Kaieteur News

K

Friday Edition ExxonMobil NEWS moves ahead with Gas-to-Energy project

AIETEUR

p. p.10 3

May 06, 2022 - Vol. 24 No. 18

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 62,392

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

…as citizens remain in the dark over feasibility

‘IDB warns Guyana against wild spending' p. p. 83

...says Govt. must pay heed to the country's absorptive capacity regarding mega projects ...cautions that significant oil revenues leave Guyana vulnerable to detrimental impacts of Dutch Disease

‘Guyanese oil and gas workers facing hell' p.

8

…union up in arms as several sent home until further notice

Norton to put pressure on 'secretive government'

p. 3

...promises motions, protests, outreaches to increase citizens' activism

Man killed, p. 14 children hurt after car crashed into concrete bridge

Glenn Lall exposes Jagdeo's 'double-standards'

...yet to release oil production p. reports, but while in opposition 3 accused Coalition of being secretive

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Kaieteur News

Friday May 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

Friday May 06, 2022

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Glenn Lall exposes Jagdeo's 'double-standards' Kaieteur News Publisher and Businessman, Glenn Lall

...yet to release oil production reports, but while in opposition accused Coalition of being secretive

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hile serving as Opposition L e a d e r , Bharrat Jagdeo had much to say at his weekly press conferences, where he accused the former coalition government of being secretive when it comes to the management of the oil and gas sector.

Now two years later, as the Vice President with responsibility for oil and gas in the People's Progressive Party (PPP) government, he is yet to prove himself different.

This is particularly evident as key information pertaining to the management of the sector remains hidden from the public.

This is the case with monthly oil production reports for example.

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall during his Wednesday radio programme drew his listeners' attention to the voice of Jagdeo who had that time chastised the coalition administration for keeping the Guyanese public in the dark. In one of the recordings Jagdeo is heard

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

arguing, “After I said release the list, his (Raphael Trotman) Ministry (of Natural Resources) put out a long statement that they have been keeping the Guyanese public informed and this has been the most secretive government about that contract and he with a straight face said that.”

Jagdeo then went on to challenge Trotman to release the necessary information to keep the Guyanese population informed.

However, being in command of the oil sector today, Jagdeo has failed to honour the very demands that he had made in

the interest of keeping the nation informed. To this end, Lall reasoned: “Now what is he doing?

How is he any different from what the Coalition was doing? Every day, the Kaieteur News is asking him and his government 89 and 99 things about the oil industry, not 8 or 9 and he ducking and diving like a duck, running around avoiding the press, telling the reporters they are here to answer the citizens questions not the reporters.”

Lall went on to enquire, “Where are the review reports, Mr. Jagdeo? Where

are the local content reports that you just 'cuss' Trotman about, Mr. Jagdeo? Where is the daily or monthly oil production report, Jagdeo?”

Lall told listeners and viewers of the programme, which is also aired live on Facebook and YouTube that the Vice President is doing worse than the former government as they released the local content reports to give the nation a hint as to how much the oil companies were spending in Guyana, as well as the different sectors benefitting and who were receiving contracts. The businessman argued, “the Coalition who Jagdeo accused of being secretive, used to release a monthly production report so all of Guyana can know how much oil pumping out there daily.

Why you're not releasing these reports for us to see who getting the contracts Jagdeo? Why the Guyanese people can't see and know who really making money in this country from the oil?

And most importantly, now that we pumping more oil, why you don't want the people of this country to

know how much oil is coming up out there every day? Why we don't know the cost per barrel? Why we don't know the price they are selling the oil for to share profits?”

The newspaper publisher explained that for years, international oil experts have been asking what formula ExxonMobil has been using to calculate its profits from the Guyana basin, as he too questioned why the country must be excused from accessing such important facts in the interest of transparency.

Lall challenged, “You and ExxonMobil own the oil out there? Are you in partnership with ExxonMobil protecting their interest or there is something else going on that we don't know about? Come out and tell the nation – release the reports, audit the books so that Guyana can know what's going on with their oil

wealth.”

Former Executive Member of the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI), Mr. Alfred Bhulai in a letter to this newspaper had also called for the monthly oil production reports to be published. He explained that Guyanese are paying for the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels operating in the Stabroek Block, however citizens are completely unaware of what value they are getting for their dollars, as information pertaining to the levels of production among others, are not readily available for public scrutiny.

Presently, the public is free to view the revenue accumulated from oil production, through the Ministry of Finance's website, however, there are no reports on how much of the resource is being (Continued on page 16

Norton to put pressure on 'secretive Govt.' . .promises motions, protests, outreaches to increase citizens' activism

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iven an apparent difficulty in accessing pertinent information from the government in regard to the oil and gas sector, in p a r t i c u l a r, O p p o s i t i o n Leader Aubrey Norton has signaled his intention to up the pressure against the government with the help of a more informed and educated society.

The recently sworn in opposition leader is adamant that much more has to be done to hold the current government accountable; and is currently on a number of outreaches trying to get matters of serious concerns to the public. Norton told the Kaieteur News yesterday that he was recently in Berbice River, as part of his public outreaches. On the Politics 101 show with Dr.

David Hinds, Norton said that there are a number of ways that the opposition is working to get citizens involved in bringing pressure to the People's Progressive Party (PPP) Administration so that more information could be brought to the people.

Norton noted that the use of more parliamentary motions, street protest, and education drives are among the many avenues being considered.

He said that in a winnertakes-all majority system; it could be very difficult to have concerns and issues not considered by the government addressed. To understand the functions of the opposition, Norton said that the leader has to have at its disposal, a plethora of information that allows for

the exposure of matters being conducted by the government. At the same time, the opposition must engage the media, keeping them inform so that they too could disseminate information.

“In this regard, I think, we have to increase the amount of motions that deal with the direct issues affecting our people. What that will do is allow for situations where the people are seeing what's happening and how we have been representing them. We also have to use the sectoral committees; social, economic and foreign, to bring more issues to the fore,” Norton said.

The Opposition Leader who recently concluded visits to Fyrish, the Berbice River and is later expected in

Kwakwani and Ituni, said that his outreaches seek to sensitise citizens on a number of issues; the financial situation of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and what's happening in parliament to name a few.

Norton said that the outreaches are also to educate citizens to lift the level of activism. He said that “People are active when they understand and support

the cause and buy into the cause.” To get the desired outcome, Norton said that the Opposition cannot act in isolation of the people.

“You have to educate them, work with them, be with them, get them informed and then you will bring political pressure to bear.” “It is evident to me that the political pressure is building up,” Norton charged. He said that as the

opposition is contemplating street protest to make demands from the government, they are aware of the present dangers of unsavory characters infiltrating a legitimate resistance action.

Norton noted the use of the police by the government to go after political opponents, harassing and trying to create fear. He (Continued on page 16)

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Is the Vice President for real?

S

ometimes the Vice President of Guyana, Bharat Jagdeo, places some issues in the public domain that we wonder if he is for real. That is, if this leader has lost his senses, fights a losing battle in trying to retain his mind. All this takes shape with one of his latest public postures: “VP Jagdeo says… Pres. Ali and Vickram Bharrat should honour promise to release Alison Redford reports on oil projects” -KN May 02). This has to be bizarre, if nothing else.

We at this publication say that for the VP to call on the head of state and the Minister of Natural Resources to release the Redford Reports is sly, self-serving, and definitely on the sickly side. We say this because everything that has to do about oil in this country begins and ends with Vice President Bharat Jagdeo. He is the oil czar, he is the nations oil sage (according to his own selfevaluation).According to him, he knows more about this oil of Guyana than anyone else because he has appointed himself to that position, and no one can do anything about that, not even the President. Bharat Jagdeo is the President of Oil. For Vice President Jagdeo to call on the President to release the Redford Reports is not just strange, it reeks of the disingenuous. He himself had a say in commitments to release the first Redford Report on Payara. The Vice Presidents call on the President is a copout, to do what he has always done when the walls close in on some troubling national issue. He passes either the duty or blame on to others. Just remember what he has done to the muzzled and helpless people at Guyanas Environmental Protection Agency when he passed on oil matters that became too hot and too sticky for him to handle.

The VP has this rabbity habit, this poor practice, of distancing himself from matters that engage national attention and alarm. He plays this game of handing over such burning issues to powerless underlings in the public service. These workers have no idea as to how they must react, what is expected of them, with the boiling hot potato that he dumped in their hands. But the bottom line is that the wily, savvy VP succeeds in pulling another quick trick on Guyanese, when he does these dodges, engages in these oil acrobatics.

Take Vickram Bharrat, for instance. He is the Minister of Natural Resources, which means that normally he would be responsible for oil matters, because oil would fall within his portfolio. But, from every indication, this subject minister is nothing but a place holder to rest dinnerware on, merely a convenient decoration. This is because everything that has to do with oil is closely held to his chest by Vice President Jagdeo. As said earlier, he is Guyanas President of Oil. The official President, Irfaan Ali, has little say on oil, may actually know next to nothing with what is going on with this oil of ours, because the VP has seized control for himself of all matters, great and small, that has some relationship to oil.

The two Redford Reports, she herself, a figure of continuing controversy in this country, are part of the portfolio of the VP. The VP was intimately involved in the final decision to hire her, despite the protests of Guyanese, including this newspaper. The VP also has an intimate knowledge of what is embedded in those two Redford Reports, and it is our belief, our position, that the PPP/C Government, with the VP in the forefront, has no interest in sharing what is in there with Guyanese. The reality has been the secrecy and the resistance associated with making public these two oil reports.

All Guyana knows all of this, because Vice President Jagdeo name is written all over oil, due to his fingerprints being everywhere where Guyanas oil is concerned, and from his powerful shadow driving all oil issues to where they are. So, for Bharat Jagdeo to call on President Ali and Minister Bharrat to release the two Redford Reports is a dirty trick, his usual cowardly disappearing act when the going gets tough.

“Boots on the Ground” is an effective and proven crime fighting strategy DEAR EDITOR, “Boots on the Ground” is an effective and proven crime fighting strategy. However, at the Police Officers’ Annual Conference 2022, this topic was discussed. Some senior police personnel, movers and shakers of the GPF felt that it would become obsolete and replaced with their ’Safe City’ apparatus. I totally disagree. That is why a few weeks ago, I was pleased to see so many police boots of various sizes and high quality pounding the beat at the Stabroek Market Square. Yes. Region 4 A, Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Simeon McBean and a team of officers, inspectors and subordinate officers together with senior members of the City Constabulary paid a site visit to the Stabroek Market Square. The police pledged to use their scarce human and other resources to work along with members of the City Constabulary to reduce crime and the fear of crime in that area and other parts of the City. According to reports, the intention of the visit was to inspect the area in an effort to develop strategies and tactics to quell the alarming lawlessness that was taking place at that location. It was so refreshing to note that the police deviated from the normal bird’s

eye view of things that let you see everything from above, from the sky and assumed a worm’s eye view of the issues and concerns, trying to find whatever comes right in front of you - see it, feel it, hear it, smell it, taste it, touch it and see if you can do anything about it.

Some persons opined that the visit was a knee-jerk reaction to a Travel Advisory issued by the United States of America Embassy in Guyana on March 22, 2022. The Embassy warned its citizens to reconsider travel to Guyana due to crime and Covid-19.

The Embassy advised the Americans to avoid visiting Straboek and Bourda Markets and elsewhere because in their opinion the local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.

The Minister of Home Affairs in a statement after the visit by Commander McBean and team stated that the course of action was planned since November 2021. This is strange, as from November 15, 2021 to January 15, 2022 the police executed their annual “Christmas Patrols” which is intended to reduce crime in the city and countrywide. Members of the GPF who normally perform clerical and other office duties were

relieved from such tasks and detailed to perform “Christmas Patrols.” Therefore, the police had a massive number of human and other resources available then to tackle the situation at the Bourda and Stabroek Markets Squares during the “Christmas Policing.”

Under the astute leadership of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Simeon McBean, the police conceptualised and implemented a series of proactive activities to bring back sanity to the area. The measures include, intelligence gathering operations, intelligent led policing, static, aberdeen, roving and high visibility patrols - Boots on the Ground.

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council also conducted some amount of ‘cleaning operations.’

Better late than never.

Green shoots are already emerging. They will be fruitful.

I have the greatest confidence in Commander McBean’s policing ability to get things done efficiently and effectively. I know him well. I recruited and trained him at the Felix Austin Police College ‘B’ Division during 1992 when I was the Commandant of that training institution. He will always remember

his, “Interview for Selection” with me. Since then I posited that he was Commissioner’s material. I still hold the same view. However, his fight to get to the Apex of Management in the GPF was temporary abbreviated. In a self development effort, he applied and won a British scholarship. He successfully pursued a Masters of Science in Global Security and Policing in the United Kingdom. For his effort, certain politicians influenced the Police Service Commission to dismiss McBean without giving him the “God Given Right To Be Heard”. He appealed to the Court, which overturned the unlawful dismissal of the Police Service Commission. He was reinstated. He is an island of excellence in a sea of mediocrity.

The operations of the police at Bourda Market and Stabroek Marker Square will develop into a real success story. It must be sustained and replicated at other hot spots in the division and other police regional divisions across the country.

Look out for more analysis on that in another article.

Yours respectfully, Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

The more things change, the more they remain the same DEAR EDITOR, Jagdeos latest Press engagement, another of his attempts to lecture the media operatives, and to influence public opinion, adds up to: the more things change, the more they remain the same.

In that engagement, he contended that he, his party and Government are proposing a methodology for the removal of the names of dead persons from the Register of Registrants and ultimately from the Voters List. The proposed methodology is to have GECOMs CEO “secure a list of all of the dead people, to date, from the General Registrar Office (GRO) and compare it to the list of registrants.

Additionally, the CEO would be required to do so annually”. He further proposes that the list should be shared with all political parties and published in the newspapers. He concludes that in doing so, the process would be transparent, and the list sanitised.

That proposal is flawed. It is an attempt to retain the bloated list for the perpetration of illegal voting as occurred at the last elections.

The GROs office, on a monthly basis, already provides GECOM with the list of the persons whose deaths are registered. It should be noted that not all deaths are registered. Therein lies the flaw and the slight-of-hand of Jagdeos proposal. Nothing that he proposes addresses the fact that the GROs list does not include those whose deaths are not registered.

And further, what he proposes is less than that which is currently being done. Thousands of names of Guyanese who were registered and died overseas are on the voters list. Jagdeo, the PPP, the Government and its agents resist and refuse to support any mechanism, which would capture this subset of “ghosts”. There is therefore presently no mechanism for their removal. His proposal even waters down what is. It does not address the problem.

The fact is that hard evidence was presented to show that votes were cast in the names of persons who are dead and/or were not present.

That evidence languishes at

GECOM, and in a Petition, which the PPP is fighting tooth and nail not to be pronounced on, in a judicial process. That the PPP, as a political contestant, is doing that is quite understandable.

However, GECOMs refusal, to date, to review the conduct of the elections, including validating or invalidating information that statutory bodies brought to its attention about dead and substitute voters, raises serious questions about GECOMs motive and integrity, in the conduct of its affairs. In this regard, the reference is to the Commission as distinct from its Secretariat.

Any attempt to resolve a problem has to be based on the identification of the problem and the provision of solutions to eradicate the problem. Jagdeos proposal does neither of the two, and GECOM totally refuses to determine if there is such problem, although all of the stakeholders up to budget 2019 gave their support to a process that recognised, and could have resolved the problem. The claim that there are

procedures to prevent impersonation and ghost voting is comfort for the fools, since the evidence shows that there was impersonation and ghost voting.

In his interaction with the media, Jagdeo also ventured outside of his realm, on the reform of the Representation of the People‘s Act, to report that the Government had received “the most substantive number of comments from GECOM and a civil society body”. This is gross misinformation. First, GECOM received the circular, about the reform, long after it had been made public and reported on, in the Press. GECOM has had no discussion on the substance of any reform and therefore it cannot be claimed that any submission is a product of the Commission. One commissioner has indicated that she made her personal submission to the Government and sees no need to be party to any such discussion, in GECOM. Some other commissioners have ventured no comment, in GECOM, on the substance of the (Continued on page 5)

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Kaieteur News

Government should undertake projects that are absolutely necessary DEAR EDITOR, Many moons ago, as an unemployed young man, I kept myself busy reading.

During a given week, I would alternate visits between the public free library and the Commonwealth Youth Program library. It was at the latter that I came into contact with the works of one Batten, a leader in writings on Community development in the 1960s.

In one of his books, Batten looked at community development programmes in third world countries financed by the UN after World War 2, and offered his perspective on why so many failed. For example, he gave an example of UN sending a worker to identify the needs of a village, either in Asia or Africa. The worker, on getting there, noticed that the village did not have a library. Therefore, he proceeded to inquire of villagers whether they did not feel the village should have a library. In response, he got a unanimous “yes.”

Armed with this unanimous approval, the worker informed the UN of the identified need and was given funds for the building and stocking of the library. On completion, there was a grand opening ceremony at which leaders of the community spoke and joyfully gave their thanks to the community development worker for providing the community with a beautiful library.

Soon after its opening, the absence of community members making use of the library was obvious. Over time, as the lack of use continued, the

worker engaged residents enquiring why they were not making use of the library, which they had identified as a need. Soon he learnt that the villages never had any intention to use the library. They were a farming community.

For them the presence of a library in their village was useful as a status symbol. Sometime they could boast to neighbouring villages that they had.

When I recall some ill advised projects undertaken by both PPP and PNC governments over the years (see letter under caption “Failed projects could bankrupt Guyana “ Kaieteur News 3rd May, 2022 by Calvin Braithwaite) I think of Batten and the case of the unused library mentioned above.

One that stands out for me was President Jagdeos programme, which led to construction of buildings in a number of villages ostensive to provide a meeting place for youths who were seen congregating at street corners.

The President said he had decided to do this after listening to young people who told him they had no place to meet.

The project was undertaken under the leadership of Mr. Odinga Lumumba. Interesting to note that some of these villages had community Centres that were already underused.

Years after a high number of these buildings were either critically underused or not used at all. So much so that sometime later, as the coordinator of a leadership training programme sponsored by UN for the Ministry of Youth ,

The more things change...

From page 4 reform. Other Commissioners have made preliminary submissions in anticipation of, and to facilitate the start of an internal discussion. In GECOMs most recent meeting the Chair did proffer that she had made a submission on behalf of GECOM, but was confronted with the facts pre-

sented above and retorted that GECOM can still have an internal discussion. Is it coincidental that her inaccurate representation of the facts, on this matter, are approximate to Jagdeo‘s misrepresentation, on the said matter?

Yours truly, Vincent Adams GECOM Commissioner

Sports and Culture the then Minister gave me a list of these unused/underused building and asked that I do what I could to encourage the trainees to make use of these buildings.

With this experience behind them, one would have thought that any subsequent PPP administration would have learnt that community development projects need careful thought, some amount of community analysis needs to be done and adherence to certain principles of project planning need to be followed, before they are undertaken.

Some of the questions to be asked are as follow: (1) Is there a real need? (2) Who will be using the facility? (3) What will they be used for? (4) How often will it be used? (5) Are there other existing buildings in the community that can serve the intended purpose?

Recently, President Ali visited the Rose Hall/Skeldon areas, and told residents that his government intends to build a Stadium and an International Air field, I am confident that the announcement gave rise to vociferous applause. After all, which village would not welcome the announcement that their villages were chosen for the locations of these sure symbols of modernization and development?

On reading this, I shook my head. I thought this is Battens 1950s unused Library all over again in 2022. However, it was encouraging to note that others saw the folly of President Alis plans.

In the Kaieteur News of 22nd April, 2022 an article appearing under caption “Airport, Stadium in Berbice will be white elephants,” captures the views of prominent engineer Charles Sohan. Sohan opined that “the anticipated air traffic in the region cannot justify these projects.” With

the Cheddi Jagan International Airport having one of the lowest air traffic, I have encountered and it being under construction for over 10 years now at ever increasing price. An existing National Stadium that seems to be used more for holding concerts than sporting events, I cant but agree with Mr. Sohans predictions.

So, the question becomes why does the government seem to feel these projects are needed at this time, while, for example seeming to attach little urgency to provide the Guyanese workers and pensioners with livable wages/ salaries and pensions?

Are we really to believe that a government that includes so many persons with doctorates before their names cannot see that the average Guyanese family has needs that cry out for immediate attention, needs that are within the present governments capacity to satisfy? How are we to understand this strange behaviour of a “caring government?”

In an article by Adedokum Adeyemi on corruption in Nigeria, he highlights the prominent role that infrastructural

programmes play in most cases of white collar crimes.

Adeyemi notes that these crimes usually involve collusion between the business community and public servants occupying the highest levels of the public service (this includes and particularly refers to politicians).

Infrastructure programmes, such as the building of hotels, airports, hospitals, roads etc. demand the investment of hundreds of millions, even billions of dollars. Such projects are very attractive to unscrupulous men in position of authority and power under whose authority such projects fall and businessmen bidding for such contracts. Could this collusion between greedy men in our government and the business community be an explanation? Also, could the fact that we read so often about individuals, companies/corporations being given expensive contracts to undertake, projects in areas they are not known to have any experience, be part of the reason for government suggesting these ridiculous projects?

A caring and thoughtful government it seems to me,

would be thinking first about ensuring its people has the means to take care of themselves from the wages they earn from their honest work they perform each day. Secondly, it would look to achieving food, housing and clothing security for its people.

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nation tells us that around 660 million people may still face hunger in 2030, and that some 60 million living in Latin America and the Caribbean help make up this number.

Couple the above with the fact that a study funded by IDB done by Pauline McHardy and Michael Donovan listed 6 Caribbean nations with highest percentage of their people living less than 10 meters above sea level includes Guyana. This study has dire implication for Guyana. It should influence where we build in the future.

Further changing weather patterns also should influence the type of materials, which we need to encourage for building in the future. So to push on these two fronts (food and housing (Cotinued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

May Day 2022 march and rally will take a “special” place in the country’s history DEAR EDITOR, On Sunday, 1st May, the Guyana Trade Union Congress’ (GTUC) annual May/ Labour Day march/parade returned to the streets after two years of absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other restrictions.

In excellent weather, hundreds of the nation’s workers took to the streets with their banners and placards expressing their demands, including their social/political concerns. It was a welcome return to formal May Day activities, a demonstration of workers’ solidarity, despite the persisting divisions in the movement. The presence of workers and their union’s leadership on the streets augurs well for workers’ collective psychology and future struggles.

The May Day 2022 march and rally will take a “special” place in the country’s history due to the global pandemic and the governments expenditure of $552.9 billion from oil revenues without any allocations for increases in workers’ wages and salaries. This recognition and concern are reflected in the theme, “COVID19 Politics and the Working Class”.

I arrived at the Independence Park early (6.45 am), there were fewer than 10 workers present. I make this point to enforce that what I write here is first-hand information.

My participation ended when the rally at the Critchlow La-

bor College was over. I had a political interest in the Labour Day activity and to use it as a thermometer to test/measure the workers attitude to public mass demonstrations after the lifting of the COVID restrictions and the apparently receding pandemic. The march was the first major social/political event since the elections and the pandemic. It was a good litmus test: since it was self-mobilising: with a history of its own. And support with sufficient resources, human, organisational and financial to be a success. In light of the above, its failure could only rest on two possible factors: workers’ alienation and reluctance to come in the streets given the COVID experience. For me, it represented a “good” indicator that the Guyanese masses have gotten over the fears of the COVID pandemic and are now willing to engage in mass demonstrations in the streets.

If my assessment is correct, we have or are returning to politics supported by mass mobilisation. I am certain that the rulers did not miss the significance of this development.

I paid close attention to the Unions that assembled at Independence Park. Notably absent were the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU). The Guyana Teachers Union, to their credit, had the largest contingent. Given their militancy in recent years,

I chose to walk with them in recognition and support. Generally, workers’ spirits were high, and they demonstrated energy and a sense of purpose. As the march entered residential communities, people were out to support the workers. They were not disappointed since workers were vibrant as in previous years. A keen observer of the annual event is accustomed to seeing the Red Thread contingent with their banners, placards and handbills in support of the workers as they pass Cummings and Regent streets. Not so this year! The organisation probably is not convinced that COVID-19 has receded enough to justify the return to the streets.

While the parade/march was a success and a demonstration of a degree of unity, the same could not be said of the rally. As the march approached the Critchlow Labour College, it became apparent that the worker’s unity had ended. Some unions went in different directions. Some entered the college compound for the GTUC ‘s rally. Even the militant teachers union was fractured, with the majority heading to their union hall.

Mr. Norris Witter, President of the General Workers Union (GWU) and Chairman of the rally frontally addressed the division. He expressed disgust and anger in stating, “After that majestic walk and having assembled here, some of our comrades choose to

leave for whatever reason.

We cannot win a struggle that way...” He continued, “If you are not prepared to struggle and to make sacrifice, get out of the business, get out of the business. Yes! I am annoyed and I have every right to be annoyed.”

During the rally, I was shown a press release, on a friend’s phone. It stated that President Irfaan Ali invited union leaders to an early morning breakfast and among the attendees was Patrick Yarde, President of the GPSU. While reading, I reflected on the theme of the May Day activities, particularly the part “politics and the working class”. I pondered on the GPSU’s failure to participate

in the march. Since these are worker’s matters, I refrain from offering my opinion on the GPSU actions, leaving that to the workers and their leadership.

All was not lost since the rally achieved most of its objectives. The GTUC leadership, the Leader of the Opposition and an invited speaker addressed the workers, offering their support and putting it into the “historic” record.

Since what was said by speakers has been covered in the media, both print and electronic, there is no need here for details: except to state that the TUC and workers got the unquestionable support of the Opposition Leader Mr. Aubrey Norton in their

struggle for their rights, inclusive of collective bargaining and social and material benefits.

I end by pointing readers to Mr. Lincoln Lewis’ lamentation a few days before the rally on Dr. David Hinds’ Politics 101: that the labour movement doesn’t have a reliable political ally. Norton’s commitment to the workers in his first address as PNCR Leader and Chairman of the APNU, Head of APNU +AFC coalitions and Leader of the Opposition, should give Mr. Lewis comfort and contribute to the TUCs battle readiness in the future. All was not lost.

I salute the workers.

Yours sincerely, Tacuma Ogunseye

Government should undertake...

From page 5 security), we need to do certain things.

First, let us consider food security. In the Kaieteur News of 28th April 2022, I read that a study conducted by UN s world food programme and CARICOM concluded that nearly 40% of the population of the English speaking Caribbean are food insecure. We need to create a unit at the University of Guyana engaged in this single project of advancing food security here. It should be staffed by our better scientific minds in CARICOM knowledgeable in related areas.

This unit must concentrate on exploring our ability to produce staples that we import presently. Things like wheat, split peas, etc. If these cannot be produced, the unit will consider what peas we produce or could produce that can be substituted. The unit will examine whether there are local spices that can be produced to give our peas the colour of split peas, if that is what is needed to encourage local acceptance of the local substitute. Same approach should be taken with regards to wheat.

It was indeed refreshing to read that an adventurous and resilient farmer has shown that grapes can be grown in commercial quantities in Guyana and that the government has moved to give the gentleman the support and assistance he needs.

For this government should be commended.

As it relates to housing, this programme needs a moon shot. We should look to resuscitate our clay brick factories that would allow our

people to build sturdy/durable beautiful houses. Prefab houses will, I am sure, make housing the nation a quicker undertaking. However, in the long run, with climate change and the adverse weather changes that go with it, in the long run proliferating the country with prefab houses will only benefit the business community.

On a related topic, I hear that the government intends to build prefab houses for use by the influx of visitors anticipated during the matches in CPL that will be played in Guyana. We can recall that the private sector was encouraged to build hotels to accommodate the influx of visitors coming to Guyana for the matches slated for Guyana during T20 world cup 2007, I concede that largely for reasons out of the control of the then Government, the anticipated large arrival never materialized. On visits to Guyana, I am struck by the number of hotels built during that period that stand inactive in and around the city.

The question then becomes- “Has the government created an inventory of the number of unused/ underused hotels we have in the city and its environs?

What are their potential occupancy capacities, and what help can be given to owners so as to get these facilities back to international standard for use during the 2022 CPL Guyana leg?

With this done, then the government would have a clear idea if and in what quantity would prefab houses be needed. If this has not been done, government should say why not.

Of course housing and food security is not all that need governments immediate attention. Clothing the nation is also a matter of concern. In an article by Laura Routh, we are told “by 2100 given the slowest climate warning models, cotton yields could decline in the US by 30 to 26 percent.” Indeed, in the USA, large clothing manufacturing entities are buying used jeans for reprocessing and creating new ones. With our present wealth, we have been given a chance to ensure we can take care of our clothing needs.

Armed with the above knowledge and with our potential wealth, we need to return to producing cotton. Perhaps resuscitating Kimbia needs to be considered and Sanata reclaimed. If not possible similar facilities have to be built.

One thing we have in our favour is that all the above things I have spoken about, we know we have the skills to undertake. This is no time for foolishness such as “we aint want Burnham look good.” Guyana has the capacity and capability to ensure that our food, housing and clothing security is not held hostage to what is happening else where.

The nation needs to be mobilised for this type of development with some urgency; time is against us.

This is no time for our President to choose to visit poor communities and focus on telling them about building, stadiums, hotels and international airports. Such projects can wait.

Sincerely, Claudius Prince

T N U L B . . .

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Friday May 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

Indeed technology is one of mankind's greatest inventions.

Through the use of technology, many a crime has been solved.

In fact, technology has even proven to be an effective tool to expose those with forked tongues – those who when in Opposition promise to do right by the nation but when in Office do worse than their predecessor.

It is for people of this ilk that we must fall on our knees daily in prayer, in hopes that they will change from their wicked ways and not be subjected to eternal damnation.

After all, the Creator did mandate us to love those who despise us!

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 8

Friday May 06, 2022

‘IDB warns Guyana against wild ...says Govt. must pay heed to the country's spending'absorptive capacity regarding mega projects T

he current proven reserves in the Stabroek Block, which total almost 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources, along with the string of recent discoveries for 2022, will no doubt, produce rapid changes in Guyana's overall economic structure. One of the most immediate effects will be the increase in the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

However, an increase in GDP does not translate to higher standards of living for citizens, who are the true owners of the oil wealth. In light of this irrefutable fact, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is once again urging Guyana to place greater focus on ensuring the oil wealth leads to economic transformation and not the mere doubling of GDP. The financial institution said the impact of the additional revenue on a country with a GDP of US$3.5 billion and a population of 773,000 needs to be carefully managed so as to promote inclusive, sustainable growth that

benefits the Guyanese people. The IDB asserted in one of its latest loan briefs that ensuring true economic transformation is not going to be a walk in the park for local authorities, while adding that there are already concerns about the challenges that lie ahead for the new oil producing State.

In this regard, the IDB has warned Guyana to be mindful of falling victim to the dreaded “Dutch Disease” given the temptation associated with large increase in the country's income. It said such temptations include wild spending on numerous projects simultaneously without regard for the nation's absorptive capacity.

It warned that such practices lead to wastage and corruption, which the country must guard against at all cost or oil could be its downfall. (The Dutch Disease is a concept that describes an economic phenomenon where the rapid development of one sector of the economy leads to a decline in other sectors. It is also often characterised by a substantial appreciation of

...cautions that significant oil revenues leave Guyana vulnerable to detrimental impacts of Dutch Disease note that significant oil revenues should not lead government officials to wild spending habits on risky projects or on schemes that leave other traditional sectors in a sluggish state.

the domestic currency.)

If, as expected, the Guyana dollar becomes stronger, the IDB said it makes non-oil and gas exports more expensive, and therefore less competitive.

“Thus, the discovery of oil and gas, while a very positive development, could cause the

It appears, however, that the government is keen on

contraction of the other parts of the economy,” expressed the IDB via its loan brief. On another important note, the IDB noted that many countries across the world are moving to cleaner energy sources, such as solar and wind. With this in mind, it urged Guyana to be mindful; to look ahead and ensure that it does not become reliant on only this sector. It was keen to

avoiding the Dutch Disease, at least, as it has approached the IDB for assistance in developing a strategy that will allow it to make the best of the opportunities presented by the oil wealth, while simultaneously building an economy that will survive after the fossil fuels are gone. The PPP/C Government's loan request totals US$1,817,764.

According to the loan documents seen by Kaieteur News, the funding would be spent on five components.

Component I is called Strengthening the technical capacity of the government to l e a d e c o n o m i c transformation in Guyana. It is expected to include a forum for infrastructure opportunities, targeted investor workshops to assist in structuring specific Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, public consultation, and awareness building through strategic communications to investors, stakeholders and the general public. The government is proposing to use US$882,000 from the loan for this activity.

As for Component II, this is titled, The Economic Diversification and MidTerm Development Strategy.

This component will support several activities, such as the engagement of a strategic

advisor on economic development, consultations with stakeholders to identify and select on potential, technical exchanges with countries that have successfully developed using growth strategies, provide consultancies to support the review of existing development strategies, facilitate consultations, and provide insight into success stories on economic diversification. It was noted in the project document that US$279,000 has been budgeted for this purpose.

With respect to Component III, this is expected to focus on creating investment opportunities for the private sector and will support the engagement of a strategic advisor for publicprivate partnerships to develop a PPP framework for Guyana, including proposed legal and regulatory recommendations. It was noted that US$369,000 has (Continued on page 9)

‘Guyanese oil and gas workers …union up in arms as several facing hell'sent home until further notice T

he National Mine Workers Union of G u y a n a (NMWUG) is calling on the relevant authorities to investigate allegations of unfair treatment meted out to some Guyanese oil and gas workers who have been sent home from some agencies until further notice.

The workers are peeved that all of those who have been sent home are Guyanese while, in particular Trinidadian staffers, remain on the job. A statement from the President of the NMWUG, Sherwyn Downer said that not only were the employees having problems with available work, but issues also exist regarding payment of their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions, overtime pay and availability of safety gear among other matters.

Downer said that while

the labouring masses were busy celebrating May Day across Guyana, it was not quite the same for those oil and gas workers who complained bitterly about several issues that they were facing at a named company providing services to the local oil and gas sector.

“Labour Day celebrations 2022 could be deem as 'complaints day' for some employees in the oil and gas sector as on that day, almost two dozen workers in the above-mentioned sector, met with president of the National Mine Workers Union of Guyana to register their concerns.”

At the meeting, Downer said, the employees reported that since February 2022, about 60 to 70 local workers were sent home without pay until further notice. “Issues such as NIS, overtime pay, working conditions, safety

gear and the unfair treatment of local workers in the oil and gas sector [arose]. It was reported to the Union that all locals were sent home and all foreigners were retained, namely the Trinidadians.”

He continued that workers complained about checking on their NIS contributions at the agency's office, but by the time they got back to their work place, “their employer was already notified [about the visit] by NIS.” Some workers also complained about working over one and two years but were still not being made permanent staffers.

As such, the mines union bemoaned the “preferential treatment” being meted out to foreign workers. “This is not local content or the utilization of our human resources,” Downer highlighted. To send home all locals, while retaining the

Trinidadians is more costly as food and accommodations have to be provided for those foreign workers, he said.

Additional information reaching the newspaper alleges that the stipend for some Trinidadian workers is sometimes two and three times higher than the salaries received by Guyanese.

However, what is even more upsetting about the situation is that the Guyanese sent home can do the very work that the Trinidadians are doing. Some of those sent home include welders, fabricators and riggers among others.

The newspaper was told further that while the Guyanese workers are sent home with no pay because of a reduction in work, the Trinidadians, who will go home when the next rotation staff arrives, goes back to a job in their country since that

is secured by the Trinidadian company they work for. The source told the newspaper that tax payments are also becoming a problem since workers are no longer being issued with income tax return slips.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers' Union (GAWU), which has been lending its voice to the plight of local oil and gas workers said that it too is aware of the ongoing issue.

Aslim Singh, GAWU's General Secretary said he was informed of the “sad” situation some two weeks ago.

He told the newspaper that the company in question is Guyanese and Trinidadian owned. The workers, he mentioned, are scared to talk given the connectivity of the businessman who always seem to get feedback when redress is sought. The

NMWUG has nonetheless urged the government to provide the necessary protection for Guyanese in the oil and gas sector. He called on the “Offices of the Chief Labour Officer, the Minister of Labour and local content secretariat to investigate with haste, these allegations of unfair treatment of Guyanese working in the oil and gas sector.”

“Our local workers are being sidelined once again according to these reports.

The local workers see this action by management as unfair to retain foreigners and send home locals only.

As president of the National Mine Workers Union, I wish to call for a level playfield for all employees; equal pay for both locals and foreigners and improved working conditions.”

Friday May 06, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

A licence to do what it pleases The Petroleum Commission is far more important than the Board of the Natural Resources Fund. Yet, the government has rushed legislation through for the former but has not done so for the latter.

The APNU+AFC Petroleum Commission Bill had proposed the establishment of a commission which would hold responsibility for monitoring and enforcing Guyanas petroleum laws, policies and, interestingly, agreements. It would also be responsible for ensuring health safety and environmental standards. .

According to the then Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the commission “ will be tasked inter alia, with researching efficient, safe, effective and environmentally responsible exploration, development and production of petroleum in Guyana, including the optimum methods of exploring for, extracting and utilising petroleum and petroleum products” and also serve as an advisory body to the Minister.

Upon assuming office, the PPP/C government promised to overhaul the countrys petroleum laws. In his inauguration address, President Ali said that he would establish a Petroleum Commission to insulate the oil and gas sector from political influence.

One month later, one of his Ministers said that the previous Petroleum Commission Bill gave Ministers too much power. He argued that

Ministers should not have that much power and that his government would depoliticise the sector.

Twenty months later, this all important piece of legislation is yet to be passed. And it is not likely to be passed until after September by which time the government would have decided, on its own, whether to place the countrys remaining oil blocks under auction or whether to establish a National Oil Company with a strategic partner.

This newspaper had even quoted Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo as saying, “We want a Petroleum Commission made up of technical people with an independent board to manage the oil and gas sector.”

One year ago, this newspaper reported that the government had promised to have a Petroleum Commission in place in a matter of weeks.

It was even reported that the legislation was being actively under consideration by the legal sector of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The PPP/C government has passed an amendment to the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act. But it has not submitted the promised Petroleum Commission Bill.

The absence of a Petroleum Commission gives the government freedom to do what it pleases in the oil and gas sector. Without a Petroleum Commission, the government can issue licences and permits and hand out or

sell off the countrys oil resources.

And this is the danger which the country faces. The government has all the authority right now and there is no oversight to stem its actions. Tomorrow, the people of Guyana can wake up to the news that Guyanas petroleum resources have been handed to friends and cronies of the government or to some strategic partner. And there is nothing, at least in law, which can prevent the government from so doing.

This is why the Oppositions obsession with having a role in the Natural Resources Fund Board was misplaced. The more important body for which the Opposition should be fighting for is the Petroleum Commission because the existence of this body would foil any plans to share out oil resources willynilly.

The Opposition however finds itself in a bind. The APNU+AFC had proposed a Commission, which was far from independent of the subject Minister for the oil and gas sector. The Board of the Commission contemplated by the APNU+AFC would have been virtually hand-picked by the Minister thus making it far from independent.

This is all the more reason why Guyanese must become involved in ensuring an independent Petroleum Commission is in place. Unless this happens, the PPP/C virtually has a licence to do as it pleases with the countrys oil

Dem boys seh...

When big people talking, yuh must keep quiet Lang time, ole people use tuh tell dem pickney dat when big people talking, dem must not put dem mouth in dem elder story. Dem also tell dem fuh sit down quietly when in de presence of elders.

Dem children use tuh get excited when dem uncle and aunty visit. And when dem uncle and aunty sit down tuh talk, dem children does want be in de conversation. But dem parents does like send dem outside fuh play.

Dem Ministas does think dat dem is equals. But de

odder day, one Minister get a rude awakening. He find out dat while all are equal, some more equal dan others.

De Vee Pee bin listening to a resident making a complaint. While dis happening another Minister bin mingling with de crowd and listening to another resident.

De sound disturb de Vee Pee and he leggo a holler pon de Minister. He call de man by he surname and tell he: “Not now!”

De Minister at de receiving end feel small because he

dared talk to somebody when de Vee Pee bin listening. Dat is why ole people does say only one person can talk at a time.

Deh gat some officials wah playing Ministers. Dem passing order as if dem is elected officials and dem passing orders pon people wah dem nah even in control of.

But is suh when power get tuh yuh head. Yuh does cant control yuhself and yuh does feel all-powerful. Until yuh get pull-up.

Talk half. Leff half.

‘IDB warns Guyana against wild...

From page 8 been budgeted for this activity.

The fourth component will see expenditure on awareness and diffusion, and will include a forum for infrastructure opportunities, targeted investor workshops to assist in

structuring specific PPP projects identified under Component three, and ensure public consultation and awareness building through strategic communications to investors.

This is expected to cost US$170,000. Component Five caters for financing

any contingencies that need to be tackled during project execution. Over US$117,000 was budgeted for this purpose. As regards execution, it was stated that the Ministry of Finance will oversee all the coordination activities with the relevant stakeholders.

resources.

Despite promising a nonpolitical Petroleum Commission, the government is quite comfortable with the existing status quo ante. The absence of a Commission gives the government a free-hand in determining what happens in the sector, and there is an eagerness to decide on the fate of oil blocks before September, and as it seems, in the absence of an independent Petroleum Commission.

This is matter of serious concern for the people of Guyana. The PPP/C has a

chequered record when it comes to the assigning of oil blocks. This newspaper has exposed the manner in which certain oil blocks were handed out.

Given this record, the APNU+AFC will find it difficult to criticise the PPP/Cs prevarication in establishing a Petroleum Commission. As such, the Guyanese people cannot look to the Opposition for robust representation on this issue.

The Guyanese people must however demand that before any action is taken in

respect to the allocation of future oil blocks whether through auction or the establishment of a National Oil Company that an independent Petroleum Commission is in place.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Friday May 06, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Michael Parris and Rohan Kanhai:

Name something after these men The only president since Independence to have possessed a university degree in history was David G r a n g e r. T h e f o r m e r president has written several pieces on topics in Guyanese history including editing a large volume on African Guyanese history.

I was disappointed that Mr. Granger demitted office without giving State recognition that is due to many historical figures and historical events. I agree that presidents and prime ministers will not easily name a building or street after a personality whose politics they resented.

I would not have expected the APNU+AFC government to name a prestigious scholarship in the name of Father Andrew Morrison. But there are non-political figures whose recognition is long overdue. President Granger did name the Ogle Airport after someone who had a long association with his party –

the PNC. The decision attracted criticism from some quarters. But herein lies the problem.

Those who opposed the airport named after Eugene Correia used the very criterion that Mr. Granger did – the political yardstick.

Mr. Granger named the convention centre after the first non-executive president, Arthur Chung. I do not disagree with both decisions.

What I am deeply frustrated about is the ever growing young population that should know and do not know about seminal achievements of some outstanding Guyanese and some important historical developments.

I mentioned two relevant things before and I will do so again right here. The seawall bandstand is now glowingly alight in the night. This is good work by the First Lady.

There should be a lit-up billboard inside the Monument Garden opposite St. Rose's School. That is

where the city got its drinking water from in the 20th century.

The same lit-up billboard should adorn the village of Victoria. This should inform our young population that this was the first village that the freed slaves bought.

In 1980, Michael Parris became the first Guyanese to win an Olympic medal.

Forty-two years after, he remains the only Guyanese to achieve that feat. Look at our demographics. Seventy percent of the population is under 45 years. This nation does not know we have an Olympics medalist. Name something after this man.

Do you know we have a man who has been involved in cycling and administration of that sport for over 50 years? His name is Hassan Mohamed. Name something after this gentleman. What is wrong with the people of Berbice? They have never pressed the issue of a street being named after Rohan Kanhai.

Three cricketers put Guyana on the map from the fifties to the seventies – Lance Gibbs, Clive Lloyd and Rohan Kanhai. A street is named after Gibbs, and another after Lloyd.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul now has a street that bears his name. Really man! What about Kanhai.

Young people must know about Parris and Kanhai. I was chatting with a young clerk in the NIS and she did not know who Father Andrew Morrison was. Years later, a young reporter at Kaieteur News told me she never heard about Morrison.

I wrote two columns on Martin Carter recently.

I got some emails asking me who he was and what he did. This is what happens when you have a young population.

Do you know every time I hear a song by Engelbert Humperdinck or the former English instrumental band, the Shadows or the deceased

Italian saxophonist Fausto Papetti, I remember Ron Robinson. He awoke the nation with his Frederick Kissoon music programme in the early morning on Cummingsburg, radio. Ron has spent over 50 years in theatre and there is Thomas Street. In radio. He cannot be the focus Kitty, there is Thomas Street. of politicians because he It takes no big effort to never dabbled in politics. change the outdated names of T h i s i s t h e t h i r d roadways and substitute new announcement of mine on r e l e v a n t o n e s . T h e this page over the long years continuing de-recognition of to name something after Ron. R o h a n K a n h a i i s This article here is the overbearing. I don't have a second expression of mine problem at all with Shiv about why four prominent Chanderpaul having a street places are named after a that bears his name.

But it was Kanhai who colonial planter named Thomas. You have the area of paved the way for him and Thomas Land that houses many others like him. Name Camp Ayangana, ACDA the Berbice crossing, the head office, the National Rohan Kanhai Bridge. Give Park, the defunct sports club this man what is long overdue of the Public Service Union, to him.

(The views expressed in Malteenoos Cricket Club, this article are those of the among others.

The main street in author and do not necessarily Thomas Land is named reflect the opinions of this Thomas Road. In North newspaper.)

ExxonMobil moves ahead with Gas-to-Energy project …as citizens remain in the dark over feasibility E

xxonMobil is running full speed ahead with its Gas to Energy pipeline, to be constructed at Wales, West Bank Demerara in Region Three; even as the country remains in the dark regarding the feasibility of the project.

Works for the project is slated to commence by August, after the oil company receives the requisite approvals to start their aspect of the project, that is, the laying of the onshore and offshore pipelines to transport the gas from the Liza One and Two sites in the Stabroek Block.

In the meantime, the company has submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), which will be developing the project.

To this end, the developer has 11 planned consultations to hear from the public, commencing on Monday, May 9. The meetings will take place in Regions One, Three, Four, Five and Six. On Monday, the company will host its first community meeting in Region Five at the Latchman Singh Primary School, West Coast Berbice, commencing at 10:00hrs.

In Region Six, the first meeting will take place on Tuesday at the #66 Fish port Complex, Corentyne

Berbice. In Region Four, one of the consultations will take place at the Umana Yana on May 11 at 16:00hrs.

One meeting will be hosted in Region Two at the Townhall, Anna Regina from 09:00hrs on May 12.

Meanwhile, three meetings are expected to be held in Region Three, with the first slated for May 13 at the Leonora Technical Institute, West Coast Demerara from 15:00hrs.

In a notice published in the daily newspapers, the oil company explained, “The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), together with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Gas to Energy Project was submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for evaluation and recommendations.” As such, it added, “Face-to-face sessions will be held with the information on the Gas to Energy Project, the EPA Environmental Authorization process, and the findings from the assessment to support public awareness.”

The EIA document states that there will be impacts to the direct area of influence (AOI) as well as the indirect AOI. Within the direct AOI, residents can be impacted by the offshore and onshore pipeline, the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant, to be built by the government, as well as the

Map depicting how the natural gas will be brought to shore from the Liza Fields

temporary materials offloading facility Exxon will construct to support its project.

When it comes to the indirect AOIs, these communities can be impacted by unplanned events

such as fuel spills from construction vessels. In fact, Exxon said that “portions of these regions could be meaningfully impacted from indirect adverse environmental and social impacts

(e.g., interference with fisheries activities during offshore pipeline installation), and/or positive socioeconomic benefits (e.g., job creation, purchasing of services and goods).”

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat recently told this newspaper, “That project will deliver cheaper electricity, cleaner electricity and reliable electricity,” to Guyanese, while moving the country forward in its value added sector. Guyana has not been able to access its full value of natural resources since the nation continues to export raw materials, the minister pointed out. He said that the production of processed or value added goods is where Guyana will see real benefits.

Minister Bharrat was asked by reporters whether citizens could expect an updated feasibility study that would address the concerns of those unconvinced sectors of society. To this, he responded, “Sometimes we have to look at the benefits of projects too.”

So far, what is available is a feasibility study that was conducted in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) under the Coalition administration. The objective of that study which was conducted by international agency, Energy Narrative was to determine the (Continued on page 16)

Friday May 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Friday May 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

GPA flags Govt.'s obsession with social ...says politicians must cease media commentators degrading noble journalism profession

“If politicians across the divide claim to have any

modicum of interest in improving the standard of

journalism, then they ought to immediately cease

utilising social media influencers in the place of

journalists.” In fact, “To continue doing so is to contribute to the degradation of journalism at the altar of expediency of reach, likes and shares.”

These were the words of the Guyana Press A s s o c i a t i o n ( G PA ) o n Thursday, as the two day conference for media workers, to commemorate World Press Freedom day concluded. The conference was hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, from May 3 to 4.

Yesterday, the media association issued a statement where it, among other things, called on government to stop using

social media influencers to do the work of journalists.

GPA contended, “Does this mean that anyone with a few followers, limited language competence, no regard for fact-checking etc. can be regarded by himself or herself and the public as a journalist because a politician uses him or her as an information conduit?”

The body pointed out that the use of such personalities lead the public to believe that such social media content is in k eep in g w ith g lo b ally accepted standards of journalism.

So far, Mikhail Rodrigues, a social media (Continued on page 16)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during an interview with popular social media influencer, Mikhail Rodrigues, better known as the “Guyanese Critic

Kaieteur News

Friday May 06, 2022

Essequibo hunter found dead with gunshot wounds

P

olice investigators in Region Two are currently trying to unravel the mystery behind the death of a hunter whose remains were on Tuesday found with gunshot wounds in the jungle of Bethany on the Essequibo Coast.

Two loggers have since claimed that they had heard when the hunter, identified as 54-year-old Bharrat Ramdehol better known as “Suresh”, was shot but cannot say how it happened because they were a fair distance away from him.

The two men are presently in police custody assisting with investigations.

Speaking with Kaieteur N e w s o n T h u r s d a y, Ramdehol's sister, Inderdai Deyal said that he had left his home at Maria Lodge, Essequibo Coast around 20:00hrs on Thursday last to

Dead hunter, Bharrat Ramdehol. go hunting with his tractor and shotgun.

“He left the Thursday night on he tractor and he said that he going and hunt. That is like a hobby for him, all his life he been hunting because he grandfather and father did it.” Deyal told this (Continued on page 16)

PAGE 13

Friday May 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

‘Do more to protect nurses as Man killed, children COVID-19 cases rise' - PAHO Director hurt after car crashed Washington D.C., 4 May 2022 (PAHO) – As COVID cases and hospitalisations once again rise in the Americas – by 12.7% since last week - the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Carissa F. Etienne, has called on c o u n t r i e s t o u rg e n t l y increase investments to develop and retain the nursing workforce.

“Throughout the Americas, nurses bravely faced the brunt of the pandemic, and many struggled with burnout and mental health conditions,” with some moving out of area and others leaving the workforce altogether, the Director said in a media briefing on Wednesday.

Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare workforce, especially during the pandemic, accounting for 56% of the health staff and providing primary care services, mental health support, and protecting the wellbeing of individuals, communities, and families.

Ahead of International Nurses Day, celebrated on 12 May, the PAHO Director

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Carissa F. Etienne thanked nurses for playing a central role in caring for those with COVID-19, and for being key to rolling out 1.8 billion doses of COVID19 vaccine in the region.

“Today, nurses shoulder the dual burden of caring for COVID patients and catching up those who have missed routine health checkups over the past two years,” the Director said. But with a nursing deficit estimated at 1.8 million nurses by 2030 in the Americas, it is crucial that we “double our investments in growing our

nursing workforce, and care for existing nurses so they can continue to care for us,” she added.

The PAHO Director urged countries to implement clear policies to develop and retain the health workforce, including through adequate compensation and the development of senior leadership opportunities, as well as by elevating nurses and midwives within the government and Ministries of Health. Supporting the mental health of nurses is also crucial, with 'PAHOs COVID-19 Health care workers study showing that almost one quarter of health care workers interviewed in 2020 presented symptoms of a depressive episode.

Some countries are addressing this through the implementation of mental health services and hotlines.

PAHO is also rolling out a self-care course catered specifically to health workers, and on Friday May 6, will launch a High-Level Commission on Mental Health and COVID-19 to (Continued on page 16)

into concrete bridge

The wrecked motorcar.

A 28-year-old man was killed and his daughters injured when the car he was in crashed into a concrete bridge at Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara early Thursday morning.

Dead is Kelvin Ghisiawan, 28, of Samatta Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara. He had earlier dropped off his wife at the Parika Stelling and was heading back home with his two daughters when the accident occurred.

Ghisiawan's daughters who were seated in the back seat of the car, Alyna Deoliver, age 12 and Josiemla Mafra, age 6, both of 1918 Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, received injuries about their bodies and are currently hospitalised.

According to a police report, the accident occurred about 04:15hrs on the Windsor Forest Public R o a d , We s t C o a s t

Demerara. It was also reported that Ghisiawan was driving motorcar PSS 3117, which is owned by Naresh Singh of Block AA, Plum Park, Sophia, Georgetown.

It was further stated that Ghisiawan was proceeding east along the northern side of the said road at a fast rate when he lost control of the vehicle swerved south and drove off the road. The motorcar then collided into a concrete bridge, which is located on the southern side of the road.

Ghisiawan and his children were picked up by public-spirited persons and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Ghisiawan was pronounced dead on arrival, while his daughters were seen and examined by a doctor on duty and were both admitted as patients at the said hospital. Alyna was admitted for observation while, Josiemla was

Dead, Kelvin Ghisiawan. admitted suffering from a broken left leg and injuries about her body.

Additionally, the sister of the wife of Ghisiawan told this publication that her sister left for the interior on Thursday morning shortly before the accident occurred. The woman further noted that, “I just saw the news, I'm not sure if anyone gotten on to her by n o w. ” K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the woman left for the interior to work as a cook.

Kaieteur News

Friday May 06, 2022

Agri. Ministry seeking contractor to build abattoir in Region Five Having received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded Sustainable Agricultural Development Project (SADP), the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Agriculture is planning to use part of that funds to facilitate the “construction and installation of abattoir and other related infrastructures in Region Five.”This is according a recent invitation for bids (IFB) issued by the Ministry which states that the project is estimated to cost $465.2 million and that the period for the construction and installation of the abattoir will be 12 months.

The project is slated to be opened on June 14 at the National P r o c u r e m e n t a n d Te n d e r Administration Board (NPTAB) office. Speaking about the abattoir on Wednesday at an event, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha said that the facility will be of international standards. “We need an abattoir that meets international standard, ISO standard and if we want to export we have to have an abattoir that is good, that is recognized international standard and that is why we are building that state of the art one,” he explained.

Earlier this year, at the presentation of the national budget, it was disclosed by Senior

Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Ashni Singh that the government intends to build a swine abattoir at Garden of Eden on the East Bank of Demerara and an abattoir at Onverwagt in Region Five.

“In 2022, Government will partner with the private sector to develop a modular swine abattoir at Garden of Eden to expand the production of pork and pork products. This facility will encompass better-standardised production systems and biosecurity, and benefit over 600 farmers. Also, Government will facilitate the establishment of a modern abattoir at Onverwagt for beef and beef products, which is expected to be completed by 2023.

Additionally, pasture development will be a priority for the resuscitation of the dairy industry.

The establishment of these facilities will be supported by the requisite certification processes and traceability capacity which would allow Guyana to access regional and international markets,” Singh said.

It should be noted that a site visit and pre-proposal conference for the abattoir will commence on May 13 at the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary – Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) entrance.

PAGE 15

Coalition Govt. 'short-changed' judiciary in 2018

I

...budget cuts by Winston Jordan affected payments to 100 staff including chancellor

n 2018, the National Assembly had allocated insufficient funds to pay over 100 Supreme Court employees and to offset other expenses of the judiciary.

This was reported in the Judiciary's Annual Report for the year 2018. In fact, the sums that was allocated to the Supreme Court for that year was unable to meet the salary expenses for employees such as: Court Manager, Judicial Research Assistant, Assistant Registrar, Marshals, Bailiff, Clerk II General, Accounts Clerks, Data Entry Clerks, Legal Clerks, Listing Clerks, Counter Clerks, Vault Attendant, Typist Clerks, Office Assistants, Drivers, Janitor, Cleaners and vacancies advertised in the newspapers to be filled, a Driver Mechanic, Judicial Research Assistants, Deputy Registrar, Communication & Protocol Officer, Research Librarian and Assistant Librarians.

According to the report, there was also a shortfall to meet benefits and allowances for duty, traveling, telephone and house allowances for: Administrative Assistant, Principal Clerk of Court, Clerk of Court I, Clerk of Courts II, Research Librarian, Legal Clerk and Court Manager and Other direct labour cost - responsibility allowance for Chief Accountants

and non-taxable duty allowance for new drivers.

The allocated sums was also unable to meet the statutory wages and salaries for temporary appointment of two Justices of Appeals for six months period, permanent appointment of one Puisne Judges, salary in lieu of leave for the Honourable Chancellor (ag) two months, Chief Justice (ag) one month and two Puisne Judges one month each.

The money was also insufficient to meet statutory benefits and allowances for payment of NIS, house, duty, commuted, chauffeur, entertainment and chauffeur gratuity allowances, internet, telephone, fuel and repairs to state vehicle assigned charges. To also purchase small bottle water and monthly refreshments for Chambers of two Justices of Appeal and one Puisne Judge to meet shortfall in other charges expenditures for the payment of additional expenses incurred for the opening and continued functioning of the Rupununi Magisterial District.

It was also stated that the money was unable to do for overseas travelling expenses for conferences, seminars and training for Chancellor and Chief Justice (ag), Puisne Judges and

Magistrates.

Additionally, expenses for shipment of law books donated from UK and increase in subscription fees for online libraries (CARILAW) for Judges and increase in fuel, vehicle spares and maintenance cost due to employment of three new drivers, increase in utility charges due to i n c r e a s e i n f i x e d c h a rg e s , consumption and new locations installed, increase in refreshments and meals due to employment of more senior and junior staff and opening of more courts and expenses for hosting of the Judges and Magistrates Conference 2018.

The shortfall in the aforementioned expenses was as a result of insufficient funds that were allocated by the National Assembly in 2018.

It was stated that in 2017, the Supreme Court submitted its budget proposal for the year 2018 to the Ministry of Finance for the sum of $2,753,863,000, for both recurrent (operational) and capital (developmental) expenditures for consideration.

H o w e v e r, t h e N a t i o n a l Assembly approved the sum of $1,564,354,000 for recurrent expenditure, salaries and other charges and $310,376,000 for capital expenditure, like buildings, (Continued on page 17)

14.9 million excess deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 Geneva, 5 May 2022 New estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the full death toll associated directly or indirectly with the COVID-19 pandemic (described as “excess mortality”) between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021 was approximately 14.9 million (range 13.3 million to 16.6 million).

“These sobering data not only point to the impact of the pandemic but also to the need for all countries to invest in more resilient health systems that can sustain essential health services during crises, including stronger health information systems,” said D r. Te d r o s A d h a n o m Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“WHO is committed to working with all countries to strengthen their health information systems to generate better data for better decisions and better outcomes.”

Excess mortality is

calculated as the difference between the number of deaths that have occurred and the number that would be expected in the absence of the pandemic based on data from earlier years. Excess mortality includes deaths associated with COVID-19 directly (due to the disease) or indirectly (due to the pandemic's impact on health systems and society).

Deaths linked indirectly to COVID-19 are attributable to other health conditions for which people were unable to access prevention and treatment because health systems were overburdened by the pandemic.

The estimated number of excess deaths can be influenced also by deaths averted during the pandemic due to lower risks of certain events, like motorvehicle accidents or occupational injuries.

Most of the excess deaths (84%) are concentrated in South-East Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Some 68% of excess deaths are concentrated in just 10

countries globally. Middleincome countries account for 81% of the 14.9 million excess deaths (53% in lowermiddle-income countries and 2 8 % i n u p p e r- m i d d l e income countries) over the 24-month period, with highincome and low-income countries each accounting for 15% and 4%, respectively.

The estimates for a 24month period (2020 and 2021) include a breakdown of excess mortality by age and sex.

They confirm that the global death toll was higher for men than for women (57% male, 43% female) and higher among older adults.

The absolute count of the excess deaths is affected by the population size.

The number of excess deaths per 100,000 gives a more objective picture of the pandemic than reported COVID-19 mortality data.

“Measurement of excess mortality is an essential component to understand the impact of the pandemic.

Shifts in mortality trends

provide decision-makers information to guide policies to reduce mortality and effectively prevent future crises. Because of limited investments in data systems in many countries, the true extent of excess mortality often remains hidden,” said Dr Samira Asma, Assistant Director-General for Data, Analytics and Delivery at WHO. “These new estimates use the best available data and have been produced using a robust methodology and a completely transparent approach.”

“Data is the foundation of our work every day to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.

We know where the data gaps are, and we must collectively intensify our support to countries, so that every country has the capability to track outbreaks in real-time, ensure delivery of essential health services, and safeguard population health,” said Dr. Ibrahima

Socé Fall, Assistant DirectorGeneral for Emergency Response.

The production of these estimates is a result of a global collaboration supported by the work of the Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19 Mortality Assessment and country consultations.

This group, convened jointly by the WHO and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), consists of many of the world's leading experts, who developed an innovative methodology to generate comparable mortality estimates even where data are incomplete or unavailable.

This methodology has been invaluable as many countries still lack capacity for reliable mortality surveillance and therefore do not collect and generate the data needed to calculate excess mortality.

Using the publicly available methodology,

countries can use their own data to generate or update their own estimates. “The United Nations system is working together to deliver an authoritative assessment of the global toll of lives lost from the pandemic.

This work is an important part of UN DESA's ongoing collaboration with WHO and other partners to improve global mortality estimates,” said Mr. Liu Zhenmin, United Nations UnderSecretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.

Mr. Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the Statistics Division of UN DESA, added: “Data deficiencies make it difficult to assess the true scope of a crisis, with serious consequences for people's lives.

The pandemic has been a stark reminder of the need for better coordination of data systems within countries and for increased international support for building better systems, including for the registration of deaths and other vital events.”

PAGE 16

Friday May 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

Essequibo hunter found dead with...

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From page 13 newspaper. Kaieteur News learnt that the hunter had arrived at Bethany where he left his tractor by a camp used by the two loggers who are presently in police custody. Relatives said that he is very much acquainted with the two men and according to information received by this media house, the loggers alleged that Ramdehol had asked them to accompany him on his hunting trip because he wanted them to assist him in fetching out “wild meat”.

It is unclear if they had entered the Bethany backlands soon after his arrival but Kaieteur News understands that they hiked a fair distance into the jungle in search of game. The loggers told investigators that while

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they were hunting on Saturday night tragedy struck.

They claimed that Ramdehol had told them to stay behind while he walked farther into the jungle to track a prey.

Claims were made that Ramdehol was taking safety precautions and did not want the men close to him while he was discharging his shotgun because accidents can happen. He reportedly instructed the men to listen out for his last shot so that they can follow behind to help him locate the prey.

The men alleged that around 23:00hrs they heard Ramdehol fired his gun but had also heard him scream.

They claimed too that they heard a second shot followed by silence. After waiting a short while, they followed his

trail and allegedly found him wounded and lying next his shotgun.

The loggers claimed that he was still alive and groaning in pain and they picked him up and fetched him out of the jungle but they had to walk many miles and along the way, Ramdehol allegedly told them that he was in too much pain and cannot continue the journey.

As a result, they allegedly decided to place him down along the trail and one of the men continued the journey out of the backdam to get help while the other remained behind with the Ramdehol. The logger who stayed back claimed that Ramdehol bled to death in his care and he decided to leave the jungle too.

Family members related that the loggers did make it out of

the jungle and had informed police of what had allegedly transpired.

On Monday, Ramdehol's relatives accompanied police investigators and the loggers into the jungle where they found his already decomposing remains.

One relative said that Ramdehol's body was found lying on the side, with a gunshot wound to his stomach just under his right side chest.

His shotgun was also found next to him. The body was removed and taken to Suddie Public Hospital for further observation and doctors there discovered a second gunshot wound in his groin area. His remains have since been taken to the hospital's mortuary as investigations continue.

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liquids from the natural gas stream, as well as building a new electricity generation station to use the remaining dry natural gas. The study found that the project's financial feasibility hinges on the price of natural gas that will

be negotiated between Guyana and ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), a discussion that is said to be ongoing.

Back in March last year, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

said no such study is being conducted as that element is a “no-brainer.” “The financial aspect is a no-brainer. Any sensible person with a modicum of sense, a tiny brain, even a residual brain, would understand that,” he said.

Glenn Lall exposes Jagdeo's...

From page 3 removed from below the seafloors, as well as other technical data.

He argued that “all production (data) must be known” and that “the people paying for it must know what

they are paying for and be able to inspect production at any time”.

While pointing to the importance of being aware of such variables, the environmentalist highlighted that the process flow and rates must

be known. “If there is a spill, we will also be able to estimate it from the rate at the source. When gas is flared or vented, as responsible stewards of the Earth, we have to know how much of what is damaging the environment.”

‘Do more to protect nurses as COVID-19...'

From page 14 take a closer look at the impact of the pandemic on mental health in the Americas.

Turning to the COVID-19 situation in the region, more than 616,000 new cases were reported in the Americas over the past week, and over 4200

deaths. In the Caribbean, new infections increased by 15.4% and deaths increased for the third consecutive week – by 39.6%. While deaths continued to decline in Central America, the number of new infections rose by 53.4%, with three out of seven countries reporting increases. In North

America, cases increased by 27.1% in the United States, while Canada and Mexico reported declines in new infections.

South America reported an overall case decrease of 8%, although seven countries reported an increase in new infections.

GPA flags Govt.'s obsession with social...

From page 12 personality that calls himself the “Guyanese Critic” has been conducting interviews with the Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, while media professionals are sidelined, allowing the well-known social media character to field questions, down a specific line.

It was noted too that, “Much of the debates and disagreements at the conference appeared to stem from the decision by the organisers to conflate journalism, public relations practice and social media influence.

Whether or not this was the intent, it was a grave error as each category of communication has its own role.”

The Guyana Press Association was keen to note that social media influencers, though they command some following, cannot and will not

be regarded as journalists and they should in fact never contemplate seeing themselves as such.

While still listing its concerns on the media conference, the GPA reminded that the freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in Guyana's Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It reasoned, “Based on utterances from a number of government officials including its panelists, the undertone appeared to be engaged in selfcensorship under the guise of "responsibility" and "good".

In this regard, we commend the globally recognised Journalism Ethics, Principles and Codes of Conduct.”

The GPA even suggested that the next World Press Freedom Conference be jointly organized by the Government and the association, to focus

specifically on journalism. On another note, the Press Association urged that journalism cannot be confused with specialised content on specific topics or projects. As such, it said that media houses and government may wish to consider discussing how information on specific projects and issues can be broadcast or published with the appropriate disclaimer so there is no confusion between paid content and journalism.

Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor.

Say no to it.

Friday May 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

15 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Guyana On Thursday, it was reported by the Ministry of Health that 15 more new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the country, which now bring the total overall confirmed cases to 63,533.

The 15 new infections

which were that of eight females and seven males were detected in Regions Four, Six, Seven, Nine and 10. According to the Ministrys dashboard, eight cases were recorded in Region Four, four in Region Six, and one each

Coalition Govt. 'short-changed'....

From page 15 land and water transport and furniture and equipment – bringing the total sum to $1,874,730,000.

It was stated that after reviewing the money that was allocated, it was clear that the amount was inadequate to meet proposed expenditures for employment and other charges expenditures for the year 2018.

As a result of the shortfalls, in August 2018, the Supreme Court made a request to the Ministry of Finance for a supplementary provision of $202,256,209 to offset the above expenditures however, the sum of $165,600,000 was proposed by the Minister of Finance and approved by the National Assembly on the

November 1, 2018.

According to the report, the reduced amount was carefully managed by the Supreme Court, coupled with savings, scaling down or programmes, timely execution of projects and it led to the Supreme Court satisfying its obligations to employees, customers, contractors and other expenses for the year.

Moreover, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, additional funds, $29,738,696 was received from the Ministry of Finance through Inter/Intra Departmental Allocation Warrants to meet the following expenditures: revision of wages and salaries, for the payment of salary increases for year 2018.

in Regions Seven, Nine and 10. Still one patient is admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, one person is in institutional isolation, 99 are in home isolation while a total of 62,204 persons have recovered from the virus.

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Friday May 06, 2022

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Friday May 06, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Surinamese Trainer Danny Gummels focuses on Jumbo Jet’s Guyana Cup 2022 The Sun – Suriname Horse trainer Dany Gummels is currently preparing his stallion Black Cat for the 2022 Guyana Cup, which will be held in our neighboring Guyana on 14 August next.

Black Cat is a locally bred racehorse who has just reached the age of three and is ready to start training.

Horse racing in Guyana has now been restarted after more than two years of covid pause.

“I am now busy preparing Black Cat for the ‘3 year old local bred class’, this is a class

especially for horses that have just reached the age of three and that have been bred locally,” Said Gummels.

Tariq Abdulrahman will also star with his merry Secret Dance which also focuses on the same class as Gummels.

Abdulrahman indicates that he has joined Gummels in the Jumbo-Jet Thoroughbred race.

It will receive and accompany our horses in Guyana.

Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred racing now has the Guyana Cup and President Cup in place for 2022.

Members of the Guyana Race Commission with Secret Dance.

AG conducts Training Exercise...

From page 24 youths as their enthusiasm, determination and sheer skills

under the guidance of Singh and assistant coach, Thompson, enabled them to master the

basic techniques of shooting with recurve bows and arrows.

This archery training exercise,

Friday May 06, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Communication with others should be very effective, Aries, and your social calendar will be full. You're feeling good about yourself, thanks to a boost in confidence that reminds you that you can do anything.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You're now in a terrific position to make a significant move in your life, Libra. With a great deal of physical energy coupled with incredibly high self-esteem, you have what it takes to make a major push toward larger goals.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Relating to people may be difficult for you, since you get the feeling that others don't see things as deeply or emotionally as you, Taurus.

Perhaps you feel everyone is shallow.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You might feel as if you can't access your physical energy now, Scorpio. You may experience frustration when you try to engage in a sport. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your physical vitality should be quite strong, Sagittarius, and you're encouraged by greater self-confidence.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You have a great deal of physical energy, Gemini. At times, you may feel as if you have an endless wellspring of power.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Finding the comfort point may be difficult for you, Cancer. You might feel as if you aren't connecting with your ideals or goals.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your upbeat, lively nature is fueled by the fast-paced energy at hand. You have a great deal of physical strength available to you, Leo. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Your indecisiveness may plague you, Virgo. This is one of those times when you feel as if one second of hesitation will cost you dearly.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Things could be moving more quickly than makes you comfortable right now, Capricorn. You may feel as if your own needs and agenda are getting lost in the fury bubbling around you.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your physical strength is topnotch, Aquarius. Now is a terrific time to join a sports team or start a company soccer program. Others will respect your leadership abilities.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may feel indecisive, insecure, and stuck in the middle of a difficult situation, Pisces. Your energy could be drawn in one direction while your self-confidence is pulled in another.

was held at Wilson Laurentino’s Sport Ground in St. Ignatius Village over two weeks ago in a two hour session. It is expected that the 29-year old Archery Guyana’s assistant coach, Thompson, will continue to work with and aid the training to develop these youths to be able to compete nationally.

The youths from St Ignatius who participated were between the ages of 16 and 18.

They were Ted Juan, Safraz Aldie, Dextar Henry, Jad Juan, Eziekel Hernandez, Bert Paul and Waidan Hernandez.

GCA attracting...

From page 23 Young emerging talent Indomattie Gordiyal was the leading performer for Guyana, who were led by the multi-talented Diane Ferreira James who also captained Guyana in football.Guyana was the youngest team in the competition and their lone victory was against the USA.Guyana have competed in most tournaments since, with a brief hiatus in 2006 and 2007, and joined the Twenty20 Blaze for its inaugural season in 2012.

In 2013, they reached the semifinals of the T20 competition before losing to eventual winners Jamaica. They achieved their best finishinthe50-over competition in 2014, reaching the final before losing to Jamaica.

In the most recent season, 2019, Guyana finished 4th out of six teams in both competitions.

Among the Guyanese ladies who have played international are Candacy Atkins who played for the West Indies and the USA (2003), Indomattie GoordialJohn (2003), Shemaine Campbell (2009), Tremayne Smartt (2009), Subrina Munroe (2010), June Ogle (2011), Erva Giddings (2016), Onika Wallerson who played for the USA (2019), Shabika Gajnabi (2019), Sheneta Grimmond (2019), Cherry-Ann Fraser (2020) and Mandy Mangru (2022). (Sean Devers)

Malteenoes member makes donation to the club

By Sean Devers In a simple handover ceremony, former Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) U19 and first division player Mahendra Ramjeawan (Tony), accompanied by close friend and MSC member Dr. Brian Sukhai made a significant and timely donation of cricket gears to the club yesterday morning.

Present for MSC were former national U19 player Shawn Holder, long standing MSC administrator and former national player Neil Barry and MSC vice president and former national player Steven Jacobs and Guyana U19 pacer Quasen Nedd.

The donation from Mr. Ramjeawan coincides with MSC’s relaunch of its youth programme and will be added to the inventory of cricket equipment used to roll out upcoming interventions, including the Cricket Academy.

Outside of their participation in club cricket, both

Mr. Ramjeawan and Dr Sukhai spoke at length about the influence MSC has had on their personal and professional lives and encouraged youths to consider participation in sports as one of the tools for personal growth.

The MSC executives present all indicated that the club is a development actor whose mission is to create an enabling environment for cricket to be made available to the country’s youth in a non-partisan manner and in the process also allow for overall human and country development.

On behalf of MSC, Mr. Holder expressed gratitude for the gears donated. Mr. Ramjeawan made special mention of Mr. Dereck Singh of Connecticut, USA who made a significant contribution to his initiative.

He said, “As I soon as he pitched the idea of supporting the youths from MSC, Dereck was fully on board.”

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Friday May 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

Texas Golf Association inks collaboration agreement with Guyana Golf Federation

The Texas Golf Association (TGA) and the Guyana Golf Federation (GGF) is pleased to announce that they’ve signed a collaboration agreement which will see an exchange of ideas, training and other opportunities in the coming years.

The TGA is one of the most established and vibrant Golf organizations in the United States having commenced operations in 1906 and services 450+ clubs with 120,000 members. The TGA runs over 160 events in 350 days each year and hosts a variety of major college events and activities.

TGA President Jonathan Shipley said, “The synergies between the two organizations will help to ensure that rapid growth of the game in Guyana (I am extremely impressed by the work done by them in such a short time) will leverage our years of experience to guide Guyana’s progress in the hopes that they will benefit from our knowledge and expertise.”

Shipley, a one handicap player himself commented on the talent he had seen in Guyana, “From the short time I’ve been able to observe the players I’m amazed at the potential I’ve seen from persons who have never touched a club before. This is an untapped source of talent that will make an impact in the golf world, especially with our guidance.” With knowledge transfer, access to training and information now an option, GGF president Aleem Hussain stated, “This will allow us to give our amateur players a huge advantage in their quest for dominance in the region and we are extremely grateful to Jon, the Board of Directors of the TGA and the entire team in Texas that saw the potential we have

in Guyana and extended a guiding hand.

As seen from the Legends Junior Tour, we have a very similar agenda.” The Legends Junior Tour (LJT) was established under the umbrella of the TGA Foundation in 1999 as part of an initiative to promote the game of golf and all of the personal and social skills the game provides to those who might not otherwise have an opportunity to experience all the benefits the game has to offer. Proceeds generated from the LJT and our corporate partners go toward supporting a number of worthy causes, including The First Tee programmes and the NTPGA run Golf-In-Schools programme, which introduces elementary and middle school students to the game of golf through the physical education curriculum.

Eligibility will be open to young men and women ages 19 & under, who meet the minimum handicap requirements and have distinguished themselves in local, regional, statewide and national competitions. Over the past 18 months, Golf has gained national attention in Guyana with the efforts of the Guyana Golf Federation and Nexgen Golf Academy in partnership with the Ministry of Educa-

tion Allied Arts Unit. Thousands of learners and their families are now involved in the sport with many students making history this year as they choose Golf as a PE elective at CSEC. The Guyana government has emphasized its commitment to physical education and allocated enormous resources in the 2022 budget for the Development of sport and facilities.

With record breaking numbers taking part in Golf, it is anticipated that a national team, and quite possibly an Olympic team is in the cards for the country in the very near future.

Also, with new emphasis on construction of golf courses such as Maraiko Bay, West Side Golf Club, along with other facilities around the country, it is expected that with the influx of expats and tourism, Guyana is poised to become a golf destination in the very near future and host major tournaments. For more information on how you can learn the game or sharpen your skills, contact the Nexgen Golf Academy via Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp 6450944 or visit them at the Scouts Association Ground on Woolford Avenue.

Rain badly affects UCCA Vishnu...

From page 23 Khan were too strong for AFK Cricket Academy winning by 36 runs. Scotsburg scored 108 with Aleem Khan 28, Jeremiah Joseph 18, Steven Norah 17 and Prince Chapman 15.

AFK Academy were dumped for 36 with Khan grabbing 7-14 and Norah 3 wickets.

Skeldon Community Centre got the better of No72 Cut and Load by 34 runs. Skeldon

CC made 117 with Junior Blair 39. Bowling for Cut and Load, Seeraj Chatterpaul took 5 wickets. In reply they were bowled out for 83. The wickets were shared by J. Blair, A. Hussein, A. Ault and Chitnarine with 2 each.

The competition is being coordinated by UCCA Competitions Committee led by former Guyana Wicketkeeper batsman Sydney Jackman.

Play is expected to continue on Sunday. (Samuel Whyte)

Friday May 06, 2022

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

GCA attracting ladies to cricket 45 years after Guyana played first match in Grenada Guyana women’s team in the late 1970s.

By Sean Devers On Wednesday at Malteenoes Sports Club 10 ladies including five from Queen’s College and one from May’s registered for a cricket camp for females between the ages of 12 to 18 years.

The focus is on identifying and developing the talent of females who have the desire to learn and the passion to play representative cricket at the highest level.

The camp is open to females who attend schools or reside in the geographic location of the City or are registered with Cricket Clubs affiliated with the GCA. The young ladies were welcomed by Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) President Neil Barry and introduced to the game and what to expect during the programme from Coordinator Clyde Butts, Technical advisors Roger Harper, Shaun Massiah and Deborah McNichol, who is the manager for the programme.

The aim of this programme is to spark female interest in the game of cricket since no female cricket is organised by the Demerara Cricket Board.

The Berbice Cricket Board is the only entity that has female cricketers playing at club level and has produced West Indies players Campbelle, Tremayne Smartt, Eva Giddings, Sheneta Grimmond and the young Sabieka Gajnabi in recent times.

The GCA Camp is a step in the right direction and the first practice session will be held on Saturday 14th May, 2022 at a venue to be announced shortly.

Guyana’s Women joined the West Indies domestic structure in 1977, competing in the Federation Championships, in which they finished 4th out of five teams.

Ava Morgan was one of the best female batters in Guyana, while Joni James was a very good Captain and there were players like Margaret Walcott, Dolly Seeraj, Andrea Fowler, Margaret

McKenzie, Maimoon Yassin, Sharon Legall and Maylen Ramdular, who celebrates her 71st birthday on May 21 and her 69-year-old sister Phylles Ramdular are the only Guyanese siblings to play cricket together for Guyana Women’s at the senior level, are among those who paved the way for the modern team.

They competed again in the next edition of the tournament, 1980, winning two matches, against Grenada and Barbados.

Guyana eventually re-entered regional women’s cricket for the first time after 20 years in 2001.

Attorney-at-Law Emily Dodson was elected President of Women’s cricket in Guyana and many of the past players returned to action including the Ramdular siblings, Walcott and Janet Jandorie.

However, by 2003, Berbician Angela Haniff was appointed Manager for Guyana’s tour to Grenada.

(Continued on page 19)

The girls registering for the camp at Malteenoes on Wednesday.

PAGE 24

Friday May 06, 2022

Kaieteur News

AG conducts Training Swag Boss win from Exercise in Rupununi Linden Town Week Mayor’s Cup Dominoes

WHO and GJETSCO

Linden Mayor Mrs Waneka Arrindell, at left, presents Swag Boss captain Arthur Chung with the MVP trophy in the presence of other members of the Swag Boss team.

Part of the squad of seven who was quite eager to extend their knowledge in Archery.

Youngsters from St. Ignatius Village, Rupununi, (Region 9) were recently treated to a special Archery training exercise under the supervision of Archery Guyana’s Senior Coach, Robert Singh.

Singh, who resides in Georgetown, whilst on a visit to Region 9, collaborated with one of Archery Guyana’s assistant coaches, Shunette Thompson, to arrange an Ar-

chery Clinic in an effort to introduce the shooting techniques of a recurve bow to the residents.

He utilised rubber stretch bands to initiate the training, after which the actual recurve equipment were used for practice. He explained to the youths the various archery equipment, safety rules, shooting stance, alignment, stance and release.

Excitement beamed on the

faces of the participants as this was the first time some of the participants were witnessing such an exhibition since the usual archery technique in the Rupununi is the use of bare bow or traditional shooting.

Transitioning to the new techniques for recurve is usually very difficult to master in a short period of time but this was not the case for the ( Continued on page 21)

On the heels of the Dewars tournament won by Bidders, Swag Boss snatched honours and grabbed the Linden Mayor’s Cup One Day Town Week dominoes, which was played last Saturday at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Hall in Mackenzie.

Playing in the competition which was held in honour of Linden mayor Mrs. Waneka Arrendel, and organized by Westwell Peters of the Big Landing dominoes club, Swag Boss showed their class amassing 80 games to leave WHO in second oppo-

sition and GJETSCO a distant third place with 50 games.

Leading the Swag Boss team to their win was Captain Arthur Chung who marked 17 games to be Player of the Final with teammate Andre Ferdinand getting 15 in that victory charge.

Some nine teams entered the tournament which was sponsored by the Linden Town Week Committee namely Bidders, Warriors, Rockets, CATS, Royal Champions, WHO, GJETSCO, Swag Boss and Big Landing.

Linden Mayor Arrindel

took time off during the Town Week 52nd anniversary to be there and present the top prizes to the winners.

She expressed interest that the tournament will be an annual one.

The winners Swag Boss copped the first prize of $100,000 with second placed WHO collecting $40,000 and GJETSCO $20,000 for placing third.

Snook’s Jewelry, Powers Broad Money and Life Time Gift Shop were among other sponsors of this tournament.

Friday May 06, 2022

T

hird round matches in the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) Vishnu Super Store Inter Club 40overs cricket competition was badly affected by rain.The competition which is for teams in the Upper Corentyne Black Bush Polder areas saw some outstanding all round performances highlighting the round. In an unprecedented move one team declared their innings which is a strange occurrence in a limited over match.

In the game between No70 Young Blood and No 70 All family, the Young Blood were too hot for their opponents as they won by 134 runs. They batted first and galloped to 1633 in 12 overs before declaring with Mohammed Arudeen clobbering 85(5x4, 9x6), Fazil Ali 27. Bowling for All Family, Seepersaud Persaud took 2 wickets. They in reply were demolished for 29 with Abdul Mazood 3-0, O. Pedro and S. Wazir 2 wickets each.

Other results show No43 Scorpions sting Yakusari Horizon by a massive 151 runs.

Scorpions blasted 238 with R. Patoya 79(5x4, 5x6), M. Basdeo 51 and B. Deen 40.

Bowling for Horizon, M. Ali picked up 3 wickets with K. Persaud and T. Ramsundar 2 each. They in reply were routed for 87 with Karim Amin 40.

Bowling for Scorpion, F. Drepaul took 4 wickets with J. Samaroo 3 and A. Ramroop 2.

Just Try was too good for Yakusari Carib winning by 51 runs after scoring 104 with T. Ramdass 37, V. Husbands 16 and K. Zair 15. There were 3 wickets apiece for N. Ayana and R. Bisnauth bowling for The Caribs who were skittled out for 53 with N. Ayana 24 and R. Ayana 15.

Bowling for the winners, N. Persaud claimed 4 and D. Gobin 3 wickets.

The game between No69 Red Rose and Line Path Cricket Club saw Red Rose whipping Line Path by 10 after skittling them out for 30. Bowling for Red Rose, D. Seeram took 4 wickets with P. Prahalad and I. Nasrudeen collecting 2 each.

They then raced to 31 without loss.

A fine all round performance by Rishi Persaud helped NO71 Sports Club to beat NO72 All Stars by 117.

No71 compiled 194 with Rishi Persaud scoring 80(4x4, 6x6), S. Suresh 34, Nazir Ali 30 and extras 18.

No72 in reply were routed for 77 with 25 from G. Chatterpaul. Bowling for the No71, Persaud and Ali returned to take 3 wickets each.

Scotsburg United led by good all round play from Aleem (Continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

Rain badly affects UCCA Vishnu Super Store Inter Club 40 overs cricket competition

AG conducts Training Exercise in Rupununi Archery Guyana's Senior Coach, Robert Singh, takes a photo op with the participants of the Archery Guyana Training Exercise.

Surinamese Trainer Danny Gummels focuses on Jumbo Jet's Guyana Cup 2022 Danny Gummels at practice with his horse Black Cat.

t r o Sp

Malteenoes member makes donation to the club EX MSC player Dr Brian Sukhai makes the donation club Captain Steven Jacobs in the presence of other MSC members. (Sean Devers photo)

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