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Kaieteur News
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Kaieteur News
Tuesday March 15, 2022
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Ahead of Exxon’s 12 well campaign…
Eco grabs up remaining JHI shares in Canje Block E
co (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. has been a junior p l a y e r i n Guyana’s oil basin since 2016. Its main asset since its entry into the nation’s oil and gas industry has been the Orinduik Block. There, it works alongside Operator Tullow and holds a 15 percent working interest. In 2019, Eco and its partners struck heavy oil in two wells in the Orinduik Block. As a result of this underwhelming result, its attention shifted to the highly prospective Canje Block that is operated by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). In 2021, Kaieteur News observed and reported that Eco initiated a series of small share purchases amounting to almost seven percent in JHI Associates Inc. which is one of the original licence holders for the Canje Block. In a most ambitious play to raise its stakes in the Guyana basin, on Monday, Eco disclosed to the market that it took a bold step with the acquisition of the remaining shares in JHI, thereby giving it full ownership of the company and its 17.5 percent working interest in the Canje Block. It is important to note that the move by Eco follows an application by EEPGL to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to drill 12 wells in the block starting this year. That application is still under consideration. On closing of the acquisition, JHI is to have a minimum cash balance of US$15 million, acquired as part of the transaction with Eco. Pursuant to the Term Sheet and subject, inter alia, to the signing of a binding Arrangement Agreement and completion of the Acquisition, Kaieteur News understands that Eco Atlantic will issue to JHI’s shareholders, along with the holders of any JHI options and warrants, such number of new common shares in Eco that will provide JHI’s shareholders with 34.1 percent of Eco’s issued share capital, or approximately 127 million new common
shares of Eco. This, therefore, provides for a cashless acquisition, with a value of approximately US$52 million. Completion of the acquisition is subject, inter alia, to the signing of an Arrangement Agreement and satisfactory completion of due diligence by Eco and any requisite approvals from the Government of Guyana, the Canje Block partners, and the TSX Venture and AIM exchanges. In addition, certain shareholders of JHI will enter into lock-up agreements to restrict the sale of the consideration shares. As of 31 December, 2021, JHI’s audited financial statements provides that it had total gross assets of approximately US$30.7 million, of which approximately US$19.7 million are cash and cash equivalents and US$3.5 million is the book value of its interest in the Canje Block. These financial statements also provide that JHI had total liabilities to third parties of approximately US$500,000. On the heels of the disclosure, John Cullen, the Founder and CEO of JHI said the transaction provides JHI’s shareholders access to Eco’s exciting portfolio of exploration opportunities in the emerging oil basins of Namibia and South Africa, and in Guyana with their Orinduik Block, while maintaining their exposure to the Canje Block, where we have been working steadily with partners to identify the next prospect to drill. ”It also represents the culmination of a tremendous amount of work from JHI’s technical team which, over the last six years, saw two supermajors join the Canje Block, and three wells drilled providing valuable information towards unlocking the potential of the deeper water portions of the GuyanaSuriname Basin,” the CEO said. He added, “JHI’s team has come to work well with Eco’s team since they became shareholders last year, and we know that they will continue to be good stewards of the Canje Block
as they add it into their impressive and expanding exploration portfolio.” As for Gil Holzman, CoFounder and CEO of Eco Atlantic, he commented that being a shareholder of JHI since last year has given his company a deep understanding of the Canje Block and its prospectivity. Holzman said, “This transaction adds to Eco’s strategic acreage position in Guyana and ensures that there will be a number of drilling catalysts over the next couple of years on Eco’s eight offshore blocks. In addition, the enlarged Group will benefit from JHI’s current cash position, adding US$15million to Eco’s balance sheet, further strengthening the company’s liquidity position.” Given Eco’s strategic investor base and proven access to the public capital markets, Holzman said the anticipated addition of JHI’s interest in the Canje Block and its working capital, will further a u g m e n t t h e e n l a rg e d Group cash position for its
share of all near term exploration programmes on its current blocks including: US$2B in South Africa where drilling preparations for a late third quarter spud are underway and work in the Eco Orinduik Block offshore Guyana to follow. The Eco Chief concluded, “Ahead of our planned drilling campaign on Block 2B offshore South Africa, we are also looking to finalise drilling targets in the Orinduik Block, offshore Guyana. This demonstrates that the Eco team is head down and focused on delivering value for shareholders. We look forward to providing further corporate updates as appropriate.” ABOUT JHI It should be noted that JHI which has been overtaken by Eco, was a Guyana pure-play deepwater exploration company that was only founded in 2011. In 2014, JHI teamed up with Guyana-based Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas Inc. (“MOGI”) which was awarded the Canje Block in 2015 by
former President, Donald Ramotar, just a few months before General and Regional Elections were held. Both companies which are industry unknowns, had no wherewithal, and zero experience in deepwater drilling. In spite of no track record, JHI and its partner were awarded the block with no signing bonus to the country. In 2016, JHI and MidAtlantic sold the major parts of their interest to ExxonMobil which allowed the American company to become the Operator. In 2018, Total Energies farmed into the Block. Five years of extensive technical and seismic data analysis led to the Canje partners identifying multiple drillable prospects and successfully applying for a multi-well drilling permit. These wells were drilled but oil was not found in commercial quantities. The ownership structure of the block is as follows: Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Limited (35 percent), Total Energies
E&P Guyana B.V. (35 percent), Eco Inc. (17.5 percent) and Mid-Atlantic Oil & Gas Inc. (12.5 percent). MORE ABOUT CANJE The Canje Block is approximately 4,800km2, located approximately 180 to 300 kilometres offshore Guyana in water depths ranging between 1,700 and 3,000 metres. The Canje Block is a large and significant licence which captures the lower slope and base of slope play fairways, channels and fans outboard of multiple ExxonMobil discoveries in the adjacent Stabroek Block which is immediately up-dip of Canje. Canje is covered with 6,100km2 of 3D seismic and holds over three dozen prospects in four proven plays in the Lower Te r t i a r y a n d U p p e r Cretaceous confined channels, Lower Cretaceous Carbonate structures and, with recent drilling of Sapote-1 well and Stabroek discoveries, now offers the opportunity of yet deeper horizons.
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Tuesday March 15, 2022
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
TIGI taking the PPP/C to task
A
n increasing number of alarmed Guyanese citizens are making leaders in the PPP/C Government know that they are being scrutinised with their governance strategies, and where things stand. This is occurring at the individual citizen level, as well as in small groups that are developing platforms and strategies to get their messages across to both leaders and government. Transparency International Guyana Inc. (TIGI) has been in the fray before, and is now making its thinking and positions known with crystal clarity. TIGI is not backing down in the face of the usual bullying tactics from leaders in the PPP/C Government, but taking the government to task for its failures. In answer to the latest self-enhancing salvo of governmental intimidation tactics, TIGIs public position is best summed up by our caption of March 11: “It is not about elections alone… Transparency group tells govt. not to be selective in what laws it complies with.” We could not have said it better, and laud the people at TIGI for their courageous and patriotic concern over what is going on with our laws, and under the shambles that passes for leadership and governance. In another classic instance of denial and continuing finger-pointing, the PPP/C Government accuses others, TIGI included, of being “selective” on issues of national importance. If the PPP/C Government settled for the idea that the best defence is a sharp offensive directed at perceived enemies (or those conveniently made into enemies), then on this occasion, it backfired and is blowing up in the faces of its leaders. For when the President of the Republic himself takes to Facebook to mouth off about constructive criticisms are welcomed, and that civil society has a vital place to play in democracys ideals and processes, he should know that he comes off as the biggest hypocrite around. Because when the leader of the nation is content to keep up this ongoing charade through dribbling platitudes, he does his high national office, and his government a great disservice. He makes himself come across as either someone who has lost touch with contentious realities on the ground, or as someone who is so far gone along the deception river, that there can be no turning back, even to save some residual face. Since retreating is crossed off from the Presidents options, he has no choice but to grin and bear what comes his way and that of his government. It is devastating. For starters, TIGI noted that the government and its people see enemies everywhere. Those who honestly, fairly, frankly, and respectfully disagree with the governments modus operandi and practices are pilloried and damned for doing what is the right of every conscientious and patriotic citizen concerned about the state of governance and leadership, and what both promise for the future. The group made this point when it identified flaws in the procurement system left unaddressed, audit recommendations that never see action beyond the paper, which they are written on, and the removal of the previous head of Guyana Extractive Industries Initiative (GY-EITI) under the banner of political appointee only to replace him with a known PPP/C insider. Further, TIGI shared that it has heard from people in the Private Sector, who have lost out (unfairly, as complainants believe) on national procurement opportunities. It is telling that in a supposedly open and free democratic society, those who claim to have been wronged are determined not to come out in public. This is due to well-grounded fears of being victimised further by leaders that can be vindictive and vicious. All of this fits together smoothly, for it is this same PPP/C Government that, when it was in the opposition ranks, and struggling for political traction and life during the 2020 elections, was welcoming of supporting voices from any and every local quarter. Nowadays, it has forgotten and settles for the farce of “selective” and those wanting to damage the work and reputation of the administration, or worse. Clearly, some level of paranoia is at work with government leaders. When they should be receptive to where things are wrong, and what is needed to be done to correct, they are openly engaging in delivering more of what is cleverly deceptive, through attacks on messengers.
EPA and Government playing with lives DEAR EDITOR, The Alliance For Change (AFC) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider its decision that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is not necessary for a facility to operate and store equipment with radioactive sources to be used in the oil and gas industry. The facility is to be housed at Coverden, East Bank Demerara. This decision has highlighted once again, the failure of the EPA and the Government of Guyana to inform this nation of processes and procedures in place to dispose of radioactive waste. Back in May of last year, the AFC had noted that the EPA was failing in its duty to inform citizens of the locations of treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facilities in their neighbourhoods for the handling of highly toxic, hazardous, and radioactive
waste and material generated by oil companies’ operations. Nothing has changed and the EPA continues to fail in its duty to the people of this country. The facility at Coverden is a mere 100 feet away from the East Bank Demerara Public Road and 0.32 kilometres from the Demerara River. The compound also houses bonds for other companies in the oil and gas sector. This is a clear indication that numerous persons could likely be exposed . The decision by the EPA that an EIA is not necessary, found on their website (https://www.epaguyana.org/ epa/screening-decisions/ download/29-screening/934ndtl-screening-decision), notes that the primary risk of the project is radiation exposure and that “persons at risk to radiation exposure include radiation workers and other employees working nearby.”
The EPA claims that radiation exposure is not significant and that adequate mitigation measures will be implemented. However, Guyanese will well remember the OMAI cyanide spill that was never supposed to happen, but did! The EPA stated that mitigation measures are documented in the Radiation Safety Manual that was submitted along with the application and Project Summary. However, these documents are not available to the public. The EPA also states that the operator will have an emergency response plan and a traffic management plan. Neither of these is available to the public. Residents and persons who traverse the East Bank Demerara Public Road know well the frustrations of that corridor. Will the movement of hazardous material compound and escalate these frustrations? What happens
if there is an accident involving a vehicle transporting radioactive material of equipment? Citizens deserve and are entitled to answers to these questions. One would have thought that with the numerous uninhabited islands in the Essequibo River, one such would have been a more suitable location for any facility dealing with radioactive material and other hazardous waste. This development requires absolute care and consideration for the environment and the well-being of citizens by the EPA and as may be necessary considerable investment from the operator. The AFC recognises that neither the EPA nor the Government will provide answers unless residents of the East Bank Demerara and other citizens demand answers. Lives are at risk. Regards, Alliance For Change
Equal Pay for Equal Work DEAR EDITOR, There is a most challenging perspective of inequality, which abounds moreso in agencies owned and managed by foreign employers – in terms of employment conditions proffered in as contained a work environment as Guyana. Some of the latter at least are seen as uncaring, substantively indifferent to, indeed disrespectful of, the local labour legislation which requires employers in Guyana to observe consistent application of benefits; and in the process, profoundly facilitates related worker representation, (even though ignored by our own banking fraternity for example). The continuing influx of foreign companies appears not to be appropriately monitored in relation to the ‘Human Services’ to which Guyanese workers have long been entitled. One does not hear of any official programme for inducting the
parties into observing basic employee benefits, starting with the lowest level of entitlements. For example:- Compulsory minimum of two weeks’ annual leave; One month’s annual leave for monthly paid employees; Up to 28 days Certified Sick Leave (normally after three uncertified days); Maternity Leave (NIS – three months); Registration in the National Insurance Scheme; (Additional) Contributory Hospitalisation and Medical Insurance Scheme; Special Leave to: Attend court; Representation at national sports; Contributory Pension Scheme; Travel Allowance (where justified); Where applicable the provision of uniform/protective clothing; Certain levels may be considered eligible for increased annual leave, based on extended years of service; In the case of compensation, it is normal, whether unionized or not, for companies to
have established salary scales based on some form of job evaluation. In the specific circumstances, therefore all employees at the same identified job grade are paid the same applicable rate. It is however accepted that dependent on the place of origin (local and overseas), individual employees can be further compensated with allowances related to the degree of dislocation. Also there are jobs the nature of which would earn: - risk allowance - responsibility allowance There is also the question of an agreed period of notice of separation by either party to be included in the employment contract. Another sensitive consideration is with regard to promotion – an exercise that demands the highest level of objectivity, through the process of performance appraisal. Having satisfied the
above requirements, does not necessarily exempt the employer from acknowledging (depending on the numbers) certain employees’ right to representation by a union of their choice. This submission is made in support of the entitlement of local employees to be treated in the most balanced manner in relation to their foreign counterparts. Ideally, it would be useful if there were some arrangements that could facilitate a separate external audit of the human resources component of the company’s operations. Finally, there may well be an urgent case for reviewing aspects of our Labour legislation to take into account the behaviour of the growing number of foreign companies/ agencies. A survey of comparable legislation of our Caricom colleagues may certainly prove useful. Regards, E.B. John
Justice Cecil Kennard was a compassionate person DEAR EDITOR, As we should all be aware by now, Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard passed away Saturday morning. I write to pay tribute to a kind soul, an indulgent heart and a disciplined mind — one of the most gracious person to walk the earth - Justice Cecil Kennard. Kennard was truly extraordinary. So was our long friendship. He held a very important and valued position being the chancellor of Guyana’s Judiciary, but he was a man who never allowed status and power to overcome his soul and personality. He walked with queens, kings, and various presidents but he
never forgot his common touch with his family, friends or the ordinary folk. He owned a horse-racing club in Berbice, and would host horse races for the residents. Due to his caring nature of holding concern for the poor who are unable to afford luxuries or simple forms of enjoyment, he would host annual Boxing Day, Emancipation Day and Independence Day horseracing meets. He does not benefit financially from this club; he did it simply for the greater good and for the satisfaction of the poor. I extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to his family. He was a wise and well-educated man, who never walked with-
out confidence and certainty. Society has lost a great son of the soil. Guyana has lost a remarkable person; he made our country proud with his exemplary conduct and diligence. He is a legal luminary of great stature and, I am honoured to have shared a long relationship with him. He is very kind, loving and caring. He made a tremendous mark on Guyana’s legal system and jurisprudence. He served for many years in very important capacities of the law. He has positively impacted the criminal justice system in Guyana. And that’s how Cecil Kennard became the greatest chancellor of our
time. He did it by hewing to principle, yes, but also by seeking compromise and common cause—not through law-making and horse-racing alone, but through friendship, kindness, and humour. We do not weep for him today because of the prestige attached to his name or his office. We weep because we loved this kind and tender hero who persevered through pain and tragedy—not for the sake of ambition or vanity; not for wealth or power; but only for the people and the country that he loved. May God bless Cecil, and may he rest in eternal peace. Yours truly, Nazar Mohamed (Shell)
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Agriculture sector being neglected; inquiry needed DEAR EDITOR, Agriculture historically has been the most important sector of the economy. But over the last seven years, it has been marginalized accounting for a declining percentage of the national economy. Since the emergence of oil sector five years ago, it has been largely ignored. And over the last two years, it has been plagued by ineptitude and scandals. Is government setting up the agriculture sector for failure? Is a cabinet reshuffle in the works? In spite of the countless complaints in the media and editorials of the two truly independent publications, there has not been an inquiry into the US$12.5 million Enmore Packaging Plant and its lease to a political figure, sheet piling, trawler licensing, approval of Chinese agrobusinesses, land grants, GuySuCo fiasco, closure of the four sugar estates, retendering of contracts at NDIA, high turnover of staff at NDIA and GuySuCo, pump
fiasco, farm relief (attributed to floods), payments for flood works especially for work not done, rice farmers paddy payments, among others. Money was passed on to friends of politicians followed by kickbacks. Rumour has it that GuySuCo operations at LBI will be closed and the staff will be made redundant by this year-end. There were complaints about the highest bidder getting contracts for agro works, the work not completed on time or not done at all, and yet the contractor not penalized on account of political or religious affiliation. There were complaints that contracts were given to unqualified bidders as in building pump stations a job that requires specialist expertise but given to friend who lack capacity. There are complaints of politicians owning contract companies in the names of others who have been awarded contracts. It is not different from politicians giving themselves
contracts to do government work. There is a millers cartel against paddy farmers. Rice farmers had to protest to get a fair deal. Fishermen cant catch enough fish to cover cost of operations; fish may have been driven away by oil exploration and pumping. The public is urging compensation for fishermen There is a lack of or inadequate support for the poor and deserving farmers to encourage farm and aqua culture production. Government is giving lip service to farmers. Some large Middle Eastern companies are being recruited to establish agriculture in Guyana at the sugar estates. Ultimately, they will displace small farmers and sugar workers. Is government working against the poor and underserved? Is it government s policy to destroy the Agriculture sector? Isn’t it time for an inquiry into neglect of agriculture? Yours truly, Balram Gangadeen
Rohee reminisces DEAR EDITOR, March 13, 1979 has gone down in world history in general and the Caribbean in particular. It was on that date that a thirty-odd member detachment of the armed wing of the New Jewel Movement (NJM) led by Maurice Bishop, swooped down on the island’s army barracks in South St. George’s, Grenada and within a matter of minutes, took control of the military. The armed group then proceeded to take control of key and vital points as well as the only radio station in the country. The island came under their control politically and militarily. The PPP, then in opposition, welcomed the assumption to power of the NJM under Maurice Bishop. So did the ruling PNC.
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There was general satisfaction and relief throughout the Caribbean region that the island’s Prime Minister, Eric Gairy, the celebrated regional buffoon known for sighting UFO’s and practising of witchcraft had been overthrown. On March 14, 1979, I was dispatched by the PPP to Grenada. After overnighting in Port-of- Spain, I arrived in St. George’s on March 15, one day before my birthday. I proceeded to the headquarters of the newly established ’Provisional Revolutionary Government’ (PRG) located at the time at the radio station which had been renamed ‘Radio Free Grenada’. On my arrival, I was
greeted by Maurice Bishop, the Political Leader of the NJM as the first visitor from a fraternal party since the overthrow of the old order in Grenada. Veteran Guyanese and Caribbean journalist Ricky Singh was to follow a few days later. I had in my possession a sealed envelope addressed to Bishop. It contained a personal letter for Bishop’s personal attention. After reading the letter, Bishop shared with me its contents. In his letter, apart from congratulating Bishop and the NJM, Dr. Jagan wanted to know from Bishop what was the immediate priority of his new PRG (Continued on page 6)
Development must start with the NDCs funded with oil money DEAR EDITOR, For the past 2 years, 2020 to 2022, Vice President Bharat Jagdeo and President Irfaan Ali have been expressing dreams using Oil $$$ to make Guyana another Dubai. They dream of skyscraper hotels, casinos, luxury resorts, and mega projects springing up around Georgetown and on the East Coast of Demerara. Even if such projects do materialise, what about the remainder of rural Guyana where the NDCs are supposed to govern but lack resources to do so resulting in all the villages being eyesore garbage dumps. Take Region 3 for example. The West Coast Demerara public road is littered with wayside “workshops” where trucks and other vehicles are parked on the parapets, shoulders, and even on the drive lanes. At Anna Catherina, used engines are displayed on the shoulder and drive lane. In one street in Anna Catherina, one “workshop” has strewn the parapets with scrap iron. At Uitvlugt, there is a truck “workshop” on the roadway while at the Mandir Street, one shop usually has vehicles diagonally across the
street. Sheer lawlessness is what prevails in Region 3. It is not that there are no laws. There are and they are supposed to be enforced by the NDCs but the NDCs lack the resources to do so. And so long as laws are not enforced, there will always be lawlessness and Guyana will forever remain a backward nasty lost world country. If VP Jagdeo were to study the development of Dubai, and Singapore, he would see that development cannot take place without rigid law enforcement at all levels especially at the local government level. In this regard, the VP should use the first tranche of Oil $$$ to begin development at the level of the NDCs as follow: 1. Each NDC should have Special Constabularies to enforce existing laws. 2. Each NDC or a combination of NDCs should have special night Municipal Courts to deal immediately with violations. 3. Each NDC or a combination of NDCs should have special vehicles and machinery to deal with derelict vehicles and material left on streets and in canals.
4. Each NDC or a combination of NDCs should have special designated zones for industrial activity as well as business away from residential areas. 5. All workshops must be relocated to the industrial zone. 6. All rum shops must be relocated to the business or industrial zone. The removal of rum shops from residential areas is especially important for the development of Guyana, especially our children. As matters now stand, our villages and public roads are punctuated with rum shops. A child starting out Nursery School will pass at least 5 rum shops/rum ads on the way to school. At the Primary level, a child will see 10 rum shops/ rum ads and at the Secondary level, the child will witness 15 rum shops/rum ads. Our children are conditioned to accept, embrace, and propagate a rum culture – and the domestic abuse and violence that accompany the rum culture. Development is not about high rise building but all about people and it starts at the level of children. Yours sincerely, Malcolm Harripaul AA
GWI and Eccles Block EE DEAR EDITOR, I am writing this letter hoping that it attracts the necessary attention on the poor water supply received from GWI in the Eccles Block EE area. It is several months now that residents have been complaining and no one seems to be heeding this complaint. It is at the point now where no water is coming through the taps. Residents in a
WhatsApp group for the neighbourhood express their daily frustration. People have to be buying five-gallon bottles of water to do daily chores and when the water comes a little bit, you have to do excess pumping just to trap some in tanks and buck-
ets. The troubling and frustrating part is that this area is supposed to be a middleclass area where many of the oil workers are seeking rentals and cannot get a basic service. Yours truly, Tajpaul Ram
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Lewis position is mind-boggling DEAR EDITOR, I write to acknowledge Mr. Lincoln Lewis’s decision to end our polemics. I refer to his letter published in the Stabroek News, 10th March edition, captioned, “WPA wants trade unions to fight for the same things, which they denied workers when in authority”. The Guyana Trade Unions Congress General Secretary’s decision to exit the polemic was well advised. It is a sensible decision after his attempts to personalise the discourse failed. His allegations against two WPA ministers for denying workers benefits are policy decisions of the David Granger led cabinet and not Ogunseye or the WPA. Lewis’s position that WPA wants the unions to fight for what the party denied workers when it was part of the government is mindboggling. Is it not in the interest of workers to struggle for their
rights regardless of who did what? So, to follow Lewis’s logic, if the APNU+AFC government of, which the WPA was a member, had denied workers their rights, I should not call on workers and their union’s leadership to fight for their rights? This kind of thinking is an infantile understanding of struggle. He wants me not to tell workers that they have to struggle against the PPPC government for a fair share of the oil wealth. I will not. I am on public record criticising the public sector workers and their union for undoing their “selfinterest” when they failed to take strike action after the government increased ministers’ salaries and did not have a collective bargaining agreement with the union. And this criticism was made when the coalition government was in office. Like Lincoln Lewis, I bring this polemic to a close. Yours faithfully, Tacuma Ogunseye.
Distracting doom and gloom measure? DEAR EDITOR, It has to be wondered if the sudden lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions with full reopening in a matter of days, even though cases and deaths are still being recorded, has anything to do with the recent economic state worldwide, due to Putin’s ‘special military operation’
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Kaieteur News
and increasing prices, as distracting and detracting measures, from the doom and gloom atmosphere and in view of the upcoming Phagwah and Easter celebrations? Are we doing too much too soon? Regards, Shamshun Mohamed
Govt. to lift COVID-19 restrictions this week By Allyiah Allicock In light of the low number of cases and deaths being recorded in the country, the government is planning to lift almost all of the COVID-19 restrictions outlined in the Official Gazette this week. This is with the exception of travel, vaccination and mask requirements. This was disclosed by Director of the National C O V I D - 1 9 Ta s k F o r c e , Colonel Nazrul Hussain, who told this publication on Monday that the decision is still a work in progress. Back in 2020, the year that the pandemic hit the country, several restrictions were put in place to curb the spread of the virus and ensure that Guyanese are protected. Some of the restrictions
Guyanese had to adhere to since then, were regulations placed on social activities. This meant that no one was eligible to legally host or a t t e n d a p r i v a t e party, club, wedding reception, wake or any other social event. Restaurants, casinos, cinemas and betting shops were also required to operate at a certain capacity. Notably, persons were mandated to be fully vaccinated to enter public buildings and to remain a social distance of six feet. Also, there was a national curfew that was imposed for citizens and businesses but that was lifted last month. While an official statement on the lifting of the restrictions is yet to be made, Kaieteur News was
told that the decision to move in this direction was because of the low number of COVID-19 cases and resulting deaths being reported by the Health Ministry. From March 1 to 14, according to data provided the Ministry, a total of 226 infections was recorded, with only four persons dying after contracting the virus. In light of this, Hussain stated that “discussions are being made to lift all the restrictions with the exception of vaccine, travel and maybe the mask requirements.” He shared that the vaccination requirement would be required because it is still important in terms of international travel.
He noted too that with all the big events and upcoming holidays, it is likely that a decision will be announced before the Phagwah celebration on Friday. Meanwhile, during its daily COVID-19 update, the Health Ministry reported that within the last assessed 24hour period, a 75-year-old man from Region Four died and there were three new infections, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 63,147. The Ministry’s dashboard shows that five patients are in the COVID19 Intensive Care Unit, 13 are in institutional isolation, six are quarantined institutionally and 132 are in home isolation. To date, a total of 61,722 persons have recovered.
Rohee reminisces... From page 5 administration. Bishop immediately put through a call to Dr. Jagan via the local Cable and Wireless office. He informed Dr. Jagan that his immediate priority was to gain diplomatic recognition for the new administration. While I was still at his improvised office at the radio station, within a few moments of Bishop’s conversation with Dr. Jagan, Michael Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica called Bishop making a similar enquiry. Bishop’s response to Manley was the same as he had told Dr. Jagan. Diplomatic recognition of the Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) was an uphill challenge for Maurice Bishop. Out of fear that they may
be endorsing a government that had come to power through the ‘barrel of a gun’ and fearing a precedent that they might be sending a wrong signal about the road to political power by their own opposition forces, some CARICOM governments were reluctant to follow the governments of Guyana and Jamaica who had taken the lead in recognising the PRG of Grenada. Success was however eventually achieved on the diplomatic front after Michael Manley had lobbied governments belonging to the Socialist International, while Burnham lobbied governments belonging to the Non-aligned Movement and Cheddi Jagan, the USSR and socialist governments in Easter Europe. General election
and democracy Westminsterstyle was rejected by the PRG of Grenada. Their argument was that the Westminster model was a failed model of governance and had to be replaced by a model best suited for Grenada but only after a new constitution had been promulgated following a referendum, which the government was preparing to hold. Four and a half years after, Grenada had scored much success on the economic and social fronts. New low-cost housing schemes were built, great strides were made in public health, education became free of cost, agricultural development assumed a transformative character and a new modern international airport was built with the help of the Cuban gov-
ernment. But alas, internal ideological differences emerged between the leaders of the ruling NJM. The differences were manifested in the emergence of two factions. There were those led by Bernard Coard, the Deputy Prime Minister who wanted to go the orthodox Marxist way while others led by Bishop opted to proceed along the path of a national democracy. The Coard faction seized power and placed Bishop and his followers under house arrest. The revolution began to disintegrate. Internal and external forces hostile to the PRG, its programmes and policies invited the US to intervene militarily using the safety of US residents and students on the island as well as the Cuban presence as the pretext to do so. Dr. Jagan was called upon to travel to the island to act as a mediator. He could not because of the rapid deteriorating situation on the island. The rest is history. Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N T B . U . L . L T B . N . U . N U T L N B . U . T . L N T U N B . N U . L U L LUNT. B . T . . T T N N B U B . U . L . L T B . B . . N . . . T U T L N N T U U L N L B U . B . . L . . . T B T . . N . N T U L N LU B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . NT LUNT...B NT...BLU N U L B . . B . U . . T L . N T B . . U N . L N T B U N . . L . U T L B . . N B . . . T U . L N T B U . . L . UN T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L B U UN .BLUNT. . . L . T B . . N . T U . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . LU ...BLUNT LUNT...B NT...BL T B U . . L N . T B BLU T...BLUN BLUNT... UNT...B . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B BBLU T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU . T . N . N T T U L U L N L B U T...BLU U B . L . N . B T . . . N T U N N N L U U U B L . L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Tuesday March 15, 2022
Kaieteur News
Taking guns off the street won’t save the grand theft of Guyanese wealth!
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) recently celebrated the fact that another gun was taken off the streets. The GPF is of the belief that “another gun off the street means crime is on the decline.”
But we at this publication, and many Guyanese too, know that this could not be farther from the truth.
Just yesterday, a woman standing in front of a city store was captured on camera trying to wrestle off a thief who succeeded in stealing her cellphone. One less gun off the streets did not prevent this crime from happening and many more will occur if the Force remains in celebratory mode. The leaders of this land too are busy celebrating that we have an abundance of natural resources while international gangsters are busy fetching away our God-given wealth.
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Tuesday March 15, 2022
GRA officer arrested for shooting horse cart operators - tells cops he thought they were “bandits”
O
n Sunday, information was received by Kaieteur News that two bandits were shot in Kersaint Park, La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD), but it turned out that the wounded men were only horse cart men harvesting grass for
their horses from an empty lot in the area. The man who shot them was identified as a Customs Officer attached to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and they were identified as two horse cart operators, ages 30 and 36. Police have since confiscated the officer’s
9MM pistol and taken him into custody. A c c o r d i n g t o investigators, the horse cart operators were reportedly shot to their legs with a licensed 9MM pistol just after midday. Kaieteur News was told that the men were reportedly harvesting grass
in an empty lot located next to the customs officer’s home. All of a sudden, loud explosions were heard and when they looked up, they saw the suspect firing rounds in their direction. The victims claimed that they attempted to run but soon fell after feeling a
The location where the shooting took place.
numbing pain in their legs. Police were called in and the wounded men were taken to the hospital where they received treatment – one has since been discharged and the other remains hospitalised. After taking their
statements, police arrested the GRA officer and he alleged that one of the men attempted to enter his yard prompting him to believe that they were bandits. He claimed that he shot in the air first before shooting at them.
Tuesday March 15, 2022
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Kaieteur News
Dictators snatch your freedom In 1978, a movie was released by United Artistes. The Wild Geese was not a spectacular box office hit but given that it was in part an action movie, it did reasonably well to turn a small profit and to have a sequel. The plot was quite simple. It was about a group of British mercenaries who were hired to rescue a deposed African leader who was being held captive by a dictator. At the time, Walter Rodney and the Working People’s Alliance were presenting the first real challenge to Forbes Burnham’s then 14-year-old unbroken rule. The very idea of Guyanese being exposed to an innocuous movie about mercenaries attempting a political rescue mission was sufficient to drive fear into the government. It did, and so much so, that Burnham banned the movie from Guyana. One of the pretexts of the ban was that it portrayed scenes of apartheid South Africa. But anyone who has seen the movie would downplay the significance of this reason; the real fear was the rejection of mercenaries being used for a political cause. That very thought drove fear into the hearts of the Guyanese dictator. Dictators are so insecure that they wished to even control your private lives. This was evidently the case in Guyana during the reign of the despot Forbes Burnham who not only dictated what you should eat, what you should wear and how you should live, but also what movies you should see in the local cinemas. Burnham decided what you could and could not do. He decided what foods you could eat, restricting a wide range of items; restrictions that were virtual bans. He decided that some school
children had to wear Sanata cotton and attend Mass Games. His photograph and that of his Ministers adorned the covers of school exercise books. University students were required to serve oneyear National Service, including a stint at one of the hinterland camps where they were exposed to military training and hard labour in the infertile cotton and legume fields. There were reports of women being sexually molested. Burnham limited your employment options. State enterprises commanded 80 percent of the economy and therefore most people worked for the State. But a party card was an automatic passport for a job. So in order to get a job, your political beliefs had to synchronise with that of the ruling party. And Burnham ensured that they were. Workers were subject to political indoctrination. They were required to attend ideological training programmes. For Republic Day observances, workers were coerced, sometime under the threat of dismissal, to march in what was known as the People’s Parade. Many did so in order to avoid joining the ranks of the more than 30,000 who were retrenched. In order to avoid dismissal, many went reluctantly to clean drains and do hard work at Plantation Hope, while Burnham gallivanted around, like an overseer on his horse, sometimes in the company of one of his concubines. Women avoided eye contact with Burnham. It was whispered that he used to instruct his guards to bring some women to entertain him at The Residence, his official office. During the Rodney Commission of Inquiry, it was revealed that one of the reasons why the African Society for Cultural Relations with
Independent Africa (ASCRIA) fell out with Burnham was because of his treatment of women. Freedom of the press was dead. The only non-government publications were a small weekly independent religious newspaper, the Mirror newspaper, which was associated with the PPP and the rag of the ruling party, the People’s National Congress. News was tightly controlled including by some who would now have you believe that they were always paragons of freedom. A highly militarised society developed. The ruling PNC had its own thugs, including recruits from the House of Israel. And spies were everywhere. You were subject to security questioning even if you were just a schoolmate of an Opposition member, as one former colleague of Rupert Roopnarine found out when he stopped one day to talk with him on the roadway. Freedom had evaporated. It was in that time that the Death Squad, a notorious group within the Guyana Police Force, emerged. Human Rights reports during that period referred to extra-judicial killings. In one instance, a woman was shot dead by a bodyguard of a Minister when she visited a government office. Thugs were let loose on striking workers and political meetings were broken up. Opposition political activists, especially those from the Working People’s Alliance, lived under constant harassment and fear. The woes of political dictatorship in Guyana are long and exhaustive. The repression and suffering have not been forgotten. And that is why when in March 2020, there was a diabolical plan, to return Guyana to political dictatorship that memory kicked
Dem Boys Seh…
De time done pass
Article 13 like poke it nose in dem political party business. Dem want de Chief Elections Officer fuh demand from dem political party a statement of dem campaign expenses. But to wat end? Why it so interested in knowing wat de people spend? As far as dem boys know, dem party agent does gat just over a month after de election fuh submit de statement with dem expense. Dat deadline does pass lang, lang now. And Article 13 did not ask fuh de expense to be made public just after de elections because Article 13 only form
long after de election. So why dem now expect a CEO who only get de wuk de odder day to force compliance? De deadline done pass. De law seh dem gat to submit. But de law nah empower de CEO fuh force anybody fuh submit. But Article 13 also fuhget dat de elections impasse was five months. De country nah bin even sure if it would have had de election results much less to bother with wat dem party spend. No party gan come public with dem campaign expenses. Dat is a trade secret wah none ah dem nah want dem rivals fuh know bout. If we had campaign finance laws, nuff
people story woulda get skin up. Some ah dem business people does gat two big envelopes: one fuh de guvament and one fuh de opposition. But dem does also mek personal donations to some ah dem political candidates. Dat is why some people does buy property after elections done. But while some end up rich, dem had one party which after every election, it does gat to sell off it property fuh pay it expenses. Now how yuh gan expect dis party fuh submit statement when it can’t even balance its books? Talk half. Leff half.
in. The Guyanese people said no to a return to dictatorship. They were not interested in tasting that bitter harvest. They rejected the rigging. They must now reject the rig-
gers. (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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Tuesday March 15, 2022
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
The PNC leader is wrong, dead wrong T
he PNC leader is in the US and uttered some curious things. Three of the emanations are a gold mine for political analysts. I will look at each on different occasions because one column will not suffice. They are: (1) - the PNC could have done better at the last election but its campaign was poor. (2) – the PNC has to get back to the glorious days when it was led by Forbes Burnham. (3) – The PNC welcomes coalition partners but it will not be held to ransom. In March 2020, the PNC ran an effective campaign, did well and lost the election by two parliamentary seats. Here is the vote difference in the election: PPP – 233,336, PNC – 217,920, combined non-PPP opposition – 6,783. The APNU+AFC lost the election by 22,199 votes. It is embarrassing for a political analyst who does not know why those 22,000 votes were lost. Those votes came in 2011 and 2015 from Indians who voted for the AFC. In 2020, those voters went back to the
PPP because those 22,000 people believed in their hearts that the AFC was the worst political party Guyana produced even worse than the PNC. In March 2020, if you had showed an India person two vendors selling mangoes – one for the AFC and the other for the PNC – and asked him/her which one of the two he/she would buy from, he would have selected the PNC’s. It was an act of complete, absolute confusion, bordering on insanity for the then head of the A P N U , D a v i d G r a n g e r, i n September 2020 to award the AFC nine seats in parliament. Politics and science are not connected but it is a scientific fact that the AFC did not get more than 3,000 votes in March 2020. I think I know Aubrey Norton a little bit, and I am telling the Guyanese people that if the AFC stays with the PNC for the 2025 contest, Mr. Norton is not going to agree to a specific number of seats for the AFC. If the Coalition loses the 2025 election, the new PNC leadership will not give more than
one seat to the AFC. Whether you like or dislike Mr. Norton, you have to admit he has an analytical mind. Mr. Norton knows that the AFC’s vote-catching talent is a thing of the past. One of the moral unfairness Mr. Norton inherited from his predecessor is the numerical burden of the AFC. The PNC leadership will not want to do it but they should ask the leader of the APNU+AFC list to withdraw six parliamentarians from the AFC and replace them with PNC names. It is unconscionable for the AFC to have six seats at the expense of the PNC. One does not know where the PNC leader got the theory from that the PNC could have done better in March 2020 if its campaign was not that poor. The shape of the PNC’s bandwagon had nothing to do with the results. The PNC got the votes it would have received even if it did not hold meetings and rallies. The APNU+AFC lost a fair and free election because of policies and lack of performance, not lack of
campaign brilliance. Voters after five years rejected the APNU+AFC for a number of reasons, which cannot be elaborated on in one column but here are some brief notes. First, the school of ministers did not meet the nation’s expectations. The president, his finance minister, his attorneygeneral were not stellar performers. Secondly, the big names from the WPA that Guyanese thought were great men, who did so much in the 1970s, did not perform either. I dealt with the AFC’s morbid mediocrity above so no need to repeat that. Thirdly, some policy directions were so horrible; they drove fear into people. How could you have put 42,000 people in economic ruin by dismissing 7,000 workers without finding alternative employment for them? Fourthly, African Guyanese became livid at the betrayal. The marijuana amendment was scuttled. The elevation of the retirement age for public servants was ignored. Wages and salary increases were never a
Frederick Kissoon priority. Fifthly, UG deteriorated under APNU+AFC rule, the state media remained a football, the Sport Ministry was abolished, the Labour Ministry was abolished, all of which contributed to the strengthening of the deep and expanding chagrin of the nation that 2015 did not bring the expected transformation. The PPP did not have to campaign to win the March 2020 election. The failure of the APNU+AFC provided victory for the PPP. The PNC leader needs to be more analytical. He can do better. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Legal challenge to NRF Act should be dealt with expediency - Christopher Ram By Rehanna Ramsay The slothfulness of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) opposition to challenge the legality of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act can lead to irreversible losses and consequences. This is according to Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram. Ram, in an invited comment to this newspaper, agreed that the matter should be handled with expediency. Ram said, “The Opposition must act more swiftly on its promise to challenge the legality of the NRF Act because it is important to remove all uncertainty from the law. They need to move a lot faster, lest by the time they are ready all the oil monies will be withdrawn and
utilised.” The parliamentary opposition has been mulling legal action over the NRF Act, which the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) forcefully passed through Parliament without proper consultation last December. Back then, it was noted that the government rushed to pass the law after it removed several safeguards that allowed for transparency and placed the management of the oil fund largely under the control of the President and the Minister of Finance. Under the new law, the President and Finance Minister, et al, are vested with sweeping powers to appoint members to sit on the NRF board. A l r e a d y, w i t h i t s majority on the Committee of Appointments, the PPP/C disregarded arguments by the opposition in favour of their nominees and settled on
their own choice for the board. A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e government has already signalled its intention to use some $126 billion from the oil account in this year’s budget. “As it stands, the government is already moving in the direction of withdrawing the money, so that the Opposition needs to be faster,” Ram emphasised. He stressed further that the NRF Act provides the perfect scenario for litigation. “There are a number of ways, if you look at the Act, that it can be challenged in the courts. For instance, the constitution provides for consultation before a law is passed, that was not done, that is one major legal point that can be examined in the case,” Ram said. Ram is not the only person who has criticised the
“rushed” passage of the NRF Act. A number of civil s o c i e t y o rg a n i s a t i o n s , including the recently formed Article 13, have expressed disappointment at the undue haste with which the government rushed the NRF Act through Parliament, which they believe opens the door for misuse, and without regard for the Santiago Principles, which set out the basic tenets of transparency and accountability in expenditure of oil funds. Speaking to Kaieteur N e w s o n t h e m a t t e r, businessman and founding member of the Article 13, Yog Mahadeo shared the view that there are certain issues of legalities that should be looked at, when it comes to the NRF Act. He explained that for instance, the budgetary allocation was made without a board in place.
Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram. According to Mahadeo, the government’s intention to spend the oil funds without a proper system of control in place is already a sign that it will lead to disaster. In the meantime, the APNU+AFC coalition says it is still actively considering mounting a legal challenge to government’s passage of the controversial NRF Bill.
APNU+ AFC Shadow Attorney General, Roysdale Forde, SC, who contends that the passage of the Bill “constitutes the rejection of participatory governance as recognised as part of the constitutional system of Guyana,” noted too that civil society has been rejected from having a critical and essential role in the governance of the country.
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
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Tuesday March 15, 2022
Closed GuySuCo sugar estates will be difficult to reopen - Economist By Zena Henry
J
ust months away from its two-year milestone in office, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government is yet to reopen sugar estates closed by the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration. It was one of the key points on the party’s 2020 elections manifesto, but Economist and former Presidential advisor, Ramon Gaskin believes that it is a promise the government will be unable to keep. Gaskin in an invited comment said that the entire industry is in a dire state, something that the government is fully aware of. He believes that while the government would indeed like to reopen the estates, they will instead find other uses for the assets as the life of sugar in Guyana remains a question of viability. “That manifesto promise was premature, it was all premature statements not based on proper assessment. It was only until they got in there and finally checked properly that they saw it would not be so easy. Then they saw how bad it was, that the whole thing ‘bruk up’.” Gaskin, who had supported the move to
downsize the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) said that GuySuCo’s previous problems, in particular cost of production, which led to the closure of some estates in the first place, still very much exists and continues to be a significant hindrance to turning the facility around. Gaskin believes that the majority of the nonfunctioning sugar facilities will eventually be utilised outside of sugar production. “Just like the Enmore Packing Plant. All of these will be given to private citizens; family and friends,” Gaskin charged. He said that prior to the 2015 change in government, GuySuCo was already performing poorly and facing several issues that arose from, among other things, poor investments using very large sums of money. He pointed to the US$200M Skeldon factory modernisation project that saw GuySuCo putting in US$53M of its own already scarce funds in a project, which is yet to make its investment returns. He pointed to the US$75M that was used to repair the Skeldon plant, the unjust sale of its co-generation plant that now prevented the company from generating its own reliable and efficient energy for its factories, and the building of the now
leased US$12.5M Enmore Packaging Plant, as just examples of how the industry was driven to its ailing financial position. Gaskin reminded that even the “3,000-worker” strikes over the years were all factors leading to the reduction of the industry. In fact, for last year alone, GuySuCo’s Human Resources department confirmed 63 strikes in the sugar belt causing “20,000man days” lost. The financial consequence of the situation, the company said, was value loss to the industry to the tune of G$740 million, despite some strikes being unrelated to sugar operations such as the strike for the government promised G$250,000 cash grant for severed workers and flood relief. Those October 2021 strikes alone had cost GuySuCo G$378 million. At this point, Gaskin said, the cost of fertilisers, labour and market prices are all factors that will provide difficulties in getting the sugar industry up. “GuySuCo has been losing money since time in memoriam. So yes, they would like to reopen the estates, but not so easily, not with the cost of fertiliser, labour cost, crop production… no it won’t be so easy.”
The government had pointed out however, that the shuttered Rose Hall sugar estate would be the first facility to reopen. It was mentioned in 2021 that the Rose Hall facility would be ready by October this year for reopening. However, a more recent report from the State newspaper, the Guyana Chronicle, on March 14, last reported that the estate manager has now given the facility a 2023 start date, while informing that the facility was also 51 percent rehabilitated. When asked about the time being taken to get sugar workers back out to work, Aslim Singh, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union’s (GAWU) General Secretary, said that, “the union could only go on what it is told.” He said that the government has informed that the reopening of the estates would be done in a phased manner. He said however, that while some of the information he gets regarding the estates often comes from what he reads in the media, he is aware that rehabilitation may be proving a bit more tedious since the sugar company has to deal with matters of clearing significant overgrowth, machinery operability, among others. Speaking on the viability of
Former Presidential Advisor and Economist, Ramon Gaskin production, Singh said GuySuCo’s CEO has spoken about better prices for packaged sugar and better successes in that area, while working to reduce production cost. In the end, Singh indicated that the union must wait as the government tries to revitalise the industry. Gaskin reiterated h o w e v e r, t h a t s u g a r production in Guyana will not be viable once the country continues to produce above global market prices. The economist said that the only way that GuySuCo might break even is if the cogeneration plant that was removed from the corporation is returned where it can generate its own cheap energy and even sell to the national grid. “It was a conscience decision by Jagdeo because he knows that they would not be reopening the estates,” Gaskin opined, referring to
the $250,000 payout that was given to the thousands of sugar workers that became redundant when the estates closed. The economist disagreed with the $250,000 payout, which came up to a total of some $1.7 billion. He said legally, those workers had already been paid their severances, where some of them received as much as $1.1M. A total of $6B is expected to be injected into GuySuCo this year, government has said, an existing trend long before the closure of the four estates. Between 2020 and last year alone, some $30B was injected into the sector. Gaskin reminded, however, that while billions of tax dollars continue to be pumped into the ailing sugar sector, Guyana continues to pay the “burdensome” US$43M for the Skeldon factory that never rescued the sugar industry as touted by the government.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday March 15, 2022
GDF rank killed during brawl at sister’s wedding By Allyiah Allicock What was supposed to be a night of celebration ended tragically for the family of Chavez Mangal, a Corporal of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) after he was reportedly stabbed to death during a brawl at his sister’s wedding on Sunday night. The fatal stabbing, which ended the life of the 30-yearold GDF medex, occurred at Lot 142 Phase Two, Good Hope, East Coast Demerara and was perpetrated by a group of uninvited guests. Kaieteur News was told it was Mangal’s younger sister who got married on Sunday and it was at the groom’s residence that the man was allegedly stabbed. One of the dead man’s sisters, who requested a n o n y m i t y, t o l d t h i s publication on Monday that it was a chaotic scene that night. She said that while everyone was enjoying themselves, there was this group of young men who were picking trouble with some girls on the dance floor. She shared that the young men are from “around the neighbourhood” but they were never invited to the wedding. “There were these young guys there by the music set drinking and touching girls as they dance,” the woman explained. According to her, it was one of her cousins and the young men who had an altercation after that. The woman said when the fight broke out, the men started to pelt beer bottles at each other, causing the guests at the wedding to run and hide. Kaieteur News was told that Mangal got stabbed while trying to be a peacemaker between his cousin and the group of young men. After he got stabbed, he reportedly ran into the kitchen where he collapsed, and it was one of sisters that discovered that he was injured and rushed him to the hospital. According to a police report, it was one of the suspects, who was at the DJ booth at the time, that pulled a knife from his waist and stabbed the GDF rank to his right upper chest. An eyewitness who related the stabbing incident to police was also injured during the brawl. He was stabbed to his left hand. Similar to what Mangal’s sister told this newspaper, the police reported that the
Dead, Chavez Mangal. four young men had armed themselves with glass bottles and began to throw the bottles at the building, after which they ran away. The police report also states that the 24-year-old DJ who had exited the yard during the ordeal, was confronted by one of the suspects who chopped him to his left hand and robbed him of a Mac Pro Book laptop computer valued some $130,000. The injured DJ was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was examined and admitted. The reports further states that Mangal, who was rushed to the Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital, succumbed to his injuries around 01:00hrs on Monday. Mangal, who worked in the army for about 10 years, resided at Enterprise Garden, East Coast Demerara and was described as a loving and caring person. “Never a dull moment when he is around; he always made us laugh. He loved us all so much…whenever he comes home from work, he would always walk in to hug my mom,” his relative stated. Meanwhile, it was reported that one of the suspects was arrested about five houses away from where the incident occurred. According to reports, he was searched and ranks found two knives and a scissors in his pants waist. The suspect had visible injuries to his forehead, left hand and body. He was questioned about his injuries and he reportedly told police that he was at the wedding house and was attacked. An investigation into Mangal’s death is ongoing.
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Speaker weakens Opposition’s Motion on full coverage insurance By Davina Bagot Several clauses in the Opposition’s Motion on full coverage insurance, submitted to the National A s s e m b l y, h a v e b e e n subjected to changes by Speaker Manzoor Nadir while most have been removed altogether. O n M o n d a y, t h i s newspaper spoke with the Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, David Patterson who had submitted the Motion, seeking full coverage insurance of Guyana’s oil activities, to Parliament on February 16, 2022. The Speaker in a written response to the Member of Parliament (MP), dated February 28, 2022, informed that 13 of the 20 clauses in Patterson’s Motion have been disallowed, while two of the ‘whereas’ clauses were also amended. On the other hand, the Speaker also suggested that Patterson reword one of his clauses as the information included was “inaccurate”. The Speaker’s response was sent by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr.
Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, David Patterson
Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir
Sherlock Isaacs. In the document seen by Kaieteur News, Isaacs particularly stated that the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th ‘whereas’ clauses were removed. The second clause, in the insurance Motion states, “And Whereas worldwide offshore oil production operations show a high likelihood of an oil spill occurring offshore Guyana, and that such likelihood of a spill increases exponentially with the rapid increase in offshore production activities” and the fourth
clause read, “And Whereas the emergency response and cleanup of the British Petroleum Macondo oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have so far cost more than $70 billion USD.” Even though these details have been widely reported on, and are moreover available for verification through quick research, these clauses were removed as the Speaker concluded they must be based on facts. The removal of these clauses means that they will not be debated in the National Assembly. With regard to the
Prosecution closes case in matter involving pharmaceutical supplier charged with providing fake HIV testing kits
T
he prosecution on Monday closed its case for the matter involving the pharmaceutical supplier, who allegedly provided the Ministry of Health (MoH) with fake HIV testing kits. The matter will continue on March 25, 2022 before Magistrate Zameena AliSeepaul, who is presiding over the matter at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court. T h e c o m p a n y representative, who is facing the charge is Davendra Rampersaud, a Technical Consultant to Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc.( The company is located at Area ‘G’ Hydronie Railway, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, and is one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical supply companies. The charge was brought against the company
last year by the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD). On his first court appearance, Rampersaud denied the charge, which alleges that on January 16, 2020, Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc., allegedly sold and supplied 400 units (20 packs) of Uni-Gold HIV test kits, batch #HIV7120026, with misleading representation, a violation of the Food and Drugs Act of 1971.( Rampersaud is charged for selling and supplying the devices with misleading representation, which is a violation of the Food and Drugs Act, Cap. 34:03, Part V, Section 18 (1) of 1971, to the Materials Management Unit (MMU) located at 55-56 First Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara. According to reports, a
quantity of the testing kits was seized by the GA-FDD from the MMU of the MoH at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, and from local hospitals and laboratories. This publication had reported that the probe was launched into the fake HIV testing kits after an Irish manufacturer wrote to the former Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, during January 2020, warning that it is aware of counterfeit Uni-Gold HIV test kits in Guyana. The Iris h company supplied photographic evidence, which clearly indicated that the kits expired since July 2019. In its complaint, the company,
clauses amended by the Speaker, this newspaper understands that the sixth and seventh clauses have been adjusted, although the Speaker said it was the “fifth and sixth clauses”. The document from the Clerk of the National Assembly detailed, “Further, the Speaker has amended the 5th ‘And Whereas Clause’ by deleting the words, ‘and economic bankruptcy’. He has approved the other part of the clause.” However, it was Patterson’s clause six, which sought to highlight and discuss the potential financial impacts an oil spill can have on Guyana, by specifically describing the effects as leaving the country in economic bankruptcy. According to clause six, “…a major oil spill offshore Guyana would result in the environmental devastation of Guyana and its neighbouring countries, obliteration of the areas fishing industry, aquatic vegetation, and economic b a n k r u p t c y, i n c l u d i n g possible lawsuits from (Continued on page 16)
Charged, Davendra Rampersaud.
Trinity Biotech, named Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc. as the company that was allegedly supplying the expired testing kits. According to the company, the fake boxes were created with expiry dates extended by 17 months, and the kits repacked in them. Trinity Biotech said that the products were already six months out of date when they were brought to Guyana. The company further claimed that its Trinidadbased authorised distributor, Transcontinental Medical Products Limited, is the only authorised distributor for the Uni-Gold kits to Guyana.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Kaieteur News
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Review of 2017 audit report findings…
MoE, Ice Factory staffers implicated in fuel theft - PAC Under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government, staffers from the Ministry of Education and the Demerara Ice Factory found themselves in hot water over the sale of stolen fuel. The situation, which occurred in December 2017, was brought up for discussion before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday.
According to the report, the fuel was uplifted on 30 instances. As a result, on average, in excess of one ‘45 gallon’ drum was uplifted on each occasion. Based on the report, six vehicles not registered as property of the Ministry were used to uplift 4,351 litres of diesel valued $788,773 from the Guyana Oil Company’s (GuyOil) Regent Street location. A police investigation later found that hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen
fuel from the Ministry of Education (MoE) was reportedly sold to the Demerara Ice Factory, allegedly with the full knowledge of the company’s manager at the time. The full police report was laid over to the PAC after Minister of Public Works and PAC member, Juan Edghill, sought answers from the Ministry on new systems to prevent a recurrence. “What I would (Continued on page 16)
Police arrest two for East Canje mason’s murder - prime suspect still at large
P
olice in Berbice have arrested two persons in connection with the brutal chopping to death of 24-year-old Alex Williams of Rampersaud Street, No. 2 Village, East Canje Berbice. Kaieteur News was informed that the two persons were arrested on Sunday but are reportedly not the perpetrators. They are, however, assisting detectives with their investigation even as the prime suspect is still at large. On Sunday, at approximately 00:30hrs, Williams got involved in a brawl in front of a rum shop at No. 2 Village, East Canje,
Berbice that resulted in his death. A full Guinness bottle was hurled at his face, which caused him injuries and shortly after another man armed himself with a stainless steel cutlass and chopped him several times about his body. Williams’ father, Mohamed Ishmel, told reporters that he was present when the chopping took place because his son had returned home and informed him that he was “violated on the road by someone.” He had said that his son asked him to return to the shop with him and he agreed but while he made attempts to enquire about the issue and quell the situation,
Killed in a brawl, Alex Williams it escalated and his son was killed in the process. Ishmel said he rushed his son to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, located just a few minutes away, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police are investigating.
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Tuesday March 15, 2022
Kaieteur News
Speaker weakens Opposition’s Motion on full...
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From page 13 neighbouring countries.” Clause seven, which was also adjusted, said “…the Liza 1 Permit signed by the current PPP/C appointed EPA Head (Mr. Kemraj Parsram) and issued in June 2017, designates as Permit Holder - Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), a subsidiary Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) of parent companies, ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC.” The Speaker has, however, removed the part of the MP’s Motion that said Parsram was appointed by the
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present government. Clause nine was also ‘reworded’ by the National Assembly. Patterson in a brief comment to this publication said he is expected to submit his response to Parliament today (Tuesday). He explained that while his original intent was to submit the facts to defend his clauses thrown out by the Speaker, he has instead settled to raise all the points omitted during the debate. He said, “I completely disagree with their removal, I am unsure where or whom the Speaker gets his references, however in preparation for my Motions, I consult widely with experts in the field, also I make reference to widely quoted material in the public domain.” Further to this, he argued that if the Speaker claims that the clauses were not factual, it is the government that would have to prove this during the debate, by producing evidence to contradict the information presented. “It is my opinion that the place for facts should be on the floor of the Parliament, not the Speaker’s office,” Patterson reasoned. The Opposition’s Motion on full coverage insurance is calling for the Government of Guyana, to include full unlimited liability coverage for oil spills and other disasters related to petroleum production, as a condition for granting approval for ExxonMobil’s fourth project, the Yellowtail development, and all other future petroleum development. It is also seeking an independent analysis on the possible ill effects of an oil spill and for this report to be submitted to the Parliamentary Committee of Natural Resources, to be used as a reference for all other future oil development submissions.
This newspaper’s publisher, Glenn Lall, has been championing the call for ExxonMobil to provide full liability coverage in the event of an oil spill. Guyana’s insurance Since 2015, ExxonMobil Corporation, the parent company of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), has steered clear of being tied to full coverage insurance for its Stabroek Block projects, which are certain to deliver multi-billion dollar profits on an annual basis. Instead, its subsidiary (EEPGL) will be officially on the hook if such an eventuality occurs offshore. This is the state of affairs with its Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two and Payara Projects. After persistent calls for the parent company to insure Guyana with full liability coverage, ExxonMobil on February 28, last, in a statement to the press, said it wished to categorically state that it has insurance coverage that meets international industry standards for all of its petroleum activities in Guyana. Furthermore, it related that “Commentary on full coverage insurance and guarantees inaccurately suggest that ExxonMobil Guyana will not be able to effectively manage response activities. Insurance is just one source of financial assurance that could be leveraged for response activities. The value of insurance will not limit the company’s ability to respond to an event, and response activities would certainly not be delayed by discussions with insurers. We have the financial capacity to meet our responsibilities for an adverse event and we are committed to paying all legitimate costs in the unlikely event of an oil spill.” On this note, Exxon ex-
plained that its subsidiary, EEPGL, the Operator of the Stabroek Block, was established since 1998, and had, as of year-end 2020, almost US$5B in assets, which is a primary form of financial assurance. The oil company was keen to note that this is separate from the assets of the other Stabroek Block co-venturers who also have substantial assets and share any liability for response activities. In addition, Exxon said it was working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and its co-venturers, to put in place a combined US$2B of affiliate company guarantees. While the US oil giant has boasted of its assets and abilities, the costs related with a clean up after an oil spill could devastate the country economically. The need for Guyana to secure full coverage insurance for a possible oil spill has been highlighted in scenarios around the world. Only recently, an oil spill occurred in Peru, a South American country. The oil spill occurred on January 15, 2022 at one of the La Pampilla refineries off the coast of Ventanilla in the region of Lima, Peru. It was reported that the spill was caused by shock waves from an undersea volcanic eruption near Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean. Almost one month after the spill, the country was still grappling with the clean-up of the aftermath of more than 12,000 barrels of crude that contaminated its shores. The clean-up and remediation of the spilled crude that contaminated the shores and waters of Peru will cost US$65 million, according to the Spanish oil giant, Repsol’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Josu Jon Imaz.
MoE, Ice Factory staffers implicated... From page 15 like to know is if the police investigations were completed, what were the findings… and how many persons were charged?” Edghill queried. In response, it was noted that at least two persons from each agency were held culpable for the act. Permanent Secretary of the MoE, Alfred King told the committee that he could only say that the police were called in and the investigation was out of the hands of the Ministry. He said, too, that he could not say what the recommendations of the MoE are to prevent situations like this since he was not the PS at the time. According to the AG report, the Ministry wrote the police in January 2017 to investigate the matter of fuel. The Ministry also sent a fol-
A sitting of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
low-up letter to the police in February 2018, seeking a status update of the investigation. Based on the response, it was revealed that Mark Samuels, a driver who was attached to the Ministry at the time, had collected the fuel in pails and used his father’s vehicle to transport it. His father reportedly worked at the ice factory. The fuel was reportedly purchased by the company’s general manager. The company official later denied the
accusations in the police report. However, both Samuels and the general manager were charged in December 2018 with fraudulently obtaining a little over $1 million in diesel from GuyOil. The Ministry acknowledged the finding and stated that the matter was being investigated by the Police Force. The Audit Office had recommended that the Ministry follow-up with the police to expedite the investigation.
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 17
Public Works Ministry to oversee $2.9B more in road projects During the opening of tenders on Wednesday at the office of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), a total of $2,981,329,668 worth of projects was opened for the
continued rehabilitation and construction of a number of roads in the country. The procuring entity for these projects is the Ministry of Public Works. Having been allotted the largest share of Budget 2022, the
Ministry is preparing to spend its $76.7 billion budgetary allocation on these projects. The Ministry’s budget, which was passed in the National Assembly in February, would see the spending of $3.4 billion for
hinterland roads and another $15.2 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of urban and community roads across the country. Below are the companies and their bids:
Ministry of Public Works Hinterland Roads 2022, Regions Six and 10 - Lot 7 rehabilitation of Orealla to Kwakwani (Phase 3), Lot 16 rehabilitation of Linden to Mabura, Lot 17 rehabilitation of Mabura to Mango Landing, Lot 18 rehabilitation of 35 Miles Mabura to Malali (Phase Two) and Lot 19 rehabilitation of 16 Miles Mabura to Murtaria (Phase Two).
Hinterland Roads 2022 for Regions Eight and Nine Lots 10, rehabilitation/construction of Mahdia Main Access (Phase two), Lot 11, realignment of Tiger Hill, Mahdia main access road, Lot 12, rehabilitation of Internal roads (Tabatinga Drive), Lethem, Lot 13, rehabilitation of Karasabai to Yurong Reru, South Pakaraimas (Phase three), Lot 14, rehabilitation of village roads in Central, South and Deep South Rupununi and Lot 15, rehabilitation/construction of Barrack Retreat.
Hinterland Roads for Region One Lots 1, rehabilitation/construction of Moruca Main access road (Phase Three- 1km), Lot 2, rehabilitation/construction of Mabaruma to Hosororo (1Km), Lot 3, rehabilitation/ construction of Wanina to Yarakita, Lot 4, rehabilitation/construction of Internal roads, Kwebanna, Lot 5, rehabilitation/construction of Mabaruma to Morawhanna (Phase two) and Lot 6, rehabilitation/construction of Kaituma to Airstrip road.
(Continued on page 18)
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Public Works Ministry to oversee $2.9B more in road projects... From page 17 Hinterland Roads 2022 for Region Seven Lot 8, rehabilitation of 5 Mile Housing Scheme Road Network and Lot 9, rehabilitation of West Bartica Secondary Road Network.
Rehabilitation of Public and Main Access Roads in Regions Two, Three, Five and Six Lot 1, rehabilitation of sections of the Lima Sands access road (Phase two), Lot 2, rehabilitation of section of Canal Number 1 (Phase two), Lot 3, rehabilitation of Canal Number 2 (Phase two), Lot 4, rehabilitation of sections of De Hoop access road, Lot 5, rehabilitation of sections of Burma road (Phase two), Lot 6, rehabilitation of Mahaicony Branch Road (Phase two), Lot 7(A), rehabilitation of sections of Lesbeholden and Mibicuri, Blackbush Polder road and Lot 7(B), rehabilitation of sections of Black Bush road, Johanna.
Construction of timber revetment at Canefield, Canje River, Berbice, Region Six
Guyana Energy Agency Supply and delivery of a new 4x4 motor-vehicle outfitted for off road application.
National Drainage and Irrigation Authority Provision of trucks to transport materials from excavation works done in Georgetown drainage channels to Eccles landfill site.
(Continued in next Edition)
Kaieteur News
Tuesday March 15, 2022
PAGE 19
Woman kills self at Brickdam Police Station “This is what you want?” were reportedly the last words a husband heard his wife say on Monday, before she killed herself in front of him with a bolt pistol – a tool used to kill or stun animals such as cattle – at the Brickdam Police Station. Investigators have identified the dead woman as 49-year-old Trudy DeHaarte of Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD), an Animal Inspector who was at the time employed with the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA). DeHaarte reportedly shot herself with the bolt pistol which is commonly called a stun gun around 09:00hrs at the entrance of the Enquiries Department of the police station. Witnessing the woman commit the act were her husband, son and investigating officers who were at the time inside of the Enquiries Office. According to police, DeHaarte’s husband, a taxi driver, had gone there to lodge a report against her for damaging his car. Police learnt that she was a psychiatric patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and that the two were reportedly having domestic problems. The husband had walked out
Photo of a bolt pistol, a tool used to kill or stun animals.
Dead, Trudy DeHaarte. leaving her about a week ago. The man told police that he had gone to live with his father at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD). On Monday around 08:50hrs, DeHaarte had located him in front of the City Mall located on Camp and Regent Streets, where he plies his trade as a taxi driver. His son was reportedly present at the time and, according to investigators, DeHaarte angrily confronted both of them. During the argument, DeHaarte allegedly struck the man’s car with an object, which she had concealed in a
yellow cloth. The furious husband reportedly then drove to the Brickdam Police Station to lodge a report against her. It is being alleged that DeHaarte might have followed him there since she turned up at the police station shortly after he arrived. Investigators stated that he pointed her out to them as the suspect who had damaged his car and a rank was sent to bring her into the Enquiries Department. When she arrived at the entrance, DeHaarte reportedly looked in her husband’s direction and
said, “This is what you want?” before pulling out something that was concealed in the yellow cloth and plastic bag. She then placed the object to her head and pulled a trigger. Investigators, who were present, recalled that they heard a clicking sound before the woman fell face first to the ground as blood oozed from a wound at the right side of her temple. Paramedics were summoned immediately to the scene and when they arrived, DeHaarte was pronounced dead. An investigation is ongoing.
Man gets manslaughter charge for killing brother A man was charged on Monday with manslaughter for killing his brother, Moses Anthony with a piece of broken tile during a brawl at their home, which is located at Third Street, Alberttown, Georgetown. The incident occurred last Thursday. According to reports, Anthony reportedly killed his younger brother, Moses, a baker around 21:00hrs. The defendant, Richard Anthony was not required to
plead to the indictable charge after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. Anthony was remanded to prison until March 28, 2022. When cops arrived at the scene, Moses’ bloodied remains were found lying in an alleyway leading to their home. Kaieteur News was informed that Moses had
been drinking and had arrived home “high”. He started an argument with his brother over an old grievance, which they had. They subsequently began fighting in the house. It was described as a “cuff out”. Police had subsequently reported that during the fight, Anthony found a piece of broken tile and stabbed Moses to his neck. The fight continued and they reportedly moved to the yard. They stopped for a few seconds and Moses reportedly walked out to the
Dead, Moses Anthony alleyway where he collapsed and died.
DeHaarte’s body lying at the entrance of the Enquiries Department of the Brickdam Police Station.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Ukrainian boxers to participate in the European Under22 Championship International Boxing Association (IBA) together with the German Boxing Association (DBV), the German Olympic Committee (DOSB), the Polish Boxing Association (PZB), the European Boxing Confederation (EUBC), German Government, City of Heidelberg and Croatian Boxing Federation continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as well as financial and logistical support for the Ukrainian boxing team. The international boxing community organised athletes’ transportation to the European Under22 Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championship in Croatia.
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Kaieteur News
“We are in constant communication with the Ukrainian delegation, DBV and other members of the boxing family to make sure that athletes have the opportunity to compete at the EUBC Under22 Championships. As agreed during the recent meeting of the Board of Directors, IBA will cover all costs related to Ukrainian athletes’ participation in the international championships”, said IBA Secretary General Istvan Kovacs. “The safety and wellbeing of our athletes remains our main priority and this is a great example of the boxing community coming together.” The European Under22 Men’s and Women’s Boxing
Championship 2022 are taking place in Porec, Croatia on 11th-23rd of March. The official 12 women’s divisions and the 13 men’s weight categories will be held at the first European continental event of the year. DBV Secretary General Michael Müller said: “German Boxing Association is glad to support Ukrainian boxing team during this incomprehensible time and to show our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We must remain united and strong, to support each other and our universal values, in order to always promote peace and friendship, harmony and unity through boxing.”
Tuesday March 15, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Relationships with others are important to you, Aries. As a result, you've learned to be polite and congenial. Social engagements today could give you a chance to use your people skills.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may get a chance to make some extra money today, perhaps by working overtime. However, this might interfere with a social event that you've committed to.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) A powerful sense of inspiration could come from within today, Taurus. You might want to write down your thoughts or draw the pictures that pop into your head.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Although it looks as if the next few months should shape up to be a great time for your career, Scorpio, unfortunately, today it might appear hopeless.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Group activities could take up a lot of your time and energy today, perhaps too much. Your career concerns are very much on your mind, and you don't like being distracted from them. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Work could be a real drag today, Cancer. You might be expected to put in more hours than normal. Your heart isn't in it right now. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Body and soul might seem out of balance today. A part of you may long to break from society and live a more spiritual life, but worldly responsibilities and an attachment to your current lifestyle could get in your way. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Strain within a group that you're associated with could be traced to money problems.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your heart is longing for a romantic encounter tonight, Sagittarius, and the partner in your life is more than willing to accommodate you. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Conflict between your responsibilities at home and career obligations, particularly those involving partners, could pose a problem today, Capricorn. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Communication problems might arise on the job. Perhaps a co-worker is in a bad mood and unreceptive to anything you say. Or perhaps the phones are out or the computers down. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A project that you've worked on for a long time could bring some money your way, Pisces. Don't be too disappointed if you don't have it in your hands today. S
Paul stuns Zverev, Murray... From page 22 who claimed his 700th career win on Friday, as he walked off the court. Murray, who defeated Bublik in straight sets in Rotterdam in February, was left to wonder what might have been. “Obviously in the tiebreak both of us had some chances, but in the first set I certainly created more opportunities and I didn’t take them,” Murray told reporters. Sixth seed Matteo Berrettini managed to serve his way out of trouble to survive a tough test from 18-year-old qualifier Holger Rune and hang on for a 6-3 4-6 6-4 win. The Italian Australian Open semifinalist was forced to retire with injury during the second set of his last match against Paul in Acapulco last month and admitted to having some rust. “It’s always tricky when you step into the court again so I’m happy to get the win,” Berrettini said. In other second round action, Americans Taylor Fritz, Steve Johnson, Frances Tiafoe and John Isner all won in straight sets, while fan fa-
Windies name unchanged... From page 24 the way you should play, and we were very pleased with the way he played in the first innings and again in the second innings. It was hard work for all the bowlers, and we were very happy with the way they stuck to the task.” WEST INDIES TEST SQUAD: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Jermaine Blackwood (Vice-Captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales.
vorite Diego Schwartzman of Argentina and Hubert Hurkacz of Poland needed
three sets to advance to the third round of the Masters 1000 tournament.
PAGE 22
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Kaieteur News
Next Level dominoes set for March 20, 27 Next Level and Rakesh (only name given) will be host-
ing a dominoes competition on March 20 at Rakesh Sports
bar, Canje, East Berbice. The action will commence
at 13:00hrs and entrance fee is $12,000, while $100,000 will be added to the prizes. The organisers will be staging another competition on March 27 at Transport Sports Club, Thomas Lands. Double six time is 14:00hrs and entrance fee
is $15,000. The winning team will take home a trophy and $200,000, the runner up a trophy and $90,000, third place a trophy and $40,000 and fourth place a trophy and $20,000. The MVP and the player that shares the first love will be given prizes. The sponsors are Beckles
Lumber Yard, Spartans, Lloyd Rollins, HJ 94.1, F and H Printery, Pressy Enterprise, Colin Boyce, Three The Hard Way, Trophy Stall, Strikers Sports Club, ABU Tourism and Guinness bar. Teams can contact Lyall Gittens on 697-2929 for registration.
Lyall Gittens (right) receives the trophy from Barbara Marshall of Strikers SC.
Paul stuns Zverev, Murray overpowered at Indian Wells Alexander Bublik (KAZ) hits a shot against Andy Murray (GBR) during a second round match at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
INDIAN WELLS, Calif., (Reuters) - Tommy Paul collected the biggest win of his career with a stunning 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) victory over third seed Alexander Zverev under the lights at Indian Wells on Sunday. After a strong start, the 24-year-old American’s good fortune appeared to dry up in the California desert when the hard-hitting German was up a break and serving at 4-2 in the decider. But Zverev committed four double faults in the game to let Paul back into the match and he did not waste the opportunity, keeping his nerve to force a tiebreak where he
played nearly flawless tennis to secure the upset before an adoring crowd. “I started well, I came to the net a ton and put a lot of pressure on his serve,” Paul said in an on-court interview. “He started serving really well there in the second set and even into the third, but I got kind of lucky there when I got down a break. We’ll always take those,” he said with a laugh. Next up for Paul is a thirdround clash with Alex de Minaur, who defeated fellow Australian John Millman 76(4) 6-3. BUBLIK BOUNCES MURRAY
Earlier in the day, big-serving Alexander Bublik got revenge against Andy Murray, beating the former world number one 7-6(9) 6-3 to notch his first win over the Scot in three career meetings. Bublik won the first set tiebreak to seize the momentum and pounded his way to the finish line as Murray was unable to convert any of his six break-point opportunities. The Kazakhstani sealed the win with a deft drop shot on match point that Murray was unable to reach. Bublik stood and joined the crowd in applauding the three-time major champion, (Continued on page 21)
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Ashwin leads India to victory over Sri Lanka in 2nd test
Indian players greet each other after their win on the third day of the second cricket test match against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, India, Monday, March 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) BENGALURU, India (AP) — Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah shared seven wickets as India beat Sri Lanka by 238 runs in the pinkball second test to seal a 2-0 series victory yesterday. Chasing 447 to win on the third day, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 208 after tea. Skipper Dimuth Karunarante provided the lone resistance with his 14th test century. Offspinner Ashwin finished with 4-55, paceman Bumrah took 323 to add to his five-wicket haul in the first innings, and Axar Patel picked up 2-37. Karunaratne (107) batted defiantly on a tough pitch, hitting 15 fours in 174 deliveries as he became the first player to score a century in the fourth innings of a day-night test. The 2-0 sweep means India has won 15 consecutive test series on home soil and
is now fourth in the world championship table. “It has been a good run,” captain Rohit Sharma said. “We wanted to achieve a few things as a team and we did that. It is only the third daynight test in India so we are still learning how to handle these conditions. The crowd coming back and celebrating with us has been so pleasing.” India’s Shreyas Iyer was named man of the match after scoring 92 in the first innings and 67 in the second. “I saw the batters struggling so I knew I had to be attacking and put the pressure back on the bowlers,” Iyer said. “I didn’t worry about the hundred, I just wanted to bat as many balls as possible in the second innings. I have always dreamt about playing test cricket for India. It is a good feeling to come and contribute, and I
want to keep this going.” Rishabh Pant was named man of the series for his scintillating knocks and exceptional glove work. He scored 96 in Mohali and followed up with 50 off 31 balls in Bengaluru, the quickest test half-century by an India batsman. “I’ve made mistakes in the past and I want to keep improving,” Pant said. “The wicket here was difficult to play, so I thought I should look for quick runs. In both (batting and wicketkeeping), it is important to keep evolving. Scores: India 252 (Iyer 92, Jayawickrama 3-81, Embuldeniya 3-94) and 303 for 9 dec. (Iyer 67, Pant 50, Jayawickrama 4-78) beat Sri Lanka 109 (Mathews 43, Bumrah 5-24) and 208 (Karunaratne 107, Mendis 54, Ashwin 4-55, Bumrah 3-23) by 238 runs.
Hero Caribbean Premier League 2022…
Men’s and Women’s tournament confirmed for August 30 The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have confirmed that this year’s CPL event will feature a women’s tournament with three franchise teams competing for the first Women’s CPL (WCPL) title. The three teams will showcase the best women’s cricketers from across the Caribbean with overseas stars rounding out the teams. The three teams who will compete in the inaugural WCPL will be Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders. The women’s tournament will take place during the men’s event inside the Hero CPL tournament window which this year will run from 30 August and 30 September. The 2022 tournament will be celebrating 10 years of the Biggest Party in Sport and enters its 10th season off the back of a highly successful
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Kaieteur News
2021, with over half a billion viewers tuning in for the second successive year. Ricky Skerritt, CWI President commented: “Increasing the opportunities for West Indian women and girls to get involved in cricket is one of CWI’s strategic priorities, and we are delighted that we have been able to partner with CPL to further the expansion plans that we had first unveiled in 2019 prior to the arrival of the Covid Pandemic. We are confident that all CPL women’s games will be highly competitive and will add quality entertainment to our fans in the region and around the world.” Hero CPL will be played across more countries this year, with three Caribbean countries being selected for the group stages and fourth venue being chosen for the finals. CPL anticipates that this four-venue structure could become the norm for future
seasons. Pete Russell, Hero CPL’s CEO, said: “The addition of a women’s event to the CPL is something that has been an ambition for a long time and we are very pleased that it has become a reality. We would like to thank CWI for working with us to make this happen. The Women’s T10 Challenge which took place during the 2019 CPL was a huge success and we are looking forward to the next step forward. “We are very pleased to confirm the dates for the 2022 tournament and with travel around the world and region becoming easier CPL will be able to visit more than one country this year, so fans can enjoy CPL in person once again.” CWI has confirmed that a window has been created in an otherwise very busy international schedule so that all selected West Indies players will be available for this year’s Men’s and Women’s CPL tournaments.
NBA roundup: Devin Booker, Suns obliterate Lakers Reuters - Devin Booker poured in 12 of his team-high 30 points during a 48-point, first-quarter explosion Sunday night that sent the host Phoenix Suns to a 140-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in a matchup of possible first-round playoff opponents. Deandre Ayton also contributed 10 points to the firstquarter flurry that put the Lakers in a 26-point hole and paved the way to a seventh loss in their last nine games despite a game-high 31 points from LeBron James. Ayton finished with 23 points for the Suns, who successfully rebounded from a 117-112 home loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday. In beating the Lakers for the third straight time this season by a total of 57 points, the Suns went from a 6-2 deficit to a 16-6 lead behind a pair of Booker 3-pointers. James went for 31 points and team-highs in rebounds with seven and assists with six. The 30-point game was his 28th of the season. Carmelo Anthony had 18 points, Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk 13 apiece, and Austin Reaves 10 for the Lakers, who lost despite outscoring the Suns 48-36 on 3-pointers. Pelicans 130, Rockets 105 Jonas Valanciunas had 32 points and 10 rebounds as host New Orleans ended a four-game losing streak with a victory over Houston. Jaxson Hayes added 21 points, Naji Marshall had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Jose Alvarado had 16 points, 10 assists and six steals, Willy Hernangomez scored 12 points and Devonte’ Graham 10 for the short-handed Pelicans. Jalen Green scored 17, David Nwaba added 15, Jae’Sean Tate returned from a two-game absence due to a sore left ankle to score 14 and Josh Christopher scored 13 to pace the Rockets. Leading scorer Christian Wood returned from a three-game absence due to illness and had eight points — 10 below his average — but he added a game-high 12 rebounds. Nets 110, Knicks 107 Kevin Durant highlighted a season-high 53-point performance by hitting the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 56.3 seconds remaining as host Brooklyn edged New York. Durant made 19 of 37 shots and his biggest hoop snapped a 103-103 tie. After Goran Dragic’s defense forced New York’s Julius Randle into a turnover, Durant spotted up from the left wing opposite New York’s bench and cleanly hit a 3pointer over RJ Barrett.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) dribbles against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second half at Footprint Center. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives against New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett (9) in the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. (Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports) Durant finished one shy of his career high and also added nine assists. He also broke the franchise record held by John Williamson (1978) for points in a game against the Knicks. 76ers 116, Magic 114 (OT) Joel Embiid had 35 points and 16 rebounds, Tobias Harris scored 26 points, including a key 3-pointer late in overtime, and Philadelphia overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat host Orlando. James Harden finished with 26 points, making 13-of15 free throws, on 5-for-19 shooting. He also had six rebounds, six assists and three steals as Philadelphia improved to 6-1 with Harden wearing a Sixers uniform. Wendell Carter Jr. totaled 23 points and 12 rebounds, but Orlando missed an opportunity for its first three-game winning streak this season. Markelle Fultz dished out a season-high 11 assists and had eight of Orlando’s 51 bench points. Clippers 106, Pistons 102 Marcus Morris Sr.
fired in 31 points and grabbed seven rebounds and visiting Los Angeles rallied from 18 points down to defeat Detroit. Ex-Piston Luke Kennard supplied 16 points off the bench for the Clippers, who have defeated Detroit in their last six meetings. Another exPiston, Reggie Jackson, contributed 15 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Ivica Zubac had 14 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in 12 points. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 23 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Jerami Grant had 21 points, Marvin Bagley supplied 15 points and eight rebounds and Saddiq Bey added 13 points and eight rebounds. Cory Joseph also reached double digits with 10 points. In other results: Mavericks 95, Celtics 92 Hawks 131, Pacers 128 Grizzlies 125, Thunder 118 (Field Level Media)
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Impact, Richard Latif Grocery Store, Wellman triumph Impact, Richard Latif Grocery Store and Wellman won their respective categories when the Cheddi Jagan Memorial softball competition was contested on Sunday at Lusignan. In the open category, Impact defeated Unknown XI by 15 runs. Batting first after the game was reduced to two overs due to bad light, Impact managed 41-1 with Sachin Ramcharran scoring 21 and Saif Ali 13. Unknown XI res p o n d e d w i t h 26-1. Ramcharran was named man -of- the- match and also collected the best batsman prize. Ryan Ramadhar took the best bowler trophy. The winning team received a trophy and $20,000 while the runner up took home a trophy. In the over-40 division, Richard Latif Grocery Store beat Success by 23 runs. Richard Latif Grocery Store scored 132-2 in 15 overs, taking first strike. Skipper Latif struck nine sixes in a top score of 70 while Keith Fraser made 30 with two fours and two sixes. Success replied with 109-8. Randy Katwaroo made 48 as Fraser claimed 3-9 and Latif 3-15. Latif was named manof-the-match and took the best batsman prize while Fraser received the best bowler trophy. The winning and runner up teams collected trophies. In the over-45 segment, We l l m a n overcame Rockaway by seven wickets, batting first, Rockaway made 96 all out in 12.4 overs.
Tuesday March 15, 2022
Kaieteur News
Richard Latif (R) accepts the trophy from Mohamed Ayube.
Bushman Pawnshop and Money Lending supports Rawle Toney 3X3 in Linden
Tournament organizer, Rawle Toney (L) and Dexter Garnett of Bushman Pawnshop and Money Lending enterprise during a presentation.
Wellman Captain Wayne Jones (R) accepts the winning prize from Hafeez Ali of Rockaway. Keith Fraser scored 26 and Diaram Hemraj 25. Lakeram Mike Singh grabbed 4-10, Clive Canterbury 3-14 and Lloyd Ruplall 2-33. Wallman replied with 97-3 in 13.4 overs. Wayne Jones scored 46,
The victorious Impact captain Saif Ali collects the trophy from Mike Singh of Lakeram Mike’s Pharmacy.
Mohamed Rafeek 25 and John Sumair 18. Jai Ram and Shawn Gaskin took one wicket each. Singh was voted manof-the-match while the winning and runner teams collected trophies. In the over-50 category, Wellman beat Rockaway by five wickets. Rockaway took first strike and made 115 all out in 19 overs. Eon Lovell scored 26, Deochand Budram and Diaram Hemraj 16 each. Clive Canterbury claimed 315 and Wayne Jones 2-29. We l l m a n r e s p o n d e d with 116-5 in 19.2 overs. Ruplall made 45 and Hardar Heeranandan 21. Jai Ram took 2-7. Ruplall was named manof-the-match while both teams received trophies. The competition was organised by Lusignan PPP/C group while Navin Construction, Rockaway, Mike’s Pharmacy lent support. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Dexter Garnett, behind his Bushman Pawnshop and Money Lending enterprise, became the first business entity to support the April 23 Rawle Toney 3X3 Classic in Linden. Garnett, known for his philanthropy in sports, has assisted in outfitting the eight teams that will be competing in the one-day 3X3 format basketball event. At a simple but important presentation, Garnett said he was happy to be part of the tournament which is geared
towards helping the return of competitive basketball in Linden for the first time in over two years. Meanwhile, Toney thanked Garnett for the support and lauded his usual effort in supporting sports in Guyana. Each team will receive $25,000 as an appreciation for participating, as well uniforms. The winning team will go home with $100,000, second place $50,000, and third place $30,000.
The tournament will be held at the residence of National Award-winning promoter and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Kashif Muhammad, in Richmond Hill. As Linden celebrates 52 years as a town, the tournament will mark the start of the week-long series of events to commemorate the occasion. The tournament will be officially launched on Thursday, where sponsors and other details will be announced.
Windies name unchanged squad for 2nd Test against England
West Indies will field the same team that drew with England in the second Test in Barbados. SportsMax - Cricket West Indies (CWI) Men’s Selection Panel has named an unchanged squad for the second Apex Test match against England. The match will be played at Kensington Oval from March 16-20. The three-match Apex Series is level 0-0 following a
draw in the first Apex Test match, which was played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Nkrumah Bonner was named Player-of-the-Match. He scored a career-best 123 in the first innings and 38 not out in the second innings on the final day. “It was a hard-
fought first match in Antigua and we decided to stick with the same 13 players for the second match in Barbados,” said lead selector Desmond Haynes in explaining the decision not to make any changes ahead of the second Test. “Bonner demonstrated (Continued on page 21)
Kaieteur News
Tuesday March 15, 2022
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‘Cricket Gear for young & promising Cricketers in Guyana’
Amsterdam (AA) honoured by the project T
he late Leslie Amsterdam (AA) was honoured through the project ‘cricket gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana’ recently. At the time of his unfortunate passing in 1997, Amsterdam (AA) was the President of the BCB. His achievements are too many to mention. In recognizing his work, Peter Ramkissoon, a close relative who now lives in the USA, has contributed ninety thousand dollars to purchase cricket gear and other equipment to support the project which was conceptualized in partnership with Kishan Das of the USA. Ramkissoon promised to sponsor a tournament in Amsterdam’s honour. Amsterdam was a former West Indies Senior Cricket Team Manager who also managed the 1988 Guyana U-19 team which toured Barbados. He was also a long serving Vice President of the Guyana Cricket Board and his contribution to cricket and life in general is recognized and honored through the project. Uncle Leslie, as he was fondly known, was born at Anna Regina on the Coast of
Peter Ramkissoon Essequibo but moved with his family to Blairmont, West Bank of Berbice where he later started his cricket career. A long serving BCB President, Amsterdam was a prolific scorer at all levels he played. The left handed opener represented Berbice and British Guyana. He played eight first class matches finishing with an average of 34.27 with two centuries. During his term as President of BCB, he nurtured many outstanding cricketers from Berbice who went on to represent Guyana a n d We s t I n d i e s . Academically, he was qualified as an Occupational Therapist at Mona Campus, Jamaica.
Beharry explained that Ramkissoon contacted him with his plans to honour Amsterdam and saw this project as a fitting way to do so. Ramkissoon added that uncle Leslie played a major part in his development as a youth and his life in general and he is forever grateful. Beharry thanked him and said Uncle Leslie also played a role in his development as a cricketer, cricket administrator and a wellrounded person. Beharry informed that he was offered the position of Treasurer of the BCB in 1997 by Amsterdam and never regretted it. B e h a r r y, a f o r m e r Berbice left arm all-rounder, continued to serve Berbice Cricket and was President in 2015 when he was transferred by his employer to Georgetown. He is currently a Technocrat of the GCB with responsibility for Governance, Marketing and Finance. Total cricket related items collected so far: $130,000 cash, two trophies, eleven cricket boots, fifteen pairs of batting pads, fifteen bats, nine pairs of batting gloves, eighteen thigh pads, one wicket keeping pad, one arm guard and four cricket bags. To date, thirty young
Manager of the 1988 U-19 team Leslie Amsterdam is (3rd from right) sitting next to the late Skipper Neezam Hafiz, players from all three counties of Guyana have benefited from a junior gear bag, two trophies, nine bats, seven pairs of cricket shoes, six pairs of batting pads and seven pairs of batting gloves. In addition, the Rose Hall Estate Cricket Club benefited from a pair of stumps and bails and two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wa k e n a a m C r i c k e t Committees also received one box of red cricket balls each. Cricket related items,
used or new, will be distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders will assist to identify talent. Beharry and Das thanked Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú,
Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romesh Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies and Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana and Peter Ramkissoon. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Beharry on 623 6875 or Das on 1 718 664 0896.
Track & Field Academy launched Sunday at Leonora Charles Ramson Jr.
In an effort to transform the sports sector and amplify young talents, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, through the National Sports Commission (NSC), on Sunday launched an Athletics Sport Academy. The academy will place emphasis on track and field, and will target youths between the ages of six to sixteen from various districts across the country. At the launch held at the National Track & Field Center (NTFC), Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson, said the initiative will streamline young talents to compete internationally. “Sports need to aggressively transform; it needs to aggressively transform because we have a lot of talent in the country. It has the potential for taking young people to the level of being internationally
competitive,” Ramson explained. Additionally, the ministry has committed to help recommence the Aliann Pompey sports meet, to ensure youths are provided the opportunity to enhance their talent. Minister Ramson encouraged the youths to work hard to attain their goals in sport, noting that local competition is important. Meanwhile, National Sports Commission (NSC) board member, Cristy Campbell, encouraged the first batch of athletes to do their best to achieve their goals. Campbell highlighted that, “Your only job is to show up and train and it puts you in a position to transition to the elite programme which is also part of this academy … so I am wishing you good luck going forward. I hope you stay focused and just keep training hard.”
Cristy Campbell.