in a cluster.

Ben Stokes got the last two wickets to finish with 489 and Patel was run out after adding 106 runs with Sundar.

Sundar and Patel dominated England’s Dom Bess (0-71) and Jack Leach (2-89) with some exquisite shots as both lefthanders were hardly troubled by the spinners.

Jimmy Anderson also couldn’t run through the tail

quickly but was the pick of the England bowlers with 344 off his 25 overs.

Sundar, who had shared a 113-run stand with centurymaker Pant on Friday, hit 10 fours and a six before he was left disappointed when Stokes clean bowled No. 11 Muhammed Siraj as India lost the last three wickets without a run.

Patel, who grabbed 11 wickets in the last test at the same venue in India’s 10wicket win within two days, finished the game with yet another impressive haul of nine wickets in his hometown.

India recovered well through Ashwin and Patel to clinch the series after losing the opening test at Chennai.

The world test championship final is at Lord’s in June.

Scores: India 365 (Pant 101, Sundar 96, Stokes 4-89) beat England 205 (Stokes 55, Patel 4-68) and 135 (Lawrence 50, Ashwin 5-47, Patel 5-48) by an innings and 25 runs.

‘We still have to look to score’ - Windies coach Simmons cautions batsmen not to be overly tentative against spinners

S

portsMax - West Indies coach, Phil Simmons, believes batsmen must avoid the temptation of being too tentative in looking to navigate the Sri Lanka spin attack, as the team looks to bounce back in the third and decisive T20 international, today.

The Windies took the opening match of the series with a comfortable fourwicket win, with 41 balls remaining.

On Friday, however, Sri Lanka came roaring back to claim the second match after a star performance from the team’s spinners.

Lakshan Sandakan and Wanidu Hasaranga proved particularly hard to negotiate, each claiming three wickets, with Sandakan boasting a miserly economy rate of 2.73. In pursuit of Sri Lanka’s 160 for 6 , t h e Wi n d i e s w e r e restricted before being bundled out of 116. Things had not gone smoothly against the spin in the first match, despite the result, with Akila Danajaya c l a i m i n g a f o u r- f o r, including a third over hattrick before being taken apart

by Windies captain Kieron

West Indies coach, Phil Simmons

Pollard who smashed 6 sixes off his over. The coach believes a similar approach could pay dividends in the decider.

“The key is playing them in the right way. You can’t be too tentative when you are playing against good spinners,” Simmons told members of the media via a Zoom press conference yesterday.

“We have to still go out there and look to score against them and playing cricket how we know how to play cricket,” he added.

“All the guys who played IPL would have played against these spinners or even better spinners and

done well, so that is what we have to make sure we do tomorrow (today).”

The series stand at 1-1 and West Indies will look to win this deciding game and take the T20 series then advance to the ODI’s.

The Windies will hope for a full explosion from Chris Gayle and the top order, even possibly another six hitting display from skipper Kieron Pollard and then there is the ability of Nicholas Pooran to handle the Sri Lankan bowing attack along with more penetrative bowing from their bowlers.

To d a y ’s a c t i o n i n Antigua starts at 6:00pm and a keen contest is anticipated.

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 07, 2021

PAGE 63

GSCL Inc President’s Cup

Regal secure final berths; Singh slams century for Speedboat

By Zaheer Mohamed Regal will look to ink their names on the winning prizes in all three categories having secured their places in the respective finals of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc President’s T20 Cup which continued yesterday.

Regal All Stars edged Venom by one wicket in an exciting semi final encounter in the open category at Queen’s College. Batting first, Venom made 156-8.

Akeem Vieira scored 31, Quazim Yusuf got 19 and Ershad Ali 18. Ravindra Ramnauth grabbed 4-30 and Karamchand Persaud 2-15.

Regal All-Stars responded with 157-9 in 18 overs.

Rickey Sergeant scored 42, Sewchand Budhu 29, Ramnauth 28 and Delroy Perreira 22. C. Walcott, Dhanraj Singh, Delroy Grosvenor and Sachin Singh

Ravindra Ramnauth

had two wickets each.

Speedboat defeated Coss Cutters by 104 runs in their semi final game. Navin Singh struck eight fours and nine sixes in a top score of 105 and got support from Wazeer Hussain 43, Vikash Dhaniram 32 and Peter Alleyne 25 as Speedboat posted 240-5 from their reduced 18 overs batting first. R. Jairam claimed 3-46.

Coss Cutters responded with 136 all out in 15.4 overs. A. Persasud made 36, T. Alphonso 24, Arif Samad 21 and M. Bobb 18. Shazim Hussain had 2-12 and Mark Harold 2-22.

In the Masters category at Everest, Wellman Masters beat Fisherman by 37 runs in the semi final. Wellman Masters batted first and scored 181-7. Rawl Reid struck 65 and Greg De Franca 43; D. Thomas had three wickets. Fisherman

Masters were bowled out 144 in 18.3 overs in reply. D. Singh scored 25 and T. Ramsaywack 20; A. Durga took two wickets.

Regal Masters brushed aside Ariel by nine wickets in their semi final. Ariel were sent packing for 82 in 18.4 overs taking first knock.

Samuel Kingston made 27 and Ron Ramnauth 13; Mohamed Ayube bagged 424, Roy Persaud had 2-15

and Chien Gittens 2-17.

Regal Masters responded with 83-1 in 7.5 overs.

Gittens scored 61 not out.

In the Legends division, Regal beat President’s XI by nine wickets at DCC. Batting first, President’s XI made 103-4.

Peter Persaud scored 33, Dhamendra Mohabir 17 and Tony Fernandes 16. Laurie Singh had 2-21.

Regal replied with 106-1

in 15.1 overs.

Mahesh Chunilall struck 52 not out and Eion Abel 37.

Parika Defenders beat Wellman Legends by six runs at MYO in their semi final game.

Parika Defenders took first strike and managed 192 all out in 19.5 overs.

Ramesh Narine slammed 94, Ramo Malone made 62 and Uniss Yusuf 19.

Imtiaz Mohamed

captured 3-31 and Lester Thom 3-31.

We l l m a n L e g e n d s responded with 186-7.

Opening batsman Lloyd Ruplall made 33, Gopaul Deen 26, Nandram Samlall 25 and Sahadeo Budhu 22.

Malone had 3-30, Uniss Yusuf took 2-15 and Ramesh Narine 2-25.

The competition concludes today at Everest CC.

PAGE 64

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 07, 2021

Inaugural WeCare\Strathavon UMANI Mahaica Softball Cup on today - Umani and S&S Supermarket comes onboard

Managing Director of S and S Supermarket Shamdeo Persaud (left) presents the cheque to Pramanand Bhup of Strathavon SC.

All is set for exciting action today as the National Covid-19 Task Force has given green light for the staging of the WeCare Community Services in association with Strathavon Culture and Sports Club inaugural Umami Mahaica Softball Cup. The one-day limited overs competition will get underway from 9:00am and there will be cash prizes and trophies up for grabs. Prizes will be awarded to the winner, runner-up, 3rd place, man of the series, best

bowler and batsman in an innings, man of the final and most sixes hit by a player in the final.

According to the organisers a limited number of teams will be accepted to participate in the competition and will be done on a first come basis, as eight teams have already registered. The teams are Rohan Auto Spares, Young Guns, Hard Hitters, Cane Grove Sports Club, All Stars, Strathavon A and B teams.

General Manager of Umami Inc. Ms. Michelle Reidwald said that her company is very pleased to be associated with this inaugural Mahaica Softball Cup as it’s being branded under her company name and the company wishes all the teams the very best that will be competing for the title.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of S&S Supermarket Mr. Shamdeo Singh said that his entity is pleased to be part of this event and look forward to a day of competitive softball cricket.

Representatives from

Wecare and Strathavon expressed thanks to both entities for coming on board and supporting this event.

They also went on to thank all the other sponsors and look forward to their support as a bigger tournament will be planned for later in this year.

The organisers said that without the support from the various businesses the event could not have been possible with over $250,000 being up for grabs.

The organisers have express thanks to several business entities that came on board with this inaugural Umani Mahaica Softball Cup. Onboard are Demerara Bank, Rohan Auto Spares, Shiwnauth General Store, Viscom, Gavin Persaud Photography, KK Service Station, Boodram General Store,Ramsarup Service Station, Khaliludeen, and C o m p a n y, C h r i s A u t o Spares, S&S Supermarket, Umami and Rohan Lumber Yard.

All COVID-19 protocols will be in place and each team will be provided with face masks.

GFF opens “M-FAP” applications for members to access annual funding The Guyana Football Federation yesterday p u b lis h ed th e o ff icial rulebook for its first Members Financial Assistance Programme (MFAP), opening the door for applications for funding from a ground-breaking initiative that mirrors FIFA’s own global funding mechanism.

Under M-FAP, members of the GFF are now entitled to support in four key areas: administration and operations, equipment and materials, competitions and technical development, and infrastructure.

The following pots of funding are now available to GFF members as follows: ? Regional associations: 600,000 GYD each per year for admin operations ? Affiliates: 500,000 GYD each per year for a development project

? Elite League clubs: 400,000 GYD each per year for equipment and development On an annual basis, each regional association will also receive 100 footballs, 100 cones, 100 training hurdles and 100 bibs. Every two years, regional associations will receive two sets of senior home and away kits and two sets of junior home and away kits, for males and females. This equipment is (Continued on page 59)

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 07, 2021

PAGE 65

No apologies for embracing democracy President of the Guyana Boxing Association and Vice President of the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Steve Ninvalle has urged AIBA President Umar Kremlev not to bow to the pressure of a minority in the governing body of boxing in the world.

Ninvalle was at the time speaking at the AIBA virtual Forum for countries on the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) held recently.

“Mr. President I would urge you not to apologise for embracing democracy. You won by an overwhelming majority through a transparent and democratic process. The majority of the national federations voted for you to lead us and there should be no apology for that,” Ninvalle said.

His comments came after Kremlev was informed by a participant at the forum that over 60 (of 204) countries did not vote for him at the AIBA presidential elections held last December and those countries are not willing to back him in his confrontations with the

International Olympic Committee.

However, when contacted yesterday Ninvalle one of the leading voices in Caribbean boxing, reasoned that Kremlev is in the infant stage of his presidency and must be given a chance to govern. He labeled as unreasonable efforts to hold the president’s “feet to the fire” after less than three months.

He also warned that boxing can face a bleak future should undemocratic principles be allowed to flourish.

“We are less than three months into his presidency.

He has made several positive changes and yet some people are calling for his blood.

Unreasonable? I think it is,” Ninvalle said.

AIBA and the IOC are enduring a strained relationship over the past two years with the latter stripping the former of organizing boxing at the upcoming Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended AIBA in June 2019 because of issues with its

Steve Ninvalle

governance, finances and refereeing and judging.

Following his victory, Kremlev was quoted saying “the path to rebuilding AIBA is not easy. It will not happen overnight. We have to unite and work with one mission, and one mission alone: rebuilding the credibility and trust that AIBA once had in the minds of sports people worldwide and that includes, of course, restoring AIBA’s

Dorado Speed Swim Club pays tribute to its fallen President Maurice Watson The Executive and members of the Dorado Speed Swim Club (DSSC), one of the leading clubs in Guyana is paying tribute to its late President, Maurice Watson who passed away a few weeks ago.

Watson would have been associated with the club for over two decades, both of his daughters being members.

The club has described him as a true worker for the sport who dedicated his time and energies towards making swimmers happy and the sport better.

No job was too big or too small for Watson, the club noted; he worked tirelessly at fund-raising events helping with all the manual labour associated with same whilst also securing sponsorship.

“Maurice was elected as president in May 2016 and remained in that position until his death on February 10, 2021. He had many plans and aspirations for the club.

He fervently believed that Dorado Speed Swim Club is the best swimming club in Guyana and must maintain that position. He continuously encouraged the rest of the executive and

Maurice Watson members to do more and better.”

DSSC also stated that Watson had dreams of one day when swimmers, rather than leaving the sport when they completed school, would be able to continue swimming well into their 20s and 30s with the assistance of sponsors and scholarships.

“He wanted the club to host annual international competitions focusing on distance events and hoped to see more participation in open water swimming. He believed in the possibility of fairness and transparency in the swimming fraternity to the benefit of all swimmers.

At the time of his death, he

was leading Dorado to work along with another club to assist the Association to get swimmers back into the National Aquatic Centre and Colgrain Pool.

The Executive and members of Dorado Speed Swim Club were saddened by his death, but will try to continue his legacy. Our hearts are with his wife Marcel and daughters, Monique and Dominique.

May his soul rest in peace.”

Meanwhile, Mrs. Watson, on behalf of her family has expressed their thanks to all who comforted them during their time of grief, be it through their prayers, expressions of sympathy and general support.

“Your kind words and deeds are very much appreciated. I would like to express special gratitude to the Dorado Speed Swim Club and the extended swimming family, the Saint Stanislaus Old Students Society, Pastor Elswart Williams and the members of the Heavenly Light Full Gospel Church and Jerrick’s Funeral Home. You have all combined to strengthen us when we needed it most.”

Olympic status.”

However, according to the outspoken Ninvalle, some regional leaders want to eat their cake and still have it. Ninvalle claimed that after their “preferred horse” failed to place in the election race, some persons are now supporting a call for the democratically elected Kremlev to be disqualified.

“We have people who are comfortable running around yelling unsubstantiated claims that the IOC will not work with this person or that person. Guyana took it one step further. During the run up to last year AIBA election we wrote to the IOC

- Ninvalle tells AIBA president

Umar Kremlev

definitively questioning if there was a preferred candidate. The documented answer was no and that the IOC will not interfere in A I B A’s b u s i n e s s . M y humble submission is that outsiders cannot and should not be allowed to dictate, direct or instruct who must run AIBA. That is done through an internal transparent democratic process and left to the member federations of AIBA to decide who we want to govern us. Should we bow to the urgings of some of these regional administrators and potentially put our independence on the back

burner, then what is next?

What precedent are we setting? Am I to understand that we should all throw away our constitutions and allow others to decide for us? ”The most courageous act is still the ability to think for yourself,” Ninvalle declared.

“I can say without fear of being contradicted that the majority of English speaking Caribbean nations voted for Mr. Kremlev and are happy with what he has achieved in such a short time. We are also confident that with his intelligence, strength and genuine love for this sport boxing will be made great again.”

GFF honours memory of former national player Neil Humphrey The Guyana Football Federation on Friday sent its condolences to the family of former national footballer Neil “Grizzly” Humphrey, who passed away last weekend.

Berbice-based Humphrey, who was 65, played for the Senior Men’s National Team during the 1970s with his brother Keith.

During his club career, he played for several sides, including Cougars, Caribs, Bermine and Hearts of Oak. “Grizzly was a largerthan-life character who made a huge impression on football nationally and, in particular, in Berbice. On behalf of the Guyana Football Federation, I would like to send my sincerest heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

After his playing career, Humphrey remained a keen enthusiast, supporter and

Neil Humphrey

organiser of football, from coaching to refereeing and youth development, including the Teach Them Young football camps which he ran for more than two decades. He also served as president of the Hearts of Oak Masters FC and as the local contact for the Overseas Disturbance FC, which is comprised mostly of members of the diaspora from New Amsterdam.

“He will be greatly missed by all, but there is so much to celebrate about his life. He leaves behind an incredible list of achievements in football that have made a permanent mark on his community and beyond,” Forde said. “It is the unsung heroes like Grizzly who make the real difference for the development of young people in our communities.”