K
AIETEUR Impossible to draw NEWS
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
conclusions on new
Sunday Edition
Demerara River Bridge in
March 27, 2022 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
Price $140
absence of key details - Environmentalist
Online readership yesterday, 63,801
As Guyana increases production…
Oil producing countries urged to cut output in next 8 years to reduce effects of - researchers expose Exxon's subtle climate change and sinister forms of foot-dragging
‘Our Wealth, Our Country'
…Newly launched NGO to challenge leaders for better oil deal
VP Jagdeo maintains oil-dependent - says Guyana will not Trinidad falling apart follow in its footsteps Article 13 raises concerns with US on threat to freedom of speech, other national issues
PAGE 02
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
VP Jagdeo maintains oil-dependent- saysTrinidad Guyana will not falling apart follow in its footsteps
Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo speaking at Friday’s press conference.
By Shervin Belgrave It appears that sections of the Trinidadian government are up in arms against Guyanas Vice President (VP), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, for saying that its oil-dependent economy is falling apart. Irrespective of their feelings,
the former Head of State said his comment is an undisputable fact while adding that Guyana will not follow in Trinidads footsteps. Jagdeo had made the Trinidad comment during a recent two-day out-reach he conducted on the Essequibo
Coast, Region Two. He was at the time speaking about the need to diversify Guyanas economy to ensure that it does not become poor like other countries that were dependent on revenues from its oil and gas sector. He had said, “Invest some of the oil and gas resources into building the infrastructure, so the non-oil and gas sector in the future can generate the jobs because if you dont do that, when the oil money goes we will be poor more than many countries in the world…look at what is happening in Trinidad now.” The economist continued, “Trinidad is falling apart and that is putting it mildly, falling apart, no jobs to sustain periods of negative growth, cant see the light of day, cant see the light of day for the near future.” Jagdeos comments were reportedly not well received by his Trinidadian Continued on page 3
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 03
As Guyana increases production…
Oil producing countries urged to cut output in next 8 years to reduce effects of climate change - researchers expose Exxon’s subtle and sinister forms of foot-dragging voyage to Europe as global market suppliers seek alternatives to Russia’s oil. Greg Hill, Hess’ Chief Operating Officer disclosed that optimizing Guyana’s first floating, production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO), Liza Destiny, could see production up
Dr. Geoffrey Supran, Research Associate in the Department of the History of Science at Harvard University By Zena Henry Because of the threat of climate change, it is imperative that the world cuts its oil production by as much as 88 percent in the next eight years if global warming is to be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In fact, the situation is so dire that researchers at E n g l a n d ’s M a n c h e s t e r University’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change are now saying that the world has 28 years left to cut crude production all together if the world is to reduce the effects of a hotter planet, rising sea levels and poor air quality,
Professor Kevin Anderson, Energy and Climate Change scientist at the University of Manchester among other issues accompanying climate change. This, however, has not stopped oil producers from pushing production levels. Right here in Guyana ExxonMobil is geared to ramp up oil production at the Stabroek Block’s Liza Field. The Russia/Ukraine conflict has impacted global oil supply and as western nations reject Russia’s crude because of its invasion of Ukraine, high prices could encourage increased production in the search for alternative sources. This year, Guyana’s crude is expected to make a rare
VP Jagdeo maintains... From page 2 counterparts and at a press conference he held on Friday, the VP said it has nothing to do with Trinidadian Prime Minister Keith Rowley but rather with the fact that Trinidad was heavily reliant on its oil sector which led to its economy crashing after global oil prices fell. The VP related that he has been keeping track of Trinidad and Tobagos economic performance for a while now. He said, “I recalled reading one of their earlier budgets, not the 2022 budget where in one year they lost 80 percent of their revenue because of the change in the oil and gas prices and the fall in production.” He posited that it is difficult to organise a budget when a country has suffered such a big economic shock. “It is difficult. Things will fall apart whether you like it or not,” Jagdeo said. He added, “And I have said we are determined in Guyana to avoid going that path which has happened not just in Trinidad and Tobago but in many countries of the world.” Although it is the governments aim for Guyana to diversify its economy in order to avoid the “Dutch Disease”, or in other words for the country not to become poor when the oil resources are finished, it should be noted that there are still other areas in the oil and gas sector that need to be looked at to ensure a bright future for Guyanese. The experts in the sector have advised that Guyana could still end up in huge debt and become poor should they not negotiate good deals with foreign oil companies or push for full coverage insurance for an oil spill or some other environmental disaster.
from 140,000 barrels to 150,000 barrels of oil per day. It is currently operating at 120,000 barrels of oil per day. The second FPSO, Liza Unity is also set for optimization to reach nameplate capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day by month-end with a 15
percent increase after. The CEO said that Guyana’s third development on the Stabroek Block at the Payara Field, utilising the Prosperity FPSO, will see production startup next year with a capacity of 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day. The year after that, the
fourth development, Yellowtail, is expected to come on stream with a production capacity of some 250,000 gross barrels per day. The Hess official posited that the potential of six FPSOs in Guyana’s water will see the production of Continued on page 17
PAGE 4
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
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
10 years to clean-up, so much else could happen
I
n 10 years, a fair percentage of Guyanese would be dead from old age, chronic health issues, or as victims of random and other circumstances, but we could be still working our derrieres off in spirited attempts at cleaning up any massive oil spill. That is, if we still have any spirit left, given what we as Guyanese received for this fabulous oil wealth of ours that brings the world rushing to these tropical shores. If we do not push hard to obtain full oil insurance coverage, we could be stuck with the lingering sickness of a serious oil spill washing up at our feet, and draining the national pocketbook. Meaning, what is left of it, if anything. In 10 years, an even higher percentage of our fellow citizens, those that are younger and friskier with the flair and sweet bird of youthfulness, would still be dancing, gyrating, and celebrating in their frenzied gatherings at such landmarks as the National Stadium and the National Park, and whatever locale they make a place of riotous revelry. The world would have passed them by, with the white man feeding them sweet promises by the bucketful and barrelful. Powerful promises about being among the fastest growing GDP in the world with the most exciting growth prospects, and with all these big billions of barrels of oil equivalents for such a little population. The stark and frightening reality is that a real severe oil spill, not some remote event by itself, could wipe out all those glowing promises and all the potential that we have always had, but never seem to realise. It would be the nightmare that drowns out all our dreams, if we don’t have the most proper form of insurance coverage. Meaning full insurance coverage that is signed, sealed, and delivered - without loopholes and then locked down, with only us having the key. In 10 years, young and not so young Guyanese would still be dancing under the stars (maybe even in the sun and rain), while crooked and conspiratorial political leaders croon in their ears about how well they are doing for them, and how poorly the other leaders have done for them. What both sides of political tricksters and scoundrels that we have been blessed with for leaders would neglect to remember and to articulate publicly is how little they would have put into a genuine fight to obtain that same full oil spill insurance coverage for this country. Our leaders are too smart for that, too much of the political conmen and accompanying women that they are to admit to such failings. They will find some form of slick diversion to distract the population, the naïve and gullible parts of it, and pull the wool over their eyes. Currently, it is that US$2B is in play, and it is a big deal for little Guyana. A larger lie has not been told with this national oil treasure, for US$2B will fall far short should a big oil spill hit us. Because we are poor, we should not be preparing for fender benders, but any head-on smashup and full facial rupture that could leave us financially disfigured and devastated for the rest of our oil life. We would still be cleaning up, if we could afford it, have the interest and energy for it, 10 years in the future. In 10 years, we Guyanese, young and old, and of all colours and kinds, would still be quarrelling with and cussing at each other (in powerful imitations of our divisive and calculating leaders), while the white American man, the Frenchman, the Chinese man, the bronzed Arab man, and the dark Indian man help us to deplete our oil stocks. We would still be in love with sticking out our feet and tripping up the Black and Brown man right here, who are feared as competitive components that get in our way. But without a care for the rapacious exploitations of all those foreign men and women, who come here to rob us and rip our guts out. In 10 years, while we cleanup and endeavour at fix-up, outsiders would have stripped our oil cupboard clean. We would still be warring, the foreigners flourishing.
Sunday March 27, 2022
Send your letters to Kaieteur News, 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
My condemnation of the EPAs institutional performance is just that, not a judgment of its staff members DEAR EDITOR, On March 14, 2022, The Kaieteur News carried the article: EPA doing guesswork environmentalist says agency lacks data to conclude 12-well drilling campaigns will not harm environment.” The article was accurate in citing my submission to the Environmental Assessment Board that the Environmental Protection Agency lacked relevant empirical data to conclude that the proposed ESSO Kaieteur and Canje exploratory well drilling activities were not likely to significantly impact the natural en-
vironment. However, the Kaieteur News used its editorial licence to reframe my submission as “EPA doing guesswork”. I did not use this phrase. Please correct the misinformation. I noticed that in his March 20, 2022, column: Electricity bills unchanged, flour up, infections down, restrictions lesser and EPA guesswork, columnist GHK Lall attributes the phrase to me. I once stated publicly that some of the decisions that were coming out of the EPA make the agency appear as
though it is an asylum that it is run by its inmates. I stand by my comment regarding grossly irrational decisions when compared with the information before the Agency. However, I do not know whether professional disposition for incomprehensiveness or external influence or both, are the reasons for these decisions. What I do know, is that the rabid culture that is taking hold in Guyana of “us and them”, with citizens and civic organisations turning on each other when it comes to discussing matters of public in-
terest, is ugly and an insidious threat to democracy. We must mindfully guard against it at all turns, and I start here by making it known that my condemnation of the EPAs institutional performance is just that, not a judgment of its staff members. Simone Mangal Editors Note: This publication hereby extends an unequivocal apology to Ms. Simone Mangal for inaccurately reframing her contribution, and as requested, what was misrepresented will be corrected.
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox The last thing any Airline would wish for is an acrimonious relationship with the Minister Dear Editor, The Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana (AOA G ) w r o t e t o t h e Minister of Public Works on 10th March, 2022, on matters of considerable concern to our membership. The letter was intended for the eyes only of the Minister but, unfortunately, was irresponsibly leaked on Facebook and, subsequently, ex-
tracts were published in the media. Let me be clear. The AOAG does not conduct our business on social media or make use of dishonest tactics to have its way. We represent an Industry that heavily depends on trust decorum and appropriate relationships. This is the fundamental fuel that Commercial Aviation runs on world-
wide. I can categorically state without fear of contradiction, that no member of the AOAG was responsible for the leak of the letter. In fact, the AOAG represents some thirteen (13) primary companies in the aviation industry, except Air Services Limited (ASL), who have elected not to be a member of the oldest representative body of the
A recipe everywhere for disaster and damnation DEAR EDITOR, Pascal reminded us with these few words that, “Justice without power is inefficient; power without justice is tyranny.” It has come to my attention that as a result of what seems to be a purely family matter, that a well placed businessman, a person with known PPP solid connections, one Mr. Hamid, whose daughter is the wife of the Chairman of Region 4, Daniel Seeram, a former member of the Guyana Defence Force, had an exchange of words outside of MovieTowne. Both parties made similar complaints to the police. The information is that the files were sent to the C.I.D. The police by telephone informed Mr. Seeram that he has been charged for threatening behaviour and must appear in Court. In ordinary circumstances, we should ignore this incident, however in a
politically polarized society, one can hardly ignore the perception that sections of the Force, as we noted the Police in other circumstances, is acting on directions from our political establishment. If there is any validity of this perception, it means we as a people are in serious trouble that no sane or sensible Guyanese wishes to see this materialise. I am sending this letter to the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs and Commissioner of Police, for them to explain why only one
Party of this alleged verbal exchange is being hauled before the Court. Some of us grew up believing in the old wisdom that says let justice be done though the heavens fall. Let us do nothing to create an impression that sections of the Police Force are no longer impartial and professional. A recipe everywhere for disaster and damnation. Best regards, Hamilton Green Elder
aviation industry in Guyana. It has, however, been the practice of the Association to share with Air Services Limited, which is one of the largest aircraft operators in the country, positions taken by the Association on industry matters. This practice has been successful numerous times as a collective representation of the industry within the last year. The Association was, therefore, surprised by the letter published in the K a i e t e u r N e w s on 20th
March, 2022, from Capt. A Mazahar Ally, Managing Director of Air Services Limited and its subsidiary companies, since, in fact, our letter was shared with the Accountable Man a g e r o f ASL. Our letter speaks for itself and it is not, therefore, our intention to debate it in public w i t h C a p t . A l l y, e x c e p t to say that we are disappointed in and do n o t s u p p o r t h i s remarks with regard to the administration of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority
(GCAA). We p r e f e r t o h a v e constructive dialogue a m o ng industry professionals which we are still o p e n to d o i n g d e s p i t e your refusal to see us. We h a v e r e q u e s t e d and look forward to meeting with the Minister on the subject of our letter. An acrimonious relationship with the Minister is the last thing any Airline would wish for. Yours sincerely, Capt. Gerald Gouveia (Jnr.) President
PAGE 6
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Another “La la land” idea?
ACDA joins in the condemnation of attorney-at-law Nirvan Singhs racist attack on a female police officer
DEAR EDITOR, Previously, the government was criticised by the same side, for giving handouts and making citizens dependent on such handouts, which has now
tabled a motion for a sizeable handout to each person over 18 years every quarter. Giving a handout of the amount being sought would not make citizens productive and fruitful and
would develop the handout, dependent syndrome. Did the side making the call think this through carefully or was it another “La la land” big idea? Shamshun Mohamed
A strong balance sheet is the best insurance DEAR EDITOR, Former EPA head Dr. Vincent Adams is committed to a public pressure campaign for Exxon to make public its insurance coverage and policy documents so that in his mind Guyana can be assuaged in the event of an incident. But the company has been clear that it will cover any and all costs arising from a spill as it has done in other countries under compliance with local laws. I share Dr. Adams concerns about coverage if the worst happens, but I must ask what he wants from the company that a blank cheque like this does not provide. He has called for $2.5 billion in insur-
ance. But that would be nothing to cover a large spill. In recent history, the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico generated some US$61.6 billion and $71 billion in direct and indirect costs for BP and partners including a civil settlement of over US$20 billion. No insurance policy in the world is large enough to cover that, which is why BP drew on its vast cash reserves and borrowed using its global assets as collateral to finance the cleanup. Prior to the spill, BP self-insured its operation in the lease-block for $700 million, a drop in the bucket compared to the ultimate costs the company had to bear.
This is the standard practice across the industrycompanies cover their own disasters with their assets. There is simply no magic number for insurance that would guarantee damages were covered and no company would actually issue such a massive and openended policy. In the end, it is assets that matter, not insurance. I will note that in the case of EEPGL, Exxons local subsidiary, there is a balance sheet of US$5 billion in assets that can be leveraged to get financing to respond to any event such as a spill. Sincerely, Romel Khan
An unfair attack on Hinduism, Hindus and Hindu Leaders DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Malcolm Harripauls missive, “Hindu wedding house violence and ignorance” (KN 23/03, 2022), is an unfair attack on Hinduism, Hindus and Hindu Leaders and cannot be left unnoticed. It warrants a response, lest we facilitate the author and others of his ilk to bring Hinduism into public embarrassment and disrepute. The author accuses Hindus i n t h e m o s t derogatory ways of being the promoters and harvesters of violence, rum drinking and noise pollution. This is not unique to Hindus and it is outright disrespectful to the Hindu community. People belonging to every society and faith
partake in alcohol, noise making and are convicted at times for violence. The onus is not on the Hindu leaders to stop the rum and noise culture as suggested by the letter w r i t e r, a s i t i s n o t t h e Hindus who own that culture. It is unfortunate that some Hindus have caused their wedd i n g s to be overwhelmed with alcohol drinking and loud music, but this practice, as of recent, has been changing due to many Pandits refusing to conduct weddings where alcohol bars are kept. If non-Hindus like Mr. Harripaul would use a Hindu wedding as the yardstick to define Hinduism and would believe as he claimed, that rum, noise and violence are
part of Hindu religion, then no one except himself and those non-Hindus are to be blamed for their ignorance. However, Mr. Harripauls agenda is a different one which he revealed when he suggested that the answer to the rum and noise culture is conversion of the Hindus to Christianity. Why the Hindu? It behooves the questions: Is it the Hindus alone who lime and drink daily at the seawalls and which at times ended up in gun violence, robberies, et al? Is it the Hindus who host weekly street corner limes and bar-b-ques with loud music and gamble? Is it the Hindus alone who attend the weekly and sometimes nightly club parties characterized by noise and alcohol? Yours sincerely, Pt. C. Nandalall
Piled-up garbage - a serious health hazard at Success, ECD Dear Editor, I am kindly requesting the assistance of the authority at NDC - Betterhope, Success, LBI illage council to bring relief to the serious health hazard being created by failure of NDC to collect garbage weekly. It is now two weeks since
garbage has been collected at Success, East Coast Demerara. This situation is becoming a serious health hazard since the garbage is piling up and worms and flies are infesting it. Also, some persons may be forced to dispose of too much garbage by whatever
means possible. NDC, kindly bring some relief to this unbearable, annoying and unhealthy situation. PS: This is not the first time this situation has occurred. Thank you, Dennis Persaud
DEAR EDITOR, SPITTING IN THE FACE AND THE CASTING OF RACIAL SLURS IS DEHUMANISING AND A VIOLATION OF THE AFRICAN COLLECTIVE. We view spitting in the face of this African-Guyanese woman in 2022 Guyana as worse than similar actions of white slave makers to Africans. Attorney Nirvan Singh’s conduct has no place in Guyanese society and must be rejected by all Guyanese, regardless of race or class. ACDA views this matter not as an isolated development but a symptom of a serious and expanding worsening of race relations in the country.
We condemn the leadership of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for its complicity by its failure to act as required by the law of the land. Guyana is a society based on the rule of law, and no citizen regardless of status or political connection is above the law. ACDA notes the apology of Mr. Singh’s father, the former Chancellor for his son’s reckless behaviour, but the perpetrator remains unrepentant. Mr. Nirvan Singh is a conscious offender with no respect for decency and conduct befitting his profession as an officer of the court ACDA calls on the Guyana Bar Association to take the necessary action against Attorney Singh’s criminal
conduct. ACDA notes the rise of racial triumphalism since the return to office by the PPPC government. This racial, aggression must be stopped in the interest of national unity and peace. Those with the power to end this degenerative conduct must act now or accept responsibility for worsening race relations and the consequences We demand that immediate charges be laid against Mr. Singh by the relevant authorities. Failure to do so will be viewed as a breakdown of the social contract that binds the society. African Cultural Development Association
Low Carbon Development: Key for Manufacturing Industry’s Growth in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, Guyanas manufacturing industry is young and ready for new technologies when dealing with the topic of climate change. By adopting new technologies, Guyana will be able to focus on ecofriendly developments across different sectors in all industries throughout the country. Other nations have already begun to explore and search for alternative options to efficiently cut down CO2 emissions while maintaining economic growth. Climate change is becoming a major topic of debate due to the real environmental threats and implications the world will face in the future. By focusing on developing new technologies now, Guyana will be able to maintain a relatively low-carbon friendly outlook in the future. In addition, by adopting a respectively lowcarbon emission goal we are not only looking out for the future of this nation but also the entire world, especially considering the fact that this is becoming a popular route with other nations as well. Different countries and global organisations have their own opinions on low carbon development. Low-carbon energy, low-carbon life, and low-carbon development are examples of important concepts Guyana should take on and adopt. In order to become a better nation, we must be aware of the impacts of the local industries have on the environment. By adopting
new methods and using leading technologies, we now have the capability to be more careful by being able to monitor more closely the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere. This new outlook has a central focus on technologies to produce low carbon emitting machines that results in promoting better practices in the developing world. Low-carbon society, low-carbon city, low-carbon community, and a low-carbon world are important concepts and are all intertwined, but also have some fundamental distinctions between them as well. As Guyana becomes more involved in the international market, our economy will slowly become globalised. Regardless, we must protect our nations resources in competition and industries in foreign markets. By implementing an initiative that will give Guyana an advantage in the global market is an opportunity that must be used to the countrys advantage. One initiative is the Import Substitution Industrialization Strategy. This strategy protects sectors of industries until they become strong enough to compete internationally while the country is open to free trade. Most of Guyanas GDP goes towards imports, partially because of Guyanas weak manufacturing industry. Protecting our industries will give businesses time to adjust to the low carbon strategies. The manufacturing in-
dustry and related developments are expected to significantly increase due to the oil discoveries and the influx of foreign companies in the region. President Ali has set forth an initiative towards meeting his goal to reduce food imports by an impressive 40 percent by the year 2025. This will be the perfect opportunity to start to focus on the revamp of the low carbon manufacturing industry by building up this sector in Guyana. Implementing a strategy that uses technologies that only give off a relatively low amount of carbon emissions into the local atmosphere will be of great importance when it comes to the production of and sourcing food locally. This is important for not only the local market but eventually other ventures in the future regarding global exportations. By increasing the local output of goods produced, these local resources can help the nation and will result in the decrease of the amount of goods imported into the country. In other words, investing in technologies and products associated with low-carbon manufacturing will enable Guyana to reduce imports by slowly increasing exports, and simultaneously self-supporting and sustaining the local economy. Low carbon manufacturing produces lower levels of carbon that is emitted into the atmosphere by using methods (Continuted on page 68)
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N B T . U . L . L T B . . N . U N U T L N B . U T . . L N N U T B . U . N L U BL BLUNT. B . . T . T T N N U . U L . . L B . T B . . . . N . T U T N N T U N U L L U B . L B . . . . B . T . . T . N N T U N L LU U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B . T L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B . T . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . . LU ...BLUN B T . . . N T U N L U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T . U B . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T BB T...BLU U N L U B . L . . B . T . . N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . . N . B . T . . N T U N N N U L U U B L . BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
“Guyana, Guyana, this fair land of ours, has broken the bondage of far distant powers…” These words are from one of our national songs 'Guyana the Free' which was composed by Valerie Rodway.
Indeed, this was to emphasise that Guyana was emancipated from outside powers. But the oppression of yesteryear has evolved.
Instead of 'distant powers', our leaders are the ones who are positioning us for a lifetime of oppression, evident by some of the deals they have entered into that will indebt this nation for generations to come. Guyanese, it is clear that the struggle continues for a truly liberated Guyana.
PAGE 07
PAGE 08
Sunday March 27, 2022
Suspected stolen gun found in police station compound
The gun that was found in the Parika Police Station compound.
A
gun that was reportedly stolen was found on Thursday in the compound of the Parika Police Station. According to police, the firearm, a .32 Tarus pistol, was discovered around 23:36hrs between some garbage bins by a man who assists the police in cleaning the compound. He reportedly picked it up and took it to some ranks. Police believe that the weapon was stolen from a man on March 8, last and was used to commit an armed robbery. The man had reported to
police that he was relieved of the weapon and other personal belongings around 10:55hrs that day. He had reportedly stopped on the Orangestein Public Road on the East Bank of Essequibo to render assistance to some persons with their motorcar. He had claimed that while doing so, the individuals pounced on him and relieved him of his weapon and other personal belongings. However, police have since revealed that their ongoing investigation is yet to corroborate the man's report.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Dem
boys seh... De petrol price rising. Some people flinching when dem drive up to de petrol station. Dem wrongly accusing dem attendant of overcharging dem. When dem attendant point to de metre on de pump, dem driver claiming h o w d e m e t r e malfunctioning. Dem boys read how de CDC in America asking dem people fuh wear masks over dem eyes when dem going to buy gas. De Guyana guvament seh dem removing de excise taxes pun gasoline and
Gasoline price mek some men staying home kerosene. But dem nah tell people dat it gan only help reduce de price per litre by about $20, if suh much. Dat can only buy two mints. Is best de guvament didn't bother. De higher price would force people to drive less and therefore use less gas. We gat some people in Guyana does like deh pun de road every day. Is nat like dem gat fuh deh pun de road. Is just out of habit dem gat to deh pun de road. Now with de gas prices rising, some ah dem deciding dat dem only going
downtown one day per week and on dat day dem gan do all dem business. Dis is called efficiency and it showing how de increase in de price of gasoline is not all dat bad. But wat mek dem boys head raise up is fuh learn dat in an oil-producing country, we still gat people using kerosene stove. By now everybody should have been able to afford electric stove. But we can't do dat fuh de next 100 years suh long as we gat dat 2 percent royalty and de 12.5 percent profit sharing. Talk half, leff half.
PAGE 09
Man stabbed for telling neighbour to be quiet A 53-year-old labourer of Parika Façade, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) is now in a critical condition after he was on Friday stabbed several times for telling his neighbour to be quiet. The labourer identified as Christopher Kingston was stabbed around 01:30hrs. According to police, Kingston and the man who allegedly stabbed him are tenants in the same building. The suspect had reportedly gone home intoxicated that
morning. He was reportedly cursing loudly in the yard and Kingston decided to confront him. Kingston reportedly told him to stop cursing and keep his voice down because he was tired and wanted to sleep. The suspect became annoyed and an argument started between them. He then armed himself with a knife and stabbed Kingston several times about his body. Persons
living close by were alerted by the commotion and they called police. By the time ranks arrived, the suspect had escaped. They rushed Kingston to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was treated and then referred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Investigators reported that Kingston is in a critical condition. Police are on the lookout for the suspect.
PAGE 10
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Victory Int'l donates to GPHC Oncology Dept. Dr. Mark Vasconcellos, founder and CEO of Victory International (a non-profit organisation based out of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA), has donated needed items to the Department of Oncology at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The donation was made on March 10, 2022.Dr. Vasconcellos presented a wheelchair, along with other items to the GPHC. Victory International continues to serve the people of Guyana through its
Dr. Mark Vasconcellos, founder and CEO of Victory International donated needed items to the Department of Oncology at the GPHC.
partnership with the local non-profit, Project Life, which embraces the motto: “Helping the needy; Serving Humanity.” Dr. Vasconcellos was in Guyana making preparations for a larger visit by a team from the United States in May of this year. Victory International's team from North Carolina was in Guyana from May 17 to May 24, serving citizens through various humanitarian outreaches and ministries, including a medical and dental clinic.
13
PAGE 14
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
Mayor Narine frustrated by LGC's failure to act on Motion to dismiss City Engineer
City Mayor Ubraj Narine has expressed frustration with what he said is a lack of interest by the Local Government Commission (LGC) on matters of importance to the Council. During a press conference on Friday, Mayor Narine noted
that he raised the recent recommendation of the Council to terminate the services of the City Engineer Colvern Venture as one which the LGC has failed to act on. In this regard, Narine indicated that the LGC's sloth
in dealing with the issue has placed the entire City of Georgetown in jeopardy. He noted that as the transformation of Georgetown continues, massive construction and renovation projects are being executed and can be
impacted by the failure to address the problem with the engineer. Mayor Narine alluded to one current project which has received funding from the Government of Guyana – the construction of the administrative building for t
Colvern Venture
City Mayor Ubraj Narine
he Municipality— and is likely to fail to reach its deadline. According to Narine, the Council has never received the contract or specifications from the City Engineer. A d d i t i o n a l l y, h e s a i d whatever information was provided in a piecemeal fashion and was incorrect or filled with inaccuracies. He added that, “Essential elements such as a plumbing plan and electrical plan were absent and recently, it has been discovered that the
calculations for the thickness of concrete used were inaccurate bringing into question whether or not the building will be safe for occupancy whenever it is completed.” Mayor Narine also indicated that the City Engineer has even apparently flouted Government Policy as recently highlighted by the Minister of Home Affairs, following the recent upsurge in fires around the city. It was recommended that fire (Continued on page 17)
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 15
Increase Guyanese salary above the poverty line before the world stops producing oil - Prof. Clive Thomas By Zena Henry
G
uyana's primary e c o n o m i c p r o b l e m , according to local economist, Professor Clive Thomas, is poverty. He believes that if Guyana is to address this and other societal difficulties from its oil riches, it would need to earnestly develop the capital skills of citizens as a collective. He said that given Guyana's short time to produce oil and gas due to the world's gradual shift to clean energy, the country should focus on its people's abilities'
be used as a bridge to future energy expected to come after about 2070 and that would mean taking every citizen above the poverty line and creating opportunities for them to contribute. “I think by developing the basic income of all the people, we also get to generate their skills, their entrepreneurship in the development of activities in Guyana. In other words, instead of trying to find a central area, a government or somebody to lead initiatives to invest and develop Guyana, by raising the capacities of people at the
Professor Clive Thomas
in that direction. But first, the economist advised, the government would have to increase the salary of Guyanese to a level which removes them from below the poverty line. It was on Associate Professor and Executive Member of the Working People's Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds' show, Politics 101 that Prof. Thomas reminded of his Buxton proposal in which he proposes hard cash be given to citizens from oil revenues as a “structured and direct assault” on poverty. “So, the objective of the Buxton proposal is to ensure that everybody gets a basic universal income that takes them above the poverty line as defined and measured in Guyana,” he said. Prof. Thomas said that there is less than five decades left for the world to produce carbon emitting energy, so a priority initiative for Guyana is to focus on becoming a global leader in renewable energy within the decade and become an exporter. He said that many countries would want to “assist Guyana and use our model given our ideal circumstances of water, wind and other sources.” Oil funds, he said, should
basic levels so everyone is allowed to come into the ventured scheme, entrepreneurial scheme, we rely on those people to generate income opportunities, production opportunities that would take us into a sustainable level of living going forward.” Prof. Thomas offered that well developed countries with a strong industrial or service base have used this very model of developing the capacity of its people to independently seek means and opportunities, but that is when the orientation of the society is to empower people with enough capital skills and knowledge required for them to solve society's problems as a collective and not as a group of any experts. The economist charged that investing in human capital will see new innovations in various parts of society since less people would have to worry about meeting their basic needs; with more time to create since the cutting edge of all civilisations is the capacity to invent, to make things that never existed before and to see things in a way that they were not seen before. To the argument of citizens' squandering the
physical cash, Prof. Thomas said, that is a real possibility even as he pointed out that evidence in the world has shown that most people generally have an interest in their own future and their needs. In cases where citizens receive direct
income, they have spent their monies on investment goods such as improving their homes, health and welfare of their families. After explaining risk assessment and actuary science, he opined that the percentage of citizens wasting their money
could be about two percent. Where inflation was put forward as a deterrent for giving citizens hard cash, Prof. Thomas said, if the price of goods and services rise, it would have to continuously do so for it to be inflation, but that would not
happen unless the income of citizens continuously rise. For Guyana, that is a doubleedged sword, Prof. Thomas said because increased income and demand would generate a response to produce more goods and (Continued on page 17)
PAGE 16
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
CXC's Director of Operations Examination Services, Dr. Nicole Manning (second from right) and CXC's Internal Auditor, Mrs. Denise Holden-Pierre (third from right) engaging Senior Officers of the Ministry of Education including the Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson (seated right)
CXC team in Guyana conducting stakeholder engagement sessions Director of Operations Examination Services, Dr. Nicole Manning with representatives of the Guyana Teachers' Union inclusive of the Union's President, Mr. Mark Lyte (left) Representatives of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) are presently in Guyana conducting stakeholder engagement sessions. The purpose of the stakeholder engagements, according to a Ministry of Education release, is to discuss the Council's operational imperatives, specifically the e-transition framework and to share the territorial performance both at the subject and school-based assessment level. These engagements will also allow the Ministry of Education to hear from our stakeholders and form a part of the input for the efficiency audit of the local registrar's operations which will be conducted by the CXC team during their time here. This collaboration with our stakeholders is focused on gaining improvements across Guyana with the critical involvement of the Ministry of Education and equal participation of secondary schools. The engagement sessions and the efficiency audits will be conducted by CXC's Director of Operations Examination Services, Dr. Nicole
Manning and CXC's Internal Auditor, Mrs. Denise Holden-Pierre in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. Thus far, meetings have been held with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Alfred King, Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson and Senior Officers from the Ministry of Education, Head teachers, Deputy Head teachers – Georgetown, Senior Masters and Mistresses and IT personnel. The CXC team has also met with representatives of the Guyana Teachers' Union. Students preparing to write the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination from Georgetown, Regions Three, Four and Five have also been engaged by the CXC team. Meetings are being held using the face to face and online modes. The team will also be visiting Regions Six, Nine and 10. This visit to Guyana aligns with one of the Council's strategic objectives to improve stakeholder satisfaction.
Director of Operations Examination Services, Dr. Nicole Manning engaging representatives from all the secondary schools in Region Six gathered at the New Amsterdam Secondary School.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 17
Oil producing countries urged to cut output in... From page 3 more than one million gross barrels of oil per day at the Stabroek Block by 2027. In fact, there is potential for up to 10 FPSOs to develop the gross discovered recoverable resources currently estimated at more than 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent. In the meantime, climate change observers are pushing rich oil producing countries to end production in the next 12 years while, poor countries are being encouraged to do so in the next 28 years. The Tyndall report, by Professor Kevin Anderson and other researchers at the Climate Change Research Centre, is warning that, “There is no room for any nation to increase production.” They say that significant cuts to oil production must to be made this decade to resist global warming. “The richest (countries), which produce over a third of the world's oil and gas, must cut output by 74 percent by 2030; the poorest, which supply just one ninth of global demand, must cut back by 14 percent.” The report proposes different phase-out dates for oil and gas producing countries. Considering countries' differing levels of wealth, development and economic reliance on fossil fuels, the report says the poorest nations should be given until 2050 to end production although they would need significant financial support to transition their economies. Richer countries are urged to quit producing crude by 2034. In signing the United
Nation's Paris Agreement on climate change, coal power generation was also up for discussion and wealthy Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries were called upon to end this type of energy supply by 2030, with the rest of the world following by 2040. Calls are intensifying for global leaders and influencers to up their climate change resilience by doing away with heavy carbon contributors, but some oil companies and those that make big bucks from fossil fuel, have been bent on keeping their status quo by resisting climate change action. Last September, the Harvard University's news site, Harvard Gazette published an article that f o cu s ed o n d elib er ate attempts of big oil companies to influence people's mind against the seriousness of climate change. Under the title 'Tracing Big Oil's PR war to delay action on climate change', the article pointed out that the U.S. House of Representatives' Oversight Committee had earlier that month widened inquiries into Exxon's role, in fostering doubt about the role of fossil fuels in causing climate change. A letter from the panel that was sent to Darren Woods, ExxonMobil's chief executive, said that lawmakers were “concerned that to protect… profits, the industry has reportedly led a coordinated effort to spread disinformation to mislead the public and prevent crucial action to address
climate change.” The Gazette said it had spoken with Dr. Geoffrey Supran, a research fellow in the History of Science, who, together with Naomi Oreskes, the Henry Charles Lea Professor of the History of Science, published a series of studies in recent years about Exxon's climate communications. He said a key contribution of the research work demonstrated systematic and statistically significant bias of ExxonMobil's public communications toward denial and delay. “In our most recent work, we've had to rely on statistical techniques from computational linguistics to uncover patterns of speech hiding in plain sight. These include a systematic fixation on consumer energy demand rather than on the fossil fuels that the company supplies and the systematic representation of climate change as a “risk” rather than a reality. These are subtle patterns that, we've now realised, have been systematically embedded into climate discourse by ExxonMobil and other fossil fuel interests.” “That's particularly discomforting,” Supran charged, “because when you start to pull back the curtain, you see just how sophisticated the oil industry's propaganda machine has been, how easily their rhetoric has snuck into people's consciousness and biased the way the public thinks about this.” Supran continued, “ExxonMobil's vice
Mayor Narine frustrated by... From page 14 prevention and suppression mechanisms be implemented in new buildings being constructed; however, this building has none. The Mayor has stated that the LGC continues to allow the officer to operate without concern for the safety of staff of the Municipality or the citizens of Georgetown
who will be affected should there be a fire. As such, Narine also called on the LGC to address the motion of the Council to terminate the services of the City Engineer with urgency. The Council has expressed no confidence in the City Engineer and has written to the LGC recommending that he be terminated.
Increase Guyanese salary... From page 15 service and Guyana is presented again with the opportunity to satisfy many of its needs that is imported from overseas. With increased income, Prof. Thomas said people buy more goods and services that spread the income within the community. “So, if everybody has a
significant basic income, then every community has the capacity to raise the level of employment and level of income circulating in that community and create wider opportunities for everybody in the community.” Prof. Thomas lamented however, that the money must not be episodic grants
and handouts that citizens cannot rely on, as they would be unsure as to when they will receive it. “What is important about this universal basic income is that it is predictable so it becomes part of your calculation of your live stream of income so you can make decisions based on it and not what if…”
president and pioneer of PR in the '70s and '80s literally talked about what he called 'semantic infiltration'.” He called it “the process whereby language does the dirty work of politics.” And he said that the first “general principle” of PR was to “grab the good words…while sticking your opponents with the bad ones.” Our research now shows that's exactly what they've been up to for decades.” Supran said that from the mid-2000s through to the 2010s, ExxonMobil and other fossil-fuel companies
gradually “evolved” their language, in the words of one E x x o n M o b i l m a n a g e r, “from blatant climate denial to these more subtle and insidious forms of delayism.” “So, while their outright denial has tapered off, their propaganda hasn't stopped. It's in fact shifted into high gear and is now operating with a sophistication that we've never seen before,” Supran said. Last year, it was widely reported that Exxon lobbyist, Keith McCoy had been caught on camera explaining how his company
was trying to influence American President Joe Biden's interest in tackling climate change. McCoy, a senior director in Exxon's Washington DC government affairs team, admitted that the company was working with “shadow groups” against climate change action, that they fought against science proving climate change, among other things, and that the company was looking out for its i n v e s t m ents and shareholders over climate change issues.
PAGE 18
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
==GNBS in Focus==
MAINTAINING TRANSPARENCY IN RICE INDUSTRY AS HARVESTING MOVES APACE Over the last couple of weeks, the rice industry has been buzzing with activities as the harvesting of the first rice crop for 2022 commenced in the various rice growing regions of Guyana. As farmers aim to maximise profits from their yields, millers are aiming to
buy and stockpile paddy at a competitive market price. Accuracy and transparency in all transactions is crucial to ensure that the interests of both farmers and millers are protected. As the organisation legally responsible for measurements in Guyana by virtue of the 1981 Weights
and Measures Act, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) works to ensure farmers and millers benefit from a reliable measurement system in the industry. The Bureau also has several standards to streamline the production processes and ensure quality rice is produced for local
consumption and export. F o r We i g h t s a n d Measures, transparency between farmers and millers is primarily critical in testing for the moisture content of paddy and the accurate determination of weights supplied. These aspects, individually and
collectively, affect the actual price millers pay to farmers for their paddy. During the months of January and February, prior to the rice crop (harvesting), Legal Metrology Inspectors of the GNBS worked feverishly to complete the verification of measuring instruments used throughout the industry, including weighbridge scales, platform scales, hopper scales and smaller laboratory scales. Verification was conducted at rice mills in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six. Meanwhile, millers have been submitting their commercial type of moisture metres used to determine the moisture content of paddy to the GNBS Main Office and its branch offices in Regions Two and Six. Early last year, the Bureau commenced the verification of the commercial types of moisture metres instead of those domestic types used in the industry over the years. The commercial moisture metres are more applicable to production seen across the industry, and the GNBS has been exceptionally pleased with the responsiveness of millers in making this crucial change over. Apart from ensuring reliable measurements, the implementation and use of standards is very important and can be considered essential for addressing quality issues in the rice industry. The CARICOM Standard –Specification for Rice” (GCP 10:2003) which
is also a National Standard prescribes hygienic and safety practices for the processing, packaging, storage, and transport of rice for human consumption. By implementing this standard, producers within the industry can meet production and harvesting requirements, hygienic processing requirements, along with design and facilities requirements. Conforming to the requirements of this and other related standards could help to improve quality, increase production efficiency, and protect consumers' health and safety. As farmers continue to supply their paddy to the mills, it is important for them to be present to oversee the measuring of paddy, and to ensure that scales and moisture metres are verified. Importantly, scales must indicate zero before weighing commences. For millers, it is important that they allow farmers to witness the weighing of paddy and the processes of determining moisture and dockage contents. Additionally, millers should promptly address queries raised by farmers to ensure transparency, and ensure all transactions are conducted in the SI (Metric) units of measurement. For further information, call the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0065 or visit the GNBS website: w w w. g n b s g y. o r g o r facebook.com/gnbsgy
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 19
Kaieteur News
PAGE 20
Sunday March 27, 2022
Impossible to draw conclusions on new Demerara River Bridge in absence of key details – Environmentalist
The proposed alignment for the new Demerara River Bridge.
Environmentalist, Simone Mangal-Joly
“You must appreciate that the absence of the basic information on the bridge design and works that I noted in my letter to the EPA makes it impossible for anyone, including the EAB, to draw conclusions on the likely significance of the impacts of the proposed bridge and whether the EPA’s decision is acceptable…at the very least, it would be an abuse of public time if this information were not available to yourself and the appellants before the hearing.” - Simone Mangal-Joly
Ashaly Jarad
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
This week’s beauty is 21year-old Ashaly Jarad. Jarad is a Telesales Agent who enjoys dancing and hanging out with her friends. Her favourite quote is by Maya Angelou: “You may encounter many defeats but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
PAGE 22
Sunday March 27, 2022
‘Our Wealth, Our Country’ …Newly launched NGO to challenge leaders for better oil deal
Danny Ramnarain addressing the members of OWOC at the launch of the group. By Davina Bagot
A
group of passionate Guyanese have joined forces to form a new non-governmental organisation (NGO), dubbed ‘Our Wealth, Our Country’ (OWOC), that will be challenging the country’s leaders to ensure citizens benefit from a better contract with oil giant, ExxonMobil. OWOC was officially launched last Sunday at the Ramada Hotel in Providence, East Bank Demerara. Since then, more than 500 persons have joined the group. One of the founders, Mr. Danny Ramnarain, who resides in the United States of America (USA), in an interview, said the NGO is currently on a mission to get more Guyanese on board the
call for renegotiation of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), signed by 2016, under the former administration with Exxon. “We are demanding our fair share of wealth from the country’s resources. For too long Guyanese have sat down and allowed foreigners to come in and take away what belongs to us. It has happened with our gold, timber, bauxite, lumber and in all the other sectors, but we are here to stand up and say to government that we will not be bullied,” a passionate Ramnarain told this publication. The founding member explained that organisations such as OWOC are grassroots bodies which represent the wishes of the underprivileged and unheard voices in society, such as the poor or less fortunate.
He explained that governments often tend to forget that it was those sets of people who voted them into power. So the goal of the NGO is to ensure political parties keep their manifesto promises. In this case, Ramnarain said that while on the campaign trail, now President Irfaan Ali, had promised to renegotiate the oil contract, which at the moment seemed to be nothing but a ploy to attract votes. Ramnarain argued that the importance of the contract being renegotiated is beyond evident in Guyana’s economy today, as low and middle class earners struggle to make ends meet, while those at the higher end of the pay scale, especially politicians are ignorant of the cost for basic food items in supermarkets and shops. “I think it is time for Guyanese to wake up and take back their
country. This present oil contract does not benefit the poor people in society. It is only beneficial to the government and Exxon. We are in high gear to have them renegotiate. Our government cannot say to people that they would do this and when elected they do things differently,” he asserted. About the founding member, Danny Ramnarain Ramnarain grew up in Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara, with his parents and five sisters. Importantly, he was neighbour to his aunt, Kowsilla also known as ‘Alice’ (only names given), who fought for better working and living conditions for sugar workers in the 1960s. His aunt was a fighter who, during a general sugar workers strike, formed a human Continued on page 44
Members of OWOC protesting against the oil contract recently.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 23
Let the market set the prices! Predatory pricing is on the loose. While it is understandable that the prices of imported items are going to be increased, the degree to which locally grown fruits, vegetables and poultry have increased cannot be attributed to imported inflation. Local producers are taking advantage of the situation. They are making a killing. The prices of vegetables and fruits in the local markets have skyrocketed. And this has nothing to do with supply constraints or poor weather. Indeed, the effects of the floods of last year have abated. The weather has been kinder to farmers over the past four months. However, what is happening is everyone is seeking to increase prices. The logic is rational but not reasonable. The vendors are claiming that prices have risen and that farmers are
asking for more money for produce. The vendors are also saying that they too have to go to the supermarket to buy imported items and as such they are forced to spend more. As such, they say they have been forced to increase their prices. But the poor fixed income workers do not have the luxury of receiving an increased pay packet, at least not one large enough to compensate him or her for local inflation. Neither is increased income the answer to rising prices. The more money that is pumped into the economy, the higher prices will go. Pumping more money into the hands of consumers is not the answer to the inflation crisis. Economics 101 instructs that when a larger volume of money is chasing after the same amount of goods, the price increases.
As such, this idea by the Opposition that the government should pay every adult G$200,000 is impractical, unaffordable and will only increase inflation. The money supply has to be kept in check otherwise inflation will escalate f u r t h e r. B u t d e s p i t e justifiably rejecting the Opposition’s suggestion as a gimmick, the government is looking to create some 8,000 jobs. According to the reports by the government media, these jobs are in response to the rise in the cost-of-living. It is a misguided measure. It will increase incomes for 8,000 workers for a short period but there will be no corresponding increase in the supply of goods in the market. What the government needs to do is to reduce public spending. It should limit this spending down to
mere essentials at this time so as to contract the amount of money in the economy, seeing that it is not going to tamper with interest rates. Inflation is now being further aggravated by the steep rise in the price of oil. Not only do motorists have to pay more for petrol but the rise in oil prices has also caused an increase in the cost of fertilizers. Fertilizers are used extensively in rice and sugar cultivation. Yet the yields have declined from what they were 60 years ago when fertilizers were not used extensively. Someone needs to do a study to establish whether all this is needed. Interestingly, there are reports that the price of stock-feed has also increased. Consumers therefore, can be certain that when chicken supplies return to normalcy, that the price is going to be increased.
If indeed the price of stock-feed increases it will create problems for small chicken rearers. They are already working for slim margins. An increase in the cost of feed will wipe them out and leave consumers at the mercy of large producers. It is these large producers who benefit the most from the bulk of the concessions which are offered to the p o u l t r y s e c t o r. T h e s e producers have not attributed the recent shortage of chicken to the rise in stock-feed. The excuse has been that the rise in demand for Christmas has led to the present shortage. This makes little sense because it takes about six weeks for chickens to mature and the shortage of chicken occurred more than six weeks after the Christmas harvest. The government has to question whether the concessions which are being
granted to the poultry sector are worth it. The government had announced that it was zero-rating taxes for the sector. Well, it is obvious that the concessions have not prevented a shortage in chicken and rise in its price. So it is time for the government to let the market set the price for chicken. Remove the concessions and let us see whether it is not cheaper to import chicken, even with the prohibitive import taxes, than pay more than $500 per lb. for locally produced and highly subsidized chicken. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
PAGE 24
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 25
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Trinidad has been an integration movement scoundrel for decades Here is a little story for you about Guyana and Trinidad. My daughter left these shores without any knowledge of what went on for all the decades between Guyana and Trinidad. Her flight to London in 2018 was through Trinidad. When she was returning home she asked me to arrange her ticket to intransit through Barbados. Figure out for yourself why my daughter made that decision. She simply intransit through Trinidad and did not want to do that again. One of the great, enduring mysteries of this country is why six presidents – Desmond Hoyte, Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar and David Granger – tolerated Trinidad’s mauling of the foundation principles on which an integration movement rests. No integration movement would ever tolerate one of its members behaving the way Trinidad has done for over 50 years. It
is not that Trinidad’s noncompliance of CARICOM treaties has been episodic. It has been consistent for over half a century. If you had a major player in the European Union as Trinidad is in CARICOM, the EU would have broken up long ago. The simple, graphic fact is that Trinidad has not been faithful to CARICOM and that cut across every government in Trinidad the past 50 years. No integration move would allow this. Trinidad and Guyana’s relationship within CARICOM from 2022 onwards is going to break up CARICOM. The fact is Guyana should not tolerate any longer the illegal and dishonest conduct of Trinidad in CARICOM. For decades Guyana has had a trade imbalance that favours Trinidad. Trinidad if it had its way, it would buy nothing from us even though comparatively speaking Guyana can feed Trinidad. They have ignored
Guyanese products and have bought from nonCARICOM countries every conceivable item we could sell them. The list includes all fruits and vegetable, meats and agricultural products. It does not matter what we manufacture here, Tr i n i d a d a c t s l i k e a scoundrel in the integration movement. What it does is masks its rascality to claim our products are not up to their standards. This country can set up a poultry farm or a beef and pork farm taking in square miles that are larger than Trinidad itself. Yet this CARICOM sister nation has turned its back on our production for more than 50 years. They don’t buy our peppers. Yet we can have a pepper farm in Guyana that is larger than Trinidad itself. Trinidad uses all the energy it has to guillotine Guyanese business ventures in Trinidad. Here is a story of which I have personal knowledge. After the market for Japanese
reconditioned vehicles was expanding exponentially in Guyana, a Guyanese businessman decided to expand his car importation business to Trinidad. They ran him out within weeks. They have done that to dozens of Guyanese ventures the past 40 years. At one time in its existence, a significant percentage of the income of Caribbean Airlines (CA) w a s f r o m G u y a n a ’s patronage. CA over the past 35 years has taken away the dignity of every Guyanese who has in-transited through Trinidad. No airline in the world has reserved dehumanising treatment for a nationality as CA has for Guyanese. Can you imagine that six presidents of Guyana have allowed CA to treat Guyanese like this? And they mistreat Guyanese in the most brazen ways, denying Guyanese access to facilities that they grant other nationalities right in front of the eyes of Guyanese. What
the current government i needs to do is to f o r g e relationships with other airlines that Frederick Kissoon would result in direct flights to the rest of the world without ntegration movement cannot survive with a barefaced stopping in Trinidad. Can you imagine my cheating member like daughter was just in-transit Trinidad. It will collapse one for less than half an hour and day. With a rising crescendo did not want to pass through Trinidad again? What did of the local content dispute, she see? I will tell you what CARICOM’s existence may she saw. It is an anti- be in trouble. I don’t think Guyanese psyche that has any government in Guyana been in existence for a long would be so idiotic to change time in Trinidad. There are its local content law to reasons for this which cannot benefit Trinidad. I say b e d i s c u s s e d i n t h e change the local content Act to facilitate Jamaica or remaining paragraphs. I believe CARICOM is Barbados. Maybe even the an invaluable Caribbean Bahamas which took in institution. The Caribbean hundreds of our teachers. Examination Council, the But not a scoundrel like Caribbean Court of Appeal, Trinidad. West Indian cricket, among (The views expressed in others, are too precious to this country. CARICOM this article are those of the must not be weakened, a u t h o r a n d d o n o t CARICOM countries need necessarily reflect the e a c h o t h e r . B u t a n opinions of this newspaper.)
PAGE 26
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 27
Low FODMAP Diet: It may be the solution to your indigestion issues
A
r e y o u constantly suffering from bloating, gas, abdominal cramps that is sometimes overwhelming? It may be that you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). One of the most common causes of IBS is an intolerance to high fodmap foods. There are many that suffer from fodmap intolerance and are not aware of it. A study from Australia estimated that about 15 percent of the population there has this condition. It is very difficult to diagnose as most persons do not realise that their constant battle with gas and indigestion may be from their food and either try to cope with it, or use over the counter gas remedies. Today, I will shed some light on this silent, but discomforting condition. What is FODMAP? FODMAP is actually an acronym for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, D i s a c c h a r i d e s , Monosaccharides And Polyols. These are short chain carbohydrates (sugars) that some of our small intestines absorbs poorly. Because they are poorly absorbed, they then move to
an area of your intestine where the bacteria in your gut is present. Your gut bacteria then use these carbohydrates for fuel, producing hydrogen gas and causing digestive symptoms in sensitive individuals. FODMAP foods also draw liquid into your intestine, which may cause diarrhea. These foods are not necessarily unhealthy, it’s just that some persons are sensitive to them What are symptoms of FODMAP intolerance? Persons with FODMAP intolerance cannot digest high FODMAP foods well and tend to have symptoms of IBS when they eat such foods. The following are possible symptoms of FODMAP intolerance: · Bloating · Excess Belching · Excess flatus · Diarrhea · Constipation · Abdominal pains Those with FODMAP intolerance start to have one or more of these symptoms about an hour after eating a high FODMAP food. What are high FODMAP foods? There are numerous foods that are high in FODMAP that will be too
exhausting to list. However, the following categories are the most common of them: · Fructose: a simple sugar found in many fruits and vegetables that also makes up the structure of table sugar and most added sugars · L a c t o s e : a carbohydrate found in dairy products like milk · Fructans: found in many foods, including grains like wheat, spelt, rye and barley · Galactans: found in large amounts in legumes such as peas, beans and corn. · Polyols: sugar alcohols like xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, and mannitol. They
are found in some fruits and vegetables and often used as sweeteners in canned foods and beverages. Is there a cure? There is no cure for FODMAP intolerance. Not everyone has the same degree of sensitivity to a high FODMAP food. Some may tolerate one while others cannot and vice versa. An elimination, low FODMAP diet over time is the best treatment option. However, there is a dietary supplement called BEANO which can be used before having a high FODMAP meal and prevents you from having the symptoms of FODMAP intolerance. It
should be used for occasions when you cannot avoid a FODMAP meal or when your craving for a FODMAP food is By Dr. Zulfikar Bux getting the better Emergency of you. Medicine Specialist The best way d octor before eliminating to know what foods may be high or low foods from your diet to FODMAP is to do an internet ensure you are still getting a search of the food name and d i e t w i t h t h e p r o p e r FODMAP together. For nutrients. Nevertheless, you do not example, if you were to type “watermelon FODMAP”, have to suffer all your life if results will show up saying y o u h a v e F O D M A P watermelon is high in intolerance; once you eat smartly, your irritable bowel FODMAP. However, it’s best to can become a thing of the work with a nutritionist or past.
PAGE 28
Dear Reader, in light of the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our publisher, with you in mind, has taken the decision to extend our weekly review of some of our major stories in their entirety. SUNDAY US$2B GROSSLY INSUFFICIENT TO COVER OIL SPILL – RAM As Guyana prepares to ramp up its oil production to meet the 800,000 barrels of oil per day target by 2025, Guyanese across the miles of the country are beginning to fear the dangers such production goals may bring. Outspoken Attorney-atLaw, Christopher Ram, who has been keeping a close watch on Guyana’s oil and gas sector, recently told Kaieteur News in an invited comment that he believes US$2 billion in insurance would be a meagre amount compared to the possible implications such an event can cause, not only for Guyana, but to the country’s territorial neighbours. Following a series of reports from this publication in relation to Guyana’s lack of full liability insurance coverage, the oil giant, ExxonMobil revealed that it is presently working to put a US$2 billion guarantee in place. The company explained that its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), was established since 1998, and had, as of year-end 2020, almost $US5 billion in assets, which is a primary form of financial assurance. It was keen to note too that this is separate from the assets of the other Stabroek Block coventurers who also have substantial assets and share any liability for response activities. “In addition, we’re working with the Environmental Protection Agency and our co-venturers to put in place a combined $US2.0Bn of affiliate company guarantees,” the oil company assured. To this end, Ram has instead called on the company to give Guyana full coverage in the event of an oil spill. He explained, “I don’t think US$2 billion would be good enough for any oil spill, both because of the impacts it would have on Guyana as well as the potential to create harm to neighbouring countries.” Ram, who is also a Chartered Accountant reasoned that while securing
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
a higher value insurance would be important, it is of equal significance for the parent company to agree to cover excess damages. “We would certainly want to see some sort of a binding guarantee from the contractors including Esso, Hess and CNOOC that they would guarantee all the costs involved in the consequences of any oil spill so I am suggesting that there should be something over and above the insurance. It would be good of course for the insurance to be much, much higher, but in this case… what we want is something from the parent companies,” he shared. Since 2015, ExxonMobil Corporation, the parent company of 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 an oil spill occurs offshore. This is the state of affairs with its Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two and Payara Projects. In its most recent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its fourth project, the Yellowtail development, EEPGL warned that transboundary impacts can result from unplanned events, such as an oil spill. Section 9.24 of the EIA document, prepared by the oil company’s Consultant, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), states, “The planned project activities are not predicted to have any measureable “transboundary impacts”, (i.e. impacts outside the Guyana (Exclusive Economic Zone) EEZ. All predicted impacts from planned Project activities will occur within the Guyana EEZ. However, there is the potential for transboundary impacts to result from unplanned events that may occur, such as oil spills.” A release from a loss-ofwell control event over 30 days, according to the document, is likely to have impact on over a dozen Caribbean nations. “…there is the potential for oil to reach portions of Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica,” the EIA details. Furthermore, the document notes that impacts on resources and receptors in these other countries would be similar to those Guyana would encounter.
These include “(i) impairment of the quality of the natural environment or any use that can be made of it; (ii) injury or damage to property or to plant or animal life; (iii) harm or material discomfort to any person; (iv) an adverse effect on the health of any person; (v) impairment of the safety of any person; (vi) rendering any property or plant or animal life unfit for use by human or unfit for its role in the ecosystem; (vii) loss of enjoyment of normal use of property and (viii) interference with the normal conduct of business,” as is highlighted in Section Four of the EIA. In addition to these, ERM said that some additional resources could potentially be affected such as corals. Highlighting this was a group of Caribbean organisations, including the Caribbean Coastal Area Management (C-CAM) Foundation, The Jamaica Fish Sanctuary Network, Jamaica Environment Trust, Institute for Small Islands, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea and Freedom Imaginaries. In a letter to Kaieteur News back in December, the organisations argued that the Government of Guyana, E x x o n ’s subsidiary (EEPGL), and its British and Chinese partners have been aware of possible transboundary impacts of a potential deep well oil spill, since the conduct of the first EIA for the Liza 1 development in 2017, yet the countries remain unaware of the dangers they are exposed to as a result of this project. They called for the EIA to be scrapped, given that consultations were not held with the respective countries which are likely to be impacted. Violation of Human Rights The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in its 2017 advisory opinion on “The Environment and Human Rights” summarised the status of international law in paragraph 196, which states: “Consequently, the Court
concludes that States have the obligation to notify other potentially affected States when they become aware that an activity planned within their jurisdiction could result in a risk of significant transboundary harm. This notice must be timely, before the planned activity is carried out, and must include all relevant information. This duty arises when the State of origin becomes aware of the potential risk, either before or as a result of the environmental impact assessment. Carrying out environmental impact assessments requires time and resources, so in order to ensure that Sta t e s potentially to be affected are able to take the appropriate steps, States of origin are required to give this notification as soon as possible, without prejudice to the i n f o r m a t i o n transmitted being completed with the results of the environmental impact assessment when this has been concluded.” As noted by the InterAmerican Court in paragraph 189, this duty “extends to every case in which there is a possibility of significant t r a n s b o u n d a r y environmental harm … as a result of activities planned by a State or by private individuals with State authorisation. In such cases, notification is usually the first step towards facilitating cooperation and also permits compliance with the duty of prevention [of environmental harm].” In this regard, the organisations agreed that to date, all of the EIAs conducted by ERM, since 2018, have identified the possibility of significant transboundary harm. Yet, all the EIAs conducted by ERM have failed to identify Guyana’s legal obligations to notify and consult with potential transboundary victims before a project is undertaken. Taking these concerns and others into consideration,
the EPA recently ordered ExxonMobil to fix its impact assessment. WORLD’S LARGEST REALESTATE FRANCHISE KELLER WILLIAMS EXPANDS TO GUYANA - EAGER TO CAPITALIZE ON RECORD-BREAKING OIL GROWTH Keller Williams (KW) which is regarded as the world’s largest real estate franchise by agent count, recently announced that it would be expanding its operations to Guyana’s shores so as to capitalise on the nation’s record breaking oil growth. KW specifically stated that it has awarded a new master franchise in Guyana which would be led by Regional Operating Principal, Stefan John, KW Guyana. The local base is expected to open in the first quarter of 2022. As of December 31, 2021, KW was keen to note that it had increased sales volume by 88.7 percent outside of the U.S. and Canada to US$12.1 billion, compared to 2020 and hopes to maximise these sales following its expansion to Guyana. William E. Soteroff, President of Keller Williams Worldwide (KWW), recently shared, “As of March 1, we now have more than 15,000 agents across 54 worldwide regions, representing a strong foundation to continue to expand our market share aggressively in 2022.” “We are thrilled to announce we’re in business with Stefan, a phenomenal leader who is poised to build and embody our culture in Guyana, our ninth master franchise in South America.” He added, “Stefan and his core leadership understands our disruptive model and how it allows agents to thrive.” A seasoned entrepreneur, John founded D&J Group Inc., a company focused on logistics and real estate services catering to the oil and gas industry. With nearly a
decade of experience facilitating real estate brokerage services throughout Guyana, John is believed to be a wellestablished business leader in Guyana. “The real estate market is growing bigger than any other industry besides oil and gas in Guyana,” said John. “KW will be the preferred agency that everyone goes to, mainly because the agents will be trained better than anyone else.” “The technology is also positioned well ahead of the competitive set, and our marketing will be unmatched because of what KW offers to franchise holders,” said John. Kaieteur News understands that KWW is currently exploring further expansion opportunities across Africa, Central and South America, Central and Eastern Europe, and throughout Asia. Core criteria for new licensees starts with having a qualified leadership team grounded in the Keller Williams culture; the company also strives for government, banking and judicial system stability and a higher maturity level for a real estate market. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, KWW’s regions include: Albania, Argentina, Aruba, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Dubai, UAE, France, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Northern Cyprus, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, São Paulo, Brazil, Serbia, Sint Maarten, Slovenia, Southern Africa, Spain, Suriname, Thailand, Turkey, Turks and Caicos, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Vietnam. MOREABOUT KELLER WILLIAMS Austin, Texas-based (Continued on page 29)
Sunday March 27, 2022
From page 28 Keller Williams, the world’s largest real estate technology franchise by agent count, has more than 1,100 offices and 200,000 associates. The franchise is also No. 1 in units and sales volume in the United States. kwx is the holding company of Keller Williams. In 2020, Keller Williams initially began the formation of kwx. kwx is composed of Keller Williams, Keller Williams Worldwide and Keller Home Financial Services, consisting of Keller Mortgage, Keller Offers, Keller Covered, Keller Title and The Partnership Programme. Since 1983, the company has cultivated an agentcentric, technology-driven and education-based culture that rewards agents as stakeholders. For more information, visit kwx.kw.com. MONDAY GUYANACOULD TAKE MORE THAN ADECADE TO RECOVER FROM ANY SEVERE OIL SPILL – YELLOWTAILEIA Even after cleanup activities, the lasting and devastating impacts of an oil spill stemming from the Yellowtail project site could take more than a decade before the country fully recovers. The Yellowtail project is ExxonMobil’s fourth development that is currently awaiting approval. It is located in the Stabroek Block of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Production of some 250,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) is scheduled to commence in late 2025 or early 2026, with operations continuing for at least 20 years.
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
The Project is located approximately 203 kilometers (approximately 126 miles) northeast of the coastline of Georgetown in waters approximately 1,700 to 1,900 meters (5,577 to 6,234 feet) deep. The Project will develop the offshore resource by drilling approximately 41 to 67 development wells, including production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells, and using a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel to process, store, and offload the recovered oil. Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) in its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for review, has warned that Guyana could take more than 10 years before it recovers from an oil spill offshore. According to the EIA, at Section 3.5, the Project would not cause irreversible damage to onshore areas of Guyana. The same could not be said however for the country’s waters. According to that subsection “…in the unlikely event of a large marine oil spill, little irreversible damage would be expected, although it could take a decade or more for all resources to fully recover…” The text goes on to explain that the impacts of the spill would be dependent on several factors, inclusive of the volume or severity of the spill as well as the duration of the release, in addition to the time of year at which the release were to occur. Notably, EEPGL’s Consultant that prepared the EIA, the Environmental Resources Management (ERM) acknowledged that the risk of an oil spill would be present in this project. ExxonMobil
has consistently assured that such events are “unlikely” to occur. At Section 3.2.5 of the EIA, ERM details “The Project will be producing, processing, storing, and offloading oil as its core activity, so the risk of an oil spill would be present.” In fact, EEPGL in the EIA identified 16 spill scenarios, including spills of different types of hydrocarbons such as crude oil, marine diesel, fuel oil, lubricating oil and nonaqueous drilling fluid (NADF), with several being applicable for spills at the shorebases and on vessels in the Demerara River estuary (e.g., from a supply vessel) or in the Atlantic Ocean from a well, drillship, supply vessel, tanker, or FPSO vessel. The largest of these scenarios considered a loss-of-wellcontrol incident at the seafloor. The document concluded, “Even though the probability of a spill is very low, such an oil spill would likely have adverse impacts on marine resources in the area impacted by the spill. Those resources most at risk would be marine water quality, seabirds, marine mammals, and marine turtles...although effective implementation of the OSRP (Oil Spill Response Plan) would help mitigate this risk by further reducing the ocean surface area impacted by a spill and oil exposure to these species, the residual risk to all of these resources aside from marine mammals and seabirds as a whole is considered Moderate.” Research by this newspaper has found that the impacts of an oil spill, even after a cleanup, are likely to have lasting effects on ecosystems. For instance, a study published by Science Direct, a website which provides access to a large
bibliographic database of scientific and medical publications and hosts over 18 million pieces of content from more than 4,000 academic journals and 30,000 e-books said “a time period of up to 20 years or longer is required for deep mud coastal habitats to recover from the toxic impact of catastrophic oil spills. This is due to the long term persistence of oil trapped in anoxic sediments and subsequent release into the water column.” That article summarized the results from a long term assessment of an oil spill into a coastal fringe mangrove ecosystem in Panama. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also explained that cleanup activities never remove 100 percent of the spilled oil, which also contributes to prolonged impacts. Here in Guyana, the regulator body, EPA is now in the process of securing a US$2 billion insurance coverage from the major oil company operating in the country. This is so even as the Liza Two Permit issued by the body mandates full insurance coverage, from the parent company to cover for damages, relating to an oil spill. TUESDAY GUYANAPLAYING WITH DANGER IF IT OPTS OUT OF CARICOM TREATY OBLIGATIONS -VENEZUELA CLOSELY WATCHING OUR RESPECT FOR INT’LAGREEMENTS – GREENIDGE The debate regarding
Guyana’s Local Content Law which calls for locals to be given first consideration for employment and procurement opportunities in the oil sector and whether such a provision is in harmony with obligations under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) continues to attract commentary. Approximately eight days ago, Attorney-at-Law and PPP/C Parliamentarian, Sanjeev Datadin, via his Facebook page, noted that Guyana can so choose to opt out of Treaty obligations that would allow for a hostile and uncontrollable takeover of the country’s booming oil sector, particularly by Trinidadians. The lawyer recalled that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in an examination of opt-out powers as set out in Article 27(4) of the RTC had made clear that a reservation to any treaty obligation can be unilaterally done whilst to optout of treaty obligation, it required consent of the other Member States. “The reality is that Guyana can enter a reservation to the relevant part of the RTC and/ or opt out; depending on the prevailing circumstances,” he had argued. But upon noting these statements, Advisor on Borders and former Foreign Secretary, Carl Greenidge categorically stated that he out rightly disagrees with Datadin’s perspective which has also been echoed by President of the Guyana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Mr. Timothy Tucker. Tucker had also launched an attack on the Caribbean Private Sector
Organisation (CPSO) leadership for daring to question whether the Local Content legislation is consistent with Guyana’s obligations under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Before elaborating on his position, Greenidge said one must understand that Guyana would be playing with danger if Datadin’s “opt out arguments” are further perpetuated, believed and worst, yet, acted on by the government. He warned that Guyanese ought to be more cautious and strive to be informed when speaking on such matters as the implications could be farreaching. Expounding on this front, the former Foreign Affairs Minister said nondiscrimination has been a key principle underlying the negotiations on liberalisation of the international trading system since the end of World War II and the start of the Uruguay Round in 1982 in particular. Greenidge said it is captured in two rules known as Most Favoured Nation treatment (MFN) and the National Treatment obligation. In simple terms, Greenidge explained that the MFN obligation, the subject of the first General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Article, prohibits a country from discriminating between other countries; the national treatment obligation prohibits a country from discriminating against other countries. Where special privileges are granted, he noted that those privileges have to be extended to all other trading partners. Ironically, given the present context, Greenidge noted that the main exception to this rule is a Common Market – such as the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. He said there is absolutely no reference to petroleum, which incidentally has no significance in economics beyond being a commodity. The Advisor on Borders noted too that there is neither an exception based on a particular definition of local content or free movement. He asserted that the consistency simply turns on whether ‘Chaguaramas’ permits Caribbean nationals/firms to be treated differently from Guyanese. “Article 7, Article 31 (2a & 2b), and Article 37 of Chaguaramas in particular, do not permit it, except in clearly defined terms. Therefore, Guyana is not in a position to ignore the rule on grounds that it has either now thought up a justification or has just begun the production of petroleum. Also, alleged discrimination by T&T in the (Continued on page 30)
PAGE 30
From page 29 past cannot constitute such justification,” explained the former Vice President. The economist continued, “…That a debate of such import could so quickly reflect heightened ill-will, shows how easily public debate in Guyana, whether in politics or business, can quickly degenerate into personal attacks and abuse. Whilst the Guyana Government has not been party to these contentious exchanges, one of its prominent and new Members of Parliament (MPs) has been and recently, President Irfaan Ali offered a comment to the effect that no Head of State has complained of the alleged breach of the Treaty.” He added, “In the face of criticisms, both Messrs. Tucker and Datadin have gone on to suggest that, if Guyana’s Treaty obligations have been infringed, Guyana should seek to ‘opt out’, secure exemption from those obligations or ultimately withdraw from the treaty…Suffice it for me to point out the reality in the realms of the Dismal Science and international Trade, namely that after the USA and Canada, the Caribbean is our most important export market and being closed out of the latter market will adversely affect the long-term prospects of Guyana’s key industries and frustrate any effort to diversify out of petroleum products.” Greenidge also noted that the “opting out attitude” has implications for the country’s national interest as well as its international standing while adding, that it can likely impact support from the international community for Guyana’s case against Venezuela. The Advisor on Borders noted in this regard that Guyana’s complaint before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the Venezuelan Government is based on a number of factors among the most important of which is, Venezuela’s breach of one fundamental legal principle—A State cannot sign a treaty, benefit from the implementation of its provisions for over 63 years then, when convenient, simply unilaterally declare the treaty null and void. Greenidge categorically stated that the sanctity of treaties is enshrined in Article 26 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT). Thus, either both parties have to agree on invalidity or a Court or other Tribunal, would have to do so. Since Guyana will not agree to invalidate the Paris Arbitration Award, he said
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
Venezuela would need to seek from a competent international tribunal or authority a declaration to that effect. It has refused to do so. Greenidge further explained that a second concern about Venezuela’s position turns on a matter not yet before an international Court. In this regard, he said Venezuela’s proclamation of Decrees (referred to as Leonie Decree of 10th January 1968; 1781 of May 27th 2015; 1859 of 2015; 4415 of Jan. 2021, inter alia), in its local legislation purports to confer maritime rights, to which it would not be entitled under international law. He said citizens must bear in mind that a cardinal principle of international law is that [ex post facto] domestic legislation cannot override obligations entered into under the international treaties a country signs. In fact, Greenidge highlighted that Article 27 of the VCLT states that no municipal rule may be relied on as a justification for violating international law. Simply put, “The tail cannot wag the dog!” Greenidge said too that no matter the issues being fought for, Guyana should not be seen as inconsistent in its treatment of laws, whether local and international in nature. As regards unhappiness with provisions of an existing agreement such as Chaguaramas by the private sector or the 1899 Paris Award (by Venezuela), Greenidge reiterated that international law does not permit a Sate to sign a treaty, enjoy specific benefits as a signatory, adhere to the provisions, then suddenly refuse to adhere to those provisions for whatever reason it deems currently convenient. Greenidge said, “Optouts may be sought and secured during negotiations but not 50 or 5 years after Treaties have been signed and invariably require the
consent of the other parties (see Art 237, e.g., of the Revised Treaty which states: Reservations may be entered to this Treaty with the consent of the signatory States).” He said however, that there is an agreed process by which a disagreement or claim of invalidity can be resolved. “That is why we have the Courts and a CCJ, in particular. A less time-consuming and less costly mechanism than approaching the CCJ itself for a formal opinion would be for the Heads to trigger either the Good Offices Dispute Settlement Mechanism, to establish a Working Group of Heads of Government to consider the matter or to request an Advisory Opinion from the CCJ. Any of these could spare us the poisonous debate to which we have been subjected,” the Advisor on Borders stated. WEDNESDAY POLLUTED WATER CAN IMPACT FISH AT YELLOWTAILPROJECT SITE – ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY Fishermen in Guyana have been complaining bitterly of low catches over the past months, blaming the situation on oil giant, ExxonMobil’s operations offshore. But even though high ranking government officials have shot down this claim, arguing that there is no data to prove this, Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), which is gearing to startup production at the Yellowtail development, has warned that its operations can impact fish within the project site. This information is included in EEPGL’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), a document the company is mandated to submit, which outlines the effects its
operations can have on the environment. Yellowtail is Exxon’s fourth project, situated in the Stabroek Block of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). According to the report, marine fish could be impacted as a result of deteriorated water quality, from discharges generated during the project. In addition to poor water quality, acoustic effects or noise from the company’s operations can also cause fish to be impacted. These species can also be sucked into the equipment which Exxon will be utilising for oil production, the impact assessment cautioned. Section 3. 1. 5 of the EIA states, “The Project could impact marine fish by deterioration of water quality from the discharges described above, acoustic effects, and the potential to entrain (suck in) fish at the cooling water intake.” The document goes on to explain that the affected area will be “very small” and that fish are known to avoid areas with degraded water quality. Measures will also be taken to minimise the entrainment or ‘sucking in’ of fish by the equipment. “Modeling indicates that water quality will return to near background conditions within 100 meters (approximately 328 feet) of the FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel), so the area impacted will be very small, and fish are mobile and are known to avoid areas with degraded water quality. Water intakes will be designed to minimize the entrainment of fish,” the report explains. It further cautions that several special ‘status marine fish’ species are known to be present in the Project’s ‘area of influence’. The significance of potential residual impacts on marine fish, according to the EIA, was considered to be negligible to minor, or for
some special status offshore marine fish species, moderate. At Section 3. 1. 2, the document explains that the Project will impact marine water quality in a localized manner, via planned discharges during well drilling, hydrostatic testing of the flowlines and risers following installation, and production operations stages. EEPGL has proposed to dump ballast water, produced water, as well as its domestic and sanitary wastewater, among others into the sea. In a previous article, this newspaper reported that while international best practices dictate that toxic water which is brought up from reservoirs during oil extraction is supposed to be re-injected into separate wells, the ExxonMobil subsidiary, EEPGL has proposed to do the opposite for its Yellowtail project. According to the project summary, it submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ExxonMobil wants to dump this toxic water into the ocean. The document notes that the treated produced water and cooling water will be discharged overboard as per industry best practices. It should be noted however that this water is only supposed to be dumped into the ocean after it has been proven that it is not financially feasible to reinject same, and the water would have no harmful effects on the marine life surrounding the project. Last December, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo denounced the observations made by fishermen across the country, that the recent oil and gas operations have negatively impacted their catch. Jagdeo said, “Now there is no scientific view, for example, that the oil and gas industry cause the fish to swim away from Guyana and he (KN Publisher, Glenn Lall)
is telling the fishermen that the fish swim away; now if we can prove that, that’s great but there’s no scientific view of that”. The Vice President went on to explain that he grew up in the fishing community of Unity, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, where since he was a young boy, the catch would be low in certain seasons. “I grew up in a fishing village, in Unity. There are periods when we have had low catch too. The guys would go out many, many times and didn’t bring in any(thing) much and that was long before we were producing oil, since I was a young boy,” he told the nation during the interview aired on the National Communications Network (NCN) and online. As a consequence, Jagdeo implied that it would be irresponsible to attribute the decline in fish catch across the country to ExxonMobil’s operations. However, when the first six months of 2019, 2020 and 2021 were compared, it was revealed that for the past two years, fish and shrimp production has been declining. This was evident in the recent Bank of Guyana (BoG) Half-Year Report. GREENIDGE’S ARGUMENTSAGAINST OPTING OUT OF CARICOM TREATY NONSENSICAL -LOCALS’ RIGHT TO BENEFIT FROM OIL SECTOR MUST BE PROTECTED - DATADIN Advisor on Borders, Carl Greenidge warned on Tuesday that Guyana ought to think long and hard before prematurely opting out of obligations under CARICOM’s Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC), so as to preserve the right of Guyanese to first consideration for jobs in their oil sector, as enshrined in the (Continued on page 31)
Sunday March 27, 2022
From page 30 Local Content Law. The former Finance and Foreign Affairs Minister holds the foregoing view for the following reasons: 1) Considering the principle of sanctity of Treaties as outlined in international law, opting out of CARICOM’s RTC requires the consent of all member states and therefore cannot be done unilaterally; 2) alleged discrimination by Trinidad and Tobago in the past or on local content protection grounds cannot constitute justification to opt out of the RTC because it is now convenient to Guyana’s interests; 3)Withdrawing from compliance with Treaty obligations can have farreaching implications since the Caribbean is Guyana’s most important export market after the USA and Canada; and 4) Venezuela would be closely watching the country’s respect for treaties hence Guyana needs to be mindful not to appear hypocritical or duplicitous. Upon noting the summarized points and their extended explanations as published in Tuesday’s publication, Attorney-at-Law and Government Parliamentarian, Sanjeev Datadin said yesterday that he could not agree with Greenidge’s line of argument. Datadin expressed that it is simply “nonsensical”. Datadin said one must first understand that his suggestion which was published in the media last week—that Guyana can opt out of the RTC—which fuelled the local content debate to another dimension, should not be construed to mean that this is the only option before Guyana or that it is the decision of the government. “I think government will consider any option that will allow its people to develop their capabilities over a period of time so Guyanese investors can come up to speed…Further, my reason for mentioning it is to make clear the resolve of the government; to make clear just how serious they are about ensuring locals benefit from their national resources as well as to make known, the scale of consideration which is indicative of the government’s promise to deliver on ensuring Guyanese benefit,” expressed the lawyer cum politician. He added, “This is to demonstrate that those who think Guyana is powerless, she isn’t, she is in control of her destiny and the government will use whatever it has to use to achieve it.” As for the principle of sanctity of treaties, Datadin said it is the same as sanctity
PAGE 31
Kaieteur News
of contracts, in that, if one signs on the dotted lines, the provisions of the said deal or document must be respected and honoured. He noted however that the RTC offers a leeway for alteration of obligations and hence his recommendation. The lawyer recalled that the Bahamas had opted out of immigration obligations under the RTC and so too have and Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis. Both opted out of obligations regarding the free movement of certain skilled labour. “So I am not proposing we pass laws that are inconsistent with Treaty obligations; but if the desire is for the domestic law to protect its people and it infringes the treaty then regulate the treaty.” As for Greenidge’s commentary that Venezuela is paying attention to Guyana’s respect for treaties, hence the need to proceed with caution, Datain said the economist and Advisor on Borders is simply comparing apples and oranges. In fact, Datadin is of the view that the Venezuela border controversy and the issue at hand are completely unconnected. “It is totally wrong to equate the two matters. And let’s be clear, we are not saying this option of opting out is available to us because it is a mere matter of convenience for us; this is a matter of national interest. We must and have to protect our people and companies and their right to benefit from the oil sector,” the PPP/C Parliamentarian stated. Meanwhile, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Timothy Tucker also agreed wholeheartedly with Datadin’s viewpoint as he took to his Facebook profile, to issue another impassioned statement on the matter. Tucker is of the belief that some of the blame for where Guyana finds itself should be
laid at Greenidge’s feet. He believes that the former government, and other actors before it, had a chance to correct the lopsided treatment Guyana faces as a CARICOM state and co-founder but never did. Tucker said Guyanese have suffered from the “most discrimination, ill treatment, rejection of goods and services by CARICOM member states.” For the GCCI President, the issue at hand goes beyond the Local Content Law too. He posited, “It is how Guyana, Guyanese citizens and Guyanese businesses have been treated within CARICOM and especially by Trinidad. It is also how Trinidad as a country has manipulated CARICOM and taken advantage of the entire region and nothing can be done about it, it is how the business community sits in the room and sees multiple Guyanese Governments try to obey the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas multiple CARICOM member states break the rules set out by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), disregard decisions of CARICOM when it goes against the interest of their country’s business community…” For the GCCI President, Guyana has a right to slam its hands on the table and say, “Enough is enough!” He alluded that CARICOM nationals either get in line or Guyana should, without hesitation, opt out of its Treaty obligations. THURSDAY GUYANAOIL SHIPBUILDER IN HOT WATER’ - AS FRENCH LAW GROUP FILES REQUEST TO PROBE CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS BY SBM French law association, Sherpa, recently filed a
complaint asking the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) to open an investigation into corruption, money laundering and concealment of stolen goods in relation to the activities of extractive industry giant SBM Offshore. Sherpa noted that SBM Offshore, the sole manufacturer of Guyana’s oil vessels namely the Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, and Prosperity, has been flagged in several countries because of its alleged extensive corrupt practices. And in light of those cases, Sandra Cossart, Sherpa’s Executive Director, believes the time has come to shed light on the role of SBM Offshore’s French managers in what could be widespread corruption practices. Sherpa was keen to note in the firm’s complaint that in 2014, whistleblower Jonathan Taylor, who was at the time the legal director of SBM Offshore, a Dutch oil services group based in Monaco, had denounced an international network of bribes. He had denied that his former employer would have paid US$275 million to obtain oil contracts around the world. Sherpa noted however that evidence subsequently provided to the Serious Fraud Office in England, to investigators in Brazil and in the Netherlands, and to the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice, contributed to the opening of investigations in many jurisdictions which exposed damning levels of corruption and multibillion dollar fines levied against SBM. Sherpa noted as well that other investigations have established the extent of SBM Offshore’s illegal practices, particularly in conflict zones, thus underlying the central issue of the systemic dimension of corruption in the sensitive sector of
extractive industry. Kaieteur News, during extensive research, also found that SBM Offshore has been accused in the past of allegedly bribing officials to win inflated contracts. In fact, the offshore drilling equipment manufacturer was fingered in five countries; namely Brazil, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan and Iraq. Kaieteur News found that SBM executives were accused of bribing officials in those nations with over US$180M. These bribes resulted in approximately US$2.8B in profits. Subsequent lawsuit actions led by the Public Prosecutor of its home country, the Netherlands; the US Department of Justice; and the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor which resulted in millions of dollars in fines being paid. When SBM’s US subsidiary was hauled before the courts for breach of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), it pleaded guilty and agreed to settle criminal charges of bribing officials in the five countries. It paid a US$238 million penalty. In Brazil, the company had agreed to enter a settlement so that it could end all anticorruption investigations against its subsidiary there. The US$189M settlement was done so that it could not only kill the probe into the company’s role, but also allow it to participate again in future tenders. The investigation in Brazil was centered on allegations that SBM was one of several companies that paid massive bribes in exchange for inflated contracts to service Petrobras, Brazil’s National Oil Company. In the case of its home country, the Netherland authorities launched its own investigations and got SBM to pay a US$40M fine as well as a US$200M disgorgement
(having to do with repayment of ill-gotten gains) via an outof-court settlement. Following this, SBM said it enhanced its anti-corruption compliance programme and related internal controls to prevent a reoccurrence of any kind. Owing to the fact that the Netherlands is considered one of the least corrupt within the European Union (EU), the authorities which settled with SBM were highly criticized by transparency bodies there for not going forward with the prosecution of such a highprofile corruption case, among others. It was believed that settlement lends to the perception of backroom politics while providing the opportunity for the authorities to abuse its power to allow settlements in cases where the suspect has more to gain by settling quickly. PERU OIL DISASTER… FISHERMEN, OTHERS AFFECTED EACH TO RECEIVEADVANCE US$700 COMPENSATION Peruvian fishermen and others who were affected by the January 15 oil spill disaster in Peru – will receive an advance compensation of US$700 each from Spanish oil giant, Repsol. The advance compensation to the fishermen and others affected by the spill came about as a result of negotiations done by the Government of Peru who is working towards getting Repsol to assume the economic impact of the spill. Due to the fact that a legal process for compensation to the affected families would take a long time, the Government of Peru got the oil giant to sign an advance compensation agreement. The ecological disaster occurred at one of the La Pampilla Refineries S.A.A. (Repsol) off the Coast of Ventanilla Sea 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. At the time of the undersea eruption, Suezmax tanker, Mare Doricum, was offloading a shipment of Brazilian crude oil at one of La Pampilla refinery’s offshore mooring buoys, and as such, a quantity of the cargo was released. Repsol had underreported the quantity of crude that was spilled to the Agency for Environmental Assessment and Control (OEFA), an agency attached to Peru’s Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), stating that only (Continued on page 32)
PAGE 32
From page 31 0.16 barrels of crude was spilled, and affecting an area of 2.5m2. However, later investigations by Peru’s OEFA revealed that more than 10,000 barrels of crude had spilled – more than double the amount initially reported by the company and the affected area reaches a size of 11,061 hectares. According to Peruvian media reports, the Spanish oil giant has signed an agreement with the Government of Peru for the advance compensation to more than 5000 Peruvian families. This was announced by Peru’s President of the Council of Ministers, Aníbal Torres. According to Torres, regarding the efficient management of risks and threats to the rights of people and their environment, he said, “As a State, it is up to us to do everything possible so that the Repsol company, objectively responsible for these events, repairs and assumes the costs at the environmental, social and economic levels.” In this regard, he stressed that, thanks to the management of the Government, Repsol will assume the economic impact on artisanal fishermen and others affected. He added, “…given that judicial processes of this type may take too long, an advance of compensation of up to 3,000 Soles [US$700] will be granted, which will benefit more than five thousand affected families.” Torres noted too, that in order to strengthen environmental institutions, he indicated that the Government will present a bill to request the delegation of powers to the Executive Branch, to improve standards in the event of environmental disasters, to address the areas affected by the hydrocarbon spill and the affected population. Moreover, Repsol in a brief statement noted, “We have signed with the Government of Peru an agreement that will benefit fishermen and traders affected by the oil spill.” To this end the oil giant stated that thanks to the agreement, the affected persons will receive a partial advance of economic compensation to mitigate the impact that the spill have on their labor activities` and that has reduced their income. Kaieteur News has reported that last week, a sanction was initiated against Repsol for the underreporting of the quantity of crude that was spilled from one of the company’s refineries and for allegedly reporting false
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
information about the areas that were affected by the oil spill in Peru. For this type of administrative infraction, the oil giant can be fined up to US$1,232,417 – for reporting false information to the OEFA. In previous reports, Peru’s Minister of Environment, Modesto Montoya, had stated that Repsol was not fulfilling its obligations in relation to the cleaning and remediation of the aftermath of the spill, specifically in the islands off the coast of Peru. As a result of the oil company not fulfilling its obligation in Peru, the Minister pledged that the Peruvian government will use all of the State’s power to prevent irresponsible companies from polluting their environment. In light of the difficulties the Peruvian government is having with Repsol, to cleanup the oil spill that contaminated their shores and water, the Minister had also cited the importance of legislative reform to adequately deal with companies after oil spills. Kaieteur News reported that following the devastating oil spill, several Peruvian officials had called for the oil company to offer compensation for the disaster. The first action taken against the company was by Peruvian judge, Romualdo Aguedo, on Friday, January 28, 2022, who granted the order to prevent four Repsol’s executives from leaving the country. Peruvian media reported that Judge Aguedo imposed an 18-month ban on the grounds of the potential risk that the officials might leave Peru. Among them were: refinery manager, Jaime Fernández-Cuesta Luca de Tena; terminal manager, Renzo Alejandro Tejada Mackenzie; environmental manager, Gisela Cecilia Posadas Jhong and production manager, José Gregorio Reyes Ruiz. In taking additional steps, Peru’s former Minister of the Environment, Rubén Ramirez on Monday, January 31, 2022, revealed that the government had taken the decision to suspend the company’s hydrocarbon loading and unloading activities. In other words, Repsol’s operation in the country was halted until it can substantially prove that another oil spill will not occur again in its waters. However, in an update it was revealed that a fuel shortage in Peru had forced the country’s OEFA to lift the suspension on Repsol’s operation temporarily. However, the company was only allowed to continue its operations for 10 days and
under supervision from the OEFA. That 10 days period has since come to an end and the Peruvian government has signalled that it has other alternative sources to obtain fuel. The clean-up and remediation of approximately 12,000 barrels of crude that contaminated the shores and waters of Peru is expected to cost some US$65 million – this was announced by Repsol’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Josu Jon Imaz. As the Government of Peru takes action to protect its people and its environment, Guyana in contrast, continues to give American oil giant, ExxonMobil, permission to operate without full coverage insurance to cater for such a disastrous oil spill. In February, last, ExxonMobil announced that it has commenced oil production at Guyana’s second offshore development area called Liza Phase Two in the Stabroek Block. Among the oil companies working in Guyana’s backyard is the very oil company –Repsol – that caused the oil spill in Peru. FRIDAY GUYANAMOVES TO UP PRODUCTION AT LIZAFIELD - AS GLOBAL SUPPLY PRESSURES INCREASE - CRUDE CARGO HEADS TO EUROPE FOR FIRST TIME NEXT MONTH ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC, are gearing to ramp up oil production at the Stabroek Block’s Liza Field as the Russia-Ukraine crisis continues to drive more supply shocks in the global oil market. In fact, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hess Corporation, John Hess, recently noted at the 50th Annual Scotia Howard Weil Energy Conference that the Liza Destiny, Guyana’s first floating, production, storage
and offloading vessel (FPSO) is up for a planned turn around this month. He said this includes production optimization. Previously, Hess’ Chief Operating Officer, Greg Hill had disclosed that such works could increase the Liza Destiny’s operating capacity to the range of 140,000 barrels to 150,000 barrels of oil per day. The vessel is currently operating at nameplate capacity which totals 120,000 barrels of oil per day. As for the Liza Unity, Guyana’s second FPSO which began first oil last month is also poised to be optimized so that it can achieve nameplate capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day by month end. Hill had previously disclosed that the Liza Unity will also see a 10 to 15 percent increase in production later on. Kaieteur News previously reported that the Liza Unity arrived in Guyana in October 2021, following construction in shipyards in China and Singapore. It is moored in water depth of about 1,650 meters and will be able to store approximately two million barrels of crude oil. The Liza Unity is the world’s first FPSO to be awarded the SUSTAIN-1 notation by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) in recognition of the sustainability of its design, documentation and operational procedures.
As production enhancements continue at the Liza Phase One and Two Projects, Guyana’s oil is expected to make a rare voyage this year to Europe as global market suppliers seek alternatives to Russian oil. This is according to a special report by Argus Media’s Amanda Hilow yesterday where it was noted that ExxonMobil placed the Suezmax tanker Homeric on subjects to travel from Guyana to Europe starting April 3 with a cargo of nonheated crude, according to shipping fixture reports. Argus Media also stated that the empty tanker is currently in transit to the FPSO Liza Destiny after recently offloading at Turkish refiner Tupras’ Tutunciftlik/Izmit refinery. Its information in this regard was pulled from Vortexa, an energy intelligence provider delivering the most comprehensive view of waterborne crude oil and refined oil products available today. Argus Media disclosed that most medium sweet Liza crude has traveled to the US and Singapore since ExxonMobil started production at the deepwater Stabroek block in December 2019. A small volume went to Europe for the first time in November 2021 — when less than 10,000 barrels was loaded for delivery to the UK,
likely co-loaded with a larger cargo for Singapore that loaded the same month, according to an analysis of customs data. OTHER PROJECTS ON TRACK Hess’ Boss was keen to note that the third development on the Stabroek block at the Payara Field, utilizing the Prosperity FPSO, is on track for production startup in 2024 with a production capacity of approximately 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day. He said too that the field development plan and application for environmental authorization have been submitted for government and regulatory review for the fourth development at Yellowtail, with a production capacity of approximately 250,000 gross barrels of oil per day and startup expected in 2025. Approval is likely by month end. The CEO said his company continues to see potential for at least six FPSOs with a production capacity of more than 1 million gross barrels of oil per day at the Stabroek Block in 2027, with the potential for up to 10 FPSOs to develop the gross discovered recoverable resources currently estimated at more than 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Hess said, “We look (Continued on page 33)
Sunday March 27, 2022
From page 32 forward to continuing to work with the Government and the people of Guyana to realize the remarkable potential of the Stabroek Block for the benefit for all stakeholders. The world will need these low cost oil resources to meet future energy demand and help ensure an affordable, just and secure energy transition.” The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres. ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest. SATURDAY GOVT. FINALLY BUCKLES UNDER PRESSURE OF TWO YEAR PROTEST …TO NOW SECURE INSURANCE FROM EXXONMOBIL FOR ANY STABROEK BLOCK OIL SPILL After two years of protest from citizens for full liability insurance coverage from oil giant ExxonMobil, in the unfortunate event of an oil spill in the country’s waters, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has finally come on record to assure that his administration is now working with the parent company to secure such guarantee. Jagdeo made the revelation on Thursday evening, during an interview with one of the government’s communications specialist, Eddie Layne. Since the startup of its oil operations in December 2019, ExxonMobil has evaded demands to provide insurance coverage, and instead tied its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) to providing this guarantee. It has been argued however that EEPGL, being a fairly new company, with assets worth only around US$5 billion, would not be able to effectively cover all costs associated with an oil spill in Guyana, should such an adverse event occur. So far, three of the oil company’s operations, Liza One, Liza Two and Payara have been granted approval, without guarantees in place from the parent company. With approval for its fourth, the Yellowtail development project, in the making, Jagdeo has made it clear that a separate document will be issued to Exxon, which ensures a guarantee is secured, should an oil spill
PAGE 33
Kaieteur News
occur. He said, “…Yellowtail will be stronger than any (Permit) they (the former government) have issued and separately, not part of the permitting process for Yellowtail, but separately. We are working with the companies to secure a parent guarantee that will cover the entire Stabroek Block. Not Liza 1, Liza 2, Payara or Yellowtail, but the entire Stabroek Block, but that is a separate issue.” The Vice President did not disclose figures, or further details regarding the guarantee his government is now looking to secure from ExxonMobil, more than two years post first-oil. Jagdeo was keen to note during his interview, however, that the former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams had merely thought of or “had something” up his sleeves while at the organization, but it is the PPP that is ensuring it is done. On the same note, he criticized the Opposition for now filing motions and issuing statements on the matter which he said, is for the mere sake of politics. Back in February, Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, David Patterson filed a Motion in the National Assembly 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 the Yellowtail development, and all other future petroleum development. To this end, Jagdeo said, “Ignore all of these press releases and these statements and these Motions to Parliament. They are all done for the politics, not the substance of it or to help people. They are done for the politics to make them sound more attractive as though they care for people.” He also made reference to improvements to the Environmental Permits granted to the oil company so
far for the three projects, stated above. According to him, “Some of the key elements that we got Exxon to commit to was a Cradle to Grave ownership and management of their waste that was not in the other two permits. So any waste generated by this company, they couldn’t give to their subcontractors and say you deal with that. They have responsibility for it. That is massive change. We then dealt with treated water. That is the water that is pumped up. The level of treatment that it has to undergo before it is released, we enhanced that…” Only last month, ExxonMobil responded to a series of articles published by Kaieteur News on the issue of full liability coverage. The company said, “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.” It went on to explain that EEPGL, had, as of year-end 2020, almost $US5.0Bn in assets, which is a primary form of financial assurance, which 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 to this, ExxonMobil noted that it was working with the EPA and its co-venturers to put in place a combined $US2 billion of affiliate company guarantees.
Members of civil society have however protested the US$2 billion company guarantees, explaining that this sum would not be substantial enough, should an disastrous oil spill occur. For instance, outspoken Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram, who has been keeping a close watch on Guyana’s oil and gas sector, recently told Kaieteur News that he believes US$2 billion in insurance would be a meagre amount compared to the possible implications such an event can cause, not only for Guyana, but to the country’s territorial neighbours. “We would certainly want to see some sort of a binding guarantee from the contractors including Esso, Hess and CNOOC that they would guarantee all the costs involved in the consequences of any oil spill so I am suggesting that there should be something over and above the insurance. It would be good of course for the insurance to be much, much higher, but in this case… what we want is something from the parent companies,” he shared. Since 2015, ExxonMobil Corporation, the parent company of 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 an oil spill occurs offshore. This is the state of affairs with its Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two and Payara Projects. In this regard, Kaieteur News has been leading the call and protests for government to secure full liability coverage. Protest action by the newspaper first commenced on June, 2, 2021. This newspaper has also been at the forefront of calls for a renegotiation of the lopsided oil contract. The Guyana-ExxonMobil Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) is the only one out of 130 contracts worldwide, which has no ring-fencing provisions to prevent costs of unsuccessful wells being carried over to that of successful wells. There is also no sliding scale for royalty to increase as production improves. That
is not all. Additionally, Guyana’s PSA is the only one out of 130 that allows insurance premiums to be fully recovered as well as interest on loans and financing costs that are incurred by the contractors. The need for Guyana to secure full liability coverage for a possible oil spill has been underscored by various 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.
PAGE 34
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 35
PAGE 36
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 37
Kaieteur News
PAGE 38
Sunday March 27, 2022
>>> ENCOURAGING EVENTS, DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS <<<
Blindly loyal, traffic tickets, leh wee deal wid dis, financial irregularities, crime and COVID Today, I take the bad and make the good, which is highlighting the positive. I could beatdown government, but that only encourages its leaders to beat-up other weaker Guyanese. So, I take the bright side, and use the disturbing to find the encouraging. More Guyanese are speaking. A senior man postured that the Private Sector Commission is ‘blindly loyal’ politically, which I interpret to be the PPP. As business strategy it is unsurpassed, with the VP deciding who get and who doesn’t. Blindly loyal help is priceless, translates to rich recognition, richer rewards. Business is about those - continuity and profitability. There is no place for conscience or questioning, ‘blindly loyal’ it is, which means money, and money is God and family in Guyana. I am not tempted to be so, because of a different constitution, which is why people like me struggle, but the blindly loyal Private Sector prosper. I am encouraged to learn
(again) that the Police has a traffic ticketing system. Still, what ranks do on the roadways is discouraging, with ‘go to the station’, which is crude shakedown, chapter one. Guyanese are being educated on what holds (tickets for minor violations), what they should register objection to (hand a ticket here), but to be ready for stage two of the traffic song and dance, which continues at the Police Station. It is a cancerous environment practice: sit there and stew and some sense will come, as in settle and go about business. Just police business as usual. The arithmetic is straightforward. Waiting is costly, and the specter of a charge and days wasted in Court is more costly, with time lost. G r a t u i t i e s a r e welcomed/expected/demanded, nothing personal, simply cultural. I am encouraged to hear again about traffic tickets, and that the Hon. Attorney General had cause to speak of costly harassment of road users. Today, I spend no time
concluding that friend or family whispered in his ear, which lit a sudden fire under Mr. Law and Order. Instead, I emphasise the existence of traffic tickets for minor offences, and denting corrupt exercises. Guyanese should demand a ticket. Whether officers could write is not the public’s business. Continuing with the encouraging from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), it is good to read that a team of cops turned down big money and refused to deal with that loaded Health Ministry employee. That they did so repeatedly, and in the face of more money dangled inspires me to think that there are principled people in the GPF. I salute them. It should be noted that the psychic disturbance of a public servant being in possession of millions and lethal munitions is ignored, while I am delighted that poor police officers could refuse such rich enticements. I wonder if that is how tender board awards are overseen. Don’t look at
me, check with the ‘blindly loyal’ private sector. Remember, this is the politics of business, which has no clean or straight people inside. Then, it encouraged to read that a former regional executive (a PNC one) is ‘wanted’ for clarity relating to ‘financial irregularities. There is so much irregularity at every level in this country that nothing is regular anymore, going from top to bottom. Though disturbing, it is encouraging that no one is above scrutiny or inquiry. Of course, that is hypothetically speaking. Incidentally, I would like to see some people jailed, stripped of assets, and publicly whipped for these so-called irregularities. I have a huge number of candidates, suspects really, in case anyone is interested. I would start with that house by Stabroek that sometimes operates in the elections center on the East Coast. Last, the Americans say that we
By GHK Lall have a problem, two of them: crime and COVID-19. Is dem seh dah, nah me. Disturbing, I’d say. The Government responded by swiftly rushing the GPF to Stabroek to apply a temporary poultice. Now I wait to hear how Minister Frankie Anthony will react to the Yankees (CDC) contending that Guyana is a high-risk COVID-19 country. I hope he doesn’t give them the high salute favoured by Italians, which would both encourage and disturb endlessly. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
THE
Court Journal By Renay Sambach Convicted child rapist, Esan Germaine, 45, was this week found guilty on three counts of raping a 15-year-old girl. He received a 65year jail sentence in 2017, after he was unanimously found guilty on three counts of raping a minor. On February 3, 2022, Germaine was again found guilty on three counts of raping a minor by a mixed 12-member jury. He faced trial before Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Demerara High Court. The convict was represented by attorney-at-law Clyde Forde, while the State was represented by State Counsel: Nafeeza Baig, Muntaz Ali and Latifa Elliott. Despite being found guilty, Germaine maintained his innocence and told the court on Tuesday during his sentencing that he is working to rehabilitate himself. Before handing down her ruling, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry stated that she considered the physical and psychological harm the rapist caused to the victim and more so, his lack of genuine remorse for his actions. The judge
PAGE 39
Convicted child rapist,
Esan Germaine added that there is a likelihood that he will commit the offence again since he was previously convicted for a similar offence. As such, she sentenced Germaine to serve 20 years on the first count, 25 years on the second count, and 30 years on the third count. The sentences will run concurrently. The rape convict had denied the three charges which stated that between January 1, 2014, and July 24, 2014, in Georgetown, he engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16. According to court documents on the first occasion, Germaine approached the teen and asked her about school, grades, relationship status, and sexual orientation, and he also told her “You know I love you”. The child responded, “I know”, and Germaine then hugged her, kissed her cheeks, and then began to kiss her neck. He then proceeded to undress and then raped her. On the second occasion, Germaine first laid on top of her touching her private area. He then kissed her on her lips and raped the minor for about 10 minutes. On the
Child rapist, Esan Germaine third occasion, it was just after midnight on July 17, 2014, when Germaine first called out for the teen but she did not respond since she knew what he wanted. She was still in bed when she felt a lash on her hand before Germaine dragged her out of bed and again raped her. On July 23, 2014, while the child was on the road going to the shop she saw her mother and told her what Germaine would do to her and they made a report. In an unsworn testimony, Germaine’s defence was
that the victim was an unmannerly child who misbehaved. In 2017, Germaine was sentenced to a total of 65 years in jail after a jury unanimously found him guilty of sexually abusing a young girl. He was convicted on all three counts of engaging in sexually activity with the child—when she was ages four, six and seven. On the first and second counts, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall sentenced Germaine to 15 and 20 years imprisonment, respectively. For this, he is to serve 15 of those 20 years, before becoming eligible for parole. While on the third count, the rapist was given a 30-year sentence. Germaine must serve 20 of those years before he becomes eligible for parole. However, all the sentences are to run concurrently and as such, Germaine will have to serve a minimum of 20 years before being eligible for parole. Sometime during 2010, 2012 and 2013, Germaine performed oral sex on the child, and in turn caused her to do same to him. He also rubbed his penis against the girl’s genitals.
The father of three, had called one witness in his defence for this case, and had denied the charges and professed his innocence in unsworn testimony from the prisoner’s dock. A victim impact statement was presented on behalf of the child by her support officer, through whom she related the trauma the assault had and continues to have on her. The impact statement was presented in accordance with Section 61 of the Sexual Offences Act. From the statement that was read, the court heard that the convict has “destroyed” her life. It was also noted that the rapist allowed his attorney to accuse her of lying and being told by others what to say. “I only told what happened, and you know it was the truth,” the statement quotes the child as saying, while describing her molester as a heartless man, who could not look her in the eyes when she testified. The child is also reported in the statement as explaining that she will never forget what has happened to her and that she has been Continued on page 52
Kaieteur News
PAGE 42
Sunday March 27, 2022
Over 50 participants to attend Women in Expo 2022 After two years of virtual showcase, the Women in Business Expo is slated to host an in-person event which will feature over 50 women in business. The event, which is slated to take place at the Pegasus Hotel on March 30 and 31, 2022, will culminate women’s history month. Throughout the month of March, the observance marks an acknowledgement of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. In this regard, Guyanese fashion designer Sonia Noel, who is the Founder of the Women in Business Expo event, noted that the exposition is being held at a time when women are being celebrated and observed globally. She explained that over the years, many women from across Guyana have launched their businesses at this event. She noted that, “Some women come with one product and now have more than 25 products and in major supermarkets.” “Over the years, the Expo has corral and build strong, confident, intelligent and empowered women who are committed to the task of creating a more progressive society. The testimonials are many. And admission to the event is free,” she added. Lisa Gibson, who said the prayer at the launch of the 2022 Expo on Thursday last, has never missed an Expo since it started in 2016. In fact, she was one of the women referenced by Noel who went from selling one item to selling 25 products. Gibson said,
Third from right: Guyanese Designer Sonia Noel is flanked by supporters and organisers of Women in Business Expo 2022.
“This expo has changed my life and added to my development.” “This Expo has made me a better person and my business better and I encourage women to make the bold move even if you doubt yourself. This community has elevated us to another level and I encourage you to join,” she added. Gibson also collaborated with Melba Lagadoue whom she met at the Expo for a joint venture b u s i n e s s . “ We c u l t i v a t e a sisterhood culture in this community,” she said. Mr. Robert Badal and his business, the Pegasus Hotel, have been the biggest support of this event, according to Noel.
Speaking on behalf of the hotel, Sales and Marketing Manager, Sadiya Yahya said, “The Pegasus Hotel Guyana has been a long standing supporter of Ms. Sonia Noel, from being the host hotel for charity fashion shows to the upcoming women business expo. Our support has been extended in the past, it’s without a doubt here in the present and will continue in the future. Our intent is to always support local businesses but even more so female owned local businesses.” According to Yahya, the event will most definitely be one of empowerment and of course a hub for networking.
She continued, “It would be remiss (of me) to not mention the opening of our new Pegasus Corporate Centre and Suites, with it being very close along with the creativity and professionalism of businesses that will be at the Expo… Wednesday and Thursday, I see great opportunity for discussions and possible integration of them into our own business. As I always say, we must support our own local talents and businesses first.” Stanley Ming of Mings Products and Services has also been a long time supporter of the event. His company was represented by Audrey Ford who is
director of Mings Products and Services. Ford noted that Mings Products and Services (MPS) is pleased to be a part of this initiative by Dr. Noel, especially in the 111th year of celebrating women. She said, “We believe that the empowerment of our women is vitally important, as it helps them to maintain their independence and take care of their families, some of whom are doing so as single parents.” Ford noted, “I have attended Women Expos in the past and found that there were some exceptionally gifted ladies, whose talents and Continued on page 64
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 43
Kaieteur News
PAGE 44
Sunday March 27, 2022
…Newly launched NGO to challenge leaders for better oil deal From page 22 barricade by squatting on the bridge leading to the Leonora factory gate back in March 6, 1964. Following the instructions of the factory manager, a tractor was sent to disperse the squatters, some of whom were severely injured during the process. Some others had jumped off the bridge to save t h e m s e l v e s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y, Kowsilla and two other women did not make it out unharmed. Kowsilla’s body was severed in two, while the two other women suffered broken spines and were crippled for life. Having such a fearless and brave aunt, Ramnarain said he grew up too as a fighter of the will of the people. He left Guyana for the US in search of a better life for his parents and sisters, while he was still a teenager. He would later become an electrical contractor and do jobs to sustain his family.
But in addition to giving back to his family, the founding member of the group said he has made several donations and contributions to his village, through supplying computers to the school and equipment for the Hindu Temple, among others. You can join OWOC “Our major focus right now is to have persons join our call for a better deal from the oil contract so we can go to government and say this is what we want,” Ramnarain explained. Guyanese who are interested in supporting or becoming a member of ‘Our Wealth, Our Country’ can do so by reaching out to Ramnarain on 592-655-8368 or +1 917- 5607445 or Ms. Melina Harris on 592671-8294 or Ray Daggers on 592616-0006. The group said it will be adding its voice to critical issues pertaining to the management of Guyana’s oil sector and the public can also look
forward to seeing the members on the protest line, against the lopsided oil contract. Guyana’s oil contract
Our major focus right now is to have persons join our call for a better deal from the oil contract so we can go to government and say this is what we want.
Kaieteur News would have exposed that Guyana’s PSA for the Stabroek Block is one of the
world’s worst provisions when compared to 130 other deals in the world. For example, the PSA sees the government paying the contractor’s income tax out of the country’s share of the profits. However, none of the 130 PSAs examined shows this arrangement. Further, Guyana’s PSA is the only one out of 130, which has very moderate work obligations for contractors who are vested with offshore licences. Additionally, the Guyana-ExxonMobil PSA is the only one out of 130 contracts, which has no ring-fencing provisions to prevent costs of unsuccessful wells being carried over to that of successful wells. There is also no sliding scale for royalty to increase as production improves. And that is not all. Guyana’s PSA is the only one out of 130 in the world that allows insurance premiums to be fully recovered as well as interest on loans and financing costs that are
incurred by the contractors. The newspaper publisher has been adamant that the two percent royalty deal for which oil giant ExxonMobil has inked with local politicians is not carved in stone and as such can be changed in favour of the citizens of Guyana. In January of last year, this newspaper published a piece with the headline, “Suriname secures three times Guyana’s royalty for latest oil find”. In that article, Kaieteur News had reported that Suriname was able to obtain a 6.5 percent royalty from operators, Total and Apache, for its Maka-1 Well. This percentage is three times the royalty Guyana obtained from ExxonMobil for its Stabroek Block and six times the royalty it obtained from Tullow for its Orinduik Block. Suriname was also able to negotiate a deal that allows it to benefit from a 36 percent tax on income from the operators.
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 45
PAGE 46
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 47
Kaieteur News
PAGE 48
Junior page
The foolish boy Image Source@ www.istorybooks.co
by Shreya Sharma Once, there lived a poor boy named Danny. He was an orphan. He used to work as a servant in the house of Mr. Roy. Danny was an honest and hard-working boy but sometimes, he did silly and foolish mistakes. Once, Mr. Roy was getting his home painted. Danny asked him, “Sir, why are you getting your home painted?” Mr. Roy replied, “We are getting the house painted so that it looks beautiful.” Some days later, Mrs. Roy told Danny to dress up her little daughter, Rosy for a party so that she looks beautiful. Foolish Danny painted the face of Rosy and said to Mrs. Roy, “The paint will make her look beautiful.”
Mrs. Roy scolded Danny. The other day, Mr. Roy gave an envelope to Danny and asked him to post it into a letterbox. Danny came back after two hours and told his master, “Sir, I could not drop the letter into the post box because it was locked. I tried to open it but I didn't have its keys. So I brought this envelope back.” Mr. Roy got so angry that he didn't talk to Danny for some days. Like this, Mr. and Mrs. Roy were always upset with Danny. One day, Mr. Roy gave Danny a bottle of hair oil and asked him to oil his hair every day. Danny kept that bottle in his room. The next morning, after Danny took a bath, he opened the bottle and poured the liquid in his hair. That liquid was not hair oil but
Sunday March 27, 2022
Beaded Carrot Wreath gum. Actually, gum was also kept there in the same kind of bottle. After some time, Danny's hair got stuck badly and he started crying. He went to Mr. Roy and said, “Sir, see what has happened to my hair! All this happened because of the oil you gave me yesterday.” Mr. Roy smelled his hair and started laughing loudly. He said, “You fool! This is gum, not hair oil!” Mr. Roy then took Danny to the Barber's shop and got his head shaved off. Danny got a lesson. He promised to himself and everyone that he will always be careful and alert while doing work. MORAL: ONE SHOULD ALWAYS BE CAREFUL AND ALERT.
Kids word search
Looking for an Easter craft to deck out your front door? The Easter bunny will love this beaded carrot wreath. You'll Need: Wood beads in 4 different sizes (largest being 1”) Floral wire Wire cutters Green excelsior (grass) Scissors Orange acrylic paint Craft brushes Drop cloth Ribbon Hot glue gun Steps for you to follow: Lay down a drop cloth on your work area. Paint each wood bead orange and let dry completely. Bend one end of the floral wire over with your wire cutters to create a stopping point for the beads. Thread each bead onto the floral wire starting with the smallest and working your way up to the largest size. Bend the floral wire over and cut the excess. Cut a small bunch of the excelsior all one length using your scissors.
Stick the excelsior into the top hole and if you want to add more than what fits in the hole, dab a little hot glue on the top of the bead and add more excelsior. Repeat steps 2-7 for your desired number of carrots. Tie together with a ribbon to make a bunch of carrots. Attach a ribbon onto the back with a few dabs of hot glue and hang on your door for everyone to admire!
FUN WITH POETRY
Early to Bed
We all know of what they say: “Early to bed, early to rise”, But many children usually get up late, And do not heed this wise advice.
Rising after the sun is up Is not good for your eyes and body; The bright light and heat that you meet Can make you suffer terribly. But when you get up in the early morning, The air is so fresh and sweet, Your whole body feels so great, And your mind is clear and neat. So try this out and you will find Your life become so much better; You will be able to do so much more, And everything will become much easier.
by Uncle Roy
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 49
TEEN TIME
Expressing your feelings helps in healing any hurt Each of us human beings at some time in our lives experiences personal problems for which we cannot find any ready solutions. This can make us react in ways that would serve to worsen the situation rather than easing it. Do you know what would happen if you leave a tightly covered pressure cooker on the stove without taking care to check it to see when the valve pops up? Well, the result would be disastrous. A friend who has had such an experience told me how the thing exploded with the lid flying off and the contents of the cooker splashed all over the roof, the walls and the floor. You can imagine what would have happened if someone were near at the time this happened, and the scrubbing that my friend had to do to get the kitchen clean again.
Sometimes our lives can put such a pressure on us. Then, if we are not careful to let the steam out, or pour something cool to lower the temperature, then there is the danger of us exploding just like that untended pressure cooker. The consequences we can suffer may not be as easy as mopping up, as our mind may be torn apart by the outburst. At the times when you find that you cannot control the pressure building up inside, simply talking about your problem to a friend, parent or responsible adult can be like blowing off steam or pouring water to cool you down. Taking the time to communicate about whatever may be making you afraid, angry or disappointed can result in an answer to your problem. This can happen because the
other person may be able to offer a solution, or may be in a position to advise you on whom to see to do that for you. But it has been
p roven that, even if he or she d o e s nothing else but be there for you with a sympathetic ear, your expression of your problem can help you to feel much better and even arrive at an answer yourself. Also, when someone
takes the time to hear you out, you realise that you are not alone, and this can serve to ease your situation.
P r oblems are a part of life. Everybody has bad days, but it is how you respond to them that counts. But if you find your bad feelings are persisting from day to day, then talk to someone whom you trust. Even if they don't agree with you, they will respect your feelings and be
Jigsaw sudoku J
igsaw Sudokus (also known as Irregular, Nonomino, or Geometric Sudoku) are very similar to regular Sudoku puzzles, but instead of
3x3 blocks, they are divided into irregular jigsaw-like shapes. Each row, column and jigsaw shape contains all of the digits 1 thru 9.
A Listening Friend Tonight you came in answer to my unspoken prayer, When I needed someone to say what I needed to hear; You were a symbol, a bomb to break the steel, Then you were my rescue, the aid to help me heal; Tonight you spoke the words, everything I knew, But they were too far down for me to make them come through; I understood clearly for the first time: You are a listening friend, and one of a chosen kind; Thank you for tearing down the walls I built so high, You showed me that there still is sun on the other side.
Speaking to someone you trust about any personal problem can itself help to solve it.
TELL IT TO UNCLE ROY I would like to inform our readers that the Uncle Roy email address is temporarily unavailable. So please send any contributions you would like to make to this page to roypaul2002@yahoo.com
Solutions to last week’s
Galaxies
Bridges
PAGE 50
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Dandruff Naturally 1. Tea tree oil Historically, tea tree oil has been used to treat ailments such as acne and psoriasis. It is also proven to have powerful antimicrobial and antiinflammatory properties, which may help alleviate symptoms of dandruff . Another study found that applying placental tissue soaked in tea tree oil to the skin was more effective than a prescription antifungal treatment at healing lesions caused by this fungus. Additionally, tea tree oil may cause irritation in those with sensitive skin. Therefore, it's best to dilute it by adding a few drops to a carrier oil such as coconut oil before applying it directly to your skin. SUMMARY Tea tree oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce the severity and symptoms of dandruff. 2. Coconut oil Renowned for its multiple health benefits, coconut oil is also used as a natural remedy for dandruff. It may work by improving skin hydration and preventing dryness, which can worsen dandruff. SUMMARY Coconut oil may improve skin hydration and reduce dryness, thereby combating symptoms of eczema and dandruff. 3. Aloe vera Aloe vera is a succulent that's often added to skin ointments, cosmetics, and lotions. When applied to the skin, it may help treat skin conditions such as burns, psoriasis, and cold sores. SUMMARY Aloe vera has antibacterial and antifungal properties that may reduce inflammation and decrease dandruff symptoms, but more research is needed. 4. Minimize stress levels Stress is believed to affect many aspects of health and wellness, influencing everything from chronic conditions to mental health. SUMMARY Stress may weaken your immune system and decrease your body's ability to fight off infections that cause dandruff. Furthermore, stress often precedes episodes of seborrheic dermatitis, one of the most common causes of dandruff. 5. Apple cider vinegar Apple cider vinegar has been associated with a variety of health benefits and is often used as a natural remedy for dandruff. SUMMARY While no research backs these claims, apple cider vinegar is anecdotally said to remove dead skin cells and balance the pH of your scalp to reduce dandruff. 6. Aspirin Salicylic acid is one of the primary compounds found in aspirin that's responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties. This acid is also an ingredient in many anti-dandruff shampoos. SUMMARY Aspirin contains salicylic acid, an ingredient found in many anti-dandruff shampoos. This acid has been shown to be effective in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. 7. Omega-3s Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in your body. Not only do they make up the cell membranes that surround your cells, but they're also crucial for the function of your heart, immune system, and lungs . Plus, omega-3s are vital to skin health. They help manage oil production and hydration, promote wound healing, and prevent premature aging. SUMMARY Omega-3 fatty acids are important to skin health and may help reduce inflammation. Deficiency can cause dry skin, dry hair, and dandruff. 10. Baking soda Baking soda is a quick, convenient, and readily available dandruff remedy. It's believed to act as a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and reduce scaling and itchiness. It also has antifungal properties that may benefit dandruff treatment.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 51
PAGE 52
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Convicted child rapist, Esan Germaine From page 39 left with “lasting hurt.” Further, the statement reads that the child is relieved that the trial has ended, while noting that she can now refocus her attention on preparing for next year’s Grade Six examinations. Programme manager attached to Blossom Incorporated, Shaundell Shipley, who read the statement, told the court of first coming into contact with the child in 2014, after she and her mother were referred by the Child Care and Protection Agency for psychosocial support. Shipley was tasked with the role of providing support for the child throughout the proceedings, which included preparing her as she reviewed her depositions to testify. It was during this period, Shipley said, that the child submitted an impact statement, which she read, as the young girl was not at court.
According to media reports, in his address to the court, Germaine’s lawyer, Eusi Anderson, begged the court to be merciful to his client, while stating that he was remorseful, though the convict himself did not address the court. Noting the popular saying that “life begins at 40,” the lawyer said it was a “very dark day” in his client’s life, and that, “We all make mistakes.” However, the lawyer also mentioned that his client maintained his innocence. In mitigation, Anderson noted that his client had no previous brushes with the law. According to him, Germaine has contributed to society by working with the Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) community, particularly in the area of research as regards understanding the needs of those vulnerable groups. Prosecutor Narissa Leander, however, asked that the
maximum sentence of life in prison be imposed, while noting, inter alia, that the child has been scarred for life. In handing down the sentence, Justice Morris-Ramlall noted that not only was the child repeatedly violated, but that the assaults began when the child was at the tender age of four. The court said it had also considered that Germaine had breached a position of trust by violating, instead of being someone who protected a child. Justice Morris-Ramlall had told the convict that his conduct does not entitle him to mercy, while noting that he needed to be sentenced to an appropriate term, which would send a message to potential offenders. The judge told him, too, that the sentence imposed would give him an opportunity to reflect on what he had done and the consequences of his actions, with the hope that he can be rehabilitated in the process.
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 53
PAGE 54
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
Enetworks reveals list of fresh GETTING EYELASH EXTENSIONS and exciting shows for new week Lessons from a Lashpreneur!!! FOR SENSITIVE EYES
By Latoya Zephyr Sensitive eyes can be a bit limiting, especially when it comes to choices like choosing your makeup or getting lash extensions. The wrong choice can result in wasted time, resources, and red, irritated eyes. While lash extensions are generally safe, you still need to do a bit of research to know what you should avoid and what you should ideally look for, especially if you have sensitive eyes. Can you still get lash extensions at all even if you do have sensitive eyes? The short answer is yes, you definitely can! LASHES AND SENSITIVE EYES If you’ve experienced getting red eyes after a lash extension service, it’s usually caused by fumes from the glue. This happens when gas molecules from cyanoacrylate, the base compound of lash adhesives, are emitted. Depending on how the lashes were applied and your eye sensitivity, the lash adhesive may also potentially irritate your eyes. PREVENTING IRRITATION You can prevent irritation by observing the following tips: Make sure that the lash extension service is conducted in a well-ventilated room to direct the fumes away from your eyes. The room should also have its humidity and temperature controlled to allow the glue to work and dry properly. Consult with us beforehand if u have sensitive eyes. TREATING IRRITATION In case irritation occurs, there
are several ways to alleviate the condition: Taking allergy medication may help alleviate and soothe the symptoms of irritation. Use a cold compress to calm the irritated eye(s). Apply cortisone cream to the affected area. This can help reduce redness and discomfort caused by the irritation. GETTING YOUR LASH EXTENSIONS This is how lash extensions work: each extension is glued to one healthy natural eyelash so that your natural lashes won’t get damaged. They are applied from the middle or to the outer 1/3 of your natural lashes so the
glue won’t come into contact with your skin. Eyelash extensions should be applied one at a time to your natural lashes by a certified lash technician to keep them from clumping together, from having too much glue, and to minimize incidents of irritation. Getting your lashes done at Lift and lashes means getting high-quality extensions. You’re in good hands with our lash technician so you’re guaranteed to achieve great results. We only use medicalgrade equipment and follow strict procedures to ensure the safety and satisfaction of our clients.
E-Networks brings nonstop entertainment across 100 channels for the entire family. Here is a list of the fresh content you can expect from your favourite networks this week!
Tuesday March 29 : “How to survive a pandemic” on HBO takes an inside look at the historic, multi-national race to research, develop, regulate, and roll out COVID19 vaccines in the war against the coronavirus pandemic. The documentary began filming in early 2020 as the largest public health effort in history got underway and followed those efforts of over the next 18 months, exploring in real time the hard work and collaboration of health agencies worldwide, as well as the political and moral failures of governments to act impartially and equitably. Thursday March 31: “Rat in the Kitchen” on TBS features a mix of professional chefs and passionate home cooks compete in a series of creative cooking challenges, earning cash in their bank for every dish that impresses Chef Ludo while attempting to expose an undercover mole (the rat) determined to
sabotage the dishes and undermine their chances at victory. Sunday April 3: The 64th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony airs on CBS and Trevor Noah, Comedy Central’s Emmy Awardwinning, “The Daily Show” host and comedian will return as Master of Ceremonies for Music’s Biggest Night. Taking the stage this year will be current nominees BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X with J a c k H a r l o w, B r a n d i Carlile, and Brothers Osborne. E-Networks also gives you more ways to watch with our Dream TV M o b i l e a p p, for added convenience! Download via Google Play or the App Store. Visit enetworks.gy or Whats App 624-5153 for more information. Follow on Instagram and Facebook @enetworksgy.
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
PAGE 55
PAGE 56
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
17 Protein-Rich Foods For A Healthy Life
N
owadays, people are more healthconscious and fitness enthusiasts who are very particular about their high protein diet plans. But why protein diet? Protein is an essential micronutrient for proper cell growth and to keep your body functioning well. If you are doing exercise daily then your body may need extra proteins to maintain and repair tissues, muscles. How Much Protein Do You Need? The daily requirement of protein may vary according to the age, weight, gender, and level of physical activity. The nutritional value of proteins is measured by the number of amino acids. The recommended daily dose of protein is between 46-63 grams for adults and it may increase to 65 grams in pregnant and lactating females. What are the health benefits of Protein? Protein-rich foods benefit weight loss and weight gain and aid metabolic health. Some other health benefits include: ·Curbs hunger and appetite Protein suppresses your
hunger hormone ghrelin and boosts levels of peptide YY. this helps to promote a feeling of fullness and prevents you from eating unnecessarily. ·Increases strength and muscle mass Protein is believed to be the building block of muscle and so, eating protein-rich foods is especially important if you are engaged in strength training. ·Great for improving bone health Studies have revealed that a diet rich in protein, especially animal protein may help to maintain bone health as you age thus, lowering the risk of fractures and osteoporosis. ·Reduces binging habits Eating breakfast or dinner high in protein will restrict you from indulging in midmeal snacks or late-night snacks which can be very helpful for overweight adolescent boys and girls trying to lose weight healthily. ·Boosts fat burn Eating protein boosts your metabolism by degrees and helps you to burn excess fat faster.
·Reduces blood pressure Contrary to popular belief eating a low-fat protein diet can help to reduce chances of heart attack, stroke and kidney conditions. This is because protein helps to lower systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. ·Good for kidney health A protein-heavy diet can negatively impact those with already existing kidney disorders but for people with healthy kidneys, consuming protein-rich food is not harmful. ·Helps in speedy repair after injury Protein is the building block of organs and tissues and so it speeds up recovery after an injury. ·Maintains fitness even as you age One of the many effects of ageing is sarcopenia which is responsible for bone fractures, frailty and an overall lowered quality of life. Protein slows down the process of muscle deterioration and protects you from early sarcopenia. What Are The High Protein Rich Foods? Different food contains
different proteins and they have various roles in our body. There are 9 essential amino acids that are not naturally found in the body. Hence, we need to include protein foods in our diet to get proteins easily for the bodies. Here are some high protein food options for you to get the best out of your body. 1: Chicken Boneless and skinless chicken breast is one of the common and best sources of protein. Bodybuilders and athletes usually include chicken breast in their diet because it does not have saturated fat. Chicken breast contains 31 grams of protein per 100 grams. 2: Pork Chops The pork tenderloin is considered as an extra-lean chop which is rich in proteins and has low-fat levels. 3: Eggs White It is one of the excellent protein sources for ‘eggetarian’ people who do not eat meat or seafood. Egg contains almost all essential amino acids which are necessary for protein formation. You always think that egg
5 Signs Of Labour Every Expecting Mother Should Know Introduction Just as each woman is unique, so is her pregnancy and onset of labour. Delivery symptoms (signs that delivery time is nearby) can differ from one woman to another and may change from one pregnancy to the next for the same woman. It can take hours or even days to feel the symptoms of labour pain in the 9th month. The latent phase or the earliest signs of labour is when the cervix becomes soft and thin and starts opening (dilating) for the baby to be born. In today’s blog, we will look at the most common symptoms of labour pain in the 9th month and some effective tips for expecting moms. Signs of Labour: Most Common Symptoms of Labour Pain Although it is difficult to precisely predict the onset of labour or how long a woman’s labour will last, there are a few common signs of labour that are initiated when the fetus produces certain hormones. Here are 5 popular signs of labour every expecting mother should know: 1. Lightening: One of the lesser know signs of labour
experienced early on by firsttime pregnant mothers is what doctors refer to as “lightening”. When the baby is preparing for birth, it slowly moves into a head-down position. This can happen anywhere between a few hours to a few days before labour begins. Lightening eases the pressure on a mother’s diaphragm and makes it easier for her to breathe, but it also puts more pressure on her pelvis and bladder. Mothers who have previously given birth, may or may not have this delivery symptom until right before labour begins. Either way, the mother’s belly may appear lower and more protruding and result in frequent bathroom visits. 2. Contractions: Towards the end of pregnancy, these symptoms of labour pain get stronger and more frequent. Contractions help push the baby down through the birth canal and ultimately help the mother to push the baby out into the world. If the pregnant woman is having more than six contractions every hour or every contraction is less than five minutes apart for more than
an hour or two, the baby is on its way. 3. Water Breaks: An unborn baby in the uterus is surrounded by a protective liquid called amniotic fluid. When this amniotic fluid sac ruptures, the mother experiences a gush of liquid or in some cases a slow trickle, we call this type of discharge before labour a water break. For some women, water breaking signs may not happen at all, in which case an obstetrician or midwife will break it during the delivery, while for others the water may break during labour or some time before it. Once the mother experiences water breaking signs, the baby is no longer protected by the amniotic sac and is vulnerable to infections, so make sure you head to the hospital or call your doctor right away. 4. Show: A pregnant woman may notice an increase in a type of discharge before labour’s onset or several days before it. The vaginal discharge which comes when the plug of mucus from your cervix (entrance to your womb or uterus) comes away, is a mix of pink, brown and slightly red in colour, indicating cervix dilation symptoms. 5. Cramps, Nausea and Diarrhoea: The onset of labour in-
creases the pressure or cramping in her pelvic and rectal areas, causing pain in the abdominal area and lower back. In addition, some pregnant women may experience delivery symptoms like vomiting or have frequent loose stools at the beginning olabour. Final Thoughts All in all, contact your doctor or maternity clinic if you experience the signs of labour mentioned above. Symptoms of labour pain in the 9th month can be painful and exhausting of all trimesters, so make sure to stock the pantry with your favourite snacks and (isotonic) healthy drinks that can help keep her energy levels up. The birthing partner can also help relax the mother with a pregnancy self-care routine made up of warm baths, back massages and other stress-relieving activities. Lastly, if the pain is too intense at the beginning of labour, breathing exercises with your birthing partner are extremely helpful in dealing with contractions once they get more painful and frequent. (https://pharmeasy.in/blog/ 5-signs-of-labour-every-expecting-mother-shouldknow/)
yolk is more nutritious than egg white but that’s not true. Egg white is a pure form of protein than egg yolk with less amount of saturated fat. Four egg whites have almost 16 grams of protein. 4: Seafood Seafood is a rich source of proteins with a lot of health benefits. Fish like salmon contain about 22 grams of proteins and usually has low fat. 5: Greek Yogurt Greek yogurt is one of the tasty sources of proteins. It provides on average 10 grams of protein. Greek yogurt is more concentrated than regular yogurt hence it contains more proteins. Also, better to choose a plain Greek yogurt than a flavored one as it may contain more carbohydrates and sugar. 6:Skimmed Milk Milk is always considered as a complete food as it is full of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, calcium, minerals, etc. But always choose skimmed milk as it has more proteins and no fats and carbohydrates. It keeps your bone and teeth healthy and prevents osteoporosis. 1 cup of skimmed milk provides 8 grams of protein. 7: Paneer Paneer is an alternative for chicken. It is a rich source of casein protein. Paneer has 18 grams of protein per 100 grams. 8: Nuts and Nut Butter Nuts such as groundnuts, almonds, and cashew are rich with proteins, unsaturated fats, and satiating fibers. They are slow-burning food which gives you stomachful feeling for a longer time which helps to reduce your cravings. ¼ cup of nuts provides 7-9-gram proteins. Nut butter such as peanut butter, almond butter is new healthy products. These are high in proteins, potassium, and fibers. 9: Soy-Based Products Soybean is also known as “meat without bones” because of its protein richness. It is available in various forms like the soy yogurt, soya milk, roasted soybeans, etc. It is a great source of protein and vitamin C with very low fats and no cholesterol at all. Soya is an alternative for vegetarians and lactose-intolerant people. It contains 36 grams of protein per 100 grams. 10: Red Lentils Lentils are excellent for proteins for vegetarian folks. It contains grams of protein per cooked cup. 11: Split Chickpeas Chickpea curry or dal is the commonest dish present
in Indian plates. It is one of the easiest protein-rich food available in India. Chickpeas are low in fat and high in proteins. It offers 30 grams of protein per 1 cooked cup. 12: Seeds Are you ever consult a dietician for a diet plan? If yes, then he/she must be told you to add different seeds in your diet like sunflower seeds. Seeds such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds are full of proteins. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids which are good for your immunity and heart and liver health. On an average ¼ cup seeds provide around 9 grams of protein. 13: Quinoa Quinoa is a gluten-free, plant food that is packed with all essential amino acids. It contains 8 grams of proteins in 1 cup cooked Quinoa. 14: Oats Oats is the new superfood for health-conscious people. It is an excellent source of protein. They contain 11 grams of protein per 100 grams. 15: Tofu Tofu is full of proteins as it is prepared from soy milk. It also contains magnesium, copper, zinc, and vitamin B1. It is gluten-free and low in calories helps to reduce and maintain weight. It contains 8 grams of protein per 100 grams. Protein is an important nutrient to keep your body healthy and fit. There are various food sources available around us to add to our diets like chicken, egg whites, lentils, nuts, etc. These high protein foods help you to be energetic and strong without adverse effects. 16. Granola Granola is a healthy cereal that helps you lose weight when you pick a version that’s high in fibre. A bar of granola provides you with about 100 gm of protein. You can either consume a granola bar on its own or have granola like cereal by mixing it with milk or greek yoghurt for a high-powered yet light breakfast, perfect for hot summer months. 17. Edamame Beans Edamame beans are high in protein and contain amino acids essential for the human body. About half a cup of cooked edamame beans offers you around 9 grams of protein. A medium-sized bowl of lightly cooked edamame beans pairs well with roti or rice. (https://pharmeasy.in/ blog/15-protein-rich-foodsfor-a-healthy-life/)
Sunday March 27, 2022
MEDEXES - ACCORD...
Kaieteur News
PAGE 57
PAGE 58
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Sunday March 27, 2022
ng ... i t es ures r te t In rea C
T
Kaieteur News
PAGE 59
Green Anaconda
he green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), also known as giant anaconda, common anaconda, common water boa or sucuri, is a boa species found in South America. It is the heaviest and one of the longest known extant snake species. Like all boas, it is a nonvenomous constrictor. The term “anaconda” often refers to this species, though the term could also apply to other members of the genus Eunectes. Fossils of the snake date back to the Late Pleistocene in the Gruta do Urso locality. The green anaconda’s specific name is derived from the Latin murinus, meaning ‘of mice’, for being thought to prey on mice. DESCRIPTION The green anaconda is the world’s heaviest and one of the world’s longest snakes, reaching a length of up to 5.21 m (17.1 ft) long. More typical mature specimens reportedly can range up to 5 m (16.4 ft), with adult females, with a mean length of about 4.6 m (15.1 ft), being generally much larger than the males, which average around 3 m (9.8 ft). Weights are less well studied, though reportedly range from 30 to 70 kg (66 to 154 lb) in a typical adult. It is the largest snake native to the Americas. Although it is slightly shorter than the reticulated python, it is far bulkier; the bulk of a 4.5-metre (15 ft) green anaconda is comparable to that of a 7.4-metre (24 ft) reticulated python. Reports of anacondas 11–12 m (35–40 ft) or even longer also exist, but such claims must be regarded with caution, as no specimens of such lengths have ever been deposited in a museum and hard evidence is lacking. The color pattern consists of an olive green background overlaid with black blotches along the length of the body. The head is narrow compared to the body, usually with distinctive orange-yellow striping on either side. The eyes are set high on the head, allowing the snake to see out of the water while swimming without exposing its body. DIET Primarily aquatic, they eat a wide variety of prey, almost anything they can manage to overpower, including fish, amphibians, birds, a variety of mammals, and other reptiles. Particularly large anacondas may consume large prey such as tapirs, deer, capybaras, and caimans, but such large meals are not regularly consumed. Juvenile anacondas feed on prey such as small birds and juvenile caiman that are typically 40–70 grams in size. As they develop, their diet becomes increasingly complex. Prey availability varies more in grasslands than in river basins. Green anacondas in both habitats have been found to feed on large prey, usually ranging from 14 percent to 50 percent of its own mass. A few examples of their prey include broad-snouted caimans, wattled jacanas, capybaras, redrumped agoutis, collared peccaries, South American tapirs, red side-necked turtles, and northern pudús. Green anacondas take a high risk by feeding on larger prey, which occasionally lead to serious injuries or even death. Some also feed on carrion and conspecifics, usually inside or around water. Large anacondas can go weeks to months without food after eating a large meal, because of their low metabolism. However, females show increased postpartum feeding rates to recover from their reproductive investment.https://en.wikipedia.or g/wiki/Gr een_anaconda - cite_note-
animaldiversity.org-28 Many stories and legends report the anaconda as a man-eater, but little evidence supports any such activity. They employ constriction to subdue their prey. Cannibalism among green anacondas is also known, most recorded cases involving a larger female consuming a smaller male. While the exact reason for this is not understood, scientists cite several possibilities, including the dramatic sexual dimorphism in the species, and the possibility that a female anaconda requires additional food intake after breeding to sustain the long period of gestation. The nearby male simply provides the opportunistic female a ready source of nutrition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_ana conda - cite_note-PROD-31MATIING This species is solitary until the mating season, which occurs during the rainy season, and can last for several months, usually from April to May. During this time, males must find females. Typically, female snakes lay down a trail of pheromones for the males to follow, but how the males of this species track a female’s scent is still unclear. Another possibility is that the female releases an airborne stimulant. This theory is supported by the observation of females that remain motionless, while many males move towards them from all directions. Male anacondas also frequently flick their tongues to sense chemicals that signal the presence of a female. Many males can often find the same female. This results in odd clusters referred to as “breeding balls”, in which up to 12 males wrap around the same female and attempt to copulate. The groups can stay in this position for two to four weeks. This ball acts as a slowmotion wrestling match between the males, each one fighting for the opportunity to mate with the female. During mating, males make use of their spurs to arouse the female. They aggressively press their cloacal regions hard against the female body, while continuously scratching her with their spurs. This can produce a scratching sound. Mating approaches its climax when the stimulus of the males’ spurs induces the female snake to raise her cloacal region, allowing the cloacae of the two snakes to move together. The male then coils his tail, surrounding the female, and they copulate. The strongest and largest male is often the victor. However, females are physically much larger and stronger and may decide to choose from among the males. Courtship and mating occur almost exclusively in water. Mating is followed by a gestation period of six to seven months. The species is ovoviviparous, with females giving birth to live young. Litters usually consist of 20 to 40 offspring, although as many as 100 may be produced. After giving birth, females may lose up to half their weight. Neonates are around 70–80 cm (2.3–2.6 ft) long and receive no parental care. Because of their small size, they often fall prey to other animals. Should they survive, they grow rapidly until they reach sexual maturity in their first few years, after which they continue to grow at a slower pace. LONGEVITY Green Anacondas in the wild live for approximately 10 years. In captivity, however, they can live up to 30 years and beyond. The current Guinness Book of World
By MKAMPIS - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62039578 Records for the Oldest Living Snake in Captivity is 37 years 317 days (14 May 2021 – Paul Swires) held by Annie the Green
Anaconda, currently at Montecasino Bird & Reptile Park in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Soure: Wikipedia)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 60
Sunday March 27, 2022
a n n a y Av Foundation >>>Young Entrepreneur on the Move<<<
The
…a new start up non-profit on a mission to tackle period poverty By Rehanna Ramsay
P
eriod poverty is described as a lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these. In many parts of Guyana, particularly the rural areas, this problem still exists among women and girls. In rural Guyana, many girls who are affected by period poverty often end up dropping out of school way too soon and find themselves in a position of being too embarrassed to discuss the problem and ask for help. As such, a group of young and ambitious University of Guyana (UG) students have joined forces to help end period poverty in Guyana. Today we shine the spotlight on the work of these entrepreneurialminded students. Founder of the group, Arieanna Madray, told Kaieteur News that the efforts of her non-profit – The Avyanna Foundation – were spawn from the findings of a research
A closer look at one of the pieces made by the girls of the Hauraruni Girls Home during The Avyanna Foundation workshop. conducted during her final year at UG. She explained, “I was doing a project for my social entrepreneurship course with Dr. Kieven Pierre, where we had to choose a social problem and create a for profit business that helps to solve this issue. For the business I chose a company that sells 100 percent organic period pads that decompose within 12 months. Since most pads take up to 800-900 years to decompose.” The group’s founder noted however, that it was while doing research that she discovered that
“an alarming amount of girls in [rural Guyana] are not fortunate to get pads and along with this, many do not have access to education on their menstrual cycle.” According to her, the research was done through a questionnaire and interviews with at least 100 females. “I sent questionnaires to a village called Rockstone [in Region 10] where I found that girls used socks, tissues, etc. This was just heartbreaking and I couldn’t get it out of my mind,” she stated. Added to the lack of information and resources, Madray
The Avyanna Foundation conducted a craft workshop with girls at the Hauraruni Girls Home, Soesdyke-Linden Highway earlier this month.
found that an alarming number of individuals are also uncomfortable talking about their periods, owing to the stigma attached to it. “So, we want to end the stigma around talking about our periods and provide girls with this education,” she added. Prior to starting the non-profit, Madray said that she spoke to her mentor and lobbied the support of friends, family and like-minded individuals. “…I went to talk to one of my mentor, Miss Donna Lam, Founder of the Rosewood Foundation…she encouraged me to get started with the project. I told her how I couldn’t stop thinking about these girls and I wanted to help…We sat there and she told me what I needed in order to get started.” Now, the group has at least 10 members and has already embarked on its first workshop. She explained that “At the workshop we talked to the girls because we want to empower and help them to learn a skill or something entrepreneurial.”
For the most recent activity held earlier this month, Madray along with her coordinator, Beaunce Atkinson, organised a workshop in honour of International Women’s Day for the Hauraruni Girls Home on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. “We did a jewellery workshop because most of the girls were young. The girls were taught on the menstrual cycle and participated in an arts and craft workshop where they made bracelets and necklaces. Beaunce and I coordinated everything. I went to her with my idea and she has been helping me with everything and anything I need. Our next step is to do fundraisers so we are sending our letter for sponsorship.” At present, Madray said that the Avyanna Foundation is planning to do at least 14 more events. She explained that “We will definitely end up doing more if funds allow. But an average would be 15 since we are a start up.” However anyone can message our Facebook page, The Avyanna Foundation, anytime if they ever need sanitary pads or anything. All girls are welcome but my focus is the rural areas because some of the girls there are not fortunate to attend school or they have to drop out because of period poverty.” Madray reiterated that her goal is to provide young girls with the education they need on the menstrual cycle, along with hygiene products. “My team and I will be incorporating entrepreneurial workshops and skill learning for these girls to become a little more independent,” she added. By doing these workshops, Madray is hoping to help empower the girls affected by period poverty learn a trade or at least, find their passion.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 61
Article 13 raises concerns with US on threat to freedom of speech, other national issues Outspoken civil society group, Article 13 on Friday met with the United States Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Ms. Barbara Feinstein, at the US Embassy in Guyana, where the overwhelming powers of the Presidency, threats to freedom of speech and ‘winner-takes-all politics’ in Guyana, among other things were discussed. In a statement to the media yesterday, the group’s members Yog Mahadeo, Jonathan Yearwood and Christopher Ram shared details of the hour-long meeting between the two sides, which was also attended by the US Ambassador, Ms. Sarah-
Ann Lynch. Some of the key matters brought to the attention of the visitor were the “overwhelming powers of t h e P r e s i d e n c y, n o n appointment of a number of Constitutional Commissions and statutory bodies and undelivered promises on Constitutional Reform.” Article 13 said it also discussed the ‘winner-takesall politics and practices’ with regard to public appointments, control over the functions of the National Assembly, control of the various Committees and moreover, the Budgetary process. Another matter on the agenda was the threat to free speech, posed by direct and
Members of civil society body, Article 13 meet with US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Ms. Barbara Feinstein and US Ambassador, Ms. Sarah-Ann Lynch. Representing Article 13 were Yog Mahadeo, Jonathan Yearwood and Christopher Ram. (Photo Credit: US Embassy) indirect attacks on civil society organisations and individuals, Article 13 reported. Continued on page 63
Kaieteur News
PAGE 62
Sunday March 27, 2022
$614M fire service headquarters to be completed early next year W
ith 20 percent of works already completed, the new $614 million modernised Guyana Fire Service (GFS) headquarters is likely to be commissioned by early next year. This is according to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which shared on its Facebook page that Permanent Secretary, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas visited the location on Friday to inspect the ongoing works. The project is currently being executed by Mohamed Enterprise which was awarded the $614,521,774 contract in November last year. Upon completion, the headquarters will be relocated to the new facility located at H o m e s t r e t c h Av e n u e , Georgetown. The relocation is expected to significantly improve the response time of the fire service since the current location at the Stabroek Market area is, on a daily basis, heavily congested with vendors, vehicles and pedestrians. Kaieteur News had reported that the idea of building a new GFS headquarters was introduced by former Fire Chief
Marlon Gentle, who posited that it was necessary to decentralise the current headquarters located in the Stabroek Market area to improve efficiency. He had noted that the congested streets around that area would often delay its response to fires in the city. This publication was told that the front of the building will be designed with double ply tampered proof glass for a modern look. According to the Ministry, the new facility will accommodate eight fire tenders and six Emergency Medical Service (EMS) ambulances. A Fire Officers’ Living Quarters will also be built at this location. Following her inspection, the Permanent Secretary also visited works being done at the Ogle and Eccles Fire Station. The Ministry noted that the Eccles Fire Station is at a practical completion stage and is expected to be commissioned soon. This project started in June 2021, with the contract awarded to Kawal Ramdeen General Construction Company to the tune of $37,868,396. In February last year, the government in its annual budget presentation
outlined that the sum of $1.9B will go towards the relocation of the Stabroek Fire Station, the construction of a new fire station at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and the procurement of six water tenders and two ambulances. The Home Affairs Ministry stated that the new fire station upon completion will accommodate two fire tenders and one EMS ambulance. As for the reconstruction of a new fire station at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, works commenced in February 2022 by Singh and Sons Construction which was awarded the $76,343,119 contract. This fire station as well will accommodate two fire tenders and one EMS ambulance. It will also house a control room, office space for senior officers and administrative staff, a gym and a conference room. Further, under the Ministry, it will be equipped in accordance with the standards and recommendation practice contained in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 14 Aerodromes Continued on page 63
Ministry of Home Affairs’ Permanent Secretary, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas inspecting works at the various Guyana Fire Service projects. (Photo Credit: Ministry of Home Affairs)
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Article 13 raises concerns with US on threat to freedom of... From page 61 “We also discussed the Access to Information Act and its failure to live up to expectations as one of the pillars of Article 146 of the Constitution of Guyana; corruption; and the need for civil society to engage the government, politicians and political parties, and the rest of society in dialogue to enhance our democracy and society,” the group detailed. Other issues discussed included the attempts to rig the 2020 March elections, the reform of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the effluxion of the Carter-Price Model and the Electoral Reform, inclusive of the restrictive provision of section 11B of
the Representation of the People Act and noncompliance with Election Expenses Accountability. Article 13 said that its representatives thanked Ambassador Lynch for her role, both as a woman and a diplomat, in the resolution of the 2020 elections. “We also thanked her for the opportunity to meet the Deputy Assistant Secretary while emphasising that we recognise that the problems we face in Guyana have to be addressed and solved by Guyanese. We saw the meeting as an opportunity for engagement and we neither sought nor received any offer of support in any form whatsoever,” the group pointed out.
$614M fire service headquarters to be completed early... From page 62 and ICAO Doc 9137 Airport service manual to provide Rescue and Firefighting Services at the Ogle Airport. During the reading of the 2022 national budget by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, it was revealed that government has budgeted some $508M to
continue works at the GFS headquarters and at Ogle. Part of the money will also be spent on a new fire station at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara and the construction of facilities at New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six. The Minister noted too that an additional $49.1M was budgeted for repairs and maintenance of fire stations countrywide.
PAGE 63
Kaieteur News
PAGE 64
Sunday March 27, 2022
Over 50 participants to attend Women in... From page 42 creativity would have been wasted had it not been for the efforts of Ms. Noel in organising a forum for them to have the exposure, which led to the development of a number of successful small businesses.” She assured Noel that “MPS will continue to support you as you work to provide a platform to assist more women to realise their full potential.” The 2022 Expo will be collaborating with Women in
Business International (WIBI) to provide a modern virtual platform. WIBI exists to connect women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses to international markets. Just like WIFI connects the world through digital networks, WIBI connects women in business across the globe to foster innovation through collaborative ventures. The global virtual platform was initiated by Dr. Sabeeta Bidasie Singh, the CEO of Cardinal Services. WIBI
also hosted the first INSPIRE YOU event, which was held on March 22, last. The Women in Business in Expo will help advance supplier diversity in corporate supply chains by supporting and expanding women owned business representation within the corporate sector of Guyana. The event will also be held on a virtual platform, which promises to engage diverse global businesses.
The event has a special feature this year for art pieces. Tracey Cholmoneley will be one of those artists. Cholmoneley is a Guyanese by birth, who is a trained teacher who specialises in Deaf Education. She is a graduate of Gallaudet University in Washington DC, USA where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education in 1992 and a Master o f A r t s i n S p e c i a l Education/Deafness in 1997.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
2 patients in COVID-19 ICU, 9 new cases T
he Ministry of Health yesterday reported that two persons are currently receiving treatment in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. In its latest dashboard, the Ministry recorded nine new infections within the
last assessed 24-hour period, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 63,232. Out of the number of confirmed cases, 34,121 are females and 29,111 are males. A breakdown of the new cases per region shows that health authorities have recorded five cases in Region Six, three in Region
Four and one in Region Two. The dashboard data also shows that seven persons are in institutional isolation, 13 are in institutional quarantine and 76 are in home isolation. Additionally, in the last 24-hour period, a total of 31 persons have recovered from the virus, bringing the number of recovered cases to 61,921.
PAGE 65
PAGE 66
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 67
Impossible to draw conclusions on new Demerara River Bridge in... From page 20 In this regard, she concluded that the absence of these details makes it impossible to draw conclusions on the likely significance of the impacts associated with the proposed bridge.To this end, she told the Executive Director of the EPA that, “It would be unfair to hold such a hearing without prior disclosure of the relevant information upon which the EPA relied in making its decision to waive an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment), especially as this basic information ought to have been part of the application for an environmental permit and formed part of the Public Register since November 19, 2021, the EPA's stamped date of receipt of the application. I note that the EPA's decision to waive the EIA was remarkably swift, issuing a public notice of the waiver on November 23, 2021, only two working days after receipt of the application. You therefore must have been in possession of all relevant information at the time the application was made.” Mangal-Joly in her letter also reminded the agency that copies of the application as well as other particulars of the project that the
EPA used to arrive at its decision to waive an EIA for the new bridge were requested but not provided. As such, she urged that Parsram provide the relevant information the agency is in possession of, as she also brought the matter to the attention of the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB). In a separate letter to the EAB, seen by Kaieteur News, the Environmentalist listed her concerns regarding the upcoming hearing on Tuesday. “Firstly, in fairness, the relevant information required for an intelligible discussion and rational assessment of the EPA's decision must be available to appellants before the EAB's hearing, as by nature this information cannot be properly assessed and verified in real time,” Mangal-Joly reasoned. “Secondly, this information must have been before the EPA at the time that it made its decision and triggered the 30-day statutory appeal process under the Environmental Protection Act, which was November 23, 2021. The EAB's hearing by law must be based on that decision, made at that point in time, with information the EPA had before it then,” she added. Moreover, she told the EAB
that the international best practice standards for such hearings are 1421 days after the statutory appeal period closes, but three months have elapsed since the 30-day appeal period expired on December 23, 2021. In this regard, she said, “I would like to remind the EAB that any decision the EPA makes to waive an EIA is significant because it denies the public and frontline stakeholders statutory rights provided by the Environmental Protection Act to directly participate in the environmental impact assessment process at several stages. The decision before you is a weighty one. It is not only about fairness to citizens but also the integrity of democratic checks and balances on the conduct of public affairs, and the rule of law.” The Environmental Protection Act gives the EAB the statutory authority to determine whether the EPA acted rationally in waiving an EIA and whether that decision should be reversed. Therefore, Mangal-Joly said that the EAB cannot merely assess whether the technical decisions were sound, but must also assess whether the EPA acted properly, given the relevant facts it possessed at the time it made the decision to waive the EIA
requirement. The Environmentalist in her letter to the EAB highlighted Section 11(2) (a) and (b) of the Environmental Protection Act, which specifies that an applicant must submit information that makes it possible to determine whether its proposed activities can significantly affect the environment, and thus require an EIA. “You must appreciate that the absence of the basic information on the bridge design and works that I noted in my letter to the EPA makes it impossible for anyone, including the EAB, to draw conclusions on the likely significance of the impacts of the proposed bridge and whether the EPA's decision is acceptable...at the very least, it would be an abuse of public time if this information were not available to yourself and the appellants before the hearing,” she contended. Last week, Kaieteur News reported that the new Demerara River Bridge consultation, scheduled for Tuesday is already flawed as no design for the structure was submitted, which would determine potential impacts of the projects. Weighing in on this matter was former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David
Patterson. In an interview with Kaieteur News, Patterson said a design of the structure would determine the noise, traffic and other key impacts the project will have on nearby residents. To this end, he concluded that a design must be submitted first for one to effectively measure or quantify the impacts residents can possibly brace for.Last August, the EPA said an EIA was not required for the construction of the structure, as it will not “significantly” affect the environment. However, according to the regulator's Screening Decision for the project, published on its website, it was explained that impacts to air quality can be expected, coupled with noise and vibrations and surface water quality. Some 24 lots are expected to be acquired to facilitate the new bridge as well, while approximately 2,360m2 (47.2m x 50m) of mangroves will also be removed on the Western end of the Demerara River to facilitate the bridge. The public consultation will take place at 14:00hrs (2pm) on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 in the conference Room of the Cara Lodge Hotel on Quamina Street, Georgetown.
PAGE 68
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Kaieteur M@ilbox Low Carbon Development: Key for...
VEHICLE FOR SALE One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable. Contact:649-0956.
PROPERTY FOR SALE JFWW Network Real Estate houselots for sale gated community,$4 Mil GYD zero down payment.Messageto whatsapp: 622-1957. Great Diamond,Tuschen, Onderneeming, Haslington, Eccles & more.Contact:2278274/223-6035/673-6210.
SERVICES Massages and Rehabilitation physical preparation personalized training. Bachelor in Physical Education and Sports: Kirenia Ballard Bell.Call:669-6910. Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design,Advertisements, Wedding decorations & Elderly grooming: Hair,Nail etc.Tel:626-7040.
Georgetown Guyana 4units (1 commercial & 3 residential) balcony & car parking, whatsapp 643-5444.
From page 6 that are effective and efficient. Guyana relies heavily on imports for the majority of the nations food sources, industrial equipment, electronics, and other commodities. Guyana should focus on its competitive advantages like agriculture and natural resources. The manufacturing in-
VACANCY WB Cleaning & Janitorial Services,hiring male & female age 25-40yrs.Tel:698-3644/ 503-2502.
LAND FOR SALE 48 acres of transported rice land situated in Goodhope, East Bank Essequibo. Contact:1-917-807-6424/688-9077.
One excavator operator and one grader operator to work in Diamond.Contact:6321118/647-4161. Billing clerk & Porters, location Stabroek Market. Experiences is an asset. Contact: 661-1000,226-9800. For porters.Apply in person to Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda.
FOR SALE Prime Business Spot, located at Zeelugt public road,3 storey building & 1/2 acres at Parika.Call:650-0402/6520251/260-4115. 2 pure breed german shepherd, black & tan seven wks old,fully vaccine. Contact: 650-9998 or 626-0953. 2-1 acres land@ blankenbu rg W.C.D. Contact:650-0402/ 652-0251. 1-40 acres land@Linden Highway.Contact:650-0402/ 652-0251. Furnish house and land for sale on Ferry Street,New Amsterdam, Berbice.Call 6792497. White Toyota Verossa, price 1.8Mil. Call:608-6948.
WANTED Masoner& Labourers. Please contact Damion on 681-9554. Wanted skilled carpenters, masons & labourers to work in GeorgeTown & Linden. Contact: 657-5800 / 615-7526/ 602-9469/ 660-6385. 1 Hauler driver wanted. Contact:611-7088 for more details. Engineers wanted to work with construction company. Contact Seema on 226-9416. Construction foreman wanted to work with construction company.Contact Seema on 226-9416. Water truck driver on West Bank Demerara.Tel:686-9296. Experienced/mature minibus driver,preferably from the East Bank.Contact:698-6205. One cook to work in the interior,male or female. Call: 698-4064.
FOR RENT Bobby’s RealityFor Sale or rent, good for business– 4.018 acres of prime land in New Amsterdam, Berbice. Reduce Price.Call 679-2497. Bobby’s RealityLarge Property with Huge Concrete Bond, Prime Location Cumberland, Canje. Ideal for Business. Sale or rent. Reduce Price.Call 679-2497.
General domestic covid 19 vaccinated for Tuesday & Saturday between Cove & John & Unity area E.C.D. Tel:259-0953/623-3231. Female to take care of an elderly male between the ages of 25 to 40. Accommodations provided.Call or WhatsApp 1-868-683-1528. Motor Lorry drivers needed and Porters. Tel:627-1835/ 626-4691.
Experienced roti/puri cook, kitchen assistant, cleaners. Apply at Hack’s Halaal Restaurant,5 Commerce st. Cashier,supermarket helper at Nirva Superstore.Send application at 49 Sheriff & Craig st tel:227-5771. One cleaner at Hibiscus restaurant & bar,91 Middle St NorthCummingsburg Georgetown. Tel:231-5857. Pitmen,Serviceman,Hauler Operator and Welder for interior location.Applicants must be experienced. Call:2312250. One salesman,able bodied porters.Experience in writing bills,stocktaking & cashing. Keyfood Trading,Mc Doom village. 1 Porter.Apply at LENS,136 Sheriff Street, C/Ville.Tel: 2271511/227-2486 Male & Female workers to work at Magic Touch Car Wash & details centre. Call: 669-4676/669-8960. One clerk for TSI Eccles office English & Maths, grade 1 or 2.Call:615-9132 or email application to techserigy @ yahoo.com Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area. Call:615-9132 Male cleaner.Call:642-9823. One male 25-50 yrs to work shift @Del Ice Co.Call:2311408/642-9191.
dustry can focus on biodegradable products, oil products, and dairy byproducts like milk or cheese. Other industries can focus on the nations raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and magnesium just to name a few. The waste from raw materials can then be recycled and properly disposed of; this is to aide
in the reduction of unnecessary waste. These recycled resources can be used to make other byproducts, which lessen the amount of waste that is produced as a result from the manufacturing industry. Therefore, it is a beneficial strategy to implement these eco-friendly methods. By doing so, this will
create an opportunity for the country to grow. An incorporation of reducing, reusing, and recycling all materials used throughout these processes into an alternative replacement is a more conscientious way to deal with them when compared as how we deal with them now. Sincerely yours, MJ
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 69
Kaieteur News
Former Haitian sports minister Evans Lescouflair accused of raping children · Lescouflair is president of youth football club in Haiti · He is accused of historical abuse at that club and as a teacher (The Guardian) - A former sports minister of Haiti has been accused of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old pupil while a teacher in the 1980s and is facing a civil lawsuit brought by several other alleged victims who claim he sexually abused them. Complaints against Evans Lescouflair, who served in several posts at Haiti’s Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Action between 2008 and 2011 and remains influential in Haitian football as president of youth side Club Sportif Saint-Louis, were sent to the commissaire of Port-au-Prince governorate on Thursday by lawyers working on behalf of ClaudeAlix Bertrand and several other alleged victims. It is understood that they contain accusations that one of Lescouflair’s alleged victims killed themselves in 2008. “It’s a criminal complaint about the repeated rape of minors under 15 years old,” the lawyer Franck Vanéus told the Guardian. “The sentence for this crime is life imprisonment.” Bertrand – the Haitian ambassador to Unesco and captain of Haiti’s national polo team – told the Guardian that he was abused by Lescouflair when he was an 11-year-old student at SaintLouis de Gonzague at the end of the 1980s. “He touched my intimate parts in a way that no one did before,” said Bertrand. “It was so uncomfortable. I didn’t understand anything, I was just a child. I asked him
why he was doing it. He kept doing it and asked me: ‘You don’t like it?’ “After that day, I tried to avoid his look. But he kept me a second time, a third time. Each time he kept me apart after a class, things were going further until the day he raped me. He penetrated me. I cried, begging him to stop but nothing changed. It lasted for two years. It happened in an office far away from the classroom.” Bertrand says that he experienced severe depression but did not report the abuse because he was afraid of the potential consequences. “I grew up in a society where the teachers had all the rights,” he said. “I thought that no one would believe me. I even thought that I may be punished for it … I was only 11 years old, I was a child and I was so scared. He kept going until the day I became sick.” Bertrand’s family subsequently moved to the United States, where he has received psychiatric treatment for several years. “That place stayed in my mind,” he says. “Even today, it’s hard, I won’t lie. Since I first talked about it, my life changed. The life of my parents changed too. But I have to face it because I’m not the only victim of this man. It’s been more than 40 years that he abused young boys in our country.” Lescouflair refused to answer questions from the Guardian but told the Haitian newspaper La Nouvelliste in February after Bertrand’s
accusations first went public that he had “nothing to say, since the man who made this statement is married to a man of foreign nationality” – a reference to the fact that Bertrand is gay. During his spell as sports minister, Lescouflair worked closely with Yves Jean-Bart, the former Haiti Football Federation (FHF) president who was banned from football for life in December 2020 after being found guilty of sexually abusing and harassing young female players. Lescouflair is alleged to have abused boys at the Club Sportif Saint-Louis youth system after he established an academy programme known as Anafoot with the coach Jacques Succès Orisme in 2008. Orisme died in April 2020. “Lescouflair always told Jacky to watch this boy or this boy,” said one alleged victim who did not want to be named. “Each time Lescouflair came, one boy was ‘punished’. It happened in Jacky’s bedroom. Jacky also raped many of us. But other people abused us – it was terrible. In the three months I spent there, it was a nightmare. As I said, some of my friends left with me. We were kids and on the run. We were in three categories: under-15, under-17 and under-20. I was 14 when it happened. And you know, one of my friends died because of it. He committed suicide in 2008. He was a victim of Lescouflair.”
COVID RESTRICTIONS BEING LIFTED IN T&T (Trinidad Express) - Two years into a pandemic that killed 3,731 in Trinidad and Tobago, and after enduring regulations that changed the course of lives, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced today that Covid-19 restrictions were being lifted. After congratulating his health minister, the Covid management team, and health care workers, Rowley said; • As of Sunday, Covid antigen tests will be accepted from vaccinated passengers arriving in Trinidad and Tobago, replacing the need for a negative PCR test. Soon, the travelpass system will be lifted. • The Safe Zone operations will be lifted, allowing for the mingling of vaccinated and unvaccinated, from April 4. • Masks will remain in force in public places, except on a sporting field. • All restrictions lifted on visiting rivers and beaches. • No limit to public gatherings, from April 4. Rowley said a new list to be issued by
government will state what cannot be done, going forward. He said now more than ever, it was now an individual responsibility. He said that what some described as “the worst health care system in the world”, came to the rescues of citizens, and had gotten a “high pass grade” internationally. He said that people needed to continue taking precautions since there are some countries that are dealing with spikes in Covid infections, and mutations of the virus. “I have no crystal ball on this virus…None of us know what could happen in the distant or not-too-distant future”. He said that if T&T ended up in a situation like other countries facing Covid spikes, “we will respond to the virus responsibly, depending on the nature of the threat.” To t h o s e w h o d i d n o t t a k e t h e vaccine, he said “we not telling you don’t party, don’t have a beer, don’t go to the bar. Personality responsibility cannot be overstated”.
The dead player’s mother said: “We’re so afraid. Lescouflair is still a powerful man. We don’t trust Haitian justice or police. Our son died after being raped by this man. We wish to do something but what? We could be killed just by revealing our existence.” It is understood that lawyers have requested a private hearing to ensure that some of the alleged victims can maintain their anonymity. Lescouflair was accused of raping underage boys in 2010
but the case was closed by a judge citing a lack evidence. In 2015, Lescouflair was accused of abusing young players by Himmler Rebu, who served as sports minister between 2014 and 2015, in a letter to La Nouvelliste. It is also understood that Rebu sent a report to the country’s then president, Michel Martelly, that alleged some of Lescouflair’s abuses took place at the FHF’s Centre Technique National in Croixdes-Bouquets during Jean-
Bart’s reign. “The topic you are investigating was the subject of an official report sent to the highest authorities of my country when I was minister of the Youth, Sports and Civil action,” Rebu told the Guardian. “I have to keep a reserve of duty and can’t answer your questions.” Meanwhile, Jean-Bart’s appeal against his lifetime ban from Fifa is being held this week, with a verdict expected in July.
PAGE 70
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
71
PAGE 72
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Sunday March 27, 2022
Lake-Mainstay needles Henrietta to win Brian Stephney Football Competition
The victorious Lake-Mainstay team strikes a pose after winning the finale.
Sunday March 27, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) If you're single, Aries, a new love could appear right there in your neighborhood. The person should be attractive, intelligent, free spirited, and very much attracted to you! TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today you could hold a group meeting of some kind in your home. The guests will probably include people in such interesting fields as astrology, metaphysics and environmentalism. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Have you been reading romantic novels or watching romantic films lately, Gemini? This is probably because love is very much on your mind now. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Money earned through involvement in the arts, perhaps those combining creativity with computer technology, could come your way, Cancer. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Have love matters been causing you excessive strain for a while? If so, you can expect that to end now. Someone you love deeply reciprocates your feelings, and is very anxious to resolve any differences between you and look toward the future. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) If you're single and looking for love, Virgo, you may find it today in an ephemeral way. You could find yourself falling hard for the proverbial stranger across the crowded room.
PAGE 73
Kaieteur News
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Love certainly seems to make the world go round today. Is everyone around you deeply involved in a new or revitalized romance? SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Has the perfect career suddenly materialized out of nowhere? If so, don't write it off as being too good to be true. It's very, very real! Take a few days to consider all your options and all possible contingencies. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A website or TV documentary could put you in touch with a promising educational or spiritual organization whose goals and aims seem to jibe perfectly with your own, Sagittarius. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You could have some strange, mystical dreams tonight, possibly involving angels or other spiritual beings. Their messages could well shed light on a romantic relationship that you might not understand well. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Social events today could put you in touch with people in the arts, Aquarius, particularly ones such as film, television, recording, and computer graphics that combine creativity with modern technology. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You could spend much of your day advancing the interests of an organization dedicated to a cause that means a lot to you, perhaps in animal rights.
Lake-Mainstay defeated Henrietta 1 - 0 to win the inaugural Brian Stephney sixteam football tournament recently held in Region Two, Essequibo Coast, PomeroonSupenaam. The final was played at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground with LakeMainstay taking home a trophy and $80,000 for their tournament triumph while Henrietta had to settle for the runner up trophy and $50,000. The four other teams that participated were Charity, Dartmouth, Good-Hope and Queenstown. Stephney, who is currently residing in England, stated that he was delighted to run off the competition. He congratulated Lake-Mainstay and extended his appreciation to all the sides for their participation. He made special mention of Darren Browne, Tedwin Roach and Rayburn Holder for their support that helped to make the tournament a success. Stephney, who represented Essequibo and Guyana in cricket, also played for Leeward Islands at the first-class level. According to Stephney, the competition will be played annually and is calling on other sports personalities on the Coast to support it as his main aim is to assist with the development of football.
Two fifties & two 5-wkt... From page 81 Dindyal (9) and Zackary Jodah (0) were dismissed in quick succession. Rasheed has taken has 2-4 so far. At DCC, Malteenoes were bowled out for 143 in 37.3 overs with Browne (30), former Guyana First-Class batter Shemroy Barrington (29), Marcus Watkins (24) and Clearance Baird (16) going into double figures. Mootoo was supported by leg-spinner and skipper, Steven Sankar, who took 3-44. Brown returned with the ball to take 6-36, but his fine bowling could not prevent DCC from getting a slim two-run lead after being bowled out for 145. The charge was led by Jacques’ unbeaten 50 from 70 balls (2x4, 3x6) and a late order of 27 from Mootoo, Today is the second day in both matches is scheduled to commence at 11:00hrs.
GSA announces team for 2022 Senior Pan Am... From page 77 tournament,” he posited. In an invited comment Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal of the GSA, she said that this is the first major tournament since the commencement of the pandemic and the team has been training hard to catch up for lost time. “We have a squash league running that has been extremely valuable in the training and preparation for the Championships,” she added. “Due to covid, we are going into the tournament not too sure of the level of the other teams. We don’t know how covid has affected
their training etc, but our team will be going out there to do their best for Guyana,” she disclosed. Meanwhile, Maisa DaSilva from Cosmetics Beauty World handed out beauty and sports products to the entire team while Charisma Salisbury from Excel Guyana handed over a cheque, all in support of the team. The GSA has expressed gratitude to its sponsors which are The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), National Sports Commission (NSC), Cosmetics Beauty World, Modern Optical, Excel Guyana, John Fernandes and Guystar.
PAGE 74
Andy Murray beat Argentine Federico Delbonis in the first round at the Miami Open (Getty Images)
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Miami Open: Murray loses to Medvedev as Evans & Watson also go out
A
ndy Murray lost to Russian top seed Daniil Medvedev at the Miami Open, as fellow Britons Dan Evans and Heather Watson were also beaten in Florida. Medvedev, who must reach the semi-finals in Miami to reclaim the world number one ranking from
Novak Djokovic, won the second-round match 6-4 62. Evans was beaten in three s ets by Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, who battled back to win 3-6 6-4 63. Watson lost her thirdround match to S w i t z e r l a n d ’s B e l i n d a Bencic 6-4 6-1. Scotland’s Murray, 34, a two-time winner, has not won back-to-back matches since January. The three-time Grand Slam winner, ranked 85th in the world, could not respond after being broken by Medvedev in the third game of the first set. Medvedev lost the world number one ranking to 20time Grand Slam winner D j o k o v i c o n M o n d a y, having replaced the Serb as number one for three weeks. The 26-year-old, who is not allowed to compete under his country’s flag following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saw out the match efficiently after breaking Murray’s serve for a 3-2 lead in the second set. “My level of tennis is obviously not right now where it needs to be to win matches like that,” Murray said. “Today there were some good signs on the court but the two key things in tennis are serve and return. I didn’t do either of them particularly well.” World number 27 Evans made a promising start against Nishioka, ranked 96th, winning four straight games to close out the first set. A break for 2-1 in the second set was enough to help Nishioka level the
contest - and though Evans was able to restore parity at 2-2 in the deciding set, the increasingly frustrated Briton could not recover after being broken in the seventh game. Watson, who claimed her first win over a top-20 player since 2020 by defeating Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the previous round, was contesting a third-round match in Miami for the first time in six years. The Briton had taken a 42 lead in the opening set but world number 28 Bencic responded emphatically, winning 10 of the following 11 games to reach the last 16. Elsewhere on Saturday, Naomi Osaka advanced to the last 16 with a walkover after Czech player Karolina Muchova withdrew because of injury. The United States’ Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins, seeded ninth, beat Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-1 6-4, while Belarusian 12th seed Victoria Azarenka overcame Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4 2-6 7-6 (75). In the men’s draw, Norwegian sixth seed Casper Ruud progressed with a 6-1 6-2 win over S w i t z e r l a n d ’s H e n r i Laaksonen, but Canadian seventh seed Felix AugerAliassime lost to 22-year-old Serb Miomir Kecmanovic 64 6-2. Polish eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz,the defending champion, defeated France’s Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (7-5) 6-2, and Spanish 15th seed Roberto Bautista Agut beat Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak 6-3 6-3.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
England’s Tour of the West Indies 2022…
Visitors stare down the barrel of defeat after disastrous day (BBC Sport) - England are set for another humiliating defeat after enduring a wretched third day of the decisive third Test against West Indies in Grenada. Having begun with hopes of pushing for victory themselves, the tourists were thwarted by the West Indies lower order before they collapsed in abject fashion in their second innings. They ended the day 1038, just 10 runs ahead of West Indies with two days to go. Joshua da Silva reached his maiden Test century in the morning session, frustrating England with a stand of 52 with number 11 Jayden Seales before West Indies were finally dismissed for 297. That gave the hosts a first-innings lead of 93 and in response England’s top order folded to 39-4 - captain Joe Root out for five and allrounder Ben Stokes four. Jonny Bairstow and opener Alex Lees offered some resistance with a dogged stand lasting 24.4 overs but when Bairstow was caught behind for 22, Ben Foakes followed in a calamitous run-out five balls later. Lees made 31 before he was castled by Kyle Mayers - the seamer ending the day with remarkable figures of 59, his first five-wicket haul. Hosts West Indies now look certain to complete victory, which would also see them take the series 1-0. Another dark day for England England’s winless run now looks set to stretch to nine Tests. They had dark days during their 4-0 Ashes defeat but this ranks among them, given West Indies are eighth in the world Test rankings. When play began West Indies led by only 28 and if England had taken the final two West Indies wickets quickly they would have hoped to set a challenging target. Instead the bowling was toothless and tactics puzzling. Then, on a pitch displaying some uneven bounce but on which West Indies lower order survived for more than two hours,
England’s batting capitulated. As happened repeatedly in Australia they were not able to cope when the pressure was on. Only Lees, who got a ball t h a t k e p t l o w, w a s unfortunate. The rest of the batters were dismissed in disappointing fashion. Root was one of those he played a tired waft on five to be caught at slip off Mayers, the second time the medium-fast seamer has dismissed him in the Test. Root’s position as captain will now come under serious scrutiny. England’s ‘red-ball reset’ looks to be heading to a fourth consecutive series defeat. Mayers runs riot in another England collapse At one stage it looked as though England would not make a fourth day. Zak Crawley was the first to fall. He had already been dropped once and almost caught hitting over extra cover when he loosely drove for a third time and was caught at second slip from his 11th ball. Root followed in the ninth over - his total of five runs across both innings is his lowest since 2015. Mayers was not even picked for the first two Tests in this series but before long he had Dan Lawrence bowled for a duck when playing no shot and Stokes caught behind as he attempted to leave. Lees and Bairstow showed the same calm, steady accumulation that had served Da Silva well earlier in the day. That was until Bairstow tried to swipe Alzarri Joseph off a length and was caught off an under edge. The sight of Foakes coming up short diving through the dirt in attempt to make a unnecessary second run summed up England’s day. Typically it was Mayers’ throw from the deep that caused the run-out. Bowling meek as impressive Da Silva tons up Even before the batting collapse, England’s day was poor. Despite having a ball just six overs old they showed little intent to dismiss Da
Silva. As a result he was able to quietly but astutely accumulate while the match meandered. After Kemar Roach nicked Saqib Mahmood down the leg side for 25, Seales, whose previous high Test score was seven, survived for more than an hour alongside the wicketkeeper. England can point to misfortune - Seales should have been out lbw for a duck to Mahmood when the lead was just 41 and other chances did not go to hand but to do so would be to ignore their shortcomings. When Seales later planted Leach for six over long-on it only heaped more misery onto a side looking increasingly frustrated. Da Silva accelerated as he neared his century, first attacking Leach and then
clubbing Craig Overton for back-to-back boundaries to reach the landmark. He celebrated wildly and afterwards admitted there were tears in his eyes. A ball later came another moment emblematic of England’s toil. Da Silva seemed to nick Overton behind and despite reviewing walked from the field. H o w e v e r, r e p l a y s showed he had in fact missed the ball and as a result he and the England players had to be recalled to the middle. In the end, Root himself ended the partnership and the innings by having Seales caught and bowled for 13 as Da Silva ended 100 not out. Stumps Day 3: England 204 and 103 for 8 (Mayers 5-9) lead West Indies 297 (da Silva 100*) by 10 runs
PAGE 75
Kyle Mayers destroyed the English batting line up with 5 for 9. (Getty Images)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 76
Sunday March 27, 2022
GCB elects new Essequibo Cricket Board President Essequibo Cricket Board President, Deleep Singh
T
he Executive Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on Saturday, March 26, 2022 elected Deleep Singh as President of the Essequibo Cricket Board to replace Hilbert Foster as its new Director to Cricket We s t I n d i e s . T h i s information was release via a press release to the members of the media. The document went on to state: Singh, who hails from Charity is a popular and respected businessman who previously served as President of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the E s s e q u i b o Te c h n i c a l Institute and as VicePresident of the Guyana Coconut Growers Association. S i n g h ’s i m p r e s s i v e profile includes serving in prominent positions in religious educational and social organizations including the Sanatan Dharm Par Upkaaric Sabha, Shri
Sookdeojie Ashram, Charity Development Committee and Guyana School of Agriculture, where earlier as a student he earned a diploma with distinction. A graduate of the Lousianna State University (USA), Singh is presently the proprietor of WD’S Hotel & Mall at Charity. In addition, he is a large scale coconut, cattle and rice farmer as well as a licensed gold miner. On the cricket front, Singh played club cricket in Essequibo for a numbers of years and in fact founded and was chairman of both the Enterprise Cricket Club in Pomeroon and also Pomeroon Cricket Committee. From 2002 to 2004, he served as Vice-President of the Essequibo Cricket Board and now as the incumbent President of that Board, he is automatically an Executive Member of the GCB. Singh’s election to the position of CWI Director is in keeping with a traditional
practice that seeks to alternate director selection. He is the first Essequibian to hold this prestigious position since Beni Sankar some twenty-five years ago. An immensely popular personality, Singh gave the assurance that the confidence placed in him would propel him to work diligently and responsibly in the interest of Guyana and West Indies cricket. He pledged to discharge his duties in a professional manner and to ensure that Guyana is meaningfully represented at the regional level. The amendment to facilitate the alternating of directors was approved at a Special General Meeting of the GCB held on March 6, 2022. This meeting was convened for two specific purposes: proposed amendments to the constitution and the submission and ratification of Audited Financial reports of the County Boards.
The report from the Berbice Cricket Board, however, created much debate as the figures presented could not stand up to scrutiny. The meeting decided that in the interest of transparency and accountability and in keeping with the Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014 that the financial report of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) be subjected to a forensic audit. This decision was taken despite the explanations given by the BCB President, Hilbert Foster and which were deemed unacceptable. The BCB subsequently wrote the GCB requesting a withdrawal of their audited financial report. This matter which has caused much disquiet will be carefully monitored by the GCB.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 77
Jamaica revises vaccination policy for 2022 Carifta Games (SportsMax) - Athletes, coaches and support personnel arriving in Jamaica for next month’s Carifta Games will no longer be required to show proof of vaccinations. However, in light of the shift in policy, the Local Organizing Committee is encouraging them to adhere to the accepted safety measures. “We are pleased to advise that no proof of vaccination for COVID 19 will be required from participants including athletes, coaches and other support personnel, officials, representatives of the media, volunteers and spectators,” said a statement from the Carifta Games LOC on Wednesday. Notwithstanding, the revised policy, the Chairman of the LOC, Mike Fennell wants participants to appreciate that the virus has not gone anywhere. ”(I) am strongly
recommending and encouraging everyone to continue to practice all the standard safety measures such as good personal hygiene, wearing of masks, and social distancing. Please be reminded that the Covid 19 virus is still with us and due care and attention must be observed by all,” Fennell said. “We would also like to assure you that we will continue to sanitize all relevant areas at the Athletes Village and the warm-up and competition facilities at the National Stadium, and one of our partners for the Games, Konnexx Services, will be undertaking this responsibility as a part of our agreement. ”We remind you to check the current policies for the conditions and protocols required by airlines and those for your own countries’ re-entry.”
GSA announces team for 2022 Senior Pan Am Championships By Zaheer Mohamed The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) has announced its team to represent Guyana at the upcoming Pan American S e n i o r S q u a s h Championship which is slated for Guatemala from April 3-9. The team which is set to depart Guyana on April 1 reads; Alex Arjoon, Jason Ray Khalil, Kristian Jeffrey, Samuel Ince-Carvalhal, Nicolette Fernandes, Mary Fung-A-Fat, Ashley Khalil and Gabby Fraser. Garfield Wiltshire has been charged with the duty of Team Manager. Additionally, Alywn Callender will be attending the event as a referee. In an invited comment, National female champion, Nicolette Fernandes, said the team’s objective is to qualify for the Central American and Caribbean games next year. She expressed confidence in both the male and female teams achieving the feat. “The bigger nations like the USA and Canada, who even though they will be present at the tournament, are not in contention to qualify for the CAC games, so they are not our main competition. It is a very
unknown championship because it’s has been about three or four years of no international competition so no one really knows where the other nations stand, but we are prepared,” she said. Fernandes stated that the association has made a stern effort to bring people back into the sport which has done wonders for the players. “This championship came up pretty sudden, but we were already in the process of getting back into playing at a high level due to our league,” she pointed out. Samuel Ince-Carvalhal also expressed confidence in his ability to do well in the tournament. “I have been doing a lot of training and squash specific movement and a lot of programmes with the senior players and I have been able to experience long matches,” he stated. Ince-Carvalhal indicated that this is his first Senior PanAm Championship. “I am not really sure about the level of play of the teams that have qualified for the PanAm before, so we will go in with our best foot forward. I am confident with the way I am playing, I will gain a lot of experience and I am looking forward to the (Continued on page 71)
Athletes, coaches and support personnel will not be required to show proof of vaccinations to enter Jamaica for next month’s Carifta Games.
PAGE 78
Levi Garcia
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
2022 Courts Caribbean Classic…
Golden Jags play Bajan -T&T fires nine Tridents tonight past Barbados The Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Soca Warriors treated their home crowd to a pleasing victory over the Barbados Tridents when the 2022 Courts Caribbean Classic kicked off on Friday
evening at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Contesting the first match of the three-match, three-team friendly tournament, the Soca Warriors won by a 9 – 0
margin. To d a y, t h e B a j a n Tridents will oppose another superior opponent which is Guyana’s Golden Jaguars Unit that is currently led by head coach, Jamaal Shabazz. This puts Guyana in a good position for a favourable result against a team daunted by a clean sheet handout. Of the three teams competing in the tournament in preparation for the 2022/23 Concacaf Nations League, T&T ranks the highest in the Concacaf region at 13th while Guyana sits at 22nd and Barbados is ranked 31st. Coach Shabazz told the media prior to his departure that the result of the match does not really matter in a preparatory match as such. Instead, the focus is to have as many players as possible take the pitch because he believes playing matches is the best teacher of the game. It has almost been four years since Guyana last met Barbados. That match was a Nations League encounter which ended 2 – 0 in Guyana favour. For the other rivalry, Jaguars and Warriors, they last met in March of 2021 d u r i n g a Wo r l d C u p
Qualifier that the latter won 3 – 0. Even though tensions are high between these three nations, it was a very commendable initiative to engage in the friendly tournament ahead of the much anticipated CNL. Guyana is in League B of the CNL with 15 other nations inclusive of Barbados who were promoted from League C and T&T who were relegated from League A. Meanwhile, on the opening night of the tournament AEK Athens forward, Levi Garcia, led T&T with a hat-trick against Barbados. Levi drew first blood in the 27th minute and followed up with goals in the 35th and 40th minutes to record his first international hat-trick. His first half-hat-trick was boosted by Ryan Telfer’s double (29th, 60th), Nicholas Dillon’s brace (68th, 78th) and a goal each from Reon Moore (80th) and John-Paul Rochford (83rd). T&T plays again on Tuesday, March 29, against Guyana. All matches start at 19:00 hrs at the venue mentioned earlier.
GMR&SC Quarter Mile Return… - Tickets on sale at the venue All lights are green for today’s Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) ‘Return to Quarter Mile’ Drag Race meet at the South Dakota Circuit. Racers will get a chance to dust the cobwebs off their machines after over a year without a drag racing event, while spectators are also allowed to witness the action. Tickets will be available at the venue costing $2000 for adults and $500 for kids.According to GMR&SC President Rameez Mohamed, all systems have been put in place for the event which is expected to begin at 10:00hrs “We have gone through all the necessary setups and processes to ensure that tomorrow [today’s] event is pulled off without a hitch. The reason we are able to have this event in the first place is because the National COVID-19 Task Force granted permission based on how we would have run our endurance and circuit events.” Today’s meet is highly anticipated because the track record is touted to be reset a few times during the course of the day with the additions of two new high-powered machines set to debut on the 1320ft strip. Competitors have registered close to 100 vehicles for the meet. Up to press time, a dozen competitors from Suriname were revving up for bragging right against the Guyanese. In addition, the club announced two important sponsors in Team Mohamed’s and Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc. pledging their support to Motor Racing once again.
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
Chateram Ramdihal Chartered Accountants Softball Competition on today
T
he Bath Settlement Community Centre comes alive today as the Chateram Ramdihal Chartered Accountants Softball Competition and Family Fun day takes centre stage at the Bath Community Centre in region 5. According to the organizers, the cricket
competition bowls off at 09:00hrs with trophies and cash up for grabs. There will also be added attractions such as the 100m Sprint, tug-o-war, sack race and greasy pig. Several softball teams in and around the Bath Settlement have announced their readiness to take part.
GMR&SC Quarter Mile Return…
$50k from Frames Optical for 12-second class winner
D
rag racers for the 12 second class of action will have the added bonus of a ‘cash pot’ for the winner with Frames Optical sponsoring a cash prize. The company on Thursday handed over a sponsorship to the tune of $50,000 to go directly to the winner of the 12 second class of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s Quarter Mile Return. Owner Vevik Joshi,
himself a racer, handed over the cash to GMR&SC Executive Member Paul Jiwanram. Meanwhile, cars from Suriname arrived Fruday. They will come to do battle with the best of Guyana’s Cars including the Team Mohamed’s GTR’s, Transpacific Alteeza and the S&D Performance Caldina as well as the KONG Supra. Tickets cost $2000 for adults; $500 for kids. Racing action begins at
Frames Optical Owner Vevik Joshi (left) hands over the cash to GMR&SC Executive Member Paul Jiwanram.
09:00 with qualifying after which the event will move into the Knockout phase.
Some of the prizes at stake for the event
PAGE 79
Kaieteur News
PAGE 80
Sunday March 27, 2022
Road to Redemption 2022…
Championship Boxing returns on April 23
Minister Charles Ramson Jr ( 3rd from right) with boxer Elton Dharry ( 3rd from left), alongside Jack Bharat (L), GBBC President Peter Abdool (2nd L), NSC Chairman Khasif Muhammad (2nd R) and Aleem Hussain.
T
he “Road to Redemption” b o x i n g extravaganza was given assurances of the full support of government of Guyana by the Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport, Honourable Charles Ramson, who met with main event’s superstar, Elton Dharry, on Friday. Joining the Minister was Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Kashif Muhammad, President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool and
co-promoters Jack Bharat and Aleem Hussain. During the meeting, Minister Ramson indicated that in addition to hosting the event at the National Stadium, the event will benefit from other forms of support from the government and promised to assist the card which will be headlined by Dharry along with Dexter ‘De Kid’ Marques, in the co-feature. “We will be supporting this event. We, like Elton being a son of the soil, we look forward to partnering with you to make this event a success,” Ramson stated.
In the feature bout of the evening, USA-based Dharry will face the undefeated Orlando Penalba from Panama, who has an unblemished record with 12 fights and a draw. Dharry who has large fan base in the 592 will fight for the spoils of the WBC International super flyweight title while Marques will face flyweight Gilberto Pedroza, also of Panama, in the co-main event. “My main aim is to win big fights and get another crack at the world title,” said Dharry, who arrived in
Guyana on Friday and paid courtesy calls on Vice President Jagdeo and several Ministers. Dharry has been calling out world champions in his division and has fought for the WBA Super flyweight title in 2019. However, he lost to Andrew Maloney in the latter’s hometown of Melbourne, Australia in a controversial ninth-round stoppage after the ring side doctor stopped the fight which Dharry said he was dominating despite an eye injury. The Guyanese improved his record to 25(15 KOs)-6-
The Guyana Boxing Association on Friday handed over copies of it audited financial statements to the National Sports Commission. The GBA was keeping in line with the mandate of the Sports Commission Act. In this photograph, First Vice President of GBA Dr. Marissa Parris hand over the statements to NSC Chairman Kashif Muhammad. 1, with a first round stoppage of his last opponent in July 2021. He said it was his ultimate dream is to win a world title for Guyana and this fight will put him just one win away from achieving his goal. The card has an international flavor with a blend of talented youths and experience. It marks the return of Imran ‘Magic’ Khan, James Walcott and Quincy Gomes. Khan will take on Anthony Narine in a six-
round middleweight bout while Walcott will lace it up against James Moore in a four-round light heavyweight fight. Gomes, one of the brightest local prospects, will look to add another ‘W’ to his record when he takes on Barbados based, Charwin Estwick, for the local junior middleweight title. Also, debutants Stephen Da Silva and Richard James, will match gloves in a lightweight four-rounder.
Indian Premier League 2022…
KKR sinks CSK by six wickets in opener
Andre Russell took 1 – 38 from his four overs against the Chennai Super Kings
(SportsMax) - Andre Russell and Sunil Narine both had solid outings with the ball to help the Kolkata Knight Riders secure a six wicket win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings to kick off the 2022 Tata Indian Premier League at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. The Knight Riders won the toss and elected to field first, a decision which was proven right early as the Super Kings lost openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) and Devon Conway (3) in quick succession. Despite a fighting 50 not out from former captain MS Dhoni, Chennai could only muster up 1315 off their 20 overs. Umesh Yadav bowled a fiery spell to finish with 2-20 from his four overs. Narine went wicketless in his four overs while only conceding 15
runs and Russell took 1-38 from his four overs. KKR then got through their chase with little resistance thanks to a top score of 44 from Ajinkya Rahane and solid contributions from Sam Billings (25) and Nitish Rana (21). Captain Shreyas Iyer (20) and Sheldon Jackson (3) were at the crease when KKR got to 133-4 with nine balls to spare. Despite the loss, Dwayne Bravo was excellent with the ball taking 3-20 from his four overs and, in the process, joining Sri Lankan great Lasith Malinga at the top of the all-time IPL leading wicket-takers list with 170. Match details: Kolkata Knight Riders 133 for 4 (Rahane 44, Bravo 3-20) beat Chennai Super Kings 131 for 5 (Dhoni 50*, Umesh 2-20) by six wickets
Kaieteur News
Sunday March 27, 2022
PAGE 81
Ghana contingent coming to Guyana to learn Maxido
C
reator of the Maxido self-defence system, Max Massiah, has shared with Kaieteur Sport the exciting news that his unique system will soon be spread further across the world with a team of 20 Ghanaians set to arrive Monday to be trained. The ninth degree black belt practitioner revealed that the Africans will spend one month in Guyana where there will train for 21 days with four hours a session. Massiah, who is a six-time Martial Arts Hallof-Fame inductee, said that the new students are both professional fighters (MMA) and instructors who intend to not only teach selfdefence back home but to commericialise the system as well. The Maxido self-defence system, according to Massiah, is a no-nonsense system that is taught to vulnerable people and security personnel mostly, to apply breakage and dislocation in under four seconds. This, he believes, can be very extremely useful in the popular MMA professional fighting leagues. Massiah, who is also the President of the Chinese Martial Arts Federation in Guyana, expressed his happiness with the traction his Maxido system is getting and noted that his vision is to have the system be known throughout all the corners of the world.
Members of the Ghanaian team that will visit the Land of Many Waters
Beharry hits 135 in ESCL over-40 competition
R
avie Beharry hit a flamboyant 135 to spur Sunrisers Masters to a resounding 63run win over Devonshire Castle last Sunday when action continued in the Essequibo Softball Cricket League (ESCL) over-40, 20overs competition at Zorg B e a c h , R e g i o n Tw o , Essequibo Coast. The right-handed Beharry cracked nine sixes and seven fours as his team reached a formidable 278-4 from the allocation of 20overs, while Devonshire Castle replied with 215-8 off the 20-overs. Darshan Narine supported the inform Beharry with 44. When Devonshire Castle batted, fighting knocks of 59 and 48 came from Darshan Lall and Antonio Persaud respectively. Omeshwar Lall and Gopaul Deen picked up two wickets each for the winners. Also at Zorg Beach, Hibernia Strikers suffered a 48-run loss to Caribbean Cricket Club (CCC). CCC raced to 256-6 off the 20overs and then dismissed Hibernia Strikers for 208 in the penultimate over. The consistent Patrick Rooplall led the way for
Ravie Beharry CCC by scoring 72 while Joel Da Silva made 54. In Strikers’ innings, Jarran Ramlall struck 72 and 44 from Dalip Lakhan. The experienced Naresh Narine grabbed 4-14 from 1.4 overs and Ekie Baksh with 2-23 (4). And at the same venue, Ravens Sports Club beat Queenstown Tigers by five wickets. Tigers roared to a challenging 213 all out off 19.1 overs while Ravens
responded with 214-5 with 16 balls left. Veteran softball player Ramesh Narine scored an impressive, unbeaten 81 for Ravens while Sugrim Ahiram hit 57. The competition is set to continue today. CCC will tackle Sunrisers Masters at Affiance, while at Hibernia, Devonshire Castle will collide with Queenstown Tigers and at the same venue, Ravens will confront the hosts.
Noble House Seafoods 2-day 2 Division tournament... ND
Two fifties & two 5-wkt hauls highlight opening day By Sean Devers An attractive 58 from Everest Cricket Club’s, Richie Looknauth, an impressive 5-49 from DCC’s left-arm spinner Daniel Mootoo, Carlton Jacques’ even 50 and a remarkable 636 from Malteenoes’ Stephon Browne, highlighted the first day of the Noble House Seafoods two-day second Division semi-finals, on Saturday. At Bourda, GCC invited Everest to bat first on a lush, green outfield equipped with a flat track. Everest was led by a well-constructed half century from Looknauth, who crafted it from 139 balls and decorated it with six fours. The team eventually reached 207 all out in 66.5 overs. Off-spinner Krishna Singh was the most successful bowler with 2-23 for GCC, who were 34-3 by the close with Stephon Willison and Bernard Bailey, the not out batters on six each, trailing by 173 runs. Everest started badly when Ushardeva Balgobin (3) was removed by Joshua Charles before the lefthanded pair of Matthew Nandu and Dwayne Adams steadied the ship with good batting. Adams’ attacking cameo pushed him to 28
Mootoo dismissed Browne at DCC yesterday In the match that had both players picking up a 5-wicket hauls and contributing well with the bat. (Sean Devers photo) from 23 balls, with three boundaries, before he was caught off the bowling of the promising teenage offspinner, Krishna Singh Off Spinning all-rounder Looknauth, who played some delightful cover drives, joined Nandu, who was looking untroubled and set for a big score. However, he was run out at the nonstrikers’ end from a cleaver bit of fielding by Wilson off his own bowling. Wilson deflected a straight drive between his legs and onto the stumps with Nandu, who
was on 38 from 72, out of his crease while backing up. Looknauth continued to play his shots and swept leftarm spinner Devon Lord for four before he fell to Wilson. Troy Gonsalves who made 32 with three fours and the only six of the Everest’s innings along with Denesh Mangal (22) got starts without going on, while like Nandu, Aaron Beharry (5) and Javed Rasheed (2) were run out as for GCC. Martin Pestano-Bell (4), the talented Mavindra (Continued on page 73)